Since I thought it would be fun, the last chapter had cameo appearances on it. Check my Favorite Pairings and search them out!

And, I just want to ask… will there REALLY be a second season of TMHS?

This chapter came earlier than I expected it to be… maybe that's what they call the miracle of inspiration or something like that… or maybe because I was too bored and had to vent my anger on fanfic writing.

A/N: Maybe you're still wondering; do I own TMHS? Well, those who think I do should just walk away and try reading this chapter five feet away. Those who don't, well, thank you for your understanding… I do NOT own TMHS nor ever will I do (TT)

Chapter 06: First Favor

"Father!?" Haruhi cried out, surprised, shocked, and dumbstruck by the sudden appearance of her father.

"Father? You mean Mr. Suzumiya?" Kyon questioned himself; mainly because he haven't seen Haruhi's father all his life. Now that he's here, watching him and his hold on his daughter, a bad feeling welled-up inside him. He couldn't help but think that the day might end at that moment. Sure enough, he didn't want it to end so quickly; he was enjoying his time with Haruhi, excluding the fact that Sarah was staring his life away.

"Haruhi, what do you think you're doing!?" his so-called 'father' asked impulsively; the sudden outrage gathered a crowd around them. Some were gossiping; some were keeping silent; while some other started clamoring.

Haruhi suddenly realized that she was still clinging on to Kyon. The air around her father became menacing, and she found comfort within Kyon's arms, so she didn't let go. Instead of answering her father's question, she retreated further into Kyon's embrace.

By her action taken, her father looked angrier than Kyon could handle. And it came to mind; the times when something scary comes-up, he would be able to keep himself calm and think logically, thanking his past experiences with the supernatural trio he'd been hanging out with. But, somehow, Haruhi's father scared him to the point of almost pissing his pants; he scared him even more than the murderous intent of Asakura Ryoko in the past. Something was definitely NOT normal about her 'father'.

By that time, the crowd was getting larger by the minute, driven by curiosity.

Again, her father repeated his question, looking as pissed-off as ever. A long, torturing pause followed soon after. Kyon could feel the whole world stop to witness this scene.

Haruhi's always found Kyon's presence to be very warm, and comforting. She felt invincible every time she was with him. But, some way or another, physiological or not, her father's presence didn't seem to comply. He seemed to loom over them with such dominance that even she couldn't oppose. Then, it hit her. That was the first time that her father became like that; seemingly so powerful and influential. "Something's wrong," was the thought that crossed her mind as she stood up to confront her father.

"I asked, what are you doing with that boy?!" her father blurted again. This time, Haruhi finally snapped.

She was about to say something like "What do you think you're doing?" when, instead, to everybody's surprise, Shura suddenly stood up and took on Haruhi's father instead.

Tapping her father lightly on his shoulder, Shura started.

"Would you mind if I asked, how are you really related to Suzumiya-san over there?" he asked ever so innocently… Maybe he was deaf or something that he didn't hear what Haruhi said earlier.

"What do you mean? Didn't you hear me and her? I'm her father, boy!"

After hearing that, Shura let off a suggestive tone and continued.

"Well, I believe that this situation is a bit personal for her, don't you agree? And, something personal warrants a bit of privacy and secrecy, correct?" was Shura's clever statement, stealing most of the words Haruhi's father could use for a comeback. But, still, being the 'father' of his daughter, he didn't let up.

"What are you going to do about it, boy? Now that I know, what can you do about it?" was her father's response.

Shura huffed. Kyon wondered what the huff was for but decided that it wasn't important.

"Well, I guess that'd mean an intrusion to privacy. And, from what I know, it's a legal crime." A pause followed until Shura continued after seeing the effects his words had to Mr. Suzumiya. "And, besides, you don't want your daughter hating you for the rest of your life, right?"

He snapped his head to his left, as if wanting to make him look at his beautiful daughter. He, of course, after a common adult response, looked to his right towards her. His 'angry' face became 'angriest' when he saw SOMETHING at them. Haruhi and Kyon wondered what it was, but it was futile.

As he looked back to Shura, his face turned almost red from anger.

"Who are you!?" he demanded. His voice scared everyone around them. Haruhi never felt so scared (nor has she'd been) in her life. Having already returned to her position beside Kyon, she tightened her embrace on him as she watched the scene unfold.

Kyon, on the other hand, wondered what her father meant by "Who are you?" surely he must've already known that he was a friend and nothing more.

"Who, me?" Shura casually returned, being back to his 'normal', mild-mannered, considerate self. "I'm just a friend of theirs; maybe more, maybe less," he said with a smile. "Though I am not anyone of deep importance, I can't help but to intrude on something I don't particularly like to witness. And, I didn't like it when I saw you ruining a perfectly great moment between your 'daughter' and my friend. Hmm?"

The statement drove her father over the edge. With a sudden, violent action, he grabbed on to Haruhi's left arm and pulled at it forcefully; hurting her in the process.

"We're going home, Haruhi!" her father shouted.

Kyon's natural reflex made him lean forward quickly so he could at least grab Haruhi's other arm. However, before he could close in on the last inch to her right arm, Haruhi counter-pulled with all her strength, barely stopping her dead in her advance. The moment after she effectively stopped her father's pull, she forcefully pulled her arm away from his crushing grip and shot at him.

"What the hell do you think you're doing!?" she finally demanded after being unceremoniously interrupted by Shura.

"Aha! She's back!" was the first thing that made itself audible inside Kyon's turmoil-laced mind. He wished that he could sniff some Coke to gnaw away on his brain, relieving it from everything burdening it.

Haruhi modified her question a bit so it would suit her needs.

"Why did you have to intrude on us like that!?" she demanded again. She looked at the floor and started sobbing. It worried Kyon greatly. He stood up, careful not to use Haruhi's arm as leverage, and tried to hug her, to try and ease away some of her pain. However, oblivious to her surroundings and probably by reflex, Haruhi unknowingly pushed him off.

Of course, she noticed her reaction and looked back to see who it was she pushed aside. Much to her surprise (and expectancy), the person she just cold-heartedly brushed-off was none-other than poor-old Kyon (yes, we know that already >>)!

Kyon landed hard on his back against his chair. Thank God… Haruhi, that the chair was cushioned so it didn't really hurt him physically. What hurt him was mentally; the feelings that Haruhi just simply pushed him off her when he tried to offer his embrace to comfort her. Kyon lay on the chair in the same position as he had when he fell on it, looking half-depressed and half-hurt.

"Oh, Kyon!" She lunged at him, stopping the fall with her arms before she made impact with him. "I'm sorry, Kyon! Where does it hurt?" Her hands were gently caressing his cheeks. "I'm so sorry! I didn't know it was you… so…"

Haruhi started sobbing again.

"The Goddess of the Universe has finally broken down," Kyon thought as he wiped off her tears with his thumb while assuring her that it's 'OK'. Of course, he was lying. His back hurt like hell. Her head buried on top of Kyon's chest, her sobbing became full-out crying, drenching Kyon's shirt with her tears.

"You must've raised her really well for you to have such an effect on Suzumiya-san. Is that what you want; to make your daughter cry like that?" Shura asked Mr. Suzumiya again. He didn't bother to notice that the crowd has gone silent when he said it. Then again, he didn't care about the crowd.

"I'm her father. I know what's best for her!" her father retorted. The crowd around him started booing him after he said it. But, like Shura, he ignored the reaction of the people around him. He grunted audibly and reached out to Haruhi again. He was interrupted yet again. Not by Shura, but by Haruhi herself.

She shot him with angry, teary eyes. She stood up and looked at her father in the eyes.

"Why? Why are you doing this? During my past relationships, you didn't interfere. You didn't give a damn about who I dated with. Why now? It's not fair!"

The man gritted his teeth in impatience. Raising his hand, pointing at her tensely, he stared at her with such evil it would make Satan cry.

"I am your father! You ungrateful child, how dare you speak up to me! Now, I can do whatever I want with you. You are still my daughter and you won't care if I intrude on your relationship or not!"

Kyon steadily straightened himself to stand behind Haruhi, who has now formed a fist with her hands. He placed his right hand on to Haruhi's right shoulder and sent a mental message to her, telling her to calm down. He couldn't help but wonder the scale of the Closed Space that would appear with Haruhi in such a bad mood.

Her left hand appeared and lay on top of his. She turned around to face him; her eyes, discharging water like a stream. Taking a few steps forward, she wrapped her arms around his head and rested her chin on his left shoulder; he could feel her tears starting to pass his shirt. He took it as a sign that she was going to follow her father, so he returned her embrace with his.

The crowd continued to be silent. Only some of them managed to make a few noise, limited to only either walking or silent whispers Kyon could not possibly hear.

"I'm sorry… really… for being selfish…" she said again.

Kyon tightened his hug on her, pushing her torso closer to him. Tears started leaking down his cheek as he waited for her last words that would split them apart; he didn't know how long. But, he was sure that those words would separate them for a very long time.

As for Shura, he didn't notice two drops of tears run down his face. He knew he couldn't do anything about what she would decide. He stood there, helpless and could not help. "This is certainly not good," he told himself. "Definitely NOT good."

"… sniff…"

"… sigh…"

"I'm staying with Kyon."

"… WHAT!?"

Her father exploded in rage. He punched the table beside him with enough force to tilt it slightly to his direction, bending the steel bar in the middle of the table's underside. His head became red in frustration and blood concentration. A couple of small, stressed nerves appeared on his forehead.

Instead of flinching, Haruhi kept steadfast with her words.

"I'm staying here with Kyon until the day is over. I've made my decision and I've found my resolve. I'm not going to leave here." Her confidence took to new heights as she looked at her father eye-to-eye without a single shred of fear or doubt.

"Wow…." was the only thing that left Kyon's mouth. He couldn't think of another word that could describe what he just witnessed; just "Wow…"

"You heard your daughter, right?" Shura asked, interrupting Mr. Suzumiya before he could even say another word. "Now, I think it's time for you to leave. You've left enough damage as it is without taking her away."

Mr. Suzumiya averted his gaze to Shura. His stare should've made Shura step-down. But, instead, he smiled at the guy, not giving off any signs of backing-out.

"Father, I won't come with you. That's my final choice," Haruhi denied him again. "I've never obeyed anyone in my life and today won't be the start!"

"Please, Mr. Suzumiya. Leave us alone for now," Kyon accidentally blurted out. Her father's eyes trailed on to him. Being the normal guy he was, he stepped-back once. But then, he saw Haruhi's eyes; it was like her eyes gave him confidence to question the authority in front of them. Holding his chest, he put on his 'serious' face and continued talking.

"Just as my friend said, you've done enough damage as it is. Not to mention you've just wasted my time. Please, leave us alone… Wow, I've never begged this much since I wanted that taffy candy on the window store."

Now, it was three-on-one.

Their combined determination has managed to overcome his authority. Though, he wasn't the least bit happy about it, he stormed out of the restaurant, still red from the incident; but not before cursing Kyon and Shura about it. A second later, after he practically slammed the door shut (Kyon wondered how the glass was able to withstand the force), the people around them started to applaud their performance.

All three of them blushed at the same time.

VWVWVWVWVWV

"Is it okay; to deny your father like that?"

"Yeah… He deserved it for being such a jerk!"

The young couple was on the carnival. Joyous music was playing all around. The shrill shouts and screams of adults and children alike rang in their ears. It was noisy, everyone admitted. But, it was the kind of noise where one could open-up to anyone freely and do whatever they would want.

Haruhi was back to her old self at that time, pulling and dragging Kyon on to any ride she wanted. Be it roller coasters to bumper cars, which she never got tired of ravaging her car on to Kyon's own and laugh at him. All the while her face had a smile so bright, the sun would be jealous; that was what Kyon thought.

Now, at the top of their Ferris-wheel ride, they were alone for the first time in a long period.

"I can't believe that it's this dark out tonight," Haruhi said, staring at the city lights. Her head rested on her palm, seldom moving it to adjust her position on the chair. Her bottom lip lay a bit farther than her top lip. "But, I can still see my house from here…"

"What I can't believe is that Shura just ditched us right when we entered this place…" Kyon replied. He had a small smile on his face, which didn't really compliment what he just said. He was also staring at the same window Haruhi was looking through, but, not at the things outside it, but Haruhi's reflection upon it. "Not that I have any problem with it…"

"I enjoyed most of the day with you; that's what matters," she said flatly; not showing too much emotion before returning her gaze to him and smiling.

"Hey, Kyon…"

"Hm? What is it?"

"I… have a favor to ask… … a pretty big one too…"

OMGOMGOMGOMG

Shura sat on a bench near the carnival, exhausted from the day.

From a distance, he saw Sarah make her way back to him. Behind her, she carried two large bin bags that had something heavy inside it.

Without a word, she threw the bags ahead of her, just in front of the bench where Shura sat on. Reaching in, she dragged-out two hooded, bloodied men – the stalkers from earlier – and dropped them soon after, only to return to her place beside him.

Shura hummed to express his inaudible surprise.

"Oh, sorry about that. Kyon-kun told me that you two bugged him, so I did him a favor. Was Sarah a bit too much for even you two to handle?"

Misaki: Aahh!

Shura: What'sa matter now?

Misaki: My head HUUUURTSSSZZZ!!

Shura: Then, why did you write this chapter instead of taking a break?

Misaki: Cuz I was SSOOOOOO BOOOOOORED!!

In case you guys were wondering; all my chapters haven't been pre-read before I posted them. So, I'm sorry if I can't keep-up with any demands! The next chapter would have a very unexpected twist!