Hikaru! No! This can't be you, this-this can't be happening! Kaoru panicked as his mirror image approached him, eyes rotting out, and with each step, one of his fingers snapped and fell off.
How could this possibly be happening? Crawling into a corner, the younger boy could only cower. Step by step the rotting corpse staggered closer and closer, the arms now falling off; skin peeling to reveal the rotted inner flesh, which housed hundreds of maggots and flies. What's going on? What's happening to Hikaru? The mass of rotting human groaned, in what Kaoru imagined to be agony. Hikaru had cornered him by now. Raising one of his legs, Hikaru connected his left foot with Kaoru's skull with surprising speed and force. Out of thin air, the rest of the host club materialized. They too kicked him, their tainted, crumbling faces curling into demented smiles and grins. Horrible, horrible laughter spread throughout the blank canvas-like room, echoing and taunting Kaoru.
He could only watch as almost everyone dearest to him brought him closer to death.
Kyoya brought the first of the blood. It gushed, a seemingly endless stream of red. Kaoru could see it oozing out of his sides, and he could taste the metallic substance running from his nose into his mouth. It dripped off his chin, and he cried out.
Stop! Pl-please!
No one stopped. If anything, they kicked harder, with more fury than before. Everything started to fade. Slowly the edges went from vivid to grey, and then the rest followed suit.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Kaoru shot out of bed. He had actually slept at home last night; two days had passed since he had torn the supply room to shreds. Surprisingly, no one suspected him still. Shaking his head, he rose to get dressed.
Man, sleeping at home is worse than sleeping in the host club's room...
He had been constantly struck with the fear that Hikaru would crawl over and cuddle him. Kaoru slept on the very edge of the bed, trying to prevent that from happening.
It happened anyway.
And so, Kaoru had fallen asleep in the arms of his brother, and been forced into a sleep full of nightmares.
He moved sluggishly, shuffling around their shared room. After he was dressed, he went downstairs. He didn't, stop for breakfast, and his didn't stop for his brother. Not that he was waiting, anyway, Hikaru had already left to go see Haruhi.
He shoved his bag into the shiny, black limo, and crawled into the back, having the door shut behind him. It was lonely, really, it was, without Hikaru here. Even though all he talked about was Haruhi, it was still nice for Kaoru to have someone just to share the air with.
He let his mind wander, and unfortunately for him, it ran right back to the dream. It felt... real. And did it have any meaning that it was Kyoya who made him bleed first? I wonder what all of this means... Clearly they all must hate me, but is there anything deeper...?
His thoughts were shot out of his mind as the vehicle jolted to a stop. He could hear the driver yelling- loud, violent words of frustration. The car had been cut off, but Kaoru didn't mind. He wouldn't have to see Hikaru or Haruhi for a bit longer now.
Slowly he got out of the dented vehicle. Slowly, he walked away. Away from the limo, yes. Away from Ouran, yes. Away from even Hikaru? Yes. Ignoring the heated dispute between his driver and the driver of the other car, he headed in the direction of the woods.
Trampling the brightly colored grasses, he shuffled further and further into the forest. Everything reminded him of Hikaru. Everything.
Why, Kaoru thought, is everything so beautiful? Why does it all have to remind me of… of … He broke down there, crashing to the ground and pounding his fists into the soil. "Why? Why of all people does he have to pick her, Haruhi?" The youngest brother, though more mature, was finally losing his temper. Everything that had built up for the past several years spilled out uncontrollably. His tears ran along his cheeks and dripped off the edge of his chin, landing with silent plops on the little piles of earth.
Memories began racing through Kaoru's head, bringing a new flood of tears. He could see all of the smiles to pair had shared, how many tears they had shared as well. He almost couldn't sense what he was doing, but he was vaguely aware of himself unzipping his bag, searching for something- anything, that would take him away from all these memories. Everything that reminded him of his mirror image.
And the last sob broke out into the deathly still air. He dried his tears. Rose from the ground and dusted himself off. Kaoru picked up his bag and walked back towards the school. He was going to make today hell for everyone. He couldn't stop a grin from crossing his lips. Sure, he might've looked a bit insane, but he couldn't help it.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sliding into the host club unnoticed left Kaoru a bit disappointed. Hikaru, even though I can't possibly measure up to Haruhi, can't you at least say hi? Or even anyone else?
The rest of the day passed slowly, the minute hand on the clock ticking as if it were the hour hand. Forcing a smile, Kaoru played brave for his customers. Not once did they suspect anything. Not once did they ask anything about his absence earlier. More power to them, Kaoru thought. They won't see what's coming.
After another hour of watching Hikaru and Haruhi be the cutesy-romantic act, since they filled in for the absent Kaoru, watching Honey stuff his face with more of the fattening sweets, and laughing at Tamaki's foolish behavior, Kaoru finally began to enjoy himself. Yet, fifteen minutes after that, the Host Club was closing and Kyoya began sorting through each member's profits for the day.
"Nice job, Haruhi. Quite the improvement from just last week. Looks like the filler act was quite popular today." Kyoya shot a grim smile at the pair and moved on.
"Tamaki… Popular as always. Just don't spend so much time fawning over your 'daughter', and pay more attention to hosting." Tamaki gave a small frown and sat. "Mori-sempai, please try to get Honey to eat less sweets. The price on bringing in such an outrageous amount of sweets is catching up to us. Kaoru, you seem to be losing customers. Though you weren't here the entire time today, please remember to keep your spirits up." After logging the day's profit, Kyoya returned his laptop to the case, and proceeded to exit the room. "Have a good evening, everyone."
"Kyoya-sempai, wait." Hikaru stepped forward. "I, um, I mean Haruhi and I would like to make the act we did today a permanent act. I'd like to work with Haruhi more."
Kyoya turned around, facing the couple. "Kaoru, are you alright with this?"
Unable to lift his gaze from the floor, Kaoru nodded. He had to let Hikaru get more freedom, didn't he?
I'm too selfish, holding him here all for me… He needs to enjoy the world. He needs to be happy.
"Alright, then it is settled. Tomorrow, Hikaru and Haruhi will be their own act, and Kaoru will host by himself. Again, good evening." Spinning on his heel, Kyoya left without saying anything more.
Chatting happily, everyone else left too. Kaoru simply trailed behind them, listening to their conversations while still stuck in his own mind.
Hikaru doesn't want to do the brotherly love act anymore? Did I do something wrong? I guess he just started to realize his love for Haruhi, maybe? Oh well… I still have to give him his freedom, even if it hurts me.
He fell into rhythm with his brother's footsteps, their strides being identical. Following the pair ahead of him to the limo, he tried no to pay too much attention to the plans they were making about their new act. They had decided upon calling it the 'New Love' act. Kaoru believed that the title of 'Idiot Teenagers' would be much more appropriate.
Upon their arrival to the vehicle, Hikaru opened and held the door for Haruhi, and quickly shut it behind himself, leaving Kaoru staring in awe. Only seconds after the door was shut, the limo took off, heading towards Haruhi's apartment to drop her off. Kaoru stood for a few moments, still trying to comprehend what had just happened.
Hikaru had just left him, as if he wasn't even there.
As if he wasn't there.
Sorry for changing it up a bit,
-Sora.
