Disclaimer: The characters of Ouran High School Host Club anime and manga belong to Bisco Hatori who is an absolute genius in my humble opinion. I am merely a fan with a vivid imagination.

CHAPTER ONE - Vigil

The steady sound of the heart monitor and the strange sighing sound of the ventilator were the only sounds heard in the quiet hospital room. Lying motionless on the bed with cables and tubing running all over her body was Haruhi Fujioka. Black and blue bruises around her neck marred her perfect creamy skin, they were hand shaped bruises and the reason she was on life support to protect her airway from swelling shut. She had other injuries but none as life-threatening as the bruising to her airway.

The eight men in the room were handsome but at that precise moment they were looking haggard and dishevelled. One was bruised and had been holding her hand before the nurses came in. The nurses moved quietly as they checked her vitals and changed her IV. Years of experience showing in their precise movements. The older one looked up at the men and felt moved to speak, rarely had she seen such sorrow in a group of young men.

"Sirs, she is stable. The doctor believes because she was intubated so quickly by the paramedics that she suffered no brain damage. She is only on these machines to give her throat time for the swelling to go down. It could have been a lot worse. We could have had to put a hole in her throat to help her breathe. But because you got her help in time she doesn't have to have that now. Yes the doctor is worried about her vocal cords but only time will tell if there is damage to them. I know you are worried but with such strong support I'm sure Ms Fujioka will make it through just fine."Finishing her tasks she followed her colleague out of the room which lapsed into quiet once again.

Mori looked as his younger brother Satoshi returned to claim Haruhi's left hand, absentmindedly playing with the diamond solitaire that rested on her ring finger. The usually bubbly young man had courted the host club princess all through university. One year ago they became engaged and Mori couldn't be happier he had always considered Haruhi to be his little sister and now she was going to be. The wedding was scheduled to be held in a few months and he prayed that she would still want to join his family once she came back to the horrors that led her to being hospitalised in the first place.

"Taka bro" Satoshi whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. "How do I tell her about Ranka-san, when she wakes up, how do I tell her he's locked away? He is still her father despite what he did." Mori placed a hand on his brother's broad shoulder and gave a squeeze in understanding. "I don't know" he replied, "why don't you wait and see if she asks about him when she wakes up, that way you can gauge whether she wants to know or not"

The other men in the room stiffened at the mention of Ranka's name, each face taking on a look of anger and loathing until Satoshi's last statement reminded them that despite his assault on Haruhi he was still her father. The twins held each other tight and wondered if they would be able to forgive one of their parents if the same thing had happened to them. Tamaki had yet to speak, unable to wrap his mind around this level of abuse that happened to his friend. This was not what families were supposed to do to one another. Kyoya was going over Haruhi's charts making sure things were progressing as well as they could and made sure the best throat specialist was on standby for when Haruhi was able to be off life-support. Deep within he wished he had acted on the occasional odd remark he had remembered Ranka saying before things had come to a devastating head.' If only' he thought 'I could have prevented this if only I paid more attention and because of my oversight one of my best friends is in this place.'

The Haninozuka brothers were both dealing with their own thoughts about what happened. Like the Morinozuka brothers they had been with Haruhi when it happened. They were returning her to her apartment after a fun family dinner the five of them had attended at the Morinozuka house.

FLASHBACK

The five of them stumbled out of the limo laughing and playfully pushing each other as they escorted Haruhi up the stairs. Ranka had had to work so he wasn't at the dinner. Laughing lightly Haruhi began to unlock her door whilst asking them in for tea. That is until the door was savagely wrenched open and a highly intoxicated Ranka appeared in the door. "What time do you call this Kotoko?" Ranka spat out and he pulled Haruhi inside by her arm. "Who are these men your with then? Don't tell me their colleagues you tramp aren't I as your husband enough for you" Ranka was practically spitting.

Haruhi was stunned initially by her father's referral to her by her mother's name. Blinking and shaking her head slightly she raised confused eyes to her father's face. "Dad, I'm Haruhi" she stated numbly. Ranka squinted and looked closely at his daughters face, "Haruhi?" he questioned seemingly confused. "Yes Dad, its Haruhi. Remember we were invited to Satoshi's house for a family dinner to discuss the wedding, you said you had to work and couldn't come. The guys have just brought me home." Haruhi explained worried at the sudden change in her father he was never aggressive when drunk quite the opposite in reality he was usually morose and weepy.

"Wedding?!" Ranka shrieked "You're not getting married your staying here and replacing your mother in every way starting right now" with that he began to feel up his daughter. "Ranka-san let her go!" Satoshi yelled "Never have you just wanted to take my Kotoko from me again, well I won't let you!" Ranka screamed with a wild insane look in his eyes. Ranka backhanded her splitting her lip and causing her to strike her head on the kitchen counter. He then grabbed Haruhi's neck and began to squeeze tightly. All four of them tried to pull him off as Haruhi started to turn blue and was limp. Swinging wildly at Satoshi as he fended off their attempts to remove his hands, Ranka fought until Satoshi was able to knock him out with a well placed chop.

While this was going on Chika had called emergency services for help and Honey was gently cradling a still and quiet Haruhi crying softly "stay with us Haru-chan" please stay. Mori was standing guard over the unconscious okama watching for signs he was waking up. Several heavy footsteps were heard and the door was pushed open by Paramedics and police officers. Quickly the EMT's started to stabilise Haruhi. Looking at the gathered men one stated "We are going to have to tube her to prevent her airway swelling shut, which is coming with her"

Satoshi looked at them "I am her fiancé I will come". Following the gurney outside to the waiting ambulance he looked at his brother "you will let them know?" "Ah" was the soft reply.

End Flashback

Mori looked over to Kyoya and softly stated "Stop blaming yourself, no one was to know that Ranka-san would do this, you couldn't have prevented this". Kyoya raised his head sharply and looked with a glare at the Stoic host, running a shaking hand through his hair "I know but I feel like I should have picked up on his changing personality somehow" Tears coursing down his face. Tamaki broke out of his revere at that statement from his best friend and moved to wrap his arm around the shadow king. "Kyoya, all we can to now is be there for her to rebuild her life and encourage her future with Satoshi" he said softly.

The door to Haruhi's room opened and their parents walked in. Yoshiro Ootori looked at the assembled group of men and said "It's late, she will be asleep for several days yet to give her a chance to heal properly, and you should go home to rest boys. She would not want you making yourselves sick because of her" The eight Hosts looked up and were about to protest when Mrs Morinozuka spoke "Satoshi will stay with her and he will let all of us know if there is any change, Ootori san is right, being here and getting sick isn't what Haruhi would want." The hosts reluctantly agreed as a rollaway bed was brought in for Satoshi. Silently they followed their respective parents out the door until all that remained were the Morinozuka family.

Akira and Sakura Morinozuka had never seen their youngest son so quiet in all his years. They knew how deeply he loved Haruhi. She had become part of their family and they felt his pain acutely. They were shocked when told the news that her jovial Okama father was responsible for hers and Satoshi's injuries. They would have never suspected the devoted father could do such a thing. Looking at one another they silently promised to help Haruhi heal from this betrayal by being the best parents in law they could be, after all she was so special to all of them.