That last chapter was pretty short, wasn't it? Enjoy another shortie, on the house.

I open my eyes, disoriented.

At some point when I was crying, I must have fallen asleep.

For a brief moment, my mind is blank. A brief, tranquil moment when I don't have any thoughts about Hikaru. Or Tamaki.

Just a brief moment, though.

I sigh and reach to my side to get my phone. When I can't find it, I remember the texts that Hikaru sent me. Deleting them. Dropping my phone to the floor. Do I even have the energy to lean down and pick it up?

My curtains are closed so I can't tell what time it is. I hold my breath and listen, trying to pick up the sound of Hikaru's feet pacing in the room next door.

Silence.

He isn't home yet.

I breathe a sigh of relief.

Everyday after school, I can hear him go to his room. He paces; back and forth, back and forth. He's always been a restless thinker. Sometimes I'll hear him leave his room and come to my door. Sometimes he knocks. Most times he waits before leaving.

I'm glad he's not home. When he's home and I hear his feet going back and forth, I can't help but feel guilty. What does he do now that he can't hang out with me or Haruhi? He must be going insane.

Sometimes it will make me happy. "Good," I'll think, "Now he knows how I felt when he ignored me."

But it's always short lived.

I turn on my side and lazily hang my arm over the side of the bed. My fingers walk across the floor until they find my phone.

15 new messages from Tamaki. 1 new message from Hikaru.

Kyouya. That damn Kyouya. Now I have to read Tamaki's messages and see just how sad I've made him.

Taking a deep breath, I open his messages and scroll to the top.

Mon amour! I had a wonderful night with you. Let's do it again soon, ok?

Good morning Kaoru. Can you believe you're not my son anymore? It's a little weird…

Not coming to school today? How dare you! I hope you're feeling better.

Mori slipped on Honey's cake today! You should have seen him fall to the ground, the giant he is! I think Honey was more upset than he was.

My hair is looking magnificent today. If only you were here to bask in its glory.

I roll my eyes. I can't help but smile as I read four more messages about how good his hair looked that day. The idiot.

You're not responding, mon amour. I'm worried about you. Have I done something wrong?

I'd like to come over today. Just reply "Yes Daddy" if you want me to.

Damn you Kaoru! Every time I pass that closet my face turns red as a commoner's tomato.

If you don't respond to me soon, I might think I'm being annoying.

I know you're upset about Hikaru. We can talk about it, ok?

I miss you.

The last message was sent only ten minutes ago.

I don't know what hurts more: the fact that he obviously misses me and I'm causing him so much worry, or the fact that he is so patient with me. Even as I ignore him.

Reluctantly, I type: I miss you, too, Boss.

Before I can even put my phone down, I'm bombarded by the happy tune of my phone going off over and over again.

Kaoru! You're alive! Thank goodness!

What did I say about calling me 'Boss'?

I'm coming over right after school! Oh how I've missed my sweet Kaoru.

My heart quickens. He can't come over after school. That's just 15 minutes from now. I'm not ready. He can't see me like this.

I scoff a little at the thought. As if he hasn't already seen me in my most vulnerable positions.

I jump out of bed and send a quick text to him: Not today. I'm coming to school tomorrow. We can talk then.

I think briefly and add: Ok, Daddy?

I feel a little sick writing it, but I know it will make him happy.

I decide I'm going to take a bath. If I'm going to school tomorrow-which it seems I really have no choice if I don't want to face the wrath of Kyouya-I at least want to be presentable. My grand re-entrance.

It will be my first bath without Hikaru. I'm tired of the awkward silence as my twin washes me. I'm tired of the excitement I feel every time his hands run down my neck, my back, between my thighs.

His power over me, which I thought might go away once I accepted that him and Haruhi were dating and I decided that I could be happy, with Tamaki, came back with a vengeance when I found out that he had ended his relationship. Ended it for me.

The chance to become his once again was tarnished by my choice to date Tamaki. Not that Hikaru even knows Tamaki is my boyfriend.

Can I really still call him my boyfriend? I haven't had a real conversation with him since that night.

There have been times I've almost told him. It's been on the tip of my tongue on multiple occasions. But how can I?

He broke up with Haruhi for me. How can I tell him that now I'm moving on.

I'm afraid of how he'll react. Afraid he will go back to her and never return to me. Never forgive me for being so selfish.

Despite our feelings towards each other right now, I still love him. More than anything.

I awkwardly put a bag over my cast as my tub fills up. I add lavender and bubbles and, even though the bag isn't really doing me any help, I step in.

I sink happily into the bubbles and close my eyes. Little black dots form behind my eyelids, dancing around until they finally form the face of Hikaru.

I see his mischievous smile. He looks at me with his amber eyes, deep into my soul. No one else looks at me like he does. He looks at me like he did before he fell for Haruhi and she fell for him. I want to go back to that, even if it is just in my imagination.

"Kaoru," my name melts off his lips.

"Kaoru," I think of his arms around me, pulling me into his body.

"Kaoru!" Why does he sound so frantic?

"Kaoru!" A hand grabs my arm.

I open my eyes to see Hikaru. His face is knotted in concern and anger.

"What are you doing?" I ask him, pulling my arm away from him.

He scoffs, "I could ask you the very same thing, Kaoru!" he shouts. "You can't take baths alone. What if you fainted? You could drown! And there's no way you'll be able to wash yourself like that. You should have waited for me to get here. You know I would have helped you!"

Why is he so angry? He knows I've been eating. He makes sure of it. I know it's him sending meals to my room all hours of the day.

"I'm not going to faint, Hikaru. That hasn't happened since I broke my arm. You know that." I say sourly.

He throws his arms up, "Do I, Kaoru? I feel like I don't know anything about you! I start dating Haruhi, you don't talk to me. I try to talk to you, you get mad at me. You start hanging out with Tono like you don't even need me anymore. Then I break up with Haruhi and it's like you've completely forgotten about me."

This makes me angry. I stand up, forgetting my nakedness, "Forget you? You're all I think about! I can't stop thinking about you. It's not my fault you broke up with Haruhi and decided that you were going to start caring about me again!"

It's happening again. We're yelling at each other. Is this the breaking point? When will our connection break forever?

"What are you talking about? I never stopped caring about you. You're my brother, my twin!"

I look down at my feet. Has he forgotten what he said to me.

I feel his hand on my arm again. This time not rough, but gently.

His voice is calm, "I know what I said. I-I wish so badly I could take it back. I love you, Kaoru. I've been so worried about you." His voice cracks. I look up and, with shock, realize that he is crying.

"Hika-"

"I wanted to take everything back. I thought if I started taking care of you, maybe we could go back to the way things were. Maybe we could pretend I didn't say what I did. But it seems like there's no going back." he looks up at me, his face red, "Have I completely ruined what we have?!" he asks frantically.

I stare at him, shocked.

I search his eyes and only find sincerity...maybe some regret. My heart aches for him. For us. How have we both fallen so far from our world. Is this what happens when we let others in?

"Hika-" I start, but I am stopped suddenly by his lips pressing roughly against mine.

A warm rush flows through my body. For a second, I savor it, before I gently push him away.

We look at each other, us mirror images, and neither of us says a word. I grab the towel off the stool next to the bath and wrap it around myself.

My mind is swimming. Why did he do that?

"Hikaru-I," I think of what to say. What can I say?

Before I can stop it, what's been on my lips for so long finally tumbles out.

"Hikaru, I'm dating Tamaki...officially. I'm sorry."

I turn to him. His mouth-which was just on mine-is agape. He slowly closes it, nods his head, and walks out of the bathroom. I barely hear his door close shut.

This time, there's no pacing. Only deafening silence.

Well, that was a bit dramatic! I'm honestly a little surprised myself! What's going on Hikaru? If you liked this chapter, leave a review! I'd love to hear your feedback. This is one of the first stories I've written in a hot minute. I'm having a blast and can't wait to hear from you! Much love Hitachiin fans.