"I am puzzled by the truth that slips through my hands even as I cover my ears"

April 27th, 2007

2:45 P.M.

"Welcome to the Host Club sweet ladies!" A blonde male was vibrantly prancing along the newly opened for today Host Club. "We are so eager to host for you!" To add an effect, Tamaki made sure to kiss the hand of every new customer, murmuring sweet compliments as well.

Haruhi on the other side of the room resisted the urge to gag however. It never failed to amaze her how such actions would cause practically all the girls in this place to go berserk.

She sighed and rolled her eyes as another girl fainted on the spot. Well, that's a record. Only a few minutes in this time… Haruhi observed the twins as they raced to the fallen girl.

"Why Miss, all is well." Kaoru rattled off the line he often had to say, as Hikaru lifted the girl up. "Yes Miss, we are indeed sorry that this has happened." Hikaru lowered his face to hers, to follow-up with this statement. "Please let me host you as an apology." Karou then acted hurt as he tilted his face to Hikaru's. "But brother, you promised we would host together, so I don't get lonely." Hikaru looked at his brother. "Oh dear brother, I never imagined this would hurt you. Why, you're crying?" Karou hid his face behind his hands. "P-Please sweet Hikaru, let me not burden you with my troubles." Hikaru placed the girl up and kneeled to Karou, wiping his tears away, and whispered. "No Karou, you can never be a burden to me." He held Karou's head to his chest. "I should seek forgiveness for making you cry." "Hikaru…"

The girls of course went crazy. "SO MUCH SWEET MOE!!!" They all squealed around the twins.

Haruhi felt the need to sit down. Sometimes this was just too much… She grew nervous as a presence was felt behind her however. She knew it probably belonged to no other than the Shadow King. She knew the best way to act around him was brave. "Yes Kyouya-senpai?" "Haruhi, you may feel you could rest more since you're debt is paid, but believe me, I still can find ways where you can owe us again." Kyouya lifted his face in his normal evil smile. Haruhi got up and spun around to Kyouya, with a frown on her face. Damn rich bastard…

She was about to give him her own "two-cents", when he began talking again. "One way you can pay off slacking on the job is getting more Commoner coffee from the storage room. We're running low…" He then expertly backed up, still with the smile on his face. "You don't have to…" "When you're like this I know I have to." Haruhi glared at Kyouya and started to walk out the Third Music Room, down the hall to where all the extra instant coffee was stored. She didn't leave before being 'attacked' however.

2:49 P.M.

"Sweet Daughter!! Where are you going!?!" "Storage room." Tamaki looked back to Kyouya. "How could you Mother?! Ordering our daughter to go alone to get the coffee." Tamaki hugged Haruhi close to his chest, while Haruhi tired to pull away. "Senpai, stop it!" He hugged tighter. "Don't fret, I'll go with you!" Haruhi still tired to escape, when she felt a hand on her shoulder pulling her away. She looked up and saw it was Kyouya, who had another hand on Tamaki's shoulder.

"Tamaki, let her go. Your costumers are expecting you." He nodded to the awaiting girls. Tamaki at once smoothed his uniform and gave himself a new air. "That's right Mother! I nearly forgot! I mustn't make things more difficult for my sweet daughter!" He turned back to the girls seated on the couch. "Sorry for the absence sweet roses…"

Haruhi also turned to open the door, her back to Kyouya. "I could have gotten out of that myself Senpai." Kyouya began walking back to his desk. "I'm sure you could have Haruhi." "Then why did you?" He smiled to himself. "I feel I don't have to disclose all my motives." She sighed at his as always ambiguous answer as she began to walk down the hall.

Kyouya sat down at his normal desk and opened up his laptop. As he began typing, he couldn't help but reflect on his thoughts.

You really didn't give her an answer you know…

Shut up.

What?! All am saying since I'm you is that maybe you helped her for a reason.

Obviously I did. We needed the coffee right away, Tamaki was slowing her down.

Right…And the fact he was hugging her to death had nothing to do with it.

Should it have made a difference? I didn't feel anything.

Liar…

Kyouya looked around quickly, and then resumed his typing. He hated how he would get lost in thought sometimes. Often he would think he was going insane since he was able to hold conversations with himself. It wasn't annoying per say, but it did get irksome when certain…topics were brought up.

2:53 P.M.

Just as Kyouya began filling in yesterday's profits, he couldn't help but feel something wrong. A wave of…something came over him and filled the room. He glanced around again. Nothing seemed unusual. Tamaki was charming girls to oblivion, the twins still stuck in their own crying world for the customers, and Huni eating cake, with silent Mori standing watch. The last however kept eye contact with Kyouya.

Mori silently nodded back, as if he could feel it too. Kyouya went back to typing. Haruhi still hadn't come back yet either.

And that little fact is bugging you isn't it?

Not listening…

Kyouya stopped typing and grasped his ever handy cell-phone. There was no trouble in making sure nothing was happening.

What's this? The great Kyouya doubts himself?

Kyouya dialed the superintendent's office, but frowned to himself when no one answered. He looked at the phone, making sure the number was dialed correctly. Tamaki's father always picked up. Kyouya got up and walked to the window looking out over the front of the school. He glanced the area and noticed nothing unusual.

Kyouya shook his head. That's what I get for getting a little paranoid. He sat back down, but noticed Haruhi still hadn't come back.

Wow. You should calm down. It's only been like a few minutes since she left! The storage room is far down the hall remember…

Kyouya for once agreed with himself. He began to open up the closed window to resume filling in club profits, when an e-mail alert caught his attention. He opened it, after noticing the return address was from the ever-famous Ohtori Police.

Kyouya quickly read it, and dropped his cell-phone in shock.

Whack

The echoes reverberated across the room as everyone fell silent. All the hosts looked to Kyouya.

Huni turned to Mori. "Takashi…What's wrong with Kyouya-chan?" Mori wordlessly stood up and brought Huni with him to Kyouya's desk, and read the message. Mori as well started at it in shock. He then raised his voice for what would seem like the first time.

"There is an intruder. Killed Superintendent Suoh. Police are here."

The twins raced up to the laptop and read the recent message for themselves. Kyouya recomposed himself and got up quickly to Tamaki. Tamaki indeed was in his own state of shock.

"Tamaki?" Kyouya placed a hand on the blonde's shoulder. When he didn't respond Kyouya stepped back, his sense of dread returning. Haruhi is still…

That's right. In danger because you told her to get coffee! Smart.

Kyouya glared at no one and started to leave so retrieve Haruhi. He wasn't as heartless as most people believed to have her possibly get shot all for more coffee. As he opened the door and stepped out he noticed Tamaki now got up and was reading the e-mail. All the customers also were crowding around.

2:55 P.M.

Kyouya closed the door and was hurrying down the hall.

My. Is this worry I'm sensing off you? You must really be freaked out.

One often is when their friend's father is murdered and a friend could be in danger.

Ah. She's a friend now? Careful Kyouya…You're letting your guard down.

Kyouya cleared his mind and resumed waking. He wished in his haste he didn't leave his cell phone. The Host Club had to leave here immediately. Kyouya felt this was more than mere murder. Something was up, and it only made sense that the top families in Japan who attended this school would be targeted. All of the Host Club was probably in the most danger.

Except for a Commoner like Haruhi…Virtually she would be the safest.

A shooter wouldn't give her the benefit of the doubt.

No, I think you just really don't want her to be harmed. If you didn't care you would be calling Tachibana already to get the rest of you out of here.

I think it's better if you shut up now.

I'm just your conscience. I'm just telling it as I see it.

Well then why don't you just-

"OOFF!" Kyouya landed backwards, as the body in front of him did the same. Cans of instant coffee scattered everywhere. Ordinarily Kyouya would be mentally adding on to debt, but now he was…relieved she was there.

"Honestly Senpai. It's only been about 5 minutes. I wasn't planning to escape." Kyouya got up and dragged Haruhi up. "Hey! Senpai! What are you doing?!" Kyouya began dragging her arm down the hall. "Senpai?!"

"Haruhi, shut up please. I just got word Tamaki's father has been shot, and the shooter is still at large." He heard her gasp of surprise, and still pulled her forward, even when she stopped in disbelief. "I feel it's best if we go now."

Haruhi couldn't believe it. But how…and why?! This came out of nowhere. Her heart immediately went to Tamaki. Poor Senpai, I wonder how he's coping…

Haruhi stopped her train of thought when she walked into Kyouya. "Ah! Gomen Senpai. But…Why did you stop?! We're in danger." Haruhi felt no answer, just Kyouya's grip on her arm go tighter. "Kyoua-senpai…?"

Kyouya did not feel well. Something bad was going to happen. Very, very soon. He didn't hear Haruhi's questions as his mind flurried with activity.

I would listen to you Kyouya. You know when you feel something strange…Like what just happened with Tamaki's dad…and if I have to remind you, your mom…

Kyouya snapped out of it immediately. He knew his instinct was never wrong. Kyouya whipped around to Haruhi and looked down at her, grabbing her shoulders.

"W-What Senpai? Where is this coming from?! We have to keep moving!"

Kyouya looked behind Haruhi down the hall.

Something is not right.

Obviously genius. Look how freaked out you are…

Kyouya decided to listen to his instinct and pushed Haruhi down to the floor, away from the windows.

"Kyouya-senpai!!! What the hell is going on?!"

He hoped something would happen soon, or he knew he would have to explain himself. His answer came, when he heard the beginning of the sound. He was right. His instinct never failed, as he heard the sound of splinting wood, and a large noise, booming loudly. The glass was shaking form the sound waves.

"S-Senpai!"

He glanced at his watch and not a second after he felt them being pushed forward by an incredibly large force. Slamming into a nearby wall, he felt his glasses break and fall off, Haruhi's shriek suddenly ending. Screams filled the air from the rooms as the school buildings exploded. Hot metal and glass was everywhere.

A bomb…someone set off a bomb…

He could see Haruhi was knocked unconscious under him. And he only grabbed her tighter to make her not get knocked loose from his grasp as he felt the floor fall under them. The second story was collapsing, and he was heading toward the ground, which was coincidentally right above the ball room. Kyouya struggled to open his eyes as he saw their awaiting fate. The whole room below was filled with fire. They would be burned alive.

You don't want to know what happened to the Host Club though…The whole school laws hit. There were probably numerous bombs set up throughout the school.

The possibility of the Host Club's deaths and the inevitable ends of him and Haruhi didn't unnerve him as much as he thought. He also drifted out of consciousness before he hit the flames, the time still ringing in his head, along with his last thought, which of course was calculating.

It's funny. I would think falling wouldn't take this long, considering our combined weight and the height we fell from and the force that caused this…

2:57 P.M.

A pair of hands grabbed the collars of the two falling students.