AN: I made a mistake! I meant to say Tamaki and Kaoru's moments would be more romantic. Oops.

Alucard: You're an idiot.

Me: Am not!

Alucard: Do you really want to play this game now? Don't you DARE giggle, Seras.

Me: I guess not. Damn Draculina, quit laughing or I will go all Intergra on your ass. Ha! That shut you up, didn't it! But anyway, here's chapter two! I hope you like it, since I really like this story. There might be an epilogue, but probably not. If there is, it'll be maybe 500 words? Review if you want it.

Kaoru's POV

I keep my eyes on the girl across from me, my hand carefully entwined with Tamaki's, but I can still see Nekozawa watching me. He's sitting in the corner of the room, having conjured a door. He's peeking around it, his eyes trained on my back. Does he really think I can't see him watching me?

It honestly isn't a surprise. Nekozawa's been following me for a while now. He's working with Kyoya, trying to keep me in school. How do I know this? It could've been because Nekozawa has leapt out at me with one of his voodoo dolls, screaming, "YOU WILL NOT LEAVE OURAN ACADEMY, KAORU! THE VOODOO DECREES IT SO!"

I still don't understand why Kyoya is so desperate. I've gotten talks from teachers, but they've all accepted Tamaki and I are leaving. The host club has all wished up goodbye-in-advance, except for him. He and Tamaki have been on edge lately, the awkward stage between friends and enemies, neither ready for confrontation.

"Kaoru," Tamaki says, and I realize I've drifted off into space again. "Why aren't you giving your attention to these lovely ladies?"

I see an opportunity, and seize it. "Lovely?" I ask, pretending to be hurt. "Do you think these girls look better than me, Tamaki? I didn't realize…" I duck my head, and allow the smallest hint of a sob to escape my chest.

"No," Tamaki hurriedly says, alarmed, and tilts my chin up so my eyes meet his. "Never. You will always be the most beautiful."

The girls swoon. (Apparently they don't care we've just practically insulted them.) Looker deeper into the dark purple orbs, I see he isn't just putting on a show. He genuinely was worried…

I smile. "I know, Tamaki. I didn't mean to worry you." Leaning upwards, I press my lips to his in a quick kiss. Screams echo from all around us, and I hear several thuds as some of our customers hit the floor.

oOo

Kyoya's POV

I march up behind Nekozawa, who is staring at Haruhi from across the room. "You've got a hell of a nerve, Nekozawa."

He jumps. "Kyoya-senpai! I was just observing Kaoru to-to find out more about him to prolong his stay at the school."

"I've given up on you, Nekozawa. Haruhi will meet you for an extremely dark dinner in the gardens tomorrow evening."

"Thank you, Kyoya-sensei!"

I grimace. "I just got you a date, didn't save your life. Get a move on."

Nekozawa nods and slips out the door he's conjured. "Goodbye, Kyoya Ootori…HARUHI FUJOKA, HERE I COME!"

I sigh. Nekozawa is hopeless. I don't know why I took him on in the first place. I almost feel bad for Haruhi…but no. I don't feel anything anymore, except for my love for Hikaru. But that's almost gone too, since there's no more means I can use to keep Kaoru here.

"Kyoya?" I hear, and look up to find Tamaki standing over me. "Will you walk with me? I want to talk."

I nod. I wish that he hadn't come to talk to me, for this could only end one way: in a fight.

"Ladies," I say, walking towards the middle of the room. "I am sorry to disrupt you, but the host club is disbanding for the day. Our hosts need their beauty sleep to prepare for you tomorrow."

A mutter of disappointment sweeps the room, but the girls begin to file out of the room. Mitskuni yawns, stretching lazily from where he sits in Mori's lap. Kaoru rises from his chair, nodding towards Tamaki and leaving the room.

I leave next, Tamaki silently following at my side. I make my way to the gardens, the high walls of twisting leaves seeming the right place for a talk like this.

"So," I say, entering the middle of the gardens. Roses bloom around us, ones that are usually featured in the host club's normal setting.

Tamaki clears his throat. "Well," he says, a hand reaching up to rub his neck. "I just wanted to know why you wanted to keep Kaoru at the school so badly."

"That's none of your business," I say calmly, "but if I were to give you an answer, I would tell you that it has to do with personal reasons. Ones I don't care to expose."

"You don't…like him or anything, do you?" Tamaki asks, his eyes suddenly unable to focus on any particular point for more than a second. When I'm silent, he says angrily, "You have a crush on Kaoru, don't you?"

"It's not like that," I snap.

"Ugh, I was right. You do. It's selfish of you, Kyoya, to try to keep him here because of yourself. What about him-about me?"

I growl, "I don't like him. Even if I did, I wouldn't try to keep him here if you wanted to leave. How long have I been your best friend?"

"You don't seem much like it, lately," he says coldly, but I can see regret in his eyes as the words emerge.

I freeze. "You will never understand anything about me!"

"Really? Then explain to me why you're trying to keep him at the school," he challenges.

"I can't tell you that," I say in a quiet voice, looking off towards the side.

I hear him scoff. "So you do like him."

"No!" I yell, spinning towards him. "Why won't you just leave it alone? Why does it matter so much to you?"

He stops, and his anger seems to retreat inside himself for a moment. "You're hurting. I want to help you."

"No one can help me," I scream at him, setting my feet. "Don't you understand? Everything had fallen apart before you two morons decided to leave. It was over far before then."

He looks at me in surprise. "What are you talking about?"

I drop my eyes. Have I said too much? "Nothing. Forget I said anything."

In a split second Tamaki has crossed to me, grabbing my shoulders. "Look, Kyoya. The host club is depending on you! You can't just be wallowing around all the time."

"Don't you dare tell me what to do," I snarl. His hands are burning on my skin, but I can't shake myself free. "This isn't about you."

"I know it isn't. It's about everyone else. Tell me just what is bothering you so much!" He yells, shaking me a little bit this time.

Something inside me snaps. I can almost hear the break. Maybe it was my heart, or my spirit; but I know that I can't hide from my best friend any longer. I collapse, and his arms catch me right before I plummet to the ground. I sob into him, gripping his jacket lapels. He sits down with a thump, and I curl myself into him.

"Kyoya?" He asks, alarmed.

I look up at him, tears still streaming from my eyes. "Hikaru," I whispered. "Tamaki, I loved him so much. And he's gone, dead…"

As I slump back into him and continue crying, I hear Tamaki's heartbeat picking up. He's putting everything together in his head: my words at the funeral, my depression, and anger at Kaoru's departure. "I-I hadn't realized."

"No one ever did," I whisper. "Not even him."

"Kyoya, I'm so sorry. Why-why didn't you tell me?"

"I couldn't tell anybody," I say, the tears beginning to subside. I feel angry with myself. I couldn't keep the tears going for Hikaru? "My father…he wouldn't approve."

"After all you've done for your family? You didn't have to work anymore for him."

"Yes, I did," I sniffle. "Hikaru didn't love me. Father didn't think much of me either. There didn't seem like there was anyone around me I could trust. It had all fallen apart. I had to keep the one future I knew I could have."

"I'm so sorry, Kyoya," he says, looking down at me. "I'm sorry that I couldn't see you like he did, being your best friend and all."

"It's all right," I sigh, sitting up and rubbing my eyes. "He just never knew I felt this way. And that killed me, every day. It still does."

"I know how you feel," Tamaki says quietly.

I turn toward him in surprise. "You do? How?"

He gives me a crooked smile. "I liked Kaoru. I had for a while, actually. Don't worry," he says quickly at my skeptical expression. "I never liked Hikaru. I could always tell them apart. And then he and Hikaru split, so I went after him. I though he never noticed me, but he had the whole entire time. We were both just scared of rejection. That might've been how Hikaru felt too."

"Well," I say, standing and helping him up. "Now I'll never know, will I?"

"I'm sorry, Kyo-chan. I didn't mean to yell at you. You had me worried, though."

"Like I said, it's all right." I give him a tiny smile, one that's more of a stretching of the lips. "You better get back to Kaoru. Could you-could you please tell him about this? Tell him I'm sorry for trying to keep him here?"

"Sure. C'mere," he says, opening his arms. I step in for a quick hug, squeezing my arms tight around his neck. When I let go, he smiles and leaves, his back hunched just a little bit.

I sigh and rub my eyes again. I'm exhausted. I make my way out of the gardens and back into the main building, calling my driver with an impatient, clipped tone. The car arrives, and I collapse into the leather seats, my legs splayed out on the seats beside me.

I don't even bother to change when I get home, simply taking off my blazer, tie and shirt and falling into bed. The house is silent, my brothers off with my father at a charity auction of some sort.

Despite the many blankets and pillows around me, I still feel chills tracing over my skin.

oOo

Kaoru's POV

I cover my mouth with my hand, a shocked noise coming from behind it. "Oh, my God," I breathe. "Kyoya?"

Tamaki nods, a worried expression on his face. "He just told me. Kaoru, he was just in so much pain, I could see it on his face. That's why he tried to keep you here; you reminded him of Hikaru."

I bury my head in my hands. "Oh, no. I feel horrible! I pushed him away, but really he was in love with Hikaru…and he's gone…"

"No, Kaoru," Tamaki says, taking my hands away from my face and holding me close to him. "It's not your fault."

"But it is! If only I had been more gentle to Kyoya, maybe-maybe I could've done something to help him…" My breath starts to hitch.

"And what, make him fall in love with you? That wasn't what you wanted. Kyoya has to take some time to heal himself. There was nothing that you could've done. I'm sorry, Kaoru, but Kyoya's strong. He'll make it through with some help from us, but we can't just force him to overcome his feelings."

I sigh. "I guess not…but what if-"

"Look, just don't think about it. He's my best friend, but he's his own person. He can handle himself."

"Okay. Thank you for telling me, Tamaki. Hikaru would have wanted to know."

"I know he would. It's sweet of you to think of him, especially now." He grins down at me. "You look cute when you're worried." I frown, glaring at him but not really meaning it. He laughs. "I love you, you know."

I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him in response, our lips colliding in the perfect way. Shivers run through me as his fingers trace my neck, raising the small hairs there. His lips are warm against mine, fitting on my mouth as if they had always belonged there.

He moves so I'm lying on top of him on my bed, and I wind my fingers deep into his silky hair, pulling him closer to me. I can feel his heart beating faster after mine, and I move my fingers to his jacket, undoing his tie and letting it slide from my fingers. A small noise comes from the back of his throat. He pushes his tongue against my lips, asking for entrance. I grant him access, and gasp as his tongue makes his way into my mouth. He chuckles, slipping my already loose jacket from my shoulders. He leans down, his tongue trailing from my neck down the loose neck of my shirt.

"Ta-Tamaki…" I gasp, my hands grasping at the sheets. Every time the tip of his tongue crosses my neck, it feels like fireworks are exploding on my skin. Despite the shaking that has gripped my hands, I still manage to unbutton his jacket and shirt and spread it out before me. His chest is beautiful, toned and muscular. His frame is still lean, though, his arms lanky.

Tamaki's tongue kneads the sensitive skin under my jaw. My hands, needing something to do, trace over his stomach muscles, and he flinches slightly at my touch. His mouth moves away from my neck, and I frown, disappointed, but whine at his touch a moment later as his hand creeps towards my inner thigh. He laughs softly, amused by my sensitivity. I can't help it; Tamaki makes me feel like my skin is on fire and being pricked with a thousand needles. Slowly, under his fingers, my belt comes undone and is thrown to the side. My heartbeat quickens to an impossible rate, and I know he feels it.

His mouth doesn't stay away from my skin for long. His hands, seeming devilishly intent on caressing my skin, find the buttons of my shirt and goes through them quickly. My chest is soon bared, and a bright red flush comes over my cheeks as he stares at me, as if in approval.

"Mm…so beautiful," he murmurs, and leans down to let his tongue flick across the tip of my right nipple.

A noise between a gasp and a moan comes from my mouth, but it only arouses Tamaki even more as his entire mouth engulfs it. My hands, however, trace over the well-defined muscles in his chest. Every bit of stretched muscle stands out on porcelain skin. He's spectacular.

Tamaki's mouth continues to roam across my chest, swirling over every inch of skin. My head is thrown back, almost against my will, as pleasure surges through me. The position I'm in becomes too difficult, and I roll so Tamaki's on top of me. He takes his tongue off me for a moment and looks at me with one eyebrow raised.

"Knew a little guy like you wouldn't be the dominant type," he says, grinning.

I smile back, and push myself off the bed to kiss him. His mouth is salty, and sweet at the same time, the taste of sweat and chocolate mixed together in something that shouldn't taste good but does anyway. It's an addictive taste, and as long as I have Tamaki, I know I'll never have to give it up.

oOo (Break time! Because I do not want to write Kao/Tama smut right now…. Sorry. No hate.)

Kyoya POV

I stand watching the bags being loaded into the car, servants grunting and panting at the weight of the luggage. One falls over and sprays up dust around the others.

"No, no, no," Tamaki chides the man, walking over. "You must do it…like this!"

With a sweep of his arm, he scoops the man from the ground and smiles winningly at him. The man, being rightfully stunned, watches at Tamaki takes a bag and swings it around on his shoulder, still grinning. He strides purposefully towards the trunk of the car and delicately places the bag in the trunk. He does this with the rest of the bags, earning stares of admiration from the servants.

"And that, my friends," he says, grinning. "Is how to properly stock a car's trunk with baggage!" A smatter of applause breaks out from the men.

I sigh. My best friend does not do things the simple way.

"Well, Kyoya. Guess this is it for a while," I hear, and turn to see Kaoru standing behind me. He's still wearing his Ouran uniform.

"Haven't changed yet?" I ask.

"No. I still want to hang onto Ouran…at least for a little while." He smiles. "I'll miss this place. It's quite beautiful."

"It is, isn't it?" I ask softly, gazing back at the campus behind Kaoru. "I hate to say it, but it's not the same without him."

His smile dims a bit, and a slightly haunted look comes into his eyes. "I agree. It makes me happy you loved him. I also hate to say it…but so little people did. He was never appreciated as much as he could've been."

I nod. "I'm sorry for bringing it up."

"No, no," he said hurriedly. "It's all right." He comes forward and hugs me. I hug back, gripping my arms tight around him. This is Hikaru's brother, Hikaru's blood. "I miss him."

"I as well," I whisper.

"Kaoru!" A voice calls.

I release him and turn to face Tamaki, who approaches us with a bright smile on his face. He sweeps me into another hug (what is with him and the hugs?) and grins over my shoulder at Kaoru.

"Today's a big day, buddy," he says. "The grand opening of Ma Douche Uke is today! We must hurry to our plane if we wish to make it on time."

Kaoru grumbles, "I'm still a little iffy about the title."

Tamaki laughs, letting me go and embracing his lover instead. "Please. Remember that first time? I topped."

Kaoru goes red. "It's innapropriate-umph."

Tamaki cuts him off with a kiss. Releasing him, he turns back to me. I raise an eyebrow.

"I must agree, it is a little….foward. Like you, Tamaki."

He shrugs. "I must agree, dear Kyoya. And now," he says, with a wave of his hand. The car doors open to reveal a spacious and cooled inside of a limo. "Your carriage, and Paris, my prince, awaits."

He sweeps Kaoru off his feet, causing a squeak of embarrassment from the ginger-haired boy. Kaoru's face is bright red. Tamaki smiles broadly at me.

"Good luck, Kyoya. We'll visit soon!" He plops Kaoru in the car and signals to the driver, on which the doors promptly close and the car speeds away, spitting up dust on the still-awed servants.

I watch the car speed away. How could this last little inkling of the Hitachiin twins be taken so quickly?

Out of the corner of my eye, I see someone standing on the sidewalk a little ways away from me. They're wearing all black, and, as the car speeds away, the figure walks towards the school, their stride showing just a hint of insecurity.

I stare after it. Something's familiar…a jolt runs through me.

As the figure turns around, I saw the glint of golden eyes.

It couldn't be….

No, I tell myself. It isn't. But my feet carry me forward anyway, walking, and then running after the figure as it disappears inside the building where the host club is situated.

It may just be a mindless hope, but the pounding in my chest says that there's no way I can stop until I confirm that I'm not seeing ghosts or going crazy. Maybe both.

Just as I enter the building, I see the figure slip into Music Room #3. I stop outside of the gilded doors, my chest heaving, and stare at the doorknob. I know that if I step inside of that room my heart will break all over again from disappointment.

Almost having no choice, my hand reaches out and turns the knob. The door opens soundlessly to reveal the figure slipping his hood back…to reveal black hair.

The air rushes out of my lungs, and the figure looks up in surprise.

The face of Hikaru Hitachiin stares back at my, golden irises and all.

"You," I say. "It's…you."

A thousand emotions are rushing through me head all at once. Pain, confusion, heart-break, anger, sorrow, love, all the ones I could and could not name.

He stares at me, mouth wide open. His hands are trembling.

"How could…" I trail off, not more than a few words coming out at once.

Is he alive?

Am I crazy?

Is he dead?

"Kyoya," he says, shock resounding within every inch of his voice.

I shake my head and fall to my knees. "What's…how are you…you're dead."

"No," he says. "I'm not. Kyoya, I'm so sorry."

"I went to your funeral. I heard-I saw…"

"No," he says, approaching me. "I swear, I'm not."

"Then how?" I scream suddenly. My head jerks up to reveal tears streaming down my face. I can barely see him through the liquid that's obscuring my vision. I slump against the door, slamming it closed.

"Sh," he says, dropping down next to me and holding me as I sob. "It's okay. Everything's going to be okay…"

I can barely breathe for the next five minutes as I sob. I grasp at his jacket, breathing in his scent, clutching at his now-dyed hair, just feeling Hikaru…

When my eyes dry, I sit back even more, a small sigh escaping my lips. His arms gently loosen around me, but I don't let them, clutching his arms closer to me. He lets me, his fingers digging deep into my jacket. I don't care. I don't feel the pain, my body is too overcome with shock.

"How?" I ask dully.

He takes a deep breath.

"I faked it. The funeral, the crash…everything."

"I know that. Why, is what I should've asked."

There's a long silence.

"Are you going to tell me or not?" I ask sharply, a bit of the razor coming back into my voice.

He takes a deep breath. "I liked-loved-someone. And I knew they'd never love me back."

My heart breaks for the third time today. "That's it? You pretended to die over a crush?"

"It wasn't a crush," he snaps. "I loved them more than my own brother. They were everything. Without them loving me back, there was literally no point to life anymore. But I couldn't leave them entirely…I stayed behind, watching. Dyed my hair. Moved to an apartment. Kept on loving them."

"That's it?" I say in outrage, yanking away. He looks up at me with an angry expression as I stand over him. "Do you know how many people cried for you? How devastated we were? We would have all killed ourselves right after you. Don't you get it?"

"I would've gladly done it again for him," he shouts. He's on his feet now too. "I would've killed myself for real a thousand times over for him!"

"Well, I would've killed myself a thousand times over for you!" I bellow and then snap my mouth shut and slap a hand over it. Shit.

Hikaru stares at me, the anger drained from his face. "What?"

Screw it, he knows now. "I would've killed myself a thousand times over for you," I say. "Because I loved you."

He stares at me. My heart is so broken that it couldn't possibly break again, but nothing that is possible is happening now.

"Kyoya," he whispers.

My shoulders shake. "I couldn't sleep. I couldn't eat. I cried for you. And now you're alive? That almost killed me. Right now almost killed me."

"I can't believe…you loved me?" He says. His voice is shaking.

"I didn't love you, Hikaru. I still love you," I say. I look at him. His eyes are directed at the floor, but snap up to me as I reach the second sentence.

"Kyoya…loves me?" he asks in a small voice. His knees give out, and he collapses on the floor. I drop to the ground beside him. Besides my angry emotions, he's still Hikaru.

"Hikaru?"

"It was you."

"What?" I ask, looking down at him. He raises his tear-stained face to look into mine.

"You. You I died for. Or, almost died for…."

Shock. Pain. Numbness.

Hikaru loved me.

Hikaru loves me.

"Don't," I say to him.

"And now you hate me," he sobs. "Everyone will hate me. I thought I was doing what was right-but-but…"

"Don't," I repeat.

"I just screwed everything up," he gasps.

"Stop talking," I hiss, and he shuts up, his eyes watering and his hands clutching at my jacket.

"What?"

"Stop talking, so I can kiss you."

He doesn't say another word, just grabs me around my neck and pulls me to him. Our lips crash together ferociously, hungrily, and all I know now is him. Hikaru, his taste, like fresh strawberries still covered in water, his scent, tangy, like some sort of spice. My hands move to grip the back of his head, holding him closer to me, tangling in his hair. I don't care what color it is, it's still his.

We only break when we can't breath anymore, and even then I only take a short break before crushing my lips back to his. He doesn't mind, relaxing when I do and winding his arms around my neck when I move to kiss him again. We're perfectly in sync with each other, knowing when the other moves and what they want.

I think more than an hour has passed when we break apart for real, and event hen we don't stay apart. I hold him, his head right next to my chest, and I cry, the tears leaking into his hair. The more water drips on it, the more it comes off, until parts of his black hair are exposed by bits of ginger.

"That's a nice dye job you got there," I say, and he laughs. "I've always wanted this. I just…never had the courage to come out with how I really feel. But I thought you always knew, since you could read me so well."

"I think I did see it," he says. "But I was just afraid to believe it."

"There's no reason to be afraid anymore," I say.

Just then, Kaoru comes in the other door, sees me and Hikaru hugging, and screams.

"WHAT THE HELL?"

AN: Okay, so. Looks like there's gonna be an epilogue after all. Yay for cliffhangers! TamaxKao and KyoxHika forever! Love you guys. Please review.