I sat at the kitchen table alone, thinking to myself. I traced the grains of wood with the worn down pink eraser on the back of my very-dull pencil. Hikaru had said he loved me. He had kissed me.

Why the hell had he gone out with Haruhi today?

I slammed my pencil down and slumped in my chair as my French homework glided gently to the floor. A maid walked into the kitchen and picked it up for me. "Thank you." I mumbled, and dismissed her, telling her to close the door behind her. Again I threw my homework to the floor and stood up. Sliding against the counter down to the floor, I thought back on what had happened in the hospital.

"I love you" Kiss.

I had been surprised at first, I had thought that maybe, just maybe, I was still dreaming. But when I opened my eyes he was still there, pulling away from me and smiling. I could feel myself blushing, and was surprised he couldn't feel the heat radiating off my cheeks.

"I-I love you too" I had stuttered. He had laughed and patted my head.

Then he had gotten serious, and scolded me about everything I had done. "One," he had said, "You lied about being hurt. Two, you ran away from me. Three, you jumped out two windows. And four, you scared and worried me to death Kaoru."

"I'm so sorry Hikaru...I..." and I lost consciousness again.

Dammit, what happened while I was out? Well this was frustrating. I sighed and pried the fridge open from my seat on the modern tiled floor. There was some cake on the bottom shelf, immediately reminding me of Honey-senpai and the rest of the Host Club. Had Hikaru told them I was okay? I decided to call Kyouya-senpai to find out, seeing as he was basically in-charge.

The phone rang a total of zero times before somebody picked up.

"Kao-chan's ok! Kao-chan's ok!"

This was definitely not Kyouya. "K-Kyouya senpai?"

"No silly it's me! Honey!"

Thought so. "Um, Honey-senpai, why do you have Kyouya's phone?"

"Kyo-chan is sleeping right now, but me and the rest of the Club came here just in case you decided to call!"

How in the world did they know I would call Kyouya? And did he say the rest of the club? As in Hikaru? "Um, Honey-senpai, is Hikaru there?"

He coughed and there was static on the line before another voice came on the phone.

"Kaoru?"

"Hikaru! Why did you go over to Kyouya's? I just got back from the hospital and you left me!"

He sighed and whispered, "I know, I'm sorry. But Haruhi was planning this whole 'Get Well Kaoru' party and well, we all had to come plan it."

I had stopped listening after 'Haruhi'. Even if Hikaru says he loves me, there's no saying, he might catch his senses and go to her. I didn't want to be selfish, but dammit Hikaru is mine!

"Kao?"

"Huh? Oh, yah, yah never mind its fine Hikaru," I forced a smile into the phone, "Just, just be sure to come home soon, kay?"

"Kay." Beeeeep.

He had hung up on me.

I was sure there was a reason. No way would he ever hang up on me without a reason. I hope.

I sighed and decided to call it a day, and at merely one o'clock pm, I headed up to my lonely bedroom. My hand had barely touched the doorknob when I realized that I wasn't at my bedroom. This was Hikaru's bedroom, which we had decided to share since we were born. I frowned at the sign on the door, "Hika & Kao, Please Knock". I was about to open the door when my head swam, and suddenly it was like I was watching the world from outside my body.

There was Hikaru, sprawled across the bed with his headphones on high and his pajamas only half on. The water in the conjoined bathroom was running on high blast before coming to a sudden and squeaky stop. Steam bombarded the bedroom as the door opened and a figure stepped out. Brown hair, brown eyes, dressed in a light blue robe.

Haruhi.

My heart was pounding in my head and I let go of the doorknob. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I crossed out my name angrily and scribbled "Haru" where Kao had once been. I threw the pencil to the floor and stomped off toward my actual bedroom at the end of the hall.

The doorknob was covered in layer upon layer of dust, making it hard to turn. I impatiently dusted it off with my sleeve and threw the door open, slamming the handle into the wall. (Well, it was better than breaking the whole door down, right?) I looked at the bland and nearly empty room. A bed with white sheets, an empty bookshelf, and cobwebs here and there. I dropped my French book on the floor and dragged myself over to the bed, where I happily sunk into the thin sheets and fluffy pillow. I glanced at the clock once more before closing my eyes. The neon red numbers screaming "1:11".

"Kaoru? Kaoru! Kaoru where are you!"

I groaned. Hikaru was home, and being as noisy as he possibly could. Sitting up and rubbing my eyes groggily, I stared at the clock. "6:30". I guess five hours is a good enough nap for an exhausted, injured teenage boy with brother troubles.

The sun was setting through the window, so I got up to watch it, ignoring Hikaru's frantic calling my name. For a second I was shocked at the view, and then I remembered what room I was in. I was at the exact opposite corner from the other bedroom. This window overlooked the small lake and bundle of trees in the back yard, unlike the other, who overlooked the flower garden and greenhouse. I squinted my eyes as the sunlight reflected off the lake and shined directly into my room. Then I smiled, orange. My favorite color. The color Hikaru says I look best in.

"Kaooooo-ruuuuuu!" I heard Hikaru screaming from down the hall. He had finally decided I wasn't on the first or second floor, and had come looking for me on the third. I heard all the doors on the landing open and close, until Hikaru got to our- excuse me- his bedroom. That door didn't open. There was silence for a few seconds before my brother's footsteps came pounding down the hallway. Then Hikaru's panting and swallowing when he got to my door. "K-Kaoru! Why are you in here?"

"Well it is my bedroom, Hikaru." I mumbled coldly.

I could tell he was frowning, and I could feel his eyes boring a hole in the back. "What's with the sign on our bedroom door, Kaoru?" He emphasized "our" by hissing it through his teeth.

I paused and grimaced. "Just thought it would be more appropriate. Don't you?" My voice was dripping with sarcasm.

Hikaru's footsteps were barely audible as he made his way over to the window. But his arms were firm as they snaked around my waist and held me tight. "Don't you remember what I said in the hospital? And what I did?" I felt myself blush at the thought.

"Yes." was all I could manage to say before his lips were on mine for the second time, this time much more forceful.