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 twenty one: Haruhi wanted to make all the food for her friend's picnic, but Kimiko would not let her. She also figured that Takeshi would probably have something to say about it to when he showed up. Sure enough, once he showed up, he made her sit down and only instruct Kimiko on how to make the dishes that they were preparing in advance.

Chapter Twenty Two

True to his word, Takeshi came by after host club. It didn't leave him much time to spend, and Mitsukuni was with him. But he didn't want to go one day without spending time with Haruhi. Once Takeshi and Mitsukuni arrived, Haruhi had Kimiko put the preparations for the picnic away so that he would not see what she was doing. She wanted it to be a surprise. So instead, the four sat down with tea in the living room. They tried to brainstorm for ideas on how to inform the rest of the club that the two were going out, but no good ideas were coming.

"How about if you don't tell them who it is, just that it is someone that you got close to while you were in the hospital? They don't need to know," tried Kimiko.

"They would get suspicious if I ride home from club every day with Takeshi and Huni-senpai. And what if I slip and call him Takeshi instead of Mori-senpai in front of everyone. Then they will know for sure. Besides that, I don't feel right lying to my friends," countered Haruhi.

"What if we just don't tell them unless they ask? They are all smart enough to figure out what's going on. Even if I am not on campus every day. Surely when they see me hug you every time we see each other they will figure it out."

"But, Takeshi, that makes it feel like we're hiding it from them. That would really piss of Kyoya-senpai, and he might even add it to my debt."

"Don't worry about the debt. I will pay it. I can't let Kyoya hold that over you anymore."

"I can't let you pay it for me. Besides, he will surely increase it."

"That has made me mad for a while now. You didn't deserve to be saddled with extra every time the whim hit him. Yes we didn't want you to leave the club, but I for one never wanted to add to your debt."

"Me either, Haru-chan! We just wanted you to play with us at the club. I'll help pay for it too."

"The debt isn't what I am worried about though. I am worried about how my friends will take the news."

"What debt? I know I am not in this club of yours but what debt are you talking about?" The group had forgotten that Kimiko was not part of the host club, so they quickly filled her in on the broken vase, and how Kyoya was holding that over Haruhi's head to keep her in the club. "And this is the guy that you're worried about telling because you don't want to hurt him? Why? Sounds like a total ass to me."

"Kimiko, Kyoya-senpai may come off that way if you don't know him, but his whole life has been about serving his father. It's all about business. He doesn't know how to deal with people as individuals or friends. Adding to my debt is his way of keeping me around because he doesn't know how to come up to me and ask me to not leave. He does care, he just doesn't know how to show it. That's why I am worried about him the most. The twins have each other, as long as they don't fall back into their own little world again. And Tamaki-senpai… he'll get over it quickly. He is just that type of guy. But Kyoya-senpai… no one has ever seen him cry… ever. But I did. I saw him cry the day I woke up out of the coma. He was crying because our friends, the host club, were all falling apart without me. He even said that Huni-senpai wasn't eating as many cakes as usual, and that Takeshi was more withdrawn. He said that I was the glue that held the group together… that held him together, and he was crying."

"I didn't know that," Takeshi almost whispered.

"I know. It's Kyoya-senpai. I didn't figure he would want anyone knowing that he was crying so I didn't tell anyone. Takeshi, I love you, but I also love my friends too. I care about Kyoya-senpai, and I don't want to hurt him. I just happen to have fallen for one of his friends. I can't help it. I can't honestly say that if I hadn't fallen for you, that I wouldn't have fallen for him. What I feel for you started a while back. It's been growing slowly, to the point that I didn't even realize it. I know that I love each and every one of my friends in that stupid club. I would have stayed even if I didn't have a debt. But what I feel for you grew quicker than the rest I guess. Or stronger, or however you want to look at it. Any way about it, it's different than what I feel for the rest. But that doesn't mean that I don't love them or that I would ever want to hurt them. Kyoya especially. If I had to put everyone in some sort of order, he would be next in line after you."

"Hey Haru-chan. What if you tell Kyo-chan that. Tell him exactly like you told us. I don't think that he will hate you. He does love you. We all do. But I think that you're right. He doesn't know how to deal with people, that's why he adds to your debt instead of asking you to stay. He might even help you figure out how to tell the rest."

"You might be right senpai," Haruhi pondered the suggestion. "That might be our best bet. But I would have to tell him separate from the rest. And I think it might be best if I tell him alone."

"No. I want to be there."

"Takeshi," Haruhi put her hands on top of his, "I think it would be best if you were not immediately present. It might feel like we're rubbing his nose in it. You've won, let him suffer defeat in privacy."

He didn't like the idea of his girlfriend with his rival, alone, but he knew that he could trust her. And he also had to admit that she had a point. If she were telling him that he had lost out to Kyoya, having him there would only feel like he was rubbing it in. He didn't like the idea, but he understood. Kyoya would have time alone with Haruhi to learn of her decision. But after that, he wouldn't allow it to happen again. Kyoya was a manipulative man, and he would try to twist things to his liking any time something came up that he didn't like. Takeshi would not allow him to twist Haruhi into going out with him. She had made her choice and he would make sure that she wasn't manipulated into changing it. He would only accept change if her heart truly did have a change.

It was decided that Haruhi would have Kyoya come over Saturday after club and talk to him then. Kimiko would be there, if Haruhi needed back up. Sunday afternoon, they would have a club picnic and tell the rest of their friends. The stage was set.