Ootori Kyouya

—Father. I'm home. — I said, gently laying my laptop on an empty desk.

—Kyouya. — He said his voice as cold as a blizzard.

He sat on the couch, in the middle of the living room. He stared at me, with piercing, glistening eyes. He looked quite pleased with himself. I shuddered involuntarily.

—Yes, Father? — I asked, keeping my tone as polite as I could.

The smirk that hung over his lips made me want to punch him, so I balled my hands into fists, trying to hide the tension.

—I called you back from school because I discovered something quite alarming happening at Ouran. — He said, playing with his fingers.

—I wonder what "alarming" situation is taking place. School seemed pretty normal to me this morning. — I asked my voice thickening with sarcasm.

—The Ouran High School Host Club! — He spat at me. — And YOU being its vice- president! —

I grinned lightly; the small smile never reached my eyes.

—You told me to accomplish something my brothers never did. I achieved that. I run the most profitable club Ouran has ever seen. — I said proudly.

He stood up violently, as he glared at me. A few seconds later over ten members of the Ootori secret police stood around us.

—Stand up. — He commanded.

I obeyed, trying to remain calm. I read his intention in his eyes.

He slapped me right across the face, and all I could see was my glasses falling to the floor and shattering into tiny crystal shards.

—You foolish brat! How you dare dishonoring me so? If you ever do something that stupid again, I will disown you! — He said; so coolly it hurt.

He hit me again, and the blow reached my slightly opened mouth. I just felt a sharp tingle in my bottom lip and the blood running down my chin. I wiped a few droplets with a flourished gesture.

—Finish him off. — He ordered, walking out of the room.

The police men surrounded me, and I crossed my arms. This time arrogance could be my only defense.

—So? — I said to them, my voice velvety.

The first blow hit me in the stomach and knocked the air out of me. The second and third made me fall on my knees. I tried to fend for myself, I really did; but it was useless: my strength is in my head, not in my muscles.

A screech of pain formed in the back of my throat but I fought it back: I didn't want to give Ootori-sama such a great satisfaction.

The pain left me in the dark for a moment.

Before breaking down, I thought for the last time of my friends: Honey, Mori, Kaoru, Hikaru, Haruhi…and Tamaki. The image of his face lingered in my mind and I smiled a little. I could face death only with him in my head…That was my last thought before I drifted into a painful, heavy fog.

Suou Tamaki

—Have you seen Kyouya? — I asked.

He was an hour late. AN HOUR!

I paced around the room nervously, trying to find any logical explanation to Kyouya's odd behavior: no matter if Apocalypse was coming a century earlier, Kyouya would have foreseen it and he'd be here in time.

—Nope. — The Hitachiin twins said at once.

Haruhi looked at me, worried. —Have you called him? — She asked.

—We've all tried before you arrived. — Said Mori-kun.

Haruhi sighed as Honey started to cry.

—Has anything bad happened to Kyo-san? — He said with watery eyes.

—Don't worry, Mitskuni. He's very smart. I'm sure he's alright. — Mori-kun said.

Honey nodded.

—What are we going to do, guys? — asked Haruhi.

—I don't know. — I said, punching the wall in frustration.

—Why don't you go after school to his place, Tamaki? — Kaoru suggested.

—Yeah. — Agreed Hikaru. — It will be less suspicious if you are the one that goes; you're by far his best friend. —

—That's probably a good idea. — I said, nodding lightly.

—Hmm…It's the best we can do. — Said Haruhi.

—Wait! — Said Honey.

Every one of us turned to face him.

—Why doesn't one of us goes to the front desk and ask about him? He probably left an explanation. He's way too responsible for this. — He said, smiling at his idea.

—Yes. — Said Mori, as he turned towards the door.

I stared at him as he walked out. Nobody talked for all the time Mori-kun was away, and all I could think of was Kyouya's beautiful face…An angelic, yet dark, handsome face.

Mori stepped in the room and the silence got so tense it seemed we could cut through it any minute.

—Guys. It's bad. Kyouya's at the hospital. — He said. —He fell down two sets of stairs. —

The world stopped turning for a second.

The mere thought of Kyouya falling down the STAIRS was just too much for my anxious brain. I tried to push the horrifying vision away, but the more I did the more realistic it became.

Haruhi covered her mouth with her hands, in signal of surprise. Kaoru and Hikaru hugged each other, their faces equally filled with grief. Mori-kun was silent, but his preoccupation shone through his eyes. He held a weeping little Honey-kun who between strangled sobs said: — What are we going to do now? —

—I'm gonna go visit him. Right now. — I murmured, as I left the room.

I hope no one of them had heard me, for I wanted to be alone. Alone with him…before it was too late.

Ootori Kyouya

The obnoxious blonde nurse stared at me with an idiotic face from the door, and I whined as she came closer. I hope she doesn't try flirting with me again.

— Ootori-sama, you have a visitor. — She said, in a high pitched voice.

If I could move I would have covered my ears. I sighed.

— Let him in. — I said, keeping my voice controlled.

My heart started beating faster as I saw Tamaki crossing the door. I blushed a little: the obvious difference in my heartbeats could be heard thanks to one of the many machines I was wired on to.

—Tamaki. — I said, trying to sound cheerful.

He dug his eyes on mine; his gaze was so strong I could barely hold it.

—Kyouya…You're alive! — He sighed, his voice relieved.

— Of course I am, Tamaki-baka! I'm harder to get than that. — I said, smiling honestly.

—And how come you, the most graceful creature I've ever met, fell down the stairs? — he wondered.

—Well I…— I doubted for a second. I should have imagined my dad would cover his atrocious deeds with some kind of lie.

—Wait a second. You never fell. — He said staring at me, his easy smile fading into a strong line.

—Of course I did! I just don't remember much. — I said.

I hated lying to him but it was better if he didn't know. If my dad learnt this…I shivered at the thought. He could hurt me as much as he wanted to... but he would never lay a finger on Tamaki.

— No, you didn't. — He said. — When you lie, your voice is a little lower than when you say the truth. Remember, Kyo-san, I can see through you. — He said, sitting in the edge of my white hospital bed.

— I will tell you the truth, Tamaki. I promise. No…I swear. I'm just…not prepared to talk about it right now. — I said, repressing an impulse to put his hand in mine.

As if he'd red my mind, he laid his hand on top of mine.

—Kyo-san. I don't care how terrible is it. I need to know. To…protect you. — He said, as his cheeks shone violently red.

—Tamaki. I still can't. Really, it's not that I wouldn't want you to know, but its better this way. I don't want you to pity me. — I said each word stinging like venom in my lips.

— Believe me, Kyouya, the last thing I feel around you is pity. — He told me, his eyes shinning with sadness.

I stared at him intently, trying to figure out what was the reason behind the grief in his gorgeous violet pupils.

— Wh-What do you feel around me? — I asked, with my voice shaking.

— Longing. Loneliness. Adoration. Lust. Love. — His voice lingered at the last word, as if he'd meant it more than the others.

— Tamaki…I…— I stuttered, trying to answer gracelessly.

—I know. You don't want me that way. It's okay. I just need to be your friend. — He said. His hair fell over his eyes and I just saw a tear falling down to the floor.

—No! Tamaki! Listen to me…I…God, it's so hard to find the words! I love you…More than life, more than anything…— I muttered, embarrassed at my ineptness.

Tamaki stared at me, bewildered. He never thought our feelings were mutual. The frozen, sad tears falling from his eyes turned into droplets of joy. He was like an angel directly imported from heaven.

Suou Tamaki

—No! Tamaki! Listen to me…I…God, it's so hard to find the words! I love you…More than life, more than anything…— he whispered, looking down.

I froze in the spot, a warm feeling overcoming my body. I stared at him, incredulous. I just couldn't believe what he'd just say.

—Could…you repeat it? Just so I'm sure I didn't imagine it…— I said, still a little gloomy.

— I FUCKING LOVE YOU! — He shouted, not too loud, but not too quiet either. —Is that enough for you to understand, Tamaki-baka? — He asked playfully.

I grinned and nodded.

— I love it when you curse. — I said, blushing.

Kyouya just laughed, and the sight was so kawaii I could barely stand it. I bent over him, just to see him more closely. He froze completely; as I listened to his heartbeat fasten.

— Stay very still. — I said, my eye-sight blurring out in passion.

And yet there he lay, all wrapped up in bandages.

Ootori Kyouya

— Stay very still. — Tamaki said.

My breath caught in my throat as I saw him coming closer. It felt as if the air had frozen around me…but the cold had never been that pleasant.

I shut my eyes, trembling with expectation.

—Kyouya…'I love you. Most ardently.' — I heard him whisper.

I trembled as I recognized the quote from one of the books we read in Literature class that period: Pride and Prejudice.

He bent over and gave me the sweetest kiss on the forehead. I opened my eyes as if awakening from a dream. He smiled and I grinned back. Even if it was a little painful, I would do anything just to see Tamaki smile.

— Please, tell the rest of the guys I'm okay. I don't want them to worry about me…— I said, as I moved my thumb across the back of his hand.

— Yes. I will go back with them soon, but don't even think I'm letting go of this…— He said, running his fingers through my arm.

The bruises and cuts were visible very evident in my ivory skin.

—I'll cover you at school… — He continued, as if talking to himself. — But please let me help you! —

His plea shone in his eyes.

— I will tell you. It's just I'd rather leave you out of this…it's far too dangerous. — I said, gently pulling his hand back into mine.

He gave me a peck in the cheek and caressed my neck. I longed so much for his touch…Too soon he pulled away.

—You've got your alibi set. — He said seriously, and then he grinned. — I'll come to see you as soon as I'm out of school. —

I smiled. — I'll be waiting. —