Chapter twenty five:

"This is all so crazy." Haruhi whispers to Kaoru who nods.

"Yeah. Crazy." Kaoru turns and walks away which catches Haruhi's attention.

"Kaoru. You don't need to worry. I know Kyouya has this." Haruhi tries though Kaoru keeps walking making her frown. She follows after him more focused on being worried about her friend. She follows him away from the set and she spots him turn a corner. She goes after him though when she turns the same corner she doesn't see him anymore. She takes note of all of the hiding spots Kaoru could be using. She can see equipment of all kinds here that provide the hiding spots. She supposes that it is possible he wants alone time. She feels that as a friend she needs to be there to help and support her friends especially in tough situations. She moves further into the area checking around a few of the equipment. "Kaoru? You know you can talk to us. You're our friend." She keeps going and looks up just before she checks around a covered piece of equipment when she sees a man. She doesn't recognize the man standing at the end of the hall. She supposes that this man could be someone working here who might be curious at what she is doing here.

"I'm sorry." A whisper so quiet that it almost sounded like it was the wind who was apologizing.

Haruhi doesn't get another moment as suddenly her eyes widen at the sudden sharp pain of being shot in the side of the head. She falls to the ground and quickly blacks out as she lays there on the floor. Her head resting on an increasing puddle of blood on the floor. Her last breath being a momentary gasp for air before her breath vanishes for good.

With the task done Kaoru comes out of hiding by the covered equipment Haruhi was standing by. He looks down to her at his feet staying away from the pool of blood. He can see her face gaining red from the blood. He feels some remorse for shooting his brunette friend, especially when they all thought that she was going to make it out of this situation alive. He wonders if there really was a chance for her to survive this or if she really was doomed from the start. He looks up upon hearing some footsteps heading his way.

Calm and serious footsteps.

Kaoru quickly pushes down his remorse to look more calm as he also puts his weapon away.

The man who had been standing at the end of the hall approaches Kaoru and he makes a few claps once close enough. "Well done trainee. You have shown that you are ready and willing to continue. We have a position for you. Come with me." He starts to turn though he notices Kaoru look back to look in the direction that his other friends… And his brother…. Are in. He sighs heavily. "You really think they want to see you after you just killed their friend?" He questions which causes Kaoru to turn to look to the mentor standing there with him. "They'll get you arrested. They'll know that it was you. It is time to let go Kaoru. Time for you to move on away from them."

Kaoru takes a heavy breath and nods softly knowing that the mentor is correct. He'd get in so much trouble by his friends as soon as they find out what he has done. He follows the mentor as they head through the building until they exit out leaving it all behind.

"Don't worry. You will have a new position and everything." The mentor informs him as they walk towards a parked black car. "Everything will be taken care of. Look forward to your graduation."

"Graduation?" Kaoru questions and the mentor nods.

"Yes. I suppose we didn't tell you. But you've proved that you will choose to kill someone rather than lose your own life. You are ready to become one step above the trainees. And you did it so well. The graduation is just you getting to stand before the higher ups and they present you with the new rank. That's all. Then you'll be ready to take on missions. This time you'll have access to a board of jobs for your ranking that you can take as your job. Even notifying the one there to manage the jobs at that part. Some things will still be monitored though look ahead at things. You're moving up in the ranks."

"I suppose so." Kaoru gets into the car with the man and is driven away.

"Karou?" Hikaru calls as he has gone to look for his brother wondering just where he could have run off to. He takes a turn only to freeze upon seeing a figure laying on the floor. He rushes over skidding to a stop and his eyes widen as he sees that it is Haruhi… Who has been shot! "Haruhi!?" He gently shakes her and gets no response. He rolls her over and listens for a heartbeat… Only to hear none… He pulls back with a heavy gasp upon learning this. "Kaoru…" He glances around though he sees no sign of his brother. "Kaoru!" He carefully moves around Haruhi's body and rushes around calling for his brother. He hurries out an exit and frantically looks around though there is still nothing. His legs tremble as he feels panic shoot through him realizing that Kaoru must have left after killing Haruhi. His eyes become blurry and he collapses to his knees with his hands trembling. He flops his head down sobbing a bit until he manages to gain some of his composer. He gets up with wobbly steps. He hurries back into the building and rushes to where the filming has just ended.

"Thank you for your interview."

"It was no problem." Kyouya turns and sees the panicked Hikaru so he heads over. "Hikaru? What happened?"

The others come over worried as well.

"H-Haruhi…. Haruhi is dead." Hikaru stammers out as his voice starts to sound lost to him.

"Take us there." Kyouya demands and they follow Hikaru to Haruhis dead body, bringing the other members to tears. He checks her neck for a pulse and sighs softly as he brings his hand back to his side.

"Kaoru is gone!" Hikaru forces out knowing that they need to know this.

"He probably took off thinking that we would hate him for what he has done." Kyouya turns Hikaru with the glare of the lights on his glasses hiding his eyes. "I am pretty sure he did seem very skittish from my own observations. It is possible that he was being followed or forced into it. He probably felt like he had no other choice."

"Poor Kao-chan." Hunny sobs as he cuddles in Mori's arms.

"Such a tragedy." Tamaki sobs with his head hanging low.

"I will take it upon myself to tell Haruhi's father about the tragedy." Kyouya informs them.

"And the host club will be willing to help with funeral costs." Tamaki adds.

Later…

"I am sorry for your loss." Kyouya informs Ryoji Fujioka.

"N-No." Ryoji starts to tremble with tears appearing in his eyes. He flings himself towards Kyouya and grabs him by his shirt. "You're lying! Bring back my baby! Bring back my daughter!"

"I am afraid there is no way for me to do so." Kyouya can understand since Haruhi meant so much to her father. He lets him cling to him sobbing while he stays calm. "We will be helping with the funeral costs. If that's any comfort." He doesn't really get a response from the crying father.

The day of Haruhi's funeral came upon them so quickly.

Hikaru approaches the casket wearing a nice suit. He looks down his friend who had been cleaned for her burial. He's glad that Kyouya got the authorities to allow them to bury their friend; especially after revealing the group of assassins to the world. He swears that she now looks so peaceful. He bites his lip as tears go down his face. "I'm sorry." He whispers softly to the body laying before him. "I'm sorry we weren't able to save you. And now Kaoru is gone too. I don't know where he is. I'm scared for him." He turns away and opens his eyes only to blink as he swears he sees his brother in a hoodie looking in through the window. He heads out the front door dashing to the location only to skid to a stop as he doesn't see Kaoru there. He looks around and he notices that the dirt is disturbed as if someone was standing there. He looks around for a little bit before guessing that Kaoru must be gone again. "I forgive you." He speaks to the empty space hoping that his brother can hear him. "I really miss you. I love you brother." He turns away and heads back into the church.

Kaoru peeks around a tree to watch his brother leave. "I'm sorry. I love you brother. Goodbye." He turns away and dashes off leaving the area as quickly as he can.

The end.