Chapter 11

This is officially my longest story ever :D Never gotten to eleven before.

WOO!

Anyway, thank you to those who reviewed. I keep meaning to reply, but I like to think the best reply is a quick review.

I'll reply anyway – as soon as I finish this :D

I do not own Ouran. Though damn it, I wish I did...

-

All she could see was the soft pink shade of her bedroom ceiling. She was in her room, tucked into the bed lovingly, wearing her school uniform as whoever had laid her there had not changed her.

She couldn't remember a thing.

Glancing around, she noticed a half of a pair sprawled on the floor, sleeping. It touched her.

"Hika... Hika!" She nudged him with her toe, not wanting to fully bring herself from the warm, plush bedding. The boy stirred, fidgeting slightly. "Hikaru!"

"Neeergh!" He jumped awake, and violently leapt up, attempting to find the source of noise unsuccessfully.

"Hika, it's me." Rose giggled, withdrawing her toe to her bed. He turned to face her, a surprised and abashed look on his face.

"Hi Rose." He mumbled. She giggled again – a fast growing habit around him.

"What happened?" She nestled herself further into her bed, enjoying the moment.

Hikaru frowned. Her voice was still very weak, and her face still very pale.

"You blacked out, and then drifted in and out of consciousness for about an hour before you fell asleep." He explained, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Kaoru went home to explain to our parents where I am, and I came here to look after you."

"That's sweet of you." She smiled softly, a little taken by the heartfelt gesture. "What time is it?"

He glanced at the clock.

"Three in the morning. We have school in a few hours if you are well." He looked over her. "Which I doubt." Rose scowled, pulling the covers over her head childishly.

"I feel a bit sickly if I'm honest." She murmured in admittance. "I should change my clothes."

"Oh... Umm, okay." Hikaru blushed. "I'll leave if you like..."

"Don't be silly. I'll be in the walk in wardrobe, you wouldn't see anything." She laughed lightly, dragging herself from the bed. "Feel free to do whatever, I'll be right back." Rose padded her way across the room slowly, and shuffled into the wardrobe. Hikaru watched her leave, and promptly removed his shoes, tie and blazer, and set them on her desk, then lounged on the sofa, stretching himself out from his previous uncomfortable sleeping position.

Rose soon returned, and laughed lightly at him, ruffling his hair as she passed him on her way back to her bed. Hikaru felt a little bashful from her pyjama choice, though he'd seen the same ones from the Friday sleepovers, and the business trip to England.

It was a pair of flannel very-short shorts in a soft white colour, and then a green tank top. Not very much, and yet somehow incredibly innocent. He made himself look away as she returned to the sheets.

"If you're planning on staying you might as well join me." She laughed, shuffling over in the large bed, lightly patting the new space next to her enticingly. Hikaru swallowed, but nodded, and awkwardly shuffled towards her, laying next to her carefully, covering himself in the sheets. "You're really planning on sleeping in your uniform?"

He scowled, and she giggled.

"Go outside, and the door across from here leads to an airing cupboard. Some of my brothers stuff should be in there, if you like."

He rolled his eyes then left to search, and she giggled.

Hikaru soon found what he was looking for, returned, and changed in the walk in wardrobe as Rose had done. While there, he decided to rummage through her clothes.

Not a perverted thing.

Just... research.

He discovered the vast amount of her clothes were dresses, either little black party dresses, cute summer dresses with ribbon and flower decor, full on cocktail dresses, or formal gowns. There were seemingly millions in every colour under the sun. There was one in a plastic wrapping, with a label that said 'Christmas Ball', and he couldn't resist.

So he began to open it.

"Hika! What are you doing?" He froze at her voice behind him. He turned around, the plastic case still in his hands, and he reminded her so much of the kid who was caught with his hand in the cookie jar. His mouth was agape, as she looked from the open wardrobe, to the plastic case, to Hikaru. "Hika...?"

She looked hurt.

"I... wanted to know what you're going to wear." He mumbled childishly. Her hurt expression faded slightly, but she frowned.

"Why would you want to know that?" She seemed reasonable – upset because her things had just been rummaged through, but curious and kind about his reasons.

"I... um..." he flushed. He hadn't thought this through.

"Well?"

"I... wanted to make sure we match?" He looked anywhere but at her.

"Why do you want to match?" She wasn't upset anymore, just enjoying his torture.

"Well... Um..."

'I might as well go the whole way with this. I was going to ask anyway.'

"I wanted you to be my date." He blurted. "I still do... I mean, I think it'd be cool, and it's not like we haven't gone on a date before but if you don't want to I'll understand because we are just friends and I understand if you want to stay that way and all but I just think..."

"Hika, can I answer?" She laughed lightly, a ringing, careful laugh. He froze, and quietened. "I..."

She wasn't sure how to answer.

Sure, he was one of her best friends now, and she could trust him. She had dated him before, that time in England with him being a really amazing week. They had ended up sharing a bed for the last few nights after that nightmare. He was one of the few males in the world she felt really... comfortable around.

But did she like him that way?

She wasn't sure.

There was a part of her screaming no, but she knew that was her mind, saying that she promised never to love again after Alexander.

And then there was her heart... that seemed to answer without her consent.

"I'd love to be your date."

-

They were now each in the bed, both feeling nerves. They weren't sure how to handle it – in England it had felt natural. They were still a little fearful around each other. Rose drifted to sleep quite quickly, and Hikaru watched her. The colour had come back to her face a little, and he smiled. Maybe she would be well for school tomorrow. Without thinking, he reached out and pulled her gently into his arms, careful not to wake her, and held her delicate form closely to his chest. She subconsciously nestled in, and they stayed that way while the two slept, until the alarm awoke them in the morning. Neither one seemed to mind the position all too much.

-

Kaoru wasn't entirely happy that he didn't see Hikaru until the next day at school – but he ignored it for the look of pure glee on his face as he walked in with Rose (who looked a damn sight better than yesterday).

"Hey Hikaru! Over here!" He called. Hikaru grinned madly at him as the two made their way towards him. Kaoru raised an eyebrow in question, but received a shake of the head, which meant 'later'. He nodded quickly in confirmation, and asked Rose how she felt after yesterday. She waved it off, saying she was fine, and promptly tripped over.

"I thought models had coordination and grace." The twins cooed, leaning down to her. She swore in English again, something along the lines of 'pompous bastards'.

They took it as a compliment, as they hadn't a clue what she said.

-

As the day went on, Kaoru found himself with no opportunities to find out what happened, as they were always surrounded by people. He eventually – it was now host hours – and declared he would like to speak to Hikaru in private, and dragged him away by the wrist, to the pure girlish fan girl enjoyment of their customers. Many screams of 'Kaoru is seme today!' met their ears, but they ignored it.

"Kaoru!" Hikaru whined once they were far enough away "Why did you drag me off like that?!"

"I need to know, what happened?!" Kaoru clung to his brother's arm, eyes wide. Hikaru's own eyes widened, before he pursed his lips, fighting a grin.

"I totally have a date for Christmas." He practically glowed, and Kaoru joined his grin.

"Hikaru! That's awesome!" He cheered for his brother, silently slightly dishevelled. He went on to ask why he'd stayed overnight. Hikaru laughed nervously.

"I fell asleep waiting for her to wake up... and then she woke me up at three in the morning." He explained sheepishly. "So I ended up staying over. Are you mad I didn't call?"

"Naah." Kaoru shrugged. "If anything I'm proud of you. You're finally growing up."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Hikaru snorted, poking his brother's shoulder playfully. Kaoru nudged him back, laughing slightly.

"You're letting other people in other than just me and occasionally Haruhi. You trust her, ne?"

"Yea, but still..." He now felt a little weird. Was it regret? Did he want to let other people in yet? "You haven't..." he finished childishly. Kaoru laughed.

"I trust Tamaki. And Kyoya. And Hunny and Mori Senpai. Do you?"

"Well... Maybe a little." Hikaru looked down. "But... I mean..."

"It's not a bad thing not to trust them so easily. Anyway, you trust Haruhi and Rose don't you? The people who can tell us apart?" Hikaru nodded. "You trust people who you feel see you as a different person to me. So really, it's not that you don't trust - it's that you..."

"I get it Kao." Hikaru smiled. "I understand."

They both know he wasn't cutting his brother off, more that he was showing nothing more needed to be said.

They both knew the other well enough to know the rest.

But Kaoru didn't realise how far Hikaru would take the next step.

-

"Hikaru?" Haruhi and Rose (being the only ones who knew which one it was that had done something quite so drastic was, the other ones not wanting to offend said twin) gasped, and turned with eyes wide.

Silence resonated in the room.

Hikaru seemed quite proud of himself, Kaoru next to him with a unsure look on his face. There was still silence in the still devoid of customers room.

"Hey guys! What do you think?"

Silence continued to envelope the room.

Tamaki finally broke it.

"Hikaru! You dyed your hair! Black!" He grinned cheerily, and pulled the older twin into an embrace of fatherly love. "It's cute!"

"Tono, I can't breathe!" Hikaru feigned annoyance, but it was obvious he was pleased. Rose glanced at Kaoru, who shrugged.

"Are you getting yours done too Kaoru?" Tamaki said the suicidal words. Silence once again engulfed the room.

"No." Kaoru finally answered, coolly. "The point to it was that people can tell us apart. Wasn't it, Hikaru?"

"Yeah... I mean, we haven't exactly been fair on people. Well, I haven't."

"What are you talking about?" Haruhi began to ask, but Rose intervened.

"Black suits you. It'll look great at the Christmas ball." She sent Haruhi a meaningful look, who nodded, and half smiled at her in understanding. Not a topic to go into yet.

Hikaru grinned for a different reason this time.

-

Now that the twins were easy to tell apart, their customer amount swelled. Different people decided that they were now experts on how they differentiated – including personality. So Hikaru was the one girls liked because he was the mischievous, sexier twin, while Kaoru was the guy you took to meet your parents. Polite, yet charismatic and handsome. They continued the 'forbidden love' act, but it lost the appeal it once had from the two identical beings so lustful. It gained a new appeal, in that Kaoru could murmur how much of a turn on the darker hair was.

And so it continued, as Christmas holidays came sprinting closer...

And the week after holidays began was Christmas Eve, and a special Christmas ball...

Thanks to Tamaki's father, obviously.

-

"Rose! I want to ask you a favour."

"Tamaki-Senpai? What is it?"

"Would you consider..."

--

URGH. I found that really draining to write. Cut short again, sorry. I just... urrrrgh. Had to cut it off.

Anyway, Hika has black hair now, hurrah.

Review please? :))))))

Peace and Love

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