Beginning Note: Okay… So I've been extremely lax on a story that should have been finished ages ago. I apologize. A lot… I would have updated sooner if my laptop were not out of commission with about 30+ different viruses… Okay… On to the story and hopefully my touch hasn't faded. That would be devastating.
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. They are the rightful property of Bisco Hatori. The story itself, however, is completely the workings of my brilliant mind. (cough) Not really.
The Six Princes Chapter 4: Hikaru
A heavy sigh escaped my lips, prompting a confused glance from Kaoru. I couldn't do it. I had tried to find the courage, but there was no possible way I would be able to express how I felt without looking and sounding like an idiot.
Not that Haruhi would notice. She was oblivious to things like that, just as she was oblivious to matters of the heart. She couldn't see how Tono looked at her, being the only person in his sight. Nor did she notice Mori's over-protectiveness that was way beyond normalcy. Even Kyouya was being nice, in his own twisted sort of way.
"Damn it," I muttered, sighing heavily again.
"Enough with the sighing," my twin snapped. "If you're serious, just go up and tell Haruhi. What's the worst that could happen?"
"Kaoru, are you insane?" I asked incredulously. "This is Haruhi we're talking about. Either she won't understand anything, as it usually is with her, or she'll laugh at me. I'm betting on the latter."
"I was actually considering a combination of both," he said thoughtfully. When he saw the look I gave him, he backed off. "Relax, Hikaru. I was kidding."
I rubbed my aching head in frustration. For some reason, the person who was supposed to help me with everything thought it was a good time to sample a career in stand-up comedy.
"I'm not sure of what to do," I confessed to him for the thousandth time, staring at the object of my longing. Haruhi was sitting at Hanii and Mori's table, eating a piece of cake and graciously accepting Mori's uneaten strawberries.
"You could always ask Tono for advice," Kaoru suggested, squinting at our Japanese homework.
"He's an idiot," I scoffed.
"Kyouya?"
"Any information from him would come at a price. Plus, I would feel safer jumping in a pit of cobras than ask him something like that."
"Good point. Hanii?"
"Is your brain even working or did you shut it off for the day?"
"I'm doing our homework, aren't I? So, no. My brain hasn't shut off, thank you very much."
Annoyed and bored out of my mind, I flicked the edge of the worksheet he was scribbling on. Kaoru glared at me.
"You have three choices before I strangle you and become an only child," he ground out, any patience for me completely worn away. "One, just talk to Haruhi and gauge her reaction to you. You've dealt with enough girls here to do that."
"But I never liked those girls in the way I like Haruhi," I interrupted, idly tapping the mechanical pencil had stolen from my self-inflicted insanity against the polished cherry table.
"Two," Hikaru said roughly, ignoring my interjection. "Sit here and mope, but do it in complete silence or help me with the English homework, or three. Talk to Mori."
Those choices sucked, but I would never hurt my other half's feelings that way. I moaned and laid my head on the table with force, creating an even more painful pounding behind my eyes.
Way to go, Hikaru, I thought, applauding myself silently.
"Hikaru, are you okay?" came Haruhi's husky voice. "You haven't looked so good in the past few minutes. Do you need anything?"
I rubbed the painful and now visible spot on my forehead. Kaoru gave me a look that said 'Tell her!'
This could be it. This could be the moment that changed everything for me.
"Um, actually, Haruhi, I have a question."
She smiled brightly at me. "Of course! I'll try to answer it the best way possible."
I swallowed hard and saw out of the corner of my eye that Kaoru tried his best to not look interested into what was about to happen.
"Well, um." God. I was screwing this up royally. I sounded like a complete idiot.
Haruhi, oblivious as ever, just started at me with her big, brown eyes.
"Uh, Kaoru and I can't figure out a few of the English questions. Can you help us?" I asked, chickening out.
She looked at us suspiciously. "I thought you already knew English?"
"But not well," I said, giving her an innocent look.
"Okay then!" she chirped happily. "Let me just get my book and I'll help you."
I watched her walk over to her book bag that was leaning against Mori's chair. She smiled apologetically at the older Host Club member. He gave her a rare grin before handing her English textbook to her.
"What the hell was that?" Kaoru hissed. "You blew it!"
"I know!" I lamented, putting my head in my hands. "I just panicked."
"Are you even going to ask her?"
I sighed.
"Eventually," I said as Haruhi walked over.
"Ready for that help?" she asked.
Simultaneously, Kaoru and I slip out chairs next to her.
"Oh, pearl of knowledge," I started out.
"Teach us all you know!" Kaoru finished.
The girl of my affections just rolled her eyes and began to explain the working of the English language to us, even though we knew it perfectly.
I would gain the courage to tell Haruhi how I felt. Someday…
