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 seven: When he pulled away, they straightened up and headed back over to the rest of the group to get a plate of food. Kyoya had managed to bring the twins back and they were in process of getting food when the couple finally made it back. It was a very tense atmosphere, but at least it was quiet.

Chapter Twenty Eight

The rest of the day was rather tense, but at least there were no more outbursts. Kaoru pulled Haruhi aside and apologized for his brother. In an odd twisted way, he also apologized if she took anything he said as being hurtful. He really didn't want to hurt Haruhi, and had long since accepted that he would never be the one to truly be with her. But his brother could pull him into saying things that would come out wrong. The rest of the day, however, Hikaru never once said anything to either Takeshi or Haruhi. Kyoya spoke with them as if nothing had happened, although at one point he did pull the two aside and explain that the reason he left was not because he was angry at them, but because he wanted to chase down the twins and hopefully talk some sense into them. He had at least talked them into coming back to eat. Kyoya may have been hurt by Haruhi's choice, but he was showing that he would also be one of their biggest allies. Haruhi kissed Kyoya on the cheek and thanked him for being there for them, and Takeshi also hugged him. He was glad that they could still be friends.

The following day, Monday, was to be Haruhi's first day back at the host club. The plan had changed from the original Snow White plan because no one wanted to be a dwarf. The new plan was to have them all dress as different fairy tale characters. Haruhi would be dressed as Sleeping Beauty to allow her to stay seated on one of the chaise lounges while the other hosts took care of anything she may need. However, after the way things had gone, she wasn't so sure that her fellow hosts would still be willing. It was not so much that they wouldn't tend to her, but more so that some of the hosts could potentially cause problems because they were still angry. Ranka voiced concern about Haruhi going to the host club. He didn't like the reaction at the garden party, and didn't think that Haruhi should waste her time going to the club. Ranka was not one to usually get involved with Haruhi's school activities, but he couldn't get past how the twins had reacted.

Haruhi would not accept her father's demands that she not go to the club, but she did agree that if she started to feel the least bit tired or unwell in any way, she would immediately head home. With that, she left out for school as Takeshi and Huni-senpai were waiting in the limo outside her apartment. She no longer had to hide the fact that she was getting a ride from Takeshi. She was dropped off at school, and made her way to her first class of the day. In class, she was met with the cold shoulder treatment from Hikaru, and Kaoru simply shrugged every time Hikaru tried to call him away from her. Kaoru knew that Haruhi didn't deserve the silent treatment; she was still their friend even if Hikaru couldn't accept it yet. Hikaru made several snide comments about his toy being stolen out from under his nose that most in class ignored, but Haruhi cringed each time.

After classes were over, she went to club where Kaoru had her costume. As he escorted her to the changing room, he whispered to her that he had checked it himself in case his brother had tried anything stupid. There should be no problem with the costume. Kasanoda attended the club just as he had told Haruhi that he would, but he had not been privy to her announcement the afternoon before. Kasanoda did not know that Haruhi was currently dating Takeshi. But Hikaru told him in an attempt to stir up trouble. The little ploy, however, backfired. Kasanoda cared more for his friend and only hoped for her happiness. He would never admit to the heartache he felt when Hikaru spilled the secret, nor would he ever tell anyone how he had planned to confess to her, himself, that day after the club hours were over. When Hikaru opened his big mouth, Kasanoda actually stood up to Hikaru and threatened to hurt him severely if he did not stop trying to hurt Haruhi.

Other than Hikaru's attempts to cause problems and the fact that the rest of the club took care of Haruhi and her designators, the club hours were more or less the same as they had been before the attack. As the host club closed for the day, Kimiko showed up to go home with Haruhi. Takeshi went with them, sending Huni on home after dropping them off. As they had the week before, Kimiko cleaned the house while Takeshi and Haruhi did homework, then Kimiko and Haruhi would cook dinner, after which, Haruhi would insist that Kimiko do her homework while she and Takeshi spent time together.

The next few days, classes were a lot less stressful, as it seemed Hikaru had finally given up trying to cause real problems for Haruhi. The club hours included the hosts still tending to Haruhi and her designators, but things got back into the feeling of normalcy. Haruhi breathed a sigh of relief. She wanted her life back to normal. She knew better than to ever hope for her life to be like it was before her attack. That didn't stop her from wanting things to be back to a familiar sense of normal even if it wasn't the exact same as before. She knew that it would take time, too. But that didn't matter, what mattered was that she could at least start to put her life back in order after the attack that had changed her life.

Days went by, as everyone settled into a routine. When summer break came around, Haruhi finally received doctor permission to start learning self-defense. It was agreed that Haruhi would spend the summer break as the guest of the Morinodzuka family. Ranka was less than thrilled about his daughter staying overnight at her boyfriend's house, but Takeshi's parents calmed his fears and assured him that Haruhi would be well cared for and protected as if she were their own daughter. Takeshi's mother also planned a day when she would take Haruhi for a "girl's day out" including shopping and time at a spa. Although Haruhi wasn't that interested, she agreed anyway so that she could spend time with her boyfriend's mother because he was undoubtedly close to his parents.

With everything in place, and summer break starting after school, Haruhi packed her bag for her visit. Her father made sure to repack her bag to include very girly outfits. It was arranged that she would leave her bag in the limo while they were in school for the last day before the break, then after host club, they would go straight over to Takeshi's house. School was as normal as it could be, as Hikaru had finally gotten over the hurt of Haruhi dating someone else. The club proceeded as usual, as well. After hours, Kimiko came to join Haruhi, Takeshi, and Huni as they all left. They set out on what would become one adventurous summer holiday for Haruhi.