Disclaimer: I own nothing but the OCs used.
A/N: Now for chapter twelve.
Chapter 12 – What Hurts The Most
Atsuko sighed as she walked throughout the empty house. Her mother was away helping her father with a project. The rain on the roof echoed throughout all the corridors yet the thunder had subsided enough for her not to be afraid. She sighed again. "I'm okay." she mumbled to herself. She hadn't realized how lonely she was without Kimiko at her side. But she'd have to come home at some point. And Atsuko knew that she'd have to talk to Kimiko alone. She quietly sang What Hurts The Most (by Cascada) as she walked the hallways. The Victorian styled house seemed eerie and menacing in the distorted moon light. Atsuko looked out a window at the end of the hall and at the moon. She wondered when Kimiko would be back. When she would feel a bit more whole again.
When the lips disappeared, Kaoru blinked and looked down at Kimiko. She smiled shyly and blushed. He blushed as well. "That was...nice..." Kaoru said awkwardly. Kimiko broke through the tension and giggled at his awkwardness. "It was, wasn't it?" she asked. He nodded and blushed a deep red as she continued, "So can I stay here tonight? I'm not exactly ready to face Atsuko yet." "S-Sure..." Kaoru stuttered. Kimiko giggled again and said, "Would your mother mind if I borrowed some clothes?" "Not at all. Here, I'll show you to the guest room." Kaoru said, still stuttering slightly.
Hikaru walked up the stairs to the Nakamura household and knocked on the door. "Come in." called a sullen voice. He twisted the doorknob that was unlocked and stepped inside. "Atsuko?" he shouted into the darkness. "Here." she said quietly. He looked to the side and she was standing next to him. "What's wrong?" he asked. "Kimiko left." she said, her voice breaking on her sister's name. Hikaru's eyes widened. But the girls seemed so inseparable...but then again so had he and his brother and right now they were apart. "Where is she?" Hikaru continued to question. Atsuko shrugged, looking at the ground. "But everyone's worth pleasing. So I have a pretty good idea." she mumbled. Hikaru raised an eyebrow.
After changing into a plain, sleeveless, white dress that fell a few inches above her knees, Kimiko sat on the bed of the Hitachiins' guest room. She looked out the window there as the rain continued to fall. Her thoughts jumped to Atsuko and what she would say if she was here. "Don't cry Miko-chan. Everything will be okay." And how Atsuko would smile at her. But Atsuko wasn't here. Kimiko really wasn't afraid to cry every once in a while. Yet what hurt the most was how they were so close, had so much to say, and she walked away. She was going to go back and talk to Atsuko tomorrow. That much she promised herself.
Kimiko was so deep in her thoughts that she did notice the change in the storm. The lightning started again. One close flash tore her from her reverie, then her eyes widened with fear as thunder boomed. The loud thunder and bright lightning reminded both twins all too much of the car crash. The noise of the collision and the flashing ambulance lights. Therefore, storms like this terrified them with those memories. Eyes squeezed shut, Kimiko pulled the sheets of the bed over her head.
Kaoru had been sitting in his and Hikaru's room, not able to sleep, when the thunder started. "Kimiko!" he shouted and darted toward the guest room. The door swung back and hit the wall quietly as he ran into the room. His golden yellow eyes locked on the lump on the bed that was whimpering. He closed the door then walked over to the bed and sat on the edge. Lightly and still a bit timidly, he placed a hand on the lump and the whimpering ceased. With a swift motion, he was under the blankets alongside Kimiko. She looked at him. It seemed every time there was a storm, Kaoru found Kimiko crying. This time was no different. "Kimiko," he whispered, pulling her to him. She leaned her head against his chest and didn't realize it was bare. Kaoru slowly and lightly kissed the top of her head. Kimiko tried to stop the tears but they refused to be deterred from their paths down her cheeks.
As much as Hikaru tried to help, Atsuko continued to wallow in the memories.
The memories that were the source of both sisters' pain.
Musical Influence 1: What Hurts The Most by Cascada (For the Nakamura twins)
Musical Influence 2: What Hurts The Most by Rascal Flatts (For the Hitachiin twins)