A/N: Disclaimer: I don't own Ouran High School Host Club.

Well, I'm back! I had a little trouble with my Internet, and we were celebrating Christmas, and a million other things were happening. But I'm back now!

This story is going to be great to write, but it'll be a real challenge. We usually see the characters as happy and just living their lives. It's my job to shake things up and throw tragedy into the mix. So I bid you…have a good read!

Warning: Mild language

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"Give it back!" Haruhi's angry yells filled the Third Music Room. Her eyes were locked upon her notebook, currently in the grasp of Hikaru. Kaoru was seated upon the floor, falling over himself in laughter. Hikaru balanced carefully on a chair while holding Haruhi's notebook just out of reach of her outstretched fingers.

"Come on!" she shrieked as he leaped off the chair. Her fingers grappled for his ankle, but there was no use. Hikaru sauntered over to the opposite side of the room and peaked in the journal. The smile fell from his face.

"What is it?" Kaoru asked, noticing his twin's change of mood. He pushed himself from the floor and crossed over to his brother. Haruhi still hadn't moved from her spot on other side of the room.

Hikaru frowned and handed the journal over to his younger brother. Kaoru placed a finger on his temple and scanned the page. After a few moments he threw it towards Haruhi. She dived for it, ending up on the floor with the journal on her back.

"Math equations!" the twins spoke simultaneously. They each gave a shrug and returned to finishing off a piece of cake one of their customers from the day before had made for them.

"What did you think it was?" Haruhi persisted, finally getting up from the floor.

"Diary," was all they stated before turning back to their empty plates.

Haruhi huffed and mumbled under her breath, "Like I would keep that in sight of you little devils." These were her friends, but sometimes they pushed her to her limit. Haruhi returned the journal to her bag. A thought sparked in her mind. "Where are Tamaki and Kyouya?" The first's useless chatter and the second's typing had been quiet since she had arrived.

"Held late for graduation discussion," Hikaru stated, accepting a strawberry from Kaoru. Haruhi cocked her head and turned towards the door.

It was hard to believe that it had been over a year and a half since she had met the boys of the Ouran Host Club. Hunny and Mori had graduated, although they still came back…just for the host Club. Tamaki and Kyouya would graduate in about three months. And next year it would be her turn, and also the twins' turn. Time passed quickly and sometimes she wished it would stop…and other times, she didn't.

The doors to the Host Club flew open, bringing Haruhi out of her thoughts. Tamaki was bickering something at Kyouya as they crossed through the door. Kyouya held that mandatory blank stare. For a change Tamaki's face held concern and anger.

"Fine!" Tamaki finally blustered at his friend before marching off towards Haruhi. His eyes played over her as she sat atop the couch. Tamaki instantly broke into excited squeals. Haruhi frowned and bit her lip. What had just happened?

She leaned over until she could Kyouya. He had his laptop on the table in front of him. His fingers were poised over the keys, although they made no move to press the black buttons. Haruhi could see his dark eyes focused on a point just over the top of the screen. What was going on?

"You look so adorable in that dress!" Tamaki crooned, pulling her out of her reverie.

"Hmm? Oh!…oh," her tone fell when she realized what he was referring to. By courtesy of the Host Club, Haruhi had received a female uniform. Her male uniform had been in the wash and she had been forced to wear the dauntingly yellow dress. Of course Tamaki would be glad about it.

"Enough chat!" a strong voice broke from the other side of the room. Haruhi leaned around Tamaki to find Kyouya talking to them, or rather his computer screen. He still had not begun to type. "It's time to open!"

Haruhi nodded her head and moved Tamaki out of the way. She stood and moved towards the door, throwing a worried glance over her shoulder. Maybe no one else had picked it out. But she knew what she had heard in Kyouya's words. Pain.

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"The freshman love the club," Hikaru sighed, collapsing on the floor. Kaoru joined him and both continued to talk about the new faces they had 'taken in' at the club that year.

Haruhi, worn out, took her place more daintily on one of the couches. She curled up and let her headrest against the armrest. Her eyes stayed open and alert. It was too dangerous to fall asleep here; otherwise one of the boys might try to molest her…again.

Her gaze wandered over to Kyouya. He was strangely quiet and had refused to host anyone today. Haruhi had taken most of his customers. She was still a very common host to nominate, even though everyone knew she was a girl. All day it had been either gossip or worries from the girls who Kyouya refused. If he would just open himself up, he might be popular with the ladies.

As of now he was still occupied with that spot right over the top of his computer. Tamaki wondered over to talk to him. Haruhi strained her ears to listen but she could catch nothing.

Finally, Tamaki sighed and apparently admitted defeat, as he stood up and walked towards the twins to grab his bag. "Night Host Club! I have family matters to settle! I expect you all to be here tomorrow afternoon. I already know you will, though."

Haruhi raised an eyebrow as he walked out. What was with the speech? A child's voice made her look down.

"Haru-chan!" Hunny cried. He hadn't grown an inch. Haruhi couldn't help but smile at the innocence he still possessed, even though he was still older than all of them. "We're leaving! See ya tomorrow!" Mori grunted in response. Haruhi forced a smile and nodded.

She watched them walk out; Hunny riding on Mori's shoulder. Haruhi nestled back into the soft fabric of the couch. That day had worn her out. Sleep was pleading for her to give in. Just as she almost fell into the black depths a voice reached her ear; or rather two voices.

"We're on our way out!" the twins yawned, "Wanna come home with us? We can have a slumber party!"

Haruhi's eyes twitched and she shook her head at them. They shrugged at each other and walked out the door, each of their arms around the other. Haruhi sat there for a moment, contemplating whether she should get up or not. She groaned and quickly got up, her decision decided. She wandered around the room for a moment, collecting this and that.

After five minutes or so she decided that she had everything and made her way to the door. She pulled out the key, prepared to lock it, when a voice broke through the dark,

"I'll lock up." Haruhi knew whose voice that was. She was speechless for a moment. There was such sadness in that voice. This most certainly wasn't the Kyouya she knew. She removed her hand from the door handle and made her way over to the glowing screen. He was in the same position.

"Kyouya-sempai?" Haruhi approached him cautiously. She didn't want to invoke his wrath.

"What is it Haruhi?" he wanted the effect of dull and bored, but Haruhi knew to take it as defensiveness.

"Why did I take all your customers today? I'm almost certain you haven't done a single bit of work on the laptop today." She kept her tone firm, but gentle, as if to reach a hand out to him.

"Do you have a problem with that?"

Haruhi narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips. "Yes…I do."

That got his attention. Kyouya turned to look at her. Haruhi's breath caught in her throat as she looked into his eyes. They were so cold…so blank. Haruhi looked away, scared of the darkness.

"It is not any of your business what I do or don't do. It is your job to be a host for the ladies that come to the Host Club. It is your job to-"

"Oh how many times have you rehearsed this? Your father probably wrote it up for you!" Haruhi was startled by her rudeness, but she wanted the truth.

Haruhi saw an angry glint in his eyes before two things happened. The first was that Kyouya had shoved her to the floor. And the second was that he was not positioned over her, his eyes reflecting rage.

Haruhi kept a blank face. This seemed so familiar. Maybe that's because it was. It was a year or so ago when they went to the beach. They had ended up in the same position; he had told her that she could pay off her debt with her body. Haruhi had stated that there were no merits in sleeping with her and he had instantly backed off. She had a feeling that this wasn't the case here. Nor was it the same reason for why she was on the floor.

"Don't talk about my father! Only I can talk about that son of a bitch!" He snarled, his glasses reflecting the light of the computer.

Haruhi's mouth hung open slightly. There was such a passion in his voice. But how could he speak some crude words about his own father? "What did he do?"

"He put me last. I wasn't important enough for him. I always had to do better! I always had to be perfect! And more! And if I wasn't then…then I didn't exist! What kind of father is that?"

"You love your father don't you?" Haruhi knew she was close to discovering the reason behind everything he had done today, or everything he hadn't done today.

Kyouya frowned at her for a second, that fierce determinedness never going out of his eyes. Finally, he sighed and pushed himself off of her. He stood up slowly, pushed his glasses up, and took a seat in front of the computer once more. "Of course I do. But it was him who left me. And he decided to take my brothers with him. Bastard."

"You mean he disowned you?" Haruhi asked, sitting up.

"No," he snapped. His voice got quieter, "No…he killed them all, driving home drunk. My brothers and my father had gone out for the anniversary of my mother's death. No designated driver. And he went and sent the car into a river, they all drowned."

Haruhi's eyes grew wide. Why hadn't he just told them?

"I know what you're thinking. You're asking yourself why I didn't just tell you, right?" Haruhi dumbly nodded her head. "Father always said deal with your own worries and fears. To share them would make me weak."

"That's not true," Haruhi picked her bag up off the ground and walked towards the door. She stopped just inside of the room. "A true man doesn't run from his fears and worries, but in the facing them, admits that he's afraid. But you don't have to listen to me. It's only my job to be a host for the ladies that come to Host Club. Just saying."

Haruhi sighed and pulled the door closed. She had no clue that on the other side the dark-haired male was clenching his fists until they hurt; until they were white; until they bled.

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A/N: I didn't expect the chapter to turn out like this. I'm not sure if I even like it. But whatever, maybe one of you will like it.

I think I might already be losing the will to write this. I might just turn it into a one-shot or two-shot instead. I'll think on it.