Mori was in the dressing rooms off the side of the stadium when Mitsukuni came skipping through the door with a full plate of cake. "Hey Takashi! Your match is soon!"

"Hn." Mori had been the last one in the dressing room, delaying on purpose so he could have some time alone to meditate. Still, he never minded his cousins company.

Mitsukuni happily sat down on one of the benches stuffing cake into his mouth, watching as Mori strapped on his kote. Frowning, Mitsukuni knew his cousin wouldn't have any trouble winning this tournament, but that wasn't what Huni was currently worried about. "Do your best okay?" he said his voice unusually soft.

Mori looked up at his cousin's uncharacteristically sober face and smiled faintly in his own quiet way. "I will."

"Haruhi will be watching." Mori's face didn't twitch one bit, to Mitskuni's dissapointment. Huni sighed.

"Takashi."

"No, Mitsukuni."

"But Takashi, you can't always be selfless if you—"

"Hn."

His cousin pouted adorably, his big eyes if possible getting even bigger. Mori only ruffled his hair and looked away, by this time nearly invincible to cutesy stares. But Mitsukuni was right. Haruhi would be watching. And it bothered him more than it should.

"I won't let you go on like this forever Takashi, I think you should tell Haru-chan how you feel."

Mori shook his head. "No. It's not the right time."

Mitsukuni looked at Mori for a long moment, pondering where to go with this argument. He decided to just let it drop. "Ok Takashi, whatever you think is best!" He smiled, to an untrained eye that smile would look innocent. However Takashi knew better, and saw the deviant hiding behind the cute smile.

Mori gave him a suspicious look. You could never know what Mitsukuni was planning, his mind worked much the way his body did. You never saw him coming until you were already on the ground wondering what had happened. So Mori was unsurprised when the loli-shota continued to smile and skipped out with little more than a, "Good luck Taka-chan!"

Five minutes later after some meditative breaths, Takashi left the dressing rooms and made his way to the arena. It was an indoor arena, although it was not one of the nicest Takashi had ever been to, or the fanciest. It still had a large court with only one square for matches, four large screens were placed in the corners of the stadium to provide a closer view of the fighting. A high lofty roof with glass paneling allowed lots of light to filter through without using to much electricity. It was nice, but not the best.

This tournament was held for purely entertainment purposes. For beginners, it served as an introduction to kendo, and to an experienced kendoka a way to practice their form outside the dojo. In any case, Takashi was grateful for the low key atmosphere of this tournament. He didn't feel focused, and invariably his thoughts would wander to his family watching from the stands. Then move on to the host club, more particularly, Haruhi, who was also watching.

For the first time ever, Takashi was nervous. To be nervous about such a trivial Kendo tournament was a new experience for him. Perhaps it came from this strange feeling of seeking accomplishment. Takashi wanted more than anything right now for Haruhi to see him, really see him perform well. As that thought came into Takashi's head he realized how hopelessly screwed he was. He had fallen for the sole girl of the host club just as surely as half the rest of them had.

Takashi, who could care less what others thought of him. Who spent more time protecting the reputation of his friends, (who he valued more than anything) this was the new Takashi who was fretting over what Haruhi thought of him.

Takashi entered the arena to the end of another match and scattered applause. It was nothing like the roaring crowds at the National Championship. The tournament was still in the first round and there were few matches left to be completed. The winner was declared for the match and the next two contestants were called up. Mori sat cross-legged with his men (face mask) across his lap, his shinai on the ground before him. Mori quickly scanned the seats around him searching for the Host club and his family. He didn't find them, so he assumed they were sitting above him.

Mori sighed inwardly and focused his attention onto the two combatants. The five minutes of combat seemed to go by quicker than usual. Neither of the Kendoka had scored any points at the end of the time limit, so an additional three minutes were added to the round.

He made a safe bet that the taller one would win. The Kendoka he was betting on was confident in his posture, his hands firm on his Shinai, his mind appeared still. Whilst the other Kendoka's presence seemed to twitch, though his body didn't move; he was restless. Sure enough, a minute into the extra time, a point was scored, and the match was won.

It was his turn now. Takashi stood up as the referee called his name. "Morinozuka Takashi! And... Narashi Sayu!"

Takashi pulled on his men and stood, striding calmly into the square. His opponent stepped in a moment later, and after a second they both bowed and entered Kamae position.(ready position)

The referee blew a short blast on the whistle and the match began. Mori's opponent was much like the loser of the previous match. Inexperienced, and unsure. Mori watched him, carefully marking openings, and finding numerous weak points in his stance. After thirty seconds of patient circling, the Kendoka made a rookie mistake lunging in prematurely. Mori didn't have any problem countering him and sending him back on defensive. Within the first minute and a half Mori had already scored a point on the Kendoka's torso, and the referee announced it as a valid strike.

Takashi's opponent was more cautions now, and didn't move in to strike right away. Not one to wait long, Mori experimentally stepped forward testing his opponent's defense, aiming for an opening on the left hip. His thrust was countered and Mori stepped back sharply maneuvering into position before striking back faster than before. His opponent was much slower than he and couldn't defend against Mori's, quick jabs. The match was over in three minutes. The crowd cheered and this time Mori was able to pick out his family in the throng as he bowed to his opponent. A moment later he spotted the host club up towards the top of the stadium.

Tamaki was jumping up and down in excitement, while the twins had taken up a chant of "Ta-Ka-Shi! Ta-Ka-Shi! Ta-Ka-Shi!"

Mori deadpanned at the over zealous display. The first round had only just ended. Kyouya was the only one who sat calmly in his seat, with what looked suspiciously like his laptop. Mitsukuni was standing up in his seat bouncing up and down, exactly how Mori had told him not to do on more than one occasion lest he fall and hurt himself. Huni couldn't see his cousin's glare of disapproval from the distance, but it hardly mattered because Haruhi exacted a reproving look of her own and pulled the excited loli-shouta back down into his seat a minute later.

Mori's eyes widened. Haruhi was the voice he'd been listening for. Sure he'd heard heard her cheer, but seeing her look after Mitsukuni was so much more satisfying than hearing her cheer for him. It made him feel a little less guilty considering.

Takashi was unable to justify wanting Haruhi for his own selfish reasons. He had other responsibilities to his family, and to Mitsukuni he felt obligated to fulfill. It didn't seem to matter how many times he assured himself of that fact that he simply couldn't be with her right now. He always ended up watching her anyway. He supposed it was just lucky for him no one but Mitsukuni had noticed.

A ten-minute break was announced before the next round, Takashi knew he probably had about forty minutes since he was in the last match again. So he got up and silently headed back to the dressing room to grab his water bottle.

His younger brother met with him in the dressing room to announce that their parents was pleased with his performance. Mori's face remained stoic, but he snorted inwardly. This minor accomplishment didn't really warrant congratulations. He appreciated it never-the-less. Satoshi proceeded to give him a rundown of the previous matches that Mori had missed (skipped) and efficiently sized up his older brother's opponents, telling him that, "You won't have any problem winning nii-san, this will be an easy tournament!"

Mori couldn't help but smile inside at Satoshi's enthusiasm. "Satoshi."

Satoshi looked up excitedly at his older brother with a bright smile on his face. "Yes, nii-san?"

"Don't you have a English assignment to finish?"

Satoshi looked rather guilty at that. "H-hai." scuffing the ground with his foot. Mori took pity on his younger brother and almost felt bad for reprimanding him. Almost. Homework came first after all. "I'll help you when we get home."

"Oh thanks Takashi!" squealed Satoshi giving his brother a hug. "I gotta go now, mother and father are expecting me back." He waved as he ran off. Takashi smiled, then set to rummaging about through his bag searching for his water bottle.

A vein twitched in Haruhi's temple. "Will you just calm down!" she exclaimed in exasperation, her glare aimed at Tamaki and the twins who hadn't yet ceased their chant of 'Ta-Ka-Shi! Ta-Ka-Shi! Ta-Ka-Shi!'

"He hasn't won yet."

Huni sempai giggled, and the twins smirked. Haruhi got the feeling that she'd been left out of the loop, again. Huni tugged on Haruhi's arm smiling up at her sheepishly, as if apologizing for her own 'commoners knowledge' as Tamaki had dubbed it. "You shouldn't worry Haru-chan, cause Takashi will win no matter what."

Haruhi was still confused. Damn these rich bastards and their riddles. Why couldn't they just come out with it and tell her? "I don't understand Huni-sempai." Haruhi said flatly.

"Could it be?" Chorused the twins. "Our dear Haruhi doesn't know Mori-sempai's greatest talent?"

"Well look at that Hikaru," Kaoru whispered into Hikaru's ear.

"I'll say Kaoru, how could she not know? But Mori-sempai has never been one to brag—" Hikaru was interrupted by Tamaki's screech of indignation. "Mori-sempai is a man of reputable standing! Unlike you foul beasts, Mori has never commited a selfish act in his whole life!"

Tamaki looked dramatically out of breath at the end of his 'righteous Mori speech'. The Princely type collasped into his chair as if defending Mori's honor had worn him out. The twins looked at each other chorusing,

"Did he just-"

"Call us foul beasts?"

"No, Tamaki-chan is right." said Huni a little mournfully. "Takashi never does anything out of the norm without consulting his family. He doesn't want to cause any inconvenience or worry to anyone so he checks to make sure his actions don't hurt anyone. Takashi's the nicest, bestest, selfless person I know!"

"I knew Mori-sempai was a nice guy, I mean he's always looking after Huni-sempai." said Haruhi tapping her chin thoughtfully, remembering Mori with Huni-sempai perched on his shoulders. The time when Mori had saved her from Tamak, sweeping her away like she weighed next to nothing. Haruhi blushed. Luckily for her, no one but Huni-sempai seemed to notice.

"That's right!" Before Tamaki could go off on another rant the twins interrupted him. "That wasn't the original point dearest King."

"Yeah." said Kaoru. "The point was that Mori-sempai is a Kendo champion."

"Didn't he win Nationals last year?" Put in Hikaru airily sneaking a glance to check Haruhi's reaction.

"Wow." Murumured Haruhi looking down at the court. "I, I never knew. I guess Mori is pretty amazing huh?" she smiled, lost in her own world seeing Mori-sempai earlier defeat his opponent with such ease and grace. Effortless. That was a word Haruhi could pin on Mori quite easily. Everything he did, he made it seem effortless.

Huni stared at Haruhi for a full minute thinking, watching the small smile curl around her mouth. Wishing that his cousin would open up and do something for himself for once.

The host club settled in for the next round, some rather pointless conversation flowing between mainly Tamaki and the twins, though occasionally Kyouya or Haruhi was dragged into it.

Haruhi watched the next round intently trying to get a feel for the way it all worked. The rest of the host club couldn't be bothered, in fact they were more interested in getting snacks or in Kyouya's case checking data on the computer. Haruhi began to wander where Mori was. She hadn't seen him come back into the stadium yet. As the second to last match came to an end Haruhi let out a breath, she looked over her shoulder just in time to see the rest of the host club coming back, loaded with drinks and sweets.

"Ladies, and Gentlemen," The spokesman's face came onto the big screens situated in corners of the arena. "Please forgive this brief interruption, but due to the health concerns of one of our competitors, we shall take another ten minutes, before proceeding to the next round."

It took a minute for that to sink in. Tamaki jumped to his feet. "Kyouya! You don't think-?"

Health concerns of one of our competitors. The words rung through Haruhi's mind. Could that be Mori-sempai they were referring too? She stood up and ran to the rail, Huni-sempai trailing behind her. Together they scanned the court below them. Mori sempai was no-where in sight.

As they turned back, Kyouya was already on his cell phone. A brief second later he put it down looking grim.

"Mori's not answering his cell phone."

I don't know much about Kendo, so I googled it and tried to learn more about how the tournaments work, what kind of equipment it worn...ect. ect. ect. If you have any questions about the terminology used, just ask and I'll answer the best I can. (No promises on accuracy unfortunately) :)

If you are a practitioner of Kendo and see any blatant errors in this, or just feel like sharing some cool knowledge, please please please message me. Or leave a review about it. :)

Thanks