HEY LOOK AN UPDATE.
I'll just come right out and say it... This is the last chapter, my loves! A ginormous thank you to everyone who has read this far, supported me and gave the ton of reviews. It means so much to me. So please, I hope you do enjoy. :D

Recap: In the previous chapter, the Host Club headed for a beach to relax. The evening before Kaoru's flight, Haruhi decides to confront the redhead about everything on her mind- their relationship, Kaoru's departure, and their baby. Things heated up in more ways than one; while the two were busy, the rest of the Hosts had Hikaru in another room, where he heard every word of the conversation and forced to open his eyes to Haruhi and his twin's real feelings for each other. Now that he could no longer deny the truth, would he face it or continue on as if nothing happened?

"So what now? Now that you know everything, now that things are fair again, what will you do?"

He didn't answer. He just sank to the ground, putting his head in his hands, and for a moment he simply stayed that way.

"All that it comes down to is where you'll be happy. Will you be happy this way, Hikaru?"

~o~

"What do you mean my flight was moved?" Kaoru asked blankly as he stood in the foyer of the Hitachiin rest house.

Kyoya flipped his cell phone shut. "I took the liberty of checking on it for you. It seems there's a dilemma at the airport, and all flights have been put on hold. Yours won't be until 6:30 this evening."

Everyone looked at the clock. It was 7:15.

"But I packed and everything…" the younger mumbled, not really grasping the entirety of the situation.

"Well, that's unfortunate," Tamaki remarked. "But we have to make the best of it, don't we?"

Haruhi's heart was fluttering, but she kept her composure. It wouldn't do to jump up and down… he's still leaving later, she said firmly to herself. "What now?"

"Well, Takashi and I have somewhere to be," Hani replied cheerfully. "We didn't know about this setback, and we had somewhere really important planned, so we'll just have to catch up with you later!" He waved as he hopped up onto his cousin's waiting back. Mori waved at them once before leaving.

"Probably going out to a new bakery close by," Kaoru chuckled. "And… Have any of you seen Hikaru?"

Tamaki shook his head. "Not since this morning."

"He left on an errand early this morning," Kyoya told him.

Haruhi raised an eyebrow. "And how would you know that, senpai? Surely you didn't get up early?"

"Are you implying something, Haruhi?"

"…Not at all."

"Okay," Kaoru began nervously, seeing a glint in Kyoya's eyes. "Does anyone fancy a swim before breakfast?"

~o~

Splash. Splash. Splash.

Haruhi was perched on a rock in the middle of a tidal pool, kicking the water out of boredom. If she was any other person, she may have found her circumstances lucky—Kaoru was here, Hikaru wasn't—but she was Haruhi. She didn't think that way, and Kyoya knew from the way the girl was staring off into some unknown void that she was most likely thinking about when breakfast would be ready.

"A penny for your thoughts?"

"Hello, Kyoya-senpai," she greeted. "Alone? Where are Tamaki and Kaoru?"

"Off having their own little adventure by the sea, I presume," he replied, adjusting his glasses. "You know I'm not the biggest fan of swimming. Apparently, you aren't either. Then again, that could just be because you refuse to dress in swimwear."

"Both."

"I see."

A few minutes passed in which Haruhi grew strangely fascinated with a crab that had settled itself under the water, in the shade of a neighboring rock. Kyoya could play the waiting game as long as she wanted, but he knew there was something bothering her that she would eventually ask about. Even the unflappable Haruhi had her limits when it came to her curiosity about certain matters.

"Senpai."

Aha. "Hmm?"

"Am I being too transparent?"

Apparently, she thought him capable of discerning what she meant. Of course he was.

"Forgive me for answering your question with a question, but… Are you asking for an honest opinion or something you want to hear?" Kyoya countered.

Haruhi raised her eyes up to meet his. "An honest opinion is something I want to hear."

"Touché," he said, a smile threatening to present itself. Haruhi really was something. Not that he just conceived that idea. "Alright then. You're not too transparent. In fact, the problem centers more around their relationship, not the ones they've formed with you. Though I must admit; your addition into the mix makes for quite a problem."

"Gee, thanks." Haruhi sighed into her palms and the two lapsed into silence again for a while before she spoke up again. "This is going to sound selfish, but… I can't marry Hikaru."

"Yes, I think we're well aware of that."

She shot him a look of disbelief. "I thought you said I wasn't being transparent?"

"No, you aren't. But the rest of us aren't really dense, either."

"Oh…" she looked away ashamedly.

"On the topic of your marriage…" Kyoya continued, amusement twinkling slightly in his eyes. "You know it's not a matter of what you can and can't do."

"Fine," she admitted in a much smaller voice. "I don't want to." Gods, damn you for being the Shadow King. Jeez. "But it can't go on like that… I'm worried for the twins. I just want them to get along again. For real, not just for my sake like what they're doing now."

"And to achieve this, you'll give up what you want?"

Haruhi shrugged. "It won't be so bad. I mean… Kaoru will be back after five years. During that time though, Hikaru will be there to be our baby's dad, and I'm sure he's capable enough…"

"And what are you going to do to make up for what you won't have, exactly?"

The girl's eyes flashed. "I'll get over it. Or if I don't, then I'll make the best out of it. Oh God, to hell with me."

Suddenly, Kyoya found himself in the awkward position of trying to console a crying girl.

~o~

"Don't swim so far out!"

"What's the matter boss, you afraid or something?" Kaoru mocked, looking over his shoulder just to see how far behind Tamaki was. Not really much of a distance. In half a minute, he caught up to the redhead, panting slightly.

"So… What… exactly… was the point… of this race?"

Kaoru laughed. "Nothing. I just felt like challenging you to one. I thought you'd be a good swimmer."

Tamaki swept his bangs out of his eyes and glared at his kohai indignantly. "I am a good swimmer, for your information. Japan's national swim team just so happens to—"

"Yeah, yeah. You're good, I'm just better."

Tamaki pouted for a little while, and the two of them just floated about for a while before Kaoru suggested another race back. The blonde was determined to win this time.

Once they were on the shore again, Tamaki all but collapsed into the sand, his legs heavier than lead. Kaoru was in no better condition, but a grin was stuck on his face.

"Wasn't… that… fun?"

"Fun…?" Tamaki spluttered, before clutching his chest. "Ugh, wait… I think… my heart's going… to explode…"

Kaoru sat up and spent a few entertaining minutes watching the Host Club president catching his breath while he tried to catch his own. Finally, Tamaki was capable of speech again.

"I can't believe you and Hikaru used to do that all the time…"

The older boy noticed a slight droop in his companion's shoulders, but he pretended not to notice.

"Yeah, we used to," Kaoru said offhandedly.

"And he could beat you, with the way you swim?" Tamaki asked incredulously, referring to the speed the Hitachiin had demonstrated while they were racing.

"He beat me most of the time," he replied.

"Well, now I know not to accept any more swim race challenges from you two, him especially."

"It's not that he swims way faster than me, really," Kaoru said, a bit more quietly. Apparently the statement wasn't one that was supposed to be said out loud, but he already had.

Tamaki understood in a heartbeat. "You let him win."

He put an arm around Kaoru, who seemed to have put his head back out into the sea. "You've always been looking out for him."

"I'm his brother; his twin. What else was I made for?"

"You exist to live your own life too, don't you think?"

Kaoru shook his head in a you just don't get it sort of way. "I don't have any room to be selfish, boss. I can't see him hurting, especially if it's because of me. Before the Host Club, it was always just the two of us looking out for each other. And when everything's said and done, all we'll have is each other—"

"But you said it yourself," Tamaki cut in. "That was before the Host Club. Before Haruhi, too. Now that you have us, why are you still so worried about being left alone? It's just… not a possibility anymore."

"…We promised to always be together."

"There's no need to break that promise," Tamaki said, looking at his friend. "But being together doesn't really mean being with each other physically, does it?"

Pools of amber widened. Of course the blonde would know that… He would know it more than anyone Kaoru knew. Separated from his mother after he left France… Tamaki had done it for his mother's sake too. Surely he'd understand.

"I have to do this so he can grow up."

"Hikaru wants to grow up," Tamaki said gently. "But to do that, he'll have to realize that not everything comes easy. But if you keep on giving him everything, how is he supposed to find that out?"

After that little speech, he stood up, stretching. "Well, I'll go dry up now. Breakfast's probably ready. Are you coming with?"

"In a bit," Kaoru replied.

"Alright," Tamaki said, ruffling the redhead's damp hair. "Later." He smiled knowingly as he traipsed back to the rest house, leaving Kaoru to reflect on what he had just said.

~o~

"There he is, Takashi," Hani pointed out from atop Mori's shoulders.

The two had gone off to find Hikaru after he ran out of the house early that morning. They saw him now, sitting near the edge of a cliff not too far from the beach where everyone else was. As was with any other time he was agitated, the Hitachiin had his headset slung over his ears with the music coming in at full blast, no doubt. The cousins' hunch was just verified when Hikaru didn't hear them coming until Hani tapped his shoulder. He still didn't turn around, but he acknowledged them.

"Hello, Hani-senpai, Mori-senpai. What's up?"

"Hika-chan, we just came to tell you that Kyo-chan and Tama-chan are doing as you asked… But you shouldn't have run off like that," Hani pouted. "We had to come up with a reason so Haru-chan and Kao-chan wouldn't get upset."

"Oh, they're upset now," Hikaru said, though not as sulkily as normal.

"Hikaru," Mori began in his calm voice.

He sighed and set the earphones down around his neck. "Senpai, don't even start on me. I was up all last night, and I've been here for a while this morning, thinking things through. I really appreciate what you've done."

Hani brightened a little. "So are you okay?"

He gave them a halfhearted grin. "I'll live."

The cousins relaxed. They had prepared themselves for a louder, more aggravated confrontation with the boy, but he had apparently done alright by himself. Mori himself was secretly relieved not to have to recite that speech Mitsukuni had made him memorize while they were looking for the Hitachiin.

"You didn't have to make us so worried, though," Hani said, a little anxiety still present in his voice. "Are you really okay about this? Really?"

"Really," Hikaru said. "Not completely, but… Really."

"Then," Mori interjected. "If you're okay, there are a few people you have to tell…"

Hikaru checked his watch. "I have time to think over how to tell him. Kyoya-senpai already told everyone else about Kaoru's flight, didn't he…?"

A quirky tune began to play in Hani's pocket. "Whoops, excuse me! Someone's ringing…" He fished his phone out of his pocket and took the call. "Tama-chan~! What's—hold on, what? Yes, here—"

The phone was thrust into Hikaru's ear. "Yeah, boss?"

Tamaki couldn't have screamed louder.

"—"

"Wait, what—?"

"—"

"Boss, for fuck's sake, stop spazzing—Ugh, that's it."

Giving up, he gave the phone back to Hani then lifted his arms up as if surrendering. Hani listened for a while, then scrunched up his eyebrows, not getting it either. He handed the phone to Mori.

Mori listened patiently, and after a few more incoherent sentences, he managed to get most of what had happened and almost dropped the phone. Without another word he picked up Hani with one arm and Hikaru in the other and ran for the car.

"Senpai—!"

"We have to get to the airport. Now."

~o~

When they got to the airport, Tamaki, Kyoya and Haruhi were already there.

"What's going on?" Haruhi asked, completely bewildered but sensing the panic the other boys were in. "I thought his flight wasn't until later?"

Hani and Mori went over to console Haruhi while Tamaki and Kyoya ushered Hikaru over to a corner.

"What happened, boss?" Hikaru hissed. "Didn't you say you'd have it covered?"

"Tamaki's talk went through him the wrong way," Kyoya said, taking a folded note from his shirt's front pocket and showing it to the agitated Hikaru.

Thank you for everything,
but I'm sorry, I can't.
Please understand.
Bye~

"I found it in his room after breakfast," Tamaki explained hurriedly, nearly in tears. "I went upstairs to check on him because he didn't come down to eat, but this is what I came across instead. I thought I got him for sure, but he must have seen through it and thought Kyoya was behind it all! What now?"

"We look for him, of course!" Hikaru replied, to the surprise of everyone there. "One of you, please stay with Haruhi! Come on!"

Immediately, the Hosts went in a half-mad scramble to find Kaoru before Kyoya calmly pointed out that the boarding area was that way and not where everyone else was rushing off to. They were almost there when—

"Excuse me!" The personnel were suddenly in their way. "Sir, we don't allow non-passengers beyond this point!"

Hikaru swore at the top of his lungs, earning him a few nasty looks from the other people in the area.

Kyoya tried his best to negotiate with the airport personnel, Tamaki and Mori watching on tensely as the Shadow King put his manipulation techniques to good use. Hikaru paced, fuming, as another announcement for his twin's flight was made. They were going to board. He snarled in frustration.

Then suddenly, he saw something.

In the middle of an adrenaline rush, one's senses become sharper and it's almost as if they can see something even though it's impossibly far away. That's how Hikaru saw a flame of auburn hair in the midst of the crowd on their way to the plane, a long way from where he was standing.

Hikaru pushed over one of the men Kyoya was talking to, jostled past those who tried to stop him, leapt over someone he knocked over, and began running with everything he had.

"Aww… There's only one more cookie left."

"Wanna share?"

He dodged a trolley and almost slipped, but regained his balance.

"Nah, I'm not hungry; you can have it all."

"Are you sure, Kaoru?"

A woman shrieked as he whizzed past, but he paid no attention. Something else was flashing before his eyes.

"I know you want it, Hikaru. It's okay."

"But it's your favorite. Why would you give it to me?"

A man almost hit him in the face, but he didn't care.

"I like it when you smile."

"Haha, Kao. You like it when I smile?"

He was almost there. "Kaoru…"

"Yeah. I'd give you all the cookies in the world, Hika. Just keep smiling, 'kay?"

"Why would you do that?"

"Because…"

He saw the flash of red hair again, so close. "Kaoru!"

"…you're my brother."

He finally broke through.

"KAORU!"

The redhead whipped around, and all he saw was his reflection charging towards him before the wind was knocked out of him by a bone-crushing hug.

"Hika—?"

"You idiot!"

Kaoru pulled away from his twin, completely surprised at what he saw; tears were threatening to spill from Hikaru's flashing eyes.

"Didn't I tell you not to intervene anymore?" Hikaru cried. "Didn't I tell you to just let me do things on my own!"

Kaoru looked on with wide eyes. "I—I know! That's why I'm…"

"Shut up!" Hikaru was practically screaming, oblivious to the crowd that was beginning to stare. "You're only leaving because of me, aren't you? Just so I can get what I want again! Godammit, Kaoru! I woke up already; it's time for you to snap out of it too!"

Being shaken by the shoulders wasn't the only reason why Kaoru found it hard to reply. But Hikaru wasn't done yet.

"Don't leave," he said fiercely. "What's going to happen to Haruhi? What's going to happen to your kid if you go?"

"H-how did you—"

"I'm not stupid. Well, alright, I was. But not as much anymore."

Hikaru gazed at his twin. "You just want me to be happy, right? But I realized… I wouldn't be happy knowing that I got what I want while you got hurt. Ever since then, it's been that way, Kaoru! And I found out that I really hate it! I hate how selfless you become for me, I hate how you always put me first, I hate that it took me this long to figure it out! I'm the older one; I should be looking out for you!"

"…Hikaru…"

The elder dropped to his knees, bringing his brother down with him. He laid his head on Kaoru's shoulder.

"Come back, Kaoru. Marry her. It's okay."

"But you love her," Kaoru said softly. "Why would you give her to me?"

"I won't be happy living with her, knowing that the only reason she's putting up with me is because she's doing it for you," Hikaru said. He placed his forehead to his twin's. "I'm doing this for myself as well as for you. Besides… I like it when you smile."

"Hikaru… Really? Why?"

He stood, pulled the younger up to help him stand and embraced him again. This time, Kaoru was hugging back.

"Because you're my brother."

Their names being cried out from behind them made them both turn around. The rest of the Hosts had somehow made it past the airport staff, and they were smiling up at the two. Tamaki was laughing in relief. Haruhi was being set on the ground by Mori (he carried her as he ran along with the rest), and when she saw what happened, her mouth fell open. She walked towards them.

"Hikaru…" she asked tentatively. He only beamed impishly and gave her the thumbs up. She took his hand and squeezed it.

"I…" No words could be said. "Thank you."

"For what?" Hikaru asked innocently as he placed her hand in Kaoru's.

A/N: Oh my goodness, I finished it. O.O Yes, that's quite it.

Did I get you with the chapter title? xD It was pertaining to Hikaru. Speaking of him, Hika x Haru fans... Please don't kill me. I know this isn't a very satisfying ending. That's why I PROMISE to have a final update up in just A FEW DAYS. It will be the EPILOGUE and the happy, fluffy ending that you guys deserve (and are probably wanting, since this chapter completely just flew up, up and away. xD )

What else can I say?

I already thanked everyone, but really, I can't tell you just how grateful I am. 300+ reviews? You guys rock my socks. You're awesome sauce. xD

I just hope that you can all hang on for the epilogue!

EDIT: Thank you, Mariel of Fantasy, for pointing out that typo. You're awesometastic! xD

I'm not even going to bribe or blackmail you guys into reviewing.
I just want you to know that I totally love
the fact that you even read this far.

*free cookies all around*

XD Reviews would still be appreciated, though. XD