A/N: Hey everyone. Yes, I am indeed still alive. First of all, I'm so, so, so sorry for the extremely late update. I do intend to get back to a steady pattern of updates for this story. For a while I had no ideas on what to make this chapter, but then, out of the blue, I got this idea. And now I'm set for the next few chapters to come. Oh, and I hope you've noticed (and even if you haven't, I'm going to bring it to your attention) how much longer this chapter is. The story alone is 1,202 words. Yay for longer chapters! I'll try to keep them around this length from now on, but they probably won't get longer than this. Wow, really lengthy author's note. One that a lot of you probably didn't even read. So, for those of you who are reading this, I'll shut up now and let you read the actual story, the part you're probably WAY more interested in.

Enjoy~!

"How are you feeling, Hikaru?" the high-pitched voice of one of our many customers asked.

"I'm much better now that I can spend all day with my darling Kaoru again." The girls squealed and my brother's smirk grew. When he first got hurt, I'd expected our regulars to take a break from coming to the Host Club. Without Hikaru, the "Brotherly Love" act was put on a temporary hiatus. This, I figured, would drive the girls away for the few weeks it would take him to heal.

However, the day after he'd been hurt, when I explained what had happened and why he wouldn't be there, my original assumptions disappeared. The girls were shocked, tearing up and freaking out. They were all worried about Hikaru, of course. This, I'd expected. But what really surprised me was how many of them were concerned about me as well.

Every day, the girls came to see me, even with my brother at home. It was always the same routine; they'd ask how Hikaru was first, I'd fill them in, and then they'd ask how I was doing. We chatted throughout the time to make up for the act that wasn't going on. Turns out, they find me charming and funny. Talk about flattering.

Kyoya was especially pleased about not losing any profits. Although he was being nicer to me than usual, he was still Kyoya, and his mind couldn't help but to focus on the money. In the weeks that followed out last meeting, we hadn't spoken much. I found no need to request another time to talk with him, and apparently, he felt the same way. We would still have quick conversations every now and then, though.

"Kaoru." Hikaru's voice snapped me out of my thoughts and I realized I'd been spacing out.

"Yeah?" I replied, looking up at him.

"Are you okay?" Worry filled his voice, part of it genuine and part of it dramatized to put on a show. I could feel the eyes of the ladies on me as I nodded.

"I'm fine. Just spaced out there for a minute, I guess." Lately, I had been having issues when it came to keeping my concentration. I caught myself day-dreaming much more often than before, most of the time about nothing, and couldn't figure out a way to put a stop to it.

"What could cause someone as focused as you to lose concentration?" Judging by his tone, I could tell the beginning of a Brotherly Love act was taking place.

"Thoughts of you, Hikaru. They take up so much space in my head, seeing as a part of my mind is always thinking about you." The words weren't a lie, though I knew he thought I was acting. Not having to fake my feelings for him made my stomach twist in guilt.

"Oh, Kaoru. You're so sweet. It's almost too much to take." He got closer and captured my face in his hand, bringing me towards him and only stopping when our lips were nearly touching. The blush that spread across my face wasn't at all feigned. Blood must have been seeping from the girls' noses by now. Sure enough, I heard the eruption of more squeals as he leaned even closer.

My eyes widened ever-so-slightly, because it seemed as though he was going to kiss me. Instead of pressing his lips to mine, though, he titled his head to the side so his mouth was at my ear.

"This whisper could sound like anything to them." That's what he said, and it was true. He kept his voice and so they would have no way to tell what he'd told me. Their imagination ran wild to fill in the blanks, I'm sure. By the ghost-of-a-smirk on my twin's face, I could tell that was exactly what he wanted.

To play up the scene even more, I deepened my blush. "Hikaru! Don't say such things!"

"And why ever not?" Now his smirk spread across his entire face.

"It's embarrassing!" I turned my head in a fake attempt to hide the embarrassment I was pretending to feel.

"You're never embarrassed when I say stuff like that at home."

"Hikaru!" The whiny quality in my voice added effect.

"I'm sorry, Kaoru. I just love to tease you." He smirked apologetically.

"I forgive you," I whispered.

"I'm so glad." Once again, the girls were reacting to the Moe-ness of it all. I couldn't help but to smile.

After the girls left, my brother and I stayed where we were seated on the couch. There were no cosplay outfits to change out of, and no reason for moving, so we decided not to, although we did move apart some to give each other space. After all, we'd originally been sitting really close together.

I took a sip from the cup in front of me. The clicking of dress shoes hitting the floor made me look up in curiosity. Kyoya was pulling a chair up to where we were sitting.

Taking a seat across from us, he said simply, "Hikaru, Kaoru."

"Is everything okay, Kyoya-senpai?" Hikaru was the one to ask, him having beat me to it.

"I just wanted to let the two of you know that you may have to testify in trial against the woman who attacked you, Hikaru. Kaoru, you may have to testify as well, seeing as you are a main witness and the one who found your brother."

I cringed. We would have to testify. That meant being in the same room as that horrible woman. The idea alone made me sick, and I couldn't imagine what it was doing to Hikaru. Sure enough, he was paler and had a look of dread on his face. Kyoya must have sensed our emotions, because he began speaking again.

"I know it will be very difficult for both of you. Believe me, I wouldn't be worrying either of you with it if I didn't feel it was necessary. Now, although I can't be entirely sure on the situation, it is more than likely you will both be required to attend the trial. Whether or not you testify is up to your lawyer, and hers. As far as I know, they do have evidence against her, but if her lawyer is a good one, that may not be enough. I'm guessing both of you will be trained on what to do in case you are pulled up to speak. I just want you to be prepared for that."

"Thank you for the heads up." Hikaru merely nodded in agreement to my comment.

"Of course. That's all I wanted to tell you. If you need anything over the weekend, just call." He stood up and grabbed his bag, putting the chair back where it had been. As he walked away, I heard my brother give out a sigh, though not one of relief by any means.

"Do you think you can handle doing this?" I was worried about him. I couldn't help it; him being my brother, it's my job to protect him.

His quiet reply came much quicker than I thought it would.

"I'll have to."