Chapter 10
You woke me up on account of the stars
Climbed out on the roof for a while
Laid side-by-side in that beautiful dark
And I almost forgot the pins in my heart
- "Leonids," Meg Hutchinson
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As soon as Kyouya stepped into the room, Tamaki glanced up from his desk in concern. "Kyouya! Whatever brings you here?" he exclaimed, instantly halting in his current task. "Is something wrong?"
"In a way," Kyouya began, stepping closer by the sound of the melodramatic voice. Before he was even halfway across the floor, Tamaki had gathered himself up to meet him there, squeezing the other's hands once to tell him to stop before reaching up to remove the sunglasses from his face. "You didn't say good-bye before you left this morning."
Breathing a deep sigh, Tamaki recognized his fault not for the first time that day. "I know; I'm terribly sorry, but I wasn't sure how long you and Hikaru were going to be in there, and I didn't want to interrupt your conversation." Considering the true content of the mentioned exchange, Kyouya resisted the urge to scoff at the mild word choice.
"Next time, please do."
"I will, I promise. Will you ever forgive me?"
He couldn't stay angry at that desperation even if he wanted to. Repressing a reassuring smile for the sake of maintaining his conviction, he replied, "Spend some time with me tonight, then we'll see."
When the two of them retreated to the privacy of the upper floor for an hour or so after dinner, no one dared interrupt them.
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"I have a surprise for you."
Given that this was his first night in their new home – the word felt strange and undeserving – on the outskirts of Paris, and thus everything he had seen so far could be counted as unexpected, Kyouya raised an eyebrow at Tamaki's proclamation. Still, the skeptical Shadow King let his friend guide him up one flight of stairs to another, hidden at the back of the hall. As soon as Tamaki opened the door, cool, night air hit them in a wave of freshness, playing with their bangs and sending shivers up their spines. One after the other, they stepped out onto the roof deck; Tamaki glowing in pride, Kyouya trying his best to obtain the best picture he could of his surroundings given the blur in his vision that was not helped by the inadequate lighting. Unfortunately, the only, visual results he managed to gain were sets of flashing lights, though the short clips of French and revving engines floating up from streets below made it clear the city stretched out before them.
"As refreshing as the air might be," he began, letting his annoyance seep into his tone, "I cannot help but wonder why you've brought me out here to admire a view I cannot see."
"Don't worry; you'll get to see it," answered Tamaki cryptically, taking the other's hand and half-dragging him forward towards the center of the deck. A moment later, Kyouya followed his lead in taking a seat on the concrete, regardless of how the mystery behind the point of the excursion was so far left unclear. For the longest time neither of them broke the placid silence, letting the evening zephyr drift calmly over them. Just when Kyouya was about to prompt a continuance, Tamaki's voice cut through the air.
"Close your eyes," he ordered gently, to which Kyouya furrowed his brow.
"I'd rather not," he replied, definitive yet insecure at how the action would lock out any remaining hold he had onto this visual world.
"Please, Kyouya. You can trust me, can't you?" With a resigned sigh, Kyouya capitulated to his friend's pleading, reluctantly shutting himself in the complete, frightening darkness behind his eyelids. As soon as Tamaki could be sure they would not soon open again, he began speaking in that melodious manner reserved for such moments, a self-satisfied smile decorating his features. "The sky is a blanket of a violet so dark and tinged with navy. The shimmering stars clash against their backdrop, punctuating it like fireflies. Far beyond yet with a presence so prominent one might like to reach out and touch it, La Tour Eiffel pulls one into the depths of the beauty of her architecture..."
And so he went on and on, using such poetic imagery that enabled a full picture of the scene to come together in Kyouya's mind. Tamaki admired it with his words in such a way that his dark-haired companion could envision the scene more majestically than he ever could have if he had actually seen it himself. Suddenly, it was as if nothing else existed in the world besides the two of them and the vast, night sky.
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There was a somewhat familiar knock at the door.
"Come in," Kyouya called, and the door was opened. So far he could only tell that the nervous footsteps didn't belong to Tamaki, but that conclusion had already been gathered by how said blonde was sleeping soundly in the bed behind him.
"Hey, Kyouya, do you have a balcony in this place?" the voice of the visitor asked, revealing them as the not-so-unexpected younger of the twins.
"We have something even better," Kyouya answered with an air of pride as he stood from the lounge chair. "You are wearing a sweater of some sort, correct?"
"Of course," Kaoru huffed indignantly, pulling the edges of said garment more tightly around himself. He was about to suggest that the other put on one as well when Kyouya removed a light overcoat from the closet. Kaoru carefully stepped out of the way as the other passed while simultaneously sliding his arms into the sleeves.
"This way." With one hand trailing along the railing, Kyouya ironically guided the other down the hallway and up a flight of stairs to a small, enclosed room. After fumbling around for the handle, Kyouya pushed open the only door. Kaoru gasped as he stepped out onto the rooftop deck.
"Wow," he breathed, staring in wonderment as Paris splayed herself out in front of him. At the edge of the horizon, the Eiffel Tower shot up from amongst city streets and shorter buildings in reminiscence of Tokyo Tower – its Japanese counterpart. "It's beautiful..."
"So I've been told."
Kaoru bit his lip at the inconsiderate slip of the tongue. "S-sorry..."
Kyouya waved off the apology with a shake of the head, though a bitter smile accompanied it. "No need. Tamaki has offered plenty of elaborate, oral descriptions."
"I can picture that." When the image of Tamaki prancing across the rooftop, spewing illustrative details about the scenery entered his mind, Kaoru couldn't help but laugh. "I'm sure he paints a wonderful image."
"I'm sure you could as well."
Kaoru felt his cheeks color at the compliment, especially considering from whom it came and how that person had no visual experience on which to base his conclusion. "Thanks, Kyouya," he spoke quietly. When the other offered no noticeable response, Kaoru drifted over to the railing with Kyouya following his footsteps. For a while he simply soaked in the cool, Parisian night air and gazed at the lights flickering atop skyscrapers as the sounds of cars and pedestrians beyond and below flooded into their ears. When the ice was broken at last, it was not by speech as more logically envisioned, but by touch. Kaoru gaped at the fingers curled across the railing around his own. Careful as to not dissuade the owner, he lifted his hand in order to entwine the pair. Instantly, he could feel the other relax as they shared small, bittersweet smiles.
"Hikaru thinks you found me," Kaoru spoke up, far more casual than he had intended.
"He has no reason to think otherwise," Kyouya replied smoothly, having anticipated the detail's eventual entrance.
"He would if you had told him the truth."
"Now, why would I have done that?" The classic, manipulative smirk had emerged. Although Kaoru ultimately wanted to roll his eyes, the depth of the conflict prevented such a nonchalant motion from surfacing.
"Right, because then I would have to explain why I called you in the first place. That's awful considerate of you, Kyouya, especially considering how you want me to tell him anyway."
"On your own time."
"I know. Thanks." In contrast, his tone spoke of melancholy as his hand stiffened around the other's. "But I can't let this hinder your friendship with him – not after you two have become so close."
"He'll get over it, just as you would have eventually forgiven me. Worst case scenario, if there's one thing I've always known, it's that nothing comes without sacrifice," he finished philosophically, slowly lifting a hand up to ever so slightly brush across his eyes before clenching into a fist. A moment later, he found himself engulfed in a tight, unexpected yet wholly welcomed embrace.
"We love you; you know that, right?" Kaoru spoke into his jacket, the sound muffled yet the sentiment crystal clear.
"Yes, I know that now... and so should you." The motions that followed indicated a nod. "Then I need you to make me a promise – one that if broken, will never be forgiven." Again, the motions followed, yet slower this time. "Promise that, if Hikaru finds out and asks if there's anything he can do to help, which you know he will, you will answer truthfully." When silence and stiffening came after, Kyouya pulled closer, half-unintentionally breathing in his ear, "Kaoru, you have to let him know."
"...I promise," at last the other choked out. "You're right – he at least deserves that."
"No, you both deserve it." Even if Kyouya could have seen the disbelief on Kaoru's face, he would have smiled anyway.