The Hatching twins walked silently, occasionally casting peeks at the girl in Hikaru's arms when they thought she couldn't see.
Kaoru snuck another glance at her, but his eyes froze as they met hers.
Pitone was looking at him with those soft, mint green eyes of hers. The lightest of smiles traced the petite girl's angelic features before she closed the eyes and the spell that had momentarily trapped Kaoru was lifted.
He blinked, before looking at his brother. "Hikaru," he began with a charming smile "Can I hold her for a change?"
Hikaru gave his twin an odd look before giving a short nod and gently handing her over. "Sure, no problem. Do you think I impressed Haruhi?"
Kaoru grinned and nodded. "Oh, definitely."
Both of the boys jumped when the girl now in Kaoru's arms spoke up in a hoarse whisper. "He seemed more worried about me than you… What's your name again?"
The twin's jaws both dropped and they stopped walking. "Y-You don't know us? We're in the host club!"
"Ohhh, right." Pitone whispered, closing her eyes once more. Her thick black eyelashes brushed her cheek softly. "The friends with benefits."
The boys remembered to watch what they were saying… this girl still thought Haruhi was a boy so… she also probably thought Hikaru was into guys now.
At that thought Hikaru's handsome face palmed and drained of color.
Kaoru tried hard not to shout at the girl in his arms—or drop her. "Wow. You're the only girl I know that doesn't know about the host club within their first day. Or fawn over us."
She shook her head, eyes still closed and thick, glossy lashes brushing her cheek bones. "No… I don't need anyone to fawn over. I have my twin."
At this the twins exchanged a glance that was both worried and full of pity for her.
"You know, it's not good to always rely on your twin." Hikaru finally muttered after several moments of silence.
Kaoru was silent as the girl in his arms jerked, and her eyes flew open. Even though the movements had caused her serious pain to return, Pitone managed to scrape together an almost strong voice. The minty green depths had gone cold, frozen over with anger and gone rigid. "Who are you to tell me who to rely on? Just because we're both twins doesn't mean you have some connection to me."
Kaoru sighed. "Listen, it's just that when you rely only our twin you block out the rest of the world-"
She interrupted weak voice full of venom. "No, listen to me. My Sister and I have been with each other since birth—we will die together. Honestly…" suddenly, there was a shift in her tone. "…I don't want to have to trust anyone else. I have her."
There was silence again, this time the boys did not argue with her.
"So…" She felt bad; maybe she had offended them by snapping? She hoped not—the guilt would eat at her. "Know any games?"
The Hitachiin's smirked at this. They both exchanged a glance that explained they knew the most PERFECT game. "What about…" they chimed in unison, "The which one is Hikaru game?"
She blinked, before nodding slowly. It seemed as though her small rant had caused her some pain, probably from tensing up. "Sure. I just have to guess which one is Hikaru? Easy."
They nodded, before scanning her. Kaoru politely asked "Do you think you could stand for a moment?"
She flexed her legs, cringing quite noticeably from pain. However, being the fighter she was, nodded. Gingerly Kaoru set her down and she closed her eyes. When a wave of pain passed, she opened them to see that they had jumbled themselves, and she could guess now.
"Hmm…" She tilted her head, like a small child trying to decipher a puzzle. The shadows that her eyelashes cast down her cheeks made her look almost as small and innocent as Honey. "I say…" Suddenly, another unexpected wave of sheer pain overcame her and she cringed, gasping for air.
Both of the Twins jumped forwards, and at the same time questioned, "Are you okay?"
She nodded, hand clutching neck, before slowly she looked up and her eyes flashed. A smile traced her lips meekly, but she managed through her fresh pain to speak in a whisper. "You know, I really can't tell."
The Hitachiin's frowned and she could clearly see something behind their usual masks.
"You're upset, I can tell… Look, but… I don't think anyone will be able to tell you apart."
They suddenly grinned, smoothly passing off her comment. "Oh, you don't think so?"
She shook her head, making them stop in their banter. "Now, you're being kind of rude." Any sign of lightness in their tones gone, they each arched a brow in her direction.
She simply shrugged. "Don't get angry." The shrug and effort it took to talk made her give a raspy cough. "You mistook me for MY Sister. That's just what happens…"
They calmed now, and then one of the Twins picked her up once again. She thankfully sank into his arms, letting the pain seep from her muscles. "Thank you, Kaoru."
The two stopped, and she blinked, frowning. "What?"
"You knew I was Kaoru." He accused, eyes narrowing.
Hikaru chimed in, "Meaning you must have known all along which one of us is Hikaru."
She just sank back, eyes closed. No smile traced her lips, "I have no idea what you two keep talking about."
They exchanged a suspicious glance, but continued to walk in silence. Soon enough, Pitone could see the outline of the dome shaped gym silhouetted against the sun. Cherry blossom petals littered the stone path, and she wondered idly if they smelled nice. Pitone's small body tensed, and she was giving a wistful glance to the building.
"What is it?' He asked, eyebrows arched.
"Vipera. She's close, I can feel it." Pitone seemed on edge, but it the joy in her cracking voice was clear.
Truthfully, under her I-am-strong façade, Pitone was sleepy and exhausted and bruised and battered and she just wanted her Little Sister to hug her and tell her it was okay. Pitone wanted to cry more, for sure.
The Hitachiin's shrugged, and then finally reached the doors of the girl's gym. Hikaru opened the door for Kaoru, and he strolled inside.
Many eyes lifted and locked on the two boys and girl, Pitone a complete mess with blood sticking in her hair and staining her dress, coughing loudly at the pain in her ribs from the impact she had with a tree. However, the Hitachiin's where unharmed, looking to many like avenging angels silhouetted against the outside light that now shined to their backs.
One girl with black hair gushed, "Wow, what happened to her? They must have saved her from something!"
"Maybe it was a bear!" Another girl beamed, and suddenly chatter exploded in the concrete gym.
The gym teacher must not have been around, because the girls were clearly not being rounded up as they formed a crowd around the twins and the girl.
The girl that had made the snide comment about Pitone being too lucky for her own good earlier chided, "Look at her, obviously getting hurt on purpose!"
Pitone, not liking all of the attention, grabbed a fist full of Kaoru's uniform and scanned the crowd for her little sister.
Hikaru gave a charming smile to the ladies, and then cleared his throat. Pitone sighed as all of the girls where immediately silent. It was like to them he was a god or something.
Sad, in Pitone's opinion.
"Okay," Hikaru began, "Does anyone know where Vipera Serpente is?"
Eager to please him, many girls rushed off to find Vipera. However, Vipera had just barely realized about a crowd and came over to see.
It was then, that it happened.
Vipera, eyes wide and full of horror at the ghastly sight of her sister, came out of the crowd and rushed to the twins.
And then punched Kaoru right across the face.