This chapter would not be here if not thanks to uyay. She is brilliant.

Chapter 8

"Haru-chan! Guess what!" Honey called as he ran into the living room.

Haruhi watched as Hikaru and Kaoru followed the martial arts master slowly, Hikaru holding two bowls of chips and Kaoru holding two six packs of soda. "What?" she asked suspiciously.

"The twins said Takashi and I can join you to watch the movie!" Honey cheered. "Isn't that great?"

Haruhi managed a smile to Honey before glaring at the twins. Strangely, they didn't shrink away and instead grinned back at her. Something's up, she thought.

Honey turned to the stairs and shouted, "Takashi! Come down here please!"

Footsteps thudded upstairs, heading towards the stairs. Haruhi heard Mori race down the stairs. He appeared at the door, breathing heavily, and asked worriedly, "Mitsukuni?"

Honey smiled at him and cheered, "Hika and Kao-kun said we can stay up late with them!"

Mori nodded once and his eyes looked behind his cousin and met Haruhi's gaze. His eyes widened fractionally before he masked it.

Honey took Mori's hand and led him to the couch. "Now Takashi," Honey started enthusiastically. "You sit on the floor."

Mori sat on the floor of the couch and raised an eyebrow. What are you doing Mitsukuni?

Honey smiled innocently back at Mori and turned to Haruhi and the twins. "I'm going to go see if we have any more strawberry cake. I'll be right back."

The twins climbed onto the couch behind Mori. Hikaru said, "Come on Haruhi."

"Don't be scared," Kaoru added.

Together they smirked mischievously and said, "We don't bite."

Haruhi rolled her eyes and sat down on the couch in between the twins with Mori sitting on the floor just to the right of her knee. "You bite me, I'll bite back."

"What?" Honey asked, confused as he emerged from the kitchen with several slices of cake on a tray.

"Nothing," Haruhi said quickly.

Honey smiled innocently and skipped over to the couch, miraculously not spilling his cake. "Hika and Kao-kun! I got you some cake as well!"

Hikaru and Kaoru smiled. "Awesome!" they cheered. "Haruhi, sit on the floor so Honey can sit there."

So that's their plan, Haruhi thought. "No cake for me, Honey-senpai?"

Honey looked down at his cake and resisted the urge to smirk. Just like we planned… He looked back up at Haruhi and found Mori gazing at him too, asking what Honey was up to with his expression. Honey stuck out his bottom lip and used the puppy face he knew that Haruhi couldn't refuse. "I already promised Hika and Kao some cake and there's only enough cake for three people." Several tears welled up in his eyes. "I guess you can have the other cake, Haru-chan," he pouted, holding the tray towards her.

Haruhi's eyes widened and she shook her head vigorously. "I couldn't do that! Eat, Honey-senpai. Don't worry about me."

Honey resisted the growing smirk on his face as Haruhi sat down on the floor beside Mori. "Thank you, Haru-chan!" he cheered as he clambered onto the couch between the twins. He could feel Mori's gaze on him but refused to make eye contact, less he give something away.

"So are we watching this movie or not?" Hikaru prompted.

Haruhi picked up the remote and started the movie.

…..

Mori watched as the credits rolled. Mulan. An American Disney movie that was rated quite highly.

He could feel Haruhi beside him and his pulse quickened. No, calm yourself! You can't give anything away… Mori sneaked a glance at Haruhi to find her gaze on the screen. It's just your crush...sitting right beside you...while your best friend is plotting how to set you up with her just behind you….

Mori sighed. Great. Just great.

Haruhi nudged Mori. "Have you ever seen this movie before?" she asked, whispering.

Mori shook his head. "You?"

Haruhi nodded, a smile on her face. "It's my favorite American movie." Haruhi looked back to the screen but Mori couldn't look away from her face. The glow on her skin was so perfect. She glowed so brightly and Mori wished he could stop time just to keep this moment forever…

No! he thought to himself, snapping out of his reverie. He trained his gaze on the TV and thought, you must be vigilant! Haruhi's stalker is still out there, after all! No falling asleep, no getting lost in a dream. No nothing! No excuses! Mori kept his eyes locked on the screen and his senses keen.

Nothing would happen to Haruhi on his watch.

…..

Haruhi sat watching the movie. This movie was perfect. Since it was her favorite, it was unlikely that she would fall asleep on Mori and embarrass herself once again.

Scenes from her falling asleep on Mori before came flooding to her mind and she pushed them away. This is not like those times! We're not alone, Honey and the twins are here and Mori's probably sick of me. I bet he suspects something…

Speaking of the twins, what are they up to? And even worse, with Honey…

Haruhi snuck a glance at Mori. He was staring at the TV intensely, caught up in the plot as Mulan rode off to enlist in the army in her father's stead. I hope he doesn't suspect anything…

…..

Twenty minutes later and Mori heard soft snoring behind him. He turned around to find Honey laying his head on Hikaru's shoulder. Hikaru glanced at him and then at Honey, as if asking 'what do I do?'

Mori rose and said quietly, "I'll take Mitsukuni to his room."

"Will you be back?" Kaoru asked curiously.

Mori could feel Haruhi's eyes on the back of his head. Wordlessly, he nodded and scooped Honey up in his arms. "Be back soon," he murmured before heading up the steps.

He took the steps slow, as to not jostle or wake Honey. Once on the second floor, he headed down the hallway. Halfway to his room, Honey woke up and shifted in Mori's arms. "Takashi?" he muttered, sleepily.

"You fell asleep."

Honey looked around. "Was the movie over?"

"No."

Honey sunk back into Mori's arms and said, "I would tell you to take me back down but-" Honey cut off with a yawn and finished, "I'm too tired."

Mori reached Honey's room and opened the door awkwardly by bending down and using the same hand holding Honey to open the door. "Ah."

"You can put me down here, Takashi." Mori reluctantly set Honey down and Honey stumbled over to his bed, followed by Mori. Honey climbed in the bed and let Mori tuck him in. "Are you going back down to finish the movie?"

"Yes."

Honey smiled. "Goodnight."

Mori inclined his head. "Night." He left Honey's room, gently closing the door and heading back down towards the living room.

…..

Haruhi looked away from the paused TV screen to find the twins grinning mischievously at her. "What?" she asked.

"What's it like?"

"Sitting down there with Mori?"

Haruhi blushed. "I don't know what you two are up to, but I swear to God-"

Haruhi was interrupted when Hikaru put a hand over her mouth. "Hello, Mori-senpai!" Hikaru greeted as Mori appeared at the door. "Back already?"

"Mitsukuni is sleeping," he confirmed.

"We paused the movie so you didn't miss anything," Haruhi mentioned.

Mori nodded and said, "Thanks." He took his seat beside Haruhi again and hoped he wasn't too close to make her suspect anything but wasn't too far to make her think he didn't like her. This is so complicated…

Haruhi picked up the remote and pressed the play button. The movie resumed and Mori thought, I cannot sleep. I must stay alert for Haruhi's safety, especially since it's been awhile since the last attack. Now if I could only figure out what Mitsukuni and those sneaky twins were up to….

Mori sighed. Tamaki's right. Those twins are devils.

…

Another forty minutes passed and Haruhi found herself completely entranced in the movie. She hadn't watched it in so long and now she remembered why she loved it so much! She only looked away when she felt Mori elbow her. "Yeah?"

Mori pointed back at the twins and Haruhi looked back to see the two sleeping, leaning against each other with limp arms strewn across each other.

Haruhi smiled. "Seems everyone's falling asleep."

"Yeah," Mori answered nervously.

Haruhi nodded. "Now it's just you and me," she muttered.

…..

Mori felt like the world had been lifted off of his shoulders. He didn't have to worry about the two twins doing something off of Honey's instructions. Haruhi looked back to the movie and once again was lost in the plot.

Mori looked at her and smiled. She's so cute. I can see why this is her favorite movie. The woman heroine refuses to let her gender keep her from doing what she wants, and even when it affects other's decisions or impressions of her, she doesn't let that stop her...very fitting.

Mori looked back to the movie and slumped against the sofa. He hid a yawn and thought back to when he last slept. He had only gotten three hours of sleep last night. Stupid nightmares. Within ten minutes, Mori's eyes were flickering shut and he leaned down, falling asleep.

…..

Haruhi smiled as the credits began to roll. And that's why that movie is my favorite! Mushu is awesome! She went to ask Mori how he liked it when she noticed there was a weight on her shoulder. Finally piecing the parts together, she thought, Mori fell asleep on me! What do I do?

I'll just slide out from under him and head to my own bed, she decided. Shouldn't be too hard…

Mori's a lot heavier than he looks.

Haruhi couldn't budge. She gently pulled away from Mori but his weight trapped her in place. He wasn't crushing her, per say, more like holding her in place.

I could wake him up...but that'd be so awkward and there's already so much going on. Haruhi sighed. I guess I'll just sit here until he switches positions. I mean, he can't sleep in one position all night. That's practically scientifically impossible!

Determined to stay awake until Mori moved, Haruhi settled against Mori's warmth. Within minutes, she fell asleep against him.

….

Mori woke to flashes and the sound of giggling.

"They look so cute!" a voice spoke before giggling.

Another voice said, "These will make great blackmail!"

The first voice asked, "For who: Mori-senpai or Haruhi?"

"Both!"

Both giggled before hushing the other. Mori groggily opened his eyes and found himself looking at a camera manned by the twins. "You two," he started.

"Mori-senpai!" Hikaru cheered.

Kaoru added, "It's about time one of you woke up!"

"Why are you holding a camera?" Mori asked sleepily.

Hikaru and Kaoru pointed at Haruhi. Mori looked down and found that Haruhi was laying across his shoulder, sleeping. We fell asleep together...oh no…

"Don't move!" Hikaru chided when Mori shifted.

"You'll wake Haruhi!" Kaoru added.

Mori glared at the twins and whispered, "You're lucky Haruhi's asleep or you two would be-"

"What?" they asked together. "Nothing! You could do nothing because we're Haruhi's best friends and you love Haruhi!"

Mori blushed and gritted through his clenched teeth, "You two…"

Hikaru grinned and gave Mori a thumbs up. "Shush! You'll wake her! You don't want that, now would you?" He gave Mori a suggestive wink.

Mori went to protest but Kaoru interrupted, "Don't bother, we know you like it."

Mori ground his teeth but held his tongue. He decided not to dignify their responses with an answer, mostly because he couldn't think of one.

"We'll leave the two of you alone then!" they whispered together before leaving the room.

Mori sighed and looked down at Haruhi. Might as well make the best of this… He adjusted his body so he was lying with his back against the floor away from the couch. Careful not to shift Haruhi too much, he moved her along with him so she laid on his chest. With a deep breath, he closed his eyes and tried to relax.

It worried him just how much he enjoyed this.

…..

Guest review replies:

-Guest: Of course I'm going to finish this story! I love the idea and I've got every chapter planned out (key word being planned). Now I just have to write all of them…

-Other guest: Don't you just love suspense? MWHAHAHAHA! Trust me, you'll get your fill of it soon enough…

-Maxiepie: Thanks, it mostly has. It was just touch and go for awhile there...