I dedicate this special 'Double Digit Chapter' toooo...-'HSS'-!! Congrats, girlfriend! D

To my anonymous reviewers: I can't reply to you guys! Cause there's no way to write to you! But I really thank you as well as my signed reviewers, for reading this story and giving your opinions on it. I LOVED your reviews in every chapter, some even made me laugh! D So arigatou gozaimasu. You also keep this story going.

Anyways...heh heh. I'm back! Miss me? Ohh I hope so...cause I missed updating! Gosh, its been like...a whole week! oo Damn school...-shakes fist at sky-

Alrighty, without further ramblings from me, here's the big double digit!

Dead Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran High School Host Club.

Prologue to Chapter 10:

You know...if we weren't twins...I'm sure things would be easier.

I don't understand why I love him. Want him. It's...wrong. Shamed upon in society. I don't know what it is. I feel like...I'm sick, loving my own brother more than...a brother.

I just can't understand why whenever our skin brushes, whenever he holds me close in our 'acts', that my blush is real and that I'm filled with desire for more. I want more than Hikaru pretending to romantically take an interest in me. I want Hikaru to do more things to me than are fit for our fan girls' eyes.

It's tainted, me thinking these thoughts. It's torturing me, how much I want him. But...what else can I think about?

I love him...and that's not going to change anytime soon.

Chapter 10: -The Rivalry Commences-

"Ah, Kyoya, why did we have to cancel the Host Club for that tutorial?" sighed Tamaki, stretching his arms high in the air as the students began filing out of the classroom. Only he and Kyoya stayed behind, as the Mom of the Host Club scribbled a few remaining thoughts on a piece of paper.

Kyoya looked up at his blond friend, smiling and nudging his glasses up the bridge of his nose with his straight middle and index fingers. "Yes, we did. You need to focus more on learning the content of the class." [[A/N: Hah! Sounds like my problem...))

Tamaki frowned at him, lowering his arms, hands on his lap. "Kyoya..."

"Hmm?" His eyes averted to his piece of paper, he only gave Tamaki half his attention.

"How would you ask someone out on a date?"

Kyoya blinked behind his glasses, genuinely confused by the question. Tamaki asked a lot of silly things, but that was by far the stupidest. "Tamaki...we're hosts. We don't need to KNOW. We just...do." Kyoya shook his head, bending back over his notes. "Now are we using this time to study, or discuss the behavior of girls and men?"

Tamaki shrugged. He rubbed the back of his head and looked towards the window, letting out a frustrated sigh.

Kyoya's eyes rose to Tamaki's face as a thought struck him. "Why should you ask me?" he asked suspiciously.

His friend grinned. "Because I'd like a second opinion. I've never really done it before."

"You're really strange. If this is about Janine, then—"

"No, no, it's not about Janine," Tamaki assured him with a laugh.

Kyoya gripped the pen harder. "Then...who?"

Tamaki looked down at his hands. "That's...why I wanted a second opinion."

Kyoya paused. Sighed. He pushed his chair from his desk, the legs scraping the wood floor, standing up to his tall height. A grin still on his face, he peered down at Tamaki—innocent, vulnerable Tamaki—with glinting eyes. "She'll never say yes," he stated.

Confused, Tamaki tilted his head to one side in question. "What?"

"Haruhi," Kyoya growled, feeling his temper rise. "Why do you always have to act so oblivious? Why are you asking me how to ask her on a date? Do you really think she'll say yes?"

Tamaki frowned up at his best friend, whose face was clenched with anger. "Why do you…"

"Stop trying to read me, Tamaki," scoffed Kyoya, turning his back to him. "It won't do you any good."

"Are you that jealous of Haruhi?"

"No." If he used a firm voice, maybe his perceptive friend wouldn't figure it out. He couldn't figure it out. Even if Tamaki realized Kyoya's situation with his father and brothers, he couldn't assume Kyoya's feelings for Haruhi. No one could.

No one would.

Tamaki stared at his friend's back, letting out a small sigh, his eyes sad. There was a pause.

"You know…that I'll keep trying, Kyoya," said Tamaki in a quieter voice, fingering the spine of his notebook. "I'm not one to give up because someone said no, and someone else objects to it."

"And she's not one to bend," said Kyoya, giving Tamaki a side-glance.

"Bend? I don't want her to." Tamaki stood, wiping his blonde fringe from his violet eyes and smiling. "If I forced her into dating me, that wouldn't be enjoyable, would it?"

Kyoya turned, raising an eyebrow at him, face expressionless. "What do you mean?"

"Well, if one wants to drag Haruhi into something, there's two flaws involved with that plan: one, she's impossible to sway, and two, if you make someone do something because you want to, then what's the point in that? Everyone's miserable if you do." Tamaki finished this explanation with a cheerful smile; as if he were discussing nothing but what he did at lunch that day.

Kyoya chuckled. "That's hypocritical. Why are you making her stay in the Host Club, then?"

Tamaki's smile disappeared; he looked at him with a surprised gaze. "Wha…?"

"Don't you realize she's sacrificing time she doesn't want to sacrifice? That's why she does homework more than hosting these days. She needs the free time we're asking of her to do her own things."

"She…doesn't like the Host Club?" asked Tamaki, his frown deepening. He thought back to the day he was speeding on the highway in Éclair's car, when Haruhi was talking to him from the carriage as it sped freely on.

Even I…love the Host Club, she had said with a smile, holding out her hand towards Tamaki, for him to grasp. He had felt happier than he had ever felt that year when she said that: like all his efforts weren't for nothing. That someone he cared about did like the Host Club that he had established, that it was the right thing to do. He had clung onto that hope.

But maybe he was fooling himself. Maybe it was one of Haruhi's deceptions to make him come back, because someone else told her to.

No…Haruhi didn't deceive.

Tamaki shook his head at Kyoya's words, letting out a light laugh. "I trust Haruhi," he said. "If she wanted to leave, she'd tell us." His face snapped into a cold scowl in Kyoya's direction. "That's all we're saying on the matter."

Kyoya flinched at the hatred in Tamaki's face. Coughing into his fist to cover up his surprise, he replied, "As you like."

Tamaki bloomed into a smile once more. "See you tomorrow, Kyoya!" he called as he stood, grabbed his books, and walked from the room.

Kyoya stared after where Tamaki left, a smile tugging at his lips. "Damn him, he's right," he sighed. He turned his head towards the window. Maybe…there's another way… he thought. His eyes softening, he averted his gaze to the desk, finding that his hand was drawing unimportant [random designs onto his notes.

I should just ask. Ask her…if she returns my silent feelings…

Tamaki slowed his walk, frowning down at the ground. "If Haruhi didn't like the Host Club, she'd tell us. Tell me. It'd be obvious. She wouldn't keep it bottled up inside…."

She doesn't show her problems so not to bother others, said Ranka in his mind. [[A/N: said when they were in the supermarket))

Tamaki's eyes widened. She…hates the Host Club?

A flock of birds flew past the window as the bell tolled. Tamaki turned his head towards the sun, low in the sky. His eyebrows clenching, he realized the answer to his questions was to ask Haruhi himself.

With a purpose in his steps, he walked down the hall, his footsteps striking the marble floor and echoing across the empty space.

If she's unhappy, I want to help her, regardless if I like her in the Host Club or not.

Only she matters.

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On the other side of the Pancake…

Haruhi turned the heat underneath the pot down to simmer as she looked over at her open notebook, frowning at a complicated algebra problem. "What…how do you do that? Oh, no wonder I failed the maths test!" she cried, balling her fists and beating them across the counter.

A strong knock met her ears. She frowned, turning towards the door. Who could that be?

She wiped her hands on her short apron tied around her waist and walked towards the door, careful to avoid the broom lying across the floor. Unlatching the door, she opened it and peeked through. Her eyes widened. "T-Tamaki-senpai?" she stammered.

There her senior and King stood, dressed in his regular clothing (a white sweater that hung loosely around his thin frame, jeans, and casual flip flops) his hair swept across his face by the gentle wind. He beamed at her. "Konnichi wa, Haruhi!"

"Chotto…Konnichi wa…" She blinked at his sudden arrival. "I wasn't…"

"Expecting such a handsome man at your door?" asked Tamaki, striking a pose, flipping his hair from his face and smiling his priceless, lovely smile that captured the hearts of the 60 of the Ouran High School girls.

"Um…no…"

Tamaki shrugged, shoving his hands in his pockets. "My visit is a bit unexpected, I agree. But!" he added as she let out a frustrated sigh, "I just wanted to see you outside of school hours!"

Giving him a blank look, she asked, "Why would you want to do that?"

"Because I want to be best friends!" he replied, smile never failing.

"Okay…" She shrugged and turned, walking out of the narrow entrance way so he could get through. "Come in, I guess."

Smiling, he chimed, "Thank you, Haruhi!" Stepping in, he flicked his sandals off near the other shoes. One of them landed on top of Haruhi's. "Should I…?" he began, pointing down to the ground.

[Kaoru: AH!

Hikaru: Kaoru? What's wrong?

Kaoru: EVEN TAMAKI'S SHOE WANTS TO MOLEST HARUHI! IT'S ON TOP OF HER SHOE! –raises index finger and shakes head- I would not want to be in that shoe's place right now.

Tamaki: You bakas…! -clonks his fists on their heads-

Author: -sweat-drop-

"Doesn't matter WHERE they land," Haruhi shrugged. "Everything's disorganized in here. Just come in."

He brightened. "Okay!" Practically bouncing into her apartment, he smiled at the cosy atmosphere, glad to be in her house once again. He turned to look closer at what she was wearing; her apron and baggy shirt that looked a bit worse for wear. "Were you cleaning?" he asked.

"Yes, I was." She had already walked over to the counter, flicking on the fire under a teakettle. "I'll pour you some tea. I have some left over from when I made it a few minutes ago."

Tamaki nodded, looking around the house. "Haruhi, you keep it really clean," he said in an appreciative tone.

Haruhi turned and frowned. "What?"

"The house. You keep it clean. I bet it's as clean as my own mansion, and I have 10 maids to clean it. And there's just you. That's a big accomplishment!" He smiled, clasping his hands behind his back and rocking back and forth on his heels as she gave him a small grin.

"I don't clean that well. Just enough to live without clutter." She turned, setting the teacup onto the table as Tamaki sat down on one of the cushions. "There. Now, I have to continue—" she began, starting to turn back to the kitchen area.

"No, sit down!" Tamaki took her wrist and pulled her down on the opposite side of the table. "You need to rest!"

"But…I have homework…"

"Homework?" Tamaki blinked, tilting his head to one side. "Why?"

Lines of irritation appeared under Haruhi's eye as she clenched her fists that were resting on her lap. Her mind travelled back to the twins' description of Tamaki cramming in the homework from the day before, two minutes before class started. That's right…he probably doesn't even know the meaning of the word.

"Because it was assigned to me in class and I have to finish it by tomorrow," she replied, rubbing her sore temples as she closed her eyes.

With a smile, Tamaki propped his elbows on the table, leaning forward. His tea that sat in the middle of his arms rippled inside the cup. "Don't you think you're worrying too much about it?"

"I'm not worrying too much about it," she protested with a small frown.

"That's all you were doing at the Host Club today, Haruhi," Tamaki said, his smile fading. "Homework. Don't you have enough time at home?" he asked, his face holding concern.

Haruhi shrugged, trying to appear as carefree as she could on the subject. "I have a lot to catch up on."

Tamaki asked her, "So…the Host Club is taking up your free time?"

"What?" Haruhi frowned, confused. "Taking up my free time?"

Tamaki nodded. "You always want to study. Would you rather do that than host?" There was a pause as she stared him in confusion. He sighed deeply and hung his head. "You…can be honest, Haruhi."

Haruhi stared at him, her face blank. Taking up…my free time? She frowned as she reflected on the last quiet weeks in the Host Club. "Well…no…it's not, not really…"

Eyes shining with hope, Tamaki slapped his palms on the table and leaned forward on his knees, searching her eyes for any trace of encouragement. "Really?"

"Then again, you asking me on date after date IS distracting me from my studies…"

Tamaki fell flat on his face as an arrow of rejection smacked him in the head. "O-Oh…" he said in a strangled whisper.

"Why do you ask, Senpai?"

Tamaki looked up, blinking. "Why?" he repeated.

Haruhi nodded. "You don't usually ask those things."

"Ah…" Tamaki frowned at her for a moment, then broke into a smile, straightening. "No reason, really. It's just nice to know that one's subjects are serving their King full-heartedly."

So it was for his own selfish reasons? Haruhi thought with an irritated glance in Tamaki's direction. "Oh."

Tamaki tilted his head in a thoughtful way, as if observing her. She frowned. Deciding she didn't like the gaze, she stood, announcing, "Daijyobu, ari—"

"I know!" Tamaki interrupted, smacking his fist into his palm. "Let's play a game!"

"A…a what?"

"Isn't that what friends do?" asked Tamaki innocently. "Play games with each other?"

"Uh…" Little does he knows those words can be taken in many ways…she thought as a spontaneous blush flamed her cheeks.

Snapping his fingers, Tamaki exclaimed, "Yes! You can teach me how to play a commoner's game! Like…" There was a pause as he thought. "You can instruct me on how to play that trick when you wind the strings between your fingers!"

"You mean…cat's cradle?"

"Yup!"

"Um…" Haruhi frowned, hesitantly looking over a the stove.

Tamaki's smile grew devilish. "You don't want you?" he challenged. "You'd rather clean?"

"…yes, I would."

Feigning hurt, Tamaki whimpered, tapping his teacup with a 'wounded' paw, his eyes shaping like a puppy's. "Onegai?"

Haruhi shook her head, beginning to get irritated once again with this meddling rich, spoiled King.

Tamaki, seeing this, took a new approach. Tapping his chin, in a thinking stance, he said, "I have an idea. If you teach me how to play a commoner's game, I'll help you clean. How's that?"

"…do you even know…how to clean?"

"Don't worry! You can teach me that, too!" Tamaki chimed. A black sign zoomed across his chest, with the pink-lettered words 'Solution for Everything' writ on it.

Why me…? Sighing, she nodded. "All right, all right. But it has to be quick."

So from that point on, for the next half hour, Haruhi attempted how to explain cat's cradle to Tamaki. It came out as a failed mission of course, with Tamaki getting his fingers tangled into the string constantly—so they cleaned. This proved to Haruhi to be easier to teach.

"Haruhi, Haruhi, am I doing it right?" asked Tamaki, proudly wiping the cloth back and forth across the window after spraying Windex onto it [American product in Japan. Hah.

Haruhi dared to grin. "Yeah…for an amateur."

"An amateur?!" he yelped.

Haruhi giggled, turning back to this dishes she was washing. Tamaki smiled and sprayed more Windex onto the window.

Silence consumed the house except for the clanking of dishes and running of water; until Haruhi asked, "So…you live alone?"

Tamaki frowned, turning to look at her. "Yeah, I do."

"Isn't that…lonely?" she kept her back to him, knowing that his eyes were penetrating her.

Tamaki chuckled, spraying more Windex onto the window. "Yeah, it's lonely. Big mansion, no one in it but me and a few other servants. Some people would think it enjoyable, but…it's too quiet."

Haruhi nodded. "Was it…quiet in France?"

Tamaki smiled, looking up at the blue sky through the clean window. "No. I would always play piano to Oka-san, when she was in bed with another fever."

Haruhi frowned down at the dishes, stopping from cleaning them. "O-Oh…"

A few seconds passed. Haruhi knew this because of the clock's ticking that filled the silence. Before she could think, Tamaki was beside her, placing the Windex on the counter.

Haruhi blinked. "Y-Yes, senpai?"

"Good luck with your homework, 'k?"

"Um…okay…Are you leaving?"

Tamaki shrugged. "Yeah, I think that's best. You seem occupied with other things. I really shouldn't have barged in." He ruffled her hair in a playful way, grinning. "I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?"

Haruhi frowned at his sudden departure. "Um…Bye," she stammered as he wedged his feet into his shoes. He gave her a small wave before he disappeared through the door.

She turned back to her sink, clenching the counter with anger. "I should never have asked him those questions! My mouth always runs away with me…"

With a sigh, she turned her eyes back to her homework. She realized that the Windex Tamaki had placed onto the counter blocked her vision. Since the blue cleaner was somewhat clear, she could see the magnified numbers through the liquid.

After a moment of standing at the sink, sudsy bowl in hand, frozen with thought, she said to herself, "If 5 is the value of x and 8 is the value of y then what is the answer to the equation that amounts to…huh?"

Damn it, I still don't get this.

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"Kaoru?" Hikaru called from where he was burrowed under the sheets, protecting himself from the cold. "Are you coming to bed?"

Kaoru peeked out from the bathroom door, a toothbrush stuck in his mouth, the toothpaste forming around his mouth. He nodded, disappearing again. The water was switched on as he spat. "Just coming, Hikaru…"

Hikaru frowned. His brother sounded different. Tired. After a few moments, when his twin wasn't coming through, he flung the covers from his shivering body and walked into the bathroom. "Kaoru?"

Kaoru stood, palms on the sink's marble counter, leaning against it, head lowered. "What?"

Immediately Hikaru knew something was wrong. In one swift motion, he was behind his brother, wrapping his arms around his waist and resting his head on his shoulder. "Kaoru," he cooed, "what is it?"

"Just tired," Kaoru lied with a fake yawn.

"Are you too scared to come into bed with me?" Hikaru asked, a sneaky tone creeping into his voice.

A frown flickered across Kaoru's face. "No…" Scared? Is that why I'm standing here, refusing to leave my own bathroom?

"Come on, then," Hikaru beckoned, taking his brother's hand and leading him out of the bathroom. Kaoru hesitated.

"C'mon, Kaoru, its freezing!"

Kaoru nodded, letting his brother guide him to bed. They both sank into the covers. Sighing, a wave of relief washing over him, Kaoru snuggled against his brother. He felt comforted in his brother's arms, safe. Nothing could penetrate him.

"What are you thinking about?" Hikaru asked with a grin, as Kaoru buried his head into the crook of his neck.

Kaoru shrugged, giving his brother a bland answer. Hikaru wouldn't understand. He wouldn't understand that every time Hikaru poked fun at him, or made a joke about Kaoru's feelings to Hikaru, it stung. Badly. Haunted Kaoru. The question hung in the air, torturing him, tearing him apart: Does he love me as much as I love him?

Hikaru sighed. "Well, Kaoru, if you won't tell me…" Reaching over, he clicked off the light on the bedside table, turning his back to his little brother. "G'night."

"Goodnight…Hikaru."

I never tell him anything anymore. Why am I always so silent? Kaoru, shivering from cold and fear, wrapped his arms around Hikaru, burying his face into his brother's [bare back. Hikaru's skin [shirt was warm against his icy cheek.

It's all Haruhi's fault. He only thinks about her. Dreams about her. Not about me anymore. I'm second below her.

He clenched Hikaru's arm tighter, his body tensing. If Haruhi was all Hikaru thought about…then…He bit his lip, shivering harder against his brother.

Don't leave me, Hikaru. Don't leave me for an outsider.

Review, guys! Love ya all! x -KuroHinote