Chapter 19

KaoruxOCxHikaru

Tuesday I didn't even bother going to the host club. After a long miserable day at school I just wanted to head home. By Wednesday, I got up the courage to actually go to the host club, even though I knew I'd just go to my usual spot and listen to my music again. I started to wonder what my life would have been like had the twins never came into it. I probably wouldn't have come back to Japan after Grandpa's death, and would most likely be living with my aunt until I graduated high school.

What a boring life it would have truly been without them around. And just a week away from them was enough to make me this emotionless. Nothing enthused me; I was just a hollow figure. It wasn't healthy, but maybe love was never meant to be healthy. Fast heart beats, cold feet, sweaty palms, butterflies in my stomach, and a red complexion. All of which didn't sound too healthy to me.

"Chelsea," I heard Haruhi say, as I turned to look behind me.

"Hi Haruhi," I said with my monotone voice.

"Are you feeling okay?" I hadn't noticed, but I was as pale as blank piece of paper, and my eyes had dark circles under them. Sleep hadn't exactly been a luxury lately.

"I'm just tired," I replied.

"Perhaps you should head home," she said.

"I guess you're right." I said lifting myself off the windowsill, and started to walk away.

"Maybe you should stay home tomorrow Chelsea. Take a break from school and just try to relax." she noted.

"I'll think about it." I called back to her right before I retreated out the door.

What would a day away from school help? A day away from school would only make me more bored with nothing to do around the house. Sleeping in did sound very nice though, so I decided why not?

I slept in until noon on Thursday. I guess I was more deprived from sleep than I had originally assumed. I took a long bath to release some of the built up tension in my body and made myself waffles for breakfast. I then flopped down on the couch and read Bleach manga until my eyes were sore. Three hours had passed since I woke up, and now I was just lying there, still on the couch, making patterns with my eyes on the ceiling.

I had to admit, Haruhi's advice was actually working. I expected things to be worse, but not having the stress of school for a day, actually relieved some of the numbness that had taken over my body. I glanced over at my cell phone, trying with all of my might to resist picking it up, but in the end was too weak. Flipping it open, I hadn't missed a single call. Kaoru promised he'd make Hikaru call. I sighed roughly and threw my cell phone across the room. Rolling over on my side I curled up in a ball, and waited for something else to come to my mind.

It was most calm before the storm as the old saying goes, and that was exactly how it happened. As soon as things were looking up they only got worse, as a storm rolled into the area. I hadn't had to face a storm by myself for quite some time. Anytime a storm was in the forecast the twins either came over or I went over to their house. It was seven o'clock now, and I heard the sound of thunder rumbling above me. I raced into my room to get my headphones and a flashlight, along with my big, cozy blanket, and then went back into the living room and curled up on the couch. I was just about to put my headphones in when… my cell phone started to ring.

I leapt up from the couch so fast I nearly suffered from a head rush. Where was that thing?! Where did I throw it?! I followed the noise frantically, praying it'd just keep ringing. It was on the floor next to the window. As I went to pick it up lightning struck and I froze in place. Swiping the phone I hurried back to the couch while answering it.

"Hello?" I asked.

"Hey…" murmured the beautiful voice of Hikaru.

Just hearing his voice made my heart sing, "How're you?" I asked.

"Fine…" he mumbled.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

He said nothing.

"Hikaru?" I asked.

"What?" He asked roughly.

"I asked what's wrong?" I replied.

"Nothing." he said with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

It had been practically four days, was he still mad?

That's when I heard a knocking at my door. Who could possibly be crazy enough to be out in this weather?

Opening the door, my heart hit the floor along with my cell phone. There in front of me stood the soaked and chilled Hikaru, with his cell phone at hand. I tackle hugged him so hard I was surprised he didn't fall over. In fact he didn't budge an inch.

"I missed you so much…" I murmured, pressing my face into his shoulder.

He stared down at me with cold eyes, and gently pushed me away from him so he could enter the apartment. I sighed and closed the door behind us. "Why are you here anyway?" I asked curiously.

"Why? Would you have preferred Kaoru to have come back?" he asked, his back turned against me.

"What? No, I just meant that, you weren't supposed to be back for another three days." I answered.

"Our parents did what they always do. They spent the first two days with us, and then went off on their own. Kaoru asked if at least one of us could go back home, and they somehow allowed it, so he told me to come back here and be with you. I tried to argue that you'd prefer him, but he just wouldn't let it go." I had never heard his voice so irritated before.

I was just about to reply when he grabbed a couple things out of his bag and said, "I'm going to go dry off and change." he muttered, walking into the guest bathroom.

I sighed again as I sat back down on the couch. Picking up my cell phone, I closed it and laid down. He was still so angry. Did I really hurt him that bad? After a time he came back into the room and sat down on the other end of the couch, not even looking at me. His fingers rhythmically tapping the table again. He didn't want to be here…

I crawled over to him quickly, and grabbed both of his hands, as I sat down in front of him on the floor, basically on my knees, "I'm sorry Hikaru," I realized I never once uttered an apology, "I'm truly sorry for what I said to you a few days ago. I didn't want you to leave either. So please, please look at me." I begged.

His eyes slowly met mine, but he still had nothing, but pain written across his face.

I pressed his hands against my cheeks and started to cry. Why wouldn't he talk to me? Kissing the palm of his left hand, I started to tremble. He stood up, and lowered himself to the floor beside me. I didn't know what to expect, but he slowly leaned in and held me tightly. I rested my head against his shoulder and cried, tensing up when I heard thunder, which caused him to only hold me tighter.

He ran the tip of his nose down my neck and I cringed, pulling away, because I wasn't used to this anymore. Plus it was a total change in his personality. He stared at me, but his face read no emotion, and I didn't know what to think, "Say something." I whispered.

He ran the back of his fingers down my cheek and I got chills. He was still so cold. It looked like he was trying to think of what to say, but there weren't any words surfacing. He then tapped my cheek with his index finger, "Prove to me how sorry you are." he purred.

I stared at him for a long time, "How?" I asked.

"That's for you to figure out." he said raising and lowering his shoulders.

"A sorry is never enough for you is it?" I asked dryly.

He stared at me, before standing to his feet and walking away.

I jumped up and grabbed his arm, pulling him back into an embrace, "Alright, alright." I surrendered, "Just don't walk away from me again. I'll do whatever you want me to."

"Then kiss me." he said.

I stared up into his cat like eyes, "Kiss you?" I asked.

"I want you to kiss me." he said smoothing my hair back, "but only if you mean it."

His touch was enough to rob me blindly with love, "Only if you promise to kiss me back, and mean it in return."

"No promises." He teased, but it wasn't his normal teasing. It was flat, and there wasn't any emotion in it.

I took his face in my hands, and delivered a kiss that summed up all the last few days for me. All the weary loneliness, all the reminiscing, all of it. I put all the love I felt into that kiss. The little boy from my 13th birthday didn't show up, but Hikaru did. When I pulled away, he stared down at me, and took my hands in his. I could almost hear Iris playing in the back of my mind. I put his arms around me, and then fished my arms around his neck, pressing my fingers up into his hair. I then leaned in and started planting a trail of kisses up and down his neck, when I got to his ear. I simply started to hum the song that kept me sane while they were away. He was tensed, like he was completely surprised by how I was acting.

"And I'd give up forever to touch you," I recited in a singing whisper, "Cause I know that you feel me somehow. You're the closest to Heaven that I'll ever be, and I don't want to go home right now…"

I felt him pull me in closer and press his lips on my shoulder. Running my fingers through his hair, we stood there with only my humming in the air, and just got completely lost in the moment, "Chelsea…" I heard him whisper.

Anytime he really wanted my attention I knew, just by him saying my name instead of Yankee, "What is it?"

I could tell he was thinking of what to say. He kissed my neck and then whispered, "Kyouya called me, on my way here. He said you didn't tell us, but your birthday is Saturday… why didn't you tell us?"

Now it was my turn to think, "I didn't want you guys to feel guilty on your trip. Spending time with your parents is important."

He pulled away, just far enough to look into my eyes, "We'd feel even more guilty coming back to find out we missed it." he murmured.

"You're acting different Hikaru. Even your eyes are different to me." I said, speaking my thoughts aloud.

"Different?" he asked, "How?" he tilted his head, and leaned in close, "because I'm not being direct and forceful?" he asked. "I like to keep you guessing." he said pecking me on the lips, before smirking.

I smiled, seeing that smirk again, and I caught myself. I almost said those three little words that weren't so little when spoken. One of the most powerful statements in this world. He could see it my eyes, and rested his forehead against mine. When he hesitated before… was he thinking the same thing? I opened my mouth, but he placed his index finger over my lips to silence me, "Only if you mean it." he muttered.

I froze. He knew. He just had to.

"Just…" I whispered, "hold me for a while, okay?" I asked.

"Whatever you want." he mumbled, pulled me in close to him. I rested my head against his chest.

"I never noticed before." I murmured after a moment of silence, "but you have a beautiful song in your heart as well."

I heard him chuckle, and press his lips on my temple, "We should stay home from school tomorrow." he said.

"Why?" I asked.

"To make up for lost time, and so you can have a three day weekend for your birthday." he replied.

"Four day weekend…" I corrected, "but I'm not going to argue, I'd much rather spend the day with you then at school."

I heard him chuckle again, as he ran his fingers through my hair. Scoping me up in his arms, he grabbed my blanket off the couch, and took me into my room. He spilled me onto the bed and thean laid down beside me. Cuddling up close to me underneath my giant pool of blankets, rested his ear against my chest he started listening to my heart beat, "Hm," I heard him say.

"What?" I asked.

"Didn't think you'd let me do this." he replied.

I played with his hair, "Just behave yourself." I muttered.

"According to you, I never do." he answered.

"Can't deny the truth," I teased.

We spent another hour or two talking, before I fell asleep. He waited up until then and then let himself drift off to sleep beside me. After what felt like such a long absence, him being right beside me never felt better.

Author's Notes: Things seem to be heating up in this fanfic. I am happy that her and Hikaru are okay now though. Leave me feedback, and have a wonderful day… and in case I don't get to update before then… Happy 4th of July!