PLEASE READ: Thanks to the new reviewers! Also, I STRONGLY encourage you read the prequel, "A Fresh Start", since it takes place before this story begins. It'll explain any confusing things you notice between Sakura and Kaoru :D

Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran High School Host Club.

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Kagura tapped one foot crossly as she sat at Mori and Hunny's table. She was more then fed up with the brotherly love act; as a twin, it creeped her out more then most other people.

Smoke lay curled in her lap, sleeping peacefully as she drew her fingers through his fur absentmindedly as she scanned the room.

Sakura was, as usual, at Hikaru's and Kaoru's table. Where else would she be? Kagura thought, somewhat bitterly. Sakura hadn't glanced in her direction once; her eyes were fixed on Kaoru.

Sakura's found her happily ever after. Kagura thought with a sigh. Her eyes strayed to Hikaru, who wasn't paying any attention to her. But where's mine?

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Hikaru was definitely milking the sprained ankle for all it was worth.

He and Kaoru regaled the clients with the story of his accident (they made it sound heroic, somehow) and it always ended with the brotherly love act.

Hikaru had refused crutches; they were uncomfortable and, he wouldn't admit it, he kept falling in them. So he sat in a wheelchair. This was his third wheelchair; he'd broken the other two by racing Kaoru to class in them and smashing into desks.

So now Kaoru's got to wheel me around since Mom won't let me have another electric one. He thought with a scowl. That reminded him. Kaoru had to stay after the Host Club today and meet with his math teacher; his grades were slipping again.

He wondered who he'd get to wheel him around with Kaoru gone; he didn't like pushing himself around; it made his arms ache.

So who will the lucky girl be… he wondered, tapping his chin as he scanned the room for a likely candidate. His clients would trample each other for a chance to push him around, so they were out. He didn't want to cause a riot. He looked at Haruhi hopefully.

Maybe she'll do it!

After the Host Club ended he had Kaoru ask Haruhi for him; he was too chicken to do it himself. He watched his twin go, then switched his gaze to Haruhi. He gauged her reactions carefully; a smile as he greeted her, then an annoyed roll of her eyes. Finally, she nodded and walked over to him.

"Kaoru asked me to wheel you to your limo." Haruhi said, grabbing the back of the chair.

"Thanks Haruhi." He said, leaning back in his chair, hoping to catch a whiff of her girly scent.

"You're heavy." She grunted as she pushed him down the hallway, and he glanced back at her, suddenly wishing he had just wheeled himself. She was just a girl, after all.

Still, he would take any chance at being alone with her.

Wait, he was alone with her.

"Feelings will never be known until you voice them." He recalled both Kaoru and Kagura's words clearly. His heart hammered in his chest as he wondered frantically what to say.

This is your chance! Just tell her! You've got nothing to lose, and everything to gain! He took a deep breath and asked Haruhi to stop. She did and looked down at him curiously.

"Haruhi, I need to tell you something." He took a deep, steadying breath. His hands felt shaky and sweaty; he hurriedly clasped them together to hide the tremors from her.

"Hikaru, are you sick or something?" Haruhi asked worriedly, pressing the back of her hand to his forehead. He closed his eyes at her brief touch, soaking in the softness of her hand.

"No, I'm fine." His eyes snapped open. "Haruhi, I just want to say I… I…" He couldn't finish his sentence and he stared down at his hands.

Darn it, why does she have to confuse me so much?! I always know what to say to other girls; why should she be any different?

"Go ahead, spit it out." Haruhi smiled slightly at his nervousness. Hikaru thought he was going to explode.

"I love you!" He blurted out, then his hands flew to his mouth, shocked and horrified by what had just come out.

You idiot! That wasn't the right way to put it! Now she's going to think you're a loose lipped fool!

Haruhi stared at him, her eyes wide with shock. Hikaru held his breath, waiting for her response.

"Hikaru… I'm sorry, but I only like you as a friend." She finally said, her eyes and voice gentle and regretful. Hikaru's face was deep red as he nodded. "OK. Forget I said anything." He muttered, fighting the urge to either kill himself for admitting it or crying over her rejection.

You're a Hitachiin! Hitachiin's don't cry! He told himself repeatedly as Haruhi went back to push him.

"No, I'll do it." Hikaru snapped, grabbing the wheels and pushing himself forward. Haruhi said nothing, and she didn't come after him as he wheeled himself down the hall, wanting to be as far away from her as he possibly could.

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Kagura looked around the stark blackness and sighed. Looked like Hikaru's nightmares were back.

But why didn't he look for Haruhi first? She wondered, looking around for Hikaru. She spotted him sitting in the center of the blackness, his arms curled around his legs, hugging his knees to his chest.

"Hikaru?" Kagura called cautiously, stepping closer. He raised his head and stared at her.

"She doesn't love me." He said bleakly. Kagura looked at him in horror. "You told her?" She asked gently, sitting down beside him. He nodded.

"Yeah. She just wants to be friends." He said weakly, his voice shaking. "Oh, Hikaru, I'm so sorry." She murmured, wrapping an arm around him. He put his head on her shoulder and let out a long sigh.

"Now what am I going to do?" He wondered aloud. "Learn to love again. There are other girls out there." Kagura said. Hikaru sighed again. "But there's only one Haruhi." He muttered.

"Trust me. You'll find another girl, one you'll love just as much, if not more." Kagura murmured, rubbing his back soothingly.

"And she'll love you back, with everything she has. You don't deserve anything less." She said quietly. Hikaru smiled up at her. "Thank you, Kagura." He said gratefully before putting his head back on her shoulder. Kagura sweat dropped. In girl code, she couldn't have been clearer about her feelings for him. In guy code, however, she probably couldn't have been anymore vague.

Stupid boys. She thought with a scowl. She couldn't really blame him though. His mind was probably still on Haruhi.

Poor guy. She thought sadly. Rejection from the one you loved was probably the worst pain there was.

He'll get over it in time. And when that day comes, I'll be right here waiting.

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The next morning, when the alarm blared in his ears Hikaru rolled over and buried his head under the pillow.

"Hikaru… time for school…" Kaoru muttered sleepily, making an effort to get up. "I'm sick." Hikaru groaned. Kaoru took the pillow off his face and pressed the back of his hand to Hikaru's forehead.

"You don't feel warm." Kaoru said, looking down at his twin. Hikaru stared up at him. "Just tell Mom and Dad I'm sick, please?" He begged. Kaoru sighed. "The Lord won't be happy with you." Kaoru warned, getting up.

"I know. Make up some sob story of how I fell down the stairs or something. Make him feel bad so he won't be mad." Hikaru suggested before he rolled over and went back to sleep.

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Kagura waited patiently until the Host Club before finally approaching Kaoru.

"Where's Hikaru?" She asked as she sat as his table, taking a bite of a piece of chocolate cake.

"His ankle was bothering him a lot this morning so he stayed home." Kaoru explained. Kagura narrowed her eyes. He was obviously lying; was she the only one who noticed that?
Smoke swished his tail, indicating he had noticed too and she scratched him behind the ears, sighing softly. Obviously Hikaru was playing hooky; he was avoiding Haruhi.

Avoiding your problems isn't going to make them go away. She thought irritably. That was Kagura's style; she confronted her problems head-on. She despised people who avoided them to make things easier.

Smoke fixed a piercing eye on her and she mentally rolled her eyes. Yes, she was being a bit of a hypocrite since she still hadn't told Hikaru how she felt.

But that wouldn't solve anything. She thought briskly. He's still in love with Haruhi; that'd only make things worse. She decided. Smoke blinked and looked away, still unconvinced.

I'll have my chance with him… someday, but not today.

The next chapter will be up soon! Please review; the more reviews, the faster I'll write!

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