Since meeting Chika and Satoshi, Haruhi found herself encountering the two youths many times a day. If Haruhi were any less oblivious she might suspect that the two were seeking her out. For the most part Satoshi and Chika were silent shadows, and while Haruhi noted their presence she dismissed it as coincidence.
Haruhi was running late for Host Club one afternoon. She has stayed after her final class to discuss a research paper with a teacher, and the discussion had gotten rather involved. The hallways were quiet, too quiet, but Haruhi paid that no mind as she moved though the halls of the school towards the music room. She could not hear any indication of kendo practice, as she passed by the gym/dojo area of the school, so she noted that Mori and Hunny must already be in the club.
Haruhi slowed her brisk walk as she heard a person enter the hallway, and she moved towards the wall, to allow the other person room to walk. Haruhi was startled to her the footsteps slow as they approached her. She turned and noticed that it was one of Mori and Hunny's classmates that approached her, a young man in the Kendo club, if she remembered correctly.
"Ah, senpai, may I help you?" Haruhi asked as she shifted her bag on her shoulder, smiling at the young man.
"You can." The man smiled and Haruhi felt a chill. His smile was a Kyoya smile, and that never meant good things. The young man advanced towards Haruhi, backing her into the wall, the smile still on his face.
"Stay away from Sakura." The young man growled. "All she does is talk about Haruhi-kun and the Host Club."
Haruhi winced and exhaled sharply as the man drove his fist into her stomach. She crumbled in pain, her head falling against the mans shoulder as she clutched her stomach and he chuckled.
"Such a pathetic reaction. She is mine, leave her alone."
Haruhi choked again, trying to draw a breath as she slammed his fist again into her stomach.
"What do you mean?"
"Don't play dum—" The young man's words were cut off as he went flying across the hallway. As Haruhi started to fall, her unwilling supporter gone, she felt an arm slip around her waist, careful of the wounds, and she saw Chika standing in front of her, his gaze on the senior student.
"Haruhi-senpai, we wondered what was keeping you from meeting us." Satoshi's voice was level, coming from beside her as he glanced at Haruhi, assessing the damage done. "Chika and I were worried. I would hate to think that Takashi would have to come searching for you." Satoshi shifted Haruhi, helping her stand, as he took her bag from her with ease. Haruhi notied thought the pain that Satoshi handled her as if she weighed nothing, and she recalled how easily Mori always lifted her, when she called for his help.
Chika noted that man stiffen at the mention of Takashi, and his eyes widened in horror as he took in the two younger students in front of him, protecting Haruhi. It seemed that the senior student finally realized that it might be a bad idea to mess with one of the hosts, given then families in the club that could protect this particular commoner.
"Leave Haruhi alone." Chika met the senior's gaze as the senior stood up, a bruise already forming on his face. After the senior fled down the hallway Chika turned to Haruhi.
"Come."
He began to walk towards the third music room and Satoshi followed, guiding Haruhi as she collected herself. It stuck her as they moved, as it had when she first met the two young men, how different they with her were from their siblings.
"Are you alright Haruhi?" It took Haruhi a moment to register the question that Satoshi had asked her.
"I will live." Haruhi shifted, moving out of the supporting grasp of Satoshi and winced.
"We should have been able to prevent that." Satoshi sighed. "We had heard rumors that one of the senior students was unhappy with you."
"So you were following me."
Chika nodded.
"It would be best if we did not mention this to the others." Haruhi looked thoughtful. "Tamaki, the twins, Mori-senpai and Hunny-senpai would not react well."
Chika again nodded his agreement.
"We will still watch over you for several days. I don't think that Kenji-senpai will let it rest at that."
"It is dishonorable to hit a girl." Chika's voice was low and Satoshi nodded his agreement.
"He does not know." Haruhi straightened her uniform and took her bag from Satoshi. "Shall we get this late arrival over with?" Haruhi cringed as she gently touched her side. Musing more to herself than to the boys she murmured. "I need to keep Tamaki-senpai from crushing me in a hug.
Chika grinned. "I believe that our presence alone will unbalance him enough that you can escape his embrace." It seemed that he enjoyed tormenting Tamaki. It might have something to do with the fact that Tamaki was the one who started the Host Club, and the one that Chika seemed to blame for turning Hunny into the cake eating alien that Chika claimed he was.
Haruhi nodded and moved towards the doors to the music room. She allowed Chika to open the door and precede her inside, Satoshi pulling the door closed after her as she entered.
Haruhi found the attention of all the men, and all the guests, on her. Even Tamaki was visibly startled, unmoving as he saw his precious daughter flanked by Satoshi and Chika. All were wary of their presence here, worried that Chika would pick another fight with Hunny.
With a nervous smile Haruhi turned and bowed to the two young men. "Thank you for walking with me."
Chika did not acknowledge Haruhi's thanks. Instead his gaze was fastened on his brother, who had paused mid bite of cake when the door opened. Satoshi smiled. "See you when club is over, Haruhi-senpai." Satoshi waved at Haruhi, and flashing a smile at his brother pulled Chika out the door.
"Haruhi, I was so worried!" Tamaki bound over towards her, and with expert practice, she moved away from him.
"Tamaki-senpai, I have designations waiting for me."
This statement drew Kyoya's gaze to her in contemplation, but Haruhi ignored it as she moved towards her couch, having placed her bag in a back room. She was not surprised to see, as she settled down, that Sakura was waiting for her arrival with several of her regulars.
"Good afternoon." Haruhi smiled at the young women. "I am sorry that I was late. After talking with one of my teachers about a project I was stopped by Kenji-senpai. There was something he needed to discuss with me." Haruhi noticed that Sakura stiffened at Haruhi's words.
"Did he?" Her voice was quiet.
"Sakura-chan. After today's practice I am sure that you will have perfected your tea ceremony technique. Kenji-senpai will be very impressed, and I know that his mother and grandmother will think that your skilles are impressive as well."
Sakura nodded. "Gomenasai, Haruhi-kun."
"Daijoubu, Sakura-chan."
Haruhi noticed that Kyoya and Mori both sat watching her, Mori looked slightly puzzled while Kyoya looked on, assessing Haruhi, and piecing the puzzle together. She did not mind Kyoya knowing, but she did not want Mori to discover. It was especially important that Mori not know.
"Shall we get started then? Haruhi smiled as her other designations smiled enthusiastically, happy to help Sakura as they spent time with Haruhi-kun.
After club Haruhi slumped back against the couch as the last customer left. She noted that the muscles in her abdomen were getting exceptionally sore, and no doubt would bruise if they had not already done so.
"Haruhi, will Sakura be returning?" Kyoya appeared beside Haruhi, clipboard in hand.
"Sakura-chan feels that practicing with me any longer will be detrimental to the club." Haruhi's hand unconsciously traveled to her side, and Kyoya's gaze met with hers, and he nodded slightly, giving her the typical it will be taken care of look. Haruhi allowed surprise to flicker across her face briefly before allowing a small smile to appear on her face. Secret conversatiosn with Kyoya stuck her as odd, but he knew that she did not want a big deal made out of the situation. Tamaki and the twins were enough to deal with on a regular basis, and both knew that if they were to find out that she was being bullied, that all hell would break loose.
"You will need to find a customer to replace her."
As Kyoya moved away Haruhi nodded and stood, sliding the tea tray off the table. Haruhi saw the twins moving towards her and braced herself for the inevitable as arms slid around her waist, adding pressure to the bruises. She could not hide the slight wince at their action.
"Ne, Haruhi-"
Kyoya's eyes narrowed at the wince and he cut the twin's off. "Hikaru, Kaoru. Tomorrow our theme is the summer fireworks festival. Find the costumes."
Stunned the twin's froze, not used to Kyoya issuing such a direct order and Haruhi used the opportunity to slip from their grasp.
"Thank you." Haruhi paused near Kyoya on her way to wash the dishes and Kyoya nodded.
"It will be added."
"I am aware." Haruhi smiled at Kyoya and moved to the curtained off area, that served as a kitchen area. She laughed as she heard Tamaki argue with the twins about what she was to wear tomorrow.
She enjoyed the silence in her area as she washed the dishes. Her peace was interrupted, however, as Hunny bound over to her.
"Satoshi and Chika-chan are here, Haru-chan." Hunny's face was serious as he spoke his next words. "Be careful, ne, Haruhi?"
Haruhi stated at Hunny blankly and her held out usa-chan to her.
"Here, usa-chan will help Haru-chan feel better. I will get usa-chan back tomorrow." Haruhi took the proffered rabbit, and opened her bag, placing usa-chan inside so his head poked out from the bag.
"Chika and Satoshi are devoting themselves to this. I do not wish to flaunt your additional aid." Haruhi looked to Hunny. "Usa-chan will be with me, and he will keep the nightmares away."
Hunny nodded and smiled. "Takashi will be surprised that I don't have usa-chan."
"Does he know?"
Hunny shook his head and Haruhi followed Hunny to the main room, her bag on her shoulder. She sighed as she saw the twins and Tamaki harassing Satoshi and Chika about their reasons for seeking out Haruhi.
Mori moved towards Haruhi and Hunny, his face unreadable but his eyes stormy.
"Takashi—" Hunny started to speak but Mori moved past him, ruffling his hair as he passed the senior. He stopped in front of Haruhi and his gaze met hers. When he spoke his voice was strained and Haruhi was surprised to sense that her association with Satoshi somehow bothered Mori.
"Be gentle. Satoshi has never liked—" Mori stopped as he noticed the rage on Haruhi's face. She will admit that in the past that she had been oblivious as to when boys liked her. Arai-kun was a very good example of this. But for Mori to assume that Satoshi and Chika were here because Satoshi liked her, and to assume that she would do something that would make Satoshi unhappy – she had been attacked. She was not being counted by Mori's younger brother. Perhaps it was the anger at being attacked, or perhaps it was some deeper reason that she found offence at Mori's words, but she cared greatly about what he though, and did like his current train of though. She surprised them both as she reached up and slapped Mori, her hand striking his face with a sharp clap.
"How dare you." Haruhi hissed and stalked off. In the silence of the room Mori noticed Usa-chan sticking out of Haruhi's bag, and the tension on the bodies of both Satoshi and Chika as they escorted Haruhi from the room. It occurred to Mori that they had been tense when they dropped Haruhi off as well, so the tension was not caused by the altercation that he and Haruhi had just had. Then why…
"Mitskuni—"
"Daijoubu, Takashi. Haruhi is fine." Hunny smiled up at the senior. He was telling the truth, in fact. Between usa-chan, the cake he was having sent to her house, the muscle balm that would accompany it, and the protection of Chika and Satoshi she was indeed fine.
Tamaki and the twins stared after her retreating figuring, wondering where their Haruhi had gone, and who was this new scary girl that had replaced her.
The trip to Haruhi's apartment occurred in relative silence, until Satoshi spoke, attempting to satisfy his curiosity.
"Haruhi, senpai. What did Taka say to you?"
Haruhi slowed down, and pulled usa-chan from her bag, hugging the rabbit. Chika glared at the offending stuffed animal, but remained silent.
"I should apologize to him tomorrow." Her voice was soft. "Mori-senpai told me to be gentle with you, Satoshi, since you had never liked a girl before."
"What?" Satoshi flushed. "He assumed that I—and you—and—" Satoshi growled and Chika laughed.
"Here." He held out a box to Haruhi. "Mitskuni will want that thing back. This will show that you are under the protection of our families."
Haruhi opened the box and pulled out a chain, a small charm on the chain. It had two men on it, back to back. One was a samurai, and the other was a man in a karate gi.
"We do not give these out frequently, not it is something we do lightly. Wear it always. Mitskuni will notice it. Taka should as well." Satoshi smiled. "Taka will be very embarrassed when he realizes." Satoshi shared a look with Chika that Haruhi missed as she stared at the necklace.
"But why? Why do this?"
"Mitskuni, when he isn't ranting about 'cake cake', talks about you a lot. You impress him." Chika shrugged. "You deal with him and all the other members, you manage to understand them, and you still excel at your school work. He respects that."
Satoshi smiled. "Taka feels much the same. He commented once that other than Mitskuni, you are the only one that he has been moved to help and protect. We should protect the person that brings about such things in our brothers."
Haruhi stared at the two young men, her mouth gaping, and Satoshi smiled.
"Come on, Haruhi, we need to get you home. I don't want Taka and Mistkuni coming after us wondering where we are and what we have done with you." Satoshi glanced at Chika, who nodded.
"We will walk you the rest of the way home, and we will pick you up in the morning. We will take the car. Kyoya mentioned an early meeting tomorrow for the club. We will drop you off there."
Haruhi nodded. She did recall somewhere in her mind, this meeting being mentioned.
"Thank you both." Haruhi looked at the young men, who shrugged off her thanks, and resumed her walk .