"Are you sure about this Kyoya?" Kaoru asked as the older boy straightened the covers around him.
"I'm sure, the guest room gets a bit chilly. I'll take the couch and if you need anything call for me and I'll come in. and help you. Are you comfortable?"
"Yes, but I can't take your bed, I'd feel-"
"You need your rest, don't worry about it. Can I get you anything?"
"No, I'm alright, thank you." Kaoru's phone rang for what must have been the hundredth time that day.
"You don't have to answer it, you can turn it off and let yourself rest properly."Kyoya said as Kaoru picked up the phone.
"He didn't care when he was with Haruhi, but I don't feel right ignoring him this long, I'm still angry but I feel like I should at least tell him-"
"You left a message with one of your maids didn't you?"
"Yeah, but he's still my brother."
"That's true, he was also your brother when he ignored your illness."
"You're really upset about that?"
"Yes. But I understand that you're still related and I would never try to stop you from talking to your family." Kaoru smiled faintly, it was nice to feel cared for again. Kaoru opened his phone and held it to his ear.
"What?" he answered in a stern voice.
"What the hell do you mean what, I've been worried out of my mind. Where are you?" Hikaru replied angrily.
"Didn't you get my message, I said I wasn't coming in tonight. Or maybe you didn't bother looking at it. Just like when you didn't bother to pick up your phone, or to notice when I left early today. You weren't worried the last couple nights when I couldn't sleep because I was in a lot of pain, you didn't notice at all. Why would you worry now, you don't care."
"Yeah, I got the message, I told Kyoya-Senpai my phone was on silent, didn't he tell you and where are you getting this from, I do care, you're my little brother, we've been through everything together, I know I haven't been around and maybe I should be and I'm sorry that I didn't realize you were bothered by it. I love you Kaoru, and I'm sorry that I wasn't concerned about you not feeling well, but it happened before and you just had the flu. Come home."
"I will, when I feel like it, right now I don't. I'm tired and I need to rest."
"I know you're upset about me and Haruhi, I can understand-"
"But you don't. It's not about you going out with her, I'm the one that said you should, you just don't care anymore. It feels like I'm invisible and right now...just like you need to do things on your own, so do I."
"I do care. I wouldn't have been calling if I didn't. The whole more independence thing we talked about is great and everything, but I-"
"No, you completely ignore me unless it's something you want or need me to do for you. I can't talk about this with you, I told you I'm not feeling well and I need sleep."
"But Kao-" Kaoru couldn't listen anymore, his brother had changed drastically and it was too much for him, Hikaru hardly spoke to him unless he wanted something. With tears in his eyes, Kaoru ended the call.
"I'm sorry Kaoru."
"We used to be so close, it wasn't that long ago that we had a hard time leaving each other, I miss Hikaru, the way he was, when he acted like my brother. Being alone for the first time in my life is-it feels like I'm lost in the dark and I don't know what to do or where to go."
"You're not alone Kaoru, You have me. I'm not your brother, but I want to guide you out of that darkness. I'll be your shoulder to cry on, anything you need, you tell me. I think for right now though, for your health, you need to calm down so you can sleep, you just had an operation, it's important that you try to relax. Try to sleep." Kaoru shook his head.
"I don't think I can. I'm so upset and my stomach really hurts."
"I know it does, part of it is probably anxiety. You're always putting the people you care for before yourself, it's your turn now, the only thing to do right now is for you to rest, tomorrow afternoon, you and I will work on you getting to walk more. I won't ask you to go far, but it's vital to your recovery."
"I know it is, but lately I've been feeling like maybe if I wasn't here-" Kyoya placed a hand under Kaoru's chin, forcing the younger boy to look at him.
"You shouldn't say those things. I love you Kaoru, I wouldn't ever want to lose you."
"I could've died Kyoya, if my appendix had- Hikaru wouldn't even have cared,."
"That's not true, like I explained before, this is new to him, everything will work out." Kyoya soothed.
"Kyoya, I know that you probably wouldn't, but...could you stay in the room with me, I feel really sick and I think I could rest easier if I wasn't alone." Kyoya smiled.
"Are you sure this is what you want, this doesn't worry you at all?"
"No. It's true I don't know a lot about you outside of the club, but I actually feel very safe with you. I could use that security right now. It's fine if you don't want to I just-" Kyoya leaned down and kissed Kaoru's forehead.
"I did tell you I'd do anything I could." Kyoya said taking hold of Kaoru's hand and using his free hand to stroke the younger boy's hair affectionately.
"Rest now, I'll stay right here."Kyoya said quietly. Soon, Kaoru had given into the fatigue and was sleeping peacefully.
"Even when you sleep you're so beautiful. I do hope our relationship grows. I feel very fortunate that you even considered allowing it to begin. I know you're having a difficult time but I'm right here for you. Ill never expect you to be anything other that who you are and I'll do all I can to get you to where you want to be. Eventually I'll be able to say these things to you while you're awake, The truth of it that everything you want from life, I want for you. You and I are gong to go through changes, and sometimes we'll be out of our comfort zone but we'll make it. I think this relationship will be good for us, and I'd like to build a home for us one day. Time will tell whether or not we'll get there I suppose, but if you're there, there is nothing I wouldn't do to make it happen." Kyoya kissed him once more and made himself comfortable next to Kaoru. Kyoya, the famed shadow king, had at last found his true happiness.