Sorry this too kme a while. v.v; But! Special shout out goes to: ILuvHikaruAndKaoru for being my first reviewer. Thank you so much! X3 And thanks goes to liquidity for the suggestion that I refer to the twins as redheads so as to avoid confusion. It really makes a lot more sense, so henceforth they shall be redheads, except for Hikaru…who is actually a brunette now. (: Thank you to all my reviewers.

-ILuvHikaruAndKaoru

-liquidity

-SuikaChan555

-sunshine

Also thanks to those who faved and alerted my story. I'm so happy people are liking it.

Disclaimer (because I forgot in the first chapter): I DO NOT own any of the characters related to Ouran High School Host Club; Hikaru or Kaoru.


Hikaru's golden orbs stared into his brother's waiting for the other male to finish his sentence, but from the looks of things that wasn't going to happen any time soon. Silence had overcome the younger twin after he'd uttered his eight syllable sentence. Apparently Kaoru didn't intend on finishing that and explaining what he "just". The elder sighed a bit spearing a piece of his pancake stack as his eyes returned back to his food.

"I wish you would tell me what's on your mind." Hikaru finally spoke up, ignoring his food for his brother once again. He was, after all, the older twin and often times was able to smooth out any possible lumps his younger perceived in their relationship. Such as the most recent separate rooms business. Hikaru felt he'd done a decent job dyeing his hair in an effort to be told apart from Kaoru. And the younger redhead had seemed so delighted to find they didn't have to take such drastic measures as he'd originally thought.

Yes, despite the fact that his temper may have been a bit worse, Hikaru still thought of himself as the more rational one. Kaoru for one reason or another thought of things, concerning the two of them, in extremes and it boggled the elder's mind. He cleared his throat, still staring at his brother. He'd yet to respond to his statement and Hikaru had really been hoping for something.

The silence was, however, beginning to get to Hikaru. Though he did love his brother he could just as well become irritated with him and he now glared at the silent redhead. He blinked and let out yet another sigh, but this one seemed a lot more frustrated than the first and he stood. "Whatever." The elder muttered, carrying his plate of unfinished pancakes. He'd lost his appetite trying to decipher the code his brother may or may not have been sending him.

As soon as Hikaru had dumped his dishes in the sink to be cleaned he headed out of the kitchen and toward the main room. "I assume you don't even want to ride with me today, eh?" Hikaru shouted loud enough so his voice echoed against the tiled flooring. His hands were now in the pockets of his school blazer as he awaited a response, but expected none.

Sitting alone now, Kaoru sighed to himself and ran a hand through his orange locks. What was he supposed to tell Hikaru? He couldn't tell him the truth and he refused to make up a lie, so all he could do was sit there dumbly and allow his brother to get even more aggravated with him.

The younger Hitachiin brought a hand to his mouth, resting his chin against it as he bit at his own lip. The male had barely even touched his own food and seconds after his brother left the room decided he didn't want his pancakes either. He lingered by the sink for a moment, simply staring down at the dirty plates inhabiting that space now. His mind was very far away though and he was jolted back to reality at the sound of his older brother's blaring yell.

Kaoru's amber hues widened and the younger, thoughtlessly, ran out of the kitchen toward where Hikaru now stood. He bumped into him slightly and reached a hand out to clutch the sleeve of his brother's blazer. "No." His voice was barely above a whisper, but his eyes were the ones doing all the speaking anyhow.

Sometimes Kaoru could be difficult to read. Especially recently, but at the moment Hikaru could hear him loud and clear. A soft smile broke the brunette's features as he wrapped an arm around his twin's shoulders. He pulled the other closer to himself and shook his head a little. "You really need to learn to speak up more often. I hate it when I can't understand you…" The last part, Hikaru hadn't really intended on saying, but it just sort of rolled out.

Later.

School had just ended, not that school days were all that eventful at Ouran High School, but nonetheless it felt good to be out of class and relaxing. Somewhat. The twins now had club to attend and knowing them they probably would upset the lord of the Host's and perhaps land themselves doing a job they didn't want to do. Sometimes Tamaki just didn't know how to take a joke. At least in their opinion.

At the moment Kaoru was with a customer and his brother was flirting, it seemed with Haruhi. The younger Hitachiin was trying to ignore his brother's behavior toward the ever so oblivious single female of the Ouran Host Club, but it was difficult. He ran the digits of his left hand through red hair and sighed uncomfortably, topaz eyes darting over in Hikaru's direction every so often. Hikaru and Haruhi were both on a break. Surprisingly enough and Kaoru was having a tough time focusing on his customers.

One of the ladies spoke up. "You seem so distracted today, Kaoru. Are you jealous because of Haruhi and Hikaru?" She giggled softly to herself; accompanied by several other giggles from the other girls he was also entertaining.

Kaoru merely laughed nervously in response to her question. She'd gotten it right on the nose, but he wasn't about to admit it. The girls who made up the Host Club's clientele rumored things about Hikaru, Kaoru, and Haruhi simply because the twins used to have a brotherly love act and were always seen around the school with Haruhi. A lot of it, most people were sure, was simple fantasizing flamed on by the moe's. No one would have really guessed Kaoru was really and truly jealous of Haruhi no less.

When the time finally came for the club members to head home, Kaoru was slumped in one of the decorative sofas that littered Music Room 3. Tamaki was fretting over his "daughter", telling her he would miss her over the break and that he wanted her to take care of herself. Though it was only a week until graduation, the blonde King was beside himself with tears. Hunny and Mori were going to be leaving the Host Club…finally and he didn't want them to. The family Tamaki had worked so hard to put together was being torn apart or at least that was the way he saw it.

Meanwhile, the redheaded Hitachiin sat in his spot on that same sofa, blinking at the bemoaning blonde. The theory he'd pressed about earlier was unfolding before his very eyes it seemed. Hikaru noticed his brother all alone, just watching the other club members as they prepared to leave. "Is everything alright Kaoru? You seemed all serious all of a sudden. Sad about Hunny and Mori too?" The brunette sat next to his younger brother, patting him on the back.

Kaoru's golden orbs turned to meet their identical match and he half-smiled at his twin. "Perhaps," he said vaguely. In reality the younger twin was a little sad about his sempais leaving, but he knew they had to. Both of them were going to move on with their lives. Do things outside of high school. Something he'd only dreamed about himself. But Kaoru, wasn't too keen on graduating himself. He knew once that time came for sure he hand Hikaru would have to separate completely. Become independent individuals.

That was what really saddened the male. The reality hit him harder because it was happening. And in two years he knew that would be Hikaru and himself no matter how much he didn't want it to be.

At Home Again.

The twins got home a little later than usual because Lord Loony insisted on going out together as a family one last time. They all ate at some expensive restaurant much to Haruhi's dismay. She was forced into it, as she always is but enjoyed herself to a certain extent.

Hikaru seemed to be in an unusually chipper mood and regardless of the fact that Kaoru was afraid to find out what was making him so happy he was still curious. "You had fun?" The redhead peered up at his elder brother inquisitively. He was actually in a good mood himself because he did have fun going out with everyone. When they were all together it made Kaoru focus less on his own silly problem and realize he was really and truly going to miss Hunny and Mori.

Turning to his younger brother to answer the question Hikaru merely smiled all the more. "I'm gonna take a bath." Now it was his turn to speak vaguely. His smile became a grin as he waggled a finger a little at his brother. Kaoru in turn glared somewhat at the brunette. Feeling playful he made a break for the stairs and became clomping up them in hopes of getting the restroom the two of them used to share first. He knew that was where Hikaru was headed. Though he used a different bathroom now more often the gleam in his eye told Kaoru that that was the one he intended on using.

Noticing his younger brothers sudden impish attitude Hikaru swiftly followed after. "Oh no you don't!" He dashed up the stairs after his brother grabbing at his pant line where the belt held them up. He tugged at the black slacks Kaoru was wearing, pulling them so they hung half-way down his rear end and immediately the redhead halted all movement, turning a shade of beet red.

Kaoru sudden cease in movement effected Hikaru who was grasping onto his brother's pants. His face ran into the cushion that was Kaoru's derrière making an oof sound as he did so. "What the heck Kaoru?" The older Hitachiin composed himself, standing up and letting go of Kaoru's slacks.

The younger didn't even bother to turn around. He muttered incoherently and pushed at his brother dashing off to his own room. "Goaheadandusetherestroom." He shouted out at his brother before slamming the door of their once shared room. Once he was inside, the young male quickly removed his 'contaminated' pants; tossing them to a corner in his room. Honestly he didn't find them so disgusting, but the fact that he'd been excited by that simple touch from his brother was enough to send the redhead off the deep end. What was the matter with him?

It seems the twins minds were actually connected after all for the elder was thinking the exact same thing as Kaoru was at that moment. "What is wrong with him?" The brunette sounded defeated, running his right hand through his dyed brown locks. Kaoru had been acting so strangely lately and he wouldn't give Hikaru any hints as to why.

Resolving to find out once and for what was goading his brother on Hikaru marched straight to his old room. The one he'd shared with his twin and was now occupied by the other. He knocked softly on the door. "Kaoru…please let me in. What's wrong?"

The redhead sat on his bed; still wearing his uniform shirt, but now much more slovenly because he'd removed the tie and wasn't wearing any pants. Only his blue silk boxers were covering his lower half. He was hunched over in a sort of thinking position, eyebrows furrowed harshly. Yes, he'd heard Hikaru, but right now was not a good time. The younger male still felt very vulnerable in a lot of ways. He thought if Hikaru came in he wouldn't be able to control himself properly.

The knocking came again this time more persistent-sounding. "Kaoru. Come on. Don't be like this. I'm really worried about you…" The older Hitachiin's voice dropped a few decibels as he looked around the empty hallway wondering if perhaps he could just pick the lock. The idea did seem rather tempting at the moment. He let out a long, overwhelmed sigh, leaning his entire body weight against that hunk of wood that now always seemed to be separating him from his brother. Maybe he could have them remove it without telling Kaoru.

A few seconds rolled by when finally the younger twin gave in. He had wanted to wait until Hikaru became exhausted by this charade and left, but he honestly did not want to. The redhead swallowed hard, biting his lip as his fingers grasped around the now unlocked knob to open the door. Hikaru, who'd been leaning on the door clumsily fell into his brother's arms. "Kaoru!" Surprise and relief washed over his face as he stared into the eyes of the other.

Kaoru smiled cheerlessly down at the brunette in his arms and helped his older brother to his feet. "Umm…" He wasn't really sure what to say to Hikaru now that he had him in there. All of his being wanted to confess what was weighing down on his heart, but would that really be appropriate. How would Hikaru react? Would he hate him? Find him disgusting? All of that was very frightening, but if he never told his brother, Kaoru was sure Hikaru would eventually end up hating him.


So that's it for chapter 2. I hope it wasn't too vague. o_o As always, reviews, constructive criticism, etc. is always appreciated. 3