Authors Note: Hi guys. I just want to start off by saying I'm really sorry that I haven't updated in so long. I was having really bad writers block and I couldn't figure out the timing of the story because my journal holding all that kind of information went missing. (I'm in school so a lot of things that I had nice and organized in the summer have gone missing. Though some of you seem to think that I'm much older than I am, I'm just starting a lot of AP classes in my Junior year so already things are going crazy). So after I had already finished the ninth chapter I realized that it didn't flow very well with the rest of the story and it skipped into the second plot too quickly. So now that chapter is a bit further on in the story.

This of course made me want to throw my hair out of my head because it was around twenty pages and it had already been so long since I last updated so I thought that you all would be super angry at me if I didn't update soon.

Anyways this stupid chapter is all that I could manage to get out of me without going literally insane-again I'm really really sorry, I've been so caught up in other stories I neglected this one, and I promised myself I wouldn't do that! I'm going to try and finish this one before working on the others from now on ok?

Sorry sorry sorry sorry!

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"MOMMY HELP ME!" Kaoru screamed as he sat up in his bed, water escaping his large golden eyes as he flinched and cringed. Blood, so much blood. Kaoru cried out suddenly as he tilted his head up and let tears fall down. He eyed his closet and threw his blanket over his bed. In the back of his head he knew that it was silly to be afraid of the dark, but tears still flew as he stared at the cabinet knowing something was hiding and waiting for him to let down his guard.

"KAORU DON'T LEAVE! NO! KAORU PLEASE!" Kaoru jumped as Hikaru screamed and twisted turning quickly to look at Kaoru's bed. Tears strung down their small cheeks as Hikaru let out a hiccups. They were both very young, and after seeing an odd scene on the t.v about a murder in the local area both of them been burdened with nightmares. Hikaru shivered as Kaoru sobbed harder than he ever had in his entire life. Hikaru sat on the bed motionless as Kaoru wiped at his eyes with his sleeve and jumped out of the bed toward the door. Hikaru followed quickly then started to lead the way as he sniffed occasionally and bolted to his mother's room.

No words needed to be said between the two as they cried and walked around the large mansion in the dark. They both often shared nights when they were blessed with sugar coated fantasies and others when each night was stricken with the horror of unknown monsters or death. Hikaru sniffed pathetically as he stood in front of his mother's room, the door only slightly cracked as he placed his head into the doorway.

"..Mommy?" Hikaru asked with a cracked voice. The woman, orange hair flying, giggled as she sat with her husband, happily drinking wine and talking of their businesses success. Hikaru's voice wasn't heard as they tapped their glasses together and gulped down the red substance. His mother picked up some newspapers which had her name and pictures of the twins plastered over the front page-

"Hitachiin Party Girl Turned Mother" "Fashion Leader Takes Child Industry By Storm!"

His mother and father both laughed as she sprang joyfully into the man's arms. Kaoru turned away for they were obviously both very drunk and happy, but Hikaru's eyes were frozen on them. Couldn't he hear her plea for help? Didn't…didn't she care?

"Mommy!" Hikaru suddenly cried out, his high pitched voice becoming desperate as he sobbed silently, waiting for the woman to run over to the door and save him from his bad dreams. However as he sobbed through closed eyes no warm eyes wrapped around him.

"Haha! Having kids was the best thing I've ever done for business honey! You were right, the publicity is the best that I've gotten in my entire life, and now people see me as not only a respectable designer, but as a respectable woman as well! All because of the twins!" She giggled in a dunk tone again and kissed the man passionately making him nod dumbly.

"I told you, children bring good publicity…" his dad blabbered on. Hikaru flinched and threw the door open, not paying attention to Kaoru's protest. Tears strolled down his pale face as he ran into his mother's leg, crying on her black tights heavily.

His moms eyes suddenly widened as she looked down at the boy, disgusted and horrified at his actions. The young woman tried to nudge him off with her foot, not understanding why he was suddenly coming to her in such a pathetic state.

"Hikaru let go right now! Mommy is busy!" The woman whispered in an irritated tone. Hikaru's eyes widened as he gripped tighter to her constantly moving leg, sobs now escaping easier as he shook his head, not understanding.

"Hikaru! I said get!" She suddenly yelled.

"M-mom…I love you…why won't you…why aren't you comforting me…why can't you-"

There was a long silence in the room as his mom's arm came down quickly sending Hikaru's face forcefully to the side. Kaoru stared at his brother's now red cheek as his drunk mother lashed out, making Hikaru flinch and back away. She stopped and looked down at him with a bit of regret as he slowly moved his hand over his numb cheek. She had slapped him…she had actually slapped him. The tears threatening to spill from Hikaru's eyes flowed down as he stared sadly up at his mother.

"You think just because you keep crying someone will come and help you?!" She asked viciously with a small hiccup, trying to deny she had struck her child. Hikaru couldn't say a word but continued to rub his cheek, not believing that his mother could be so cruel to him. His mom shivered with regret, but being the stubborn woman she was, wouldn't admit it.

"GO BACK TO BED!" She yelled, her own eyes watering. Hikaru stared coldly at her, his large eyes turning into slits making her gasp as he threw his hand off of his cheek and walked out of the room. Kaoru flinched and tried to run into the room.

"Mom!" He called out in a sad voice. A tiny hand gripped at his arm making him flinch as he turned to see his still angry brother clinging onto him.

"…come on Kaoru…" He whispered. "…we're all we got now…"

As they excited the room Hikaru stopped, glaring at the floor, his hands clenched. He let out a yell and threw a vase down on the floor making it shatter. Kaoru shook with fear his eyes wide as he caught a glance at the wild and murderous golden eyes. Hikaru leapt again, this time striking the wall as he threw punches at it.

"…heh…heh…" Hikaru let out angry pants as he continued to hit the wall out of compressed anger and confusion. Questions flew past his mind but he knew they would never be answered. Each punch that hit the wall and bruised his small pale knuckles hid yet another truth.

'Why doesn't she love me?!'

'Why was I really born?!'

'Am I really so useless?!'

'Does she hate me?'

'Should I hate her?'

'I DON'T UNDERSTAND!'

Kaoru kept his tears covered from his big brother as he sniffed and rubbed at his eyes trying to hide his shaking. Hikaru slowly looked over, his dead eyes softening at his brother's pain. Hikaru gave a great sigh and reached out his hand. Kaoru took it readily and hiccupped before the two started in a run to their room. Once there Kaoru proceeded to grip at his brother for dear life on his bed before Hikaru slowly let go and got over to his own mattress.

"Hi-hi-Hikaru?" Kaoru asked, hiccupping as he finished his sobbing for the moment. Hikaru suddenly pushed his mattress with some struggle so that it was side by side with Kaoru's creating one large bed. Hikaru climbed up and spread out the covers as he motioned for Kaoru to get underneath them. Kaoru climbed underneath the covers and threw it over his head to hide his face as Hikaru did the same, hugging his brothers body to his own as hot tears glided onto Kaoru's head.

"Don't leave me Kaoru…never leave me…" Hikaru softly whispered, breaking as he suddenly broke down, clutching his brother. Kaoru slowly nodded and rubbed his brothers back as he took in a deep breath of his scent.

"…It's ok…it'll just be us forever and ever…I promise…"

I knew I could never tell Hikaru that I had made a friend…I promised him that it would be us forever….and there was no way I would ever let him know that I had broken that promise.

But somehow it slipped…I was so stupid…Hikaru was determined to show me that she was just as stupid and dimwitted as everyone else in the world. I didn't want to believe him but by refusing him he would have won. He still hated our mother for hitting him, even though she apologized over and over to him, claiming she was drunk and regretted yelling at him at all. But what had happened had happened, and Hikaru wasn't the same.

To prove that Haruhi really was worthy of our attention he wanted to play the 'Which Ones Hikaru Game' and even though I knew that I shouldn't have agreed…I did.

I didn't honestly believe that Haruhi would be able to tell who was who, especially knowing that my brother would not make it easy for her- but…I longed for it…I sincerely wanted her to know…so that day, as the snow fell like petals from a flower, I sat and waited for what seemed to be the final judgment call.

Kaoru fidgeted in his seat as Hikaru sat beside him, an angry and deadlock face covering him as he reached out and fussed with some snow on the bench. The two small children with identical orange hair and golden eyes looked up as all of the kids played happily in the snow. Somewhere inside of him Kaoru longed to play with them. Hikaru however would have had a fit. Hikaru had been hurt much more that Kaoru could have ever imagined by the fact that Kaoru had made a friend without him.

He saw Hikaru glare as a girl with long beautiful brown hair waved happily at them both. She had already noticed the pair of orange heads and made the connection. Haruhi had a really good memory and so Kaoru knew she wouldn't forget his brother's name which he had said so many times during their pond visits. Kaoru's heart started to race, if she didn't win the game would he not be able to go see Nacho anymore or sit with her? She was only so many more feet away and Kaoru started to sweat nervously.

"Put on an emotionless face and when she speaks don't speak with emotion…." Hikaru suddenly whispered. Kaoru flinched and turned to his brother in a frenzy.

"What? Why?" Kaoru whispered unhappily.

"…because…it's the only way to truly tell if she knows you or not…" Hikaru said in a hushed voice as he looked down at the ground. Kaoru flinched and looked away, if he was tottaly emotionless it would make it nearly impossible for her to tell.

"…you said…she knows you right…it's…it's the only way I can tell if she's just…if she's just looking at our looks…or at us…" Hikaru whispered sadly as he stared at a piece of snow right underneath his foot. Kaoru looked over at Hikaru- so…he wanted Haruhi to be able to tell the difference too….

"…o-ok big brother…" Kaoru whispered as he saw Haruhi merely steps away. He swallowed hard and wiped all emotion from his face. He was nervous and quivering, and so, in a last effort attempt to show Kaoru that he actually did care Hikaru reached out and squeezed his gloved hand.

"Let's build a snowman together!" Haruhi suddenly chirped out as she finally reached the two of them. Kaoru held his breath.

"Which one of us are you talking to?" Hikaru demanded. Kaoru resisted the urge to slap his brother right then and there.

"Both of you of course" Haruhi answered testily, her knees pushing together as she found herself in an odd situation. Kaoru tried not to flinch at her anxiety, she had obviously not been expecting an interrogation.

"There's no one called 'both of you' over here…." Hikaru snapped back. Haruhi's face became half depressed half angry as she threw her hands to the side.

"I'm talking to Hikaru and Kaoru!" She squeaked out. Kaoru took in heavy breaths, it was coming, the test that would determine his friendship with Haruhi was coming. He prayed inside of his mind as he suddenly burst out in a numb voice in synch with his brother-

"Then, do you know which ones Hikaru, and which ones Kaoru?"

There was silence for a while as she stared at the two, her bright eyes wide and confused. She pulled her arms inside, showing signs of uncertainty and fear. Kaoru tried his hardest not to look away, he felt the strongest urge to hold her and shout- "I'm Kaoru! It's me! It's me!"

But before he could grab her and tell her she had already pointed to her left and at him. He froze, was she going to say his name? Was she going to fool his brother and show him up for the jerk he was?!

"- …this ones Hikaru…"Haruhi whispered, staring right into Kaoru's eyes.

The snow suddenly fell just as Kaoru's heart fell from his chest down to the deepest part of his stomach.

Kaoru felt his shoulders fall as his eyebrows drooped and his hand loosened on his brothers. Kaoru's lip quivered as he stared at the girl who was now shaking and covering her face out of regret at the sight. She knew before they had even answered she had gotten it wrong. Her voice was shaking as she looked about ready to cry.

"S-sorry…please don't cry…" Haruhi whispered as she glanced up at them both, tears pooling up in her eyes. Kaoru stared up into those beautiful brown orbs, the ones that had smiled at him so many times before this moment. He saw their images reflected in her own and noticed that they too had tears springing in their eyes. Kaoru slowly looked at his brother, who was staring at nothing in particular, and he noted that Hikaru looked about as betrayed as he did at the moment.

"I'm so sorry Kaoru!" Haruhi suddenly whispered as she cried softly and ran off and out of sight. Waiting until she was gone Kaoru slowly stood up, brushing the snow off of his hand as he placed them in his pocket and started toward the limo.

"I want to go home…" Kaoru whispered, hate burning in him.

"…I didn't think she would be so sad about getting it wrong…" Hikaru slowly whispered. Kaoru felt his muscles tighten as he started in a faster pace.

"…maybe I was wrong this time…" Hikaru assessed to himself. His eyes widened as Kaoru stopped and so he stopped as well, a few steps behind him. He looked behind his shoulder at the exit the girl had taken.

"Kaoru don't be like that…it was for the best. She is crying now but I'm sure she'll get over it…she doesn't mean anything, you still have me…" Hikaru whispered straining over his words. Kaoru turned around quickly, glaring at his brother.

"Don't talk about her EVER again do you understand?! …I want to go home. I don't want to think about that selfish little COMMONER ever again! She could die for all I care!" Kaoru whispered storming off. Hikaru tensed up as he quickly looked at the sky, apologizing for Kaoru's sudden outburst.

It started to rain. Hikaru flinched and caught up with his brother, covering his head from the rain as he sent one final glance in the girl's direction, surely she would go home after it started to rain right?

I felt so angry that night…but when I came to my senses I regretted with all of my heart not running after her. So the next day I asked my driver to take me to the park. Hoping that she had forgiven me I ran to the pond where I prayed she would be waiting with that same happy smile on her face. I was heartbroken at the empty sight. Haruhi was gone and Nacho, the smallest of the ducklings, had not survived the cold terrain...

I never returned to the pond again.

But I didn't feel angry, and I figured it must have been her doing.

It wasn't until later that I learned her mother had died that night…

I guess we both lost someone that day…

I was convinced I would never see her again…

How was I to know she would come stumbling through those large wooden doors and right back into our lives?

What shocked me the most however was the way that she had acted around my brother. I thought for sure that after everything that he had done she would hate him and come back to me- but it wasn't so. I attempted to top every move that Hikaru put on, but nothing worked. I told myself it was just because she didn't remember either of us, and that's why her attention was being sent towards him instead of me.

"Then let's do this, if you guess wrong in the "which ones Hikaru game" we're going to visit your house as penalty."

"Ok which one is Hikaru?"

It seemed that Haruhi didn't even need to think. She slowly extended her arm and pointed to the left, right at Kaoru. Kaoru felt his heart race inside of his chest as her confident eyes met his own. Those eyes still looked t he same after all of these years.

"This ones Kaoru, and this ones Hikaru" She whispered pointing from Kaoru to Hikaru. Inside a fireworks show exploded in Kaoru's stomach.

"You're wrong!" They laughed out, thinking they had won. They were about to turn to walk away when they heard Haruhi speak again.

"I'm not wrong. You two are different even though you two look the same." She whispered confidently. Kaoru stopped in his tracks, his eyes wide and his heart beating loud enough for the whole room to hear. Hikaru looked as shocked as he was and his golden eyes begged for an explanation.

"If I had to say…Hikaru's actions are one level meaner than Kaoru's…" Haruhi cooed out as she looked at Kaoru with a small smile. Kaoru blushed but hid it quickly by covering his face and laughing. So she still did hold a grudge against Hikaru!

"S-sorry Hikaru, ahahaha!" Kaoru giggled out as he pointed annoyingly at his brother.

"Hey I'm just being sincere and saying what I want without hiding anything and in fact, Kaoru's more ill-natured" Hikaru snapped back. Kaoru froze recalling how he had cursed the heavens and wished for Haruhi's death after a mere clash with her. That wasn't normal…was it? Maybe…maybe he was more ill-natured.

Hikaru was an idiot most of the time yea, but he never actually wanted harm to come to other people. Kaoru suddenly clenched his fist, grinding his teeth together as he stared angrily at his brother. The only reason that Kaoru was so angry all the time was because of Hikaru!

"Don't just be saying whatever you want! I'm the one that has to deal with your selfishness all the time" Kaoru growled out.

I guess Hikaru had it all planned out but- to me…those two sentences were really our first brotherly fight...Haruhi had a tendency to do that to us- put us on edge I mean. I always knew that we forced ourselves into our lonely world, but it was comfortable for us there- even when it was fake.

It was the start of a new year and unheard of to me things had been changing. Haruhi had stopped looking at me when we passed by for our classes, Hikaru had been spending a very scary amount of time with the new exchange student- Haley, and Hannah's voice had become even more quiet and outrageous since we first met. I didn't have any classes with Haruhi and neither did Hikaru so the year went by pretty slowly and fairly boring. Christmas wasn't even a joyous occasion and mom and dad weren't even there to help us spend the two week break over. The second term was full of studying for the test and since we had much harder classes than the year before it was seldom that Hikaru and I even got a word with each other.

What became of the Host Club you ask? Oh…well that's the saddest story of all. You see third years have an enormous amount of pressure to live up to, whether it's getting a good score on your final exam, passing with high honors to make your father proud, or showing you ARE good enough to run the family business; the world crashed down upon you on that final judgment call. So Kyouya and Tamaki had decided to cancel club activities…

Hikaru was busy with his fiancé and the new basketball team he'd joined to blow off hidden emotions, Haruhi had isolated herself from all of us for so long that it seemed she was a ghost among the halls, and Honey and Takashi weren't even here to help smooth things over…

I was all alone in a story that I couldn't read.

A twin without a sibling…

Just Kaoru…

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The moment was peaceful. The campus had been cleaned out for the holidays and the once exuberant flowers that bloomed ever so happily shrunk back into themselves to save their lives from the harsh bite of winter. As Haruhi sat with her book, legs folded neatly together, hands lacing with each own for warmth- she couldn't help but find her own self inside of those flowers- her petals not yet ready to reach out to the world.

That was the one thing that Haruhi found hard to express. Though Hikaru had left her quite some time ago and moved on with his life she had not yet had the same courage. Yes she had joined some new clubs to get her mind off of things, joined a cooking class and even gotten a new job yet somehow every morning she had managed to not throw out his old shirt which he had left in her care.

She wanted to burn it. She wanted to forever erase his existence from her present and move into the future with only the memory of the past to nurture her still stinging wounds.

Had she really even loved him?

Was it just the sting of knowing that he had been the one leaving her that really hit against her chest? She couldn't tell…

She was sure that she hadn't truly fallen for him, after all they had only been together for a little while and falling in love with him was rather absurd. Yet she could day dream about them having kids together, being bride and groom- growing old together.

And when she was with Hikaru it really didn't seem like that much of a daydream…

He gave her security and a warm shoulder, and even if that was selfish- she had thought that he would always be able to give her those things.

But things don't always go according to plan. And as much as it pained her to say it, seeing him with another girl really did hurt her more than the fact that he wasn't with her. Wasn't he supposed to be suffering as much as she was? Wasn't he supposed to be the one dreaming of her every night- just praying by some twitch of fate that she would come back to him? Why was he so readily holding hands with that girl, that girl that he had seen kick and punch and animalize her.

Somehow though…she knew that that pained look in his eyes on that night when he had come to see her was all the agony he could ever show to others. She still remembered the lingering smell of alcohol on his lips as he pressed down upon her, his heart racing and his breath hot-

"Haruhi can I speak with you for a moment?" The nearly cold tone made Haruhi's head snap up from her reading as she uncrossed her legs and looked over to where Kyouya's voice had been heard.

Haruhi gave him a faint smile and nodded as he took a seat next to her rather casually before leaning back- a rare sight for the black haired demon. This didn't surprise Haruhi however as she yawned and leaned back against the bench as well, her eyes trailing back to the fine print of her novel.

"Was there something you wanted to see me about Kyouya?" Haruhi asked in an all too friendly tone.

The two of them had been seen conversing with one another in long discussions and often were spotted sitting together, reading books side by side or leaning against one another's backs. Unknown to Hikaru and Kaoru Haruhi's smile had returned and her thin frame had redeemed a sense of calmness in the year's time. Unbeknownst to the twins though, was one of the biggest differences about the female turned male; the specifically designed ring that sheltered her finger.

"I just came over to see if you were doing alright. You seemed rather nervous last time we talked." Kyouya stated simply as he reached over, grabbing the book from her hands and scanning through the pages. Haruhi laughed softly, making him slowly turn his head to her as he focused his dark eyes upon her own.

"Well…come the end of this year our lives are going to change…I guess I'm just a little nervous about everything- especially since nothing seems to be changing, yet everything's changing at once…." Haruhi trailed off as she placed her slowly changing face to the sunset. Kyouya stared for a moment's time.

Hardships had transformed such an innocent and child-like face into that of a fine woman- ready to take on whatever the world gives her. She had become very confident over the year and was even more independent of her father since her medical bill had finally been wiped off their financial slate.

"You don't have to do this Haruhi…I can get the company on my own- if you don't want to pretend anymore I won't hold it against you…" Kyouya whispered. Haruhi could only smile as she pushed her bangs behind her ear.

"It's alright Kyouya, this time has allowed me to really move on…it's been good for me…I just hope it's done good for you as well." Haruhi stated in a clear tone as she stretched her arms.

Though she sounded sure- Kyouya could see the wavering in her eyes- deeper than anyone else.

"Say the word and I'll cancel everything…" He whispered to her, this time, a much more personal agenda hidden like lace underneath his words. Haruhi could merely give a soft chuckle under her breath as she grabbed his hand self assured.

"It's alright Kyouya…I'm ready for anything now…I really have given up on caring" Haruhi giggled out, her sad words not the least bit moved by her smiling exterior.

"That's not healthy- you know that right Haruhi?" Kyouya asked, as he took his glasses off the bridge of his nose, wiping the clear material with a cloth as Haruhi slowly nodded.

"Yea I know…but if I'm going to be a lawyer I've got to learn not to feel anyways right?" Haruhi asked as she looked over at Kyouya, her dark brown eyes lifeless and cold. Kyouya could even force himself to nod as she stood up, setting the book down on the wooden bench and stretching once more.

"I'm really thirsty. You want something?" Haruhi asked.

"Coffee please…" He tossed her a quarter, letting it fall gently into her hands before she walked off to the vending machine, her hair following after her in the wind.

"…Stupid girl…" Kyouya noted as he shook his head and rubbed his hands together to cause friction.

Kyouya pulled his jacket to him closer as he felt a chill run down his spine. Something bad was coming, and it was coming fast. He quickly looked over at Haruhi and saw that she was indeed just standing, as safe as can be, near the vending machine, her tiny body shivering due to the cold. Kyouya allowed his eyes to wander, meeting the second opening to the outdoor space as the doors creaked open.

"But pookie, last month you said you didn't even want to THINK about a wedding, but daddy said you have to get married by the time that spring comes along and you graduate. Now I think that we should stop daydreaming and plan this out!"

A familiar blonde headed girl and orange headed boy walked out into the cold air, meeting no limits to hold them back as they traveled along the hall without notice of Kyouya or Haruhi. The simple girl bickered and complained about the little details of what Kyouya could only guess was Hikaru's wedding- and just like that- he felt a new twinge of emotion deep inside his chest.

Hate.

Absolute hate for the man who was in linked arms with the blabbering French girl. All Kyouya could think about was how much Haruhi had silently cried, how many times he had wished that he could sooth her half as well as Hikaru once did, and the overall hate of causing such a gentle human being so much pain.

It was then that everything they had all built up fell to pieces…

"Haruhi?! Is that you?" The blonde girl's high pitched voice cut the air so heavily Kyouya considered it murder.

"Oh my gosh it's been so long!" The girl giggled out as she tightened her grip on Hikaru's arm before dragging him over to where Haruhi and Kyouya sat. Haruhi looked up from her adventure with the vending machine and swallowed hard as a rather shocked and frozen Hikaru stared at her from across the way, eyes bulging, heart throbbing.

Haruhi nearly dropped the coffee she was holding but thankfully Kyouya was there to grab the drinks from her trembling hands before they spilled. Haruhi shoved her hands quickly behind her back and bit her tongue to hide the look of surprise on her face- though she knew she could never fade the longing from her eyes.

"Hi Hannah…" Haruhi muttered out with as nice of a tone as she could muster. The girl waved lightly causing Hikaru to look away as Kyouya set his hands gently against Haruhi's arms and sat her down upon the bench with him. Haruhi silently thanked him for hiding her shaking knees.

"I haven't seen you around campus- I'd a thought that you'd moved…" Hannah muttered out, finally loosing her energy as she dug her fingernails into Hikaru's arm. Once more Hikaru didn't day anything, but merely tapped his shaking fingers against his leg.

"No…I just have a lot of other classes than you- advanced classes." Haruhi stressed.

They stared each other down, each smiling but hate drifting quickly and daringly between each. Kyouya kept a careful eye on Haruhi as to make sure she wouldn't jump up and attack the girl, while Hannah herself pressed her torso against the silent man she had been parading around with.

"Oh- haha- more stupid jokes. Such a kidder. I don't believe I've been formally introduced, who is this demon looking man standing beside you?" Hannah asked, straining her voice as she smiled at the black haired man.

"Kyouya-…I'm Haruhi's fiancé. Nice to meet you…."

"What?!" This suddenly caused everyone in the group to freeze up as Hikaru ripped his head to the side out of anger, suddenly engaging in the conversation- anger emitting off of every one of his clenched muscles. Haruhi stared at him, as he stared at her, anger slowly dripping off at him as his shoulders sagged, depression evident.

"Haruhi…why?" He seemed to say.

But for some reason- she didn't tell him…

It was actually very complicated and hard to explain as for why the two had become engaged. It certainly wasn't because of love, oh no, it was far from it. You see although she hated to admit it to anyone Kyouya knew that Haruhi was still in love with Hikaru, and though he never admitted it, Kyouya too was in love with someone he could never have.

Or more, someone his father would never let him have…

Haruhi's father had been considering getting a new job and moving out of the city, but this was a very hit or miss move no his part and he wanted to make sure that Haruhi would be well taken care of if it backfired. He knew that Kyouya was a good man and that Haruhi had a faint attraction to him, and so, in an effort to save his daughter from herself he took up Kyouya's offer of marriage.

Of course Kyouya had not known anything about this until his father too agreed to the marriage. Nothing would be official until the two children approved, but knowing that in a business dealing with sick people and finances a leader would have to have more than just smarts- he would need compassion; something that he had lost so many years ago when his first wife had died.

So that was the deal, if the two were to agree to marriage Haruhi would be given complete security for her father, and Kyouya would inherit the business that he rightfully should have owned. But this was not their reasoning for agreeing.

They had agreed because of one thing and one thing only- the need to move on with their lives.

They both agreed that if progress had been made with the one they loved they would cancel the engagement immediately and go back to their normal lives, but if not and all seemed lost, they would marry, if not for love then for each others company.

This plan had been going on very well for the last few months, but for some reason, Kyouya had lately been having heavy doubts.

"Hikaru now is not the time to pry." Hannah whispered as she witness Hikaru's outburst, not willing to admit that he fancied the girl still. Hikaru reached his hand out, silently brushing Haruhi's cold hand as she flinched and set her eyes down cast. He begged for an answer that she wouldn't give.

"Come on Haruhi…" Kyouya whispered, taking her hand noticeably.

"I-it was good seeing you" Hikaru called out dumbly as he felt himself being dragged. He knew the statement was idiotic but he wanted so badly to call out to her, to hold her in his arms and kiss every inch of that skin that he had dreamt of so many nights before. He wanted to yell how much he loved her and how every night that he had spent without her had burdened him with nightmares. He wanted to tell her he was sorry…

But those words did not budge from his lips.

"…y-yea…you too…" Haruhi whispered, fidgeting a bit as she felt her heart thump sixteen times louder. Haruhi flinched as she lowered her bright brown eyes to look at the ground, she wondered in the back of her mind if he could hear it. Her heart ran idly in her ears and she bit her lips, praying with all her might he wouldn't be able to see the pain that etched through every part of her. She longed for him to just come to his senses, to ditch his reasoning and good nature and return to the old Hikaru she knew!

The Hikaru that would not care of the consequences and grab her in such a tight embrace the world would have to accept their love.

"Is it hard Fujiko? Loosing someone you love I mean?" Hannah asked smoothly, finally getting sick of waiting for the boy. Haruhi slowly glanced up at Hannah, her already weak stature shutting down at the girl's words. At first look Haruhi would have assumed she was talking about her mother, but it was obvious the girl had other intentions.

"…I wouldn't know…I've never truly loved anyone I guess…" Haruhi whispered. Hikaru flinched as Haruhi stared down at the ground again letting her bangs hide her pained face.

"W-well…I guess I'll see you soon…right?" He answered attentively; regret and innocence crossing his relaxed face as he glanced back at her while Hannah pulled at his arm for him to move. Haruhi slowly looked up from her spot on the ground, all of the fear and anger draining out of her eyes as she slowly nodded.

"Yea…I'll see you…."

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"You aren't going to be joining the art club Haley?" Kaoru asked sweetly as the two of them began on their journey to class. The art club was in dire need of painters due to the pressure of putting on a good school festival. Haley merely shrugged as her light blue eyes stared in front of her.

"I think that the art club is too oppressed for a real painter…inspiration doesn't come in an assignment…it comes in a form- like an elephant or a toothbrush." Haley whispered in her ever so airy tone. Kaoru simply nodded, having learned her real reasons for the random sentences long ago. Most of the time they were merely words that she thought sounded correct together, while other's hid a rather intellectual meaning. Kaoru guessed that this was one of those times that meant both.

"What about you Mr. Carrot top, you aren't going to join?" Haley whispered as they walked outside and into the free air. Haley's soft blue eyes peered from person to person, as if analyzing each and every character. Kaoru rubbed the back of his head, feeling the soft and yet awkward silence between the two.

"Hey Haley what are you looking for?" He finally asked as she snapped out of her observation and looked back at him with a rather obvious gaze.

"I have a photographic memory. I am trying to memorize all of those people's faces before Roman History" Haley mumbled as she pushed her hair behind her ears, her delicate skin trickling at her ear as she looked up at the boy.

"…Why?" Kaoru asked suddenly as they continued to walk, their abnormal conversation not seeming the phase either one of the two. Haley merely shrugged as she looked at all of the people working steadily at the school fair- only stopping her footsteps as she spotted a familiar looking brown eyed face.

"Haruhi!" Kaoru suddenly called out happily. His eye's lit up as he recognized the beautiful face and long dark brown hair standing before him.

"Kaoru?" Haruhi asked, her own eyes lighting up as she giggled and got down from the ladder she had been climbing. Jumping off the last few steps she ran at the boy, jumping and allowing him to pick her up in his arms as he dug his head quickly into her shoulder and squeezed her waist tightly. After having such an odd ordeal with Hikaru, seeing his friendly face was overwhelming.

"I haven't seen you since the middle of vacation…you ok?" Kaoru asked heartily as she giggled and hugged him back, not even minding the unwritten rules about hugging another in this country. People stared but not even their disapproving glares could dampen her mood.

"I've been busy." Haruhi lied as he placed her thin frame down.

"How's H- …how's everything with you?" Haruhi asked, stuttering and pausing over her own words before smiling brightly and closing her pained eyes- and just like that- Kaoru suddenly remembered why they hadn't seen each other since summer…

"Ah everything's good…everything's good…" Kaoru whispered as he nodded awkwardly. Haley looked back from the girl to the boy before letting out a soft chuckle under her breath.

"This situation is so awkward it makes me want to marry it so that we can raise beautiful unsocial children together" Haley whispered. Kaoru suddenly froze and waited as Haruhi's eyes widened. A sudden laugh cut the tense silence as Haruhi placed her gentle hands on Haley's shoulders, a genuine laugh overtaking her.

"It was Haley right?"

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"No I won't! Please! I don't want to do this! You're crazy! YOU NEED HELP!"

It was dark.

"Please! PLEASE!" The voice was pleading, sobs shaking every word as the young woman got down on her knees, begging like a lap dog to its owner not to fight. A glare hidden by the night made the figure shiver as she fell, sobbing.

"PLEASE SISTER! Please stop!"

The room was covered in shadows from head to toe and the only light that came into it was caressed by a cold silhouette of a tall figure holding a bucket. She tapped her foot, her hate filled blue eyes burning holes in the ground as she threw the can down on the floor making a small and pitiful shriek ring through the room as another figure, now emerging, fell to the ground on her hands and back- terrified of whatever was standing up besides her. This girl suddenly cried out and covered her head with both hands before backing up as if someone was coming at her with a knife.

Haley sat, quivering from head to toe as she took in deep breaths, her bright eyes empty. The girl looked about to cry as she rocked back and forth on her spot on the floor, red paint splattered all around her. Hannah held the now empty paint can to her hip as she stared down at her emotionally disturbed sister, who was whispering something under her breath, her eyes wide and fearful.

"Blood…so…so much blood…" Haley whispered with a shaky breath as she held her knees to her chest. If anyone were to walk in they would have assumed that she was a mental patient being scolded by her mother. Through the dark a cruel smile grazed perfectly painted red lips.

"…let's play a game…ok Haley?"

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"Dad…dad?!"