-At Sixes and Seventeens- e l e v e n- Lets play-

-x-

The which one is Hikaru-kun game got a hell of a lot easier.....

-x-

'Right class,' the teacher said monotonously, 'for a school project, you're working in pairs.'

Kaoru turned to Hikaru, grinning. It's not like helping each other was anything new. They had always paired up for school projects. But when he saw Hikaru grab Haruhi's wrist, he felt his smile die, as if he'd just been slapped in the face.

'I pick the commoner Miss!' Hikaru proclaimed, putting both of their hands up.

Kaoru blinked as some fangirl grabbed his arm and dragged him off to her table, saying she'd pair with him. But some fangirl wasn't who he wanted to work with.

He wanted Hikaru.

-x-

Hikaru and Kaoru sat sheepishly next to each other, on the sofa they used for hosting purposes in front of needy fangirls. Hikaru laughed sheepishly. 'So....'

The girls blinked, waving their hands as if to usher him on into the scenes.

He sweat dropped. I-I cant do the act! I mean....that would make me look pedophile as well as incestuous and gay...!

Not that the girls seemed to care. They were still waiting for the homo freeze frames.

Kaoru grinned, sucking the lollipop that Haruhi found him. 'Which one?' he laughed. Hikaru grinned, albeit slightly sarcastic.

'Yeah,' he said, yanking out the green caps, placing one on his little brothers head, covering his eyes so he couldn't see. 'After a long time, once again Lets play-!'

'The which one is Hika-kun game,' Kaoru finished, giggling from underneath the too large hat.

The girls all squealed. 'Ooh, is the small one Hikaru-kun?' one asked, tittering. Kaoru laughed at her silliness. Hikaru just face palmed.

'Nooooo-woahhhhhh!' Kaoru giggled.

All the girls squealed over excitedly. 'Heeeee's aaadorableeeee!'

Hikaru sighed. Now they know Kaoru is the small one, so the game won't work. Kaoru just grinned, not seeing a problem as he tipped his cap upwards to shoot the hyper girls a grin, causing them to squeal louder than was possibly possible.

Almost reading his mind, and appearing seemingly out of nowhere, Kyoya was behind him, answering his thoughts, 'Kaoru makes a good loli-shota, right?'

Hikaru blinked, turning to where his brother was still being cute. Cute....huh.... Hikaru shook his head. 'Kaoru couldn't pull a Hunny. He couldn't possibly consume that much cake.'

The shadow king tipped his glasses. 'Icecream.'

Who knew one word could cause such a reaction. Hikaru could almost see Kaoru's ears prick up at the mention of the icy substance. Leaping up on the sofa he glomped the dark lord, almost biting his arm in his desperation for the sugar. When the glomping didn't work, Kaoru hopped over to Hikaru, pulling the puppy-dog eyes on him. 'Wan' icecream Nii-san...'

Hikaru visibly flinched at the title, begging himself not to fall for the big eyes, pooling with potential tears. He shot a glare at an uncaring Kyoya. How dare he put him in this situation, simply by mentioning icecream.

Kaoru began to cry. 'I w-w-w-an' the i-i-icecream! Hikaaaaaa-chaaaaaan!'

'No, no!' Hikaru protested, waving his arms about, 'Kyoya-senpai has the icecream! Ask him!'

Kaoru looked up at Kyoya, getting flashbacks from the doctor episode, flinching away. 'No. Wan' it from Hika-chan...'

Hikaru glared at the shadow king again. 'Get him icecream.'

'He wants you to get it,' he replied, stating the obvious.

'Yeah, yeah, whatever, you offered it to him! You get it!' Hikaru retaliated.

Kaoru's eyes widened subtlety. No one but Haruhi noticed.

'He wants you,' Kyoya said, slowly as if explaining it to a child; Kaoru for instance, maybe Tamaki.

The older Hitachiin didn't even bother this time, storming of to sit angrily on the couch, the younger following him dejectedly. Haruhi stared, and then sighed. Kaoru looked close to tears, clutching the cat ears, that had been abandoned from the earlier cosplaying, close to his chest, staring at his little black school boots.

The brunet host walked over to Kaoru, kneeling in front of him. 'Would it be okay if I got you icecream?' Haruhi asked with a slight smile.

Kaoru looked at her warily and slowly nodded. She smiled wider. 'Okay, I'll go get some, alright?' she got up to go to the door, turning back to shoot a sulking Hikaru a glare. He gave her an exasperated look of 'what?' before turning away from her again. The guests looked worried as Kaoru shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

'Kaoru-kun, are you okay?' one asked him. He looked up, blinking before making a very fake grin and jumping up out of his sad little pose.

'I'm A-okay!' he yelled, saluting them cutely. They were kinda dumb, but not morons, so they didn't fall for it. They made sad looks at each other and decided to quiz Hikaru instead.

'Hikaru-kun? Are you okay?' they asked, a little more carefully, as he was more inclined to yell. But he didn't. He sighed, before plastering a slightly more believable grin on his face.

'Ah, I'm just kinda worried about Kaoru, you know,' he sighed, pretty believable, but still dropping into the act.

'Oh?' they questioned further. Kaoru's ears pricked up, as he turned slightly to face Hikaru.

'Yeah, I mean I miss doing things with him,' he said suggestively, pulling Kaoru close, ignoring his protests and queries.

The younger flinched, his bottom lip trembling, as he tried to process what was going on. Why was Hika-nii acting so weird? Why were the girls asking so many questions? When his little mind couldn't figure out an explanation he began to cry.

All the girls double took and started cooing over him, although it made him cry harder. Hikaru distanced himself from the wailing child before picking him up and shaking him frantically. 'Stop, stop! You're okay! You're okay!'

Kaoru wasn't convinced and continued to sob. And he continued that until something considerably cold was pushed into his mouth. He blinked, then licked. Ice......

He grinned, automatically yanking the stick away from Haruhi and biting the ice pop enthusiastically.

Hikaru shot her a look of relief that screamed 'thank you'.

She scowled back, 'You should've got it for him.'

Hikaru blinked. 'What?'

'You know "what."' She rolled her eyes, "And anyway, your brotherly love act won't work if that's the reaction.'

He sighed, nodding. 'Kyoya-senpai has a point...he....is almost cute....'

That felt weird coming from his mouth, but he ignored it.

After all, there were weirder things than that to deal with.

Like a Host Club meeting called automatically after hosting finished.

-x-

Yumi- ^^ Next chapter is uuuuuuuuuup!

Bob- they can see that.

Yumi- (I miss Oko....she's not as mean...)

Bob- Anyway, thank you to Mariel Of Fantasy, who beta-ed this for Yumi

Yumi- Arigatou! ^^ and to Blawww, Well, there is lots, and I have quite a few on my favourites list if you'd like to look there? Hope they help....if you haven't already read them......^^

Bob- You should sign off now

Yumi- .......(go check my poll please, shouldn't be advertising polls on this but just vote okay? It just takes 2 measly minutes out of your busy scheduale so pleeeeeeeease?) Sayounara! ^^