Disclaimer: I do not own "Ouran High School Host Club" or any of the characters in this wonderful manga/anime in any way.

A/N This is my first ever fanfic. Please review. Constructive criticism especially encouraged, as it helps to improve the later chapters and other stories. Thanks a bunch, and I hope you enjoy it. (PS I tried to not get too OOC)

Missing his heart

Chapter One

It started out on a day so much like every other day, or so it seemed. Haruhi made it through the day as expected, dodging the twins' antics throughout class and then placidly turning herself into Tamaki's personal dress-up doll during Host Club time. The day's activities had including dressing everyone as flowers with costumes that he personally designed. The only thing different this time, or at least that Haruhi noted as different or unusual, was that Kyoya-senpai did not smirk as he marked off her earning from her debt without adding additional debt. She felt that this instance was noteworthy for the simple fact that Kyoya-senpai, himself purchased the water that he handed her as they group cleaned up… well, as she cleaned up after club and the males involved observed. To the unknowing, that would be a simple act of kindness since she worked so hard to clean the room while others watched instead of helping, the rich brats that they were. But to Haruhi, it wasn't so simple. In fact it was such a complicated and complex action that she pondered it well into the night as she lay in bed trying to sleep. Lucky for her, there was no school tomorrow, so she would have a day to recover from the bags that were under her eyes due to the tossing and turning that was going on.

Once again, she heaved a heavy sigh, and rolled over, trying to find a comfortable position to lie in. But it wasn't her body that was uncomfortable, it was her mind. Such a simple act of kindness weighed heavy simply because of who had done it. Anyone else and she would have not had a second thought about it. But Kyoya-senpai wasn't the type to do ANYTHING without merit. For the life of her, she could not see the merit he gained by handing her something that albeit not expensive, cost him (or the club) money. How stupid, she though as she rolled over again, How could I let this bother me. It was nothing, surely. Right? Or was it? Did he intend to charge me for the water on Monday when we return to school? Could it be that one of our customers earlier had purchase the bottle but not opened it, so he was just keeping it from going to waste? If that's the case, why was it HIM of all people to hand it to me? I figured that Tamaki or, well, any of the other club members would have been the one to do such a thing. What merit was gained? UGHHH! Merit. Why is it, that the mere mention of that word is enough to drive me nuts? More importantly, why was it starting to bother me now, after all this time? What is it that makes me go bonkers when he talks of merit regarding me? She eyed the window in her room. The birds were awakening and the earliest rays of light were peeping through the clouds. How stupid of me! STUPID! STUPID! STUPID! I allowed this to keep me up all throughout the night! She rolled over and covered her head. Sleep, albeit restless, finally fell, if only for a short while.

It was about noon when she finally arose and dressed for the day. She quickly determined what she would need for the meals of the day and headed out to the market. She almost walked away from her door without locking it because Ranka was home. A sudden chill down her spine as if someone or something of evil intent was nearby caused her to turn around and lock the door just in case. Her father was sleeping after a long night at work, after all. With the door securely locked, she turned back and made her way down the stairs. Something wasn't right. She felt it in her bones. None the less, she continued down the street to the market where she usually shops, greeting neighbors along the way. More than once, she stopped and looked around. It felt like she was being followed, but she could not see anything out of the ordinary. If she wasn't being followed, then what was this uneasy feeling she was having? She tried to put it aside and look for the best possible bargains. As she left the market, she was feeling almost giddy about her savings and the amount of food she was able to buy on the meager sum with which she had to do the grocery shopping. The feeling didn't last long, however. As she walked, she noticed that there was an unusual amount of traffic on the street today. Not something she normally noticed, however since her involvement with the Host Club members, she seemed to notice the luxury vehicles more than before. Limos were not something she usually saw in her neighborhood, that is, again, until her involvement with the club. However, when one trails behind you as you walk, it is fairly difficult to not notice everyone pointing and staring. Even if it is behind you, a stretch limo does not go unnoticed. No, not in that neighborhood. Nor did the excessive number of Town Cars that had been on the street as she made her way to the store in the first place.

This could only mean one thing… that one or more of the club members were involved in some scheme. She knew that she would be the center of attention soon, but when were they going to drop the bomb on her. Yes, she knew that she would not have her day alone today, but she didn't know when she would lose her precious time alone. They were unpredictable as always, and involved her in their adventures of fancy much more than she took a liking to. Oddly enough, she made it all the way to the door and was in middle of unlocking it when she heard her father talking just inside the door. She was pondering why the club member who had been following her had not jumped out and offered to carry the bags. They were heavy, but she was used to it. Still it seemed odd for one of the boys she spent her free time with to not come to her aid. She slide off her shoes and entered as Ranka hung up the phone. "I'm home" she stated. Her greeting was met with silence. "Dad? Is everything ok?"

"Haruhi, how much do you love your daddy?" Ranka asked, with a tone that sounded more like Tamaki than her actual father. Before she could reply, he turned to face her. Tears streaming down his pained face, unlike anything she has seen before. No, that was wrong. There was once that she had seen him this distraught, but her memories of her mother's passing had faded with time. As her mind raced trying to find the memory of the last time she had seen her father looking that way, she dropped the bags she was carrying and moved towards her father. "What's wrong? Did something happen? Dad?" she queried but got no answer.

Ranka was sobbing uncontrollably, his face in his hands. "Pr-promise me, th-that i-if anything (hic) happens t-to me… promise m-me th-that y-y-you w-w-w…." he broke off and a wail, unable to finish his sentence.

"Nothing is going to happen to you dad. Calm down, please. It will be ok. What do you want me to promise?" She asked with her arm resting reassuringly on her father's back as he threw his sobbing face onto her shoulder. After many minutes of reassuring him, Ranka finally calmed down enough to try to continue what he was trying to say.

"Promise me that you will find a way to go on and follow whatever dreams you have. See them to the end. Promise me that!" Ranka said with such a serious face that it scared Haruhi. She had never seen her father like this. His carefree, life-loving attitude thrown aside for a much darker side to her father than she ever knew existed. Her father had always been carefree and a little self-indulgent, maybe even a little childish at times. Dealing with him on a daily basis had made it easy for her to step into her role at the club, but this… This was something different. Even Tamaki at his darkest, just prior to Hani- and Mori-Senpai graduation, had never given such an ominous yet depressing aura.

That's it! I can't stand this, she thought as she looked at her pleading father. "Just what is going on? What is this all about, dad?" She asked with a little more force than she intended. He was not forthcoming with information. "Whatever is going on, we can get through this together, Dad. We always do. Just tell me what is happening."

Before he could answer, there was a knock at the door. Haruhi turned to answer it, but her father grabbed her arms and tightly hugged her in the mother of all bear hugs. "Fujioka Haruhi, listen to me. Do as your father asks. Don't question, just follow my instructions. Go to your room and do not come out until I'm gone. Don't look for me or try to find me. Do not tell anyone what is going on. Do not, I repeat, do not go to my work. I have someone looking after it for me, and they will drop off money for your living expenses. The rent will be paid, so don't worry about that. I don't know how long I will be gone, or when I am coming back. Don't worry about me; I can take care of myself. Look after yourself, and make sure you keep on top of your studies. You still want to be a lawyer, right? Don't let anything stand in your way. I will be back, but I don't know when. Please be a good girl and go quietly into your room now. Don't make a sound and don't talk to strangers from now on. "Ranka said all of this, with tears in his eyes.

Haruhi started to protest, but before she could get a word out, Ranka continued, "I repeat, do not make a single sound until I have left, and do not try to look for me. I will return to you, my baby girl. I have to. You are my reason for existing, so don't lose hope in me. Now go, and I am serious. DO NOT MAKE A SOUND UNTILL YOU ARE SURE THAT I HAVE BEEN DRIVEN AWAY! Go to your room now." He father pushed Haruhi into her room and slide the door shut. She slide down there, pressed against the door, listening. She wanted to run out to stop what ever was going on, to save her father. She knew, however, that she would be no match for whatever was happening, even though she did not know what it was that was going on. Ranka and the man who was on the other side of the front door spoke in whispers. Ranka gathered a few things and left, locking the door behind him. Haruhi would not disobey her father. He had his reasons for telling her what he did. She only hoped that he would return soon and tell her what they were.