Kaoru looked down on her entirely baffled by the slip of his words. He didn't know what to do as she stared up at him with her large brown eyes. And with each passing second, he regretted what he had just said.
"I'm...I'm sorry." He dropped his hands from the doorway. Stepping back he ran a hand through his hair. "I.. don't know why I said that."
Haruhi began to thaw and gave him a gentle chuckle at his immediate apology.
"That's not true. You know what you meant." She said gently.
Hopefully, he looked up to meet her eyes but quickly turned away from her. "I'm sorry."
She came up beside him and placed a hand on his back. "Kaoru, don't be sorry." Her hand slid down to his arm causing a shoot of tingles to make him shiver.
He took a deep breath and resolved to face her. He spun around giving her his undivided attention. Staring at each other, He reached out to hold her hand. The movement was tender and slow so as not to frighten her like Hikaru might have done in a moment of unbridled desire to get his answer.
Kaoru wasn't Hika, he was just himself. Gently he repeated his words, "Choose me."
His other hand raised to cup her cheek as he took another step closer to her. She let her eyes close for a brief second to take in what was happening while his fingers brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. Following some unknown path, he touched his fingers under Haruhi's chin. Her eyes shot open, and her breath hitched as he slowly leaned down and grazed her soft lips with his own.
Barely even a flutter of air was able to pass between them before he closed in with a gentle pressure that she didn't really expect.
Closing her eyes, she settled into the kiss wrapping her arms around his neck. She left no room in his mind as she deepened his innocent kiss into one of acceptance and need.
Kaoru chuckled a little into Haruhi's lips. He pulled away slowly and looked into her eyes. They both began to laugh at the ridiculousness of the entire situation. The hosts were going to be incredibly surprised by this turn of events.
Placing a kiss on her forehead, Kaoru asked, "Well? Is that a yes?"
"I think I so," she teased with a grin of her own. Kaoru's enthusiasm kicked up a, and he came down for another, much more passionate kiss.
'I can definitely live with this,' She thought as she pulled him closer.
He was ecstatic when he finally came home, leaving Haruhi only to prevent Ranka from coming back and witnessing a teenage makeout session. He didn't want to leave, but it was for the best.
"Welcome home, Master Kaoru," One of the maids greeted. He would have rolled his eyes at her, but he was in too good of a mood. His smiled greeting caught the maid off guard and she quickly hustled away.
When Kaoru reached the base of the stares, he looked up and noticed his brother looking down on him. Despite his great mood, his heart dropped into his stomach.
"You're late." Hikaru accused, his eyes annoyed at the fact that he waited for the return of his sibling.
"Yeah, I had some stuff to do." He glanced down to compose himself before risking a look at his brother. "You look better. How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine." He sighed. "Doc said I can go back to school tomorrow."
"That's fantastic," Kaoru walked up the stairs to his room. Hikaru following him.
"You can come back to the room tonight if you want," Hikaru said. Kaoru nodded, and they both entered their shared room. He tossed his bag on the bed.
"Sure, I'm glad you're be..eh..eh, achoo" Kaoru wiped his nose, his eyes wide in shock. He just sneezed. Hikaru jumped up and called for the first maid he could snag.
"Call the Doc back! Kaoru is getting sick."
Hikaru Hitachiin was able to come to school on Tuesday, while his brother had to stay home. Once again they were separated. Night four of being without his brother was getting ridiculous.
Once he got to school, he expected to see Haruhi in class. He hoped to have at least one person he could be around, and she was an easy replacement.
However the desk next to him was empty. Haruhi wasn't there. Dejected he dropped his head into his hand.
'No Haruhi, no Kaoru. Dammit, I'm bored already.'
Frustration plagued him while he tried to focus on the lessons of the day. Haruhi would have been all his today just like Kaoru had her all to himself the day before. It just wasn't fair.
He figured that she probably got sick from hanging out with his brother. Kaoru was infected with his germs and probably got to close to Haruhi, and now she was ill.
'Wait that doesn't make any sense, she couldn't have caught it that fast.' He thought to himself. The puzzle pieces began to fall into place as he analyzed the situation. '
He didn't catch it until now because our parents kept us apart. He was exposed to a low amount of germs all weekend. She couldn't have gotten sick this quickly unless he kissed her or something.'
Hikaru sat up straight, 'He didn't!'
Meanwhile back at the Hitachiin mansion, Kaoru was laying in bed, sick out of his mind, but he was happy. He didn't care that he was coughing up a lung, he got to kiss Haruhi.