A/N Just finished Ouran High School Host Club (the manga) and am working on the anime. I finally decided that it's time to come out of hiatus mode and try to get some writing done. Just don't expect too much as I'm still very busy. Anyway, what better to come off of a long dry patch than OHSHC, full of all kinds of fangirly amazingness???? So, yeah. This takes off from where the manga currently ends and has a special original character. And I'm kind of crossing the anime and manga: for instance, Mei is in it as much as the manga, and Renge is in it as much as the anime. Enjoy!

~Alyss

Chapter 1

(Haruhi's POV)

"You…want me to tell Tamaki-senpai that I…love him?" I look at Hikaru like he's sprouted seven extra heads. There's no way I can do that. I don't even know about his feelings…and when he came to tell me about moving into the main mansion, he didn't even seem flustered by our sort-of kiss, not like I was. "I can't do that, Hikaru. I can't."

Hikaru sighs and leans against my doorframe, looking unusually serious. "Look, Haru-chan, I understand that you and Tono are both idiots when it comes to this sort of stuff. But you have to do this. For the whole Host Club." He glances down at me. "Especially for me. Tono may be annoying as hell, but he's the whole reason Kaoru and I have opened up. Without him, we'd be completely lost."

I bow into my hands. I know I have to do this, for Mori and Hunny-senpai, for Kyoya-senpai, for Kaoru and Hikaru. And for myself.

"Okay. Okay, I'll do it." I whisper into my hands. I feel Hikaru's hand ruffling my hair.

"I knew you would. Don't worry, you'll be great." I look up at him, surprised by how tender he looks. That tender look fades into mischief. "And I know exactly how we can help you."

*************

"His mind's theater?" I ask incredulously. Ouran Academy gets more gray every day without Tamaki-senpai to brighten it up. And the girls seem so put off by my return to my old clothing--as do the rest of the Host Club, particularly Hunny-senpai.

"Yep." Hikaru says. "He's always picturing him--"

"And you," Kaoru picks up, "in all kinds of romantic situations." I blush a deep scarlet. So…could Tamaki-senpai…

"The one that he always seems to be blabbering over most about is you in a white dress skipping down the beach with him," Kyoya-senpai deadpans, pushing up his glasses.

"So…we're going to take him to a beach?" I ask.

*HARU-CHAN!* Hunny-senpai shouts through his cake. *You silly! We're going to put you in a pretty white dress!*

"Mother made just the one," the twins say together.

*And Takashi said he can help make sure you get into the mansion!* I look over at Mori-senpai, who nods solemnly.

"But…but…what if Tamaki-senpai won't see me? Or what if, after I tell him how I feel--"

"We all figured it out, Haruhi. It's obvious how you two feel about each other." Mori-senpai murmurs.

"And if Tono rejects you, he's an even bigger idiot than we all thought." Kaoru says frankly.

*Tama-chan won't reject you Haru-chan! You're too cute!* Hunny-senpai stuffs a piece of cake into his mouth. Hikaru and Kaoru both smile at each other.

"There's no way he'll be able to resist when you're in this!" They reach behind them and take out a short, frilly white dress. It's rather over the top if I do say so myself--something I'd say would fit in more at Lobelia than here.

"There's no way." I say and begin to walk out of Music Room Three.

"AH AH AH!" Hikaru and Kaoru chant, hooking their arms into mine and dragging me back to the small group of friends. "You're doing this for the good of the club."

"LET ME GO!" I struggle. They do and I slam into the floor. "Damn rich kids," I mutter under my breath.

"Haruhi," Kyoya-senpai starts, "I know this isn't something you want to do. Not particularly. And, to be honest, I wouldn't want to either if I were in your position."

"Why do you even care?" I grumble, getting up and brushing off my uniform.

"Believe it or not, there's many, many reasons why. Yes, Tamaki's return will not only benefit my father's company, but this club of his has also brought us together as a family. And it's not right to split up a family." I look at Kyoya-senpai in surprise. Even Hunny-senpai has stopped eating his cake to watch incredulously. Kyoya-senpai writes something down in his little black book. "Oh yes, I see how surprised you are, but I do somewhat enjoy Tamaki's company, even if he is a raging dumbass."

This, more than anything else, resolves me to what I'm about to do. If Kyoya-senpai, of all people, wants this, then it will happen, damnit!

"Give me the dress." I growl. The Hitachiin twins grin. Despite their plea to be separate, they still act so much alike. Despite their differences. If that makes sense. Oh well. I take the dress and head off to the dressing room. "This better be worth it," I saw darkly.

"WAIT! HARUHI! LET ME HELP YOU PUT IT ON!" Hikaru shouts after me. I pause, then turn slowly back to him.

"Don't. Even. Go. There." I hiss. Oh, if only Renge were here with her Medusa hair. I slip into the empty room and make quick work of putting on the dress, trying to ignore the ruffles and the lace.

*AH! HARU-CHAN! YOU LOOK SO CUTE!!* Hunny-senpai shouts. Everyone looks shocked (excluded Kyoya-senpai, who I don't think feels anything). The twins and Hunny rush over to me, darting around to look at me from all angles.

"Oh, my, my, my! How gorgeous!" Hikaru swoons, feeling the fabric hanging from my side.

"Look how it compliments your skin!" Kaoru drools, patting my arm.

*Haru-chan looks like a model!* Hunny-senpai laughs. *Look, Usa-chan! Isn't Haru-chan pretty?*

"Oh dear." Kaoru says, taking a step back.

"Ah, yes, brother. I know exactly what you mean." Hikaru says back, joining his brother a few feet from me. They both put their finger to their chins.

"Why…why are you looking at me like that?" I ask them nervously. They smile slowly.

"Mori-senpai…" I say slowly, looking to the tall man for backup. He shrugs with a little smile.

"Come on Haruhi. Let's get a makeover." Hikaru says as they both close in on me.

"We'll make you beeeaaauuutttiiifffuuulll." I swear, I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if their heads spun around.

"H-hunny-senpai?" I plead. Hunny grins at me through his cake.

*Don't worry, Haru-chan. Take Usa-chan with you!* He lobs the rabbit at me. I catch it and close my eyes in resolution.

*************

"If it starts raining, I will shoot all of you." I breathe out. The skies are gray and it smells like a storm. That won't stop the rest of the Host Club. Hikaru and Kaoru dolled me up (in the most literal sense--I feel like a Barbie Doll) and shoved me into a limo with everyone before I realized what was happening. The ride to the Suoh's main mansion has probably been the most nerve-wracking ride of my life. Even with stopping to pick on Mei for moral support.

"It's about damn time," she'd said as she got into the limo. "I've been waiting for this to happen for ages." She hasn't shut up about it. Between her, Hunny-senpai, and the twins, I haven't been able to take a moment to breathe. The Hitachiin's had primped and pressed and drew until my hair was flowing (even as short as it is) and my makeup was perfect. I'd seen myself in the mirror and hardly realized it was the same Haruhi Fujioka I'd seen when I woke up this morning. I don't feel like the same Haruhi Fujioka that woke up this morning.

Please Mom, let this go well. I pray. We're close; I can see the Suoh estate just over this hill.

*I believe in you, Haru-chan!* Hunny-senpai cries, giving my a hug. I smile.

"We do, too!" Kaoru and Hikaru shout, throwing their arms around me. I start to blush.

"So do I." Mori-senpai says, ruffling my hair. My whole face feels beet red.

"As do I." Kyoya-senpai smiles, a true smile, and the tears well up.

*You'll do great, Haru-chan!* I wipe at the tears in the corners of my eyes.

"Thanks you guys." I sigh. Mei grins and pats my hand.

"This is going to go great." I nod.

"TIME TO GO!" Kaoru opens the door to the limo and Hikaru shoves me out. I almost fall--Mori-senpai's strong arms catch me before I ruin the dress.

"Thank you." He nods silently. "I'll see you guys soon." I say, trying to muster up as much courage as I possibly can. They all smile. These are the people who mean so much to me, and they have so much confidence in me. That must mean that I can do this. Old Haruhi might not have been able to. New Haruhi, even padded down by the recent heart-hurt, this Haruhi can do this.

I'm going to tell Tamaki Suoh that I love him.

A/N Oh, yes, I do leave you all with a hanger. However, I tell the truth when I say I have the next chapter mostly written, and the next two chapters. They're all planned out and roughly written, I just have to go back and fix them…but, I'll have them up hopefully before next week. If you're really lucky, I might have them up in the next few days. Love y'all!