I would like you all to know that I died.

Metaphorically, but still.

I won't bore you with the details, so how about we get on with the chapter? Fair warning, there's suggested underage drinking, which I do not condone in any way, shape, or form.

Hikaru thrust open the sliding glass doors leading to the patio, breathing in the cool night air and closing the door behind him, shutting out the noise of the party. He wasted no time in walking over to the railing looking over the glittering lights of Tokyo, and being as far away from the roaring crowd as possible. Inside the penthouse, it was hot, crowded, and noisy. His head was pounding, and he was feeling light and buzzed, quite possibly from the alcohol. He had been careful not to consume enough so he looked like a total idiot, but this was his party and security was tight, so he was free to party and drink without the press on his tail.

Technically, he was throwing the private party to celebrate his soon-to-be-released album, but Hikaru knew that deep inside he had thrown together this last minute celebration to help him forget the fact that he had a twin.

It wasn't working.

The groupies were getting on his nerves, whoever was playing the music kept playing absolute crap, and the cheap wine left a sour taste in his mouth. As he surveyed the bustling downtown, Hikaru tried to clear his mind, but the problem with alcohol was that it impaired everything; maybe that's why he wasn't supposed to participate in underage drinking.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the host himself." His head snapped over to the left, where he found a tall, exotic-looking French woman, with blue eyes and gilded opera glasses. She twirled them in her right hand as she walked closer to him, her hips swaying from side to side, her cocktail dress not leaving too much to the imagination.

Hikaru worked up a plastic smile. "Éclair. Lovely to see you."

"No need to lie," she purred, stopping and leaning her elbows on the railing, looking over the city just as he had been doing before. "We don't have to act friendly when the paparazzi isn't watching."

"Right. Force of habit." He turned back to looking at Tokyo as well, his smile vanishing into the night air. Éclair was a prominent figure in pop culture. She was the kind of celebrity heiress that everyone knew, but no one was quite sure why they knew her. All of her "friends" were famous and influential, and her father owned a multi-million dollar company. If she was at a party, then it was labeled as the hottest party of the year. If she was endorsing a perfume, then it was the only perfume selling well. She could make or break anyone she wanted to; and she was Hikaru's biggest rival.

Both of them were powerful with the media, and if the two were to ever announce they were enemies, there would be a war. Hikaru would never admit it out loud, but he wasn't too sure he would come out as the winner. Éclair had been famous for far longer than he had, even though his mother was also a celebrity. On the other hand, he could still deal a decent amount of damage to Éclair's reputation, and so the two settled on an unspoken truce. Act friendly in public, but the second no one was watching, the act was off.

However, it was rare for the two to ever approach one another, or be alone together, and so Hikaru was unsure of what to do. He didn't want to go back inside because that would look like he was forfeiting (from what, he wasn't sure), but he couldn't stand being out here with her.

As it turned out, Éclair had something to say. "Congratulations on your latest album."

Hikaru wasn't impressed. "Thanks," he replied emotionlessly. He wasn't going to let his guard down.

"Peculiar date to throw a party, though." She looked over at him, and he couldn't stand the naturally smug look in her eyes. Magazines had labeled it as natural smolder or confidence, but Hikaru just thought it made her look narcissistic and cocky. Éclair continued, bringing her opera glasses up so that Hikaru could no longer see her eyes but his own reflection instead, "Not many people consider a Tuesday night a day to let go of their inhibitions."

"That's what alcohol is for."

"How old are you, again? Sixteen? Lovely example you're setting."

"You're no better."

"True. I suppose we both have skeletons in our closet."

Hikaru wasn't sure if she was trying to hint at blackmail or threatening him, but he knew he couldn't let her have the last word on it. "Wouldn't the press just love to know them all?" He was quite proud of himself for coming up with something so mysterious and coy.

"They would. But if you pay them off handsomely, they keep their mouths shut." At this point, she lowered the glasses, and held both hands behind her back. He watched as she began to walk towards a modern sculpture set out, and she added, without turning around, "That's how the world works, though. Everything has a price."

At least they could agree on something. But Hikaru didn't want to agree with Éclair about anything, so instead of saying how right she was he settled for lying. "That's not it at all; you just think money can buy you anything."

"Don't go playing the hero, Hikaru." She turned with her opera glasses raised, not bothering to hide her smirk. "When you don't fit the role."

Again, she was right. Hikaru may have been proud, but he wasn't in denial. When he was hidden from the public eye he broke hearts, toyed with people, and was far from being a role model. "You're not a hero either. You have no right to condescend me," he retorted, not breaking eye contact.

Lowering the opera glasses, Éclair's smile disappeared, and she suddenly grew colder and distant, muttering, "I never claimed I was." Hikaru would dare to say she looked vulnerable, and he couldn't decide if it pleased him to know he had more power in the situation, or if it just unnerved him.

Éclair quickly regained her composure, though and looked back to him, continuing, "But I didn't come out here to make small talk. If anything, I came to warn you."

"Warn me?" he repeated, watching as she once again leaned on the railing to his left. He smirked, chuckling, "Careful now, Éclair; you might just develop human emotions."

"Wrong, yet again, Hikaru. I have emotions; I simply keep them locked up. I also have allies, something else you lack."

"How is this warning me? All you've done is imply that I'm a rock with no friends."

"I'm implying that you've made a few enemies in the celebrity circle with your comments and infamy, and it wouldn't hurt to suck up your pride, show your human side and align yourself closely with a few stars."

Hikaru wasn't sure whether to laugh or question her further. Enemies? The only enemy he thought he had was Éclair, the very person who was giving him advice right now. Otherwise, everybody loved him. Except for the girls he had led on. And a few music producers. And quite a few interns. Not to mention the actors and actresses whose movies he had given negative reviews.

On second thought, maybe he should question Éclair further about this. But just as he opened his mouth to ask her who exactly was looking to ruin his name, the worst possible person had come looking for him at the worst possible time.

"Hikaru Hitachiin I need an explanation and I need it now!" Aoi slammed the sliding glass door open and didn't bother to close it, the sounds of the party exploding into the night air. Her rage blinded her and she paid no attention to Éclair, who took the opportunity to slide back inside unnoticed, Hikaru wishing he could do the same. "Why the hell are you throwing a party this late on a Tuesday night when you have a million things to do in the morning? And don't even bother trying to make up an excuse for the alcohol! For pity's sake, you're only sixteen!"

"What are you doing here, Business Lady?" Hikaru asked, trying to divert her attention and failing miserably.

She narrowed her eyes, hissing, "Party's over, Hikaru. Security is escorting everyone out, I'm getting cabs for the underage drunks, and you're in a heck of a lot of trouble with me. And here I thought I could trust you for one night, just one night."

Hikaru rolled his eyes. "Relax, security was tight, and no press got in."

His response only seemed to irritate Aoi further. "You don't get it, do you? Hikaru, this isn't about your public image, this is about the fact that you're not even eighteen and you're getting into this sort of trouble. Alcohol, really? Were you not raised any better?"

"Nope."

The two stared each other down, until finally Aoi sighed, closing her eyes and rubbing her temples. "I'm disappointed with you."

To Hikaru, the comment stung more than it should have. He honestly felt like he had done something wrong, even though in his mind, he was just having a good time. For once, he had no clever retort, possibly due to the booze still fogging his mind a little.

After a few moments of tense silence, Aoi spoke up, "I came to tell you that you'll be hanging out with Kaoru on Saturday."

"No." He only needed a second after he heard Kaoru's name to respond. He brushed past Aoi, walking into his penthouse suite littered with trash, and began to stuff his face with leftover food; not because he was hungry, but to signify that the conversation was over.

His personal assistant followed him, though, and her bad mood only strengthened her resolve. "Oh, you don't have a say in the matter. The crowd you associate with is clearly a bad influence on you, and it's past time for you to get to know Kaoru."

Hikaru meant to say, "I said no," but with his mouth stuffed with chips it came out more like, "Ah sfed naw." He decided to leave the food and began to go towards the bathroom to brush his teeth.

"I head what you said," Aoi countered, blocking his path and forcing him to listen, "But considering tonight's events, you're opinion doesn't mean much. You're going and that's final."

He rolled his eyes and pushed past her for the second time that night. "Fine. Whatever." He was beginning to feel tired, and wasn't in any mood to argue with Aoi any longer.

Aoi, however, had prepared for a battle. She visibly loosened, asking incredulously, "Wait, seriously? That's it? No long spiel about how you'll never accept Kaoru as a part of your life? Or how I'm acting out of line as your P.A.?"

"I'm tired. Leave." He slammed the bathroom door in her face, but Aoi could only stare with wide eyes, until a half-smile broke out on her face.

She gave out a few stunned giggles, asking no one in particular, "It's that easy? It was seriously that easy?" Realizing, however, that she no longer seemed as professional or responsible she quickly cleared her throat and yelled at the bathroom door, "But you're still in trouble!"

"Yeah, uh-huh."

And for once, Aoi left Hikaru's room feeling better than she had walking in, still stunned at how smoothly this was going. Even after she was standing in the elevator, she could only whisper to herself, "It really was that easy."

So who here is also an Eclair fan? -beaten to death-

I honestly did like Eclair, though. I know she came off as heartless, but then why else should she be a villain? And When you think about it, she's really just a misguided and lonely hopeless romantic. Therefore, no Eclair bashing, please.

As always, reviews are appreciated, and I'm sorry if a lot of you had given up hope that I would update.

Until next time, read and enjoy!