-The Fading Rose-
-Chapter 1-Dreams-
"Hikaru! Kaoru! Wait up!" As Haruhi approached in her men's uniform, the twins grinned at her in unison. Hikaru kept grinning long after his twin stopped though. Even the clueless, dense Haruhi could tell that Hikaru was staring at her, and that he still hadn't stopped smiling…
She blushed. She had always really liked the twins. Truth be told, they were her favorite members of the Host Club. But lately for some reason, staring at Hikaru had made her happy. Happy to the point of being giddy when he (and Kaoru too) would put his arm around her. She didn't really have any idea what was going on with her and Hikaru, but she knew that whatever it was would have to wait. They had class to get to!
"Hikaru," again, she blushed when he settled his concentrated stare on her eyes. She felt herself unable to look away from his amber eyes, just as he found it impossible to look away from her umber ones.
Kaoru watched sadly. He had always kind of liked Haruhi, but had known that first off, Tamaki would kill him if he pursued anything with her, and secondly, that Hikaru liked her much more than he did. What Kaoru felt for Haruhi was nothing compared to Hikaru. It was obvious what was happening between the two of them. There was no denying that self-conscious blush that came to Haruhi's cheeks when his brother stared at her. When she saw Kaoru, all she saw was one of her best friends. Kaoru really wasn't bitter towards her. Although it was true that once she entered Hikaru' life in a much more prominent way, Hikaru would not always be with Kaoru. Of course, having Haruhi around more couldn't hurt either, could it? She and Kaoru were the only ones who had any hope of keeping Hikaru in line, after all.
Hikaru knew that he felt something for Haruhi. He just wasn't sure what yet. That look she gave him when their eyes met, that smile she seemed to give only him, those perfectly shaped lips…sometimes he just wanted to grab her and kiss her, never letting go. He still cursed himself for his ignorance of her on their first-only he corrected himself- date. He had held her close then, underneath the altar in that Church. Waited for her to relax, which she had, feeling safe and warm in his arms.
Oddly enough, Haruhi was thinking of the same night herself. She remembered how surprised she had been when Hikaru had found her, had given her his coat, had held her close. She still could feel the softness of his skin next to hers. That brief contact between them had stayed in her dreams for weeks…but she knew that falling in love with the twin was the last thing she should do. First off, there was always Kaoru to worry about! If she started dating Hikaru-she shivered at the thought in sheer joy- then what of Kaoru? Second of all, there didn't need to be added complications with the Host Club. It had been bad enough that Kasadona had come around to worship Fujioka, a presumed boy! What would happen to the twins' twincest scene? Third of all, she wasn't sure she was ready for a relationship with a guy. Tamaki, while he was a guy, was a pretty pathetic example of one. Tamaki's seemingly constant adoration of her was quickly dying. No matter how much he tried to hide it and pretend that he was "normal," Tamaki could not hide how he felt for…someone…of course, nobody knew the inner workings of Tamaki's mind (thank God for it) so nobody really knew who his new obsession was.
Hikaru just kept looking at her. Kaoru grabbed his brother and Haruhi, careful to put them on opposite arms ignoring the furious blushes on her end and the beginning "hey" on his, and said, "Come on! We're going to be late!" That got Haruhi in motion. She raced ahead. Hikaru, of course, attempted to follow her.
"Hikaru, we're not late. We need to talk. Just you and me." Hikaru looked confused. "It's about Haruhi."
Hikaru visibly softened, and was just about to stare at her retreating figure, when Kaoru snapped him back to reality. "Hikaru, you obviously feel something for Haruhi. Is what you feel for Haruhi compromising to our relationship?"
Hikaru felt faint at the very thought of Haruhi. "If you mean, does whatever it is that I feel for Haruhi going to affect the act, no."
"You don't get it! You don't just 'have feelings for her!' You love her! Tell her! Let her know! Work something out between you two! Just whatever you do, leave me out of it! I'm sick of following you around and pulling you back into reality!" Hikaru just stared at his twin. Kaoru continued his rampage. "And since when has our relationship been an act? We may not love each other romantically, but I still love you, Hikaru. I wish you could see that I just care about your well being!" Kaoru stomped off as Hikaru stopped breathing. Hikaru stood motionless. His twin, who knew him better, more intimately than anyone else, had just told him that he was in love with Haruhi. Of course Kaoru would know! Hikaru leaned back against the wall. Was what he felt for Haruhi really love? On that first date…the feel of her skin on his…her lips…that smile…he had to do something, but what?
"Meet me at the back Eastern wall of school. It's something really important, but please don't tell anyone where you're going, especially not Kaoru. Hikaru"
Haruhi stared at the note she had received on a gold platter during her chemistry class. She was kind of confused as to why they would send a letter on a golden platter, and her only excuse for it was those "rich bastards." She read the letter ten times over before it's full effect settled upon her. Every time she read "Hikaru," her heart skipped a beat. "So that's what his handwriting looks like" she though. It really does suit him. She was certain now that she must love him, but that didn't explain why he would want to meet her back there…it was practically the most abandoned place in the entire school, except the Black Magic Room. What would he want there?
"Haruhi…I just wanted to…look, I…well…you see…"
"Hikaru." That thrill again. "Why did you tell me to come out here? There's no...one…around…" realization dawned on her. "wait, wha-"
Hikaru walked closer to her, closer than was strictly necessary. He snaked his left arm around her waist, and held her cheek with his right hand. He looked deeply into her eyes, with a blinding passion that had completely taken over him. He had kept this kiss inside of him for far too long.
She was certain that it was Hikaru's first real kiss, just like it was her first real kiss, but after the intial soft, warmth of it, he was attacking her lips with a passion that would have scared her were she not consumed by it as well. She responded and kissed him just as deeply as he was kissing her. They were so close…his scent was intoxicating: a spicy scent that just was Hikaru. There was no other scent it was even close to. She mindlessly began to stroke his silk-soft hair. She closed her eyes, allowing her senses to be devoid of anything other than Hikaru. Eventually, he drew back from her. She nearly reached up for him again, but he started speaking before she could.
"Haruhi, I just wanted you to know…I love-" Hikaru melted away as she heard a distant ringing noise. Her alarm had gone off.
Haruhi woke up from her dream. She screamed out. It was obvious that her feelings for Hikaru were taking over her every waking moment, and even her non-waking ones! She had to kiss him. That dream had her longing for it. Even if he didn't love her the way she loved him, she would at least have the satisfaction of one kiss. One touching of her commoner's lips to his divine ones. She would get her kiss. Even if it killed her.
"Meet me at the back Eastern wall of school. It's something really important, but please don't tell anyone where you're going, especially not Kaoru. Haruhi"
Hikaru stared at the letter in his hands. He had just had a dream last night about getting a letter from Haruhi like this one. If today turned out even half as good as that dream, then this would be the best day of his life.
"Hikaru! I'm so glad you're here. Listen, I…last night…I had…this dream…and I can't…I need to…please forgive me for what I am about to do senpai!" she bowed to him.
Hikaru couldn't remember the last time she had called him that. And why was she acting so submissive? He wrapped his arm around her waist. "Haruhi." He caressed her cheek in his right hand. Haruhi looked up at him, tears in her eyes. He moved closer to her. Closer than he ever had before, not even in either of their dreams.
Hikaru was surprised that he would be this bold. To be so near to her, to smell her…she smelled like…like…like Haruhi. The girl he loved. He closed the distance between their lips slowly, not wanting to go too fast for her. Her eagerness surprised him, as she pulled his neck down and crashed her lips against his. A blind passion took over both of them for what seemed like an eternity. When they eventually pulled apart, Hikaru looked at her and said, "Haruhi…I just wanted you to know…" Haruhi waited for him to fade away, just as he had last night. The alarm clock never rang. Hikaru completed his sentence with every ounce of bravery he possessed. "I love you."
Haruhi must have looked like he just hit her with a bag full of bricks. She stood there stunned. She even started to fall, but Hikaru's strong arms grabbed her before she could and held her close, but not nearly as close as during their kiss. Hikaru looked at her sadly. "I understand Haruhi. I won't push you into anything. It's just…I had this dream last night…and in it I kissed you…and I knew that I had to do it, after the dream…and-"
Haruhi placed her fingers on his lips. He stopped talking at the sudden feeling of her skin on his lips. She traced their perfect, god-like form. She had kissed those lips. Hikaru's lips. She was probably the only female in the world who had ever tasted him. "Hikaru," she said, still tracing his lips, which just left him begging for another kiss. "I had the same dream…only, in it, you wrote that letter to me…I had to kiss you too Hikaru…if I hadn't, I would have gone crazy. Of course, I think I already am crazy…for loving you."
Hikaru had gradually looked more and more ecstatic as her little speech went on. He tried to open his mouth to speak, but Haruhi's fingers were there, tracing the perfection she saw there. Eventually, it was too much for her. She couldn't simply trace those lips over and over again after only tasting them once! She threw her arms around his neck and flew into him. He caught her easily, and held her bride-style as they drew in close for another soul-searing kiss.
From the bushes, the rest of the Host Club watched them. Of course, Honey felt that it was horrible to be spying on them, but once he saw what was going on, even he couldn't resist. His Haru-chan and Hika-chan were finally together!
Tamaki watched indifferently. It was obvious that he no longer obsessed over Haruhi, but who was his love now? Not even Kyoya knew, and Kyoya knew things that would shock most people. Kyoya watched the scene with his expressionless face, wondering if there could be any profit from Haruhi and Hikaru doing a joint act much like the current twincest one, which did seem to be getting redundant.
Kaoru was the only one who watched with sadness. He didn't want Haruhi so much as that he wanted Hikaru. Hikaru had been the only person he had ever loved or ever known until Haruhi came. Obviously, this little display of affection sealed the fate of the two of them, but what about him? What would Kaoru do now that his twin had a girlfriend?