The Twenty-Fourth Day

Hikaru was mad at Kaoru.

He didn't know why.

Kaoru was laughing and talking with Haruhi at home. He'd requested Haruhi to stay with him that day. Hikaru was extremely annoyed, Kaoru refused to do anything with Hikaru the previous day. At first, it was all normal. They were kissing and getting into it when Kaoru pushed him away.

"Hikaru, there's something you need to know. I'm going out with Haruhi, and I do believe that she doesn't appreciate you all over me, so PLEASE lay off, alright?" Kaoru had scolded Hikaru.

Hikaru gritted his teeth and grinded them a bit as he sat, staring out the window of his biology class. Normally, Hikaru loved this class and it was one of the only ones he actually listened to the teachers during. Today, Hikaru wasn't listening at all, he was so upset, he was surprised he didn't jump up and run all the way back to his house to see Kaoru. When Hikaru was told that Kaoru and Haruhi were going out, he finally realized why Kaoru was looking so fondly at Haruhi, and was becoming less responsive to Hikaru. It made him mad, because Kaoru KNEW that Hikaru liked Haruhi. He knew it! So he goes and asks her to go out with him!

Of course, this was no news to Hikaru. He'd known that Haruhi and Kaoru were going out. So why... is it that when Kaoru told him now, Hikaru got so upset? Was it because Hikaru was becoming so worried and in love with Kaoru, he was starting to forget that anyone was outside of that wall that the two had built around them? Hikaru didn't know, he was so angry, he just wanted to punch Kaoru.

He Knew!

Hikaru was seething with anger by the time school ended, and it was all he could do not to run home and yell at Kaoru. In one day, his emotions had completely went topsy-turvy. Yesterday he was all over his brother, not caring about anything else. Now suddenly, Hikaru was so mad he wanted to tear Kaoru limb from limb.

"What's wrong?" Tamaki asked as Hikaru stormed in.

Hikaru clenched his fists and spat, "Kaoru's going out with Haruhi!"

Tamaki looked shocked, hurt, and tortured all in one second. His attitude changed and he tried to hide how hurt he was and he asked, "Ummm, Hikaru, if I may ask... why are you so upset about this? Is it because Kaoru is going out with Haruhi? Or because Haruhi is going out with Kaoru?"

"That makes no SENSE!" Hikaru snapped and he sat down on the couch and pulled a pillow over his face and he screamed into the pillow. Everyone tried to plug their ears, the pillow wasn't doing a very good job at muffling Hikaru's voice. "That makes no sense Milord! It's all the same! Kaoru's going out with Haruhi! I don't WANT HIM to go out with HER! He's MY brother! She's OUR friend! The two just don't mix in love!"

"Brothers don't mix in love either," Kyoya pointed out, not trying to sound mean. "Are you forgetting about that Hikaru?"

"I DON'T WANT KAORU!" Hikaru snapped as he threw the pillow at Kyoya. "I WANT HER!"

Tamaki blinked as he stared at the enraged Hikaru. What had gotten into this boy?

"I thought you loved Kaoru?" Tamaki questioned.

"Until he BETRAYED me!" Hikaru continued to snap.

"Or did you betray him?" Hunny asked.

Hikaru stood up and walked to the window and tried to calm himself down.

"Please, don't be mad at me," Kaoru had pleaded Hikaru. "I know you like Haruhi! I'm sorry, but she likes me too, so I decided why not go out with her? Besides, she's really sweet and she likes me a lot more than you."

"I can't believe you left me."

Kaoru didn't even care.

"I'm gonna beat him!" Hikaru snarled as his rage came back and he ran to the door to go home. Tamaki and Mori reached for him and held him back. "LET ME GO!"

It was hard for them all to understand. Hikaru was so obsessed with his little brother, treating him like a doll. Almost like Nekozawa treated Bereznef. Now Hikaru was so mad at Kaoru that he wanted to rip his little brother limb from limb. He probably would if he got to him, so Mori and Tamaki held onto Hikaru tightly.

Hikaru stopped and began sobbing.

"I can't believe him..." Hikaru sobbed. "What kind of brother is he?"

Tamaki and Mori didn't let go, afraid that it was a trick. With the Hitachiin brothers, it was hard to tell what was a trick and what wasn't. They set Hikaru down on a sofa and he began sobbing uncontrollably, which was VERY unlike Hikaru.

"That bastard!" Hikaru cried. "I can't believe I'm related to that BASTARD!"

The Club stared at Hikaru with concern. This... was an actual fight.

All their fights were out of boredom, so they weren't actually fights, they were all games. But... this was... entirely different. The words Hikaru spoke had a tinge of hatred mixed in, and it hurt to even hear them. It was hard to believe he was cursing Kaoru. They were the best of friends, the best and closest brothers, the cutest lovers. Now, something was tearing it apart, and Tamaki couldn't help but feel responsible, for after all, it was his fault Haruhi joined the Host Club in the first place. Seeing Hikaru's body tremble and clench his fists and hear his teeth grind, it was an ultimate punishment for Tamaki. He had to do something. He needed to break Haruhi and Kaoru up, for his good, and for Hikaru and Kaoru's.

Tamaki was afraid that he'd have to keep the twins away from eachother, for Hikaru looked about ready to strangle the life out of Kaoru. Sure, his beloved and most endeared daughter, Haruhi, was with that mongrel, Kaoru, but seeing Hikaru hurt... it changed Tamaki's point of view, even if just for a moment. He saw Haruhi as a threat, it's like he was seeing Haruhi through Kaoru's eyes. Haruhi, was a threat. A beautiful, intoxicating threat. Everyone was lured by her, male and female.

"That bastard..." Hikaru scowled.

Suddenly, Hikaru lashed out and he shoved Mori and Tamaki away and he dashed down the school corridor, out the front door, and began running home. The same harsh thoughts kept going through his mind, and he found it hard to believe that he'd fallen in love with this... creature. He found it hard to believe that he had sex with that exact same creature, that he was related to this creature, that he slept with that thing. The more and more negative thoughts Hikaru had, the faster his legs moved, his hands just twitching to rip that thing to shreds, his lungs begging for a break. Hikaru wouldn't allow himself to stop, not until he reached that house. Not until he'd gotten Haruhi out of Kaoru's reaches. Hikaru felt so furious that Kaoru had gone out with Haruhi without asking Hikaru for permission first. Then again, Hikaru wasn't Kaoru's dad, he was his twin brother. That thought infuriated him. He kept swearing to himself, his legs pounding faster against the pavement, almost as fast as that muscle in his chest.

"That BASTARD!" Hikaru shouted out loud as he swung open the door and began ascending the steps, his heart and lungs begging for a break, or they'd collapse. Hikaru didn't listen and he lunged into his bedroom and glared at Haruhi and Kaoru. He could barely get any oxygen into his tiny little respirators, so he breathed faster and faster. Haruhi was sitting on the edge of their bed, Kaoru sound asleep in the bed, his chest heaving up and down slowly, Hikaru began wishing his chest would move that slow and that his throat would stop burning. Haruhi blinked and stared at Hikaru.

"Hikaru? What's wrong?" Haruhi worried.

"B-bre-break..." Hikaru choked and coughed. "I want... you to... break up... with... Kaoru."

"No can do."

Hikaru blinked as he stared at that face, that beloved face. She disagreed? Why wouldn't she break up with Kaoru? She couldn't actually be infatuated with Kaoru, could she? No, that was impossible, this was impossible, it was all a horrible nightmare, like the ones that Kaoru had.

Kaoru had them more frequently, and he was having one at that moment. His legs struggled a bit and he rolled over and groaned.

"Hikaru..."

Haruhi's eyes continued staring into Hikaru's eyes without a falter.

"Someone has to stay by him. You're not going to, so why shouldn't I?"

Hikaru blinked and he stepped back in shock, his heart was pulsing through his whole body, his lungs choking up, and here was Haruhi, defending Kaoru. Hikaru had run all this way, so fast.

To find Haruhi actually liked Kaoru.

Kaoru struggled and moaned in his sleep; Haruhi scooted up to him, and stroked his forehead. She "shh"ed him, and tried to soothe him. She even whispered to him in a calming, almost seducing voice, "Shh, it's alright Kaoru. Haruhi's he-Hikaru's here now."

Eventually, after a bunch of soothing from Haruhi, Kaoru grew quiet and his body quit spazzing, and he lay there, sleeping peacefully again. Haruhi glared at Hikaru and scowled, "Now, is that all you came for?"

"Uhh, y-yea..."

"Then go."

Haruhi was being so persistent. Another thought Hikaru and he grew angry. Why was everyone on Kaoru's side?

Of course, these two HAD to be twins now.

Kaoru felt that everyone was on Hikaru's side, and Hikaru thought everyone was on Kaoru's side. It angered both of them to think that everyone adored their brother while they were left in the dark, unloved, cold, and longing for someone to help them. Hikaru apparently longed for Haruhi to help him, but Kaoru longed for Hikaru. It was true though, Kaoru did have a MAJOR thing for Haruhi, and it bugged Hikaru. Did Hikaru really love Haruhi, or was Kaoru's prediction off? Maybe Hikaru didn't like Haruhi, maybe he was just jealous that Kaoru liked Haruhi. Or perhaps... just maybe...

Hikaru used to like Haruhi?

If he used to like Haruhi, then why was he getting so upset? Why did his blood boil when he saw Haruhi stroking his brother's calm and tranquil face? Why did Hikaru feel like pounding Kaoru... maybe he wanted to pound Haruhi?

I don't know!

Hikaru went over and sat next to Haruhi, holding her hand in his.

"Haruhi... I have a confession to make," Hikaru whispered.

"What?"

"I think... I lo-love you..." Hikaru finally admitted. His cheeks flared and his eyes looked up to stare into her glimmering eyes."I think I love-"

Kaoru opened his eyes slightly and Hikaru jumped.

"K-kaoru!"

"It's okay," Kaoru whispered. "Go on, tell her."

"I think I love you, Haruhi," Hikaru admitted, again.

Haruhi smiled and blushed a bit, but she shook her head.

"I'm sorry, but I can't accept that. I don't love you. I... think I love Kaoru," Haruhi admitted herself.

They both looked at Kaoru and he rolled over to look away from them.

"Who do you love, Kaoru?" They both asked.

"Love hurts. It's best kept inside. No one can hurt you that way."

Hikaru and Haruhi frowned and they shrugged and began walking out of the room to let Kaoru rest.

Kaoru sat up and leaned his chin onto his knees. He scooted off of the bed and he picked his phone and made a call on it.

"Hello? Yeah, nice to talk to you again... Yeah, thanks for that by the way..." Kaoru talked into his phone and laughed.

"Yes, they still think I can't walk."

Kaoru's POV

I guess I feel kind of bad, for lying to everyone. I told Umehito about it when he came to watch over me. When I explained to him about my feelings and how I was confused, he decided that he wouldn't tell anyone, since my intentions weren't ill intended.

I didn't know it at first, I thought that I was really damned when I got caught in that trap, I really did.

Turns out, that "hobo" really meant to lead me into that trap. That person... used to be in the Black Magic Club and knew me from school, and knew about my problems. So they decided they could persuade me.

That "hobo" wasn't a hobo at all, but a drug dealer.

No one has to worry though, I won't buy any drugs from him, it's just nice to get a break from school for awhile. So I thanked him a couple times, and he brings me what I need or helps me out to get what I need. Of course...

...a drug dealer is nice to have in case of emergencies.