I update fast! Because my readers are lovely and I love you all. This chapter is specially dedicated to Confessions-of-an-Animaholic because I owe her so much! If it wasn't for her keen eyes, I would have destroyed the flow of this story. Thanks!

Ah...really...POOR ME.

Kaoru's Notes

Chapter 25

I called Kyoya earlier and said I would start living with Hikaru—temporarily. My brother still couldn't walk on his own. His doctor said that it would take weeks, his complete healing would depend how determine he was.

Our mother cried in the hospital earlier, she was begging us to come back. She wanted us to live with her in the Hitachiin Mansion. She said she wouldn't leave the country anymore. That was a good thing to hear.

I was surprised, however, when Hikaru refused her request.

"Just tell Haruhi to live with us, Hikaru." Mom told him. She thought that Hikaru's reason was because he was already married.

"We're not really married, Mom." He said and my eyes widened impossibly, as well as Mom's.

"Hey, Hikaru!" I said as I went to him, he was sitting on a wheeled chair. What was he saying? He shouldn't tell Mom about the fake marriage! Everything's a mess right now and Mom wouldn't be able to take it all. This wasn't the right timing.

"It was fake." He added. Mom stopped crying. She sniffed but her reply was unexpected, "Great. Then you have no excuse for not coming back."

What was that? That was…it?

Hikaru pulled my hand and I was dragged closer to him, he said, "I want to live with Kaoru, Mom. He's going to look after me while I'm still like this."

"We're both going to look after you." She said and no was his immediate reply.

"You don't get it, Mom!" Hikaru clenched his free fist, his other hand was still gripping my arm. He's got his temper again. "I don't need your pity. You can just go and busy yourself with other things as you always did. I only need Kaoru."

"You don't have to be like this, Oniisan. Mom cares for you." I told him when our mother started sobbing and whimpering in a corner. "Unless we live in the Hitachiin House, I wouldn't look after you, Hikaru."

He let go of my arm and he was clenching his teeth. Even so, I saw him sighing in defeat. "Fine."

It was only for two days but I think Hikaru and Mom were getting closer. Hikaru would always frown in front of them, especially to Dad when we were little.

I was happy that I was able to bring Hikaru back to this house. He wasn't saying it but I know he cared for Mom. He was not just used to it. I was glad that Mom repaid those times that we weren't together. I was sad, however, that I could no longer feel Dad's presence in this household. We visited his grave three days ago and Hikaru remained silent for the rest of the day.

Every morning I went to Hikaru's room to wake him up. I would encourage him to exercise his numbed feet in the garden. I was always assisting him in his shabby walks. He was progressing. In a few more days, Hikaru might come to walk again without my help.

Haruhi came to our mansion earlier. She had a long talk with Mom and Hikaru was with them, too. If Dad was alive, I think he wouldn't allow such thing to happen. Mom was still grieving over Dad, and I think she didn't want to waste her time in scolding Hikaru for being such a jerk. Tono, Honey, and Mori was also here the other day. The trio would visit Hikaru at least twice a week—except for Kyoya.

I was shocked when Honey-senpai told us the recent news. He was going to get married six months from now. The lucky woman was from a prestigious family, too. Julian Rue. We know her by name but we haven't met her. Mori-senpai was the one who was very sentimental about it. Well, I couldn't blame him. He had served Honey-senpan since time immemorial.

Tono said that he'd he leaving the country by next month—again. I don't know how Haruhi would react to that. But I guess she was letting him go forever. After all, Tono was already married to a beautiful woman. She wasn't really depressed over that matter. In fact, Haruhi left the house with a big smile. And I blushed when she left me with a whisper, "Hikaru's all yours now, Kaoru. Fighting!"

"What did she say, Kaoru?" He asked me when Haruhi was gone. He rolled his wheeled chair towards me. He took my hand and rubbed his cheek on my palm, in a soft voice, he added, "What is it that made you blush?"

Did he notice that? The nerve! I lowered my gaze at Hikaru and I almost jump, he was showering small kisses on my hand—what the hell was he doing inside our house! To think that Mom was still standing a few meters behind us.

"Stop that—Mom's behind us." I pulled my hand but he was desperate not to let me go.

"She's not looking." I groaned when Hikaru sucked in my pinky finger. Oh shit, his mouth was hot. When I remembered that our feelings were mutual, I moaned.

"Hikaru! Kaoru!" Mom called and I pulled away from Hikaru as fast as I could. My face was all red and he laughed—he laughed!

"Your face is red, Kaoru. You're so naughty." I felt like my heart was exploding when Hikaru released my hand.

How…how could he do such a thing!

"Yes, we're coming." Hikaru said as he rolled his chair towards her. But he stopped shortly and said to me, "By the way, Kaoru, I wouldn't stop you if you want to date. Just don't go to Kyoya's arms. Date a serious woman, Kaoru."

What was that all of a sudden? Mutual feelings, huh? The nerve. Even if we loved each other, we're still siblings. We couldn't pursue any love other than brotherly love. I think Hikaru was trying to tell me that.

"Haruhi brought a compensation cake. It will be nice if we can eat this together." Mom said as she horribly sliced the cake. "Hey, Kaoru, would you go and call Tanaka? I think I'm ruining the cake. How do I cut this evenly? Yah! Hikaru! Don't dip your finger on it!"

But wait a minute. Hikaru laughed naturally—didn't he?

We had an unexpected visitor today. Kyoya-senpai.

He brought flowers and sweets for Hikaru and I. I let him in inside the parlor and I said to him, "You didn't call me that you're coming, Kyoya."

"Then it wouldn't be a surprise." He smiled at me. He put the flowers on the table and he opened his long arms for me, "Don't I deserve a hug? I missed you a lot, Kaoru. You barely call me."

I walked to him and because he was taller, I looked up. Then I hit his forehead with my fingers and he cried. "What's that supposed to mean?" He asked.

"I'm just telling that we're inside our house. What would Mom and Hikaru say if they hear you saying that, senpai?" I explained and he pouted.

"When will you become mine?"

"You can wait forever, if you want, Kyoya. " I said. "Hikaru's still recovering. And you know his temper. He warned me not to go back to you."

"He can't control you forever. I will make sure of it."

"But we're brothers. I think he will come to understand me, maybe not now, but let's just…wait. So please, Kyoya, until he recovers completely don't provoke Hikaru."

"I wasn't informed that we have a visitor, Kaoru." Kyoya and I looked in surprise at Hikaru. He was holding his walking stick as he stood by the parlor's door. He wasn't using his wheeled chair anymore.

I was nervous at his sudden intrusion. But he wasn't angry like he used to be whenever he caught me up with Kyoya. He limped towards us then he turned to Kyoya. They were of the same height.

Shoot. Will he get mad again and punch him on the face?

When Hikaru offered his free hand to Kyoya, I was shocked. "I'm sorry for treating you badly, Kyoya. You're my senpai, so, can we start anew?"

I think my jaw had dropped down. It took me a lot of effort to process Hikaru's behavior. Did he say SORRY to Kyoya-senpai?

Kyoya didn't see that coming, too, but he took it anyway and they shake hands. "I was never indifferent to you, Hikaru." Kyoya replied with a smile. I saw Hikaru and he was smiling back at Kyoya. Right then, at that moment, I couldn't wish for more.

Hello beloved! We reached the end of Chapter 25. Whoa.

END OF KAORU'S NOTES PART 1

ONTO KN PART 2

You mad? Angry? Feeling complicated about this chapter? Don't hesitate to voice out your thoughts in the comment area or PM me! This is quite a short chapter but I hope I conveyed the message well. ONTO THE NEXT PART.

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