Disclaimer: I don't own Ouran High School Host Club. Bummer, man.

As the girl leaned in, eyes closing, rosy lips inexplicably pursing, Haruhi panicked. She couldn't let this girl kiss her. That would just be too weird. But before she had enough to time to react, she felt a strong arm wrap around her waist, and pull her roughly to her feet. She stumbled and fell against Mori, who was holding on to her with a possessive gleam in his eye.

"Senpai," she gasped, eyes glazing over. Being this close to Mori was hazardous to her health. Well, at least to her disguise. Her stomach flipped over.

As if on cue-

"I know you aren't feeling well, Haruhi," he grumbled, eyes dark.

"You had a stomachache this morning."

Haruhi looked up at him, eyebrows twisting in confusion.

"What the hell-?" she began to exclaim, struggling against his grip. But before she could say anything else, she was interrupted. Again.

"Yes, how are you feeling, Haruhi?"

Kyouya's cool voice slipped into her ear and suddenly it clicked. She faked a loud cough and hunched over, grimacing,

"Yes, I am feeling a tad sick today. I don't know if it was something I ate, or what." She said, leaning on Mori. His body was warm and she missed the sensation of his body against hers as he stood back. Kyoya eyed her.

"Shall you go home for the day, Haruhi? We can't have you sick for our Host Club Ball. Ooops, did I just let that slip?" He said as Haruhi jerked her head up.

"Take her home Mori, and make sure she gets bed rest. But do try your best to not catch anything, will you? We can't have both of you sick. And Mori, mind your self."

Mori nodded, then scooped Haruhi up. The girls simultaneously swooned.

"His body!!"

"His eyes!!"

"He's so sweet!!"

Honey grumped over his cake.

"Usa-chan, at least we have each other."

Usa-merely sat there, droopy eyes staring into the cake in front of him.

The car ride back to Haruhi's home was long, but passed by unbelievably fast. She sat on Mori's lap, arms around his neck, purring into the junction of his shoulder and neck.

He was suppressing a grin. But then remembered the girl back at the Host Club.

"Haruhi."

She sat up, and looked at him with worried eyes. That tone said so much with just one word.

"Sen- Mori. About that girl, I promise I had no intention of kissing her. I swear."

"Hn."

A satisfied grunt escaped as the limousine braked to a halt. The apartment flats looked as bleak as ever compared to the extravagant mansions the Host Club went home to at night.

But it was home, and who was she to deny the safety and comfort of the familiar. They exited to limo and hurried up the stairs.

Haruhi dug around for a key and finally managed to get into her home. Mori looked as if he wanted to follow, and Haruhi would have let him in a heartbeat. But he paused on the doorstep, and his eyes darkened.

"Good night, Haruhi."

He leaned in and kissed her gently, his lips smooth on hers. She kissed him back, her tip toes straining to reach him properly.

He broke the kiss all too soon, and turned and left, flashing one gunmetal look back at her before getting into the black limousine.

She shut the door. She couldn't believe how her stomach twisted for him! If she didn't know better, she'd say she was falling in love. And oddly enough, the sentiment sat just right with her.

Author's Musings: I'm not going to apologize for taking so damn long to get another story up, because I know it won't matter. Just now I feel insanely bad. That, and this particular installment is lacking something like crazy! I know, I know. I'm working on it. :[