-Maybe not…-

Days passed. Hikaru and Kaoru grew closer than they ever thought they would. Instead of a simple "Goodnight" to each other, Hikaru would gently kiss his sibling's tender lips before they dozed off, both cuddling into each other.

Even at school, they didn't hide their real, living love for each other. The ladies ate it up, thinking it was an act, when in reality, it wasn't anymore. It was true and pure in both their hearts. Nothing could ever replace it.

Or so they thought.

As the days grew colder, Kaoru became more and more sick with pneumonia. It became so rough, the family thought he was going to die. Each day, the younger twin's coughing fits would become more frequent, more violent. His fever rose, never fell. Sickening sounds came from the bathroom every day and night.

But after they went to the doctors a few days back, he was quickly recovering. Any day, he would be normal, but even so, Hikaru was still alone.

"Are you alright, Hikaru?" one of his customers asked softly, a few more leaning in with her.

"No… It's been so long since I've had time alone with Kaoru… And I'm so worried for his health…" Not a lie was said there. Not. A. Lie.

Multiple awes came from his crowd, as well as some uplifting comments with effort. But nothing would help his crying soul. He was so lonely. Hikaru couldn't even sleep in the same room as his love, forcing him to reside in the guest room. The world that was once flourishing around him was now dying and covered in cold, lonely snow. The only thing keeping the older brother's hopes alive was the promise that his other would come to the Host Club late if he was well enough that day. And Hikaru knew today was that day.

After a little while longer, the girls filed out, giving their best wishes to the Hitachiin and his brother, as well as his fellow hosts. He thanked them all, assuring them he would be back tomorrow or the day after.

But as the room became empty and Hikaru was about to leave, he heard the doors creak shut. The male turned to see Kyouya standing before them, staring at the only other soul in the room. "You poor thing. Having to suffer life without the other. What kind of person does that?" The Shadow King approached the orange-haired devil, cleverly blocking his escapes as he backed against the wall.

"K-Kyouya? What are y-you talking about?" His back soon hit the wall behind him. Trapped.

The ash-haired king ignored the words. "Tell me, Hikaru… Do you truly love Kaoru? Don't you think it's wrong to love your own brother? Incest is the term, if I remember correctly." He put much emphasis on the term, as if to make it sound terrible, like a murder.

The Hitachiin stuttered, not able to find words in this awkward, frightening spot. He couldn't run, he couldn't call out for anyone. All he could do was wait to see what attack Kyouya would throw at him.

Suddenly, after a moment more of silence, Kyouya grabbed the boy's face and abruptly forced his lips upon Hikaru's, not holding back on that force. Shorter arms push and shove, but are quickly held back by those strong hands. Even though that lead to the twin tossing his head back and forth, the shadow boy solved this probably by pushing harder against those lips, creating a whimper from the victim.

This was a new kind of kiss for Hikaru. Kaoru was always soft and gentle with him, never pressing to hard or causing him any pain. But Kyouya didn't hold back. He was bruising the boy's lips, which were beginning to turn a faint shade of purple ever so slowly.

Feeling less thrashing from the Hitachiin's arms, Kyouya released his wrists and pulled back slightly. His response, however, surprised him slightly. The younger male wrapped his arms around the cool one's neck and roughly kissed him back. Never had Hikaru ever imagined Kyouya to be so… So alluring. The older other's reaction were his arms wrapping around the smaller waist and a small effort to part those precious lips.

Suddenly, the doors creaked open behind them. A few seconds passed before both pulled away to look. Hikaru gasped and his heart and soul wilted with the rest of his world. They were the only living things left inside him, and now they were dead. All because of that one, unexpected visitor.

Kaoru.

"Hikaru…?" He stared in so many different emotions. Shock, confusion, disbelief. But the strongest was pain.

"Kaoru…" Hikaru's voice was barely a whisper as he pushed Kyouya away, running to his brother and resting his hands on his shoulders. "Kaoru, I-"

"No! Save it! I don't want to hear it!" He shook his head as tears rapidly formed in his eyes, which he squeezed shut, forcing more out. "I can't believe you… I can't believe you! I hate you, Hikaru! … I hate you!" The younger one turned and ran, his cheeks already flooded with tears.

The older of the two stood in pain. It was now his turn to create the warm, molten liquid. His fist balled up, shaking as he glared at the ground. "Kyouya-senpai… It's all your fault! You were the one who took advantage of me! You were the one broke Kaoru! You were the one who was jealous. I'm right, aren't I?"

Silence.

"Aren't I?" He turned to look at the Shadow King, but he had already mysteriously left.

With a sigh, Hikaru gathered his things and walked the many miles home.

When he arrived, the boy was sluggish, both from great amount of walking and the great amount of pain, both never experienced until now. He didn't know what to do. Leave Kaoru alone, explain everything, lie…

No, he couldn't lie. Anything but lying. It would only come back and hurt them more.

With that want to be with his one and only other, Hikaru climbed the staircase and dragged himself into their room, hearing soft sobs as he opened the door. His sibling was in bed, as if ready to sleep. He was facing the window, the curtains together to prevent any light.

"Go away, Hikaru," his once gentle voice commanded.

"Kaoru, please."

"I said go away!"

The older male winced a little, but refused to follow his orders. He cautiously shuffled over to the bedside and sat, looking down at his hands in his lap. "Kaoru, you've got to listen… I… I didn't mean to give in to Kyouya… He took advantage of me…"

He paused a moment as he heard movement behind him. Out of nowhere, his twin pushed him off the bed, making him fall to the floor.

"You can't fool me, Hikaru! You've been fooling around with him ever since I became sick. That's just what you've wanted isn't it? You got bored with me, so you wanted a new toy! Well, sorry for not being good enough to hold your interest!"

"That is it!" Hikaru angrily stood from where he landed and leapt back onto the bed, tightly wrapping his arms around his sibling. "I am going to make you believe me because I am telling the truth!" He felt the squirming against his chest and arms.

"Hikaru, let me go!" The younger twin thrashed around, struggling to free himself. But the older other wouldn't resist. This was the first fight with each other the brothers had ever had in either of their lives.

Suddenly, Kaoru pushed against the wall, forcing them to fall backwards, but the older brother still had a tight hold on his love. Tears left his face as he buried his face in the younger's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Kaoru!" he cried, "I wish that didn't happen! If I could do anything to change what happened, I would! I-I-I would have tried to beat my way out, o-or resist him better than I did! I regret it, Kaoru! I was wrong to betray you, even if by accident. But you need to trust me now! I want you and only you, Kaoru! All we need is each other, remember? All we need is each other…"

The thrashing eased as his words were spilled. The other was touched, and his brother was right. All they needed, and wanted for that matter, was each other. To Kaoru, all that mattered in the world was Hikaru. For Hikaru, it was Kaoru. Neither would let anything destroy the other. It was each of their missions. To protect the other brother from harm and to love.

The younger Hitachiin smiled softly and slipped out of Hikaru's now-weak grasp. "Hikaru," he cooed with a tear-strewn face, sitting beside the brother that still lie there, heartbroken. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything I said, especially that I hate you… I could never hate you. The day I hate you is the day I turn a girl. A real girl."

Both laughed a little as the other moved to sit up, facing his love.

"Kaoru… I missed you at school."

"And I missed you at home."

They stared into their identical eyes before closing the gap again. Both had missed this feeling. It's what they yearned for the most. All they wanted to feel was the other's lips against theirs again.

Hikaru smirked a little as he leaned in. Slowly and cautiously, he parted Kaoru's lips, caressing the bottom lip with his tongue. The action earned him a shiver and a moan from his other. He chuckled softly and pulled away, teasing his love's chin. He glanced at the clock. A little after five it was.

"This, my dear, is going to be a long night. For you, for me, for us." His voice was warm, heated if you will.

Kaoru giggled quietly. "Hikaru, please! You're embarrassing me!"

The two chuckled softly as the older Hitachiin pushed his lips back to the younger one's, pushing him down to the bed.

Yes, their love was restored, and Hikaru's world of dark, nothing, and snow was repaired. The snow melted away and the sun shone again, letting love grow inside him again.