Summary: When Hikaru and Kaoru are forced to leave high school and attend collage, they are separated from one another. Hikaru attends an arts school and Kaoru decides to stay in Japan and employ at an adult host club. After three years of a lost connection, Hikaru and Kaoru begin to hear thoughts and feel feelings that aren't their own. They soon realize that they are feeling each other's feelings. In order for them to figure out this strange mystery, their broken relationship will have to be rekindled.
Release Me
I'd like to dedicate this to my Beta PhantomKino. Wouldn't be anywhere without you. Thanks. Hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: O, how I wish I owned such genius. I do not own this anime, nor characters.
Prologue: Arrivederci, Bella
The tender spring wind warmed Hikaru's skin as he painted on a blank canvas in the field behind his home. His bare feet dug into the blanket he'd laid there, rubbing against the few strands of grass that fought their way through the stitches of the blanket. He took a large soft-tipped brush and placed it in crimson paint before gingerly stroking it along the canvas. Hikaru glanced at the sky enjoying the silence of the afternoon. The fires that rose around the sun when it began to set turned to its normal purple haze before turning to night.
"It's been a while since I've seen you paint, Nii-sama," said an all too familiar voice from beyond Hikaru's sightline. He felt a dangerous smirk tug at his lips with the use of his nickname.
"It's been a while since you've seen me do a lot of things Kao- chan" The dangerous smirk succeeded to place itself on Hikaru's lips as he slowly spoke his brother's nickname. Hikaru pushed against the blanket with his knees, preparing to stand when creamy white fingers managed to push him down on his back.
A dark shade covered his brother's face as he spoke simple words. "We should watch the day turn to night together while we're here." Hikaru could hear the smile in Kaoru's voice as he spoke and it immediately onset a devious grin.
"Seeing the position I'm in, can I really say no?" Hikaru asked letting his eyes roll over Kaoru's figure.
"Hm, I guess not," Kaoru whispered, placing his idle hand in Hikaru's and leaving his other laying blatantly on Hikaru's chest. This small movement wiped the smug look off Hikaru's features, replacing it with a look of admiration. Kaoru caught this shift in expression and smiled warmly, pressing his lips against Hikaru's forehead. He leaned his body into Hikaru's and let his head fall into the crook of his neck. Hikaru let his arms wrap around Kaoru in a soft embrace while they gazed up at the afternoon sky during its transfiguration into night.
After a moment of comfortable silence, Hikaru sighed softly and softly spoke a simple string of words.
"I'm going to Italy, Kaoru."
Kaoru tensed, almost denying the words he had heard because of the soft whisper in which they were spoken. Kaoru lifted from Hikaru's embrace and sat up in the grass, his back to Hikaru's face. He wrapped his arms around his knees, uncomfortable from the moment he sat up.
"Why Italy? Why not stay here?" With me, he added mentally, but did not speak. He turned his face toward Hikaru, his profile faintly outlined by the dying sunlight.
Hikaru chose his words carefully, trying with little hope to avoid a horrible, melancholy predicament. "I would love to stay here with you Kaoru; you know that…"
"—but," Kaoru interjected, hating that Hikaru had the ability to read his every thought.
"But…" Hikaru began, knowing there was no easy way of saying this. "Art is a passion of mine, Kaoru. I have to at least try and pursue it. You were there when I received the acceptance letter from the arts university in Italy." Hikaru stopped, unsure of what to say next, despising his incompetence with words when conveying messages to his brother.
The silence between the two siblings was tense, making the sunlight that disappeared from their region of the earth almost reluctant to leave. The night swallowed their figures, making it near impossible for them to see one another, although neither one of them dared to move.
Kaoru stood first and turned toward the area where Hikaru's figure was once again visible. He could barely distinguish Hikaru's silhouette—tense, rigid, overwhelmed with contemplations—in the darkness. Kaoru sighed, running his hand through his auburn hair. He gazed at Hikaru's shadow, hoping to catch his eyes in the darkness. He succeeded, noticing Hikaru's shadow move slightly.
"I'm happy for you, Hikaru. I always have been. If pursuing your dream means leaving, then so be it." With that, Kaoru walked down the hill and back into the Hitachiin residence without another glance.
Hikaru could hear the obvious hurt in Kaoru's voice as the world around him crashed. The two would be separated like they never had before. Hikaru hummed a sad tune as he retrieved his unfinished painting from the ground. He followed the Kaoru's back into the house.
The two siblings slept in separate beds that night.