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 eight: 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.

Chapter Twenty Nine

Huni was dropped off before the limo continued on to the Morinodzuka residence just a very short way away. As they pulled up they were met by the rest of Takeshi's family. Satoshi, especially, questioned Haruhi about everything he could think of, but mostly about how she had come to play the part of host. Even if he had wanted, Takeshi couldn't get a word in edgewise it seemed, but luckily he preferred to listen and learn from those around him. He already knew about Haruhi's reason for becoming a host, but found it interesting to hear her point of view. Through out supper, Haruhi was the victim of the family's insatiable curiosity. For desert, strawberry cake was served. Takeshi's mother raised an eyebrow when her eldest son took a piece, but then turned towards Haruhi and deposited the red glazed pieces of fruit onto her plate.

"Son?" What's this?

"Yes mother?" Please mother, don't make a big deal out of this.

"You don't usually eat desert? Are you feeling well?" What an interesting development. Does this girl actually have him eating sweets?

"Is it ok? Besides, Haruhi likes strawberries." Please drop it mother.

"Of course it's ok dear. It just seemed odd. If we had known that she likes strawberries that much, we could have had more added to the cake." So he is eating cake in order to give her more strawberries. Isn't that sweet.

"Oh, that's not necessary. I just eat the glazed strawberries off of Takeshi's cake because he doesn't like sweets that much."

Grateful that his mother let it drop, Takeshi started talking with his father about the plans to teach Haruhi self-defense. It had been decided that both he and his cousin, Mitsukuni, would work on teaching her the basics, but it would be Mitsukuni who would show her how to make throws and such since they were close to the same size. However, like they had discussed the first time she visited, both boys would take turns as her opponent so that she would be well rounded on how to handle opposition of any size. Both boys had been brought up to teach classes in what they were going to teach Haruhi. The only difference is that she is their friend and Takeshi's girlfriend. Due to doctor's orders, however, she would be limited to 2 hours a day, whereas the boy had been training long enough that they were used to spending the whole day during their holidays .

Haruhi would start her training with some stamina building such as jogs and calisthenics in the morning then in the afternoon they would go to the dojo for the basics. The rest of her time would be her own. And, due to her visiting, Takeshi was given a reprieve from having to spend all day at the dojo as well. He would be allowed to keep her company. After the first full week however, Takeshi's mother had decided that she would take Haruhi for a girl's day out including spa treatments, shopping, and lunch out. Although he really didn't want to subject Haruhi to spending time with his mother, it was a small price to pay in exchange for getting to spend as much time as he was going to, so he acquiesced. Haruhi had survived worse so surely she could survive a day with his mother.

After desert, Haruhi was shown to her room. She would stay in the same room she had been shown the last time she stayed. I don't remember falling asleep. In fact the last I remember was the lightning, and running through a door that I thought was the closet, only to find Takeshi right in front of me. The panic was overwhelming. I do remember that he was able to calm me quickly, though. I must have fallen asleep while I was with him. I just wish I could remember. I know I ended up in the bed, covered up the next morning. Haruhi didn't remember Takeshi holding her the whole night long last time she stayed over. However, this time she did make sure to remember which door was which.

As he made his way to his own room, Takeshi also remembered that night. Holding her in my arms that night felt right. I wish I knew how to tell her though. I mean, I have confessed, and we're dating. And I have enough discipline to keep myself from doing something dishonorable until we're married… I hope. But still, I didn't want to let her go that night. I probably could have put her back in her bed a lot earlier than I did, but I just didn't want to. In fact, what I wanted to do was pull her into my bed with me, and wrap her up in my arms all night long. NO! I can't think along those lines. I cannot allow myself to let my discipline waiver at all. Ugh, it's time to go take an ice cold shower. Takeshi made his way to his bathroom and bathed for the evening. Once in his bed, he slept more peacefully than he had in a while.

It was a pleasant and peaceful night for almost everyone. Takeshi, who normally woke up several times a night worrying about Haruhi, slept without waking once. His dreams were of his future with Haruhi, and the two of them growing their own rose garden like his parents' that he confessed to her in. Takeshi's mother also dreamed of her son and the young girl in the room next to hers, and of the beautiful grandchildren that the couple would produce. Her dreams showed four children, two boys and then two girls surrounding their grandmother with roses that they had grown themselves as they all laughed happily. Her husband fell subject to the same types of dreams, only his showed the grandchildren winning both Kendo and Karate championships for their age ranges. Satoshi also dreamed of his nieces and nephews. Haruhi slept more peacefully than she usually did, though she couldn't put a finger on why. She didn't wake as many times to silent screams against her attacker like she usually did. That was something she didn't tell anyone about. She was afraid that they would say that she was not recovering well. Maybe it was independence and self-sufficiency that she had grown up with, or maybe he was because she didn't want to feel like she was letting everyone down with how her recovery was proceeding. Either way, she told no one of her dreams of the attacker. This night, luckily the dreams were not as bad as normal and when she did wake, it was before she was actually dreaming of the attack itself, with one exception.