Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran High School Host Club. All rights belong to Bisco Hatori. I own Kimiko Lee-Itsuzuki and further characters.

CHAPTER 11

Kimiko took a long sip of her now chilled tea before shyly glancing in Haruhi's direction.

Said girl was wiping away stray tears. Haruhi held out her hand, offering her handkerchief.

Reaching up, Kimiko was surprised to feel a slight wetness that wasn't there to begin with.

Nodding her thanks, she accepted the cloth and blotted her eyes.

No words were spoken and no noise was heard throughout the room save for the occasional sniffling.

Some time passed before Kimiko lazily rose.

"I should be going; It's getting late."

Haruhi stood and followed her to the genkan.

She stopped her friend in the doorway.

"Whatever reason you have for keeping away that story is yours. Thank you for sharing it with me." She spoke softly and gathered Kimiko into a hug. "Would you like me to walk you home?"

"Iie", Kimiko pulled away, wiping her eyes with her sleeve, "I'm okay, thank you. Thank you for having me over." She bowed and smiled.

Her first real smile.

Black hair swished as the young female journeyed to her apartment.

Her tears turning from heartache into bliss.

Notes: Sorry for the late update and extremely short chapter. This one goes out to all those who've reviewed. I continuously read them over and over again to help me get through the days. I cannot express my pleasure in writing. So thank you.

Korean:

N/A

Japanese:

-Genkan: Genkan are traditional Japanese entryway areas for a house, apartment, or building—something of a combination of a porch and a doormat. The primary function of genkan is for the removal of shoes before entering the main part of the house or building. Genkan are often recessed into the floor, to contain any dirt that is tracked in from the outside (as in a mud room). The tiled or concrete genkan floor is called tataki. Upon entry, shoes are usually turned to face the door so they can be slipped on easily when leaving or placed into a getabako. After removing shoes, one must avoid stepping in the genkan in socks or with bare feet, to avoid bringing dirt into the house. Once inside, generally one will change into slippers, or shoes intended for indoor wear. Genkan are also occasionally found in other buildings in Japan, especially in old-fashioned businesses. In schools and sentō (public baths), genkan are equipped with shoe lockers or cubby holes. -Wikipedia

-Iie: No