For clarity's sake, this story is set in between sometime after the first 50 chapters or so, but before the Suoh company's takeover shenanigans and Honey+Mori's graduation. (Read Ouran for details, you'll see why I call it shenanigans.)

I do not own Ouran Koukou Host Club or any of its characters, plot, etc. I do, however, thank the gods behind the Ouran manga/anime for this wonderful series.

WARNING: This chapter has some violence. Nothing compared to what I plan for future chapters, but just a heads-up.

'So, this is the one we are after. Any last questions?'

'Just to clarify, that is one of those from the Ouran Host Club?'

'Yes, this one will be our next toy. Be warned though…the target may put up resistance.'

[ONE WEEK LATER, 30 MINUTES BEFORE START OF DANCE BALL]

'Alright everyone, this is probably one of the biggest events we have ever hosted in terms of guest turnout, but just remember, more guests mean more chances for them to be entertained by our wit and looks,' Tamaki said in an excited tone. However, even he seemed slightly, just very slightly anxious. After all, as happily noted out by Kyoya, the event received an unmatched level of interest. The reason?

'Haruhi, please try your very best not to get caught up in other matters. After all, you didn't really dance with the guests that much during the last few dance balls we held,' Kyoya reminded her in his typical matter-of-fact, yet intimidating manner. 'I suspect that this record turnout is partly due to high interest of the girls in dancing with you. At least, that is the opinion I garnered from Renge.'

'Oh … I see. I'll try my best,' Haruhi grimaced, not really daring to argue that in the past few dance balls, she had been forcibly whisked away by various Host Club members for varying reasons.

'And don't worry about the food too, Haruhi!' Tamaki jumped in. 'Daddy has specially guaranteed that fatty tuna will be offered, and you are privileged to eat as much of it as you want! After all, it is a rare chance for a commoner…'

Haruhi uttered a word of thanks as she ignored Tamaki's look of pity. 'And no Hikaru, I'm not wearing that dress, I already have my attire on.'

'Well maybe not now, but definitely later on,' Hikaru said, shuffling the white dress away.

'After all, most of today's guests think you're a transvetite, and people like Bossanova-chi will keep your REAL gender a secret,' Kaoru chimed in.

'Besides, you'll look so cute in that dress Haru-chan!' 'Yeah.' 'Daddy would love to see you in such a wonderful dre-'

'Right everyone, I don't mind this banter but we really need to get going now,' Kyoya intervened.

As the Host Club members walked down to the holding area, greeting many guests (especially girls) along the way, Haruhi's mind was totally focused on finally getting to eat fatty tuna for the first time, when she suddenly bumped into a black figure.

'Ah, sorry…' she muttered, before managing to get a clearer look at the person. Brown-haired, he looked like a stereotypical bodyguard, with a black suit, black pants, black leather shoes and black sunglasses. However, he seemed slightly familiar (even with the sunglasses), and his stature seemed to be similar to that of a student, which was odd.

'Sorry,' he grunted back. 'By the way, is this the Ouran Host Club?'

'Uh…yes-' but before Haruhi could ask if she could help him out, she noticed an impatient Kyoya beckoning for her to hurry up, and took her leave with another apology.

The male momentarily stood in the hallway, looking at the seven that just passed him, searching for a particular one.

'So there you are…brat.'

[THE DANCE BALL BEGINS]

It was completely dark in the central salon, the location of the dance ball. Then, 7 spotlights turned on, each revealing a person underneath it, standing on the steps of the salon. The gathered crowd went wild for a few seconds, before silencing itself as a tall, blond figure raised his microphone.

'Thank you all for coming,' Tamaki said. 'This is by far the biggest dance ball we have ever held, but that is a good thing. So many beautiful women of this fine institute, and let's not forget the dashing men who came here too. Plenty of opportunities for new, hot and passionate romances to bud! The Ouran Host Club members will happily serve you, as that is our main duty.'

'Now as the tradition of the Host Club's dance ball goes,' the bespectacled gentleman next to him said, 'we will choose a winner for the best couple, and the lucky woman will get a kiss from the King, without meaning any offence to her partner of course.'

'Ganbatte,' Tamaki paused. The crowd held its breath.

'Baby.'

The crowd went mental.

As the event progressed, the atmosphere was really skyrocketing. Even Haruhi was enjoying herself, just a bit.

'Fujioka!' A familiar voice from the food table? She spun around to see a red-haired male beckoning her over.

'Ara? Casanova-kun? Why are you here?'

'Well, it has been quite a long time since I visited the Host Club…and more importantly, I haven't seen you in a long time.' Kasanoda was growing red, his shy nature worsening the fact that many of the male students who were unfamiliar with him were looking at him with scared expressions.

As he offered to get some fatty tuna for her, a figure approached Haruhi.

'Excuse me…'

'Hmm?...Oh, are you by any chance the man I bumped into just now?'

'Ah yes, sorry about that once again. Are you a member of this Host Club?'

'Well, yes. Do you need any help?'

'…' The male suppressed a grin.

So far, so good.

'I need to see one of your members for…important reasons, but I can't seem to find him…'

As he talked to this boy (or girl? He really couldn't tell.) for the whereabouts of the target, he noticed in the far corner of his eye, a familiar presence, with long red hair. This wasn't a friendly presence. As the figure came closer, one look at his face confirmed his suspicions, and he cut off suddenly.

'Hrnh?' Kasanoda's face turned into a malicious, hostile frown, as he recognised the person talking to Haruhi, and that person wasn't welcome to him.

'Oh, excuse me. I need to go off for now…' the Sendou decided it won't be good to confront Kasanoda now, not in front of so many people anyway. Better to not risk revealing my true intentions here.

As he walked away hurriedly, Haruhi turned to Kasanoda, who grabbed her out of the blue.

'Hey Casanova-kun, why did you react like that?'

'Ah, sorry Fujioka, I didn't mean to startle you or anything,' Kasanoda replied. 'It's just…just that I recognised him, and he is a member of the Sendou, an enemy of our clan. You shouldn't get involved with him, because his clan is one of the most powerful gangsters in Japan, and they have committed serious crimes before.'

Haruhi froze. The male had just asked her for the whereabouts of someone close to her, and she could infer from Kasanoda's warning that he was looking for his target with malicious intentions.

This wasn't good. Not at all.

'Casanova-kun, I need your help. That person just asked me to find a particular person-'

'That's not good, Fujioka. The Sendou nowadays only mean trouble.'

'I can infer that. I need you to help me find Honey-senpai.'

Where is he? Haruhi was looking around, but couldn't find him. Finally, she ran into another Host who could provide some information.

'Hi Mori-senpai. I would have expected Honey-senpai to be tagging along with you. Have you seen him?'

'Well, I think he might have went over to the food table for cake.'

Of course. The most obvious area, and she didn't bother to check it.

'Good evening, Morinozuka-senpai!' Kasanoda joined in. 'Senpai, one of the Sendou is looking for him.'

'Sendou…? Isn't that…'

Mori's eyes widened. He understood why the Sendou were looking for Mitsukuni.

'Tell me what he looks like, and I will deal with him.'

It turned out that a huge crowd wasn't a good thing now, as Haruhi, Kasanoda and Mori struggled to get past the masses of bodies to even look for either the Sendou or Honey, especially with the latter being so small. Instinctively, Mori waded his way through to the food table. If Mitsukuni gets in danger, then…

'Mori-senpai, look! There's…there's strawberry cake on the floor?' Mori froze, adrenaline pumping through his body, as he looked at the small amount of cake that was indeed on the floor, and what appeared to be a single footstep, a small one, made out of cake next to it, headed out to the exit door. Mori grasped the situation in front of him immediately. Among the people in this room, only Mitsukuni could have feet of similar size. Judging by its direction, it looked as if he ran away towards the exit...

Shit.

'Mitsukuni!' Mori yelled, as he bolted towards the door, as Haruhi and Kasanoda ran after him, surprised by his reaction. The tall host ignored the shocked guests around him as he sprinted with all his strength.

Stepping outside onto the corridor, the sound of electricity and screaming greeted Mori.

'Quiet!' the Sendou was pointing something at the ground, on which Honey was lying. The lighting in the corridor revealed him to be sprawled out on the floor, completely helpless against the taser. The small Host was screaming in pain, wriggling in an almost uncontrollable manner. Two probes were stuck on him, connected to the taser's wires. It was almost as if the taser was the puppeteer, manipulating Honey to feel immense pain.

'Mitsukuni!' Mori yelled, dashing towards the scene. 'Why you little…arghhh!'

A second person, hid in the shadows, slugged Mori in the abdomen, knocking him back, and blocked his way forward. The force was so great that blood immediately started to leak out of Mori's mouth.

'Ta…ka…shi…,' Honey groaned. The sound of electricity, overwhelming as it already was, threatened to mute his words out. However, Mori, after so much time spent with him, could make out his words.

'He…lp.'

And with that last, desperate request, he slumped, motionless and quiet.

As his cousin fell unconscious, Mori only stared wide-eyed, motionless. Panic gripped him. Panic, that after all those years of ensuring his safety, he had failed to save Mitsukuni from two low-life gangsters.

Panic, that the Sendou could, no, would have darker plans, both against Mitsukuni and the Haninozuka clan.

And panic, that the Host in front of him, lying completely unmoving on the cold floor, could be seriously injured, or traumatised, or,

Dead?

The second Sendou braced himself, wary of any potential counterattacks. He whipped out a pistol, aware of Mori's martial arts prowess.

Panic.

A mixture of hatred boiled through Mori's blood, and his usually cool and collected brain screamed something in his ear, repeatedly.

Revenge.

'Mori-senpai!' But he did not turn back at the familiar voice. He threw away his logic. Instead, like a mad bull, he charged forward at the man, reason having left him. He was fast, the sense of vengeance giving him a renewed adrenaline boost, the hatred propelling his feet forward as he braced his fists-

And then, Haruhi and Kasanoda could only watch in horror, as the tall host fell backwards, blood spurting out from his front. It was almost graceful, aesthetic even, but there was nothing graceful about this situation, this tragedy.

The Sendou brothers gained sight of them. 'Oh god, there's more!' the one in front shouted.

'Leave them! I'll take the runt, let's split and meet up at the getaway!' The rear one responded with a tinge of anxiety in his voice. Picking up the small Host almost effortlessly, he ran away from the scene, with the other following suit, before splitting in two directions.

Haruhi blinked. Tears started flowing from her eyes, and her body trembled uncontrollably.

This is a dream. There's no way that this can be happening.

AN: So the target is Honey (incidentally my favourite character, but that's NOT why I chose him. Sorry Honey!). I chose him because throughout the manga/anime his bond with the Host Club members (except Mori) isn't explored as deeply as the other Hosts (like Tamaki, or even the twins etc.), so I wanted to do that instead. How will they react? (Some people might say this doesn't make sense as Honey had beaten up Chika, Chika and Chika, oh and also two Green Beret platoons and the Otori's private police force through martial arts only: I'll go over that within the next few chapters.)

Apart from that, in case you have no inference skills, Mori got shot. For a brief refresher, the Sendou is the gangster clan from which Kasanoda's servant/disciple/idk Tetsuya comes from, and whether they're enemies idk, for this story they are but it's mostly irrelevant.

One last thing: Tamaki's 'ganbatte' scene is parodied from Episode 2 of the Ouran anime. One of my all time favourite anime scenes cus it's funny to me. Alright if you read until here have a strawberry cake, thank you for reading! (both the actual story (please) and this rant of an AN)

PS Fanfiction gives you research skills cus tasers. Oh and in future, updates might be slower, like maybe weekly, partly due to other commitments and partly cus I feel that something like twice a week, while fast, sacrifices content quality. Thanks!