Chapter 2! Yeaah!
I own nothing but Rose and her family.
BEFORE YOU ALL SAY: OMGOSH ISN'T HIKARU SO OTT – It's actually part of the story line. It comes in nao actually.
R+R :D
--
That Friday evening, as the twins lounged upon the plush sofas in their sitting room, Kaoru nudged his doppelganger gently with his toe.
"Stop prodding me." Hikaru grunted, rolling over to face his brother. Kaoru grinned cheekily.
"Grouch. What's up? You seem different recently. Almost as if you were civil."
Hikaru snorted. "I'm no different" he announced, sitting up. "I'm just... thinking."
"Call an ambulance." Kaoru giggled, also sitting up. "What's on your mind then?" His grin widened "Would it be a certain English Rose?"
"H-Hey!" Hikaru flushed. "What makes you think that?!"
Kaoru faltered. He didn't actually think that it was so serious that he'd get defensive. It was just a mild attraction... Hikaru wasn't ready for a relationship; they were both happy that way. They had each other.
"Hikaru..." He murmured, moving closer. "You really like her – don't you...?"
"Maybe... I... I'm not sure. I just met her, so y'know..."
-
Rose chatted animatedly to her phone, in fluent English, when the twins next saw her on the Saturday, and were surprised at how she looked out of uniform. She wore skin tight navy jeans, a red camisole and a black cardigan with some high black heels – obviously trying to add some sophistication for the interview, and they later learned that she favoured red dolly shoes. They had tagged along to one of their mother's meetings, and after some time, realised it was for the new face of Hitachiin design, and had contacted multiple modelling contractures to select their best model for an interview. The twins didn't understand a word she said, but when she saw them, her eyes went wide, and she hid behind her mother.
"Mother, my school friends are here!" she hissed quietly, again in English, for her mother did not understand a word of Japanese.
"That's nice" was the uninterested, bland reply. "You may say hello to them, if you wish."
"It's the Hitachiin twins!" Rose continued.
"Then use your relationship with them to get the contract. Silly girl." The bespectacled woman showed slight interest now, and ushered her away.
"Mother!" Rose cried. The twin's made their move.
"Rose!" They called simultaneously. "We didn't know you were after the contract."
"Thanks, mother."She clicked her phone shut. "Hey guys."
"Well you look happy to see us." Kaoru chuckled, patting her cheek cutely. "Why the long face?"
"My mother is trying to manipulate you into picking me because I know you." Rose rolled her eyes. "Cow..."
"Better not let her hear you say that." Hikaru teased. "Or little Rose might be grounded!"
"Neither of my parent's knows Japanese!" Rose laughed. "I'm fine! Why are you here? I thought it was a private interview?"
"By our mother. We've tagged along for the fun of it." The twins cooed. Rose giggled. "When is your interview?"
"In fifteen minutes. I spent three hours with curlers this morning, just for this. It's ridiculous. My mother is obsessed!"
The two looked at each other for a moment, and then burst into huge grins, glancing at Rose.
"Which one of us is Hikaru?" They cried, leaning towards her in unison, every move simultaneously mirrored.
Rose blinked.
She looked at the first twin.
And then at the second.
They were identical.
So...
She looked at their eyes, and the expressions they attempted to conceal..
Kaoru was a kind, open person, the more rational of the two. His eyes would be warmer than Hikaru, who would have colder ones, not because he was a crueller person, but because he had a hard time with simply letting people in.
She pointed at Hikaru.
"You are."
"Wrong!"
"No, I'm right."
The twins were silent.
"The personalities are so distinctly different. Kaoru is the more open twin, right?"
Kaoru was the first to speak.
"You're right."
"Told you!" Rose grinned. Hikaru stared at her for a moment longer.
"Well..." He finally said. "You're the second person who can tell us apart."
"Oh wow, really?" She frowned. "Is it that hard? I don't think you're that similar. It's easy if you look at your eyes... and the expressions... and, well... general character."
Kaoru left soon after. Hikaru waited for her after her interview, and then as she came out, gave her a scrap of paper.
"It's my number. Ring me later." Hikaru said slowly, as if digesting his own words, watching Kaoru all the while.
"Oh! Right, do you want mine?" She smiled, digging through her purse, a phone surfacing.
"Sure." She stole a pen from a nearby table and scribbled eleven numbers across his forearm. He smiled briefly, tapped her under the chin with his index finger, and left. She watched his departure in confusion, wondering why they were acting so strange.
-
Haruhi found herself genuinely bored – which was a new feeling for her.
There was always something to do. Homework. Chores. Shopping for food. Hosting.
But no, the weekend was free and open. Her father was working, the house was spotless, the pantry full, and all homework complete. She tried study and revision, but deep down, she knew that she knew it all by heart, and it was mainly comfort revision. She twitched slightly.
It was torturous. She needed something to occupy her head. She needed something to focus on. She needed a distraction!
Her hand twitched as she did it, but she rung Tamaki.
-
Her feet sat in a bowl of once hot water, soaking them after the pains of the high heeled shoes. Holding her phone to her ear, she waited patiently for Hikaru to answer.
-beep.
Quietly, she reached across the room in vain to grasp a towel that lay just out of reach.
-beep.
Cursing, she wriggled along the expensive couch, and closed her fingers around the soft fabric. As she did so, her feet knocked the bowl into the air, spraying her with slightly cooled water.
-bee "Hello?"
She was gasping from the water, and Hikaru chuckled.
"Well, I didn't know I left you breathless..."
"Hikaru! I just got soaked!"
"Wow, that fast?"
"... What?"
"... You're right Kaoru, she wouldn't get it."
"Get what?!"
"... You'd hate me. Anyway – dry off and come over to ours later."
"It's really late though..."
"It's only nine!"
"That's late to just go out to see some friends."
"English customs are weird."
"No they aren't! Besides, it has nothing to do with English customs!"
"Yes, yes they are. And if not, why won't you come out? Does ickle Rose have issues with the dark?"
"I resen-"
"Hold on, putting you on speaker phone."
...
...
-blip-
"Hi Rose. Come over to ours!"
"Hey Kaoru. No."
-
In the end, she was persuaded. In fact, she ended up being persuaded to stay the night – after she had her parent's permission. Her father was dubious, but her mother almost threw her out the door, telling her to make sure she made a good impression on the twin's parent's for the contract.
And that's how, after knowing them for only two weeks, Rose ended up staying overnight at the Hitachiin residence.
-
Rose was re introduced to their mother, whom looked her over slightly and said "Ah yes... the English one. Lovely to see you again!"
Not sure if she should take it as a compliment or an insult, she nodded at the woman. She was a beautiful woman, sharing the twins red hair, chopped into a fashionable pixie cut, and sharing their angular yet stunning facial features. She wore her own label, high fashion and took a while to do, but looked incredible.
"My name is Yuzuha Hitachiin." She began, looking over the girl again. "You do have a very outrageous modelling figure- most models are slim and tall, yet you've made a name for yourself in England, haven't you? Yet you have such womanly curves... it's a distinctive look- one that would work well for our label!"
"Oh thank you!" Rose smiled sweetly, clasping her hands together.
"... and the boy's must be quite fond of you, they seem very attached already!" She laughed, ruffling Hikaru's hair. "Right Kaoru?"
"I'm Hikaru." He rolled his eyes, laughing slightly.
"Sorry dear."
-
"So why'd you want me to stay over?" Rose asked, sat comfortably on the twin's bed, as the two of them sat either side of her.
"... Not everyone can tell us apart Rose." Kaoru began with a small grin on his face. "You can tell from our Mom... So..."
"We've decided that if you can tell us apart, we should know more about our new... toy." Hikaru smirked, leaning over her. She shuffled back, a blush on her face.
"Um... Urrh..." The blush deepened, as they both approached her, identical grins on each symmetrical face. She scrambled backward, her face now bright red, and found the back of the bed, leaning against the wall as far away as possible.
"Oh, you're so much more fun than Haruhi. She doesn't even blush – you went into full front frigid mode!" Kaoru laughed, falling out of character and off the bed. Hikaru gave Rose a quick, reassuring smile and wink to let her know she was safe with them, and moved back from his advance. After a quick, nervous laugh, she found herself sat between the two again, completely relaxed.
"You guys are weird." She laughed, the two of them looking at her amusedly. "Not everyone would see how people react by coming on to them."
"Obviously, you've never lived in Japan." The twins chorused, each slinging an arm around her in a very impromptu fashion. She giggled, shrugging them off slightly to no avail.
-
It soon became tradition. Weeks passed, and Rose and the twins became closer and closer, and she would stay overnight every Friday night. Parallel to this, Haruhi and Tamaki would find themselves in deep conversation until late at night, regardless of who would make the phone call. Things had burst into bloom for Rose, she had never truly been so happy. It was a nice feeling to have such reliable friends, no matter how much they made fun of her, because she stood out at school, and people took it in a bad way – she was a very typical English beauty, with her ghostly white skin and naturally bright cheeks, large dark eyes and silky brunette layered curls, with a full, almost fluffy fringe. This was unusual in Japan – everyone seemed to have beautifully tan skin, and perfectly straight hair, so when she was noticed, it was in a big way.
"Who is that girl?"
"I dunno. Pretty weird..."
"She's always hanging round with the host club! Mainly the twins... They're mine!"
"Still, her Japanese is perfect. She makes even less mistakes than us – I hear she's from another country!"
"Japanese isn't her first language?"
"No wonder the English teachers love her, right?! She's always perfectly fluent..."
"God, I really don't like her."
"Have you even spoken to her?"
"Don't have too. Look at her! She's so... ENGLISH!"
She had enough. She was tired of this. She was tired of the whispered comments.
"So what if I'm English?" she snapped, spinning on her heel, causing the twins, who were on either side of her, to jump slightly. "Does that make me any less human?!"
"... Whatever."
"Wow, what a short temper."
"Not like we did anything.
Rose was stunned to silence. She was furious. She began to make her way towards the crowd when Hikaru grabbed her, pulling her back.
"Leave it Rose!" He hissed. "They aren't worth it." She looked at him with an anguish filled stare, and he sighed, taking her waist and guiding her away. "Forget it." Then he looked over his shoulder, smirking. "Because SOME people's opinion's DON'T MATTER!" he called out in a loud voice. Kaoru snickered, flipping the crowd off along with Hikaru in a quick, simultaneous motion. Rose giggled.
"Thank you" she smiled, linking arms with the two. "It means a lot to me."
"You're welcome!" They chirped, and the three made their way to the Third Music Room contently.
-
Chapter two, done. Haha!
Anyhoo. I think that a plot thing should come in soon. I'm still warming the whole thing up. I have a surprise for Hikaru!
Right, review please.
EDIT: Wow, I actually have the right mother for the twins. She's in the manga – I'm so proud of myself.
Changes a bit more of the story, using the happy go lucky Mom instead of the strict business woman, but hey, it's fine.