AN. Whoa how the time flies! I'm back and there's one more chapter before this is done. I need some reviews for the next one! Okay, how about this? I post the last chapter and then you review. Sound easy enough? I hope this chapter lives up to your expectations. Thanks to everyone who's been reviewing, favorite-ing, and alerting. -Lem
Disclaimer. I still do not own.

UPDATED 8/21/2013

Chapter Nine
Still Tuesday

Kaoru hated this. He hated this!

Every time he tried to tell Haruhi he and Hikaru plotted the whole fight up something interfered! She would end the conversation or go somewhere else, i.e. the girls' room. (No one seemed to question why Haruhi, a male student, went to the girl's restroom and not the boys' room to relieve himself. Oh well.)

Kaoru stabbed the expensive meal on his tray. His brother glanced at him and sighed.

"We will tell her. We just need it to be the right time and when she can't make any excuses."

"She was crying earlier, Hikaru, crying."

"Yes, but –"

"Don't but me! How can you be so calm? You should be the one freaking out right now, not me! I'm the calm and collected one! Aren't you upset? Don't you regret breaking up our friends? They're lives are ruined because of us!"

Hikaru stared at Kaoru. He knew now how bad this truly was. His brother was not emotionally stable at the moment. All of that worry and guilt... Of course Hikaru was upset too, but he wasn't going to show it. Right now the twins needed someone to be clear minded, and this time Hikaru was going to have to fill that role.

Without saying a word, Hikaru grabbed Kaoru's hand that was closest to him and gave it a squeeze. "We will fix this." he promised afterwards.

Silence fell between the brothers. Then Kaoru asked something, something neither wanted to confront.

"Hika, will Haruhi still be our friend after we explain?"

The older twin forced a smile.

"Of course."

The twins were waiting. They were stationed in front of the doors so when Haruhi entered the Third Music Room, she'd have no choice but to listen to what they had to say.

The twins were ready. They were ready to face whatever consequences came. They just wanted Haruhi to be happy again.

The doors opened. In strolled Haruhi, dressed in guy's apparel as usual. She stopped when she realized the twins were blocking her way.

"Uh, guys?"

"Haruhi," they began together.

"We have to tell you something-" Hikaru.

"-and we have to tell you now." Kaoru.

"Oh-kay," Haruhi said cautiously.

The quiet that followed was louder than a helicopter taking off.

"Well?" she inquired. With that it took no time for the twins to reveal their role in last week's fight.

"Haruhi, we lied to you and Tamaki last week." they said together slowly. "We only wanted to cause a brief tiff. We never wanted you two to break up over it."

"We never expected this to happen when we- I," Kaoru corrected solemnly, "came up with the plan."

Hikaru glanced at his brother. Right then the twins were an open book, and he could see clearly what had motivated his brother's scheming. Thankfully, Haruhi was still silently staring at the redheaded twins and didn't appear about to jump into the confession anytime soon. Hikaru sighed and turned back to face Haruhi. It was time he admitted his participation in this, too.

"Kaoru's not the only one to blame. I may not have thought of it, but I was the reason why he did." Kaoru was shocked by his brother's words. What was he referring to?

Hikaru continued, "When you and Milord got together, it... it broke my heart... our hearts."

Kaoru gave his brother's hand an encouraging squeeze. He knew now where Hikaru's words were headed. He hadn't expected this much honesty, but of all the times to come clean, this seemed like the best one.

"We realized quickly how happy you two were together... and with that realization we knew for certain there would never be a chance for us. The fight last week... Kaoru thought it up with the intention it would cheer me up. It wasn't some ploy for you and Milord to break up."

"That... that was my part in this." he continued, "I couldn't get over my own self-pity to feel excited for you two. I couldn't get over it to feel anything..."

Kaoru spoke up now, a slight tremble in his voice. "Haruhi, you have to understand. He... I was worried. I thought... we thought..."

Their words were beginning to circle. Thoughts and blame. Blame and thoughts. Who really was to blame for this fiasco? Hikaru and his self-pity and jealousy? Kaoru and his best intentions? Both of them with their thoughts of a swift patch up between their friends?

The twins' voices had grown increasingly softer with each admission. Haruhi still stood, bewildered frozen by their honesty. She had expected an apology, but not both of them spilling their guts.

Everything made sense now. Their motives for the lies, their repeated attempts at apologizing prior to this... She had never noticed just how much of an impact she had on the two boys. Now it was obvious. They had fallen for her. Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachiin had fallen for the commoner cross-dresser.

Four golden cat eyes gazed at Haruhi to gauge her reaction. What happened next astonished the twins senseless. Never in their wild imagination did they think Haruhi's initial response would be an apology of her own.

"Hikaru, Kaoru, I am so sorry..."

Hope y'all enjoyed!