Title: Pursue the Trend

Summary: The hosts must grow up sometime and face the future. Kaoru has moved on, expectedly in the direction of fashion, but unexpectedly without Hikaru. Then the question is; who is the host that follows him?

Chapter 2: Opportunity

Warning: I write with both heterosexual and homosexual relationships. If it is something that will offend you, I ask that you do not read this fanfiction. Thank you!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Ouran characters as they belong to Bisco Hatori.

Kaoru and Kyouya are adults, so just keep that in mind while reading this… I wonder if I should make this story mature… hmmm… Would many people dislike that?

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A violent ringing erupted, causing the young man of tender age to open his eyes groggily to the light of a new day. Kaoru groaned, still contemplating the fact of why exactly he had bought such a retched clock. Twisting one way then turning the other, Kaoru screamed into his mattress as he hurled his white pillow over his head. Of course, the soft, feather cushioned pillow did manage to suppress the sheer volume of the clock, but it was no match against the repetitive twittering of the alarm. Kaoru sighed, sitting up and pressed the black button on the clock, realizing his defeat in the matter. He would have to get up, for another charming day of school.

So like any day, the first step was to get out of bed, which Kaoru did. Swiftly he lifted the sheets from his warm skin and raised his legs to fall over the side of the bed. Then, the auburn-haired man paused for the obligatory groan at his desire to stay in bed longer. Finally with that over, Kaoru blinked sleepily and stood up. Eyes widening, the young man gave a tiny yelp as his legs collapsed beneath him.

Kaoru felt his jaw drop. He had only felt this sensation a few times before in his life. Sore legs that would not support him, a glazed demeanor following him around; it could only be one thing. The young man shook his head and laughed. No way, there was absolutely no way. What could he be fooling himself with? Kaoru smiled at his foolishness and rested his arm on the blue quilt of his bed. Albeit shakily, the younger Hitachiin twin managed to stand up and even take a few steps forward. Kaoru grinned with confidence. Of course he was okay.

Drip Drip

Amber eyes widened once again causing Kaoru to nearly shudder in response. He had to make sure, for surely it couldn't be. But just in case… A delicate hand with long pale fingers traveled downwards. Kaoru noted with a heavy breath, for some reason he could not feel his boxers. If he could not feel his boxers, that means he did not wear them. However, he lived in Japan where the sun shined for hours. Last night he had probably been too warm and took off his underwear. It's not like no one has ever slept naked before! But still…

One could observe the air that was heavily swallowed down the auburn teen's throat. Kaoru was nervous, for he still had not confirmed the truth. Clenching his eyes shut, the young man let his hand reach further downward, slipping past the place where few had ever touched. It was cold, cold and almost slimy; the very feeling on the tips of his fingers caused Kaoru to sweat and tremble. No way… Kaoru lifted the hand to his face, in order to observe just what had slid down his fingers.

It was white.

With a howl that surely anyone in the dorm rooms could hear, Kaoru flushed a deep red and stumbled clumsily into his bathroom. The only thought in his head was to shower, bathe, wash, anything! Kaoru ran towards his shower curtains, swinging them wide open for him to jump into. Yet the amber-eyed man stopped short, his breath catching in his throat, cold sweat dripping down his brow. It couldn't be, but it was, the truth was right in front of him.

Kyouya Ootori arched a brow at the younger Hitachiin brother his black eyes almost piercing with blatant indifference. Now this scene would be no different from any other normal reaction that Kyouya had, with slight exceptions: he did not have the distinct feature of shining glass to hide the coldness of his eyes, nor was he dry, nor was he wearing the standard stylish clothing. No, the black-haired man with dark ebony eyes was equally naked as the auburn-haired man before him and as an added bonus, dripping wet from the steaming hot water of the shower tap.

With wet raven locks plastered to his heated skin, Kyouya looked at Kaoru realizing the current situation. A twisted grin curved on his lips as he turned from his position in the shower and placed a wet hand on Kaoru's face. Taking time to use his damp fingers to stroke the flushed cheek, Kyouya asked rather nonchalantly, "Would you like to use the shower after me?" The black-eyed man paused and Kyouya leaned in closer towards the amber-eyed boy, his voice dropping to a husky whisper, "Or would you like to use it now?"

Kaoru could literally feel the steam run out of his ears as his body flushed from head to toe. Lifting his arms, he swept the blue shower curtains back to their closed place in front of a chuckling Kyouya. Kaoru dropped to the tiled floor of the washroom, face red with embarrassment, surprise and ashamedly, a slight bit of excitement. He had his answer now, about the truth he had denied. Kaoru Hitachiin had sex with his ex-boyfriend, Kyouya Ootori.

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Yes the young man was fashionable, simply wearing a black tank-top that fell over a loose white t-shirt with a grey sweater covering his slim hips. To top it off was a pair of well fitted beige cargos, with belts placed in all the perfect places. It helped that the auburn-haired man had choose to wear a small hoop earring, adding to the punk effect of his current outfit. Still, even if he was wearing nice clothes, with his very own designer pants, Kaoru knew that he should not be getting this much attention from the general student population surrounding him.

Yet from every direction they looked at him, every single one of his peers staring him down. Some were astonished, others smirked while girls giggled and boys chuckled under their breath. This looming atmosphere only encouraged the Hitachiin twin to walk faster down the hall towards his first period class. He needed to get out of the crowded hallways and get into a classroom, for even if people were staring at him in class, there would be a lot less of them.

Rushing to the door of his destination, Kaoru halted in his confusion. He was frustrated all right, yes because of all the people staring at him but as well, the fact that Suzuki had not greeted him this morning. She had always come to his room, with green eyes shining and if he was lucky, a cup of coffee in her hand. Why did she not come today? Kaoru groaned as he pushed open the door before him, remembering that instead, that stupid raven-haired man had greeted him this morning; his new roommate and past lover Kyouya.

Those thoughts however, were not what Kaoru should have been focusing on. As the wide orange door of the small studio swung open, the twenty or so people who had just been chattering before silenced to a hushed whisper. The auburn-haired teenager could not bear to lift his head as he walked past them to his usual place in the class, a table at the very end of the room. Too bad the walk that usually took ten seconds felt like it was taking a whole hour, for Kaoru could hear every footstep he took, every breath he made and every hissing whisper that followed him.

Eventually, the amber-eyed man would make it to his usual spot and lifting his head, he met one familiar face. The taller man with short blonde hair shook his head at Kaoru, laughing rather dejectedly. "Man, I had a feeling that you were-But did you really do it?" Kaoru's breaths felt heavy, but he forced an innocent smile. "Kiran-san, what are you talking about?" Kiran slapped a hand to his forehead and laughed almost hopelessly. "Man you really did do it. You don't know just how much you have screwed up."

Amber eyes blinked questioningly. The taller man drew his thick-framed glasses further up his nose with an all knowing smile gracing his lips. Kiran took the time to lean in towards Kaoru and whisper his message. He had to be a little discreet as it seemed all of his classmates were listening in on their conversation.

"You know the dorm rooms are soundproof right?" Kaoru nodded, glad for that fact. It was the exact reason why he was not sure why people had been staring him down as if he was some sex whore. It wasn't like they could have heard him from his room, or so the younger Hitachiin twin thought. Kiran shook his head at the poor boy's innocence. "Kaoru, no one heard your voices during your special night." The auburn-haired man flushed a deep red, knowing that the worst had come true, that everyone did know what had happened to him last night. "But how then?!" hissed the former devilish host.

Kiran winked, which was a terrible sign for Kaoru. "But trust me; they heard you rocking it out very late at night. Every single room around you heard, and if they were lucky they could feel the flow too."

As inhumanely possible it was, Kaoru's face immediately turned to a hollow white, all blood draining from his skin. A look of utter horror was splashed cold across his gentle features and if one looked closely, they could see a thin mist rising from the edge of his lips. It was most likely the remnants of his soul leaving him, for how could he live? How could he live with such a tainted body, with a reputation that was utterly destroyed? If Kiran hadn't happened to be holding him up, surely the younger Hitachiin twin would have been a puddle on the floor by now.

"Oh come on Kaoru-chan!" A girlish voice managed to shatter the dead silence surrounding the Hitachiin twin. Her seething words were spit out venomously, one after the other with sarcasm just dripping at the ends. "You had sex with a very hot man. There is no need for you to be ashamed!" The voice only seemed to get louder and louder, causing the auburn-haired man to cringe as everyone in the classroom paid more attention to him. "But with the way you are limping around I was really surprised! You actually like being bottom?"

If it was any other person, Kaoru would have been sure to strangle them by now, but unfortunately, this could not be the case. Instead, the younger Hitachiin had his breath caught in his throat, feelings of shame, guilt and confusion clouding his mind. He had known of the green-eyed girl's feelings. He was not as dense as his brother and could see these things. However, unlike Hikaru, Kaoru would never act out on what he knew and would instead remain quiet to the whole situation. This ignorant act had back lashed at him as he stood before the crying woman, her emerald eyes filled with hurt and anger.

"Suzuki… I…"

The girl with raven black hair would not listen to what he had to say. Tears streaming down her face, Suzuki ran out of the classroom, her light footsteps seeming to echo in time as deafening taps on the tiled floor. Kaoru lurched forward to run after his close friend, ignoring the surprised whispers of classmates around him. The last thing that he wanted to do was to lose the only confidant, the only close friend, the only family, left in his life. Kaoru had almost made it past the classroom door when a hand reached out to pull his slender arm back.

Kaoru froze; sweat falling down his forehead and a seething anger boiling at the back of his head. Amber eyes glared at the old man who held with a perverse grin, holding the young man's arm tightly. The monster of a teacher, Tachiba-sensei, had arrived to the classroom just for Kaoru's luck, and knowing this man, he knew could not escape.

"My my Hitachiin-san, I believe you should sit back down at your table for we have an important assignment today." Kaoru had barely parted his lips, ready to retaliate when the older man continued his lecture. "No no, let me rephrase that. Leave this classroom and consider yourself failed in this course."

Kaoru's lips trembled in anger as he tore his arm from the grip of the inconsiderate professor. Begrudgingly, the auburn-haired man took his seat back beside his tall friend who could only provide a meager pat on the shoulder as comfort. Suzuki was long gone by now, and Kaoru was almost certain she would never forgive him. Putting his elbows on the table, Kaoru supported his head within his hands, hiding his face from curious spectators. He really just wanted to go in a hole and die. Of course, that pleasure would be denied as the old frump of a teacher made his way to the front of the classroom, to begin his morning lecture.

"Now I know we all wish to discuss the drama that has occurred overnight, and I must admit I wish to as well but I am sorry to say, we must get moving on!" Kaoru glared at the old man with greasy slicked back grey hair. He could kill that man! Tachiba however failed to notice the death glares his was receiving and went on to change into a serious tone.

"As I have told you all before, today we are going to be doing a new assignment. This assignment was going to be the standard, to design and create three pieces over the period of one week in groups of three. However, this assignment has been slightly changed." Students arched their brows and began to murmur amongst one another. They were almost frightened to ask what old man Tachiba had in mind. "We are going to design this clothing under restraints, something you all are not used to." More murmuring.

"Overall for the three pieces you make, you are all under a thirty thousand yen budget! Furthermore the theme this time is, from morning to night." Noticeably, a few students flinched in response to the assignment. Kaoru rolled his eyes. So this is what Tachiba came up with? A full wardrobe for a day was hard to come up with in one week, but Kaoru was certain he could handle it. As for the cost, with the crazy budgeting of Kiran in his group, Kaoru was sure to be secure. The auburn-haired man smirked, was that the big surprise?

"Oh and let us not forget our models, which will not be a participating member in one of your groups again." Kaoru arched a brow, leaning against the table he sat before. So there was more. "This assignment will be a collaboration with our business students, who are currently studying what buyers want; in other words the commercial industry. Depending on which student is placed on your group, you will be designing for them, so your model may be either a female or male. As well, although I will be marking the final project, the business students may critique your designs before hand for it is an assignment for them as well to tell what will work and what won't. Okay now, come in!"

Kaoru sighed, not bothering to pay attention to the dozen or so students walk into the classroom. It didn't matter to him who he got; after all he always did well in the class, even if he did hate old man Tachiba. The auburn-haired man bit the edge of his thumbnail nervously however. Kaoru was worried, for although he was the designer, Kiran the tailor with all the precision, Suzuki was the main seamstress of their team. And with the things the way they were now, he wasn't sure if they had lost her sewing prowess. Serving to add to his frustration, Kaoru put his head down, ignoring the constant tapping applied to his shoulder. It irritated him slowly, and the auburn-haired man snapped. "Kiran-san, what is it?!"

"We have our model… Kaoru…"

The younger Hitachiin twin felt his lips tremble, slowly dropping. The one and only stood before him, raven hair, indifferent black eyes with a cold uncaring expression. The model, and the student that he was designing for, was the worst possible option.

"Kyouya-senpai…"

"Nice to see you awake." A small smirk spread across thin lips.

Kaoru flushed a deep red, only aiding in the hushed gossip surrounding him to increase. A heavy sneer made its way through the crowded whispers and Kaoru's eyes widened. He hated, absolutely hated that damned teacher! Tachiba grinned a nasty toothy smile and spoke again, his scratchy voice irritating Kaoru to no end, "Not only will I be marking the final results however, but the director as well. For the group that receives the highest mark, they will each be given a scholarship to Parsons in New York."

In mere seconds the class was in an uproar, the drama surrounding Kaoru completely forgotten. Under normal conditions, this surely would have been salvation for Kaoru but instead, his heart was beating rapidly. It felt like lead was in the tips of his fingers, all breath gone from his throat and a dry heat behind his eyes only serving to make him feel feverish. The younger Hitachiin twin was dead frozen, for the chance was standing right before him, the chance to be something more than he was, the chance to not be left behind, the chance to be reunited with Kaoru and the girl that had changed his life, Haruhi.

A warm hand reached out to hold his trembling one, and Kaoru looked up, past the thin glass to dark ebony eyes. Kaoru reddened slightly, weakening for a moment, and clutched the hand intertwined with his own. Kaoru hated Kyouya for being there, for being the only one who could understand his current situation, he hated the man for taking advantage of him in his vulnerable state but most of all, Kaoru hated himself for responding so readily to a man who had left him behind like so many others. It was too much to handle at once, and Kaoru held back his tears of disbelief.

"Can you tell me this is real?"

"… I don't see why it isn't."

The auburn-haired youth laughed a cold laugh, still tightly holding the hand of his lover. This week was sure to be absolute crap.

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… Hi…? shot Well thanks for reading if you still are even… Please review, cause reviews are nice! shot again

IkuiTenshi