A/N: I'm back. Sorry about that. I took some time off for the holidays with the exception being the Christmas story. Then needed to catch up on a story I hadn't worked on since early November. Yikes. Hopefully things have settled down and I can get back to my normal updating schedule. Enjoy the new chapter!

Chapter 14 – Relationship Status

Leaning over her new fiancé, Haruhi kissed Kaoru's forehead and brushed his bangs back, reveling in her new found status. This was the only man she could ever see forever with as more than a friend, and this was the only man she had ever been in love with. Sure she had loved, had her crushes, but her feelings for Kaoru were always there, strong, and sure.

"Well, this is an interesting turn of events," Kyoya stated from the doorway to the small emergency room where Kaoru lay, a smile on his lips as his eyes settled upon the couple in front of him. While he had hoped they would confess and come to some sort of agreement about their relationship, even this surpassed anything he could have imagined happening this quickly – especially when one of them was seriously ill.

"Kyoya!" Haruhi jumped. For some reason she thought he had returned to the others after showing her where Kaoru's room was located. It was more than apparent to her that he had heard their entire exchange, or at least enough of it to know the two of them were newly engaged.

The Shadow King pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and said, "We leave you alone to deal with a problem and return to find that you have confessed and he has proposed. My, my. It boggles the mind that it took as long as it did since he has been home less than a day, is sick, and only admitted his feelings to you today." The small smile and glint of amusement tapered the sarcasm flowing from his mouth.

"Kyoya, it's not like…"

He raised his hand to stop her, "I know. Did you forget who I am? I have known about your mutual feelings for a while now and I was beginning to wonder how long it would take before something happened."

Her eyes darted to her fiancé and she spoke softly, "I wasn't sure if he was going to come back to Japan and with Hikaru…"

"Hikaru has known of his brother's feelings and only wishes you happiness. As for not returning, why ever would you think that?"

"Huh?"

He tsked her, "Very unladylike."

"No, I mean…he had talked about staying in New York at one point."

"I believe that was when he had first arrived and before certain other admissions."

"What do you mean?"

"Let's just say, he had to make his own decisions about what would stop him from something he wanted."

"You act as if you know everything."

"Naturally."

She sweat dropped as she gaped at her bespectacled friend, "Um, yeah." Of course, this was Kyoya Ootori, no matter the secret, he always seemed to find out anything and everything. Nothing was safe from him…not if he truly wanted to know.

He briefly glimpsed at the unconscious Kaoru before returning his strong gaze to Haruhi, "I don't think he would have been able to stay away. Now, transport is on their way and we need to allow them space and time to get Kaoru up to his room and situated. You can see him again shortly."

She stood up and bent down to whisper in the patient's ear, "I love you." After a kiss to his cheek, she followed her friend out of the room. Before they left the craziness of the ER, she stopped him and asked, "Can you not say anything to everyone?"

"Why?"

"I just think it would be better if Kaoru and I could tell everyone together. I…I don't know how he wants to handle this or anything. It all just happened."

"I see no issue with this request."

She deadpanned, her words muttered under her breath as he left her standing there and exited the ER, "Request? It's my engagement."

As soon as she joined Kyoya and the others, her friends pounced. Tamaki hugged her and shook her demanding to know how his son faired. Her father wanted to know how she was doing and if she thought she might be coming down with something. Hunny appeared on the verge of tears as he asked if Kaoru was going to be all right. And Hikaru…he seemed a little standoffish and removed from the group. His twin, his best friend, and the person he had spent every second of his life since conception with was sick in the hospital and not only could he do nothing, he had been unable to see him yet. Even Haruhi could see how hard this was for him.

He had to be her priority. Walking up to him, she put her hand on his shoulder and squeezed, using that little bit of pressure to grab his attention, "I know this will sound pathetic, but he is doing all right and we'll be able to see him in his room soon."

Hikaru could only offer his friend a half smile and nodded, "I know." His eyes found hers for only a moment before he turned and stared out the window he had been looking through when she approached, "How is he really doing? Maybe if I would have stopped him…" His voice trailed off.

"I don't think you could have. He knew he was sick and still refused to stay home. You can't be responsible for his idiocy."

Without turning, he snorted in mirth, "That's true. Did you knock some sense into him like you tried to do countless times to us during our Ouran days?"

"I make it my policy not to hit sick people," she counted, a hint of laughter in her voice.

Hikaru turned and stared at her for a moment a smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he said, "Just sick in the head?" His eyes travelled to Tamaki who stood with the others watching the exchange with rapt attention. It almost appeared as if Mori and Kyoya were silently forcing Tamaki, Ranka, and Hunny to stand back so that Haruhi could speak to him. Almost because Kyoya was doing nothing but writing in his small black book on one side of the aisle and Mori stood on the other side with his hand on Hunny's shoulder; and yet, no one was moving from the spot, as if they knew if they moved one inch, they would end up in a dungeon somewhere.

Haruhi's gaze followed that of Hikaru's and she snickered, "Maybe."

"Mommy, can we go over there now?" Tamaki's attempt at a whisper resulted in the entire waiting room hearing him.

"Tamaki, do remember where you are and what the situation is," Kyoya sighed knowing that even with this reminder, it would only take his best friend a couple of minutes before he would forget again.

"This is why you will never be good enough for my little girl," Ranka rolled his eyes and shook his head. In all the years he had known Tamaki and the hosts, the blond had yet to grow on him.

"B-B-But…" Tears started to fill the former president's eyes as his head whipped back and forth between Ranka and Kyoya, silently pleading with his best friend to defend him. "I love Haruhi! I just want what's best for her and…"

A malicious and maniacal grin appeared on Hikaru's face, one reminiscent of high school, "So boss, does that mean you're going to try and steal her away from my brother?"

"Tama-Chan, you wouldn't do that, would you?" Hunny turned sad eyes upon his younger friend. He looked at his cousin, "Takashi, Tama-Chan wouldn't try to come between Haru-Chan and Kao-Chan, would he?"

"Mitsukuni…" Mori wasn't sure how to respond exactly. In the shorter man's eyes, he could see that he wasn't being serious, and yet, he wasn't exactly sure what his cousin's plan was.

"I wouldn't do anything to break them up!" Tamaki whined.

Whipping around, Hunny's facial expression grew a little darker, "Good. Just remember that."

A shiver of fear paralyzed the taller blond momentarily. Why did everyone think he would try to separate the new couple or why he would attempt something to sabotage them? And then he heard…

"You're so easy, boss!" Hikaru guffawed.

"Huh?" Tamaki stood there confused.

"And now I know where she gets it," Kyoya shook his head disappointedly.

"What?"

Giggling, flowers appeared around Hunny and he said, "We know you wouldn't." Again his expression turned serious, "But if you did, we would make sure you were dealt with severely." Once again smiles and flowers, he said, "I'm so happy Haru-Chan and Kao-Chan are together!"

"Together? Wait…how did you guys know that we're together? Just because there was a fever induced confession and…uh…stuff, does not mean we are together," Haruhi argued.

"Are you denying it, Haruhi?" Kyoya gave her a knowing grin.

"No! That isn't the point!"

"Then what would be the point?"

She could feel all eyes on her, demanding to know exactly what the relationship status between she and Kaoru. "We're together, it's just that everyone here was just assuming we were."

"Your stalker also made mention that you told him you had a boyfriend," Kyoya told her thoroughly enjoying her uncomfortable state.

"He did? Well, I told him that so he would leave me alone!" She stopped and then narrowed her eyes, "What happened with him? Is he still breathing?"

"He is indeed. Although, he won't be conducting any more business using the Morinozuka name. In fact, he won't be conducting any more business in Japan ever again."

The evil glint in Kyoya's glass cover eyes gave her the chills and she took an involuntary step backwards, right onto Hikaru's foot. At his yelp of pain, she spun around, "Sorry!"

As Haruhi was apologizing to her friend, a nurse walked up to Kyoya and told him, "Ootori-sama, the patient is being transported now and will be in room 1214 shortly. Once he is settled, you will be able to visit him." Haruhi recognized her as the same nurse who had refused to let her in the back earlier.

"Excellent. Thank you." To his friends, he said, "Shall we start making our way upstairs?" Kyoya knew everyone would rather hurry up to the floor instead of lingering even if they would not be allowed in the room for several more minutes.

Time seemed to slow down after they got off of the elevator and made their way to Kaoru's room. The nurses were hooking his IV up and getting his vitals before they would allow his friends in. Haruhi just stood there leaning against the wall, exhaustion settling in. It felt as if an eternity had passed since Kaoru had shown up at her door sick and demanding to see her, her father dragging him inside. So much had happened since then: a confession, a kiss, another confession, and two marriage proposals. If nothing else, she would definitely remember this day vividly…and she hoped to never repeat it again. The fear that gripped her when she saw the blood, the uncertainty over his condition, and the helplessness at not being able to snap her fingers and make him better. She didn't want to ever experience this again. Yes, some parts of the day were filled with hope, love, and happiness, but it was the other parts she could do without.

"Haruhi, they said we can go in," Ranka gently told his daughter. He could see the exhaustion and relief catching up with her due to her adventurous day.

"Huh?" Her glassy eyes looked upwards at her father and she tried to process everything he was saying. It took a couple of seconds before it registered, "Oh, ok." She took on step and slumped to the floor.

"Haruhi!" Ranka's exclamation rang through the hall capturing the attention of the other hosts.

Tamaki rushed to her side, "Haruhi, what's wrong?!" His eyes searched for his bespectacled friend and when he found him, he asked, "Mommy! What's wrong with her?"

"Get away from her. She doesn't need you breathing down her neck," Ranka ordered.

"My guess would be that she is suffering from exhaustion and relief. Give her some space," Kyoya told him before squatting down beside her. He felt her pulse and while it was slightly erratic and faster than normal, it wasn't completely out of the ordinary considering everything she experienced today. "Any problems or issues?"

"No. I'm fine. Really. Just a little tired," Haruhi answered shirking away as Kyoya shined a light in her eyes.

"She'll be fine. Mori, could you please carry her into the room. She needs to sit down and rest."

"Shouldn't she be given her own room and bed?" Tamaki asked quietly.

"She's not sick. She is exhausted and needs rest, and while I will admit that it would probably be better for her to return home, staying beside Kaoru will probably reassure and relax her more than going home for the time being."

"But…"

"Tamaki, I'm fine!" Haruhi declared and with Mori ready to catch her at any moment, wobbled into her fiancé's room and took a seat next to his bed without help.

"Mommy…"

Kyoya pushed his glasses up, "Enough…daddy."

"Yes, mommy."

An hour later, Haruhi had fallen asleep using Kaoru's bed as a pillow, her hand holding his, and Kaoru woke up. His eyes scanned the room and found several pairs of eyes looking at him. It wasn't until Kyoya told him that Haruhi was next to him that he looked towards her chair and smiled, "I guess I need to give you your ring."

"EH?" Several voices yelled unaware of the real relationship status between the two.

His eyes searched for Ranka and found him gaping. "May I have her hand in marriage? Sorry I already asked her," Kaoru mumbled groggily.

"Yes, but..." With his approval given, Ranka noticed a smile had formed on the younger man's face and he had promptly fallen back to sleep.

"Does this mean that Haru-Chan and Kao-Chan are engaged?" Hunny questioned.

"It appears so," Kyoya smirked.

Hikaru narrowed his eyes, "You already knew about this."

"I walked in on the proposal earlier," he answered. "The question is will either of them remember that they are indeed engaged once they wake up. Haruhi probably will, but Kaoru..."

Grinning, Hikaru nodded, "He will. It's something he's wanted for a while. He'll remember he asked, but I can't promise he will remember all of the other things that have happened."