Hikaru's POV:
I nearly dropped my phone as I hurried to pull it open. Tamaki's number danced across the screen and my heart sped up. Was there news? I pressed the talk button quickly.
"Tono?"
"Hikaru, Mori-Senpai and Hunny-Senpai spotted Kaoru."
"Where? When?"
"Just now. Kaoru saw them and ran off. Mori-Senpai said he went through the backdoor of a bookstore but when they reached the front of the store, he was gone." Bookstore? I glanced around me, my eyes widening as I realized there was a bookstore just ahead of me. "Hikaru?"
"I understand," I said before I snapped my phone shut.
He couldn't have gotten far. I pushed through the crowds of people straining to catch a glimpse of that familiar face. Just when I thought it was hopeless, I saw him. My heart pounded in my chest. That was definitely Kaoru. He had his head down and he looked so sad, but it was unmistakably him. It took a great deal of effort to restrain myself and not run up to him and wrap my arms around him like I so desperately wanted to. No, he would just run away again. I needed to follow him. Forcing myself to calm down, I trailed behind my younger brother until he reached his apartment. Then, and only then, did I make my presence known.
Kaoru's POV:
I stared up at my brother with wide, unblinking eyes. I couldn't breathe, my body wouldn't let me; all I could do was stand there like an idiot, watching him watch me. After a moment he stepped into the room, shutting the door behind him with an ominous 'click' and casting us in semi-darkness.
I swallowed thickly, taking a step back, unable to lower my gaze from his. He blinked, breaking the eye contact, and then his hand came out of nowhere and smacked me. Hard. I stumbled back, subconsciously raising a hand to my swelling cheek. And then his arms were around me pulling me close. He buried his face in my neck and it wasn't until I felt drops of water hitting my shoulder that I realized he was crying. I took a sharp, shallow breath. This wasn't right; Hikaru never cried.
Ever so slowly I slipped my arms around him, holding him in a lose hug. I could feel him trembling just slightly as he pulled away to look at me. His amber eyes were filled with so many emotions I couldn't name, but it broke my heart.
"Kaoru…" I closed my eyes and turned away. I couldn't take it; I couldn't stand looking at his pain. Because I caused it. "Kaoru, look at me. Please." I tried to ignore him, but something in his tone, some kind of vulnerability that I'd never heard before, made me turn back. "Why…? Why did you run away?"
I bit my lip hard. Please, please don't ask me this, Hikaru. You'll hate me. I know you will. "Kaoru." There was no helping it. I couldn't run away anymore, because there was nowhere left to run. I took a deep breath, steadying myself for the worst rejection of my life.
"Hikaru, there's….there's something wrong with me…" His eyes grew wide and I could easily read the fear behind them. How long until that turns into disgust? "I…I'm all twisted inside…I…Hikaru, I…" I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing myself on. "I love you." Hikaru gave a sharp gasp, and then there was silence.
I kept my eyes shut, tears welling up behind my closed eyelids. This was it then. There was no going back. My knees buckled beneath me, leaving me kneeling before my brother. I hung my head, my breath coming fast and shallow. It was all over…Never again would my brother hold me, smile at me, love me…I fought to suppress a sob.
Slowly, ever so slowly, I could hear Hikaru kneel down too. He reached out and I flinched back, but his fingers tucked themselves under my chin, forcing it up. I stubbornly kept my eyes shut, afraid that if I looked at him, I'd break. And then, for the first time since I could remember, my brother did something that took me completely by surprise. I opened my eyes, half-expecting this to be a figment of my imagination, but there he was, his eyes closed, a blush staining his cheeks, and his lips pressed gently to my own.
He pulled away slowly, his eyes finding my mine in the darkness surrounding us. Hope began to trickle through me. Was this real? Did he…did he feel the same way? His arms wrapped around me once more, pulling me against him.
"I love you, Kaoru," he whispered in my ear. "So much that it hurts." I hugged him back, nestling into his neck.
"Hikaru…" But…but… "What about Haruhi?" My other half sighed, his fingers digging into my back as he held me closer.
"I tried to make myself like Haruhi. I thought if I could like her, then my feelings would go away." He squeezed me tighter. "But I was wrong. I'm sorry, Kaoru. I never meant to hurt you." He pulled back, holding me at arm's length. I smiled softly, very aware of the pain in his eyes.
"What are you talking about, Hikaru? I'm the one who ran away. I should be the one apologizing." His fingertips traced the edge of my jawbone; my skin tingled where he touched it. He leaned towards me once more, his lips brushing against mine.
We both jumped slightly when his phone went off. Begrudgingly taking his arms from around me, he leaned back and dug into his pocket, pulling out his cell. He stared at the screen for a second before flipping it open.
"Ah, Tono." I could just make out the voice on the other end of the line.
"Hikaru, what happened? Where did you go?"
"I found Kaoru." There was a brief silence.
"Is he okay?" The concern in our fearless leader's voice surprised me.
"Un. He's fine."
"Where are you?"
"We're in an apartment complex on the edge of town."
"We're on our way. Wait for us, okay?"
"Hai. Arigato."
He flipped his phone off, letting it drop to the floor as he leaned in and captured my lips in an almost desperate kiss. His tongue ran across my bottom lip and I moaned softly before I opened my mouth letting him in. His kiss was careful, searching, and very caring. When he pulled away he rested his forehead against mine, his eyes boring into my own. After a moment he sighed and got to his feet before reaching down a hand. "C'mon, Kaoru. Let's go home." Home…what a nice word. I smiled and took his hand letting him pull me to my feet.
We sat outside on the ledge near the apartment complex, waiting for the rest of the club. My suitcase, which had taken only minutes to pack, considering I had never really unpacked, sat beside us. Hikaru had an arm around me and I was leaning in to him, my head resting on his shoulder. We sat there in silence for a little while.
"Oi, Kaoru…" I glanced up to see Hikaru peering down at me. "Promise me something." I lifted my head, turning to look at him properly.
"Un."
"Don't run away from me again. If there's a problem, we'll face it together. Okay?" I was smiling; I couldn't help it. All of this…it felt like a dream.
"I promise." He smiled back, pulling me close and placing a soft kiss on the top of my head.
"Good."
"Oi, Hikaru, Kaoru!" We both turned to find Tono and the others hurrying up the street. I stood up quickly, Hikaru at my side. Tono stopped in front of us meeting my gaze and something in his eyes flooded me with guilt. I lowered my head, suddenly very aware of the pain I had caused everyone. "Kaoru…are you alright?" Without looking up, I nodded. I swallowed the lump in my throat with some difficulty.
"Everyone…I'm sorry…for making you worry." I bowed deeply, still feeling guilty as hell. "Gomenasai!"
"Baka." Tono sighed. "I don't suppose you're going to tell us why you ran away?" I bit my lip and shook my head slowly. "Very well. You're safe and that's all that matters. Come on." I glanced up at him. He had a hand outstretched towards me, and a warm smile on his face. When I continued to stand there, Hikaru gave me a nudge.
"It's okay, Kaoru. Everything's going to be okay now," Hikaru whispered so only I could hear. I nodded, taking the hand that was offered to me. Tono grinned, putting a hand on my shoulder, and together with everyone, we made our way home.
The rest of the club dropped us off at our house, but not before saying some slightly awkward goodbyes. I got a hug from Haruhi and Hunny-Senpai, and a nod from Mori-Senpai.
"Sorry for chasing you," Mori-Senpai said in his usual monotone. I gave a sheepish smile, running a hand through my hair.
"Ah, sorry for running."
"Kaoru, we'll see you at school tomorrow, right?" I glanced up at Kyouya-Senpai and nodded.
"Hai." He gave his signature half-smile.
"Take care of yourself."
"Hai."
"Kaoru," I turned to Tono. "You can depend on us, you know." I blinked at him.
"Eh?" He sighed, putting his hands on my shoulders as his light eyes met my own.
"The Host Club is a family, right? So, rely on us a little. If you need help, we'll help you. All you have to do is ask." He pulled away, taking a step back. "Understand?" I looked around at everyone who had spent so much time searching for me. They really did care about me. These people…they were my first friends, ever. I swallowed around the lump in my throat, nodding.
"Hai. Arigato." Tono just smiled before taking a deep breath and turning away.
"Alright everyone, let's go back. We've got to plan our next event tomorrow and I expect to see you all there!"
With a few last waves and spoken good-byes, they were gone and we were left alone. I glanced at Hikaru. He just grinned, draping an arm over my shoulder as he led me inside. As we stepped into the hallway I heard a muffled gasp and turned to see one of the maids staring at me as if she'd just seen a ghost.
"Young Master," she whispered before whirling around, "Mistress, come quick! The Young Master has returned!" I turned to face Hikaru.
"Mother knows?" He frowned looking just slightly guilty and nodded.
"Un." And then, before I could say anything else, there were arms around me.
"Kaoru, thank goodness, I was so worried,…!" Mother said, her voice breathless. I felt the now familiar rush of guilt as I hugged her back.
"Mother…gomenasai…" She just took a deep breath, squeezing me tight. When she pulled away her eyes were shining with unshed tears. She stared at me for a moment, sniffled, and sighed.
"Hikaru," she said, looking up at him, "Take Kaoru upstairs. I'm going to call the police and tell them to call off the search, and then I'm going to call your Father. He was so worried, you know," Mother scolded half-heatedly. I bowed my head, but Mother just ruffled my hair, placing a light kiss on my forehead. "We'll talk about this later. Go on. Go clean yourself up and come down for dinner in an hour, okay?" I nodded, following Hikaru up the stairs to my room.
I flopped down on the bed staring up at the ceiling. It had been a weird few days. Hikaru closed the door, dropped my suitcase next to my desk, and lay down beside me, turning on his side towards me. I could feel him watching me; it felt nice. Not long ago it had been suffocating. I rolled over to face him as his fingers played with a strand of my hair, twisted it lightly.
"You know, black hair…it doesn't suite you." I smiled, batting his hand away.
"Shut up." He just smiled back at me, a content look in his eyes.
"I love you, Kaoru." He opened his arms and I cuddled into his embrace feeling more at home than I ever had before.
"…I love you, too."
For once everything was going right.
AN: This is not the end! There is still one more chapter to go. I was originally going to wait until Thursday to post this, but all the reviews you guys posted changed my mind. (See? Reviewing really does make me update faster! *hint hint*) So, here you go! I hope you enjoy! ^^