Metamorphosis
Prologue
"Hikaru, you can have her," Kaoru stated one evening in the library. Hikaru looked up from his studies in surprise. His identical twin was on the opposite side of the room, leaning against a bookshelf. He held a large volume in one hand and was staring at the setting sun through the stain glass window that scaled the wall. The soft glow of the diminishing light illuminated his pale face and caused his orange hair burn like a flame. Hikaru remained in his seat at the table. Slowly, he moved his hands from their crossed position so that his chin was now resting in the palm of his right. A moment of silence passed before he said anything.
"Have who?" he asked bluntly. Kaoru turned to him and their eyes met.
"Don't be stupid," he replied. Hikaru lowered his gaze. His brother was right. He knew the answer. The very thought of her made his heart pound... and he couldn't understand why.
Kaoru studied his brother, saw his face began to flush. He knew that Hikaru liked, if not loved Haruhi. Not to say that he himself didn't have feelings for her. She was an ordinary but amazing girl. More importantly, she was the only person who could truly tell himself and Hikaru apart. However, he felt he could control and oppress his urges, whereas Hikaru knew only to throw his feelings onto others. It was something Kaoru had grown up with and knew how to handle, unlike most.
Hikaru lifted his head to meet his brother's eyes again, despair evident within the clouds which covered the usual spark of mischief. "But..." he whispered. Kaoru looked away.
"Hikaru, I've told you before... feelings you have for each other will not be known unless you voice them."
Hikaru sighed. "I know. I know..." He looked back down at his physics book. The symbols suddenly no longer made sense. Conflicting feelings were swarming his mind, disabling his ability to concentrate. He instead focused on his sibling, who had taken a seat at the opposite end of the table. He looked worn, as if he hadn't gotten enough sleep last night. He assumed that he had spent the entire night awake again. "Kaoru... what's happened? I can't figure it out. Why... why is it so different?"
Kaoru now sighed as he watched Hikaru yank at his hair. He'd gone over the same question so many times in his own mind, never being able to find a concrete answer. Silence descended upon the room again as both twins reviewed the change in their life. "It's Haruhi," Kaoru said at last. It was the best answer he had. He continued, trying to explain his reasoning. "She's changed everything. Although all the host club members have been invited into our world, only Haruhi has fully entered it. She's affected our life in so many ways." At this Kaoru stopped, expecting some sort of response from Hikaru. Instead he sat, his head hanging low, his shoulders slouched and his heart racing. "Hikaru... It's no longer just us. It's me. And it's you. Haruhi has helped us to become individuals, not just one," he said quietly. Kaoru watched as a single tear fell down Hikaru's cheek.
"But I want it to be us," he muttered under his breath. "I want... I want to be with you. Always." Kaoru's head fell and his eyes dropped to focus on his hands which he had been fiddling with the entire time. He had known this would be the response he'd receive. He just didn't want to accept it. He knew that Hikaru needed to progress, needed to expand. Needed to change. He knew that Hikaru needed Haruhi. At last Kaoru decided to take action. He didn't know what the outcome of what he was about to say would be, but it would be for the best. Or so he told himself.
"If you aren't willing to be you, then I'm not going to let you have her," he said softly. He heard a sharp intake of breath from across the table. That was closer to the reaction he wanted. His work done, Kaoru got up quietly and retreated from the library, leaving Hikaru to sort himself out.