Disclaimer: I do not own "Ouran High School Host Club" or any of the characters in this wonderful manga/anime in any way.
Shelter in the Storm
Previously in chapter six: It was decided to make the theme for the day "Snow White" with Haruhi lounging on one of the chaise lounges dressed as the fairy tale character from after she ate from the poisoned apple. The boys would dress as the dwarves. They even agreed to allow Ritsu to come and dress as Grumpy.
Chapter Seven
Their so-called party lasted much longer than the original hour that Ranka had set as a time limit, but no one seemed to mind. Although Haruhi was asleep the whole time, as long as she was safe and sound, they were content with just being there. They kept Ranka company and enjoyed the food and sweets. Huni had brought more than enough sweets, as expected from the sweets obsessed teen. As night fell, each of the teens made their way to leave one by one. When Ritsu got ready to leave, he asked Ranka if they could speak in private. He formally introduced himself as well as giving a brief explanation of how he knew the man's daughter. Then he offered a less than detailed description of what he had done in the attempts to find the slime who had hurt the girl.
When Ranka walked back in, Huni had fallen asleep with his head resting on Haruhi's lap, who was still resting in Mori's lap. Ranka gently moved Huni off of Haruhi, then offered to take the sleeping girl from Mori's arms. Mori was reluctant to let go, saying "I'll carry her. No use risking waking her." Ranka offered a gentle smile as he showed the way. After placing Haruhi gently on her bed, Mori left Ranka to dress her for bed as he went into the living room. He busied himself by cleaning the mess that they had left from the food and drinks. When Ranka returned to the living room, Mori bid him a good night and picked up the still sleeping Huni.
"You know, son, you boys have been here for her through this whole ordeal. I don't know what we would have done without you. I just don't know how to thank everyone, especially you." Ranka stood with his hand on the closed front door, wanting to get the words out before he let the last two boys leave.
"I didn't do anything."
"Yes, you did. You gave her strength to get through this. Only someone who really cares could think of a way to give her strength to fight her demons even in her sleep."
"That would be Huni." Mori was pretty sure that Ranka knew that Huni was the Karate Master.
"No, that would only help when she's awake. You are the one that said that if she could fight in real life, then she could turn the tides on her dreams. It takes someone suggesting that before the mind will take the suggestion and turn it into actuality. You've been the silent strength behind her. Not asking her to talk about the attack, not making false promises that she will forget this soon, and it was you who held her when she had the nightmare as well as tonight when she finally realized that she might actually have to face that bastard again. So yes, YOU have been her support. Thank you, from both of us."
"Just luck. I was there."
"Ehh maybe," Ranka couldn't express himself the way he wanted to. Not until he figured out how his daughter felt.
"When she had her nightmare and on the stairs, both, just luck of the draw. I was there."
"Maybe so, but you did it, they didn't. It doesn't matter really, I am grateful to them as well. Even that idiot Tamaki."
"They would have."
"Okay. I'm not going to repeat myself. I know that they would have, but would and did are two different things. Anyway, I will get out of your way now. Have a pleasant evening." He opened the door and held it while Mori carried the sleeping Huni out the door and to the waiting limo.
The next afternoon as Ranka prepared for work, the hosts all showed up after school. The twins carried her assignments that would be due the day she returned to school. Well, a week after she returned, but they all knew that Haruhi would not wait and would have them done before she returned to school in the first place. Huni brought sweets, Mori again brought bottles of tea for everyone, and Tamaki just showed up. Since it was Kyoya's turn to stay with Haruhi according to the rotation that he had set up, Tamaki claimed that both "mother" and "father" would go see how she was doing after her first night at home.
Kyoya confirmed with Ranka before he left that he would not allow the others to stay too late. The whole crew sat down at the table to assist Haruhi with her lessons that she had missed over her absence. Knowing his fellow host club members, he had known that they would stick around for a while, so Kyoya had ordered his maids to bring over enough food for all of them at dinner time. Haruhi had excused herself to the restroom as the knock on the door came. When she returned from the restroom, the table was heavily laden with all sorts of food and everyone was waiting on her to sit down so that they could eat.
The food was excellent, as expected. And, true to form, Haruhi was almost half way done with all the homework that had been sent. Although they expected it, it still somewhat shocked her friends that she had grasped everything so quickly. Haruhi was, after all, first in her class and had won the prestigious scholarship to their illustrious high school. Hikaru and Kaoru tired easily of the homework since they had just gone over it in the last two weeks. After several attempts to disrupt the study session, Kyoya got tired of their antics and sent them home, shortly followed by Tamaki since he had risen to the occasion and had fallen for their taunts. Huni-senpai started to get sleepy, so Mori-senpai took him home. The maids that had brought the food cleaned up the mess and made their exit leaving Kyoya and Haruhi alone. Haruhi gathered the homework up to set it aside for the night, while Kyoya stared at her.
A/N: short chapter, I know. But the upcoming conversation just couldn't be divided easily. Sorry. Please remember to review. Thanks!
