Special thanks goes out to...

MonkHerrik - for being the first person to 'follow' this little tale of mine

Lady of the Light - for being the first to review! Worry not fair maden, there is much more to come.

A/N: I do not own Ouran High School Host Club or its characters.

Chapter 2: Hikaru's Plan

The morning sun began to peak through the heavy curtains and warm Kaoru's face gently waking him from his sinful dreams. Not wanting to let go of his forbidden fantasy just yet, he pulled the expensive sheets over his head and buried his face in the pillows. Sighing deeply he nestled into the warm body behind him. Seconds later his eyes shot open and he sprang up and out of Hikaru's arms. The rough motions and sudden loss of contact roused said twin from his slumber granting the room an irritated growl as a pillow was clutched over the older boy's head as if to protect him from the coming day.

'Why was he holding me like that? He hasn't done that for years, not since we were children. I could have sworn I heard him moaning last night at some point. Was he having one of those types of dreams about someone? Does he love someone else? Wait, that's a good thing. He should like someone. He should have girlfriends and go on dates and fall in love. We both should. But the thought of him holding someone else like that makes me sick to my stomach; I don't even want to think about it.' The now deeply blushing and slightly aroused Kaoru ripped himself from his thoughts and pushed his, dare he say… sexy, brother on the shoulder. "Come on Hikaru if you don't get up we'll be late… again. Then we'll have to listen to another lecture from Haruhi about how we need to be more responsible."

Something about hearing that name snapped the grumpy half-woken Hitachiin from his semi-conscious trance. "Shit, you're right Kaoru!" Leaping from the bed with unusual gusto the elder twin ran to the closet and began to dawn his school uniform followed far more slowly by his slightly confused brother. The two finished dressing and ate their modest, well modest for them, breakfasts and rode to school in an unheard of silence. 'I need to find Haruhi. If I can get her to go on a date with me then maybe all these thoughts I've been having about Kaoru will go away. And a real date this time; not like that when he tricked me into taking her out by faking being sick.' The elder brother was so lost in his own mind, as he often was of late, that he didn't notice the car stop or the door was open.

"HIKARU… HELLO!" Again, it was his twin's elevated voice and a waving hand that brought him back to reality. "Would you like to get out of the car now or shall I ask Sensei to give us a private lesson in here?" A look of slight irritation mixed with confusion marred the beautiful features of the younger boy's face as he stared at the blank expression on his brother.

"Gomen Kaoru. Guess I zoned out again, but I think I have a plan to solve my problem now. I'm gonna try it out during lunch today and I'll tell you how it went when we get home. Ok?" After receiving an understanding nod from his other half Hikaru exited the limo and waited for his brother to do the same. Often the two were seen walking hand in hand, even before the host club started up three years ago, but with both their hearts cloaked in confusion neither dared reach for the other. 'This is getting weird; this silence. It's so uncomfortable, but what could I possibly say to him? So I've been having these erotic fantasies about you ever since you started having wet dreams about me and moaning in your sleep. Sure, like it could ever be that easy. No. I stick to the plan. During lunch-hour I'll talk to Haruhi privately and ask her out. It's a good plan and it will make things easier on both of us. Once I'm with Haruhi then he can find a girl too; or maybe a guy? Either way it will make room for him to be happy won't it?'

As the boys entered classroom '4-A' they both smiled at a certain brunette in a blue blazer with her nose buried in a book. 'It's been three and a half years and she hasn't changed much at all. Haruhi will always be Haruhi.' The twin devils unknowingly shared identical thoughts as they moved to ensnare their unsuspecting friend in what she had long ago dubbed a 'twin sandwich'. "Good morning." Their voices chimed in unison as their arms made their way around the distracted smaller female. Soft laughter escaped all three as the cross-dressing third year rolled her eyes at the typical antics of her two best friends.

"Good morning Hikaru. Good morning Kaoru. Did you guys finish the assignment for Modern Japanese History? It took me all night and I was wondering if you two would like to get together over break and study for next week's test." Her voice was calm and almost drab, like always, but the twins new her well enough to understand the difference between a disinterested Haruhi and a worried Haruhi and this was definitely the latter. Again she rolled her eyes as her friends teased her by pretending to consider the request before squeezing her again and nodding their heads.

"What kind of friends would we be if we didn't help each other out?" Hikaru's voice was light and carefree. He knew it was probably a better idea for Kaoru to help considering his disinterest in history, but if he was going to try and date her than he needed to make an effort to be interested in things she liked. At least that's what Kaoru always told him. 'You have to at least try and take an interest in what other people like or you will never have new friends; certainly not a girlfriend.' Even though he was younger, by a whole eight minutes, Kaoru was always the more mature and wiser of the brothers.

The three sat and argued good-naturedly while making plans to get together at the Hitachiin estate over the upcoming break. Both brothers insisted on having a car pick up the independent female as she sternly insisted on walking on her own. After a few minutes the bell sounded for the beginning of the first hour and school was underway. Hikaru tried to be attentive, he really did, but the first half of the day was always just too tedious and dull. First hour was History, his absolute favorite, followed by Classics, and finally the pièce de résistance: English. All were important subjects for any family business heir such as himself, but today of all days his mind was on more immediate matters. When the bell sounded for lunch the room quickly emptied as students eagerly rushed to the dining halls. 'Now is my chance. Come on Hikaru. You can do this!' Clearing his throat the elder Hitachiin rose from his chair and leaned in to whisper in Haruhi's ear, hoping that Kaoru wouldn't notice as he gathered his things. "Hey, could I talk to you… alone for a few minutes?" He smiled when she nodded almost shyly and asked her to meet him in the old unused music room where they use to have the Host Club. After agreeing she excused herself and left the room unnoticed by the preoccupied other ginger.

"Where did Haruhi go? Isn't she going to eat with us today?" Kaoru's showed concern for his friend which was relieving to his brother.

'Good, he didn't hear me.' Shrugging his shoulders Hikaru prepared to do something he had only ever done once maybe twice before: lie to his brother. "I think she said something about not feeling well. Why don't you go get us lunch and I'll go check on her. I'll call you when I find her, ok?" Turning for the door rather quickly his heart dropped when he felt his twin's hand on his shoulder. 'Shit, he saw right through it. What the hell made me think I could get away with ling to HIM of all people?' Turning, he took in the slightly annoyed face of his younger half.

"Hikaru what do you take me for; an idiot? You know they'll take my phone if they see me on it even at lunch. Text me? Baka." Playfully ruffling his older sibling's hair Kaoru made his way out the door and down the hall towards the ornate Ouran lunch rooms. 'I know he's lying, but Hikaru never lies to me so why? He said he found a solution to his problem and was going to try it during lunch… wait! That's it! He's been dreaming about Haruhi hasn't he? She's the one he's falling in love with! I bet they're meeting up so he can ask her out or something!' The longer he thought about it the more upset his stomach became. 'But that's good, right? Right. Go Hika! Good luck brother.' Forcing a smile to his lips the younger Hitachiin made his way into the dining hall and purchased only one lunch for his brother having mysteriously lost his own appetite.

Hikaru made his way down the long corridor to disused music room number three. The Host Club closed at the end of last year when Tamaki and Kyoya graduated and it hadn't been used since. 'Not a surprise. No one used it for years before Host club so being empty after makes sense.' After pushing open the doors, he found Haruhi inside standing by one of the large windows looking out into the courtyard. She turned and smiled at his slightly apprehensive approach. 'She really is quite beautiful when she looks happy. She should smile more.'

"So Hikaru, here I am. What did you want to talk to me about?" Turning away from the window and taking a seat on one of the covered couches she patted the fabric next to her inviting her friend to join her. 'I know their twins, but somehow… Hikaru is more hansom than Kaoru, especially when he has that evil glint in his eye. Not that I would EVER tell him that.' She noticed that he looked a bit nervous for some reason as he sat beside her on the plush couch; she had become much more observant of others and herself over the years.

"Haruhi... You know how you keep asking me to come over to your apartment for dinner?" The orange haired third year was too anxious to look at her and kept his eyes on his feet. He was unable to see her nodding in response, but he knew the answer anyway. "Well, I was wondering if the offer was still on the table. In other words…" Finally looking up, he cautiously took her hand and looked her in the eye after swallowing hard to clear his throat of the lump that had suddenly developed. "… Haruhi would you have dinner with me sometime? You know, like on a date?" Doing his best to smile and not faint he began to laugh softly as he saw her eyes brighten.

"Why Hitachiin Hikaru I was beginning to think you would never ask." Standing, she walked over to the club room door and opened it slowly before turning to face the frozen teen. "Yes. I will go on a date with you. Now come on. We don't want to miss lunch do we?" Blowing him a kiss and winking, she disappeared into the hallway leaving the stunned twin behind.

'That was just like my nightmare, only it was Haruhi instead of Kaoru. What does that mean?' Shaking the unsettling feeling from his mind Hikaru jumped up from his seat and ran out of the third music room and down the hall to catch up with his friend. The two shared a smile as they approached the second dining room and the distracted boy quickly remembered that he had agreed to text his brother as part of his cover. 'Shit, too late now! Hope he's not mad.' Spotting said boy Hikaru waved and received a confused smile in return.

"Gomen Kaoru, I got… um… sidetracked and forgot to text you. Forgive me?" Sitting next to his twin Hikaru pleaded for forgiveness with his eyes, knowing that his brother could never resist his 'puppy face'.

Rolling his eyes at his twin's lame excuse for an apology Kaoru laughed. "Ok, I forgive you… this time." He pushed the tray of food he purchased earlier in front of his sibling as Haruhi sat across from the pair opening her home-made bento box.

"Where's yours Kaoru? Aren't you going to eat too?" Haruhi was sure that her dating Hikaru would be something the boys would need to talk about privately so for now she wasn't going to bring it up to the younger.

"I already ate." Kaoru wasn't technically lying to his brother as it was Haruhi that asked the question, but that little fact didn't make him feel any better about his deception.

'Lie.' The glare Hikaru directed at his brother went unnoticed by either of his companions.

The three laughed and talked while Hikaru and Haruhi ate until the bell chimed to signal the end of lunch and the start of the last half of the day. Now it was Kaoru's turn to be bored and distracted: Business Calculus, Modern Art, and Physics. By the time the last bell of the day sounded and everyone was exiting the classroom headed for various clubs and the like Kaoru was practically asleep so when his brother pinched his cheek to gain his attention he was so startled that he nearly fell out of his chair. "Oww! Dammit Hikaru! How many times have I asked you not to do that?" Rubbing his now sore face the younger twin quickly gathered his things and made his way towards the door.

"Gomen little brother, but you were so out of it you didn't even hear me. Did you pack your physics book? Did you even hear tonight's assignment?" Hikaru smiled at his flustered brother as he stormed back to his desk to retrieve the accursed text. "Oh, come on don't be like that. It's not like it hurt."

"That's not the point! I've asked you before not to do that and you still do! Why can't you be NICER to me sometimes?" Kaoru's voice was harsh, much harsher than he had intended, as he practically stomped past his twin towards their waiting car. They had no club activities this year. Haruhi was part of the debate team, which they had no interest in, so after school they always went straight home. 'Why am I so mad at him all the sudden? Because he lied to me so he could meet with Haruhi or because he probably asked her out? What the hell is wrong with me lately?' As the distracted boy sat in the limo waiting for his brother he tried to clear his mind and calm himself.

"Thanks Imiki, take the long way. We need to have a talk." Hikaru's voice was cold as he entered the car and raised the privacy screen. Once the car began moving the slightly less mature twin stared fiercely at his little brother as he practically barked in frustration. "What the hell Kaoru? All I did was snap you out of your little trance so we could go home and you go and bite my head off!" Crossing his arms the older twin looked away from his suddenly hurt looking other half afraid he might cry. He could never stand to see his precious Kaoru cry.

"I'm not the one who was lying so I could go run off and have a private chat with Haruhi." Kaoru's words stung as he looked out the window at the passing street signs.

'He did know, damn. I was hoping I'd gotten away with it. I didn't want to hurt him.' Hikaru sighed, his anger almost instantly fading.

"If you wanted me to go away all you had to do was ask. I don't need to be where I'm not wanted and I don't deserve to be lied to either!" It was Kaoru's turn to be upset and this time he knew exactly why. 'This is good; if we're fighting, then maybe I won't have dreams about him tonight. This is good. This is a good thing. This needs to happen.' The youngest sibling was torn from this self-convincing by a rather unexpected revelation from his doppelganger.

"So I'm not allowed to lie to you, but it's ok for you to lie to me?" Snapping his head around in shock, the look on Kaoru's face gave him away as Hikaru's words rang out in the otherwise silent car.

'How did he know?!' Unable to look his brother in the eye a shame filled Kaoru as he turned back to face the window without mounting a defense.

"What, nothing to say little brother? You don't want to explain why you lied about eating lunch? Fine, be like that." The elder Hitachiin was almost irate at his twin's behavior as he also turned in favor of a window view.

After a few tense minutes Kaoru's voice filled the uncomfortable space between the angry siblings. "So did she say yes?" Without looking he could feel his brother's eyes were now on him. "Haruhi, you asked her out during lunch didn't you? Is that the solution to the problem you were talking about this morning? What did she say?" After a calming breath, he gathered his courage and turned to face his other half.

Hikaru's expression was one of shock not unlike Kaoru's from minuets ago. "She said yes. I didn't want to tell you until I asked her, that's why I lied. I'm sorry Kaoru. I shouldn't have lied to you. I promise I will never lie to you again, under one condition." A raised eyebrow was his only reply. "Tell me why YOU lied about eating." Reaching out the genuinely concerned boy took his brother's hand in his own and waited. 'You better not be developing an eating disorder or I swear I'll take this limo straight to a rehab clinic!'

"I wasn't feeling well and I didn't want to worry you." Kaoru wasn't lying and one look in his eyes made at least that much clear instantly relieving his very tense twin only to be replaced with a different concern.

"Should we call for the doctor?"

"Iie Hikaru, I was just queasy. I'm fine now, but I might sleep in my own room tonight just in case I'm coming down with something. I don't want you to get sick, especially before your first… well, maybe it's a second date with Haruhi." The younger boy's smile was genuine; he truly did want his brother's date to go well. 'I just hope I CAN sleep without you by my side.'

It wasn't long before the limo pulled up in front of the impressive Hitachiin mansion. The now peaceful brothers thanked their driver and reassured him that everything was fine. Imiki was an older man and had been the twin's driver since they were very young and they knew he would worry about them. Entering their grand home, they moved past their personal maids after asking them to be sure Kaoru's room was prepared for the night. This resulted in more than a few confused looks, but the task was completed none the less. After finishing their homework the boys shared a short shower during which neither of them looked at the other. After a brief hug and two almost solemn good-nights they each made their ways to separate beds in separate rooms to stare at the ceiling and pray for sleep that would never come.

A/N: Please R&R. Constructive criticism welcome and encouraged!