Did I take to long to update? Maybe! Warning: sadness!

.~*~*~*~.

The hall was crowded. Pleasant, classical music was playing in the background. Haruhi almost felt like she returned to Ouran, and it was one of their gatherings. She silently watched the charmingly dressed members of high society gathered in small groups, having conversations about things they have deemed worthy of their time. She espied Kyoya's father with a very beautiful, young woman. Haruhi's eyes grew wild as she realized who the woman was. She had seen her before. That woman... she had killed Kyoya. She was his wife in the other supportive universe. The blood in her system started to run fast and hot, and Haruhi had to take a deep breath not to faint from shock and anger.

She felt Kyoya's warm hand on her upper arm. She rose her head, and their eyes met. He looked quite self-satisfied and smug. Yes, this Kyoya Ootori had some childish streak in him, didn't he? Haruhi let out a small gasp of frustration and walked along with him. She bitterly realized that her presence caused some shock and confusion among the gathered guests, and their scrutinizing eyes were making her feel uncomfortable and odd.

Cloud of foul whispers, as toxic as gas that spoils the clean air, accumulated in the room and made the lightful atmosphere created by the pleasant classical music fade. Haruhi didn't know to fret at this reaction or laugh. None of this people knew how twisted and unreal the real world was, and how easily it was being manipulated. For some reason, her reaction remained indifferent, and she noticed how little she cared about anything and anyone after numerous times of witnessing Kyoya Ooori's death.

"Good evening Ootori-san, Miss," a young man, dressed in an elegant suit, greeted them politely.

Haruhi suppressed the glare that was threatening to grace the soft feature of her face as she stared back at the man with a cynical smile. She greeted him back with a reserved nod. She looked up at Kyoya and found his face in his eternal blank state that he was saving for those he detested the most.

"It's nice to see you, Amori-san," he replied coldly. "This is Fujioka-san."

The colour on the man's face changed. He paled and looked at Haruhi with threatening curiosity.

"Nice to meet you Fujioka-san," he managed a small smile. "You must be a very important person to Ootori-san, if he chose to come to the gathering with you and not his fiance."

Haruhi felt how Kyoya tightened his grip on her arm. She looked back at the man and started to laugh wholeheartedly. Suddenly, it didn't matter anymore how anyone would perceive her. This whole universe would stop existing at some point, unless she managed to find the keys. The man's accusation might have seemed a very unpleasant and nerve-wrecking thing before, but now Haruhi just found no other way to respond to him, but to laugh.

Amori-san looked back at her with confused, widened eyes, and she realized that Kyoya was staring at her warily, too. She covered her lips with her palm in a very lady-like manner that she picked from all of those years of being a host for snobbish, aristocratic girls and pretended to be amused.

"I am not sure how it would concern you at all, Amori-san," she noted with a harsh tone suddenly, rolling her eyes.

The man, taken aback by her strange and unexpected response, stepped back. Enough of her putting up with these rich bastards. She tried her best to be nice to them all these years, and now she didn't care anymore. Kyoya looked at her bewildered and then whispered into her ear, "I couldn't expect you to change so much during the years, but then you've always been outspoken."

Haruhi didn't respond. Her heart stung with bitter pain that she couldn't just turn and hug him. But what made her most vulnerable was the fact that he could die again, and she wouldn't be able to do anything about it.

"Someone once told me they saw a friend almost die and that changed them," she mumbled barely audibly, remembering Kyoya words after she woke up from the coma. "I think I have faced the same situation and that changed me."

Kyoya looked at her surprised, but didn't say anything. She was glad. She didn't want to speak about it.

.~*~*~*~.

The dinner was nice. She found the safest and soundest spot and started to taste all the delicious dishes with pleasant, warm aroma. Something good, at least, came out of this. Kyoya was conversing with group of rich aristocrats, and most likely forgot about her, which she was more than thankful for. She didn't want to be close to him and talk to him and not be able to extend her hand and cup his cheek and hug him tightly, so that their souls would melt in the embrace. It was hard for her, and she was unable to control all the emotions bubbling inside her head.

She shook her head and took a deep breath. She had an important task to perform. She needed to find those keys and she couldn't allow her emotions overthrow her. She clenched her hands. She would do this. She would save him. She looked at him again, and her heart started to slow its beats as she saw him laugh.

"Crap," she sighed, seeing her hand accidentally go into some strange dipping.

She didn't even notice how she leaned against the table and put her hand inside the stupid bowl full of weird dipping. It didn't have heavy smell at least. Haruhi grabbed tissues from the side table and cleaned her fingers. The sticky thing was smeared all over her hand and gave her an uncomfortable feeling. She needed to wash it.

When she entered the bathroom, she had to mumble her most commonly used phrase; 'Rich bastards', because the bathroom was so lavishly decorated that it made Haruhi a little sick.

"I don't think I know you," a feminine voice interrupted Haruhi from her musings. She looked up and saw Kyoya's fiance. There was something malicious about the expression on her face, and Haruhi grimaced.

"You don't," she responded coldly. "I don't see why you should know me, though."

She dried her hands with the tissues and threw them into the trash bin. When she turned to face the woman, Haruhi noticed how the expression on her face deepened. She looked a little startled. Maybe didn't expect Haruhi's cold, apathetic answer. Haruhi, then looking at the girl, smiled sweetly, and winking at her, walked to to the exit.

"Don't think you can have an intrigue with Kyoya-sama," she suddenly called after Haruhi. "He might be playing with you now. But eventually, he will toss you aside."

Haruhi felt her muscled twitch. She stopped and turned back. The girl was smiling arrogantly. The memory of her killing Kyoya came to Haruhi's mind and fouled her system. Her body started to shake. She could feel vibrations passing through her knees, and her stomach - turning weak at the sight of this horrid woman. Haruhi clenched her hands and took a deep breath.

"Make sure not to bother Kyoya Ootori," she whispered, "or you will have to face me."

"What?" the woman's eyes widened, "Are you threatening me?"

"I am giving you a friendly advice," Haruhi cut her and walked out.

"Who does she think she is!?" the girl screamed irritated and stomped the floor angrily. "Maybe there is something serious between her and Kyoya. Oh my God, I need to find out! She can't take away Kyoya-sama from me."

Panic coloured the girl's cheeks, and she walked out of the bathroom after Haruhi.

.~*~*~*~.

"Ootori-san, I was really glad, you have decided to work with us," said an old man with a weird, white mustache. "Without your contributions, I don't think our project would be successful."

Kyoya politely nodded and smiled at the old man. Haruhi stood there for a moment and sighed. Something didn't change about him. Those eyes... they were the same... She would never forgot how those silver orbs looked at her—despite how cold and freezing they appeared, they were glowing with heat when he looked at her. Her hand started to shake again and she had to clench the side of her dress to collect herself.

"Oh, Miss," the man suddenly noticed her standing near Kyoya and smiled widely, "you came here with Ootori-san, I am afraid I don't recognize you."

"She is a friend of mine," Kyoya explained, gently wrapping his hand around her waist and pulling her forward. "This is Araki-san, one of our main investors for our new project. Araki-san, Haruhi Fujioka, a school friend, who did the favour to accompany me today."

As they were introduced they both bowed politely. Haruhi noticed that the old man is a little drank and looked quite cheerful and talkative.

"Nice to meet you, Araki-san," she said gracefully.

"Ootori-san you have a very beautiful friend," the man said, winking playfully at the younger Ootori.

Haruhi's face reddened from the compliment, and she looked at Kyoya, whose facial expression didn't change.

"She is," he agreed and looked down at the girl. Their eyes met for a short second, but Haruhi looked away immediately. She didn't have the courage to look into his eyes, her heart was bursting out with pain when her eyes were falling on him.

"Between us Ootori-san," the man said with a whisper and looked around carefully, "your fiancée is not an appropriate partner for you."

The man then giggled and looked around again and then cheerfully tapped on Kyoya's shoulder. Yes! He evidently drunk more than he should have. Kyoya didn't say anything, but he smiled quite sinister at the man's remark, as if very satisfied that he didn't like his fiancée. But the man didn't stop his bubbling there, he then turned to Haruhi and spoke with his smooth baritone.

"Are you married, Miss Fujioka?"

Haruhi nervously laughed and shook her head. Who gave this man this much drink? Or he was just insensitive like that because of his old age. She was saved by Kyoya's interruption.

"Haruhi-san and I need to leave soon," Kyoya said politely, holding her hand, "I have promised to take her home, if you excuse us Araki-san."

"Of course, Ootori-san," the man said with a smiley face, "I understand."

"I hope we will be able to continue our collaborations," Kyoya said with a bow.

"My company is very interested, Ootori-san," the man replied, "to work with Ootori group and especially with you. You were the key-person that led the project to success."

Key person! Key! Haruhi's mind started to work in great speed. The words this man said suddenly started to nudge her to realize that the keys she was supposed to gather might have been not actual keys, but people. People who were connected with her and Kyoya and the accident that threw all of them into this tsunami. How could she not think of this before?

She didn't meet host club members all this time. Even when she woke up in a supporting universe and needed to attend host club reunion the only person she met was Kyoya. She actually never managed to get in contact with Host-club guys when she needed help for her father's surgery. She was able to meet only with Kyoya. When she woke up from coma, Kyoya was the only one there. The other guys were not in Japan, but planned to visit her. No, that was not natural. It was like very deliberate that she couldn't meet any of her friends except Kyoya. He was the only one appearing in his life after she would wake up.

She had the same stupid pink dress around her all the time, and no matter what she did, she couldn't get rid of it, but her old friends, people who she was very close with were nowhere seen, as if they disappeared from the world. They were the keys―the keys to fix the mess. She needed to find them. She needed to contact them. She needed their help. They would find a solution, they always did. Host club was always there for those who lost their path and didn't know what to do. Host club always helped the needy and this time it was their friend who was in need, and Host club needed to get together and help her.

She didn't even notice that they walked out, until the cold breath of the wind stroked her flushed cheeks. The air was cold, but fresh and brisk. The wind was flowing, softly whistling and mumbling about its passions, desires and sorrows. It was late already. The sky was covered with shining dots. It was a calm, beautiful evening.

"Did something happen?" Kyoya asked, looking at her carefully.

"Not really," she answered thoughtfully as if without realizing and acknowledging Kyoya's presence.

"I hope you enjoyed yourself," he said more like to himself, "and coming with me was not a trouble. I also hope that you will not do any stupid thing again, ever..."

She looked at him. Those eyes did things with her she couldn't describe with any words. Those eyes killed her soul and resurrected it at the same time. There was so much in those silver eyes and their metallic, lifeless shade, so much that her eyes welled up. She shook her head and gasped, trying to breath and not to cry because of Ootroi Kyoya.

"Are you crying?" he asked, looking at her confused, "did I say something to upset you?"

"Kyoya..." she mumbled and stepped closer to him, "please stay alive..."

"What are you speaking?" he chuckled perplexed. "Are you alright?"

"Don't ever, ever let anything happen to you," she whispered and her sad voice trembled.

Kyoya's eyes widened when she hugged him, when she wrapped her soft, slender arms around his neck and pressed her head against his chest. Her feminine smell and pleasant warmth, strangely paralyzed him in place. He tentatively brought his arms forward and hugged her back. Feeling her soft, fragile body so close, made all of his essence to shudder. What did happen that separated them for so many years? He longed for her all this time. Every day, he felt how she was missing from his life, but he could never tell how much exactly he needed her in his life and this very moment all of those questions and thoughts disappeared as she raised her head and pressed her lips against his.

Sweet, sweet kiss that made both of them feel whole, intact and clean.

.~*~*~*~.

There was no one around. She was in the host club. Haruhi looked around confused. What happened? A minute ago she was standing in front of the car, kissing Kyoya Ootori, and now she was in Ouran high school, in the 3rd Music Room. How was that possible? Did something happen to Kyoya? She looked around alarmed and strode to the door, but it suddenly was pushed open and Tamaki entered in with Kyoya. Her eyes widened as she realized that both of them were young boys. They were 2nd year students and it seemed to be the year when she arrived to the host club. Did she somehow travel in time?

Seeing Tamaki and Kyoya when they both were so young and carefree, made her heart tremble in sweet, tender ways. She launched forward instinctively to wrap her hands around them, but was shocked to find that she just passed through them, as if she was some ghost.

"You don't seem happy today," Tamaki noted, looking at Kyoya and completely ignoring Haruhi, who was still bewildered by what happened.

"I suppose," Kyoya agreed, sitting down on the sofa and crossing his legs, "recently to be honest―"

He didn't continue, suddenly stopped and looked away. Tamaki quirked an eyebrow quizzically and sat forward as if trying to get closer to Kyoya to see him better.

"Is there something that bothers you?" he asked gently when Kyoya didn't say anything.

"Kyoya, Tamaki?" Haruhi called, feeling frustrated that they don't even notice her existence. They didn't move their eyes towards her. It appeared they didn't even hear what she said. She strode towards them hastily and anxiously, but they didn't notice her again.

"I..." Kyoya started, looking at Tamaki just right through Haruhi as she was nothing but a mere ghost. "It's nothing really."

"If something bothers you," Tamaki said almost gently, "I am always here to listen, okay?"

Kyoya didn't respond. His face was paler than usual, and he looked really drained and sleepless. Haruhi looked at him pleadingly and for a second it appeared to her he looked at her, into her eyes. But he averted his eyes and looked down with a long mournful sigh.

"Kyoya," she called again, stepping closer.

Her heart started to beat faster and stronger, and she stretched her slender hands towards him. She tried to touch his cheek, but her hands just went through him, as if her body was not real, but a puff of air. She stepped back panicked and screamed.

What was going on? What just has happened?

Her scream sprawled in the air and got lost, diluting into nonexistent fragments. Haruhi rubbed her temples anxiously, trying to understand what happened to her this time? Kyoya didn't die. They just left the party and ... why couldn't they see her? Why were they at school? Was she supposed to do something?

"Sorry," Honey-senpai said, yawing and coming in with his cousin, "I overslept. Have the guests already come?"

Haruhi looked at the short blonde hopefully, but the latter didn't seem to be aware of her existence, either.

Don't worry Honey-senpai," Tamaki said, "Hikaru and Kaoru didn't even come yet."

Haruhi looked at Kyoya. He seemed very stressed about something. He had cupped his face and was breathing unevenly.

"Is Kyo-chan alright?" Honey-senpai asked, narrowing his eyes in concern.

"I am fine," Kyoya said, getting up, "Thank you. Excuse me for a moment."

He left the room, and Haruhi ran after him. He looked so... broken, so defeated. Her heart throbbed in pain, when she recognized loneliness in his youthful, beautiful features. He ran through the corridor and entered the men's bathroom. First, Haruhi was wary to enter in and caught him in awkward situation, but then she heard a loud sob. It was his voice. Was he in pain? Did something happen to him?

"Kyoya?" she screamed, opening the bathroom door with force.

Her voice weakened in the thick silence of the room. Haruhi walked in, slowly and cautiously. A sharp gasp left her lips when her eyes fell on he boy: he was on the floor, leaning against the the door of the bathroom stall. His dark hair disheveled, and his bangs covering the luminous face he had. Haruhi's heart felt trapped in a cage when she reached out for him, but couldn't touch him. She sat there―on the floor―in front of him and listened to the low sobs that escaped his mouth. They were tearing her mind apart like a torturous beast. She realized she could not look at him so broken. What had happened?

Something had happened to Kyoya Ootori, and she didn't know about it, and now she was thrust into this strange time to witness it, or was she just hallucinating and going mad? She couldn't tell anymore which of the possibilities were true. The world was absolutely insane or she was the only one with a wandering mind, lost in her grief about losing Kyoya Ootori.

He lifted his head and looked at her, as if seeing her. He looked right into her eyes and her body trembled with hope.

"Kyoya," she called his name tenderly.

He averted his eyes and looked into an uncertain direction. Haruhi noticed the sparkly tears floating on the surface of her eyes, and she clenched her fists painfully, digging her nails into the soft tissues of her flesh. She didn't want to see him like this―it killed her. She was helpless. She wanted to help him, but she could do nothing. She couldn't even touch him.

Kyoya's sobs have stopped. He looked wretched. She looked at him gently and with concern, but that's all she could do.

"Something is not right," he suddenly mumbled to himself, "someone is missing. There should be someone here, or I am just getting crazy."

Haruhi's eyes widened. Maybe Kyoya could feel her presence. A spoke sparked in her mind and she shouted and uselessly tried to make her presence known. Nothing helped.

"Kyoya," Tamaki's voice from behind startled them both.

Kyoya jumped up on his feet in less than a second, brushed away the tears in his eyes and returned the blank expression on his face.

"Kyoya, are you there?" Tamaki's voice was heard again.

"I will be in a minute, Tamaki," he grumbled annoyed, "let me, at least to have some privacy."

"I am sorry," the blonde guy said, looking apologetically at his friend. "I am a little worried about you. Are you alright? Recently you don't seem fine."

"I am fine, Tamaki," he growled, turning and looking straight at the blonde kid.

"Then it's alright," Tamaki said with a sad smile, "but if you need someone to talk to, Kyoya, I am here."

Kyoya didn't reply, he only nodded in acknowledgment and, Tamaki, daring one last look at the guy, turned to leave the bathroom, before suddenly stopping and mumbling hesitantly, "Do you still..." he started slowly, "have thoughts about the girl... that girl you said was suppose to come to Ouran this year and be a host club member. Do you still think such person was supposed to exist?"

Haruhi's whole body momentarily was covered in sweat. The temperature of her body went up for several degrees. Her breathing became shallow. This was not exactly an alternate universe. This was not even time travel back, she was witnessing the broken universe, where she didn't exist and it drove mad Kyoya Ootori to kill himself.

Kyoya glared back at his friend and suddenly all the images in front of her changed. Now she was standing in a very neatly furnished room. Her first instinct was to run to the exit, until she realized where she was. This was Kyoya's bedroom. She could tell from the photographs of host club and his family on the stand. He was nowhere to be seen. She walked to the door to leave the place, but it was opened and Kyoya walked in followed by a young, beautiful girl.

"Kyoya, please talk to me," she mumbled, "don't do this to you. Why don't you eat something? Why are you locking up yourself in this room?"

"Fuyumi," he said―his voice tired and exhausted, "please, leave me alone. I want to stay alone."

"I want to help you," she said gently.

"I don't need help," he snapped, hitting his fists against the table, "I am not crazy. Now leave me alone. I know you all think I have lost my mind, but I am fine."

"Kyoya," she sobbed, a tear escaping her eyes.

She left the room and Haruhi stayed alone with Kyoya. If only she could talk to him, to tell him, she was right there, seeing his suffering and not wanting him to look so unhappy. He stared out of the window. He looked paler and sicker than the last time she had seen him in the bathroom.

"Where are you?" he muttered loudly and then sighed, cupping his face and hiding his hot tears.

Everything lost colour in a second, and Haruhi found herself facing Yoshio Ootori's icy face. Kyoya was sitting in front of him with neutral face and didn't seem to acknowledge the older man's existence in any way. His posture was rigid, like a frozen ice-king.

"Kyoya," the man started with strong, cold voice, "you should stop your childishness and don't embarrass the Ootori family. Your grades have dropped, and your recent behaviour is very disappointing."

"I understand, father," he said stiffly, with a curt bow, "I will be in my room, excuse me."

Haruhi looked at the young man's face and terror coloured her eyes. He was... the thought that raced through her mind shuttered her consciousness into pieces. Why was Yoshio so harsh with him? She ran after him as he was going up the stairs. He entered his room and locked himself in his room.

"I know you must exist, I can feel it," he yelled, "why did you leave me? Why aren't you here?"

Haruhi's face grew more terrified and grimmer as the scowl deepened on the young man's handsome face.

"I will bring you back," he mumbled, "I will bring you back."

And then a crazy laughter overtook him, "They thought I wouldn't know you existed," his shoulders were shaking as he cried the words, "Pitiful they are if they think I will ever forget you. Haruhi..."

The last thing she saw tore her soul and made her body sick. Kyoya Ootori's unconscious, trembling body fell down. He gave his life to get hers back. Haruhi screamed, tears left her eyes. After all she had seen, she never thought she would be able to shed a tear, but now her entire being was destroyed.

.~*~*~*~.

"Haruhi?" a voice called her, "Haruhi is something wrong?"

"Huh?" she looked up and met Kyoya Ootori's concerned face. She was no longer in those gloomy memories. She was standing near the car, in Kyoya's arms and they had just kissed. It was awfully cold outside and the freezing air was stinging her soft cheeks. They were outside the celebration hall. Those were the pieces of morbid truth that started all of this and she intended to stop it.

"You are trembling, silly" he said with a smile, "you must be cold."

"I must be," she agreed―her voice still shaky from what she had seen.

"Where would you want me to take you?" he asked.

"Anywhere," she mumbled and pressed her lips against his. She just wanted to forget what she had seen. She wanted to erase that pain from her heart.

He wrapped his hands around her waist and they both got lost in the sweetness of their touching lips.

A/N-I hope you liked the chapter and I hope I answered some of the questions you had here. 😇