Okay, so after many days of either being too busy or too stuck to write, here it is! Chapter 10, finally! (Why is ten such a significant number, anyway? Nine is much better than ten, and thirteen blows them all away!)

SnOandZnT: Don't worry; if I killed Kaoru, I wouldn't forgive myself! Kaoru's just too cute to kill, and really, what is one twin without the other? But it's nice to have a loyal reader (who also happens to believe in reincarnation. Go figure! :D)

writingMYdreams: I hope this chapter turned out longer. I know the last one was short, but I was kinda stuck on how to continue it, so I just stopped there. I hope to have more Host Club scenes, which definitely means more cuteness.

YaoiGirly: Yeah, I'm a Girl Scout, but I kinda said that as a joke. I'm not actually recognized by the council as a scout because I'm a Juliet, but screw them. ;P

Uchihacest Girl: How funny, that's how I became obsessed with Ouran as well. Seriously, my friends need to stop introducing me to animes. And I was thinking along the same angsty lines, but the only angst story I can think of right now involves Kaoru dying at the very beginning. T^T

Victoria62015: That's what I thought and the exact reason I brought it up. I figured a cheating scandal could make this fanfiction last a little longer.

KeedaxEmry: I was sorta kinda bringing back the triple "shit" from the first chapter. And don't worry, I don't have any plans to kill either of the twins . . . in this fanfiction. AND, I'm not telling how this story's gonna end. *hushhush* :x

wishIwereanime: Wow, do you think that maybe you're addicted to the story? Maybe you should get help for that. ;D

Ebbie54: Don't worry, I have no plans to throw the twins in prison. However, the cheating thing is definitely going to happen, but it'll probably only be a chapter or two.

Jen567: Update :D

ZoeDucky: I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that the cheating thing is going to happen, no doubt. The good news is that they will tell their friends when it happens! :D

Sorry, but I won't be starting the chapters with those cute little one-shots for a while. I just don't think they really belong in the upcoming chapters.

I do not own Ouran High School Host Club . . . but I seem to have run out of side comments.

Kaoru:

Kaoru wasn't entirely sure he trusted Haruhi. She and Hikaru made such a good couple before, but now that his secret had torn them apart, Kaoru was worried that Haruhi might be a little unstable. She wasn't known to be the stereotypical clingy, psycho girlfriend, but not having dated her himself, he wasn't really sure. After all, if Kaoru had found out that his girlfriend was gay for her sister, he probably wouldn't handle it well.

Hikaru, however, kept attempting to reassure Kaoru of Haruhi's loyalty. She was still their friend, after all, and the discovery couldn't have been too traumatic since she was used to their act by now. Hikaru had complete confidence in her.

But Kaoru had heard her warning. "You can't expect me to stay silent forever." How long could they depend on Haruhi to keep their secret?

So far, she had kept her promise. It had been a week since her discovery, and she had kept quiet. The other Host members didn't suspect a thing.

Their mother, however, was a different story all together. Her suspicion about the twins was gradually growing. It was simple, mom-like questions such as, "Have you thought about what you want to major in?" and "Do you have your eyes on anybody at school?" that were cluing her in. It seriously scared them both.

Their father, thank God, was much more dense. He just didn't have the motherly instincts that Yuzuha had. But they were sure that as soon as Mother found out, she would run to Father and tell him.

"Hikaru," Kaoru asked his brother in hushed tones one night. They were snuggled closely together on their bed in a position that was comfortable and intimate, if not passionate. "Do you think we should tell her?"

"Tell who what?" Hikaru mumbled sleepily.

"Tell Mom . . . about us."

Hikaru was silent for a while, so Kaoru took his chance to continue. "She's going to figure it out soon enough, anyway. Keeping it a secret from he just seems like a waste of energy."

Hikaru hesitated before responding. "I think we're not really hiding from Mom. I think she would handle the news well enough if we just sat her down and talked. But if Mom finds out, she'll tell Dad."

Kaoru began to nod, but quickly stopped. He hadn't realized how close Hikaru's face was to his own. It felt awkward to nod.

"How badly do you think he'll handle it?"

"I don't know. Dad's a wildcard; he might freak out, but he might be cool with it. It's hard to tell with that man."

Their father's cryptic personality didn't help their situation in the least. If they could tell Mom without her telling Dad, the tension might lessen a bit. On the other hand, was it wrong to tell one parent while leaving the other in the dark?

Hikaru brushed the hair out of Kaoru's face, as if sensing his confusion. "Hey, it'll be okay. I promise."

"How can you promise something like that?"

"Well . . . I know that while bad things happen to good people, it always turns out okay in the end."

Kaoru scoffed lightly. "Do you really think our Sunday School lessons apply in our situation?"

"Well, why not?"

"I'm not entirely sure God's on our side this time."

"Kaoru, let me ask you something: If God thought that incest and homosexuality were wrong, why did he make us that way?"

To this, Kaoru had no reply. He did still believe in God, so he couldn't use the atheism argument. He just had to trust his brother's words.

With that in mind, Kaoru let himself sleep.

-X-X-X-

The next day was a snow day, but for once Kaoru was regretting it. The last thing he needed right now was to be stuck in the house with his parents. Apparently, Hikaru sensed his stress.

"Hey, Kaoru," he began calmly. "Maybe you're right. If we can find some way of keeping her from running to Dad, I think we should tell Mom."

"Tell Mom what?"

The twins' heads snapped up to see their mother standing in the doorway to their room, wearing a familiar smirk. It was the kind of smirk that a parent wears when she knows something you don't want her to know.

Kaoru, who was normally so good with words, couldn't think of a thing to say.

"It's fine, boys, we already know."

Kaoru caught the operative word in that sentence. "W - we?" he questioned fearfully.

"Yeah, I was just talking about it with . . . " Yuzuha's voice trailed off as realization dawned on her. "Oh, shit, I should've kept my mouth shut. Maybe it's best if you just stay up here until I can smooth things over with him."

"Anything he has to say about us, he can say to our faces," Hikaru said with finality, standing up.

Fear pulsed through Kaoru's veins. Why couldn't Hikaru think things through for once? His boldness would get them killed one day.

Still, not willing to look like a fool in the presence of his mother, Kaoru stood.

Yuzuha's face betrayed her concern, but she nodded anyway and left the room.

"Are you insane?" Kaoru rounded on his brother as soon as his mother was out of earshot. "You saw Mom's face, right? Dad is going to kill us!"

"It's going to be fine," Hikaru assured. "Just let me do the talking."

"You're kidding, right? The only thing you can talk through is a movie!"

Hikaru stared hard into Kaoru's eyes, and he found himself struggling for breath. It wasn't the first time that the beauty and intensity of his brother's eyes left him speechless, nor would it be the last. "Just . . . trust me, okay?"

Slowly, Kaoru nodded. He was scared out of his mind at what his father might say, but he knew that they were in the same boat. If they went down, they went down together.

Hikaru:

To be completely honest, Hikaru was just as frightened as Kaoru, but after seeing his brother's blatant fear, he put on a brave face. Kaoru just looked so scared and helpless, which is rare in and of itself, that Hikaru felt the need - as both older brother and lover - to protect him.

He had told Kaoru to remain silent, but truthfully, he would have been better to talk through this situation. He was right; the only thing Hikaru could talk through was a movie, and sometimes he couldn't even do that right.

Dinner was an awkward affair. No one said a word, although it was clear by their expressions what they were thinking. Their father, Ryouta, was glaring daggers at his plate, although he was clearly trying hard to keep his emotions under control. Both Hikaru and Kaoru were also staring at their plates, but with as close to blank expressions as they could manage. Yuzuha was glancing back and forth between the two parties, as if expecting one to explode any minute. Normally, in this kind of situation, she would make attempts at conversation, but she was silent, unwilling to be the straw that broke the camel's back.

The tension was so thick, Hikaru honestly thought he could cut it with a steak knife.

Finally, Kaoru coughed and simultaneously set off Ryouta. He slammed his fists onto the table and rose quickly in anger, sending his chair falling to the floor.

"Is it true?" he demanded in his army sergeant voice. "Is what your mother says true?"

Kaoru glanced at his brother, who gulped before nodding. Although he had no idea what Yuzuha had told him, he could pretty well guess.

Ryouta directed his glare from his food to his sons, who tried their best not to cringe.

"How could you bring such disgrace to your family? To think, my sons, the only heirs to the family name, are a couple of fags! And that's not even the worst bit! You know that what you're doing is immoral, not to mention illegal! And, Kaoru, I'm especially surprised at you! Whatever happened to all your 'Praise Gods' and 'Hail Marys'?"

Kaoru visibly shrunk in his seat and looked close to tears. Kaoru wasn't Catholic, but he was still very religious. Ryouta, who was as close to an atheist as a Christian could be, had clearly crossed a line. Hikaru rose from his chair and was about to tell him so, but Yuzuha beat him to it.

"That's enough!" She bellowed, taking everybody by surprise. "Ryouta, I can understand your anger, but I will not stand back and watch while you sit there and verbally abuse my sons! You can calmly listen to an explanation, or - "

"I'm not listening to whatever bullshit they've concocted!" Ryouta interrupted. "Furthermore, I refuse to live with a pair of incestuous faggots under my roof. They need to get the hell out of my house before I report them both!"

"If you kick them out, I'm going too!"

Hikaru stole a glance at Kaoru, who was still looking very small. Damn! he mouthed, and Hikaru allowed himself a small smirk. Who knew? he mouthed back.

"Fine, then, go! I don't care for anyone who defends homos!"

Both twins flinched at the bluntness with which their father stated his opinion. Yuzuha noticed and dropped her voice so they couldn't hear.

"I'll find someone, then!" Ryouta shouted in response to something she said.

After a generous amount of whispering, Ryouta finally sighed heavily.

"Fine," he shot through clenched teeth, "But if I catch either of them in the act, I'm throwing them out the front door."

Yuzuha sat back in her chair and smirked triumphantly.

"Sit down, Hikaru," she ordered sternly without looking at her sons. Hikaru didn't think twice about obeying. "When you have both finished your meals, I want you to go up to your room and stay there for the rest of the night. Your father needs a little time to adjust. Keep in mind that if he sees you doing anything he deems inappropriate, you'll be forced to leave, and there's nothing I'll be able to do about it."

After only a slight hesitation, both Hikaru and Kaoru left hurriedly, scrambling up the stairs and into their room.

They were panting heavily, more from the tension that they escaped than from their hurry up the stairs.

"Thank God we're gay," Kaoru stated frankly.

Hikaru nodded. "I would never have to face the wrath of woman."

I didn't realize the truth behind those words until I had already written them. I kinda feel sorry for you straight guys out there who have to deal with us females. Haha!

Heads up: Next chapter is the cheating scandal I talked about in the last chapter. It'll either be one big chapter or two shorter ones. I only recently realized that you don't know exactly what I intend when I say, "cheating scandal," so I promise it's not as bad as it sounds.

You should know the drill by now: I write my story. You read my story. You REVIEW!

I apologize for any inconvenience. ~ Alexishy