Chapter 3

Author's notes:

Chapter three of Haunted for you all. I hope you like it.

I'm not sure what to say about this chapter. It's kind of setting things up for the plot later on but to be perfectly honest I'm still not decided on an ending for this story. I have three ways I could go but I'm still trying to find one which is perfect.

WARNING: Character death, strange goings-on in later chapters, and probably highly non-canon.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Ouran. I'm just playing.

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The following morning Hikaru woke up for the first time in what felt like forever. Well, it had been a while since he last remembered waking up. He remembered barely anything from the past seven weeks, really. The last he remembered before now was the hospital, holding Kaoru's cold body to himself and crying more than he ever had in his entire life. He frowned at this, rolling back over in his bed and wondering how he had managed to get to sleep in bed for once. Usually he would drop off for short periods of time in random places around the Hitachiin mansion. Then the bloody red car would come back and he would jerk awake.

Through the slight confusion that comes with waking and his muggy, reluctant thoughts, he remembered yesterday... last night? What was special about that? What had...?

Suddenly he felt his breath catch in his throat. Had that...? Did he...? Was... Was Kaoru...?

Hardly daring to hope, Hikaru sat bolt upright in one swift, sudden movement. He looked about the room desperately. It was empty... No!

He caught sight of Kaoru, though hovering by the pale light coming through the window seemed to make him look more transparent than Hikaru had first noticed. He looked just the same, turning his head to look over at his living twin, a small smile on his lovely face.

"Kaoru..."

Kaoru grinned, abandoning the window and sitting down on the bed by Hikaru's knees. "Morning."

Hikaru exhaled in relief and fell back against his pillows. "You're real," he sighed, more to himself than to the ghost on his bed.

Kaoru chuckled. "Yep, real as real. Don't worry – I won't leave you."

Hikaru smiled and checked the time. "I have to get ready for school," he murmured.

The idea of school seemed less daunting today, with Kaoru around. However there was still some apprehension in the elder twin.

"Kaoru?" he asked, still looking at the clock.

"Yes?"

"Come with me?"

"Of course."

The twins exchanged one of their old smiles and Hikaru felt the weight on his shoulders pull off him a little.

---

School was easier. That was an understatement but Hikaru felt it was true.

Getting ready was easier. Kaoru made the usual jokes with Hikaru while the latter pulled on a freshly-laundered uniform and brushed his hair. Kaoru was still wearing the clothes he had been wearing when... from seven weeks ago. It was strange, Hikaru thought, to imagine the real counterparts to the garments were now gone, disposed of and covered in blood.

For the funeral Kaoru – well, his corpse – had been dressed in a smart black suit designed by their mother, a matching one of which Hikaru had worn. He had wondered if it had been meant as some kind of comfort but if it had, it had not been one.

But now it was easier, Hikaru realised as he ate light, fluffy croissants – imported from Paris – and the maids marvelled at the change in the young man. He was eating again and there was a smile about him. It was odd that he seemed to be exchanging it with the air beside him though.

The ride to school was easier. Hikaru had spent weeks sitting as quietly as air in the back of the car, something the driver had understood and grown accustomed to, even if it was out of character for his charge.

The elder twin had become increasingly wary of traffic too. Whenever he saw a figure or group of figures loitering by the side of the road he clutched the edge of his seat, instructing the driver to stop and allow them to cross, no matter how many cars were held up in the meantime. Whenever a cyclist passed the car a little too closely, Hikaru would catch his breath and tense up nervously until the cyclist was out of sight.

But now it was easier. Hikaru talked to Kaoru just like always, only realising that he was worrying the driver the tenth time the man looked over his shoulder at him. Kaoru laughed as Hikaru bit his lip, taking his brother's hand in his own, cold fingers.

School itself was easier. In classes Hikaru had been distracted and quiet, the empty seat beside him a constant, terrible reminder of the constant, terrible circumstances he was in. Every second of every hour of every day reminded him anew that Kaoru was gone, and not just to the toilet or elsewhere as mundane, but gone forever, gone from his own life and Hikaru's. Gone.

But now it was easier. Haruhi sat on one side of Hikaru and on the other remained an apparently empty seat. In reality – as loose a term as that was, given the circumstances – Kaoru sat there, comforting to Hikaru merely in his presence and proximity. It was almost like Kaoru had never been hit by that stupid car.

Everyone noticed a change in Hikaru. He looked much happier than he had and he was talking again. As though he had changed overnight – which, really, he had – his manner had changed back from solitary and sad to jokey and happy. Words and whispers passed up and down the corridors of the school about him, such was the magnitude of this change.

It was especially evident during hosting how he had changed. Girls hesitantly approached him, spurred on by the talk of the day, and instead of slinking away again they were welcomed in with a genuine little smile from Hikaru. Kaoru perched on the back of Hikaru's armchair, giving him ideas for random phrases to say which were relayed to the girls; he had always been the better twin at knowing things to say to the patrons.

Most of the girls had questions for Hikaru about his brother, however out of either respect or concern not many of them were asked. Kaoru could tell – with his new capacity for reading thoughts – what they wanted to ask though, and so Hikaru answered questions, both asked and unasked. Of course, answers did not come without a certain degree of conflict. Hikaru became a little more upset and uncomfortable when they asked about the accident itself. He could remember the crimson vehicle, Kaoru's body, the hospital... Then just overwhelming cold.

The police were still searching for the driver who had killed Kaoru. They were searching for the car and when they did there would be an inquest. Kaoru had said nothing about this since appearing and Hikaru was not sure if it was something he should ask about.

However he could not dwell on that now. He told them a little of what had happened, as much as he could handle with Kaoru's fingers trailing cold calmness down his face, reducing most of the girls to touched tears. They offered him condolences, things he had heard so much of in the past few weeks, and he accepted them graciously.

When the session drew to a close and the girls had gone, Kyouya approached Hikaru.

"You did well today," he told him with the smallest of smiles. "It's good to see you yourself getting back together without him."

Hikaru smiled back, thinking to himself that he never needed to be 'without him' again – Kaoru was standing right next to him as always – and wondering how much of Kyouya's manner towards him came from the impressive turnaround in his profit margin.

The elder twin was about to leave, making whispered conversation with Kaoru as he packed his bag. He turned to go and found himself face to face with Haruhi.

"Oh... hi, Haruhi." How much did she hear?

"Hello," she replied, a concerned look on her face as she looked up at him. "Um... who were you just talking to?"

Damn. "Oh, no-one. Just... myself."

Haruhi raised her eyebrows but did not push it any further. "I just wanted to say I'm glad you're getting back to normal. You were practically catatonic before. It was understandable but it's a relief to see you better than you were." She smiled up at him warmly.

Kaoru was silent beside him as Hikaru grinned back. "Well I feel much better."

She nodded and put a comforting hand on his upper arm, saying a quiet, "It gets easier, I promise."

With a few parting words they separated and Hikaru and Kaoru went out to the car. The journey home was subdued and Hikaru guessed that Kaoru was not talking to save Hikaru from embarrassment; he had been caught talking to thin air far too often today.

However, after dinner, when they were safely ensconced in their room, Kaoru remained silent, sitting at the foot of the bed.

"Kaoru..." Hikaru needed to talk. He had been listening to Kaoru's voice all day and this sudden quiet unnerved him. "Kaoru, are you okay?"

Kaoru nodded, not looking at Hikaru, who was leaning against the headboard of the bed with a schoolbook in his lap.

"Are you sure?" asked Hikaru. "You look kind of... surly."

Kaoru nodded again, suddenly crawling up to where Hikaru was sitting and putting a hand on his jaw. "I'm just thinking. I want you to go to bed early tonight. You've lost a lot of sleep and I'm worried."

Later, when Hikaru was tucked up in bed next to his ghostly twin, a thought occurred to him: Kaoru was probably quiet because he was unhappy at being dead while Hikaru was still alive.

As cold fingers stroked once again down his face, lulling him into sleep, the living twin made a resolution: I'll make him happier. He won't ever be so sad again. As long as I live.