A/N: I've checked my Reader's Traffic! It feels good to know so many of you are continuing to read my story! :D There aren't any real changes in the poll results yet, so please, if you get the chance, vote for your favorite pairing on my profile!

Ah, and sorry I haven't updated all day! -.-; yes, I'm still alive. I just got a bit caught up with reading Ouran online...for ideas, etc.

And, as always, please ENJOY! :)


"Hikaru, how long have we been playing this game?"

The question echoed in the twins' heads, reverberating and bouncing of the inner walls of their minds. It was true that they had always played the "Which one is Hikaru game?" to see if someone-anyone-could tell them apart, but no one ever did. No one except Haruhi.

But they weren't thinking about that game.

The question had been asked shortly after leaving Tamaki's house.

The scene replayed itself in their heads.


"Hikaru, how long have we been playing this game?" asked Kaoru, sitting in the limo next to his older brother.

"Which game, Kaoru? It always seems like we're playing some sort of game." Hikaru leaned against his side of the car, looking out the tinted glass.

Kaoru sighed. "I'm tired of playing games," he said.

"Huh?" said Hikaru. "Tired of games? Why now? Why do you think this now?"

But Kaoru didn't answer immediately, and he quickly found himself getting surprisingly heated. "After all these years, WHY NOW?!" he demanded, shaking his fists.

The limo made a sudden lurch and they jolted forward in surprise. The driver uttered his solemn apologies and kept his eyes trained on the road the entire time-silent.

"Because," said Kaoru, "we can't go on like this."

"Like what?!" seethed Hikaru. He was always the more hot-headed one, and he always found himself losing his temper. But why did this conversation upset him so much? Maybe it was because he did know what Kaoru was talking about. It was because-

"Admit it, Hikaru. We can't both have her."

And when the vehicle had come to a stop at the front of the Hitachiin mansion, Kaoru slipped out of the car and shut himself up in his room. Alone.


Hikaru was in his own room, curled up on his bed. For some reason he felt terribly broken. So many pieces were missing...he didn't know what to do anymore.

"He's right you know," spoke a voice in his head.

"Shut up!" ordered another. "You don't know what you're talking about!"

"You have to stop being so childish and learn to face reality!" it battled.

"You can't keep pretending this is all a game. You can't keep going on living life like things are toys and everything can be replaced!"

"I can do whatever the hell I want!" The more hot-headed, (and unfortunately the more dominant) side of Hikaru fought back.

But in the end, Hikaru couldn't help but realize his brother's words were true. They had to choose. Haruhi? Or the Host Club? Haruhi? Or their close friendship with each other?

Was it really so selfish to want both?, wondered Hikaru.

Though the question was only asked in his head--to himself--he knew it was ridiculous. Of course it was selfish to ask for both.

It couldn't be done.


Kaoru was slumped against his nightstand. He wondered what his brother was doing now...what he was thinking. But he knew he had to let Hikaru think things out on his own.

As for his own thoughts, he didn't want Haruhi to leave. But he didn't want his twin to leave him either.

Sometimes Kaoru wondered if he was really the younger of the Hitachiin pair. He had always looked out for Hikaru, even if it was in the shadows. He truly wanted his brother to be free and accept the things outside their once-small-world. Kaoru wanted his brother--more than anything--to be happy.

But things changed the day Haruhi walked into their lives. She somehow made things better and harder for them at the same time.

Kaoru stood up and held his face in one hand, as if pondering his next move.

"I'll go tell him, then," he said after what seemed like a long moment, heading for the doorway.

A/N: As you can see, I haven't given you much for your long wait! -.-; I apologize. But I think the story is going to get better. I read some manga and took a short nap and feel very refreshed! Ah, but this chapter was a bit serious...not even one real funny part... I should post 1-2 more chapters today, so look out for updates! (Unfortunately, they always take awhile to show on the main page...) Review when you can, and vote soon! The silence is somehow getting to me...