Hey there sorry about not getting this chapter out to you sooner but for like the millionth time there were some tech glitches that needed to be sorted out. I hate frickin' tech glitches puts me in a really bad mood. Anyways I just thought that my reviewers would want the next chapter of Changing Expressions. Hope you enjoy and please review.
Disclaimer: I do not own OHSHC although I really wish I did.
Claimer: I do own the crazy Hotaru though haha. I also own the beautiful Kumiko as well.
Blip: Yes people still Hikaru's POV
Chapter Four: Back Off Bitch
I had never seen the flames in Kaoru's eyes grow so large. His orbs burning bright like an inferno, I could only sit there helpless as my twin made his way over to the bed where Hotaru sat perched on my chest. In one swift motion blonde hair was gripped tightly in his hands, and Hotaru was pulled off of me and onto the floor. On her knees she looked up into my brother's once sweet face to see a glare so dark only fools would dare to say something. This once peaceful, fun loving counterpart of mine had transformed into what you could consider a Jekyll and Hyde character. And I was completely incapable of telling what was going to happen to the girl he had once seemed to care for deeply.
Pushing Hotaru onto her back the cerulean eyed female looked up into angry and jealous emerald orbs. She had turned completely submissive unlike the previous being who had been as bold as to come onto me. Balling his hand up into a tight fist Kaoru planned to pound his little cousin black and blue. And as much as I had maybe wanted to see it before, then at that moment it made me completely sick. The thought that family could turn so vile against one another made the hair on the back of my neck stand up on edge; especially if that family member was your other half. Preparing to strike I did the only thing I saw fit for the moment…the only thing that would sedate his rage if only for a second.
"KAORU!" I hollered as he prepared to strike our flinching cousin. "KAORU STOP!"
Flying out of the bed sheets, my ankle burning with discomfort, I launched myself at the violent attacker. Grabbing a hold of his shoulders and pushing him onto the ground, I landed on top of very angry Kaoru's chest. Struggling underneath me to get up and finish what he started I reached over and grabbed either side of Kaoru's head. Pressing soft appendages hard against my own it wasn't long before I had felt a mixed energy surging throughout both of our bodies. Had I temporarily stopped the madness? Breaking off from the kiss my brother glared at me hard before the moisture entered his eyes. Pounding hard fists against my chest and then breaking down into sobs I cradled my completely helpless equal tenderly against my core.
"It's not fair." Kaoru sobbed into my t-shirt leaving a large wet stain. "It's just not fair."
"Shhh…I know. It's okay, Kaoru. I know." I murmured holding his quivering form against me tightly.
"I've worked and worked and my efforts get me nowhere. Why her?" Kaoru cried pointing to a crumpled up Hotaru.
"Kaoru, I know it looks as if something was going on but I swear nothing happened. I never meant to try and take her away from you. If anything I was trying to prevent it." I replied trying to sooth him in the best way I could possibly think of.
"You're completely blind! It isn't even her I want!" He growled seriously lips curling back like a defensive mutt.
"That's kind of a relief. She is our cousin you know." I stated as his brow furrowed even more.
"Of course I know you, baka! Why do you think she's staying with us?" Kaoru cried extremely irritated with me and the overall situation.
"I don't know. Maybe you forgot to tell me." I sneered inching my face closer to his.
" What's it matter now anyways. Cousin, sister, friend, or even a stranger you won't even take a second glance. And it's all because of my stupid genitalia; it's because I'm a man." Kaoru blurted out face going as red as a cherry.
"Kaoru, what are you saying? Did you hit your head or something?" I questioned feeling for a bump under the mass of ginger hair.
"Even I'm not that blind, Hikaru." I heard Hotaru sigh from the back ground as Kaoru struggled to remove my hands.
"Hikaru, what I'm trying to say is…" Kaoru started before there was a sudden crash from behind our toppled bodies.
"KAORU, DON'T DO IT!" I heard someone scream from behind us. Whipping my head around I could see Tamaki and the other hosts filling into our bedroom rather quickly.
"What the hell?!" My brother and I exclaimed at the exact same time.
"Hika-chan, Hotaru called us on our cells telling us that you were in some sort of trouble dealing with Kao-chan." Hunny cried dropping to his knees beside us.
"From what I can see Hikaru looks like he's the one in the wrong." Haruhi muttered noticing our fallen bodies; mine on top of Kaoru's restrained one.
"It's really not what it looks like." I voiced rolling off of my twin whose face was a red as a tomato with embarrassment.
"I was the one in the wrong." Kaoru replied sounding quite ashamed. "I let my anger take over the rest of my emotions and if it wasn't for Hikaru I probably would have seriously injured Hotaru."
"Kao-chan, I think I have some explaining to do as well." Hotaru suddenly admitted brushing off her dress.
"Explaining?" Kaoru and myself asked in unison.
"The real reason I'm here." Hotaru sighed extending her hand to the both of us.
Kaoru taking her left hand and myself taking her right the two of us rose to our feet. Following after Hotaru she led Kaoru, the host club with the exception of Kyoya, and myself being rolled out in a wheelchair by Haruhi out to the parlor in the rose garden. Taking a seat in between Kaoru and myself, Hotaru had begun rummaging through a small black laced purse. Pulling out what seemed to be a wallet from underneath the clutter in her handbag, she removed a photograph hiding behind her ID. Smoothing the thin piece of paper out on the parlor table she pointed to the girl in the photograph. The girl looked exactly like Hotaru only with long blonde hair and cerulean eyes. Was this a picture of her a few years before, or was this picture something more?
"You know they say a picture is worth a thousand words, but quite honestly I could never place a worth on this one photograph. It's my entire world." Hotaru whispered starring dreamily at the young girl in the picture.
"Hotaru, who's that in the picture?" Hunny asked softly as Hotaru's eyes met a light amber.
"Can't you tell?" Hotaru asked tucking a lock of blonde hair behind her ear.
"Is it you?" Mori questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"No silly. It's my twin Kumiko." Hotaru giggled softly as placed the photograph near her face.
"You have a twin!?" Kaoru and myself gasped in unison; how oblivious to the obvious we seemed to be.
"Cousins, you certainly don't know much about our family do you?" Hotaru inquired placing the photo back into her wallet.
"I guess not." I admitted feeling sort of defeated.
"Not much. Not on our dad's side at least." Kaoru mumbled consumed by reoccurring thoughts. Why'd you leave us, dad?
"Well, Kumiko and myself are your third cousins. We were born in Japan but soon after our parents split up. Like our great uncle Hitachiin split up with your mother." Hotaru sighed softly her eyes drifting off into much deeper thoughts. "My father gained custody of me while my mother gained custody of Kumiko. Dad and I moved to America and I was separated from Kumiko. It's been nearly five years since I've seen her face and that's why I enlisted to become a transfer student."
"So you're not really here to check out Japan's school system?" Haruhi asked cocking her head to the side.
"Correct. I came here to find my nee-chan so that we can be together again." Hotaru nodded looking to me for a moment.
"So, you're not really in love with me?" I inquired hopping my assumption would be wrong.
"Oh Hika-chan I didn't mean that I don't still love you. It's just Kumiko is my number one if you get what I'm trying to say." Hotaru giggled causing Kaoru to growl slightly.
"Then why'd you contact me? Through the letters and such?" Kaoru questioned his eyes narrowing with accusation.
"Well, through the pen pal program I was hoping to contact my sister. But instead I ended up contacting you, Kao-chan. It was perfect because I had heard through rumors that you were going to the same school as Kumiko." Hotaru explained folding her hands into her lap.
"Ouran Academy is where Kumiko is attending? Kumiko is here?" I gasped only to see my cousin's smile turn into a heart wrenching frown.
"There have been no records that a Kumiko has ever been here. They've checked through them a thousands times and they say no girl with the name Kumiko Hitachiin is attending this academy. It's quite depressing actually." Hotaru murmured reaching up to wipe her cerulean colored eyes. "I love her so much and yet I may never get the chance to see her again. Kaoru, I know now why you treasure your twin so much."
"Hotaru…" Kaoru whispered as a teardrop slipped down his cheek.
"When we wrote to one another I realized we share a lot of the same qualities. You and I are both twins, we both are the youngest, and we both hate to be alone. I also realized that my nee-chan and your Oniisan are very similar as well. Maybe I knew that Kumiko wouldn't be here so I was hoping in my heart that…" Hotaru swallowed before Kaoru interrupted with hard eyes.
"That Hikaru could be her replacement? Hotaru, where's your loyalty? You love Kumiko don't you? If you love her you just don't give up at the crossroads. You choose a path and find where they meet; no matter how long it takes." Kaoru hissed sternly causing Hotaru to be taken aback.
"Kaoru…" I breathed looking deep into his emerald orbs.
"Don't give up, Hotaru." Kaoru smiled gently tears streaking cheekbones. "You'll regret it if you do."
"Thank you, Kao-chan." Hotaru cried faintly. "Thank you."
And then the amazing happened. The supple crunching of footsteps against dry earth and the sudden gasp from an open mouth. Standing only a few feet away from the patio was Kyoya, and by his side a girl who shared Hotaru's face. Her hair was long past her shoulders and blonde tied up in a half pony with a green ribbon. Cerulean eyes leaking moisture and freckled cheeks lifting up with a smile Kumiko watched silently as Hotaru flew out of her seat. Feet pounding fast against the ground both girls met in the middle tangled up with a bone crushing hug. Sobbing hard the twins hit the dirt on their knees in an emotional mass; five unbearable years and they were together once again.
"Kumiko, is it really you?" Hotaru whispered quietly as her nee-chan held onto her tightly.
"It's me, Hotaru." Kumiko sobbed clutching her twin tight to her chest.
"How? I've searched for you…but every time…" Hotaru struggled to say as she wept tears of joy.
"Kyoya-kun brought me here. Apparently he had done some research on us before bringing you back home to Japan." Kumiko laughed turning to look as a nearly smiling Kyoya.
"You did all this?" Hotaru asked gently as Kyoya shrugged his shoulders.
"Tamaki had the idea so you should thank him really." Kyoya announced pointing to the boss.
"Tamaki Sempai, how ever can I repay you for bringing my nee-chan back to me?" Hotaru questioned bowing her head to the grinning blonde.
"Smile a lot, be happy, and please visit us here at the academy." Tamaki replied as Haruhi hugged his arm gently.
"You're amazing, sempai." Haruhi stated almost to quietly for us to hear. So she was in love with him all along.
"We will, sempai." Kumiko nodded picking Hotaru up off the ground. "Ready to go home?"
"In a minute. Hika and Kao chan can I please speak with you a moment?" Hotaru asked looking to both my brother and myself.
"What is it, Hotaru?" We questioned in unison as we distanced ourselves from the group.
"Gomennasai. I shouldn't have behaved the way I did; especially in your home. You were kind enough to take me in, and I nearly tore the two of you apart." Hotaru sighed looking up at us with leaky orbs.
"You're forgiven, Hotaru. But just so you know I wouldn't have given Hikaru to you even if you did really want him." Kaoru giggled sticking his tongue out playfully.
"Kaoru." I muttered rolling my eyes; he's just as jealous as I am.
"Hika-chan, I'm glad we're related but you're not the one I love. To tell you the truth, quite actually, I think I'm more fond of Kumiko than anyone else." Hotaru laughed nearly causing me to choke on my spit. "Twincest is what you called it right? Has a nice ring to it."
And then she was gone. Hotaru grasping onto Kumiko's right hand tightly, the two girls departed from Ouran happier than they had been in years. And at that moment in time I believe I envied them. Not because they were happy, but because they honestly were not afraid to admit to one another that they were in love. Their "twincest" was far from a mirage, while ours was left unresolved, not admitted, and in the dark. The inescapable fear of being left alone if something went wrong or if the other didn't feel the same way. Were we fated to be alone or would one of us come out with the truth?
Our Host Club had soon dispersed from the area. A smile, a pat, and a few words of encouragement were shared before Kaoru and myself were left alone in the wake of our giant manor. Taking my hand in my own Kaoru looked at me with unreadable eyes. It was do or die time one of us was going to say something that would forever change our lives. Bending down on one knee, exactly eyelevel, Kaoru squeezed my hand tightly. Then after a long moment he had opened his mouth to speak.
"I'm not what you think I am, Hikaru." Kaoru whispered softly sending shivers down my spine. "It's not that I'm gay and it's not that I'm trying to be sick and twisted. The issue here is that I'm in love, not with just anyone though, my twin. I'm in love with you, Hikaru."
"I feel the exact same way, Kaoru. That's why I was behaving the way did around Hotaru when I first met her. I thought that she was trying to take you away from me." I admitted feeling sort of foolish as I gazed down at my feet.
"Hikaru, look at me please." He murmured gently lifting my chin up so that our eyes would meet. "I would never and I repeat never leave you. You mean the world to me…and if I lost you."
"Don't say it, Kaoru." I cried clinging to his shoulders urgently. "I don't want you to go away."
"I won't leave you." Kaoru promised holding onto me tightly. "I'll never ever leave your side."
"No matter how much I hurt him and get hurt by him. I find myself, far from hating him, actually hoping that those wounds will scar like burns...because then you can never forget me. And you will never, ever be able to leave my side." Junjou Romantica_ Hiro-san
Alright this is the end of chapter four. After the Author's Note there is only one more chapter. I hope you've been enjoying the fic and please review.
Oh and the last lines (the quote) that is from my favorite Boy's Love anime Junjou Romantica. It's absolutely amazing and if you haven't seen it yet you need to check it out!!The quote has to be one of my absolute favorites. It says a lot about true love.