It was a quieter, more subdued Host Club that lounged on the beach, relishing each others' company for the remaining few hours they had before they would have to leave the haven they'd been enjoying these past few days. Haruhi had eventually ended up with her head laying on Tamaki's lap, her legs draped across Kaoru's thighs as he stretched out and leaned back against his brother. Honey was sprawled on his stomach in the sand, his head settled down on one outstretched arm, one hand resting lightly on her shin where his fingers brushed slowly, comfortingly back and forth over her skin. Mori sat comfortably beside him and Kyoya, notebook in hand, reclined against the cooler chest next to Tamaki. After her revelations concerning her father, conversation had slowly dwindled until the only sounds to hear were those of the beach, the wind and the waves and the occasional cries of the seabirds. As such, her low words were easily heard by all.

"Kyoya?" she hedged quietly.

"Hmm?"

"Why...why would your father keep my dad's condition from you?"

There was another long stretch of silence as the Shadow King determined the best way to answer her question. Eventually he decided on honesty – it would hurt, but she deserved more than coddling, more than half-truths or evasions from him.

"In his eyes you are an acceptable wife for me despite your background. However, there is no possible way to justify your father's inclusion in our family, Ranka being who and what he is. It is something my father would prefer never become an issue. And he knows that, had I known, I would have been doing everything in my power to resolve or at least ease your father's problems. Therefore, in the interest of letting this quietly slip by, he has likely determined that it would be best if I were kept ignorant of all such knowledge."

He watched as she looked up to meet his eyes, shock and anger and pain glowing in her own. She seemed completely unsure as to what she should say, what she could say, but that was to be expected. However, as he'd anticipated, his statement had piqued more than just Haruhi's fury. And others were not as close-lipped as their princess.

"What the hell?" Hikaru snarled. "That's such bullshit." Around the group came more muttered agreements.

"Yes," Kyoya replied calmly, "it is. Which is why he has already failed." His voice turned cold, determination and rage in every hard-bitten word, his eyes like frozen obsidian.

"I will not permit him to get away with this game he is playing. I am growing tired of his manipulating. It has been bad enough seeing the less-than-ideal choices he has made and watching how they are affecting both those directly in our employ as well as those who are further down the line but still rely on our businesses for their livelihood. Now, however, with his blatant disregard for Ranka's well-being just because he does not fit my father's view of the world – he has stepped over the line."

Not a single person there had ever heard such a vitriolic tone from their friend, and more than a few eyes widened at the venom in his voice.

"If anyone can do anything about this, it's you," Kaoru said after a moment, true belief in his bearing. "But...what can you do?"

"Far more than my father believes," was Kyoya's evasive answer. No one wanted to question further.

Eventually they all began to accept the fact that their sojourn was coming to an end. Reluctant though they were, each of them knew that they only had about two more hours left to spend on what they were all beginning to consider 'their beach.' Some unspoken agreement had settled over the group to not talk about depressing or serious matters anymore, and – mostly thanks to Tamaki – they were soon debating future club cosplays and ideas. After a while, though, even that conversation faded out and left the seven friends in a contemplative, yet comfortable silence. Kaoru was the first to break it again.

"So, um, Haruhi...did you want any help packing up your stuff?" He mentally crossed his fingers, hoping that the new accord the group seemed to have adopted might keep all and sundry from inviting themselves along. In particular he was keeping an eye on Tamaki. Meeting their leader's lilac gaze he strove to let his expression explain his need to talk to their girl alone without letting said girl see the exchange. To his relief the tall blond paused for only a moment before giving him a quick nod. Kaoru was pleased to notice that Haruhi hadn't seen the exchange.

"Yeah, I'll probably need it," she said quietly, her mind obviously still focused on her troubles.

"I'd be happy to give you a hand," the younger redhead offered.

"But what about your stuff?" she asked, mildly concerned.

"I'll take care of our things," Hikaru stated easily, trading a glance with his twin. Kaoru looked to Haruhi who just blinked.

"Well, if you're sure..." she murmured. At Kaoru's nod she sighed and climbed to her feet, seeming reluctant to move at all. He rose as well and after a moment spent waiting for her to do something besides look at him, he reached out towards her. When her hand joined his he nearly sighed with relief. A gentle tug had her moving and then they were walking away from the beach and the five remaining friends who were looking after them, varied expressions of worry on each of their faces.

"Is she going to be okay?" Hikaru asked softly, deliberately forcing down the desire to jump up and follow his brother and their precious friend as they disappeared into the trees.

"It's been really hard on her," Honey said carefully. "She'll make it through this, but don't expect that it won't leave a mark."

"She needs us all now," Kyoya chimed in, his voice no longer frozen but soft and sure. "More than ever, we have to pull together and be here for her, in whatever way she may need us."

"Absolutely," agreed Tamaki, scooting over a few inches so that he could lean his head against his lover's shoulder.

"She won't have to handle it all by herself." Despite the low, quiet tone of Mori's voice he spoke for them all.

Under the canopy of trees, her hand securely and warmly enveloped in Kaoru's grasp, she looked sideways to see him.

"So what did you want to say to me that you didn't want the others to hear?"

He stumbled over a rock and met her gaze, his eyes wide with surprise. Her eyebrows raised in response.

"What?" she asked, the barest hint of a smile on her lips. "I know you rich bastards had likely planned to let the servants handle all of the packing and clean-up, including mine. So there must be some reason you wanted to talk to me alone."

"And to think we consider you unobservant," he snorted. She merely shrugged.

"Just because I don't act on what I notice doesn't mean I'm totally oblivious."

They walked on in a peaceful bubble of quiet until they reached her camp. Kaoru found himself frantically wondering just how much she'd noticed, and for how long, and why she never brought it up. Did she know how they all felt for her? If so, why would she choose to stay silent about it? Or did she truly not know that she was their world? His mind was whirling.

"So?" she inquired yet again, this time waiting until they had come to a halt in front of her fire pit. Seeing the question in her eyes, he took a deep breath.

"Do you...do you like poetry?" he asked, cursing himself when his voice came out far more timid than he'd intended.

"Yeah, I guess. Why?" She sounded curious, if slightly confused, so he decided just to lay it all out.

"I...well, I write. Short stories mostly, and poetry too. I'm sure you know that, though. I mean, you might not have known, but I..." He realized his nerves were making him babble so he made a concerted effort to get himself under control.

"Anyway, I've been invited to a poetry reading. I go to quite a few, actually, but this time I've been invited to read some of my own work. It's a really huge deal, for me at least. Hika usually comes with me, but it's not really his thing and he gets bored so easily and it made me wonder if maybe you might like to come with me this time..." He trailed off under the weight of her gaze, his last words barely more than a whisper. For a brief moment his heart stood still; he barely took a breath. Everything hinged on her response, and by her silent pause he had a sinking feeling he knew what it was going to be. Shaking his head briefly, he decided to try and spare himself any more embarrassment.

"I mean, you don't have to. It's not really interesting for most people, and it's okay if you don't -"

"Of course I'll go with you," she interrupted him, her smile almost reaching her eyes for the first time that day.

"I – wait, really? You'll go?" He knew he sounded like he was about twelve years old but he couldn't help his excitement. She chuckled.

"Yeah. I'd love to hear some of your work."

To his chagrin the honest regard in her voice brought heat to his cheeks.

"You...I mean, that – that's great!" he managed, his happily surprised tone making her laugh. "I'll just...I'll get you the info when we get home." He wanted so badly to hug her, but after everything – after that first night on the beach, that kiss he'd somehow worked up the nerve to give her – he wasn't completely confident in his reception. She'd said they were okay, but -

"You goof," she said fondly before wrapping her arms around him and pulling him into a friendly hug, having correctly interpreted his hesitation. He sighed into her hair and relaxed, hugging her back. This was Haruhi – despite anything else, she was his best friend. Everything would be okay.

They worked easily together, chatting about stories and classwork and miscellaneous nonsense as they packed up her stuff. Her duffel and backpack sat by a nearby tree, as those items were going to be brought along as carry-ons. She'd climbed back into the tent to roll up her sleeping bag when she saw a pair of socks that had somehow previously escaped her notice. At the same moment the ginger poked his head in through the flap.

"Anything else you need a hand with?" he asked helpfully. She reached across her bedding to hand him the socks.

"Missed these. Could I get you to tuck them into my duffel?"

"Sure thing," he said with a grin before disappearing out of the tent again. She'd just finished securing her sleeping bag when she heard him laugh. Backing out of the tent, bag in her arms, she turned to face him.

"What are you laughing – oh GOD. Put those away, Kaoru!"

There was pure mischief in his amber eyes as he looked at her, and she swallowed hard at the way her pulse skyrocketed when he smiled wickedly. He tossed the box into the air with one hand and caught it again.

"Such a big fuss over such a little object," he said with a smirk before glancing at his prize again. "Correction – thirty-six little objects. Holy hell, Haruhi, what kind of weekend did your dad think you were gonna have?"

Scowling and blushing simultaneously, she dropped her bedroll and dashed over to him, intent on prying the offending package from his fingers. However, in her rush to retrieve the condoms from the smug-looking younger twin she neglected to watch her footing – therefore, the ridge of sand caught her quite by surprise. One minute she was on her feet; the next, she was landing hard on top of one very startled redhead who had, in his shock, relinquished his prize to catch her as she fell.

"Ooof!"

"Aaaah!"

"Oh god, Kaoru, are you okay?"

"Fine. I'm fine." He coughed and she raised an eyebrow, causing him to rush to reassure her. "Really, I'm okay. I just had the wind knocked out of me."

"Sorry," she muttered, embarrassed.

"'S'okay," he replied. It was about then that Haruhi realized she was laying flush on top of him, her knees on either side of his thighs. His arms were around her waist where they had landed as he caught her, and her hands were holding her up from their places near his shoulders. This close, she could see the way his eyes flashed as he came to the same conclusion she had, and her breath caught at the low hum that sounded from his throat.

"Haru," he whispered, one of his hands tracing gently up her side, along her arm, until his fingers reached her neck. She shivered as he caressed her skin.

"Kao," she said softly. Or perhaps she only said it in her mind. She was never to know, however; as soon as his touch began to slowly, carefully urge her down, her lips inching closer and closer to his, reality came back with a vengeance.

"What the hell is this?"

With dual gasps the two prone hosts looked up to see Hikaru standing not five feet from them, flanked on both sides by the remaining members of the Host Club.