Disclaimer I do not own Ouran Host Club.
Back in our world by Alimackatjac
Chapter 27 Reflections.
Mori's POV
Mitsukuni blinks back at the miserable woman, glumly sitting on the rumpled king size bed. With the blue sheets haphazardly draped over her legs. A curtain of messed brunet hair falls limply around her folded arms, resting on the tops her knees. "Wait, Haru-chan. You want Takashi and I to take you back, to Japan?" He softly asks in an incredulous tone causing the brunette to sadly shake her head, nestled in her arms.
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"No, not Japan." Her glistening chocolate eyes slowly lift, to meet my cousin's concerned eyes, "Japan hasn't been my home for a very long time. I just want to go back to the states….where I belong. " The emotional brunette turns her swimming eyes back to the window. Bathing her pained face in a strip of blueish moonlight, peeking through the drawn curtains.
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"Haru-chan, why don't you ask the twins? They would be more than happy to fly you anywhere, you want to go."
"I tried." She lets out a heavy sigh, lifting her hand to her emotional eyes, before turning back around, to face me. "They flat out refused my request. You know how those two can get, you can never really tell what their scheming next." She lets out a nervous chuckle, forcing a smile on her lips. "Anyway, they, refuse to take me home, while ignoring the simple fact that Kao brought me her in the first place. They have this crazy misconception I'm broken, or some utter nonsense, like that. Honey- sempi, all I want to do is go back to my life in the States…..I don't belong here. "
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Just by her forced expression, I could tell she wasn't being truthful to us as well as herself. The mere shell of our old friend tries in vain to deceive what our eyes can plainly see. She's no longer the vibrant girl we once knew. The ambiguous girl I had fell in-… Noticing where my dangerous thoughts were leading me I quickly forced them back, burying them deep….I had decided a long ago there was nothing I could do.
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Dressed in a pristine white dinner jacket my firmly resolved cousin pulls his broad shoulders back, adamantly shaking his head. "Then… I'm sorry Haru-chan, but I won't go against the twins' wishes."
"Why not?!" Haruhi's somewhat surprised by Mitsukuni's firm answer, sternly pointing her finger at my determined cousin. "You said you wanted to earn back my friendship …..My trust. Taking me back home would go a long way in doing just that. I don't belong here ….I never really did! "
A flash of gold streaks in my cousin's glaring eyes. "You're wrong Haru-chan! You need to stop saying that…If there's anywhere you belong… its right here, right now!" Mitsukuni unfolds his arms, before sharply pointing to floor.
"How the hell can you say that? You can't say you know me… I'm not the same girl you once knew. " Haruhi quickly snaps back.
"I may not know you as you say, but my eyes see enough! "He turns away from the peeved brunette, sliding his hand over his frustrated head. "Listen, Haru-chan, I know your hurt, and you have every right to be….All this time, you thought we pushed you away. I know it's going to be difficult for you, but you've got to start trusting again…. and from where I'm standing, it might as well be Hika-chan and Kao-chan." The pink fur ball slips from Mitsukuni stubbornly crossed arms. "Because as long as I've known the twins they've never done anything to hurt you." He sadly drops his eyes to the floor, as his tone turned somber. "Even when it caused them…. pain."
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"All three of you, need time to heal….from the past." I added to my cousin's reasoning.
"Yeah, that's right, Takashi" Mitsukuni sharply nodded his head. "Haru-chan, you need to stop running …. You three need each other. Thanks to you, the twins are beginning to inch out of their painful past. " My cousin stepped closer to Haruhi as he leaned in, unfolding his arms to gently lift her chin. "Now, they want that for you… is that so wrong? Isn't it worth sticking around for? " He gives her a reassuring smile before dropping his hand.
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"No, I'm afraid you're wrong, Honey –sempi." She shakes her head, as her cheeks begin to warm. "You see, they have these awful pictures…from my past." She turns her head away from my cousin, hiding her blushing face. "I've been trying to remember… when they could have been possibly taken, but I barely knew those men in those photos, and I wasn't even around the twins back then…I have no idea how they even acquired them." Haruhi's voice grew distant, "When I was with 'my choice' it caused too much pain for the three of us to be around each other, so I stayed away from them." Haruhi dropped her confused head into her hands. "Damn it! Just thinking about it makes my head hurt so freaking much."
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"Haru-chan, the twins had nothing to do with those despicable pictures, they were given to your dad by Kyoya."
"K…Kyoya?" Our old friend's face went completely ashen with the mention of the Shadow King.
"Yes, I'm afraid he used them to blackmail Ranka out of Japan… You had been through so much he didn't want you hurt by seeing them. If you don't believe me, just call him. I'm sure, he'll tell you the truth about them, now that you know of their actual existence."
Our defeated friend sadly rests her head in her folded arms, softly mumbling to herself. "So that's why dad suddenly moved to the states. I always knew there had to be something more than just missing me, for him to leave mom like that. My father loved everything about Japan. The food …the traditions, but most of all, he loved the spirt of its people. How their diligent and hardworking but when all said done they know how to cut loose and celebrate life. I never thought he would ever leave. Wait, if you weren't a part of it as you been saying …..Then how do you know what really happened?"
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"Haru-chan, during the twins' little visits with your father, he told them what really happened that night ….before he went to Kasanoda for help. Then knowing a little something about the Shadow King, the rest was easily pieced together." Mitsukuni sadly gazes at the floor, gathering his courage, before be begins to timidly tell her the truth. "Um, I'm sorry to have to tell you this Haru-chan…but the reason you can't remember is because…..well… you were drugged Haru-chan."
"What?" She whips her head up from her folded arms.
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Mitsukuni sadly nods his head to the stunned brunette, "and my guess is…. it was by Ootori, himself."
She suddenly lets out a stunned gasp as her hands quickly cover her mouth. "I should have known he would go that far …..To cover it up." Her wide chocolate eyes peeked over her hands as she mumbled to herself.
Mitsukuni flips up his head, with an astonished look on his face. "Haru-chan? Do….do you know something?"
She slides her hands from her mouth, and avoids looking Mitsukuni in the eye. "Uh, it doesn't really matter...it was a long time ago….It won't change anything."
Mitsukuni reaches a hand out, resting it on her shoulder. "How do you know it won't change anything? Haru-chan, if you know something, you need to tell one of us." Mitsukuni pleads with his concerned cinnamon brown eyes. "It's only going to help you, and the twins in the long run."
The brunette sinks in deep thought for a long silent moment, before shaking her head and pushing away my cousin's comforting touch. "No, there's nothing."
"Haru-chan?" My worried cousin looks up to our depressed friend in disbelief.
"Okay, I'm willing to consider the pictures of me were from-"She quickly changes the subject, unwilling to continue with the painful thought. "But, what about the others….of the twins? I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure those were real….and those other women looked a lot like," Her face nervously dropped to her fidgeting hands," Well, they uh… looked a lot like ….. me."
My cousin awkwardly drops his eyes, as he anxiously touches his fingers together. "The others?" He reaches up, and nervously rubs the back of his neck. "Well….. the other pictures are-. "
"Creepy." I quickly cut my cousin off in a matter of fact tone.
Mitsukuni roughly swallows, "Yeah, sure, I'll admit they're somewhat creepy," he nervously slides his eyes away. "However in a twisted way, it also shows how much their hurting inside… for you Haru-chan." Mitsukuni lets out a long breath before he lifted his eyes, giving the brunet a heartbreakingly honest expression. "You see Haru-chan once you left with Tama-chan they were barely holding it together….No more pranks, no more laughter …the twins just lived day to day, to simply exist."
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"The Hitachiin family." I reminded my blonde cousin.
With my words, Mitsukuni's glaring eyes flashed over in my direction. He adamantly shakes his head causing me to sharply nod mine, insisting she be told….no more lies….no more secrets. "You see Haru-chan, it wasn't just myself and Takishi that grew concerned with the twins' behavior. It's nothing that has ever been substantiated by the twins, but there were things said by trusted individuals, close to the Hitachiin family"
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"Dark rumors." I nodded my head sharply.
My cousin softly nodded his head before cautiously speaking. "Takashi, is right. Dark rumors begin to swirl around the twins. Its' said the Hitachiin family was especially scared for Hika-chan's state of mind and how mentally fragile he actually was. Ouran, just wasn't the same, they just went through the motions of their third year…Especially Hika-chan. He spent the absolute bare minimum attending school, and even then, he would walk around in a depressing haze the entire time. Of course Kao-chan would never leave his side…and quite literally dragged his twin to school."
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"Wait, I thought you could tell them apart?"
"It's true, normally for most people it was difficult telling them apart ….However, thanks to Hika-chan's depression he refused to eat ….and I'm afraid it wasn't long before you could easily tell the two apart. I'm not sure if Kao-chan had his own issues or just wanted to comfort his twin in some crazy way, but Koa-chan also stopped eating."
"Those two were a miserable sight." I added.
"I'm afraid the twin's isolationist behavior increased dramatically from before entering the club …. The Hitachiin family grew deeply concerned Hika-chan would one day break and well," The last two words were forced from my cousin's lips. "…. end it."
"What?" Her hands fly to her mouth, as large salty drops trail down her shaky fingers. "No, with me out of the way Hika was supposed to move on." Her words come out in broken muffled whispers. "What…. have I done?"
Old thoughts lingered as my hand found its way to my aching chest. Remembering the others…the others that wanted to come forward and confess…. However, early on, it was evidently clear in Haruhi's case, it would be one-sided …. Her heart always belonged to the two mischievous twins. So the rest of us remained silent and watched as the lies unfolded around us….
….The lie to the club…The lie the twins told each other.
Most importantly...
….the lie Haruhi told herself.
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"I'm sorry Haru –chan, but Takashi, and I think you need to hear the truth." My cousin lets out a heavy sigh before continuing. "It's said, one night Hika-chan was traveling overseas and was swallowed in his own hopelessness. Luckily, Kao-chan interrupted his dark spiraling thoughts and pulled him out with a simple phone call. Once he was convinced Hika-chan was stable, he immediately flew out and brought his brother back. No one saw the twins for quite some time after that, until one day they popped up and started working like crazy."
"So this is what Kaoru was hiding …This is because of me." She sadly spoke to herself as she rested the side of her head in her folded arms, placed on her bent knees.
"My source informed me, two years after Hika-chan's incident, Kao-chan was summoned to his grandmother's house. Waiting for him there, were the Hitachiin elders. You see Haru-chan, even though Hika-chan became a strong leader, their family was concerned of an impending relapse, and unfortunately…. how it would permanently sully the family's name. The elders figured as long as the episode happened locally, the truth could easily be concealed. So it was decided they would transfer day to day oversight of both their parents companies to Hika-chan, as the family's rightful heir, but only on contingent, he unknowingly would remain in Japan. Koa-chan would do the majority of the travel for Yuzuha's company. On the surface, they became a single formidable heir the Hitachiin family desired, but inside…they struggled."
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Haruhi hugged her folded legs tightly, burring her face in her knees…as she was being submerged in the dire truth of the twin's woeful past. However I continued, "With your sudden disappearance, Hikaru stayed in a dark place for years."
"Kao-chan wasn't much better. They both began to drink heavily, often refusing to stop until loss of consciousness. Different women would cross their paths, which they would use to repeatedly try and fill a spot that just could never be filled. Of course, this was observed from a distance…..You see Haru-chan, once you disappeared, the twins turned their back on the rest of us."
"They closed the gates on themselves," I added.
"The twins have been frozen in time, unwilling to move forward." I nodded my head in agreement with my blonde cousin. "And from what I see …you are too, Haru-chan."
She avoids looking at my cousin. "Honey-sempi, for me it's…just complicated." She lets out a sigh before throwing out her arm, "Besides have you met my overly protected father, he doesn't exactly make it easy. I mean he has an entire mob family at his disposal."
My cousin lets out a playful chuckle, "That's true, I did see the evidence all over Hika-chan's face. Your father could easily come and work for me. He really did a number on poor Hika-chan."
"Uh yeah." Her eyes became dull and depressed, as she turned her face away from my chuckling cousin. It was obvious she didn't appreciate her father's harsh behavior towards the twins, in the slightest.
Mitsukuni's chuckle died, after seeing Haru's reaction. "Haru-chan, I'm sorry I didn't mean-"
She throws out a hand and cuts off my cousin, "It's okay, it's just another thing I've caused." letting out a frustrated sigh, "He could have been killed….they both could have been-"She trailed off with the painful thought, "and it would have been because of me ….this entire mess is because of me ….and my stupid choice ….I just keep hurting them."
Hearing the distraught brunet chastise herself, caused long kept secrets to bubble in the pit of my stomach, to intensify into a boiling rage, scorching every nerve throughout my entire body.
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"Haru-chan the twins don't care about any of that. They would do it again, without even blinking because it eventually led them back to you….. In the here, and now." Mitsukuni reaches for our distraught friend, firmly holding the side of her arms. His eyes turn stern with a serious expression, "Haruhi, you need to get this through your head. When it comes to myself, Takishi, and the twins we've never once considered you a burden." He nervously chews on his lip, internally debating on what to say until he cautiously speaks. "…. In fact ever since you joined the club, the twins have been in love with you." His lips grow in a wide reassuring smile. "And Haru-chan …I also know you love them too."
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Haruhi's mouth drops for moment, before shaking her head, "Okay, let's say you're right, Honey-sempi… Is it enough? Is it enough to work past all this bullshit?"
"The pain, the lies, the creepy pictures, I believe you three can work pass anything. ….Deep down you know the twins would never hurt you."
"Honey-sempi, do you really think that's true? I mean about working pass all this, do you really think it's possible? I mean were from completely different worlds."
"Sure Haru-chan, all you have to do is keep this door open." Mitsukuni reaches over and points at the brunet's heart. "After you do that …who knows what might happened?" My cousin's knowing cinnamon eyes slide over to meet mine, silently reminding me of what I needed to carry out, and a moment later, they bounce back to the brunet.
She lifts her hand, rubbing the back of her neck, "Yeah, well maybe." Her teasing eyes slide over, "So no lift back home?"
My cousin laughs while shaking his head, "I'm afraid not …..It's time for you to stop running, Haru-chan. You're so close to realizing what's just out of reach. If you stay, I promise you it will all be worth it. "
She lets out a sigh, dropping her hand from her neck, before shrugging her shoulders. "Well, you can't blame a girl for trying."
"Yeah you tried, I'll give you that much." Mitsukuni lets out an amused chuckle.
"I'm not completely convinced, but I will say, I'll give it some serious thought." The brunette hesitantly nods her head.
"That's all we ask. Isn't that right Takashi?" My cousin turns to me, causing me to nod my head.
The brunet raises a teasing eyebrow over her red chocolate eyes. "Well, if I can't get a lift, then maybe you two can tell me what's going on …..With you?"
"Really Haru chan?" My blonde cousin beamed with excitement.
A wide smile grew on the brunette's lips, patting the spot next to her. "Yeah sure, why not?" I watched my cousin excitedly plop down next to our old friend and pull out his phone.
Seeing my cousin's phone I knew it would be a while….a long while ….and with this searing hot feeling quickly consuming every cell within my body, it demanded the time, and more importantly the space to deal with it. "Mitsukuni, I'll be back."
My cousin could tell how I was feeling inside, "Oh, not a problem Takashi. We'll be right here catching up." My cousin playfully kicked his legs over the side of the massive bed, while swiping through endless pictures on his phone.
With that said, I hastily made my way to the polished shared door, between the two suites. My shaky hand quickly reaches into my silken pocket and pulls out not one, but two keycards. My eyes drop down to the black plastic rectangles held between my fingers, before choosing the right one and unlocking the door. My hand rested on the gilded handle while I looked back over my shoulder. Seeing my bubbly cousin proudly pointing at various baby pictures on his phone, and of course the evil fur ball perched right next to him. Seeing the evil pink bunny so close to the brunet, I wanted to snatch the thing off the bed and huff it out the closest window, but I couldn't waste what precious time I had left. With a frustrated sigh and a roll of my eyes, I crossed the threshold to the twins' suite.
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The memory of those woeful chocolate eyes caused my chest to blaze…and my tightly clinched fists to shake.
I headed straight for the bathroom, passing the lavishly decorated bedroom, ignoring the tossed clothing, on the floor. I hastily made my way to the bathroom's sink as the long held feeling begins to rage, and incinerate what little self-control I have left. In a desperate need for anything to calm the burgeoning explosion within, I hurriedly reach out to the cold water knob, giving it several turns. I can instantly feel the cool air lightly kiss my heated skin, from the running facet. With my body needing even more relief I slip my cupped hands under the chilled stream of water ,allowing it to pool in my trembling hands . Once brimming to the edges on my cupped hands, I don't hesitate to toss the cold water against my face, allowing splashes of clear liquid to escape out the side of my hands. Not wasting another moment, I repeat the process before cutting off the frigid water. My shaking wet hands tightly grip around either side of the small marble counter, with my dropped head held over the sink. Chilled drops of water slide down my cheeks and chin as old regrets resurface.
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Truth… why the hell couldn't the truth have been said….
Fighting to regain control, my trembling hands continue to grip on the counter like a vise, causing my knuckles to turn white. My tense shoulders violently shake as tidal waves of rage overwhelm me. I lifted my head, seeing drops of water slide down and frame my struggling face.
All those lies …all those damn years….
My straining hand rips from the counter, tearing through the air, angrily striking my lethal reflection with a precision fist. Instantly causing a fractured bullseye, with broken shards flying in all directions. A few blood covered pieces of broken mirror fall and "clink" into the empty porcelain sink. My pained eyes reflect back in the shattered mirrored web as my all-consuming guilt spills from my strained lips.
"Why couldn't I…. have said the truth?"
End of Mori's POV
Kaoru's POV
Loosely holding my newly acquired Hitachiin jacket over my achy shoulders, as my tired golden eyes reflect back in the stainless steel door, waiting for the impending "ding." I tried to sneak away earlier, but when the press calls….Especially when you're debuting a new line, you unfortunately find yourself chained to the event. Hell, you're lucky if you don't greet the cleanup crew on your way out.
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When I finally made it back to the hotel, I noticed a small skeleton crew at the front desk, mainly there for forgotten keycards. Usually by half drunken men, accidently streaking around the hotel, wearing scarcely more than a pair of boxers. Too excited, and, or distracted to remember a simple, but indispensable room key, after slipping out for a bucket of ice…..Trust me, that small bucket becomes the only thing between you and a brief, but mortifying experience to the lobby.
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With the ever popular, "ding" the stainless-steel doors quietly slide open, allowing entry to the awaiting elevator. Once the doors closed, I let out a relieved sigh, as I'm just mere minutes from my room, and, quite thankfully my bed. Noticing the practically deserted lobby, I was curious to know the actual time. Sliding my phone from my pants pocket, before dropping my golden eyes to the brightly lit numbers. Catching myself somewhat scowling at the time, as it's evidently clear even my twin would be in bed by now.
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Well, that is if Honey and Mori have seen fit to allow us access to our suite. Hell, I'm not sure my bruised body could take an uncomfortable night, passed out in the car. I quickly shake my head, knowing if Hika had to make other sleeping arrangements for us, he would have at least texted me. Seeing as my phone never left my side, and I checked it every five minutes for an update, I'm fairly confident he's tucked away in our bed, snoring as usual..
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My distracted head suddenly flips up to find the stainless-steel door open. I quickly stepped across the threshold of the elevator and out into the elegantly decorated hall…. Of course, it wasn't the impending invitation to my hotel suite I was constantly checking my phone for. A frustrated sigh blows against my lips as my feet silently walk through the deserted corridor, until they arrive at a familiar door. My lost eyes stare at the polished door …. Wondering how the depressed brunet was fairing behind it …..
….As this was the room that plagued my thoughts the entire evening.
Since the incident, she refused to leave her room, and only spoke occasionally to Jake. According to my driver, she preferred to spend her time in the dark…. Just the thought of such an angelic creature surrounding herself in darkness shatters my heart…..How could I have failed her so miserably?
Well, at least I have a small sliver of hope, since she hasn't demanded to be taken home just yet. I have no idea what I would do If I was suddenly faced with the dreadful request…Seeing her in such a dark place, knowing I caused her further pain….made me question myself...Of course, lately that's all I been doing . My glassy eyes stare at the slab of wood in front of me, wondering if the stubborn woman would be more inclined for a late night chat. Finding my curled fingers unconsciously in the air, next to my head, ready to knock on the door…..
….Because Damn it, I so burned to talk to her.
But instead, I found my forehead silently resting on the cursed door, with my open palm lying flat against the wood. Just wishing the door would open so this piercing pain in my chest would find relief. These days were excruciating, I hated being the unwavering twin, the strong resolute twin ….when actually I'm the weakest one. There's been sooo many times I wanted to break this freaking door down. If Hika only knew how close he's come to convincing me ….I swear just one more pout, one more word would have crumbled my resolve. With a heavy sigh, I begrudgingly pull my head from her door and walk next door, to enter my suite.
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A few minutes later…
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A small satisfied smirk curled at my lips as the first few reviews of the show begin to arrive in my email. Just by the quick scans of the articles, it's beginning to look like a very promising season….and for this, I'm somewhat relieved as it's at least one part of my life proceeding as expected…..because everything else seemed to be teetering on the very edge. My eyes were quickly drawn away from my phone by a small strip of light. Finding it a bit strange to see a beam of light shining from under the door, at this time of night. Seeing as I would prefer not to relive my previous experience, I cautiously extend a hand out to slowly open the door. Hearing nothing but silence my eyes lift up from the floor, revealing my twin sitting on the bed, propped up by various pillows. I could tell he had recently taken a shower, as his damp ginger hair is sweptback and his muscled body is loosely wrapped in a stark white terry cloth robe.
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With a small amused chuckle, I set my stainless steel phone on a round wooden table, in front of the bed. Swinging my jacket over my shoulder to carefully slide it over a polished wooden chair. With a relieved sigh, I quickly slipped from my shoes, socks, allowing my pale toes to sink into the stark white ornamental rug. "Hika, by the looks of the early reviews, Hitachiin designs could have another record breaking season." Casually speaking to my twin as I step further into our shared suite. However, to my surprise he didn't acknowledge my arrival, obviously distracted as his long agile fingers dance across his tablet's screen.
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"I see Honey-sempi allowed you back into the suite, so I guess this means we don't have to sleep in the car." Letting out a small chuckle with my little joke. However, it quickly died on my lips as Hika showed no response, with his attention completely submerged into the digital pages of his tablet.
With a slight tug, I gently pulled my pale yellow shirt tails from inside my dark slacks, allowing them to brush against my covered thighs. Lifting my fingers to my shirt's delicate buttons as I turned to walk to the closet, my golden eyes sparked with a truly wicked idea. A sure fire way to earn my twin's immediate attention. "Damn, and I was sooo looking forward to cuddling up next to Jake. Well, I guess there will be other nights." I blindly added with a casual tone.
"Damn it Kao, that's not funny in the slightest!" A wide knowing smile slides across my lips as I hear my twin sharply snap back. "I can't believe your joking about sleeping with that blonde idiot's look alike….that's just going too far." My irritated brother grumbled from the other room.
Hika's abrupt response caused me to silently snicker in the walk-in closet, stopping my hands half way down my shirt. Walking back into the bedroom, with my hands up in defense. "Alright, alright, truce? I didn't mean it. It's just you didn't say anything …even with my little joke."
Hika speaks in a distracted tone, as his attention is once more absorbed in his tablet. "I would have laughed ….if your little joke was funny."
I rolled my eyes, speaking in a sarcastic tone. "Oh, you're sooo hysterical big brother."
"Kao, how do you feel about buying another textile company," Hika lifted his head, revealing my twin nervously biting his bottom lip. "This time, a fairly large one?"
I was more than a little concerned by Hika's apparent apprehension, when it came to running the family businesses his proficiency is usually beyond reproach, despite his usual slacker mentality. I shrugged my shoulders as my fingers unbuttoned the rest of my shirt. "Um, I'm not really sure? Listen Hika, you know I would just love to hear about the numbers and all," Speaking in a sarcastic tone, lifting my folded arm out to the side, before slowly rotating it. "But my throbbing shoulder is killing me. I think I landed on it wrong when Mori hurled my body in the air like a rag doll."
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Hika blindly speaks while his eyes slide back to his flashing screen. "Hmm….you mean where you flew over my head, and screamed like a little girl?"
"Hey! It didn't help my shoulder in the slightest when you used my body as your own personal landing strip!"
"Like I had any control over that. Let's see how did that go, again? Oh, that's right. Please excuse me, Mori –sempi, but since your about to rocket my ass out the door ,do you mind throwing me two feet away from my little brother? You see I would feel just terrible if my stunned face plummeted into his flatted body." Hika blindly scoffs while his eyes stayed fastened to his work. "Yeah, like that happened. Tsk, tsk, little brother, I think you're quick to forget, I was trying my darndest not to be tossed out, in the first place."
"Now you decide to pay attention?" Giving Hika a sharp look .
"It's called multitasking." Hika lifted his head, purposely fluttering his eyes, in my direction, "I'm sure you've heard of it."
I lifted my hand, giving him a dismissive wave. "Whatever tablet boy, I'm just going to hop in the shower real quick, before bed." I walk off, as I begin to slowly peel my fully unbuttoned shirt off my tender shoulder, while heading into the bathroom.
"Kao, stop! I wouldn't go in there!" My brother yelled out from the bedroom.
"Now who's screaming like a little girl?" I yelled over my shoulder, while blindly walking into the bathroom. Letting out an amused chuckle as I turn back around just before my mouth drops to the floor, with pure and utter shock of what my bulging eyes are now clearly witnessing. Since I wasn't exactly fond of wearing a hardhat while being naked, let alone under water…..and seeing the damn shower, is flat out gone, I hastily whipped my body around and head back to the bedroom. "Hika, what the hell happened to the bathroom?" Wildly flinging my arms to the door, which seemed to be the only thing remaining fully intact. Although to my surprise, my brother completely ignores my animated antics causing me to let out an irritated huff, before marching over to the bed, lightly tapping him on the shoulder. "Uh, Hika?"
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My distracted brother hums out in response while completely absorbed in his tablet. "Hmm?"
With my brother's uninterested response, my hand came up and slapped my throbbing head. "Hika, my beautiful glass shower. The bathroom. What happened?" My words came out in somewhat of a pout.
"Yeah, yeah, that sounds good, Kao." My distracted brother mumbles out, his attention is completely being held captive by his work.
"Hika, are you even listening to me?" More than a little frustrated with my twin's fleeting attention span, "Hika….Hikaru!"
He snaps his head up, while pulling his earbuds out with a quick tug. "What is it Kao?!" Just then, my loosely balled up shirt smacks him, square in the face. He lifts his hand, peeling my crumpled shirt from his irritated face, tossing it to the floor. "What the hell is the matter with you?"
"Well, at least now, I have your full attention!" Takeing a frustrated moment to regain my composure. Only speaking after a long calm pause, "Hika. The bathroom. What the hell happened to the beautiful bathroom?"
Hika coolly speaks while giving me an evil smirk. "Oh that, so you finally noticed."
"Noticed?! Are you kidding me? The marble counter is basically a pile of rubble! There's solar candles imbedded in the wall and the ceiling. The freaking loo is smashed into the side of the crumbling tub and then there's my poor, poor glass shower. There's absolutely, nothing left of it! Except the damn floor! "
"Yeah, tell me about it. It's a complete waste, I had special plans for that shower." A devious smile curled at my brother's lips.
"Hika!" Smacking my twin in the shoulder, "Stop screwing with me, and tell me what the hell happened!"
"Okay, okay, sheesh, I wasn't really screwing with you….much." Hika, sarcastically rolled his eyes. "I'm just a little overwhelmed with work at the moment, and I don't know…. Since you didn't want to listen to me earlier." Shrugging his shoulders. "I figured you would have run into it sooner or later, so I didn't bother with it. According to Honey, Mori might have suddenly 'let go' of a few old pent up feelings, that's all."
"Let go?! You mean his feeling exploded, taking half the bathroom with it?" Swinging my hand towards the path of destruction.
"I can't really be sure what actually happened, it's not like I'm a freaking mind reader or anything. Well, knowing it happened on their visit with Haru, it kind of gives us a clue, as to what might have caused the big guy to flip his lid. I mean he must have been called the 'wild type' for some reason ….maybe this was it." Hika casually motions to his tablet, "Anyway about this textile company?"
"Wait, push the pause button on the textile company for a sec," Waving my hand in front of my chest. "Was anybody hurt...and how the hell did you manage to take a shower in that demolition zone?" I motioned to my half naked twin...
"Oh, I didn't, the hotel staff arranged for another suite. We're just lucky fashion week ended tonight, it freed up some unexpected rooms early. I only used it to take a shower, it's all the way on the other side of the hotel. Staying there can be a real pain ….I prefer to be nearby. So I just came back when I was done. "
My shoulders fall with depressing thoughts, "Oh, I just thought that maybe..."
Not a moment later, strong familiar arms came from behind, lacing them around my bare torso. " That I used the one next door?" Hika sadly whispered against my neck.
Letting out a heavy sigh, glancing over my shoulder with woeful eyes, "Yeah, something like that."
Hika's golden eyes peeked out from behind me, shaking his head. "No, I'm afraid not." With his warm comforting hands lying flat against my sensitive chest, Hika manages to pull me closer to him.
With all the ups and downs this past week, it felt amazing to have his familiar fingers run across me. "Has she ….. I mean, did Honey at least help the situation?" I raised my hands, teasingly lacing our fingers together, encouraging my twin's inviting touch.
Hika gently drops his forehead to the back of my head, letting out a heavy sigh, as his eyes slide closed. "I'm not really sure. Honey said they were able to talk to her, but she still hasn't left that damn room….so, I can't really say. I just hope that they were somehow able to explain. "
"Well, what did they say?"" My head turns to look over my shoulder.
Hika lets out a long breath, causing swirls of heated air to blow down my exposed back, before lifting his head. "Not much, Honey just called my cell and said they needed to leave. I caught them as they were leaving the manager's office. They just said they were grateful for the opportunity to catch up and they would be in touch." Hika's hands slid from my torso, the absence of his touch caused my body to slightly shiver. Noticing my reaction, Hika lets out an amused chuckle, just before his strong hands begin to lightly knead into my tender shoulders. "Now that Haru has been found, I have no idea what they mean by being in touch? I mean, last time I heard they both have families back in Japan .Do you think they'll be sticking around?"
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"Who knows, but if I was a betting man, I would they'll be popping in a lot more. I wouldn't worry about it too much. We knew it would happened, sooner or later." A soft relaxed moan escapes my lips, as my brother's skilled fingers loosen my tense shoulders.
"I would have preferred it to be later, much, much later. In fact, I wouldn't mind if it was just the three of us for at least a little longer. I know Honey and Mori mean well and all, it's just, I'm not sure I'm entirely ready to walk out of our world….. I'd rather pull Haru in with us. " Hika speaks honestly.
"Well, I think that's all going to depend on what Haru wants. Don't forget, she won't even speak to us. I think we have a long way to go before considering future living arrangements."
Hika's massaging fingers froze on my shoulders with the reminder of our current situation. "Yeah, I guess." His voice turned apprehensive.
After hearing my twin's uneasy tone I quickly change the subject, letting out a small anxious chuckle, while shrugging my shoulders. "I mean, it was kind of nice seeing old friends again. Don't forget, if it wasn't for Honey and Mori we wouldn't have found out about Kyoya's staged photos."
My brother's fingers instantly freeze with the mention of the Shadow King, after a short pause he continues. "Oh, don't remind me. I prefer not to have my naked heinie out for the entire world to see. "My older twin grumbles.
"Why Hika, are you being shy?" I looked over my shoulder to see Hika quickly turn his heated face. "Hika are you blushing?" A burst of laughter suddenly rips from my lips. "You Are. You're totally blushing! Aww big brother, and here I always thought you are complete exhibitionist."
Hika playfully smacks me in the back of the head. "Shut up, it's not like that!"
I reach up to rub the back of my head. "Ow, obviously you're a violent exhibitionist, too."
"Oh, knock it off, Kao. I'm trying to be serious." His voice turns frustrated.
Noticing my twin's expression, I could tell he wasn't his usual fun-loving self. I reach up to tenderly stop his massaging hand, slowly raising my concerned eyes over my shoulder, catching his sharp glaring eyes in my gaze. "Hika, is everything okay?"
"Uh yeah," Hika nods his head, but slides his golden eyes to the floor, avoiding mine. "I guess, I'm just stressed out, from not hearing anything from Haru. I thought we would have heard something by now."
"Oh, yeah…there's a lot of that going around lately." I dropped my hand from my brother, before turning back to look straight ahead. "Hey Hika, do you know if the twins have Haru ready for our little hop tomorrow?" My brother's strapping hands begin to once more knead into my bare tender shoulders.
"Uh, I'm not really sure, I was gone longer then expected when I left for my shower. Although, I didn't hear any screaming coming from her room, so I would have to guess they haven't caught up with her, just yet." Hika forced a polite laugh with his inside joke.
"Well, I'll ask Jake about it in the morning."
Hika sarcastically scoffs, "Tsk, why bother? Just look right in front of Haru's door, you should find Haru's luggage neatly placed right in front of it."
I rolled my eyes at my twin. "Ah jeeze Hika. Jake has not only explained, but apologized, in fact, he did it several times. What more do you want?"
"Kao, are you sure he's not working for the damn Shadow King? I mean before those pictures everything was beginning to work out between the three of us ….we were finally going to show her the truth….and Bam! Thanks to Jeremy the driver." Hika pouts the last few words. "She won't even speak to us, Kao."
I adamantly shake my head, as he continues to massage the pain from my shoulders. "No. Jake, was just a last minute driver the hotel assigned me, he couldn't possibly be working with the Shadow King. Jeeze Hika, he drove my ass around, while the freaking mob was shooting at us … I think he's proven his loyalty to us."
Hika's distracted tone turns bitter as his hands roughly dig into my shoulder. "Yeah, sounds like something the Shadow King might try….I just get this weird feeling around him. That's all."
"Ow Hika!" I scrunched my shoulders.
"Oh sorry, I guess I was a bit distracted." He softens his touch on my skin.
"Listen Hika, just to protect my shoulders and well...If it will make you feel better." Exhaling a long breath, "I'll have the detective look into his background."
"What! You mean you haven't already? Damn it Kao! He's our go-between for Haru." Hika stops massaging my shoulders, and squeezes the sides of my arms.
"Relax Hika, I ordered the normal search, but nothing more than that. He's been completely loyal to me, and helped me out of a pretty tight Jam. Hell, Hika, if it wasn't for Jake, Haru wouldn't have been able to leave the states ….Perhaps, it something else you feel ."
My brother stubbornly jerks his face from mine, practically spatting out his words. "I have no idea what you're alluding to, little brother."
"I think you're a bit green, because I've been depending on him so much …and my big brother so little….or perhaps it's more? Perhaps there's an unspoken attraction."
"Me, have an attraction for the blonde idiot look-alike? Not freaking likely! Be serious, Kaoru!"
"Oh brother are you going to leave me for my driver? I always knew you would leave me shattered for another man…but my driver? It's like some poorly written scene in an overly dramatic play. Oh, Hika say it isn't so. " I just barely hold in spouts of laughter from my lips, as I playfully plead with my twin.
Hika reaches out, grabs hold of my wrist, and roughly jerks my body into his captive arms, his soft lips brush lightly against my skin with a teasing low whisper. "Oh Kao, by now you should know me better than that …After all, I've already said when it comes to men, there's only one man for me….and that dear brother, is you." Hika's seductive tease causes my skin to prickle with a small shiver. My head unconsciously tilts towards my twin's intoxicating lips." So little brother, you better watch yourself…otherwise I just might have to punish you."
"Ah punish?" My firm exposed back presses against Hika's half expose chest while dazed words tumble from my needful mouth.
My brother's fingers slowly linger over my chest, traveling down my hardened pathways. HIs soften lips brush against my tender shoulder. "Why Kao, it sounds like you want me to punish you." Sensually whispering his words against my heated skin, before a chuckle slips from his lips. "Oh Kao, sometimes you make it just too easy."
My head flashes clear with my twin's teasing words, jerking my body forward. "Damn it Hika! That was low. You were joking?"
Before I can distance myself, any further Hika firmly pulls my face close to his. "On the contrary little brother," His teasing golden eyes burn hot with a searing flame as a devilish smirk slowly curls on his lips. "I never joke about my feelings, I just had to teach you a lesson…..for doubting them."
Speaking sharply to my twin, shaking the image of Hika's devotional eyes from my head. "Yeah, whatever you ass."
My twin lets out a chuckle. "Alright, I'm sorry Kao. Truce? Please Kaoru, I'm serious about Jason … will you just have your guy take a look, a really close look? With Haru finally back in our lives, I don't want to take any chances." Hika wraps his arms around me, resting the side of his head next to mine. "We've been through too much, to have it screwed up now." Hika lets out a heavy sigh, speaking in a depressed tone.
Hearing my twin's destressed words about the past, I cautiously slide my golden eyes over .My heart clenched in my chest as I could see a dark shadow of fear creep across my brother's face. The same face I had seen all those years ago…just before everything flipped upside down… Just before he slammed, the damn gate closed. "Okay Hika," I shared an understanding look with my pleading twin. I turned my head back to catch sight of my brother's luggage perched in a far off corner. I nervously cleared my throat, forcing a teasing tone with the needed change of topic. "Well, at least you're packed… I think that's a first."
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"Uh yeah, imagine that. There's always room for a first time." Hika forces another award laugh.
I quickly whip my body around, noticing Hika's shoulders are curved inward with his eyes sadly staring at the floor, "All right I'm done with all this tiptoeing around. Hika, I know there's something bothering you since I came back. So out with it!" Speaking sharply to my big brother while tossing a comforting hand on his shoulder.
A long tense silence lingered in the air until Hika released a frustrated sigh, lifting his distressed golden eyes to mine. "Kao...I'm not going with you." Hika softly speaks.
Seeing my brother in so much pain causes me to suddenly ramble my words. "Oh, is that all this is about? You really had me worried. Listen Hika, I know you want Haru to fly with you, but we agreed she should be able to choose for herself. I mean we could just take mine, and send yours back to Japan. I'm sure the flight crew could use a break. I'd say give Honey and Mori a lift back….But we both know they have their own. Perhaps, we could call mom and see if she needs it for anything."
"Stop it Kaoru, just listen to me Damn it!" Hika grabs on to my shoulders, adamantly shaking his head. "This has nothing to do with which jet were taking. Kao, that's not what I meant ….What, I'm trying to say, is I have to go back…. I have to go back to Japan and I don't want to go." His pleading eyes begin to swim in his own tears. "Oh god Kaoru, I really don't want to leave her….again, like this." His voice hitches with his tormented words.
"Then don't!" I forcefully push his hands away from me. "Hika, I know what this is doing to you. Damn it, I've lived through it." I blink back my tears, glaring at my twin.
Hika shakes his dropped head. "I'm afraid I don't have a choice in the matter …..It's Kyoya. He's messing with a valuable supplier."
"Then find another supplier. Hika, right now I need you here…. we both do." I pleaded with my twin.
"We can't do that, the supplies we need are patent protected. That's why I asked if you're interested in acquiring a large textile company. Otherwise, we might as well kiss our promising new line goodbye. Not to mention the considerable capital we leveraged against it. The damn Shadow King's timing couldn't have been more precise, waiting for the same week of the debut. Making it impossible to pull the line without damaging the Hitachiin name. "
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Stunned I flopped down on the bed. "So Ootori found a way to screw with us, after all?" I quickly glance up to my twin. "Well then, how large is it?"
With heavily burdened shoulders, Hika lets out a frustrated sigh before crashing down next to me. He slowly slides his glossy black tablet on to my leg. "I'll just tell you, it's a major player in the industry. I know in the past we've dabbled, but if we do this, it's a whole different ballgame. I've scheduled the jet to fly out in a few hours. Flight regulations our keeping me grounded before then, otherwise, I would have already been gone by now. Mom and I have a late meeting with a few of their major shareholders. Since this involves the Shadow King, you know it's going to be brutal. He'll be expecting a hostile takeover of the company. Kao, I'm not sure, when I'll be able to return. I can't bear the thought of…. of her slipping through our fingers, while I'm gone."
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A searing hot feeling rips through my chest as I can visually see the emotional cracks emerging in my twin. "Hika, that won't happen."
"What if…what if, Honey and Mori didn't explain it or they did, and it made things worse?" Fear shakes in my brother's burgeoning eyes. "Kaoru, I know I can't handle her disappearing again, not like last time."
Hearing my brother's dark confession my heart knew exactly what my twin was implying, causing me to desperately wrap my arms around my distraught twin, physically holding him together. "Shhh, Hika, I won't let that happened." Crashing his head into my chest, speaking in a soothing tone. "Now that we now how she really feels, we're not letting her go. You'll see when you get back …she'll be more than ready to talk."
"Really Kao, you're not just saying it, so I'll go back?"
I gently lift his golden eyes to mine, lightly shaking my head. "No Hika, you'll see." With trails of tears lingering down his cheeks, Hika leans in so close were sharing a heated breath, before his soft lips lightly brush against mine. The kiss turns almost desperate as I feel my brother firmly push back, until my dazed head feels the smooth material of the thick duvet cover, behind my head. "Hika?" I softly whisper between eager kisses.
"Please Kao, I need this …..I can't bear the thought of walking on that plane and feeling this way ….I need you wiggling under my fingers." Hika pleads, as our sweltering mouths toy with each other.
I wordlessly agree, with my shaky hands reaching down to Hika's bathrobe, unleashing my brother's strapping chest. Gently guiding the soft fabric to leisurely slide down my older twin's steel like arms.
Hika pulled away with a smirk curling on his lips. "Thanks Kao." Withdrawing his arm from his sleeves, and reaching for the top button of my pants. Feeling my brother's skilled hands slowly undress my body, causes my eyes to slide shut in anticipated pleasure.
My long fingers run in Hika's short silky hair, repeatedly ruffling over his clipped hair in the back. Encouraging his searing hot mouth to teasingly linger down my chest. "Mmm, what are brother's for?" A rough chuckle comes from my throat, just before biting down on my bottom lip, as Hika's mouth passes the waistline of my white silky boxers.
End of Kaoru's POV
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Little did the twins know … Thanks to a couple of scheming old friends…and an almost forgotten adjoining door?
Their closely guarded secret was being revealed, right before a pair of wide chocolate eyes
….and a racing heart.
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End of chapter 27
Hello all, well I would have had this out on Monday, but I ended up being stuck .Hope you enjoy it .I'm off to finish off to long standing stories. After that, I should be able to devote considerable more time with BIOW updates.
Thanks for taking a peek ;) Please Follow/Review/Favorite /Share
