Some Kind of Falling

Hikaru had always been the one to get in to trouble growing up. Even though his brother had always been there by his side, he was the one who caused most of the mischife. Trouble was what he was good at, it was easy, it was fun. But for the last few months, trouble wasn't on his mind, Haruhi was. He didn't even know how it happened, but Hikaru found himself mesmorised by the way that she smiled. She was just another girl, another person to tease, but somehow he couldn't help but watch her. Thoughs of her filled his mind, and after a while he found himself unable to think of anyone else.

"Hey, what are you doing after the club's out?" Hikaru called over to a Haruhi carrying a large tray of tea.

"I'm heading home." Her voice as empty as the tea cups on her tray.

"Can't I walk you home?" Hikaru's voice dripped with seduction, his hand waved around like an elegant prince.

"No, sempai, I'm quite alright." She said, leaving him without a second glance.

It wasn't the first time Haruhi had ignored his advances, but it never got any easier on him. He wasn't used to rejection, because he never opened himself up to be hurt. It was all a facade, his flirting and womanizing. Along with Kaoru, he had broken the hearts of countless women, even before joining the Host Club. It was all a game to them, and it was a way to hide. Because they start each relationship with the intention of breaking the girls heart, if she rejected them, it wouldn't break their's.

It was the perfect plan, but with a single flaw. He Hikaru never learned how to love, never learned how feel, never learned how to lose. Haruhi was the first person who was able to tell the difference between Hikaru and Kaoru. She was the first one whoever got under his skin. She made his chest fill with feelings he never understood. He must have been feeling the same way he left all of those girls feeling when he would break their hearts.

Back at home, after club let out, Hikaru spent hours pacing back and forth in his room. It was too much for Kaoru to take. "What's wrong? You've been doing that all day."

Hikaru violently pulled at his hair and shook his head. "It's Haruhi, why doesn't she notice me?"

Snuggling up dangerously close, Kaoru whispered in his brother’s ears, "You don't need her, you have me."

There was silence before Hikaru pushed Kaoru away from him, "Stop it, we're not at school. And I'm serious about Haruhi, it's like I don't matter at all to her."

Sitting down on his bed, Kaoru smiled and said, "I know, but that used to cheer you up. Anyways, Haruhi just isn't that kind of girl. She doesn't hang around guys. Also, if she's going to keep pretending to be a man, she can't be seen acting girly around you."

Shaking his head again, Hikaru fell back on the bed. His voice seemed beaten, "But what's wrong with her acting like a man, but one who likes me. It works with us."

Kaoru grasped his brother by the chin, tilting it up, bring their eyes together, "Do you really think that's how she wants a relationship to begin, acting like a man? Do you think that's how she pictures meeting the man of her dreams? Is she really going to fall in love when she's in drag?"

"But then why won't she notice me outside of school?" Hikaru pleaded with the world.

"Have you spent any time with her outside of school? How will she notice you, if you don't make her notice you?" The caring bother kindly pointed out the obvious.

Hikaru smiled and hugged the one he had always known would help him in times like these. "You always were the smarter one, Kaoru."

Kaoru grinned, "You're just as smart as I am. You're just in love."

It was like learning how to walk. Hikaru started to pay attention to his customers, the girls he tended to. Every time a girl would smile or stared lovingly at him, he would try and figure out what it was he was doing to make them notice him. Every peck every swoon, it all seemed so simple. It was the kinds of things he did every day, so why did it seem so complicated when it came to Haruhi?

After club let out, Hikaru waited out in the hall for Haruhi to finish with her cleaning duty. He waited for what seemed like hours, the panic in his blood burned him beyond nervous.

"Oh sempai, what are you doing here so late? And where's Kaoru?" A surprised Haruhi asked as she passed him in the hall.

With a well practiced flip of his hair Hikaru approached the timid girl and brushed away a stray string that clung to her coat. "He went home before me, it's not like we're conjoined twins."

Muttering quietly, Haruhi breathed, "Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference."

Ignoring her jab, Hikaru continued with the familiar pattern, leaning in close and whispering, "Did you know that you are the light of my life? The light of the world? The sun must be jealous of how much you shine. I'd want nothing more than to feel the warm touch of your embrace, but I fear that you beauty might burn me.

The world seemed to hang in that moment. But Haruhi seemed unfazed, as if she was just told the migratory patterns of the extinct mammoths. "Sempai? What are you talking about? Is Kaoru in on this too?"

Feeling his world shatter, Hikaru grabbed Haruhi by the shoulders and kissed her, pushing her back against the wall. Haruhi seemed more bored than surprised. She wiped her lips off on her sleeve and stared at Hikaru, trying to figure out what kind of prank he was playing. Hikaru's world was turned upside down, and panic filled him again as he realized what he had just done.

Bowing his head over and over he said, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Please, I don't know what came over me."

Tilting her head, Haruhi kept searching Hikaru for answers, "Sempai, this isn't a joke, is it?"

Hikaru felt his legs go numb, "No, I don't. It's just, I, um."

Haruhi smiled, "Sempai, relax, don't worry about it."

And without another word, she left him there. It was as if a movie had just ended without climax. Nothing had been answered, and Hikaru found himself pacing in his room again. With more questions than confusion, Hikaru screamed in his head. It was only a matter of time before Kaoru grabbed him and said, "Panic much?"

"She doesn't even know I'm alive!" Hikaru cried in to Kaoru chest.

Petting his brother like a frighten rabbit, Kaoru calmly asked, "What happened?"

The familiar smell of Kaoru calmed him down, "I kissed her and whispered romantic things in her ear, and she just ignored me."

Kaoru smiled, "Do you think that our little Haruhi would fall for those cheesy lines? She's not just some bubbly girl that watches happy movies and talks about lip gloss. She's Haruhi."

"Yeah, I know." Hikaru's voice was muffling tears. "I just don't know how to get her to like me."

"I think you already know the answer to that, I do." Kaoru said as he stood Hikaru up in front of a mirror, "You can't make her like you. If she likes you, then she'll like you, it's that simple. And if she doesn't like you, then there isn't anything you can do to change that. But, maybe she likes you, and she just doesn't know it yet. All you have to do is make her realize that she likes you. "

Looking at himself in the mirror he pictured Haruhi by his side. "Ok Kaoru, thanks. You really are the smarter brother."

Kaoru reached over and messed up Hikaru's hair, laughing out, "You know, if you keep saying that, someone might start to believe it."

All he could do was watch her, trying desperately to figure out what made her tick. He watched her, her every move, her every step, her every breath. Time passed by in a blurry trance, and all Hikaru could see was Haruhi's smile. It was the way she smiled that he loved most about her. It was a genuine expression that filled everyone around her with a warm fuzzy feeling, a smile that spread like a virus, a wonderful plague. Her smile filled him, and the day ended before Hikaru knew it.

"Sempai?" Haruhi called out to Hikaru in the hall.

The world stopped around them, Hikaru couldn't that Haruhi was approaching him. "Um Haruhi... Hi. What do you want?"

"Sempai, why did you kiss me yesterday?" Her cute voice melted Hikaru's knees.

For the first time in a long while, words escaped Hikaru. "Ummm... I don't..."

A smile broke across Haruhi's face, "Do you like me, Sempai?"

Hikaru's eyes fell to the ground as he felt the world collapse. With a deep sigh, Hikaru looked up at Haruhi and said, "Yeah, Haruhi, I do."

"Why didn't you say something?" Haruhi's eyes sparkled with intense curiosity.

Hikaru summoned all the courage he had, balled his hands in to fists and said, "I am, right now. Haruhi, would you like to go out on a date with me?"

Smiling deeply Haruhi nodded, "Sure sempai, that would be nice."

Haruhi reached out and hugged him gently, and then with a turn she disappeared. It was as if the entire world had changed in an instant, going from empty to overflowing with emotions. Hikaru was too stunned to feel anything. He knew that he should be happy, beyond happy, but he could do was walk home, smiling.

Friday after school Hikaru was happy to find Haruhi dressed in something other than her school uniform. Her pink sun dress was almost as warm as her smile. Her cute hair was fixed up with pins and ribbons. Everything about her seemed to sparkle and Hikaru suddenly felt underdressed.

"Yo." Hikaru cleverly called out.

"Hey sempai, sorry I'm late. Shall we get going?" Haruhi yelled out as she hurried up to Hikaru's said.

"Yeah, let’s go." Hikaru said as he let Haruhi wrap her arm around his arm.

It was the same old boring story, two high school students on a date. A terrible horror movie where somehow Hikaru ended up scared and grabbing on to Haruhi. A boring meal at a restaurant that sounded better than it was. And walking around a department store pretending he gave a damn about purses and shoes. But despite every cliché, it was the greatest day of his life. Every simple gesture, every smile, everything warmed his heart. The day sailed by and somehow they ended up holding hands. It was hot, sweaty and uncomfortable, but Hikaru wouldn't have it any other way. His hand tingled more than his lips did when he first kissed Haruhi, his whole arm felt numb, like electrified butter.

"Sempai?" A nervous Haruhi looked up at Hikaru as they walked out on an observation deck that over looked the city.

"Yes Haruhi?" Hikaru answered as the wind tossed their hair around gently.

"The last time you kissed me, I wasn't ready, I wasn't expecting it. But now I think..." Her shy voice was hidden by the sound of rustling leaves.

Without thought, without worry, Hikaru reached out and held Haruhi's hands. The sun smiled down upon them, and he leaned down, placing his lips microns away from her lips. Breathing softly, he let their breaths kiss, and his lips grew heavy, eager. Feeling Haruhi's hands straining, he knew he could deny her much longer, but the sight of her closed eyes and puckered lips begging for his touch was beyond beautiful. She was trembling, her heart beat do deeply he could hear it, or it could have been his own heart. He reached up, and cupped her face in his hands, and in a gentle motion, he brought her lips up to his.

It was different this time, like a switch had been flipped, the warmth, the softness. Pressing his lips closer, Hikaru let his mind empty of all other thoughts, wanting this moment to be his one and only memory. Feel her start to sway back and forth, Hikaru reached down and grasped her shoulders. What felt like hours only lasted seconds, and like falling blossoms, the kiss ended. The beauty of the moment lingered in the air.

Haruhi's eyes opened like blossoming flowers, "Hikaru, I..."

Placing a finger on her lips, Hikaru stopped her. "Haruhi, wait I want to be the one to say it."

Nodding slowly, Haruhi felt a tear roll down her cheek. "Okay..."

Then with determination he didn't know he had, Hikaru wrapped his arms around Haruhi and said, "I love you Haruhi."

"I love you too, Sempai."

************

Author’s notes

Anyways thanks for reading and sorry it ended so abruptly and sexless, but it felt like the right place to end the chapter. Oh, and sorry for any typos,

And thanks to
megadeth425
Anonelbe
Raelax Darkmoon
Rommel
Juy Juka
SuperMutant
Imasuky Lomae
EBlair
sw-01
ninesenshi
Narshe Delvar
TheColeTrain
Haruhis Kyon
Ari
and anyone else who’s ever left me any form of feedback, it really helps.