"Hikaru!"
He turned. Megan danced around a couple talking and holding small glasses of wine and approached the eldest twin.
"Where's Kaoru?" she asked. "Is he okay?"
"He's not feeling well," Hikaru told her. "We're going to head back to the mansion."
"That's a shame," she sympathized. "Is he waiting in your car?"
"Yes; I was just coming in to tell Tamaki we were retiring early tonight. Did you want to see him?"
"I would like to before you left," Megan replied. "Would you mind walking me out to the car?"
"Of course not, young lady."
In the Hitachiin Limo
"Are you feeling any better, Mr. Hitachiin?" the driver asked.
Kaoru, with his head leaning against the window, eyes closed, his brother's suit jacket over his shoulders, let out a soft murmur.
"Would you like some water or anything?" he asked.
"No, thank you, Sebastian," he mumbled. "I just want to get home so I can sleep."
"It seems your brother is coming back," Sebastian said after a moment.
Hikaru opened the door and said, "Kaoru? I think you forgot to say good-bye to someone."
Kaoru raised his head and looked over.
Megan, bent at the waist, was smiling at him. "How are you feeling, Kaoru?" she asked.
"Oh—Miss Stallion," he said, letting Hikaru's suit jacket lay on the seat as he scooted across the back seat and climbed shakily out of the car.
Hikaru's fingers ghosted across his jaw and he said, "I didn't get a chance to talk to Tamaki while I was in there," he said. "I'll be right back, okay?"
"Okay."
Kaoru leaned against the back of the car, massaging one temple as he smiled tiredly at the young girl in front of him. "I'm sorry," he said, "but I'm really not feeling well. I didn't mean to inconvenience you." He suddenly grew fascinated in the bell tower. "If you want Hikaru to stay behind, I'm sure he wouldn't object if you asked him to."
"I will miss the two of you," she admitted, "but I wouldn't make Hikaru stay behind and worry the night away about you for my own selfish reasons, Kaoru."
A dim headache began to pulse behind Kaoru's eyes. He pressed the fingers of one hand to his forehead, closing his eyes and inclining his head. His tux was suddenly way too hot.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"Fine," he said after a moment. "Just a bit…lightheaded, that's all."
"I should leave you alone then," Megan replied. "You'll probably feel better sitting down." She stretched up and brushed a feather-light kiss on his cheek. "I hope you get well soon, Kaoru." She smiled at the blushing twin, whose golden eyes met hers. "I actually requested to sit with yourself and Hikaru at the Host Club on Monday."
A footstep sounded from behind her. Hikaru walked up to them and took Megan's hand, kissing it in a gentleman-like manner. "I hope you have a wonderful night without us," he said, winking at her. Kaoru couldn't help but smirk.
"I suppose I must try my best," she said with a dramatic sigh, smiling. "Get better, Kaoru," she added. She gave him a small wave before turning and heading back into the academy.
"Come on, Kaoru," Hikaru said, climbing into the car and pulling his twin after him. The door shut and Sebastian started the car, clicking on the headlights. Kaoru, exhausted and still feeling sick, lay down with his head on his brother's lap and one arm curled under his head, closing his eyes.
"Are you tired?" Hikaru asked gently, pulling his tux jacket over the younger Hitachiin.
"No," Kaoru tried to lie as the car pulled away. The words hardly made it past his tired lips.
He was asleep before they hit the main road.
The Next Day, Hitachiin Manor
The next day, Hikaru sat on the edge of the bed beside his brother and stroked his hair gently as the sick twin slept, cheeks flushed, curled up around a pillow and trembling with chills.
"Sir?"
Hikaru looked up. The twin maids were peeking in the door.
"You have a visitor," they said. "The head of the Stallion family."
Hikaru looked down at himself, springing from the bed. In comfortable sweatpants and a loose t-shirt, he was hardly presentable.
"Tell him I'll be right down," he said before taking off for his closet.
As he pounded down the stairs, Hikaru fumbled to button his white button-up, the cuffs buttoned at his wrists. The Stallions, being one of the richest families with one of the thickest, highest-ranked lineages in Japan, demanded attentiveness and a good presentation.
Hikaru paused outside the doors to the lounge to clear his throat, smooth his hair, straighten his shirt and jeans, and check his reflection in one of the silver handles before pushing inside.
Mr. Stallion turned and rose, smiling. "Ah, Mr. Hitachiin. Hikaru, I presume? My daughter explained to me how young Kaoru fell ill last night. Is he doing well?"
"He's sleeping right now," Hikaru said, shaking the older man's hand. They were nearly the same height—and by Hikaru's standards, he was average height, although Hikaru and Kaoru were both five-ten. "I'm afraid he won't be present. May I offer you a drink or something to eat, sir?"
"I'll take a small glass of brandy, if you have any."
Hikaru twisted his wrist and snapped his fingers. The twin maids behind him bowed slightly before departing for the kitchen. As Mr. Stallion took his place sitting back on the couch, Hikaru stood on the other side of the table, hands locked behind his back.
"May I inquire as to what brings you to our mansion this morning, Mr. Stallion?" he asked.
"You must know from your friends Tamaki and Kyoya that the Stallion family is closely affiliated with their businesses and families, yes?" He smiled at Hikaru. "I do not quite know why I have not spoken to your brother before now about something like this."
The maids reappeared with a single glass of brandy on a tray, beside one of a darker liquid. Hikaru took it and sipped before smiling childishly into his glass. He hated having such a childish indulgence at a business meeting, but he did have to admit—Karuizawa's fresh fruit juice always forced him to have another glass.
Kaoru
Kaoru rolled over and opened his eyes slightly. "Hikaru?" he whispered hoarsely. There was no response.
He sat up. The room was empty, the lights off. A folded piece of paper sat on the bedside table, beside Kaoru's phone. He picked it up, already feeling lightheaded from sitting up, and lay back down, flipping open the note and waiting for his eyes to adjust to the meager light in the room.
Kaoru
I'm sorry I'm not up here with you. The head of the Stallion family is downstairs, and I'm down there with him. I don't know how long we'll be. Megan said her father isn't one to waste time, so it shouldn't take long, but I'm just downstairs if you need anything. I'll be back up as soon as I can.
Hikaru
He had just finished reading the note and set it back on the bedside table when the door opened and a soft voice whispered, "You awake, Kaoru?"
"Yeah," he murmured, closing his eyes. The door opened a bit wider before shutting. Soft feet paced across the room and a weight landed on the bed. He felt Hikaru's hand stroking his forehead and cheek.
"You're still warm," he said quietly. "I'll call for some more fever reducer. You think you can eat something? Some plain broth, maybe?"
"I'll try," he mumbled into the pillow, pulling it over his face. "What did Megan's father want?"
"Oh, that." Hikaru laughed. "It may interest you to know that the Hitachiins now have a new affiliate family."
Kaoru sat up, ignoring the way the room swam in front of him. One hand cupped his forehead. Hikaru scooted closer and pulled his twin against his chest. He had a white button-up shirt that was undone and untucked, hanging carelessly on his warm torso, the cuffs unbuttoned and hanging around his wrists.
"He came to ask us to affiliate with him?" Kaoru asked, resting his head on Hikaru's shoulder, his hands on his collarbones.
"Yeah," he said, "and he brought flowers. Megan told him how you weren't feeling well last night and he ordered us a bouquet of roses and lilies. It's really quite pretty. They're on the table in the lounge."
"Mmm."
His stomach rumbled slightly the more he thought about what broth tasted like. He figured it would taste like the spiced chicken they served at Ouran.
"I'll call down for some more fever reducer and some broth, okay?" Hikaru said. He laid his twin back down and covered him up, kissing his forehead lightly. "I'll be right back."
A Little Later
"Kaoru. Kaoru? Wake up."
He blinked sleepily. Hikaru looked at him with a tiny smile. "You fell asleep again," he said. "I've got the broth if you want to try some."
Kaoru struggled into a sitting position, taking the bowl from his brother and stirring it around with the spoon. Hikaru held out two small tablets.
"Here. These'll help take down your fever and settle your stomach."
Kaoru put the two pills on his tongue and swallowed them, chasing them down with a tentative spoonful of broth.
"You okay?" Hikaru asked. "Tamaki called to check on you a few minutes ago. He wanted to see if we would be at school tomorrow, or if they would have to close the Host Club."
Kaoru shook his head, but stopped when it began to throb. "I'll be fine," he said, taking another bite of the broth.
"I don't want to risk it," Hikaru said after a moment. "Maybe we should stay home tomorrow."
Kaoru paused, the spoon half-out of the bowl.
"I hope you get well soon, Kaoru. I actually requested to sit with yourself and Hikaru at the Host Club on Monday."
"Don't try to argue with me, Kaoru," Hikaru said, voice suddenly stern. "I see the look on your face. We'll stay home tomorrow just to make sure you're better before we head back. I don't want you getting sick at school."
"Fine," Kaoru relented, busying himself with another bite.