"If I could wake up in a different place, at a different time, could I wake up as a different person?"

― Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club

Haruhi stared at her self in the mirror, brushing her bangs from her face. A large scar across her eye. She lifted her shirt and saw multiple scars running across the surface. Her arms weren't any better, and she couldn't even compare any of them to her legs. Did she care? Not really. Would she have cared if she had these scars when she went to school, maybe. It could effect her future in the law business, but now? She didn't think farther than a week in advance. Would they have enough food for the next week? Should she make a run to get some food? Supplies?

With a sigh, she smoothed her shirt down and looked back at her face. Lifting her glasses up and shoving them on her face, "There goes the last of my contacts," she muttered running a hand through her hair. Truth be told, she didn't wear her contacts that much, only when she was feeling up to it. She was sure that they had gone bad long ago, but didn't care. She hadn't developed an eye infection or anything, so she honestly could care less.

She slid from the room and looked down the hall. Across from her small bedroom was Ritsu's. If she looked to the left all the way down the hall, she could see the door that led to Takashi's room, a door that she had only been in once and hadn't seen the insides of it again. Not that she cared. The washroom, that was between her and Kyouya's room, was seldom used. Across from Kyouya's was Tamaki's. The twins' beside Tamaki's room, and then Satoshi's room across from him. A separate hallway spilt off from the main and ran past Ritsu's room to where Mitsukuni and Chika's rooms lay.

The entire house was asleep still, except for Haruhi. She stretched and padded across the hard wood quietly. Her feet making only the barest of noise as he grasped the railing and started down the stairs. It was dark in the house, but the darkness was something she was completely used to. Her eyes adjusted to it easily. Even during the day it didn't get that bright, and from the various melted candles around the rooms she could tell that one especially dark days they lit candles to see. The candles were melted very lazily, their wax moulding them to their place.

The main floor of the house consisted of a sitting room, a large foyer that seemed to be used as storage, a large kitchen, a small area that looked like it had been used for laundry but was stocked up with boxes of medical supplies, and what looked like a once-office turned into a medical room. There was a downstairs, but she had yet gone down there, feeling actually terrified every time she moved to grab the handle. Something always stopped her from opening the door and heading down the stairs, her own fear of what was down there, or she was distracted by the others.

Haruhi slid from the house, staring at the fencing that had been put around the house. It was cold out. Like it always was. The chilly air nipped at her bare arms and she let out a soft sigh. She stared up at the sky, a clear night. The only reason she came out. Thousands of stars sprinkled the sky, making the normally black looking sky look like it was covered with pale glittered. It was rare to see the sky, there was always dreaded clouds lingering over the sky. Except when the day became exceptionally windy, blowing the clouds over the ocean.

The door opened, startling her silently, she turned around and couldn't see who it was clearly through the darkness. It was tall, but she couldn't differentiate between the two people who it could be. They walked towards her, and she stood her ground. "Why are you outside?" the voice asked blankly, betraying no emotion. Although she could tell the posture was slightly angry. She simply pointed to the sky, he looked up and was silent for the longest time. Haruhi smiled slightly.

"Thanks for remembering my birthday," Haruhi changed the subject, sticking her hands into her pockets and looked up at the sky. He looked down at her, her birthday was a week ago. Why was she thanking him now.

"Come inside," he spoke, stepping to the side and waving to the door. Haruhi shook her head slightly.

"Why?"

"It's warmer."

"Not by much," Haruhi sighed with a shrug. The man paused, not able to actually boss around her or Ritsu. They were too independent, and Ritsu only listened to Haruhi. Sometimes it was frustrating, but most of the time Haruhi did things without being told too. Like she got up early and prepared breakfast for everyone, however the noise, no matter how quiet she was, woke Takashi up. She helped wake up Mitsukuni. It was becoming almost domestic.

"My room was pretty warm," Takashi commented, "Is yours cold?"

"I can't tell if that's an invitation to go into your room," Haruhi joked with a smile, living with Satoshi for the past three year opened her mind to flirting. She could flirt as easily as Tamaki could, but just didn't. Takashi frowned slightly, his mouth falling open. "Calm down."

"Why are you out here?" he repeated, trying to get the conversation into safer waters.

"I told you, I'm admiring the great view," she sighed, shaking her head. "Why do you care?"

"It's dark out, you shouldn't be outside," he informed as if she didn't noticed the amount of light.

"Well, Mori-senpai-"

"Takashi or Mori," he sighed, looking a bit irritated. Haruhi paused, pursing her lips together and nodded. They were out of school and friends, she didn't have to use 'senpai' when addressing him.

"Well, Mori, it's dark inside as well...no matter where I go at this time it's going to be dark," she shrugged a shoulder. Giving him a look. Takashi gritted his teeth together, goosebumps covered his arms and he was getting irritated with her now. Part of him remembered back when he was still in school, he would've stayed outside with her for hours if she didn't want to go inside. He wouldn't have forced her to do something she didn't want to.

"That is why we sleep," he stressed, stepping forwards and placing a hand on her shoulder, waving towards the house. Haruhi shook her head, fully prepared to dig her heels in and stay outside. It was too stuffy inside and too beautiful and free outside. She wanted to enjoy the freedom it gave her, everywhere else forced her to be secluded to keep safe.

"Didn't you hear me? I can't go to sleep easily, and I don't get a lot of sleep when I do," she grumbled, becoming irritated with him for forgetting that. Although, that probably wasn't his fault. He had been woken by her, but wasn't he usually like Satoshi when he was tired? Haruhi was thinking about that when she was hoisted into the air and dumped on his shoulder like a sack of flour. She halfheartedly punched him in the back, even if she had put all her force into it he wouldn't have been hurt.

She was silent as he walked up the stairs, not wanting to wake the others. She was silent as he walked down the hall, opened a door and dropped her on the bed. She heard the door locking and looked up. He walked over, lifting the covers and climbing under, taking off his glasses and burring his face into the pillow. A frown flitted on her face and she got up, walking over to the door and tried to open it. To find that you would need a key. Her eyes turned towards him, narrowing.

"I'll call the others," she warned walking over, bending down beside the bed."I thought you guys weren't suppose to pursue a relationship with me? What would they think if you were in a room with me? Without your shirt?"

Takashi cracked his eyes open, staring at her blurry figure. "How did you figure that out?"

"Tamaki wailing about how it wasn't fair that he couldn't try to date me even though we were 'meant to be' and Kyouya was the evil stepmother who was trying to keep the girl for himself," Haruhi spoke, crossing her arms and resting her chin on them. "Besides," she rolled her eyes, "I'm not stupid enough to try to pursue a relationship now anyways."

He pushed aside the sheets and patted the bed, "Then go to sleep."

Haruhi gave him a look before quirking her eyebrow and climbing into the bed beside him. Taking her glasses off and placing them to the side. Resting her head on the pillow. "How'd you get the biggest bedroom?" she asked quietly, turning towards him, he remained still with his eyes closed.

"I'm the biggest person here."

Haruhi laughed quietly, shaking her head. She remained silent, staring at his sleep-like face. Knowing fully well he wasn't asleep yet, and also knowing that he knew she was looking at him. He hadn't aged at all from the last time he saw him, making it so she was able to easily identify him when she saw him a week ago. His eyes peeled open, revealing the silver orbs beneath.

"Close your eyes," he muttered, looking a bit uncomfortable.

"Why?" she questioned, tucking a hand under the pillow.

"Try to sleep," he murmured almost like a purr, surprising Haruhi. She frowned slightly. He was uncomfortable with her staring at him while he was sleeping, or rather he couldn't sleep with someone's eyes on him. Why didn't he just say so instead of feigning his concern for her not sleeping.

"Why?"

"I want to sleep," Takashi replied, closing his eyes again. Haruhi shifted onto her back, closing her eyes as well. The sun started to rise and she didn't get a wink of sleep. Especially when the man beside her shifted occasionally, moving closer to her until his forehead was against the side of her head and his arm was around her, fingers touching her shoulder. And his other hand resting against her stomach. She pretended to be asleep, evening out her breathing and trying to relax. Which wasn't very easy when his breath was tickling her neck and his fingers would twitch startling her.

She heard the others getting up, a groan from the twins room, she didn't think too deeply into that, a loud yawn from Satoshi. Takashi stirred slightly, pulling around closer to him, nuzzling her cheek lightly in his state of sleepy stupor. Tamaki and Satoshi exchanged good mornings in the hallway quietly, their voices fading down the hallway. It was silent as they headed down to the main floor. Haruhi remembered she should've already been making breakfast.

The sound of someone heading back up the stairs was followed by a door opening. Then a shout. Takashi shot up, dragging Haruhi with him. She quickly pulled out of his grasp, shoving him with enough force that she got tangled in the sheets and before she could right herself she fell onto the ground. Takashi ignored her for the time being, grabbing his glasses and pulling on his shirt, having worn his jeans to bed and pulled a key from them. He unlocked the door and looked out.

"Takashi, Haruhi's gone!" Satoshi shouted, waking nearly everyone in the house up, save Kyouya and Mitsukuni. Haruhi shoved the blankets roughly away from her and stood up. Walking silently up behind the stoic man and peering around him.

"We were discussing going into town sometime," Haruhi spoke, looking apologetic. Takashi didn't say anything, not one to lie to people he cared about. She patted Takashi's arm, "We'll talk later then. Sorry guys, I'll make breakfast now," she said with a smile, easily brushing past the stoic man and heading down the stairs. Satoshi followed her around as she prepared breakfast like a puppy. She put the heated food down, thankful that they had a gas stove in the house. The canned food tasted much better when it was cooked properly.

"Today is a good day," Satoshi said with a smile, "It's brighter than normal, and there is blue instead of the endless grey."

"Although we're still stuck in this house eating..." Hikaru poked the food with his food, "canned meals."

"'Thank you, Haruhi, for making us food every morning with barely any thanks!' Oh, no problem, Hikaru," Haruhi grumbled shutting a cupboard with more force than normal. She felt arms wrap around her waist and two cheeks rubbed against hers.

"Thank you," both of the twins purred into her ear. "We'll thank you properly if-"

"Can you not," Kyouya asked walking into the room, "Where's my breakfast?"

"On the table with everyone elses," Haruhi called sliding from the twins grasp. She left the living room, heading into the living room. Mitsukuni headed down the stairs, jumping down the last few and wrapping his arms around Haruhi and hugged her tightly for a while before skipping off to the kitchen without another word. Haruhi smiled slightly before heading upstairs. Chika and Tamaki were still upstairs getting ready. Takashi was in the washroom, brushing his teeth absentmindedly. Haruhi walked past him and headed into her room. Pulling on a sweater and peering out the window.

Suddenly there was an excited shout from downstairs. She left the room and peered down. "Electricity's on!"

Haruhi's eyes widened slightly, how? The group crowded into the living room looking happier than she had seen them in the longest time. Takashi left the bathroom and leaned on the banister smiling down. "Solar panels," he murmured to her as Chika passed them and hurried downstairs. Haruhi smiled at that, it was smart. They were probably installed before the apocalypse.

"Haru-chan! What movie do you want to watch?" Mitsukuni called up, looking at some VHS and DVDs. Haruhi smiled slightly, shrugging a shoulder.

"You choose," she looked up at Takashi with a smile. He shrugged a shoulder, before murmuring 'Nemo'. Haruhi shrugged her shoulders, "You guys got Finding Nemo? I haven't seen that since I was a kid, I use to love that movie."

She followed Takashi downstairs as Mitsukuni popped it in. She sat down on the couch, Takashi taking a place on the ground and Mitsukuni curled up beside her. Resting his head on her lap. Everyone situated themselves around the television, not wanting to waste the precious energy that was being given to them. Haruhi felt normalcy surrounding them as the movie started.

However, Haruhi always forgot that she teared up during the opening scene. She wiped one tear from her face, but another one fell, hitting Mitsukuni on the head. He looked up, curious and brushed her tears away with a sad smile.

There were a few times when the movie would cut out with the electricity but they were able to get through the almost two hour movie. At the end of it, the entire group was silent. Haruhi could see the tears threatening to spill out of a couple of the boys' eyes. She suddenly felt bad for choosing this movie. Marlin goes to almost the ends of the Earth to get Nemo back, and helps him escaping from the impending doom.

None of their parents could go to the end of the Earth to get their children back, they could no longer help them escape the disaster humankind had made Earth.

The television cut off at that moment. Distracting them from their semi consciousness. Mitsukuni sat up, stretching. Haruhi stayed seated, as the others dispersed around the house. Chika and Satoshi headed upstairs, followed by Tamaki. The twins headed into the kitchen. Leaving Ritsu, Mitsukuni, Kyouya, Takashi and Haruhi in the living room. Mitsukuni got up and headed upstairs to be with his brother within a few minutes. Ritsu felt awkward with the group and left to go into his room.

Haruhi stood up, "I'm going to take a walk."

Takashi went to volunteer to go with her, but Kyouya stood up. "I'll join you, we don't benefit from you being caught in another trap," he teased lightly. Haruhi gave him a look and rolled her eyes with a slight smile and nodded. Heading towards the door and pulling on her shoes not waiting for him. Kyouya turned towards the older man, narrowing his eyes slightly.

"We'll talk about this morning when I get back," he whispered before turning on his heel and hurrying after the girl. Takashi stared after him before standing and heading upstairs.

-X

"You do realize you are heading towards the city?" Kyouya questioned after a few minutes of walking in silence. Haruhi nodded her head, eyes locked on the ground. The sky had cleared once again allowing light to stream between the leaves. She had seen two traps and Kyouya and pulled her away from another. "Are you planning on running away?"

Haruhi stopped, turning towards him. "I wouldn't abandon them," she retorted, crossing her arms. Angry at his implication. "I need to feel useful," she turned and began walking again, "if I know the way to the city then I can go there without one of your guys' help."

Kyouya fell silent, not questioning her again. They walked on, avoiding rocks and roots. He stopped after a point and watched her pick her way over a couple fallen trees, "You weren't talking to him about going into town."

"Pardon?" Haruhi asked, pausing, her hand resting on the bark of a tree, her leg halfway over. She sat down on the tree and watched him pick his way over before sitting down in front of her.

"This morning," Kyouya crossed his arms and leaned forwards slightly, "Did you forget the incident at the beach?"

Haruhi stared at him in disbelief and rubbed her face in exasperation, "Are you saying that Mori would try to take advantage of me like you tried to?" she asked, eyebrows raising slightly. Kyouya let out a quiet sigh, reaching up and taking off her glasses and playing with them. She questioned his actions, but stayed silent.

"You do know nearly every man in that house loves you?" he asked eyeing her. Haruhi reached out and took her glasses back. Shoving them back onto her face and shaking her head. "Have you already forgotten that you are a girl?"

Haruhi's jaw tightened and she swung one of her legs over the branch. "I realize I'm a girl, but that has nothing to do with the situation. You're just being sexiest and also, those are my friends. I trust them enough not to do anything to try to take advantage of me."

"They are men with hormones-"

He was cut off when he felt cold metal pressing into his temple. A click as Haruhi loaded a bullet into the barrel made him stay silent. The forest seemed to absorb all noise, but the silence was screaming loud. Kyouya's heart was thumping loudly in his chest, true fear through his body. He didn't know Haruhi as well as he once did, six years could change someone. She could easily shoot him if she wanted to.

"I'm a girl with a gun," Haruhi whispered, lowering the gun, "If someone has a gun, regardless of their gender, they are instantly the most dangerous person in a room."

Kyouya was silent as Haruhi tucked the gun back into the holster. His heart was still racing wildly but he played it off. "You wouldn't use that."

"If my life was threatened, I would," Haruhi whispered, grabbing his shoulder and turning him towards her, "I'm not who you use to know."

"Do you even know who you are?" Kyouya retorted, staring down at her. "I think you lost who you were and found someone else and decided that person was you," he said coolly, "We have all held onto a part of who we were because-"

"You are deluding yourselves into thinking that we could ever go back to normal," Haruhi hissed, angry that he was implying she didn't know who she was, and that she was pretending to be someone she's not. Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "Have you seen the state of the city? Have you seen those...those...things? There is nothing normal about our situation, Kyouya."

"Trying to get a sense of normalcy back into our lives stops us from losing ourselves and becoming insane and violent," Kyouya adjusted his glasses with a frown, "Also, you've been with us for a week and have seen that our lives are as close as they could be to before."

Haruhi felt anger rising in her chest and she shook her head. Trying to keep calm. Her fists clenched and she took a few deep breathes. "You guys are going to get yourselves killed with your delusions. We can never return back now."

"Can't we try?"

Haruhi pressed her lips together tightly, she thought that he of all people would think logically. Why would they try to return to how they use to be when they couldn't? It was impossible. Tamaki couldn't play the piano or woo woman any longer. Kyouya couldn't hold money above peoples heads and manipulate people into doing things for the benefit of himself and others. The Twins' world has stopped expanding and snapped back around the old host members, they acted more like they had when Haruhi had first met them. Mitsukuni couldn't indulge himself in sugar and enjoy cute things, something he had tried to separate himself from but it made him unhappy.

Haruhi didn't have the same drive as before, where she was putting all her efforts into becoming a lawyer in the footsteps of her mother. She had stayed alive solely to keep her friends alive, but now? She didn't have the same drive. It was at a point where she was questioning what her purpose was.

The only people who seemed to not have been that effected by the apocalypse were Chika and Takashi. Chika still showed the rude disinterest in everything, and everyone. At times he was just as protective as Takashi, but otherwise he acted like normal. Of course, it stilled effected how he thought. Takashi on the other hand, was still a protector and would forever be a protector.

However, he still changed. They all did. Haruhi wondered how much did change and how much was the mask of their former selves lying to her. There was so much she missed and didn't know. If they were all wearing masks of their former selves, then where they really her friends anymore? They grew up, and apart.

Kyouya watched Haruhi as she thought deeply, curious as to see the outcome of her thoughts. Her lips pursed tightly before she blew her bangs lightly. Without saying anything, she climbed back over the fallen trees and started heading back. Kyouya followed along quietly. "We do need to go back to the city."

"What for?" he asked, surprised that she had suddenly changed topic. "We have everything we need."

"I need to go back," Haruhi stressed, completely avoiding looking at him. Although, with a sideways glance he could see the sadness in her eyes.

"Why?" he questioned, still miffed that he was unable to read her as he used to.

"I need to move on and figure out who I am now," she gestured to herself, still not looking at him. They reached the fence around the house and Kyouya caught her wrist. Staring at her.

"I'll go with you then," he promised, moving his hand to her fingers and squeezing gently with a smile. "Friends help friends."

Haruhi laughed, a carefree sound, "Since when do you do things for other people?"

"Money is paper," he commented opening the gate and letting her entire the backyard of the pension, "If I don't do something for someone else, how am I suppose to get the advantage?"

A/N: Hey! Happy Birthday to Takashi!

That was the only reason I waited until today to upload this. Just so I could say that. :D

Also, I hope to be getting back into the swing of things soon, I will put all my effort into writing the chapters to my other stories and will hopefully have results by this Saturday. Though, I would like to warn you in advance, for the weekend up the 17-21st I won't be uploading because there is a con I am going to. I will either upload before or after, or maybe during if I have time.