'It's been a few days now.'

You recollected as you let the heat touch your skin.

'Ever since Takashi saw me with Kyouya that day… he's been avoiding me… '

"Suzu-chan!!"

'At least Mitskuni doesn't have to worry about this.'

The short blonde clung to your waist.

"Suzu-chan! Suzu-chan! Let's go to the wave pool together!"

He looked so innocent as he said it with the floating flowers around his face.

"Sorry, Mitskuni-kun, maybe next time." How you dreaded to say these words as you saw the boy's "let-down" face.

"Oh. Ok, then." He said as he scurried off to his cousin.

'Sorry, Mitskuni-kun.'

You took a tray with cold drinks as you heard Tamaki's usual "introductions" for Haruhi.

"Kyouya-kun, would you like to have some iced tea?"

On the brighter side of things, you and Kyouya have been spending more time together than usual and you've both have become a lot closer than before.

'It's probably because he's in the same situation as I am.'

"And besides, isn't this a lot cuter?" You heard Hani say to the other hosts.

OHOHOHOHOHO!!!!!!

The ground shook as the nearby hut halved in two revealing a slightly exposed Renge.

'Renge-chan.'

Haruhi's POV

"Hey, dono." You heard Hikaru say "There's a girl wearing a skimpy outfit right there."

Tamaki stroked his chin.

"It's different."

The twins shrugged their shoulders "And why is that?"

"Hmmm…. Because it's cosplay, I guess."

"Then what about Suzu-sempai?"

"That's simple!" Tamaki had a smug look plastered on his face "It is one of the marriage ritual's stages! The "I-must-seduce-my-husband-into-my-bidding" stage!"

'I don't think that's the case, sempai.'

"Whose seducing who's husband?" Rang asked from behind you.

"Su-"

'Oh crap! We forgot she's here!'

"Nononononononononono! You must have misheard it! It was just an expression, Renge-chan!"

You started flailing your hand around trying to block Renge's view of Suzu.

Tamaki and the twins seemed to have understood the situation and they did as you did soon after.

Mori's POV

You heard Tamaki and the others yelling something about "rituals" and started flailing their arms around like a bunch of crazy monkeys.

'Are they doing some kind of new dance number?'

"Takashi! I think Suzu-chan is in trouble! " Your cousin said pointing at Suzu.

You nodded as a reply and was about to run towards her until you saw Kyouya wrap his shirt around her.

"Oh, that's good! Kyou-chan was there to help her!" Your cousin had a sigh of relief.

You on the other hand, grit your teeth and rounded your fists in irritation (or jealousy perhaps?)

"Takashi, are you alright?" You cousin asked form beside you.

"Ah." You nodded with a forced smile.

Your POV

Kyouya wrapped his shirt around you.

"Here. You should clear things out with that."

You walked towards the horde of dancing hosts with a tray of refreshments.

"Would you like to have a drink, Renge-chan? You seem to look completely parched." You handed her a glass of lemongrass tea as you did you usual smile.

"Ah, Suzu-sempai! How kind of you! A wonderful example of the oh-so-famous Gentle Type!" She smiled with sparkles in his eyes.

'Phew. That was close' was what you and the other hosts thought as you left Renge in her dazzled state.

"Thank you Kyouya-kun." You smiled as you handed him his shirt.

"Shouldn't you put this on longer? Renge-chan is still here after all."

"I'm not worried. She'll be too preoccupied with Tamaki to notice." You glanced back as Renge descended back into the hut.

"Hey everyone! Look!"

You turned around to see Hani riding on Mori's back as he swam against the current in the wave pool.

"We're not advancing from our spot even if we're swimming so hard!"

"Suzu-sempai?" Haruhi asked as she sat beside you sipping her juice drink.

"Yes, Haruhi-chan?"

"How come you're wearing a really small summer dress? Didn't Tamaki-sempai give you a parka (sp?) just like mine? "

"Well, you see…"

Flashback

14:06

Entrance to the south building

'*sigh* I wonder what Kyouya-kun wants from me out here?'

As if on cue, a limo stopped right in from of you revealing a coconut tree patterned button-down shirt-wearing Kyouya.

"Hop on in, Suzu-sempai ^_^."

'I have a very bad feeling about this.'

"Uhmm… Mutskuni-kun, Do I really have to do this?"

You were trying out different kinds of swimsuits and bikinis with the help of the Hitachiin brother's maids.

"Yep! Hika-chan and Ka-chan's mom worked hard! You should at least wear them!" He squeaked from the other side of the door.

"Sasazuka-sama, would you like this one, then?"

One of the maids offered you a two-piece bikini with glitters and a mermaid's tail at the bottom.

"Maybe a different kind," You said uneasily "a summer dress, perhaps?"

End of Flashback

"Oh, so that's what happened!" Haruhi had a "got it" expression on her face. "But why that? Didn't they have a longer one?"

"Unfortunately,no. The twins discarded the "old lady" style and only kept the skimpy ones. Tamaki-kun wasn't any better." You sighed.

"And why's that?"

"He actually encouraged everyone that this was part of some marriage ritual."

Haruhi's mind: 'So that's how he got the excuses for the twins.'

"I bet they did it on purpose." Haruhi said plainly.

"Yes, I suppose you're right." You had to agree.

You and Haruhi: *sigh*

*tap* *tap* *tap*

"Listen, Haruhi-chan, I got to go somewhere. Ok?" You scurried off to the other side of the pool as soon as you heard those familiar long steps.

You watched Takashi and Haruhi share a drink together from the distance.

'They're just meant for each other! Just look how happy Takashi-kun is!.. Unlike when he's with me… '

You glumly walked towards Hani in the wave pool when you suddenly heard beeping sounds.

'Mitskuni-kun!'

You saw a large wave engulf the boy.

You ran towards him hoping to grab a hold of his hand only to miss and slip sliding down into the pool with him…

Black out

"Suzu-sempai!"

You heard a voice.

"Suzu-sempai!"

There it was again.

'I can't…..'

A soft sensation filled your lips as you managed to open your eyes.

*cough* *cough*

"Suzu-sempai! You're alive! You're ALIVE!!!" Tamaki buried you head into his chest

Haruhi gave you captor a glare. "Don't break her, Sempai!"

Tamaki: corner of woe

"Good thing Mori-sempai gave you the kiss of life, huh?" The twins smirked.

'The kiss….of life…..?'

Takashi was right behind you looking as emotionless as usual…. But you knew him better than that… and you knew something was different about him.

Then it hit you.

"Mitskuni-kun! Is he alright?!"

You frantically looked around hoping that they managed to save him as well.

"We weren't able to catch up to him, Suzu-sempai." Kyouya handed you a towel as he spoke.

"Oh." Guilt started to come over you.

'If I wasn't so clumsy, I could have saved him, darn it.'

Mori's POV

SPLASH!

'Mitskuni! Suzu!'

You recovered from your fall and grabbed anything that you managed to hold from the powerful waves.

Suzu was soaking wet and barely breathing.

"Suzu-sempai! Suzu-sempai!" Haruhi knelt beside her unconscious form as soon as you pulled her out.

"She needs C.P.R." Kyouya said from behind.

You needn't think twice as you gently placed your lips over hers.

Suzu was alive. Living and breathing.

'Thank god.'

"Mitskuni-kun! Is he alright?" Suzu choked.

'Mitskuni…'

Kyouya handed her a towel. "We weren't able to catch up to him, Suzu-sempai."

"Oh." She was soaking wet and her summer dress' length didn't help the fact that it was sticking to the shape of her body.

'She looks so…'

'Hot? Wanting?... Did I forget HOT?'

'You're thinking about that at a time like this?'

'Hey, you started it. And besides… she does, doesn't she?'

'Keep that sick perverted mind to yourself.'

'Yeah, yeah. Whatever. But don't forget, I'm you and you're me. I just show how you REALLY feel.'

'…'

You sighed in defeat as you took one last look at Suzu and scooped her up from the ground and into your arms.

Your POV

Mori held you up in to his arms cutting you off you thoughts.

'Takashi…'

Tamaki stood up and declared: "Come my friends! This in now the host club's recovery mission for Hani-sempai! Follow me!"

He ran towards a "short cut" direction followed by Takashi(carrying you), Haruhi and the twins.

"Crocodiles!" Kaouru yelled.

Tamaki ran towards a different direction. "This way!"

"They're here!"

"Here, too!"

"And here!"

*pant* *pant* *pant* (only for Tamaki, Haruhi and the twins, of course)

"Hmm… It seems like it was a bad idea raising crocodiles here. And the pool switch was a problem, too." Kyouya calmly wrote something on his notebook "It seems you have all helped me in gathering important data… So I thank you."

"For what?!"

sign under Tamaki and the others: guinea pigs

You (now on the ground) and the others were in a hut near the pathway going to the wave pool's checkpoint waiting for "squall time" to be over.

You're in a corner beside Kyouya in the hut.

"Stupid aunt! Stupid aunt!" You heard the twins tease Tamaki after he made a comment about Takashi taking a "fatherly place" in Haruhi's life.

"Mori-sempai! Wait! I'm coming with you!" You looked to your left and saw Takashi followed by Haruhi as they entered the rainforest.

You hugged yourself tight.

"Is there something wrong, Suzu-sempai? Are you cold?" Kyouya asked concerned.

You shook your head.

"Alright, if you say so… Hold on." He looked around "Where's Haruhi and Mori-sempai?"

Tamaki and the twins: Huh?

"Sir! We have found the target!" You heard a man over Kyouya's phone.

"They've found him?" You said worriedly walking beside Kyouya and the other hosts towards the nearby clearing described by one of Kyouya's guards.

"Haruhi!" Tamaki ran from behind you toward Haruhi in the distance.

'Haruhi? If she's there… then Mitskuni must be there, too!'

You ran after Tamaki with your heart thumping fast

The clearing was filled with Kyouya's guards bending on their knees asking for an apology of some sort.

But you didn't mind any of that… all you thought of was…

'Mitskuni!'

You ran towards where he was … your eyes starting to water…

"Mitskuni!"

You called out…

"Mitskuni!"

You shouted out again…

"Suzu-chan!!!" That all so familiar voice called back to you. "Suzu-chan!!! Waaaaiiiii~"

"Mitskuni-kun!" You couldn't help but bend down and hold the boy close…

"Suzu-chan? Are you alright?" Hani stroked your hair slowly and calmly.

"I *sob* I'm so sorry *sob* If I wasn't so-"

"It's alright, Suzu-chan." Hani cut you off. "It wasn't your fault. You did what you could, and that's what matters, ne?"

"Mitskuni-kun…"

"Alright, everyone!" He said putting a hand on your shoulder. "We've all got enough action for one day, let's all go home and enjoy a nice piece of strawberry cake!"

Mori's POV

"Alright, everyone! We've all got enough action for one day, let's all go home and enjoy a nice piece of strawberry cake!"

You smiled.

'It seems like I had nothing to worry about...'

'You worried about Suzu. THAT'S something.'

'Stay out of this.'

'YOU need to get IN it.'

'What are you talking about?'

'You'll know soon enough. Ask Mitskuni. I've got a feeling he's got all the answers.'

'huh?'

'…'

'Whatever.'

"Takashi." Your cousin whispered to you "I'll let everyone out so you can settle things with Suzu-chan, k?"

Before you could say anything, he ran off to where everyone else was and made them go leaving you alone with Suzu.

Your eyes wandered to Suzu's slender form. You had to admit, although she was too slim and frail for her age, she had her curves in the right places, she always looks drop-dead gorgeous and, all in all, highly attractive.

'*sigh* I just have to clear things out with her. I can't ignore her forever.'

Takashi Morinozuka. The Wild Type. Kendo World Champion. Was nervous about a girl.

You took a deep sigh and slowly approached her.

"Suzu." You said emotionlessly opposing the nervous breakdown edging to come out.

Your POV

"Suzu." Takashi said emotionlessly.

"Takashi-kun…"

Awkward Silence

"I'm sorry!"

"Sorry!"

Both of you said in union.

.

.

.

You: *chuckle*

Takashi:*smile*

"We should stop ending our quiet moments like that." You said with a weak smile.

"Ah." Was all he said and that was enough for you.

"Let's go back to the hut. We can talk things out better there."

"So…" You were leaning on the same corner the last time you were there while Takashi stood beside you "Do you feel like talking?"

"…"

"*sigh* What you saw that day… It wasn't what you thought it was."

"I know…" He finally replied.

"Then why'd yo-" He cut you off by pinning you against the wall with one hand in either side of your shoulders. "Takashi?"

"Don't speak." He said sternly.

All you could do was nod.

'Staring at those eyes...It was always like this… Now I remember…'

Flashback

"Takashi-kun?" A 10 year old you stared at a pair of beautiful onyx eyes under the blossoming sakura tree.

"Suzu-chan." A 11 year old Takashi pinned your hands up on the tree while he stared deeply into your eyes.

End of Flashback

You kept quiet returning his strict but gentle stare.

"Suzu." He finally said

"Yes?"

There was a moment's hesitation and then he said: "Do you hate me?"

You were in shock. 'What does he mean by that?'

"Wh-what do yo-"

"Do you hate me?" He said it again.

'Takashi…' A gentle smile graced your lips as you managed to raise your limp hands from your side to around his neck.

You felt him tense as you touched him. You brought him closer to you as you brought your lips towards his ear.

"I never did hate you…and I never will, Takashi-kun. You've always been there for me… I'd never try and do anything to hurt you… and I'd like to repay you in any way possible…"

You felt his hands fall from the wall and snake around your waist.

"Suzu…" He pinned you to the wall not breaking the embrace but only this time, he weighed on you with his body. "Forgive me… for making you feel this way… and… I'll always protect you…"

He rested his head on your shoulder making his lips touch your lower neck without him knowing.

'His lips… They're warm… and soft…'

"You don't need to apologize… It was all just a big misunderstanding…"

You felt him nod tightening his grip on you…

Someone's POV

'Mission FAILED! They should have KISSED! … but at least they managed to work things out! And I'm sure I won't fail the next time! Waiiii~ =3'

------End of Story----------------------------------------------------------

I'm sorry if the story sucked and same goes for the previous chapters so please message me if you want me to change anything, stop over-using a word or any other bad habit I'm not aware of or stop writing the story itself. Thanks again for those that encouraged me through their messages and thank you, dear reader, for making time to read my stories. Message me if you have any questions. Thank you!