AN: thank you once again to everyone out there reading this. I wish i could let you know how thankful i am for having the chance to write for such a good and supportive group of people. Now this chapter was written really to show how much Kaoru and Hikaru support Haruhi and give us a peak into Takashi's past. The good new is my next two chapters have already been read by my fantastic beta. Monedameow, my beta is a fantastic lady and she has really helped me when it comes to the ending. Hopefully my next two chapters will be up with relative speed. so thank you all once again. and of course I do not own Ouran High school host club

Of Respect and Friendship

by buddhistbabe

Chapter Six

Soon a week had passed and a new Monday morning began. Class 12-A started their day with upsetting new. Fujioka Haruhi was no longer a member of their class. The students couldn't remain silent for the rest of this announcement. The class was buzzing with people asking each other if she had said anything to any of them, rumors soon were starting. The only two people who said nothing were the two loudest member of 12-A, Hikaru and Kaoru, they both knew that Haruhi had been dropped from the school this morning for not divorcing Mori.

They found out last week, when Haruhi never showed up Monday for their first day of Host club for the new school year. The pair of doppelgangers were so worried about Haruhi they almost shut down the club on opening day to find her, but they figured that wouldn't be a good idea. They didn't want to panic the women at the club. They found out the next day, after leaving over twenty messages on her phone, she told them the truth during lunch.

She had to physically restrain the two to prevent them from going straight to the Chairman and giving him a piece of their minds. It took some time before Haruhi quieted both of them, to tell them that she was going to re-enroll under Morinozuka. The pair didn't like the plan, not because it wasn't a good plan, because they all agreed it was. What they didn't like about it was there was no repercussion on the Chairman. No one would know what happened to Haruhi, and why she had to re-enroll. She didn't feel that she needed to explain that to her classmates, her main concern was that they would forgive her for lying to them. That was where the twins decided to take the plan into their owns hands.

Kaoru glanced sideways at his bother over the empty seat that was Haruhi. Hikaru met his gaze an nodded. Both had been feeling upset over their best friends marriage, even though they were lucky enough to be a part of it, unlike their other high school friends. Their lack of seeing their friend had made them over-protective of her when they got the chance to see her, and they knew that after today Haruhi would never be returning to the Host club.

Once the class had gotten over the shock of the loss of Haruhi the homeroom teacher announced that they would be having a new student joining them that day. Everyone turned to see a short hair girl in a yellow dress walk into the room.

"Everyone" state the homeroom teacher calmly, "this is Morinozuka Haruhi."

The buzz that circled the class was anything but quite, the homeroom teacher once tried in vain to gain control. From where Haruhi was standing in front of the class she could hear all sorts of things being whispered about her.

"That's Haruhi, why is she being called a new student" "Better yet why is Haruhi dressed as a girl?" "HARUHI IS A GIRL?" "With Morinozuka as a last name." "Why was she pretending to be a boy?"

"Class, class" said the Homeroom teacher loudly, trying to gain control of the class again as they broke out into a murmer. "I am sure you have many questions, we all do but we need to continue on with the days plans."

Haruhi walked towards her seat. Feeling eyes follow her all the way to her desk in the back. Morning classes continued as normal for Haruhi, expect that every time she looked up someone else was staring at her. Somehow she knew none of her fellow students were paying any attention to the teacher. They were all deciding how they felt about the new Haruhi, and she could tell by the evil looks that were being thrown at her that not everyone was pleased with the truth.

Haruhi wasn't the only one who noticed the upset looks. Hikaru and Kaoru had noticed too. They, unlike Haruhi, focused more on the class's reaction than on the class lesson itself. They saw the notes being passed and knew rumors were being spread. The doppelgangers looked at each other over Haruhi's head, that was buried in her school books. They had to do something to prevent the bad rumors that were going to sent flying across campus when lunch happened and everyone left the classroom. They had to act before then.

The clock signaled that it was lunch time, and their teacher left, Hikaru got to the door before any of the students could leave.

"Whats going on?" asked a guy from their class who was trying to get out, no doubt to tell his friends that Haruhi in class 12-A really was a girl.

Other students looked around to see that their exit was blocked.

"Take your seat for a moment. There is something Haruhi need to tell you." Kaoru said to their fellow class mates.

"Why would we want to listen to Haruhi, he, I mean, she has lied to all of us for years now." Said a girl in their class angrily, Haruhi knew that she was one of her best costumers and must have been taking the deception extra hard.

"Hikaru, they don't have to stay." Haruhi said weakly.

"No, you have gone through to much to have your classmates turn their backs on you. So all of you sit down, you need to know the truth." said Hikaru forcefully.

"Haruhi never meant to lie to all of you but there is a reason for all of this." said Kaoru dragging Haruhi to the front of the class.

She stood there feeling all of theirs eyes one her.

"First I would like to apologize for my deception, I am very sorry that I lied to you all about my gender. I am truly sorry if I hurt any of you with my lie. My first year here, I accidentally broke an 800,000 yen vase and to repay my debt I worked as a host for the host club, but I had to hid it from you all, my classmates, that I was a girl. I am truly sorry for this lie and I deeply hope that you all will forgive me."

Haurhi looked down at her feet, and took a deep breath, and started to head back to her seat, expect she felt one of the twins grab her arm.

"Haruhi that's not all of it, you need to tell them why you have to be a girl now." Said Kaoru, who happened to be the one with his arm around her. "You need to tell them the truth, and if you don't then we will. This is also going to be pay back to the chairman." He whispered into her ear.

Hikaru stood next to Haruhi, saying loudly and dramatically. "You need to tell them that the chairman took away your scholarship, because you fell in love."

That sentence alone caused all of the students to focus on Haruhi.

"What do you mean?" asked one of the Host club costumers.

"Well" Kaoru continued picking up where his brother left off. "During the summer Haruhi was reunited with her secret love. Morinozuka Takashi, he was a senior in host club with us when we were in class 10."

"They spent so much time together over the summer, they realized that they were meant to be together" Hikaru interjected sighing heavily, playing up the drama as much as he could

"So as most young lover do, they got married, but when Haruhi returned to school the chairman…"

"Mr. Souh."

"Told her that because she was married her scholarship was pulled."

"So he told her that she could either go to public school…"

"Or she could divorce her new husband" they ended together dramatically.

Haruhi stood next to them dumbfounded at the version of the story they were feeding the class. What amazed her even more was how the class was really buying it.

"Well of course the two star crossed lovers, coming for different social levels, couldn't be separated" Continued Hikaru after a pause.

"Her Husband, Mori-senpai, couldn't stand how she was being treated at this school, a smart girl like Haruhi, being forced to go to public school, all because she followed her heart. So…"

"He decided to trick the system and together they enrolled Haruhi under her new last name, as a new student.

"So that is why she is here with us now as a girl because the chairman tried to keep her from attending."

"We all know how bad he wanted Haruhi to marry his son, Souh Tamaki, I personally think it was revenge.

"I agree with you Kaoru. Our Chairman is supposed to be looking out for his students not hurting them out of revenge. I mean and it Haruhi, she has always been there for everyone in our class.

Haruhi looked around at all of the faces of her class mates after the twin's performance. All of the upset and angry faces that were once directed at her were now in discussion about the acts of the chairman. While every fan girls eyes were watering over the heart-breaking romance.

"Haruhi we never knew you were such a romantic" said one girl to her as she was walking back to her desk.

"Can you believe they would pull her scholarship because of love?"

"Mori is so handsome, she is so lucky."

Once she got to her seat, she looked back at her friends who were standing up in the front of the class, telling other students the details of her wedding. She caught one of their eyes and he winked at her. She smiled back, extremely thankful to have them on her side.

Both of the twins were congratulating themselves on how they turned the tide against the chairman. They knew that once everyone left the class room their story would spread like wildfire. The students would go home and tell their parents, and no one likes a rotten chairman, especially because he was getting all kinds of positive publicity with the fact that he was paying for Haruhi to attend Ouran. They smiled at each other, even thought they couldn't protect Haruhi like Mori could. They would still protect their friend and both were relieved to have their dear friend back with them were she belonged, with them.

After school that day, both Takashi and Haruhi agreed that he should start meeting her in front of the school. It would be acceptable, now that everyone knew they were married. On their first day meeting Haruhi couldn't find her husband outside the school. That was until she spotted the crowd of girls peaking around a corner whispering. What she found was her husband, dressed in causal clothing, leaning against a lamp post waiting for her. She smiled at the scene and walked towards him. The pair made quite a sight for all of the Host club's fan girls. When she reach him, her took her school bag from her with one hand and took her hand in the other, the pair walked away together, working hard to ignore the swooning girls watching them.

The week progressed easily for Haruhi at school. Easier then they ever had when she was in the host club actually, which she was no longer a member of. It was decided that because Haruhi's true gender was out that if she continued as a host the club would actually lose profits because her older customers would look to a new host and it would be her time wasted. Within a few days time, Haruhi already missed her time spent with the Host club, her time with her best friends, something she never thought she would admit too. Then to top it all off she was really starting to loath the yellow dress uniform.

Sadly the week progressed slowly for Haruhi at home. She had quickly become restless with all of her free time now that she didn't have the Host club to attend. She considered joining another club, but everything she looked at was nothing compared to the host club.

Instead she would return from school finished her studying and homework right away, then she would have tea with Takashi after which he would leave for the dojo. Haruhi was amazed in husband's dedication to Kendo. He would wake early and meditate, then would practice before his classes. During his long break between his morning and afternoon classes he was found training again. Plus his evening kendo practice, which would be the one with a larger group of students, where Mori helped assist with the younger students.

One side of Haruhi was envious that he had something he was so passionate about, but the other, stronger side of her was proud at how hard he pushed himself, and she wanted to follow in his footsteps with something she cared about.

That is were things became problematic, because once Mori had left for training, Haruhi had nothing to do, and had nothing to be passionate for. One the first day she cleaned, and then decided to try a new recipe for dinner. Yet when the second day came around everything was still clean, so she decided to start moving the furniture around, and then cook another exotic meal. This continued on, for the next few days, every time Takashi came home from the dojo something was different, and something steadily stranger was being served for dinner.

By the fifth day it was no longer the boredom that was getting to Haruhi, because she was finding ways to keep herself busy, even if she was fixing little things around the apartment. What was becoming the problem was the fact the Mori never made a comment on anything. He never gave his opinion on the meal, other than to thank her and say that it was good even when it was chili and kielbasa (she found an international cook book in the school library). He never made mention of what she did to the furniture. Not even when she decided to push the couch right in front of the window and face it outwards so you only had a few out their 4th story window.

She was frustrated. 'Does he not care about our home?' she thought bitterly. 'He never tells me what he likes or dislikes, I don't even know what to cook for him.' Haruhi was also mad at herself. She knew she wanted to be more considerate with her husband but he wasn't even communicating with her properly.

That night over a dinner of Kimchi and calamari, Haruhi couldn't keep in her frustration quiet any longer and spoke up.

"Takashi, do you like the dinner?"

"Yes its good, thank you very much for making it" he said politely nodding towards her, and taking a sip of tea.

Silence followed this statement. Haruhi watched him for another moment before trying again.

"Well, what do you think of the living room today?"

He looked up at her with questioning and uncertain eyes. "It is very nice"

Silence once again devoured the couple.

Haruhi could feel the pressure in her rising. Before she could even start to consider breathing deeply to calm down she slammed down her tea cup causing hot tea to pour over her hand. She didn't notice the pain her hand as she spoke up, she was to upset.

"DON'T YOU HAVE AN OPNION ON ANYTHING?"

Takashi knew something was bothering Haruhi, he had noticed the change in her at the start of the week. He figured it had something to do with the twins, or school, but he didn't think it would have been himself that was upsetting her. All he could do was sit and blink at her rather stunned and unsure of what to do until he noticed her hand.

"Haruhi you burned your hand. Come with me" he said leading her into the kitchen, where he grabbed a cool damp cloth.

"Takashi you can't avoid my question" she said defiantly, as he put the cool clothe against her burn.

He looked down at her and blinked again before bowing his head and looking at her hand, trying not to make eye contact with her.

"I am sorry Haruhi, I don't really understand your question."

"For the last week I have changed the apartment around, I have cooked foreign foods, and it originally started out because I was bored. You have kendo, and you are so dedicated and good at it and you really enjoy it. I wanted something too, and I have always liked cooking, and I never really minded cleaning to much. So it just started out as something to do. But I really wanted you opinion on what I was doing, if you like how I set up our home. But you said nothing, and it causes me to believe you either don't care about our home or didn't notice."

He looked at her softy before speaking.

"I am sorry Haruhi, I did not mean to offend you with my lack of opinion. But where I grew up my opinions on matters like food or furniture or my tastes in those things were…well, not valued very highly. So I learned to stop voicing them."

He looked away, recalling memories of the past. To the time when he mentioned thinking red and yellow roses was an odd combination of flowers to have on the table, and how after then no one ever brought in flowers. To the year he told his grandma he didn't like sweets even though Mitsukuni loved them, he remember the cold look she gave him for his rude manners. To the last time he gave his opinion on how his mother re-organized his room, when he mentioned he wanted to move his desk back to being away from the window, his mother look so hurt that he never did move it.

"I am sorry if this caused you pain, I never wanted to upset you with my silence, but I figured it was for the best, so I couldn't offend you with my tastes."

Haruhi sat listening to her husband as he wiped the cool cloth over her burned hand gently, as if she was in a trance. Her eyes grew wider at this look into Takashi past.

It was very true that he never talked about it with her, and Kyoya did mention that Takashi had problems he never mentioned before. She felt instantly bad for making him feel guilty for something he was trained to do. She couldn't image not having her opinion heard and valued by her family. Even as a small child her mother and father always listened to her thoughts on everything. To think that her husband was so quiet because no one wanted to hear him broke her heart.

"No, its okay Takashi" she said softly. "I am sorry I got upset. I guess I never understood where you were coming from. But I want you to know, your opinion mean everything to me. It is very important and I would love to hear your ideas about where we live and what we eat. No matter how mundane or silly you think it might be. It is still important."

She set her hand on top of his and looked into his dark eyes.

"I want to know how you feel about our life here together. It is very very important to me to know what you think, even if it is about trivial things like food and furniture. I want to know those things about you." She smiled brightly at him.

"After all you are my husband; I need to know your favorites."

He leaned his forehead against hers and whispered "then I will tell you all you need to know, if it is important to you."

"It really is." she whispered back. "When it comes to you, you will always be most important."