The City Didn't Make Me Fall (OHSHC)

Chapter 30: The Way Things Are

He said it. Tamaki Suoh finally realized, and I didn't have to tell him. Tamaki figured out that he wasn't the one without my help. It felt like the weight of the world was lifted off of my shoulders. What I did next was ridiculous; I laughed. Not just your everyday, that was funny, laugh, but a ground shaking hysterical laughter that made people think that something was wrong. The only thing that was wrong was the fact that for the first time in eight years I felt truly happy.

"Kasumi, are you alright?" Tamaki watched me cautiously, and when the laughter turned to tears, he reached across the table and picked up my hand, giving it a tight squeeze. "Hey, tell me what's wrong."

I wiped away my tears, "I've spent the last eight years worrying about everything. About who was watching, who was getting hurt, about how to make the damn choice, about having nothing when I came back, and it comes down to an 'Oh'. And nothing could make me happier!"

I watched as a smile stretched across Tamaki's face, "Then why are you crying, Kasumi?" He held my hand tightly, giving me his full support.

"Because I don't know how to be happy!!" The tears came rushing to my eyes once more. "I know what it's like to be determined, passionate, and a whole range of other good emotions, but I forgot what happiness feels like."

"That's the great thing about life," Tamaki began, smiling at me halfheartedly, "You can spend a lifetime learning things over and over again with the person you love. And now that you know who that person really is, our lives can really get started."

A sniffle, a glass of wine, and after our order and it's arrival, I looked up at Tamaki, "You're taking this really well, Tamaki. I mean, I get the fact that you're in love again, but I thought there would at least be a little more emotion from you."

All he did was shrug, "I guess I saw it coming, Kasumi. I think I knew a long time ago in subconsciously that it just wasn't me. Still, I kept waiting for him to mess up. To say something wrong, to do something wrong, but when Kyoya saved you from that mugger, I think it really clicked. No matter what, Kyoya couldn't be wrong to you. I wanted you to come crawling to me about how he messed up like you've done to him about me before, but it just wasn't going to happen," Tamaki looked me in the eye with those piercing violet orbs that I know so well, "Nothing against you or Kyoya, but I think you were biased against me from the beginning," he chuckled.

"There's a difference between the way I loved you, yes. I realize it now. You were that gentle first love that every girl needs and dreams of, but Kyoya, he's the lifelong lover with a fiery determination that every woman needs, not that you would want to hear that," I looked down at the table and sighed.

Tamaki sighed himself, "It's okay, Kasumi. There's no longer a conflict of interests. I can talk to you about Haruhi, and you can talk to me about my best friend."

A heartwarming smile crept onto my lips. He called Kyoya his best friend... Wait a second! "Haruhi?  It's Haruhi? She's the girl?"

The blonde boy across from me sat up a little straighter and readjusted his tie, "Yes. It is Haruhi. Whom you introduced me to. Um... I'm sorry...? Wait a second, are you mad about this?" he looked at me quizzically.

"No, Tamaki! I love Haruhi! She's one of my closest friends now. We talk nearly every day, and if she can do something I can't do, I'd be absolutely thrilled to have you be with her," I told him, smiling at him brightly.

Tamaki looked sightly offended, "What is it that she can give me that you can't, Kasumi? You know that you're an amazing woman," he reached over and took my hand again.

With a smile, I slipped my hand out of his and picked up my chopsticks, "She can make you happy, Tamaki, and that is something that I can no longer do." I ate my sushi, and smiled up at him. "There is a woman who can light up your day like the sun does, and that's great."