How was everyone's Christmas? Mine was full of family visits and a night of sleeping on the couch in the living room. Anyway as usual: I do not own OHSHC.

Haruhi's POV

I almost dropped the coffee from the sound of a door slamming shut. I turned around, seeing Hikaru walking back to the sitting room, blushing furiously.

I raised an eyebrow at him, wondering what had happened. "What did she say?" I asked, wanting him to meet my eyes.

He didn't. He kept his eyes locked on one of Sunny's cups. "She was yawning, so... Yes," he stuttered.

Everyone was looking at him, he never stutters. "What happened?" asked Kaoru.

"Um... I might have seen her... changing," he mumbled quickly.

Tamiki-senpai was the first one of to react. "You saw Haruhi's cousin nude?!" he yelled furiously.

"No." We all turned to the voice. All of us surprised to see Sunny in her uniform. "He just saw me in my undergarments. It's not that big of a deal, look at the picture on the shelf." They all did.

Honey-senpai was the first one that saw it. "Sunny-chan, you look so adorable." The picture was of her and her friends at a beach. Each of them in bathing suits, with Sunny holding a surfboard upright and her friend's arm slung over her shoulder, Alex, I think it was. All of them smiling, happy with the sun's rays washing over them.

I couldn't be sure but I saw Hikaru's gaze linger more on Sunny, slightly glaring at her friend.

"Back to the problem at hand," she said. "You," pointing at Hikaru, "I need to talk to you."

He was reluctant to follow her though. "Don't worry, she's not gonna bite," I coaxed him.

Sunny gave me a look. "I wouldn't be too sure about that, Haruhi."

My eyes widened, looking back over at Hikaru. "What did you do?" She wasn't joking.

"Follow me," she said to him, walking out the door.

Hikaru's POV

I reluctantly walked out the door behind her, wondering what her anger was about.

She leaned her back against the railing, I closed the door behind me.

She didn't give me much time to figure out what was happening. "How much did you see?"

I didn't understand what she meant, giving an unintelligent, "Huh?"

"Don't act dumb, what did you see?" she demanded, charging towards me. Her hands were clenched into small fists. "There was something on my back, I want to know if you saw it."

I put a hand behind my neck, confused. "You mean that scar? What about it-" She put a hand over my mouth, muffling my words.

She looked around me at the door. She dragged me about four yards away, away from hearing-distance.

"Yes that," she answered, dropping her hand. Her eyes were looking at her feet, still without any socks. I saw that she was leaning her weight onto the front of her feet, as if she was wearing high heels. She cleared her throat, lifting her chin. "I need you to not mention this to anyone, especially to Haruhi."

"Why?"

"She doesn't need to know about it, it's not that big a deal."

"If it's not that big a deal, then why not tell her?" I countered.

She was quiet, a look passed over her eyes. She tore them away from mine, towards the falling sun rays. "I don't want her to worry about it. Have her wonder what it means to me."

"What does it mean to you?"

She took a shaky breath, slowly releasing it ten seconds later. "Death." She turned back to me, eyes slightly watering. "It's nothing, but a reminder. That I'm still here, alive and breathing. But they aren't."

"Well that's stupid," I rebuked. She blinked, a glare starting to form, but I continued. "You still being alive is not a bad thing. Do not regret surviving." She looked taken aback, shocked that I would say this. "Is it really that bad, being here with Haruhi and Ranka?" I couldn't imagine loosing Kaoru, so maybe I had no right in saying that things weren't terrible for her.

She shook her head. "No. I'm glad that I'm here with them. The circumstances aren't that great though."

"You're still with them."

She sighed, stubborn to hear the truth in my words. "Just don't say anything. Please," she pleaded. Her tears still didn't flow, refusing to fall. I wasn't able to use my voice, so I just nodded as earnestly as possible. "That'll do, for now. Thank you." She sniffed, blinking her tears away.

She started back towards the apartment. All of a sudden she stopped me with her arm, shushing me. Reaching out a hand she quickly opened the door.

Tamiki was the first one to fall down, followed by Mori-senpai, Kaoru, and Honey-senpai. Kyoya and Haruhi were standing a little farther back.

"Wow. I didn't expect there to be any eaves-droppers in Japan, but I guess they're everywhere." She walked around the dog-pile to get inside, grabbing a cup of instant coffee. "I can see why you hang out with these guys, Haruhi, they're kind of fun to be around," she commented after finishing the cup.

"She likes us," yelled Tamiki. He quickly tore himself away from under the bottom of the pile to squeeze Sunny.

"You remind me of someone," she gasped. (A/N: She is talking about Jamie) "Can you let go of me?"

He took his time releasing her, but was much faster when Haruhi sent a glare at him. She took a breath, taking a step back. Looking at a clock she sighed, happiness in her eyes. It was a beautiful sight.

"It's almost eight." She turned to Kyoya. "Was there anything else that I need to know?"

He put a hand to chin, contemplating on what to say. "Well... You'll be in mine and Tamiki's class."

"But isn't Sunny the same age as Hikaru and Kaoru, so wouldn't she be in our class?" asked Haruhi.

"Under normal circumstances, yes. But considering the fact that you are already have a scholarship in that class, she'll be in ours," he stated, pushing his glasses up. "But with a slightly different requirement, she doesn't have to be first in her class, but she does have to be in the top five."

"What happens if I don't meet that requirement?" asked Sunlight.

"If you don't, just like Haruhi if she fails to meet her's, you'll be kicked out."

"Huh. That makes sense, I mean, if it's a private school they would only let in promising honor students."

"You really are Haruhi's cousin," he stated. "She expressed the same lack of concern when she wasn't first and had to be tutored." She shrugged.

"Well I think it be best to leave before Ranka comes home." Everyone agreed it was for the best, considering the fact that the last couple times we were here while Ranka was too, bad things happened to Tamiki.

Then again, maybe we should stay a little longer.

"Alright, out," said Haruhi, shooing us out. "We'll see you tomorrow at school." Right when we were all out the door she shut it.

Tamiki immediately started crying about how we were leaving his "poor, defenseless daughter." Then something hit me.

"How do you think she'll take the news about Haruhi having to dress like a boy?" I asked, everyone pausing.

"I guess we'll find out tomorrow," said Kyoya, leading everyone to the cars.

Was this good for you? I know its been slow but the next chapter they'll all be at school.