The water was so cold. It seemed to seep through my skin until it's chilly hands embraced my very bones. My eyes were wide open, are they supposed to be open? I wasn't sure, but if this was dying, then i was totally at peace with the calm way of going out of the world. I could see the sun outside of the water, it was sinking low, and leaving the sky a beautiful deep pink and purple as it sank. I smiled softly to myself as i stared up at it. I should probably be freaking out right? Why aren't i scared? Because i truly wasn't afraid. Maybe it was the shock of hitting the freezing cold water after the man's words and threats to me, but i felt nothing. All that i felt was physical. The brush of my hair against my face as i sank lower into the chilly water, and my hands reaching out towards the surface as if i could grab the sun that was shimmering in the water above me.

I gave the world high above me another watery smile, and shut my eyes to accept my fate. I'm coming mama.

Someone grabbed my hand. No! Wait! What're you doing!? My eyes snapped open, and i caught a flash of blond shimmering hair waving around a pale, beautiful face as Tamaki pulled me closer to him and began to kick for the surface. The feel of his cool hand against my skin snapped me out of whatever shock induced prepared to die phase i'd been in, and i began to thrash violently in the water as i let loose a scream. Of course, screaming failed and i only sucked in a lungful of water, and my thrashing was pulling Tamaki and i both down, but Tamaki grabbed my shoulder and pulled me to face him, forcing me to pause my movements.

His violet eyes were serious as he shook his head at me, and began kicking for the surface again after making sure i wasn't going to panic more. I let myself stay limp in his grasp, which really wasn't that hard, because my vision was starting to go blurry when we burst through to the surface, and i was suddenly being dropped onto a beach as someone forced the water out of my lungs.

I came to coughing and shivering violently, and had to roll to my side to throw up the water let inside of me. Gagging, i continued retching for a few moments longer, before i finally stopped and just knelt there, my dripping wet hair hanging in front of my face as i forced back tears. I could feel the stares of the hosts as they stood around me, and for some reason, fear bubbled up inside of me at the silence coming from them. It filled me with a cold dread despite the heat from the setting sun at my back. Why do i get the feeling they're mad…?

Tamaki finally broke the silence.

"Where are they?"

"We took their I.D. cards and took them into...custody." Kyoya's voice was calm, soothing even in the growing tension between myself and the hosts as they talked over me. "The girls all went back to the hotel."

Kyoya stopped talking, and it went quiet again. It gave me a moment to truly appreciate the beach. The ocean looked golden as the rays if the setting sun shimmered over it, and the long and empty beach was silent, and inviting. The world was painted gold in that moment, but the angry stares from the hosts shattered it's molten warmth and filled it was a cold unease.

"I've called a doctor who should be here shortly." Kyoya's frosty glare landed on me, and i finally found my voice at those words.

"Guys, i'm fine. We don't need a doctor."

Oh how i regretted those words the moment i spoke, because even as they slipped from my mouth, the cold eyes of the hosts finally landed on me for real. Their stares burned into me, and Haruhi frowned at me from where she stood to the side.

"Are you one of those?"

Her words were stern.

"Um, excuse me? One of what?"

Now Tamaki spoke, stepping up behind her and placing his hands on her shoulders, his unhappy eyes looked down at me where i was now sitting in the sand.

"A martial arts master like Honey-senpai?" Now he stepped around Haruhi to kneel in front of me, his normal purple eyes nearly black with displeasure. "What did you think you, a girl, could do against them by yourself?"

At his words, it was my turn to be angry.

"A girl!? A GIRL!? Wow Tamaki." I glared right back at him, and launched myself to my feet, trying to ignore the sickening rush of blood to my head from the sudden movement. "This has nothing to do with me being a girl! Damn it guys!" I spun to face the rest of the hosts, my one turning pleading as i implored them to see from my point of view. "I was there, no guys were! There were no guys there to defend us, so i did what i had to! Just because i'm girl doesn't mean i can't defend myself! I've been doing fine so far without the need of a guy, and i won't stand by and wait for one to come and rescue me."

"Think about it you idiot! You're a girl! Even if you were there you couldn't have done anything to help the situation, you were only able to make it worse by harassing them!"

I spluttered at that.

"Harassing them!? Who on earth told you that!"

Kyoya cleared his throat and i turned to face him as he pushed his glasses up, causing them to flash as the dimming light hit them.

"The girls who came and told us, one Kana i do believe? Told us how you were leading them on to get them to leave the girls alone long enough to escape. While a good idea it might seem, it was incredibly foolish of you to risk yourself like that. And," another flash of his glasses as his already stern voice grew sterner, "If i remember correctly, it was a group of men who helped save you from your father, and yes, while it has been men after you, and in this situation as well, who was it who saved you Miss Fuyumi?"

I flinched, but could see he was waiting for me to answer, so in a begrudging mutter, i snapped.

"A group of guys."

"And who has been by your side through everything?"

Another mutter.

"A group of guys." I could see Kyoya's eyes soften as i stared at him stubbornly, and something told me he saw right through my show of bravado to the shaking ball of fear that i was underneath, and i was unable to meet his eyes as they softened as he stared at me so i forced my eyes to look anywhere but his. "I will apologize for making you guys come after me like this again. However," I met Tamaki's, and then Haruhi's eyes. "I will not apologize for defending girls who couldn't defend themselves." My eyes caught Haruhi's and stayed on her's. "I can't understand though, why you're upset with me, when i know you would've done the same thing. I haven't done anything wrong!"

Tamaki stepped away from me, his hair dropping in front of his eyes to hide them from mine.

"You haven't huh? Then you go right ahead and believe that. I'm not speaking to you again until you admit you're wrong, and realize how much you scared your best friend."

Guilt flickered through me at that, but my stubbornness won out, and i remained silent even as the hosts finally walked away from me back towards the Ootori family villa.

I trailed behind them in silence, my head down, my hair in my face, as i realized, that perhaps, just perhaps, i may have been wrong in this situation.

*v*v*v*v*v*v*

"Ta-da! The crabs are all boiled! See?"

Honey unceremoniously stuck a plate of crabs under my face as he announced this to all of us.

"Err thank you Honey, but i'm not really a fan of seafood so i'll pass this one on to Haru…."

So saying, i took the plate and passed it on to my best friend. She gave me a bright smile, and took the plate from me. She and I had had a brief chance to talk before dinner, and she'd agreed with me that what i'd done was the right thing at the time, and that she wasn't upset with me anymore it had just been because she'd been so worried that she had snapped at me, but we were on good terms again.

Tamaki on the other hand, was still not speaking to me, and was awkwardly enough seated directly across from me on the table. Kyoya walked in while i was studiously avoiding Tamaki's eyes, and spoke to Honey. Something about him being sorry the maids weren't at the villa that week, but Honey just smiled and said that he and Mori had had a fun time cooking the seafood.

"It's awfully gloomy out there neh? It looks like it might rain."

Honey's words had me glancing out the window with a small smile flickering onto my face. Maddy adores the rain, i can't wait for her to get here. Only a few weeks left to go!

"Speaking of gloomy," My attention was yanked from the storm starting to brew outside, to the twins as they spoke in sync. "There's someone even more gloomy in here than the darkness outside."

"Honestly boss," Kaoru spoke up, "If you're going to mope like that,"

"Than you shouldn't have picked a fight with Nala." Hikaru finished his brother's sentence.

"Darn straight he shouldn't have."

I muttered the words to myself, but Haruhi kicked my leg under the table for saying them.

"Shall we all sit down to eat?"

Kyoya's words slipped through some of the tension, and the twins and Mori joined us at the table.

The tension didn't dissipate at all like i had hoped it would. Tamaki's annoyance with me was blatantly obvious with how he watched me with narrowed eyes as he drank what i was hoping was wine from a glass, but something told me it wasn't wine, which in turn had my stomach turning too much too look at him. Haruhi was unusually silent since the boss was being silent, and Mori was as quiet as ever while Honey watched Tamaki and i warily. The twins decided to break the tension, or, at least tried to.

"The air is stuffy, eh?"

"It's kind of tense in here."

"When no one responded to their attempt at small talk, Honey turned to Haruhi on her other side and gave a weak smile.

"Let's eat neh?"

And proceeded to stick the plate of crabs under her nose. She instantly snagged the giant plate of crab legs, and had at it, while on her other side i poked with my fork at my empty plate as my stomach rumbled its displeasure at me for not eating the food. However, just the thought of eating the seafood had my stomach flip-flopping with distaste. I'd never been able to stomach seafood, it was an absolutely disgusting type of food to me, and i had never been able to get down more than a few bites before my stomach rebelled against me. So i was more than willing to wait and sneak down to grab something to snack on later.

Each time that Haruhi snapped a crab leg, and i dragged my fork along my empty plate, the tension in Tamaki visibly rose a notch, until, finally….

"Aren't you eating too much? You'll get sick." That was directed to Haruhi, before he turned to me and said, "Do you have to drag your fork like that? You're acting like a child."

"Oh? I thought you weren't speaking to me?"

"And since when do you get to tell me what to eat and not eat?"

Tamaki winced, and the tension grew in the room before….

*Snap*

*Sccrrraaappeee*

Tamaki stood and slammed his hand down on the table so hard that it shook and there was a cracking noise.

"Alright, i get it. You're not going to apologize for what you did, and now you have Haruhi siding with you. Fine, i'm going to bed. Kyoya, show me to my room."

So saying, Tamaki stormed out of the room as Kyoya gracefully excused himself, rose, and followed.

I listlessly dropped my fork as i felt unwanted tears gather in my eyes. Haruhi saw, and putting down the crab leg she was about to snap, placed a hand on top of mine.

"Maybe i really should learn to defend myself properly."

My voice was thick as i held back the tears.

"Oh. So it is bothering you."

The twins spoke carelessly, but i snapped back at them.

"Of course i care! I care about Tamaki! Weird vampireness and all he's still my friend!"

Kaoru narrowed his golden eyes at me, and rested his chin on his fist.

"To be honest, i wish you'd reconsider how rashly you acted today."

"Did i really make that much trouble for you guys?"

Surprise filtered through me. I didn't realize they'd all been so upset, i thought it had just been Tamaki overreacting again.

"That's not true Nal-chan! But you should tell everyone sorry, neh?" Honey's sweet childish voice slammed into me when he spoke, and my eyes grew wide. I'm such an idiot. "Understand? And tell Tama-chan you're sorry too for worrying him so much?"

"You guys were all worried about me?"

My eyes scanned the faces of the guys i'd come to see as family, and my heart began to pound harder in my chest.

"Can you believe this girl?"

The twins yawned, and Honey beamed up at me from where he had come over to my side while talking, while Mori nodded sagely behind him.

"Oh…" My eyes dropped to the table as i mentally berated myself. "I'm sorry guys." My voice was solemn, "I didn't mean to worry you all."

"Awww what for you little mutt."

Suddenly, all the hosts were there hugging me. Honey was wrapped around my legs, there was a twin on each side of me, Mori was behind me patting my head, and Haruhi hugged me from the front, her arms around my neck.

"You're so cute we forgive you!"

Suddenly, Haruhi went slightly limp, and her face turned blue.

"Wahhh! Haru!" I grabbed her face between my hands and got up real close. "What's wrong!?"

"I don't feel so good…"

"Kyyyahhh!"

I leapt back from her and grabbing her hand tugged her to a bathroom as fast as possible, with the other hosts following behind shouting about calling a doctor and overeating.

*V*V*V*V*V*V*V*V*V*

Several hours after i shoved Haruhi into a random bathroom and left her to her own devices so i could hunt up food, i found myself horribly lost. I had failed in finding a kitchen, or a pantry, failed in finding Haruhi's room to be with her since there was a thunderstorm roaring outside, and failed to get to a room that had a flashlight of some sort since the power had gone out.

"Gosh damn it!" I groaned into my hands as i stood by one of the floor to ceiling windows in the house. "Why is everything that Ootori owns or does so bloody confusing!"

Stepping away from the window, i took one look down the long hall on either side, before leaping back into the safety of the dim light that was filtering through the window. I was terrified of the dark, and this house was scary dark. It didn't help that the power was out, and i couldn't even turn a single light on.

Just don't freak out, the power will come back on eventually, i just need to stay here and not freak out...yeah...breathing is good...breathing is….

I didn't finish that thought, because lightening flashed and i saw glowing eyes coming near to me from down the hall, so with a shriek i leapt up and dashed through the nearest door. It was a bedroom of some sort and i leapt onto the bed and burrowed under the covers. Then, the covers began to move.

Why is the bed moving!? I'm not moving! SO WHY IS THE BED MOVING!?

I clamped a hand over my mouth to keep from shrieking, but a whimper still got through.

"Shut up." The snappy male voice had me stiffening. I had somehow landed in bed with that blasted Ootori spawn. "Gosh you're so loud."

I opened my mouth to apologize and scoot off the bed, when a muffled snorting noise had me nearly choking on my own laughter. Kyoya was talking in his sleep! With another muffled snort, he rolled over again, and i snickered silently to myself. I was still snickering, until he moved again, and i found myself being pinned to the bed as he wrapped his arms around me and buried his face in my hair. I let out a squeak, and could feel my face turning bright, neon red. Oh crap.

I could feel each soft puff of his breath against the back of my neck, and where he had his arms wrapped around me my skin burned. Pressed against the hard line of his body like i was, it left very little to the imagination, and i felt my horror grow as he nuzzled his nose against my neck.

Oh sweet mother of pearl i need help, or to take a vow of abstinence, or a vow to avoid tall guys, with dark eyes that seem to look right through my soul. And twins, I'll throw the twin's at Maddy to take care of because heaven knows she would know how to do it.

At this point i knew i was mentally rambling, but it was the only way i was able to keep myself sane and not go crazy from being stuck in the arms of a guy who i was beginning to realize i may or may not have a small crush on.

Wait….WHAT!? NO! I REFUSE! I cannot have a thing for my boss! DAMN IT! I HAVE TO GET OUT OF THIS ROOM! Obviously being in the same area with him has addled my brain cells. Gosh i even sound like him in my head now.

"Ootori? Ootori!"

I hissed his name out, but he didn't move. Finally, in a desperate move, i elbowed him in the side. Hard.

With a snarl that would've rivaled one of the twins own, Kyoya jolted awake with such a deadly aura around him i scooted back so fast that i fell off the bed.

"What, are you doing here?"

There was none of his usual calm in his voice, he sounded like the voice of death.

"Uh, ha...ha…" I chuckled awkwardly. "It's a long story…"

His aura grew darker as he recognized my voice.

"Miss Fuyumi," I winced at the anger in his voice, "I do not take kindly to being woken up suddenly at such an early hour in the morning. Nor do i enjoy finding someone in my bed attacking me."

I winced again, and reaching back awkwardly scratched the back of my head as i stared up at him.

"Would you believe me if i said i was scared of the dark, and got lost because i have a horrible sense of direction, and saw glowy eyes and ran into the nearest room and leapt onto the bed to hide but you were there already, and apparently this is your room…?"

I trailed off as his aura grew darker.

"Miss Fuyumi. What you saw was probably one of the twins walking late at night in their tiger form. As to you getting lost that is your own fault and i can't fix the fact that you have a horrible sense of direction and are afraid of the dark. Now," he glanced at his watch. "It is one in the morning, and i am not leaving my bed to escort you back to your room because i do actually enjoy my sleep, so that leaves you two options." He glanced out the window at the raging storm. "With the intensity of this storm, i'm assuming that the power is out, and because of that, the first of your options is to leave here unescorted and find your way back by yourself." I shuddered at the thought and unconsciously scooted closer to the bed. "The second option, is that you stay in the room and share the bed with me for the remainder of the night."

At those words i scrambled back so fast that i slammed into the bookshelf on the opposite end of the room with a thud. WHAT KIND OF OPTIONS ARE THESE!? I'm terrified of both of them damn it! I scowled at him and his dark aura. Nasty spawn! He knows that those are both awful options, but, A glance around the dark room had me start scooting back towards the bed, I'm not trying my luck out there in this giant, dark, scary house. With that thought, i slowly stood up, and tiptoed to the edge of the bed where i sat down and glared at him.

"Now listen here Ootori, you and I both know that these are bad options, but i'm choosing the lesser of the two evils and sharing the bed with you. But," My stern look intensified. "Try anything on me while i'm sleeping and they'll never find your body. We clear?"

He flopped onto his back with a muttered, 'crystal' and promptly began to quietly snore away.

"Jerk."

I muttered the word at his already sleeping form, before tentatively slipping under the covers, rolling so i faced away from Ootori, and shut my eyes before slipping into a deep sleep.

*V*V*V*V*V*V*V*V*V*V*V*V

When i woke up the next morning, Kyoya was already gone, and i found my bag neatly packed on the floor next to the bed with a change of clothes lying on top. With a snort, i slid out of bed and went to the bathroom to shower and change.

Thoughtful Ootori, very thoughtful.

After i stepped out of the shower, i was surprised upon finding a note tucked into the pocket of my shorts with directions on how to get to the kitchen downstairs, and the front door.

Following these, i was downstairs munching on an apple within minutes as i made my way outside, also, while i was in the kitchen Tamaki ran in, and after a brief moment of awkward silence i apologized to him. Within seconds he was hugging me and cooing about his darling daughter. I was forced to kick him out of the room so i could eat in peace. It was easier finding my way to the front door, because the typical yelling between the boss and the twins was going on, and it carried through the house.

"What was it this time?"

I sidled up next to Haruhi as i watched her scowl at Tamaki.

"The boss was being a creep."

The twins chorused and grinned at me.

"How…?"

I watched Tamaki warily as i slid into the car behind a fuming Haruhi.

"He was teaching Haruhi some...dirty things."

My eyebrows flew up as Tamaki began shouting and proclaiming his innocence, but as he railed, he didn't seem to notice we'd all stepped into the car. So, leaning forward, i tapped the driver of the limo on the shoulder since the window was down that separated us from him, and politely told him to step on it. He did so, and we left Tamaki in a cloud of dust.

Sitting back with a chuckle, i glanced at Haruhi.

"So Haru, when do you want to turn around and go back for him?"

She scowled out the back window at the poor blond, french boy as he raced after the car in his silly Hawaiian shirt, waving his arms and shouting at us.

"How does never sound?"

I grinned at her.

"A bit harsh don't you think?"

"Not at all, the boss deserves it."

I grinned at the twins, and turned to Kyoya.

"What do you think Ootori?"

He glanced at me and shrugged.

"I suppose we could keep driving, he will catch up eventually though, and that won't be fun to listen to."

All of us winced as we imagined the rant that would follow if we didn't turn around, so, tapping the driver on the shoulder, i said,

"I think we should probably turn around now and go fetch the poor guy."

And we did just that.

**Author's Note**

Yosh! What do you think guys? I worked really insanely hard on this chapter, so i hope you enjoyed. Also, what did you think of the wee bit of Kyola i threw in there? Yes or no to that? I tried to make this a bit more my own than following exactly what happened in the episode, so what did you guys think of that?