We had to go to school, if only to escape the house. Mother's new favorite hobby was to sniff around our room like a bloodhound with no leads.
It was aggravating and pathetic.
School was no different than it had been before, much to our immense relief.
"Morning Haruhi," we sang in unison, arriving in homeroom.
"Hey guys. Where's your appendage?"
I shrugged.
"Your guess is as good as ours," growled Hikaru.
"Good riddance, I'm assuming?"
"Nah, she's not done with us yet."
"Not while we have any speck of joy left…" my brother muttered, frown ruining his face.
"Well, she's not here, so relax. I don't know what's been up with you guys lately, but you all need to chill out."
"All?" I asked carefully.
"Kyouya-senpai seems stressed lately…"
"What about milord?" Hikaru jumped in, ignoring my immediate jealousy.
'Does he really still care?'
"I…can't talk about that idiot right now," the girl grumbled, face incredibly red.
I slung my arm around her shoulders, deciding to let it go.
"He's not that bad," I teased, making her turn an even more interesting purple color.
"Kaoru, I will end you," the girl hissed, shoving me away. I stumbled slightly, and the three of us laughed.
It really was better when we could all get along.
When the scars all of us held, visible and internal, could be covered with cloth and pride…
"Did you two do your math?"
"Uh…" we both groaned, looking at each other.
"A lot's been happening—"
"Our parents won't stop bugging us—"
"I was really tired—"
"We had to do some research for Kyouya-senpai—"
"So… 'no' then?" she smirked, listening to our half-hearted excuses, before freezing and looking at me. "Research?"
Hikaru glared in my direction.
"Nothing important," he growled. Putting on a more pleasant face, he said, "Can we copy yours, dear Haruhi?"
"No. Kaoru can, but not selfish losers like you," she said with a lofty smile and held out her notebook to me. I accepted with my own smile.
"Fine; he'll let me copy his when he's finished," Hikaru shot back.
"Nope," I smirked, sitting down and beginning to write. "Not if she won't." Haruhi patted my shoulder, laughing loudly.
"You're united against me then?" he scoffed airily.
I went cold, fingers freezing completely.
I couldn't help but flash back to that shower…
Haruhi and I against him…
I leapt up.
"No! It's not like that!" I explained with a tone akin to begging…
Imploring him to understand…
"Kaoru…we're just messing around," Haruhi murmured, very aware of the eyes on us.
"Kaoru?"
I sat back down hastily, turning very red, and resumed my cheating.
"Forget it," I mumbled when Hikaru's eyes remained on my back.
He and Haruhi stayed standing awkwardly as I sped through the rest of the homework, probably making loads of mistakes, but I finished, shoving the original work back at Haruhi. My legs jolted me upright and into the hall.
They wouldn't let me escape.
We wound up back in the bathroom with the couch.
The one where I'd consoled Haruhi…
I was even redder, staring at the floor instead of my companions.
"Kaoru, nothing's wrong, okay?" Just…just forget all of those things," Hikaru said gently.
"Yeah. All that stuff's behind us now," Haruhi added earnestly.
"Really? So it doesn't bother you at all?" I demanded cruelly, still not looking at either of them. "You don't feel anything for each other?"
"Kaoru, we've been over this," my brother snapped.
"There's nothing strong enough to patch us together again, but it's not like nothing happened, Kaoru," Haruhi explained timidly. "I don't think I'll ever feel anything like I did with Hikaru, because he was really my first love, but I can move on with the good and the bad memories." Her smile was from the heart. "We just couldn't keep up with each other. He needs you, Kaoru."
I continued staring at the couch.
"That's why I was glad I kissed you, Kaoru; it made me realize that it was supposed to be the two of you, not me. I…" She paused, as if mustering her willpower, "I wish you tow the best of happiness."
And she excused herself, returning to the classroom.
I hazarded a glance at Hikaru, who smiled happily at me.
"See?" he murmured to me. "I wasn't meant for her; only you. We were born together, and we'll die together, and we'll be together at all points in between. That's what's meant for us, Kaoru."
I gladly fell into his arms, filled with love.
With Hikaru, I could begin to mend.
Sunday was an event in the Host Club, this time a commoner fair with cotton candy and rides and stalls where one could win prizes.
Beat Kyouya at chess and win a stuffed bear (he lost to the more influential guests on purpose, of course).
Win flowers and kisses from Tamaki by ringing a bottle with a large metal washer.
Hunny and Mori were running the Ferris wheel, though a guest could request any member to ride with them at certain intervals throughout the day. I rode frequently, still loving the feel of wind on my face.
Haruhi was handing out snacks and prizes and sitting in for Kyouya when he had to run maintenance, though she wandered around to all of the other events frequently.
Hikaru and I were acting as fortune tellers for our guests.
"Oh, do mine, Kaoru!" Sachiko, the horse-lover, squealed as I took out a deck of Tarot cards.
I smiled, moving her way. I shuffled and let her cut the cards, setting them and flipping them over in turn.
"Well now…" I chuckled, surveying the mess. "Four of swords…six of cups…Temperance? You've been a bit selfish. Don't' worry; the Wheel of Fortune is in your future, so things will be changing a bit. Your problems should show how they can be resolved soon enough."
"Hey Kaoru!" Hikaru called. I turned to look at him. "Come here; they want me to read your Arcana."
I sighed dramatically, sweeping the cards together.
"Excuse me, princess. My services are required elsewhere."
Hikaru shuffled the cards, letting me cut them. I only touched them as much as was required, treating them as if they were poisonous.
Hikaru fixed me with a significant look before flipping the first card. It seemed to try to relieve me of some future pain. It made me so nervous, just facing him.
The first card he flipped was Judgment, upside-down. The woman's face glared up at me from her frame. Next came the Empress…the Lovers…the Hanged Man…and the final card, Hikaru picked up and looked at instead of flipping it for everyone to see. His skin turned a shocking white.
"What the hell…" he mumbled, stealing a glance of the cheat sheet he'd stashed under the table.
He swept all of the cards together, but that didn't hide the slick slipping of the offending card up his sleeve.
"What was it Hikaru?" the girls squealed in near-unison.
He just shook his head.
"I must have read it wrong," he smiled, re-dealing the cards with out letting me cut. The entire deck was out now.
"Your past is still confused, even or especially in your mind. Your present is brightening, a dawn of new life. The future remains unclear, but perseverance should bring desired results," he narrated dully.
Cups and pentacles, swords and wands were confused as I swept the cards off to the side, staring right into his eyes.
'Which was it?' my eyes asked. 'Which card did you throw away?'
He sighed, but picked it out of his sleeve and slipped it in my pocket.
"Look at it later. And promise you won't get all superstitious on me!"
"Is it Death?" I wondered aloud, actually intrigued by that point.
"Later!" he hissed, rolling a crystal ball over his shoulders before setting it on its illuminated stand. I sighed, returning to my abandoned princess.
"Sorry about that…" I apologized, pulling together the cards I'd left out.
The card remained in my pocket, leaving me to grow anxious about it all afternoon.
At the end of the day, after being dismissed by a very enthusiastic Tamaki, I reported to Kyouya.
"Did you see her? I didn't," he frowned at my approach.
"We didn't either. She hasn't been in class since then either. We definitely got our space," Hikaru bit wryly.
"I don't think she'll come back until she's incredibly confident," I offered quietly.
"I've been wondering…you have your father's support, yes?"
"Yeah, but he won't take up against Mom."
"Not that dragon-lady."
"Quiet!" he ordered. We obeyed. "It'll take time, but I am fairly certain this will work."
"Kyouya-senpai…are you—" I stopped my question before I made the mistake of second-guessing the dangerous individual.
"Yeah," Hikaru picked up on my thought. "What's in this for you?"
He grinned a devilish grin.
"We're about to find out, aren't we?" He regained his business face. "You two go home. I'll call if I require your services."
We left the music room silently, but burst into questions as soon as we reached the stairwell. They weren't vocalized questions, but we both understood the other.
They all amounted to a general, 'What is he up to?'
"I don't know," we both said together.
"Bad feeling?"
"Oh, certainly love," I agreed, climbing into the car. "Now…"
I reached into my pocket, pulling out the card…
…and promptly dropped it on the seat.
'Why couldn't it have just been Death?'
The Tower.
He'd pulled the Tower on me.
The Tower was a tricky card. The picture itself was enough to give me chills. It was a stone watchtower, blazing, with people raining out the windows and roof.
No cause for the fire was given.
Lightning was flashing around the building, but it didn't touch it.
And what lightning could burn stone?!
But the card had several interpretations, not all bad.
Only most of them were.
I couldn't help but break my promise when I saw a card like that in my future.
It roughly meant that all reason, all justice, all control was thrown to the wind. I had no say, no way to shape my future. Others could build me up or burn me down…with lightning?
A giant storm was surely brewing.
"I told you to calm down," Hikaru sighed, rising and offering me his arms.
I wrapped myself in them, trying to take in every moment.
"I'm scared. I don't think Kyouya-senpai can help us now…"
"Well, I can't screw your brain out with dear Mom and Dad sniffing around like this, but why don't we lie down?" he said archly, scratching my back in torturous motions. "I think I can distract you for at least a little while.
Why could he do this to me?
"O-okay."
Our everything lined up.
We were absolute in this way.
Infinite.
"Kaoru?"
"Yes, Hikaru?"
"I'll protect you from anything; you know that, right?"
"Yeah, I know."
"Don't worry so much."
"Okay."
One of his hands rubbed my stomach.
Mine clutched at his shirt.
"Hikaru…they could come in any second."
He kissed my temple, lips lingering at my ear lobe, dragging through my hair.
I kissed his cheek in response, blowing hot air across his face through my nose.
His teeth found my skin, and I let out an indignant cry, smacking him and pulling back my head.
"No biting!"
His lupine smile held hunger and want in it, causing me some inner turmoil.
'To indulge or put a foot down…'
Tempting…
I'd so loved to have given him everything he wanted.
But…
The door opening liberated me from my decision.
We didn't scare apart, instead merely glancing over at the disturbance.
"Kyouya-senpai? Dad? Why're you here?" Hikaru asked for me, sitting us both up.
"We've been…discussing some things. I think that you should hear them too." At our expression, our father continued. "We have a resident estate relatively near here; an extra half-hour or so to and from school, but perfectly inhabitable. It shouldn't be a problem."
"And we can go there?" I asked at the same time Hikaru demanded, "And run away?!"
We frowned at each other.
"Hikaru, I don't care about pride or fighting, I care about you."
"Kaoru, they wouldn't stop with just that." He glanced up at Kyouya. "There has to be more to this."
"It's only the first part of my plan," the Ootori supplied, setting his laptop up in front of us.
Windows were all over the screen, covered in tiny, complicated text.
"What the hell is this, Mom?" Hikaru yawned, not even trying to read the screen.
"Profiles, portfolios, statistics…basically everything's you need to throw the Aikawas' attention on these suitable substitutes. Of course, a certain amount of…persuasion is required. You have to show these to Akira-san, definitely not to Suki. And you have to be a good little boy and not mention my name to him."
"Wait…why?"
He smiled and gave a simple, "Future business."
"Kyouya-senpai, can you explain this to again? Small words, if you don't mind; I'm tired," my brother drawled, frown becoming more pronounced.
"All right, the battle plan," he sighed, snapping his computer shut and stowing it back in his bag. "You move to the secondary estate. I'm fairly certain that Suki operated without orders from Akira-san by informing your parents about the relationship, and if that action prompted poor results, he won't trust her as much; he'll keep her restrained. She's momentarily removed from the equation."
He met our eyes in turn to make sure we were keeping up with him. I was a little lost already, but continued listening.
"Then, Kaoru, you meet up with Akira-san and tell him about the promising young men I've compiled—they're all without ties to us and none of them have significant companionship, as well as being well-equipped…financially—and try to convince him that since you'll be "losing your familial bonds" that you'll be of no use to him in his corporate empire. Of course…there is a slight catch…"
He straightened his glasses as we both looked on in impatience and anxiety.
"Kaoru is the only one who will be in the secondary estate—initially, that is," he amended, seeing Hikaru's face. "After things cool down, you can both move into an apartment in the city. Or return here, if things work out for the best. Either way…" He trailed off, obviously thinking something over to himself.
"What if Akira-san doesn't accept the offer?"
Kyouya grew a dangerous smile. "Then we move on to Plan B, if I may use a cliché."
"And what's "Plan B"?!" Hikaru demanded, apparently having tolerated as much of Kyouya's arrogance as possible for him.
"If it comes up, you'll be the first to know," replied the icy genius. His glasses flashed.
"I can convince your mother to send one of you away. Kaoru can pretend to be Hikaru if necessary."
"I don't like this," Hikaru pouted, arms crossed.
"We know," Father said, sitting beside him and patting his shoulder. "Just bear with us for a bit, okay? This can work. And even if it doesn't, we—"
Kyouya cut him off with a sharp clearing of the throat.
Hikaru and I glanced at each other.
'They're up to something…'
"What if I refuse?" I began, tilting my head in inquisition. "What if we refuse this plan?"
"Then don't ask for my help," Kyouya sniffed.
Father stepped in, saying, "We really think this is the best way."
"Then tell us the other plans!" Hikaru ordered, past the point of shouting.
"Hikaru, calm down. We need to be good about this."
"Kaoru, they're planning something! If you're going to be gone, I need to know why!"
"If you really want to know, this plan fits two purposes," Kyouya cut in before my brother could work himself up again. "It puts us in a position to try to challenge Akira-san, and it splits up the two of you."
"But…why?!" I was dumbfounded; I thought that both of them were on our side.
"Well, you see son, it's just…unnatural for twins to…to do what you've done. I was hoping some time apart would…well, not "set you straight", but maybe…let you think about it a little more clearly…"
"I've already made up my mind; Kaoru has too. We're going to be together, and no one can stop that!" Hikaru thundered, grasping my hand in both of his.
"Kyouya-senpai, I thought you supported us," I murmured. "I thought you were on our side."
"I side only with profit," he sighed, chin high. "I thought you'd have realized that by now."
"Is my father paying you? Or how about the Aikawas?" Hikaru shot with a severe frown.
"No, nothing like that. I should benefit by the end of this, however."
"Fucking how?!"
A cold, determined grin.
"You'll see."
It was late, and I held Hikaru's head to my heart, rubbing up and down his neck.
I would have to leave the next morning for the second estate, but we still had the night to make our own.
I had locked the door, just in case.
"Kaoru, no matter how this turns out, you're mine; and I won't let them touch you."
"I know," I smiled, ruffling his hair. "I wish we could just leave."
"Not possible."
"That's why it's just a wish."
He rubbed my torso absently, making me twitch as I fought the urge to writhe in pleasure.
My hands migrated to knead his back in response.
We were beginning to heat up, but Hikaru stopped suddenly, pushing his body away from mine.
"What? What is it?"
"Kaoru, I can't do this. If we do it now, I'll only want more…and I'll keep wanting. Let's…Let's just sleep tonight. When everything gets settled, then we can do this, but…" he looked at me with haunted, agonized eyes. "I promise that we'll have the chance to do this again. I just can't do this now."
I nodded, inviting him back to my body, swiftly chilling in the open air. He pulled me up to sit beside him, clutching my face in his hands.
"I love you, Kaoru," he whispered passionately.
"I love you, Hikaru," I replied, letting my own hands rest dumbly in my lap. He kissed me tenderly, rolling us back down to the mattress, our previous reclining positions reversed.
I concentrated on the tingling warmth of his hand as it caressed my shoulder and upper arm.
"I'm going to miss you," he murmured, voice filling me up completely.
"Me too," I replied, voice quivering.
"It'll be fine. Kyouya-senpai knows his stuff."
"I know, but…" I pressed into him. "You didn't meet him, Hikaru. He's…terrifying."
"You'll be safe," he soothed, cradling me into him.
Oh, how I wanted—craved—more intimate reassurance on possibly the last night I could spend in that way with Hikaru, but he was so warm…I didn't want to move.
'If there is a god, please…please don't take this away from me,' I prayed fervently.
Sleep grudgingly took away my troubles, and I dreamed nothing memorable that night.
Finally. Sorry and thank you for your patience. For you guys, In This Legacy is coming soon; I just need to type it. You guys are the greatest.