A/n: REVISED. I apologize for any grammatical errors and I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 5

Ranka moved around his kitchen, his movements robotic in his exhaustion as he cooked breakfast for the equally exhausted boys sitting around the table. He glanced towards his daughter's door and found himself feeling grateful once more that the boys had been able to help her. She seemed more herself when they were near; like anchors they kept her on the ground and Ranka was more than a little jealous.

The sound of her scream had ripped him from his sleep, sending his heart racing and shooting fear up his spine. When he rushed to her room and saw his little girl rocking back and forth in a corner with tears running down her face, his heart broke. He had tried to embrace her while whispering words of comfort—he would never be able to forget the sound of her scream when he pulled her into his arms. She had fought him as if her life depended on it and he realized then, Haruhi thought he was someone else completely. He didn't know what to do, so he called the only people who might be able to help her. He knew he had made the right decision and despite his jealousy, he thanked God for the boys who loved his daughter enough to stand by her even when she tried to push them away.

"Fujioka-san?"

He turned to the oldest and the most damaged of the boys, "Yes?"

"Are you okay?"

Ranka stared down into the pot of miso soup, his throat tightening as he fought another wave of tears. "No Hani, I'm not. My daughter is falling apart and last night I realized how useless I am to her. I don't know how to do what you did for her when all I want to do is take her in my arms and make her okay again. I don't want to sound ungrateful, there really are no words to describe how thankful I am—but I have to able to help her on my own. I can't always rely on you."

Hani leaned against the counter beside Ranka, his arms crossed over his chest as he stared down at the floor, "Can I be frank with you Fujioka-san?"

"Of course."

Hani looked back up at Ranka with hazel eyes much too intense for someone so young, "You know how independent your daughter is; she is strong and resilient and still she knows how important it is to have a support system. There is nothing wrong in needing or asking for help and I hope that you will continue to rely on us."

Ranka turned back to the soup, lazily stirring the broth before asking, his voice filled with uncertainty, "Today is her first appointment with the therapist. Do you think that it will help her?"

Hani frowned and looked down to the floor; honestly, he didn't understand how talking to a stranger might help Haruhi. He also had no argument against the possible usefulness of a shrink—Tamaki seemed to believe that it would help and Hani trusted the younger boy. So, despite his reservations he sighed, "I do. We found her the best Ranka-san and while we don't expect her to get better overnight, I think that this might be good for her. This could be what she needs."

Ranka silently set up the steamed rice and miso soup before turning towards the beautiful boy with a worried expression, "Do you think that speaking to someone might also be good for you too? You hide it very well Mitsukuni Haninozuka, but what you did for my daughter is haunting you. If you need someone to talk to about what happened, know that I am here and so are your friends."

Hani tensed and pushed away from the counter, "I didn't kill him."

Ranka handed him a tray, "Hani, I know you didn't kill him. You avenged my daughter in the only way you knew how with no thought for you own psyche—I don't want to overstep, but what you did for Haruhi will no doubt have consequences on your mind. You may not have killed him Hani, but you still sacrificed a part of yourself…"

"I'm fine. He hurt her, so I hurt him—it's as simple as that."

"No, there is nothing simple about what you did for Haruhi."

With a sigh Ranka headed to the dining room, knowing that it would take time for Hani to heal just as it would for Haruhi.

~oOo~

Haruhi sat in a comfortable black leather couch, her heart pounding with unreasonable fear as the woman across from her smiled gently at her.

"I don't know what you want me to say."

Dr. Kaede Yamada shook her head "You can say anything you want."

"I…I can't."

Kaede nodded her head, "Okay, well how about we get to know one another. What do you think about that idea?"

Haruhi hesitantly nodded. "That's okay I guess."

Kaede leaned forward clasping her hands together with a smile still on her face. "I'll start. My name is Kaede Yamada, which you already know. I have been a licensed psychiatrist now for 15 years and I enjoy my job immensely. I help in the healing process; I help people become who they once were or who they are meant to be, and I feel special to be part of something so important. There was a time in my life when it was me who sat on a couch, unsure of myself and of everyone around me—it can be confusing and more than a little scary to confide in a stranger. I would not have chosen to do what I do if I wasn't living proof that it can help. Okay Haruhi, it's your turn."

Haruhi stared at the woman, unsure if Kaede expected the same level of detail from her. As if she could feel Haruhi withdrawing, Kaede smiled and softly reassured her, "I only ask that you tell me what you're comfortable with, no more than that."

It was silent while Haruhi calmed down enough to consider what she was willing to share with the stranger. Dr. Yamada could see the struggle in Haruhi's big brown eyes, perhaps the most expressive eyes Kaede had ever seen. "This is a safe place Haruhi. Nothing you say when you are in this room with me will be repeated without your express permission."

Haruhi cleared her throat and clasped her hands in front of her. She could do this, it wasn't like the woman was asking her to bare her soul to her. With a deep breath Haruhi began to speak, "I'm 16 and uhh…I go to Ouran Academy. I live with my dad—he isn't very conventional, but I couldn't imagine him any other way. He is a really good man…a really amazing dad; I think mom would have been proud of him. She died when I was five…I uh, I don't have very many memories of her, but I know she loved me. Dad would tell me how much I reminded him of her—it's funny how much I missed her these last few months. I barely remember her, she's been gone for so long that I don't understand why I miss her so much…"

Dr. Yamada nodded, "That was perfect Haruhi, it is very nice to meet you," with that she held out her hand for Haruhi to take.

"Now we are not so strange to one another, are we?"

Haruhi gave her a small smile. She liked Dr. Kaede Yamada, she was very good at reading people and she could tell that the woman was a genuinely kind and caring person. She also knew that the boys had all agreed that Dr. Yamada was the best choice for her, so she had to be very good at her job.

"I suppose not."

~oOo~

Haruhi stopped and turned, her eyes searching the crowd behind her.

"Sweetheart, are you okay?"

Without turning towards her father, she nodded, "I'm fine dad…just…it felt like someone was watching me."

Instead of brushing it off Ranka began scanning the area, not willing to take the chance that Haruhi was wrong. There were simply too many people though. He felt Haruhi grab his hand and tug him away.

"It's okay dad. Let's go home."

~oOo~

He watched her stop and turn towards him, searching for him. He made a sharp right into the alley next to him cursing her instincts. It was through her that he would make his father proud, and he didn't give a damn who got hurt in the process.

A/N: I hope you liked it. Review please!

Thank you.

~Inari