Hey! New chapter. I really hope you enjoy it.

Sorry for makin you wait so long. I could say my life is a mess and I'm struggling with inspiration on this story. [I can't decide, happy or sad ending and that makes it hard] but excuses are lame, ne?

Disclaimer: I don't own OHSHC, duh.

Torture

He mumbled curses under his breath as he fumbled with his tie, loosening it to tear it off and try for the seventh time to retie it. I stared at him from my comfy position on the edge of the bed with slight concern. His beautiful golden eyes – and to those who said gold was a color of corruption, they had not seen his eyes – were lined in a pale purple-black, sleep obviously stolen from them. His form articulated an exhaustion I had not seen before. It was like he breathed exhaustion in and it chose to settle in his bones, each breath leaving him more wary. "Damnit…" He mumbled to himself, his face contorted in frustration, his fingers moving slowly instead of with the nimble grace all his gestures usually contained.

"You're going to wrinkle it…," I noted to him, reaching down to grab my socks and slide them on. I was ready except for my shoes which were downstairs by the door. I stood and stretched my arms. Hikaru was in disarray. He hadn't bothered to touch his hair yet, so it was a mess of tangled locks, his shirt wasn't tucked in, he was still tieless as he continued to fumble with the knot, frustration clearly visible in his frame now, and he had yet to put his jacket or socks on. I grabbed him by the shoulders and pushed him on to the bed. He fell backwards with little resistance. I crawled over him and he the look on his face surprised me. He looked entirely terrified. He closed his eyes tightly and reopened them. When he saw me looking down at him, a question mark plainly evident in my features he seemed to sigh in relief. I curled up into his chest and he wrapped his arms loosely around me.

"You're a mess." I said simply into his shirt. I felt him sigh again.

"Yeah." He responded on an exhale.

"Come on, we'll be late if we don't get you ready soon." I sat up now, besides him where he still lay on the bed.

"I don't think I'm going to go." He answered, throwing one arm over his eyes as if the light filtering in the window next to the bed was starting to slowly burn. Normally I would have refuted this, as it was important we attend especially with Host Club after school, plus the King was sure to throw a melodramatic tantrum and Kyoya was sure to flash his glasses ominously. I shivered at the thought of an angry Shadow King and an overreacting Tamaki. However, I could see how tired Hikaru was. He'd looked sickly recently, which was weird as we were always sick together.

"I'll stay too." It seemed like the most logical answer. School would be boring without him, even with Haruhi around.

"No, you go. I'm just going to sleep all day." I pouted in his general direction though it was for naught since he was still shielding his eyes from the light.

"Hey Hikaru… are you okay?" I asked tentatively, brushing an especially rebellious piece of hair out of his face. I turned my full attention to him, leaning my head next to his on the mattress. He turned and uncovered one eye, to look at me. A small but genuine smile brushed his features.

"I'm alright, Kaoru. I'm just really tired." He smiled and reached out one hand to entangle his fingers with mine. I looked at our linked hands that fit perfectly together and smiled. He was smiling too, something he hadn't done very much of recently.

I sighed and stood, still keeping our hands locked. "Fine. I'll be back right after school." He nodded and sat up, releasing my hand to wrap his arms, the ones identical to mine, around my waist. He leaned his head against my waist and I threaded a hand through his hair, something I knew made him feel better.

He released me, a small smile still on his lips. "See you later Kaoru. Have fun at school," this he said with the corner of his mouth lifted in a slight smirk, "Miss you." And he was dead serious. I'd miss him too. It was rare that we went anywhere separately.

"Bye brother." I said and moved to leave the room as he crawled under our orange and blue stripped sheets. I closed the door gently behind me and headed out.

I moved down the steps still worried about Hikaru. I slid on my shoes at the door and walked out to the car alone for the first time in a long time. I couldn't help but to bite my lip as I stared out at the window.

Lately, Hikaru had seemed pained, like breathing was torture for him. His skin was becoming more pallid and his eyes more drawn. Raw emotions with no explanation flittered across his eyes at times where it would seem like they had no place. No one else was seeing it, I'd asked. But of course everyone else would say that I would be the first to notice. Bzzzzt. My phone, already set for vibrate for school, went off in my back pocket. I slid it open to see I had a new message.

Miss you already. Going back to sleep. Love you 3 Hika

I smiled at the message. I hadn't been gone from the house more than fifteen minutes and he missed me. I sent back a quick message, telling him I loved him, missed him, and goodnight. I arrived at school and stepped out alone for the first time in a long time.

I kept to myself, wishing I had Hikaru with me. Some people outright stared as I walked by, making nervousness edge across my skin. Their eyes seemed to seer into my skin without Hikaru there. I'd never minded it before, but with him gone I knew they were staring at me in curiosity, and some in suspicion. I made it halfway through the day without breaking down, and met up with Haruhi.

"Hey Kaoru." She nodded a hello. She looked at me curiously before asking, "Where's Hikaru?" She looked around as she expected him to be somewhere near. I shook my head.

"He's not here. He was feeling sick." I answered with a shrug, trying to pretend like being here at school alone wasn't torture. Like being away from my brother didn't hurt a lot more than it probably should. I needed him. My skin felt like it was sinking in and I felt like I would break out in cold sweats any moment.

Haruhi tilted her head, question written in her chocolate brown eyes. "Why are you here?"

I scrunched up my face. "Well, because it's school…?"

"So?" She asked, obviously confused. "You guys are always absent together, whether just one of you is sick or not. Why aren't you home with him?"

"Geez Haruhi," I started, beginning to deflect, "if you don't want me here I'll go home." I crossed my arms over my chest and looked away pouting.

She rolled her eyes. "Whatever, I was just wondering. Is Hikaru doing alright?"

"I think so. He just seemed really worn out." I worried my bottom lip and shifted my eyes to the side, thinking of how pale he'd looked and the black circles under his golden eyes. It looked like someone was torturing him and he was just taking it.

Class began and people continued to stare and whisper. Everyone was oh so curious where my other half was. I'd heard all kinds of whispered speculation.

He was dead. He was hospitalized. He was seriously ill. He'd run off with some hot model. He'd been kidnapped. He was hiding from the mafia. He'd been hit by a car. He'd finally ran his mouth too far.

I was hearing them now. All I really wanted to hear was Hikaru's voice. My hand shot up into the air. I couldn't take being in this room without my brother within view.

"Yes, Mr. Hitachiin? Do you have an answer?" The teacher asked.

"Noooo, but may I be excused to use the restroom?" I asked politely and giving my best Hitachiin grin.

The teacher rolled her eyes and waved a hand at me dismissively. I stood and swiftly left the classroom, once again feeling eyes burning into my skin. I made my way to an empty bathroom and took out my cell phone. I sat on the window sill and looked out at one of the the school's courtyards as I pressed speed dial number one and called him. I looked at the phone for a minute and felt sort of pathetic. I couldn't make it through a single day without seeing Hikaru.

It was disconcerting to think that I could miss his smile, or his smirk, his beautiful eyes, and his laugh this much, that I could miss being close to him this badly.

"Uh-hello?" His voice came out thick and husky. Nerves danced across my arms and I shook them out, annoyed.

"Hi." I said simply, smile plainly evident in my voice.

He paused, and I heard him yawn. "Kao? Are you okay?" He asked, voice still husky. The nerves between my shoulder blades danced and I rolled my shoulders to make the odd feeling go away.

"Yeah, I'm okay." I paused and worried my bottom lip. "I know this'll sound weird but, well, I just wanted to hear your voice." I said simply, knowing he'd understand.

He cleared his throat. His voice came out thick again but clearer. "I missed you too."

I smiled. "How're you feelin'? Any better?" I hoped he was doing okay. If only for selfish reasons I wanted him to be good enough to go to school tomorrow.

"Yeah." His smile was evident through the phone, and hearing his made mine go larger.

"I miss you a lot. Everyone's been staring at me. And coming up with ridiculous reasons why you aren't here." I rolled my eyes at the though.

Hikaru laughed. "I'm sorry. I miss you too!"

I leaned my head against the window frame, body entirely relaxed now that I'd been talking to Hika. "No you don't. You've been sleeping."

"Hey! Maybe I missed you so much I dreamt of you." He defended quickly. I could imagine the way his eyebrows looked, raised high, pretending offense.

"Yeah, and did you?" I asked teasingly.

"Uh-huh!" He answered positively.

"I don't believe you. What happened in the dream?" I heard him swallow. A slow breeze came in through the cracked open window.

"You were in it, I swear," and I could tell he was telling the truth. "But I don't remember what happened," and I could tell he was lying. I raised an eyebrow but decided to leave well enough alone.

"Yeah yeah. Hika, it's so boring it's like torture without you." I whined crossing my arms over my chest and holding the phone with my shoulder.

"I know, I know. I'll see you when ya get home though." As he responded I heard the bathroom door open. Another student eyed me oddly before making his way into a stall. I sighed and looked at how long I'd been gone. Too long.

"Well, I've got to go back to class before Hooker Heels kills me."

"Alright, bye bye Kao. See you later, okay?"

"Mhmm. Bye Hika." I clicked the phone shut. I made my way back into class without the death penalty and then throughout the rest of the day.

Walking through the halls after class I spotted Haruhi. "Haaaruuhii!" I called out to her and she turned around.

"Haruhi," I said once I'd caught up to her.

"Hey Kaoru." She responded simply, making her way towards the Third Music Room.

"Can you tell Kyouya I won't be at Host Club today?" I begged, giving my best pouty face.

She shivered, and I could tell she was thinking darkly of the Shadow King's reaction. "Why do I have to tell him?"

"Pleaaase? He'll kill me, and I don't want to face his wrath." I explained.

She sighed. "Fine."

"Thanks!" I said as I waved her off and went off to the limo. I got in and the driver took off towards the Hitachiin manor. Today had been simply torturous. I couldn't explain why. I mean, I knew it would be awfully boring without Hikaru and I would be lonely, but to feel so utterly lost and alone was odd. It felt like part of my soul was gone, and I missed it more than anything I'd ever missed. It really was torture to not be able to share knowing glances, the light meaningless touches, the banter. It felt worse than it should have, and I didn't know why.

I'm not sure I'm happy with this chapter? Are you? Please do tell whether you enjoyed it or hated it.