Disclaimer: We've been through this…

Lolita

Morning came too soon for Kaoru, who awoke to the sun shining in his eyes. After stretching, he noticed that the other side of the bed was vacant. Looking over, he noticed it was untouched. Hikaru hadn't come home. Kaoru sighed, but decided not to dwell on it. He would ask Hikaru what happened when he got to school. This thought in mind, he got out of bed and dressed for school. Once he arrived, Kaoru made a bee-line for his class, hoping that Hikaru would be there. As he walked, a familiar laugh caught his attention. He paused, and looked for its source before spotting two people sitting on one of the many benches in the garden. Standing beside a pillar, Kaoru watched. Curious as to why Lolita was sitting there, laughing with Kasanoda.

Kaoru wished he could get closer to hear what they were saying; he had to rely on their faces and movements to try to figure out what they were talking about. One thing was for sure though, and Kaoru knew it by the red tinge on Kasanoda's face. Kasanoda liked Lolita. For some reason, that thought didn't sit well with Kaoru. He shouldn't care if Kasanoda liked Lolita, or if he got the feeling that she may like him more than himself. It shouldn't matter. But it did, and it confused him.

Kaoru watched, growing more upset the longer he stood there. The way she was acting, it was different from when she was with him in class or over the weekend. She didn't suddenly become sad, or anything. What made talking to Kasanoda so different?

Kaoru scowled as he began listing off things in his head. Lolita never laughed so hard she clutched her stomach when she was with him, but she was doing it now with Kasanoda. She was patting and smacking Kasanoda on the shoulder, where as she never even touched Kaoru outside of that little accident over the weekend. There was a sparkle in her eye he'd never seen there when she would talk to him, but it was there for Kasanoda! The list just kept growing, and it was making him mad! How was this possible?! He was the host, not Kasanoda! He was the one who charmed women, made them fall at his feet! But then, how was it that Lolita never had? Lolita never acted like the girls at the club did, she never fawned over him. Was he incompetent as a host by himself? Or was she the problem? No, Tono said that every girl fell for the charms of a host, so what was wrong? Was he nothing without Hikaru?

"Kaoru!"

Kaoru snapped out of his self doubt and looked to see Hikaru running toward him.

"Sorry I didn't come home last night. By the time I finished what Ranka ordered I do, it was too late so Haruhi made me sleep on the couch."

"It's fine Hikaru, I figured that's what happened."

"So… what'cha looking at?"

Hikaru leaned against him as he too watched Lolita and Kasanoda talk.

"Huh, I don't see what's so interesting. It's just that freak chatting with Bossanova."

Kaoru inwardly scowled at what Hikaru called Lolita.

"I guess…"

"You went to her place over the weekend right? It must have been terrible."

Kaoru frowned a bit, he rather liked spending time at her house. It was a nice place.

"It was fine, we finished our project."

"What?! How?"

"We worked on it together."

Hikaru paused.

"She made you work? That little wench should have done it herself."

Internally, Kaoru was angry. Why did Hikaru call Lolita a "wench"?!

"That's not nice Hikaru."

"You're defending her?"

Kaoru paused.

"No, but it's not nice to call someone that."

"Whatever… She still made you work."

"I chose to work, she didn't make me do anything."

"Why would you do that?"

"Because it got it done faster. Since you obviously aren't done with yours, I guessed it worked."

"A bit hostile this morning?"

Kaoru paused again.

"I didn't sleep well last night."

Kaoru then tuned out his brother, as he sometimes did when Hikaru got a bit out there. He turned his attention back to Lolita. There was nothing wrong with her, it was his skills as a single host that were the problem. He would fix that.

Lolita sat at her desk, the rest of the class had partnered up for the project she had turned in that morning with Kaoru. Her eyes danced over the page of the book she was reading, oblivious to her surroundings. So when she heard a chair scoot and a desk hit hers, she was surprised. Looking up, she found Kaoru, staring at her funny.

"Hi?"

"Hey, what'cha reading?"

Lolita stared a moment, Kaoru was talking funny.

"A book, obviously."

"Heheh, is it any good?"

Lolita stared as he placed his head in his hand, his other arm resting on the back of the chair he was sitting sideways in. He was still looking at her funny.

"I wouldn't be reading it if it wasn't."

He just chuckled, this was weird.

"You feeling ok Kaoru? You're acting odd."

"I'm fine, nothing's wrong," He paused and smiled. "Lolita-chan."

Lolita felt a shiver go down her spine, and she wasn't sure if it was the good kind of the bad kind. Something was off, and she didn't like it. Suddenly she felt her chin being grasped gently and air puffing against her lips. Looking, she found Kaoru way too close, with that look in his eyes still.

"What's wrong Lolita-chan? You're spacing out on me."

He chuckled to end that statement.

Something was really wrong and she really didn't like it.

"Kaoru, what are you doing?"

"What do you mean Lolita-chan?"

"Stop it, you're acting like Tamaki-sempai and it's scaring me."

Kaoru's face fell, his hand leaving her as he slumped back into his seat. He looked so downtrodden, it made her a little sad.

"Kaoru, what were you doing?"

"Trying to see if I could be a host by myself."

Lolita sighed, that would explain it.

"And why were you doing that?"

Kaoru sighed and didn't answer.

"Kaoru, what made you suddenly want to do something silly like that?"

He glanced at her before mumbling something.

"I don't understand gibberish."

"Cuz I saw you with Kasanoda this morning."

Lolita rolled her eyes.

"What does me being friends with Kasanoda-san have to do with this?"

Kaoru didn't respond, instead, he just pouted.

"I can be friends with anyone I want Kaoru, not just you. As for this little 'adventure', don't worry about your ability as a host. It's only going to last till you graduate so what's it matter? Now just forget about it, and act like yourself."

Kaoru just sat there, and Lolita let him. She returned to her book, but would glance over at him from time to time. He had so much to learn about being friends and growing up. She smiled a little, it was kinda cute.

Later that day found Kaoru in the club room. He was by himself since Hikaru and Haruhi were still working on their project. Kyoya-sempai had decided that he wouldn't be hosting any guests today, since his brother was absent. This upset him further, was he really incapable of hosting by himself? His thoughts drifted back to his attempt earlier on Lolita, and its failure. What had gone wrong? '…you're acting like Tamaki-sempai…' was what she had said. It didn't make sense, if he was acting like Tono then she should have melted and been puddy in his hands, but she hadn't. His mind couldn't figure out the answer. He stared at his hands while his thoughts wandered, he could still feel her skin against his fingers. When he had initially grabbed her chin, he had been surprised by how soft and smooth her skin was. He had fought the urge to rub his thumb against her cheek at the time. He could also still feel her breath against his face, he'd been so close. He was a bit thankful she had snapped him out of his act. At the time, he'd been tempted to kiss her again. He'd been so close, and her pale lips had looked so inviting. He shook his head, what was he thinking!? Lolita was his friend! Friends don't kiss each other! His eyes snapped open, what was she doing now? He thought back to when they were leaving class, what had she said?

'Sorry Kaoru, I'd come keep you company but I'm going to meet with Nekozawa-sempai in the library.'

Nekozawa… why did the thought of her hanging out with him make him upset? Lolita said it earlier, she could be friends with anyone she wanted. He didn't have the right to get mad about that, but why was he? It didn't make sense at all.

A/N: Sorry about the short chapter, but I really hadn't thought about what would happen after Kaoru tried to charm Lolita. I hope everyone likes it and I'll try to update soon.

And to CrazyAcorn, I'll take that bet! Anyone else?