SailorStar9: Sorry guys, my mom pulled me out for shopping yesterday, so I didn't have the time to upload this. So, as compensation, it's two chapters in one day. This is Chapter 13 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?

Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny.

Chapter 13: Male Bonds

Kaoru had to get out, get away from Makoto's volatile temper. The fines arts student thought that he was used to dealing with his lover's temper. He had weathered fits of unjustified jealousy, had dealt with irrational fear. He'd also experienced her fierce independence.

That's why after Ami kissed Kyoya on the cheek before exiting the penthouse on the girls' weekly night-outs, the younger twin had literally begged his former senior for a guys' night. Fortunately, Kaoru was not the kind to over indulge in alcohol, otherwise he would have been doing the beers much more quickly than he already was.

Kyoya and Hikaru were rather sympathetic about Kaoru's position. None of Hikaru's teasing banter was directed at his younger brother, and Kyoya kept from gloating over how he was finally making progress with his lovely Nymph or telling Kaoru it was his own fault for having the self-reliant chef as a lover.

Currently, everyone, but the host himself, was playing on Kyoya's Wii. The way that Kaoru was swinging about the controller with such force suggested to Mori-senpai that the younger sibling was desperately trying to take his frustration out on the poor tennis ball on the flat screen.

"One minute she's throwing me out – and by throwing me out, I mean she was throwing things at my head and yelling 'Get out!' – And the next, she's clinging to me, crying! Mako does not cry! That is not how my cook expresses her emotions. She screams. She gets sarcastic. She throws things – usually pillows; not vases and glasses as she has been for the last week. But Makoto does not cry."

"Maybe she's just scared." Hikaru offered, managing to get a word in after backhanding a ball over the net, which Honey-senpai easily returned.

Kaoru sighed, "Scared of what, Hikaru? I have worked every day for almost two months to let her know that there is nothing to be afraid of with me. I'm not going to leave her. I'm not going to hurt her. I never have, and I'm not about to start now. I love her, damnit!"

"Makoto's been through a lot, Kaoru." Kyoya spoke up. "Some that you don't know about yet, though I'm sure that she'll tell you when she's ready. Just, be patient with her, and keep letting her know that you won't hurt her." He reached over to pat Kaoru on the back.

Kaoru blinked at him, "How much more could she have been through? Between her parents' death on the plane when she was just a kid and the douchebag of a senpai who broke her heart, what more could Mako have suffered?"

Kyoya grimaced at Kaoru's desperate question causing the ever-observant Mori-senpai's eyes to narrow ever so slightly for just a moment. With the others focused on Kaoru, none of the other guys even noticed.

"I think Kyoya's Wii has taken enough abuse for the night, and I'm beginning to get hungry." Honey-senpai cut in. "Why don't we go out for a bite to eat, and then we can all over to my place for a game of pool?"

Kaoru nodded, turning off his controller and slipping it off his wrist. "Yeah, that sounds good. Thanks guys. I really did need this."

SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.