Chapter five:

Hikaru is about to walk out the front door to head to school.

"Hold on there Hikaru." His mother speaks causing Hikaru to turn to look at her over his shoulder. She looks serious and a little worried though trying to remain calm. "We are going to keep home today."

"What? Because Kaoru isn't here? I bet that he'll just show up at school. So it'll be fine." Hikaru tries to brush this off as he isn't going to let his slut of a brother cause problems for himself.

His mother lets out a sigh closing her eyes. "Alright. Go ahead." She agrees and Hikaru is suddenly feeling a little hesitant as he stares at his mother for a little longer.

Hikaru finally turns away and heads out of the door. He briefly keeps the door cracked to listen for anything. He catches his father's voice talking gently to his mother.

"We suspected that something like this may happen. We knew it was a risk that we were taking with that whole plan."

"But it didn't actually feel real until now." His mother responds with a slight sigh. "I mean I did think that there was no way that it wouldn't actually happen. At least not like this. I guess I just kind of thought that there was this invincibility."

"Hush darling. We can discuss how to handle everything in just a little bit. We will get things figured out."

Hikaru gently closes the door and turns to keep walking as he ignores the maid that he had taken the job of closing the door from. He just wanted to listen in as he gets this feeling like his mother is hiding something. He still doesn't really understand what. He wonders if she had some kind of hand in why Kaoru isn't here. He shakes off that thought just before entering the limo.

Kaoru got himself into this trouble by giving his body to strangers and even flirting with random people. He was playing a dangerous game and if he got hit with the consequences of it then so be it.

Hikaru gets to school and can feel some glances even during class as Kaoru's desk remains empty. He refuses to let himself even so much as glance over to that empty desk. Even if he has to make himself do so. He clenches his teeth telling himself that Kaoru isn't a brother anymore, not after what he was caught doing. He of course won't admit it to anyone else knowing how big of a scandal this could be which easily will turn around on the rest of the family who did nothing wrong. He slightly jumps when the bell rings. He puts away his stuff that he didn't use as he wasn't paying attention.

"Hikaru?" Haruhi's questioning voice causes the ginger to stop what hes doing and look up to look at her.

Hikaru gets a brief look at Kaoru's empty desk as he looks up. He tries to not think about it though.

"Why isn't Kaoru here?" Haruhi's question seems to get other students still there to try to secretly listen in on this small conversation.

Hikaru tries to quickly think up a lie to feed to everyone. He knows that he needs to respond quick or else they will catch on that it has to be a lie. "Oh. Yeah that. He just wasn't feeling well. So I came in to make sure that we wouldn't fall behind." He can surely give that excuse at least for now. He doesn't doubt that his parents will find a way for Kaoru to be believed to be dead, or something like that if he doesn't even return. He does take notice of others relaxing at this explanation.

"Well if you need any help in making sure he stays caught up I can help." Haruhi offers and Hikaru finds it tempting though he doesn't think it is the right time. She can't be there if Kaoru does decide to show his face back at the mansion.

"Thanks. I will keep that in mind." Hikaru nods as he gets up with all of his stuff put away. "Say. Why don't we go eat together today? I know that no one will mind if I help you out with it this time. I know you haven't had the cafeteria food before."

"Oh it is fine. I don't need that fancy stuff." Haruhi tries to turn it down though Hikaru offers her his hand.

"I insist." Hikaru pushes and Haruhi lets out a sigh caving in and taking his hand. He leads her to the cafeteria. He helps her order and watches with a smile as she tries some of the food gaining a look of delight.

Elsewhere…

Kaoru stands at a heavily tinted window to stare out at what he can see of the city going about as normal. He does miss his brother and he can still feel the sting left from Hikaru's words after finding out what he's been doing. "It wasn't my choice. They were making me do that kind of stuff." He whispers words that he wishes that he could have been able to tell to Hikaru. He doubts that the other will even accept them if he was able to explain it to him.

No way was Hikaru going to believe that their parents would even be capable of doing such things.

Kaoru doesn't turn as someone can be heard coming up to be beside him. He pushes his thoughts of his brother away to try to focus on whoever is right here.

There is a moment or two of silence then the one who came up to Kaoru speaks.

"Are you alright?" Josephine inquires worriedly.

Kaoru lets out a breath. "Yeah." He confirms and raises a hand to his neck where the bite mark has already healed. He blacked out from the pain then awoke at the place that will be his home from now on. He knows that his body healed the bite mark though it is still sensitive to the touch like a new sweet spot for his body. His tongue raises to brush carefully against his new fangs that just felt like someone stretching his skin with a pinch when they were formed. He makes sure to not cut his tongue on them before tucking his tongue back in his mouth away from those fangs. "Just letting my mind start to adjust my new life."

"Well if you need to talk then you know I am here for you." Josephine puts an arm around Kaoru's shoulders pulling him close as he leans against her. "Also we should also prepare you for tonight. Your skin will develop a better resistance to the sun though the first bit is harder. Your first night hunger is going to be the most intense that you'll ever feel. Just a reaction to your body adjusting to the big change thus needing more energy from you. Not to worry as we will all be ready to help guide you in your process of adjusting fully to your new life."

"Yeah." Kaoru gives Josephine a small smile at hearing this. "Thank you for that. I really do appreciate it."

"It is fine." Josephine smiles back a little more than Kaoru. "Ready to go get ready for your first night as a nonhuman?"

"Hopefully I won't do too bad." Kaoru mentions and smiles a little more as Josephine chuckles warmly. His mind completely forgetting about Hikaru… For now at least…

"Oh don't you worry about that. You can't do worse than Stephani. She tried to take on a werewolf that wandered onto the territory on her first night despite that new vampires have no chance against such beings. She was lucky to have back up just in case. She still shows off the scars as if her stupidity in that moment is something to be proud of." Josephine mentions to Kaoru who chuckles warmly.

"Well if I find a wandering werewolf then I will make sure to stay very far away from them."

"Good. Don't every forget that a werewolf is one of the only ones who can do serious, even fetal, damage to a new vampire. Only more developed vampires should take on werewolves. It isn't a long process though it is just a specific timeframe of how long it takes for ones new vampire… Genes?... To settle down. Allowing you to be fully vampire instead of human. You'll keep your look but gain more of what being a vampire has to offer. We'll cover all of that when the time is right. For now at least as a starting point don't try to fight a werewolf on your first night at least."

"I won't." Kaoru promises to Josephine not wanting to actually get hurt or worse that way. He doesn't see it as worth it after all. He just really hopes that he doesn't actually run into one. He isn't sure if he actually wants to die or try to see if he does belong in this group of vampires he is now deeply connected to.