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 twenty four: "Of course. Now, how do we tell everyone else. They wont be happy, but they can get over it. The most important person has been told. And I didn't lose his friendship. That is what really matters." She smiled at her friend and although it was a halfhearted smile, at least he smiled back.

Chapter Twenty Five

Kyoya took heart in the words that she spoke calling him the most important person. He may not have been the one to get the girl, but at least she was still his friend. He hadn't driven her away with his possessive nature. This commoner girl would stay in his life, maybe not as a girlfriend, but as a friend. Once she won her way into your heart, there was no getting rid of her. You couldn't turn your back on her, even if she had unintentionally hurt you. He could only hope that his father would choose someone as equally intriguing for his second choice for the third Otori son.

Since it had come to this, Haruhi figured she might as well pull on all available resources for a way to tell the rest of the club. So Kyoya, Takeshi, and Haruhi discussed how to tell the rest of the club, while Kimiko did her homework. Kyoya agreed that the picnic in the rose garden would be a nice gesture. They could tell the club that it was Haruhi's way of saying thank you to everyone for looking out for her. If anyone wondered why it was being held at Mori-senpai's house that is when they would tell them. Otherwise, the couple would tell their friends before the food was served. Haruhi pointed out that if they waited until after the food was served, the twins might start a food fight. The three who still did not know about the couple were the only three that did not know that Haruhi had been over to the Morinodzuka residence on the night that he was supposed to stay with her. Nor did they know that she stayed there. That part was irrelevant.

Takeshi suggested that since Tamaki loved dress-up, and that since finding out that Haruhi's heart had already be won over, it might break Tamaki's heart, that they wear Kimonos. Haruhi liked the idea, but she did not own one nor did she have a clue how to put one on. Kyoya and Takeshi both made quick calls and it was decided. Kyoya would present Haruhi with a kimono, as a gift so show no hard feelings. When Takeshi offered to allow her to borrow one of his mother's, he insisted. He still cared for Haruhi, but would respect her relationship with his senpai. In exchange, he would give her one last gift of the kimono. Haruhi finally agreed when she saw the look in Kyoya's eyes. Takeshi's mother agreed to make sure that Haruhi and her father were dressed properly before the get together. All that was left was to let everyone know. She wrote up invitations to give to everyone the next day. And since Kimiko's day off was changed from Saturday to Sunday for the duration of time that she was to care for Haruhi, she would be invited as a guest as well. Takeshi's mother would loan her a kimono as well.

With the biggest hurdle having been cleared, it should have been easy sailing. But Haruhi was nervous. She did not know how her friends would react. She didn't want to hurt any of them. She had been most worried about Kyoya, but he seemed to recover quickly enough. She hoped that the others would not react negatively. Since the get together was primarily to thank everyone for all of their help, but also to announce that Haruhi and Takeshi were a couple, Takeshi's mother was going all out on the menu. Haruhi had tried to insist that she be allowed to make most of it, but it wasn't allowed. So Haruhi contented herself with only bringing the dishes that she and Kimiko had been working on. Sunday would be a beautiful day, none better for a garden party.

The next day, Saturday, Takeshi went straight home after club hours, so as to help his mother who had taken over preparations for the party. Kimiko and Haruhi worked on a few more dishes for the party. Kyoya showed up to give Haruhi the Kimono he promised her. As to be expected from Kyoya, it was absolutely perfect. Inside the innermost portion was a tag similar to the ones that designer's used for their labels, but instead, this one read "To Haruhi, I will always love you, regardless. Love, Kyoya". Haruhi knew that she would have to keep Takeshi from seeing that label, but the garment itself was gorgeous. She hugged him and thanked him profusely. As he turned to leave, she walked him out of the house. He turned to her, "Haruhi?"

"Yes, senpai?"

"Promise me one thing."

"If I can, I will. What is it?"

"Promise me that if you ever decide that to leave Mori-senpai, even if I have a girlfriend at the time, or married, or whatever… promise me that you will come to me and let me know. Let me be the first to try to win your heart if it ever waivers. Please."

"Only if you will not take the promise as a reason to hold back. Please, I want you to move on and be happy. Ok? For me?"

"I'm going to try. It wont be easy. But I will try, since you asked me to. I do love you Haruhi. More than you will ever know."

"I know, senpai. And I love you as well. But…"

"I know. Don't say it, please. I know that you love him. Let me leave with the last words on your mouth having been that you love me. I'll see you tomorrow." With that, he turned and ran down the steps as fast as he could. He feared that she would say something more, but he didn't want to hear it.

He couldn't hear her as he ran down the stairs, "I do love you, Otori Kyoya. Thank you for everything, and thank you for loving me back enough to let me go."

The rest of the evening went off as usual. Kimiko got her homework done, Haruhi completed all the homework and some extra that she got from her teacher. Dishes were completed for tomorrow's picnic turned garden party. Ranka was at work, he would come home straight after closing so he could get some sleep before tomorrow's event. Takeshi would be over to pick everyone up about noon since the event was scheduled for 1 pm. They would dress in the Kimonos at the Morinodzuka residence. Haruhi couldn't wait, but at the same time, she was extremely nervous.

Saturday as they complete preparations, Takeshi had told his mother about Kyoya's reaction to the couple's news. Mitsukuni was standing nearby at the time. He explained to his mother that if he hadn't confessed when he did, that it would have been Kyoya that he had lost to. He also told her about the kimono that Haruhi would be wearing. He didn't really want her to have it, because he was afraid that Kyoya would try something stunt such as wearing a matching one, or having 'Otori' embroidered on it. But he knew that he could trust Haruhi. His mother soothed his nerves by explaining that if she saw anything that looked like it was planning something such as that, she would pull Haruhi aside and change the kimono at once. He felt better after talking to his mother.