On to the third chapter! I don't particularly like this, it's somehow unsatisfying but please tell what you guys think. I'm already working on the fourth and my updates might be on Saturdays (if I'm not so busy). And THANK YOU to those who reviewed! Now I understand why other authors like having reviews, it's somewhat an inspiration. Anyways, I'm blabbering already. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran High School Host Club or any of its characters.

After being practically kicked out of his own home, Hikaru Hitachiin has found his self lying on the couch in the Fujioka residence, trying and miserably failing to go to sleep. Every time he closed his eyes, all he saw was that blank yet pained look on his brother's eyes, how Kaoru (he knew) tried so hard to hide his pain from the one person who he always showed it to, and yet a flash of sorrow still managed to escape. That look was something that was engraved in Hikaru's mind forever. Lost in his thoughts, he didn't even notice the sun rise until Haruhi called his name.

"Hikaru, it's time to go to school."

"Huh?" was the Hitachiin's dumb answer. Haruhi sighed, knowing what happened last night after Hikaru narrated it, and for once, the elder twin was wise enough to leave out the part where his little bro insulted her.

"Hikaru, I know you're still thinking about Kaoru but sulking wouldn't do anything. Let's just go to school and you can apologize to him there. I'll help you, I promise." and the fake male was sincere. She also felt guilty knowing Hikaru has been neglecting Kaoru for her.

"Ok. Thanks." his voice was uncharacteristically quiet. Sighing, the redhead got ready for school, borrowing the brunette's extra uniform, hoping his twin would even talk to him.

~~o0o~~

He didn't though. How could he when he wasn't even here? Hikaru growled, running his hands through his hair in frustration as there were only a few minutes left before club hours and Kaoru has yet to show up.

"What's wrong, Hika-chan?"

The aforementioned twin looked down and saw wide, chocolate brown eyes staring in concern at him.

"It's nothing, Honey-senpai. It's just- Have you seen Kaoru around?" brown orbs blinked, looking a bit surprised. "What?" the Hitachiin asked, confused as the whole Host Club, minus Haruhi, was now looking at him, their eyes now held a bit of guilt in them.

"N-Nothing. It's just been a while since I saw Kao-chan." The upperclassman said quietly, his hold on his beloved plush toy tightening. Someone cleared his throat and everyone's attention snapped to Kyouya.

"Wasn't he in class today?"

"No, he wasn't."

"Maybe he's at home? Was he sick before you left for school?" Tamaki supplied, finally speaking up.

"I haven't been home since last night. We kind of had an argument so I spent the night at Haruhi's." the usual 'you have been corrupting my daughter' rant wasn't heard at all but no one seemed to care. Everyone seemed to look back to the past month, none of them remembering a real interaction with the younger Hitachiin. Confused at the sudden guilt fest, the only redhead in the room asked, "What's wrong with you guys?"

"It's just that, we haven't paid much heed to Kaoru, don't you think?" that simple comment from the Shadow King seemed to pierce a hole straight through Hikaru's chest. Well, everyone's, actually. And even when Kyouya unusually sugar-coated his words, all of them knew the real meaning. "We've been completely neglecting him, don't you think?"

"Have you called him?" Mori said, wanting to do something than just sulking and feeling guilty.

"He doesn't answer them." then they heard clicking, the distinct sound of someone dialing a number. It was Honey. A few moments later, the call was received and the blond put it on speaker.

"Hello, Honey-senpai?" a voice only a teeny bit higher than Hikaru's own floated around the room. They mostly even forgot the sound of his voice. "Did you need anything?"

"Oh, umm, Hika-chan said you weren't in class today and you weren't answering his calls. We were worried about you." there was a disbelieving sound on the other end, a quiet scoff, but everyone heard it.

"I'm fine, just a bit busy. I was actually about to call back when you called. Thanks for your concern." There was shuffling in the background."Please put that in the corner."

"Huh?"

"Nothing. I was talking to someone else. I'm sorry; I'm still quite busy so please excuse me. Goodbye." then he hung up.

Everyone stood stock still. That was not Kaoru, not the younger devil twin, it sounded so, well, not Kaoru. Granted, he was more soft-spoken than Hikaru but not in that way. Heck, he talked to Honey like they were nothing but mere acquaintances!

"Nii-san..." everyone looked at the elder Hitachiin."He also called me 'nii-san' last night."

"Nee, Takashi..." tears welled up in the corners of the blond senior's eyes."Does Kao-chan hate us now?"

Mori said nothing, also unsure of the answer.

~~o0o~~

Kaoru hung up, almost laughing at what his blond senior had said. He looked around his new room located in the opposite wing of his and Hikaru's previously shared room. The walls were painted a baby blue, very soothing and calming, a balcony with the best view of the garden right across the door, and a queen-sized bed in the corner with a nightstand beside it. This room will help keep him away from his brother and the view was a plus. He wouldn't be a burden to Hikaru anymore and he would finally see his real smile, not the usual one that only masked his everlasting worries. His elder brother would finally be happy without having to constantly worry about the younger Hitachiin. If this was what it would take for his big brother to truly find joy, having to watch from afar, he was willing to give way. He wanted to be happy for him but right now, a question has been bothering him. It's only been a month but he has completely forgotten. What was happiness?

He shook his head, trying to throw the thought away busied himself with the final touches of his new room.

~~o0o~~

Club hours has ended and by now Hikaru should be walking Haruhi home but instead, he found himself standing outside his own residence, another painful realization hitting him 'We haven't been coming home together, too..'

The elder HItachiin took a deep breath before opening the door, ignoring the welcome greetings of the maids as he made his way to their shared room but Kaoru wasn't there. There was something off about the room, as if something was missing, aside from his younger twin that is. The redhead started listing off the things that made their room typical.

Messy Bed - Check

Messy Sheets - Check

Pillows on the floor - Check

Shelf with commoner stuff - Check

His clothes on the floor - Check

Kaoru's clothes on the floor - Uncheck

Hikaru's eyes widened as he dashed to their wardrobe. The twins' clothes were always identical in style but not in color. The only color left in the closet was blue and Kaoru's green was nowhere to be found. He looked around, this time more closely. Their shelf was still full of commoner goods and it was Hikaru who usually bought them but the few that the younger twin chose were gone.

"Kaoru!" he yelled, sprinting out of the room and violently opening the door next to it, not finding his brother in there, he moved on to the next, again yelling the younger Hitachiin's name. The redhead was on to the fifth door when a bright idea finally pushed through his head. He made his way to the stairs and found just what he needed. One of the maids was mopping up the floor and Hikaru chose her to use his brilliant idea on.

"Hey!" the maid looked up and it was obvious she was trying to figure out which of the twins he was, making him even more irritated. "Do you know where Kaoru is?" Yes, his genius idea was to ask a maid.

"Oh. Yes, Hikaru-sama. Kaoru-sama is in his room." the elder Hitachiin's eye twitched at the answer, not knowing exactly where Kaoru's room was and not wanting to ask the maid.

"I see." with that, he stalked away, not even bothering to express his thanks.

Reaching the now-his-alone bedroom, Hikaru flopped on the bed, grunting in frustration. 'What if what Honey-senpai said was right? Does Kaoru hate us now? Including me?' the elder twin winced at the thought, trying desperately to find a way to gain his brother's forgiveness. 'Damn it! Why did I have to be such a jerk?!'

Sighing, he put his self in a more comfortable position and tried to get some sleep when yet another painfully true thought hit him. It was cold, so cold. He had always loved sleeping with his baby brother, knowing -fearing- how cold it could be without him. Since when did he stop thinking like that, since when has he been taking Kaoru for granted?

And for the second time that week, the elder Hitachiin went through yet another sleepless night.