Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the OCs used.

A/N: I was just looking over this story and I realized I mixed a lot of the chapter numbers in the core document. So I'm correcting it starting now. I hope nobody got confused.

Chapter 10 – Iris

Kaoru sighed as he walked around the house. Hikaru really was moving on and he really was alone. He jumped slightly when there was a loud pounding on the door of his house. He went to answer the door and the second he opened it enough, the person the other side sprang at him and wrapped their arms around him. He blushed a bright scarlet as he recognized the person as Kimiko. She was soaking wet from the storm outside but he could tell she was crying as well. He was too stunned to do anything but close the door.

After another few awkward seconds, Kimiko stepped back and hung her head. "I'm sorry. I...it's just...she...him...they...we..." she said in a broken voice. She was wearing a crimson, Lolita dress but it was so wet it was ever constantly dripping. Kaoru felt compelled by those strange feelings again and he stepped forward. He wrapped his arms around her, only not as timidly as before, and pulled her to him. "I know...I know..." he murmured, trying to keep his voice from breaking as he stroked her hair comfortingly. Kimiko's wet black eyes opened wide at how much more easily he touched her. How he didn't hesitate. She also noticed how natural their embrace felt. As if it was the norm.

Then she felt his tears drip down onto her head. She wrapped her arms around his back and hugged him. "Don't be sad Kaoru...We have each other..." she whispered. His mouth popped open slightly but he closed it and smiled. "Of course we do." he whispered. She smiled and reached up to wipe his tears away.

Then it came crashing. Her advice to Atsuko. "Everyone's worth pleasing." Atsuko had taken her advice and admitted to the feelings she had toward Hikaru. Because pleasing Hikaru, pleased Atsuko. Now it was Kimiko's turn to take her own advice. The only way to please herself was to please Kaoru.

Kaoru saw in her face that she had come to some conclusion because the way she looked at him now made those feelings he'd thought were strange were now very...right. But before he could process much, a pair of lips gently touched his and he lost all trains of thoughts.

Musical Influence: Iris by the GooGoo Dolls (try reading this chapter while listening to Iris)

A/N: I know, very short chapter. But packed with drama, no?