Near You

Maria (a.k.a Danielle) Winters

Author's Note: Hay…it has been a while! I haven't been writing any fanfictions lately because I am juggling work and school work. Being in graduate school is tough most especially when you have a demanding professor for Technical Writing T_T. I am enjoying her class though. She mentioned in two of my technical papers that my recurring errors are Agreement and Tense. With this, I am begging someone to please be my beta reader :) Please send me a message and I'll gladly respond to it. I am looking forward to work with a talented beta reader who also loves Kyouya and Haruhi pairing.

PS: Hope you read the latest chapters of Ouran since I will use those chapters as spring board for this fanfiction. Please read and review!

Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran Host Club.

Prologue

"Kyouya-san, aren't you going to help them? Fuyumi asked. The whole host club was at Kyouya's mansion to help Tamaki plan his big first date with Haruhi. Kyouya and his sister were standing across the rambling group.

"But I'm not actually worried about those two." Came Kyouya's cool response.

"Hmmm is that so?" Fuyumu asked.

"What's that? Why are you smiling?" Kyouya retorted

"It means that you trust them a lot don't you? She must be a good girl isn't she? Tamaki-kun's girlfriend?"

Kyouya smiled as images of Haruhi played on his mind. "Well…let's say that I approve of her."

"You act so important." Fuyumi teased.

Kyouya opened his eyes. His plane will be landing at the Narita Airport in ten minutes. Tachibana had instructed Aijima and Hota to pick their young master and bring him to his posh condominium unit in Shibuya. He will be in Japan for two weeks for a short vacation. He has outlined his schedule for his two-week vacation. He sighed upon looking at the date in his calendar. February 4. "No wonder I remembered that conversation…" Kyouya said to himself.

"Master Kyouya, we are landing in ten minutes. Aijima and Horita are already in the arrival area to pick us up." Tachibana reported.

"Good. Tell them that we will go at Nakamura & Partners Law Office." Kyouya ordered.

"Yes master Kyouya."

Atty. Haruhi Fujioka of the Legal Section of Nakamura & Partners was busy scribbling notes as she reviews the case folders in her desk. One after the other, Haruhi realized that her work have seemed to pile up lately. According to her boss, it was because of her continued success. She won cases one after the other and it catapulted her to fame among their law firms esteemed clients. She sighed as she adjusted her reading glasses. "The more case I get, the later I will come home…" she said to herself.

"Happy Birthday to you…happy birthday to you…happy birthday…" Haruhi looked up and saw that her fellow associate and senior asscoiates were trooping inside her small office. Her eyes grew bigger as one of her associates came with a birthday cake on his hand. One of the senior associate on the other hand was holding a champagne bottle.

"Guys!" Haruhi gasped. She was speechless. She looked at her calendar and saw that it was indeed her birthday. She stood and walked around her desk. She smiled at her colleagues as they finished singing her a birthday song.

"Blow the candle Fujioka!" One of the senior associates shouted.

"Don't forget to make a wish Haruhi-san" a female associate added.

"Guys, thank you!" She said as she closed her eyes, made her wish and blew the candle. Her colleagues applauded and wished her a happy birthday again as the champagne bottle were opened. "This calls for a celebration!" a male associate shouted.

Haruhi was carried out of her office to the pantry where a feast was prepared for her. The associates and senior partners from the other departments were already waiting for her in the pantry. The owner of their law firm was also present which made Haruhi conscious and nervous at the same time.

"Minna-san." Nakamura Seito, the owner of the law firm, called out. Everyone's attention was on him as he made his way beside Haruhi. "We are not just celebrating Atty. Fujioka's birthday today. Her brilliance and astonishing success has increase the number of clients of our law firm. The confidence in our capabilities has been sealed in the industry thanks to the continued striving for excellence of Atty. Fujioka. Despite the fact that she has just been with is for less than two years, I am pleased to announce to everyone that starting Monday next week, Atty. Fujioka will be a Consultant."

There was a loud applause and Haruhi seemed to be in a daze. She, a Consultant already despite her less than two year stay with Japan's top Law Firm? She could hardly believe that she was promoted not just as a senior associate but a consultant. She smiled at her colleagues and bowed to express her gratitude for this promotion. "Kaa-san, can you see me now? I've become a lawyer. I hope you are proud of me." Haruhi thought.

After the short feast in the pantry to celebrate her birthday and promotion, Haruhi went back to her office. She smiled and shook her head upon seeing the piles of paperwork and folder on top of her desk. "When was the last time I had vacation?" she asked herself.

Memories of Tamaki flooded in her mind. She bit her lower lip to stop the tears from falling on her cheeks. "He is a thing of the past now…the host club is a thing of the past." She told herself. She went around her chair and took a picture frame from the shelf. There she was, ten years ago. She was smiling from ear to ear. Suou Tamaki was beside her, his arms wrapped around her small waist. He was also smiling from ear to ear. Behind them were Kaoru and Hikaru Hitachiin. As usual, the two were wearing their signature grins. Hani-sempai and Mori-sempai were at the back of the Hitachiin twins. Kyouya-sempai was beside Haruhi. The picture was taken during their vacation at Kyoto. It was her first vacation as Tamaki's girlfriend. She didn't know that it will also be the last.

She placed the picture inside her drawer and wiped away a tear from her eye. It has been ten years already so she should move on. He moved on already so why can't she? He moved together with the other Host Club members so she should move on as well. The world will not stop from spinning just for her. She let out a deep breath and focused herself on the case folders on her table. "Celebration is over so its time to get back to work." She said.

"Ano…Miss Fujioka?" Her department's secretary peeked in her small office.

"Yes Seiya?" She answered as she opened a case folder without looking at the secretary.

"Someone is here to meet with you ma'am."

"Does she or he have a scheduled appointment with me?" Haruhi questioned.

"None ma'am. But the person said that it is urgent and he needs to speak with you."

"Did you ask the name of the person who wanted to see me?"

"No ma'am. He said that you two know each other and that you'll make time once you see him."

Haruhi sighed and closed the case folder "Please escort the person to meeting room 1. I'll be there in 5 minutes." She instructed the secretary. Whoever this person is surely knows how to ruin her pacing.

While Kyouya was being escorted to meeting room one, he saw several lawyers went in a small office. He also observed that some were still in a festive mood. One lawyer stood and announced that there would be a videoke session after work hours. "Commoners…" Kyouya mentally said.

"I'm sorry sir but the office isn't always like this." The secretary said apologetically.

"No worries but it seems that the associates are in a festive mood." Kyouya remarked.

"Ah it's because it is Haruhi-san's birthday today. The law firm prepared a small feast for her earlier. Her promotion was also announced earlier."

Kyouya was about to make a remark when the secretary opened the door of the meeting room and asked him to stepped inside. She said that Haruhi will join him in 5 minutes and then she left.

While Haruhi was walking towards meeting room one, her colleagues were still greeting her happy birthday and congratulations. She returned their greeting with a thank you and smiled at them. She saw her department's secretary bring a cup of coffee to meeting room one. The secretary noticed her and waited for her at the door.

"He is inside Haruhi-san."

"Thank you. I'll call you if there is anything that I need." Haruhi said. The secretary bowed her head and left Haruhi. She let out a deep breath and the entered the room.

"Good Afternoon, I am Atty. Haruhi Fujioka it seems that you require my presence urgently…" Haruhi suddenly stopped speaking upon seeing the person she was meeting.

"Well good afternoon as well Haruhi, rather, Atty. Fujioka. I'm pleased you could honor me with your presence on such a short notice." Kyouya greeted while smirking. He was amused to see the shocked expression on Haruhi's face.

"Kk-kyouya-sempai?" Haruhi finally found her voice. "How on earth did you know that I am working here?"

Kyouya pushed his glasses "Nothing escapes me Haruhi. By now you should know that fact."

And just when Haruhi found the courage to rid herself of the memories of the Host Club, a former member shows up in her office.

Ten years ago

Haruhi stared at the retreating figure of her boyfriend…of her ex-boyfriend. She was in a daze. She didn't know what has transpired for their relationship to end this way. Just when she thought that they'd be a strong couple after everything that they have been through. She shook her head to snap out of the semi-trance state that she has entered.

"Tamaki wait!" Haruhi called out. Tamaki stopped on his tracks but did not look back.

"We can work things out Tamaki…we can manage this. If I have to wait for your return the I will wait." Haruhi said.

"I'm sorry. I have to leave." Tamaki said and then he quietly walked again.

"Don't you want to give it a try Tamaki? At least we tried to make our relationship work despite the distance between us. If it will not succeed, at least we tried." Haruhi said in vain. Her voice was betraying the image she was trying to project. "Tamaki…please" she choked as she failed to control the tears falling from her eyes. Tamaki did not stop this time. He walked away, his fist clenched as he was trying to stop himself from running back to Haruhi.

From the shadows, Kyouya watched the events unfold before him. He didn't know what he was feeling but he was sure that he wanted to punch Tamaki and beat him to death. Unable to control his emotions, he made his presence known to Haruhi. He walked and stood beside her. Haruhi was startled but she welcomed the company. She needed someone to be there, to make her feel that she is in reality.

"The idiot." Kyouya muttered.

"I don't understand sempai. Why won't he try?" Haruhi asked. She was wiping away the tears from her eyes.

"I'll bring that idiot back." Kyouya said as he walked towards the direction of Tamaki.

"Sempai!" Haruhi called out but Kyouya continued walking. He would like to bring back Tamaki. He would definitely bring her back because he could not stand seeing Haruhi cry. Maybe, just maybe, when he brings Tamaki back, he would no longer have to see Haruhi cry and the pain in his chest would stop.

The irony of things though, Kyouya wasn't able to go back to Japan and he wasn't able to bring Tamaki back.

- To be continued -