Chapter 4
Kaoru didn't know why he did what he did…
He didn't understand it…
All he knew was that he felt horrible… The way he and Hikaru treated Kagome, making her cry like that… Guilt chewed away at his heart… Just what had they been thinking?! How could they do something like that to her?!
T-to the one person who had never… Who had never confused one twin for the other…
Maybe if… maybe if Hikaru hadn't said what he did, then Kaoru wouldn't be out here… Maybe they could have made it all better tomorrow at school… Maybe they could have sorted it out together, like always…
'Kaoru watched as Kagome feld the Host Club, rushing out the doors and taking off down the hallway. Hikaru saw the same scene and sighed disappointedly, "And there she goes."
The younger twin whipped around, his eyes wide, "What?"
Hikaru shrugged, "it was fun while it lasted, but apparently, Kagome can't take a little joke."
"A-a joke?" Kaoru didn't get it… A new, weird feeling welled up in his chest, taking root and staying there… One he had never felt towards his twin before, but knew all the same. Kaoru's hands balled into fists, "How can you say that, Hikaru?! You saw how upset she was!"
The older twin froze, was Kaoru… why was Kaoru yelling at him? But the younger twin barreled on- the floodgates had opened. "We disrespected her, and all you can say is that she can't take a joke?! She's hurting because of us! Of what we did!"
And then, Hikaru snapped, "Oh like we haven't made anybody else upset with us in the past! We've made plenty of enemies!"
"But using her in our act was taking it too far!"
"You went along with the idea!"
"But I shouldn't have!"
The two were nose-to-nose, glaring fiercely at each other, and the entire club felt like a distance dream. It melted behind them, the silent guests, the Music Room… Everything fell to the wayside but them…
Kaoru tore himself away from his brother, and without saying a word, turned around and started walking towards the doors. Hikaru narrowed his eyes, "And where do you think you're going?!"
The younger twin glared over his shoulder at him, "Where the hell do you think?!"
And with that, Kaoru took off after Kagome- not once looking back on the dejected and shocked look on his brother's face.'
But after that… Kaoru knew Hikaru wasn't going to even try to make it right. In his brain, they weren't in the wrong. It was Kagome who reacted poorly, who was in the 'wrong'... Kaoru knew that wasn't true…
I-if they hadn't said that… then Kagome would still be enjoying tea with them, her bright smile lighting up the guests' world… along with theirs…
Kagome's chest hurt…
Her legs were pulled to her chest as she cried, burying her face in her knees… W-why would they say something like that?! I-it made her sound so easy… L-like she was just some sort of slut… They talked about her like she was some toy…
Like she was some sort of toy only there for their amusement…
Kagome knew her life was old fashioned- solely for the fact she was going to Ouran only to get married… She had submitted herself to her Lord's rule a long time ago… She belonged to him… He owned her… She was under his thumb, his rule, and did nothing without his permission…
But even still, her Lord never viewed her as some toy…
She was his Lady, his equal, the only one to stand at his side… and he'd have no other.
No one else… Only Kagome…
It hurts… It hurts to be referred to as an easy toy by two people who… Who Kagome thought she was friends with. Not as close as her and Haruhi, but people the miko had hoped she could become good friends with…
Now it was all down the drain…
The minute Kaoru found Kagome, his guilt increased ten-fold…
She was huddled in the back of one of the empty classrooms, her legs pulled tightly to her chest, her shoulder's shaking as she cried… Because of them… Kagome was crying…
"Kagome…" Kaoru slowly approached the girl, trying not to upset her further.
And Kagome didn't even look up as she spoke to him, "G-go away, Kaoru."
The younger twin's eyes widened, s-she knew it was him? He shook that off for later, standing up straight, before clenching his fists… No, he wasn't leaving until he said his peace. Even if she didn't want to speak to him again, at least… at least Kaoru knew he tried.
"I… I'm sorry…"
Kagome froze when she heard those words… She lifted her head from her legs, watery blue eyes immediately finding Kaoru's form. His head was bowed, fists clenched, and looked so… remorseful… "W-what?"
"I'm sorry. We… I took it too far. I shouldn't have said that about you, or included you in our act. It was wrong. You've been nothing but nice to me and Hikaru since the year started, a-and we only used you. We wanted you to come to the host club to make Tamaki-senpai jealous…
"But instead, we just… We hurt you…"
Kaoru lifted his head only to find Kagome staring at him with those big, blue eyes that were now filled with tears… Even like this, she was still beautiful, but it didn't suit her- not at all. Kagome looked at the auburn haired teen for a few moments, before patting the spot next to her on the ground.
Kaoru blinked in shock, but the miko only gave him a small smile. The younger twin waked over to her, and this time… this time, Kagome didn't flinch away.
He slid down the wall, plopping down next to her and made a face, "Ew.. how can you sit down here? People's shoes were on this…"
Kagome's smile grew a little, "It's not so bad… Besides, I didn't want to be found." Kaoru winced at that, just as the miko looked up at him… She didn't figure they'd come… Well, Kagome was right about that…
Hikaru didn't come… But Kaoru was here…
The devil twins… They were similar, yes, held similar qualities, but they weren't the same person… they never have been, nor will they ever be…
A small, soft smile pulled at her lips, "Thank you for coming…"
"I-I…" Kaoru glanced down at her, then away, a faint blush forming. "I just couldn't let you go knowing we made you cry."
"Still, you came… You came after me…"
Kaoru didn't know what to say to that. Kagome let out a sigh, then leaned to the side, her head plopping on the male student's shoulder as her exhaustion from crying took over. Kaoru immediately tensed, but then relaxed slightly…
And for a few minutes, neither said anything…
Until Kagome broke it, "I forgive you."
Kaoru blinked, and looked down at the top of her head in shock, "Wha-what?"
"I could hear it… I heard how sorry you were… So, I forgive you, but-" Kagome lifted her head, cerulean eyes staring right into his amber ones. "You do that shit again, and I'll dump you in the ocean with an anchor tied around your waist."
The teenage boy could see it in her eyes- Kagome was serious. Kaoru laughed awkwardly, "Yeah, I-I won't…"
"Good," seemingly satisfied, she plopped her head back down on his shoulder. "Though I'm not forgiving that brother of yours… He sucks. You're much better, Kaoru-kun."
Kaoru could feel his face heating up at that, and he was glad Kagome couldn't see it thanks to their current position. "Yeah… Hikaru's not so bad, he just… Wait-" he blinked, looking back down at Kagome in shock, "What did you just call me?"
"Kaoru-kun. Why? We're friends, aren't we?"
Friends… Has Kaoru ever had a friend? He's had Hikaru… He's had the Host Club… But he's never had a friend… A smile started to creep up on his face, "Yeah, guess we are, aren't we, Kagome-chan?"
"Doesn't mean I'm friends with Hika-baka though…"
Kaoru's laughter could be heard from outside the classroom.
"Why?" Hikaru looked down at the floor of the limo as it drove him and Kaoru home. "Why go after her? Isn't she one of them? She doesn't matter."
Kaoru glanced at his twin brother from the corner of his eye, "Haven't you noticed, Hikaru, that when Kagome-chan talks to us… She always calls us by name.
"She looks right at us when saying our names."
Hikaru's eyes widened to the size of saucers…
"Your bag was… what?" the miko blinked, looking at her friend in mild shock as they ate lunch together. They were once again under what Kagome dubbed 'their tree' and now, Haruhi was recalling the events of the Host Club to her.
"Thrown in the pond during the club, sometime after you had run out." Haruhi didn't seem all that bothered by the fact she was being bullied, but Kagome wasn't thrilled. She didn't like bullies… in her opinion, they needed to be brought down a peg… Or twenty.
The miko grumbled under her breath as she stuffed rice in her mouth, "Any idea who it was?"
"Yeah, some red-headed girl…"
"Hmm…" Kagome hummed to herself, taking another bite of her lunch, before more of Haruhi's words resitured. "Wait…" cerulean blue eyes widened and she flushed lightly. "Y-you saw that?!"
"Yeah, everyone did. Including the twins fighting after you left."
"They… fought?"
"Big time…"
Haruhi acted like it wasn't a big deal, but Kagome smiled faintly… Kaoru even fought with his brother for her…
She definitely made the right choice in forgiving him…
"Come on-" Kaoru pulled Kagome up by the hands after tracking her down afterschool. She had curled up in some part of the garden with a book, fully intent on waiting out there for everyone to finish their clubs and whatnot. "Let's get going!"
"I don't wanna~!" the miko whined as he pulled her to her feet.
"Oh come on, it'll be more fun than reading that book." Kagome stuck her tongue out at him childishly, and he rolled his eyes at her behavior, "Just come sit with me!"
"I don't wanna sit with Hika-baka, Kaoru-kun!"
Kaoru couldn't help but snicker at the nickname Kagome had taken to calling Hikaru, though he then smiled down at her, "Just come for a little while, then you can go back to your book. Please, Kagome-chan."
Kagome internally debated her options, staring at Kaoru with a blank gaze… before she sighed, her shoulders sagging, "Fine. But I'm leaving if Hika-baka or Souh-senpai get anywhere near me."
That made him raise an eyebrow, "Tamaki-senpai? What did he do to you?"
"He harassed me! That creep! He kept acting like he was gonna kiss me!"
"That sounds like him," Kaoru reached down, picking up Kagome's book and bag, before handing them to her. "Though how come you didn't-"
"What?" she stared at him. "Get pissed at him like I did for you and Hika-baka? A, I thought we were friends, B, it was my first time meeting him, and C, you insinuated we had a three-some. He only flirts with me."
Kaoru blinked, then winced, "Okay, I deserved that."
"Yes, yes you did."
Kagome glared at Hikaru as Kaoru led her to their table in the Host Club. No guests were present at the Hitachiin Twins' table, which was odd, for it was the peak time of day for the club and the last day before the weekend. Hikaru's head snapped up, immediately laying eyes on Kagome, and recoiled a bit…
Yep… she was still angry with him…
"Okay! Here we are!" Kaoru exclaimed happily, plopping Kagome down in the seat next to Hikaru, getting a glare in return. But the younger twin only smiled happily, sitting on her other free side.
And for several long, awkward minutes, no one said anything…
Hikaru glanced at Kagome from the corner of his eye, watching as the miko stared daggers at Kaoru- who looked bothered, and was sweating slightly with nerves, but was unrelenting. Why did he let Kaoru talk him into this?
He wasn't the one at fault! It was Kagome… Kagome was the one who was wrong… Kagome was-
Suddenly, Hikaru stood, and the two's attention snapped to him, "I'll, uh, be right back." He walked off, thankful to be out of that awkward atmosphere, and Kagome retrained her glare on Kaoru.
"Why did I let you talk me into this?!" she hissed at him. "I should have stayed by my bush!"
Kaoru snorted, snickering under his breath, "Th-that's the stupidest sentence I ever heard!"
"Oh shut up!" Kagome hit him in the arm roughly, making him wince and rub the spot.
"Man, you're a lot stronger than you look."
"Well, I did slap Souh-senpai yesterday…"
Kaoru's eyes widened, but then, his cheeks puffed out as he held his breath- trying and failing to keep the laughter at bay. But then, the laughter broke free, and he held his stomach as the sound echoed throughout the club.
Hikaru froze upon hearing Kaoru's laugh, and he turned his head around back towards his table… Kaoru was smiling and laughing as Kagome yelled at him. Hikaru couldn't hear their words, but he did know one thing…
Kagome was making Kaoru laugh…
Hikaru faced forward again, and amber eyes flickered to where he was planning on hiding out until Kagome left… and another door… But as Kaoru's laughter grew, as did Kagome's shouting- Hikaru's feet turned in a direction before his mind had even decided…
Kagome was too busy slapping Kaoru on the arm and yelling at him for laughing at her misfortune to notice Hikaru's return. "You ass!" the miko sheriked, which only made Kaoru laugh harder. "Don't laugh at my misery!"
"Y-you-" Kaoru's gaze flickered to his twin, realizing his arrival first, and smiled at him through his laughter. "Oh, h-hey, Hikaru!"
Kagome's eyes shot open with horror, and she whipped around to face him- only for Hikaru to place two full plates down in front of her. The miko blinked, wha-what… what was… She looked at the plates, then at Hikaru, then back again…
Sitting in front of her was a large slice of vanilla cake and a plate of sugar cookies…
Wide cerulean blue eyes lifted from her treats to Hikaru… She had never mentioned it to Kaoru, nor had he been around to witness it, and Haruhi wouldn't spill even if bribed…. so how… "H-how'd you know I loved sweets?"
"Yesterday, I saw Haruhi coming out of the kitchen with a ton of stuff. You were her only customer at the time." His words were short, clipped, like he couldn't really believe he was doing this…
Hikaru didn't look at Kaoru, only staring at Kagome… And the miko stared up at him with those big blue eyes… Even if Hikaru brushed off, saying it was Kagome's fault she got so upset with them…
He still felt guilty for making her cry…
But then, Kagome started to smile, "Thank you!"
Hikaru didn't know how to apologize, he never had to before… His world was small and closed off…
But he was holding out an olive branch…
One which Kagome took…
"NO HARUHI! LEAVE ME ALONE! SOMEBODY HELP, HE JUST ATTACKED ME!"
Kagome, Kaoru, and Hikaru all froze at their table that was several feet away from Haruhi's own. The minute they heard the crash, followed by a scream, their attention snapped towards it. Haruhi's table had been tipped over, the honor student hovering above a red-headed girl on the ground.
The three of them blinked at the scene, but then, Kagome's eyes narrowed… She knew Haruhi, hell, anyone who had even met Haruhi could tell… and that red hair… could she be…
Ah, Kagome knew what was going on now… She remembers seeing that red-haired head at Tamaki's table yesterday too. Now it all makes sense… The miko glanced at HIkaru and Kaoru and instantly knew they were on the same wavelength.
Kagome reached out and pulled the lids of their two pots of semi-warm tea as a wicked smirk pulled at her lips, "Wreak havoc."
Hikaru and Kaoru looked at Kagome for a split second, before matching smirks appeared on their faces.
Haruhi looked over at where Kagome sat, the miko smiling innocently. He was still drenched in tea, and his quota was now 1,000 guests, but Princess Ayanokoji was forever banned from the Host Club.
The honor student sweatdropped, "The tea was your idea, wasn't it?"
Haruhi knew she could hear him, and Kagome stood, "Yep!"
"Couldn't you have used water? I'm gonna smell like earl gray all weekend."
She shrugged, heading over to where Haruhi stood, careful to not step in the puddle of tea. "It's what was closest." All of the other Hosts had gathered around now, Kyoya having just finished dismissing the guests for the day, and Kagome looked over at the 2nd year. "Ootori-senpai, is there a washroom nearby?"
"Yes, down the hall." Kyoya pushed up his glasses a bit, a smirk starting to form…
Kagome nodded, then held a hand out to Haruhi. "Come on, let's get you cleaned up. I have some spare clothes in my bag."
The drenched honor student stared at the out reached appendage for a moment, before taking it with a sigh. "Why do you even have spare clothes in your bag?"
"Well, you never know when you'll need them…" Kagome walked over to grab her school bag, dragging Haruhi behind her, then walking off to find the bathroom. "I have shampoo too. Want me to wash your hair?"
"God no, you smell like flowers. I don't want to smell like flowers. And how the hell do you know how to wash hair in a bathroom sink?... Wait, forget I asked."
Their conversation continued even as Kagome and Haruhi entered the bathroom together, surprising Tamaki, "T-they talk so casually."
"Well, Haruhi said it himself. They're friends." Kyoya pushed up his glasses. "I think the washroom is out of towels, why don't you go and get some, Tamaki? I'm sure Taisho-san and Haruhi would appreciate it."
"Oh, that's a great idea Kyoya!" Tamaki exclaimed, before he rushed around to go find their supply of towels. Once he was out of eyesight, Kyoya finally let his smirk loose, startling all but one of the other members.
Takashi glanced over at his junior, "You did that on purpose."
"Whatever makes you say that, Mori-senpai?" Kyoya replied as he scribbled something in his black notebook. Mitsukuni giggled behind Usa-chan, not able to hide his smile.
"Wait a minute…" Kaoru began as a realization struck him and his heart sank, "D-does Kagome-chan know Haruhi's-"
"We'll just have to wait and see, Kaoru."