Hi everyone, and welcome to Chapter 2 of "Behind Amber Eyes," this will show how the fanfic starts to focus more on the twins and in particular looks at Kaoru's feelings.

I hope you all enjoy it and please do review!

As Kaoru went for a long walk around the grounds of Ouran and finally beginning the walk home which he rarely made, Kaoru thought about everything that had gone on during the past few years, from his and Hikaru's joining the host club, to meeting its array of hosts from Tamaki to Haruhi. But he had found something else over the past three years...they he and his brother had gained a different view of the ladies that pined for their affections. Yet even though he came to respect them, he found that none of their "clients" could really be considered as anything more, though it had taught him a lot about his feelings...developing his maturity along the way. So why did all of a sudden he feel like something was missing? Thinking through it during his time alone, Kaoru knew his brother would be more than likely upset with him for just leaving...though it was unintentionally done. He needed some time to himself, though as he finally got home, he felt none the wiser than when he had left Ouran, the only difference being the lateness of the afternoon.

'Good evening Kaoru-San,' a servant said politely as he was permitted in, Kaoru asking softly where his brother was.

'He has been residing in your room since he arrived home...your evening meal shall be ready within the hour.'

'Thankyou,' he replied, ascending the stairs, wondering just what kind of greeting he would receive upon entrance, and as expected it was a quiet one.

'Hello Hikaru,'

'Kaoru...' he nodded, his brother seeing in an instant Hikaru's unhappiness.

'I'm sorry I wasn't with you after school ended...' Kaoru said gently, 'I didn't think really...it was just something I felt I needed to do...'

'You missed the meeting after the host activities today,' Hikaru said nonchalantly.

'Meeting?' Kaoru responded, innocently unaware at what had been discussed.

'For his lordships eighteenth...Haruhi wants to arrange a party for him, with a special themed host event I believe...'

'How were you able to discuss it? His Highness was there...'

'It wasn't too hard, Haruhi just mentioned the game "kick the can," and he was gone.' Smiling slightly at the thought, Kaoru knew only too well that their lord would probably have reacted like that. Seeing that Hikaru's coldness seemed to lessen, Kaoru crossed the room silently to sit beside his twin, the bed dipping slightly as he sat on the edge. 'I'm sorry...Hikaru...' he said softly, resting his hands out beside him, as Hikaru placed one carefully over Kaoru's, bringing the latter to look at him.

'What is it that's made you like this?' Hikaru finally asked, his tone softening slightly.

'I don't know,' Kaoru admitted. It was fair to say there was some truth in this...it honestly wasn't something he understood and yet at the same time he felt there was something he needed to find... 'I just don't know...'

~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~

Waking up the following day, Kaoru for a while simply lay in thought beside Hikaru, noting how his brother lay peacefully asleep. Yet as he gazed out of the window into the bright spring morning, a feeling of restlessness crept over him, when their bedroom doors opened, two recognisable faces looking in. Speaking quietly to Kaoru in their light voices, Kaoru nodded to them slightly, watching them swiftly disappear again. The maids. They were often checking on the twins when needed, ensuring they were happy. His mother's influence Kaoru was sure...The twins rarely saw their parents as with most families that were wealthy, though the twins were far too used to it.

'Hikaru?' Kaoru whispered finally, knowing they needed to get up.

'Mm...' his brother grumbled, Kaoru grinning as he got out of bed, pulling the sheet off his brother. 'What?' Hikaru groaned, opening his eyes wearily...

'We're going to be late...' Kaoru said in a quieter voice, 'it's best we get up now...'

'...what did the maids say?'

'...Mother's home.' As Hikaru looked into his brother's eyes seeing that the news were true, he glanced away again, clearly contemplating this as he too got up.

Going downstairs, the twins walked into the dining room to see their mother...Yuzuha. 'Mother,' the twins smiled, embracing her delicate figure, glad to see her home. 'How was your trip to Italy?'

'Oh it was simply lovely, but I am so glad to be here seeing my beautiful sons,' she said sweetly. Their mother was fairly tall and graceful in her appearance, her hair a richly shining colour of ruby, with her eyes a similar being a bright blue contrasted against her lightly coloured skin. 'But let me look at you both dears...just has handsome as the last time I saw you, but ah...Hikaru-kun, straighten your tie darling and oh Kaoru-kun ensure your shirt is neat and not creased at all...I simply don't know what I'd do if the other families and teachers thought that my sons, Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachiin were neglected of their needs by their well-renowned mother.'

'Don't you mean well renowned fashion designer?' Hikaru asked straightening his shirt.

'So how long are you home for?' Kaoru interrupted, not wanting to hurt their mother's feelings, 'will you be staying for the weekend?' he added hopefully, Yuzuha's smile fading.

'I'm sorry...I'll be in Paris hosting this weekend. You know how busy mother can get,' she concluded as lightly as possible, the twins dismissing it without a further word. It was something that Hikaru and Kaoru had gotten used to – not having their parents around very often. Though despite having simply pleased themselves from a young age, it still struck a chord whenever they were let down...Thinking that may have been the initial cause for the lack of trust they had in others, Kaoru glanced to his brother, meeting the same expression as they sat down to breakfast.

Sitting back lazily as the servants and maids brought out their morning meal; the twins ate quietly, holding a polite and civil attitude towards Yuzuha until a phone-call cut the little time they shared with her for what could be another few weeks. Putting down the piece of toast he had been eating half-heartedly upon his mother's disappearance, Hikaru then picked up his leather school bag, ready to leave when Kaoru also stood putting a hand on his brother's shoulder. Watching as Hikaru leant against the linen draped table he sighed quietly, 'I know what you're thinking...' Kaoru said softly. 'But at least she did stay for a little while...the maids said she arrived yesterday evening...'

'She did it again though,' Hikaru said quietly looking into his brother's eyes. 'She couldn't tell us apart. Our own Mother...'

Kaoru was unable to give his brother a response to this...only saying that when it came down to it, their Mother truly loved them as their friends did. Nodding with the faintest of smiles at the thought of their friends, Hikaru and Kaoru saw their mother walk back in an apologetic expression across her features. 'That was one of my colleagues. They think they'll need me earlier than this weekend...' she began,

'We hope you have a good time,' Kaoru and Hikaru said in unison, putting on a smile for her that they knew would make her happy as she kissed each twin on the cheek.

'Don't forget...I love you both very much, no matter where I am,' she smiled, tears coming to her eyes as she pulled them closer to her, the brother's standing there for that moment...grateful to have it and only wishing it could have lasted longer.

So as they walked out through the main hallway and down onto the gravelled drive where a car was awaiting them, Hikaru and Kaoru got into the car, which was swiftly closed by their driver...'You know I actually miss that carriage we had for the Ouran fair,' Hikaru said thoughtfully as they were driven to the school, having not seen Yuzuha again, presuming she was getting ready for her departure again. Though being simply thankful that Hikaru seemed to be bearing the situation, Kaoru nodded in agreement, knowing how much his brother had enjoyed learning to handle the carriage, it being something which at long last made them different...a rarity in its own right. Though he was the younger of the two, Kaoru always acted like the older, more mature brother, doing his best to bring Hikaru to the same level in his own way and helping him understand how to show his feelings around others rather than hiding them.

'Kaoru?'

'Yes?' he answered, being brought from his thoughts.

'Do you think things will change this year...when his highness and Kyoya-Senpai leave?'

Glancing out of the window as they approached the school, Kaoru couldn't answer for certain, only praying in his heart that things wouldn't. Whilst it had taken them so long to find friends, the last thing either of them wanted was to lose them...knowing that it would expose their weakest point and vulnerability. Though seeing the school come into full view as the car began to slow, Kaoru and Hikaru got out of the car, putting on a light smile as they walked in with a casual stance that had many girls following them with love-struck eyes as they entered through the main doors into the private school.

Acting with assurance and confidence, the twins went in for their home room session, greeting Haruhi as they sat on either side of her. Yet as Kaoru noticed the repeated glances she seemed to be casting to him, the younger of the twins returned it asking 'what?' with a confident grin.

'Are you okay?' she questioned, Kaoru looking slightly surprised by the question.

Kaoru's POV

It should have been an easy question to answer, though it still caught me off-guard...why? I didn't know, though I was far from feeling normal.

'Yes...' I answered finally, seeing in an instant that she wasn't convinced. As usual Haruhi could see things from us in a way others wouldn't have noticed.

'Then...' she continued thoughtfully, ''why did you leave the Host Club early yesterday?' Inside I was both surprised and –once again- unprepared. Seeing Hikaru look over now, I was now fully aware that the others had noticed my absence yesterday.

'I just needed some fresh air...it had been a long first day considering we weren't supposed to be hosting,' I responded, Haruhi thankfully accepting my excuse though she clearly didn't find either answer believable...though perhaps it was because I didn't either.

'So did Hikaru mention Tamaki-Chan's eighteenth to you?'

'Yes,' I replied more positively.

'Good, we didn't discuss it too much as my plan only worked for so long,' she remarked making me smile. Of course...his highness really could be oblivious. 'Though I did decide that two parties would be better.'

'Two?'

'Yes,' Haruhi nodded, 'one being a host club event with Tamaki-Chan's birthday as the theme, and a private party to follow, away from the Host Club clients.'

'That sounds good,' I agreed thinking Haruhi had chosen sensibly in her plans, and of course whilst this would be going on, it helped to know that we were the perhaps the best at arranging something as big as this would be...

~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~

Haruhi had known she wouldn't get much of a response from Kaoru that morning...understanding that when he wanted to talk, he would. Remembering her conversation the previous night with Tamaki, the young couple had been at Haruhi's flat, talking about the Host Club amongst other things after Ryoji Fujioka had left, Haruhi's father making sure to step on Tamaki's foot in what he called a "pleasant warning" before leaving for work. Truth be known, Ryoji had come to respect Tamaki, in seeing how much he cared for Haruhi and in turn how his daughter seemed so fond of him. Though he continued to make his presence known whenever Tamaki visited, though the founder of the host club remained both humble and polite towards Haruhi's father, keen to impress him and gain his trust. Yet what Ryoji didn't understand was that Tamaki was adjusting to his newly found relationship with Haruhi just as much as everyone else, having considered her as his "adopted daughter" for the past year. So that evening as Ryoji left for work as his stage counterpart "Ranka" Tamaki finally relaxed a little, helping Haruhi get some tea prepared as they finally sat down. 'So are you enjoying the first term?' Tamaki asked, 'and are you sure you really want to stay in the host club hosting?' he added,

'Yes...unless you'd rather I quit?'

'No...It's just...not really normal'

'Was it really normal before though?' she smiled, Tamaki looking at her and finally beginning to laugh, knowing what she meant as he ran a hand through his golden blonde hair. 'I wouldn't worry if that's what's troubling you...' she said thoughtfully. 'You may have done some reckless things...but it didn't put me off...I just thought it did,' she grinned. Tamaki continuing to smile at her with a light blush as she then asked 'so what do you think was wrong with them today?' Seeing his expression become more serious, as he considered the question...

'It's hard to say, you can never tell with those two. They're very private people.'

'I know, thought it's strange that it was Kaoru who walked out,' she remarked. Despite being good friends with them both, Haruhi knew too well that Hikaru could be the more immature one, though deep down he was really well-intentioned. Yet for Kaoru to have walked out she knew that something must have been getting to him.

'Don't expect to find out too much of it, Hikaru and Kaoru rarely confide in anyone but each other.'

'I guess...'

'They've come a long way; you'd be surprised how far in fact since they joined the Host Club three years ago...' Though in seeing her doubtful expression, Tamaki then leaned forward, tracing his hand over her cheek, 'they'll be okay,' he assured her 'When I was born, the only happiness and comfort I found was from my mother. Hikaru and Kaoru are much the same, they're brother's who grew up only having each other and whilst I have found you...they still haven't found that special person. But they will. I promise...' he said gently, seeing Haruhi blush lightly at his touch making him smile softly.

~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~

'Haruhi? Haruhi?' The twins said in unison, bringing Haruhi from her reverie.

'Mm...?'

'Lessons over,' Hikaru noted, Haruhi nodding as she stood up, gathering her notes and leaving the room with one sibling stood at either side of her...

'So...how do you intend to keep this all from our lord?' Kaoru remarked,

'Well you two are going to help by keeping him occupied for me,' Haruhi responded, the twins smirking at the idea.

'At your service,' they grinned, bowing in to her in way of example as they then put an arm around her shoulders.

'Great,' she smiled, Hikaru watching her carefully, thinking over just how fond she was of them all.

'Haru-Chan!' called out a sweet voice, the three barely turning when they saw Honey-Senpai and Mori-Senpai right behind them. 'Good morning,' he beamed.

'Hi,' Mori-Senpai added.

'Morning,' Hikaru and Kaoru responded together, Haruhi also greeting them as they walked down the corridor together, Honey wearing a light blue t-shirt with brown trousers, Mori wearing black jeans with a leather jacket and a deep blue shirt. It did seem strange to the three second years seeing Honey and Mori in casual clothing though the female students they passed continued to swoon over them, the group not faltering, and talking lightly as they headed towards the music rooms.

One thing that Haruhi had found since it was revealed that she was a girl, was that she was admired by both girls and boys for the only known female student to be so involved and close to the male hosts of the host club. So as they walked into Music Room three, it wasn't a surprise to find girls hanging around outside. Though upon entering, and finding that they were the first there, Haruhi closed the doors, locking them as she turned the others.

'So...' she began, 'whilst Kyoya-Senpai is keeping Tamaki-Senpai busy, I wanted to arrange things for Tamaki-Chan's birthday...'

So how will Haruhi's plans go? and just how will it affect her and Tamaki's blossoming relationship? All to come in the next chapter along with Kaoru's longing to understand what feels different about their new year at Ouran High School.

I hope you have enjoyed, please review, it is much appreciated...

Goodnight!

~x-xMasqueradeAngelx-x