Under the Twinkling Lights

Haruhi swept into the bright music room, smelled the flower perfume thick in the air, and almost choked on the strong scent. No matter what happened outside of the host club, things were always normal once she returned to the club. She would never admit it, but she loved the club, and she regretted everything that happened last week.

Do you really regret Christmas night? she questioned herself. It was New Year's Eve, and that night still burned in her mind; she was sure that she would never forget it. The twins spoke to her, same as ever, the day after that night. However, something unspeakable shifted in their relationship. And the strange thing was that even the twins' connection cracked.

I do, I really do regret it, she thought to herself. Although she enjoyed it, she broke two brother's feelings for each other. No matter how much she reveled in the feeling of them both caressing her in such adoration, nothing could mend their relationship now.

Haruhi made herself focus on the present reality. The club was not yet open and Honey was eating sweets in the corner of the room, Mori beside him; Kyoya was on his laptop, typing away at god knows what; Hikaru was staring outside of the central window; Kaoru was resting on the chaise lounge chair.

Tamaki barged into the room, slamming the door behind him. "Idea! I have an idea for tonight! We invite everyone to a colossal party in the center of the school's lawn. There will be fireworks and a banquet and competitions and maybe even a trapeze artist. What do you think, Mother, do you think you could pull it off?!" He turned to Kyoya in excitement.

"No," Kyoya didn't turn away from his computer. "I refuse to go along with your plan this time, Father." He finally turned to Tamaki. "There is no way that I can plan a party that size in five hours. I'm sorry, but we've already planned a small get-together including the seven of us at my estate. I've ordered some cake." He looked quite pleased at that last bit.

Tamaki started to pout. "But–"

"–Nope. It's not going to happen." Kyoya cut in.

"Fine, fine, fine." Tamaki gave in, but continued to pout. "Well, look at the time. I'll open up the club."

Kyoya ignored him, but for some reason, everyone else ignored the entire conversation. Usually Hikaru and Kaoru would cut in, begging for a party to be planned, and Honey would agree with them, if there were desserts involved.

Haruhi looked over at the lot of them, interested in what stopped them from involving themselves. Surprisingly, they were doing exactly what they were doing before – nothing.

She frowned, but didn't have enough time to worry about it since a crowd of girls arrived at the door, waiting to be entertained. Haruhi sighed, yet let herself be distracted by the Host Club's merriment.

The lonely day followed into a lonelier night. Shadows creeped forward as Haruhi walked the pathway to Kyoya's mansion. The black thunderclouds hid all the stars in the night, and the once beautiful sakura trees surrounding the estate turned to treacherous silhouettes. The walk there became a blur in her memory, inconsequential except for the spooky outlines. Once Haruhi arrived at the front door, Tamaki flew the door open as if he were waiting for her.

"Come on," he declared, totally serious. "I have some things I'd like to speak to you about."

They both stepped off the porch and into the dark night. She followed Tamaki through the woods until they arrived at a small beach, hidden away.

"Huh," she stated. "I never realized that there was a beach here."

Tamaki grinned, "There are many this that you don't know, Haruhi."

Haruhi started at the abnormal wisdom that showed through her friend's voice. "Tamaki?" she whispered.

He sighed, "All this time, you thought nobody in the Host Club noticed. Well, of course we did! The three of you teasing and testing each other this entire time until finally something happened on Christmas night that ruined all of your relationships."

"Who are you talking about–"

"You know who I am talking about, Haruhi! You and Hikaru and Kaoru. I created the Host Club as a refuge for those girls who need entertainment and those boys who need purpose. I mean, at first when you came to the Club, everything was fine. Everyone felt that you were agreeable as a fellow friend. Now, look what you've done! You've taken the twins' feelings about you and let them corrupt their own bonds with each other."

Haruhi was absolutely lost. "Huh?"

Tamaki sighed in frustration. "You have to know how everyone in the Host Club feels about you, Haruhi, don't you?" She shook her head, astonished. "Fine, fine. Let me tell you this then: all six of us love you in separate ways, Haruhi."

"You're mad, Tamaki. I don't know what you've been drinking, but you are off your rocker–"

"Listen to me! It's true! Honey and Mori love you as friends; Kyoya loves you as… well, a pet; but Kaoru and Hikaru love you in a much deeper way than that. The problem is, is that they don't know how to express themselves other than loving someone together as brothers. So, whatever happened last week, and I can guess what went on with the three of you, marred their brotherhood and how they feel about you. You have to realize who you care about more and admit it to one of them. You've already changed them before last week, in different ways. Kaoru has separated from his brother in a healthy way and Hikaru has matured plenty. Can you just bring them back to how they were two weeks ago?"

Haruhi was clever enough not to stare dumbfounded at Tamaki throughout his little rant. However, she absorbed everything he said and processed it slowly. "I didn't know. I promise you I didn't know that a night with the two of them would change them both so drastically. I didn't even know how they felt about me until you just said. But, it all makes sense now. That night didn't just feel like one of the twins' games. I should have known that they felt that way. I–It just feels like a dream that two such unusual and remarkable brothers would both care about me."

Tamaki smiled sadly, "Then, please, stop all this drama and admit how you feel. I want my Host Club back how it was before."

Haruhi nodded, "I just need some time to think right now."

Tamaki started to walk away, toward the house. "I'll let you be."

Before he reached the woods, however, she called, "Tamaki! I have one last question: If everyone in the club loves me in their own way, then how do you feel about me?"

He shook his head and yelled back "You don't want to know!" Then he disappeared into the shadow-filled forest.

Hours past as Haruhi sat on the beach to think about her fate in the Host Club.

What was she supposed to do? Act like everything was all right after what Tamaki said. She didn't know if she could face any of them after realizing how they all felt. Was it worth it? To have the experience of a lifetime with two boys that she truly cared about? No, she didn't think it was worth it even if it did change her perspective of them. They deserved better than her – the girl who broke apart their relationship forever.

A tear slipped down her face once she truly realized what she did.

It was all fun and games to her to watch the twins touch each other and touch her in ways she never thought about before. She didn't think about the consequences that might've happened when two brothers kissed and licked and caressed each other in front of the girl they both loved.

And oh, did they caress.

No, no, no. Back on topic. She needed to sort out how she felt about each of them in turn. Kaoru was smart, resourceful, and kind. He was full of intelligent ideas and brilliant schemes. Between the twins, he was probably the better choice: he knew Haruhi well and, though he went along with his brother's trickery, was selfless and mature.

Hikaru, however, was like a bright flame and intensity and desire. He tricked and teased and schemed and lied, but he also cared for people so deeply it was impossible not to care for him as well. The way he laughed and smiled brightened entire rooms sometimes; and whenever Haruhi felt disheartened, Hikaru was the one who lightened her mood instantly. He was the one who she could have fun with. He was the one who fit her serious and responsible attitude with his quirky and mischievous mindset. He was the one who gave her butterflies and they kissed and touched that fateful night. He was the one who stroked her skin with such fierceness that it ignited her nerves. He was the one. The only one for her.

Haruhi looked up at the clear night sky, all previous thunderclouds scattered away. Fireworks shot through the sky, bursting and blasting into the heavens. A new year, she thought. A new year for me to fix everything.

Haruhi heard shuffling behind her and turned to see Hikaru himself walking towards her. She smiled, pleased that she could recognize him apart from his brother so easily. Then she suddenly blushed at the thoughts that were spinning in her head. Should I? She thought to herself, should I really tell him how I feel?

"Haruhi!" He exclaimed. "Where have you been?!" Everyone has been looking all around the estate for you!"

She widened her eyes. Everyone? Tamaki was right – everybody really did care about her in their own ways. She just hoped that Hikaru cared for her in the same way that she cared for him. A cheerfulness spread throughout her at the thought. The hope for requited love.

"Hikaru–" She started.

He raised an eyebrow. Could she really do this? Confess to him like this? Well, she thought, I suppose I should try. I should just say it. Say it.

"I t–think that I'm in l–love with you." She burst out. "U–uh, I mean that I, um, well..." her voice drifted off as she watched his reaction: eyes open wide, mouth gaping open, and a blush spreading across his face. She could not believe that he could blatantly caress his brother without blinking an eye, but with one sentence she made him speechless.

He opened his mouth to speak, and then closed it again. Then opened it once more, "You what?"

Haruhi gave an exasperated sigh, "Are you really going to make me say it again?"

Hikaru smiled impishly, "Tell me when you figured out how you felt about me."

She blushed, "Not Christmas night, if that's what you're thinking. Tonight, actually, I had some time to think, and I realized… It has always been you, Hikaru. You fit me better than anyone else I know."

He grinned, "Even better than my brother? You have to admit he's clever with his fingers."

She disdainfully shook her head, "There's no competition." Then she laughed at the surprised look on his face. "I don't care about that. I care about you."

His expression turned from teasing to tender. He slowly crept forward until they were a foot apart. "I've always loved you too, Haruhi."

She gasped, relieved that he admitted it so easily. I suppose that he has changed, she thought. In the past, he would have teased and mocked her without end. But now, his eyes showed a new maturity that she had never seen up until now.

Before she had a chance to revel in his new attitude, he passionately grasped her petite face in his hands and stroked her cheeks with the tip of his thumb. Without glancing away from her gaze, he slowly lowered his face until their lips were a breath apart.

"So it seems that you missed your chance at a midnight kiss tonight." He whispered, and she felt his warm breath sweeping across her sensitive skin. "I guess that I'll have to make up for that."

With that last word said, his eyes shifted. Where before they were tender and loving, now they were hungry and intense. He quickly closed the distance between their lips, stealing Haruhi's breath away.

When Kaoru touched her, he took his time and treated her like a fragile glass case. Hikaru, however, kissed her with heat and emotion, like there was only so much time left until she would fly away.

She loved it, the feeling of passion on his lips.

She loved how he held her tight, wanting to never let her go.

She loved how he slid his tongue to open her mouth and entwined their tongues together.

She loved how alive he made her feel, as if it were only the two of them in the entire world.

She loved…

Him.

One more chapter to go! Thank you all again for the support :)

Please remember to comment if you liked it! If you think I should go in a different direction, tell me that too!