Needless to say, a good portion of Haruhi's day (meaning from lunchtime 'til afternoon) was spent in the amusement park. She couldn't help but be both annoyed and a little entertained by her companion's comments and reactions.

Kaoru had noted everything from the vendor's booths that were scattered around the place to the park rides' architectural design ("That's a rollercoaster? Where's the thrill in riding something so small?). He bought every snack food his sights fell on (So much commoner food! The boss would kill to be here!), tried all the prize games (Hey Haruhi, I got you another tanuki plushie!), and was determined to ride absolutely everything; that was no exaggeration (I'll go on that next. Are you coming? Come with me this time, please?" "…Kaoru, that's a toddler ride.")

Next, she had no idea why this was where they ended up going. Not that Haruhi was complaining, but the question nagged her; of all the recreational areas out there, why here? It was impossible for the Hitachiin to not have been to an amusement park before; admitted though she was that his previous experiences must have been superb (and undoubtedly more expensive) compared to this. Still, Haruhi thought, Kaoru seemed to be enjoying himself rather immensely. But couldn't you have done this alone? Why go to the trouble of taking me along when I don't even want to?

Then again, all the food, a large number of stuffed toys and a bag of plastic trinkets were always left with Haruhi as she patiently waited for the redhead to return from each attraction. So she figured that there must have been some ulterior motive behind all this—she must be serving him as some kind of personal assistant. It didn't come as a surprise to her, honestly. The fact that she wasn't complaining about her current position, however... Well, that was another story.

"Haruhi!" Kaoru called after five minutes of another ride. It was nearing the afternoon, and he was still rather ecstatic. His face was considerably flushed. The girl looked up at him from her seat on the bench (it was also no surprise that Haruhi had decided not to go on anything—even the ones she could ride regardless of her pregnancy—in spite of Kaoru's constant insisting).

"Well, how'd it go?" she asked a bit sarcastically as she nibbled on some caramel corn.

"Awesome," he replied, holding out a thumbs-up before sitting down beside her. "I still can't believe I rode that thing."

Haruhi decided that if she took it as an insult, she would just annoy herself even more. So she let it pass.

She looked over at the said ride and rolled her eyes. "It was only a carousel, you know."

"I know," Kaoru had a faraway look in his eyes. "But I used to be scared to death of those things. It's my first time to ride one..."

His ears suddenly lit up when he realized what he had just said. And Haruhi's silence made him uncomfortable. "Fine, laugh at me all you want. You don't have to hold it in."

"Why should I laugh?" she asked thoughtfully. "I'm not one to talk. I'm afraid of things too."

"Yeah, thunder! Thunder is loud and could make anyone jump out of their skin. But carousels, why would anyone be afraid of…"

"I don't get it," she plowed on, cutting through his rant. "You said it was your first time to ride a carousel. Did you want me to congratulate you? Alright then, congratulations. You got it over with. You rode it. So what's the fuss?"

"Yup, I rode it." he replied, blushing a little, a sheepish smile on his face. "Well, it's not really my first ever time to ride that. Not really. It's more like it's my first time to ride it…" He was idly scanning the crowd. "…without Hikaru."

"Oh."

Suddenly, the jigsaw puzzle that had been jumbling its pieces in Haruhi's brain clicked together to form a painfully clear picture.

"Kaoru," Haruhi began cautiously. She knew that her question might cross a line, so she tried to put it in a way that edged just close enough to the limit. "Today… What other things did you do for the first time?"

His eyes studied her in a contemplative way, as if sizing up her reaction to something he was about to do. A second later, Kaoru suddenly wrapped his hand around her own.

His face broke into a grin. "This would be one of them."

"Hmm," Haruhi couldn't think of anything better to say. "What else?"

Kaoru stood up, taking most of the bags from Haruhi and tugging her up with him as well.

"Let's go. If you wanna know that badly, I'll tell you on the Ferris wheel."

--

"So tell me, why are we here again?"

"I told you, Hika-chan," Hani explained as patiently as he could through his excitement. "Takashi and I have never been to a place like this!"

"You mean an amusement park," Hikaru said dryly.

"Uh-huh! Aren't you excited? Look, I can see some of the rides! Aren't they cute, Takashi?"

"Mmm."

Hikaru exhaled noisily as he stepped out of the car. He didn't want to offend his senpai, but he really didn't get this at all. First, he had been forced to leave the sanctuary of his room to be dragged to Karuizawa. Then, just when he was beginning to feel comfortable enough to mope there, the cousins decided that it was time for another outing. And so he wound up at an amusement park.

Frankly, Hikaru could find nothing amusing about it at all.

Well, I probably would… If I was with…

"Hika-chan, which ride would you want like to go on first?"

"I'll pass, senpai, thanks."

"But—"

Mori stepped in. "I don't think Hikaru's in the mood, Mitsukuni." His tone was a little chastising, and Hani got the message. But the little ball of energy brightened up quickly.

"Alright then, Takashi, you'll come with me, right?"

"Mmm."

Hani turned to the Hitachiin. "You be a good boy, 'kay, Hika-chan? We'll be right back!" He gave Hikaru a parting wink before bounding up onto his much taller cousin's shoulders.

Hikaru was left alone, a thing that had never appealed to him. Being alone meant having nothing to do but mull things over in his head. There were, of course, plenty of pleasant things to think about, but his situation always brought worst things up first.

No matter how he put it, he was always thinking about his twin. It was impossible not to. But it was also impossible not to feel betrayed. A stab of anger laced with guilt ran through him, but he was so used to feeling it that by now he was numb. He ran over the last conversation he and Kaoru had… What he had said back then.

"To be honest, I'm sick of us constantly having to depend on each other! I hate that people always think of us as a package deal—even Haruhi!"

And Hikaru was sick of it. He was tired of people treating them the same. …Kaoru and me. All he wanted was for them to see a difference. For Haruhi to see the difference. Before, he used to think that she already could, and it seemed like he had a chance. …Haruhi and me. But why did it not seem that way anymore?

In an attempt to distract himself, Hikaru let his feet lead him aimlessly around the park.

He couldn't figure out why Haruhi was so concerned about Kaoru. He remembered mentioning that in their spat, too.

"She keeps saying 'your twin' this and 'your brother' that… Haruhi was always. Thinking. About. You!!!"

"Why," he mumbled under his breath. "Why do you want him in the picture so badly? I… I don't want to share you, Haruhi. I don't want to share you."

Hikaru leaned on a wall and realized that he had no idea where he was. Recollecting his senses, he noticed that he was near the line for the Ferris wheel. And there were two people there, two people he knew (but right now, he wished he didn't). They were holding hands. And the girl had a smile on her face, the one Hikaru always kept on the look-out for. But this time, it wasn't for him.

Whatever compelled Hikaru to do this next thing, he would curse for a while afterward. He got in line.

--

"…So."

"Hmm?"

"We're in the Ferris Wheel."

"Yeah, we are."

"You said you'd tell me…"

Kaoru chuckled. "You're curious today, aren't you?"

"Hmf," Haruhi pouted.

He squeezed her hand. "Hey, I will tell you. You want to know? For real?"

"Yes," she replied, determined eyes boring into his. "What other first times have you experienced today?"

"To be honest? The whole day has been one big first," Kaoru sighed. "From the moment I left our house."

"Why?"

"I've never gone anywhere by myself, you know."

Haruhi had already expected this. She felt like she was rubbing it in, but she couldn't stop herself. "You mean without Hikaru."

"Yup."

She couldn't understand how this boy could be so casual about it. Kaoru was acting as though it wasn't a big deal, and it puzzled her.

"This is why I stayed away," Haruhi said, frowning. "Look at you two. You've had that bond all your lives. Don't throw it all away. Nothing's worth that."

"You're worth it."

Her serious expression melted away at that unexpected remark.

"There's something else, too," Kaoru went on. "It's not your fault. And don't think I'm just saying that. Hikaru's right. We both have to go our separate ways sooner or later. Now's the time, I guess. Anyway, you were the one who told us that we were similar but not the same."

Haruhi shook her head vehemently. "You two are taking it the wrong way. Haven't you ever considered how lucky both of you are, being twins? Leading different lives doesn't mean you can't be there for each other!"

Kaoru smiled. "I know."

Now, the girl was really confused. "…Then why—"

"Hikaru doesn't understand that yet," he replied. "He's too overwhelmed by his feelings and has no idea how to handle everything that's happening."

"Have faith in your brother… He'll realize his mistake."

"I hope so," he managed a weak grin. "This is a first for him as well. He's never admitted his faults without my help."

It was silent in the carriage for a while, the two looking out and pretending to admire their lovely view of the setting sun. Then Kaoru, in an effort to break the quiet, asked Haruhi something.

"Can I touch Akachan again?"

"Sure. But like I said before, you can barely feel it," she answered, and she watched as Kaoru gingerly placed a hand on her lower abdomen. After a while, he stopped being hesitant and put his other hand there as well. He even started humming a little song. Dango, dango, dango… Dango, dango, daikazoku.

"I really hope Akachan gets her voice from her dad," Haruhi mumbled.

"…What?"

Haruhi had been waiting for the right time to tell Kaoru. This had to be it. She just looked at him blankly, waiting for his reaction.

"I'm…" Kaoru trailed off. "It's me…?"

"Yes."

"How did you—"

"When Hikaru and I had… you know," she said, averting the 'S' word. "It just felt different. That was when I knew it couldn't have been him."

"Ah."

"I didn't want to tell you right away because…"

"I get you, don't worry."

And now, it was Kaoru's turn. He had made a certain decision at the beginning of the day. He too had been waiting for the opportune moment to tell Haruhi. But this revelation… It made him feel so bittersweet, knowing what he was about to do next. But there's no turning back.

"Akachan," he said softly, turning his attention back to Haruhi's abdomen. "How are you doing in there? Mommy's taking good care of you, isn't she? Mommy's always doing her best… But she has to do it for a while more, because Daddy," he paused, taking a deep breath. "Daddy is a coward. He wants to say sorry. Daddy really loves you and Mommy a whole lot! But there's someone very important to him that he has to take care of first before he can take care of you..."

He stopped. His hands were shaking.

Haruhi took them. "You… You love Hikaru so much."

"He's my twin," he whispered hoarsely. "I already knew from the beginning that I was never going to let myself end up with you anyway, because I just can't hurt him. I can't. I'm so sorry."

She only gave him a reassuring look and threw him back his words. "I get you, don't worry."

"…Haruhi?"

"Hmm?"

"You're okay with me being like this?"

"Being like what? A loving brother? A responsible person? What?"

Kaoru watched her expression. Unbelievable. She isn't mad at me. She understands. One hand traveled up to the girl's face.

"You're amazing, Haruhi."

And as the sun dipped low to kiss the horizon, Kaoru leaned over and kissed Haruhi for what he thought was probably the last time.

--

From his point of view, Hikaru couldn't hear anything they said and could only see the pair from their chests up. But it was clear that Haruhi and Kaoru were having some kind of heart-to-heart talk. The chitchat lasted for a few more minutes. Then it happened; he saw them kiss.

It was only then that it hit him. The other ideas from earlier—Haruhi and me, Kaoru and me—what did they matter now? Obviously there was one that he had so foolishly missed.

Kaoru and Haruhi.

As soon as the Ferris wheel had come to a halt and his carriage was close enough to the ground, he opened it and jumped off, eager to be as far away from there as possible.

--

"Hika-chan, why did you just go off like that?" Hani asked reproachfully upon finding Hikaru. "If you wanted to ride the Ferris wheel, you could have waited for us. Takashi and I want to ride it too—"

"Senpai, let's go back to your place."

"But—"

"Please."

The cousins watched as Hikaru walked in the direction of the parking lot.

"He's seen them," Mori said bluntly.

"Yes," Hani replied, his brown eyes glazing over. "Now only time can tell us what'll happen next."

Mori knew that the little one felt guilty for having to be part of a plan that hurt someone emotionally. He felt that way too, but he was better at suppressing it.

"Mitsukuni, let's buy ice cream on the way home. From that famous stall on the Old Road."

"Okay!" he brightened up instantly. "Should we get Hika-chan one too? It makes people feel better!"

The tall one gazed at the figure of the said boy who was still walking dejectedly away.

"Maybe next time, Mitsukuni. I don't think he'll want it right now."

--

Back at Pension Misuzu~

"Don't worry, Akachan. Mommy's heart can still love you and Daddy with all the little pieces."


A/N: Holy cow, she updated! D8

LOL.

Yeah, sorry about that. Really. School's been a parasite. :[ But hey, I pulled through! XD

Soooooo...

It has been revealed! The moment you've all been anticipating (or dreading)!!!

YOU KNOW WHO AKACHAN'S DAD IS NOW!

Yes, I've finally decided to drop that bomb of suspense that's been building up for 16 chapters. XD It's Kaoru Hitachiin, folks (Hika-fans, please don't kill me).

But for every answer, a new question will arise. What's going to happen now? Haruhi has a sad because Kaoru chose Hikaru who got the wrong idea... Yes, it's all scrambled eggs for now. When will everything go sunny-side up? Will it ever get better? DX (Haha, there's suspense for you again.)

I also know that this isn't the best chapter out of everything... I myself hated this one. I never knew that breaking my fave character's hearts could hurt so much, even if it's just fan fiction. It stabs me! I almost didn't want to go through with it. But then I remembered you guys! You and your wonderful support (almost 200 reviews, it's awesome-sauce XD ) !!!

So, leave your responses. Tell me whether this chapter was worth the ridiculously long wait or not. Please! Every review fuels me, be it positive or otherwise. :)

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