A/N: I do not own OHSHC, but I do own Alex and Aras.

Aras frowned as the morning classes ended. Alex still never returned to class, making Aras a little uneasy. He sighed, quickly walking towards the door, but was stopped by two identical beings standing in front of him.

"What do you want?" Aras raised an eyebrow, placing a hand on his hip. "I'm a bit busy."

"Just wondering where Alex went." Kaoru question, raising an eyebrow.

"But it seems like you don't know either." Hikaru frowned.

Aras scoffed, pushing past them. "None of your business."

Kaoru stared after the fleeing boy, sensing nervousness from him. He looked to Hikaru. "He seems a bit more on edge than Alex…."

"Hm, really?" Hikaru raised an eyebrow, seeming not to notice.

"Well, that's how you can tell them apart." Haruhi took out her lunch, looking back at the two.

"Hm? What do you mean, Haruhi?" Hikaru leaned against her desk, staring at her.

"Well, just like you and Kaoru have differences, those two are really different." Haruhi stated, tapping her chin in thought. "Alex is more blunt and wary of people. Like he doesn't trust anyone but Aras. He has a more….. what's the word I'm looking for?" She looked at him. "Distant look in his eye when he is around other people. Aras on the other hand seems more confused by people and doesn't really know how to react so he goes along with what Alex does. If you want to talk to them, Aras would be the best to get through to." She stated before opening her bento box before taking a bite.

"Why would we want to talk to them?" Hikaru raised an eyebrow. "They seem like selfish, arrogant jerks."

Haruhi scoffed at this, giving him a look. "Like you have room to talk."

Hikaru stared at her, unamused by her comment before looking away with a small pout.

Kaoru chuckled at this, turning on his heels. "Come on Hikaru. Let's see if we can help him look for Alex."

Aras placed his hands in his pockets, frowning. He was irritated and unsure of what to do as Tamaki stood in front of him. Tamaki pointed at him.

"You're Aras!" He panted, looking like he ran a mile and a half to catch him.

That assumption wouldn't be far from right. Aras ran and hid from him for the past ten minutes, trying to find him. He was busier looking for Alex than to be bothered by this idiot.

"What's your reasoning?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Intuition." He winked, causing Aras to sweat drop.

"Your reason is invalid." He sighed, walking past him. "Now, leave me alone. I'm busy."

"But I was right, wasn't I?" His eyes sparkled.

Aras stayed silent for a moment before walking away. "No."

"Well, that's a lie." Kaoru spoke up, walking over with Hikaru following close behind.

Aras frowned, not bothering to turn around. "Doesn't matter. His reason is still invalid. Now, excuse me."

"Why do you and Alex not want people to figure who you two are?" Tamaki stopped Aras before he could run again.

Aras raised an eyebrow, looking back at him. "Well, that's pretty simple." He placed a hand on his hip. "So, Alex won't get hurt again."

"What do you mean?" Kaoru questioned, looking at him curiously.

"People are selfish being with no consequences of others. Alex has been through enough and I don't want him to hurt anymore from the stupid human race." He narrowed his eyes at them. "Now please leave us alone."

With that, he turned and ran off. The three didn't follow, trying to comprehend his words.

Aras looked around, tired from running around. He still hasn't found Alex, not even a trace.

"Aras…" A familiar voice whimpered.

Aras' eyes widen as he wildly looked around.

"Look….up…."

He looked up to see Alex sitting up in a tree, clinging to the tree trunk for dear life. A kitten laid on top her head, looking just as startled.

"What the hell are you doing up there?" Aras called up, slightly freaking out at the situation.

"W-Well, there was this kitten stuck in the tree… And it was crying. So, I climbed up to save him…" She whimpered, looking frighten. "Then when I got up here, I remembered that I was afraid of heights."

Aras sighed, starting to climb the tree.

-4-

"How did you forget that you were afraid of heights?" Aras sighed, looked at her in irritation as the two walked together to class.

"Well, I heard the kitty and I wanted to save him." She pouted lightly, crossing her arms as she walked down the path. "You would have done the same thing."

"Yes, but the difference is, I'm not scared of heights." He pinched her cheek, causing her to laugh slightly. "You know I was worried, right? You were gone all morning."

"Ha, I got stuck in the tree right after I left the classroom." She laughed light heartily, scratching her chin. "I act then think, remember?"

Aras sighed, giving a soft gaze at her. He couldn't stay angry at her when she acted like this. She was too cute and seemed happy at times like this. He wished she would open up to others and enjoy her time with other people and not just him.

It wasn't that he didn't want her to stay around, that's not it at all. If he was being honest, he rather just keep her to himself, never leave her alone. He wants to protect her and help her, but was him being with her healthy? Was his clingy nature and her wary trust of others his fault?

As much as he hated to admit it, he needed her to make friends. He need her to find someone special to her heart and not just him. He honestly didn't care if she dated a boy or a girl, just as long as she was happy.

He was curious in why she would tell him to try out for the basketball team. Why she would tell him to leave her for several hours a week, while she sat patiently waiting for him to get off. Then, it suddenly clicked. She wanted him to go make friends and socialize.

Though she hates everyone besides him and their parents, she knows the importance of socializing and getting to know the people who will impact my life. Considering that he was the heir to their parents companies, she knows making social contracts would help further his career.

"Yo, you're staring at me, bro." Alex snapped him out of his thoughts, giving a goofy creeped out face. "You're creeping me out man."

He laughed it off, giving an apology. He looked towards the sky, placing his hands behind his head. "I think that I'll join the basketball team."

She looked up at him, a surprised look on her face. "You actually made it with your shit skills?"

His eye twitched as he stopped, grabbing both her cheeks, pinching them. She teared up, laughing. "What do you mean?!I'm a great basketball player!"

"Ha….ha! I'm just joking!" She laughed, trying to speak as he squished her face. "Stop, that hurts!"

Ding.

" Alex is getting pinched by Aras right now!"

The two stopped, looking towards Tamaki who had ran out from behind the building, pointing at the two of them. He was huffing, out of breath as it seems he ran across the court yard to get to them. A black hair guy with glasses walked over, his notebook in hand.

Aras and Alex looked to one another before looking back at the energetic blonde. "Reason?"

"Aras has a slightly deeper voice and likes basketball." Tamaki panted, grinning. "I'm right, aren't I!?"

"Heh." Alex smirked, pulled out her phone, examining the timer on the phone. "Well, that is correct-"

"Yatta! I did it!" Tamaki began to cheer, but stopped as Aras placed a finger in the air, smiling softly.

"But you are out of time." Aras continued, looking over his sister's shoulder, examining the time. "You literally missed the deadline by 30 seconds. How depressing."

"W-WHAT!?" Tamaki let out a cry of disbelief. "Come on! 30 seconds!?"

"As terrible as that is, you are late so your answer will not be taken." Alex flipped her phone closed as she looked at the exasperated teen. "Sorry, but rules are rules, my dear blond idiot."

Tamaki looked at the two, studying them for a moment. "Why do you two want to stay hidden from this beautiful world? Aren't you two lonely?"

Aras was taken back from the blonde. His goofy personality seemed to go to a more caring, serious one. Well, as serious as a blonde energizer bunny of drugs could be, but Aras was impressed. It was like he seen through Aras' thoughts and knew what he was thinking.

"Isn't that why you're pushing him to join the basketball team, Alex? You're afraid he'll be lonely?" Tamaki looked at Alex who held a face, void of emotions. "Do you really think it's easier to just shut down your emotions and push everyone away?"

"I pushed Aras to do basketball because he likes it. I want him to do something that he loves, why should I keep him from doing that?" She spoke calmly.

"And what if he makes friends, bonds that he can't deny? What are you going to do?" Tamaki went on. "You'll be left all alone. Do you want that?"

There was silence for a moment before she let out a small laugh, that confused him. "Oh, funny. I've had enough of this conversation. Let's go." She spun on her heels, heading towards the class.

Usually, Aras would point out that it was the wrong way, but he knew that she probably already knew that. She clearly wanted to get away from him.

"….. Alex?" Aras spoke softly as they got far enough away from the two upperclassmen. "Are you really lonely?"

She didn't respond for a bit. She walked on, like she didn't hear him. He panicked, frighten that she was mad at him. She looked back slightly, a light smile on her face.

"No. I'm fine. Are you lonely?"

Aras studied her for a few moments before looking forwards. "No. I have you."

A/N

Hey guys! Sorry for the long wait! I've been busy with work and preparing my new performing group, plus my trip to Poland. It's been a hectic couple of months so I apologize for my absence! _ I'll try posting more often.

Please review, ask questions if you have any, and follow the story for future updates, kay? I'll see you in the next chapter!

-Nike