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 sixteen: Not to mention that by being over at Haruhi's with her, maybe Kimiko could get some more studying done since the staff head likes to keep her busy when she's here. Poor girl, I honestly don't know when she gets any studying done at all."

Chapter Seventeen

After the picnic, Takeshi, Haruhi, and Kimiko left for Haruhi's home. They wanted to get everything settled with Ranka, and allow the girls a chance to get to know one another since they would be spending a lot of time together starting the next day. It was finally agreed. Kimiko would meet Takeshi and Mitsukuni on campus just before they left to go to Ouran High School. She would ride with them and while they went to host club activities, she and Haruhi would return to Haruhi's home for the first week as ordered by the doctors. In the morning, Haruhi and Kimiko would be picked up by Mitsukuni and Takeshi where they would be dropped off at their respective campuses. Kimiko would be retained by the Morinodzuka family, and would return to her duties at their residence after Haruhi was released from doctor's care with a full recovery.

Kimiko sat at the table with Ranka, Haruhi, and Takeshi as the whole deal was explained to Ranka. He was having a hard time understanding why this was happening until it was Takeshi who spoke up. "Ranka-san, I can explain it. But first I need to ask you something in private." Haruhi took the opportunity to show Kimiko her room where they would set up a second futon for her.

"Ranka-san, I… umm… may I have permission to date your daughter?" Takeshi was nervous and it showed as he fidgeted with his shirt hem.

"Did something happen last night that I need to know about?" Ranka been deep inside the bar at the time of the storm, so Takeshi wasn't sure if that was what he was asking about.

"Other than the storm, no nothing happened. I sat in the hallway holding Haruhi and trying to calm her down. I didn't think riding it out in a closet somewhere would be in her best interest. If you're asking if that is when I confessed, or worse if I did something dishonorable, then no."

"So you did confess?"

"Yes, sir. I told her how I feel this afternoon. But that's not why we've asked Kimiko to stay here with Haruhi. My mother wanted to do that for her even before she knew about my feelings. My mother likes your daughter, and doesn't want boys staying overnight to ruin her reputation or something like that. She knows that I would never do anything to dishonor Haruhi, but even me staying last night, she said that others might not see it the way we do. That's why she asked that Haruhi stay over last night."

"So, what did Haruhi say when you confessed?"

"DAD!!!" Haruhi had walked out of her room. Her face red from her father's question.

"Ok. ok. I won't ask. But since he's asking for permission to date you, I assume that it didn't start with 'I'm sorry', right?"

"Dad."

"Oh you're no fun. I get no response out of you." He turned back to Takeshi and said, "Yes you have permission to date my daughter. Just remember, though, that I will be keeping my eye on you. You're lucky I trust you a little more than I do that idiot Tamaki."

Later, when the limo arrived to take Takeshi and Kimiko back, Kimiko climbed into the front seat with the driver even though she had been told that she could ride in back with Takeshi. Takeshi and Haruhi stood at the top of the stairs to say goodnight.

"Senpai…"

"Haruhi, please continue to call me Takeshi."

"Takeshi, thank you."

"For what?"

"Everything. For comforting me last night, for watching out for me, taking care of me. More so, for telling me how you feel. Thank you for letting me know that my first love isn't a one sided love."

"There is no need to thank me for any of that."

"Thank you anyway."

"No, thank you. I don't know what I would have done if you had told me to leave you alone today."

"I could never do that."

"Maybe so, but losing you scared me more than anything else. That's why it took so long for me to gather the courage to tell you."

"It's ok. As far as I am concerned, I sort of wished that today didn't really happen."

"Eh, why?"

"Because who in their right mind would want to remember their first love's confession being responded to with asking if they were crazy?"

"Eh, you did do that, didn't you?"

"Don't remind me!"

"OK, how about this then. Tomorrow, after school, I will skip host club, and we will go back to my house and the rose gardens again. I will confess to you in the same spot, only this time, I won't be as nervous, and you won't ask me if you're crazy, ok?"

"You shouldn't skip club twice in a row."

"Haruhi?"

"Yes?"

"I don't care when we claim that I confessed to you, as long as you know how I feel."

"I know, and I am glad too."

"Haruhi, I love you."

"I love you too, Takeshi." She wrapped her arms around him. "Eh, but Takeshi…"

"What?"

"Everyone will notice if I show up calling you by your name."

"True.

"I guess sometimes between now and a week from now, we need to figure out the best way to tell everyone."

"I guess so."

"We'll think of something over the next week."

"OK, I need to leave now."

"Good night."

"Good night, Haruhi." He bent down and kissed her cheek before turning her around to head to the door. Once she was in her door, he turned and ran down the steps two at a time with a giant smile on his face.

Haruhi went to bed that night wondering how the next week would go. She was ready to get back to school, but after the day's events, wasn't quite sure how she would handle her friends. Telling Kyoya that they no longer needed the rotation of who would stay with her would be a problem. She wasn't sure how he would take it. But as she drifted off to sleep, it wasn't how Kyoya or Tamaki would react, nor was it how the twins would certainly act up, it was the sweet remembrance of Takeshi saying that he loved her that ran through her mind and lulled her into sweet dreams.