Kaoru's POV

I knew that once Hikaru came back, we could never go back to the way things were. After hearing his frantic voice on his cell phone, I knew…I really knew that "Us" had ended and "You" and "I" had begun.

I don't blame her. How could I? She was a fragile flower; a pure flower. She didn't know what she was crushing. What she was breaking.

I'm happy for my brother. Really, I am. Just now…what's going to happen to me when he moves on…and I don't. He has her now. Who do I have? Hikaru and I will still always love each other, but…I'll have to look for my own "light".

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Narrator

"What do you mean "Father" has died!" Tamaki frantically yelled into his cell phone, causing his precious collection of commoner "Puru Puru! Snacks!" in twelve assorted flavors, to come crashing limply to the floor.

All Kyoya could hear was gibberish into his ear. "Are you referring to yourself or Haruhi's father?" Kyoya asked in annoyance, holding the phone slightly away from his ear. "No, don't bother to answer that, Tamaki. It was a rhetorical question." Kyoya continued, knowing that Tamaki would have blurted out some speech if he hadn't said so. "Why didn't you tell me earlier, Mother?" Tamaki blabbed onward, dancing around, trying to pick up his prized collection of treats.

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

That was all Kyoya could understand, anyway.

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Hikaru's POV

I finally arrived at Haruhi's old apartment. I took a cab and Kyoya arranged it so I could take his private jet. I'd say he was being nice but, hey, I'd be lying. He's probably now going to want a favor from the Hitachiin corporation, now.

It was just how I remembered it, small, paint crumbling off the sides ever so slightly. To tell you the truth, her whole living space was the same size as my nursery. Kaoru had a separate one.

I didn't know what I could say to Haruhi. What could I say to myself if my mom died…if Kaoru died?

I can't imagine how she feels…but at least I can imagine how I do. I…I really do...l-love her. I do. I admit it, okay. Oh fuck. How long have I loved her? It seems like years. Oh, crap, what am I saying? It probably has been years. If Kaoru were here right now, he'd probably be laughing his hair off.

I'm sounding like Mori now in one of his self-help books. He's written a whole series, you know. I think he's just bored of watching Hunny go all over the world to sample deserts for his new nationwide restaurant chain.

Oh crap, oh, crap, oh fuck, oh crap, oh shit. I'm going to ring the doorbell now. Okay, Hikaru. Nice and steady. You're going to go in now.

Oh fuck, I can't do this.

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Narrator

Haruhi, spread across the floor had…well, fainted. It must have been from the shock or maybe it was from all the hard work she had been doing lately. Or maybe it was just because she was so tiny, like the little doll her dad had gotten her when she was seven.

"Haruhi!" Haruhi lifted her head slightly, faintly hearing the loud voice that had called her name.

Thump, thump, thump.

Hikaru's heavy Nike shoes almost flew from the door to Haruhi's side.

"Oh, shit. Haruhi!" Hikaru frantically yelled, wondering what to do. He had never been in this situation before. Okay, so maybe he had been but someone else had always taken care of it.

"What should I do, what should I do!" Hikaru scrambled to the kitchen and started heating a pot of water. His eyes darted, panicky, from Haruhi's limp form and the walls of her house. It hadn't changed much. There was the same picture of Haruhi and her father on the table and the same shrine with Haruhi's mother's picture on it.

A groan admitted from the living room and Hikaru heard that soft, achy voice. The warm, a little less than feminine voice he had grown to love.

"You don't know how to take care of someone in this situation, do you, Hikaru?" Haruhi coughed, slowly getting off the floor. "I'm glad I'm a 'commoner'…"

Hikaru, his face turning red, snapped back, "Shut up!" but then quickly wrapped his strong arms around Haruhi's petite body, "S-sorry," he mumbled, turning redder, "that came out wrong…"

Haruhi, stunned, her big eyes open wide in shock slowly embraced him back, a small smile gracing her lips, "You were always the rude one, Hikaru."

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Haruhi's POV

He came. Hikaru came. Of course I would have probably been alright after a couple of hours but…I really…well, I'm really happy.

Oh, Mother in Heaven, I don't know what I'm talking about.

You know, I should really be talking to you now, shouldn't I, Dad? Yes, how about 'Father in Heaven'?

I know you wouldn't be very happy with this, Dad…but I can't believe what I did either.

I mean, when my Junior High School friends were chattering about their 'first kisses', I couldn't care less. I couldn't care less about a guy who was supposed to be far more attractive than another. I never believed I would care.

Well, Dad…you must be laughing at me now. Savor this moment because this is probably the only time you bested me.

You must already know this by now, but just to let you know in case you actually don't know…

We kissed.

It was kind of strange. I don't even understand why humans find such joy in kissing. Why…why I felt happy, pressing my lips against Hikaru's and sharing saliva and bacteria. I swear I felt his tongue.

How gross.

Then how come I let him…and did I… enjoy it? Ugh, my head hurts.

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Narrator

The dreadful humming of a drill next door woke Hikaru up.

"Is Milord taking us on another commoner expedition again, Kaoru?" Hikaru yawned, shutting his eyes again, trying to make the sound go away. Suddenly, Hikaru froze. This wasn't his bedroom…and…and that wasn't Kaoru, either. Unless he got a gender change…and dyed his hair…and gotten shorter.

"Haruhi!" he whispered, studying the peaceful features of the sleeping girl. A huge blush crept up Hikaru's already red face as he analyzed what was happening.

"Ooh kay…" Hikaru said to himself sinking back into the bed. "I'm in Haruhi's house and I'm in her bed and she's in it…and she's in a sports bra and her underwear."

Now it was Haruhi's turn to wake up. Her gentle eyes fluttered open and stared at the sweating person next to her.

"Good morning, Hikaru." She said, getting out of the bed, leaving the flustered young man next to her getting redder and redder.

"H-Haruhi," he muttered, "W-why are we in the same bed?"

"You mean why were we in the same bed." Haruhi corrected and the looked at him distastefully, "Dad got rid of my bed and you later collapsed on Dad's old bed without having a huge psychological scare, I'm sure!" she said brazenly, causing Hikaru to narrow his eyes with anger, "And I didn't want to sleep on the couch so I'm climbed in here with you. I fainted, you know." Haruhi pushed him from the covers and proceeded to make the bed.

"You mean we didn't…"

Haruhi looked straight into his eyes, her face the mother of calmness, "You mean you're asking if we had sex?" Hikaru blushed even more and Haruhi dismissed the thought carelessly, "I wouldn't have sex with a man unless I was in an un-intimate relationship with him for some time, and I saw we had a future together." Haruhi said but then added with a small smile, "And I'd want him to be awake to remember my first time."

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Tamaki was sure to drag Mori, Hunny, and Kyoya with him to welcome Haruhi back to Tokyo and to express their sympathy for her loss. Kaoru was there welcoming them back when they got off the plane, but of course, he wasn't dragged there.

"Haruuuuuuuuuuuhi!" Tamaki and Hunny wailed, tackling her in a bear hug, "Father is so sorry for his daughter's loss!" Tamaki simpered. Hikaru went to stand near Kaoru while expressing hints of jealousy. Kaoru quietly smiled. Kyoya looked at his watch. Mori gave Haruhi his self-written, self-help book, Volume 2 of the Beauty of Silence: Silence and the Grieving.

Haruhi nodded, stiffly but then finally broke into tears but then left Tamaki's arms and ran into Hikaru's. Hikaru was shocked. Tamaki was hurt. Kaoru, again, quietly smiled.