Disclaimer: I don't own OHSHC. But how I wish I did: p

'Huh?'

"…we're truly sorry…." Groggily he watched through half lidded eyes as the doctor explained something to his parents. Probably something about the condition of his brother.

'But why did he say he was sorry?'

Amber eyes widened in realization as his words sank in. Slowly he turned his head to the figure lying on the bed. His face for once holding a serene expression. Kaoru smiled. A tiny genuine smile. But soon it was replaced by a frown as the doctor's words floated back. He turned to face his twin; staring intently at him as he took in his motionless form. His face was deadly pale as if all the color had been drained from it. Shivers ran up and down Kaoru's spine as he reached out to gently hold his brother's cold hand.

"Hikaru..."He managed to choke out as he felt his throat tighten. Pushing down the feeling of dread he once again called out for his twin while softly caressing his pale cheek but no avail. Tears spilled down Kaoru's flushed cheeks. He could no longer hold them in. Shaking his head in denial he gave it one more try as he shook his twin's seemingly lifeless form.

"Hika, come on wake up." His voice came out as a throaty whisper.

"I'm…alive Kao." A soft almost inaudible mummer escaped Hikaru's parched lips followed by a dry chuckle.

Kaoru's lips curled up in a tiny jovial smile as he hugged his bed ridden twin.

"Can't…breathe." Hikaru weakly protested as Kaoru immediately let him go. It was then Hikaru noticed that his brother was crying.

"Oi! Quit mourning baka. I'm not –cough- dead." He mumbled smirking adding a silent 'yet' at the end of his sentence as he wiped his brother's tears. His eyes glinting with the same mischievousness that made Tono want to run and take cover behind 'Mommy'. But there was something else too. Pain; suppressed beneath all that mischievousness.

And Kaoru realized;' It was all fake'. His smiles, his smirks. His heart wrenched as tears welled up in his eyes at the discovery. Shifting his gaze towards his twin he saw identical eyes staring back. Hikaru though was smiling on the outside but Kaoru could see that he was in pain. His once shining amber eyes had dulled to a murky green. His skin was white as sheet.

"…" Hikaru was saying something but he couldn't hear a thing. His hold on his hand tightened as he felt rage building up. He felt as if his insides would explode.

"No!" His voice sounded foreign even to his own ears.

"Kaoru wh…"

"SHUT UP." He found himself yelling at the now stunned Hikaru. He couldn't believe they'd kept it from him. His family, his parents, his own twin.

His body shook with fury. Fists clenched tightly as his nails dug in the palm of his hands drawing blood. His eyes burned with tears he refused to shed.

"Aren't you supposed to be –cough- the sensible one –cough-?" Identical goldenrod orbs shot up. Anger coursed through his veins as he heard his twin's sarcastic comment. He held gaze with Hikaru for a moment. Both of them staring intently at each other until he gave in. He always did.

"We did everything together Hikaru…" He let his sentence hanging half expecting Hikaru to complete it. But the said twin was too stunned to talk. They'd complete each other's sentences. Without even saying a word just by looking into each other's eyes they could tell what their counter part was thinking. It was like they were one person and not two. A unique entity. But for the first time in both of their lives Hikaru was at a loss for words.

Kaoru snorted though his eyes held sorrow. "We were born together, we grew up together…remember when my arm got cut fighting that boy…"

"I cut mine too because I wanted us to be alike… forever and always…" Hikaru cut him off in mid sentence picking up from where he'd left.

And then "Gah…I can't believe I said something so cheesy." He shuddered and proceeded to shake his head woefully.

"Do you hurt a lot Hikaru?" Kaoru's question caused him to halt in his act and his lips to curl downwards in a frown which he quickly replaced by a forceful smile hoping Kaoru wouldn't notice as he opened his mouth to reply.

"Don't lie to me…please" Who was he kidding? This was his brother. His twin brother no less. How could he expect to fool him? He lifted his gaze to meet Kaoru's tearful one and his gut wrenched.

"Yeah." He muttered half heartedly as he let out a deep sigh as if to say 'there I said it.'

"Do…do you want to go?" Hikaru's eyes widened as he stared at his other half. Countless thoughts swirled his mind leaving him dizzy. This wasn't supposed to happen. It wasn't fair. They were supposed to grow up together. They'd planned to go to the same college. It was all going wrong. They were the devil duo. The Hitachiin twins.

"You really are going away aren't you?" His train of thoughts halted as he heard Kaoru continue again. He was crying. He was too, he realized as he tentatively lifted a hand to touch his cheek.

"We were supposed to die together you know then…why not me?"His brother continued on. But he'd had enough. If he were to leave he didn't want Kaoru's crying face to be the last thing he'd see.

"Well I guess that Someone up there likes me better ne?" He managed weakly his lips curling up in a smirk as he ruffled Kaoru's hair.

"And besides isn't this the point where you tell me that I can let go?"

"It is." Kaoru's smirk mirrored his. "But then again I'm the selfish one aren't I?"

Hikaru chuckled. "No you aren't. Don't steal my role you idiot."

"Will you be here in the morning?" Hearing Kaoru's hopeful voice broke his heart into two. He didn't know how long he could bear the pain. He was trying with all his might not to start screaming in agony then and there.

"Um hum" He nodded.

"Promise?"

"Yeah." Hikaru grimaced. That would be the first and last promise he'd break but it'd all be worth it wouldn't it? Seeing Kaoru's smile one last time.

Kaoru smiled softly as he drew his brother in for a hug and placed a feathery light kiss on his forehead. Then he settled in the bed with him holding his close until he gave in to the lulling darkness.

A/n: Please review and let me know what you think :)