.
Hikaru and Kaoru, age thirteen.
Hikaru always knew what was best for his younger brother, and was always ready to step in and defend him, whether Kaoru liked it or not.
While playing with other kids during recess in middle school, Kaoru worked up the courage to talk to a young girl he had his eyes on for some time. The girl was grey haired, often wearing her curly locks in a high ponytail wrapped in a yellow ribbon. Her name would be forgotten over time, but at that time she was was the most fetching of all seventh graders.
But someone else got to her first.
The girl was sitting with her friends, reading a magazine, when one of the red-haired Hitachiin boys quietly waved her over. Curious, she followed after him and he led her to the back of the school building where they would be alone.
"You're Kaoru, right?" she blinked.
"Yep, that's me," he nodded in a lie. "I just wanted you to know something: My brother Hikaru's got a crush on you."
The girl gasped and blushed slightly. "He does? Really? I... I didn't know."
The boy's golden eyes narrowed; of course she wouldn't notice, she was always too busy reading girly magazines on how to better her appearance. "Well," he replied slyly, "I kind of like you too."
She smiled warmly. "You too? Gosh, I'm really flattered."
He faked a smile. "...Is that all you can say? Aren't you the least bit interested in either of us?"
"Well, to be perfectly honest, I barely know either of you. But I guess if I had to choose which one to hang out with..." She paused for quite some time, confirming his worries that she, just like everyone else he had ever met, couldn't decide which twin was which let alone which one to interact with. Finally, she breathed, "I'm sorry. This is kind of embarassing, but... the truth is, I'm not sure which of you I like more. You're both so... so alike."
That was it, that was the word he hated most. Alike. Only he and his brother knew better; yes they looked alike, they shared similar traits and hobbies, but there were differences between them that they alone seemed to notice. He knew he was Hikaru, and that the other one was Kaoru. To everyone else, it was The Twins and nothing more.
He sighed sadly, "I'm sorry. I hoped you'd be different." With that, he turned and walked away.
The girl was left confused. "Different? ...Different, how? What do you mean?" He would not respond.
Minutes later, he had caught up with the real Kaoru who wondered, "Where've you been, Hikaru?"
"I just talked to that girl you like," he confessed with a sad look on his face.
Kaoru noticed it and asked, "What's wrong?"
"I'm sorry Kao, but she's not worth it. She's just like everyone else." He patted Kaoru's shoulder in comfort.
Kaoru was truly heartbroken, and a little lost. "But... But... I really like her."
"Just forget her, Kaoru. Trust me."
Kaoru glanced at the ground in sorrow.
Hikaru always knew what was best for Kaoru; he could never stand for anyone who would potentially break his heart. Even though it was he himself who hurt Kaoru's feelings that day, Hikaru would never regret it. It was for Kaoru's own good. He was certain of that.
..
..
Present Day.
"It just doesn't add up," muttered Hikaru.
He, Hunny and Mori were cleaning up Music Room 3 that evening after club hours when he began to contemplate the fact that his leader, Tamaki, was now completely out of the picture. "Tamaki-senpai was the one who started the Host Club. He's the one who got us all together. How can we even have this club if he doesn't exist?"
"I dunno what you're talking about, Hika-chan," frowned Hunny as he folded up the costume he wore earlier that day. "I've never met a Tamaki. Have you, Takashi?"
"No," replkied his cousin nearby while rearranging potted plants.
Hikaru sighed, feeling hopeless. "But you guys do feel like something's been off lately, right? Like, the Club hasn't been as much fun as it used to be?"
"Hmmm," paused Hunny while placing a finger on his chin in deep thought. "Come to think of it... I can't remember the last time I had cake. Or ice cream. Or anything sweet."
"That's a good thing," mused his cousin. "Less sweets, less cavaties."
"But still, I feel like I've had some lately. I've got this familiar taste in the back of my mouth..."
Crash!
"What was that?" gasped Hikaru.
The others heard it too and stopped what they were doing. "It sounded like it came from the hall," replied Mori.
.
After peeking through the doors of Music Room 3, the three boys were stunned to see two men dressed in dark clothing emerging through their makeshift dress closet with a handful of clothes in their arms.
'Thieves!" yelled Hikaru, which alarmed the robbers.
Horrified that they've been caught red-handed, the two men took off as Hikaru and the others gave chase.
Mori, being the fastest of the three, managed to tackle one man while the other escaped down the stairs. The tall teen held him tightly, but the man kicked upward and hit him in the face with great agility. Clearly, he was no mere robber. However, as he struggled to free himself, the man lost his jacket.
Hikaru and Hunny caught up with a now dazed Mori, who held the jacket tightly in his grip. "Damn it," cussed Hikaru, "they got away..."
But then, Hikaru looked down curiously at the seized jacket, and noticed a symbol on its left breast. His golden eyes widened in shock. He knew that insigna.
"Ootori."
..
..
Ootori Mansion, the next day.
Kyoya was strtaightening his school tie in a mirror in the living room of his lavish mansion, when the doorbell rang. Curious, he approached it before one of his servants did, and opened the door. To his surprise, he was greeted by a fiery-haired teen whose hangs grasped harshly onto his collar.
"Where's Kaoru?" growled Hikaru.
Kyoya, taken by complete surprise, stammered. "I- I don't know what you're talking about. Who's Kaoru again?" He straigtened his glasses.
"Don't play dumb with me, Ootori," hissed the fuming red-head. "I caught one of your goons yesterday at the Club. I know you know something about my brother's disappearance! Now spill it!" He shook Kyoya by his collar.
The older teen tried to gently pry himself free from Hikaru's grasp, but to no avail. However, his face seemed to relax as his nerves quickly regained stability. Typical Kyoya. "I really don't know what you're going on about, Hikaru. If this is some kind of prank, I'm not really amused by it."
"Just tell me where my brother is and I'll leave you alone. I promise. ...Now tell me... Tell me! …..TELL ME!"
"Kyoya? Who is that?" came a deeper male voice in the back of the room.
Hikaru gasped in surprise at the sound of Kyoya's father and head of the house, Yoshio Ootori himself. He had been standing at the edge of the living room for some time now and overheard Hikaru's aggressive remarks. Seeing the man in person made the young Hitachiin freeze in place and, as if by reflex, loosen his grip on Kyoya's collar.
Kyoya stood straight and fixed the collar of his shirt. "This is one of my friends from school, father. He's Hikaru Hitachiin, heir to the Hitachiin fashion line and estate."
"S-sir," gulped Hikaru to Yoshio.
The older man approached the redhead at the door with a stern look on his face, which wasn't unusual as he always looked stern even toward his own children. But something in his dark eyes truly scared Hikaru, as though he was the true King of Demons while Kyoya was merely a prince in training.
"I think I know what this is about. Kyoya, would you excuse the two of us for a moment? I need to have a word with Mr. Hitachiin."
"Yes sir," bowed Kyoya as he stepped aside.
"Mr. Hitachiin, come with me."
Hikaru gulped again, only louder this time.
.
He was led into a room that looked very much like an office; indeed, this was where Yoshio did most of his accounting when he wasn't at work. Hikaru marveled at the paintings of past Ootori members and the cleanliness of the deep brown furniture. On the floor, embedded into the carpet, was a large copy of the Ootori Group insigna. He stood in the center of it as Yoshio took to the seat of his desk.
"What I'm about to tell you must never leave this room. Do you understand?"
Hikaru reluctantly nodded.
Yoshio leaned forward, planting his elbows on his desk while his fingers entwined. "I'm only saying this because you simply won't leave it alone, so I'm going to tell you what I know... although, what I know isn't much."
"...Go on."
"It seems that these... People... who have abducted your brother are running some kind of experiment."
Hikaru paled. "Experiment?"
"Yes. They've been doing these sort of experiments for some time now. You see, Mr. Hitachiin, They don't seem to fully understand the concept of human emotion- particularly the emotional bonds between family and friends. So what They do is pick a pair of kin or close friends, take one and see how well the other fairs without the abductee. Sometimes They go as far as erasing people's minds to test if the emotional bond is still there despite a lack of memory. ...Are you still with me?"
"Mm-hmm," the boy nodded.
"Good. The idea is that a human with a strong emotional bond will somehow break the amnesia barrier after a certain time. What They do is record that time, analyze it, compare it to other results, then They release the adbuctee and revert everything back to the way is was. Then, They move on."
"...They move on... As in, to another unsuspecting pair. And the whole thing starts over again?"
"That is correct."
Hikaru's stomach turned, the whole idea of people disappearing and forced to forget disgusted him. He fidgeted in his seat before boldly asking, "And, you just let this happen? Like it's no big deal?"
Yoshio leaned back in his chair. "I run my own hospital, and sometimes the ones They are testing come by to report their stories. Sometimes they seem traumatized, other times they're like lost children. But in every case I've seen, no one was ever truly harmed. And even if they were, it's beyond my power to do something about it, other than to give them proper medical care. Do I allow this to happen? Yes. Do I enjoy it? Not at all, but I do what I must to keep the peace around here."
"And why did 'They' confide in you and your group?"
"They trust that we will cooperate, and we have. Whatever information They don't have on Their subjects, it's our responsibility to give it to Them, or in rare occasions we take matters into our own hands."
"Like yesterday, when your goons broke into our dressing room and stole Tamaki and Kaoru's clothes."
"No one was supposed to see that. You least of all... Which brings me to you, Mr. Hitachiin."
Hikaru winced with worry.
"Of all the people They've tested, you by far are the strangest. Usually when someone's memory is erased, it takes them days or even weeks to get them back. But according to Them, your memories were taken that very night They took your brother. Yet right from the moment you've woken up, your memories never seemed to have left."
"...And... That's bad?"
"I'm not sure. But it seems that Their interest in you has peaked. Which is why I will now advise you to stop searching for your brother."
"What?"
"I want you to go home, tell your parents that you've been under a lot of stress and that your ramblings about a twin were nothing more than a momentary lapse in logic. You will go on with your life pretending that nothing has changed."
"And just ignore the fact that these people have my brother, doing God knows what to him?"
"If They are convinced that your memories have faded, then it's possible that They will bring back your brother sooner than later. But if you keep persuing Them, it might only spell trouble for the both of you. I'm only telling you this for your own good, son. Leave it be."
The boy took a moment to consider his options, but only for a moment. He already knew going into this office what his answers would be; whatever Ootori would say, no matter how threatening or foreboding, he was going to do the opposite. "...I'm sorry, Mr. Ootori, but I can't do that."
"You're making a mistake," frowned Yoshio in a dark tone. "You have no idea what They are capable of."
"Yeah well, They don't know what I'mcapable of. I'm going to find Kaoru and bring him home, and if I have to move Heaven and Hell to do it, then so be it."
Yoshio slammed his hands on his desk as he rose to his feet. "Don't be a fool, boy! No one has ever bested Them, no one! They've dealt with far more powerful people, and you're just a teenager. What couldyou possibly do?"
Hikaru stared back at him coldly. "...I dunno... I guess we'll see." He turned and started to walk away.
Yoshio sat back in his chair and sighed deeply. "...You leave me no choice." He picked up the phone on his desk and dailed a number.
.
Yoshio was only protecting the boy, he knew what was best, whether Hikaru liked it or not. Just as Hikaru was storming out of the Ootori mansion and toward his limosene, he was intercepted by two men dressed in the Ootori Group's police uniforms, their eyes shielded by sunglasses.
"I'm sorry, young man," said one of them, "but we have orders to take you to the nearest psychiatric hospital."
"What?" gasped Hikaru, looking quite offended. "Are you serious? I'm not insane!"
The other gentlemen pulled out a piece of paper and held it out to Hikaru. "According to the headmaster, he has recently evaluated your mental state and requested immediate transfer."
Hikaru glanced at the paper and saw Yoshio's handwritten signature as plain as day at the bottom of the page. He also saw a glance of his own name, typed in bold, and the word "Certifiable" somewhere in there as well. He was far too shocked and apalled to read the whole document clearly.
"This is bull," he hissed. "Mr. Ootori knows me, we just talked!"
"Yes, we know."
"And he knows I'm not..." Then it hit him like a ton of bricks, and his heart dropped down to his stomach. "That son of a bitch."
"Come with us, son. We'll call your parents about this."
"No... No, wait! This is a mistake! I'm not crazy! I'm not- let me go!" But no matter how hard he struggled or how loudly he screamed, the boy's arms were seized by the taller, muscular men without hope of escape. They puled him into the limo, but it was about to head in a much different direction of where Hikaru originally planned.
Kyoya looked on from a window from his mansion.
..
..
It was uncertain how long he had been strapped to his new bed in the psychiatric ward; his vision was blurry and his head spinning in reaction to the sedative that was given earlier. He struggled against it, but it wasn't long before Hikaru drifted off into a deep sleep, in which he began to dream...
.
He didn't know where he was or how he had gotten there, all he could see was a soft grey sky, and felt his back flattened against a surface. It was a hazy and mysterious void he found himself in, with no distinguishable buildings or trees, rather just mist. But instead of feeling lost and afraid, he was overcome by a peaceful calm, especially when a warm hand caressed his brow.
"Hiukaru..."
"...I... I know that voice..."
"Hika...?"
"...Kaoru? I-is that...?" His eyes focused on the figure leaning over him, and when it came into focus is was as though he was staring aqt his own reflection. Except this reflection was wearing a creamy white top and orange pants, with his bangs parted to the left instead of the right.
He felt himself gasp. "Kaoru."
The mirror image smiled. "I've missed you, brother."
Hikaru sat up and saw that the other twin was sitting down on the floor as well, his upper body leaning just over his. The two of them stared at each other for a brief moment before one took the other into his arms. Hikaru nuzzled his face into Kaoru's neck. "...You're real... I knew you were real."
"Yes, Hika. I'm real." He began to stroke his brother's auburn locks.
"Is... is this a dream?"
Kaoru pulled him back to look his twin in their matching eyes. "Do you remember how easy it was for us to share our dreams, Hika? It was so much easier for us when we were younger."
"...I remember." He felt like he was going to cry.
.
Meanwhile, in their undisclosed lab, the Agents were watching as Kaoru's slumbering body began to twitch in ways it hadn't before. The female moved closer to closely observe the monitor recording his brainwave patterns. They were wilder now, indicating that he was in an active dream.
She then turned over to the screen that monitored Hikaru as he slept in his strap-down bed in the hospital, his muscles twitching in the same pattern Kaoru's were. With a touch of the screen, another brainwave indicator switched on, and it mirrored just about every wave seen on Kaoru's chart. She knew what this meant.
"Incredible," mused the female Agent. "Even as they dream, their minds are completely in synch. I don't believe we've ever seen this before."
"All the more reason to keep them under surveillance," replied her male counterpart nearby.
Her lips curled into a frown without him knowing it.
.
"Where have you been, Kaoru?" asked Hikaru as he continued to embrace his long-lost twin. "I've been going crazy looking for you."
Kaoru frowned, "I'm sorry... I don't really know where I am. I've been feeling so... lost."
Hikaru blinked. "...Well, that doesn't really help."
"I'm sorry, Hika, I wish I could tell you..."
Hikaru suddenly winced, as the ground began to shake. "What's going on?"
"You're waking up."
"No!" he gasped in horror. "N-no, I can't go, I just got you back! I can't leave you."
His twin cupped his cheeks into his hands. "It's alright, Hika. I'm just glad I got to see you again. I've missed you terribly."
A tremor went through his body, and Hikaru panicked again. He held onto Kaoru's hands while they stayed firmly on his cheeks. "I... I don't want to go..."
"You have to, or else you'll never find me."
Everything around them started to go black.
"Find me, Hikaru."
"Kao? ...Kaoru?" His brother began to fade away.
"Find me..."
"Kaoru! ….Kaoru!"
..
..
"Hitachiin Hikaru, this is your wake up call."
"Uh. ..Ugh..." Hikaru's eyes fluttered open to the warm, welcoming smile of the last person he expected. "K-... Kyoya-senpai?"
Indeed, it was Kyoya leaning over him, and he was unbucling the straps on the boy's bed. "I've pulled some strings," explained the taller teen in glasses. "I talked to the head doctor in this place and convinced him that my father's evaluation of you was a mistake."
"Wha...?" Hikaru was still loopy from waking up from the sedative. He rubbed his eyes.
"I've called our friends to pick you up." With the last buckle undone, Kyoya gently helped Hikaru sit up. "Listen, Hikaru, I don't know much about what's going on. But I know this much: you're not crazy. I've known you for a little over a year, but that's enough time for me to make my own evaluation on you."
"So... So, you believe me. I'm not crazy."
"Yes, I do."
"Then... Kaoru? Tamaki-senpai?"
"I still don't remember them, but I believe your story. We'll find them, I promise. We'll find Tamaki, and your bro-"
WHOOSH!
Once again, the ceiling and sky opened up, and a vaccum of wind sucked up Kyoya, ejecting him from reality it seemed. In that bright flash, Hikaru shielded his eyes, but when he opened them again, he was alone.
Funny, he didn't know why, but he felt in his bones that he shouldn't have been alone. Someone was just here... Someone he knew. Someone important.
A honk from a car outside alarmed him.
.
Now a free man, Hikaru walked out of the hospital without resistance from the nurses, as they were recently made aware of his sanity- though from whom they weren't sure. Parked in front of the front doors was a long black limo, with Hunny and Mori standing by.
"Hika-chan!" waved Hunny enthusiastically.
Hikaru waved back with a smile before meeting them face to face. "Guys... What're you doing here?"
"Didn't you call us to pick you up?" asked the Lolita boy innocently.
Hikaru scratched his head in confusion. "No, I'm... pretty sure it wasn't me." He felt a sudden chill down his spine. "...I don't even remember why I'm here."
"Well, you're okay now," assured Hunny with a shrug. "Are you still hising from your parents?"
It was slowly coming back to him, though not all of it. "My parents... Yeah... Yes, they think I've lost my mind. They're the ones who probablly sent me here."
"Come with us," said Mori.
"We'll keep you safe at our house," added Hunny as he opened the side door.
Still feeling unsure of what just happened, Hikaru felt he had no choice but to accept things as they were. He climbed into the limo with his friends, and the vehicle drove away from the hospital.
Throughout the ride, three words kept haunting him in the back of his mind: "Find me, Hikaru... Find me..."
.
TBC