They both sat on the bed, staring out the window. Neither was thrilled to start the conversation, and neither thought it necessary to have one. They both knew, in a way, exactly what the other would say. They always did.
"I should have told you sooner…" The twins both started and stopped, looking at each other.
"You first," Kaoru said, a small mocking smile reached his lips for a moment.
"It's about the same thing, isn't it?" Hikaru looked at him, holding eye contact.
"Haruhi." They said in unison, still holding their stare.
They stayed that way for what seemed like hours, but could only have been thirty seconds. Hikaru felt a chill down his spine. 'So this is it… the first real obstacle of our world,' he thought. Somehow he had always known it would happen eventually, you can't share everything forever. Kaoru could tell by the look in his brother's eyes that something was going to change forever between them, and he wasn't sure how he felt about it.
"Do you like her?" Hikaru eyed him, taking hold of his hand.
"I'm… not sure." Kaoru looked down.
"Don't lie to me!" Hikaru lashed out, squeezing his hand tightly.
"So what if I do?" Kaoru looked up at him, squeezing back, "Is it going to change anything?"
Hikaru paused, looking at him confused.
"What do you mean by that?" he asked.
"Even if I do like her, it's obvious she doesn't like me back. Milord should realize his feelings eventually and she will end up in his arms." He looked at Hikaru, not angrily, but in a compassionate way, "Besides, it's becoming more obvious every day that you love her far more than I ever could."
"What are you saying, I-" Kaoru shook his head.
"I saw you today, with the red sewing thread."
"There was nothing to see!" Hikaru found himself suddenly frantic. He was unsure of how to respond to his brother's usual kind nature in this situation, they had never had this sort of dispute before. For some ridiculous reason, he was embarrassed about how he felt for her.
"Hikaru! It wasn't just today, it's been almost everyday for a while now! You tell me not to lie and you turn around a hypocrite!" Kaoru's voice cracked a little on the last part. It was hard for him to be so harsh with Hikaru.
"I'm sorry." Hikaru said, unable to look at him. He wasn't sure why, but he felt disgusted with himself for the way he was reacting to Kaoru's incredibly accurate accusations.
"Sorry for loving someone other than me?" Kaoru looked at his brother, still holding his hand. He smiled a tenderly and grabbed Hikaru's free hand, "Love isn't something you should be sorry for, Hikaru."
"I lied to you, even after you called me out on it…" Hikaru was calming down, but still felt an uneasy chill. 'Could things ever be the same after this?' he thought.
"Well I tried to lie too… guess we really are alike." Kaoru laughed softly at the irony, resting his head on Hikaru again.
"And so we are." Hikaru replied smiling a little, "What am I to do now, brother?"
"If you really love her," Kaoru was talking in a whisper now, "everything you can."
The two sat, more contently than before, glad everything had been said and done. Maybe things could be the same; they could still be close in many ways. They would just open up a little more. After about five minutes of silence, Kaoru stood, still holding one of Hikaru's hands, "So dinner…" he smiled.
"Dinner." Hikaru stood as well. Together they walked out of the room, leaving behind more than just a conflict between siblings, but gaining more than a simple solution.
It was finally Saturday, and the masquerade was only hours away. Everyone was getting ready, but not everyone was thrilled about it.
"Oh this is so exciting!" Ranka huggled his daughter.
"Dad, you really don't have to do this…" Haruhi sighed. She wasn't exactly pumped about going to this event. The only good part that could come of it was fixing some of her debt, which was also in jeopardy.
"What?!" He jumped up looking distraught, "It's your first dance! Of course I'm going to help you get ready, now put this on for daddy." He pushed her into her room and began getting out make-up and thinking about hair styles.
Haruhi sighed and looked at the dress in her hands.
"Hey, where did this come from? It looks… expensive." She asked, starting to change.
"Oh, your friend's mom sent several to choose from. I liked that one best, isn't it marvelous!?"
"What friend's?" Haruhi twitched, she had a pretty good idea of which friend's.
"Those pretty Host Club boys, the twins!" Ranka was dancing around the room, excited. "Hurry up! Daddy doesn't want you to be late!" He sang.
"Ugh, I'm trying but this dress is huge and difficult," she struggled a bit more getting it on right, "…so unnecessary," she kept mumbling.
After about ten minutes of struggling she walked out. Her hair was messy and her expression frazzled. It was obvious she didn't do this sort of thing often. The dress was floor length, just as the other girls' had been, and a beautiful deep maroon color. The fringes were gold and the design was, in her opinion, over dramatic and excessive. 'At least I'll blend in nicely.' She thought. Her dad stood in front of her, holding a big golden bow.
"You look so cute!" He smiled, giddy.
"Uh, dad, I don't think that bow is going to work. I don't really have a lot of hair anyways." She was slightly pleased that she wouldn't have to go through all the trouble of doing her hair. Short hair was so nice to work with sometimes.
"Daddy has a nice wig right here for you!" He held up a brown wig, the hair was fine and believable. It was also slightly familiar.
"Huh!? When did you get that?" She backed away.
"I kept it from your performance with the Roberia Academy girls!" He swooshed it from side to side with a big smile on his face, "and I have this beautiful mask they sent after I called and asked them what a masquerade was, but we will do your make-up, just in case!"
"I don't think I'll need it-" She put her hands in front of her defensively.
"But if you have short hair you will be easier to find!" He said triumphantly.
"W-what!? How do you know about that?"
"Kyouya gave me a call, now sit down! You only have two hours before it's time!" He pushed her into the chair and grabbed his make-up kit.
Tamaki had gone to Kyouya's to get ready for the big night. He kept fiddling with his fingers while Kyouya got dressed and combed his hair. 'Those two misfits…' He couldn't get over the idea of Hikaru and Kaoru getting kisses from his precious daughter! Hunny was sweet and wouldn't think anything of it, and Mori probably wouldn't even be playing with his all because he would want Hunny to win. The only confusing part was Kyouya, he never played these games. It had been bothering Tamaki for a while.
"Mom?" He asked.
"Yes?" Kyouya played along, cleaning his glasses.
"Why are you playing this game?" Tamaki watched him, curious.
"To make it more interesting." He answered simply, putting his glasses back on.
"But you don't usually-"
"Afraid of a little competition?" He joked, glancing at him.
"No! I don't care!" Tamaki swung his arms up and down frantically, "I am only doing it so those rotten twins won't scar my dear Haruhi!"
"Of course you are." Kyouya replied a bit smugly, watching for any signs of acknowledgement in Tamaki's face.
"What do you mean by-"
"It's time." Kyouya cut him off, walking out of the room. Tamaki sat a moment. 'Why else would I do it?' He felt a strange warmth in his cheeks. 'Am I blushing? Why am I-…' He noticed Kyouya had really started to leave.
"Wait for me!" He went running.
"Ready, Hikaru?" Kaoru walked into their bathroom and sat on a small bench in the big room.
"Are you?" He asked, combing his hair and looking at his brother in the mirror.
"Yeah, I just went to tell mom we might get back late, but she already knew everything about it!" Kaoru said.
"Kyouya." They said together.
"Yeah, he called her and informed her all about it, she even sent some designs to Ranka for Haruhi."
"Which ones?" Hikaru asked, seeing a possible advantage.
"Wouldn't say, apparently she knows about the little game, too." He laughed.
"Great," Hikaru said, grabbing his mask, "Let's win this then."
"Yes, let's." Kaoru followed him out of the bathroom.
It was exactly 6:54 P.M. Already the guests were all waiting patiently for the main hall doors to open, and for the masquerade to begin. Whispers and giggling could be heard all around, and everyone was anxious to start the promised night of magic. Inside, the host members were making sure everything was ready.
"The orchestra is in place and the commoner band said they are prepared to play when their time comes. Our public has already begun to arrive and all members are accounted for, including Haruhi." Kyouya reported to Tamaki, "Her father called to let me know she was on her way."
"Perfect! And the food?" He looked at Hikaru and Kaoru.
"Set-up and ready."
"The last of the refreshments were brought in five minutes ago." Hikaru finished.
"It's time gentlemen! To your places!" Tamaki said grandly.
It was 6:59 P.M., and the doors began to open…
