Disclaimer: And yet still I don't own Host Club.
A/N: Well, last chapter! Except the bonus chappy is coming up… I'll try to write it over February break. I bet you're anxious for that! Anyway, voting is closed now since I'm going to reveal the one she ends up with, but please review anyway, and tell me what you think!
The day she had been dreading hadn't exactly snuck up on her, but Haruhi wasn't the least bit ready for it. She rolled out of bed Monday morning she ran her options through her head. Hikaru, Kaoru, Hunny, Mori, Kyoya, Tamaki…CRAP! She dressed clumsily, her mind buzzing.
She entered the living/dining room to find her father already eating breakfast in his usual women's garb, her own plate waiting for her across from him. She sat down reluctantly to pick at her food, knowing her father would throw a fit if she left without breakfast.
"Uh huh, something is definitely bothering you. I can tell." Her father nodded, looking up at her from his newspaper, eyebrows raised. "Something's been bothering you all week. You've been quiet during meals, you complain less about the Host Club boys and rarely talk about school. So spit it out."
Haruhi sighed. She knew from the start she couldn't let anything get past her father. "It's nothing really… school is just getting a bit stressful, you know? Waiting around for college applications… it's a tough time." She lied carefully, trying to sound convincing.
"I guess you don't want to tell me." Ranka easily saw through his daughter. "Well, I'll play along and tell you that you don't have to worry about the college applications. I'm sure you'll get into any college you apply to. You're smart, just like your mother." He smiled comfortingly.
Haruhi swallowed a bite and paused thoughtfully before hesitantly saying. "Hey… how would you feel about me getting married?"
Ranka nearly choked on his food. After chugging down some water Ranka set the cup down with a bang and demanded. "WHO IS IT??"
"I-I don't know yet… just asking…" Haruhi blinked in surprise at the sudden outburst.
Ranka let out a sigh. "Well that's a relief. But… I want you to know… That whoever you choose, I'll be behind you one hundred percent because I know you're a smart girl." He tousled her hair. "And as long as you love them, then it's fine by me, no matter the age. Your mother and I married very young too." He grinned. "Just choose wisely, okay? And don't make rash decisions. 'If you run too fast you will fall'."
Haruhi smiled. "Thanks." She got up suddenly and went to the other side of the table, hugging her dad. She sighed in his embrace. "I love you…"
Ranka was rather shocked, but hugged her back anyway. "Now I know something's wrong. You showing affection means the sky is falling outside." Haruhi giggled as her father leaned over to look outside the window, as if checking. He patted her head. "Haruhi, whatever decision you make, I'm sure none of the Host Club boys will resent you for it. You have to trust them."
"Yeah I suppose…" Haruhi smiled before whipping to face her father. "YOU KNOW?" She gaped.
Ranka laughed. "Of course! As if they would dare propose to my daughter without my permission. Kyoya emailed me all the details. I was just having fun teasing you about not knowing."
"I'M LEAVING." Haruhi growled before standing up and glaring.
"Um… Haruhi… Good luck…?"
"THANKS." Haruhi said sarcastically, before slamming the door.
Ranka chuckled. "Well, I think she took it well."
Haruhi could feel her stomach knotting up as the day dragged on. Hikaru and Kaoru pointedly avoided her during lunch. She sat alone on the roof, once again picking at her food, her appetite scarce. She sighed (she'd been doing that a lot lately) and flipped open her phone, punching in speed dial 5 (underneath the twins, Tamaki, and Kyoya), and crossed her fingers as it rang. Pick up… please?
"Moshi moshi?" The voice came from the other end.
"Ah, Kasanoda-kun!" Haruhi was desperate. She usually didn't whine, or ask for anything, and was a composed person, but anyone would break in such a situation. "I'm in a bit of a dilemma. I could use some advice. Is this a bad time?"
"No, not at all. What's up?" he asked with concern.
Haruhi explained the situation thoroughly. There was a long silence on the other end at the end of her explanation, followed by a whistle of astonishment. "Wow. You know how many girls would kill to be in your position right now?"
"THEY CAN HAVE IT!" Haruhi gave an exasperated cry. "I don't want this! This is so frustrating! I mean, they all mean so much to me, how can I choose just one?" Haruhi heard her voice crack and tried her hardest to remain composed. She didn't want to cry over a stupid thing like this, but she was so frustrated!
After a moment of thought, Kasanoda replied. "Well, you know, they'll be happy no matter who you choose. Before being the one they love, you're their friend. You must understand that they won't care. They might be a little upset at first, but they'll accept it."
Haruhi sniffled a little. "I guess but… this is hard. It really is… hard…"
There was a long pause before Kasanoda said gently. "If you want to cry… go ahead and cry. I won't hang up until you stop."
"Thank… you…" Haruhi whispered before crying out her frustrations softly so only Kasanoda and the wind could hear.
Haruhi took a breath. The doors to the third music room lay before her as they always had, tall and menacing in all their pink glory. She let out her breath. "Here goes nothing." She whispered. She closed her eyes. Okaa-san… lend me some strength… She opened them with a determined look and turned the knob.
The Host Club sat before her on a long (and menacingly pink) couch, all of them sitting a little straighter as she walked in. It was obvious that they had been anticipating her, and now proceeded in their nervous habits. Mori was tapping his foot, Hunny was clutching Usa-chan tighter, the twins gripped each others hands for dear life, Kyoya adjusted his glasses even though they didn't need to be adjusted, and only Tamaki remained composed, although he was sending longing looks to his "mushroom corner".
Haruhi took a deep breath before saying quietly but firmly. "This has been a really tough decision for me. You have no idea how tough." Her voice softened as she proceeded to look from person to person. She started with Hunny. "Hunny. I really do love you, and you mean a lot to me, but… I just can't see myself married to you. You're like a little brother… or maybe even sister… to me. It would be kind of awkward. Mori… I love you, I really do, but… you're so nice and you make me feel so safe… the more I think about it, the more you feel like an older brother. Kaoru… you're great, you really are! You're your own person, and a wonderful person, but… you're more like a really good friend. Hikaru… Hikaru… I know you say you love me a lot, and you probably do. But… look around, Hikaru. The world is bigger than just me. I think you feel like you love me because you haven't seen the world beyond me. I want you to find someone else, someone more suited for you than me." She sighed (yet again) and looked at the two remaining people. Kyoya and Tamaki. There had been no change in expression or any response to any of what she had said. She was beginning to get nervous.
"Kyoya… Tamaki… you both mean a lot to me, and we've been through a lot together. In your own ways, you've each helped me grow and… this is really hard but… I have to take the person who has been there for me no matter what, through everything, the one who always dove in to help me when I needed him the most… the one who I want to be with always…" She could feel the tears welling up again.
There was a pause of eternity, where all of them held their breaths. Ranka and Kasanoda held their breaths somewhere too, wondering where the sudden urge came from.
"I'm sorry everyone but… I choose… I choose Tamaki!" She couldn't contain it for too much longer, and finally buried her face in her hands and let the silent tears seep out. Muffled footsteps were heard before her hands were pulled from her face by her wrists.
She looked around her to see all of them surrounding her with smiles. The twins each held one of her wrists, Mori and Kyoya were wiping the tears from each eye, and Hunny was hugging her from behind.
"Don't cry, Haru-chan. We don't care who you choose, we're happy for you! Truthfully, we all saw it coming… You and Tama-chan always seemed to have something we didn't but that's okay. Right guys?"
Haruhi looked from side to side, and saw smiles and nods from everyone. Finally, she looked where she had been avoiding. Straight in front of her, Tamaki stood, smiling and blushing. He shuffled his feet sheepishly. "Is this really okay? I mean… me? Really Haruhi?"
Haruhi nodded. "Of course. I… love you, Tamaki."
He didn't need anything else, before pulling her away from the rest of the Host Club and into a long kiss. "Thank god." He whispered. "I don't know what I'd do without you." He reached into his pocked and pulled out the ring box, before kneeling before her.
"Fujioka Haruhi, will you marry me?" He asked, looking her right in the eyes.
Haruhi smiled. "Yes…" She paused before adding. "…Someday."
"EH??" The other Host Club members burst out, and Tamaki just blinked, frozen.
"Oh please." She laughed. "I'm completely not ready to get married yet! I mean, I've just graduated high school!" She took Tamaki's hand and pulled him up. "I want to go to college first, and build my career before settling down. But, I promise we can get married when I'm ready, if you're willing to wait." She looked at him hopefully.
Tamaki grinned. "I'll wait for you as long as you need, Miss Independent!" Tamaki flicked her on the forehead.
Haruhi blushed and smiled, hugging him. "And that's why I love you." She slid her hand in his and sought out the ring, before slipping it on her left finger. She held it up. "Here's proof of my promise. As long as I wear this, I'm your fiancé."
"It's a deal."
They kissed and there was an outburst of applause from the rest of the Host Club. Kyoya promptly called someone and ordered cake to celebrate. The sun set silently along the horizon as some ways away, Ranka and Kasanoda chatted on the phone.
"I'm putting my bets on Tamaki." Ranka said.
Kasanoda nodded. "Definitely Tamaki."
Four years later…
"Are you ready Haruhi-chan?" Haruhi's college friend squeezed her shoulder.
"As ready as I'll ever be. This is way more nerve racking than any court case." Haruhi sighed.
Her friend giggled. "That's because it's your wedding. It's natural to be nervous."
"Can't you just be a silent brides mate, Ayaka?" Haruhi huffed.
"Of course not!" Ayaka grinned.
Somewhere beyond the tall, menacing, and ironically pink doors, an organ began playing. Haruhi's heart jumped to her throat, and Ayaka stepped out, leaving Haruhi with a wink and a mouthed "good luck".
Haruhi took a deep breath. I hope you're watching, Okaa-san… The chords struck and she stepped out into the hall, Ranka by her side. She looked side-to-side, watching familiar faces pass. Kasanoda and his husband nodded supportively from the pews. Mori was smiling encouragingly at her, and Hunny gave her thumbs up. He had grown nearly as tall as Mori, and his face had matured to become as good looking and princely as Tamaki. But of course, Hunny was still Hunny, and she spied Usa-chan nestled between him and Mori. She looked to the other side to see the twins smiling up at her, Hikaru holding the hand of a stunning model next to him whom he had met during one of his jobs. An engagement ring sparkled on her left hand. She looked ahead to see Kyoya standing behind Tamaki in his place as best man, smiling whole-heartedly. He now managed nearly every hospital in Japan, but had never married. She felt kind of guilty, but Kyoya had made it clear he had moved on, and he was happy at his place in the shadow of the groom—once a shadow king, always a shadow king. Finally, her eyes met with Tamaki. She stumbled slightly, as she saw his violet eyes shining with long awaited joy. She paused a second, and Ranka tried to tug her along, but her heart was beating too fast. Everyone looked in confusion, as Haruhi stood rooted on the spot.
"Haruhi…" Ranka whispered, jerking his head slightly towards Tamaki. She looked up at her father and then finally at Tamaki, who smiled. "Haruhi." He held out his hand. "Haruhi…"
Something burst in her chest. "Tamaki…" Her footsteps echoed through the hall as everyone looked on with astonished, but smiling faces.
At that moment, Fujioka Haruhi became the first bride to run down the aisle.
TADAA! I apologize to those who were hoping for a different pairing, but it seems like I'm pretty transparent, because everyone pretty much predicted it. It was pretty obvious, especially if you've read any other Ouran fan fictions by me, or looked in my profile. Don't forget, the next chapter is the FAN FAVORITE BONUS CHAPTER! I already know who it is, but I'm going to keep you guessing! Please review!!!