Today I was at the dentist and was inspired for a chapter, it won't show for a while but keep your eyes peeled for it. Enjoy! I do not own OHSHC.

Sunny's POV

It turned out to be a very eventful New Year's. It was a night not to be forgotten. Hikaru confessed his feeling for me via A.J.'s big mouth. I hurt my ankle trying to run away, which I got taken care of by 1:30 a.m. after everyone freaking out. I then told Hikaru many reasons for him to stay away from me, failing at every attempt. We kissed a bit and Hikaru said that he would fight to show me how much he cared for. He then told me that I was to give him permission if he was to ever kiss me again. We then walked back to the shrine to celebrate the new year with the others, hand in hand (mostly due to Hikaru's unwillingness to let go of mine.)

All in all, it was a pretty average evening. Not.

Three hours after midnight, I was helping A.J. pack, my ankle having gotten proper medical attention and wrapped up nicely. A.J was to catch a 4:30 flight to Jacksonville, Florida. Back to his extended family for a quick visit and back to his school. I had to admit, I was reluctant to be seeing him pack up so quickly. I stood in the doorway to my room watching him fold up his clothes and tuck them away in his bag. I didn't want to see him leave, didn't want to be separated again.

"You can still change your mind, you know," he reminded me. He had this gift of being able to read people, quickly and with a 82% accuracy. The two of us having grown up together he was able to read me 100% of the time and with only a sideways look. Even till this day, it was annoying unfair to me that he had this edge.

"We've already talked about this," I sighed. This was his fifth attempt to sway me. I wasn't going to lie and say that every time he offered, that I wasn't the least bit tempted to take him up on his offer. But I stayed firm with my decision to stay.

A part of me longed to go back with him. Back to America, back to a semblance of normalcy, and away from the people that I didn't want to hurt. It would be all too easy to pack my things back up, jump on the plane with him, and continue my schooling in Florida. But I didn't want to run. Talking with Hikaru made me realize that there are things in life that are worth fighting for. That are worth any amount of risks. I was going to fight for my remaining family, with every precaution possible that is. I still didn't want to hurt them but I wasn't going to run any longer.

Besides, even if I did leave, who was going to pay back Kyoya-senpai? Surely I wasn't going to ditch him and his generosity and dump more debt on Haruhi. I had much more loyalty than that, there was no way I was leaving until I had finished paying him back.

With a quick flick of the wrist, A.J. zipped up his bag. I took a shaky breath, a few tears escaping and running their course down my face. I quickly wiped them away before A.J. turned to see, he then left to collect his toiletries from the bathroom. I turned to my desk, piled with the gifts I got me everyone, but the I traced the necklace that Hikaru gave me, hidden under my scarf, the empty case it came with right next to the mountain of M&M packets A.J. got me because I once wrote to him about my cravings for the multi-colored chocolate balls.

Hikaru ran out of the car after me as I reached to bottom of the stairs, yelling out for me to wait. Something in his eyes told me that it was private, so I told A.J. to give us a moment alone. Somehow in his mind he got the idea to joke around instead of going away.

"Are you sure he's going to be able to control himself in the time that you two are alone?" he teased, but his face was totally serious. But I gave him a look that meant that is he didn't get a move on, he would be seeing the bad end of my personality. "Alright," he said, running into the apartment after I reminded him to take his shoes off once inside.

"Sorry about him," I said. "He's usually better behaved around my friends, he'll get it out of his system. Eventually. What did you need?"

"There's something I didn't give you," he said, "I should have before but I panicked." He reached inside his coat pocket, revealing a small blue wrapped box with a golden ribbon. He held it out to me with a slight bit of red to his face, clearly embarrassed and uncomfortable. "A late Christmas present," he said.

I grabbed it, undoing the bow and taking off the wrapping paper, tucking them both in my pocket. I saw that it was a small jewelry case, a pure white one with my name embroidered in black on it. I looked up at him in question, but he gave nothing away, motioning for me to open it. I knew that it was expensive just by the name of the jeweler. With a very shaky breath, I opened it, gasping at what I saw.

The chain was a stunning silver, the pendent was platinum in the shape of a crescent moon, encrusted with hundreds of small diamonds. I remember that I once mentioned wanting to be an astronaut and how I found the phases of the moon enchanting, the crescent being my favorite, but if I had thought that he was going to go to these type of lengths, I would have mention being interested in something less expensive or not have mentioned it all together.

"It's beautiful but I can't accept this, Hikaru," I said automatically. I handed it back to him. He thankfully took it in his hands, but instead of putting it back where it came from, he held it out still.

"It's too late, I already threw the receipt away," he said, a smug look on his face. "It's yours now. Let me see your parents' wedding rings," he asked. A few weeks ago in November I remember taking them out to show them to my guests. I carried them around on a piece of black velvet string around my neck. I undid the knot around my neck and slid them off into my hand. I very hesitantly handed them to him. He slide my father's ring on the left side of the chain and my mother's on the right, one on either side of the crescent. "Turn around," he said. I did, untangling my scarf from my neck and brushing my hair away. He looped one side in front of me and pulled it back to him to hook it up in the back. His fingers lingered for a bit, but quickly snapped them away, remembering himself.

"Thank you," I said. I finally turned around and looked him in the eye. Once again his eyes held something in them, something that I wasn't ready to accept or confront right now, so I looked away blushing. "There's still time for you to forget about me, you know? You won't hurt my feelings if you come to your senses," I said. The last part was a lie, but he didn't need to know that. What he felt for me, whatever is was, seemed to be just as intense as how my father felt for my mother. They would be my permanent example to real love, a real bond. I didn't want to lose something like that, what Hikaru felt for me, but I needed to let it go to protect him.

He gently grabbed my chin with his forefinger and thumb, making me look back at him. He had this smile on his face that made my heart pitter-patter and my face ignite even more so. "What's it gonna take for you to take me seriously?" he demanded softly. "I'm not giving up on you. I'm going to fight to make you realize just how much you mean to me. Don't ask me to forget about you, because it's downright impossible."

I realized then and there that I would continue to have trouble making him listen to me, that I was not one of the things worth fighting for, but once again, he ignored my warnings. He had a look in his eye, as he took a few steps closer to me, that I roughly deciphered as him wanting to kiss me, but his promise to me was keeping him back. I gave him a frantic shake of my head and darted up the stairs into the apartment after A.J., wondering if I should have let him kiss.

I loved the present, I loved that my parents' rings were better displayed, but I didn't know if I loved Hikaru. I knew that I liked him and that I wanted him to like me, but his feelings were five steps ahead of mine. Back in the beginning of me starting to host, I had a small crush on him. I like how loyal and dedicated he was to his brother and the shy smile he would show sometimes.

But when I found out how badly he would turn girls down, it slowly died out. That was one of the reasons I didn't think he would like me in that way, because if the daughters of the rich and famous and talented weren't to his liking then there was obviously no hope or chance for a mix-blood orphan girl like me. It was simple when I thought he thought of me as an almost friend, but with finding out that he had these strong feelings for me, I don't know what to think now. Everything's different now. It's scary but at the some time exhilarating.

I had no idea how to act around him now. Would I be able to convince him that I was no good for him? How long would he keep chasing after me? How long before his interest in me waned? These questioned physically assaulted me, making me put a hand to the wall to support myself. The biggest question lingered and threw me completely off. Did I even want him to stop?

I had no idea what I wanted, but surely Hikaru wouldn't force me to answer him so soon. I hope.

At the Airport

Hikaru's POV

Surprise, surprise. Kyoya upgraded A.J.'s mode of transportation. He got him a sooner flight without all the hassle of waiting in line for security and whatever checkpoints and put him in first-class. I suspected Sunny asked this of him, promising to pay him off later in the few seconds it took to get out of the care then inside the airport.

There was no line but Kyoya went over to say something to the person who was checking passports and tickets, her smile waned for a second and nodded. She then made a call under his supervision, giving him some kind of reassurance. He walked back towards us.

"The passengers are all on board, but the pilot is willing to wait for a few more minutes," he informed. He didn't explain anything else, but I wasn't curious to find out how he managed it.

"Hey, Peeping Tom," called out A.J. I felt myself get an angry red to my face, hating the nickname that he gave me. "I'd like a minute to talk to you."

Sunny looked up at him. There wasn't any hurt or anger on her face, but a slight wariness and concern directed at me. She then quickly turned back to A.J. "Are you sure that you're gonna be able to handle yourself around him?" she teased, obvious pay back for what he said back at the apartment.

A calculating smile appeared on his face, his eyes never budging from mine. "I think I can handle myself around Tom, Sunshine. I just need to talk to him." She sighed, crossing her arms in frustration. He walked away from the group, not looking back to see if I followed. After sending a worried look over at the group I followed after him.

I felt myself tense up and get worked over the fact that he was spending his last few minutes with me and not Sunny. It was an insult to her for him not to spend the last of his time here with her.

"Relax, Tom," he said. "I'm just gonna warn you about, Sunny. She's a tough nut, really suborn at times, but I think you have a real chance with her."

I had no idea what I expected him to say, but this was definitely not it. "Huh," was my response. I was confused that he was telling me this, encouraging me to pursue her.

"I've seen how she acts around you, but it's not as strong as what you feel for her. So my advice for you would be to slowly ease your feeling on her. She'll panic and do another disappearing act again, like last night, if you rush into things. Be sure to-"

"Why are you telling me this," I interrupted. "I would have thought you would be telling me to give up on her."

"Why the heck would I do that to her? Of course I would want my sister to be happy. I think you have real potential to make that happen. Just be sure to be a friend to her first, then, and only then will she be comfortable to take a step forward." His words bounced around in my head, his advice stuck to my memory, but one word threw me off. SISTER?! But before I could ask him about it he continued on. "I'm rooting for you, Tom. If you need help at all, here's my information." He handed me a slip of paper, with his phone number, emailing address, and mailing address. Not knowing what else to do with it, I tucked it in my pocket. "Don't give up on her, Tom," he said.

Right then and there, I realized how much faith and hope he had in me. He actually believed in me. He clapped me on my back, giving me a smile, walking over to the group to say his finally goodbyes. I saw him save Sunny for last, giving her a full hug, the both of them tearing up. He whispered a "See you soon" and kissed her on her forehead. In a final act of love he took off his denim jacket and slipped it around her shoulders. He walked over to the woman, her patience looking stained at this point. She only glanced at his papers and let him through the door.

He gave a finally wave goodbye and disappeared behind the door, the woman closing it and locking it behind him. I looked back at Sunny seeing her slip her arms in the sleeves of his too-big-for-her jacket. It made her look smaller, even more delicate and breakable than before. Her big, green eyes had a sad gleam to them as she stared at the door.

A few minutes later we were outside, watching his plane take off. We were all leaning against the railing as it got higher and higher in elevation. We were like that until we lost it in the cloud bank. I looked over at Sunny, A.J.'s words still lingering.

"A.J. is very..." I started, not knowing how to finish that statement.

"Yeah, I know," she said, still staring at where the plane disappeared. "He's very kind once you get to know him, though."

"He said something to me. And it really got me thinking. He said that you were his sister." There, I said it. That caught the others attention, too, looking at Sunlight in question.

"Yeah," she said simply. "Didn't you already know?" Every one of us got wide eyes, except for Sunny, Haruhi, and Kyoya. That snake never told us this! "Haruhi, Uncle, A.J., and I all thought you already knew that. We thought for sure Kyoya-senpai would have said something to you all." She looked accusingly at him, his face giving nothing away.

"It must have slipped my mind at some point," he said half-heartingly.

"Mmhm," she didn't buy his innocent act. "After his mother died, his father left a will, stating that my parents were the legal guardians of A.J. We adopted him shortly afterward. Andrew Jeremiah Mathews Katayama. Some call him A.J., others at the university call him M.K. at times."

"Well now that this has been taken care of," said Kyoya. "We can move on to the photo shoot."

"What photo shoot," asked Haruhi and Sunny at the same time, both with the same wariness and fear in their tone.

"While your brother was here, he got to talking about calendars. One thing led to another and he suggested doing a host themed calendar. Individual, group, and in pairs." It took a few seconds for it to sink in, Sunny had the most fire in her eyes.

"The next time I see him, I'm gonna kill him!" she yelled a the sky, a fist raised in the air.

Were any of you at all expecting something like this?