OMG, an update! :D
Recap:Haruhi returns to Ouran. Everything seems to be back to normal. The twins are no longer fighting, and the big news; Haruhi is engaged to Hikaru! He had proposed to her back in Karuizawa. What they don't know is that Kaoru's completely given way to his twin, allowing Hikaru to have Haruhi and the baby. The Hosts are frustrated for the situation not turning out the way originally planned, and Kyoya seems to be up to something. Haruhi feels as though everything is surreal, and she feels a strange attraction to her engagement ring-a present that she doesn't know came from Kaoru.
Meanwhile, the academy is buzzing about this latest development, and also with the news of the upcoming engagement party.
"Are you nervous?"
"A little, I guess," the girl replied, eyelids still shut for fear of the eye shadow applicator suddenly poking her in the eye. Then again, considering who was applying the makeup, she really had no reason to be afraid of such a thing.
"Don't be," Kaoru murmured distractedly. He was focused on making her look gorgeous. His twin had entrusted him with that job for the night's big party. Haruhi and Hikaru's engagement party. The girl had no idea how he was doing this. It was like he had completely moved on, like they were back to being just friends again. Never mind that he was their baby's father. Throughout the course of the week, not once had he let slip that he was affected by anything anymore.
Kaoru doesn't care about it anymore…
So Haruhi had seriously considered doing the same. Moving on.
"I'm almost done with the finishing touches… There! You're even more stunning than usual."
Haruhi opened her eyes and saw her reflection immediately.
"Well, what do you think?" Kaoru asked after a minute of Haruhi scrutinizing her appearance in silence.
"Uh… It's like I'm a whole new person."
Indeed, the figure in the mirror wasn't similar to her at all. This girl was donning a midnight blue dress, a simple silver necklace, and…
"I still don't get what the wig is for," she said, tugging at the light brown curls that cascaded down her shoulders.
"Me neither," Kaoru shrugged. "But Hikaru likes the idea. I think he adores you with long hair. He's been raving about it since he saw your picture from middle school."
"But you know, honestly…" Haruhi stared at the mirror for a few more seconds. "I don't think I look like me."
There was a snort. She turned around to see her makeup artist trying to stifle his laughter.
"What?" she demanded.
"Haha, you tell me," Kaoru laughed. "Why is it that you love putting yourself down?"
"I'm just not used to this. I'm not meant to be so…"
"What?"
"…Pretty."
Kaoru stopped laughing. Wiping the tears from his eyes, he stepped closer and took hold of her shoulders, both of them still facing the mirror.
"Do you see that girl, that cute one right there? The one with the hot guy behind her?"
She nodded, feeling like she was five and suppressing the urge to deflate someone's ego. Even though he's right about that.
"Well, I think that she's pretty both inside and out. What do youthink, Haruhi?"
"You know what? I think… that you think too much."
The redhead chuckled again and sighed. "So modest! Really, that's one of the things everyone loves about you. I know I'll totally miss that about you."
Haruhi cocked her eyebrow. "Why would you miss me? It's not like I'm not going anywhere."
Before he could reply, the rest of the Host Club—excluding Hikaru—walked in. They were quite the sight, as usual. Tamaki said that they would act as entertainment for the party (translation: They were going to provide fan service). But in all honesty, the lot of them was quite a dapper image. Even Haruhi thought so.
Then Tamaki had to go and ask…
"Where's Haruhi?"
She almostrolled her eyes. Almost. But being the self-controlled person she was, she settled for waving at Tamaki. The next thing he did—he… Well, he shat bricks.
No, not really. He just pretty much stood there in shock. Not that anyone really cared; they were all busy fawning over Haruhi to notice.
Hani jumped down from his cousin's shoulders. "Uwaa~! Haru-chan looks so cute!"
"She does," Mori said appreciatively.
Even Kyoya put in his two cents. "I have to say that I'm rather a fan of the wig."
"Heh, I outdid myself this time, ne?" Kaoru said as he stood by proudly.
Finally, Tamaki managed to utter some words. "My little girl… So… Lovely…"
"Oi, take it easy over there. That girl's my fiancée, you know."
Hikaru strode in the room, also donning blue. His inner shirt and sleekly striped tie were visible underneath the three-button jacket that he had left undone, completing the image of regal formality and jaunty ease at the same time. Maybe… Maybe it wouldn't be so hard to fall for him, to love him the way she loved his brother…
Upon reaching the sight that was Haruhi, Hikaru stopped in his tracks and was about to let his jaw drop when Kaoru elbowed him discreetly.
Say something.
"What's left to say? These guys kinda said everything already." The older twin raised a hand to his dark ash hair in though. "Except, maybe…"
He leaned down until he was eye-level with Haruhi and grinned. "You're beautiful," he said, then kissed her softly. She surprised herself by responding.
"Hey, save it for the honeymoon," Kaoru interrupted suddenly.
They broke apart, and everything was quiet for a second. In that second, there was a spark of hope inside Haruhi.
Kaoru…?
"I don't want you smudging her lipstick," he said cheerily, tilting her face in his hand and fixing the damage on her lips.
~o~
"And here come the lovebirds!" Yuzuha announced cheerfully to the guests that filled the hall, most of whom were Ouran students. There was a loud round of applause as Hikaru and Haruhi descended the grand stairs, arm in arm, smiling and waving at friends and relatives.
Yuzuha beamed when they reached her and reached out to embrace them both.
"The both of you look so splendid together!" she exclaimed. "Now get down there and mingle. Have fun!"
They worked their way around the floor where the pre-dinner dance was being held. After many hugs, hellos, and congratulations from their schoolmates and relatives, it was time for them to enjoy their own dance as well.
After their first, a few boys from Ouran called Hikaru over. Hikaru led Haruhi over to the refreshments and told her to get a drink while she waited for him to return.
Not long after he left, a few girls approached her.
"Haruhi Fujioka?" one of them asked.
"Yes," she replied, smiling politely at them after realizing who they were—Hitachiins. Cousins from his mother's side; the flaming red hair made that certain. She had already met them earlier, and she had then noticed their indifferent attitude towards her. She wasn't about to let it spoil her evening, however, and she continued with her positive disposition. "I hope you're enjoying the party. It was a pleasure to meet all of you earlier."
"Well, I can't honestly say the same," one whispered, loud enough for her to hear. Haruhi was shocked and rather put down, of course, but they weren't done with her yet.
The three closed in on her. One who was wearing a particularly smug smile, said, "Well, she could be worse."
Another let out a tinkle of laughter. "Don't be so rude, Kasumi. It's not polite to tell outright lies. Just speak your mind."
"Oh, you're right, Miwa," Kasumi agreed. "She couldn't get any worse, could she, Shiori?"
"Yes. Anyway, she only looks like that because Yuzuha-san has already been through with her," the one called Shiori said. "Where'd they get her from, anyway?"
"The pound?" Miwa suggested, and the trio began to giggle.
Wounded by their words, Haruhi could feel the blush creeping onto her face. But she hadn't lost her dignity yet.
"Excuse me, I'll be off now."
"Yes, do us all a favor and 'be off,'" Kasumi said as Haruhi passed her.
She caught a few more of their conversation as she moved away.
"Some nerve, she has, huh? Thinking that she can be accepted into society so easily…"
"I wonder what she did to convince Hikaru to do this. You don't think…?"
"Oh my… Our poor cousin… But that aside, did you see her father? Yes, the transvestite. I would be so ashamed—"
Haruhi found herself charging back to the three girls. How dare they bring my father into this! Those rude, stuck-up, little—!
A hand closed around her arm.
"Let me," Kaoru said, the ice in his voice making it impossible to protest. He went over to his cousins and had a quick word with them. After a few moments they dispersed into the crowd, looking flushed. Kaoru returned, annoyance apparent on his features.
"…Kaoru?"
"Let's dance."
And he took her to the middle of the floor, twirling and spinning away their frustrations until they were cool enough to talk once again.
"I'm really sorry about them," he started, his tone still cold. "They never were me and Hikaru's favorite cousins. What was mom thinking, inviting them over…" He looked at her. "Are you alright? I heard everything, I should have gotten involved sooner—"
"It's alright," Haruhi told him automatically. "I'm fine. Thank you, Kaoru."
"It was nothing," he said, spinning her in time to the music. When she was back in his arms he added on a more serious note, "Don't let them get to you, alright? You are the closest thing to perfect, Haruhi. Don't let anyone make you think otherwise."
She was at a loss for words.
"Oh," he went on, "Why isn't Hikaru with you? He would've…"
Haruhi's hand tightened on his shoulder. "Please don't tell him about this. He won't take it like you did; you know he'll throw a fit."
Kaoru made a cross-my-heart motion with his finger just as his twin reappeared beside Haruhi. The two stopped dancing.
"I was looking for you," he said a bit breathlessly. "You weren't where I left you…"
"Ah, that would be my fault," Kaoru grinned. "I stole her for a dance. Hope you don't mind."
Something flitted across Hikaru's face for a second, something that said I mind a whole lot,but it vanished in an instant and was replaced by a grin identical to his twin's.
"As long as you promise to give a speech during dinner, I won't mind at all."
Kaoru snickered. "A speech about what?"
"About how happy you are for your brother," Hikaru stated, playfully tapping his twin's arm with his knuckles. Then, a meaningful look crossing his face. "And Kao… I'd like for you to mean it."
~o~
Dinner was a formal thing, like the rest of the party. Circular tables and the chairs were arranged so that everyone could see the engaged couple seated at the only rectangular table in the room with Yuzuha, her husband, and Ranka.
Under normal circumstances, Haruhi would have enjoyed the food as well as the chitchat. But her little run-in with the Hitachiin cousins earlier had upset her a great deal more than she thought it had.
"Some nerve, she has, huh? Thinking that she can be accepted into society so easily…"
Was she really…? Of course, her defiant pride immediately said no, she wasn't. But she wasn't that strong anymore. Ever since Haruhi became pregnant, things had taken a crazy turn of events. Each one had taken her down and almost broke her during several occasions, but she bore them with grace and adapted to everything life threw at her face. She was that strong back then. But she was getting tired of it all, and that strength seemed so out of reach now. A small optimistic voice at the back of her head said, 'things could be worse…'
"She couldn't get any worse, could she, Shiori?"
The words rang in Haruhi's head until she was numb inside. Hikaru took some ootoro from his plate and gave it to her. She gave him a half-hearted thank you and ate the fish. It tasted like old mush.
Was she really squeezing herself into a world that she would never belong to? Somewhere along the way, did she let it get to her head? If that was the case…
Haruhi looked over to where Yuzuha and her husband were having an animated conversation with her father. Ranka seemed to be happy, but she knew he was doing his best not to make any slip-ups. She looked over to the table nearest them where the Host Club sat, the picture of perfect class. In fact, in that place, she and her father were the only people who didn't fit in at all.
"Do us all a favor and be off."
Should she just leave and go back to the life she had before all this started? Haruhi had been fine with the way things were then, who was to say that her baby wouldn't be? If growing up in a place like this meant learning how to look down on others, then there was no way she'd allow it…
Hikaru noticed her discomfort and lightly placed a questioning hand just below her stomach.
With a jolt, Haruhi remembered.
If she did leave, though, she would be denying her child all the luxuries in life that she had never got to experience. The better things, the bigger things, everything Haruhi never had. Could she deprive her child of a life that would undoubtedly be better than hers was? Would she ever be able to live knowing that she had denied someone from having things that some people could only dream of? If she did that, wouldn't she really be as low and as horrible as they had said?
"Don't let them get to you, alright? You are the closest thing to perfect, Haruhi. Don't let anyone make you think otherwise."
Now that she thought about it, Kaoru was the only thing that kept her sane nowadays. Even though he was also the source of her heartbreak, everything he said or did restored a portion of her will again. How she would ever survive in this place without Kaoru, she would never know…
Her train of thought was disrupted by the sound of glass being tapped by silverware.
~o~
Kaoru drifted in and out of the announcement of the wedding date. He had already known about it, of course—it was a month from now. He also paid little attention to his parents', Ranka's and the Host Club's speeches; he was more worried about what he was going to say in a few moments…
"About how happy you are for your brother… And Kao, I'd like for you to mean it."
What was he worried about? This was going to be a piece of cake. A nasty, moldy, unfrosted, salt-instead-of-sugar piece of cake, but hey… He couldn't have the cake and eat it too, right? Though when it came to this particular one, he'd rather not do either…
His analogies confused even himself sometimes. Alright, most of the time.
Besides, he had everything planned out. No need to think things through anymore; he was sure that everything was going to be for the best…
"Beautiful, Tamaki, but I'm sure the twin would like to say a few words?"
Hearing his name, the redhead's head snapped up. Kyoya had just cut through Tamaki's extensive and melodramatic homily to give someone else (him) a chance to talk. Everyone was looking at him expectantly. Now was the moment.
Taking the cue, Kaoru stood up and greeted everyone. Then he began. "Haha, this is really strange, isn't it? Like time went on fast-forward or something. I mean, we're still teenagers. I never thought my brother would be engaged already."
Hikaru winked at him.
"He's really lucky to have Haruhi," Kaoru went on. "She's smart, beautiful—now that I think about it, you're not just lucky, Hika; you're freaking blessed! Kami-sama must have been smiling at you or something.
"Anyway, I'm the happiest brother in the world right now. Everyone knows that it's only been me and Hikaru from the beginning. It's pretty hard to accept that soon, he won't be all mine anymore—" the female students from Ouran sighed and made 'aww' noises, "—but I can't be more relieved that Haruhi will be with him. She'll take care of his sanity, I know she can. And I know they'll be happy together."
"Aww, Kaoru!" Hikaru cut in jokingly. "You're going really deep, aren't you? Save some for the wedding!"
Kaoru grinned apologetically. "Well, that's another thing. If I have anything to say, I gotta spill it out now since I might not be able to make the wedding."
Everyone hushed up.
"What?" Hikaru asked blankly.
"See, I've been considering going to Europe to study fashion there. I've been thinking about it for a while, and I finally decided. Don't get angry at me for not telling, I just made up my mind a few nights ago. But I'll definitely be back! I can trust you two to be fine without me around for five years, right? And when I come back…" Kaoru's voice caught in his throat, but he forced it out along with a realistic smile. "When I come back, maybe I'll have a couple of nieces and nephews."
~o~
The party had ended more than two hours ago, and everyone had gone home. Haruhi was staying with the Hitachiins again, so she was in her room, lost in her mind.
Tired though she was from everything, she couldn't sleep. For one thing, the cousins' words still stung her greatly. But there was something that weighed heavier than those insults…
The one who matters most is leaving me.
She knew why Kaoru was doing it. She knew that he was trying to detach himself from her.
Five years is a hell of a long time.
Without him for that long, Haruhi might make more room for his twin. Kaoru really cared about Hikaru; his love even reached this point where he was sacrificing everything that would make him happy…
Tossing and turning, Haruhi gave up on sleeping all together and decided to wander around the mansion for a while. Maybe she'd get so worn out that she'd just collapse somewhere and finally fall asleep.
Down the corridors (taking extra care not to make any noise as she passed the twins' room), out the front door, into the garden… Strolling in the moonlight was little comfort. She could hear nothing, see nothing…
Nothing except for that painfully familiar silhouette that stood under the gazebo.
As the clouds shifted to reveal the moon, its beams hit the silhouette, giving away his auburn hair.
"Kaoru."
"Huh?" his hand was on his chest. "Gods, it's just you, Haruhi. Ugh, I thought my chest was gonna explode."
"…Sorry…"
"Nah," Kaoru waved off. "But it's pretty late, isn't it? What are you doing out here?"
"You're one to ask."
"Heh, you're right."
He stared up at the sky for a moment before speaking again. "We're probably out here for the same reasons, aren't we…"
"When are you leaving?"
Kaoru looked a bit thrown by her sudden question, but regained composure fast. "My flight's in a week."
So soon?
"I see… Why are you going again?" Haruhi deadpanned.
"Like I said. School. It's gonna be an awesome opportunity for me so that I can be better prepared for Mom's line of work."
"You're leaving."
You're leaving Akachan. Me. Us. The only one worth going through all this for is you, and you're leaving.
He sighed. "It's not forever. I'll be coming back in five years…"
"That's a long time."
He wasn't listening. "…and Hikaru will be with you and Akachan anyway—"
"It's not all about Hikaru, godammit! Stop, just stop!" Haruhi said fiercely, shaking his arms as her tears flowed freely now. "Why do you have to go this far? Isn't it enough that you want me to fall in love with your brother when the one I'm in love with is you? Why do you have to go?"
Her tears flowed freely now and her grip loosened. "Don't go."
"Haruhi."
Kaoru gently pried her hands away from him. "You know why I'm doing this. I… I can't hurt him. Hurting him just hurts me."
"So you're hurting me instead," she said accusingly. "That doesn't affect you at all."
"Everything's been a huge-ass mistake lately. I'm just trying to put things back to the way they were meant to be. And that doesn't include you and me together in the picture."
Haruhi almost gasped. Right there, he had sounded like he actually meant that.
"I told you before, I'm sorry…"
You're not.
"And you understand, don't you?"
I don't.
"Besides, Hikaru's not that hard to love... We're twins after all… Identical…"
You're not.
"You'll love him eventually. He'll be just as good a dad to our baby, probably better."
Shut up.
The two of us will be friends again. Things will go on the way they're supposed to."
"Shut up!"
"Haru—!"
Before she knew what she was doing, Haruhi had slapped Kaoru with all the force she could muster. She headed back to her room as fast as she could and cried herself to a troubled sleep.
~o~
The moon was the only witness as Kaoru held his head in his hands, sobs racking through his body.
I completely ruined everything. Now's my only chance to make it right. I'm doing this for you. Forgive me.
A/N: Oh noes! D:
Kaoru's leaving! What's going to happen now? Will Haruhi really be able to forget him and replace him with Hikaru? Will Hikaru ever suspect a thing? Will the baby really grow up without knowing that her dad is actually her uncle? Will I ever update faster?
LOL.
I probably will. Exam week is over, I have no excuse to be lazing about. Except if the lazy bug bites my bum. I better have the insecticide ready for that. :D
Anyway... You guys have no idea how much fun this was to write. I actually discovered that I write things quicker if I eat Captain Crunch and Sprite while I'm at it. I hope I put enough suspense and crazy into this chappie to satisfy all of you. XD
Oh, and I'd like to thank EVERYONE for the awesome reviews! So many... 8D You are just so awesome. I love you and I will never stop writing for you guys.
Tune in for the next chappie! ;D
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