Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran. It belongs to Bisco Hatori.

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"Talking"

Thinking

Y is for Years

The air was filled with smells. Rain, damp ground and grass, and dirt. Freshly turned dirt. Thunder rolled overhead, and soon there were murmurs of apology, sobs of sorrow, and he found himself nodding as they were uttered. He watched as the crowd of people disappeared into the fog, and the sound of engines filled his ears.

A hand gently touched his shoulder, and he turned, taking in the sight of his long time friend, "You should go home, get out of the rain. She wouldn't want you to be sick."

"You're right Mori. I'll go now." Kyoya said with one last look at his wife's new grave. The years had passed, and a week ago, his wife Haruhi had succumbed to the cancer that had spread through her body. She died peacefully in her sleep. He lightly touched the gravestone. "Goodbye, Haruhi." He said.

Mori and Hani escorted him to the limo. "We'll see you tomorrow." Hani said, his wizened hand tightly gripping the cane he required to walk. "Get some rest, okay?"

"I will. Thank you Hani." Kyoya told him. "Driver. Take me home now."

The pair watched as the limo drove off, the rain soaking them to the bone. "Takashi, I'll be in the limo." Mitsukuni told him. "Take as much time as you need."

He nodded and turned back to the freshly dug grave. "Haruhi." He said, as he carefully knelt next to the headstone. "I remember the first day I set eyes on you." he traced the words on the polished, wet marble.

"I can still see it." He said, his voice shaky. "You had that look about you, as if you would take the world by storm, and devastate all who stood in your way. You did, too, in a way. Tamaki was madly in love with you, you know. Oh he hid it well, but I could see it. The twins loved you as well. But you fell in love with Kyoya, and your smile on your wedding day was so beautiful. It lit up the room. No one could take their eyes off you. I know I couldn't.

"Haruhi, did you know that back then I would have done anything to have you look at me the way you looked at Kyoya? Yes, I loved you. I still love you, and I will love you until the day I breath my last. You may be wondering why I didn't tell you…well…it's simple. I could stay away as long as you were happy and taken care of. If you weren't, I'd have swooped in and rescued you as I used to all those years back in high school." Takashi spoke wistfully. "As it was, everyday I saw you was a blessing, something heaven sent. I know I'm not that talkative, and you didn't care. You would have the same one sided conversations with me, just as Mitsukuni does. I knew you understood me, and that though you didn't love me as you did your husband, that I was a comfort to you. I'm glad I could be there for you, even if you haven't needed my protection since you graduated.

"You were an extraordinary woman, Haruhi, in many ways. You helped the people you could, and wept for those you couldn't. You took on more than any sane human being could, and still came out of it with a smile on your beautiful face...I admire your strength. I couldn't have gone through so many tragedy's and still been able to smile. When your mother died of cancer, when your father was killed in an accident...being on your own at eighteen is a terrifying thing. But you did it, all with that stubborn smile." Takashi said, his voice breaking. "I will miss you dearly. I'll miss your smile, the way your eyes lit up, and yes, even your blunt way of stating your opinions so that, even now, Tamaki hurries to his little corner. I love you so much...but I have to go now. Mitsukuni's arthritis will be acting up, and I should get him home to Reiko. I'll come back soon, I have so much more to confess...but for now..." He laid a single dark blue rose, his signature hosting flower.

He never knew why they kept up the tradition of the flowers, even after all these years. There were full bouquets of Red, Violet, White, Pink, Blue and Orange, that represented the love the original hosts had for her, but he left only one. The others would say he wanted to stand out from the others, to make a better impression, but only he and Haruhi ever understood this. She hated overly excessive things, so a single rose was perfect. It showed how he felt for her, and also his restraint.

"I won't say goodbye." Takashi said. "Because I'm going to see you again someday, and maybe when I do I'll tell you how I feel in person. But until then," He kissed his finger, and pressed it to the cold stone. "I love you."

Takashi turned and made his way slowly to the waiting limo. He'd taken longer than he should have, but Mitsukuni and Reiko would understand. They were the only ones who would. They would keep his repeated comings and goings from the cemetery a closely guarded secret, just as they'd kept his love for his friends wife a secret for seventy-two years.

One, two, then three years passed before another member of the once illustrious host club passed on. This time it was Kaoru. The next was Hikaru, six months after. Tamaki died then, a year after the twins. Mitsukuni was the next, that was the hardest, until there were only he and Kyoya remaining.

Through the years, every week, Takashi would visit Haruhi's grave. He always left a single rose when he left her, telling her he'd be back, and refusing to say goodbye each time. One winter, about six years after her death, when Takashi was on one of his weekly visits, he was in the middle of talking to her, when his chest constricted tightly, and he felt a sharp pain in his left arm. He winced, knowing his time had come, and that his own death was imminent. He reached for the bag he'd brought with him, and pulled out a single dark blue rose.

"This is the last time I'll visit your grave, Haruhi. I'm sorry I couldn't say more to you, though I'll see you shortly." Takashi said as he struggled to set the rose against the icy headstone. "I love you, as I always have been. I'm going to tell you soon."

A dark shadow loomed over his kneeling body. An old hand came down and took the rose from his struggling fingers, and set it properly against the marble. When it withdrew, a tired voice said, "I knew, you know."

Takashi looked up at Kyoya, confusion mixing with the pain on his face.

Kyoya was looking past him, at his wife's grave. "I knew you loved her. I'm sorry." he said. "You never married, did you? Were you waiting for the moment when I would die, so you could have your chance?"

"No." Takashi said. "I knew she loved you. I never wanted her to be anything but happy. That's why I never told her."

Kyoya considered his words for a moment before speaking. "When you see her, tell her I'm fine. I don't plan on dying any time soon though, so take care of her for me until I meet you all in paradise."

"Kyoya..." Takashi said.

"Goodbye, Mori." Kyoya said as he heard his breathing become raspy.

"I won't say goodbye..." He struggled to say. He was now slumped against the headstone. "I won't say it..."

Kyoya smiled. "See you soon, then, old friend."

Takashi smiled as Kyoya turned and lifted the cellphone to his ear. He briefly wondered why his vision was becoming blindingly bright. He heard an enchanting laugh, and looking up, he saw Haruhi, standing in the light, waiting for him. She was young, and a small smile broke out over her face as he walked toward her, no longer slow. He began to run, realizing that his body had become young as well. She opened her arms, and smiled knowingly. He scooped her into his arms, and smiled back.

"I said I wouldn't say goodbye." He told her.

"I know." Haruhi said. "I heard you."

"I visited everyday." He said softly. "Never missed a Sunday."

"I know that too." She laughed. "Thank you for the roses. They were lovely."

Takashi smiled. "I love you." He said.

Haruhi smiled. She leaned up, and kissed him gently on the lips.

When she pulled back, she opened her mouth to reply to him, but he pressed a finger to her lips.

"It's okay." He said. "I know."

Authors Note: This one was a bit harder to write, as I don't think I've written something like this before. Thank you for reading. As always, please review and let me know what you think. The last one is coming soon. Please leave me a review telling me what it should be, because I have no idea.

~Kiera