Wow, this chapter is unbelievably short, sorry for that guys but I just had to get this part finished and I didn't want the drama of the next chapter to start in this one because it'd take away from...next chapter and all that jazz xP

Well, I'm typing this from New York, where I now live and it's kinda boring so...i'll be taking the bus back down to South Carolina next week for a few weeks, so I won't beable to get a chapter up until maybe July or August-ish. Unless you're really lucky and I get time to type something up real quick xP!

So this story's going to end pretty soon, and I'm actually sad to say that because I've been working on it for so long and i'm proud to say that it's my longest story yet! And it'll actually be the first one that i've ever finished, so yay me! xD!

But once it's over don't take it off your favorites or alerts because I've already got a big idea for a sequel (which I've been itching to start writing!) so when I get the first chapter of that written and posted i'll make a quick note at the end of this story to alert you guys.

Anywho, that was long enough, I hope ya'll enjoy this chapter even though it's really short!

OH! Before I forget! Special thanks to LookOutShe'sGotAPen, aaaa2636, Haruka_Oujo, unknown_player, and last-blue_mage for reviewing last chapter!

x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x

It's a Twin Thing

Chapter 17

Sei stood where she was, shocked by what Kaoru had just asked her. Her mind was reeling with thousands of thoughts and emotions that didn't seem to want to disappear. She felt completely overwhelmed by the world around her and was so stricken by surprise that she had momentarily forgotten how to breathe. She was reminded of this necessity when she felt a very unpleasant burn in her lungs as the two organs demanded oxygen and she had to quickly make up for this by gasping loudly, taking in large gulps of air all at once.

Kaoru fidgetted nervously, still down on one knee infront of the burgundy haired girl that plagued his every thought. He was going out on a limb with the proposal here, sure it had originally been Tsukyoshii Sai's plan to get her out of the marriage with Dawson, that way they could pretend to be engaged for a few years to please her father and then formally break it off to marry whoever they pleased. That's what the original plan had been, however things change as do feelings. Hikaru had definitely seen it coming and he had tried several methods to make sure that it didn't happen. Kaoru had to personally assure his brother that nothing would ever break the bond between the two of them, they were brothers, bestfriends, two halves of the same whole, and that's how it would always be.

It seemed like ages of silence between the two of them before either of them spoke.

"Wh--wow. Kaoru I..." His lips twitched upwards at the sight of her gigantic grin,"Yes! Yes! Yes!"

He felt like time had stopped and all that was left was the two of them, officially together at last! Kaoru was elated, absolutely ecstatic! Her acceptance of him and his proposal sealed the deal. Not only was he suddenly the happiest man alive but this also meant that he could be her knight in shining armor, rescuing her from the distress of the arranged marriage, and they'd ride off into the sunset on his trust steed and live happily ever after.

He jumped to his feet in an instant, wrapping his arms around her waist and lifting her into the air, twirling her around in circles. Their laughter rang loudly throughout the hallways of her mother's London estate, causing several maids to come rushing out to see what was happening.

"Tsukyoshii-sama, what's going on?" A woman in her mid-forties with light honey colored hair in feathered layers and kind blue eyes asked.

Kaoru stopped spinning and set Sei back on her feet where she stumbled dizzily until she caught her balance. They both grinned at eachother making the three women who had just entered the room smile adoringly at the two teens. For three weeks they had watched sadly as Sei moped around the house, barely speaking to anyone except for when her brother called her, wasting the day away with staring out the window. It had broken everyone's heart to see their beloved mistress' daughter in such a depressing state, and nothing they tried would bring her out of her misery. To say the least, it was a very nice change to see her laughing like that with a smile so bright it could light the whole city!

"Nanami, honey, did something hap--oh! I see we have company!" Tsukyoshii Sayu stepped out of the kitchen, drying her hands in a blue dish towel.

Kaoru put on a charming smile and waved to the shorter but older woman. Sayu quickly dismissed the maids from th room and rushed over to the two teens, her eyes landed on the ring that was now on Sei's finger and her face exploded into a goofy grin as she swept both Kaoru and her daughter into a tight embrace.

"Oh, I'm so glad that you're happy again, baby!" The red-headed woman gushed,"This must be Hitachiin Kaoru that i've heard so much about!"

The ginger-haired boy cast his fiancée an amused smirk to which she shrugged to.

"Don't look at me, I haven't spoken a word since I got here."

"Oh, her brother's got a big mouth, he told me all about the secret love between you two over the phone when he called for directions." She laughed at the equally embarassed faces the two teenagers were making before her, their faces rivalled that of cherry tomatoes, they were so red.

"Okaasan!" Sei covered her face with her hands out of mortification while Kaoru coughed awkwardly.

Sayu giggled,"You two are so cute! Anywho, I'm just about to head off to the clinic so you better behave~!" the last part she said with a sing-songy voice while wriggling her index finger at them.

Kaoru chuckled at how red Sei's face still was from her mother's comment. They both watched as Tsukyoshii Sayu walked out the front door, sighing in relief once she was gone and out of sight.

"Your mom's pretty cool." He said after a minute of silence.

The emerald eyed girl broke into a wide grin,"Yeah she's--"

"Remember~! I've got eyes al over the houussee so be goooodd!" Kaoru and Sei both jumped, startled, as Sayu's face popped up in the window before disappearing again.

A few minutes passed by with the two of them standing silently in the hallway, staring at the window apprehensively, mentally preparing themselves if the older woman decided to jump out at them once more. Kaoru coughed to get her attention back onto him once he was sure that Sayu had actually left.

Sei shifted her gaze back to the golden eyed boy, her smile slowly fading which made Kaoru feel nervous all over again. "But...what about Dawson...?"

He sighed in relief,"That's it? Well c'mon, anyone who know's anything about the corporate hierarchy would know that the Dawson's are...well...hardly on the scale to begin with! However, the Hitachiin family is at the top of the corporate food chain, so to speak." He grinned,"when I spoke to your father he seemed very eager to call off Dawson's engagement and take up my offer instead, and honestly I don't blame him, it was a very wise decision on his part."

She rolled her eyes,"You Hitachiin's are so cocky!"

He laughed,"Oh? Take's one to know one, love."

"That's mature." She bit her lip to keep herself from laughing,"You said you've already talked to my father? ...how'd you know i'd say 'yes'?" Sei tilted her head.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him, resting his forehead against her's. The curious stare she was directing at him didn't go unnoticed and he had the sudden urge to kiss those cute pink lips of her's. Kaoru mentally scolded himself, there'd be plenty of time for that later on now that she was finally his and his alone, at the moment he needed to focus on the matter at hand.

"I didn't...but I had hoped." He breathed.

"Kaoru?"

"Mm?"

"Let's go home."

"Sounds like a plan."