Title: Simple Words

Word: Love

Dedicated to my fiance. Whom I love so dearly. Who can stand my friends, my habits, and strangeness. My muse who daily give me inspiration.

There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved. (George Sand)

It's strange how love can change a person so much without them realizing it. Love can melt even the coldest of hearts. Love can break even the most seemingly impenetrable walls. Love. The one thing you try to avoid so you don't get hurt but always finds you, some times at the worst of circumstances.

Why love if losing hurts so much? We love to know that we are not alone. (C.S Lewis)

He tapped random keys on his lap top, watching from over the screen as she delivered tea to one of the ladies. She did it so gracefully, it seemed as if it were a form of art. She must have felt his stare because she quickly turned to look at him, but his were glued back to the screen before him by the time she did. She went back to serving tea, and he continued typing. What was this hold she had on him? He was the Shadow King. Such a thing shouldn't happen. And yet he couldn't fight the emotions he felt every time she was near.

He kept his face clear of all emotions. He was meant to be cool. Calculating. Undefinable. She was a commoner with a debt who would run for the door the minute it was paid. Nothing more. And yet when he actually looked at what was typing, it was her name. Over and over.

The heart has its reasons which reason knows not of. (Blaise Pascal)

She felt his stare from across the room and did her best to ignore it. But temptation got the best of her and she looked in his direction only to catch him avert his eyes. He continued typing. She sighed and picked up the empty tea cup heading back towards the kitchen for cleaning. While many might think he was selfish, calculating, manipulative (he was the shadow king after all), she knew better. He actually had a rather kind heart. If it were not for the twisted way he showed it, others would know too.

Though ever since their accidental kiss three days before, things had been odd between the too. They had before shared many interesting conversations which she enjoyed so much. It good to have some one to talk to who, despite her blunt ways, understood. But now, every time she spoke to him, he would avoid conversation by stating he was busy and if another time would do. As stone faced as he was, it did not hide the slight blush that would from time to time creep onto his face. Barely visible, but still there. She also couldn't help the blush that tainted her cheeks when she thought of his warm lips upon hers. The way his arms felt around her.
She looked back at him once more. He glared at his computer making her laugh silently to herself as she refilled a cup of tea and returned to her post.

If love is the answer, could you rephrase the question? (Lily Tomlin)

His best friend loved her. It was his duty to step aside and let his friend be the one to make her happy. Love. Such an odd thing. He never believed it was possible for him to love some one that wasn't his sister. But that was all together a different sort of love. He always believed he would just end up with a girl he didn't know, didn't care all that much for, just because of the benefit it would bring for their families. But this girl, this commoner, had some how wedged herself into his heart while he was unaware. Now he couldn't do a thing about. He had kissed. Felt horrible. It was as if he were betraying his friend. It haunted him now every time the blonde would ask him what was wrong.

"Kyouya, I brought you some tea."

She set it down next to his hand which had stopped typing who knows when. She smiled at him when he looked at her. He wanted to smile back, but his friend was right behind her, asking her to help fix his tie. It felt wrong some how. This wasn't rational thinking at all. This was very unlike him.

"Thank you, Haruhi." He went back to typing.

Better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all. (St. Augustine)

He avoided looking directly at her. Why? She couldn't understand. As one by one the hosts left, she stayed behind to clean up as much of the mess left behind as she could. Sure the maids came in the morning, but it wouldn't do to have stains on the pretty cups, so washed them before she left. Soon, it was just the two of them. Usually at this time they would have their usual conversations about anything while she cleaned and he figured out the day's earnings. Today they worked in akward silence. She could feel his eyes nearly drilling holes into her back. When she looked, he looked away. The quick tapping of his fingers on the keys helped to make the silence much less unbearable for her. After a few minutes though, the typing stopped and she heard him bang his hand on the table and the sound of glass shattering.

She quickly turned to look at him. He was staring at the wall on the opposite side of the room, saying nothing, doing nothing but staring. The poor tea cup lay in pieces on the floor beside his chair. She dried her hands and went to pick up the shards of glass.

"Why?"

She looked up at him. He was still staring at the opposite wall. Stone faced as always.

"Are you okay Kyouya?" He said nothing and she went back to picking up the pieces of glass.

Love is the difficult realization that something other than oneself is real. (Iris Murdoch)

He looked down at her picking up a broken tea cup right by his chair. When had she gotten there? Why was the tea cup broken? He grabbed her shoulders and brought her up with him so they were looking directly into each other's eyes. The pieces in her hand fell. She knew the look. He wasn't happy about something.

"Why?" He said again. "Why won't you stay out of my head?!"

She looked at him, confused. "Im...sorry?"

He stared at her a moment before pressing his lips onto hers.

Soul meets soul on lover's lips. (Percy Bysshe Shelly)

Just as warm and sweet as the last time. She closed her eyes returning the kiss. When they pulled apart she saw a mixture of odd emotions in his eyes she had never seen before.

He couldn't just betray his friend the way he just did. She wasn't his. He turned and walked away, out of the third music room and into the hall.

"Kyouya! Where are you going?" He heard her say.
He turned back to see her leaning against the open door of the music room. Why did she look so sad?

"This isn't fair to Tamaki. He loves you. You'll be happiest with him." He said.

"But I don't love him, and it isn't for you to decide who I should love." She replied. "I love you."

"You what?"

"I love you Kyouya."

There stood there in awkward silence for what seemed like an eternity with her looking at the ground, a blush painting her cheeks. Had she just admitted she loved him? Then she felt his warm arms around her, pulling her towards him.

"I love you Haruhi."

She smiled at him and this time, he smiled back and kissed her gently on the lips.

Why was it that love was so hard to understand? It causes irrational thinking and for people to be so unlike themselves. It makes two people feel as if they are in a whole other world, different from those around them. But despite how confusing it can be, love is one of the greatest gifts to give, and to receive.

We are shaped and fashioned by what we love. (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)

There is no remedy for love but to love more. (Henry David Thoreau)