SOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOOOOOOOOO SORRY!!! Really their is no excuse for why it took me so long to update, but I've been having a really hard time juggling all my pre ap classes, dance classes and homerwork/ test that decide if I get to go to the 10th grade or not in general. As for those who have uestioned my dedication to this story, all of you need to know that I WIlL NOT ABANDON THIS STORY! I know that it takes me forever to upadate sometimes, but its only because I'm taking time to plan and develop my story NOT because I have lost interest.

Many thanks to my reviewers and those who have stuck with me through the rough times. Your faithfulness will be rewarded when I take over the world -^o^-

dark and bittersweet- Yup! And don't worry plenty of kyoharu on the way.

ms Masen- Yay! I got favorited XD

Akira Setsuka- Sveetness my plot is actually showin....

M.I.A. since ' 85- I considered it! I think I'm going to hold a poll to see what my readers think

Just a fair warning, this chapter does get a lil angsty and self pitying for a sec, but expect the next to be more lighthearted and Host Club-like and less serious. I know it's presumptuous of me, but since I'm working on a limited schedule I'm going to take advantage of most of my readers prior Host Club knowledge and let you know that the and relationships between all the members are about on par with the ones in the anime at this point in the story. Nobody but Kyoya has fully realized their feelings, but their pretty much used to hosting with each other.

~*Soundtrack for this chapter:Tobira no Mukou e- Yellowstar generation and towards the end Homecoming- Hey Monday *~

Kyoya sighed inaudibly as he surveyed solemn expressions of his fellow Host Club members. It had been a while since they were all this subdued, this quiet, this....tamed. Any other time, he would have welcomed this kind of silence; something so steady was rarely found in the Host Club, but now it seemed suffocating in its entirety, as if the stillness would crush them under the pressure.

It had been three days since the incident between Haruhi and Renge, and Haruhi had yet to move an inch. Really, it was understandable, since both girls were Purebloods, and any major conflict between their kind could only result in destruction. While Renge, though still unable to move, was making progress in recovering, Haruhi hardly showed any signs of making a quick recovery. The bandages around her ribs that were hastily applied by the nurse when she had first been rushed into the infirmary had been changed, the healing reiatsu repairing most of the damage the poison had done internally, while the new bandages kept her from bleeding out.

After they had returned to the school, Kyoya had taken her to the Club room, quickly using his families healing techniques to heal the majority of her external wounds, once trying to pull out the poison proved useless. As the other members returned and it became clear that the poison was working at a rate faster than Kyoya's reiatsu could maintain, the Twins rushed her to the infirmary, while he and Tamaki gave the school a veiled explanation as to what the hell was going on.

Though the highly capable nurse had done the best she could to help Haruhi, the dark haired girl still remained in the deep slumberlike state they found her in, her newborn body still too young to be completley resistant to the vampiric venom. Kyoya sighed again as he watched Tamaki shuffle restlessly across the short distance of Haruhi's room, his skittish actions mirrored by the twin redheads by her bed. He had hoped the nurses suggestion of bringing Haruhi back to a familiar environment to help speed her subconscious along the path of recovery, but as Mori continued to carefully monitor her emotions(1)and Hunny at the foot of the bed, face somber and bunny in hand, he knew it would be awhile.

Once awake, the nurse told him a blood transfusion would be mandatory, the amount of blood she lost needing to be replenished immediately. In hopes of keeping the already fragile peace intact, he decided to deal with that problem when it came and put his mind to the task of helping the unconscious girl before them. After all the things they had went through before their relationship had even a chance to fully begin, he knew he had to tell her. The very fact that she had come closer to death than he was comfortable with without knowing the true nature of their relationship, unsettled him. Though it had been progressing along rather nicely (if not a little fast) he couldn't let it advance any further until she knew the truth. No matter how much it hurt him, she would know and he would let her choose.

Sighing he watched Hunny sniffle quietly from his place on the bed and scoot closer to try and talk with the girl, seeing something in the slight change in her breathing that the others did not.

"Haru-chan can you hear me?" tears threatened to spill over as her face twisted into an expression of pain as she attempted to pull herself back into reality.

"Please wake up......"

Breaking into action as he realized what was happening, motioning for Mori to join him as he addressed Tamaki. "Tamaki go get the nurse. Mori; Hunny come over here and try to help me calm her down. Hikaru Kaoru go keep a lookout for Tamaki."

"I'm not gonna leave Ha-" Hikaru started defiantly as he moved closer to Haruhi halting as Mori stopped him with a level gaze.

"Haruhi's emotions are in great turmoil. If she does not receive help quickly, she could suffer irreversible damage. Do you really want that?" Mori's simple statement seemed to work as Hikaru turned on his heel to join his twin on their position outside the door. Face etched into a mask of concern, Mori placed a calm hand on Haruhi's shoulder, eyes narrowing in concentration as he struggled to calm the turbulent emotions emanating from the pale girl. Anxiousness rising as he delved deeper into her being, he frowned as he felt her push to overcome the weight of her memories, the sudden influx of understanding causing her to shake violently .

Gasping as he felt his cousin tense while trying the female host disposition, Hunny whimpered as he worked alongside Kyoya to try and ease the the pain Haruhi was in. Hands glowing a faint green as he and Kyoya passed them over her trembling body, Hunny gave a small wail as Haruhi suddenly ceased all movement, the horrid convulsing that raked her body leaving her in one breath. Relief flooding him as Tamaki, the twins, and the nurse silently filed through the door, he watched with a sort of morbid fascination as her eyes began to move aimlessly behind her eyelids, body searching for a seemingly unseen foe. A cold sweat broke out over her pale skin as her body gave a final jolt, and with a shuddering gasp

She awoke

'It's ironic'Haruhi thought ruefully as the nurse methodically examined her body, checking to make sure she was healthy enough to warrant visitors. 'I shut down my mind in hopes of healing faster, but all I seemed to end up with was a killer headache'. Shaking her head as the nurse shined a small pocket light into her left eye, she turned her attention back to the boys, guilt flooding her as she noticed their concerned expressions.

"Well I don't know how you did it, but it seems that you've completely eradicated most of the poison from your system" The nurse said curiously as she began to gather her things and head for the door. "Even though I can't believe it, I'll take my leave, but when I come back to give her her mid-dawn checkup, you had all better be gone, understand?"

Everyone nodded

"Good." she said firmly as she flitted soundlessly out the door, despite being about 2 centuries older than all of them.

"Oh Haruhi my dear daughter how are you feeling!?!?" Tamaki crooned as he fell to Haruhi's side, unaware of the tired smile she gave him. "I can't believe I came so close to loosing you!!"

'Neither can I' Kyoya mentally added as he watched Tamaki fawn over Haruhi, his jealousy replaced with worry.

"Tamaki-senpai I'm fine." Haruhi shook her head with a slight chuckle, amazed at how simply dramatic he was.

The joyful peace faded as the air stilled, the room filling with a heavy aura, the tense feeling silencing them all.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Hikaru's clipped tone cut through the delicate atmosphere like a knife, the clipped tone of his voice quieting Tamaki.

"What exactly do you mean?"Haruhi asked slowly, not sure if she was engaging a conversation or a live bomb.

"You know exactly what I mean," Hikaru said angrily as he eyes narrowed "Why didn't you call us when that bitch attacked you!? Would it have been too much trouble to use the that damn telepathy link all you purebloods apparently have and call for help?"

"Don't you think I tried?" she retorted hotly as she bolted forward, ignoring the spreading pain in her side as her normally schooled demeanor soared out the window. She wasn't fond of how easily Kyoya and Tamaki could invade the sanctity of her mind just for a chat when they felt like it and didn't like the idea of rooting around in someone else's mind. " Maybe if I hadn't been so distracted by the fact that she was trying to kill me my concentration would might have been better!!"

"MAYBE IF YOU HAD STAYED INSIDE SCHOOL GROUDS SHE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO ATTEMPT TO KILL YOU!!" Hikaru shouted sarcastically, mocking the high pitch her voice had risen to, "DID YOU EVER THINK OF THAT?!"

"Don't you start with me about following the rules! As much and your brother have ventured into the city to take human familiars, you of all people shouldn't be preaching to me. I'm not a damned child, AND YOU DAMN SURE DON'T NEED TO TREAT ME LIKE ONE!" pressure building with the rise of her voice, she winced as she felt the wound where the dagger had pierced throb painfully, wincing slightly as she pushed the pain back.

The rest of the Club members watched as Hikaru and Haruhi continued to argue fiercely, torn between shock and fascination. While Hikaru yelling when he was frustrated, scared or even bored was nothing out of the norm, the fact that the usually calm and composed Haruhi was yelling instead of brushing him off with a well worded remark was surprising. Initial elation of her awakening wearing of as the 2 younger members continued their furious banter, Hunny felt the mental link he shared with his cousin open, the deep bass of Mori's voice drifting through his mind.

'They need to calm down.'Mori thought quietly as Haruhi's reiatsu pulse erratically 'All of this yelling is hurting her psychological well being, and if she has a breakdown her healing will be slowed greatly. Not too mention the lower floors will hear.'

Hunny nodded as he took in what his cousin was saying his simple statement speaking loud and clear. Although Hikaru was only yelling at her out of worry, the dded conflict it brang was too big a form of mental distress.

"Hika- can, Haru-chan stop....this fighting isn't helping anything..'' he said tenatively his childish voice drowned out by the yelling.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU WOULD DO SOMETHING THAT STUPID! DID YOU HONESTLY THINK THAT YOU COULD HANDLE SOMETHING LIKE THIS YOURSELF?" Hikaru roared as he gritted his teeth angrily, fangs clicking together as his aggressions rose ''I DIDN'T THINK YOU WERE THAT DAMN STUPID!!"

"IF I'M SO STUPID WHY DON'T JUST LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE THEN!?" Haruhi inhaled sharply as pain rippled through her side

"THAT'S THE BEST DECISION YOU'VE MADE ALL NIGHT!!'' Hikaru spat as he swept out of the door, leaving a fuming Haruhi and speechless Kaoru in his wake.

"Oh Haruhi, he didn't mean it!" Kaoru said hastily as he raced after his brother, praying that his abrupt departure didn't hurt Haruhi more than his brother already had.

"Ah! Hikaru-Kaoru" Tamaki flustered as he watched the twin doppelgangers leave, clearly debating the condition of the club.

"It's alright. Go find them and make sure they're okay." Haruhi said with a tired glance as Tamaki looked to her for a verdict.

Tamaki smiled sadly "Hunny. Mori. I think it would be best if you came with me your abilities might be needed.Kyoya please watch her while we're gone." Giving her a small apologetic smile, gather the cousins and took off in the direction the twins left.

Shoulders slumping as the adrenaline that accompanied her anger faded, all the negative emotions that she had almost stopped feeling now that she was a vampire returned, the nerves behind her eyes tingling ominously, a sure sign she was about to her head in shame at the though of breaking down in front of the man she had quickly grown to love, she choked back a sob, body shaking slightly as a pair of arms wrapped around her.

Kyoya stilled as he watched the girl in front of him break down, the sight of her in such a vulnerable state disturbing him greatly.'This just isn't right' he thought to himself as he watched her silent struggle, making an unspoken vow to never let her be in such pain again 'No one should have to go through this kind of trauma.........not after all that's happened'.

He couldn't stand it. Watching the girl he cared for so deeply in such anguish, the small amount of strength she had left shattering like a thin frost over a frozen lake. that same familiar unsure feeling fluttered in his chest as he watched her cry, all the pain she was feeling living within him.

For all the many skills he had mastered in his lifetime (management, persuasion, charm, hell even seduction came in handy in the right situations) comforting someone had never been his forte. True affection was rarely shown in the nightworld and anything less than a fortress around one's emotions was perceived as a weakness, and as his father constantly told him, purebloods don't show weakness. His own parents marriage was out of convenience, them being one of the few non-related age mates making them prime mating material. The Ohtori clan was known for their cold demeanors, and Fuyumi, being the closest Kyoya had to any parental figure, hardly ever needed consoling, preferring to use her sunny disposition to try and make her brother more alive than his older siblings.

But for all the the different definitions he could give on the subject of love, Kyoya simply could not understand it. Even after Fuyumi told him it wasn't something that could be analyzed theoretically, it was still like an out of body experience as he crossed the room to gently put his arms around the crying girl, hands smoothing over her small shoulders when she didn't pull away.

"I'm s-sorry" Haruhi said quietly as she failed to compose herself, all too aware of how close they were "I shouldn't be acting like this''

He frowned as he wiped a stray tear from her cheek, grey eyes clouding with concern as she sniffled slightly '' Act like what? No one should have to deal with this by themselves...besides do you think I'd do this if I didn't care at all for you?"

"I don't know" her voice trembled slightly as her headed drooped to rest against his chest "Am I just being naive again if I let my guard down enough to believe you?"

"Haruhi..."

"I know I must not be making any sense right now, but I just don't understand. I know as far as emotions go I'm not the best at dealing with them, but am I so blind and ignorant of those around me that I can't even tell when I need help?" her lower lip trembled slightly as she felt his reiatsu flare with worry "Even now now I'm hurting the people I care for without even trying." Haruhi gasped as Kyoya tilted her chin upwards, her glistening eyes meeting his concerned gaze through watery lashes.

"Haruhi look at me. Wheter you realize it or not you silly girl, I love you , and nothing is goig to change that. I've spent too much time denying my feelings and protecting you from behind the scenes," he stated with the utmost seriousness taking a deep breath before revealing the information he knew would change everything " And our betrothal means nothing to me unless you know how I truly feel."

"Betrothed?" Haruhi whispered incredulously as a myriad of emotions flooded her. "Why didn't you tell me? H-how could you keep something like this from me?" her soft voice was filled was filled with hurt as her eyes searched his for the answer.

"Haruhi believe me I wanted to. I had planned on coming to the orphanage after your 18th birthday and explaining everything then, but the idiot who attacked you that night in the alley ruined it all." he continued to hold her gaze, the deep regret visible in his stare" I couldn't risk telling you after the attack on your family, everything was too chaotic and my father had us in hiding for many years, once he heard the news."

'All this time I've been searching for the truth of my past and it's been right in front of me this whole time' Haruhi thought sadly as she searched his despair filled eyes for the truth, hardly able to take in the knowledge presented to her. She had come to accept it as a bitter truth, knowing their brief encounter in the library could never be anything more than that, no matter how much Kyoya cared for her. It hurt knowing that the one she had fallen for so quickly had kept something so important to her past from her, but no matter how angry and betrayed she kept telling herself she should be, she couldn't help but feel a surge of exhilaration at the news. She had never seen this side of him, so vulnerable and scared, the barely concealed hope in his voice, assuring her of his truth.

"I know it's a lot to take in and you deserve better, but I have to know if you truly accept this. I'm not going to force you into anyth-" He felt his heart stop as she pressed her lips gently against his, tears still silently flowing down her face as she place a hand on the side of his face.

She pulled away "You're a fool Kyoya...going through all this pain and trouble just to keep me safe..." Her face broke into a small smile, heart fluttering at the raw emotion in his eyes "But if its acceptance and recognition you want, I don't think I could stop loving you now if I tried."

Kyoya let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, the relief of knowing her answer flooding him like a broken dam. "Well then, I don't think that's going to be a problem." he said with a smirk as he slipped an arm around her waist and brought her lips to his, the reality of their relationship sealed with a kiss.

The nurse sighed heavily as she made her way down the hall, slipping into a lone door on the 3rd floor just as the sun rose. It had been an odd day, to say the least. The moment night fell she had been shocked to hear that the girl who had been rushed to her office three days ago had finally woken up. In all honesty she hadn't expected to be called so soon, the likelihood of her survival had been low, and it was a true miracle that she had woken up at all.

Though she expected for most of the Host Club to go against her orders and still be in the room when she came back, she was surprised to find only one of the boys still there, the raven haired pureblood asleep on his back with an arm wrapped around the small girls waist as she curled against his side using his chest as a pillow. She smiled softly at the peaceful scene, deciding to leave the slumbering couple be before the sun set.

*sighs* this damn chap.....It went through many many revisions before I even considered posting it, and I'm still not satisfied with the way this turned out. Oh well at least now that I got the truth out I can move the story on a lil bit. Next chap will include mucho- Host Club bonding, and expect them to be resuming normal Club activities with a twist ;).

1) Jasper reference XD

Since I'm not exactly sure what to do with Renge until I need her for another plot device(lol) I'm going to hold a poll to see what you guys think.

1) Have her and Haruhi become friends

2)Have her join an evil alliance and plot to destroy the Host Club

3) Have her plot to kill Haruhi....again(don't exactly know how that'll work out lol)

Leave your answers in your reviews and don't forget to RnR!

Ja Ne