DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Ouran High School Host Club

Warnings: The usual

Enjoy chapter twenty-seven!


Chapter 27

Something was wrong with Izumi, and it was getting Kaoru agitated. He wanted to tell everyone about their relationship, but Izumi kept avoiding his glance for reassurance. Kaoru tried to get his attention by getting in between his conversations with the others, but Izumi just kept talking to whoever it was and completely ignored him.

Then Izumi would try to get as far away as possible from him and create a barrier Kaoru wasn't able to pass through. What's wrong with him? Kaoru thought as Izumi—yet again—walked away when he got close.

It was hurtful, in a way, when that happened. Kaoru felt like they were back to square one, where Izumi tried his hardest to avoid him for a full week after he joined the host club.

But he was fine this morning. Kaoru frowned and looked over at the raven haired, who was talking to Haruhi. Izumi's attitude seemed to have changed completely as soon as they left the house. Why is that?

Izumi saw the frown on Kaoru's face from the corner of his eye, and sighed. He felt bad for doing this, but he didn't want to risk anymore pictures being taken. That's why he was trying to avoid Kaoru, so that she wouldn't know if they were still together. But is this really the right way to approach it?

The deep furrow of Izumi's brows wasn't left unnoticed by the female host. "What's wrong?" Haruhi asked.

Izumi turned his gaze to the brown eyes staring up at his in concern. He forced himself to smile.

"It's nothing."

Haruhi frowned at that. She was about to comment back, when Tamaki suddenly planted himself right in front of them.

"Izumi, come with me!" he exclaimed as he grabbed the raven haired's arm and pulled him away. The boy just followed without a struggle.

Haruhi sighed and looked to where the twins were standing. They had all gone to Zojo-ji, which is a Buddhist temple located near Tokyo Tower. It could be seen in the background decorated with lights. The place was crowded of course, since today is New Year's Eve.

Although the twins were together and talking, the girl could tell that Kaoru was only half-listening as he often glanced over to where Izumi was being dragged off to. She frowned, wondering why it seemed as if the two had a wall around them. Just yesterday they were almost inseparable, sitting alone in the back of the movie theater. Now she noticed how they had barely spoken to each other all day. It was quite a sudden change, from day to night, which made Haruhi worry about them, wondering if they got into a fight or something.

She decided not to interfere—not yet, at least—and watched the two boys from afar. She took note of how Kaoru looked at Izumi desperately when he got close enough. As if he were trying to grab the raven haired's attention. But the boy just ignored him and stuck with either her or—unwillingly—with Tamaki.

That's when Haruhi realized that Izumi was purposely avoiding the twin, which reminded her of when Izumi first joined the host club. He would do just anything to stay away from Kaoru. Then they were forced to sleep in the same room when they went to Osaka. After that, they had been really close ever since. Until today that is. It was concerning, but she didn't want to say anything. For now, she'll just let it be.

Izumi came back with a scowl, muttering insults about the blonde host. Haruhi smiled and laughed a little.

"It's not funny." Izumi growled, ruffling his hair in frustration.

"Sorry." Haruhi said, covering her mouth slightly to hide her smile. Izumi scowled again and crossed his arms over his chest, clearly mad about whatever it was that Tamaki did or took him to.

"Izumi, let's go buy a Hamaya." Haruhi said as she looked over to a lucky charms stand that was crowded with people.

"A what?" Izumi asked, tilting his head at her.

"Demon-breaking arrow."

Still, Izumi looked at her with a confused expression, so she grabbed his arm. "Come on." she said as she pulled the raven haired towards the stand. Izumi frowned but followed either way.

Once they reached the stand Haruhi pointed to the arrow-looking sticks that were placed all over the stand. "Hamaya." Haruhi said, as if it weren't already obvious.

Izumi raised an eyebrow and looked around. He saw how practically everyone at the stand was buying one of the arrows. "It's a good luck charm for a new year." Haruhi elaborated, picking out three arrows and handing one to the raven haired.

He was rather reluctant to get one, but Haruhi's determined face to buy it made him back down. He sighed and paid for his arrow when it was his turn and Haruhi bought the other two she had.

"Why did you get two?" Izumi asked as they began to walk back to where the other host members were.

Haruhi looked at the two arrows she had and smiled, "One's for my dad."

Izumi frowned and looked down at the arrow he bought, wondering if he maybe should have got two more for Ryuu and Liviya. Then he just shook his head. "Does this even work?"

"If you believe hard enough." Haruhi answered.

They went quiet after that and just continued walking to where the crew was waiting. At one point Haruhi stopped walking and looked to the side. Izumi stopped as well, looking at her in confusion. "What's wrong?" he asked.

Haruhi just continued to stare at something. Izumi looked to the side and saw another stand that was filled with less people than the other.

"You want something?" he asked.

"Um." Haruhi frowned and then sighed as she shook her head, "No, never mind."

Izumi furrowed his brows in concern. She probably didn't want to waste any more money.

"Come on." Izumi grabbed her hand and dragged her over to the stand. "Ah no! I really don't want anything." Haruhi said, trying to sound convincing.

They got to the stand and Izumi smiled at the girl. "I'll buy it for you."

"I don't want you buy me anything. It's not important." Haruhi mumbled. Her gaze went over to the things on the stand, contradicting to what she said.

"I'm offering. It's not nice to reject it." Izumi said, in a voice that had the girl sighing. "Fine." she said.

Haruhi looked around and immediately smiled when she saw a sign that displayed some kind of card-like charm.

"I'd like one of these." she said to the middle-aged woman behind the counter.

The woman smiled and picked up a big box and opened it. "What type would you like? We have one for education, money, work, health, family, friends… love." The last one she said in a suggesting voice. Well, Izumi and Haruhi probably did look like some couple, walking together and everything.

"Family." Haruhi said without even having to think about it.

The woman pouted and handed over the charm. She looked over to the raven haired and smiled. "Would you like one, young man?"

"Oh… um, yeah. What were they again?" he asked.

"Education, money, work, health, family, friends… love." She emphasized the word 'love' again.

"Love?" Izumi muttered in a low voice, kind of wanting that one. Maybe it'll help him with Kaoru. But then wouldn't Haruhi be suspicious?

"Oh you want love?" the woman asked in an enthusiastic, happy voice.

Izumi blushed furiously and shook his head. "N-no! Education!" he blurted out.

The woman laughed and nodded, handing over the charm. They paid for it and the woman said, "Have a lovely new year."

As they walked away from the stand they opened their charms. It looked like a plain white card from the outside, both of theirs were like that. But the charm is on the inside where it's supposed to say what type of luck related to the subject you'll have, plus a little black bag to keep.

Haruhi smiled when she read hers. Izumi opened his with a frown. He of course didn't care about what an educational charm had to say. He looked his over and paused. This was clearly not a charm for education. Izumi turned around, and the woman from the stand noticed and smiled at him. She had purposely given him one for love.

Izumi scowled and looked at what the card said.

Love is complicated, but that does not mean it is not real.
Believe in your loved ones and believe in your heart.
Everything will make sense one day.

Izumi doubted that everything will make sense. What's the point of all these goddamn problems piling up and trying to separate him and Kaoru? How was that going to make sense eventually?

He closed the card and dumped it in the plastic bag the woman gave him. It was utterly useless.

Haruhi and Izumi both walked back to where the others were waiting. Tamaki whined to them about leaving him alone. Hikaru was being nosey and tried to look at what they bought.

"Oh I want one!" Tamaki declared as he saw the card charm and the Hamaya they bought. "Yeah, me too!" Hikaru agreed.

"I want one!" Honey exclaimed happily. "Takashi, let's get one." Mori nodded and they both went off somewhere.

"Wait for us!" Tamaki and Hikaru shouted after them, both grabbing Haruhi's arm and dragging her away.

"Hey! Let go!" she shouted, but they didn't listen.

The four left and disappeared in between the crowd of people in kimonos and parkas, leaving Izumi, Kaoru, and Kyouya behind. Though, the four eyed just pushed up his glasses and left as well without a word. Now it was just two left.

Kaoru looked at Izumi expectantly, hoping he would be acknowledged now that they were alone. But the other just turned away, which angered him greatly. Kaoru stomped over to the raven haired and grabbed his arm, roughly dragging him through the herd of people.

"W-wait Kao—Wait!" Izumi complained as he tried to shake him off, but one fierce glare from the auburn haired and he stopped his attempt. He's really mad. Izumi thought in his head. It was no surprise to him.

Kaoru dragged Izumi everywhere until he found what he was looking for. A restroom. He scanned the area to make sure no one was watching before opening the door, and shoving the raven haired in. He looked around to all the open stalls and empty place. Then he locked the door.

Kaoru turned towards the cowering Izumi next, and grabbed the collar of his hoodie, harshly shoving the boy against a tile wall. "What the hell is your problem!?" Kaoru snapped, glaring menacingly at him.

Izumi flinched back and looked to the side, not knowing what he should even say.

"You've been ignoring me all day. What's wrong?" Kaoru asked, his voice rough, showing he was serious.

Izumi frowned in concentration, searching for an answer to say.

"Izumi, look at me."

Izumi hesitantly turned his head to the auburn haired, seeing the concerned expression.

"What's wrong?" Kaoru asked, using a much gentler voice than before. His amber eyes piercing Izumi's with an intense stare, trying to catch any emotion those blue orbs might display.

"Nothing." Izumi mumbled.

Kaoru turned his lips into a deep frown. He stared at Izumi for a while, searching for any indication on the contrary, before sighing in defeat when he found none. He leaned forward and pulled the raven haired closer.

Izumi's heart beat rapidly as their faces drew closer to each other. He knew what was going to happen, and he normally wouldn't protest. But it was dangerous now. He can't risk getting caught like this after what happened this morning, even if they were in the restroom. So he did something that practically confirmed to Kaoru that something was wrong. He placed his hand over Kaoru's chest right before their lips touched, and pushed him away gently.

Kaoru backed away and knitted his eyebrows together, not believing he was actually being pushed away by his own boyfriend.

Izumi instantly regretted his action as he saw the hurt expression on the auburn haired's face.

"Izumi… Why did you…?" Kaoru paused, his words getting caught in his throat. Why did you do that? He thought.

"I… I'm sorry." Izumi muttered turning his gaze away.

There a moment of silence before Izumi gritted his teeth and slipped past the auburn haired. He unlocked the door and left, proceeding to find the other hosts. Trying to forget the feeling of having just made the biggest mistake of his life. And it might have been just that.

Kaoru stayed in the same place, staring at the bare tile wall the raven haired had been standing in front of moments ago. He felt as if this had happened before. It felt like the day Izumi had first started being a host, when he walked past Kaoru in the hallway without even acknowledging him. Or when he rejected Kaoru in Osaka and left their hotel room without a word. Except it hurt more. They were together this time. They were boyfriends. So it felt as if they were falling apart… slowly.

But it was the first time Izumi had done this to him since they started dating, so maybe he was just troubled about something. Maybe. Yeah, he's probably worried about something. Kaoru thought, confirming to himself it was that.

Still, he couldn't help but think about the other probability. He's probably getting tired of me.


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