It's official. uyay is the most amazing person alive. I'm calling her my beta even if she doesn't know that. So this chapter's for her! (And will probably be mentioned in all the rest because she's just that awesome...)

Anyhoo, to what you actually came for...CHAPTER THREE!

...~...

When Haruhi opened her eyes, it took her awhile to remember where she was. In one second, it all came back to her.

The threatening letter…

The attacker in the dead of the night…

Honey's insistence at her staying with him and Mori for the next month…

Haruhi groaned. This was going to be a long month.

A knock at her door jostled her out of her thoughts. She stood and rolled out of bed. When she opened the door, she was surprised to find Mori standing there. He opened his mouth to speak and closed it, eyes glistening with something Haruhi didn't recognize.

Haruhi's eyes opened wide with alarm as she looked down at herself and remembered that she had worn short pajama shorts and a form-fitting tank to bed. She blushed and immediately crossed her arms. "Yes?"

Mori snapped out of it and focused his attention on Haruhi's eyes. "Mitsukuni wanted to let you know that breakfast will be served in ten minutes."

"Thank you," Haruhi said as she shut the door in his face. As soon as the door was closed, Haruhi sunk to her knees and muttered, "Baka! You didn't even find the sense to wrap a cover around your shoulders." Haruhi felt her burning face start to relieve and she stood up heading to the suitcase the driver had brought to her room last night.

Haruhi piled her school uniforms in one of the drawers of the dresser since she wouldn't need them today. After all, it was a Saturday. Haruhi found a t-shirt and jean shorts. She quickly dressed, brushed her teeth and combed through her hair. Before leaving, she checked the clock and found it was 9:30. "Wow," she murmured. "I slept in."

Haruhi opened the door and tried to remember where the dining hall was. She looked to the left. "I think it was this way…"

…..~…

Honey asked Mori as he sat down across from him, "Did you tell Haru-chan?"

Mori nodded still pink in the face.

"What's wrong, Takashi?" Honey asked innocently.

Mori shook his head and said simply, "Nothing."

"You're all red," Honey replied simply as he took another bite of his morning cake.

Mori turned a deeper red and nodded. He took a bite of his eggs and looked away. Honey smiled and took another bite of cake. The two cousins sat in a comfortable silence for a few more minutes until a tired Haruhi stumbled into the dining room. Mori's and Honey's gazes snapped up to meet hers. Haruhi smiled feebly and said, "Got a little lost…"

"Haru-chan! You should have asked Takashi to escort you to lunch," Honey suggested.

Haruhi blushed. "Uh…next time."

Haruhi sat on the other side of Honey and opened up her breakfast. "Waffles!" she said excitedly.

Honey nodded. "I knew you liked them."

Haruhi grinned and hugged Honey. "Thank you, Honey-senpai."

Honey smiled back, eyes sparkling, and took another bite of cake. "Takashi and I are going to spar."

Haruhi raised an eyebrow. "You two spar?"

Honey finished his last bite and motioned to Mori, "Takashi and I have been sparring partners since we were toddlers."

Mori hummed in agreement. Haruhi looked between the two of them and nodded. "If I didn't know Honey-senpai was an amazing martial arts expert, I'd be alarmed, but I know he's fine."

Mori nodded. Honey gasped and blurted, "I have a great idea?"

Mori raised an eyebrow and Haruhi asked, "What is it?"

"Haru-chan should watch our sparring session and be our judge!" Honey cheered.

Haruhi raised her hands. "No, no. I couldn't impose."

"No, Haru-chan. Takashi and I would love to have you there, right Takashi?"

Two pairs of eyes turned to a slightly blushing Mori. He nodded mutely. "Well," Haruhi said slowly. "If you're both okay with it…" She shrugged.

"Yay!" Honey cheered, throwing his arms around the young girl. "We'll head there after you and Takashi finish your breakfast. So hurry up!"

Mori could see Honey was forming a plan, but for the life of him, he couldn't figure out what it was.

…..~…..

"Come on, Haru-chan! We're almost there!" Honey cheered as he ran ahead of Mori and Haruhi.

The three friends were walking through a wooded path on their way to the training grounds co-owned by both the Morinozuka's and Haninozuka's. Haruhi watched as Honey disappeared behind a tree and felt Mori stiffen by her side. "He's safe out here, right?" Haruhi asked.

Mori nodded stiffly, but didn't relax until Honey was back in his line of vision. Mori watched him as he walked around inspecting the equipment.

"You're very protective of him, aren't you?" Haruhi asked giving Mori a questioning glance.

Mori turned to Haruhi and raised an eyebrow. "I guess."

"Why?"

Mori avoided Haruhi's curious gaze and shrugged. "I guess it's always been like that."

Before Haruhi could reply, Honey popped back into view and shouted, "Come on, Takashi! Haru-chan!"

"We're coming!" Haruhi called back. She increased her pace and in no time, joined Honey. "Wow," she murmured as her eyes swept over the outdoors training area.

The training area was a large, cleared section of land. Surrounding it were a border of trees, giving it a mysterious look. Scattered throughout it were equipment, helmets, swords, and anything that had to do with martial arts.

Haruhi didn't know Mori was behind her until he said in a low voice, "It's our pride and joy."

She jumped and spun around to find Mori looking down at her. "Cool," she said quietly.

"Come on, Takashi! Let's spar!" Honey suggested as he raced towards the empty section amidst the stacks of equipment.

….

The fight ended when Honey flipped Mori onto his back. Mori cringed as he hit the ground and remained down. Honey cheered and skipped over to Haruhi. "Did you see us spar, Haru-chan?"

Haruhi nodded and peered worriedly around Honey at Mori. "Is Mori-senpai okay?"

Honey turned back to Mori and nodded as he saw his cousin sit up. "Takashi is fine. He usually ends up flat on his butt after our sparring sessions anyway."

Haruhi continued worriedly watching Mori, which didn't escape the attention of Honey. Honey smiled smugly and pushed Haruhi over to Mori. "What?" she asked as she felt the tiny hands pushing her closer and closer to her crush.

"Go check on him, just in case," Honey explained and with one final push, sent Haruhi tumbling towards Mori. Haruhi fell into the arms of the now standing Mori.

Mori looked down at the girl in his arms. Just by instinct, he had caught her from falling and was now regretting it. She took his breath away and he couldn't find his voice. He pulled her back on her feet but froze after that, leaving his arms around Haruhi. "I'm so sorry, Mori-senpai," Haruhi apologized with a blush covering her face.

Mori nodded and mutely released Haruhi. He felt a profuse blush covering his own cheeks, and he looked away from Haruhi.

Honey watched with a sense of amusement as he watched the two blush and avoid the other's gaze. After a moment, they realized that they were standing very close to each other and both took a hurried step back murmuring apologies.

"I, uh, I'm just going to, uh, get lunch ready," Mori stuttered pointing back at the path towards the house.

Haruhi nodded vigorously. "You, uh, you go ahead and do that."

Mori nodded and sheepishly backtracked to the trail. After reaching the head, he practically sprinted back towards the house. Honey and Haruhi watched him go, one with a blush and one with a knowing smile.

"Come on, Haru-chan," Honey said taking hold of Haruhi's hand and leading her to the trailhead.

"Okay," Haruhi turned around to look at her and saw a white card sticking out of her pocket. "What's that, Haru-chan?"

Haruhi followed his gaze to her pocket. "Oh, that!" Haruhi said. "That's my school ID."

Haruhi pulled the card out of her pocket and held it up for Honey to see. "Why do you carry that in your pocket?" Honey asked. "The rest of us leave it at home where we know where it is."

"I'm required to carry it as a scholarship student," she answered sliding the card back in her pocket. "If it stays in my front pocket, then it can never fall out."

"Sounds great, Haru-chan!" Honey cheered.

Haruhi nodded and patted her pocket absentmindedly.

Honey looked ahead and saw Mori had disappeared. He smiled and said nonchalantly, "So, why were you blushing when Takashi caught you from falling?"

Haruhi blushed again and hid her face from Honey. "I wasn't blushing!" she protested with a higher voice than normal.

Honey grinned. "You're blushing now, Haru-chan. Why are you blushing?" he asked innocently.

"I'm not blushing!" Haruhi insisted.

Honey pointed at her cheeks. "But right there-"

"No, Honey-senpai!" Haruhi argued before looking away. "I'm going to go help Mori-senpai with lunch."

Honey raised an eyebrow as Haruhi took off down the trail. This is going to be fun, he thought.

...~...

Please leave me a review. Not begging or anything...they just make me feel awesome. So what do you guys think of the story so far and what do you think is going to happen?