Disclaimer: I do not own "Ouran High School Host Club" or any of the characters in this wonderful manga/anime in any way.

Shelter in the Storm

Previously in chapter eleven: "Tonight, call me Takeshi, since we will be eating with the rest of the Morinodzuka family."
"Ok, Takeshi." The name rolled off her tongue with ease, and he liked the sound of it.

Chapter Twelve

The car arrived for them shortly after, so not much more was said. Haruhi remembered that Satoshi, Takeshi's little brother, was a good 20 cm taller than her during her first year at Ouran, so she immediately took her flats back to her room and grabbed a pair of navy pumps. Once they arrived at the Morinodzuka residence, Takeshi's parents kept her busy, talking non-stop. Takeshi mostly just listened, occasionally interjecting with a statement or two, but Haruhi did most of the talking. His parents took a liking to the girl right off, and were intrigued by how she was able to pull off acting like a boy when she was so very obviously a girl. They had also heard about how she heroically fought off the attacker, and of course, being a family with extensive martial arts background, queried her about how she managed that as well. Takeshi explained how he was going to have Mitsukuni teach her self-defense once she had doctor approval for such activities. Until that point, Haruhi had believed that the lessons had been Huni's idea. It was at dinner with Takeshi and his family that she learned that it was his idea, but that he had been afraid that she would react negatively with him as her instructor. Haruhi, as well as Takeshi's mother both stared at the boy. "Takeshi? Why? You're my friend. I know that you wouldn't hurt me intentionally."

"Son, don't you know that the best way to protect your girlfriend is to teach her to protect herself. And who better to teach her than the one who cares about her the most." His mother could tell that her son and the girl cared for each other deeply, even if they didn't admit it yet. She just didn't realize how much in denial they both were.

"Mother, we're not dating."

"Well, I certainly don't see why not, but that isn't the point here. The point is that as she said, you two are obviously friends, and she trusts you enough to know that you wouldn't hurt her. What makes you think that Mitsukuni could do a better job than you?

"I don't want her to relive any part of her attack. Mitsukuni would be less intimidating."

"Maybe, but what happens if the next time, God forbid that there really is a next time, the attacker is closer to your height. Wouldn't it be better for her to be better prepared to handle anything thrown at her? She seems resilient enough, considering what she has already been through. But do you really want her to be intimidated by a real attacker, instead of learning to overcome that with someone that she trusts?"

"I have to admit it son, your mother has a point," interjected his father. "I can see having Mitsukuni help, because he is closer to her size. But sidelining yourself simply because you don't want to intimidate her is like not wearing your face guard because you don't want to get hit in the face. It is designed to protect you. Teaching her self-defense against any sized attacker is better than only teaching her to guard herself against someone her own size."

"You're right. Mother, Father. I will work with Mitsukuni to teach her."

"Good, now back to the point that was brought up amidst this one… what do you mean that you two aren't dating?"

"Mother!" Haruhi had never seen Takeshi so red.

"Well! A mother has the right to know why her dense son hasn't snatched up the most adorable, intelligent, independent, strong, and apparently gifted young lady she's ever met."

"I can answer that, ma'am. I am not dating anyone at all right now. I have too many things that I want to accomplish yet. So I don't really have time to find, build, strengthen, and maintain a relationship. They take a lot of work, and I don't have a whole lot of time that is not currently otherwise occupied. It would be unfair to whoever I was dating to get involved with someone when I am already stretched nearly to the breaking point.

"Mori-sen… I mean Takeshi has been one of the best friends that I could ever hope for during the time that I have known him. He's saved me from Tamaki's rambunctiousness; he's protected me from all sorts of outlandish events thanks to the host club's ridiculous activities; and he's been an unbelievable source of strength during my more recent ordeal. He's held me when I was fighting off the attacker again in my dreams and he carried me through the door when I couldn't force myself to move forward. I could not ask for a better friend. He's not alone, though. The whole of the host club has stepped up for me when I needed it most. He may not be alone in being my strength and support, but he is without a doubt one of my most very important and best friends that I have ever had in my life. I don't think that I would even be out of the hospital yet, if it weren't for them."

"What about me, Haru-chan? Am I one of you good friends too?" Huni had come over to apologize to Takeshi for not being able to get the bentos to them in time. He had walked in on Haruhi's explanation about Takeshi's friendship, and was now getting teary eyed.

"Of course you are senpai. Don't be silly."

"Oh goodie, I was worried." He turned to the adults, "Uncle, Auntie may I join you for desert?"

"Of course, Mitsukuni." An extra chair was pulled to the table as he joined the conversation, which thankfully was now steered away from relationships. It was still mostly centered on Haruhi, however. But she didn't mind, she was enjoying the lively banter that went on in a large family.

As the evening drew to a close and they were walking out to the limo, Huni looked at Haruhi a little odd. "Haru-chan?"

"Yes, Huni-senpai?"

"Did you just call Takeshi by his given name?"

"Yes, he asked me to while we were here with his family since they all have the same sir name."

"But Haru-chan, isn't Takeshi the only one that would be your senpai. Satoshi would be a kouhai, right? So if you called him senpai, everyone would know who you were talking about."

"I guess you're right. I didn't think about it. I was just doing what Takeshi asked me to do."

"Without honorifics?"

"Ehh, I didn't even think about it. I…"

"Mitsukuni, that's enough.

"Takeshi, what were you thinking?"

"I told her to call me that, nothing more. If you feel it is inappropriate, then speak to me, not her."

"No, that's not it Takeshi," he pulled his cousin aside out of earshot from Haruhi while she said her good byes to her hosts. "Haruhi is not the type of person to not add honorifics, even if you tell her not to. Besides that, maybe the fact that she is calling you by your given name is the reason auntie thought that you two were dating. You aren't dating yet, are you?"

"Nnh." Simply stated, but the look on his face told the rest of the story.

"Did you ask her?"

"Nnh."

"Are you going to ask her tonight?"

"Nnh."

"Why not?"

"Not the right time."

"When is, then? After she is already Kyo-chan's girlfriend?"

"Nnh, I am supposed to be protecting her. It wouldn't be right."

"People often fall for their protectors or body guards. Do you think that Kyo-chan will wait until she is no longer relying on him before he asks her? I can't be sure, but I get the impression that Kyo-chan wants Haruhi as his own. Why else would you have gotten such an interrogation as you did for simply following the nurse's instructions? Why would he have spoken to you as if you had broken a valuable trust? She may be weak right now, but she won't stay that way. Not Haruhi. She's too strong for her own good sometimes. Takeshi, you can't sit back and take the high ground this time or else you will lose the girl. I like Kyo-chan, but cousin, I love you more. And I love Haruhi. And I want to see both of you happy. I believe that you two will be happy together."

"Mitsukuni."

Huni started pouting. He knew that his cousin would not listen to him. His sense of morals and ethics would not allow him to push Haruhi on this subject. He left and headed home as his cousin and the girl headed back to her apartment. Takeshi would not use his position to make the girl give in to his wishes... well that's how he would perceive what his cousin was suggesting. Kyoya however would have no qualms about using such a manipulative move.