* Edited and re-uploaded 04-28-10 * I apologize for any mistakes that remain.

Ouran High School Host Club belongs to Hatori Bisco

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These events occur after chapter 76 of the manga. If you have not read chapter 76 or the prior chapters contains spoilers.

-Prologue-

Kyouya watched Haruhi's retreating back even as he moved away from her. His half-formed and scattered thoughts were not given a chance to coalesce when the vibration of his phone broke his reverie. He glanced at the id before pausing to allow Tamaki to draw ahead.

"Yes" he answered.

He listened unmoving for a few minutes, "I will be there shortly."

He quickly called his driver requesting to be picked up at the front gate.

He met Tamaki's questioning look. "I have some business to attend. I'll see you tomorrow."

"What about class," Tamaki inquired worry obvious.

"This can not be delayed," Kyouya replied with his usual calm.

Turning to Honey and Mori who had followed, "Honey, will you retrieve my things from the classroom and give them to Haruhi? It would be troublesome to get them myself."

"Yes, but…"

Kyouya cut the young man off, "There is nothing wrong I need to give someone information."

"If there is nothing wrong then why leave like this? Why the evasive answers?" Tamaki demanded

"Tamaki, give me your trust in this. I will explain later. Now I need to leave."

"Haruhi?" Mori questioned before Kyouya stepped away.

Sighing in frustration, "Tell her I will get my things from her this evening or tomorrow before class." He strode away before they could stop him again.

-Not So Unexpected Meeting and Raindrops-

Kyouya was kneeling opposite Haruhi's father, Ranka, sipping tea when an annoyed and harried looking Haruhi entered the apartment. She set Kyouya's bag next to the couch looking impassively at each in turn.

Startled Ranka looked at his daughter then the clock.

"I'm late," he cried leaping to his feet and dashing around the small space. Before she could speak, he had transformed into a beautiful okama.

"I'll be working late, dear so I'll see you in the morning," Ranka said placing a quick kiss on her forehead.

"Take an umbrella. It's going to rain," she advised her father.

He grabbed the umbrella that had undoubtedly been placed next to the door by her sometime earlier. He looked over his shoulder meeting Kyouya's eyes.

"Thank you," he said sincerity apparent as he pulled the door closed.

Haruhi ignored Kyouya picking up her father's cup and carrying it into the kitchen.

Kyouya sighed, annoyed. His thoughts sank inward and he wondered who would be the one to break this artificial silence. His gaze was drawn toward the window and the darkening sky. It had not begun to rain however; the show was not long from its start.

His thoughts were interrupted by the tap of a bowl of instant ramen being placed before him. He frowned he had not noticed the passage of time nor been aware of his surroundings. However, brief a period of time it had been he had let his guard down. He had relaxed. His frown deepened, why?

"Itadakimasu," Haruhi said interrupting his thoughts once more.

They ate in silence. Haruhi studiously ignored Kyouya. For his part, Kyouya was choosing his words. While she appeared angry, he was aware from past experience that with this person appearances were deceiving.

He set his chopsticks down and looked out the window. He did not have much time before Haruhi's fear of storms drove away rational thought. He had come to a decision. He waited until she finished eating before standing and motioning for her to follow him to the window. Mutely he slid the window open and allowed the cooler air to brush over them.

"Are you going to ask me why I am here or am I to assume you are devoid of any interest," he asked neutrally.

For the first time that day, she met his stare.

"I assumed you would tell me when you were ready. I had no desire to waste my time attempting to gain anything from you that you weren't inclined to give."

He smirked and waited. Her answer had amused him.

She glared, "Why are you here," she asked finally.

"I see you are no longer wearing those ridiculous glasses."

She shrugged, "When Honey-senpai gave me your things he told me that if I wanted to support Tamaki-senpai by living as though we had never met he understood but the rest of you did not want to live as though we had not. Mori-senpai put my contact case on the desk, when the twins saw it they stole my glasses and refused to give them back. I had no choice but wear the contacts. They also told me if I dared to come to school tomorrow out of uniform they would forcibly change my clothes."

An amused smile appeared on her face the first genuine smile she had displayed in days. His smile mirrored hers as he envisioned the scene. He had no doubt the twins would make good on their threat or make the attempt. He would need to keep an eye on things tomorrow in case Haruhi stubbornly ignored the warning.

She looked out the window a worried expression flickering across her face.

"Are you going to answer my question or am I to assume that this is all some obscure scheme for profit," she said each word a challenge.

"No profit or schemes. Ranka-san called me distraught. He saw how you were dressed this morning and with everything that had happened with that attorney, he was worried. He said he had attempted to talk about it with you but in the end, he did not know how to begin. He has been beating himself up for being a poor father and when he saw the reversal of your appearance he panicked."

Haruhi looked abashed, "I'm sorry," she said quietly.

His voice softening at her expression, "Haruhi, I know you have depended on no one but yourself and in most cases this is good however there are people who care for you. You should at least let us know what is going on so that we can support you even when we can not help."

"Us," she questioned eyebrow raised.

Kyouya merely stared.

"I am sorry. I wanted to think this through on my own. It seems that I am always burdening others with my blindness to what they are feeling or going through. I didn't want to continue doing that so I decided to figure it out on my own. I wanted to help Tamaki-senpai and this was the only way I could think of," she explained.

"We are your friends. You are not alone nor are you a burden so please talk to us. Tell Ranka-san what is going on once in awhile. He loves you even if he does not always know how to talk to you. I should not be the one he is calling to find out what is going on in your life."

"I w…." Haruhi's words faded unfinished as the first raindrops struck the window. She wrapped her arms about herself as if to ward off an unwelcome chill.

Kyouya did not say any more as he considered what he was attempting. The rain quickly picked up as the storm that had been taunting its beginning for the last few hours broke.

It was lightly teasing in its power like a virgin with his first crush. Rapidly it would mature into a passion that would be felt by all who were present.

He looked at the girl standing next to him. Her eyes were fixed upon the storm, her expression that of a cornered rabbit watching death stalk closer.

"Haruhi," he asked waiting until she met his gaze before continuing, "have you ever watched a storm?"

Her eyes were drawn back to the window. The wind had picked up and a fine mist of shattered raindrops could be felt dampening their skin and clothes. He leaned against the window frame his body angled to watch Haruhi and the storm that was about to wed the approaching night.

Her voice was faint and nervous, "I don't know."

Kyouya studied Haruhi her body was softly trembling. He could feel her tension despite the space separating them. The rabbit was about to bolt. If the storm remained her personal predator, she would be devoured. He made no move to embrace her. He had no desire to aid Haruhi in hiding from this predator. Rather he gave his attention to the storm.

There was a distant flash of lightning followed by a quiet roll of thunder heralding the true performance. Kyouya saw the widening of her eyes and her step backward.

The faintest touch of longing in his voice, "Haruhi, watch with me?"

She froze eyes focusing on Kyouya with an intensity that could leave a person feeling, if but briefly, they were all she was aware of in the world. He understood that in most situations this was an illusion, nevertheless, he had the idea that this was not one of those times.

She gave a cautious nod and stepped next to him. He gave silent thanks. He had faith that Haruhi's own strength and stubbornness would keep her at the window his challenge was to change her perception.

Lightening illuminated the night in the space between one heartbeat and the next, Haruhi stood ridged her eyes tightly closed, her lips pressed into a thin line holding back a cry.

His voice low, soothing, "Open your eyes Haruhi, this will be seen but once. When lightening is drawn from heaven to earth its shape is unique, jagged, rough, its unrefined aspect its beauty. It exists for only seconds but in that time, it can drive back the darkness. The world it illuminates will not be seen a second time even were another strike to immediately follow. Everything is moving during a storm. The rain flows over those things that are normally lifeless, clothing them with movement. The wind pushes leaves, trees, and other mundane detritus in an intricate dance. The lightening grants us a glimpse of this."

Haruhi's eyes where fixed on Kyouya a look on her face he could not interpret. He shifted uncomfortably, he wondered at his arrogance thinking he could convince her to release her fears. Surely, those who were closer to her than he had tried, Kyouya's thoughts locked on that, had they tried? She was so independent never wanting to be a burden. She rarely allowed others to help her and then it was often grudgingly. He knew the personalities of those who were close to her and each wanted to help her, to be needed by her, in their own ways to be close to this girl. While it would not have been maliciously or consciously had they allowed Haruhi's fear to remain unchecked so they could have an opportunity to care for her?

Sound thrust itself at them. Slicing between them it was thin and sharp like the edge of a blade joined with a lower sound that enveloped them undulating across their bodies lingering longer than its partner.

Haruhi looked to the window a panicked cry escaping. Kyouya's hand rose briefly reaching for her but he stopped the motion midway. He could not leave her a victim. It had been chance that someone taking advantage of her fears had not harmed her.

"Did you feel it? Thunder is more than sound it has substance. It wraps it self around your body. The higher sounds grabbing your attention, startling like an unexpected caress. The lower reaching deeper into your flesh lingering, a lover's kiss."

"Kyouya-sen..."

Lightening flared across the sky; Haruhi fixed her eyes upon the scene. He saw the clenching of her jaw as she unlocked her arms from about herself. Gripping instead the sill of the window, she leaned forward head almost touching the screen. He wondered briefly at her determination. His words were little more than drivel but her want gave them weight. He supposed this was proof no one had endeavored to lead her away from her fear.

"Smell the air. The rain is washing away the dust that coats everything dulling the colors. In the morning still moist with the water, the colors will be darker richer shades. For now, the clean fragrance of the earth is the only clues to these changes. If the rainstorm is a lover then this scent is the manifestation of the earth's desire."

She was silent watching. When the thunder split the air, she jumped slightly a quick gasp the only sound, "A storm can destroy," she whispered.

Kyouya nodded but realized she was not looking at him, "Passion can maim, it can leave you hollow, and it can bring death. Without it the world would be a stagnate pond unchanging and rotting in its own filth. Passion can drive a person mad but it can also bring out their best qualities. It can cause people to find the courage to change the world and the strength to continue despite their obstacles or burdens."

"Have you ever experienced that," she asked curiosity tingeing her voice. "I'm sorry it's none of my business," she said quickly before he could answer.

"It's ok I suppose I invited the question with this conversation. No, I have not experienced this kind of passion. I have witnessed it, though for that matter so have you."

"Huh," was her surprised response.

"Passion is not expressed solely through love. The same intensity of emotions that causes two people to give their lives to one another can also display itself in other more platonic ways," he explained.

She seemed to consider this, "Yes, I suppose you are right but then you should not exclude yourself."

He shrugged looking away from her. He removed his glasses wiping away the water before continuing, "I know what it is like to embrace a woman and be embraced in turn but there were no illusions or feelings of affection so I enjoy greatly the sensations of storms. I do not expect anything stronger than affection for the person chosen to be my wife."

"What do you mean surly you would not be forced to marry someone you do not love," Haruhi exclaimed.

"My sister and oldest brother are both married to people picked by our father. They did not dislike their partners when they were married and seem to care greatly for them now but that was not the case at first. The most I can hope for is a cordial relationship. An arranged marriage to benefit the family and strengthen the business is one of my responsibilities."

Her voice sorrowful, "I hope it does not come to that for you Kyouya-senpai. Will you arrange your own children's' marriages?"

The lightening flashed and thunder followed so close behind to be nearly simultaneous accentuated his words, "I will be powerful enough that any children I have will never have their choices taken from them. They will not be constrained in their potential or desires."

"How can you think you are not passionate? You are perhaps the most passionate person I know. I am not the only person to see this Tamaki-senpai has also said as much."

He laughed self-deprecatory, "We shall see."

A comfortable silence settled between them as they watched the progression of the storm. Haruhi breaking the quite, "When I was little my mother was always with me during storms I felt safe, protected when she held me. The first storm after her death I was alone and it was then I realized she would never be there again. I was terrified, ever since whenever it rains I relive that fear."

"You do not appear afraid."

"Humph, I'm not. This was your plan?"

"Not originally. I came to talk to your father but once I observed the change in the weather I wanted to give you something to think about other than your fear and I didn't want to hide you from it."

She smiled at him, "You are really a kind person."

He smiled in return at the echo of a prior conversation. They stood side-by-side not touching but enjoying the other's company as the storm played out. The lightening faded first; the thunder became a whisper then silent, only the gentle patter of the rain lingered.

"What is the end of the storm like?" She asked.

"When passion is spent and your lover embraces you as you drift into sleep."

"Thank you for this," she said her stare focused on him.

He stepped away from the window and bent down to pick up his bag as he walked to the door, "Your welcome."

He ignored the chill of his damp clothes as he slipped on his shoes, "I enjoyed myself. Next time it rains if you desire someone to talk to… if you were to call me I will answer."

"I will remember that."

"Goodnight, Haruhi."

"Goodnight, Kyouya-senpai."

Author's Note:

This started out as something different. My original thought was this would be a description of a storm described to Haruhi by Kyouya. There was to be little actual dialog. Though as can happen as I was first working the details out in my head and while writing it became I hope a better story. I am not marking this as complete. It seems my mind has decided there is more to say. While this bit was told from Kyouya's point of view if there is more the others will have a chance to express their views more fully. I am sorry this is not as polished as some I have read. I can only say that my talent is limited and I have not written in several years. It has been longer since my sleep has been disrupted with thoughts of a story. I hope to receive your feedback, criticism is welcome.

Thank you.