Ok, I know how bad you guys hate me for killing of Kaoru, so to show you all that I'm not that evil, I wrote this.

Alternate Ending

Hikaru ran and ran and ran. He had no idea how long he ran, or where he was going, but he didn't care. He just wanted to get away as fast as he could, as far as he could. He wanted to go somewhere where he couldn't be found. Somewhere where Kaoru wouldn't have to look at him any more. He sloshed through the rain, until his muscles burned and his body screamed for him to stop. Finally, though, he did.

He ended up in an alleyway, and leaned against a brick building to catch his breath. The rain had soaked him so much, he couldn't decipher what was water, what was sweat, and what was tears.

"Give me all your money, kid!" said a voice behind him. Hikaru turned to see a man with a gun, pointed straight at him. Exhausted, Hikaru rested his head against the wall.

"I don't have any money," he said, honestly.

"Bullshit! Give me your money!"

"I really don't have any. But if you're going to kill me, just do it, ok?"

"I just might if you don't cough up your cash! Now!"

He sighed and tilted his head towards the rain. "Well, then it looks like you have to. Just hurry up, will you?"

The man lowered his gun slightly.

"You mean… you wanna die?"

He looked at him. "Honestly?" He thought for a second. Thought of all the pain he would induce and endure. Thought of how badly he had hurt the only one he loved. He thought about Kaoru. He turned to say "yes", but before he could –

"HIKARU!"

Hikaru's eyes widened as Kaoru came out of nowhere and jumped on the thug with the gun. He began to buck like a bull with Kaoru jerking on his back. In a quick thrust, the man flung Kaoru off him, making the red head hit the wall. Hikaru ran to him.

"Kaoru! Wha – ! What are you – !"

Kaoru looked at him. "What? You didn't think I'd let you go just like that, did you?" he said, rubbing his head.

In front of them, the man cocked his gun and now pointed it at Kaoru.

"You're gonna pay for that little stunt!" he swore. But before he could do anything else, Hikaru ran for the man and grabbed his arms. Thus began a dancing battle of dominance over the weapon.

"Kaoru!" he yelled during the struggle. "Get out of here! Now!"

"I'm not leaving you!" he said.

The fray between Hikaru and the gunman forced he weapon up in the air, the man still hanging onto it.

"I'm serious!" Hikaru continued. "Go!"

"I won't!"

The gun that was once in the air now was being pushed down to the side, pointing towards Kaoru's direction.

"Kaoru, just go!"

"No! I won't leave you!"

"Go!"

"No!"

"GO!"

"I WILL NOT!"

BANG

Hikaru could feel his heart stop completely. The volume around him seemed to shut down, except for the loud "thump" Kaoru made while falling to the ground. He did not hear the gunman running the opposite way, nor did he hear the thunder above him. He didn't even hear himself scream his brother's name. Hikaru ran to him and held his head.

He looked down at Kaoru's stomach to see a deep red spot forming at his abdomen, rain dispersing it around his shirt. He looked back into his twins eyes, which were half open.

"Kaoru!" he raved. "You idiot! You should have left when I told you to!" In the back of his throat, he could feel a knot forming. Kaoru smiled weakly.

"Sorry…" he mumbled. "I guess I am an idiot…"

Hikaru's eyes began to burn. But he refused to cry. He did not want to show weakness; not when his brother was so injured.

"Don't talk," said Hikaru, "just – just save your energy, ok? I'm going to get you to a hospital."

He put his arm under Kaoru's legs and started to lift him up. Kaoru groaned with pain, but Hikaru kept on elevating him. Then, with more strength then he thought he had, Hikaru began to run, his brother cradled in his arms.

Through the storm, Hikaru could see the glowing sign of the hospital. Hope shot through him. He rushed inside and began demanding a doctor. One quickly came with a team of nurses and a stretcher. As they took Kaoru away to a room, Hikaru wanted to come as well, but was instead ushered to the waiting room.

Ten minutes passed. Then twenty. Forty five. An hour and a half. Hikaru sat in the waiting room dripping wet and waiting for what seemed like an eternity. He paced. He bit his nails. He did everything he could to try and calm him down. But nothing worked. He couldn't sleep, because he knew he would just be haunted by the matter. So instead, he simply sat and waited… and waited… and waited.

"Hikaru Hiitachin?"

Hikaru looked up at the doctor who took Kaoru.

"Yes?"

"Your brother's going to be fine."

Hikaru collapsed against his chair, his body crumbling with relief. He was going to be all right…

"You can see him if you want," he continued. Hikaru's head snapped to him.

"Yes; I would very much like to."

"Good. Come with me."

Hikaru followed the doctor to a medical room, barely able to keep himself from running. When he got there, he found Kaoru laying on the bed, bandaged from the wound.

"I'll give you two some privacy," said the medic, leaving the room.

Hikaru walked over and sat on Kaoru's bed.

"Are you ok?" he asked, observing the gauze.

"Yea," he said. "It stings a little, but I'm fine." He smiled at him, taking his hand. Hikaru looked away. His great relief that his brother would live temporarily blocked out why he was shot in the first place, but soon it came back to him and then some. Hikaru now could not stand to look him in the eye.

"Hikaru," said Kaoru, grip tightening, "you were lying, weren't you?"

His head whipped around to face his twin's. He had seen right through him. Right through his lie and deceit. He had seen right through to his heart. It was in that moment when all of his resolve not to show weakness dissipated in his tears that leaked onto his cheeks. He once more turned away.

"Yes…" he whispered. "Yes, Kaoru, I lied… I… what I said… I didn't want to say it… but…" Hikaru could feel Kaoru's other hand rest on top of their embraced ones. Hikaru moved only his eyes to look at him.

"Hikaru…" he smiled, "it's alright. It's alright if no one else understands."

Hearing his own words, Hikaru's cheeks grew hot and the tears that once merely leaked now streamed down his face. He turned fully to his younger twin and cupped his hand to his face.

"Hikaru?"

Hikaru looked around to see someone standing at the doorway. It was none other then Éclair herself.

"I heard what happened," she said.

"Already?" said Hikaru, venom in his voice. Éclair turned and walked away. Hikaru followed her down the hall.

"Éclair!" She stopped. There was a tense pause. "So… are you going to go to the police now? Going to turn us in?" Another pause. Hikaru began to grow angry. "Well?"

Even though she was turned away from him, he could tell she was smiling. Without a word, she walked off.

Later on, it turned out that Éclair did not file charges against the boys. Probably because she didn't want to be arrested for blackmail and negligence that led to attempted murder. When Kaoru got out of the hospital, everyone came to the welcome home party. There was cake, laughter, and many cries of worry from Tamaki. However, Hikaru couldn't celebrate.

As the party went on, Hikaru decided to slink off out of sight. He went to their room and sat on the bed, exhausted from this whole experience. He just wanted to disappear forever. He wanted to go someplace where he wouldn't have to see Kaoru again. Maybe his guilt would subside a bit and not eat him up completely. Because he knew that this whole ordeal was his fault.

If he had not played into Éclair's hands, none of this would have happened. He knew he was to blame, and he accepted it.

"Hikaru?"

He did not have to turn to know that Kaoru was standing behind him. Hikaru heard awkward footsteps over to him, and then saw Kaoru sit down on the bed next to him.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

Kaoru looked at his brother. There was frustration and depression in his eyes. He could tell he blamed himself. Kaoru took his hand.

"Hikaru," he said, "it's not your fault. Don't ever think it is. I love you."

Hikaru looked at his smiling face. Feeling overwhelmed, Hikaru threw his arms around Kaoru (though careful not to hurt him). And there they sat, embraced in each other's arms. No matter what hardships they would eventually endure, Hikaru knew, right then and there, that he would endure them with Kaoru.

Our philosophy was that we were born together, so why should our lives be any different?… and they weren't… We were always together… we laughed together… cried together… played together…

And we loved together…

That is our story

There. Kaoru didn't die. Happy now?

T.