Author's Note: Hello Everyone! I am so sorry this has taken me so long to update. I am still alive, things just got insane at work and I was really sick. Hopefully I will be able to update more often now. This chapter was really fun for me to write, I hope it isn't too OOC though, my brain may have gone a little crazy. Ouran is not mine, but I do hope you enjoy reading my take on things!

Chapter 12:

Haruhi is actually shocked she got a day to herself during the break. The rest of the 26th was spent watching a movie with Kyoya. She chose an American movie, The Holiday, and although it was a little too sappy for either of them, they did like the movie. After that, Kyoya and Haruhi ate dinner before he went home, not wanting Haruhi's Dad to find them. Haruhi had said she was having a friend over, just not which one. The next day Haruhi spent doing chores and the homework she had been assigned for over break. The peace she enjoyed that day however, was not to last. The next afternoon, just as she is putting away her last load of laundry, there is a knock at her door. Knowing Kyoya is in meetings with his father all day and her own is working a double shift, she wonders who it could be. They are not shouting or knocking consistently so it cannot be the Host Club. She thinks as she reaches the door. Or perhaps I can be completely and absolutely wrong. She thinks as she opens the door to find Kaoru on the other side. She steps aside and he comes in.

"Hey Kaoru! What's up? Where is Hikaru?"

"He is spending some time with our grandmother. I needed to get away though. Can I talk to you about something?"

"Sure. Come on in. Did you want some tea?"

"No thanks." Hikaru says and sits at the table in the living room, fiddling with his hands.

"Kaoru, what is wrong? You seem really upset." Haruhi asks sitting across from him. Kaoru looks at her for a minute before taking a deep breath and speaking.

"You know Hikaru and I share everything and tell each other everything," he says and Haruhi nods.

"I knew he wanted to come and tell you how he felt, I just did not know when. Don't worry, this is not about him," Kaoru says pausing to hold up his hand and stop Haruhi from apologizing again, which she had been about to do.

"Hikaru also knew and knows that I have feelings for you too. After you turned him down, it took a while for him to accept it but he finally did. It was then that he told me I should tell you how I feel. So, Haruhi, I love you too. I am in love with you as well and need to know if you at all feel the same way?"

Haruhi is in shock for several minutes. She was not expecting Kaoru to come out and tell her this. She thought he might have some kind of feelings for her but she had not expected him to tell her due to Hikaru. She thought he would keep them inside to protect his twin. Never in her wildest dreams would she expect Hikaru to give his blessing to his twin to come and tell her how he feels or even encourage it. Perhaps Hikaru was slowly getting to a point where he cared about others and not just himself.

"I am sorry Kaoru, like I told Hikaru, I care about you but just as a friend. You two are my best friends but just that, friends. I am sorry, I do not have any romantic feelings for you."

"Alright. Thank you for being so honest Haruhi. I have to ask though, is there someone else?" Kaoru asks and Haruhi is surprised he so must have shown on her face as Kaoru chuckles a little and then adds, "Don't get me wrong. I really do have feelings for you and it does hurt that you do not feel the same. Just, unlike Hikaru, I expected you to tell me this. I had a feeling you did not feel the same way and have been trying to prepare myself for it. I just want you to be happy Haruhi, that is why I asked if there was someone else."

"There is but I am going to ask you not to ask me who it is. I am not ready to-"

"That is fine Haruhi, I understand if you are not ready to talk about him. Like I said, I just want you to be happy."

"Thank you Kaoru, I am sorry."

"Don't be, you cannot help who you fall in love with."

"I uh don't know if-" Haruhi starts but then realizes she isn't so sure of that anymore. As she has gotten to know Kyoya better, she has begun to feel more and more towards him. The question is whether she was falling for him or not.

"Haruhi, breathe. It's okay." Kaoru says with chuckle seeing her wide eyes and far away look.

"Yeah, sorry." She says shaking her head and letting out a breath she didn't realize she was holding while Kaoru laughs.

"I do have a question though, what are you doing for New Years Eve? You see Kyoya-senpai's family is having a ball and Hikaru and I were thinking you could come with us...as friends of course"

"I actually am already going...Kyoya-senpai's father asked him to to bring me as his date." Haruhi says and it's finally Kaoru's turn to raise his eyebrows.

"He said I didn't have to but everyone knows you never say no to an Ootori, let alone two. I don't mind though, you guys and the other hosts will be there right?" Haruhi says hoping her cute, innocent and ignorant act comes off well.

"Yeah, even Tono, Honey and Mori-senpai should be there. We will make sure you have fun. Do you have a dress yet?"

"Kyoya-senpai said he would take me shopping before the ball. Apparently his Dad is insisting on paying for my dress since an Ootori's date must look appropriate."

"Oh. That sounds about right. Well, I better go but I will see you on Friday. Don't worry, like I said before, we will make sure you have fun and aren't stuck with Kyoya alone all night." Kaoru says getting up and Haruhi nods. She follows him to the door and gives him a hug before he walks away with a little wave.

Well I definitely was not expecting that to happen. I am relieved he took it so well but I suppose it is Kaoru. If anyone, apart from Kyoya, was going to be really perceptive, it is him. I just hope Kyoya isn't mad about me telling him about the ball. I better call him before Kaoru tells Hikaru and they tell Tamaki-senpai...

Surprisingly Kyoya answers his phone when she calls.

"Haruhi?"

"Yeah...I thought you had meetings all day?"

"I did, my father just got fed up with them and cancelled the last one. What's wrong?"

"Nothing is uh wrong..." Haruhi says a little to quickly and Haruhi can almost sense him pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Haruhi, you wouldn't call unless it was something important. What happened?"

"Kaoru came and confessed to being in love with me." Haruhi says defeated.

"Oh, does Hikaru know?"

"He gave his blessing."

"That is surprising."

"I know. Kaoru took it okay, he was apparently expecting me to not feel the same. He asked me whether there was someone else and I couldn't lie to him. I told him I wouldn't tell him who, but I did tell him there was someone else."

"Did he respect that?"

"Yeah, he just wants me to be happy apparently."

"I doubt he would be so supportive if he knew it was me and what we are doing though."

"I know. There is something else though...he asked me to accompany him and Hikaru to the ball." Haruhi says and the line goes silent for several minutes.

"What did you say?" Kyoya finally asks.

"The truth, that your father asked you to bring me as your date. I didn't want to lie to him."

"And?"

"He agreed that you don't say no to an Ootori and then said they would make sure I still had fun and that they would make sure I don't have to spend the entire night alone with you."

"Well if I ever needed a confirmation that they think I am the last person you would ever go out with, I think I have it right there."

"I know but they don't know the real you. I do. I am happy with you and that is what matters."

"I know. I am happy with you too. I have to go though, a maid is knocking on my door."

"Alright. Have a good night Kyoya."

"You too, see you tomorrow."

"Mhm. I love you." Haruhi says and then quickly hangs up when she realizes what she said.

Oh my god. I did not just say that did I? Haruhi thinks staring at her phone. Wait do I been actually feel that way? I mean we haven't even been together for a month yet. I mean, I know everything I have felt for him has been growing since we have come together but is it love? Does love feel like this? Amazing, scary, intense and just plain crazy all at the same time? I mean I know I do not want to be with anyone else and that he makes me incredibly happy but-but what? Oh my god...I am in love with Kyoya Ootori!