Haruhi woke up the next morning and her eyes widened as realization hit her like a hammer. The young girl stared forward in shock at what lay before her-the sleeping form of the Mother of the Host Club. Kyouya had remained in her room all night, sleeping peacefully. Like the dead, he'd said. What astounded her even more was their positions.

She'd turned from having her back towards him to facing him instead sometime in the middle of the night. His face was merely inches from hers, and she could feel his even breaths as he slept soundly. His arms still enveloped her upper body much like they had when she'd fallen asleep, but now her hands were flattened against his bare chest. When she realized this, Haruhi abruptly withdrew her hands from his skin, silently cursing that Kyouya had chosen to not wear a shirt. Thank god he'd worn pants.

It took some careful effort, but Haruhi managed to ease out of his embrace without waking him. She knew first hand that he was not at all a morning person.

After a shower, Haruhi dressed in a pair of trousers and a baggy tshirt. When she arrived down the stairs and to the dining room there was already a breakfast buffet set up. The rest of the Host Club was already awake.

"Good morning, Haruhi!" Honey exclaimed enthusiastically. He was chowing down on a large stack of pancakes covered in whipped cream and strawberries. Mori was right beside him as usual. The twins, Hikaru and Kaoru had eggs, both eating a bite at the same time. It was disturbing when they did that.

Tamaki immediately met her at the door. "Haruhi! Good morning! I have so much planned! Now we just have to wait until Kyouya wakes up. He wasn't in his room. I wonder where he is..." He thought only a brief moment, not noticing that suddenly Haruhi's face blushed a rosy red.

"If we wait for Kyouya we'll never do anything." Hikaru commented.

Tamaki's finger raised as he announced, "I have an idea!"

Kaoru would then be the one to comment. "We aren't going to carry him with us again, are we? Because last time that didn't end well."

"Especially for me." Added Haruhi as she thought back to what a grump he had been when she had been the unlucky host club member to find him.

A groggy voice behind them then remarked. "You won't have to carry me anywhere. I'm awake." Kyouyo brushed by Haruhi and Tamaki, adjusting his glasses as he did so. He grabbed an empty plate, and made his way to the buffet.

"Great, we are all here." Tamaki stated. "Grab your swimsuits, everyone. We are going to the beach!"

It wasn't long until the group was at the beach, playing in the surf, collecting seashells, and building sandcastles. Honey had brought alone a digital camera, stating that he wanted to take pictures of everyone so that he could always remember. Honey sat on Mori's shoulders as he took pictures. The twins and Haruhi stood watching Tamaki attempt to catch a crab with his hands.

"Do you think he'll get it?" Kaoru asked.

Hikaru gave his brother an evil smirk. "I hope he gets it." He then turned to Haruhi. "Why aren't you wearing the bikini we bought you, Haruhi? Didn't you like it?"

Haruhi looked from one identical face right to the other. "Thank you both, really, it's just...a little too revealing than I am used to."

Both young men smirked. "Well, that was kind of the point."

Haruhi rolled her eyes and then yawned. She'd gotten some sleep, but not enough. The ebb and flow of the water as well as the sound of the surf was lulling her into sleepiness. Soon she'd see both twins in front of her heading for the water.

"Haruhi, come on! Join us!" The spoke in unison.

"Maybe in a bit. I just want to sit for awhile." A small smile formed across Haruhi's lips. She waved them off and then looked around. She'd forgotten a towel or a blanket to sit on. She then spied Kyouya sitting in a long lounge chair reading a book.

She walked over to him. Despite that it appeared he was engrossed in the pages, Kyouya spoke first. "Aren't you going to join them?" He didn't even look up to observe her answer. The arm holding the book was propped up by his knee. The other arm rested on the arm of the chair until it was time to turn the page. He'd worn khaki shorts and an open shirt. Damn him and his open shirt. It wasn't like she hadn't seen it before. She'd seen all of them in various states of undress, but for some reason this time it was so distracting. Why was he so unclothed?

Oh yeah, they were at the beach. Hell, Kyouya was wearing more than most of them anyway.

Haruhi remembered waking up to her hands upon that bare chest and forced herself to look out at the surf. Tamaki had indeed caught the crab-with his toe-and the twins were laughing hysterically at his plight. "No." She answered Kyouya. "Besides, I'm still a little tired from the storm last night." As if on cue, a small yawn escaped her.

"Then you should sleep." Kyouya suggested as he turned the page of his book.

"I'd love to, but I didn't bring a towel or a blanket, and the idea of laying in the sand isn't at all appealing." She looked down at the sand, wiggling her toes in it.

"Then you could sit here with me." Kyouya briefly looked up from his book, his eyes peering over the frames of his glasses. The sun shining above gave the lenses a sharp glare, hiding his eyes behind the lenses. Haruhi was positive that Kyouya planned that.

But, Haruhi could see his eyes over the lenses and found no hint of a prank, or anything else for that matter. Sometimes Haruhi felt she knew Kyouya Ootori very well, and then he'd do something like this just to prove that she didn't know him as well as she thought she did. But, what she did know, was that Kyouya didn't offer anything idly, and certainly not just to be polite. She nodded and walked over to him. After all, she really was tired.

Kyouya moved his legs enough that Haruhi could sit in between them. She leaned back and rested her head against his chest. She looked forward at the book's text. "What are you reading?"

"Advanced Finance Model for the Progressive Business."

"Sounds boring."

That illicited a smile and a chuckle from the stoic young man. "Indeed, it is."

Haruhi instantly fell asleep the moment she closed her eyes. Her head fell so that her cheek rested against Kyouya. Kyouya simply continued reading his book.

Honey saw the scene from his place now on a large rock. He was taking pictures of everything around him, including the clouds that floated overhead. He paused long enough to point in Kyouya and Haruhi's direction. "Mori-chan, look!"

Mori dutifully turned to the direction that Honey pointed. His only response was, "Interesting."

"I don't think I've ever seen Kyouya-senpai look so...content."

"Me either." Mori agreed.

"That must be a really good book!" Honey exclaimed excitedly just before he snapped a picture of the scene. Mori just shook his head.