A/N: I actually had this done two nights ago but I don't really know why it's only now that I remembered to post it. xD Forgive the scatter-brained me. Anyway, this chapter was supposed to be longer and the last part wasn't planned - it just happened! So, I may be a little off course with this one. xD HAHAHA. Anyway, I hope you enjoy. I'll be updating Alphabetically Insane once my beta is done with it. :D

This chapter is dedicated to moipaintsasmile-chan.
Thanks to her I am coaxed into writing more chapters.
(she bribes me..;p)

DISCLAIMER: "Hi! My name is Ana - NOT BISCO HATORI. :)" Well, my name tag says it all.

Wanna Bet?
Chapter Four - Twin Wars

(Yuuka's POV)

This is what really happened the day Yuuki found out about the bet I made with the so-called Shadow King – Ootori Kyouya.

I ran for my life the moment I realized Yuuki had put two and two together, which in hindsight was probably the worst idea I could have come up with. Why, you ask? Because I wasn't what you would consider as a person blessed with athletic prowess. So, it's easy enough to deduce the result of our goose chase.

"YUUKA! Why are you running away from me?" Yuuki demanded once he successfully managed to grab a firm hold of me.

"Because I can't close off the bet anymore. I'm not going to quit on Ootori Kyouya!" I yelled in response and already I could feel warm tears fill my eyes to the brim.

"Oh and of course! Ootori wouldn't agree unless there was some sort of merit for him," Yuuki stated in a matter-of-fact tone.

"What do you have against Kyouya?" I questioned; Yuuki just wasn't the kind of guy to openly show distaste. We were opposites in that particular aspect; I was often told that my face was such an open book.

"Nothing!" Yuuki answered almost immediately. He might be a very good actor but I was the only one who could always tell if he was lying or not.

"He's smart and always so polite. I know you can't appreciate his good looks but he's perfect, Yuuki! He's so cool and he has that aura of mystery that I find really hard to ignore! Why can't I like him?" I gushed, unable to resist the urge to explain why I fell for such an unreachable person.

"I don't know; maybe because he tricked you into getting me into that Host Club." It wasn't even a question; Yuuki said it as if it were a mere statement of fact.

I sighed. Yuuki was being difficult. And I also knew that I was being stubborn as well but was it really such a crime to fall in love?

"Can't you just be happy for me?" I asked, staring at him with tearful eyes.

For a moment he stared back at me although I could see that there was no hint of softness in his steady gaze. I let the tears escape my eyes because I knew what his answer would be. His warm hands cupped my face and he used his thumb to wipe away my tears.

"I'm sorry, Yuuka," he whispered as he withdrew his hands; his expression was sincerely apologetic but I knew he could not be swayed.

I tried anyway to reach out to him but he took a step back.

"I can't," was all he said before he turned his back on me and left me there without another glance.

My knees shook and I fell onto the floor. The sobs broke out and my tears refused to stop spilling. I thought I heard Yuuki speak again but I didn't manage to catch what he'd said for the pain was much too great. It felt like I was losing a huge part of me because the sight of him walking away was a scene only in my darkest nightmares.

.o.O.o.

The nights at the Hiroto Mansion were uncharacteristically quiet. They said it was because of the absence of our usual ruckus. All of the members of the staff were feeling uneasy; especially Rica who knew Yuuki and me for the longest time. Because honestly speaking, we rarely ever fought, at least not to this extent. Plus, our parents were overseas for work so there was no one to settle this argument once and for all. It was a rough time for all of us.

It has been a week. . . .

"Achoo!" I rubbed my nose with the tissue handed to me by the passing maid (though where she got it, I'd never know). "Thank you," I mumbled as she did a quick curtsy and ambled off to do her duties.

I came to a sudden stop when I caught sight of the dark-haired woman sauntering towards me. Rica was eying my hand warily. In it was the lavender rose that I would be leaving on Kyouya's desk this morning. She must be wondering how I got it; I knew she had locked the door to mother's greenhouse to keep me out. She didn't know I had duplicated the keys. I always managed to be one step ahead of her. Though, she would normally have the last laugh. I just hope that wouldn't be the case this time around.

"Achoo!" I sneezed again.

"Yuuka-sama, please stop this nonsense!" Rica couldn't hold it in as she dashed to take the flower from my hands.

"I'm fine!" I retorted, unwilling to surrender the beautiful flower.

Truly, there was nothing wrong with me. I was just catching a small cold. It was no big deal, really.

"Yuuki-sama won't –"

"Yuuki won't care!" I exclaimed even though I didn't want to believe what I said.

And speaking of the devil, Yuuki had passed through the perpendicular hallway and for a second he looked between the two of us. In the next second, he eyed the rose and then the tissue in my other hand. He paused for a brief moment more but eventually strode off without a single word.

He didn't care, not even in the slightest.

.o.O.o.

"So, may I ask, what have you done to Yuuki-kun this time?" a very posh, very prim ebony-haired girl had asked teasingly as she had transformed my desk into her own personal throne.

"He goes around school sulking and you automatically think it's my fault?" I had snapped back rather angrily; I had sounded albeit too guilty.

Anami Akira frowned at my unveiled hostility. Just a few moments earlier I had this rather creepy, goofy smile on my face. Kyouya had – although, begrudgingly – accepted the flower (again)! But when she had mentioned Yuuki, it was hard to stop my insides from boiling fiercely. She must think I was schizophrenic by now.

"Care to tell me what happened between you two?" Akira asked worry etched on her beautiful face; her blue eyes sought my trust.

I sighed in frustration. If she looked like a lost little puppy, how the hell was I supposed to say no? The answer came easily; I had, without any other thoughts, agreed. I was such an idiot sometimes.

"It's not entirely my fault, Akira-chan, I swear!" I stated defensively.

She smiled at me as if to say, "Of course it's not,"

"I made a bet with Kyouya and if I lose, Yuuki will become a host." I muttered honestly in a quick gush of words, all in one breath.

"What?" Akira questioned too loudly.

I shushed her immediately. She was drawing too much attention to ourselves and I had never liked the spotlight. People pretended to care, till one of them had begun showing off a gift from her fiancé or something. It was just a stupid superfluous bouquet; not that we were really paying attention. It was hard to explain everything to Akira in words that wouldn't hurt too much.

"Yuuki dared me to confess to him so I did and I kind of told Kyouya that I can make him fall for me," I expounded, watching Akira's face contemplate my statement.

"Yuuki doesn't like the Host Club." Akira declared as a matter-of-fact.

"I know!"

"But you really love Kyouya." Akira didn't even ask.

I nodded firmly. I wished Yuuki could borrow Akira's brain even for just a second. She could understand what I was feeling; why couldn't he?

"I never meant to put him in this situation, I just –"

"I'm not blaming you, Yuuka," Akira interjected gently with a giggle; she couldn't believe her best friend could have that kind of notion.

"But you always side with Yuuki!" I pouted, somewhat childishly.

"Silly! That's only because he's almost always right. You can be unreasonable at times when you really want something." The girl with short black hair explained as if it were so obvious.

"But he's the one being unreasonable!" I had countered more aggravated than I was before after recalling the events which took place just this morning.

"Yuuka?" Akira sounded truly concerned as I was put into a coughing fit.

It sounded worse than it had last night. I could barely breathe. And on top of it all, I needed to sneeze. Something was setting off my allergies. It was as if it wasn't already triggered by going to my mother's greenhouse every morning and picking a flower.

"Hey, Hiroto-san, are you all right?" the girl who had received an extravagant bouquet had asked as she approached us, perhaps wondering why we haven't complimented her on the very conspicuous gift she had gotten from her fiancé.

"Ninomiya-san!" Yuuki called from the door, his tone and voice flat but I had figured he was saving me from the rather arrogant brunette.

He easily got her attention; however, Akira didn't seem to take that very nicely. She had begun patting my back before the Ninomiya heiress had spoken up and when Yuuki managed to grab her interest, the force of Akira's pats felt as if they were doubled. I had wanted to laugh at Akira's obvious show of affection towards my twin but I really didn't want her to triple her power.

"I'll take you to the clinic, Yuuka. Come on," Akira suggested between gritted teeth, trying to hide her blush and attempting not to allow herself to let out her anger on me.

"I'm – fine – anyway, ugh – class's – about – to start." I managed to say between dry coughs.

Akira stared at me defiantly but I had been able to cease coughing just as our math teacher entered to room. We were all ushered to our seats and so she couldn't do anything about it anymore. It was a good thing because I didn't want anybody making a fuss. I was feeling fine, thank you very much!

.o.O.o.

Classes went by in a complete blur. I was bored. Kyouya's case was actually showing much more progress than Yuuki's. But neither was going the way I had wanted. I sighed but regretted the action as it triggered the itch in my throat. I felt someone shooting me wary glances and thinking it was Akira I turned my head to my right to reassure her everything was fine. But it wasn't Akira's sapphire eyes that met my emerald ones but emerald as well. I just caught Yuuki staring at me.

Yuuki cares.

I knew it was bad to send messages in class but I just had to tell Hikaru and Kaoru. For the past week, we were able to be good friends. We could relate with one another as a single pair of twins would. I sincerely hoped everything between Yuuki and I would blow over soon. I missed him dearly.

When my mobile phone vibrated and the screen lit up to show a new message has arrived, I excitedly checked out their reply. But it wasn't the Hitachiins who had sent me a message. If I remembered correctly, these were the girls I had been talking to the other day. They had heard that I gave great love advice (I even had my own website for it, but it wasn't anything too grand) and they wanted my input on how they should go about their confession. I had to hand it to these girls (they were twins, as a matter of fact), unlike my other – for lack of a better term – patients, they came to me convinced that they needed to confess. Most girls I've come in contact with often asked me about what they were supposed to do but some of them just resort to admiration from afar in the end. It was not my job to contradict their choices (though, deep in my heart, I knew I did) but I always liked to encourage young girls' love. I believe it's such a magical feeling. My eyes rest on Kyouya's back a few seats in front of mine and a gentle smile appears on my face. Yes, it was magical indeed.

But I was reading a message, wasn't I? Discreetly, I opened the message from the Takehiko twins and I almost laughed out loud. I was truly impressed with the vivacity of these girls.

We left the letters at their desk this morning. We're confessing today.

I swiftly glanced at the teacher, making sure she was writing something on the board before quickly composing a reply.

Well, good luck. Keep me posted.

.o.O.o.

"Akira, I really don't see the point in–" Yuuki began and I couldn't help but eavesdrop on their conversation. What? I haven't heard Yuuki's voice in a long time. He tended to shut his mouth and pretend I didn't exist when we were at home. It was a bit childish of Yuuki, if you asked me. But he was the little brother, I – as his elder sibling – must be understanding.

Oh, who was I kidding? I deserved that kind of treatment anyway. I bid my brother in a bet. What kind of older sister was I? Sure, I haven't lost yet but really, pulling Yuuki into this crazy bet. . . . I didn't know what I was thinking! Being around Ootori Kyouya did have that peculiar effect on me. 'I'm in love all right,' I thought with a frown.

"Yuuka!"

Startled, I looked up with a stupid look on my face. Akira's nagging voice interrupted my train of thought so suddenly.

"What?" I asked, slightly annoyed.

"What do you mean what? You and Yuuki need to talk." Akira commanded, quite sternly, might I add.

"But–" both of us started to argue in unison. Even in a fight we were still so in sync. Gosh, I've missed this.

"No buts, you two! Go and eat lunch together." She ordered and obviously we weren't allowed to say 'no'. "I'll be at the library," she added as she scurried off to her beloved haven.

There was an awkward silence between us for a few seconds before we both decided to speak.

"Yuuka –"

"Yuuki –"

We stared at each other in disbelief, a ghost of a smile appearing on both our faces. If I didn't have long hair, this experience would be like looking in a mirror.

"Go ahead," we said simultaneously.

"No, you–"

"I insist–"

"Fine," I finally said; we were going nowhere with this conversation.

"Ladies first," Yuuki stated, spoken like a true gentleman.

"Okay, I'll. . . .introduce you to my new friends!" I declared suddenly excited as I grab his hand and lead him towards the grand cafeteria. So perhaps I still couldn't handle a confrontation about the current issue between us but was it so wrong to act – even if only for brief moments – that we were back to normal? At the time, I didn't think there was anything wrong with what I was doing.

"Yuuka" he tried to argue but deciding that he couldn't convince me otherwise; instead, he said, "Let's not run, shall we?"

And surely, Yuuki understood what I wanted.

"Right," I agreed, remembering that running wasn't one of my innate skills and that it would be very bad for my condition as of the moment.

And then suddenly, my mobile phone beeps and I realized I just received a new message. As I reached for the purple handy device, I could see from my peripheral vision that Yuuki was looking quite curious. So when I finally opened the message, I decided to read it aloud.

"We saved you a seat at the cafeteria,"

"Who's that from?" Yuuki asked with mild curiosity.

"My friends," I answered vaguely because I was preoccupied in typing my reply:

Save a seat for two.

And so we sauntered over to the cafeteria, which, by now, was packed with a lot of students. Lunch time was a noisy occasion even to snotty rich kids like us. I searched the crowd for a sign of two identical mops of orangey brown hair. Before long, I spotted them right in the center of the sea of high school students.

Excitedly, I grabbed Yuuki's hand and rushed towards them. Ever since I met the Hitachiin Twins, I have pictured what it would be like when all four of us would be together. I couldn't believe I was finally going to see it. This was all too good to be true.

"Hikaru, Kaoru, Haruhi!" I greeted as I sat down in the empty seat across the three first years.

"Yuuka-senpai!" they replied in chorus and it was obvious they were itching to know all about the guy I was pulling down onto the seat beside me.

"This," I paused for a dramatic effect watching as the twins' patience went on the edge. "Is my twin – Yuuki!"

"It's a pleasure," Yuuki said as he gave a short nod. I didn't think he expected an audience when Akira cajoled him into talking to me. But on my defense, I didn't know how to talk to him alone.

"This is Hikaru," I introduced the twin to our left. "This is his twin, Kaoru," I moved on to the younger twin. "And this is the scholarship student, Haruhi." I added, pointing to the doe-eyed boy between the twins.

"Did you bring lunch?" I heard him asking me in a whisper.

"I made one!" I retorted indignantly but when Yuuki eyed me with his oh-really-I-don't-think-so look, I reconsidered it. "But I think left it in our classroom. . . ." I mumbled with a soft blush on my cheeks.

"I'll go back and get it, all right?" Yuuki declared as he was already getting up from his chair.

"Sure, sorry about that,"

He rolled his eyes playfully and I stuck out my tongue. I wish this would last. But it seemed as if our newly reformed relationship was a bubble waiting to burst. One wrong move could pop it all back to the silent treatment.

"I'm glad you're talking to your brother again," said Haruhi reverently.

I looked at him with a sad smile and shook my head. He didn't understand what I meant by that and apparently neither did the Hitachiin twins.

"What's wrong?"

"We haven't actually made up," I muttered, unable to believe it myself. It's almost been a week since we had that rather riveting conversation; we never fought for this long before.

"Then, why –"

"It's all an act," I finally admitted. "I didn't know what to tell him so I brought him here with me. Can you please help me talk to him?" I asked earnestly and I could be irresistible if I wanted to. . . .right?

The three first years all stared at me with wide eyes. They probably thought I was mad or something. Well, I was desperate.

"I don't think we should be interfering with this, Yuuka-senpai," Haruhi said in a tone that expressed a matter of fact.

"But –"

"We'll help you, Yuuka-senpai!" the ginger-haired boys announced in unison.

"Thank you!"

And as soon as those words left my lips, Yuuki appeared on cue. He eyed the whole table warily, somehow aware that we had been talking about him. I thought he was going to get mad at me for trying to gang up on him but Haruhi's abrupt exit put the thought out of his mind.

"What's his problem?"

"Nothing! Shall we have lunch now?" I answered; anything would do to delay the need to talk about our problem.

Lunch was. . . .very queer. It was quiet except for the clattering of the silverware. I could see the Hitachiin twins wanting very much to break the silence but all I could do was shake my head somewhat apologetically. There was no way I'd risk letting them speak first. I should start; I mean, the problem lay with me, right? Wasn't it only natural for me to say something, anything?

"Yuuki,"

"Yuuka,"

We both sighed and crept into the deafening silence once more. I didn't know what to say exactly. And I didn't want to open my mouth until I was confident that I wouldn't set Yuuki's temper off. I should apologize. I would tell him I was sorry but I have to go through with the bet.

"The Host Club isn't that bad, Yuuki-senpai," Hikaru began, unable to restrain himself any longer. I couldn't blame him. Watching both of his upperclassmen eating in uneasy quietness must have been torture.

"Yeah, it's actually quite fun!" Kaoru added to support his older brother.

I would have laughed at their petty attempt to salvage the image of the Host Club in Yuuki's eyes if it wasn't for the fact that that was the worst thing to say.

"I thought you were on my side?" I exclaimed, a bit crestfallen. Did they think Yuuki would have to go to the Host Club too? How hard was it to believe that I could make Kyouya fall for me?

"Sorry boys I won't be joining your little Host Club–" Yuuki stated, rather calm.

His words made my heart swell with pride. That was how he was supposed to react since the very beginning! He should believe that I could get Kyouya if I tried hard enough. I knew he wouldn't let me down but then. . . .

"–because you're calling off the bet, right Yuuka?" he turned to me with a beatific smile. And I almost said yes because you just couldn't say no to Yuuki if he made that face.

"But Yuuki, I don't want to!" I retorted instead, fighting his smile with my puppy dog eyes.

"I thought we settled this. Ootori would just hurt you, Yuuka," Yuuki countered.

"How would I know for sure if I don't at least try?" I asked rhetorically, raising my brow as if challenging him.

"At least? Yuuka, do you know what you're risking when you made that bet with Ootori?" Yuuki argued, looking appalled at my choice of words.

"I'm sorry if I dragged you into this–" I began but my attempt at an apology was thwarted by my own temperamental twin.

"For the last time, this is not about me, Yuuka! I'm thinking of you!"

"If you were thinking of me, shouldn't you be cheering me on, not pulling me down?" I replied, glancing at Hikaru and Kaoru for some support.

"She does have a point, Yuuki-senpai. You should be on her side on this," Hikaru said loyally and I smiled at him.

His twin, however, had a different agenda.

"I think Yuuki-senpai's right."

"But Kaoru–" both Hikaru and I began to argue.

"At least one of you actually understands what I'm saying," Yuuki interrupted, amused that the tables have turned on me. Instead of a three-on-one like I planned; it was two-on-two with the younger twins (Karu and Yuuki) on one corner and the older ones (Hikaru and me) on the other.

"I know what you're saying, Yuuki! I'm your older sister! But I don't think you understand me!" I snapped, thoroughly annoyed.

"It doesn't follow that since I'm younger by 3 minutes, you automatically become more mature than I am, Yuuka," Yuuki declared, undaunted by my partially loud voice (I wouldn't really scream in the middle of the cafeteria).

"That goes the same for you too, Kaoru," Hikaru mumbled to his twin.

"I didn't say anything," Kaoru whispered back in shock.

"Well, don't get any ideas," Hikaru retorted with a small smirk; he was having fun watching this debate. I just wished he did more helping than merely watching.

"I'm not saying you're immature, Yuuki. I'm just asking you to really understand me. I love you and I love Kyouya but I don't want to have to go through choosing between the two of you," I said as I look at my twin with pleading eyes.

Yuuki was giving me another one of his steel glares and I almost flinched. It was like he was asking me to choose already. Couldn't I have it both ways?

"If – hypothetically speaking – you had to choose one of us, who would you choose?"

"Yuuki, I–"

For a second, he looked as if I'd hurt him badly (and perhaps I did with my insensitive indecisiveness) and in the next his expression was solemn. Without another word, he stood up from his seat and was about to stalk off when I grabbed his hand to stop him. It shouldn't end this way! I must not let it!

"Please, Yuuki, just–" I began to explain.

"Save it for someone who cares, Yuuka, because honestly, I'm tired of trying to keep up with you. You can do whatever you want. I don't give a d'mn anymore!" He muttered and I could feel the fresh tears just aching to fall. Somehow, I muster up enough courage to bottle my emotions and slowly let him go.

I was hoping he would turn back and apologize or something. But he was serious about his conviction. He practically didn't have a twin anymore. I couldn't help but bury my head in my arms and cry my heart out. This was too much. I needed Yuuki. And if I really had to choose, like in a life and death situation, between Kyouya and Yuuki, surely I would choose to save them both and sacrifice myself (I wasn't much of a sacrifice anyway). But I failed to tell him that.

'Nice going, Yuuka!' I thought venomously; even my own mind was against me.

.o.O.o.

My face was red from crying all through the rest of lunch. The Hitachiin twins weren't of much help. It was Akira who came to our table and began sobering me up for our next class. She joked about never leaving us alone to fight again and was saying that she should referee on our next round. When I ran out of tears to shed, Akira led me to the girls' lavatory to touch up.

"Did you hear that Hiroto Yuuka's courting Kyouya-kun?"

Akira and I stopped short before entering the girls' bathroom. Apparently, it was time for some gossip for dessert. I actually didn't need any more drama in my life but I wanted to hear what they had to say. I was probably numb after Yuuki walked out on me (again) so this should be like an ant bite or something.

"I heard it from the girls in class 2-A. She's been giving him lavender roses everyday!" another girl said, exhilarated by the fact that she knew more than the other gossip girls.

"The nerve of that girl! She thinks that just because she gives some girls advice, she could go and take Kyouya-kun for herself!" a haughty-sounding girl interjected, totally revolted.

"She doesn't even give great advice. I don't know why some people believe her cr'p," someone agreed and somehow I thought that was enough of our eavesdropping.

If it wasn't five minutes till class started again, I would have gone to a different restroom but alas, Akira and I didn't want to be late. I forced a strong front as if I hadn't heard a thing and just as expected, the whole lot stopped speaking as I entered the scene. Instead, hushed whispers (that I wasn't exactly oblivious to) ensued.

"Well, there's one good thing about her pathetic attempt at Kyouya-kun. If she loses, Yuuki-kun can be our host too!" one of the girls mumbled as they conspicuously stared back at me while making their way out the door.

"Don't listen to them, Yuuka. You give fantastic advice!" Akira reassured me as she passed me a soft tissue to sneeze on.

"Too late," I already heard them. But I guess I should be used to these things. Such was the life of human being.

'You just can't please everybody. . . .'

A/N: Well, that's it. I hope you enjoyed this. I had a tough time writing it (the argument especially). I want them to make up soon so they might in the next chapter (if I don't stray from my original plans like I did in this one that is..xD). Please leave your reviews. Constructive Criticism is welcome (just don't murder me, okay? :D)