I woke up to the door opening and I saw one of the maids. I didn't say anything. "Sir...?"

"Go away." I growled.

"I've brought you some food."

"Put it down and get out!"

She put the tray down and scurried out of the room. When I heard the door going upstairs close, I whispered, "I hate you, Mother. I hate you, Father."

I clenched my hands into fists and started hitting the stone wall. I didn't stop until my knuckles started to bleed. I dropped to the ground, "Kaoru...where are you...?"

I glanced at the food, crawled over to it, and started to pick at it. My fists hurt from my anger that I expressed on the wall. My heart was also hurting because it felt like it was my fault that we were in this mess. "I...I'm so sorry, Kaoru..."

The door opened again and I saw Father standing there. I stood up, "Where is Kaoru?" He raised his hand and slapped me across the face. I dealt with the pain, "Tell me where my brother is!"

Father struck me again, and then Mother walked in. "Mother! Where is Kao-?"

He struck me yet again. Mother informed me, "Your brother is at school. You'll be going on different days."

My lower lip was now bleeding from being hit so many times. I stayed facing the way my head stopped after I was hit. "Why are you doing this?"

"Your action will bring shame to this family if it gets out, Hikaru. We're keeping you two apart for your own good." Mother stated sternly.

I took a step forward, and Father hit me. "Damn you...stop that!"

I was hit multiple times, "Watch." *hit* "Your." *hit* "Language!" *hit* There were more hits, but I lost count after those three.

I fell to the ground when he hit me the last time. I lied there until they left. I'd only been shaking, but when the door leading upstairs closed; I started to cry. "I'm sorry, Kaoru...I'm so sorry. It's all my fault...I was being greedy. I'm sorry. Please...where ever you are...if you can hear me...I'm sorry..."

I started to shake even more as I cried. I crawled over to the mattress, curled under the blanket, and cried myself to sleep. I didn't care how early it was in the day.

I woke up to being screamed at to get up. I woke up; my face, legs, arms, and chest hurt from being hit so many times. Looking over at the doorway, I saw Mother standing there. "Wake up! You're going to school!"

I slowly got up and she threw me a clean uniform. I got changed and she led me out of the room. Pushing me into the car, she climbed in after me. The ride to Ouran Academy was silent between us. I didn't dare speak, because I knew that the first thing I would say would be about Kaoru.

We reached the school, and she opened the door. I nodded a goodbye to her and stepped out of the car. I immediately went to my classroom.

When I walked in, I saw Haruhi. "Hikaru...? Where's Kaoru? I mean...he was here yesterday, but he was alone."

I looked at her, and she gasped when I did that. "What...what happened to you? Why do you have bruises?"

"I don't want to talk about it." I stated, turning away from her. I shakily sat down at my desk and looked at Kaoru's desk. I whispered to myself, "I'm sorry, Kaoru..."

Haruhi walked over to me, "What was that?"

I didn't answer her. The bell rang, signaling that class was starting soon. My teacher noticed me, and walked up to me, "Hikaru?"

"Hm?"

"Where were you yesterday?"

I continued to look at my desk. "I was feeling sick." I lied.

She leaned towards me, "Where'd these bruises come from?"

I refused to look up, "I would rather not say."

My teacher gave me a worried look, "If anything's wrong, you can tell me or anyone else that you trust."

"I trust Kaoru." I said, slowly standing up, "But have no idea where he is!"

"He's at your home, is he not?"

I grabbed my bag, "He is...but I don't know where." I looked at the class and they all stared at me with scared eyes. "I need some air..."

Rushing out of the room, I could feel tears forming in my eyes. I stopped at the bottom of the staircase, sat down, and let the tears fall down my cheeks. My heart felt like it wasn't beating. 'Forgive me, Kaoru...'

I heard footsteps running towards me. "Hikaru! Hikaru, where are you?"
They stopped at the top of the staircase, "There you are."

I didn't stop crying. Nor did I even try to stop. I buried my bruised face in my knees. "Go...go away..."

"Why are you crying?" It was Haruhi.

I stayed where I was, "Just go away, Haruhi. I want to be alone right now..."

She descended the stairs and sat next to me. "Hikaru...what's been going on between you and Kaoru?"

I told her the whole story with almost all the details. "Now I can't ask about Kaoru. Every time I mention him...I get another bruise."

"What if I asked to see him?"

I looked over at her, "Could you?"

Haruhi smiled, "Yeah! You guys have helped me before, I guess it's time for me to help you guys back."

I smiled back at Haruhi. "Thank you, Haruhi."

~*~Kaoru's POV~*~

I was sitting at home on the little mattress that was on the floor. I wondered how Hikaru was doing ever since we were separated. My mind was spinning with thoughts. With questions that I could ask.

Then, the door opened. Someone was brought in, but I didn't turn around. When the door closed again, I heard a soft voice. "Kaoru?"

I flipped around, "Haruhi?"
"I came to give you the work you missed today." She smiled. I turned back to looking at the same spot on the floor. "And because Hikaru asked me to come see where you were being kept."

It caught my attention. 'Hikaru...?'

I patted the mattress, signaling that she could sit next to me. It took almost an hour to do the work that I missed, but she told me that she'd go to Hikaru next to tell him where I was.

Father opened the door. Haruhi shuffled to get out, "Hey, Haruhi." I called. She turned around and I smiled, "Thanks."

"You're welcome." She smiled back.

Days passed, it was my turn to be at school. My mother threw me a clean uniform, "Get changed, Kaoru."

I did exactly that, "Mother...?"

"Yes?"

"Will I ever see Hikaru again?"

She did answer me at first, "I don't know. You might whenever your father decides to let you two see each other."

I slipped on the blue jacket and walked out in front of her. She made sure that I stayed in her line of sight. Father waited by the car. It was him who would escort me to school. I didn't mind, but he was meaner than before.

We arrived at the school. However, Father stopped me before I got out. "I have a surprise for you back home. You'll know what it is when you get home later."

"Okay, Father." I stated as he let me out.

I walked in the Academy and heard some girls talking. I then saw Tamaki running towards me, "Kaoru!"
"What is it, Tamaki?"

He reached me and then asked, "When did you and Hikaru start coming to school on different days?"

"A couple weeks ago. Why?"

"It just seems odd. Why would you two come on different days?"

I shrugged and walked off to the classroom. My teacher noticed me and she stood up, "Do you know why Hikaru-?"

"No." I immediately answered, "I haven't seen him in days."

She sighed, "I was just worried."

~*~Later~*~

I stepped into the car and saw Father leaning back casually. He coldly stared at me, "I hope you're happy."

"For what?"

"For what I'm doing for you today."

"Thank you, Father."

He grunted as a response as we pulled towards home. The car door opened and I stepped out after Father. He walked behind me as we got close to the front door. It then opened.