Re-entwining the Threads of Fate
Author: SkyChild
Fandom: Ouran High School Host Club
Pairing: Kaoru/Hikaru
Date: April 2007 - ???
Author's note: Following canon, I actually don't believe that the twins could become romantically involved in any way, and my other stories on Ouran all follow the notion that, while they share a uniquely strong and intimate bond, there's nothing more to it. However, this story has been running around in my head for a few weeks already, making me want to try and see how things could turn out for the both of them, should there really be any deeper emotions involved.
Enjoy it anyway :)
"If I lay here, if I just lay here
Would you lie with me
And just forget the world
Forget what we're taught
Before we get too old
Show me garden that's bursting into life."
(Snow Patrol, "Chasing Cars")
CHAPTER 1
This, Hikaru decided, had to be the definition of bliss.
He'd just awoken to the comfortable, warm feeling of being absolutely sheltered and utterly at peace. Part of the reason for this, his half-asleep mind mused, were the soft, cosy blankets wrapped around him, the first rays of sunlight filtering through a gap between the curtains and a bird chirping into this early morning's silence. The other and more important part, though, was Kaoru, pressed closely to his back, fast asleep, breathing a peaceful rhythm into his brother's neck. He didn't even need to turn to know it was his twin, he simply felt it.
The boy hummed softly in pleasure. Yes, absolute bliss… nothing could compare to this peace, this nearness, and he snuggled a bit closer into the sheets, burying himself a bit more into the warmth that was his younger brother.
Only when his mind slowly drifted from the realm of sleep, Hikaru came realize the oddity of this situation: why was Kaoru here in the first place? It had been months since he'd last come to Hikaru at night…
Which was strange indeed, as the older twin knew very well how often Kaoru was plagued by very vivid, if not scary, dreams at night, and how hard it was for him to fall asleep again if Hikaru wasn't there. So they had long since taken to the habit of sleeping together.
When his brother had, from one day to the other, stopped his nightly visits, Hikaru had wondered, but accepted his twin's decision, even though he couldn't – even after almost three months – get used to the coldness and loneliness of his empty bed. He hadn't questioned, though.
Just as he wouldn't question now. It felt too good… Turning around to lazily drape an arm around Kaoru's naked waist, he pressed his face to his brother's collarbone, gently nuzzling the soft skin beneath the chin with his nose. Kaoru smelled so good, and the skin right next to his face looked so kissable, Hikaru had to keep himself from pressing his lips to it.
While still fast asleep, Kaoru reacted to his brother's nearness at once, giving a cute little sigh and literally burying himself in his brother's embrace, as close as physically possible.
The older twin had to smile at that. While they were no children anymore, Kaoru could sometimes be just as adorable as he used to be, when they'd still been younger. To that time, they could recognize the other's touch even in sleep, able to clearly distinguish between their respective brother's, their parents' and the servants' touches.
'Let's see…' Hikaru mused with a mischievous little smile before detangling the one arm that wasn't draped over his twin's body from their curl of limbs and sheets and bringing it up to Kaoru's neck. His fingers started to make little circles on the warm skin of the nape, tousling the lower strands of red hair a bit more, and the younger twin reacted beautifully, tilting – although still sleeping – his head slightly, giving a little huff, lips parting… Hikaru snickered quietly. Yeah, he knew exactly where his brother's weak spots were, where to mercilessly tickle or comfortingly stroke him. Then he remembered how Kaoru would sometimes start to purr softly, clearly enjoying the older boy's ministrations. The thought saddened him for some reason. How long had it been since they'd last been together like that?
He missed it. Dearly.
One more reason not to ponder now, Hikaru decided. Right now, he felt warm, sheltered, happy… no use in destroying this moment. Keeping up his gentle caresses, he closed his eyes again, very much intending to slip back into that wonderful state of peace…
… and he would forever, to the last day of this world, hate Tamaki for calling them now. The familiar ring tone made him snap out of his content state of mind, made him groan in exasperation, and he so wanted to simply ignore it… yet the persistent noise continued, so he finally felt obliged to blindly grope for his phone before it drove him mad.
"Yeah, Tono… what's up?" he yawned into the receiver, trying not to sound too pissed off at the fact that, due to their lord's call, Kaoru was stirring and blinking sleepily, shifting slightly out of Hikaru's embrace.
Struggling to focus on Tamaki's ramblings about what splendid an idea he'd just had, inviting the host club and their customers on a weekend cruise along the Japanese Eastern coast, how they were to be ready within five minutes and, oh, this was going to be so awesome, and Haruhi in a swimsuit, and eating crabs, and …. Sometime during the further details of Tamaki's plans, Hikaru had spaced out, dozing off for a moment, joining in again to murmur, "yeah… sure… stop yelling already, we're getting ready… give us another half an hour, alright? See ya…", before unceremoniously hanging up.
Letting his phone fall to the floor, he gracelessly flopped back on the bed with a groan, planning to at least enjoy a few more moments in his twin's embrace… however, Kaoru had sat up by now, slipping from Hikaru's arms at once
"Ahm… I'm better going now. We need to get ready, before Tono comes to kick us out of bed, ne…" With a not-so-honest smile directed at his stunned brother, Kaoru scrambled to the edge of the bed, gathered his clothes and left for the bathroom.
Watching Kaoru all but hurry out of the room, Hikaru was unable to do anything but lie completely still and stare. What was this about? And – more important – what did the weird look in his brother's eyes mean?
Strange, very strange. And, thinking about it now, Hikaru's mind came up with several other oddities he'd noticed during the last months, however, had actually overlooked, too caught up in all those new sights, experiences and sensations brought about by the twins' broadening world.
It was strange. And Hikaru found he didn't like it. He would have to keep an eye on his brother.
One of the few things Hikaru remembered from his half-asleep phone talk with Tamaki was that they were to come to Ouran first, despite it being Saturday, to fetch their costumes. Said costumes turned out to be mind-numbingly colourful sailor suits, with Tamaki, of course, wearing the captain's gala uniform and the Hitachiin twins, of course, ending up in some rather savage-looking pirate rags ("Those eye patches are adding an especially dangerous touch! The girls are so going to love it!!!")
For a moment Hikaru was able to forget about his brother's weird behaviour as he teased Haruhi, who had some trouble accepting her new role as the poor seaman recruit for the donkeywork. Chattering about how nice Hunny with his apron looked as 'apprentice' of 'ship cook' Mori, and why Kyouya as the evil first mate wasn't wearing a peg leg, they gathered their clothes and left Ouran for their waiting limo that was to bring to them the port.
Before entering the car, however, Hikaru noticed the lack of Kaoru's presence next to him. For some reason, his brother was still missing. So was Kyouya, for that matter, and Hikaru told the others to wait while he went to see what took the two so long. He heard Haruhi call for him and follow him after a moment, but decided not to react. Somehow, he had the feeling that something bad was taking place right now.
He just hadn't known how bad.
When he reached the third music room, he crept those last few metres to the door, actually planning to startle those two… however, when he slowly and very quietly pushed open the door, he was confronted with a sight that made him stop dead in his tracks.
Wait a second.
Why…why was Kyouya standing so close, too close to his brother?
Why was Kaoru's gaze directed sideward, why was he chewing on his bottom lip, shoulders tense and eyes somewhat… sad? Confused? For some reason, Hikaru couldn't read his brothers expression. He could, however, see very clearly Kyouya's hand resting at Kaoru's neck, palm pressed to the collarbone, fingers caressing soft skin and sliding casually a few millimetres under the redhead's collar… and this sight made Hikaru's blood boil. For some reason, his chest burned up at the fact that Kyouya was touchinghis brother, his Kaoru… yet what was worse was the natural way that offending hand was on his twin, almost as if… As if it wasn't the first time…
All those thoughts took Hikaru a mere split-second, just as long as it took Haruhi to come up behind him. It would be the decent thing to do, he knew, to make some sound to alert the two in the music room to his presence, give them the chance to save face… yet right now, he felt far too angry for that. And so he unceremoniously pulled the door open, making both Kaoru and Kyouya flinch, making the shadow king's offending hand fall from his brother's neck at once.
"It's time", he announced coldly while staring directly into Kyouya's eyes, wanting to make sure the other at least caught a fraction of Hikaru's anger. The dark-haired boy, however, just returned his look, his eyes maybe a bit frostier than usual.
Kaoru, however, seemed to be quite relieved at their interruption. "You're right, we shouldn't be late", he murmured with a smile that Hikaru identified as being fake at first sight, and hurried out of the room, not sparing anyone even a glance.
Author's Note: English isn't my first language, so I'd ask you to show some mercy on any mistakes you might fight. Tell me what I did wrong, please! And while you're at it: give me some reviews, as well ;)
Take care!
