Tamaki stopped in front of the huge oaken doors of the Ootori mansion, taking in every detail of the intricately carved wood before finally pressing the doorbell. The Ootori's long-faithful butler opened the door and Tamaki steeled himself for the response that he knew would come, as it had been for the past week.
"Greetings, Master Suoh."
Reflexively, Tamaki smiled charmingly. "Good afternoon, my good man. I'd like to talk to Kyouya."
The butler nearly sighed, " I'm sorry, Master Suoh, but the young master strictly ordered us to receive noone."
The blonde's voice was light but his gaze betrayed him. "Noone or just me?"
"Sire, I didn't mean-"
Tamaki ran his fingers through his hair roughly, "It's alright. You meant what Kyouya meant." He turned his eyes to the floor. ",
The butler bowed low, before gently closing the door. The moment he couldn't hear the other's footfalls, Tamaki crumbled to the ground and cried.
He was well aware of the dozen security cams surrounding the entrance of the Ootori mansion but he didn't, couldn't care for pretenses anymore. Does Kyouya really hate him that much? Tears ran down his cheeks and he stayed on the ground, sobbing.
He was faintly aware of someone coming toward him but he didn't bother looking up. What would it matter?"
"Damn."
Tamaki jumped in surprise. His head snapped up and lightning jolts ran along his spine. Is it... Really?
Kyouya Ootori was glowering at him, his voice as cold as when he left the Third Music Room. "What are you doing?"
"K-kyouya!"
"If you want to cry like a teenage girl after her first break-up then I suggest you don't do it on my front door."
Tamaki couldn't come up with an appropriate response, for the first time in his life, all his charm and wit deserted him. He just kept staring at the shadow king, wide-eyed.
Kyouya sighed frustratedly, before extending an arm to the blonde. "C'mon. Get up."
He didn't need to be told twice. Brushing the remaining tears away, he took the offered hand as if it was a lifeline. Kyouya repressed another sigh and pulled the blonde after him. The front door opened and he was greeted by the usual grandiose bow and welcome from the maids and manservants.
"Sir..." the butler began nervously upon spotting Tamaki.
"It's alright, Cecile. I expected this to happen some time soon anyway." Kyouya said, waving off the other.
The aged butler nodded as if he understood, bowing once more before taking a step back, watching the young master half-drag the Suoh heir up the grand staircase.
"Sit." Kyouya commanded the moment they entered his room. Like a well-trained puppy or a marionette on strings, Tamaki immediately sat on the edge of the Kyouya's perfectly made bed. His eyes following Kyouya's movements. The shadow king placed his bag and laptop on his desk in a nearly careless manner before grabbing the desk chair and sitting down, arms and legs crossed tightly. A frown on his face as he stared at the white walls.
"What..." Tamaki began slowly, "What did you mean when you said you 'expected this to happen'?"
Kyouya let out a short bark of a laugh, as if he was annoyed at feeling amused but didn't answer anything else. He continued staring ahead, his profile to Tamaki.
The blonde cleared his throat. "When are you coming back to the club?" To me, he wanted to add but he figured that if he did, Kyouya would knock his lights out. Or at least ask his security force to do so.
"What if I said 'never'?"
"What if I said I wouldn't let you?"
Kyouya massaged the bridge of his nose, swiveling the chair to properly face Tamaki. "Why do you want me back so badly, Tamaki? Is it because you're not used to not always getting what you want? Because you're not used to people NOT falling over their feet for you? Is THAT why?"
Tamaki peeked at him from under the fringe of blond that had fallen over his eyes. "That applies more to you than to me, mommy."
"STOP calling me by that absurd nickname!"
Tamaki lowered his eyes for a moment but didn't say anything else.
Kyouya leaned back on his chair, blowing at the air in repressed frustration. "Then what is it, Tamaki? What's your reason?"
"How many people are there in the world?"
The question was so out of left field that Kyouya blinked, wide-eyed, his anger momentarily fizzing out completely before returning with a cautious if not, suspicious gaze.
Tamaki cracked a smile at Kyouya's expression. "Humor me."
"Seven billion."
"Seven billion..." Tamaki repeated softly. "Do you think it's possible for a person to feel lonely even with that sort of knowledge? Because no matter how dark things get, you're surely safe in the knowledge that someone, somewhere is feeling the exact same way as you are, right? How could ANYONE possibly feel lonely after that?"
The lines that connected the dots evaded Kyouya's mind. WHAT is he BABBLING about now?
"How many students are there in Ouran, Kyouya?"
"Three thousand, seven hundred, seventy-two." Kyouya replied without missing a beat.
"Including me?"
Kyouya raised an eyebrow at him, not even deigning that particular question with a reply.
Tamaki nodded somberly. "Three thousand, seven hundred, seventy-one then." He moved closer to Kyouya. "Three thousand, seven hundred, seventy-one people who pay attention to me, who all know my name, know my face, know who I am. Nearly four thousand people out of seven billion. That's more than most people, isn't it, Kyouya? So why should I be lonely, Why should I be sad and angry and selfish?" Tamaki's voice lost it's edge but didn't falter. "I don't need three thousand people nor seven billion. The only one I want is you, Kyouya. I just need YOU."
The Ootori's throat was desert dry. "That's patently illogical, Tamaki."
Tamaki's voice was barely above a whisper, his eyes desperate.
"I know..."
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