[ Year and A Half Later ]

Kaoru's View

"Hey Kaoru, is something wrong?"

I blinked and looked over at Hikaru with a small frown on my face. Hikaru leaned over the couch and swayed his head side to side with his lips pursed. He eyes me with a gleam of worry and disappointment like he usually did when I zoned out.

He sighed and leaped over the couch, taking a seat beside me. "Are you thinking about her again?" He asked me quietly, a hint of annoyance in his tone.

I nodded in defeat and held my head in shame, "I just can't stop, Kaoru... I miss her so much! It's killing me not being by her side..." I croaked out, tears starting to fill my eyes. "I-I could have h-helped her!"

There was nothing but silence from Hikaru, he didn't even bother to try and comfort me like he did before...before Tomoyo ever became apart of the Host Club. He changed drastically, in ways I wished he didn't.

He became cockier than ever, his rudeness level rose, he doubted me more than ever, and worst of all...

He started to abuse me.

I shivered at the thought, no...the memories. Over the past year and a half, everyone in the Host Club basically changed from how they were before. And it all happened when I came back to them without Tomoyo. Either they lost respect for me, or they gained some respect.

Besides the abuse I now receive on a somewhat daily basis, I mourn over Tomoyo when I'm not busy. She's the only person I spend my time with and for. Despite the fact she's no longer here with me in person, I'll always remember her by the small amount of photos we took.

And by her stuffed animal, Panda-san. The only real reminder I have of her. A stuffed animal...that's it. Nothing else.

"You really are worthless..." He scowled darkly, in a deeper and darker voice than he usually had. He turned to me and raised his hand.

I shivered and shrunk away from him in fear, "Hikaru..." I whimpered.

He grunted placed his hans back at his side and stood up from his seat, glaring down at me as he did so. "You're lucky that the rest of the Host Club is arriving soon, but just you wait till we get home, Kaoru." He seethed out.

I gulped and nodded solemnly. I knew what would be awaiting me at home...it wasn't something so pleasing. I stared at Hikaru as he walked over to stand in front of the door, waiting for the rest of the members to come in. I didn't move a muscle out of fear. Who knew what Hikaru would do to me if I lived without getting his permission to do so first?

I was sweating like crazy just by sitting here. Anything was bound to happen and I was waiting to see what that would be. Taking a small glance over my shoulder to see out the window, I smiled faintly as tears brimmed the corner of my eyes.

Tomoyo, where ever you are... Dead or alive, please...please come back. I miss you so much.

Suddenly, the doors to the Host Clubs room was pushed open. A bright light quickly filled the room. I rushed over to Hikaru's side and put a smile on my face. He glanced over at me with a smirk. My smile faltered at this.

Tamaki was the first to walk in. Being the Host Clubs "king", he did need to get here earlier than the others I guess. He smiled widely and waved at us both.

"Good morning, Hikaru, Kaoru!" Tamaki shouted as he ran over to us. He threw his hands around us and squeezed us tightly.

"Baka..." Hikaru started.

"-let us go. You're squeezing-" I added.

"Us." We both said

Tamaki immediately let go and laughed like a dolphin out of water. My eye twitched im annoyance. The king really didn't change... He's as stupid and naive as ever.

"Oh my! You two really know how to hurt your poor daddy's heart!" He sobbed.

We didn't say anything. Anything else would have brought even more "tears" to his eyes and that'd be a nuisance to all of us. Being the founder of the Club, Tamaki still doesn't act mature and as coordinated as he should. Without Kyoya, we all wouldn't be here today.

"Oh, it seems like I'm a bit late to the show..."

My gaze wandered over to the person who spoke. I glanced away from him. Speak of the devil and he shall come. Kyoya lifted his glasses with his index finger as he stared at us.

"Oh look, mommys here!" Tamaki screeched, running over to his "wife", embracing "her" tightly.

Kyoya shoved Tamaki away from him and quickly took the chance to wipe his uniform off.

"You still haven't changed..." Kyoya sighed, narrowing his eyes at Tamaki. "When will you grow up?"

Tamaki giggled like a child, "Never! Daddy must get close to his children, and in order to do so, daddy must act like on of them!" He exclaimed in an attempt to make a point.

We all sweat dropped at this point, all thinking the same thing.

None of his children act like...that.

Kyoya senpai looked around, "Oh? And Haruhi? Is she not here yet?" He asked slightly shocked

Hikaru shrugged, "Who knows when she's coming... That commoner could have overslept." He stated.

I sighed softly, "Beats me..." I muttered out.

Now all we had to wait for was them two. Tomoyo's relatives who turned their backs against her. They're nothing but traitors in my eyes; traitorous trash. Five minutes later, would could hear giggling from outside the door. I knew who it was right away.

Honey and Mori walked inside the Host Club. With Honey giggling like he had no care in the world and Mori was his usual stoic self. They walked over to us and greeted us like usual.

I bit the inside of my cheek really hard so I wouldn't shout out some insult again. I did it before and it didn't turn out well. Hikaru means business when he gives me that...that look. I shivered.

Keep calm, Kaoru. Do it for Tomoyo's sake...for her. Don't let them get to you. I took a deep breath and put on the best smile I could possibly give.

"Hello, Honey-senpai." I greeted.

Honey looked over at me with a giant grin, "Hi, Kaoru!" He shouted gleefully.

Kyoya closed his black notebook shut loudly, "Well then, now that we are all here besides Haruhi...we may begin our usual routine." He said.

Everyone nodded.

We all went to out places and as we did, Honey and I walked past each other. You could practically see the immense tension between the both of us. It was thick.

I glared at Honey from the corner of my eye and he did the same. We both hated each other with all our heart, but around the Host Club we never showed it. I clicked my tongue and walked away from him before I did something stupid.

~*~

As Honey and Kaoru walked past one another, their deep glares locking onto one another. They both had the same thoughts despite their different views on the situation from the past.

'If only I could kill that bastard... He deserves to die and rot in hell.' They thought.

That was how it grew to be. After Tomoyo's sudden disappearance from the Host Club and their lives, they changed for the worse...maybe even the better. However, this is how life was; changing at random times for the good or the bad. You could never predict what would happen next.

As for the Host Club...

Everyone changes when they grow up, don't they? It's logic; common sense. Nobody can stay the same forever.

Change is everywhere, in everyone.

There's no way to stop it.

...at all.