"Right Here Waiting" Revised Edition 2013 © natsu_no_sora

Ouran High School Host Club 2002 © Hatori Bisco

I do not own anything. Support the mangaka by buying her works.

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Chapter 01: Rusty Knife

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"I'm... breaking up with you, Haruhi," Kyouya said quietly.

The said girl froze. Her insides suddenly clenched together painfully and her racing heart dropped into her squeezed stomach.

"I can't be with you anymore," he simply put, his beautiful face void of any emotion.

Haruhi blinked. "Are you trying to play jokes on me, Kyouya?" She managed to say in a whisper. Yeah, maybe this is just one of his sick jokes. It must be.

"No," he answered coldly. It sliced through her like a rusty knife.

Silence was deafening in the huge music room. The sky outside became ominous. Thunder must be approaching.

The two lone figures stood face-to-face, neither of them spoke. But after a few more minutes of agonizing silence, Haruhi looked up to meet the cold eyes behind the eyeglasses.

Secret meetings. Fun dates. Sweet smiles. Fleeting touches. Meaningful glances. Passionate kisses.

All of those two years' worth of wonderful moments seemed to flash on his eyeglasses.

All of those two years' worth of wonderful moments were about to vanish.

"Is that what you really want?" She asked slowly.

Kyouya hesitated for just a beat of the heart but then, he nodded and said a very firm "yes."

Haruhi blinked as another set of dirty, rusty knives cut through her, dragging her heart down. The pain was unbearable. Her knees shook and her head felt like someone had pumped helium into it. But she forced herself not to look away from those calculating gray eyes.

"I want to ask you why... but I don't think I want to hear your answer," she fisted her hands on her sides to kept it from trembling. "If... if that's what you want, then I'm not going to force myself to you. Just-" her tiny voice cracked as she tried to suppress the wave of emotions that swirled inside her. "Just remember that I love you. And I always will."

She probably could've said something more but the rolling dark clouds seemed eager to produce thunders and she wanted to beat it home, especially now that she has to walk from school. Kyouya wouldn't send her home from now on. And she wouldn't like it if he would.

Sprinkle of salt in the wound? No, thanks.

Haruhi looked outside the glass window nervously. Kyouya followed her gaze and frowned. He wanted to say something more. Maybe apologize to her or at least offer her a ride home, just this last time. But Haruhi's quivering voice hastily said, "I-I should be going. Goodbye, Kyouya-s-senpai!"

That and she rushed out of the music room without looking back to see how miserable was the face of the shadow king.

Thunderstorm, Kyouya thought bitterly. He pinched the bridge of his perfect nose. Great timing, Ootori Kyouya.

Haruhi reached her apartment in record time. As soon as she locked the front door, lightning cracked and thunder boomed. A merciless shiver ran down her spine. Every hair on her skin stood on its end. With forming tears in her eyes, she slid down onto the floor.

I'm... breaking up with you, Haruhi.

I can't be with you, anymore.

Lightning briefly illuminated the darkened apartment. Thunder sent her heart to the edge of break point.

On normal circumstances, Kyouya would be there to comfort her through her fear until it was gone. He would cradle her in his arms, whispering soothing words in her ear, caressing her hair and more frequently, kissing her.

"Stop. Please stop..." she sobbed as she pressed her hands against her ears. Her knees pushed tightly on her chest, like she was trying to curl into a very small ball.

I'm... breaking up with you, Haruhi.

I can't be with you, anymore.

Thunder shook the heavens.

"Please, stop it," she pleaded, whether to the thunder or to the painful words from Kyouya, she didn't know. Probably a mix of both.

Haruhi never felt so pathetically helpless in her entire life. The pain, it was worse than she ever experienced before. Even worse than the time her mother died. At least, she knew her mother is in a better place.

But this new pain, it was like clawing her deep down into dark, murky water. She was gasping for air and flailing her hands to desperately grab on something, but there simply emptiness. Nothing to hold on to.

Once again, lightning stroked followed closely by a clap of thunder. Then heavy rain poured down.

Haruhi remained in her upright fetal position on the floor. It could've been hours but she simply didn't move. She was afraid she might crumble down to pieces if she made any slight movement.

It will subside. Just like everything else, it will subside. The pain will subside soon enough. It'll go away, just like everything else. Haruhi took a deep breath and tried to calm her racing heart. Her muscles were aching and her legs were numb, urging her to stand and stretch.

Slowly, she uncurled herself and stood on her feet. Prickling blood flowed down her thighs. Her backbone snapped and she felt a little dizzy.

She didn't bother turning the lights on as she groped her way to the security of her blankets. She felt like if she turned the lights on, she would feel exposed.

She threw off her shoes and without taking off her socks or changing clothes for that matter, she exhaustedly slumped on her bed.

Hiding under the thick quilt, she completely resigned to the pain and cried silently.

Haruhi was never the weakling and the idea of crying over a stupid broken heart was just a shame.

But tonight, that was all she could do.

Waiting there in the pouring rain, outside her apartment, Haruhi never saw the black car that was parked there a few minutes after she arrived from school.

Ootori Kyouya glanced at his Blackberry, contemplating on calling the devastated girl situated just a few meters away from her, then focused again to the darkened window of her unit.

He was doing this little exercise since the thunderstorm hit: Dark window. Blackberry. A little tapping of finger on the steering wheel. Dark window. Blackberry. Dark window. Shit. Blackberry. Damn, when will that window light up? What is she doing?

Kyouya sighed for the nth time.

Stupid! Of course you absolutely know what she's doing at this very moment; curled up in a ball and crying helplessly because of her astraphobia. Oh, and add your pretty cold break up with her this afternoon. The annoying voice in his head admonished him teasingly.

"Shut up already..." he growled at the nonexistent voice owner. "It's for the best. It's for her own best," he murmured.

Is that what you really want?

If... if that's what you want, then I'm not going to force myself to you.

Just remember that I love you. And I always will.

Kyouya shut his eyes tightly as her words replayed in his mind all over again. The words hit him with uncanny accuracy. But it wasn't from what she said that tore him apart; it was her eyes.

Haruhi's milk chocolate eyes, full of shock and hurt. Those hauntingly beautiful eyes that could see right through him; eyes that could see him for who he really was.

It was all it took to launch a dagger-like arrow. Straight to his heart, piercing through his soul. A bull's eye.

I love you. And I always will.

"Shit!" He slammed his palm angrily against the steering wheel. It didn't do any harm to the expensive car but it certainly added another stinging pain on his hand. But it was nothing compare to the pain emanating from his chest.

How could she stand there, saying those words to him even after he coldly dismissed her? How could she say it so simple yet so sincere? How could she stand there, calming accepting his cruel words?

No. The real question was: how could he do that to the only girl he ever loved in his life?

Kyouya breathed deeply to calm his anger. He opened his eyes, once again landing on the blurry frame of the dark window where Haruhi must be fighting her own set of demons that all looked like him.

He started the engine of his most inconspicuous car in his garage. He glanced back at his Blackberry then sighed again.

"It's for your best, Haruhi. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I love you more than you know. More than anyone could possibly know," he whispered.

One last look at the window and then he was gone.

The rain continued to pour down like gray sheets, mirroring the suffocating emotions that surged through the divided couple.

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01/03/13 OWARI

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SORA'S RAMBLING CORNER:

Just as promised!

This is the revised edition of my original KyoHaru story, "Right Here Waiting". I improved the grammar, spellings and other mistakes I made from the previous one. I also changed the title, hehe!

I tried to minimize the OOCness but I guess in writing a KyoHaru fic, you cannot really apply their canon characters, especially if it's a little angst and drama. I hope you understand.

Thank you for giving my story a try. Please stick with me until the end, sarabaja~!