To Be Somebody

Chapter 1

It was late afternoon and all the female clientele had vacated and gone home for the night. Only the Ouran Host club members still remained. Tired of listening to his brother's over-excitable chattering to Haruhi and angry retorts at Tono, Kaoru moved his golden eyes across the music room, concentrating on his fellow hosts.

Mori-senpai was quietly reading in the corner of the room, sat across from Honey-senpai, who was cheerfully making his way through a rather large strawberry cheesecake. Every now and then, Mori-senpai would glance up, look kindly at the small honey blonde sat across from him and would allow a small smile to grace his stoic features. Kaoru quickly turned away from them, feeling like he had intruded in on some secret world that he shouldn't have seen. No one really understood the strangely balanced relationship between the two seniors, nor did they ever try to. It clearly wasn't romantic but it wasn't exactly platonic either and nobody ever brought the subject up for discussion, even amongst themselves. Instead he moved his gaze back to the end of the couch that he was currently sat on, watching the scene that was playing out before him.

Hikaru was sat at the other end of the couch, with Haruhi sat across from him doing her science homework on the table in front. Tamaki had initially been discussing club-related things with Kyouya until he had inevitably drifted over to save Haruhi from the 'devilish twin', Hikaru.

"Get away from my darling daughter you hellish twin! Daddy knows what you're trying to do! I won't let you corrupt her sweet innocent mind with your twisted words!" Tamaki literally pounced over to the pair, stood behind Haruhi's seat, grabbing the back of the chair in anger.

"You must have really knocked that kingly head of yours on something without realising Tono…Haruhi and I were discussing the new amusement park she told me about and whether we should go together sometime, not that it's any of your business of course…" Hikaru countered in an almost bored tone whilst looking at his nails, slyly watching the Host Club king's reaction from under his eyelashes.

"A new amusement park? What a brilliant idea Haruhi! We could all go together this weekend! I can try some of that commoner's festival food that you've mentioned before…" As quickly as Tamaki had arrived, he was gone, running back over to 'Mummy' to tell him the good news.

This had clearly not been the reaction his twin had been searching for.

"What?! That's not what I said dummy! Tono!" Hikaru shouted after Tamaki obviously stuck between running after their Highness or staying sat with Haruhi. To Kaoru's surprise, chasing after Tono came out on top.

A small giggle reminded Kaoru that Haruhi was still sat in front of him. She was also watching the commotion that his twin and Tamaki were causing around their shadow king, Kyouya. Not that he took any notice of the bickering hosts, even when Tamaki tried to bring him into the argument.

"Mummy! Explain to our son why we should all go! I always try to keep this family together and how do you all repay me?!" When Kyouya failed to even acknowledge his presence let alone what he was saying, Tamaki deposited himself in the corner of the music room and began sulking.

"I was planning on doing the laundry and cleaning this weekend…oh well, never mind. It might be fun, ne Kaoru-kun?" Haruhi turned to face Kaoru and smiled whilst she gathered her books together.

"Yeah, probably." Kaoru answered distractedly, turning again to watch Hikaru winding Tamaki up further, thinking that maybe he should intervene…after all, their highness had begun to grow mushrooms again…

"Night Kaoru-kun."

Kaoru's head whipped around just in time to see Haruhi's retreating back as she quietly snuck off through the large wooden doors in the vain hope of avoiding the usual Hikaru/Tamaki onslaught. Her escape did not go unnoticed however.

"Ha-Haruhi! Wait for Daddy!"

"Oi! Haruhi! Wait up!!"

Kaoru couldn't help but feel slight sympathy for the sweet brunette girl as he watched his brother and Tamaki go racing out of the music room after her. He could only imagine the fighting that would ensue between the boys when they finally caught up with her. Sighing pitifully to himself, Kaoru grabbed his bag and carelessly stuffed his belongings inside.

'Oh well…I suppose I will walk home again tonight. At least it isn't raining.'

Kaoru thought to himself as he flicked his gaze to the tall windows. You could tell that winter was creeping in; it had started to turn dark a lot earlier in the evenings.

"Night Kao-chan, Kyo-chan! See you both tomorrow!" Honey-senpai's saccharine voice broke through his musings. Kaoru looked up and smiled as he watched his seniors both wave their goodbyes as they made their way to the music room entrance.

"Hai, goodnight Honey-senpai, Mori-senpai." Kyouya replied from behind his laptop whilst Kaoru gave a small wave in return.

The doors shut with a soft clunk, leaving music room #3 shrouded once again in silence apart from the delicate tapping sound coming from Kyouya's keyboard. Glancing briefly over to where the source of the noise was coming from, Kaoru stood and was also about to leave for home when he legs decided otherwise and he slowly wandered over to where his midnight-haired senpai sat, typing away.

Unsure as to why he had walked across to stand near Kyouya's desk, Kaoru said the first thing that came into his head, as the silence that stretched throughout the room made him feel slightly uncomfortable.

"So…it's the amusement park for us all this weekend then eh?" Kaoru silently cursed himself at how lame that had actually sounded, rubbing the back of his flame red hair in discomfort.

Kyouya's fingers stilled and after a moment they lifted to quietly close the lid of his laptop. Leaning back in his chair, he turned his dark eyes to focus in on the twin stood before him.

"Yes, so it would seem. Though I doubt Tamaki would have taken no for an answer." Kyouya let a small sigh escape his lips as he pushed his glasses further up his nose. Kaoru chuckled softly, nodding slightly in agreement.

"Heh…too true. Tono gets what Tono wants…otherwise it's too troublesome!" Kaoru swore he saw a small smile grace Kyouya's defined features at his words, but it was gone too soon to be sure. The black-haired host stood and began to pack his notebook and laptop away in his school bag before he stilled and looked up at younger Hitachiin twin once again.

"Not that I mind you talking to me Kaoru, but won't your brother be waiting for you at the car?" A wistful smile formed on the twins face as he shook his head.

"Oh, Hikaru will be on his way home by now. Either that or he will still be chasing after Haruhi. He no longer bothers to wait for me. I walk home most nights…I can't be bothered waiting for the car to come back to pick me up and I enjoy the walk."

The slight widening of Kyouya's eyes was the only indication that he was shocked by this new piece of information – but when it came to the Shadow King, that was quite a show of emotions indeed. Kaoru amusedly imagined how he must have been itching to write this down in his treasured notebook.

"I didn't realise. That's a little thoughtless, even for Hikaru." A slight frown appeared on Kyouya's forehead as he sat back down and removed his glasses, cleaning them with his handkerchief. He replaced them back on his face and turned, focusing his attention back on Kaoru.

Normally if anyone insulted Hikaru, it would instantly get his back up – even if Hikaru deserved it and he would defend his brother to the ends of the earth, but recently he'd been having similar thoughts when it came to Hikaru and he surprisingly found he agreed with Kyouya.

"That maybe so Kyouya-senpai, but there is not a lot I can do about it. The reason I don't call for the car is that it makes it look like it was my own choice to walk home and not because I was left behind by Hikaru. I honestly don't mind walking though…clears the mind and all that." This of course did nothing to ease the frown on his senpai's face…if anything he seemed deeper in thought.

"You could try to--"

"Aw…geez! It's raining!" Kaoru exasperated voice cut across Kyouya's subtle tones. When the dark-haired senior had begun to speak, Kaoru had taken a momentary glance up at the windows to see nothing but clouded skies and heavy rain pelting against the multiply glass panes.

'Ha! So much for this morning's pleasant weather forecast!'

Realising he had rudely interrupted; Kaoru quickly bowed his head in apology, a pale blush crossing his cheeks.

"Ah! Sorry Kyouya-senpai…I didn't mean to interrupt you, but I'd better get on my way."

Kyouya couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in amusement. He sometimes forgot how polite the younger twin was when he was on his own. Kyouya had observed on many occasions, that there were numerous defining features that separated the two Hitachiins', but as far as the twins were concerned – Haruhi was the only person who could tell them apart. This was of course untrue. Kyouya had begun to notice slight differences ever since the club was founded and even before Haruhi had entered all their lives he could tell which twin was which.

Waving away Kaoru's apology, Kyouya let the corner of his lips quirk upwards.

"I take it you don't have an umbrella with you?" Amusement colouring his words.

"Umm…no." Kaoru answered as he rubbed the back of his neck self-consciously, his eyes locked firmly on his feet.

Kyouya stood, silently picked up his belongings and began to head towards the door, leaving Kaoru standing on his own by his desk.

"You had better hurry up if you want a lift, because I won't be waiting for you either."

Kaoru turned to see Kyouya leaning against the music room door with a smirk on his face. The realisation of what the midnight haired student had just said sank in causing the look of surprise on the twin's face to morph into a look of pure panic.

"Oh my god! I wasn't trying to scrounge a lift Kyouya-senpai! I'm so sorry!! I'll be fine, honestly! You must think I'm so rude! Again, I'm terribly sorry if--"

It was Kyouya that decided to interrupt this time, effectively cutting off Kaoru's rambling apology.

"Kaoru…not once did I believe you were trying to solicit a lift home from me. I am simply offering you a lift seen as its dark and the weather seems to be getting worse." Kyouya explained offhandedly, before continuing, the smirk returning to his face. "Besides, I'd rather not be a twin down tomorrow because you happened to catch a cold." Kaoru stood in shock for a few moments before breaking out into a breathtaking smile.

"Hai...I get it. Profits and all that jazz." Kaoru laughed as he quickly grabbed his bag and rushed towards the door being held open by his senpai, making sure to turn the lights off as he left. They made their way through the school in relative silence until Kaoru softly spoke up.

"Thanks Kyouya-senpai."

"Hmm."

Please read and review to help me feed the multiplying kyouya/kaoru plot bunnies that have suddenly moved in with me...XD