Sapphire was writing poetry when Haruhi found her. Haruhi had been walking past one of the thousands of rooms at Ouran when she had glimpsed a wave of black hair. She had doubled back on herself and saw Sapphy. She had her head bent over the desk and was writing something, occasionally stopping as if thinking about what to put. Eventually she looked up and saw Haruhi looking at her. She smiled and Haruhi smiled back.

"What are you writing?"

"It's nothing really, I just – it's nothing." Haruhi walked over to her and gestured at the piece of paper.

"May I?" Sapphire leant back in her chair and shrugged. Haruhi picked up the sheet and started reading.

"The rain started to fall.

Today was mean to be a good day,

But life is never as good to me

As it should be.

I figured I could walk for a bit.

The walking turned into running,

But I didn't know what I was running from.

The feet fell into the puddles

And I got soaked.

I could feel the cold, but I didn't care.

On the inside, I was numb.

I could see the ocean,

But I still didn't stop running.

I got to the beach and stood staring out

At the grey sea. The rain hammering onto it.

Warm rain slid down my cheeks

And I realized I was crying.

I remembered what I was running from then.

I was running from what lay waiting in the nightmares.

I was running from what lay waiting at home."

Haruhi looked up at the girl, surprised. Sapphire noticed her looking at her and smiled a smile that didn't reach her cold eyes.

"That's good! I didn't know you wrote poems!" Sapphire smiled again and this time it did reach her eyes.

"Thanks. It's not finished yet though." She took her poem back and put it in her pocket. Sapphire looked at her questioningly "Why are you still here anyway? The bell for end of school went ages ago."

Haruhi grimaced and answered "I was doing some studying as I can never manage to do any, any other time. Anyway, what about you? Aren't you going home?" Sapphire shrugged and looked away.

"I just don't want to go back yet." Sapphy looked back at Haruhi with, smiling. "Do you want to come round my place? I could cook you something for dinner. You could bring your family round if you like."

"Sure, that would be great. I guess I will have to walk to your place though so I know where to go. Unless you don't mind waiting at my place?" Sapphy said she didn't mind and together, the two girls walked to Haruhi's apartment.

When they arrived, Haruhi opened her door and waited for Sapphy to go in before stepping in herself and shutting the door behind her. Haruhi got changed out of her uniform while Sapphy had a look round Haruhi's and her father's apartment. They waited a while for Haruhi's dad to come back, but after a while, Sapphy suggested that she cook dinner there. They went down to the shop so that they could buy some ingredients. They were there about half an hour and when Sapphy finally got started it had been about 3 hours since Ouran had finished. Haruhi watched as Sapphy got everything she needed together and occasionally helped with chopping the vegetables or whatever it was that Sapphy wanted help with. Haruhi's dad came back while everything was boiling or warming up and Haruhi was pleased to see that her new friend and her father got on together really well. But still... ever since Haruhi had heard Sapphy's story about her parents, Haruhi had been careful about what she said, but there was something different about her. Like she was hiding some big secret and was scared someone would find out.

"Dinner's ready!" Haruhi's thoughts had been cut short and she looked up to see Sapphire putting three quite big bowls full of some delicious smelling food onto the table.

"This looks really tasty Sapphire! Ittadakimasu!" Ranka said. He then tasted some and his eyes glittered. He grabbed Sapphire and was hugging her like Tamaki hugged Haruhi at the Host Club. "Can I keep you? You're so cute! And yours and Haruhi's cooking together is any person's heaven..." Ranka ranted on for a while, doting on both Haruhi and Sapphire. They looked at each other, sighed and ate their meal, being as oblivious as they could to the continuous streams of praises and hugs.

Ranka reminded Sapphy of the tall, blonde boy, that she now knew as Tamaki, she had seen fussing over Haruhi on that first day. Sapphire smiled sadly at the memory and carried on eating her meal. Ranka had finished fussing over them a few minutes back and they were all now eating in silence. Everyone had been left to their own thoughts and Sapphire was at ease. She had been accepted like she was part of the family at she was pleased. She thought that Ranka would have rejected her and would completely hate her. She let her mind wander to the Host Club. Out of all them, she thought she liked Kaoru best. He was sweet and understanding. More understanding than his twin brother. No! You can't think like that about them. You shouldn't really be having friends. You're putting them in danger just by knowing them! Sapphire berated herself over and over in her mind for letting herself think like that until Haruhi spoke.

"What is this called anyway?" Haruhi had finished and was looking quite full and happy.

Sapphire smiled happily and said "It's a Mizuiro family recipe. I don't think it really has a name." Sapphy finished off her food and Ranka finished last (which was hardly surprising after how much time he had spent loving his daughter).

Sapphire got up to do wash the dishes, but after much insistence from Haruhi's dad that he and Haruhi would do it, she had another look around the room. Sapphy noticed a photo of a woman. She got up and walked over to it. Haruhi and her dad were still washing the pots, so Sapphy picked up and the photo and felt a wave of emotions and sad memories wash over her. She smiled sadly to herself and put the picture back down.

"Haruhi's mum, is it?" She whispered to the smiling woman "How'd you do? I'm Sapphire Mizuiro and I will try to help look after your daughter, if that's alright with you." Sapphire suddenly remembered a few lines from one of her poems.

And I carried on getting older.

I moved through my teens,

While you stayed young.

You never will see me

As a woman.

You had memories of me, whilst all I had

Was a picture...

Haruhi and Ranka came back in and they talked for a little while longer. By the time Sapphire went to back to her home, it was 8 '0' clock. At first Ranka had insisted that someone escort her home, so she didn't get hurt or anything, but then Sapphire told him that she only a few doors down, so it wouldn't be needed. Sapphire lay curled on her bed and let tears stream down her face. That was a mistake. She told herself. I hardly know them and I've let myself get too close. She eventually got to sleep and she dreamed of families.