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 two: 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.

Chapter Twenty Three

It was planned out that Takeshi would not come over on Saturday after host club. Kyoya would be invited over, and Haruhi would talk to him alone. Well, as alone as you could get in her small house with Kimiko there. She would wait until her father left before she told Kyoya the main reason for inviting him. Ranka would most likely be disappointed in his daughter if he had known that Kyoya had voiced an interest in her. Her father had always like Kyoya better than the rest of the host club. But this was her choice, not her father's. Haruhi felt she had to follow her heart.

Thursday came and went much like the first half of the week. On Friday, Kimiko picked up Haruhi from school, then they picked up Ranka and the three went to the hospital for Haruhi's first follow-up appointment. Haruhi was recovering amazingly well. Haruhi would be allowed to go to after school activities, but she still should take it easy. Any signs of problems and she should rest. If she over-did it, it would be detrimental to her recovery. Still no martial arts lessons yet, though. She was given permission to cook meals, but her father spoke up and said that he thought that it would be doing too much. "Well, if you feel that way sir. But I don't think that it will hurt much, as long as she remembers to rest if she starts to feel out of sorts in any way." Ranka loved his daughter's cooking, but had always felt guilty that she had to do all of the cooking. If Kimiko was willing to do more of the cooking, he would prefer to allow his daughter to be pampered for a little bit longer.

As soon as they were done at the doctor's office, the three stopped for dinner on their way home. When they arrived home, there was a surprise waiting for them. The entire host club was standing in front of the door, waiting for their arrival. "What's going on here?" Ranka asked as he made his way through the group of boys to open the door.

"We were worried about our dear Haruhi. She didn't stop by the club room to say 'hi' to her daddy today, plus we knew that she had a doctor's appointment today. We wanted to see how she was doing. What did the doctors say? Can she return to the host club on Monday?"

Ranka rolled his eyes at the idiot Tamaki. "I am her father, not you. But, yes she can go to club after school starting Monday. Providing, of course, she does not have any problems. If she starts to feel out of sorts in any way, she is to leave immediately and rest. Is that understood? I want everyone's understanding and agreement with that. Or else I will make her come right home and not continue with that club."

Everyone nodded in agreement. "Good. Now Kimiko-san, would you and Haruhi go make the boys some tea, please. I have to go get ready for work tonight." Everyone piled through the door and sat around the table in the living room as Ranka went to prepare for work and the girls went to the kitchen to make tea. They enjoyed chatting for a while. Eventually, Ranka left for work and Kimiko stood up to make an announcement.

"Ok, Haruhi-san has to rest, and we both have homework to do, as I suspect most of you do too. So, unless you can tell me who signs my paychecks, I would suggest you bid your farewells and make your way to your own homes to do your own homework." Everyone stood, and the twins were the first to move towards Haruhi, wrapping her in a hug-cocoon and each kissed her on one cheek, then they left. Tamaki also took advantage of the situation and hugged Haruhi before departing. Kyoya took his tea cup into the kitchen, following behind Kimiko who had taken several others in.

"Ah, Kimiko-san, what an interesting ploy to get everyone else out, since we all know that the son of the person who signs your paycheck would surely know who did so, as possibly would said son's cousin, right? But one should never forget what information the Otori private police can dig up. So tell me how one under the employ of the Morinodzuka household would wind up as an unpaid nurse's assistant at a commoner's house, such as Haruhi's?"

"Otori-san, you're the one named Kyoya, correct? That figures. Haruhi-san insisted that my assessment of you was wrong. She still insists that you are not purely an ass, that you are simply misunderstood. I am not so sure now. The descriptions of you make you sound like a complete ass. I get the impression that isn't a wrong assessment of you after all. That poor girl. You certainly have her fooled. And to think, she was most worried about you."

"What do you mean by 'she was most worried' about me? And who have you been talking to in order to hear descriptions of me?"

"You seem to have forgotten, I have been with Haruhi-san for the last few days. Her friends are what she talks most about. You are one of her most important friends. She, herself, has described things about you in great detail. Including how you keep her acting as a boy in that club of yours by increasing a debt for some stupid vase instead of simply asking her to stay around, which she has told me she would do if asked. And yes my boss's son has described you as manipulative as well. I can obviously see that you are conniving as well. It kind of makes me feel sorry that Haruhi-san actually calls you one of her best friends. She could do better."

"Kimiko-san! What are you saying? Kyoya-senpai, what's going on here?" Haruhi was in the kitchen door followed by Takeshi.

"Haruhi-san, I was just talking to your 'friend' here. He knows who signs my paycheck, it seems. It also seems that he is rather suspicious about why someone who works for the Morinodzuka family would be here assisting you for free."

"I guess we won't wait until tomorrow, then will we? Senpai, can we talk for a few moments, please?" Haruhi took the cup from Kyoya's hands and placed it in the sink then lead him by the hand to the living room. Huni-senpai was at the door about to leave when he saw what was going on. He immediately turned back around and sat at the table as well.

"Haru-chan, do you want me to stay in case of trouble? Or would you rather me take Takeshi home first?" Takeshi, however showed no signs of going anywhere. He stood directly behind were Haruhi had sat down, as if protecting her.

"No, senpai, you don't have to stay, there wont be trouble. Kyoya-senpai isn't that kind of person. And if you think that you can get Takeshi to go with you right now, then be my guest. I get the impression, because things are not going as planned, that he has no intention of letting me be alone with Kyoya-senpai right now."

"Ok, if you're sure. Kimiko, call me if there is trouble, ok?" He stood up, gave one last look at his friend who was seething at the table, and walked out the door, "Takeshi, I will send the car back for you later." Then he left.