I'm back! And much quicker this time! :D This is mostly thanks to lmncake…who I have recently become aware has a L not an I….never would have guessed. :D Love you!

And uyay, of course. AMAZING BETA. Seriously. And co-writer. We write Ouran stories together. *hint: check them out maybe?*

Thanks for reading, per the usual. You guys are amazing...seriously. Give yourself a pat on the back or something.

….~…

Mori stopped at the red light and rubbed his eyes. It was getting late and they had been at the beach all day. Mori smiled at the memory of it. He had been able to stay with Haruhi all day, uninterrupted. No stalker, no host club, no Mitsukuni, nothing interrupted them. All Haruhi and it had been great.

The intersection was empty. There were lampposts lining the streets, giving the streets an eerie, half-lit glow. The houses and apartment complexes seemed empty though Mori knew they weren't. They were just filled with decent people who were asleep. Mori rubbed his eye and half wished that he could put music on or listen to the radio to keep him awake. He couldn't though, because he'd wake them up.

Mori checked his rear view mirror. Honey was slumped against the window, his eyes shut and his chest rising and falling slowly. Haruhi had earbuds in and her head laid back against the headrest. Her eyes were shut but Mori couldn't tell if she was sleeping or not. Beside Mori in the passenger seat was Kyoya, still awake. Mori had been dropping the host club members off as they returned from their trip. The twins had gotten off first, and then Tamaki, who was reluctant to leave his daughter but did at the promise of calling the next day. Honey, Haruhi, and Mori were all headed to the Haninozuka mansion so there was only Kyoya to drop off at the Ootori mansion. Kyoya had offered to call his chauffeur but Tamaki had insisted they all drive home like a family, together.

The light turned green and Mori stepped on the gas. He glanced over at Kyoya and silently thanked that Kyoya was the last one in the car. He didn't make unneeded conversation and it was a nice break for him. Mori was ready for some much needed rest. It had been a long day.

Ten minutes later, Mori pulled into the Ootori driveway. Kyoya sat up and tightened his hand on his bag. He pointed by the front door. "Right here will be fine," he said quietly.

Mori nodded and parked the car in front of the door. He looked up the stairs to find the door to the house opening and a man standing there. "Is that your father?" Mori asked gesturing at the man.

Kyoya glanced at the man and scoffed. "My father would not stay up this late just for me. Most likely he plans to reprimand me in the morning, at a reasonable hour." Kyoya opened the door. "He's our butler."

As Kyoya stepped out of the car, Mori asked curiously, "If your father would be mad, why did you go? Why did you stay out so late?"

Kyoya sighed and picked up his bag. "Did you know," he asked almost sadly. "That it is most likely that you'll reveal something you normally wouldn't in late night conversations?"

"You answered a question with a question," Mori pointed out.

A ghost of a smile touched Kyoya's lips. "And you normally would not ask the question," he rebutted.

Mori nodded. "That is true," he admitted. "Though you did not answer the question."

"Perhaps your motivation to asking the question is the same to my answer," Kyoya said cryptically. Mori's eyes widened and his gaze glanced back to Haruhi who still had her eyes closed in the back seat.

Kyoya watched Mori's glance and shifted. "Perhaps I have revealed too much, even for a late night conversation." He glanced at the man behind him. "I really must be going."

Mori nodded. "See you then."

"See you." Kyoya looked back at Haruhi. "Take care of her, will you?"

"Ah."

Kyoya shut the door gently and climbed the stairs to his house. The man met him and ushered him inside. Mori watched this, his mind racing. This is…not good.

…~….

Haruhi jolted awake when she heard a door close. "Huh?" she asked incoherently as her brain struggled to wake up.

A deep voice quietly cooed to her, "Shh…it's only me."

"Takashi?"

"Ah."

Her brain slowly started to comprehend the arms around her and the fact that they were moving. Mori was holding her bridal style and they were moving through the TV room. She blushed and was silently thankful that the darkness could hide it. She shifted in Mori's arms and subconsciously tensed her body.

Mori felt her shift and stopped in the room. "What's wrong, Haruhi? Does being in my arms bother you?"

"No," Haruhi answered quickly. At Mori's chuckle, she continued, "I mean yes."

Mori raised an eyebrow. Realizing Haruhi couldn't see it, he asked, "Do you want to go to your room?" Mori smiled and tightened his grip on Haruhi. "I could stay with you if you want," he said with a suggestive tone.

I don't think I could bear going to my room with Takashi there! Especially not when he's tired and flirts all the time, Haruhi thought. It'd be so embarrassing and I forget if I put my laundry away or not. Why didn't I put it away like I usually do? I had enough time before we left for the beach…but I got too excited and just left it there.

"Uh…no thanks. I'm not that tired," Haruhi answered uncomfortably. "Can I just watch a movie down here for a bit?"

Mori sighed. He walked over to the couch and gingerly set Haruhi down. Lowering himself beside her, he wrapped his arm around Haruhi.

Haruhi shifted, feeling odd under Mori's arm. "Uh," she started awkwardly. "Where's the remote?"

Mori glanced at the table across from them, just out of reach. "Over there on that table."

"Can you get it please?" Haruhi asked uncertainly.

Mori sighed again, removed his arm, and got up. Taking one stride to reach the remote, he grabbed it and handed her the remote from the coffee table. Sitting back down, he put his arm back around Haruhi's shoulders and Haruhi scooted away from him, feeling uneasy. She liked Mori but didn't know how to respond to his forwardness. Mori looked at her and asked teasingly, "Uncomfortable with me so close?"

Haruhi nodded and Mori removed his arm. He sat back in the couch and asked, "What do you want to watch?"

Haruhi shrugged. "What are you in the mood for?"

Mori faced Haruhi and she could see him raise his eyebrow from the glow of the television. "I thought it was obvious what I was in the mood for."

Haruhi corrected with a blush, "Do you want to watch a specific TV show?"

Mori moved back to his previous position and reclined on the couch. "Not really."

"How about Merlin?"

Mori asked curiously, "What's that?"

"You've never watched Merlin?" Haruhi asked incredulously. Mori shook his head. Haruhi grabbed the remote and smiled, "I shall show you the world of magic, Takashi."

….~….

This was a stealth mission directly from the boss. Very important. The target was the girl, but the boss said anyone would make a good ransom since their client didn't care about the others. The house had been equipped with a high-tech security system but he was a professional. There was no system he couldn't crack.

He had arrived at the house two hours ago. The tall boy had first carried the small boy in the house. He had debated snatching the sleeping girl at that time but decided that there were too many variables at that time. He didn't do sloppy work. That's why he cost so much.

He walked silently down the hall. It was a good thing that his boss hadn't insisted on a partner. Partners made his work sloppy. They made too much noise or didn't understand. They just got in the way. The hallway led into the TV room. He poked his head through and saw the glow of the TV screen.

Good, he thought. They're distracted. He stood silently, his back against the wall, counting the seconds. Patience, that's what will you get through this job. After he reached 1000 seconds, he decided it was okay to poke his head out again and get a look at them.

He did so and smiled. They were asleep. That made his job all the easier.

…~…

Mori woke up to a small click. He blinked and his gaze settled on a barrel of a gun. His breath caught and he followed the gun to the man holding it. He was wearing all black and a ski mask. Haruhi was in his arms with the gun to her head.

His voice was low and serious. "Don't make a sound and you and your girlfriend will live."

Mori narrowed his eyes. He tensed his body, thinking about making a move. The man smiled and aimed the gun to Haruhi's temple. "Do what you're thinking and the girl gets a bullet through her head before you can even move."

Mori glanced at Haruhi's face. She seemed scared and annoyed at the same time, if that were possible. He couldn't let her get hurt, not because of him. He relaxed and settled back into the couch. "Fine."

"Good boy. Now follow the instructions and you'll both live."

"Takashi?"

Mori smiled at Haruhi, trying to reassure her. "It's okay, Haruhi. I'll get you out of this."

The man smiled. "Sure thing. You both listen to me and you'll get out of this alive." Neither of them replied. "Now tell me, is there anyone else in this house?"

Mori reasoned that this man seemed like a professional. He had probably been observing their house for a while, doing surveillance. Therefore, he probably knew about Honey. "My cousin is asleep upstairs. He's just a kid, leave him alone."

"Congratulations, you didn't lie. You have to die now."

I have to get Haruhi out of here now, Mori thought. I need to protect her. "Who are you working for?"

The man smiled and moved the gun so it was pointed to Haruhi's throat. "Confidential."

"Can you tell me anything?" Mori asked, trying to distract the man. He willed Haruhi to catch on to what he was doing.

"No, now shut up!" The gunman moved the gun from Haruhi's head, so it wasn't aimed at her.

"Your favorite breakfast even?" Haruhi asked.

Thank God Haruhi's smart, Mori thought. She caught on.

The gunman moved the gun completely away from Haruhi's head and turned to her incredulously. "What are you-"

The man never finished his question because with a sudden hit, Mori knocked the gun from his hand and it flew across the room. Mori followed the disarming hit with pulling Haruhi out of the startled man's arms. Mori shoved Haruhi behind him and eyed the gun on the other side of the room. It was about equal distance from both men but the steps were on the other side of the room. Haruhi can't get the gun. Once she got it, there'd be nowhere for her to run and I don't want to take the risk of not holding the man off. Mori eyed the other man. The two men seemed about equal in height and weight.

"Haruhi," Mori said without looking away from the man. "Go get Mitsukuni."

Haruhi stood up from the couch and eyed the men. "But Takashi-"

"Go!"

Haruhi was taken back. Mori had never yelled at her. She took a hesitant step backward and when Mori said nothing more, ran away.

The masked man started to go after her but Mori blocked his way. Mori dropped into a fighting stance and growled, "You want her, you gotta get through me."

…..~…..

Haruhi raced after Honey, trying to keep up. "Wait up, Honey-senpai!"

Honey dodged around a corner and called back, "You said that there was a gun on the floor?"

"Yeah, but it was on the other side of the room so I couldn't grab it."

Honey waited for Haruhi and pulled her to a stop. "Okay, listen Haru-chan. I need you to go to the workout room and wait for us there. It's really dangerous for you."

"I can't just leave you alone!" Haruhi protested. "This is my problem. I can't just let you guys protect me."

"You could just get in the way. I need you somewhere safe, Haru-chan. Takashi needs you somewhere safe," Honey argued seriously.

Haruhi shook her head. "And just let you two sacrifice your lives for me? No way. Now let's go, before we let Takashi deal with that man any longer."

Honey sighed and looked up at Haruhi. He muttered, "I don't have time to force you because I need to help Takashi. So just stay back and listen to us. If I say run, you run and don't look back. This is non-negotiable. You got that?"

Haruhi nodded. "Fine. Let's go."

…..~…

The room was a mess. What happened? Haruhi thought as she entered the room. The coffee table and a lamp were knocked over. There was glass and what looked like pottery shattered across the room.

The TV had long been off, static shown on the screen. It was the only sound in the room. The mind-numbing snow shown an ominous light across the desolate room. Haruhi tentatively stepped over a fallen chair and struggled to breathe.

This can't be happening. This can't be happening.

Honey stepped over to the other side of the room, his usually childish and energetic manner now deadly serious. "The gun's missing," he thought out loud. His voice was no longer filled with any trace of childishness or amusement. This was the martial artist in him. Haruhi couldn't reply. She couldn't even form a word. Not only was the gun gone, but so was the man.

And Mori with him.