The event Kyoya attended went off without a hitch. In fact, him and his father made it there just in time. Kyoya did his part by charming the attendees and his father did his part by showing both Kyoya and the Ootori group off. He had to admit that this wasn't just the party sort. Many of the guests were there to do work in a more fun and social atmosphere. It was casual despite the formal attire and it reminded Kyoya of a more regal science fair. The whole point of the gala was to raise money to send medical supplies such as vaccines to Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria. Of course, the Ootori group would produce the equipment needed to handle the vaccines and several other representatives were there as well from pharmaceutical companies that manufactured them.

However, the rest of the attendees were professionals in an array of careers in the scientific field. Kyoya asked why mathematicians and physicists were there; their answer was to support the cause and be able to talk with a large group of people who may not be within their field but interested in their work. A bit of networking and social bonding across disciplines, Kyoya thought. He actually enjoyed his time as many of the people who spoke with weren't businessmen and were genuinely passionate about what they do. It wasn't lost on Kyoya either. His excellent education gave him the opportunity to understand what they were discussing, not to mention the language to do so as many were English speakers, not Japanese. All in all, he had a good time. Maybe too good as his father had commented on Kyoya's authentic enthusiasm and willingness to speak with a lot more potential partners than usual.

Sadly, the night had to come to an end. Kyoya and his father went back to the car as the hosts were announcing the total amount of contribution and the winners of some raffle they were doing. The Ootori's had pledged a donation of $15,000 USD to the charity along with the supplies. They did not participate in the raffle for baskets filled with nice chocolates, fruit, jewelry, and technology. It was simply too late otherwise Yoshio would have stayed. Not to mention, Kyoya had to go home and make sure all the host club members had sent their infographics to Kyoya correctly, if not at all. He had to format them again and send them by Monday morning to the printing shop near Ouran to ensure they were ready by Friday.

Kyoya checked his phone. It was around twelve thirty and he knew it was a good possibility that Kaoru was still awake. So, he sent him a message to say goodnight.

Kyoya: gala wasn't too bad, actually enjoyed myself. No one noticed the missing cufflinks

Kyoya smiled this time as the darkness hid most of his face. He glanced out the window at the scenery passing by, only small circles were fully illuminated by the street lamps. He felt an urge to roll down the window and take in the crisp air and feel the cold on his face, however his father would probably tell him to roll it up.

Kyoya's phone buzzed and lit up.

Kaoru: hahaha good. Wouldn't want anyone thinking you were a degenerate for not having them

Kyoya was keeping his smile with the light on his face. Though, the emotion rising in his chest intensified regardless of what his face was doing. He almost put his phone back into his pocket but it vibrated again.

Kaoru: btw Hikaru didn't finish his infographic and made me do it. It might not get done tonight

Kyoya: that's fine just send it ASAP

Kaoru: thanks! Good night ;)

Kyoya: good night

When the Ootori duo returned to their main estate, Kyoya was still trying to school his expression into one of indifference. His father didn't seem to notice or care that his youngest was grinning like an idiot.

"Kyoya," Yoshio called.

Kyoya stopped as his father did in front of him.

There was a short moment where Kyoya waited for his father to speak once more. "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself tonight."

Kyoya was in disbelief. He didn't move as he waited for his father to say more. That couldn't have been all he had to say, could it? Kyoya had expected an insult or a lecture after, as his father didn't give out his feelings even sparingly. It was rare borderlining impossible. As the moment passed, his father continued without another word. His small group of staff followed him inside leaving Kyoya unsure and feeling something he couldn't describe. It was wrapped in dread, tasted sour on his tongue, submerged in grief, yet filled with warmth and love. It would appear his father had been watching him intently enough during that evening to see Kyoya's happiness. Despite Yoshio's iron grip on his children, he often didn't give them that level of attention unless they did something wrong or they were being tested. Kyoya might even say Yoshio was neglectful and uninvolved only until the family business was brought up. However, in that moment, Kyoya might have let himself think that he could have been wrong about his father. Though, just as soon as that flicker of hope seeped into his chest, it was extinguished.

Kyoya knew better. People didn't change overnight, or in a night. His father had done that on purpose to see his reaction, for what Kyoya felt around irritatingly in the dark for an answer. It didn't come to him. Of course, Kyoya had theories but they weren't as concrete as he would have liked them to be. The first thought was a new business development. Yet, Kyoya had been watching closely for such a thing via stocks, newly formed alliances and merges, deaths, promotions and demotions, losses and gains, and the like. Kyoya hadn't seen anything unusual there. His second thought was possibly one of his brothers had pissed off his father and his father was trying to read Kyoya for information. Though, Kyoya wouldn't know if something did happen, so if that was the case, his father hadn't got anything from Kyoya. But, Kyoya knew it wasn't a strong possibility that was what transpired. His last thought was the most likely and the most terrifying. His father knew about Kaoru, or at least parts of what was going on between the two.

It wasn't hard for Yoshio to see, Kyoya knew. Not only did Yoshio have eyes and ears on Kyoya at all times (maybe not in school, but definitely while at home), Yoshio was able to see Kyoya's messages and emails. He probably saw the influx of conversations between Kyoya and Kaoru and while the messages didn't give anything away, the amount surely did. Kyoya's never talked to somebody that much by text, not even Tamaki.

As Kyoya passed through the threshold to the main entrance, that's when it dawned on him that Yoshio wasn't necessarily speaking about the gala. He could have meant it to sound like so, yet spoken with a double meaning. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself tonight could have referenced Kaoru's visit earlier in the day and it could have referenced Kyoya's behavior while texting Kaoru. Either way, Kyoya was screwed wherever Kaoru was brought into the picture.

He took a quiet, steadying breath and made his way to his room. Once there, he shut the door and locked it. He climbed the stairs to his bed and found it covered in the possible outfit combinations for the gala he pulled out earlier. He had forgotten that he left it as it was because he was running late.

Kyoya began picking up his mess. The clothes went on hangers in the closet or folded and put into drawers. His pillow he used to hit Kaoru was placed back at the top of his bed. After, he undressed and put his night clothes on, admittedly tired and ready to sleep half the day away tomorrow. Before he did, he checked his phone and saw it was now a little after two o'clock. Underneath, the time he saw an email from Kaoru with an attachment. Apparently, he decided to stay up to finish Hikaru's poster. Kyoya saw the email was sent to him five minutes ago. Kyoya wanted to clobber Hikaru for making Kaoru do the work for him. Especially, since it was so late. Luckily for Hiakru's sake, it was the weekend and Kaoru could rest.

Kyoya got into bed and laid his phone on his night stand. He had thought he would be able to sleep well after such an eventful night but he was wrong. For a good portion of the time he tossed and turned. His mind was full of ideas and plans for the upcoming week and how to find out if his father was aware of Kyoya's and Kaoru's evolving relationship. He gave up after the sky had lightened up significantly and the birds started chirping. He quickly sent a message to the head of kitchen for personal coffee. It was brought up within twenty minutes. He gratefully sipped the dark brew hoping the caffeine would keep him awake.

He was enjoying the peaceful morning by catching up on social media when his phone rang.

"Kyoooo-Yaa!"

Tamaki .

"Good morning, President. What is the purpose of your call?" Kyoya used his formal voice sarcastically.

"I just got the perfect idea on how to get Haruhi to go on vacation with us!"

Kyoya frowned and took a sip, "You do realize we're in the middle of term, right?"

"Of course, I do!" Kyoya could hear the smile on that idiot's face, "I meant for winter break! I want to go somewhere warm for New Year's. I overheard Haruhi talking to Mori-senpai and Hani-senpai about going away for New Year's weekend! This is the perfect opportunity!"

"Uh-huh." Kyoya had spoken to Ranka-san last week about it. He had given his daughter his blessing to plan a weekend at an onsen for New Years. Though, Kyoya knew Haruhi's plans weren't set yet, it still seemed a bit rude to invite himself to change them. Of course, Tamaki hadn't thought of that nor would he ever.

"What do you think, Kyoya?" He pictured Tamaki as a dog with a furiously wagging tail.

"Tamaki, I believe Haruhi wants some alone time. She has been working very hard lately, I think she deserves a weekend away from the Club." Kyoya explained as if he were talking to a child.

Tamaki screeched, "I know that! But can't she relax with us?"

"Hardly," Kyoya almost choked on the last sip of coffee.

He heard Tamaki moving around on the other end of the line, "I mean, we can go to the onsen if that's what she wants. We won't force her to go somewhere tropical. I mean she doesn't even have a passport!"

"Why 'we'? Why are you dragging me into this?" Kyoya muttered annoyed.

Tamaki obviously wasn't listening to him as he continued on like nothing happened. "Please, Kyoya! Could at least try to persuade her?"

Kyoya laughed inwardly, "Why don't you ask her?"

Tamaki made a sound that sounded like a wounded dog, "She'd shoot me down. She actually listens to you, though. That's why I'm asking."

Kyoya rolled his eyes. Haruhi wouldn't listen to him under normal circumstances. However, she did with the intentional poorly veiled threats he made. They really didn't hold any weight to them, but Haruhi didn't need to know that.

"Fine, I'll talk to her. No guarantees."

He heard Tamaki celebrate on the line for a few seconds while he thought about hanging up. He decided not to hurt Tamaki's feelings and stayed on the call. He rubbed his hand across his face and took a deep breath. It was going to be a long week.

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Kaoru woke up early much to his annoyance. He was glad, though, for not being kicked out of the bed by Hikaru. Instead, he was on the edge with an arm and leg dangling off the side. He slowly sat up feeling stiff all over and winced every time one of his joints cracked. Most of all he felt tired . It was the thing he felt even above his stiff joints. It was as if there were a fog around his head and in his ears. His eyelids were weighted and no matter how hard he fought, he felt them slipping down.

He got up without regard to waking Hikaru because he would probably sleep through a tornado if given the chance. He went straight for the kitchen to get one of the maids to make some coffee when he saw his mother and father at the breakfast bar.

"Kaoru!" His mother seemed just as surprised to see him as he was to see her. So surprised that she didn't pretend to confuse him with Hikaru. "You're up early."

He shrugged. He was finding it a bit odd to be standing shirtless in his kitchen with his parents there.

"We're back," Yuzuha smiled and gestured around with her hands.

"You're back from . . .?" Kaoru didn't remember when he was fully awake, and couldn't then with his brain barely functioning.

"Hong Kong for me, but," His father chuckled, "Your mother was in London."

"Oh." Kaoru breathed. "I came for coffee."

"Well, get some. It already been brewed by the other set." His mother motioned to the twins that worked on their staff.

"Yes, still piping hot." The girls said in unison. "Though, it's not the way you like it."

"That's fine. I just need something with caffeine in it."

The twins worked together to get Kaoru's cup filled and handed to him in record time.

"Enjoy." The said.

Kaoru sipped the stronger than usual coffee. It was definitely his mother's roast. She preferred the darker and stronger while he, Hikaru, and their father preferred the light blend. However, he didn't care less because he needed to wake up and the gross, bitter, black stuff was going to have to do it.

Yuzuha smiled and grabbed her own mug and sipped on it. His father returned to his phone and once again the kitchen fell into an easy silence. Kaoru didn't like standing there awkwardly so he moved to the den, where he and Hikaru would be if they weren't in their room. He fell back on the comfy sofa that sat in front of a large television and cabinet that held every gaming console known to mankind. He could hear from the breakfast bar his mother's laughter as she and his father must have picked up a conversation without him. Could they be talking about him? Or Hikaru for that matter?

Kaoru pushed further into the cushions with his hands wrapped around the warm cup. He felt, for lack of a better word or phrase, out of whack. His lack of sleep was affecting his body and his mind. He was in a weird mood where he was bored yet didn't want to invest the energy to get up and do something. He had a fleeting thought about taking a nap later after accomplishing something but he could feel his eyes closing against his will. He forced himself up straighter to keep from sinking into the soft cushions and falling asleep. He took another sip of coffee when Hikaru barrelled down the stairs and stalked into the kitchen.

"Kaoru! Oh, I mean Hikaru. Or is it Kaoru?" Their mother chirped. "Good morning, either way!"

Kaoru heard Hikaru mumble a half-hearted good morning before asking for coffee as well. Yuzuha chuckled and commented about how Kaoru wanted the same.

"Your brother is in the den if want to sit with him." She told him.

Kaoru didn't hear anything from Hikaru but with in a few seconds he was standing in front of him with a terrible expression. Hikaru had probably got less sleep than Kaoru since he stayed up to finish at least half of his essay. Kaoru went to bed while Hikaru typed away on his laptop next to him.

"When did you go to bed?" Kaoru spoke.

Hikaru flopped down beside him, "Five."

Kaoru's eyebrows rose, "Nice."

Hikaru's frown deepened, though he didn't say more. He took a gulp of the coffee and hissed.

"It's hot," Kaoru joked.

"It's also Mother's coffee," Hikaru stuck his tongue out.

"Well, she beat us to the kitchen so the maids made her coffee."

Hikaru sat his mug on the coffee table in front of the sofa and snuggled into the back cushions the same way Kaoru did earlier. Hikaru didn't want to talk so Kaoru took the time to think. He wanted to hang out with Kyoya again this upcoming week and maybe with Haruhi and Hikaru as well. He knew that on Thursday he would be with Kyoya helping organize the event for the Host Club after school. They would probably get plenty of time together on Friday as well. As for Haruhi and Hikaru, he thought maybe they could do something after club on Tuesday or Wednesday. An idea popped into his brain as he thought about Thursday. He knew Haruhi and Hikaru's schedules were a bit more open that day. Kaoru thought about possibly setting Hikaru up on a date with Haruhi again while he was helping Kyoya. It was a great opportunity.

Kaoru looked over at Hikaru whose head tipping backwards onto the sofa, his eyes shut and his mouth open. He nudged Hikaru with an elbow which caused him to jump. He looked over to Kaoru with sad, blood-shot puppy-dog eyes.

"Why did you have to do that?" He whined.

Kaoru ignored his question and asked, "Did I wake you up this morning?"

Hikaru processed Kaoru question as fast as his sleep deprived brain could and said, "No. I don't think so. I just woke up."

"Same here," Kaoru said.

Hikaru groaned and fell onto his side and laid his head in Kaoru's lap. "I wanna go back to sleep."

"Too bad, you have work to do." Kaoru told unsympathetically.

Hikaru shook his head, "Somehow I finished it so I think I deserve at least a nap."

"Why don't you go back upstairs for a nap instead of falling asleep on me?"

Hikaru pulled one of the throw pillows from his feet and put it under head. He didn't bother responding and got comfortable on Kaoru. Now, it wasn't like Kaoru couldn't knock him off, he could. To be honest, Kaoru was just as tired and wanted to fall asleep on the insanely plush sofa. He relaxed himself a bit and reached over Hikaru to put his mug of coffee on the table next to Hikaru's. Kaoru then settled and closed his eyes.

"Kaoru."

"What?"

"Why did you worry?" Hikaru slurred a bit.

Kaoru didn't open his eyes, "Worry about what?"

"About you being into guys? Why were you worried?" Then Hikaru said softer, "Why did you hate yourself?"

Kaoru didn't want to say. He wanted to sleep, too tired for this talk. Though, he suspected that Hikaru had let his inner thoughts slip only because he was so sleep deprived.

Kaoru kept a lot of the emotions and thoughts surrounding his sexuality in a box because dealing with it out the open seemed too painful. Even after his first obstacle of telling someone, not exactly coming out but recognizing he was different, Kaoru continued to have the idea that speaking in depth about it would only make it hurt worse. It was like picking a scab on a wound. He needed time so Kyoya's promise was perfect for him. Kyoya wasn't interested in delving into their relationship so soon, not until he was able to be with Kaoru freely. That was the deal. What Kyoya was thinking about doing was a long way off. The time it took for Kyoya to have everything prepared would take years and though Kaoru hoped he wouldn't take that long, it appeared likely.

"Don't worry Hikaru." Kaoru whispered. "I'll tell you eventually."

"I can't not worry, you know." Hikaru countered.

Kaoru shook his head even though Hikaru couldn't see him. "I don't have anything to say. I'm figuring it out on my own first."

Hikaru pinched Kaoru's knee through his pajamas, "Remember I'm still here, though. We share each other's pain. You can't stop it even if you moved to the other side of the planet."

"I know," Kaoru sighed, "Can't get rid of you even if I tried."

Hikaru pinched harder and Kaoru laughed.

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Eventually, the two fell asleep on the sofa together much to Yuzuha's delight. She sneakily snapped a few photos to post on her private Facebook page. The only people friends with Yuzuha were close family members, colleagues, and without a doubt, the host club. She knew that her sons wouldn't too happy and a bit embarrassed since Kaoru's mouth was open and Hikaru was drooling onto the throw pillow. Nevertheless, Yuzuha inwardly gushed at how adorable her twins were. With the picture, she wrote in the post about what the two were getting up to in school and beyond. Simply, a little check up for family members who lived far away and of course, an excuse to post the picture. They work so hard they fall asleep wherever they can! Love from Hikaru and Kaoru XX , she wrote at the end of the caption.

Kyoya had quickly got off the phone with Tamaki before he started talking about how cute chinchillas are and how they require dry, sandy baths, not wet, watery ones. When Kyoya hung up, he got a notification from Facebook about Yuzuha's post. On any other day, Kyoya wouldn't bother looking at it. He wasn't a fan of social media in the way some of his peers were. If he were to have to choose his favorite, Facebook would be at the bottom of that list undoubtedly. However, he decided to look as she rarely posted on her private page. The photo was popular already among Yuzuha's friends and she had garnered many comments about how precious the twins were when they were sleeping. Kyoya assumed that Kaoru didn't get much sleep like him, judging by the dark rings around his eyes. He must have gotten up only to fall asleep on the couch again. The same went for Hikaru.

Kyoya smirked and took a screenshot sending it to Kaoru. He knew Kaoru would look at it right away if he had sent it. He had to admit, it was pretty cute and said so in a message sent along with the screenshot.

He got up and searched for some clothes to get ready for the day. He really didn't have that much to do other than what he did in his daily routine checking up on things. He did a few bits of homework but he was certain it would get finished fairly quick.

Most of the day was spent fulfilling these tasks. He stopped briefly to have very small lunch and returned to his work. When one-thirty rolled around, he had a short nap to quell the headache beginning to form. He woke up thirty minutes later to a few texts. One was from Haruhi asking for volunteer time slots to set up the Renaissance event on Friday. The other was from Kaoru who sent an angry-faced emoji followed by Everyone's seen it on Facebook, we're ruined .

Kyoya: At least, I wasn't planning on selling it for club profits. I know many young ladies who would love to see the brothers snuggling on the sofa together.

Kaoru: You. Wouldn't. Dare.

Kyoya: You know I would. But I won't since drooling is unattractive. Or getting a fly in your open mouth.

Kaoru sent a crying emoji and an accusation that Kyoya was being too mean. He added that no flies flew into his mouth either.

Kyoya: Regardless, I like the picture because you're in it.

Kaoru: as much as I like you sappy, the Shadow King cannot canonically give cheesy, half-assed compliments in my narrative.

Kyoya: Oh, really? How about deep, passionate, intimate compliments? Does it suit your Shadow King better?

Kaoru was unresponsive for a few moments. Kyoya hoped it was because he had made the younger Hitachiin flustered.

Kaoru: yes

That's all it took for Kyoya's poorly rested brain to take off without permission.