Kaoru woke feeling tired and groggy. It took him several moments to remember where he was and what had happened. The ill teen glanced around the room at the white walls that surrounded him. He listened to the beeping from his monitors.

"Kaoru, It's good to see you're awake, how do you feel?"Kyoya's voice was gentle as he spoke.

"I feel a little better I think." Kaoru said weakly. Kyoya smiled faintly.

"Good. You've been in the recovery room for a little while and someone should be checking on you soon."

"How soon can I leave?" the ailing boy asked.

"That depends on if the doctor but from what I've been told, it's likely to take a few hours of observation. I also wanted to tell you that I kept trying to contact Hikaru, he finally answered about ten minutes ago. Apparently his phone was on silent the whole time. He went back to your house but was concerned that you weren't there. I told him you were with me and couldn't talk. I had left him a message earlier about you. It didn't sound like he listened to it." Kaoru sighed.

"Why should he?"

"Kaoru, I know this is difficult for you, I've said it before, You're a great brother for encouraging him to get out there in the first place. I'd guess that you've always put him first. It's not fair to you, I'm sorry."

"Thanks. I think I'll be fine. It's not like I haven't been expecting something like this. I just wish I could-" Kaoru's phone interrupted the conversation.

"Do you think you can talk?" Kyoya asked.

"I don't know, I'm still feeling a little...funny. Can you look at it and tell me who it is?" Kyoya reached out and took the cell phone, glancing at the display screen.

"It's Hikaru. Do you want me to answer it and hand it to you?" Kaoru hesitated, he thought about letting his brother leave a message and asking Kyoya to help him send a text but thought better of it. He imagined Hikaru feeling concerned as he used to before he started becoming distant.

"I guess I should answer." Kaoru sighed. Kyoya pressed the button and placed the phone near Kaoru's head.

"Hello?"

"Kaoru, you scared the hell out of me, you disappeared and then I get a call from Kyoya-senpai, he said if I called you wouldn't be able to talk. I didn't know what to think, I came home and you weren't here!"

"Keep your voice down. I just thought you would want to know that I wasn't feeling very good and left, I guess I was wrong, I'm not going to argue with you, I'm too tired."

"What's going on, where are you?" The older twin panicked.

"Everything's fine, it doesn't matter where I am, I'll be home whenever I decide."

"Kaoru-" The younger twin closed his phone, ending the call.

"Are you alright?" Kyoya asked.

"I'm fine I guess. It hurts that he thinks I just disappeared, I feel invisible to him sometimes, I used to be important, loved. If my own twin doesn't care about me then-"

"He does care, this relationship with Haruhi is new to him. But I can tell you that you're still loved and you are very important, I promise you that."

"I don't know who could love someone like me, I mean if my own brother takes that long to check on me and he doesn't want to be around me, who can I expect to care?" Kyoya took in a deep breath, Kaoru needed to hear it now. The shadow king stood beside Kaoru's bed and reached out to wipe away the tears gently.

"You're important to me Kaoru." He said quietly." I wanted to be here with you because I care about you and I was concerned when I saw how ill you were the past few days. I'd go so far as to say that I love you. I'd like to really know you, outside of school and club activities." Kaoru looked up at him in surprise.

"Y-you love me?" Kyoya looked away.

"yes. I meant everything I said just now. I want you to know that I've had these feelings for a while, I just didn't know how to say it." The phone rang a second time, Kaoru ignored it.

"Will you give me a chance to show you how much I care for you?"

"I don't know, I'd like to feel loved but I don't know if I can- there's so much that could go wrong and right now I don't think I can handle anymore pain."

"I have no intention of causing you any, I understand if you're not interested, and I don't expect you to answer immediately, you've been through a lot, regardless of your decision, I hope that-"

"You promise?"

"I promise you Kaoru, I won't hurt you." Kaoru smiled weakly.

"You're not just saying it?"

"No. I do love you."Kyoya leaned down and kissed Kaoru's forehead lightly.

"good, because I think I like you, maybe a little more than I should. " Kaoru confessed.

Within several hours, Kaoru was released and found himself in Kyoya's family car. Kaoru was still feeling tired, ill and sore. He leaned against Kyoya who wrapped an arm around him.

Kaoru moaned softly.

"Is there anything I can do?" The dark haired teen asked.

"I don't think so, it just hurts, maybe when I'm able to actually lie down it will feel a little better. The doctor said I should rest tonight and walk a little more tomorrow. Thanks for helping me when I had to try at the hospital, I wasn't sure I could." Kyoya hesitated before speaking again.

"Kaoru?"

"Yeah Kyoya-senpai?"

"are you in a hurry to get to your house?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, You're in pain and if stretching out is what you need...my home is closer, you can rest there for the night if you like. You won't have to worry about anything...I'll take care of you."

"I did say I'd be home whenever I decide to, I'll call the house phone and leave a message with one of our maids, Hikaru won't miss me and I was told to take it easy so having someone to care for me might be a good idea. If this is what you really want."Kaoru replied.

"If you want to, I'd like the company." Kaoru smiled,

"And Kaoru?"

"Yeah?"

"In light of our relationship..i think it's only appropriate to ask that you call me Kyoya. We'll save the formality for school."

"Okay...Kyoya."Kaoru was already feeling loved, though his emotional pain still remained and he still felt somewhat lost without his twin. He hoped that his relationship with Kyoya would grow, he knew he wasn't strong enough to handle another broken heart.