I'm not exactly sure when I fell asleep, but when I opened my eyes, I was on my brother's back and he sounded… so tired. Glancing quickly around, I saw that we were ascending the staircase of our luxurious home. Hikaru was wearing himself out, trying to carry me up the stairs… I normally was very easy to carry, but this darn boot was making it just difficult enough. Hikaru stopped to catch his breath but before I could tell him to set me down, I could hear several of our servant's voices call out.
"Sir, wont you let us carry him for you?"
"You mustn't strain yourself!"
"No!" Hikaru said firmly and in such an irritated way that it caused even me to jolt slightly. "No…" He said again, this time softly. "No one should touch him but me… I'm fine."
Oh, Hikaru… he was putting so much pressure onto himself needlessly… still, I couldn't help but love that he wanted to be the one to tend to me. I decided not to speak up and let him continue on carrying me until we reached our bedroom. He nudged open the door just enough for us to pass through and then kicked it closed, slowly trudging towards the bed where he sat down. I kept my arms around him as he caught his breath and slowly tightened my hold. I could feel him jump and glance back with the cutest, shocked expression.
"Kaoru! You're awake!"
"Yeah." I said, smiling. "My hero… carrying the princess up the stairs and all this long way…" I could see the faintest blush grace his cheeks before he looked away and scratched his head.
"Of course… You fell asleep in the car and well…"
"Well?" He seemed hesitant to reply, so I didn't push him. Instead, I nuzzled his neck thankfully. "Thank you… Hikaru."
"Hai hai." He said, sighing. "Man I'm so tired…"
"I bet. You worked so hard today!" I laid back on the bed and held out my arms. My lack of contact made him turn and again, I saw him blush. "Why not come rest…? I'll be your pillow." I saw it… that wonderful, honest smile and without hesitation, he turned and fell into my embrace. His arms wound quickly around me and his cheek nuzzled against my neck causing a sudden shiver to shoot up my spine. This was kind of like earlier at the club… His heat, his breath, his body pressed against mine…. Why did he affect me so deeply? Why have I not felt these intense emotions in this way before? We always hugged and held each other, and sleep in the same bed every night. So what's changed?
Maybe… it's the promise he made to me…
'Do you hear me, Kaoru? Can you feel my hand? I'm here now… and I'm never letting you out of my sight ever again!'
Yes, I could hear him, though I couldn't wake up. I felt his hand in mine, heard the desperation in his voice… Hikaru was different that day, and without meaning to, I must have changed something between us… forever. As I felt Hikaru's breathing even out, I occupied myself with playing with his soft hair.
"Hikaru… my Hikaru… I'm right here… and I'm not going anywhere…" Again my eyes closed and I surrendered myself to sleep, wrapped in the warmth of my twin, but when I awoke, I was somewhat cold. I was laying under the covers, now dressed in my pjs. The lights were out and Hikaru was snoring away next to me. It was surprising that I hadn't woken up while being changed…. Was Hikaru the one who did it? Somehow, that thought made me blush, though it wouldn't be the first time he'd seen me without clothes on. Definitely not. Looking over, I watched him for a while and smiled. He was so cute and carefree when he slept… it showed a glimpse into his true personality… I would have liked to watch him sleep even longer, but alas, I needed to move. Slowly, I started to slip out of the bed but before I could stand, I gasped, feeling a hand shoot out across the covers to take hold of mine. I looked back and saw Hikaru, now fully awake, staring at me almost… suspiciously.
"Kaoru… where are you going at this hour?" he was still tired, clearly, but it would seem… he couldn't let go of what I'd done, sneaking out of bed like before. Smiling softly, I responded.
"It's not like before, Hikaru… I just need the bathroom." I'd used that excuse before, however, and Hikaru wasn't going to accept it that easily. He released my hand, rounded the bed and offered his hand.
"I'll take you." I knew it… things wouldn't go back to normal THAT easily. Still, I didn't mind the company, and I took his hand. Slowly, we made our way to the bathroom and he stood at the door as I did my business.
"Can you stand alright on your own?" He asked, not looking inside.
"I can, worry-wart." I replied, laughing softly. "Are you going to offer to hold it for me, too?"
"Do you need me to?" His answer was unlike what I was expecting. He'd never… said something like that before, even while playing around at the host club. Hold it? Hold… I could feel my face burning up right away and though he couldn't see it, I shook my head several times.
"B-baka…."
There was a sort of unspoken pact between us…. An invisible line we drew and never crossed. We never spoke of it, never officially decided it, but still we never crossed it. We never stepped over that line at home or during club… but just then, I could see the line in my mind. How far… would we take things? What did Hikaru truly feel for me? Was this all just a big game we played, or…
This stayed on my mind throughout the night and the next morning's classes. Finally, we were back at the music room, entertaining clients. Things were going well enough until one female student came in. We knew her from class and when she saw us, she came right over. We greeted her together, keeping up our act, but when she stopped, it was right in front of Hikaru.
"Y-you're Hikaru-kun, right…?"
"That's right~" She knew us apart, only because she spent so much time around us… no, maybe it was because it was easy to tell us apart with my stupid boot.
"Have you come to enjoy our company, Nikki-san?"
"W-well I… I just wanted to tell you…"
"Mm…?" She was blushing. I could see it, but Hikaru was just kind of ignorant. I looked up at her.
"I… I love you!" Instantly, my chest felt tight, my heart skipped a beat and I felt like the breath in my body had been stolen away. What she said struck my heart harder than anything else… The girls we normally entertained gasped and blushed, looking like they were very pleased, and Hikaru… well he was smiling at her ignorantly as if it was just a game. But it wasn't. I saw the look in her eyes… she truly was in love with Hikaru.
"Aw thank you!" Hikaru said casually.
"I-I mean it… and I… I would like to go out with you. Would you please?"
"A date~?" He was really playing it up, putting on a show… But… what if it wasn't an act? What if Hikaru really… He started to stand up, to approach the girl but I shot up out of my chair, ignoring the sting in my leg and took hold of his hand, loudly shouting.
"He can't!" Everyone in the music room looked up at us, staring. All eyes were on us, but I didn't care. Hikaru slowly turned his head towards me, eyes wide, and when he saw my teary, red face, he instantly pulled me into his arms.
"Kaoru…. Could you be…. jealous?" If he was acting, it was cruel… because I wasn't. I sniffled and pressed my head against his chest, arms wrapping tightly around him.
"Of course…! Hikaru, the thought of you being close to anyone else is just…"
"Kaoru…" the room was silent as Hikaru gently lifted my chin, bringing our faces so close I could practically feel his lips moving against mine. "No one is more important to me than you… You never have to worry about someone taking me away. You're my everything, Kaoru…"
"Hikaru…" what I did next happened completely by accident… I think. We always kept a certain distance during our little games, getting just close enough to drive the girls crazy, but in a bold move, I... closed the distance, and pressed my lips against his for real. I could feel his body stiffen slightly, his eyes widening slightly, and instantly, the girls in the room gasped at us. Before then, all of our advances were only hinted at, but now… It happened fast, and when I pulled back and saw the surprised faces around me, I realized what I'd just done.
I crossed the invisible line.
