That night, the twins dwelled on two questions that were playing on loop inside their heads.

How will we tell our parents?

But more importantly for them…

Which one of us…?

Hikaru was deep in thought. He tried in vain to recall memories from that fateful night, and was a little startled when he remembered that they were in that room right now. He thought until his head hurt, trying to focus on a few things in the room to jolt his memory; like the scent of the bed, the floor… It only made him sleepy. The drink must've really knocked him out, because he couldn't shake up a sharp recollection no matter how hard he racked his brains.

The same went for Kaoru, who had only a few fuzzy images from that night. But he shook them off, deeming them impossible—just hallucinations; he was pretty sure it couldn't have happened that way...

"Kaoru, if we find out who," Hikaru said slowly, looking up from his laptop where he had been surfing random sites. "Does it change anything?"

His brother didn't reply right away, as if he was struggling to find the right things to tell him. But Hikaru realized that it was because Kaoru was busy with his Science textbook. But eventually he spoke.

"I don't think it changes anything."

"Why not?"

"Well, first of all we're identical twins," Kaoru said, his tone laden with what his older brother took as the 'here comes the scientific explanation' sound.

Hikaru didn't want to go through the Biology stuff, but his mouth opened before he could stop himself.

"What does that have to do with it?"

Kaoru waggled his finger knowingly and leafed through his book.

Hikaru rolled his eyes. And there he goes.

"Hi~ka~ruuu, don't you remember what makes us the way we are? Why identical twins are so? DNA, of course! We have the same genetic makeup. That's why we're called identical—"

"So, if we have the same genes, it doesn't matter which one of us did it!" Hikaru exclaimed.

Kaoru nodded with enthusiasm. "Because whichever one of us it is, he just passed the exact copy of genes that the other has! But… How did you know all that stuff, Hikaru?"

The elder inclined his head towards the laptop with an air of great respect.

"Google, my dear brother."

After a few moments, the two engaged themselves in a fight over books and Internet. Internet was currently the winning side, seeing as Hikaru had his younger twin pinned down on the floor being tickled to death.

"Alright, alright!" Kaoru choked. "But will a click of your mouse help us confront our parents?"

Hikaru rolled off him and propped himself up on his elbows.

"Maybe not, but we both know someone who could help."

--

Hunny jumped onto Mori's shoulders as the big guy walked towards the door where a raucous knocking disturbed the peace of the Haninozuka household.

"Oh! Hello there Hika-chan, Kao-chan! And Haru-chan too!"

"Hi."

"Hey, Hunny-senpai, Mori-senpai," the twins replied with all the manner of two people who had the world on their shoulders. The petite girl waved feebly.

The boy Lolita slid down from his cousin's back and raised inquisitive eyes at the trio.

"What's wrong? Hmm… I know, let's talk about it over some nice warm tea and cake!"

--

"So, what's Mori-senpai doing here?"

"Oh, Takashi visits often. He gets pretty bored without me, right Takashi?"

"If you say so."

Hunny beamed through the small talk as he passed around slices of strawberry cake.

"So, what brings you here?"

The group didn't seem to have the heart to say anything, but Mori knew what was going on.

"Haruhi."

His cousin's eyes widened. "But why would you come here if this is about what happened with Haru-chan?"

Hikaru mumbled something about "parents murdering us if they find out."

"Senpai," Haruhi kicked off. "These two dragged me here to ask you for advice. I'm sorry if we're bothering you."

"We weren't doing anything important!"

The three were silent again, then Hikaru suddenly blurted, "Senpai, what would you do if Mori-senpai was your twin and one of you got Haruhi pregnant and you don't know which one of you did it and you also don't know how to tell your parents because you're absolutely sure that Haruhi's dad will kill you if he finds out?"

Well, that was one way of asking, Haruhi thought.

The small boy giggled, and then composed himself. "If it were me and Takashi in your shoes, we're pretty sure it wouldn't matter which one of us is the daddy. We'd both just do everything we can to make sure that Haru-chan and Akachan will be okay."

There was some silent thought given to this.

"But our parents…" Kaoru started.

"Will find out anyway," Mori said firmly.

"So you should just get it over with and accept the consequences of your actions, 'kay?" Hunny smiled brightly.

Hikaru scratched the back of his head. "It still surprises me whenever Hunny-senpai says something like that," he muttered. "So much for that approach. They just gave us the 'goodie-goodie' advice. I should've known better."

"What now?" his brother asked quietly.

"Plan B."

--

Back in the Hitachiins' limo, the twins were getting a little unnerved with Haruhi's stillness. She sat between them, and they looked at her every now and then, wanting to strike up a conversation but losing it every time. She hadn't spoken since their conversation with the cousins agreeing only to the Hitachiins' desire to drive her home.

"You okay?" Kaoru asked tentatively.

"Just fine," she answered. "It's just that I didn't fully realize how much trouble this is going to cause the both of you. I'm really sorry."

"Psh, we're used to trouble," Hikaru waved off with a chuckle. "This is just on another level, that's all."

Haruhi wasn't fazed. She scrunched up her eyebrows. "I just wish I could remember which one of you it was."

"Don't hurt yourself trying," Hikaru said, putting a timid arm around her, then tightening his grip when she didn't swat it away.

Kaoru imitated his brother's actions. "Yeah. Hunny-senpai did make a lot of sense back there. We should just focus on how to tell our parents and your dad."

"So why don't we tell your mother first?"

"She's not at home right now," Hikaru said simply, a raised eyebrow from his younger brother going unnoticed.

Haruhi sighed. "This is our responsibility. I just want you two to promise me that we will get this done."

They smiled. "We promise we'll get this done."

Eventually.

"By the way, my dad won't be back for three more days," Haruhi informed them. "So we'll tell your mom first, alright?"

"Sure, we'll tell your dad right after we tell mom," Kaoru told her.

"When will that be?" she shot quizzically.

"Oh, it depends on the circumstances," they replied. Haruhi didn't say anything more, unaware of the sly grin that the twins shared behind her back.

A minute later, they pulled up in front of her apartment.

"Uh, why are you guys getting out? This is my place."

"We know."

"Then what are you doing here?"

They followed her all the way through the door, taking off their sandals and flopping down on the tatami.

"We've realized something, Haruhi. So we're going to stay here with you for a while."

Haruhi stopped in her tracks. "And exactly when did I agree with this?"

"You didn't. But like you said; this is our responsibility, after all."

As usual, Hikaru and Kaoru had twisted her own words for their advantage. She faced the brothers, scowling. They had their evil faces on; she knew there was no stopping them. But she would try.

"Do you live just to annoy me?"

They snickered. "It used to be that way. Not anymore."

"We really think—"

"That you shouldn't be alone in your condition—"

"So we'll be here to take care of you—"

"Especially since—"

"The baby is ours," they finished together.

Haruhi didn't know whether she should be amused or irritated beyond relief. As of now, she was both.

"Listen, you are definitely not staying—Hold on. Did you say 'our' baby? As in… Both of you?"

"Both of us, plus you. Ours."

She mentally shook her head. "Guys, you can't share everything."

Hikaru winked at her. "DNA happens to be an exception."

Haruhi's stomach growled and she realized she was too hungry to understand what they were babbling on about and she had no more fuel to argue any further.

"Fine," she gave in. "But dad better not catch you here, so tomorrow, you leave."

Kaoru put on a pout. "Why tomorrow? A little longer? Please?"

"The day after."

"Deal!"

--

The twins got rid of the extra things they brought along and waited as Haruhi whipped something up in the kitchen for the three of them. Then, she returned, bearing a wooden tray.

"Here you go. Eat up."

"Uh, Haruhi?" Kaoru asked as he eyed the food apprehensively. "What's this?"

She looked at him as she took a big bite out of her share.

"Fish and banana sandwich with apple sauce. Try it, it's delicious."

The twins suppressed a gag.

"I'm sure it is," Kaoru said weakly. "So why don't you have it all? You look like you're enjoying every bite."

Haruhi had already scarfed down the first sandwich and was going for another.

"Really?" she said. Kaoru nodded with a relieved expression on his face

"But what are you guys going to have?" she asked, preparing to get up. "I'll make something else… Let's see… I think I have some takoyaki left over… Hmm, that would go well with peanut butter!"

Hikaru stood immediately, almost upending the small table in the process.

"No, don't go into any trouble, Haruhi! Where's the phone?"

She studied him with a puzzled look. "Why?"

"We'll just order something. Don't make anything for us, Haruhi! Seriously."

"Alright then," she beamed uncharacteristically. "I'll call. But it's on you."

--

"Hey Hikaru," Kaoru whispered when Haruhi was on the phone. "Why did you tell Haruhi that mom's not at home? She comes back from Europe tonight, doesn't she?"

There was a gleam in his twin's eye when he answered. "I said mom isn't at home right now."

It dawned on Kaoru. "And you told the maids and drivers that we're staying at the boss' place, huh?"

Hikaru only gave a catlike smile in return.

"Plan B."

Kaoru grinned. "So we got a couple of days to think?"

"A couple of days to relax," his brother corrected. "When we have to go home, then we think."

"Procrastination," Kaoru pretended to scold.

"Nah, I prefer to call it tactics."


A/N:

Akachan = baby

Takoyaki = octopus dumpling with pickled ginger and green onion, optionally topped with mayonnaise (and not at all compatible with peanut butter, I assure you.)

-So anyway. Those scheming twins are at it again, going all scientific about their sitch plus managing to come up with an excuse to not tell their mom and be with Haruhi at the same time! So they get to actually live with her for three days (counting the day they moved in)... and what will Tamaki say about all this, I wonder? ;P

Ugh, I just hope Hikaru and Kaoru can make it through all of Haruhi's nasty cravings.

Anyway, that's the third chapter for you! The next ones will be about the days the twins spend at Haruhi's place and all the mishaps and realizations(???) along the way.

Teehee. Next chapter should be up soon. Hopefully. Kekeke, sue me. ^^

If you please...

l
l
V