Chapter 1

Haruhi

"That was amazing, I can see why you're the most asked for hostess on the ship."

Haruhi didn't say anything. She could no longer remember this man's name and didn't care what he thought of her performance either. Her job here was done and he was leaving the next day.

Finally, she turned and looked him in the eye, making sure to keep her gaze away from his repulsive body. "Thank you for the compliment sir, have an enjoyable stay in the mainland." There was no point in sugarcoating her words anymore.

After gathering her uniform she bowed at her satisfied customer and walked out the door.

Once she closed it, she made a disgusted face. Haruhi couldn't help it. She always felt filthy after she finished a night of "working" on the ship.

She ran through the ship, holding back her tears as she did. When she made it to her room, she locked the door, ran to the bathroom, jumped in the shower, and cried.

The feeling was terrible, it was as if there were termites crawling all over her, inside her, and gnawing at her heart.

When she first started working on the ship, she didn't realize it would feel like this. When Renge asked her to be a hostess on her ship she thought it would feel like her days as a host. She thought there would be a feeling of gratitude after making the clients smile like there was from the ladies. She thought it would be ok if she was herself. She didn't know that it would leave her feeling this empty.

After her sobs slowed down, she thought about her first time. It was three months after she graduated from Ouran and she had just found out her father was murdered on his way home from work.

It was a random shooting and the killer was found right after but she was still hurt. Looking for some sort of release she ran to her boyfriend's apartment.

She had been dating Tamaki Suoh a few years and was still very much in love with him. He may have been capricious, flamboyant, and a bit ditsy but he was also charming, gentle, and protective.

After throwing herself into his arms she convinced him that losing her virginity was the best thing to do.

Afterwards, she still felt lost. She hadn't told Tamaki about her father and when he fell asleep she left the apartment. While she was wondering in the red light district she saw Renge, in drag, get thrown out of a hostess club.

"Wait until my father hears about this! I promise you'll regret treating me so terribly!" She screamed as her wig came off and revealed long red hair.

"Renge?" Haruhi asked, trying to confirm what she was seeing.

Renge whipped her head around to see who had recognized her. When she saw it was Haruhi Fujioka, she grinned wildly.

"HARUHI!" She leaped into her favorite host's arms. Feeling the familiar warmth, Haruhi started to cry. Renge knew what to do. She took Haruhi to a 24-hour diner and listened to Haruhi's whole story while sipping on coffee.

"By the way Renge, can you explain your current appearance?" Haruhi asked trying to sound like Kyouya.

Renge, getting the joke, laughed and said, "Well, I have my own cruise ship and I went to recruit workers. I have all the famous ones I need, I just have to find an unknown face to finish my collection."

"Pardon? What kind of cruise ship is this?" Haruhi was confused.

"An elegant playground for the super rich and beautiful." Renge laughed, "It's a host club and a hostess club put together in this whole 'pirates of the sea' theme. I just can't get away from those things apparently. Kyouya Ootori is helping me with it, kind of like a co-ownership." Renge thought for a moment while Haruhi smiled.

"That sounds amazing Renge. And I'm glad you're putting your energy into something healthier than those video games." Haruhi said.

All of a sudden, Renge grabbed Haruhi's hands and said, "Haruhi why don't you be my last hostess!"

In shock, Haruhi said ok and left for the ship the next day. She left without a note, without a word, without a trace. The whole Fujioka family was erased from every record. She changed her name, grew her hair out, dyed it, wore contacts and eventually forgot who the real Haruhi Fujioka was entirely. She hoped everyone could forget who she was and she could forget who they were.

Pulling herself out of her flashback, she got out of the shower and got into her pajamas. She laid down in her bed and wondered who her next client will be. Not that it mattered to her of course, it wouldn't be her Tamaki, he would never be so selfish as to go to a hostess club let alone a cruise.

Tamaki

"I'm not going to do it Hikaru, I'm getting married in a month." Tamaki said. It had been 7 years since his first love failed and he didn't want to risk anything with his wife.

"That's exactly why you have to do it! It's been long enough, you have to get over the fact that Haruhi left you right after stealing your v-card. You're only marrying this girl because it's beneficial to your business, you need to open your eyes to true love once again." Hikaru argued. They were in Tamaki's office, making arrangements for his wedding to a girl named Rasetsu Fuwa.

Tamaki cringed at the memory of his last night with Haruhi. She had dropped out of college without a warning, left her dorm room with all of her belongings and even her father disappeared. His apartment had been cleared out and left spotless too.

Tamaki sighed, "Well Hikaru, you've been around quite a bit, tell me, have you ever met anybody who was remotely similar to Haruhi in any way? Because I sure haven't and I'm empty without someone like her." He didn't hide his bitterness.

Hikaru shared a hurt look with him, "I miss her too Tono, but we have to accept the fact that she's gone. Kyouya can't even find her-"

"You don't think I know that? You don't think I hope everyday that she would arrive on my doorstep or that I wake up to find it was all just a dream?" Tamaki couldn't help but explode. She had hurt him and he didn't even know why. He wasn't even sure if she was kidnapped or murdered or if she had gotten into trouble and was in the witness protection program. All he knew was Kyouya knew something nobody else knew and if she were to pop back up into his life again he would instantly forgive her.

"Tono, please do this. We know the people who owns the place and it's a great place to hold your bachelor party. Your fellow hosts are worried about you and it would mean the world to us if you did this." Hikaru went back to his original argument.

Tamaki was tired of this conversation and Hikaru obviously wasn't giving up. "Fine but I'm not having sex with those ladies."

"Well that's something at least. Thanks Tono. It means a lot to me." Hikaru smiled and left the room.

Tamaki sighed again, "Haruhi," he whispered, "if you're out there, please come back. I still need you."

Renge

"So the young master finally succumbed to your pleading?" Renge asked the former host club, well minus the leader and Haruhi of course.

"Yes, but I'm still not sure why it's so important that he come here." Kaoru said.

"I can answer that," Kyouya stepped forward, "Do you all remember a former host by the name of Haruhi Fujioka?"

"How could we forget, Kyo-chan?" Hani senpai asked matter-of-factly. He was still short and cute.

"Well over the years she has been in a very specific line of work. One that required her to change her name and appearance and leave everyone she loves behind." Kyouya explained.

"It would've been fine if she kept in touch with you guys but she didn't and I didn't find out about it until recently." Renge stepped in, "I want her to make amends with you guys, more specifically Tamaki."

"I was unaware that everyone was able to keep in touch with her until recently too so it's partially my fault." Kyouya added, "Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up we would like to fix the trouble we've caused until now."

"Wait, slow down, are you saying that you guys have known where she was all this time?" Hikaru asked.

"She works on my cruise ship. The one I want you to bring Tamaki to. I want all of you to know beforehand because Tamaki's reaction will be big enough for everyone." Renge said.

"Why should we? She didn't say anything to us through the years, what makes you think she gives a damn about us now?" Hikaru was now visibly upset.

Renge put her hand on his shoulder, "Hikaru, everyone has been hurting from her actions. She cries herself to sleep when she thinks no one's listening. She doesn't have many friends. She hasn't opened up to any of the male staff. When she left it was to escape grief. She just found out her father was murdered, she didn't know what was right anymore. Please give her a chance at friendship and love again."

Hikaru looked Renge in the eye for awhile and finally said, "Alright I'm in. I miss her. How about you guys?" He turned to the other three.

"Yes." Kaoru responded.

"I wanna see Haru-chan again!" Hani-senpai exclaimed

Mori-senpai nodded and smiled.

"Good, let the plan be set in motion." Renge smiled. This was the last chance she had to make Haruhi happy again and everything had to be perfect.