Author's Note: This story takes place in Paris, France. Metro station names and directions have been kept the same and are accurate for the most part. My first fic. Hopefully, I did okay.

(8/27/08): Just some editing, but overall story is the same.

Upon setting his sight on the woman, Hikaru slung an arm around his brother's shoulder, leaned in, and whispered in his ear: "That one."

"Which one? The print dress one?"

Kaoru squinted and looked towards the direction to which Hikaru was indicating. He spotted a tall, foreigner woman in a floral colored dress, knee-length. Next to her stood a man, presumably her husband, sporting two large shopping bags.

"Yeah. Don't they look like Americans? Tall, loud, and best of all," Hikaru smiled, "full of money."

"They just went shopping." Kaoru slightly lifted his finger only to have Hikaru hiss, "Don't point! Or they'll see us!"

But Kaoru knew that it wouldn't make much of a difference. They were at the Franklin D. Roosevelt metro station, one of the busiest in Paris. It was the connection stop to many other metro lines, and in this crowd, one pointed finger was no different from the next.

"They've already gone shopping," Kaoru dully repeated, "which means they have a depleted wallet. Don't you see the bags?"

"Those are Louis Vuitton bags," Hikaru noted. "You don't pay cash at Louis Vuitton. Like any American, they'd have used one of their many credit cards. We just want the cash since credit cards are of no use to us anyways."

"Whatever. I'm not going to argue with you on this one. So what are we going to do?" Kaoru asked, leaning back against the yellow bench.

"I think Situation A is good enough. This one is too easy for anything else."

"Situation A?" Kaoru raised one eyebrow at his twin. "If you're so confident, then why don't you do it by yourself then?"

Hikaru sneered back, "Just as I intended." Looking up at the metro timetable, he added, "The subway's coming. Just you wait, Kaoru. Tonight, we'll feast."

Glancing down the subterranean tunnel, Kaoru spotted the oncoming shadow of the metro. He knew the routine.

Hikaru would follow behind the American as they gathered in front of the doors. Franklin D. Roosevelt was such a busy location, full of people bustling to and fro that everyone fought to get on first. Being squished to the brim of the subway was common, and this was how Hikaru would get the wallet.

Because his hands were full carrying undoubtedly his wife's newly bought luxury goods, the man's pocket was wide open to scrutiny.

Even from a good twenty meters away, Kaoru could see the outlined bulge of a wallet. He wondered if the American knew how obvious his wallet appeared.

It was almost sad, he thought. Like stealing candy from a baby.

A loud click jolted Kaoru from his thoughts. The metro door had opened, and people were pushing their way out – and in.

Kaoru gave a light smile. Le Américain would never know what hit him.

Twenty seconds later, Hikaru was by his side again, a wide grin on his face. "Let's get out of here," he said.

Hikaru quickly stuffed the money into his coat pocket. As he had predicted, there were numerous credit cards inside, all of which his threw away into random trashcans they walked past. The wallet itself was also thrown away.

It was a successful job. Quick and easy.

The man would probably end up realizing his wallet was gone some time soon, Kaoru imagined. He would probably go berserk, call the police, and search the entire Franklin D. Roosevelt metro stop for the wallet he would never find.

They did not fear the police. In such instances, they were usually gone in a blink of an eye, and since the man had never seen Hikaru, he had no face to go by. The police would drop it, and only tell the unfortunate American to be more careful; Paris was full of roaming pickpockets.

It was only when Hikaru and Kaoru reached the cramped one-room apartment called home that they dared to look at the day's loot.

"It's good," Hikaru said, though it was apparent from his tone that he was disappointed. "One hundred and sixty-five euros. Some change. Two hundred in U.S. dollars. We can exchange that, I guess." He paused. "Who brings American money when they're vacationing in France?"

"Who knows?" Kaoru said. "Tourists will be tourists."

--

It hadn't started out that way at all. Hikaru and Kaoru had never intended to become pickpockets; it just happened that way.

The first time they stole something was a loaf of bread because they were starving. They were living somehow off the streets; sometimes they were lucky enough to get scraps of food from sympathetic tourists.

At seven, Hikaru convinced Kaoru to steal bread from the street vendor together. They conspired a plan, and it began with Kaoru walking up to the street vendor and asking to look at the sandwiches in the display box.

While the vendor's attention was on Kaoru, his twin sneaked behind to snatch the bread.

It worked, and it became their routine, and the twins slowly became bolder and bolder in their endeavors.

Once, it went wrong. The vendor turned around just in time to see Hikaru holding onto a bag of croissants. Kaoru had been so sure that they would be caught, but they managed because of luck.

The vender, confused by the sight of two people who looked exactly the same at two different places, had been temporarily stunned.

Hikaru and Kaoru used that time to conveniently bolt out.

Then, there eventually came a time when stealing bread became a much more dangerous practice. More and more vendors were starting to hear of this young duo of thieves.

They had to turn to something else to survive.

It was a game called "Which One is Hikaru?"

The two would purposely stand along a busy tourist street (Champs-Élysées is a good example), and they would shout out, "Can you guess which one is Hikaru?"

Eventually, someone would try, and this attracted attention, until a small crowd had gathered. They were captivated by the two twins, so similar in looks. Whenever a person lost, they would usually toss a few coins into a box which the twins had set up.

"I'm sorry, but I'm Kaoru. That's Hikaru," or, "I'm sorry, but I'm not Hikaru," were near about the only words they said.

It was a wild success.

No one ever guessed right. No one could ever tell them apart, and Kaoru was beginning to suspect that that was what it was going to be like forever. He learned to keep his face void of emotion as yet another tourist called him Hikaru. He learned not to feel disappointed as another tourist muttered, "They're the same. Like clones."

He wanted to say that they were different. He wanted to protest. But he did not find the voice, did not find the courage. As a result, they earned a lot of money. It was a source of great psychological pain though.

He was sure that Hikaru felt the same way, but they never discussed the matter. There were more important things to worry about, like food or water.

They could never survive without the other, was never out of the sight of the other for long. This was how they passed the years.

And this was how they became professionals.

--

With a confused look on his face, the blonde carefully studied his map. If he was at Montparnasse–Bienvenüe as the signs so claimed, then he was supposed to make a left here, a right there, and voila! – he would be at train terminal twenty-eight.

But the growing number of people pushing in front of him made him rethink his decision, and again, he slumped down onto the bench.

I'm lost, aren't I?

Once enthusiastic about going home on his own, he now sorely regretted his eagerness. It looked like it was going to be a lot harder than he initially thought. Who would have known that so many commoners used public transportation?

Tamaki wondered if it was too late to call for a taxi, and just call it off.

No.

He couldn't give up. He was going to get through this challenge, no matter what it took. He was going to be positive. He was–

"I can do it!" Tamaki stood up and exclaimed. His sudden burst startled other sitting passengers. They looked at him. He looked down, embarrassed.

No matter what, I can do it!

But he shrank down and asked himself: how was he going to find the train terminal when he had never been here before?

He scanned the area looking for a potential source of help.

Two bakeries.

One beggar.

Three benches with an ugly shade of green.

Two red-haired boys who seemed to be his age.

Aha!

Greatly encouraged, Tamaki stood up and carried his luggage, one in each hand. He walked across to the other side, and said, "Excuse me?"

--

It was Hikaru who looked up. "What do you want?" he asked.

"Actually, I was lost, and I was wondering if you could tell me where train terminal twenty-eight is," Tamaki said, looking at his map from an upside-down view. "I'm going to Lyon, and since this is my first time on a train–"

"Wait." Hikaru held up a hand to stop the talking. "You've never been on a train?"

Tamaki did not seem to notice the sarcastic tone. "No, I haven't," he truthfully said. "I'm looking forward to it. And tell me – is it true that it can go underwater?"

The twins looked to each other and laughed. "What are you, some clown?" Kaoru said, "Because you're really funny."

"So can you tell me?"

Kaoru looked the boy up and down. He was tall, and gave off the sense that he came from a well-bred family. After all, what normal person had never been on a train? He wore a long, leather coat, fitting for the cold weather. It was zippered halfway up his chest.

There was a slight impression of something, most likely a wallet. That meant that there would be another pocket inside the jacket.

They would have to unzip the jacket, unzip the pocket inside the jacket, and then they would have it. Difficult, but not impossible.

Hikaru was thinking the same. They didn't have to consult each other because they recognized it at once.

They had found their target.

"We'll do better," Hikaru said, standing up, "we'll come and show you where it is."

"Really?" Tamaki's eyes brightened up. "That would be so helpful. Thank you very much."

Kaoru stifled his smile. "No problem," he said.

They took the escalator up one level to where the majority of the train terminals were.

"I'm Tamaki. You?"

"Hikaru."

"And Kaoru."

"Twins, huh?" he said. "I hope I can tell you apart."

Kaoru froze, remembering instantly the years of playing the "Which one is Hikaru?" game. Nobody, in all those years, had ever guessed right. It was something that filled him with pride, and at the same time, emptiness.

Sensing the tension in his brother, Hikaru immediately patted his hand. "So where are you going?" he asked Tamaki.

"Lyon. I came to Paris to send my father off."

"Is he going somewhere?"

"Yes." Kaoru thought he saw emotion in the blonde's eyes. "He is going back to Japan."

"You say that as if he doesn't live here," Hikaru said.

"You're right. He doesn't," he replied. They continued walking.

"So here are the terminals sixteen to about twenty, I think," Kaoru said. "For twenty-eight, we have to go further back."

"Please, lead the way," said Tamaki. "Oh, and if you need it, here's a map." He handed it to the twin on the left. "Here, Kaoru," he guessed.

"I'm Hikaru," said the twin, taking the map. He threw it away into the trash. "And don't use it – it's hopelessly out-of-date anyways."

Tamaki stared at the now worthless map. "My map," he whimpered. "Oh well, that's okay. I can trust them!"

The twins walked down, venturing deeper into the station. "Twenty-eight is back here!" Kaoru called, already way ahead of Tamaki.

Hikaru turned towards his brother. "What do you think?" he whispered.

"I have a couple of ideas. You?"

"I was thinking of making him give the coat to us somehow."

"What? We don't have enough time for that."

"Time?" Hikaru said, "We have plenty of time. Who said we were going to lead him there?"

"If that's the case, why are we going in the right direction then? Unless you're planning on going in circles or something."

Hikaru turned back to see Tamaki catching up on them. "He won't know the difference anyhow. We'll think of something, okay?"

"Okay." But Kaoru was still not reassured.

"My," said Tamaki, who finally caught up, out of breath, "this is quite a large station."

Hikaru made a face that said, "You see?" to Kaoru. Towards Tamaki, he said, "Yeah, you see, there are many train terminals behind the ones in the front, but to get there, we have to go around, and that takes time. What time is your train?"

"I don't know," Tamaki said. "It doesn't say."

"Oh, that just means you can take any time then. You have all the time in the world."

"All the time in the world," he mouthed. "Okay, then, lead the way!"

Giving an awkward smile, Hikaru said, "Yeah, whatever you say."

Hikaru was not lying about the train time. One can buy a ticket from a specific platform, but one does not need a specific time. On one day, there are a numbered amount of trains from Paris to Lyon, but enough for a lenient schedule.

Fifteen minutes later, Hikaru and Kaoru still had not led Tamaki to platform twenty-eight.

"Hey guys," Tamaki said, slightly panting, "are you sure we aren't lost?"

"You said so yourself: it's a large station," Kaoru provided. He looked at the trailing blonde in the thick jacket, pulling two large suitcases. "Aren't you hot?"

"You don't say," he said. Spotting a bench, he sat down. He took off his jacket.

"Want me to hold it?" Kaoru offered nonchalantly.

Tamaki seemed reluctant. It was leather, and expensive leather at that. But in the end, he relented. If it got dirty, he could just get a new one. Besides, he trusted these two.

"Thanks a lot…Hikaru?" he guessed. "I'm right, aren't I? Aren't I?"

"Wrong. I'm Kaoru. You've been wrong for the last ten times," Kaoru said.

"Ten times? You actually counted?"

"Pretty much," he countered. "Going to give up now?"

"Never," Tamaki smiled, "I'll get it right before we find that elusive train platform!"

"Is that a bet?" Hikaru challenged. "Wanna wager on that?"

"Betting?" Tamaki said. "How scandalous!"

"Are you saying that you would lose if you did?" Kaoru quickly fired back.

"What – never!"

"How about this, then?" Hikaru offered. "If you guess right, we'll find the platform within one minute."

"But if you're wrong," Kaoru finished, "you'll have to pay us one hundred euros."

"One hundred euros?" Tamaki said. "What makes you think I have that much money on me?"

"Tamaki," Kaoru said, "I've known you for only minutes, and I already know that you are a man of your word. You wouldn't back down now, would you?" He tightened his grip on Tamaki's jacket. He felt the wallet, and he relaxed.

"Why, I – I'll accept!" Tamaki cried, who was so upset that his honor was being challenged that he didn't realize that he had been foolishly led around.

"Good choice," Hikaru said.

The target had been caught in their trap. He wasn't going to win, and when the time was right, it was au revoir to his wallet.

--

"Hikaru." Tamaki pointed to the one on the left. "I know I'm right this time. I'm sure of it."

"Wrong again," Kaoru said. "I'm Kaoru."

"And that's twenty-nine failures," Hikaru deadpanned. "You know, this is getting boring."

"No, I'm getting closer now," Tamaki reasoned. He rubbed his hands together and closed his eyes.

The twins took this time to shuffle around. When Tamaki opened his eyes again, he pointed to his left again, "Kaoru!"

"Hikaru. That makes it thirty unsuccessful attempts."

"I checked the train schedules," Kaoru said, "and I hope you know that the last train to Lyon leaves in five minutes."

"Five! And I haven't guessed right either," Tamaki announced.

"Well, you probably weren't going to anyways," Hikaru said. Upon hearing this, Tamaki did something strange. He crouched on the ground, holding his knees to his chest. His back was turned to the twins. Hikaru raised an eyebrow, and added, "But if it makes you feel better, nobody ever does."

Tamaki was up again.

That was a fast recovery, Kaoru thought.

"I'm sorry then. I'll have to take my leave of you now." Tamaki gathered his suitcases, and brushed the dust from his clothes. "I must say it was quite fun though. Maybe I'll see you two around sometime again."

You'll never see us again. You'll never hear from us again.

Tamaki turned away to leave, and Hikaru called out, "Your coat!"

"Oh, my. Thank you for reminding me." Tamaki accepted it back. He turned left, and Kaoru wondered how dim-witted this boy was.

"You know, we're at terminal twenty-seven," he said. "And twenty-eight is right there, in front of us."

Looking up, Tamaki saw the sign which blatantly confirmed Kaoru's statement. "I see! Thank you!"

He ran towards the train door and got inside. He found a window seat, and waved to Hikaru and Kaoru. They waved back with big smiles.

What nice people, Tamaki thought to himself. He felt the train move, and then, he was off.

He had done it. He had found the train! Well, sort of. He couldn't wait to see his mother again when he got home. She, for one, would be eager to hear about his adventure.

"An interesting character," Hikaru said to Kaoru, "wouldn't you say?"

"A bit dumb, but all the better for us, right?" he replied.

"Definitely," and Hikaru took out Tamaki's wallet.

"But still, I kind of liked him," Kaoru said.

"Why?"

"Well, he kept trying to tell the difference between us. Nobody ever did that before."

"So what are you saying? Send the wallet back to him?"

"Well, not quite," Kaoru said.

--

One sitting at the other end of the train could hear Tamaki's cry of despair as he realized what had happened.

He thought to when his wallet could have been taken, and he realized: when he had given it to an all too helpful twin. Evil Kaoru!

Tamaki would never know that he had guessed right.

The twins would never know that they had finally been beaten at their own game.

But one week later, Tamaki received something in the mail.

He opened a bulky envelope, and took out – lo and behold! – his wallet.

Startled, he flipped it open. Everything, credit cards, coupons, and identification, was still there. He couldn't believe that those thieves had actually mailed it back to him; he was so stunned to see that the only thing missing was the cash.

They never met each other again, and that was fine for Tamaki, who learned one very important lesson from his experience.

Never listen to any devil red-haired twins.

And after that, he never took the public train again.