A/N: I'm back…again. I'm not going to promise I won't disappear again because just when I think life had settled down, something happens. This year has been crazy between publishing my second book and personal things happening in my family and life that were unexpected. What I will promise, is that I won't leave stories unfinished.

I've also put a poll on my profile page for this year's Christmas story. You pick the pairing. As crazy as things are right now, I didn't want to break tradition. I always look forward to giving you the annual holiday story. Go and vote. For those of you who do not have an account, you can still vote. I allow guest reviews on all of my stories. Put your vote in the review and I'll count it. You can vote through Dec 15. Mori currently sits in the leads.

Chapter 20 - A Sliver of Light

Nekozawa watched Haruhi through half-lidded eyes. How had he missed her feminine features entirely? No, that wasn't exactly true. There had been times when he thought she looked almost too soft to be male, but he never pursued or entertained them. To do so would have been idiotic…back then. Then again, it would have riled Tamaki and that would have been fun to watch.

There had been times when he only did things because he knew it would freak the blond out, which gave him personal pleasure. To see Tamaki shriek and try to climb the walls, or to hide behind Haruhi or Kyoya. Now that he thought about it some more, Tamaki hid behind a girl. Not exactly good for one's manly pride. But then Tamaki had never been normal.

"What's so funny?" Haruhi asked him, breaking into his thoughts.

When had her voice become melodious to his ears? Had he never really listened before now? Opening his eyes wider, his heart skipped a beat. There was a sliver of sunlight streaming in through one of the windows directly behind her, which appeared to give her an otherworldly glow. Stunning. "What?" He had already forgotten the question.

"What's so funny? You snickered like the twins do sometimes."

"Please do not compare me to those heathens," he grumbled. The last thing he ever wanted to be is compared to the people she surrounds herself with. He wanted to stand on his own two feet, on his own pedestal around her. Well, maybe not to that extreme.

Lifting an eyebrow, she almost laughed…almost. "Okay, I won't, but you did…laugh under your breath. What are you thinking about?"

"Honestly?"

"I wouldn't ask if I didn't want to know the truth."

The twinkle in her eyes drew him in and he wondered what she was hiding, or what she found funny. No doubt it was his reaction to being compared to the twins. "I was thinking about how I didn't see you were a girl. And I might have been thinking about Tamaki hiding behind you or Kyoya, and about driving him up the wall."

"See that last part is just like the twins. I swear they live to torture him sometimes," she giggled.

"He makes it easy."

"He does indeed."

They both started to laugh. To Nekozawa, it felt good to laugh. Between the threats to his family, his arranged marriage, and everything with the kidnapping, his heart and body had felt weighted down. If anything had happened to Haruhi, he would have blamed himself; but she got away. She lived. And she was here with him.

Grabbing her hand, he told her, "Thank you."

Haruhi became serious and tilted her head, "For what?"

"Everything. For being here, for staying with me, for living."

Things had certainly turned very serious in the matter of seconds, and she wasn't sure she liked it. Normally, she flourished in that kind of environment, however, she liked the light atmosphere from before. So much had happened, and still danger lie ahead, that she wanted to cherish those smiles and laughs in those moments they didn't have the weight of the world on their shoulders…more so his shoulders.

Besides, she didn't want to be anywhere else than with him. So many things had changed since the day she and Nekozawa had been taken, and while not everything was clear, she knew her feelings. Some would say that her feelings were nothing more than a byproduct of her situation, but those people didn't know everything. They didn't know what had been in her heart before and after. If they did, they would know that this was not some imaginary emotion.

Squeezing his hand, she smiled, "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. Some of her bruises were starting to fade and some of her scratches were healing, but it didn't release his guilt. If she had not been with him, she wouldn't have any injuries…but then she also wouldn't be with him right now.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Haruhi questioned.

"Nothing."

"Don't give me that. What's wrong?"

"You shouldn't have been put in danger."

She dropped his hand and grabbed his face with both hands, tilting it so that he would look at her. "This was not your fault. None of it. The fault lies with the lunatics who took us. Not you. Never you. And everything that happened to me, they are things that will heal. Period. So what if I have another scar? I don't care. I have some from when I was a kid. I don't blame you and you shouldn't either. Period."

Chuckling, he said, "Did anyone ever tell you that you would make an excellent general?"

"She would if it wasn't for the fact she constantly finds herself in trouble…or goes looking for trouble," Kyoya said from the door. He had left them alone earlier, but there was something that was bothering him.

"Kyoya-senpai, what are you doing here?" Haruhi asked as she released Nekozawa.

"I had additional questions, but if you aren't up for it."

"We are."

"Actually, Haruhi, this is for Nekozawa-senpai."

"If it will help keep Haruhi safe, then please ask," Nekozawa stated.

Kyoya made a mental note. It appeared that things were progressing between the patients. "You stated that your aunt's son was set to become the next head of the family."

"Yes, while we were distantly related to them, my aunt married a man higher up on the food chain through an arranged marriage. To strengthen the family connection."

"And would any of them want you out of the way?"

Frowning, Nekozawa shook his head, "No. My cousin and I have never been close, but he wouldn't want to wish me harm."

"What is his name?" Kyoya had his pen poised at the ready. Regardless of what Nekozawa believed or didn't believe, there was a connection somewhere. Even if it seemed impossible, he would investigate each and every one of them.

"Arseny Tokarev."

"Do you know if he or his family has received any of the same threats?"

"I…I…" Nekozawa's voice tapered off.

"What's wrong, Umehito?" Haruhi asked.

He grabbed her hand once again and answered, "I don't know if they have or not. Nothing has been said about them receiving anything, and as far as I know, it has only been my family." Why had he not thought to ask before? Why did he assume everyone in the family had received the threats?

"I will look into it and let you know what I find," Kyoya snapped his black book shut. "Now, try to get some rest."

Walking out of the room, Kyoya felt determined and purposeful. This was the breakthrough he had been searching for. If his sources were accurate—and he had no reason to believe they weren't—then Nekozawa's cousin wasn't as innocent as others thought.

Elsewhere…

"I've landed and will begin surveillance tonight," Afon spoke into the phone.

"Do not fail like the others. We need to deliver," a gravelly voice on the other end sneered.

"Da! I got it. I will not fail." He hung up the phone and threw it across the room where it shattered. It mattered not since it was a burner phone and would never be used again. Use once and throw away. It was the best way to keep everyone off of your trail.

He would not fail. He would do the job and give the ghosts from his past some peace. They all needed to die.