I don't own anything.
I Never Knew
Chapter Seven — The Wolf
"Kaoru?" Tamaki asked timidly, opening the door to Music Room Three. Kaoru quickly wiped his eyes and turned to face the door in the armchair he occupied. "Oh, Kaoru, there you are. What happened? Are you okay?" The words flowed quickly from his mouth in nervousness as he approached the redhead.
"Hey, Senpai. I'm fine."
Tamaki shook his head and took Kaoru's face in his hands. "No, you're not. You're crying."
Tears welled up in Kaoru's eyes but he resisted crying. "I don't know. I don't know," he said after a pause. "Hikaru was angry when we hung up, and then I lied to him, and I told him that you were gay, and he got really jealous, and—and..."
"Hey, hey," Tamaki said softly. "Come here and sit down with me." Kaoru took Tamaki's hand and let himself be led over to a couch. "Now," Tamaki said, putting an arm around Kaoru and taking his hand in his own, "just relax. Just breathe." Kaoru nodded as he took a deep breath and leaned his head onto Tamaki's shoulder. "Better?"
"Yeah," Kaoru replied, feeling calm in Tamaki's arms. "I'm sorry for freaking out, I just—I just don't know what to do."
"I know, I know." Tamaki stroked Kaoru's hair. "So, say it slow, what happened?"
Kaoru took a shaky breath, starting to speak slowly, but speeding up as he went along. "I'm sorry. It's stupid to be crying. It's so stupid, but I...I told Hikaru that you're gay, because he got all angry about me keeping secrets. I..I shouldn't have drag
ged you into it, but I was just so nervous. I thought that it would get him off of my back until I sorted my feelings out, but instead he got so jealous." Kaoru stopped to breathe again. "He...he accused you of trying to steal me away. He said that I was like...like Little Red Riding Hood," Kaoru chuckled.
Tamaki smiled, looking down at his classmate. "Does that make me the wolf?"
Kaoru laughed a little harder, looking up at his elder. "It all just made me realize...that I can't put off telling him anymore. I really can't, but I really want to. And it isn't because I don't want you, it's just...I'm not sure if I'm done wanting him. I'm not sure how to tell him. I don't think he'll understand. And at the same time, we've really been so far apart lately that it feels like it's right."
Tamaki kissed him chastely. "I know it's hard. If you want me to be there with you, I'll do it. And honestly, I...I can't wait for you to be mine. Only mine."
The redhead didn't know how to respond, opting only to kiss Tamaki, putting his arms around his neck and pulling him close. Tamaki's tongue found its way into Kaoru's mouth as he pushed Kaoru back down onto the couch. They kissed wantonly as hands started to grab at clothing, tugging away fabric. Kaoru had undone Tamaki's belt while Tamaki finished unbuttoning Kaoru's shirt when the door opened.
"O-oh." The boys separated instantly at the voice. Tamaki turned to see Haruhi, as Kaoru turned away and started to put his shirt back on. "I-I am really sorry," she said, blushing. "I didn't know anyone was in here."
Tamaki stood, shaking his head and fumbling with his belt. "No, we were just leaving." Kaoru responded by nodding feverishly and picking his blazer up. "If you could just keep this to yourself," he added.
She nodded. "No problem." The boys were making their way out when Hikaru came up behind Haruhi, grinning.
"Haruhi, look what I—Kaoru?" Hikaru's eyes widened when he caught sight of his brother, but Kaoru was more concerned about the little, nondescript plastic bag he had hidden behind his back.
"Hikaru? What are you doing?" Kaoru tried to keep his voice from quivering.
Hikaru answered defensively. "I should ask you the same thing. I thought I told you to stay away from that guy." His eyes narrowed when he looked at Tamaki. "What the hell are you doing with my brother?"
"N-nothing," Tamaki smiled nervously. "We were just having a chat."
Hikaru frowned. "I don't want you hanging around him alone. I don't want you doing anything gross to him."
"Hikaru!" Kaoru hissed in warning.
Tamaki's smile turned mischievous. "I haven't done anything that you haven't."
Hikaru's fists clenched. "I should fuck you up for that."
"If you weren't too busy fucking someone else. Oops, I meant fucking up."
Kaoru trembled. "Stop."
Haruhi took a step back from Hikaru, looking at him imploringly. "What's going on here?"
Hikaru had to hold back from shouting. "This f—this fucker is trying to mess with my brother."
"Oh?" Tamaki took a step forward. "This what? Say what you mean. Say fag. It takes one to know one."
"Shut up!" Hikaru roared, dropping his bag and reaching for Tamaki's neck.
Kaoru stepped between them with his arms out, trying to push his twin away. "No! Don't!"
At the last moment, Hikaru stopped himself. "Why are you defending him?" he shouted. "You can't! You can't love him!"
Kaoru's eyes welled up. "What about you? What are you doing?"
Hikaru rolled his eyes. "This isn't about me!"
"Hikaru!" Haruhi grabbed his arm and pulled him to face her. "If Tamaki isn't hurting him, then it isn't your business. If they're just in love, then—"
"It's not your business!" He shook her away forcefully. "I am protecting him!"
"No!" Kaoru blinked to stave off tears. "No," he said again, quieter, "you were right the first time. I need protection."
Hikaru smiled softly and reached out to Kaoru with open arms. "See? I'll always be here for you."
Kaoru stepped back, shaking his head. "No, I don't need you to protect me; I need someone to protect me from you." He slowly lifted a finger and pointed to Tamaki, who had picked up the plastic bag Hikaru dropped. Hikaru and Haruhi turned around to see that Tamaki was holding up the contents.
"K-Kaoru, I can explain..."
"What the fuck, Hikaru? Were you coming here to fuck her?"
Hikaru's face went white. "Just listen."
Kaoru couldn't hold back the tears. "How long have you been sleeping with her? How long ago did I get put on the back burner?" He swallowed hard. "Was I ever even important to you? Were you ever going to tell her about me? Did you ever say, 'I love you, and by the way, after this I'm going to love the brains out of my brother, too, until he cries himself to sleep.' Were you ever going to tell me? Or were you going to just keep me hanging on, getting the best of both worlds until I rotted away?" Kaoru's whole body shook.
The world stopped for a moment until Haruhi spoke. Her voice was even and low, harsh and cold. "I can't believe you. You treated me like this. You treated your own brother like this. You are disgusting."
Tamaki grated out, "You are a royal son of a bitch. You don't even deserve to be hated. You are the scum of the Earth." He dropped the bag unceremoniously and took Kaoru by the hand, and everyone left until Hikaru stood there alone.
