Hikaru was worried when he went to school on Monday. He hadn't heard anything from Kaoru, not even a text. Parking his car, he slammed his car door shut and slung his blue backpack over his shoulder, heading for the front of the school. The other students were streaming towards the front entrance. Hikaru scanned the crowd, looking for his friends.

As he went to cross the street from the parking lot, an SUV slowed in front of him, turning into the drop-off lane. Hikaru walked around it as it settled to a stop, and he pushed the heavy backpack further up on his shoulders.

"Hikaru!" someone called from someone nearby.

Hikaru swung around and was met with the surprising view of Kaoru clambering out of the expensive, sleek SUV. "Wait up," Kaoru called with a smile on his face.

Hikaru just watched, dumbfounded, as Kaoru hopped down onto the pavement, taking a step in his direction. "Don't forget your backpack," a man behind the wheel said, leaning towards Kaoru.

"Right," Kaoru replied, reaching back into the vehicle to grab a brand new backpack.

Hikaru tilted his head, trying to catch a better view of the man. He had dark black hair and amber eyes. He was smiling at the two of them. "Who…?"

"This is my dad," Kaoru said happily, gesturing with his hand to the guy.

"Meaning…"

"He's your dad too," Kaoru inputted. Kaoru shrugged on his bag.

Hikaru glanced warily at his… dad. "Hi," Hikaru said slowly.

"Hello," Mr. Hitachiin replied, reaching forward over Kaoru's seat. "It's nice to finally meet my other son."

Hikaru took his hand in a firm handshake, squinting at him. There was something about him…

"Okay, see you after school dad, I got to get to class," Kaoru said, bracing the door.

Mr. Hitachiin dropped Hikaru's hand. "Okay. Maybe we can have Hikaru over too sometime, catch up a little."

Kaoru nodded, "Alright." And he closed the door and backed away. It didn't take long for Mr. Hitachiin to pull away from the curb, heading off towards the main road. Kaoru glanced at Hikaru and started strolling away saying, "Come on. We're going to be late."

Hikaru gaped before quickly catching up to his brother. "What was that?"

"What was what?" Kaoru asked, looking at Hikaru in utter confusion.

"You and your dad?"

"Oh," Kaoru realized and gave Hikaru a quick smile. "He took me in this weekend."

"Just like that? Is he a good guy?" Hikaru questioned, waiting as Kaoru opened the front door and they walked inside.

They began walking down the long hallways, heading towards the sophomore lockers. "Yeah," Kaoru said, turning into the hall by his locker. He stopped in front of it but his hand paused on the dial. "At least, I think he is."

"That's not very reassuring," Hikaru pointed out. He watched as Kaoru's face flickered into doubt and back again.

Kaoru spun the dial. "He took me in and is helping me out with everything. He's changed."

"Changed from what?" Hikaru asked, extremely suspicious.

Kaoru forced open the locker, revealing his mess inside. He began to rummage through the books and notebooks. "Nothing. I just know he's better now."

Hikaru leaned against the locker next to Kaoru's, watching as his brother's smile faded. Kaoru's movements slowed and he paused with his algebra book halfway into the locker. He tilted his head and glanced at Hikaru, his face completely serious. "You don't think he would hurt me again, would he?"

There was no time to reply, when suddenly a fist slammed into the locker behind Hikaru, making the two of them jump. Tamaki appeared at their side laughing, "I scared you, didn't I?"

Kaoru plastered on a fake smile. "You scared me out of my wits."

Later, they were in their home economics class and the assignment of the day was to make their choice of baked item. Hikaru and Kaoru had picked the "daunting" task of making brownies. Kaoru dumped the flour into the bowl.

"I think the flour is supposed to go in last," Hikaru said, looking down at their recipe.

Kaoru rolled his eyes. "I don't think the brownies care which way it's mixed."

Silence descended upon them once again and they worked in silence. It had been like this ever since the incident at the lockers. Hikaru poured the teaspoon of baking soda into the mixing bowl. Hikaru sighed, setting the measuring spoon down on the white counter. "Kaoru…"

"Just come over to my house after school, okay?" Kaoru glanced up as he poured the sugar. "Then you can decide for yourself if he is a bad guy."

Hikaru looked right into Kaoru's eyes, searching. "Okay," Hikaru agreed.

Kaoru smiled. "I can pick you up at your house."

Hikaru's eyes widened. "Pick me up? You mean…"

His grin grew as he smiled. "Yup, I have a car now. And I'm taking my license test on Friday."

"Oh man, that's great Kaoru," Hikaru exclaimed, pushing Kaoru affectionately in the shoulder. The sugar in Kaoru's hand shifted sharply, sending a shower of white crystals into the air and all over the gray linoleum floor.

"Mr. Hitachiin, clean up your mess immediately!" the teacher cried, walking by angrily.

"Right away!" Kaoru replied, giving a salute to her turned back.

Hikaru snickered, trying to keep himself under control. "You better get cleaning, Kaoru."

Kaoru glared before grabbing the broom from the side of the table. "Here you go Hikaru, I know how much you wanted to sweep."

"No way, you're the one who can't hold stuff properly."

Kaoru smiled evilly, picking up the bag of sugar once again. He deliberately dumped a good amount onto the floor and quickly replaced the bag. "Hikaru's wasting supplies!" Kaoru called out into the room. The class began laughing as the old woman hollered, "Mr. Nagamu!"

Hikaru promptly flicked flour into his brother's long orange hair, laughing hard. "Oh that's it!" Kaoru cried, grabbing the flour bag from Hikaru's hand.

"No!" Hikaru laughed, dodging out of the way and grabbing the nearest girl to use as a human shield. She screeched in surprise as the flour showered the two of them. Suddenly the whole class was joining in, grabbing their own cooking supplies.

In the background, the Home Economics teacher yelled, "Boys, boys! Stop this immediately! Detention for the both of you!"

But they kept laughing as Kaoru dumped the rest of the bag over Hikaru's head. They were going to be in so much trouble.

Note: I don't actually know what Mr. Hitachiin looks like, nor do I know his actual name.