Merry Christmas, everyone! Here's a somewhat belated gift for all you lovelies... Enjoy! And review! Please?

Kyoya Ootori was in shambles as he paced about the third music room, cell phone to ear, only to lower it again in defeat. Ayumi's voicemail played for the sixth time in the past ten minutes, but the Ootori heir still wasn't ready to give up. He dialed her number again... only to let his thumb hit "End Call". He groaned in frustration- with her, at himself- and disgust.

Leaning his back against the wall, he allowed his hands to cover his sallow face, as if trying to hide his failure from himself.

"You did it again, Kyoya. Completely lost control and lashed out. Of course she's not going to answer. You're completely out of your mind- yelling at her one minute, kissing her the next."

But... is it your fault that she makes you insane? That she drives you to this end?... She's only a girl. Why is she affecting me now? What is she to me? A comrade, a nuisance, an equal? He remembered, for a brief second, the look in her eyes when he had pulled away from their kiss just a few hours before. She had been so fragile, so scared. Kyoya realized that she was just as lost as he was in the whole matter. That she hadn't an idea if she should lead, and gain advantage of the situation, or let him win- or if it were a winning matter to begin with.

Kyoya glanced up at the ceiling, almost waiting for a divine intervention, someone to explain what he was to do so he didn't enter a lifelong partnership with Ayumi wishing to be away from him. He began pacing once more, going to the window, curious if Ayumi was still here, or if she was at home, safely tucked away as she avoided his calls. He didn't hear the door open, or the progression of steps towards him.

"Oh, there you are."

Kyoya looked up at Tamaki, turning away once more to glance out the third music room's window. "Where else would I be, Tamaki?" The raven haired host muttered, too deep in thought to care as Tamaki stood across from him, following his gaze.

"If you're trying to sneak a peek of Ayumi leaving, I'll have you know that she left ten minutes ago, using the kitchen's back door." Tamaki observed his friend's attention catch and hold on that bit of news, despite the indifferent mask he possessed at the moment.

"Did someone escort her? Her butler, brother, someone?" The blonde smiled at the question, glancing at Kyoya, who sounded as if he was swallowing a lump of shame at not being the someone to escort her home.

"Haruhi went with her-" Off Kyoya's glance, Tamaki sighed, exasperated, "And Mori did as well. No one mugged her on the five yard walk from the school to her car."

"...Oh. Good..." The two boys lapsed into a short silence, one that was broken by Tamaki observing, "I suppose you think that you messed up."

"Think? Tamaki, you underestimate me. I know that I messed up." Kyoya sighed in vexation, continuing: "Sure, I got back at the idiot who was trying to bully her. Sure, I kissed her. But I wasn't patient with her. I yelled at her, Tamaki." Kyoya lowered his eyes in shame, bracing his hands against the windowsill, not even daring to make eye contact with his best friend. "The one person who actually doesn't deserve it, who works harder than even me, who is under more pressure than me... I yell at her. I'm detestable."

"You're human." Tamaki moved closer, patting Kyoya's shoulder, frowning. "It's odd, really... Both of you see each other as in control and perfect, and neither of you feel like it yourselves."

"What?" The raven haired teenager's head snapped up in surprise, his glasses glinting in the light with the sudden motion. He couldn't believe that. Ayumi Ryuhana was not someone who took herself lightly... right? In all the years past, she had held herself high above her superiors, chin jutted up in pride and defiance. How could she not be in control?

"You really are blind, Kyoya..." Tamaki mused, crossing his arms as he thought. "You didn't see how nervous you made her tonight? She was fretting before, during and after the dance... and you missed all of that, apparently." Upon further thought, the Ootori heir did have to admit that he saw her trembling more than usual, and that her usually cold pallor was almost feverish with color, her cheeks constantly being flushed... But he attributed it to the temperature each time- the cold wind in the garden, the high temperature set on the thermostat.

"... I affected her that much?" Kyoya asked lowly, trying to comprehend what that could possibly entail.

"You always affected her that much- and vice versa. Neither of you noticed it till now." Tamaki spoke nonchalantly, tossing his hand as if to say how obvious it had always been.

Kyoya turned violently to Tamaki, protesting, yelling at the top of his voice, "That's not true! I have never liked her- she has always hated me! The idea of me affecting her whatsoever before now is preposterous, absolutely ridiculous-"

"Oh, will you shut up, Kyoya!" Tamaki strode the few feet between him and his friend, getting right in his face as he declared angrily, "I've seen you sweat and quake over Ayumi. I have heard you babble for hours about her- how you couldn't believe how she was this, or that, or something else. And you know what? I've seen her blush and stutter when dealing with you. All those damn picnics you've dragged me to over the years I've watched and said nothing. So don't tell me how absurd the idea is- you're only fooling yourself!"

Kyoya gazed in shock at the blonde who had him by the collar, practically lifting him off his feet in his ire. Tamaki took several breaths, putting the brunette down and clearing his throat, looking away. Kyoya, for once, was speechless. With nothing left to say, only thoughts to plague him now as Tamaki's words sunk into his heart like papercuts, he turned and began walking to the door. He paused as he heard Tamaki call out to him.

"I'm sorry I got carried away."

Kyoya heard a sigh before Suoh continued: "But you embarrassed Ayumi. The very least you can do is to sacrifice your damn dignity for more than a few minutes and start paying attention." Ootori turned to see his friend gestured helplessly. "I don't want you to lose your chance with someone, especially Ayumi. Both of you are so lonely, and you won't acknowledge it... I'm worried that if I don't open your eyes, she'll give up. You can't afford that."

"I know." Tamaki sighed with relief- and yet, worry- as his friend smiled at him and adjusted his glasses. "I don't intend to sit stagnant any longer. It's my move now."

Turning once more to go, Kyoya considered the task before him. Harder than any challenge he ever took on, and yet with much more clarity with which to pursue it.

"Me to play... and to capture the queen." He mused to himself as the door clicked behind him, leaving his friend to mutter with a small smile: "Checkmate".