AN: I don't own OHSHC. If I did, there would be more twins and much less Haruhi. This is my take on what should have happened in Episode 15 in the bedroom.
"Hikaru, I'm okay. It's just a scratch; the vase didn't even hit me."
No reply came from the older twin; instead he simply kept his head bowed, his hand placed protectively over his twins.
Kaoru tried again.
"Hika…it's okay-"
He was cut off mid-sentence as Hikaru rose to his feet in anger, yanking his hand away.
"No. Kaoru, it is not okay. You got hurt and I didn't stop it! I just watched helplessly and it was horrible. Being too late to save you…what if it happens again? What if it's serious next time?"
It was hurting Kaoru to see his twin in this much pain. He unconsciously lifted his hand to stroke his newly scratched cheek, ignoring Hikaru's wince. Standing, he joined Hikaru in the middle of the room, wrapping his arms around his shoulders and pulling him into a gentle embrace. Although it was barely noticeable, Kaoru was slightly shorter, meaning Hikaru had to stoop a little to allow Kaoru's arms to accommodate him.
"You don't always have to be the one to take care of me baka." A soft smile formed at the edges of Kaoru's lips. "Sometimes, you have to let me take care of myself."
The only response he got was Hikaru's face shoved slightly harder into the space between his neck and collar bone.
"Hika-chan," He couldn't help but laugh now. "I am fine. What happened had nothing to do with you. You needn't be so upset. Besides, my scratch definitely makes me look more manly, and now people can tell us apart."
Silence.
"But you don't understand," Comes the whispered reply. "I was so scared." Hikaru lifted his head, revealing tawny eyes sparkling with tears. Shock flitters through Kaoru's mind. He had no idea it had affect his twin this badly.
He responds by pulling him back into the hug, tighter than before.
"Please don't scare me like that again Kaoru."
It almost breaks his heart to see his brother, his protector so worried.
"I won't." Kaoru bites back tears of his own. "I promise."