Previously,

Tamaki replied, "It's okay. She'll learn and she'll come back."

"How do you know?" Kyoya's voice broke on the last word and a single tear slid down his cheek. It was the first tear he had cried since he was nine years old and his father refused to give him back his favorite book.

Now eight years later, it was because of an argument with the girl he had feelings for. The thought of the argument and the hateful look Haruhi had brought more tears to his eyes. Kyoya swallowed them back and resolved not to let anymore fall.

"I know that she loves you too and I trust that she'll figure that out."

Now, on with the story!

Kenzo and Haruhi had taken a taxi to Oscar's Sushi. They were sitting together at a table and were talking about their days in middle school, but somehow Haruhi's mind always drifted back to Kyoya.

How could she be so rude to him? What gave her the right to be so mean? Just because she loved him and he didn't love her back didn't give her the excuse to hurt him. Kyoya's heartbroken face when she had left still made her eyes well up with tears when she thought about it.

"Haruhi? Are you still with me?" Kenzo asked waving his hand in front of her face.

Haruhi startled. "Yeah, I am. Sorry."

"Good. Now, as I was saying, my favorite character from Soul Eater is Black Star."

Haruhi rolled her eyes. "Him? I don't like him, he's such a-"

"Oh, please! What do you know about good character?" Kenzo interrupted.

Haruhi snapped back, "Well, Maka is so much better because she is strong and independent yet caring and nice."

"She's weak. Remember when her and Black Star fought? She got her butt kicked!" Kenzo laughed.

"That's not her fault! In the end, it all came down to her! With the kishin and all that!" Haruhi protested.

"And that's a mistake the writers made. I mean really, who would think a girl would be capable of taking down the Kishin! It should have been Black Star," Kenzo insisted.

Haruhi folded her arms. "So you think girls are weak, huh?"

"Yes!" Kenzo replied. "They are obviously inferior to males. I mean they are physically weaker, not as smart, and always screw things up!"

"And does that include me?"

Kenzo eyed Haruhi. "Now that I think about it, especially you."

Haruhi rose from her seat and raised her voice, drawing the attention of those around them. "Now listen here, you incompetent fool! Women are just as capable as men!"

Kenzo rolled his eyes. "Sure…"

Haruhi almost screamed in frustration. She had no idea that Kenzo was like this, so…sexist. "You know what?" she screamed.

"What!" Kenzo snapped back.

"Get out of my face! I want nothing to do with you! You're a big jerk and there is no way I will stand to be around you!" Haruhi accused.

Kenzo rolled his eyes and stood holding his coat over one arm. "Fine then. I just want you to know that no man will ever, ever, put up with you. You are a worthless, cross-dressing girl who doesn't know her place or when to shut up. Someday, some man will beat that out of you."

Kenzo left without a backwards glance. Haruhi sat in shock, unable to move. Had her friend just said that to her? Since when had he become that destructive?

Haruhi finally snapped out of it and made to stop him but a server stopped her. "You must pay for your food before leaving, young lady."

"Oh yeah." Haruhi dug through her wallet. "How much is it?"

"7038 yen."

"What?" Haruhi asked surprised. "I don't know if I have that much…"

"If you can't pay, we will be forced to call the police," the server replied emotionlessly.

"Fine, let me see." She counted the money in her wallet and came out to 7050 yen. "Here you go," she said handing the money to the waiter. The waiter counted it and handed her change back. She sighed and mumbled, "That was my food money for the rest of the week."

She exited the restaurant and looked around for Kenzo. He was nowhere in sight. She started to panic. She didn't have enough money for a taxi and she was the whole way on the other side of town from her home. Even worse, it was getting dark.

She started to panic and then the worst possible thing happened. Haruhi heard distant thunder. "No," she mumbled.

She ran back to the restaurant but the manager had closed the door. She started to beg but the man said, "It's getting late, no new customers can come in!" The manager drew the blinds and left Haruhi standing there.

Haruhi took a deep breath and held back the tears forming in her eyes. Rain started to pour and lightning flashed. Haruhi cringed and let tears slide down her face. "This couldn't get any worse," she choked out, slightly panicked. The surrounding stores were also closed and no one that look trustworthy was on the street.

From her pocket she took out her phone and anxiously dialed the familiar number into the phone. The phone rang once and was picked up with a calming, "Hello."

"Kyoya?" Haruhi cried.

Kyoya's voice immediately changed. "Haruhi! Are you okay? What happened?"

"You were right! You were right about everything!" Haruhi hiccupped and another bolt of lightning flashed followed by near deafening thunder. She cried out into the phone and continued, "Kenzo got mad at me and ran out leaving me to pay the bill. I barely had enough and now I don't have enough money to get home and it's getting dark and…and there's a thunderstorm!"

Haruhi could hear Kyoya running. He said urgently, "Where are you? I'll pick you up."

Haruhi sobbed. "I was so mean to you! I'm so sorry! I don't deserve to have you as a friend. You're perfect and I'm…" Haruhi hiccupped again. "And I'm…me," she finished quietly.

"Haruhi, it's okay. It really is. Now where are you? I'll be there in a flash!"

"Just outside of Oscar's Sushi," she answered holding back a sob. By now, her tears mixed with rain coming down her face.

Haruhi heard a car start on the other side of the phone. "I'm coming Haruhi."

"Hurry. Please, hurry."

There was silence for a little while before more lightning and thunder scared Haruhi. She cried out and Kyoya asked, "Is there anywhere you could hide?"

Haruhi looked around. "There's an alley just past the sushi place."

"Go there and hide. I'll be there in a minute, I swear," Kyoya instructed.

Haruhi whimpered and Kyoya continued, "Haruhi, you're strong. You can do it."

Haruhi made her way over to the alley and crawled inside a box. It smelled terrible but was better than standing out in the open. "Kyoya?"

"Yes?"

"I'm so sorry," Haruhi said.

"I think you've already said that."

"I know. It's just I said such rude things…"

Kyoya cut her off. "It's okay, Haruhi. I know you didn't mean them."

"But still-"

Haruhi heard the sound of an engine approaching on the streets. She heard it skid to a stop and a door slam. "Haruhi, I'm here. Now where are you in the alley?"

"I'm-I'm in the box."

She heard steps heading towards her as more lightning flashed across the sky.

…~…..

"Haruhi?" Kyoya asked cautiously as he approached a cardboard box. "Are you in there?"

"Kyoya?" he heard a small voice ask.

He knelt down in front of the box and saw Haruhi hiding inside. She was still wearing her uniform but it was wrinkled and soaking wet. Haruhi had tear tracks around her cheeks and she was clutching onto the phone as if it were her lifeline. "Oh, Haruhi…" He had never her sound as desperate as she sounded on the phone. It broke his heart.

Fresh tears ran down Haruhi's face. "I'm so sorry."

Kyoya held his hand out for Haruhi to take. "Come here."

Haruhi launched herself out of the box and wrapped her arms around Kyoya's neck. Kyoya in turn wrapped his arms around Haruhi's waist and pressed her against him. Haruhi laid her head on Kyoya's shoulder and murmured into his shoulder, "I'm so sorry."

"Why do you keep saying that?"

"It's for everything. Everything I said to you, I ignored you even though you were right in the end. You were only looking out for me, and I hurt you," Haruhi said sadly.

Kyoya sighed. "I'm not going to act like it didn't hurt when you said those things, but I will say that I hope you know they only hurt because you mean so much to me."

Thunder boomed and Haruhi clung to Kyoya harder. Kyoya gave Haruhi a reassuring squeeze. Haruhi replied shakily, "Why do I mean so much to you?"

Kyoya pulled Haruhi away from him and looked her in the eyes. Haruhi whimpered at the loss of comfort but when she met Kyoya's eyes, suddenly the storm didn't scare her as much. Kyoya wiped away the tears on her cheeks. "You really don't know do you?" Kyoya chuckled to himself. "Of course you don't, you're too oblivious."

"Hey!" Haruhi said half-heartedly.

Kyoya didn't break eye contact. "I love you, Haruhi. I have for a long time; it just took me a while to figure out my feelings."

Haruhi couldn't believe it. Those were the words she had been dying to hear from Kyoya for a long time and now that she heard them, she didn't know what to say. When she didn't say anything, Kyoya's face fell and he started to retreat from Haruhi. "Oh, you don't feel the sam-"

"I love you too!" Haruhi interrupted leaving Kyoya speechless.

Kyoya swallowed past the lump in his throat. "What? Really?"

"I've loved you for longer than you think; I just didn't know what to do about it. After all, you are Kyoya Ootori. Practically legend," Haruhi answered.

Lightning flashed again closely followed by a crack of thunder but Haruhi barely noticed it. She flinched only a little bit and smiled. She was getting over her fear, and all it took was love.

Kyoya noticed her lack of reaction from the thunder and smiled. "Not so scared anymore are you?"

Haruhi shook her head. "And you're not getting upset because of your wet clothes."

Kyoya looked down. He was indeed dripping wet. His clothes were plastered to his slim body and his wet hair stuck to his face. Kyoya sighed. "Soaking wet. Great."

Haruhi said, "You look hot."

Kyoya blushed and looked over Haruhi. Her wet chestnut hair was dripping occasional drops onto her pants and her suit clung to her, revealing her womanly curves. "You're not looking bad yourself."

Unconsciously the two leaned towards each other and their lips met in a kiss. More lightning flashed followed by the loudest thunder yet, but Haruhi couldn't bring herself to care as her hands caressed Kyoya's head and she felt his hands on her waist.

Maybe she could get over her fear, after all.

…..~…

I am extremely dissatisfied with this story but I couldn't figure out a way to make it click…so you're stuck with this. Sorry.

I am thinking about adding another chapter where Kyoya confronts Kenzo, but it's honestly up to you, readers. If you think I should write that chapter and add it, tell me. If you think it's fine the way it is, tell me. Maybe even when they tell the host club about them or Mr. Ootori. Again, it's up to you readers.

Thanks for reading!