"Hikaru?" The younger twin stopped walking. Hikaru turned around, still holding his brother's hand. It was Saturday night. They'd just had a very romantic dinner at one of Ookina-Haiiro's restaurants, and were on their way back to their room.

"Yes, Kaoru?" Hikaru replied.

"I don't want to go to bed yet. Can we go for a walk?" Kaoru asked.

"Sure."

The twins turned and began to go back the way they'd came, returning out to the main lobby, and then exiting the resort through the doors leading to the outdoor pools and gardens. Outside, decorative torches lit the area around the pools, as night had fallen, turning the sky into a black blanket peppered with the shining silver droplets of stars.

Only a few guests had been permitted to stay at the resort this weekend, and two of them were in one of the outdoor pools the twins walked past: a man and his daughter. Kyoya had said something about cousins of his being here this weekend; maybe these were them. Either way, the twins each raised a hand in greeting, receiving likewise from the man and daughter before continuing to walk out to the gardens.

As they moved farther away from the resort's main building, the number of torches dwindled until only the stars lit their path. A nearly full moon hung in the eastern sky, and since they were so far from the rest of civilization, the stars seemed to jump down from the sky, seemingly as desperate to touch earth as humans sometimes were to touch the heavens. The Hitachiins eventually stopped on a grassy ledge that dropped off steeply toward the bottom of the mountain; it was beyond the outermost gardens, and far enough away that the resort was just a dim glow behind them. Here, it really felt as if there were no separation between earth and sky.

Kaoru stepped up to the edge of the grass, just before where it dropped steeply away, and looked out over the dark mountains. "What do you think flying feels like, Hika?"

Hikaru frowned. "We can't fly; why does it matter?"

Kaoru looked back at his brother, standing a few steps behind him, arms crossed but not aggressively. Of course. I'd forgotten. You still don't see the big picture sometimes, can you big brother?

"I only asked because I feel like I could fly from up here, or like maybe I already am," Kaoru admitted.

Coming forward to stand at his brother's side, Hikaru tried to see what his twin saw. To him, the expanse of starlit mountains was just a picture in a storybook, a photo in an album, a memory to be remembered in hard times. He wished he could see what Kaoru saw. He wished he could even understand it. The present had become one of those rare moments in which Hikaru took notice of his own inability to feel what others felt, to see the world through their eyes. And as quickly as the moment had come, it left.

"Kaoru, what are you thinking when we're in Host Club, with customers?" Hikaru asked, still pondering the view.

The younger Hitachiin looked at him sharply. "When we're acting?"

"Is it acting?"

Kaoru looked away from the profile of his brother, staring back out at the mountains. "You're awfully deep tonight, Hika," he remarked.

"Blame the stars," Hikaru sighed, sounding a little annoyed. "They're making me feel too reflective."

Hikaru almost added, I don't like it. But even if he didn't understand why he, too, suddenly felt curious about the prospect of sprouting wings and gliding away over the mountains, there was something peaceful and almost nostalgic about the openness out here, and he wasn't quite sure he wanted to ruin that.

The smile that danced across Kaoru's face was a knowing one, but also one that concealed a lot of emotions running hotly under the surface. He was proud of his brother for taking a step out of his comfort zone and opening himself up to a deeper understanding of the world around him. But another part of him regretted the fact that only he was here to see it. What would Tamaki say in the face of this Hikaru, the Hikaru who had actually kind of succeeded in understanding Kaoru?

At the same time, Kaoru recognized this as part of Hikaru growing up, developing and flourishing, like a plant suddenly growing off in a new direction, reaching for sunlight it hadn't discovered before. It prompted him to wonder how much he, himself, had really changed since things started to change between himself and Hikaru. What effects had Hikaru had on him?

A long, but not uncomfortable, silence had passed. Considering his words carefully, Kaoru replied finally, "When we're in Host Club, with customers, it feels like acting to me. Being alone with you feels different; it's just feels natural, being with you, while Host Club requires more thinking and deciding what actions to take next."

The twins made eye contact, amber on amber. After a few seconds, Hikaru looked away. He didn't share his own opinion on the matter. That was okay.

They were quiet for a few minutes more. In that time, a breeze struck up, blowing around the two gingers. Standing up so high with the drop-off so near made the breeze feel like a dangerous thing, like the devil daring them to jump.

Kaoru considered this idea for a minute longer, of the devil daring them to jump. Isn't it kind of symbolic of our relationship?

"Do you ever think about the future, Hika?" Kaoru asked. The question even surprised him a little bit.

Hikaru glanced at Kaoru. "I guess sometimes."

The elder twin looked down the mountainside with an odd expression on his face, then turned around, walked a couple steps, and sat down on the grass. Kaoru watched him do all of this, then went to sit beside his brother.

They were quiet for another minute before Hikaru admitted, "I guess I think more about the past. The future's too unpredictable."

"Do you remember when Boss first asked us to join the Host Club?" Kaoru asked, smiling softly as he laid back on the grass, allowing the star-speckled sky to take up his entire field of vision.

Hikaru laid back beside Kaoru. "Yeah," he replied with a barely-audible chuckle.

"Do you remember the first day we ever hosted?" Hikaru asked.

"Take up your positions, everyone!" Kyoya ordered. The twins, lounging on a couch in Music Room 3, looked over with almost an air of boredom, watching the other four boys assemble themselves.

"This is ridiculous," Hikaru grumbled to Kaoru. "Why are we doing this again?"

He didn't really need to be reminded. Kaoru knew this, and instead stood up and took his place with the other boys. Hikaru was the last piece of the puzzle. Doubt still plagued his mind as he stood up and joined the others in front of the door.

Just before the doors opened, Tamaki, who was sitting front and center, turned around to look at Hikaru. There was a message in the French boy's violet eyes. Unfortunately, Hikaru didn't decipher it before the doors opened.

"Welcome!" The six Hosts greeted in practiced unison. On the other side of the doors, a little over fifteen girls stood waiting, hands clasped nervously against their dresses.

The girls moved in, and Kyoya stepped forward, professional as ever, to take their requests and direct them to the appropriate host. The Hitachiins ended up with three girls, all varying shades of brunette, at a table in the corner near a window.

The five of them managed to cram themselves in around the too-small table, and almost immediately, the heavy awkwardness of the situation settled upon them. There were too many people, too much silence, and not even enough thoughts to fill the empty space with. And they'd forgotten to make tea.

A trilling, feminine laugh pierced the room, emanating from the salon's center, where Tamaki was conducting business. Tamaki's small group, seated around him on couches, smiled easily at the charismatic blonde. Hikaru narrowed his eyes. What was it about the Frenchie that made him so damn likeable?

Kaoru tugged on Hikaru's sleeve. Hikaru mumbled something along the lines of "just a second." He watched Tamaki for another moment, trying to ascertain the boy's secret. Alas, none became evident, and he turned back around in his seat to face the customers once more.

The younger Hitachiin only had to take one look at Hikaru's thinly concealed confusion to understand. "So, I don't believe we've been introduced to you ladies before. I'm Kaoru, and this is my twin brother, Hikaru," Kaoru said, finally giving the empty space between the five of them a few words to fill it.

The three girls introduced themselves, but Hikaru wasn't listening. How did Tamaki tell him to do this again? He'd said something about a "brotherly love" angle… What did that mean? Why was he doing this?

Something clicked then, a sort of revelation about the Host Club. Hikaru glanced at the girls again. They had started to relax, it seemed, lulled in by Kaoru's smooth conversation. Tamaki was always saying that their job was to make young maidens happy. Hikaru had always scoffed at this, but now he saw that Host Club didn't have to be about the customers. Kaoru was smiling at the girls, one of his soft, innocent smiles that took a second to change into something that promised danger. It didn't have to be about the girls.

"Hey, Kaoru, would you get us some sweets? I think there were some extra by Kyoya," Hikaru asked, jumping in at a lull in the conversation. The customers looked a little startled by his sudden addition.

"Sure," Kaoru replied, standing up and walking over to Kyoya's table where there was indeed an extra plate of candies and other small treats. He carried the platter back and set it on the table between the five of them.

"These look wonderful! Where are they from?" one of the girls asked, marveling the petite sugary delights.

Hikaru smiled. "They're fresh from a top American company. Are they any good, Kaoru?"

The younger boy reached out to sample one of the candies. Neither twin had an affinity for sweets as strong ad Honey-senpai's, but they still drew a clear line between good candy and bad candy. Everything in the whole world fell into one of those two general categories: things they liked and everything else, which did not matter.

Kaoru popped one in his mouth, chewed, and swallowed. He made a little hum of pleasure. "They're good." This was a relief. "You should try one, Hikaru." This was less of a relief. But Kaoru had given Hikaru an idea.

"Only if you'll feed it to me, Kaoru," Hikaru replied, trying to purr his voice. Tamaki had spent many afternoons drilling the soon-to-be-Hosts in how to please the ladies, and purring had been part of the Hitachiins' training. Hikaru hadn't exactly been saintly about learning this.

On the other hand, Kaoru's reaction was so beautifully raw and adorable that Hikaru's doubts about the Host Club flew from his mind. Oh yes, Host Club would be worth the time and irritation if he could tease his brother like this every day. Kaoru appeared flustered and embarrassed by this, although mostly shocked. No immediate response followed Hikaru's request. Then, "O-okay."

That had been the beginning of their days as Hosts. So much had happened since then. And where would they be without the Host Club? Memories of a snow-filled day, a bench, and a girl nagged at Hikaru's mind, but he brushed them aside.

"I remember," Kaoru replied. "I remember."

They were quiet again. Hikaru imagined that he could see the stars swirling and spinning above him, dancing with one another to a faraway tune, and himself soaring up to dance with his brother in their wake. Maybe this was what Kaoru saw. Maybe that's what he'd meant by flying. Hikaru didn't ask. But Kaoru reached over, took Hikaru's hand, and squeezed it lightly, as if he understood.

"I think we should head back now, Hika," Kaoru announced. The younger twin propped himself up on his elbows, then launched into a standing position. He offered a hand, which Hikaru took, and the younger boy pulled his brother to his feet.

Kaoru began to lead the way back to their room, but before he could go far, Hikaru swept his little brother into a hug. Surprised, Kaoru couldn't react at first, but relaxed as soon as he felt Hikaru's strong but slim arms around him. The two boys stayed like that for a few minutes longer, holding each other under a canopy of stars.

When they were back, sleep came easily, as it was filled with starlight and two identical twins.

A/N: I really liked writing this chapter. Hopefully it was just as much fun to read. It's the kind of chapter I've always wanted to write. I'm going to try to update regularly, on Fridays, from now until I finish this story, but you guys know how I am about that, so don't count on regular updates. This story has accumulated so many follows and favorites recently that I just can't believe it; you guys are all incredible, and thank you so much for reading! I'm going to warn you now, I've made the last couple chapters pretty fluffy and soft, but there's trouble on the horizon; I actually hinted at it in this chapter. Enjoy the peace while it lasts! Thanks again for reading!