A/N!

I'm so sorry I haven't updated in a long time! I went to camp, then I had some classes to take. Ahhh… But I have to thank you all for your reads, favorites, and reviews!♥

+Chapter Ten+

Confrontation of the Tall, Dark, and Handsome

What a feat is was, attempting to speak to the man beside her. Mori was difficult to read and what looked like a loner. He looked like he didn't like anybody, but when he hugged and held Hunny, that was all wiped away. Still, his face was always so cold and almost scary. She'd only seen him smile a few times, but every time it was burned into her thoughts and memory. His smile was enchanting, and she was still curious about a certain something.

"Mori-sempai," Haruhi looked up to the man once more. She wasn't going to give up on trying to speak to him. She wanted to learn more about him.

"Ah," He said, allowing her to speak and reassuring her that he was listening. The color in his eyes looked deep and vacuous as if some sort of alternate dimension. She could see the twinkling stars and swirling galaxies in her mind easily, but the feeling faded fast. She'd realized that she was staring, and Mori had caught her in the act.

"Oh, uhm, gomen, Mori-sempai. I was just…" Haruhi sighed. It was no use covering it up, that wasn't her. Shaking her head, Mori got the message. "Well, anyway. What I wanted to talk to you about…"

Mori nodded once more. "Ah. What is it, Haruhi?" His voice was deep enough to make Haruhi's innards spin. She stopped herself from another stare, and continued, ignoring how his questions sounded like statements.

"I've always wondered… Why don't you talk as much as the others?"

Mori's eyes widened a bit. He smiled discreetly and turned towards the rusting water, beating against the shore so smoothly. His chin lowered, and his eyes fell limp to the point where the vacuous space had disappeared into regular eyes.

"I don't know."

There was a short silence, and Mori once again lifted his chin and eyes. Now he was staring more upward, towards the moon. It was gigantic, even though it wasn't completely full. Haruhi didn't get the answer she wanted.

"Well then," She sighed, thinking to herself as she spoke. 'This guy's impossible,' she thought, then continued to speak. "What do you think about? I mean, what do you think of everybody and what we always do? You must like it to some extent if you're always with us." She turned away. "Unless you're only in it because of Hunny-sempai."

"I am." Mori nodded slightly. A large, sharp streak of disappointment coursed through Haruhi as those words were muttered. He continued. "I am, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy the Host Club."

"Really?" Haruhi said coolly, feminism consuming her words. When she spoke seriously, she no longer sounded so angry all the time. There was no reason top be angry at Mori. He was probably the last person she'd ever be angry at. Well.. At least the only living person.

"Ah." Mori nodded once, still refusing to give direct eye contact to the cross dresser beside him. "Tamaki is a good father."

"…Oh." That still wasn't the answer she wanted. Did Mori really think of Tamaki as a good father, or was he just saying that on behalf of Haruhi? This guy was never clear enough with his words, and she thought he knew it.

"Kyouya is very smart. He keeps it together well, even if he's not warm about it." Mori wasn't finished. Haruhi stopped her train of thought, and paid excellent attention. "Hikaru and Kaoru are not the brightest, but they make things interesting." Finally, the big man turned and smiled at Haruhi, looking her right in the eye. This made her a bit intimidated, and her heart raced a little bit faster. "Haruhi, you keep it all together. Without you, this club is a mess."

"Me?" Haruhi blinked. Mori's words were flattering, and she did not expect him to say that, really. She expected more of a 'Tamaki is cool. Kyouya is smart. Hikaru and Kaoru are dumb. I like Hunny. You are a girl.' Answer than something a bit more poetic. It made her a bit happier and a bit more awake to hear him say what he did.

"Well, in any case.." Haruhi smiled back to him. "I'm glad you're with us!"

"Hm." Mori smiled again and turned around. Lifting an arm, he pointed to the small shack he and Kyouya had built. "Haruhi. You should sleep with the others."

"Huh?" Haruhi blinked again. He didn't want to continue the conversation? "What about you?"

"I'm going to stay out here. Go to sleep."

"Okay… Goodnight, Mori-sempai!"

Mori sounded like such a father figure. He was more of a daddy to her than Tamaki by a long shot. With a smile, she nodded sheepishly and began to walk steadily to the heap of metal, mud, and trees. 'Mori-sempai… He's almost too nice,' Haruhi thought, laughing a bit to herself as she crept slowly inside the tent full of sleeping handsome rich men. She studied how their sleeping defined them, almost.

Hikaru and Kaoru lay facing each other, their hands all together by their chests. They looked like a couple, and it was something Haruhi was happy for. They had each other, and if they hadn't, they wouldn't have been able to function. They were meant for each other. An image like this made Haruhi wonder what they'd do if they ever found outsiders to love. Would they ever split?

On the heap of grass that lay over the laptop was Hunny-sempai, curled up in a ball. His big happy eyes were closed and his jaw was covered by his fist. It looked as though his thumb was inside his mouth, but it wasn't. Usa-chan's ears poked up on either side of his face, and his foot twitched slightly. It was an adorable sight.

Tamaki had an almost scared look on his face, eyebrows twitching slightly as his fists lay on either side of his face. Haruhi could easily picture a shining crown over his head, and she laughed quietly at how he was so disturbed at sleeping on the cold, hard, wet, dirty ground for the first night in a long time. Looking closely, she noticed how his lips were never still. He seemed to be having a nightmare.

"No… Papa-san, I didn't… I didn't sink the… Haruhi, what're you do… Snails…"

"Tamaki-sempai… Baka." Haruhi sighed. Why was he dreaming about her? What was she doing with snails? Whatever… It didn't matter. It's not like she cared about what Tamaki said, right? Well, in the morning she'd ask.

Kyouya was sitting up almost. His eyes were closed under his glasses and his hands lay in his lap as if over a keyboard of his laptop. He was propped against the corner in a slump. There was that tranquil look on his face, and he never moved. It was like looking at a wax sculpture. He was cold, hard, and yet at the same time intriguing.

Still, Haruhi studied the ground for a place that was open for her to lay freely. The only open space was by Tamaki, and that would leave no room for Mori. Plus, she was afraid his nightmares would result in him spazzing out and punching her in their sleep. There had to be another place to lay… But there wasn't. She could just leave it there for Mori, right? No… His legs would poke out the door anyway. Shaking her head, she cursed to herself and placed herself alongside the Host Club president.

Despite Haruhi's hypothesis, she fell asleep fast. Having a futon to sleep in, it wasn't too hard to fall into such a slumber. The day was hectic and tiring, even if she had been knocked out cold and given an opportunity to get some rest. It was the type of thing you see in a movie, and she'd been secretly aching to sleep even as she spoke with Mori. The thing was, she was more interested in what he had to say than her well being. Well, to an extent. All in all, Haruhi was glad she was able to get some opinions out of that stone of a man.

Tamaki and Kyouya

Running to the inside of the shelter, Tamaki was hoping Haruhi'd say at least a goodnight. His wish went ungranted, but his hopes were still hung high. Despite Kyouya's look of comfort and the rest of the club being asleep, a look of fury swept over Tamaki's face. It was a determined look, and his eyes like targets locked onto Kyouya as he let the missiles fly.

"Kyouya!" Tamaki spat, not too loud for Mori and Haruhi, but loud enough to annoy the sleeping four.

"Go to sleep, dono-sama!" Hikaru whined.

"Tama-chan's loud!" Hunny cried, shifting position.

"Lower your damn voice, Tamaki, what do you want?" Kyouya hissed. He was in a near whisper, and definitely not asleep.

"Haruhi! She's going to the bathroom!"

"You're so gross, dono!" Kaoru grumbled, snuggling a bit closer to Hikaru. Both of them had looks of irritation in their eyes.

"….So?"

"So, how's she going to do that, there's no bathroom around here!" Tamaki looked so worried. His face was sweaty and red, eyes wide as an eagle and mouth waiting to blurt out something loud and annoying.

"There're bushes, who cares?" Kyouya groaned. His face said 'Dear lord, this guy's an idiot,' and he was hoping that the blonde boy wouldn't keep up this attitude all night. It was already late for a day to be shipwrecked.

"B-B-But…!!" Tamaki's hands raised now as the look intensified on his face and he showed Kyouya his spirit fingers.

"Just go to sleep, Tamaki, you're keeping everybody-" Kyouya stopped. His eyes narrowed and he faced the wall to his right.

"…Huh?" Tamaki blinked.

"Shh." Kyouya raised a finger to Tamaki's lips, and his concentration grew. "Mori-sempai and Haruhi and talking."

"Oh! Uh," Tamaki was silenced again, but this time more furiously. "Hm!" Tamaki began to listen as well.

The sound was muffled a great deal by the thick amount of shelter that Kyouya had calculated as enough to not collapse in the rain. Mori's craftsmanship was definitely a force to be reckoned with. Some words were able to be heard, though.

Unfortunately, the conversation they heard was warped:

"Mori-sempai"

"Ah"

"Why talk as much as the others?"

"I know."

"What do you think about us?"

"I don't enjoy the Host Club."

Tamaki's soul nearly escaped his body. "Mori-sempai.. DOESN'T ENJOY THE HOST CLUB?!" How was that possible? Tamaki put his heart and sould into making sure it was enjoyable for everybody. "Ahh! Maybe that's why he doesn't talk so much! Maybe that's why he doesn't like to be a part of the group so much! He's only in it for Hunny-sempai!!"

"Shhh!! Listen, Tamaki!!" Kyouya silenced him again. "God damn…" He was lucky that Tamaki was whispering his rant instead of yelling. He wasn't that stupid to let Haruhi and Mori know his place. He'd already used up his stupid on the phone call today.

The conversation eavesdropping continued.

"Really?"

"Ah."

"Oh."

"Kyouya is not warm. Hikaru and Kaoru are not the most interesting. You keep it together. This club is a mess."

"Me? In any case, you're with us."

"Ah. I'm going out. Go sleep."

"Okay, goodnight Mori-sempai!"

Again, Tamaki froze. The conversation was over, and he heard Haruhi's footsteps approach the shanty. "She said… Goodnight to him!" Tamaki nearly sobbed, causing Kyouya to smirk a little. He knew what they were really talking about, Tamaki's version was too choppy and definitely unlike them. Haruhi would normally ask more questions about those things, and Mori was not that cold, no matter how silent he normally was.

"Yep." Kyouya sighed, and shifted back into position. "Go to sleep."

Tamaki looked up at Kyouya, puppy dog eyes and a quivering lower lip. How could Mori and Haruhi dislike the Host Club? He personally loved it. Was it because Mori was in it only for Hunny and Haruhi was forced to join? Was Mori bitter because the others got more designations? There was no way! And Kyouya barely even seemed to care!

Haruhi's footsteps grew louder, and Tamaki sighed. Kyouya looked as if he'd already gone to sleep. Laying down on the grass, Tamaki's eyes tightened and forced themselves shut. He couldn't sleep. Although Haruhi had already entered the shack and was examining everybody, he was sure that she would get up and leave with Mori in the morning. No way he'd allow that. All of his troubled came at him at once now. Sinking the ship, he pictured Haruhi telling him off.

"Tamaki-sempai, you ruined my life!"

"No… Papa-san, I didn't… I didn't sink the… Haruhi, what're you do… Snails…"

Tamaki couldn't focus. He couldn't keep his thoughts straight.

"Tamaki-sempai… Baka."

With that comment, a headache formed. He felt like crying. Why did he have to take them on a cruise? Why wouldn't it be a trip to the commoner bowling alley? At least it wasn't an airplane, but still, he endangered all of their lives and now they hated the Host Club. Life seemed to be at an end, and it sure would be if they didn't start to work a bit harder.

Breaking apart was the last thing they should do to ensure survival.

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A/N!

Yeah, again I neglected to proofread, and AGAIN, I apologize for being away so much! I figured if I didn't stir things up a little, this fan fiction would start hitting a dead end, so… TAMAKI'S REALLY, REALLY SAD! HAA

Next Chapter::

(Bonus) Hopes and Dreams of a Host

I hope you still read this, despite how long it took for an update! D':