Kiss when people aren't looking

Hikaru was so obvious.

You didn't even need to be his twin to know what he was thinking.

Well, Kaoru mused, glancing mutely over at his brother who seemed to be in deep thought. Unless your name is Haruhi, that is. But she's oblivious personified, so she doesn't count.

Once upon a time, the twins had been so in sync that no-one could tell what Hikaru was thinking... mostly because no-one could actually tell who Hikaru was, even if they talked to the pair for hours on end.

But when Hikaru trusted you enough to be his real self around you, he was the most obvious person in the world.

Just to prove his point to himself, Kaoru settled back with his Nintendo, but left it on pause so he could casually look over at his brother.

Hikaru was frowning to himself, lost in his own world, a faint blush warming the back of his neck that no-one else could see.

He's thinking about that list again.

He suddenly raised his head and opened his mouth very slightly as though he was about to say something, but whatever it was seemed to get stuck and, after quickly glancing at his twin, he went back to thinking.

He wants to ask me something, but he doesn't know how to phrase it.

Suddenly there was the sound of footsteps as someone walked out of the kitchen; Hikaru looked up, before hurriedly slumping back on a fist, a mad flush taking over his face.

Kaoru smirked.

Now... he's being a pervert. How cute.

"Haruhi!" Tamaki yelled loudly, despite the fact he was a mere five feet away from her. "Behold! Your parents-" he enthusiastically motioned to Kyouya and himself, just in case she would somehow get confused, "-are here to walk you home!"

The brunette blinked before looking over at the small group lazing around the host club doors (Tamaki, Kyouya and the twins); a frown came over her face and she noticeably sighed, tucking her bag under her arm. She had just finished clearing up, so had probably expected the rest of the club to have already gone as usual.

Kaoru smiled apologetically to her unspoken complaint.

"Sorry, Haruhi." He laughed. "Hikaru and I wanted to walk with you but then because we were waiting, Tono decided to copy us and wait too and then because he was waiting, he made Kyouya wait for him."

"So we all waited!" Hikaru finished with a grin.

Haruhi raised a tired eyebrow and began slowly making her way to the exit (Kaoru quickly pocketed his game, just in case she tried to make a run for it and they needed a bit of twin-power to keep her with them).

"So..." She drawled, giving them all a weary look. "I've just been tiding up and instead of... Oh, I don't know... actually getting up, you just decided to sit there and wait for me?"

"Yes." Kyouya stated bluntly, his crisp reply interrupting any other attempts to speak. "Now if you don't mind, I have better places to be."

Then he paused to glare at his hyper blonde friend, who was currently hovering round Haruhi like an irksome fly and whimpering that he was very sorry, but he had just had his nails done and he had to keep up looking beautiful ("So you see, Haruhi, I had no choice but to sit there and wait for you! My manicure wouldn't allow it! You understand don't you, my beloved daughter?" "Whatever." ).

And so, with much grumbling, whimpering, and... skipping, the group began walking through the school corridors, comfortable, despite all teasing, in each other's company.

Tamaki was busy chatting about a new brand of commoner's ramen and Kyouya was busy ignoring him, so, out of the three, Haruhi was the only one who noticed how quiet and thoughtful Hikaru was being, as though he was trying to work something out.

If only to distract herself from the fact Tamaki seemed to feel the need to start composing a theme tune for 'commoner's ramen', Haruhi looked over at the oldest Hitachiin and began musing on his out-of-character behaviour.

He had been acting like this a lot lately, being 100% himself then suddenly launching into awkward bouts of deep thought and growing flustered and defensive whenever she asked him about it.

It was beginning to annoy her, especially as she seemed to notice whenever he zoned out.

Since when did she do that?

Just as she was about to bluntly ask him what he was thinking about, Hikaru suddenly broke his silence as magnificently as he could.

"Oh my God!" Hikaru yelled madly, thrusting a finger spectacularly towards the window. "Look! It's... Casanova doing a handstand! In pink spandex!"

"Huh?"

Haruhi sighed and, instead of looking out the window (she wasn't that stupid... Tamaki however, apparently was and was hurriedly looking outside, leaning over Kyouya to get a better view), she gave Hikaru a sceptical look.

She noticed him hurriedly giving the others a searching glance before spinning to face her so suddenly that she blinked and quickly averted her eyes; because if he could her looking at him, he was sure to make a point of dramatically taking it way out of context.

And she couldn't be bothered with that.

But instead of making some loud and obnoxious observation, Haruhi just felt Hikaru's presence step lightly over to her, as silent as... Mori. Just as she turned her head to question him, a flash of red suddenly swooped down and she felt something warm against her cheek and a finger beneath her chin.

Haruhi blinked and she faltered as Hikaru's lips clumsily brushed her cheek, gentle. He kissed her lightly for a mere second before he moved away slightly, his breath hot against her face.

...Crap. Missed.

Haruhi froze as Hikaru quickly slinked off as though nothing had happened and he hadn't just randomly walked up to her and kissed her on the cheek while no-one was looking (the vivid blush splattered across his face begged to differ), his eyes deliberately avoiding hers.

For a second, she stared.

What was that all about? Honestly. He's just trying to get a reaction, as usual. Baka.

...

Um!

Strangely flustered, Haruhi quickly started going through her bag, if only to hide the (admittedly very light) warmth on her cheeks that she was painfully conscious of.

I... must have been spending too much time with Mei. Honestly, what's wrong with me? Well... As long as no-one notice-

"Oh my gosh, Haruhi! Your face is pink! Are you ill, my darling daughter?"

... I hate him.

As expected, everyone suddenly turned all of their attention to her as she quickly waved a hand dismissively at the 'king'; she couldn't help but notice that Hikaru was grinning delightedly at the thought of her blushing as he looked back at her (she didn't seem to register that he was still blushing madly himself).

I knew he was just looking for a reaction. Can't he find anything better to do? Jeeze... why am I still thinking about it?

"Let me see!" Tamaki suddenly burst into her vision dramatically, trying to plonk their foreheads together. "Stop squirming Haruhi, Daddy needs to check your temperature!"

"Get off, Sempai." She grumbled, shoving his head away from her and thanking the skies that her cheeks had calmed down (a quick recovery; Hikaru's lips wouldn't stop tingling for at least another two hours... and then he'd think about it again and they'd tingle for another hour).

"But... but you might be ill!"

"Don't be stupid-"

"Are you ill, Haruhi?"

Haruhi (to her horror) jumped as Hikaru lent his head on her shoulder and breathed teasingly into her ear; his face was slightly pink but his eyes were sparkling mischievously, delighted at her reaction.

"Not at all, Hikaru." Haruhi answered loftily, shrugging his head off her shoulder with a uniform amount of irritation.

Tamaki shouted something loudly into her ear, still trying to find out if she had any symptoms.

Haruhi didn't hear him.

Hikaru stuck out his bottom lip in a pout and mumbled something under his breath.

Haruhi found herself trying to hear him.

Oh God.

What was wrong with her?

Kaoru watched her with a small frown.

He had been walking slightly behind the rest of the group, trying to think of what Hikaru could do next in his effort to gain Haruhi's affection, so it didn't surprise him that his twin didn't seem to notice that he had in fact, been looking straight at him when he'd swooped down on Haruhi and pecked her cheek.

Perfectly understandable.

Right.

As he'd been looking, he had clearly caught the subtle blush and the look of quiet surprise on Haruhi's face. So, obviously, that gave him something to think about.

I wonder... he mused to himself, thinking back to his awkward twin and putting him together with Haruhi's reaction, rolling them around his mind like a sweet. If I watch Haruhi... will I be able to tell what she's thinking?

Is Haruhi being obvious too?

Kaoru tried to smirk as usual, he really did. But something kept a small frown on his face and he ended up having to glance away; he wanted Hikaru and Haruhi to leave their isolated world and be together more than anything in the world, because it made his twin happier than anything in the world.

But he didn't want to be left.

He was a walking dichotomy.

He wanted things to change but... change was scary.

He wanted to grow up but there he was, as childishly contradictory as ever.

Stupid.

Kaoru paused and glanced back to find Hikaru and Tamaki still stubbornly fighting over Haruhi; Tamaki was wailing something about Haruhi's 'delicate womanhood' while Hikaru was shouting back, trying to wrap his arms around her head and prise Tamaki off at the same time.

Haruhi seemed to be unusually quiet, Kaoru observed. And... Was it just him, or was she leaning into Hikaru's touches way more than what could be bluffed as coincidental? He was sure she had been doing that earlier too...

"I swear!" Haruhi suddenly exploded, hitting both of them round the head with one all-mighty swing (while they were still clinging to her). "If you two don't get the hell off me, I'm transferring to Roberia right now!"

"Neh, Haruhiiii!"

"My daughter's rebelling!"

... Maybe it was just him.

Woo! :D I think this chapter's better than the last, so I'm a happy bunny. 8) I hope you all like it too! :D

-pats Hikaru's head- :3 He tried his best. Even though he missed. :D He wouldn't be Hikaru if things went to plan x)

Thankyou to everyone who's reviewed! Bask in your own awesomeness!