Hi Everybody!

First, I just wanted to say a huge thank you to Chibisensei for the review~ I suppose one review doesn't seem like a big deal to you, but to me, it meant a lot. So thanks~

AND. Just a heads up- I contemplated changing the rating to M. I can assure you that there's nothing explicit, but it's implied. Thought I'd give you fair warning~

Now, without further ado, here's the next chapter of JLM!

Disclaimer: I don't own Ouran~

Melody Stevens was one of the most vibrant, outgoing, and alluring women Kaoru had ever met.

Even though she was only a few years younger than he was, Melody always stuck him as too young. Too raw. Too trusting. Kaoru didn't date girls like her- he didn't see the point if there was no future in it.

Holding Melody to his chest, Kaoru mused how she and Haruhi could be even remotely related: they looked nothing alike. Haruhi was flat as a board, with pixie-like chestnut hair that framed her innocent smile. Melody, on the other hand, was all curves, with a sea of hair so blindingly blonde, it could easily be mistaken for white if she were standing in the sun, and a smile that always seemed to be carrying a challenge, a taunt, a dare.

Their differences stretched beyond their looks. Haruhi, one of Kaoru's most trusted friends since high school, was the most caring, generous, giving person he'd ever met.

Everything about Melody just screamed TAKE.

And yet, she was the only person he could bring himself to face that night. Was it because he knew she wouldn't judge him- or even feel a twinge of pity- as his world seemed to be imploding around him?

Or, he asked himself, was it purely physical?

From the moment his lips had touched hers, something akin to fire had shot through his veins. It was sick the he could feel this way towards someone he should have, according to his mother, hated beyond all else. Someone who- he told himself- he didn't necessarily like very much. Lord knew what lies he had been telling himself since high school.

But none of that mattered right now.

He was so sick of being the nice guy. Of being Hikaru's kind, younger brother. He was tired of fighting what he felt for Melody. And he was sure as heck not giving up what Melody seemed to be offering so freely.

He was disgusting. And getting worse by the second. Had the circumstances been different, he wouldn't have been here. He would have put practicality first and lust second. But at that moment, he couldn't bring himself to care. He was physically worn, mentally exhausted, and quite frankly, didn't have the energy to stop himself from hurling head first into a brick wall.

A beautiful, blonde brick wall.

He drank her in with his eyes, looking for a challenge, a refusal, a sign. Watching her watch him, Kaoru saw a flash of uncertainty in her eyes, mixed in with a hint of desire. But the uncertainty quickly vanished, leaving behind her habitually feisty attitude.

Kaoru held her gaze, silently acknowledging the question in her eyes- why now of all times, especially considering they didn't necessarily have the best relationship?

Since Haruhi and Hikaru's marriage, they had been forced together at various family gatherings- lunches, dinners, holidays, birthdays. Where one Hitachiin went, all Hitachiins went. But being completely honest, Kaoru had never made a particular effort to be nice to her. Not when he'd made up his mind about her years ago.

Melody was a selfish, spoilt little girl, living off the fortunes of her kind, caring cousin, Haruhi, never giving anything in return.

Still, he couldn't keep out the voice in the back of his head, cooing, are you sure that's why you didn't like her? Or was it because you knew that if you got a piece of her, you might never get enough? Because you might like her more than you're willing to admit?

Stop. Why was he thinking like this today? He needed to stop listening to the voice of reason. Just let loose. The catastrophe at the show tonight had changed him into a different man- not one he would necessarily like to wake up as tomorrow morning- but one who knew exactly what he wanted.

Melody.

For the first time in the twenty-three years of his existence, he didn't feel guilty at all.

What did it matter anyways? Hikaru had never played by the rules.

Hikaru had always been the adventurous one. The playboy. He'd gone through girls like a box of tissues, using and discarding them, never the same girl twice. But even he had found true love. He had a wife. A family. Kids. He was happy.

And now Hikaru was all alone. What had being the nice guy gotten him?

A few "perfect" girlfriends, none of whom he could bring himself to love, and a job that would have him going grey within the next year.

The dark side of him reared up, and Kaoru didn't bother fighting it.

"Tonight is different," he told Melody, staring intently into her eyes. "Tonight, everything is different."

"Yes," Melody managed to choke out, before his mouth descended on hers again.

One touch of her lips against his was all it took to undo him.

He had signed his deal with the devil.

Curled in the living room, surrounded by a pile of cake crumbs and popcorn kernels, Melody felt Kaoru shift beside her, attempting to pull his arm out from under her small frame, so that he could slink out of the room before she woke up.

Melody felt her heart start pounding. Hard.

Melody knew that in reality, what Kaoru was doing was right. He would stay on his side of Music Room 3, while she stayed on hers. He was right to leave. Whatever happened between them had been wrong. So very wrong.

But it had felt so right.

"I love you, Kaoru," she felt herself whisper, before she could stop herself.

Kaoru's movements underneath her instantly stilled.

Kaoru woke up sprawled on the living room floor, with Melody snuggled comfortably on his chest. With her lips just inches from his, her soft breath brushing his cheek, he wanted nothing more than to continue where they had left off last night.

Just as he was about to give in to his perverse desires, however, he heard a whisper.

For all it was worth, she may as well have been shouting.

"I love you Kaoru"

If she hadn't said those words, Kaoru could have pretended that she didn't matter. She could have been like any other woman he'd been with...

Damn it.

But she wasn't just any other woman. She was Melody Stevens. She was his business rival. She was Haruhi's cousin. And she thought she was in love with him.

What had he done?

Just a few seconds, Melody thought to herself, as she felt Kaoru slip out. Just a few seconds and he'll be back.

Only, the next thing she knew, she was alone. And the worst part was, he didn't even say anything.

Anger quickly replaced the shock she felt as the darted towards the front door, only to see him halfway out already.

"You're leaving," Melody stated. She didn't know if she could squeeze out any other words without screaming or crying. Or both.

"Yes," stated Kaoru simply. He was an empty, unreadable mask of the man he had been only a few short hours ago.

Well, thought Melody, if that's the way it was going to be. Melody didn't want to hear an apology.

After all, he hadn't taken anything from her.

Except, a small voice in her mind chimed, maybe your heart.

Melody turned on her heel and stalked back into her house, doing everything in her power to forget last night had ever happened.

Kaoru went straight home to shower, before speeding off to his office building. All the while, he replayed the events from this morning.

"You're leaving," Melody had said. What she probably meant to say was something along the lines of "screw you."

She'd deserved a better goodbye. Or simply a "goodbye," considering he hadn't said anything at all. He'd just upped and left like a coward.

Striding into his office, Kaoru noticed the lack of papers on his desk before he noticed Dr. Kagawa, one of the Ootori family's private therapists, standing in front of him.

"Good morning, Master Kaoru," she said with a smile, "Your mother, Mistress Hitachiin asked me to come see you."

Kaoru had barely set foot in his office when he was hit with "you have been deemed too tired to work. Mistress Hitachiin has requested you take a few days off." Handing him his leave papers, she quickly strode out of the office, fearing the young Hitachiin's wrath nearly as much as she feared her boss, Kyoya's.

Kaoru was left in shock. Too tired to work? Picking up his phone and quickly dialling his mother's number, and was saved the expense of waiting when she picked up on the first ring.

"Kaoru, I've been expecting your call. I spoke to Hikaru last night. Did you speak with Dr. Kagawa yet?"

"I did, Mom, but how-"

"Did you think I wouldn't notice that it was Hikaru on stage instead of you? When's the last time you slept? Slept for real?"

Kaoru couldn't help but smile. "Last night." It technically wasn't a lie.

He heard his mother sigh into the phone. "You know I hate doing this to you Kaoru, but sometimes, this industry gets the best of all of us. You're taking four weeks off."

Kaoru wasn't sure he heard right. Four weeks? He may as well sign his death sentence on the spot. How would he survive being all alone, and not working, for four whole weeks? "One week," he countered.

"Four."

"Mom-"

"Go visit the mansion in Karuizawa! You loved it there back when you went in high school... Kaoru, I want you to be happy."

And with that, the line went dead.

Kaoru thought that was as bad as it got- until he looked down at his walking papers. Mental health leave. Kaoru was fuming. There's nothing wrong with my mental health, he thought, as he picked up his bag and stalked back to his car.

Kaoru was still fuming half an hour later, as he was speeding down the highway, probably just a little too fast.

As much as he wasn't willing to admit it, Kaoru knew that he had completely derailed. He had no idea how he was going to survive the next four hours, let alone the next four weeks.

His mother's words kept ringing in his ears. I just want to you be happy, Kaoru.

The problem was, he didn't think he knew how to anymore.

-and that's chapter two, folks-

Comments, questions, coincadinks? Positive or negative, if you have any feedback, I'd love to hear it!

Thanks for reading~