Welcome to the second chapter of HSII: Dry Your Eyes! I hope you all enjoy this chapter! The next one is still in publication, but don't worry!

I would also like to thank my reviewers and favoriters and alerters...you know who you are! Thank you all! Your reviews and continued support of my work really made my crappy day yesterday so much better!

I don't own OHSHC...if I did, that would be...really bad...

Previously...

As she sat at her desk, unable to concentrate on the lecture about World War II, she began to think. She knew she loved Kyoya with all her heart…neither had said it to the other just yet, but it was a fact she had accepted. She let Kyoya into her crazy life and gave him her heart. He was always by her side, and when she was in the hospital, she was told that Kyoya had not once left her side…willingly, anyway. So, maybe Kyoya loved her too…and maybe, just maybe…things would be okay…

Oh how wrong she was…

And now...

When Haruhi arrived at Music Room #3 later that day, she was still on edge. The whole school knew about her relationship with Kyoya, no doubt, and it did not help her feel any better that Kyoya was rather aloof about the subject. He did not care what others thought, and while she admired that quality in her boyfriend, she knew that she could not adopt the same philosophy.

When the host club had found out about their growing relationship, there had been some mixed and very surprising reactions. Mori had nodded knowingly and gave the pair a rare smile. Honey had picked up Usa-chan from Haruhi's bedside table and had danced around the room as he sang out his happiness for the pair, swinging the battered bunny as he went. Kaoru had glanced at his twin before giving Haruhi two thumbs up and shooting her a grin. But by far, the most surprising reactions came from Tamaki and Hikaru. Both boys had had long-standing crushes on the girl in question, but when they saw how happy she was, cuddled up with Kyoya on the hospital bed, they knew it was time to let go. Tamaki had walked over to his two friends and told them he supported them fully. Hikaru had gone over to Kyoya and shook his hand before giving Haruhi a kind smile and a tight hug. Haruhi had been able to tell that it was bothering Hikaru and Tamaki, but she knew that they would find women who were truly worthy of their love and affection.

Haruhi was shaken out of her thoughts by a hand on her shoulder.

"I've decided to not do a cosplay today. I hope that's okay with you." Kyoya winked at Haruhi, walking away to get his area ready.

This was the first day that the club would be open since the incident. Haruhi did not want to admit it, but she actually missed working with her boys. So when the doors opened and the girls came flowing in, Haruhi put on her "natural" face and went to work. Every one of her customers had some sort of gift for her, and all of them wanted to tell her how glad they were that she was back. It wasn't until one of her regulars, Kai, brought up her relationship with Kyoya that the seeds of doubt and fear replanted themselves.

"Haruhi-kun! We hear that you and Kyoya are together now!"

"Er…yes…we are." Haruhi scratched at her neck.

"How is that going to work out? The Ootori empire won't go to a gay son. Isn't this going to mess with his future stake in the company?"

"Kai, that's not very nice. I'm sure Kyoya's father wouldn't take away his hold in the company because his son found love." One of the other customers admonished lightly.

"Is it my fault that the two of them don't belong to…" Kai's words were caught in her throat when she met Haruhi's eyes.

Haruhi tried to keep her tears at bay, but after an entire day of hearing these kinds of sentiments, it was beginning to get to her. One by one, the tears made their way down her face, darkening the material of the couch she was perched on.

"Kyoya…Kyoya and I a-are together…that…th-that shouldn't be…any of anyone's concern…we are ha-happy…why isn't that enough…" Haruhi managed before standing up. "Pl-Please excuse me, ladies." She whispered as she made her way to the kitchen for the tea.

"No, Haruhi…don't cry…it's stupid to cry over something this small. They don't even know that I'm a girl…" She was muttering to herself, trying not to break down. But as soon as the thought that Kyoya's reputation was being soiled because of her inability to admit her gender crossed her mind, she gave a heavy sob and fell to her knees.

In the meantime…

Tamaki had seen Haruhi rush to the kitchen, and at first he had thought that she just wanted to get the tea ready. However, when she still had not reappeared ten minutes later, he became concerned. Excusing himself from his guests, he walked back to the kitchen only to hear a heart-wrenching sob come from the fragile female behind the door.

He opened the door slowly, and his heart broke for the girl on the floor. She sat with a hand over her mouth to muffle her sobs. Her body heaved with each cry that emanated from her, and when he looked closer, he realized that her cheeks seemed to be flushed more than they had been at lunch.

"Haruhi? What's wrong?" He asked, approaching her slowly, as if she were a wounded animal.

"Senpai…I can't…I can't do it anymore…" She croaked, launching herself forward and wrapping her arms around his torso.

"What happened?"

"I'm ruining Kyoya's reputation…the whole school thinks I'm a boy…and apparently being in love with someone of the same "gender" is frowned upon unless you're related…"

Tamaki managed a chuckle before he wiped some of Haruhi's tears away.

"Kyoya loves you, Haruhi. He doesn't care what others think. The people who need to know the truth do know, and that's all that matters. I mean…you could tell your customers that you are a girl if you really wanted to, but that's all up to you. Just think of the possibilities! A Hostess Club…All the beautiful girls in adorable corresponding cosplays to ours…and there would always be someone to…"

"Senpai! Come back from the Mind Theater. I'm going to have to tell them soon…it's getting way too out of hand…and I don't want Kyoya to have to suffer because of my shortcomings."

"Then do what you think is best. Oh and…congratulations! You've just admitted to yourself and to me that you are, in fact, in love with the Shadow King! Kyoya and Haruhi sitting in a tree…" Tamaki's child-like attitude had a way of putting a smile on Haruhi's face whether she wanted it to or not.

"Ugh…come on, senpai…our customers are waiting." Haruhi shook her head as she started to get up.

Unfortunately for Haruhi, the worrying she had been doing, as well as the crying and the fact that she stood up much too quick, all added up to a serious case of dizziness. As soon as she was standing, the floor came up to meet her face.

The last thing she was aware of was the blond-haired man calling her name in panicked voice and two strong arms wrapping around her waist.

Welp...there it is! I hope I did not disappoint too many people...

Review if you feel so inclined! :)

See y'all next time!