I do not own Ouran Highschool Host Club.

Ch.20

Haruhi didn't know what to say. A cool breeze from the open bathroom door brought her back to her senses. A warm flush crept up her neck and onto her face. She pulled her arms out of Mori's grasp and did her best to cover herself.

She screamed," What are you doing in here? Get out!"

She was sure that his face mirrored hers, embarrassment.

He quickly left the room and closed the door behind him. Haruhi grabbed a towel and dried off. It was then that she remembered her lack of clothes. She had gotten undressed in her bedroom. If she were to walk out there in a towel now, Mori would be able to see her from the living room or the kitchen. She sighed. Haruhi had no choice. She cracked the door open and peeked out. Mori was sitting at the table and staring at the ceiling. As fast as she could, Haruhi opened the door, raced down the hallway, and into her bedroom. It wasn't until she was closing the door that she heard Mori call her name. This was just great. They hadn't even had a date yet and he had already seen her naked. She changed into a pair of pajama pants and a tshirt and sat on the bed. The last thing she wanted to do was leave her room and confront Mori, but he had clearly came here for a reason and she couldn't stay in her room forever.

When she opened the door, Mori was right there waiting for her. She squealed and backed up.

Mori held up his hands," I just want to talk Haruhi..."

She didn't let him finished. She walked past him and down the hallway to the kitchen. He followed her.

Haruhi began cleaning up after her meal,"What are you doing here Mori?"

"I came to check on you. Can you tell me what you were doing in the tub?"

She didn't look at him," I was taking a bath."

"Is that what you call it! You had your face completely submerged in the water. You were 't moving. I didn't know what had happened!"

She threw the plate in the sink, turned around and crossed her arms," Why do you even care? I don't need anyone to save me or take care of me!"

She stormed past him and sat on the couch. Again, Mori followed her.

"What is this about Haruhi?" He sat next to her.

She swallowed hard,"It's nothing."

He gently grabbed her chin and turned her head so he could see her eyes. They were brimming with tears.

"Tell me Haruhi. Were you trying to... Kill yourself?"

"No, of course not! I was just... I don't know what I was doing." She scooted closer to him laid her head on his lap.

"I'm sorry I saw you naked. I came over to check on you during lunch and saw that someone was home. I called your name a couple times and you didn't answer. I saw steam coming from the bathroom and went to check on you. I... Thought you had drowned again and... I wasn't there to save you."

She almost laughed. He thought she had drowned in a bathtub," I don't care that you saw me naked, well I do but that's not the point. I don't want to be saved anymore. I don't want you or the other hosts to take care of me. I..."

"Where is this coming from?"

"I had a dream about my mom last night. It reminded me of the time after she died. I learned how to take care of myself. I had to. My dad moved from job to job and was a total wreck. I took care of us both. Then I met you guys and I somehow started depending on you. I tore down a lot of walls that I wish I hadn't."

"Haruhi?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad that you tore down those walls. I was able to see you for the first time, really see you for the first time, last night. I knew at that moment, that I wanted to get to know the real you... And I have."

Haruhi rolled over onto her back to look up at him," You know, I have never heard you talk so much!"

"I was saving my words for you."

" I call everyone by their first names except for you and Honey. Honey likes his nickname but I want to call you something other than Mori."

"Call me Takashi then."

"Alright Takashi. Shouldn't you be going back to school? Lunch will be over soon."

"I think I'll stay here for the rest of the day with you. I can make up my schoolwork later."

"Takashi?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

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