CHAPTER ONE

"Beginnings"

"Haruhi!" Kyoya called. "come here for a second please."

I sighed, " Excuse me ladies, I will be back in just a few moments." Getting up and walking over to Kyoya I asked mockingly sweet, "yes Kyoya?"

"I wanted to congratulate you on your performance this week," he said, pushing his glasses up on his nose.

Irritated that he would call me over so boldly while I was trying to pay off my debt to the Host Club, I asked quietly, "why the hell did you call me over when I'm trying to do my fucking job?" As I started walking away, I felt a large hand wrap itself around my wrist, locking me in place.

"Don't you walk away from me Haruhi Fujioka," Kyoya whispered menacingly, pulling me closer."I don't want to have to expose you as a girl and ruin everything that has been built. But I will not hesitate to do so if you insist on being disrespectful." He released me and waved me away.

Shaking with fear and loathing, I walked back to my customers. "I'm sorry about that ladies, Kyoya-Sempai needed a few questions answered." I sat down in my previously abandoned seat and went back to my normal routine as a host. As soon as the club activities were done for the day, I left as quickly as I could in order to escape the looks that Kyoya kept throwing m way. I ran down the halls as fast as I could. As I ran, I heard the Host Club members yelling for me, telling me to come back and stop running. I ignored them and kept running. Turning a corner a little to quickly I tripped on my feet and fell, bruising my shoulder and ribs. I immediately got up and slipped into an empty classroom when I heard footsteps coming up behind me. I hid in the storage closet located in the back of the room. When the door opened, I held my breath. I heard footsteps walking around the room and and stop in front of the closet door.

"Haruhi?" a voice called softly through the door. "Are you in there?"

Too scared and nervous to answer verbally, I merely nodded my head knowing that the person couldn't see me.

"Haruhi," the person called again. "Please open up, I want to help you."

If I open the door I'll only break down, I thought. It won't help me anyway.

"Haruhi, please." the voice asked again.

Hearing the sincerity in the persons voice, I broke and pushed the door open. As the door opened I found myself in a warm, tender embrace. Strong arms encircled my waist as I buried my face in a firm chest, and started crying. The man, boy really, held me close and, not talking, soothed me.

"Haruhi," he said quietly after a few moments. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing," I said, moving away and wiping my tear-stained cheeks. "It's just a bit of stress that I'm dealing with right now."

"That is complete and utter bullshit," he said as he gently grabbed my wrist and pulled me close.

Startled, I looked up and saw that the "mystery man" was Kyoya. As I looked at him, he smiled gently. The moment was ruined when a peal of thunder ripped through he school. I jumped, and Kyoya held me gently, almost as gently as he had a few moments ago. When another peal of thunder boomed, he pulled me into his lap as he sat down. The thunder kept rumbling all through the night and Kyoya stayed with me, whispering sweet nothings in my ear to keep me from freaking out.