Disclaimer: Same as before as nothing has really changed.

This is a bit of an attempt to just expand a bit on what had originally been a one shot attempt. Call it inspiration or simply more rambling on a topic that is probably unpopular with most fans (no twincest and goodness forbid a Kaoru who can accept his brother ending up with someone). So yeah, anybody looking for that should go elsewhere.

When the Fool Emerges

"Ugh, I don't know why I put up with him sometimes?" Haruhi exclaimed, dropping her backpack on the floor of an otherwise empty third music room with a slight thud. She was upset and even if the possibility was high of someone witnessing the spectacle, she needed to vent. How dare he do something so selfish and foolish. "That idiot!"

Having heard the quick rant as he had arrived at the room, Kaoru opened the door and responded. "So which one is it today? Was it the lord or was it my brother?" he asked matter of factly. Her reaction was quite characteristic of one of the two having done something to get under her nerved.

"Why in the world are you here Kaoru?"

"I was supposed to help my mom design some stuff and left the pattern in here." he responded.

Shaking her head, Haruhi's head became buried in her left hand. It was pointless trying to hide this situation from Kaoru who had not seen the incident. It was only a matter of time before the rumor passed through the entire student body of rich kids wit few other things to do than gossip. "Your brother thought it would be funny to kiss me after host club today."

Kaoru simply blinked several times before remarking matter of factly, "So?"

Haruhi gave a deep sigh at the reaction. It seemed as though nobody picked up on anything at this school, even the most obvious. "You do realize that everyone is still under the impression that I am a guy."

"Oh yeah..." came the response. Over the past few months that his brother had been dating Haruhi, it had become easier than ever to forget that for the better part of the day, six days of the week that she was supposed to be masquerading as a male. She spent enough time at their place with their mother always using the poor girl as a model for various dresses. For the longest time her being in a female role was a fun novelty that they could use as leverage. Back when she was simply their toy. Now thinking of her as a girl came easily, one that just happened to be his twin brother's girlfriend.

It was hard to stifle the laughter despite the fact that she had an admirable point. School was amongst the worst places for their relationship to be revealed. There were no worries in the commoner area of town in which Haruhi lived as nobody would have ever visited there. It certainly was going to liven up class for the next few days. "Well, on the plus side, most of the school already assumed the two of us are gay." he explained with a chuckle.

This caused Haruhi to smirk as her friend did have a valid point. It didn't truly matter that much what a bunch of pampered heirs thought about her sexuality. And it certainly didn't seem like either of the Hitachiin twins were particularly concerned with their impressions anyway. However, this didn't rectify everything. "Well even if that part doesn't matter Kyoya is probably going to kill us. You do realize your stupid brother love act is going to make half of the girls hate me. I can just see it now 'breaking the perfect brotherly love.'" While Haruhi's tone had barely changed, the deadpan sarcasm gave away her disdain for the daily routine as a part of entertaining. She had never understood the appeal of the incestuous act and was dreading the repercussions from that particular segment of the club's patrons.

"You know, we can always bring you in on the fold on it. Can turn it into a three way with you sandwiched between us. I bet you that it would make the girls squeal so much that Kyoya would drop that record book of his."

"No." she said immediately after the idea left Kaoru's lips. She was not about to let the two devil twins get her involved in whatever act they had planned each day. While she hated to admit it, she felt that something like that would cheapen the relationship she had with Hikaru, even if she was upset right now.

The answer had been fully expected. He did not respond to the refusal, lazily wandering over to the small storage room that served as the changing room for the members of the club when they cosplayed. Upon entering he quickly found the discarded design he had drawn earlier, which had been his original intent of returning to the room. However, he took his time folding and packing it, waiting to see if there was anything else that had gotten to Haruhi enough where she ran from it.

It took a few minutes, but sure enough he could hear the soft steps across the marble floor followed by a soft, "Can I ask you something?"

A small nod gave her the go ahead to continue.

"Is it just that he is thoughtless at times or does your brother just do things to get a response out of me? Sometimes I just wonder..."

"I don't think he meant to do that. You and I both know that Hikaru is an idiot at times. He just didn't think about it."

She was staring now, somewhat awkward about trying to speak about such matters to Kaoru. "No, not just this. He does these kinds of things all the time. It's almost like he doesn't have a conscience and will do anything. I know he's immature but sometimes I do wonder if anybody could really act like he does and not realize it."

"Again my brother is an idiot." Kaoru repeated. "I know he cares about you a lot. I don't think either of us know how to deal with other people still. Even if we have changed since middle school, it's still them and us. At least he doesn't blow up at your middle school friends anymore."

"Don't remind me," Haruhi stated, remembering the incident with Arai. While the members of the host club were certainly annoying at times, it was one of the few moments where she actively disliked one of them. It was certainly not Hikaru's crowning moment.

Kaoru finished zipping his repacked bag and slung it over his shoulder, finally looking up at the girl in the traditional blue boys' uniform. "You know though, I was jealous then too. And even a little bit when you two started dating."

"Huh?"

For all her intelligence, Haruhi was quite possibly the most dense person on certain matters. "I thought it was obvious. At first I wondered how much would change. We always did everything together."

Interrupting, Haruhi remarked, "but a lot of the time the three of us do things together."

Kaoru put his hand up defensively. The tone was a bit more sharp than normal. He didn't intend on her getting upset all over again. "No, I know that. I knew it would happen someday anyway. I know you aren't going to try to change us. But I understood for a little bit why Hikaru was so upset over you seeing your friend again. We're the same in a lot of ways."

Both turned toward the door as a loud slam could be heard as wood crashed against plaster. Heavy breathing could be heard as well as a hurried rush of feet. "Haruhi!"

Despite the talk Haruhi glared at her boyfriend. Kaoru had suspected that she had forgiven him, but was not about to let him off the hook easily. If this went at all like her typical frustrations at her father, Tamaki or Hikaru, she would scold him for his actions and move on. She didn't need to scream or get angry because her words were always straight to the point and mercilessly sharp.

"Hikaru you do realize that this mess is going to be heard all around the school. You cause enough trouble as it is."

Sheepishly, Hikaru looked down, "I know I just... if you want to tell everyone that you're a girl and all that do it. I'll just pay off the rest of the debt you owe to Kyoya..."

"That won't solve anything. It already happened. But you need to really think about these things. You can't just act on a whim all the time!"

Scratching his head for a minute, Hikaru thought of a possible solution, "Well you know, we can always add you into..."

"Just stop!" Haruhi said, not about to let the ridiculous suggestion occur again. While time only revealed more differences between the two twins, it was times like this that made her fully understand why many people identified them as being one and the same.

Of course, Hikaru having not heard the discussion from earlier, gave a confused look as Kaoru laughed. Of course, seeing his brother understand eased it as a knowing look was sent his way that he would get the explanation later, at home.

"Just think things out before doing them for once. Besides, you're a lousy kisser when you're trying to surprise me."

This caused Kaoru to laugh harder. He was never sure if Haruhi ever intended to come off so blunt or if it was simply a habit. Various situations leaned any way. However, it did give him something to tease his brother about later. As the three started to leave the room, however, he leaned in toward the girl to whisper in her ear, out of earshot of Hikaru. "You say you are annoyed, but you'd be bored with anything less."

Haruhi did not respond to the comment but smiled ever so slightly, her hand caressing Hikaru's gently until he let his fingers curl around hers. He was right in many ways. Had any of the host club members been any less interesting she would have escaped long ago. However, she had to admit that she did enjoy her situation, even if it meant enduring the wrath of the female population of the school. She'll make sure Hikaru has to answer for himself as much as she will have to. Kyoya owed her a favor for the latest picture album he had concocted recently afterall.