Chapter 1 - A Bodyguard Proposal

Haruhi Fujioka hurried through the school gates of Ouran, her black shoes tapping against the cobblestone path. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom this spring, and a few of them fluttered from their branches, flying with the breeze, and scattering across the freshly cut grass.

On any other day, she was running from the library to the host club in fear that she'd be late and Kyoya would raise her debt yet again. Today was different though. Today she was running from something else entirely.

She was sure she was being followed, and as she slipped into the school she felt an ounce better. There was no way her stalker would follow her inside the school.

As her eyes glanced behind her and all around the hallways though, she realized that classes must have just let out and students were ambling about the corridors. Whoever was following her could easily be mingling in the crowd and her worry grew.

She swallowed her fear and pretended to be fine, trying to find peace and calm her beating heart that felt as if it would beat straight out of her chest.

She made her way upstairs, towards the corridor where the not so abandoned Music Room #3 sat. She knew better than to think it was empty.

Reaching out her hand, she yanked the heavy door open and found all of the men from the Host Club poised and ready, their hands outstretched eagerly beckoning whoever it was inside. "Welcome," they all said with smiles painted on their faces. A few rose petals came from practically nowhere, blowing into her face.

When they saw it was just Haruhi, they broke free of their pose and wandered away from the door. "Yet again, another waste of a perfectly good greeting," Hikaru muttered under his breath.

"Don't forget the rose petals, a waste of the rose petals," Kaoru added.

Haruhi rolled her eyes at the twins and came face to face with a smirking Kyoya and an overreactive Tamaki.

Kyoya pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, "You know Haruhi, if you keep this tardy habit up, I'll have to add a few couple thousand more yen to your debt."

Haruhi felt her stomach lurch at the thought of her ever rising debt, but before she could reply and explain that someone was following her, Tamaki started his usual worrisome and attentive fatherly role.

"Haruhi you can't worry Daddy like that! If something happened to you I wouldn't be able to bare it!" he exclaimed grabbing a hold of her shoulders.

"For the millionth time, you're not my father!" She said, trying to get it through his dense brain.

"No, but I'm like your father. You even said it once. Don't lie to Daddy."

Haruhi sighed deeply and muttered, "You're an idiot Tamaki."

In a blink of an eye, Tamaki was in his corner, crouched in the darkness whining quietly to himself. Haruhi wanted to feel bad, but she had more important problems at hand.

Just then Mori and Honey-sempai appeared, Usa-chan in tow. Honey climbed down from Mori's shoulders and proclaimed happily, "HARU-CHAN!"

She offered him a small smile and he asked, "Do you want to go eat some cake with me and Bun Bun?" He looked up at her expectantly.

She sighed and gave a look to Mori whose face never wavered into a different expression except from serious. Then turning back to look at Honey she replied, "I can't right now," then she paused and turned to the rest of the guys, excluding Tamaki since he was still in his corner.

"I have a problem," she wasn't used to asking for help, so she even had the attention of the Hitachiin brothers.

Taking a deep breath she muttered, "I think someone's following me."

Tamaki was out of his corner in less than a second and standing at attention with the rest of the guys who seemed shell shocked. All except for Kyoya of course.

"Hmm, and your proof that someone is stalking you?" Kyoya asked, narrowing his eyes at Haruhi.

Haruhi took a seat on one of the many couches as she thought of the past days events.

"Well it all started early yesterday morning I guess when I was heading to the library-" She was interrupted by Hikaru.

"Wait, you go to the library even on a Sunday?" He asked perplexed.

Tamaki began to shout at Hikaru,"Stop interrupting Haruhi. She's in trouble and all you can do is comment about her library habits?"

Hikaru crossed his arms across his chest, "Sorry, Jeesh I was just asking a question. . ."

Haruhi ignored them and continued, "Anyways, like I said I was heading for the library when I heard footsteps behind me. I didn't think it was anything out of the ordinary because well a lot of people walk the streets and go to the library."

"Then I accidentally dropped some papers that were in my hands onto the sidewalk, and when I stopped to pick them up. . .the footsteps stopped as well. So I turned around to see who it was, and there was no one there. Then I continued walking again and the footsteps started up again. So I tested my theory and everytime I stopped to 'check my watch' or 'shift my books' the footsteps would stop too. That's when I knew someone was following me." Haruhi paused for a few seconds to take a sip of tea that Tamaki had handed to her.

Kyoya seemed deep in thought and asked, "Is that all the proof you have?"

"Well no, there's more," she set down her tea cup and continued with her next piece of evidence. "After I got home from the library I found a note underneath my apartment door."

"Haru-chan! What did it say?" Honey asked, clearly invested in Haruhi's every word.

"It said, 'I Love You Haruhi I'm Always Watching.' I thought it was just a prank and whoever had followed me that day would stop. That it was just to scare me a little and they would be bored of it the next day, but then this morning the footsteps behind me happened again and now I'm positive I have a stalker." She finished reaching for her tea again.

"Interesting, sounds like you do have a possible hardcore fan stalker on your hands," Kyoya offered, tapping his chin.

"Well we have to do something," Hikaru started.

"We should get someone to watch over Haruhi," Kaoru piped up after Hikaru like usual.

Honey threw his hands in the air and shouted, "Like a bodyguard! Haru-chan needs someone to protect her!"

Tamaki raised his one arm in the air defiantly, "I agree Honey-sempai. Haruhi needs someone to watch over her."

"Guys, that isn't really necessary," Haruhi mumbled, not too interested in the idea of a bodyguard.

"Oh no you don't have a choice in the matter. You have laid your problems down in front of us and we're not going to stop helping you until your stalker is gone. So I propose a bodyguard." Tamaki said, his eyes filled with that determined look yet again.

"Who? Who would be Haruhi's bodyguard?" Hikaru asked.

Tamaki's eyes shifted to Mori who stood towards the back. He had still been listening, but he hadn't said a word just like per usual.

"Mori. Mori-sempai will be Haruhi's bodyguard until her stalker is gone. This decision is final!" Tamaki finalized.

And just like that. . .everything changed.