Author's Note: Part two of Tanabata. The main focus is Kaoru; however, there is some Hikaru/Haruhi. Next chapter will be more focused on Hikaru. Also, it's popular for the bamboo and decorations from tanabata to be either set afloat on a river or burned after the festival.
Disclaimer: I still don't own like anything.
~...~
Chapter Twenty-Nine.
~...~
"In all honesty... I want to know the truth from you..."
The pause between the next time Kaoru spoke towards Miranda felt like an eternity. Miranda stared blankly towards the lake, leaning up against the tree. The distant sound of a train could be heard. Kaoru took a deep breath, "The articles Miranda... is it true that you've been with the prime minister's son?" A breeze flew through the air and touched Miranda's hand gently. Her eyes were fixated on the water, which now had a reflection of the moon in it. Her heart tugged with a bit of pain, while a sad look appeared on her face. She still stared at the water, trying her best to not look at Kaoru. Kaoru, however, watched every aspect of her. He wanted to know what was going on. She allowed herself to release a small breath, "It's all true."
Kaoru stared at her. He wasn't sure what to say next. He had so many thoughts running through his head... so many questions, yet... the shock of the answer being true bothered him. Something inside of him pestered him, yet he wasn't sure what it was. He then stopped looking at her and gazed out at the water.
After several moments of silence, Miranda spoke up, "It's perfect, isn't it?"
Kaoru continued to stare out at the water, "What is?"
"The moon's reflection in the water."
Kaoru just nodded and blankly stared. They continued to be silent.
~...~
Haruhi and Hikaru spent two hours wandering the street's festivities. They genuinely were just trying to enjoy themselves. After the two hours had past, Hikaru placed his right hand on her left shoulder, "Haruhi... can I show you something?" Haruhi turned towards him and nodded, "Sure Hikaru."
Hikaru lead Haruhi towards a small dock, there, canoes were available for rent. Hikaru paid a man who worked there. He then lead Haruhi into the canoe.
Once inside the canoe, Hikaru rowed to the center of the lake. While he was rowing, he noticed that Haruhi's attention was on something. He could tell that she was in deep thought. Once he stopped rowing, he saw her gazing at the water. "Haruhi?"
His voice cut her thoughts, "Yes?"
"Are you alright? You seemed to be zoning out..."
"Ah... I was thinking..."
Hikaru nodded, "That was obvious... but... at times... it seemed as if you were sad..."
Haruhi forced a smile towards Hikaru, "Say Hikaru..."
"Hm?"
"I want to thank you for all your hard work on the wedding dress."
Hikaru's eyes glazed over, he could feel his heart starting to drop, "Ah... well... it was nothing..."
Haruhi looked at him with an undescribable look, "You spent all that time making the dress and..." Her eyes began to get wet.
"Haruhi?" He moved a bit closer to her.
She looked at the bottom of the canoe, "I feel bad."
Hikaru was completely confused, but continued to listen.
"Regardless of how gorgeous that dress is... I can't wear it."
Hikaru's eyes widened. He wondered if it was wrong of him to make the dress afterall. It was the only thing that he could really give her. He stared off at nothing in particular, "Oh... It's... ok Haruhi... I can understand that you want a different designer's dress..."
"NO! It's not that Hikaru!"
Hikaru was startled by her sudden loud response, "Eh?"
Haruhi quieted her voice, "I can't wear the dress because I'm not getting married."
Hikaru's eyes widened with surprise, "Wait... WHAT?"
Haruhi couldn't bring herself to tell him again.
"You... you're not getting married? H-how did this happen? EH?"
Haruhi was silent for awhile, then finally answered, "I don't love Tamaki like I used to. It would be unfair to marry him with these feelings of mine..."
Hikaru watched Haruhi and nodded, "It's ok Haruhi."
Haruhi shook her head as tears began to roll down her eyes, "I HURT HIM HIKARU! I didn't want to, but I know that he's not ok! Even though he claims that it's alright... I... I feel horrible!"
Without thinking, Hikaru grabbed Haruhi's wrist and pulled her towards him, bringing her into a hug. He looked up at the moon in the sky, "Haruhi, it's alright. No one blames you... It's actually best that you broke up with him before you two got married. I'm sure that Tono undestands."
Haruhi clenched his shirt with her hands. They stayed in that position for awhile, until Haruhi stopped crying.
~...~
After a long moment of silence, fireworks began to burst into the sky. The area surrounding Kaoru and Miranda became flooded with a huge crowd of people. Miranda then broke her gaze from the moon's reflection and looked at Kaoru, "Kaoru."
Kaoru looked at her, "Yes?"
She gave him a sad smile, "I'm going to be heading back to America tomorrow."
Kaoru stared at her. He didn't have any words. He wasn't sure how to react.
Miranda continued to speak, "Before I leave here... I have to tell you the truth."
Kaoru slowly nodded and continued to listen to her.
"Everything that I did was to help your career. I know that... that it's a strange way to enhance your career but... I... I needed a way to get Seul JanDi out of the spotlight."
Kaoru had a bit of a disappointed look on his face, but he still didn't comment.
"It was originally your mother's idea. I agreed to it. I know that I didn't have to, but she told me all the benefits that would come out of it."
Kaoru let out a deep breath, "It's the money, right? You did all of this because Mom paid you well..."
Miranda took a few steps forward, enough that she invaded his personal bubble. "That's not true!"
Kaoru stood still, staring right at her, "Then what is it Miranda? I never considered you the type of woman to sell yourself so cheap!"
Miranda's eyes began to puff up, "You're an idiot! You should know the reason by now!"
Kaoru frowned, "Well I don't know the reason."
Miranda took one more step closer to him and forcefully kissed him. She then took a step back, "It's because I've been in love with you for awhile now!"
Kaoru blinked a few times. He always knew that she liked him. He even teased her about liking him back in America, but for some reason, he just couldn't grasp the whole concept of her liking him. She was always there as a friend. Someone that he confided in. The sudden kiss stunned him. He didn't dislike it, but he didn't like it either. He couldn't describe anything in that moment.
Miranda then turned around, "Anyways, I'm leaving... The only reason that I came to meet you was solely because I needed to tell you that I'm leaving and that I'll stop bothering you." She began to walk away.
As pink fireworks illuminated the air, Kaoru finally rushed after her. Grabbing her arm and forcing her to face him.
Miranda tried to get out of his grip, "What?"
Kaoru looked at her sadly. Her eyes were red from crying, "Miranda... you don't need to go back to America. You can stay here..."
Miranda shook her head, "There's nothing in Japan for me."
Kaoru glanced down, "I'm here."
Miranda turned away from him and got out of his grip, "Just because you're here doesn't mean I should stay!"
Kaoru looked up at her, "But you claim that you love me!"
Miranda nodded, "I do love you! But that doesn't give me a reason to stay here!"
Kaoru was beginning to get annoyed, "You're not making sense! Isn't it every girl's dream to be near the man that she loves?"
Miranda glared towards him, "You're wrong Kaoru! It's painful this way! When you're in love with someone who will never love you back... it's too painful... I... I need to actually move towards the future now... When I get back to America, these feelings will be engraved in my heart... then, I will do my best to make you a forgotten dream."
Kaoru stood still as she walked out of his sight. He thought of what she said. The more that he thought about it, the more he knew that she was right. It was painful for her. It never occurred to him how much pain he inflicted on her in the past. He was so used to her being a friend who was really into him. He never even considered her as date-material. He looked up towards the sky to see multiple colors in the sky with loud booms. It was the first time that he witnessed such a sad-array of fireworks.
As the fireworks continued on, he didn't realize that he began to cry. A strange, bittersweet feeling fell upon him. Suddenly weight was applied to his back.
"KAO-CHAN!" Hunny screamed as he jumped on Kaoru's back, "What's wrong, Kao-chan?"
Kaoru sadly smiled as he looked at more fireworks, "I've just been thinking Hunny-sempai... that's all."
~...~
Hikaru and Haruhi watched the fireworks from the canoe. They both were silent. Hikaru found the moment to be completely precious. Even though Haruhi was crying earlier, he felt happy inside. He smiled up at the fireworks, as if they were a gift from heaven showing him that there's hope between him and Haruhi afterall.
After the fireworks ended, Hikaru rowed the canoe back to the deck and helped Haruhi out. Haruhi smiled towards him, "Thanks Hikaru. I feel a lot better now." Hikaru slightly blushed and shook his head, "It's not a problem... I'm glad that I could be of some help."
"I should probably go find my dad now... he probably wants to do a proper burning of the wish tree."
Hikaru nodded, "I understand. See you around Haruhi." He watched as Haruhi left his sight, then pulled out a small piece of paper that had his wish written on it: I wish for Haruhi to become the happiest woman in the world. He looked at his watch and noticed that it was midnight. He then, placed his wish afloat on the lake. "Kami-sama... Please allow this wish to come true."
