An hour later, Hikaru had been stitched up and was sitting next to his brother's hospital bed, listening to the steady beeping of the heart monitor. Kaoru looked horrible. He was gaunt and pale, but mostly bruised. His face was scratched and black, there was a blue and yellow ring around his neck. His hair was matted and tangled.

"Hikaru, have you eaten anything today?" Kyoya spoke up from the other side of the room, where he was silently observing Hikaru holding onto Kaoru's limp hand, rubbing his thumb in rhythmic circles against the pale flesh. The question originated from Kyoya's sudden spike of hunger.

"No." Hikaru shook his head, not taking his eyes off of his sleeping twin.

"Do you need anything?" Kyoya prompted, standing to leave the room in hopes of finding something to eat.

"No."

"Is 'no' the only word you're capable of saying?"

"No."

"Good to know." Kyoya smirked, recognizing Hikaru's attempt at a joke. "I'll be back."

Hikaru didn't reply as Kyoya left the room. He waited until the door closed to let his tears fall.

"I'm sorry, Kaoru…" He whispered, letting silent sobs tear through him. "I'm so sorry."

Hikaru just cried, cursing everyone who had hurt his brother. Kaoru hadn't done anything to deserve what had happened to him. He would never in his life do anything to justify it. He wished for each and every person in that horrible place to rot in prison for the rest of their lives. He didn't want them to die unless he could be the one holding the dullest knife he could find.

It was half an hour later when Kaoru's eyes fluttered open, and he stared around the room lazily.

"Hey." Hikaru squeezed Kaoru's hand gently, trying to stop his slow stream of tears. "How are you feeling?"

Kaoru didn't respond, but squeezed his eyes shut and started crying.

"What's wrong, are you in pain?" Hikaru felt panic starting to rise, looking for a button to call for a nurse.

Kaoru shook his head, his hand shaking and tightening around Hikaru's.

"Hey, it's okay, you're safe now." Hikaru assured, using his free hand to stroke Kaoru's hair. He would have pulled his brother into a hug, but he was afraid to move him, so he moved his chair closer to the bed in an attempt to comfort his brother.

"Hikaru…" Kaoru's voice was ragged and broken, making his pain and fear obvious to anyone who could hear it.

"I won't let anyone hurt you ever again." Hikaru's tears started again. "I promise."

Kaoru opened his eyes, searching for his mirror image. They locked tear-filled eyes, exercising their ability to calm each other down by simply being together. Their tears sped up, but their panic disappeared. The tears were ones of joy. They were together, and wouldn't be apart for as long as they could help it.

"You should rest." Hikaru urged, seeing the bags under Kaoru's eyes through the bruises on his cheeks.

Kaoru started trying to sit up, cringing at the effort it took.

"Hey, relax." Hikaru's brows knit together as his brother struggled to move.

Kaoru shook his head, managing to sit up and shift over to the other side of the bed. "Sit with me." He croaked.

Hikaru smiled, climbing into the surprisingly lump-free bed and shifting back so he was leaning against the wall. He let Kaoru lean into him, rest his head on Hikaru's shoulder, and snuggle into his chest. Hikaru held his brother close, nuzzling the top of his head as Kaoru drifted back to sleep. Sitting there in the hospital bed, everything felt right with the world. Hikaru could ignore the sterile smell, the annoying beep, and the fluorescent lighting. Everything was okay for that one moment.

.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.

When Kyoya returned from his food search baring nothing but coffee, a smile graced his stoic face. He closed the door quietly, so as not to disturb the twins, who had fallen asleep leaning against each other. Hikaru looked like he was finally relaxed. Kyoya returned to his seat in the corner, silently observing the sleeping twins, feeling balance return to his life.

"Hey." Mikami whispered as he came into the room a few minutes later. "How are they doing?"

"It's going to take a while, but I think they'll be okay." Kyoya smiled. "How's your mother?" It turned out that Mikami's mother was a patient in the same hospital Kaoru had been brought to, so he'd taken the opportunity to visit her.

"She's doing better." Mikami pulled up a chair next to Kyoya. "I don't know what I'm going to do now. I have some money saved up, but only enough for another month or two…"

"I'm sure you'll get it sorted." Kyoya adjusted his glasses, using the glare to hide the gleam in his eyes.

Mikami eyed Kyoya for a moment, but let it drop. He looked to the twins, still in disbelief. He couldn't fathom that he had managed to bring the whole system down. One fingerprint and everything fell apart. Or… had it come together? How had he not had the courage to do it before? All it had taken was getting his hands on the notes.

"Kaoru!" Hikaru shot awake seconds before his brother released a strangled cry and lurched forward. "It's okay, it's okay, I'm here." Hikaru pulled Kaoru close, feeling him shudder with each hyperventilated breath.

"That's impressive." Mikami breathed, astounded at Hikaru's sixth sense.

"It is." Kyoya nodded fondly. "It really is."