Hikaru opened one eye and looked up at Kaoru. He stood up straight up waiting for his answer patiently but kept his gaze low with the fine blush still invading his face.

Kaoru stared at him blankly trying to comprehend what had just heard. He got plenty of love confessions but this was a first. A blush rose to his cheeks making his face feel hot.

"H-Hikaru..." he whispered. His name was the only thing he could make out to say he parted his lips making out words to describe his feelings at the moment, "I-I don't know what to say..."

Hikaru stride towards him and cupped his cheeks feeling the warmth gather in his hands. The younger twin shivered in his touch, his hands were so cold it made his cheeks tingle.

"It's okay if you don't feel the same way...I just needed to tell you that it was killing me inside not telling you," he whispered, his face dropping a bit. His hands fell to his side and he turned away, "If you like I can leave..."

"N-No I..." Hikaru glanced back to see Kaoru looking down shyly with a blush going a deeper shade of red, "actually...I feel the same way..." he whispered.

Hikaru turned to his younger brother with hope filling his eyes, "R-Really?" he choked. Kaoru gulped then nodded hesitantly feeling his blush go into a darker shade. He felt someone holding his face and forcing him to look up at him.

"I love you..." whispered Hikaru pulling his younger twin's lips towards his, Kaoru closed his eyes preparing himself, "...then we kiss," the older twin smirked.

They stayed in the pose in silence, "...Eh?"

Hikaru pulled back his little brother in arms length and looked at him with a cocky smile, "Then we kiss!" he repeated happily. Kaoru stared at him confused as his twin lets go of his shoulders.

"Thanks Kaoru but do you really think it would go that smoothly?" he older twin pondered tapping his chin to express that he was in deep thought, "I mean this is Haruhi we're talking about! I don't think she would understand considering how dense she is,"

That's when he figured it out. Hikaru was using him for practice. Practice for what excatly? To confess his love for Haruhi and he was using him to be the dummy. To be the pretend Haruhi!

Kaoru's heart sunk he couldn't believe he was lead on and used without realizing. He didn't even know why he said he felt the same way! They were just brothers! That's disgusting! He didn't have some sort of brother complex! That's just gross! ...Or was that just the side of his brain trying to convince him that he didn't feel that way...? Did he feel that way...? Was that why he said those things...?

He felt someone place a firm hand on his shoulder. It scared him out of his thoughts and realized that it was Hikaru. His brother was still smiling and honestly...he looked like a ninny. He didn't glance at his younger twin but kept his eyes forward despite the cheery look in his eyes it was also mixed with determination.

"Well brother looks like the doors are being opened!" Hikaru announced, he unconsciously reached for Kaoru's hand and intertwined his fingers with his which caused the other twin to have his heart leap out of his chest, "Let's go! They're waiting!"

He tugged his hand lightly then pulled him towards the door to greet the customers. A small blush worked it's way up to Kaoru's cheeks. It wasn't the first time they held hands but it was the first time he felt his heart ache and felt a tingling sensation throughout his left arm his brother was tugging. He must be sick or something because this has never happened to him before. Besides Hikaru is going to leave with Haruhi anyways so maybe the feeling would go away...right?

WRONG!

In fact it only got worse from there. Once Hikaru did leave his heart only started to ache even more when he saw him with Haruhi. Which truthfully has happened once or twice but he thought nothing of it. He genuinely thought he was just hungry or just sick this time he wasn't too sure.

With every glance he took at the pair his heart strings would tug harder, when he looked away his heart felt like it was stabbed because he didn't know what they were doing even knowing those two together made his heart rip a bit. He was confused on his feelings and decided that he would try to figure them out on his own until then he won't let anyone see through him. Yet before he made the decision someone already noticed.

"Kaoru, are you feeling alright?" one of the female customers asked.

He snapped out of his thoughts and looked at the ladies who stared back at him with worried expressions, "Uh y-yeah I'm fine!" he smiled at them.

"Are you sure?" one of them pushed further.

"I'm positive," he reassured, "Now let's not worry about me, princesses. How about we drink some tea?" he grabbed the teapot and poured the ladies the hot drink. He poured himself a cup but ended up spilling it on his finger when he placed the teapot down, "Tch," He winced at the pain and clutched onto his burnt finger.

"Kaoru are you alright?!" his customers exclaimed.

"Y-Yes princess no need to worry!" he gave them a weak smile still clutching tightly to his finger.

Some of the ladies looked around the room for his brother, confused on why Hikaru wasn't there to protect Kaoru or at least help him make the pain go away.

"Where's Hikaru?" one of them innocently asked.

Kaoru stared at the girl his heart skipped a beat of the sound of his name, his face fell but held a sad smile, "He's here...just not with me...and I'm okay with that.." He whispered modestly.

"No it's not! Wha-What about the Brotherly Love?!" one exclaimed her grip tightening on her tissue just in case tears dropped.

"It's okay...besides I'm starting to get used to him not being at my side often," he explained looking up at them giving a much stronger smile. His eyes shut for more effect that he was completely fine with everything. He heard sniffles and people blowing their noses around him.

"Kaoru...are you...sad?"

His eyes flew open, he stared at the one who asked the question. He blinked. His lips parted a bit in shock. He thought of the question over and over again then he thought of his answer.

He smiled sweetly at them, "Don't be silly, princesses..." he whispered, "...his happiness is mine..."

Sobs grew louder around him, he gave himself a pat on the back knowing that he helped the club gain more money. He was sure that Kyoya would praise him and give him some sort of reward although he highly doubt it, it was a nice thought though. Yet a part of him knew that this wasn't an act but the rest of him convinced himself that it was.

After School

"Nice work Kaoru!" Kyoya walked up behind Kaoru as he was gathering his things, "The Lonesome Twin act was brilliant! Keep that up and we might get enough money to have another visit to the beach!"

Kaoru looked up to see Kyoya jotting notes down in his notebook happily, "We are having more demands for the act! Keep up the good work!" With that he walked away.

Kaoru smiled to himself pleased with the praise his was given. Which was short lived when he noticed that his twin was no where to be spotted. He curiously glanced around the Music Room, in the corner of his eye he could see Hikaru through the window. He walked towards it, undid the latches that held it closed and pushed it open. Before he could shout at him for leaving him behind he noticed another figure.

Haruhi. He's seen this scene many times in mangas before if he remembered correctly this scene usually meant that someone was confessing to someone. His eyes widen remembering that Hikaru used him as practice...could it be...that he was confessing to her right now?!

He couldn't make out the words but he knew what was going down. His heart raced and a part of him hoped he got rejected. He mentally slapped himself then reminded himself that he should support his brother at any costs. He watched the pair for a bit until he saw Hikaru run up to her and give her a hug then...then...he rubbed his eyes making sure he wasn't seeing anything.

Did...did they just kiss?!

Hikaru pulled away first and the two laughed the he pulled out his phone. Shortly Kaoru received a text message from his twin.

"Kaoru why don't you go home by yourself today?" it read, he knew why too but he still asked.

"Why?" he pressed sent. Surprisingly he got a reply quickly.

"I'll explain when I get home but right now just have a safe ride home!" And that was it.

Kaoru slumped down the wall staring at the words on the screen. At that moment he wished he didn't know how to read. He peeked behind him to see Hikaru and Haruhi holding hands and walking out of the campus. His lungs were tight then he realized he wasn't breathing. He took in a deep breath and let it out, it didn't help. In fact it only got worse.

He put a hand over his heart, he started to hyperventilate. Hikaru has never shown that much affection to anyone before. He was getting even more afraid by the second. He wasn't ready for this! He wasn't prepared! He just got a sickness, played by (even if his brother didn't realize what effect it had on him) and as if he wasn't already losing him already the pace just picked up even faster! He didn't want it to happen just yet! It was getting too close! Too close to the end! He tightly held his hair in a panic with both of his hands letting his phone fall to the ground cracking the screen.

Damn it Haruhi! Stop ruining his life! It sounds pathetic that someone loving his brother and his brother loving back is ruining his life but, Hikaru was all he had and someone taking him away suddenly was just an impossible thought.

Yet here he was. In their world Hikaru slowly walking away with the girl who entered and destroying the world. Hikaru doing nothing to stop it thinking it was fine and not seeing his brother also being destroyed in the rubbish. Getting slowly buried in the debris, his soundless screams reached no one but to him it sounded as if he was drowning a war zone with his cries.

There he was, sitting in the music room watching his life shatter before his eyes. And there was nothing he could do to prevent it. Prevent anything in that matter. Everything was slipping right out of his grasp. So he did the only thing he could do, he watched his misfortune play out. Who knew life would be so wretched?