A week after Kaoru's intervention, the Host Club had once again calmed down. Kaoru kept an extra set of clothes to put on after a quick shower as part of the new requirements. Yet not even these new procedures could hide the fact he was smoking from those he was close with. Hikaru leaned in close to his brother, "You're still smoking Kaoru."
"So" Kaoru mumbled.
"So…" Hikaru said. His hands then went onto his younger brother's body and began patting it in a playful search. The girls looked at each other then back at the twins, their eyes wide with anticipation. Hikaru grinned when he found what he was looking for. He pulled a pack of cigarettes from Kaoru's jacket, and knocked two cigarettes out. Hikaru stared right into Kaoru's shocked eyes, "If I can't get you to quit for your health, then I will just have to smoke your cigarettes so that I'm dying too. I don't know what I'd do without you by my side Kaoru." Hikaru then placed a cigarette in his brother's mouth and one into his own.
One girl awed, another cocked her head to the side and the third one just continued to blankly stare at Hikaru's hand which lingered in his brother's jacket after returning the cigarettes.
The rest of the club time was spent as usual. Yet, when the Twins went to leave that night Kyoya was waiting for them by the door, and as Hikaru walked out the door a notebook page was handed to him. He already knew what it was.
That night Kaoru laid awake thinking of what his brother had said, 'I don't know what I'd do without you by my side Kaoru.' He wanted desperately for that to be true, that his brother would be lost without him, but the evidence before him proved otherwise. If his brother couldn't live without him by his side then where was he now? The answer was that he was down the hall in his own bedroom, asleep in his own bed.
Kaoru sighed and rolled over, such thoughts had been plaguing him since his brother had made those comments. Where once he could believe and take to heart all the things Hikaru said to woo him either playfully or seriously, now he only felt pain and his own self guilt for allowing things to get to where they were. Kaoru stared at the empty side of his bed and wondered how much more he could take of this.
The temperature began to drop as the first two weeks of October had already passed. While things were cooling down outside, inside tempers were flaring inside Music Room #3. Kaoru lounged with a leg over the arm of his chair, vaguely listening to what his guests were talking about. Although he told himself not to pay attention to his brother he couldn't help it. He was standing in front of Haruhi. While they were too far for Kaoru to eavesdrop, from the look on Haruhi's face she wasn't enjoying the conversation, and Hikaru clearly wasn't taking the hint. Hikaru said something and then proceeded to laugh loudly, drawing the attention of guests from around the room. Kaoru saw how Haruhi's face turned scarlet and how she shot out of her chair and ran to the dressing room.
"Oh come on Haruhi, I was only joking!" Hikaru cried out.
Tamaki was quickly making his way to Hikaru but Kaoru intercepted him and sent him after Haruhi instead. "What's your problem Hikaru?" Kaoru shouted spinning his brother around to face him.
"I was only making a little joke that's all." Hikaru said with a shrug.
Kaoru's hands curled into fists, "That didn't seem like a little joke to me. You sent Haruhi running out of here."
"I'm sorry, ok?" Hikaru said.
"I don't know if you really are sorry, Hikaru. Have you ever been sorry for anything?" Kaoru responded.
"What's that supposed to mean. Of course I'm sorry." Hikaru said defensively.
Kaoru's arms started to shake as he tightened his fists, "I mean that you enjoy toying with people's emotions Hikaru. You get people hooked, and string them along, all for your own amusement. But your actions and words have repercussions, yet you're so damned dense that you fail to realize it. So while you've been having fun, you've left broken hearts and hurt feelings in your disastrous wake. We're not all toys for you to play with and then throw away Hikaru."All the eyes in Music Room #3 were on the twins now, and whispers began to spread as they tried to figure out of this was an act or actuality.
"You're one to talk; you've been giving me shit about changing. Well, I remember how we both saw people as toys to be played with. So why the change of heart, Kaoru?" Hikaru prodded.
Kaoru let out a growl and swung his fist. Hikaru didn't know what was coming, as he still had a smug look upon his face. Kaoru's fist landed against his brother's face. Hikaru stumbled for a moment before crashing to the ground on his ass. Koaru turned on the ball of his foot and made for the door. He ignored the screams of the guests that had filled the large room. Kyoya strode over to him but before he could say a word Kaoru made sure he said his, "I quit! I'm done!" Kyoya words then fell on deaf ears as Kaoru swung the doors open and left them open in his wake.
Kaoru threw open the door to the roof and began digging in his jacket for his cigarettes. By the time he reached the ledge his hands had shakily pulled the box out, he grabbed the last cigarette out of the box then tossed the empty box onto the ground. He shoved the stick into his mouth and fumbled with his lighter as he took his seat on the ledge. Before the flame could ignite the end of the cigarette the emotions that Kaoru was trying to kill off with the cigarette hit him. Tears began rolling down his face and sobs erupted from his throat. He buried his face into his knees the best he could. Everything was gone now and there was no going back.
Tamaki was holding Haruhi's hand when they emerged from the changing room. Haruhi looked up at Tamaki's face. He was clearly holding the smile on his face through effort, so not to further alarm any of the guests. After spending so much time with Tamaki, she could finally begin to understand him. He tried to be so many things to so many people that his role confusion was a common occurrence. With her he was perhaps the most confused about. While he still saw himself as a father figure to her, their friendship had also gotten closer, giving them quasi-romantic relationship, which greatly confused Tamaki's roles further. She didn't know which one followed her into the changing room, or which one held her hand now, but she was grateful. They looked around and the music room was empty. The only people that remained were Kyoya and the two younger hosts, neither one of the twins were to be seen. "Where did everyone go?" Tamaki asked.
"I sent all the guests home. After you went after Haruhi the Twins got into an altercation. They argued and before I had a chance to defuse the situation Kaoru knocked his brother to the floor. Kaoru left immediately after. Then once Hikaru gained his senses back, he departed as well. Both resigned their memberships. I'm afraid business may have taken a sudden turn for the worse." Kyoya explained as he adjusted his glasses.
"Where did they go?" Haruhi asked urgently.
"I'm sure Kaoru went to the roof, as that is where he goes to vent and smoke while on the grounds. Hikaru on the other hand may prove to be more difficult to find as he tends to wander aimlessly until he cools down."
Haruhi nodded and ran out the main door. As she approached the door that led to the roof she heard crying and while her heart sank she at least knew she was in the right place. She stopped in her tracks as she saw Kaoru sitting on the edge of the roof. His head between his raised knees and his arms covering the back of head. Haruhi walked over to her friend and placed a hand on his back.
"Hikaru?" Kaoru cried lifting his head.
"I'm sorry, it's just me." Haruhi said softly.
"oh...", was all Kaoru said before he buried his head once more.
Haruhi climbed onto the edge and sat next to Kaoru. She wrapped an arm around him the best she could and held him as he cried. The two sat there without a word for some time. The only noise came from Kaoru's crying and sniffling. That is why when Kaoru mumbled something, it caught Haruhi off guard. "What did you say Kaoru. I couldn't hear you?"
Kaoru sniffled, "I said I'm out of cigarettes."
Haruhi couldn't help as a small laugh came out. While she normally would have protested over Kaoru smoking, she clearly saw that they were the only thing keeping him from a further breakdown. She squeezed Kaoru the best she could and replied. "Then let's go get some."
Kaoru rubbed his eyes once more. Although he felt such an action was pointless as he felt he had cried out all his tears hours before, yet to his surprise he felt his hands wipe away wetness on his cheeks. He had been crying again and hadn't noticed. He slowly cracked opened the front door. He had been reluctant to go home, not knowing what to expect from his parent's and not ready to see Hikaru again so soon. Kaoru poked his head inside the doorway; the coast appeared to be clear. He slipped through the small opening and closed the door gently behind him. He began to make his way to the stairs.
"Where have you been?" came a voice from behind him.
Kaoru winced, he hadn't seen his father, though he shouldn't have been surprised as it was always the family joke that the man could dissolve into the shadows. Kaoru cleared his throat the best he could. "I've been…out."
"Yuzuha, darling, Kaoru is home." The door from a nearby den opened and out walked Kaoru's mother.
"Where have you been Koaru? Is your brother with you?" Mrs. Hitachiin asked as she walked to her son.
"I've been with Haruhi…" Kaoru said as calmly as he could.
Kaoru's tone was deciphered and red flags popped up. Mrs. Hitachiin briskly walked to her son and turned her son towards him. His eyes were red, and tears clung to the sides. "Are you alright, Kaoru? What happened? Where's your brother?"
"Hikaru isn't home yet?" Kaoru asked.
"No. Your father and I had just assumed that you were both working late with the Host Club. Do you know where he is? Did something happen?"
Kaoru was torn. He wanted to go look for his brother, but the other part of him wanted nothing to do with him. But he had to say something as he could see the worry in his mother's face grow franticly.
This time Kaoru's father spoke, "What happened Kaoru?"
Kaoru wasn't sure what to say. After all, what was he going to say? How much of the reasoning behind the fight should he explain? He wasn't sure. But he had to start somewhere.
"…"
He was saved from the decision as the front door opened and Hikaru stepped in, his head hung low. Kaoru took that opportunity to leave and started up the stairs, "let Hikaru explain. I'm going to go take a bath." Kaoru then leapt up the remaining stairs, not wanting to stay there any longer.
Kaoru stretched out in his large bathtub, letting the lavender scented bubbles surround and bury him. He slowly began to submerge himself when he heard a knock on the door. He sunk down deeper into the water hoping that it would drown out the sound of the knocking coming from the door, but it was to no avail. This bath was not bringing the peace that he had sought. Kaoru let out an internal sigh and surfaced, and as he did he heard from the doorway, "Kaoru, it's your mother."
Kaoru sank back into the tub up to his ears; he didn't want to talk to his mother. He didn't want to talk to anyone. He just wanted to be left alone with his thoughts.
"You don't have to say anything if you don't want to." Kaoru's mother began knowing her youngest son so well. "Hikaru told us what happened today. He told us that he had taken a joke too far and how you were only standing up for your friend."
Kaoru stopped sinking further into the water.
"Listen, I know you and Hikaru have been growing apart as of late..."
'Growing? How about Hikaru totally uprooted himself and replanted himself in a distant field' Kaoru thought to himself.
Mrs. Hitachiin's gentle voice continued, "I know it's hard, difficult, depressing and painful. I know it was when my sister and I drifted apart, but I can only imagine how worse it is for you two being twins. And everything is made worse by all the hormones you two have running through your bodies nowadays."
"I just want to let you know that your father and I will always be there for both of you. If you ever have anything you need to talk about, or if you ever need anything at all, we'll be there."
Kaoru still didn't say anything but he wistfully looked at the door.
"I'm going to go now Kaoru and leave you to your bath. I hope life treats you kinder in the future."
Kaoru listened for the sound of his bedroom door closing. Once he heard it shut, his emotions broke free and began running down his face once more as he had been presented with yet another reason for Hikaru's behavior that left him feeling alone. He had never thought of the hormonal side of the equation before. Could it be so simple that hormones were the cause of everything? Had it just been teenage angst that caused the fight earlier? Was it their teenage rebellion that created the tension between their previously happy institution? Kaoru's heart dropped further than it already was. Could it be then that it was just wild hormones mixed with their anything-goes personality that lead to the kiss, and not real attraction, not real feelings, not real love? It made sense now, everything had been a lie. But then why did everything feel so real and so passionate? And if it was just a lie, should his heart be hurting the way it did then? Kaoru couldn't answer those questions so he submerged himself once more and hoped the hot waters would finally calm his fearful worried mind.
Haruhi groaned and began groping in the darkness for her cellphone. She had only fallen asleep after working on a project and once she had gotten into bed she found herself tossing and turn as she thought about the twins' dismal relationship. She looked at the phone and placed it to her ear, "do you have any idea what time it is Senpai? I don't even get up for another hour."
"Sorry Haruhi but it's a Host Club emergency meeting." Tamaki responded.
Haruhi yawned, "What does Kyoya have to say about this?"
"He's already over here." Tamaki answered.
Haruhi groaned as the usual trump card had failed.
"Who are you talking to Tama-chan? Is that Haru-chan? Hi Haru-chan!" came a cheerful voice from over the phone.
"Was that Honey-senpia?" Haruhi asked, know that even the emergency card had fallen through as well.
"I said it was an emergency meeting, didn't I?" Tamaki responded.
"Fine. Let me get dressed. I may be a little late; the bus won't be nearby for another 40 minutes." Haruhi said groggily as she sat up in her bed.
"No need for a bus. There should be a car waiting out front ready to whisk you away. See you soon Haruhi." Tamaki then hung up.
Haruhi rubbed her eyes and made her way to a window where she could see the street. Sure enough, sticking out from the surroundings was an expensive looking black car sitting along the curb with a driver standing next to it. Haruhi gave her body a quick stretch before getting dressed.
"How can we be sure that this isn't just some ruse that those devilish twins didn't just think up?" Tamaki asked. He had been fooled numerous times before by the twins and he had grown tired of being caught in their games, yet he still managed to do so on a regular occurrence.
"What would they have to gain from it?" Kyoya asked looking up from his notebook. His eyes were baggy and he blinked slowly. It was clear to everyone that instead of waking up early, that Kyoya instead had simply not gone to bed.
"Kyoya-senpai is right; they can be just as calculating as he is."Haruhi said. She then paused. " No offense Senpai."
Kyoya adjusted his glasses with a small yawn, "None taken."
Haruhi nodded, "As I was saying, if they're not getting something out of this then there is no point in doing it for a game. And I can't see what they would have to gain from such serious actions. Besides, Kaoru seemed genuinely upset when I talked with him yesterday."
"I don't know…" Tamaki said, not yet willing to let go of his idea.
"While they may not always admit it, they both loved the Host Club like we all do. If they did quit, it must be pretty serious." Honey said.
Mori nodded in agreement.
"We're family damn it! You can't just quit on family like that!" Tamaki shouted.
Haruhi paused for a moment trying to decipher if Tamaki was talking about the twins quitting on him, or him quitting on the twins. "What do you propose we do then?" Haruhi asked.
"We'll have to bring them back together and fix whatever problem came between them." Tamaki said matter-a-factly.
Haruhi sighed and shrunk back a bit, "Some detailed plan you have there, Senpai…"
Tamaki smiled, "I know, isn't it?"
"There's just one problem." Said the first year Host, Hibiki.
"What's that?" Tamaki asked.
"We have no idea what their problem is." Hibiki pointed out.
Tamaki's eye twitched then his body collapsed. "oh, yeah…"
"I have my suspicions." Kyoya said.
Haruhi nodded, "Me too."
"Me three." Honey squealed.
Tamamki sprung back up. "Don't just sit there, tell us."
"I'd like to confer with Haruhi and Honey-senpia first, before discussing it with the whole group. I would hate to go into such a serious large discussion with flawed intel." Kyoya responded.
Even Tamaki understood the futility of trying to change Kyoya's mind in such a situation. "Fill free to use my office." Tamaki gestured to a door.
The three friends stood up and walked to the door. Kyoya opened the door and walked inside. Haruhi and Honey paused, as neither one could say they had been in the room before. "Oooooh, Tama-chan's office." Honey then gasped and ran inside. Haruhi laughed and followed behind him closing the door.
"They've been acting different since they were rescued this summer." Haruhi began.
"I noticed that as well. They tried to hide it the best they could but they've been growing further apart the past few months." Kyoya added.
Haruhi nodded, "Do you think it may be some sort of post-traumatic-stress-disorder?"
"Errr…" Honey growled like a game show buzzer as he spun himself around in Tamaki's large office chair.
Kyoya shook his head, "No, they've both been tested for it."
"Whatever it is, it is serious enough to make Kaoru smoke."
"A leading cause of that is stress which statistics show High School can be one of the most stressful times in a person's life" Kyoya rattled off.
"Errr…" Honey growled again. Haruhi glanced at Honey who was gaining speed in the chair. If she hadn't known Honey as well as he did she would have thought he had come solely to play.
Haruhi hit a fist against her open palm, "I got it. They're both after the same girl."
Kyoya adjusted his glasses, "That would make sense, they have been growing quite close to you and both were eager to get you to go with them for the summer. And that would explain Kaoru's rather brash action yesterday. "
"I didn't mean me." Haruhi said through clenched teeth.
"Err…" Honey stopped the chair suddenly and stood up on it "Strike three, you're out!" When Honey tried to add the gesture however, he fell to the floor with a thud.
"Honey-senpai, are you alright?" Haruhi said rushing over to him.
"I'm fine. But you two aren't." Honey responded
"What?" Haruhi asked.
"And I thought Tama-chan was dense." Honey said
Kyoya looked down at Honey, the light reflecting off his glasses. "What do you know Honey-senpia?"
Honey smiled and then frowned. "It's not my place to say."
"Honey if you know why they are fighting, you have to tell us so we can fix it." Haruhi pleaded.
"It's not for me to tell you if you can't guess it." Honey replied.
"Honey, did I mention that there is a strawberry short cake in the kitchen with your name on it?" Kyoya said.
Honey's face lit up. "REALLY?"
Kyoya nodded, "You just tell us what you know and it's all yours."
"Well they…no I can't…." Honey started to fidget. "but it's cake…but I shouldn't…with strawberries." Honey's face began to rapidly shift from smiling to frowning. "..but they're my friends…with whip cream…they have a right to privacy…did I mention strawberries…I wanted my privacy…sweet sweet strawberries…" Honey began to cry. "Alright I'll tell you…"
The door flew open and Mori ran into the room and covered Honey's mouth. "It's not for him to say." He then glared at Kyoya, picked up Honey, and carried him out of the room.
"Well that got us nowhere." Haruhi huffed.
"No, but it did eliminate a few guesses. As well as provided ideas for new ones." Kyoya said writing something in his notebook.
"You know now don't you?" Haruhi asked.
"It's not my place to say." Kyoya responded with a rare smile.
Haruhi sat at her desk strumming her fingers on its glossy surface. Her brain had already been strained from thinking about how to get Hikaru and Kaoru to be brotherly towards each other again, but now she was thinking of the more immediate issue of how to defuse the situation that was bound to occur in class as the only thing between them would be her. Slowly other students began to appear in the class room, although no one talked to her about it, she could over hear the whispers about the twins' altercation the previous day. The room became silent as Kaoru entered the room. He walked across the room and took his seat beside Haruhi, "Good morning." He said with small smile.
Haruhi returned the smile, "Good morning Kaoru."
"How'd the meeting go this morning?" Kaoru asked, "You look exhausted."
"How'd you know about the meeting?" Haruhi asked.
"Typical Tamaki. To tell you the truth I was surprised when he didn't hold it last night." Kaoru explained.
Haruhi yawned, "You two created quite the stir yesterday. We'll have our work cut out for us, calming all the guests down."
"Sorry about that." Koaru shifted in his chair and fidgeted with his left hand.
A silence fell between the two for a moment. The rest of the room started talking again, discussing what they had just "accidently" heard.
"Haruhi, about yesterday…" Kaoru began.
"Yeah?" Haruhi asked, hoping that it would be something to brighten her day.
"I meant what I said. I can't be in the Host Club any longer." Koaru said solemnly.
Instead of questioning Kaoru about why he felt like he could no longer be a Host, she remained quiet.
"And Haruhi, if you could do me a large favor…"
"What is it?"
"I know it will be near impossible, but can you at least try to stop Tamaki from scheming how to bring Hikaru and I back to the club. It will only make things worse for everybody."
Haruhi didn't know how to respond. In part she felt obliged to because of her friendship towards the Twins, but on the other she wanted them back in the Host Club as well.
Kaoru placed his hand on her shoulder, "Never mind, I don't want to put you in more of an awkward position with Tamaki than you two normally are."
When Hikaru came in a minute before the bell rang Haruhi tensed up as she didn't have any idea what her plan of action was going to be if the two brothers went at it again. It was then much to her surprise when he walked right past her and sat a few chairs in front of her. She went to ask Kaoru what he thought was going on but he was fiercely looking out the window, so instead she just faced the front of the class and wondered what life was going to be like until this issue was resolved.
At lunch Haruhi was given ample time and space to think. It was the first time she had eaten lunch alone since before joining the Host Club. While some days she wanted to eat by herself, now that she was actually given the chance to eat alone she would have given anything to be harassed by the double team of the twins. So instead of pushing her food around her box to keep the twins from swiping it, she was pushing the food around from boredom and lack of an appetite.
"Mind if I join you Haruhi-senpia?" Hibiki asked.
Haruhi in response just gestured to the spot beside her.
Hibiki sat down beside her and starting chowing down, in between bites he managed to ask "Neither one of the twins are eating with you today, huh?"
"No. I thought it would be nice to finally eat in peace, but to tell you the truth I miss them." Haruhi sighed.
"I doubt if either one of them was here that he'd be that energetic though. I don't think I've ever seen either one so mopey before, even before they joined the Host Club."
"Same goes for me. I hope everything gets fixed soon." Haruhi said.
Hibiki nodded and finished the tray without saying another word.
Kaoru took a long drag off of his cigarette and stared down into the garden maze. Streams of smoke blew from his nose as he watched the path of the auburn haired individual roaming the maze down below. Although his stomach churned and gurgled, telling him that it demanded lunch, Kaoru ignored it. He didn't feel like eating, he felt nauseous and didn't want to be surrounded by people.
As Hikaru wandered around the maze leaving a smoke trail behind him, he thought of how his life had led him to be walking through the garden instead of inside eating lunch with his friends. Everything had gone fairly according to what he had planned, although his brother had put his own spin on it the previous day. Hikaru looked up at the roof of one of the nearby buildings; his eyes were quickly pulled to the person with auburn hair that was putting out as much smoke as a chimney. He then sighed and smiled. "Now everything can be alright."
Although both twins had located each other, what neither one of the noticed was the blond keeping tabs on both of them from afar.
Author's Note: Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas/Wednesday. Now let's talk about this chapter. I was really torn on this chapter. I had it originally split into two parts. The spit was after Kaoru's bath and before Haruhi's phone call. But that would have made two short chapters back to back(which I felt was rather unfair considering how the first one ended, so I decided to just lump them together for another long chapter. Yes it does kill off some of the emotion but on the other hand it preserves the sense of timing. Oh yeah, got to actually see a brief glimpse of Hibiki in this chapter…so that's something I guess.
Ratty4949: Well there are few things that justify being up at three in the morning. Luckily reading fanfics is one of them. To answer your question, you'll just have to stick around and find out. Oh, by the way…Naked Hunny! Naked Hunny! Naked Hunny! ;) I'm sorry that was uncalled for.
EternalFalsity: I had an awesome Christmas, thank you, I hope you did as well. I'm glad you found the ending of the last chapter so amusing. :) I was going to comment further about how you're right that Hikaru isn't totally heartless and still cares for his brother but then I remembered what happened in this chapter. And then I realized that to add to your woes Hikaru is smoking too… so…yeah… sorry about all that.