I couldn't help but paused in the bathroom before I could put my extensions on as I thought about what had happened earlier that day. Had I really just revealed the biggest secret of my life to a bunch of strangers…?

A bunch of strangers that now hold us in a crippling dept. I remembered, that idiot Kyouya making me have to do this; that dark look in his eyes hidden behind that smiling façade. Why had he forced me to do this? But then again Kaoru didn't seem so disappointed.

Kaoru. I sighed happily just even thinking the name. I pulled a towel around my waist and tied it tight as I stared at the flat blonde mess of my hair with a sigh though my blue eyes seemed to change every day, now they seemed a light green.

The golden extensions fell landed with the others as I shook my head. What did Kaoru see in this reflection? It was obviously something I most certainly could not.

I'm not entirely sure why I dress up like this. It just feels right sometimes. I always felt like there was another person to me and it was easier I guess to hide behind that person… was that why I dressed like this? To hide?

I looked at the rouge dress Haruhi's dad had lent me. The soft silk fabric would fall so neatly around my curves. People had always asked me if I was a girl. Sometimes I would tell them the truth and they would laugh but sometimes I would just tell them 'yeah' with my petite voice that I would use and the douche bags would pester me for dates.

I blew my cold breath onto the mirror and watched as it steamed up before I drew the outline of Kaoru's face. "tu sei il mio amore" I spoke in my family's deep Italian accent I had got from my mother. Although I spoke with a perfect clear British accent, Mother had always taught me Italian the same time I was learning to speak.

No, they weren't my parents.

They were sick bastards who thought that I was wrong.

No, I couldn't think about this. Almost passing out earlier was bad enough… though Kaoru's arms had been enough to calm me.

"Katie." Haruhi's sing song voice travelled through the walls. I could hear the smile thick in her voice. "I have a surprise. Someone is here to see you."

I opened the door and felt the cold breeze run over my wet skin, "Hey Haruhi, did someone leave the back door…" I paused and felt my blood turn ice cold and it most certainly wasn't because of a breeze being let through. I paled as I stared at Haruhi and the identical twins she was stood next to.

Kaoru blushed incredibly. Why is he blushing!?

I ran back into the bathroom and rested my head on the doorway as embarrassment burned bright in my cheeks. Oh god… Had Kaoru just really… oh god!

"Kuruma?" Haruhi used my real name now that we weren't at school and since the twins already knew about me, it was pointless keeping up a fake name, "its okay."

I quickly pulled on the clothes as fast as I could. The black tights and jacket really did go well with the red dress.

"Promise they wont laugh." I whispered as I attached the golden curling hair extension.

"They promise." Her head turned sharply with a glare. I finished by placing a rose hair clip on and smiled at the beautiful reflection that looked back at me. "Don't you guys." She bit out her wears and I heard to thumps from the other side of the wall.

"You know we wouldn't have Haruhi! No need to hit us!" Hikaru whined.

"Besides, why would we-" Kaoru's voice faltered as I stepped out shyly and began playing with the ballerina style ruffles at the bottom of my dress while a blush slowly crept onto my cheeks.

"Here, Kaoru, why don't you and Kuruma go and study in the lounge while I and Hikaru go and study in my bedroom."

"Make sure that is all you will be doing." I winked nervously. I guess she could tell that I was anxious about being by myself with someone.

"Don't worry." Kaoru smiled, "I'm a real gentlemen." I guess Haruhi hadn't been the only one to pick up on it.

And he really was.

As we went into the living room and sat down at the table, he pulled my chair out for me then tucked me in. "I see your parents really groomed you well to be a gentleman." I smiled.

"Not really… mother and father are never around. I and Hikaru pretty much brought each other up."

"Parents are the worst."

"Especially the snobby ones." Kaoru smiled and I felt warmth spreading over my chest.

"Um… I… I better practice this for music and drama class." I stammered but he looked me in my eye.

"Go on then." He smiled sweetly, though I could see it deep in his eyes. He was looking at me the exact same way the Kyouya had when that creep was reading me. "Unless you want to talk a bit more." He suggested and I nodded.

"That would be nice." I smiled.

"Okay… can I ask you a question, if you don't mind?" but immediately I felt my guard going up.

"Sure… go ahead."

"Can I see the real you?"

"That isn't a question, that's a request Kaoru."

"Please." His beautiful eyes sparkled subtly and I bit my lip.

What am I doing?

I pulled the dress over my head and folded it neatly. I had expected Kaoru to turn away… no such luck I guess. I pulled off the tights and the extensions and in their place pulled on some shorts and a long sleeves jumper. He gently took the rose clip out my hair and placed it on the table. "You are so beautiful." He whispered, leaning his head in his hand and looking at me.

"Kaoru." I blushed, "I'm hideous. Are you blind?"

"If I am, I can still see better than most people."

"Then you are a sweet fool but a fool non the less." I turned my gaze away from him and closed my eyes as I caught a glimpse in the mirror.

"Kuruma, come on." His arms wrapped around me. "It's okay." I sighed as I felt his head rest on my shoulder.

"Kaoru. You don't understand." I whispered then blushed incredulously as his breath gently brushed my ear then he lowered his lips to my neck.

"Then help me too."

"Don't." I pushed him away and closed my eyes tight as I brushed my neck. NO! DON'T REMEMBER! JUST KEEP PRETENDING! YOU'RE GOING TO SLIP BACK INTO AN ATTACK IF YOU REMEMBER!

"What's wrong?" he frowned slightly though his eyes gave away why; he was worried about me.

"I can't… I don't… I don't let people close to me." The sleeve of the jumper was to long and it fell down to my fingers but I used it to pad my neck as though there was a bleeding wound there.

"Kuruma, please don't lock me out. Just tell me what's wrong."

"You really want to know." I looked into his eyes. "My parents beat me and left me on the street for dead but not before one of my father's investors saw one last investment opportunity to make some money. They used my body and sold me to people who wanted me to… Kaoru I can't do this." I began to turn away but he pulled me back into his embrace.

"Kuruma, I will never hurt you. I promise you. I would like to take you out tomorrow after your first day at the club. My treat." He smiled and I looked into his eyes for any trickery or any form of deception.

He was holding back on something, "Okay." I said and then waited, I could see him silently wondering if he should say it or not.

"But there is one condition."

"What?" again I felt my defences rise.

"You have to go like this." he smiled at me as he hugged me again. He really wants the real me, the real Kuruma to go on a date with him?

"Okay." I slightly winced as I said the words and he held back the adoring laughter I saw shine in his eye.

"How about we study…"

"Kaoru? Lets just watch a film." I sighed and pulled him over to the couch and we mirrored how we was earlier that day in the music room; me lay out with my feet over the arm, resting my head in his lap as he gently ran his hands through my hair.

"What do you want to watch?" he kept his voice quiet though as I lent my head back I saw his bewitching smile.

"How about." I reached through the stack of DVD's me and Haruhi shared. I smiled as I saw one of my favourite films ever. "How about this one." I smiled and held it up to him as he read the back cover.

"Mamma Mia?" he laughed slightly and I blushed.

"Is that okay?"

"Only if you sing along with me." He smiled and I cuddled back a bit as he wrapped an arm around me. His chest was warmth and comforting.

"Kaoru?"

"Yeah?"

"Ti amo Kaoru." I purred in my mother's accent before starting the film.

~Haruhi's POV~

She smiled from ear to ear as she heard Kuruma say that. She had learnt Italian from him so she knew exactly what he had said, "Love is in the air." She whispered before sitting back on her bed next to Hikaru who grumbled. "Oh come on Hika." She winked, "Aren't you happy that your brother has fallen in love?" Quit moping over your brother and look at me! Her thoughts growled.

"I am… it's just."

"Just what?"

"I thought you were in love with Tamaki."

She paused.

Hikaru looked like a man who had just had his worst fears imaginable, come to life before him but then a frown grew on his face as she doubled forward bursting out into laughter. "Oh god Hika, that's a good one. Do you really think that Tamaki actually loves me?"

"Haruhi?"

"Yes, I know my name Hika." She leant forward and watched him blush as she closed the distance between their lips till they were barely an inch apart.

"I need to make sure Kaoru is okay."

"HIKARU!" she grabbed his arm and turned his face so he saw her full glistening eyes. "Who would you rather look at? Your brother who isn't going to be happy that you are interrupting his time with Kuruma. Or me?" her arms rested around his neck gently pulling him back onto her. "The answer. Is me." He pressed forward and kissed her lips passionately.

"Should we be studying?"

"Okay." She grinned the mischievous smile she saw ever so often on his face, "How about maths, study the shape and space of my lips." That had been a line he had used on her in class one day.

She remembered that day because it had been the first day she had met Kuruma.

She was on her errand run and 'Prince' Tamaki had sent her out to where the 'Commoners' bought coffee. "I swear if he calls me commoner one more time." She growled as she stalked along the side walk.

She wasn't aware until she tripped over and skinned her knee along the ground that someone was even there on the side walk. "Hey watch out!" she hissed and looked at the curled thin figure lay across the ground. "So not only do you make me fall over but now you ignore me?"

No response… not even a sign of movement.

"Hey are you alright?" she leaned closer and turned the figure over. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight. It was a boy… she thought. Though one side of his face was draped in golden, curling hair attachments though he had large bruises across his face.

He was just like her father…

"Hey wake up!" she shook him and slowly his swollen beaten eyes half opened. "What happened to you." She ran her hand over his throat where there was a small stab… an injection needle.

"It's okay." He mumbled though his eyes were still as though he was passed out. He had been drugged. "Come on." She put her arm around his waist and lifted him easily as he slumped onto her. He was so thin. He looked like he hadn't eaten in weeks. She noticed blood running down his trouser leg. "Oh god. What have they done?"

It was a while before she managed to get home and she placed him in a warm bath heating the room to its hottest. She placed a wet flannel across his brow and stroked the side of his face. Every now and then he would come into conscious for a few seconds.

When you ganna stop breaking my heart.

I don't wanna be another one.

Paying for the thing that I never done.

Don't let go.

Don't let go to my love.

Her ringtone, Edward Maya stereo love played and she flipped the phone open not noticing the name. "Hello? Who is this?"

"HARUHI!? IS MY LITTLE GIRL OKAY?!" she held the phone away from her ear and narrowed her ear.

"Tamaki? What do you want?"

"You never came back from the shop! We were worried! Where have you been?!"

"Busy." She bit back shortly at him. "Geez Tamaki, grow up and stop worrying about me and how about focusing on your own life!" she slammed the phone shut and rested her head against the cold tiles… why had she just snapped at him like that?

"So what am I going to do with you?" she smiled at the bare passed out boy in her bath tub as she began washing his matted filthy hair. "Don't worry though. You're safe now and no one is going to hurt you."

"Haruhi?"

She blinked a few times and came out of her memories looking at Hikaru's handsome face. "Sorry Hika, I kinda spaced out there for a while. Where were we?"

"About here." He took charge and lent in kissing her more passionately as his tongue curled around hers.

"So how about we make this official." She whispered, "Hikaru, I love you."

"Okay." He grinned.

Her heart almost exploded out her chest but she just smile and lay back curling into Hikaru's hold. "Love you Hika." She closed her eyes and began to fall asleep like him but not just before she heard him say.

"Love you to, my Haruhi." His cold fingers traced along her cheek and she fell asleep into a happy slumber.