[A/N: This is my first fanfic so please have some patience with the story. Anyhow, this is the epic one-shot lime about Haruhi and Ritsu from Ouran Academy, it takes place immediately after the 24th episode of the anime, and we're just going to disregard the 25th and 26th episodes for now, and if you want to know more you'll just have to read it… Oh and Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Ouran Highschool Host Club or the characters. I only own this plot Oh and sorry if Ritsu is a little OOC.]

Ritsu slowly walked back to the syndicate, glaring at his own feet the whole way. It had been over a week since he attempted to connect with Fujioka as a member of a different gender, and it had been over a week since he was denied by the girl that was forced to join the host club and dress as a boy. Since then he had begun to play kick-the-can with his friends, and the cayos slowly calmed down as his fellow syndicate members adjusted to his change of demeanor. Despite all of this he couldn't shake the feeling that was clawing up his throat. The one that made his stomach flip and chest tighten everytime he saw her.

Haruhi... Why am I in pain when I think of her? I should be happy, I finally have what I wanted for so long. My fellas no longer fear me, and now I can play kick-the-can whenever I want. Yet all I want to do is spend time with Fujioka… As the last thought drifted through Kasanoda's mind he stopped dead in his tracks. Grasping at his chest, Ritsu breathed deeply. Do… Do I… L-love her? No thats stupid, I couldn't possibly, she… she is in the host club…

The second he burst through the syndicate gates, Kasanoda hurdled past his friends and to his room. The firey teen then srtipped off the jacket and shirt of his school uniform, and went to remove his pants when he heard Tetsuya enter his room.

"You need to let us in…" Tetsuya's gentle tone got no response. "Is it because of that Haruhi boy again?" Kasanoda stiffened at her name. He didn't want to face his problems, or his friends.

"If ya need me I'll be in the spring." Without anymore hesitation the redhead unbuttoned his pants and slid them to the ground. He was both pleased and disappointed by the fact that he was standing alone in the room before his pants reached the floor. Sighing Kasanoda slipped out of his remaining garments and walked to the door that led to the natural hot spring outside his room. The moody teen stepped out and walked right into the spring, submerging himself in an attempt to wash away the feelings that were tearing through his mind.

The boy sighed and leaned back, resting his head against one of the large boulders surrounding the spring. He felt his eyelids grow heavy, and when he closed them he felt the desire to sleep tingle throughout his entire body.

Groggily Kasanoda pried his eyes open. How long have I been in here? The sun hung low in the sky, throwing golden light all over the hot spring. Sighing the redheaded-prune rose from the spring and grabbed a nearby towel. He wrapped the towel around his waist and walked into his room. And sitting in his room was Tetsuya and Haruhi, chatting and sipping on green tea. It took them a moment to notice the half-naked teen that was paralyzed in a combination of surprise, embarrassment, fear, and rage. Kasanoda's entire body turned a brilliant crimson color, as he stared at the madly blushing girl sitting across a low table from his best friend, who smiled as if nothing was wrong.

"Get OUT!" Finally Kasanoda managed words, well they were closer to gutturally growled demands. Hurriedly Haruhi stood, bowed, and shuffled from the room. Tetsuya giggled and stood.

"I suppose you want me to go get him, well after you dress." The devious friend smirked and left the room. Hurriedly Kasanoda threw on the uniform that he had discarded earlier today, and was shoved in the corner. Once he was dressed, actually while he was still struggling into his shoes, the embarrassed young man stumbled out of his room, and after Tetsuya and Haruhi. Thankfully he didn't have to look far because Haruhi was talking to Tetsuya at the gate to the syndicate. Tetsuya rubbed the back of his neck with one hand while he smiled and explained something to Haruhi. I can't hear them, goddamnit, what is he telling her? Right as Kasanoda made to move closer Tetsuya pointed at him and Haruhi turned and walked over to him.

"Sorry, I had no idea that Tetsuya was going to lure me here to greet you fresh from the bath. He said that you need to talk to me about something, and seeing as you now have clothes on maybe we could go talk?" Haruhi's gentle tone soothed the redheads nerves a little and he nodded and led her back to his room.

"Sorry about the mess… and the whole towel thing," Kasanoda muttered to Haruhi as she sat down, the only response he got was a poorly concealed giggle.

"It's ok, Ritsu-san. I don't think you're really the one that needs to apologize… So why did you want to talk? You've been fairly withdrawn latel ' s w…" Haruhi's concerned words were forced out of Kasanoda's ears by the sound of his pounding heart. He was sitting on the floor right in front of her, I'm so close, why can't I put these stupid feelings into words? And how is she still talking? Slowly a lump grew in Kasanoda's throat, and his knees started fluttering like a hummingbird's wings.

The confused teen found himself staring at Haruhi's lips as they moved to form the articulate words that spilled from her mouth. They seemed to be getting closer and closer, and before he knew it, Kasanoda's face was inches from Haruhi's. "Um, is something wrong Ri-" Haruhi's words were cut off as Kasanoda found himself colliding with the short girl. At first the kiss was no more than a gentle touch of the lips, almost as if it were accidental. Then something happened that neither teen expected, Haruhi pressed into the kiss, deepening it, and wrapped her slender arms around the flame-haired boys neck. They stared into each other's wide eyes making an unspoken deal. Then Haruhi trustingly closed her eyes, and Kasanoda pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her slim waist as she licked his lips begging for entrance.

Gasping Ritsu pulled back and stared into Haruhi's eyes. "I… I think… I may…" He stuttered trying to find the most obvious words.

"I finally understand, I love you too Ritsu…"

The flame-haired boy pulled Haruhi into a tight embrace and sat, with her head resting against his hard chest, for what seemed like hours. Then, when the room was darkening to the point that the teenagers could no longer clearly see the features on each others faces, Haruhi sighed, placed a single kiss on Ritsu's cheek, stood and left the room without another word.

[A/N: Wow, that took a while and is a lot longer than I intended, oh well. Depending on this ones popularity I may do a sort of sequal thing. Anyhow, I really would like to get some feedback on this one so please review.]