A/N: I wasn't going to even start writing this story until Another Chance was completed (another chapter coming later today), but inspiration struck and I completed the first chapter today. You know I don't like to hold out, so am publishing now. This is my first Hikaru/Haruhi story, and although my fave couplings are Mori or Kyoya with Haruhi, I couldn't turn down a request from a reader. (: So here you go Pudding17. Hope everyone likes it. Let me know what you think.

Chapter 1 - Longing

They were about to enter their 3rd year at Ouran and for the first time, they did not have the other hosts there for them. The club had been closed after the end of the prior year when Tamaki and Kyoya had graduated. Everyone had toyed with the idea of keeping it open and allowing Haruhi and the twins to run it, but after a lot of thought, it was decided that it just didn't feel the same without everyone there to participate. So begins Hikaru, Kaoru, and Haruhi's third year.

As Haruhi wandered the halls of the third year building making her way to class 3A, she thought about everything that had happened since she had first walked through the doors of Ouran and started her first year. She smiled fondly at all of the memories that assaulted her and realized that breaking the vase was one of the best things that could have happened in her life. She had made six of the best friends she thought she would ever have. In fact they had just spent a wonderful vacation on the beach in Cabo San Lucas. It was a surprise for her; well actually it seemed that the majority of the host club trips were a surprise to her. She would only admit it to herself, but she would actually miss seeing the others on a daily basis and looked forward to their scheduled bi-weekly gatherings.

Haruhi had made it to her class and looked at the time, she was early. She took her seat and started to think about each member of her inner circle. Tamaki had not changed much. After they dated briefly, he went back to his daddy role when they broke up. It was for the best and they were better friends now than they were before. Kyoya had loosened up a bit and even sent her a text this morning wishing her luck on her first day. He was also a good friend and she had learned that he truly had a heart of gold. He finally was named heir apparent and would take over for his father completely after he graduated from college. Hunny had grown up also, literally. He was now the same size as Haruhi, but he still had his cute tendencies and although didn't carry his bunny to classes any longer, Usa-Chan was always present any other time. She suspected the bunny was stashed in his school bag half the time. Kyoya had a miniature version made up for Hunny to carry when he couldn't have the full size version (heart of gold). Mori was almost the same, but he was more vocal. Haruhi suspected his girlfriend of a year had something to do with that and smiled at the thought.

Haruhi looked up from her musings when she thought she heard something coming from the hall. It sounded like the twins. She listened harder and sure enough, there was the laugh of both Hikaru and Kaoru. Kaoru had always been the more mature twin. The one that would always put his brother first and would step back and look at the situation before he acted. Hikaru was always a hot head and was ruled by his emotions sometimes lashing out and then having to deal with the consequences. She laughed to herself. They had come a long way in two years. They finally stepped out of their world and let others in. They stopped calling her their toy and she was now just a friend. They didn't tug her everywhere and her arms were grateful for that. Kaoru had started to open up and stand up for what he wanted. Hikaru had calmed down and learned to think before he acted. She thought he had come the farthest. Before the hosts left on vacation, Kaoru had even found a girlfriend, someone else that could easily tell the two apart. Haruhi could tell that Hikaru was really happy for his brother, but he was also having a hard time adjusting. He wasn't used to being without his brother so much and was lonely, maybe a little jealous, and bit sad. She wondered what she could do for him.

Soon enough a set of arms wrapped around her shoulders and she looked from right to left to see the faces of the smiling twins. She couldn't help it; she smiled back, "Hey guys!"

"Haruhi we missed you," Hikaru said laughing. He wasn't completely serious, but it was tradition and a joke between the three of them. He still had strong feelings for her, but believed that they would never be returned. He would not push himself on her; he loved her too much to do that.

"Yah we were lonely without you. When are you coming over again?" Kaoru added with a wink.

Haruhi laughed, "Kaoru, what will your girlfriend say? Besides, didn't we saw each other only three days ago when we got back from vacation together?" She watched as they moved in and kissed her on the cheek.

"Still too long," they said together.

Haruhi watched as the placed their bags on their desks on either side of her and started to move around the room to talk to other students in the class. Yes, they really had grown up and matured. Their world expanded and made them better men. Haruhi watch Hikaru. He had really matured and turned into a very caring and considerate man. Yes, he could still have a temper, but those times were few and far between. He had changed and for the better. She eyes softened as she watched him talking to the class president. In the last few months, she realized that feelings for her friend were growing and she had stronger feelings for him than a friend should have. She wondered if Hikaru still harbored a sliver of the feelings he had for her, but figured it was a long shot. Those feelings were from long ago.

The three of them made their way through the morning together. They had the same classes until after lunch and then they would be separated for a few classes. Even the twins had decided to take a couple of classes separate from each other. It was another example of how they had grown and were leaving their personal world behind.

The trio made their way to lunch and met up with Kaoru's girlfriend, Haruko. She didn't have classes with them because she was only a second year, but since they had the same lunch schedule, they made sure to eat lunch together. Haruhi stopped eating lunch in the class and would bring her bento to eat with her friends.

Hikaru would watch his brother with Haruko and it would make him yearn to find love himself. He found himself shooting glances at Haruhi out of the corner of his eye and wondered for the millionth time if he should let her know that his feelings were still there and ask her out. He would stop the thoughts before he took action, but they would constantly creep into his mind time and time again.

Haruhi had the same problem that Hikaru had. She would watch the couple and find herself longing for a relationship. It wasn't like her, she was practical, but as she found herself surrounded by love, she would find herself wanting that special someone also. She would glimpse at Hikaru and deliberate what it would be like to be more than just one of his best friends or buddies, to actually be his girlfriend.

Kaoru and Haruko did not miss the looks that Hikaru and Haruhi passed towards each other when they thought the other was not looking, or when they thought nobody else would be looking. It was not hard to see that both of them liked each other and wanted to be together or at least give it a chance. Kaoru knew that Hikaru had harbored feelings for the female host for a long time now. He could also tell that Haruhi's feelings for his brother had changed and developed into something more than friends in the last few months. He figured, being dense as she was in the romance department, that she thought Hikaru's feelings had fled and he decided that it was up to him to set the record straight since his brother probably wouldn't. He looked down at Haruko and he could tell that she had the same thoughts. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, "We will talk about it later when they are not around." He watched her nod and they went back to their lunch.

The rest of the day passed by in a blur and before anyone knew it the final bell rang to announce the end of school. For the first time Hikaru, Kaoru, and Haruhi didn't have to go to the Host Club and it felt awkward. They found themselves wandering to the old club room out of habit, but the room was locked.

"You know if you miss the club that much, you really could have kept it going," a voice behind them said.

All three third years jumped and looked behind them to the familiar voice and found the four graduated hosts standing behind them. Kyoya had been the one to speak. "What are you doing here?" Haruhi asked what was on everybody's minds.

"We came to see you on your first day of school Haru-Chan and we brought cake for everyone!" Hunny spoke up excitedly.

Everyone chuckled at the enthusiasm of the small blonde. Kyoya moved forward and extracted a key to unlock the old clubroom door while Tamaki spoke up next, "We came in and watched as you three started walking this way, so we followed you. How was your first day of class my children? Did my daughter have a good day in school?" Tamaki moved forward and pulled Haruhi into a tight embrace.

Mori moved forward when the door was open and extracted Haruhi from Tamaki and placed her on her feet inside the music room. Then he smiled at her and ruffled her hair before moving away from her and towards the kitchen to get the items needed for the cake.

"Thanks Mori. School was fine, but it is only the first day of classes," Haruhi mumbled after she was set down.

Tamaki not missing a beat and as flamboyant as ever, swept into the room and upon hearing what Haruhi said, replied, "I am so happy to hear that! I know you will stay at the top of the class. Daddy is so proud of you and my sons!"

The twins snickered at Tamaki. They knew that was just his way, but it was still as funny as ever and as they looked at each other, they hatched a silent plan to tease their former king. The impish grins grew and together they walked up to Tamaki and placed their arms around his shoulders. Together they said, "You know boss, Haruhi has quite a few admirers already this year. Now that she has come out as a girl, it is only a matter of time before she is dating one of them and then getting married."

"WHAT? Haruhi, you have to concentrate on your studies. You don't need to think about boys!" Tamaki wailed.

"Gee thanks you two," Haruhi groaned at her two classmates. She turned to Tamaki, "First of all, I can date who I want to. Second, I am not interested in any of the guys that may or may not have made their intensions known today. Finally, if I can date you and still stay at the top of the class, I think that it would be easy to date some of these others."

Tamaki opened his mouth to speak and immediately closed it. He had no response for that. He vaguely heard the twins laughing in the background and Kyoya calling everyone to a group of couches and chairs so that they could visit. He felt a tug on his arm and looked down to see Haruhi grabbing his sleeve and walking him over to the rest of the group.

Kaoru seeing Haruhi and Tamaki walking over stood up from his place next to his brother and offered it to the small girl. She smiled her thanks and sat down. Kaoru noticed her glance at Hikaru, but it was immediately drawn away when Hunny asked what kind of cake she wanted. "Yes, I will definitely be having a little talk with my brother tonight. He has to say something before he loses her again," he thought to himself. He felt his pocket vibrate and pulled out his phone. It was Haruko wondering where he was. Instead of responding to the text, he called her and told her to come to the music room.

After the cake was eaten and the hosts decided it was getting late, everyone decided it was time to go home. Kaoru suggested that while he ran Haruko home, Hikaru should take Haruhi home. Tamaki tried to say that her daddy should take his daughter home, but Kaoru tripped him while he was running towards Haruhi and Tamaki never got a chance to ask. Hikaru and Haruhi were the first ones to leave and as soon as they were out of the door and the heavy door shut was a thud, Kaoru turned to Tamaki, "You almost messed that up Tono!"

"Messed it up? Messed what up? You just sent my daughter out there with a boy!" Tamaki yelled.

Everyone shook their heads and rolled their eyes. "Tama-Chan, Hika-Chan has feelings for Haru-Chan and she has feelings for him. Am I wrong Kao-Chan?" Hunny asked.

"No, Hunny-Senpai, I believe that she does have feelings for him and I know he still has feelings for her," Kaoru said smiling at his shorter senior.

"So you plan is to throw them together and hope that they eventually realize they care about each other? You do realize who we are discussing, do you not?" Kyoya gave his input. He had the same belief as the younger twin and although he wouldn't admit it, believed that the two third years would be good together.

"Actually, I am going to talk to my brother and tell him that he needs to make a move. We have a ball coming up to commemorate the start of the new school year. I am going to convince Hikaru to ask Haruhi," he explained. Then he thought about it for a second, "I guess I need to have a little talk with Haruhi also. She may not get it even if Hikaru asked her to the dance."

Everyone nodded in agreement. The girl was clueless as to others feelings towards her on the best of days. Since Hikaru was a good friend, she would probably believe that he only asked her as a friend and to be nice so that she didn't have to deal with other guys asking her to the dance.

Kyoya pushed his glasses up his face, "That would probably be beneficial to your plan. We of course will help you where we can." He looked around the group that was assembled and all of them were giving their consent, including Tamaki. "It is agreed then. Kaoru do you want to be the one to talk to her, or should one of us do it?"

"Actually, can one of you talk to her and I will talk to Hikaru?" Kaoru asked. He knew he would have his hands full with his brother and still trying to spend time with his girlfriend.

"No problem Kao-Chan. Takashi and I will talk to her while you handle Hika-Chan," Hunny said smiling. He was ready to play matchmaker.

Mori looked down at his cousin and smiled, "Yah, we will."

The group disbanded with the intent to bring together their two friends. Hunny and Mori would invite Haruhi to dinner the next day in order to talk to her. Kaoru would talk to Hikaru tonight and start the ball rolling on his side. Finally all of the hosts would make an appearance at the dance on Friday to put the final nails in their plan if needed. Those two would be together whether they liked it or not, but all of the hosts knew that it was what Haruhi and Hikaru really wanted so they were not worried.