disclaimer: I do not own Ouran High School Host Club.

Chapter Five | Chipping Away at the Ice

15 October 2007

Yuu wasn't Kyouya's biggest fan, and he was sure it was blatantly obvious. So, when Kyouya came up to him, seemingly unprompted, Yuu was certainly confused.

Kyouya pushed his glasses up his nose as he opened the black notebook in his hand, scanning over whatever was written in it—Yuu didn't care enough to be curious.

Raising an eyebrow, Yuu glanced up at the other. There was an unsettling look in Kyouya's eye, one that Yuu found quite unnerving.

"I've taken notice of the increase of clientele since your arrival," Kyouya explained intimidatingly. Yuu immediately looked down and scuffed his shoe against the cherry tile, leaving a dark mark behind. "The guests really seem to enjoy seeing you interact with Tamaki—they like that brotherly interaction."

"What are you getting at?" Yuu could barely find his voice; it's small, barely above a whisper—or at least it felt that way.

"You have an excellent academic record, Yuukou, plus you have a steadily increasing fan club—both qualities not to overlook when it comes to this club. I've concluded that you'd be the perfect final addition—"

Yuu couldn't listen to that anymore. "No."

He looked appalled by Yuu's response. "Excuse me?"

"No," Yuu said again, slightly louder than earlier but still not looking the upperclassmen in the eye. His posture was quite poor as he crossed one arm to hold the other. "I mean, I appreciate your offer, I-I really do Kyouya-sempai. I just—I don't think I'm rea-ready for club activities."

He didn't even want to be there in the first place.

"I see." He closed the notebook in his hand with a snap, causing Yuu to finally glance up. "But I'm sure you'll change your mind quick enough."

Yuu shifted his weight from one foot to the other. He glanced at the clock on the wall as if it could offer him any help—it was something to focus on. He feigned interest in one of the twins walking by. But even so, that didn't last long.

Kyouya didn't offer any relief. His eyes were dark, almost ominous. It wasn't even an I-hate-you kind of stare either; it was more like a do-what-I-say-or-I'm-taking-you-down stare.

"I've looked into your records, Yuukou. And you've piqued my interests," he said. "You've got quite a secret past, don't you? Very mysterious. Your medical records were very hard to gain access to, especially those private documents, such as those items from your old psychiatrist. Which, by the way, were very interesting."

Yuu took a step back, eyes widening and mouth falling open.

Kyouya knew.

Kyouya fucking knew.

Everything.

To be honest, Yuu was having a hard time processing new information. He needed to sit down or lean against something for some kind of support.

He would forever have an issue with Kyouya.

"You're some kind of shadow king, aren't you?"

He raised an eyebrow towards Yuu. "In a way, yes. You can say that. But Tamaki calls the shots around here. After all, he is the president."

Tamaki.

That's right.

Tamaki.

Kyouya couldn't force Yuu to join because he was not the president, only the vice president.

"Nice try, Kyouya-senpai, but you can't force me to join." Yuu could feel a confidence boost within his words; his posture straightened out and his eyes finally met the onyx-hued ones of the teen who had tried blackmailing him moments ago. "My brother is technically king. You may think you have control, but he can still veto your actions. I don't have to join because Tamaki already said it's my choice. And I said no."

Eyes battled for dominance—Yuu could practically see the passion burning in them. Kyouya's were like bloodstained daggers lusting for more bloodshed, whereas Yuu's were smoldering knives drenched in hatred. Neither side showed any sign of giving in.

Kyouya smirked. "You may have won this round, Yuukou. But trust me, the war is only just beginning."

This.

This was the moment Yuu truly realized he loathed Kyouya Ootori.

17 October 2007

The clock above his bed continued a repetitive ticking noise that was surprisingly soothing to listen to—it beat complete silence by a landslide. His legs hung off the edge of his bed as he had stretched himself across it, tapping his finger against the padding of his blanket in tune with the clock's ticking.

His guitar sat beside him on the bed. He'd be playing it on and off, his pick still in his hand as he fidgeted with it.

It had to be nearing midnight, so someone needed to explain to him why the hell somebody was knocking on his door again.

He sat up, announcing, "Tamaki, I swear to God, if that's you, I'm murdering you in your sleep."

The doorknob turned and the door opened. Tamaki's blond hair came into view, closing the door behind him. "Can I at least talk to you first?"

"That's debatable."

It wasn't a yes, but Tamaki obviously knew it wasn't a no either as he walked across the room and sat on Yuu's bed.

"How'd you know I was awake?" Yuu asked, twisting the bottom of his shirt.

"I could hear you playing." Tamaki nodded his head towards the guitar between them. "You still writing or just playing for fun?"

Yuu didn't answer the question. Instead, he closed the black leather journal next to him.

"I didn't mean to interrupt…" Tamaki said.

"I wasn't getting much writing done," Yuu sighed. "I should probably take a break."

Yuu dreaded the silence between them. He could practically hear the blood in the vessels of his ears. The shift on his bed as Tamaki crossed one leg over the other. The soft plucking of the strings on his guitar as Yuu found himself fidgeting with them for the noise—it was almost suffocating.

Tamaki was the first to speak "I remember when we were kids," he said, "back when we shared a room and you used to keep me up at night kicking my bunk because you couldn't sleep."

Yuu laughed at that. "Mom should've let me have the top bunk, honestly."

"Yeah, maybe then I would've gotten some sleep." Tamaki laughed. "You were always getting in trouble for it too."

"I was always getting into trouble anyway. You were the good one."

"Are you still a troublemaker?" Tamaki asked.

Yuu shook his head. "I ran track instead. Mom only agreed to it if I promised I wouldn't get into fights."

"You always were a troubled kid…" Tamaki trailed off for a moment. "From what I've seen in these few weeks, you've been getting along okay. I haven't heard of you getting into a fight or getting kicked out of class."

Yuu sat silently for a moment, then said: "I've tried really hard to turn myself around… for Mom. I'm not twelve anymore."

Tamaki shook his head. "No, you're not."

There was silence between them.

Then laughter.

It was contagious. First, Tamaki as the laughter rolled from his mouth. Yuu joined as he tried to hide it behind his hand. The sound seemed to echo off the walls. Tamaki's hands gripped at his sides as he lurched back and forth. Yuu, on the other hand threw his head back, tears starting to sting at the corner of his eyes.

"You look twelve with those braces," Tamaki said, laughter halting almost completely.

Yuu's laughter soon died down as well. "Did you just now notice?"

"No. I meant to ask last week, but with club duties, it slipped my mind until just now."

Yuu shot him a glance before answering. "It's been about two years now… I think? I'm supposed to get them off soon. But I'll have to get a new orthodontist for it and I'm kinda nervous about that."

"Ah" was all Tamaki said before they fell into silence again.

This time, it wasn't a nervous silence. Tamaki had finally begun chipping away at the ice—even if he hadn't broken it, he was making progress. The silence was almost comfortable. Almost.

"I miss this…" Tamaki started, a soft smile dancing on his lips. "Like old times, ya know. You, me, talking about stuff like it's the most important thing in the world."

Yuu didn't comment. He didn't need to. Tamaki knew exactly how he felt about it because Tamaki felt the same.

Teaser: You've made it this far Yuu, don't you go around picking trouble with the Hitachiin brothers.