Big thanks to uyay for editing and revising! You rock!

And as an update, towards the poll regarding which story I write, it's still open. This one (obviously) was the winning one, the Mori/Haruhi with 5 votes. Second is Hikaru/Haruhi with 4 votes and Kyoya/Haruhi with 3. So keep voting (even though I've already started this one...)

Anyway, the poll can be found on my profile page. Now on to what you actually came here for!

Chapter 4

"What about him? Have you ever caught him staring at you in class?" Kyoya asked, pointing to a picture showing a dark haired boy.

Haruhi sighed. "No. Do we even have any classes together?"

Kyoya shook his head and set the picture down on the 'no' pile. Haruhi rolled her eyes and looked out the window gazing at the puffy, white clouds floating past.

Kyoya had come over to the Haninozuka mansion to help Haruhi identify her stalker. Within a few hours, the pair had been through thousands of pictures and Haruhi couldn't come up with any suspicious activity pertaining to any of the photographed boys.

"What about him?" Kyoya asked, pulling out another picture.

Haruhi didn't even glance at the photo. "Can we take a break? We've been at this for three hours!"

Kyoya sighed and set down his stack of papers. "Fine."

Haruhi stood and stretched. "I'm going to go make some tea. You want some?"

Kyoya nodded. "If you don't mind."

Haruhi exited the dining room and entered the kitchen. Honey and Mori were talking in hushed tones by the sink. "Hey guys," Haruhi greeted.

Both boys jumped and spun to Haruhi. "Hi, Haru-chan!" Honey greeted nervously.

"What were you guys talking about?" Haruhi asked as she put on the hot water.

Honey glanced nervously at Mori. "What do you mean?"

Haruhi stepped back from the water and looked at them skeptically. "It's okay, don't tell me if it's that important." She yawned. "I was just curious."

"No," Mori started. He looked at Honey with a pleading face. At Honey's reluctant nod, he continued, "We were just talking about the likelihood of your stalker trying to kidnap you from here."

Haruhi's face drooped. "Oh."

"Don't worry, Haru-chan!" Honey said quickly at Haruhi's expression. "Takashi and I will protect you."

Haruhi smiled warily. "Thanks, Honey-senpai, but I don't want either of you getting hurt for my problem. Giving me a place to stay is kind enough."

"Nonsense!" Honey chided. "It's amazing to have you here, right Takashi?"

Mori nodded. "Right."

Haruhi grinned and felt a weight lift from her shoulders. She hated being a burden. "Thanks you guys! I'm sure I can help out somehow..."

"That's not needed, Haru-chan! Your company is payment enough."

Mori nodded.

Haruhi smiled. "I insist. I'll find some way to help out on."

Mori resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Haruhi is just too stubborn for her own good sometimes, he thought.

"Would you like some cake?" Honey asked holding out a plate with a piece of cake to Haruhi. "It's strawberry, your favorite!"

"Yeah, why not?" Haruhi answered knowing that Honey wouldn't take no as an answer. She took the plate and travelled to the small table in the kitchen. She was followed by Mori and Honey and they all sat around the table.

"Takashi picked it out. He knew that you love strawberry cake," Honey gloated.

Mori blushed at Honey's statement and bowed his head. "Yeah."

Haruhi's eyes widened. Mori bought this cake for me? A sudden blush covered her cheeks. "Thanks, Mori-senpai."

Mori hummed in response.

"So Haru-chan, what do you think of-" Honey was interrupted by the door bell ringing. He turned to Mori. "Who could that be?"

Mori shrugged and stood. He pointed to Haruhi. "You stay here. Mitsukuni, keep her here."

Honey nodded. "Kay!"

Haruhi stood and watched Mori leave the room. Seconds later, Kyoya entered the kitchen and said, "Mori-senpai sent me in here."

Haruhi nodded and heard the sound of the front door opening. "Hello, Mori-senpai!" a cheerful, familiar voice shouted.

Haruhi sighed. "What is he doing here?"

Kyoya pushed his glasses up. "Who knows what does through his head…"

"Daughter!" Tamaki called from the door. "I need to see you!"

Mori came through the kitchen door followed by Tamaki and the twins. Once the Host Club King saw Haruhi, he ran to her and embraced her. "Tamaki-senpai," Haruhi gasped. "Let me go."

"But my daughter! You were stuck here overnight with the neighbors!" Tamaki cried as Haruhi wiggled out of his grip.

When Tamaki reached for her again, Haruhi retreated behind Mori. She put a hand on his arm and peeked around him. "I was fine, Tamaki-senpai, and if you hug me again, I'm telling Mori to shove your ass into the cupboard."

Mori nearly grinned at the use of his name without the honorific. Probably a mistake but amazing nonetheless.

"Mori-senpai wouldn't-" Tamaki started. Tamaki noticed Mori's hard glare which said, undoubtedly, that if Haruhi asked, he would do it. "Okay, I'm sorry daughter. I just wanted you to love your father!" Tamaki wailed before sprinting to his corner.

"How's it staying with-" Kaoru started pulling Haruhi out from behind Mori.

"Mori-senpai and Honey-senpai?" Hikaru finished.

Haruhi shrugged. "They're nice, and gentleman-like," she called to Tamaki in his corner. "So I'm having a good time."

Tamaki sprung up out of his corner. He stared long and hard at Haruhi. "They haven't…pressured you?"

Haruhi's eyes grew wide. "No! They wouldn't!"

Mori blushed with Tamaki's insinuation. "Never," he confirmed.

"We'd never pressure Haru-chan!" Honey insisted innocently. No one was really sure if he understood Tamaki's question except Mori. Mori knew he understood but just chose to ignore it. "Besides Haru-chan is much too stubborn to do anything like that!"

Tamaki took on an expression of horror. "Haruhi, you must come home to your father! I will protect you from the perverted neighbors!"

Tamaki reached out his arms to Haruhi, about to take her into a hug when a large hand grabbed the back of his shirt and held him back effortlessly. "We would not hurt Haruhi," Mori said seriously.

Kyoya pulled Tamaki out of Mori's grip and held him back behind the counter, away from both Mori and Haruhi. "That's enough for now, Tamaki."

"But Mommy," Tamaki whined.

Kyoya shut Tamaki up with a cold glare.

Honey turned to Haruhi, "Did you find any possibilities for your stalker?"

Haruhi shrugged and said, "Ask Kyoya. I have no idea what he was doing."

All eyes turned to Kyoya. He shook his head and sighed. "No. I have no leads so far."

Haruhi groaned. "Nothing? After three hours?"

Kyoya nodded. "I'm assuming you're done for the day, then."

"Yes!" Haruhi immediately replied. "I don't think I could look at another picture."

The teakettle clicked off, startling the club members. Haruhi responded first and pulled the kettle off the station. She reached into the cupboard and asked, "All you guys want some tea?"

Murmured assents flooded the room.

Haruhi pulled out seven mugs and asked, "Mori, can you get the tea bags out?"

Mori nodded and reached into the high cabinet. After a moment of searching, he handed the bags to Haruhi. A minute later, all cups were steeping. "So," Kaoru asked. "What are you going to do now?"

"She's living here with us!" Honey cheered enthusiastically.

"Us?" the twins asked together.

Honey nodded. "Takashi and I. We're going to protect Haru-chan!"

"Protect me?" Haruhi asked.

Mori and Honey nodded. Honey said, "We've been over this, Haru-chan! Takashi and I are going to be with you until we catch your stalker."

Haruhi raised an eyebrow and said, "That could take years. Do you guys really want to spend a couple years with me?"

Honey smiled. "It's fine, Haru-chan! You're staying, for now at least, and that's final."

"No, my daughter! Stay with your father!" Tamaki shouted, opening his arms. "I shall protect you."

"Kyoya-senpai, would you mind?" Haruhi started.

Before Haruhi finished his name, Kyoya had shoved Tamaki into the walk-in pantry beside the fridge and shut the door. Tamaki banged on the door and rattled the doorknob but Kyoya held it shut tight. He clicked the lock and walked back over to his original spot. "Thank you, Kyoya-senpai," Haruhi smiled. "We shouldn't keep him in there longer than five minutes otherwise he might freak out and induce a heart attack."

Mori nodded and checked his watch. He'd enjoy these quiet five minutes as much as possible.

….~…

Haruhi watched as Mori carried a sleeping Honey up the stairs and towards the bedrooms. It was nearing midnight and Haruhi was finishing her third cup of relaxing tea. They had little to no effect.

The twins, Kyoya, and Tamaki had left after Tamaki had run screaming from the house after Mori opened the door from the pantry. Haruhi had laughed as Tamaki raced down the Haninozuka driveway. After that, Honey and Mori sat down to watch a movie while Haruhi did her homework and drank tea. Haruhi had just finished her science homework when Mori disappeared in the stairwell.

She sat unmoving until Mori returned at the stairs and upon making eye contact with her, headed over to her. "Why aren't you in bed asleep?" he asked, tone reprimanding.

"I could ask you the same question," Haruhi returned, taking the final sip of her tea.

Mori sighed and sat in the seat across from Haruhi. "I don't know," he sighed. "We have school and host club tomorrow but I can't sleep. I can't even get my mind to calm down."

Haruhi resisted the urge to raise an eyebrow. She knew Mori got more talkative the more he was tired but still rarely talked about his insecurities or problems. "I would say try a cup of tea but they aren't working for me," Haruhi said pushing the empty cup away from her.

Mori ran a hand through his hair. "Maybe music?"

"I have some Bach on my iPod," Haruhi suggested pulling her iPod out from her pocket. "You can borrow it if you want."

"I couldn't!" Mori insisted.

Haruhi shoved the iPod into his hands. "Just take it and give it back to me tomorrow." With that, Haruhi strode out of the room.

Mori looked at the small iPod in his hands. Just knowing that it came from Haruhi might keep him up all night.