The next few days went by, and Isan spoke seldom to anyone during the course of the school days. Occasionally, she would look at Koaru, and her eyes would dart away while her face became a deep red. She reported to the Host Club every afternoon- for Haruhi, and that was the only reason.
The only reason.
Granted, her eyes would methodically turn to the twins as the did their act for the girls, which annoyed her. It wasn't because she wanted Kaoru's attention, though.
That wasn't it.
Haruhi finished with a customer and strolled over to her cousin, who was sitting on a red velvet chair by the back of the room. "Isan?"
Isan frowned and decided to ignore their silly act, but didn't hear Haruhi calling her from a foot away.
"Isan?"
Isan looked up at Haruhi. "Oh, Haruhi. What?"
"Did you guys... fight?"
Isan blushed. "No, that's not it."
"Then why won't you talk to him? He thinks you're mad."
Isan stood up. "He does?"
"Yeah. He said so yesterday."
Isan played with her fingers. "Oh. I'm not-" she stopped her sentence, too embarrassed to go on.
Haruhi raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. A few of her customers came, and she excused herself, leaving Isan to fret alone.
When club was over, Isan asked Haruhi to pull Kaoru aside for her. Haruhi did as she was asked, and Isan found Kaoru leaning against the wall in the deserted hallway.
"Uhmm," Isan began.
Kaoru looked up at her, then looked down at his feet. "Sorry," he muttered. "For being so bold."
The color on both teenagers' cheeks was bright and awkward. Neither knew what to say, because neither were experienced in this field. Isan didn't have the bluntness or obliviousness that her cousin was blessed with, and Kaoru didn't have the fearlessness or honesty that Hikaru had. They both knew exactly what they wanted to say, but couldn't say it.
"I-" the two began at the same time, which was followed by the awkward and simultaneous, "uh, you first."
They both giggled a little, and that put Kaoru at enough ease to begin. He looked at Isan with a small, sad smile. "I've always looked after Hikaru," he said. "But I want to look after you, too."
Isan blushed deeply, and pushed his face with her palm. "Don't! Don't say anything else. I'm feeling awkward."
Kaoru rubbed his cheek and smiled. He knew that she understood, but also knew nothing was being accomplished. "Maybe we can go to dinner sometime?"
Isan nodded but didn't speak. She let her hair fall over her face so he couldn't see the color of her face, but he could see the red tips of her ears. He pushed himself off the wall and walked past Isan to the door of Ouran.
As he walked by, she grabbed his sleeve. "Wait for me," she mumbled softly.
Kaoru stopped in his tracks and extended his elbow. Isan slipped her arm through the hole he had created and they walked out silently, arm-in-arm.
When they got outside, Hikaru ambushed them with a mocking snicker that made Isan growl.
"I might as well welcome you to the family," Hikaru laughed, pushing his face close to hers.
She kicked his leg and Kaoru pushed him away playfully. "I'm just walking her home!"
Hikaru sighed. "And then you'll just be dating, and then you'll just be engaged, and then you'll just be married, and then you'll just be parents."
Kaoru met eyes with his twin, and Isan caught the serious look they shared.
Hikaru finally smiled smiled and patted his brother on the back. "Good luck."
The End.
Hope this is much better than the last! I like it a lot more.