Make It Stop
Chapter: Kapitel Zwei
Flashback: Age 5
Location: Hitachiin Estate

Make It Stop
Kapitel Zwei: Just a Pinch

Kaoru had always been the weaker of the two twins. He was always falling ill with colds and other viruses, but even at the age of five, he loved challenges. He and Hikaru were always challenging each other.

"Hey Kao," Hikaru called as he shook his head violently to free water droplets from his soaked hair. "Wanna go outside? It's raining." He grinned and held out a hand for his brother to take in his own.

Kaoru nodded. "Okay Hika." he grabbed his twin's hand and together they walked out of the front doors of the mansion.

Raining it was, that day. Neither twin seemed to mind as they squealed with delight, running out into the middle of it together. They laughed and chased each other about and challenged each other to the 'Who Could Catch a Raindrop on Their Tongues the Fastest' game. They tumbled about in the mud; they splashed in already forming puddles; they even danced together trough the storm.

"Betcha can't last more than five minutes without your coat on." Kaoru said after they collapsed on the ground in fits of giggles from dancing so much. He sat up and began to unzip and shed his coat to the soaked ground. Soon he was in only his shirt and jeans, staring daringly at his twin.

Hikaru smirked deviously and did the same. "Betcha I can." he said back defiantly.

X~*~X

Let's just say, because of that comment, both twins were caught inside with a cold the next day. It wasn't long though, before the two were back on their feet chasing each other through throughout the grounds of the estate once more. Their laughter and shrieks could be heard anywhere inside of the mansion.

Hikaru squeaked as he hurried through the hallways, trying to keep away from his brother who was "It" in their game of Tag. He quickly dove into their mother's studio, startling Yuzuha Hitachiin as she worked.

"Hikaru!" Yuzuha called in a warning tone as she bent down in front of the young five year old. "What have I told you about interrupting Mamma while she worked? And please don't startle me like that again..." she held her hand out and pulled her eldest son to his feet, giving him a stern look.

Hikaru's eyes widened. "Sorry, Mamma." He said quickly, lowering his head politely. "But Hika was running away from Kao. Hika and Kao are playing Tag and Kao is It. Hika didn't want to be caught so he hid. Hika didn't mean to inna-rup you. Hika's sorry, Mamma." he explained before slowly raising his head to look her in the eyes.

She sighed. "I forgive you. And pleases don't speak in third person. I know you only do it around me and you know I don't like when you do." she scooped her eldest into her arms and opened the door with the other. "Alright, off you go to find you brother, now, so you can continue your game. I'm sure he's lonely without you."

"'Kay." he answered turning once more to latch his thin arms around her waist before sprinting off in search of his baby brother.

Kaoru was lying down on the huge white couch in their living room when Hikaru found him. The younger twins eyes were half lidded and his face was very pale.

"Kao? You okay? What's wrong?" Hikaru asked quietly. He was very used to finding his twin on this very couch in the same curled up position when he was ill, but his seemed so sudden. It confused the twin. 'Why was his Kao suddenly so sick?'

"'N't feel good." he answered. "M' Stomach hurts and the light hurts my eyes." he rolled over and buried his face in the cushions. "'N I'm hot."

The older twin carefully watched over his brother and placed the back of his hand on his baby brother's forehead. He gasped and immediately snatched his hand away. "Kao has a fever." he whispered. "Stay here, 'kay? I'm going to find a maid." he hurried off and found the nearest maid. "Kao's sick." his voice came out as a pitiful sounding cry.

The maid nodded dutifully and walked after the young five-year-old into the living room. "I'll be right back." She came back minutes later with a bottle of water and a cool wet cloth. "I know you're hot, sweetie, but you lose body heat when you have a fever." She explained as she wrapped the boy in a thin blanket. The maid placed the wet cloth over the feverish twin's forehead.

X~*~X

Hikaru had once again been shut off from his twin and wasn't allowed to see him while he was sick. He sighed and sat just outside of the living room, watching his twin as he tossed and turned in a half conscious state.

Suddenly, a sharp cry made the older twin dart into the room. "Kao, what's wrong?" he asked alarmed.

Kaoru brought one shaking hand u to grip his older brother's shoulder as he twisted himself around. His face was contorted in pain and fear. "Get Mamma... Get a maid... Get someone. Just make it stop!" he cried out.

Hikaru stood frozen in his spot, unsure of what to do. He didn't want to leave his brother's side for fear that something bad would happen, but at the same time he didn't want to just stand there and watch his baby brother suffer. That would kill him just as much as leaving his side would.

"Hikaru, please just go get Mamma, Make it stop..." He whimpered tightening his grip for a couple of seconds before pushing him gently towards the door.

Hikaru clenched his fists and started out in a dead sprint across the estate and up the stairs and down the hall and into their mother's studio. He didn't stop running until he was directly in front of his mother.

Yuzuha had been in the middle of a conversation with one of her coworkers over the phone when Hikaru had interrupted her the second time that day. She looked down and shook her head before turning around and continuing to speak to the person on the other end of the line.

"M-Mamma!" Hikaru cried out. He was panting as he latched onto her waist, burying his face into her side.

"Hikaru, please stop interrupting my work without a warning. I'm in the middle of an important call. Go play with Kaoru. I don't know why you keep coming in here; it's not like you." she said under her breath as she tried to pry her son off of her. "Hikaru, let go." he voice was firm but gentle.

Hikaru only clung tighter to her. "M-Mamma!" he repeated in the same desperate tone. "Mamma, just come here! Please, it's important!"

Yuzuha sighed, defeated. "What is it?"

"Kaoru is sick. He's got a fever and he's dizzy and his head and tummy hurt and his hands are shaking. He told me to go and find you. Mamma it's worse than what's usually wrong with him. He looks so scared."

There was a shriek from somewhere else in the mansion.

"I'll call you back." she murmured into the phone before scooping Hikaru up once more into her arms. "Where is he?" she asked patiently, walking out of her studio.

"The living room. He said to hurry." he answered.

She headed off into the direction of the living room. "Kao—" she froze. Kaoru's entire body was rigid and his breath was coming out in short gasps. His entire frame seemed to be vibrating, his eyes flashing back and forth as well.

But as soon as it started, it had stopped and he was back in focus again. He was confused and scared.

"Hikaru come on. We're going to the hospital." she said sternly, setting the five-year-old down before walking over to her youngest son and picking him up. "Shh, calm down. I know you're scared, but you need to calm down, okay?"

X~*~X

Once at the Hospital the rushed into the ER where Yuzuha forced her way through the small crowd already hovering around the desk.

With one look at the sickly redhead in her arms, the nurse at the desk ordered "for that baby to be taken back immediately and get a spinal tap".

Yuzuha was near tears as Kaoru was swept out of her arms. The two were ordered to stay in the lounge until they were told otherwise.

A doctor came out and introduced himself and gave them a short rundown of what happened behind closed doors. The he carefully gave off the diagnosis. "Your son has a severe case of Pediatric Bacterial Meningitis, which is an infection of the spinal fluid. This can be fatal and if not treated immediately can lead to permanent brain damage. You're very lucky, though, Mrs. Hitachiin. If you had waited another hour, your son would've had permanent damage. If you had waited another eight hours and he would've died. Unfortunately, before we let you see him, we need to get a spinal tap from both of you. Meningitis is very contagious and even though you may not show any symptoms you could still be carrying it."

Hikaru tensed momentarily but followed anyways, if not a little hesitantly.

A nurse helped him onto a table. "If you would, take off your shirt." Once he had done so she helped him lie down on the table. "Now, stay on your side and bring your knees to your chest and your forehead to your knees."

Hikaru curled into the position she described and gasped when he felt something slick and cold being wiped in a circular motion on his back.

The nurse smiled reassuringly. "Alright, you're going to feel just a pinch but then it'll be over. Ready, sweetie? If you want you can hold your breath."

Hikaru gasped as a stinging feeling erupted in his back. It felt like little baby wasp were attack the same point over and over driving in deeper and deeper until it was almost unbearable. Tears slid sideways and dripped from the bridge of his nose.

"See? It's over now. That wasn't to bad was it?" the nurse petted the redhead's hair and a new a lighter pressure replaced the stinging feeling.

" 'Want Kaoru." he whispered bringing a hand up to wipe his eyes.

X~*~X

A/N: I did my homework. Lots of research went into this chapter. This and the next chapter are flash backs and then the fourth chapter will be the end.

"I don't see why people add disclaimers in their stories. I mean obviously they don't own it or they would be multimillionaires that actually did something with their life instead of writing things for fanfiction. If they actually owned all of this shit then it would've happened and they wouldn't even bother to think about this dumbass website." – One of my friends on disclaimers.

~Melody Syper Carston