Disclaimer – I, unfortunately, don't own any of the characters from Ouran high host club…although if anyone knows how to…

Kyoya watched from afar as the week progressed, he had learnt from Haruhi that Kaoru had moved room and that Hikaru was upset over it all. But it seemed that any plan of Hikaru's had either failed or never been executed as the younger Hitachiin was still in a different room for the entire weekend.

And this was making Kyoya think that perhaps Kaoru had finally accepted the fact that Hikaru had someone else and maybe Kaoru should have someone to.

The thought was firmly crushed as even Kyoya could tell it was a pretty desperate thought that if acted upon would bring nothing but misery, and destroy his one favourite past time of being able to watch the younger boy.

But at the same time…Kaoru hadn't rejected him after his kiss, although maybe the boy was simply pretending it hadn't happened. Whatever the case, it was beginning to grate on his nerves.

Breaking out of his thoughts, he turned to his left to look at the culprit he had tugged his notebook away from him.

Kaoru smiled. "You're thinking too much again." Looking at the notes, he raised his eyebrows. "This is all just maths, where are the secret files on every Host Club member and customer?"

"In a locked drawer."

Faltering, the younger Hitachiin wondered if he was actually serious or not, but the expression on the Shadow Kings face definitely suggested he wasn't joking. He handed the book back.

"Thank you. Anything I can do for you?"

"I had my hand seen to." The bandaged hand in question was waved carefully.

Kyoya had noticed it, and that it often seemed to bleed whenever Kaoru picked up anything heavier than a tea cup with it, or clenched his fist. "Did Hikaru drag you to the hospital?"

"No." The younger Hitachiin smiled at the surprised expression. "I went because you ordered me to – and Hikaru doesn't seem to notice much these days." He looked at the bandaged hand. "And I am rather fond of it, I wouldn't have wanted it to fall off, and imagine how nasty it would have smelt rotting away."

Pushing his glasses up his nose, Kyoya sighed. "Kaoru, did you come here to tell me that you had you hand seen to?"

"Yes, on Monday, when it was injured." Kaoru ran his hand clumsily through his hair. "About Monday, everything was a little hazy and I don't remember much about it apart from wanting lots of painkillers and the utter determination to get my own room…"

"And?"

Kaoru gulped. "And…I wanted to ask you how you go about being on your own. I mean, what do you do with all that time? And how do you fall asleep without someone's warmth and soft breaths next to you?"

Managing a smirk, Kyoya was actually pleased. Perhaps he could worm his way into Kaoru's affections… "I fill my time with my various notes and calculations, but other people play games, homework, actual work, learning or refining skills such as music or art. And as for the warmth and breath of someone…"

The young Hitachiin blushed slightly. "That was me getting…carried…away?" He blinked at how much closer Kyoya was.

"If you ever need me, for anything, even if it's just to help you sleep, I'm here." Moving away, Kyoya was pleased he hadn't molested the boy on the spot.

Kaoru on the other hand was wondering what to do now with so much information and a rather interesting offer. Although how he would explain bringing in a camp bed for his guest to sleep on might be a little difficult…

Tuesday saw to Kyoya making a new pledge, one that he was determined to keep this time. Today he had every intention of using every opportunity that presented itself, and some which he would make present themselves, to drop a hint that he liked Kaoru to the young Hitachiin.

After the sixth innuendo, he had a feeling it would be a long day when Kaoru's replies made his ears burn. Perhaps it was the conditioning he had grown up in with Hikaru, playing off the brotherly love act; they must have used just about every innuendo in the book.

And then some.

Kyoya glowered as he watched the pair roll into another performance, this time over Koaru's wounded heart as a girl commented that Hikaru spent a lot of time with Haruhi.

The girls drank it up happily as Hikaru ran a hand along his brothers throat to his chin, forcing the head right back. Smirking, Hikaru caught his brother's wrists and pulled him back to a normal standing position.

Pulling his hands away, he frowned at his brother's expression of pain before looking at the bandaged hand which was now flowering small blossoms of blood. Just before the older Hitachiin could respond to this, the Shadow King intercepted and, placing a hand on the boys back, gently pushed him along.

He was annoyed at the lack of refusal, because he could then have scooped him up and whisked him away to the backroom instead of frog marching him there. The latter was by far a lot less romantic.

The thought was squashed, stampeded, crushed, run over, set alight and then thrown out in a mixture of shock and surprise. He had intended to flirt with Kaoru, not woo him!

Kaoru sighed as the older boy expertly removed the bandages. "Its not healing too well, but I think it's because I keep using it."

Wrinkling his nose, Kyoya looked at the infected stitches, it seemed that 'not healing well' was an understatement. "Have you been using antiseptic cream on this?"

"When I remember." The younger boy groaned at the foul look he was given. "Should I go to the doctors again?"

"Yes."

"Ok."

That was it? Feeling slightly cheated but at the same time pleased, Kyoya fetched some of the antiseptic cream from the first aid box and began to apply it, ignoring the flinches. "It's going to hurt the first few times."

"Cant you…I don't know…take it easier?"

Kyoya smiled. "I'm going as carefully as I can." He brushed against a few of the stitches and cringed at the loud yelp the action received.

Outside the curtains, a few fan girls exchanged glances before squealing loudly.

Back inside, the pair looked at the curtains suspiciously.

"I think we're being listened to." Kaoru whispered quietly.

"Maybe we should give them something to listen to." Kyoya replied with a wicked smirk, then he rubbed the cream directly onto one of the gashes on Kaoru's hand.

The young Hitachiin yelped again. "Not so hard!"

"I can't help it; it's too irresistible with that cute face of yours."

Kaoru frowned before light dawned on him. "This is like with Hikaru, but hidden." He whispered quietly before grinning back cheekily. "Kyoya, cant you make it more pleasant?"

"Like this?" He slowly rubbed the hand in gentle circles.

"Ah, that's the spot."

"Should I go a little harder?"

"Mmm…yes!"

Kyoya nearly fell over at the excited little noises Kaoru had just made, raising his eyebrows questioningly, he saw the younger boy smirk. In fact, the young Hitchiin was near doubled over in laughter and he was trying to muffle his giggles.

The curtain was thrown back by Tamaki who looked at the pair sitting facing one another with Kaoru's hand being carefully held, bandages and cream surrounding them with innocent expressions on.

Kaoru sighed softly, turning his face slightly to look extra cute and embarrassed. "Kyoya, that does hurt."

"I'm sorry; I'll try and be more gentle."

Behind Tamaki, an entire group of girls sighed in disappointment at the innocence in front of them before going away to their previous places. Tamaki just looked at the pair. "Are you ok, Kaoru?"

The young Hitachiin sighed, his smile fading. "I think I need to take a few days off and rest this hand – I keep opening the stitches."

Tamaki looked disappointed. "But if you stay off so will Hikaru and – wont that be bad for business, Kyoya?"

Standing up, glasses flashes, Kyoya placed a hand on the smaller boys shoulder. "It would be even less beneficial if Kaoru was to injure his hand worse and take an extended leave of absence. A few days rest will be adequate at this stage."

Kaoru smiled at Kyoya. "Thanks." Getting up, he skipped back into the main room where he immediately played the part of the injured brother with Hikaru, who played his role without touching the injured hand this time, Tamaki fussing over the pair in case Kaoru was hurt further.

Watching all this, Kyoya was surprised at the hand on his own shoulder. "Is there a problem, Mori?"

The usual silent host member looked at Kyoya for a long moment. "You should talk to him."

Kyoya raised his eyebrows. "I've already informed him to go to the hospital."

"You might have said that, but have you really told him what you're thinking?" Looking at the young boy as he left, Mori smiled. "The people you watch most tend to be the ones who notice it least."

The Shadow King smiled. "So you noticed."

Mori chuckled. "Of course I would notice a rival." Picking up a cupcake, he left to see to Hunny.

Blinking, Kyoya wondered just when he had focused that much on Kaoru that he hadn't seen the affections of the others grow too for the boy.

How badly was this going to effect his calculations and plans?

This was war.

Dun dun dun!!!

Review please!