Chapter ten:

Kaoru has been quite busy with planning both with Nekozawa and the host club separately. He is so glad that he is able to have such great support from both sides. He is feeling more and more confident about everything that he is planning to happen. He probably won't admit it to anyone yet however Nekozawa has become seen as a friend to him. He even feels comfortable in Nekozawa's darker space in the school grounds. He is so glad to have him support him as Nekozawa is ready to look out for him like his friends in the host club. He has been ignoring looks or talks directed towards him and the other students don't seem to be willing to approach likely remembering how the host club had reacted to the video.

The host club recorded the video of Kaoru in an outfit he picks from his mothers line as he sings a song that he has admired for a long time just hadn't felt others really gave it much of a chance.

Young God by Halsey.

Kaoru had even did more movements and with some effects that the host club set up as well as helped to do it became a truly great video. He didn't really think much through it and it was mostly a blur for him when it happened. He was told that it all went super well and everything looks as well as sounds super good. He is letting them review the footage and make sure that it is all set for a release. He said he wanted time alone and snuck off to Nekozawa's room in the school while the host club are in the club room. He is sitting in a chair with Nekozawa standing nearby. He watches the other check over some of the products he offers to sell to the students here at school. He feels relaxed here as if nothing else outside of this dark room really matters right now. He could get used to using this room as an escape when needing peace, something that he knows the other here with him won't mind as he was welcomed to come whenever he needed or wanted.

"You know Kaoru." Nekozawa speaks up getting a soft hum from the other. "I was thinking. I don't know if you would like the idea though I don't mind if you say no." his start to him saying his thinking has truly gotten Kaoru interested in what it could be. "I was thinking that perhaps you could wear this with your outfit." He grabs something then turns showing it to Kaoru who can see it as he is sitting in a spot where he is in the light of a group of lit candles. He places a pin that looks like a black and white version of Beelzenef his cat puppet in Kaoru's hand. "I enchanted to help protect you and give you luck. I know that it is a little big about half the size of the real one. I just wanted to give you some extra protection and luck in the performance that we are planning."

Kaoru feels his heart warmed at the thoughtfulness and care his friend did to offer him such a simple pin. He doesn't doubt that Nekozawa did some ritual to truly enchant it, whether or not one believes such things it is real to Nekozawa, and Kaoru doesn't mind acting like it is real despite himself not fully sure that if he truly believes it or not. He smiles at the simple metal painted pin. "I would love to wear it." He agrees looking to his friend and he swears that despite the darkness he can see Nekozawa look so happy that his eyes are even twinkling. "Should I only put it on the outfit I plan to use? I am not sure how the spell is."

"It can go from one to another." Nekozawa tells Kaoru so the other puts it on his school uniform planning to put it in his bag later to not lose it.

Kaoru focuses back on Nekozawa. "By the way. I was also thinking about something." He gets a slight hum from the other. "I want to sing Angel of Darkness by Alex Christensen. I just think that maybe for that song I should have a special outfot to make the performance fit the song better. Would you be willing to help me become a dark angel for the song? Perhaps we could add effects like maybe I transform more into a dark angel during the show? However that might be stretching possibilities." He finds his hands gently taken then held at chest height as his gaze meets with his friend's own.

"I would be happy to help you with that! And don't be so quick to dismiss your ideas! We can try to make it a reality then decide if it is possible or not. I am ready to help you make your vision become reality no matter what we need to try to do so." Nekozawa tells him clearly very excited to be able to help out with the outfit of even just one song. "And for dark angel aesthetics I believe you came to the right person."

Kaoru smiles at this. "I don't doubt that I have come to the right person. You're the only one I would want to come to for the idea to become a possible reality."

Nekozawa looks so proud and happy even fixing his slouch a bit in the good emotions. He lets go of Kaoru and grabs a chair to sit beside the other as the two plan for how the outfit might be able to work for the song. He even gets ideas of what song verses Kaoru wants the outfit to change and how it should change at those moments.

Kaoru can feel the happiness and excitement as they work towards their goal becoming a reality coming from them both. He leans a little closer to Nekozawa glad to have another wonderful friend a part of his life. He feels so supported here and like Nekozawa will do as much as the host club will to make sure that it won't go wrong… Even if his methods happen to be done differently than how the host club will do it. He just feels like for certain parts of what he wants to do a different way to do things is the only way that they are going to get it done.

After finishing the planning Nekozawa heads off to find some materials he claims to have around.

Kaoru starts to feel some tiredness catching up to him. He did sleep for less than normal last night even though he didn't let Hikaru know. He was worried about how well today would go with filming. He goes to a couch that Nekozawa happens to have here telling himself that he will just lay down to get the feeling to go away. He doesn't really notice when he drifts off into sleep.

…

Nekozawa returns with some materials only to notice the other has moved. He spots the other on the couch asleep. He smiles softly and puts the materials down. He covers Kaoru with a spare cloak of his that can act as a blanket. He heads away to do some work quietly to allow Kaoru to rest.

One of his servants approaches him causing him to turn. She whispers to him as she had seen Kaoru sleeping on the couch. "His brother is looking for him." She nods to a still asleep Kaoru.

"Let him know that his brother is here." Nekozawa tells his servant quietly to which she nods and moves away. He watches and listens as she calls Hikaru over telling him that she knows where Kaoru is. He leads Hikaru to Kaoru using candles in one hand to help Hikaru see in the dark.

Hikaru glances to Nekozawa upon seeing his sleeping brother.

Nekozawa decides to just explain. "He helped my sister and since then my space has been open to him. He came here to relax and for some peace after doing the video with you all." He keeps his voice down to not wake the sleeping younger twin. "I noticed he was tired though left it alone. He dozed off on his own so I've been letting him rest."

Hikaru looks back to his brother and Nekozawa doesn't miss the small smile on the others face. "Okay. We will let him rest." He turns around. "Could you tell him to message me when he is awake? I will let the others know so they'll also let him rest."

"Of course." Nekozawa agrees knowing that Kaoru will be grateful for his brothers understanding.

Hikaru heads out to go speak with the host club to let Kaoru rest.

….

Kaoru blinks awake not sure how long he has been out for.

"Feeling better?" Nekozawa asks as Kaoru shifts to sit up ignoring a slight surprised look as the cloak that was a blanket slips down.

Kaoru looks to his friend. "More rested yes." He admits to the other. "How long was I out for?"

"Only three hours." Nekozawa informs him causing Kaoru's eyes to widen. He continues before the other can start to worry. "Do not fret though. We let your brother in as he was looking for you. He asked that you could rest in peace. He just wants you to message him when you wake up." His words do soothe Kaoru's worry.

"Thank you for letting me rest. Sorry for making you stay longer than you likely planned." Kaoru gets up neatly folding the cloak on the couch to be nice to his friend.

"It is no problem at all. I am glad that you are feeling better." Nekozawa waves it off.

The two share goodbyes for now then Kaoru leaves before opening his phone to message his brother.

Kaoru doesn't want his cellphone light to bother his friend in the dark so he made sure to step out before he does so. He heads to meet up with his brother when the other texts back.

"Feeling better?" Hikaru asks getting the same response Kaoru gave to Nekozawa. "That is good. Let us head home then." He gets a nod of agreement from Kaoru and the two head off in the limo to go home for the evening. He doesn't bring up Kaoru escaping to Nekozawa's space as there is truly nothing needed to be said about it.

Kaoru can tell that Hikaru is just glad that Nekozawa is being kind and helpful even letting him sleep in his space when he needs it. He is glad for this and knows that when they do reveal their friendship that Hikaru will accept it without issue. He just will wait to talk to Nekozawa about it first. He also wants to focus on planning things with his friend before worrying about letting others know about his friendship with the one always in the dark.