So my readers, since this story is in the lead, I decided to give you a little teaser as to what it's all about. This is going to be around 19 chapters (everything's all planned out-I just have to write it). So enjoy!

This chapter is dedicated to xxrxuxsxtxyx who has been one of my greatest fans for a while now. You have her to thank for keeping my confidence up!

Also, the title idea comes from uyay! Thanks so much!

Chapter 1

Mori and Honey walked with Haruhi to her locker. Haruhi had forgotten her lunch in there and she had asked Tamaki if she could get it quickly before the club started. Tamaki, being the overprotective 'father' he thought he was, had insisted that the two martial arts masters accompany her. Haruhi had refused at first but after Honey said it was no problem at all with his usual innocent grin, Haruhi had relented.

Honey, of course, knew how much Mori cared about Haruhi. Honey could read Mori like an open book and vice versa, so when Mori started getting nervous around Haruhi, Honey immediately knew what was going on inside his cousin's head.

At first, Mori had been scared that Honey would be upset that Mori cared for someone else, and in a way Honey had never felt before. To Mori's surprise, Honey had welcomed the new development with open arms and constantly urged Mori to tell Haruhi his feelings. Mori promptly refused saying things 'were better when they were friends, nothing more.'

And Haruhi and Mori were indeed close friends. When Haruhi couldn't bear Tamaki or the twins any longer, she came looking for Mori and Mori in turn scared them off. Haruhi and Mori had spent many hours talking and eating with Honey, and occasionally, by themselves, when Honey conveniently had something else to do somewhere else.

Mori enjoyed Haruhi's company very much. She could read his wordless responses almost as much as Honey and she knew how to speak with him. Little by little, she eased him out of his silent shell and he found himself talking more and more.

The club members noticed Mori's sudden change but thought it was because Mori was being more social because of the host club. None of them had the faintest idea that he loved Haruhi.

Mori was well aware that Haruhi would never love him back. After all, why would she pick the silent, troubled man over any of the other club members?

"Are you okay, Mori-senpai? You seem a little out of it," Haruhi asked bringing Mori out of his reverie.

Mori nodded and said, "I'm fine."

Honey ran ahead of Haruhi and Mori. He asked, looking over his shoulder, "What's your locker number?"

Haruhi replied, "2600."

Honey took off towards her locker and Haruhi watched Mori as his gaze followed his cousin. Haruhi asked, "You really care about him, don't you?"

Mori nodded. "He's my cousin. I'm his protector."

Haruhi looked away from Mori's gaze and changed the subject. "I didn't get to thank you and Honey for complying with Tamaki's wild whims."

Mori bowed his head slightly. It's fine.

Haruhi nodded her head and ran to catch up to Honey. She called, "Wait up, Honey! I need to enter the combination!"

Mori watched her go with a wistful expression. Oh how he wished that she was his…

"Mori-senpai, are you coming?" Haruhi asked from her locker.

Mori hid a smile and jogged to catch up to his cousin and Haruhi. Haruhi smiled at him and turned the lock on her locker. Three turns later, the lock popped open and Haruhi opened the door. A piece of paper fluttered out of the locker that Haruhi neglected to notice. She instead grabbed her lunch off the top shelf and shut her locker. She reapplied the lock and said, "I got it, let's go back now."

Mori leaned over and picked up the note. He handed it to Haruhi and said quietly, "It fell out of your locker."

Haruhi furrowed her eyebrows and took the note from Mori. She unfolded it and glanced over it. She visibly paled and quickly folded it back up. "Let's get going," she repeated, obviously nervous.

"Haru-chan? What's wrong?" Honey asked, looking up at Haruhi with his puppy eyes.

"Nothing," she squeaked. She went to start walking but Mori caught her arm.

"May I see the note?" he asked politely.

Haruhi shook her head and tried to pull her arm away from Mori. "Let me go."

Honey stood behind Mori. "The note is obviously bothering you, Haru-chan. Let Takashi see it."

Haruhi shook her head and placed the note in her front pocket. "Everything's fine. We should get back to the club room. The girls will start arriving soon."

Honey shook his head. "Give me the note, Haru-chan," he growled. When Haruhi shook her head, Honey instructed Mori, "Get the note, Takashi."

Mori blushed as he realized that would involve putting his hand in Haruhi's pocket. He nodded and tried to avoid eye contact with Haruhi. As quickly and touching as little of her as possible, he reached in her front pocket and took the note out. She lunged after it but Honey stole the note from Mori's hand and read aloud, "Today's the day, your last. Be ready."

Honey looked up from the note and asked, "What's this mean, Haru-chan?"

Haruhi ducked her head, avoiding both Honey's and Mori's intense gaze. "It's nothing. Just let it go."

"It's a threatening letter," Mori growled. "Is the first you've received?"

Haruhi's refusal to answer was an answer enough.

Honey demanded, "How many have you received?" When Haruhi didn't answer, Honey repeated in a low, angry voice, "How many?"

Haruhi looked up in shock at Honey's newly angry voice. She muttered, "One every day for two months."

"What?" Mori and Honey asked at the same time, tones identical. Honey continued, "Have they all been threatening like this?"

Haruhi shook her head. "The first were just simple love letters but after a while, they started talking about abducting me and eventually, since I didn't acknowledge their existence, they led to threatening ones talking about, um, killing…me," she admitted quietly.

"What?" Mori growled.

Haruhi looked up and said desperately, "Everything's under control! Really! I'm fine."

Mori shook his head and picked Haruhi up bridal style. She squeaked at the sudden action and put her arms around his neck. He said, "Come on, Mitsukuni. We're going to tell the rest of the club."

Haruhi started to struggle. "No!" she argued. "They'll just overreact! You know how they are!"

"Better than not reacting at all," Honey said following Mori through the halls.

Haruhi tried to roll out of Mori's hands but was having no such luck. He was too strong. "Put me down, Mori."

Lack of honorary term…ouch. Mori shook his head. "No."

"Put me down!" Haruhi demanded.

Mori again shook his head and kept a firm grip on her. Honey bounded ahead of Mori and Haruhi and opened the doors to the host club. Unluckily, the girls had already arrived and Kyoya stood waiting for them. "You're late-" he started.

Honey interrupted in a low, threatening voice, "We have more pressing issues. The club's off today."

"No!" Haruhi protested before shutting up from a sharp look from Mori. Even she wouldn't push the kendo champion.

Kyoya seemed to sense the importance behind Honey's voice and grudgingly announced, "I'm sorry but due to unforeseeable circumstances, the Host Club will have to close early today."

All of the girls simultaneously 'Awww'ed before leaving. Once they had left, Tamaki approached Mori, "Why are you holding my daughter, Mori-senpai?"

Mori sighed and said, "Because she's stubborn."

"Put me down!" Haruhi insisted again.

This time, at a nod from Honey, Mori set Haruhi down who immediately tried to snatch the piece of paper out of Honey's hands. Before she could reach him, Mori's arms wrapped around her waist and held her back.

Hikaru and Kaoru appeared beside Honey. "What's with the note?" they asked in unison.

Honey held it up to them. "It was in Haru-chan's locker and it's not the first that's been in there."

"It's nothing!" Haruhi said desperately, trying to get away from Mori and to the note.

Mori was unrelenting however. "Do you want me to pick you up again?" he growled in her ear.

Haruhi shivered and stopped squirming, "Fine."

Mori reluctantly let her go but kept a firm hand on her shoulder. Tamaki ran to the front of Haruhi. "Did they hurt you, my dear daughter?"

Haruhi muttered, "Stop calling me you daughter, and no, they didn't hurt me. Now give me that note!"

Honey shook his head and told the twins. "Read it."

Hikaru took the note and said, "Today's the day, your last. Be ready."

The club eyed Haruhi. Tamaki finally said, "Oh my daughter! What have you gotten into?"

Haruhi said, "Nothing. Now let me go!"

Mori let go of her shoulder and Haruhi stomped over to Hikaru. She ripped the note from his hand and ripped it to pieces before anyone could protest. Kyoya asked seriously, "How many of these have you gotten?"

"It's none of your concern!" Haruhi snapped.

"Two months worth," Honey answered for her.

Kyoya tapped a pen against his chin thoughtfully. "Have they always been threatening?"

"None of your-"

"Only the last bit," Honey again answered.

"Is this the first death threat?" Kyoya asked writing something in his notebook.

Honey turned to Haruhi who sighed. "Yes," she admitted quietly.

Kyoya nodded. "Well, it's possible that this stalker actually has no plans to kill you, but it is also possible he will plan to carry out his threat."

Haruhi sighed. "I'm fine. It's probably an empty threat."

"Probably," Kyoya pointed out. "But there is a chance he plans to kill you."

"Oh my darling daughter!" Tamaki shouted pulling Haruhi into a tight hug. "Fear not! Your father shall protect you from this obsessed stalker!"

Haruhi gasped, "Can't…breathe…"

Hikaru and Kaoru pulled her out of Tamaki's grip and asked together, "Why didn't you tell us sooner?"

"I didn't even want to tell you now," Haruhi grumbled.

Hikaru pouted. "Why?"

"Because I knew you'd overreact, like you're doing now," Haruhi said.

"My daughter! What if the demon twins made the threats? You should come back to the open arms of your father! I'll protect you!" Tamaki shouted, his arms open waiting for Haruhi to run to him.

Haruhi pulled away from the twins. "I want none of your help. I can handle this on my own." She turned to Tamaki, "And I'm not your daughter. Stop calling me that."

Tamaki assumed a look of horror and retreated to his corner.

"Haruhi," Mori started.

"No!" Haruhi said turning to him. "Don't even start. I'm still mad at you for not just dropping the subject."

"Haru-chan?" Honey asked sadly, tears glistening in his eyes. "Are you really mad at me and Takashi?"

Haruhi looked at him and sighed, her angry exterior melting. "No, I can't be mad at you," she admitted sullenly. She turned to Mori, "or Mori-senpai for very long."

Honey grinned and said, "You should have a sleep over with Takashi and me! We can watch a movie and eat cake and do other fun stuff!"

Mori turned to his cousin, wide eyed. What?

Honey ignored Mori's reaction and continued, "It'd be a whole bunch of fun! Please Haru-chan." He looked up at Haruhi with his eyes wide and sparkling.

Haruhi sighed and said, "Fine. My dad's out of town for the week anyway…"

"Yay! Did you hear that Takashi? Haru-chan is joining us for a sleep over!" Honey cheered. He launched himself onto Haruhi's shoulders and sent them spinning.

Mori nodded, trying to contain a blush. Spending the night with Haruhi, his crush, and his cousin who would undoubtedly try to play matchmaker…piece of cake!

Mori felt himself grow lightheaded just thinking about it.

…~…

"Would you like another piece of cake, Haru-chan?" Honey asked before shoveling another forkful into his own mouth.

Haruhi shook her head. "I'm full, Honey-senpai."

Honey frowned and turned to Mori. "What about you, Takashi?"

"No thanks, Mitsukuni."

A smile grew on Honey's face. "Why don't you two go up to the movie room and pick out a movie to watch? Takashi, you know the way, right?"

Mori nodded and stood from the table. Haruhi soon followed his example. "See you soon, then Honey-senpai."

Honey nodded and watched as Haruhi and Mori left together. They'd make such a cute couple… he thought to himself.

…

Haruhi glanced up at Mori as they left the dining hall. It was a Friday night and she was spending the night at the Haninozuka mansion with Honey and Mori. Totally normal, having a sleepover where her crush was in the same room as her.

Mori looked down at Haruhi and raised his eyebrow. What's wrong?

Haruhi looked away to hide her blush. "Nothing, just thinking."

Mori grunted and they continued their way up the stairs. At the top, Mori turned down the hallway and into the first room on the left. As Haruhi walked in, she noticed Mori immediately head to the back of the room where several cabinets were. In the front of the room, it had a flat screen hung on the wall with a large sofa facing it. Haruhi joined Mori in the back of the room while he quickly skimmed the movie titles and covers. "Anything in particular?" he asked her.

Haruhi shook her head and answered, "Nothing really. I would say no cheesy romantic flicks but I'm pretty sure you wouldn't voluntarily watch that."

Mori smiled and said, "You know me so well."

Haruhi grinned back and said, "Of course I do."

Mori nodded and went back to looking through the possible movies. After a while, he said pointing to a cover, "The Matrix?"

Haruhi smiled and said, "I love that movie!"

"So do I," Mori said. "Would you mind watching it again?"

"Not at all."

Mori opened the cabinet and pulled the movie out. He made his way over to the TV and opened the DVD player under it. He popped the disk in and looked around for the remote. He found it sitting neatly on the couch and grabbed it to hit play.

Just as it started to load, Honey walked in dragging Usa-chan behind him. He yawned and rubbed at his eye. "What movie did you decide on?"

"The Matrix," Haruhi answered.

Honey perked up. "I love that movie!"

Haruhi smiled and sat on the middle of the couch. "So do I!" she replied with a grin.

Honey followed her and took up one side of the couch, laying his head on her lap. She jumped at the sudden touch. Honey asked worriedly, "Is it okay if I lay here?"

Haruhi was quick to reassure him. "No it's fine. You just surprised me that's all."

Honey sighed and settled into the cushions, still clutching his bunny. He asked Mori, "Takashi? Will you turn off the lights?"

Mori nodded and flipped the switch as the title screen started to play. As he approached the couch, he paused mid-step as he saw Honey had taken up all the room on one side of the couch. Honey could feel Mori looking at him suspiciously in the dark. Slowly, Mori sat down next to Haruhi, looking closely to any protest from her. When he saw none, he pressed the play button and the movie started to play.

Within minutes, Honey was asleep. Mori said quietly, "I should carry him to his room. I'm sure he doesn't want to bother you."

"No!" Haruhi said quickly. At Mori's questioning gaze, she continued in a quieter tone, "I mean, he's fine."

Mori nodded and turned his gaze away from Haruhi's dimly lighted face. She was really cute in low light, but that might have been the lack of sleep talking.

Within another 40 minutes, Mori felt a body slump against him. He looked down at a sleeping Haruhi pressing into his side. Mori froze in shock before letting her warmth comfort him. Slowly, he put his arm around her watching for any signs of her stirring awake. There were none.

Mori sighed in contentment as Haruhi leaned further into this. He laid his head down on her head and thought, I could get used to this.

He promptly fell asleep, not noticing the shadow slip into the room.