A/N: Gees, how long ago did I promise this? Too long ago either way. Unfortunately real life interfered with my ability to write. But I am back now so please enjoy this next instalment and please review.

This isn't a songfic, as I said it would be. I wanted to use another ABBA song, SOS, but upon listening to it I realised that it actually didn't dovetail well, so this will just be a straight fic. That said, it is sort of inspired by Mona Lisa by All American Rejects, and that is where I got the title from; to put it in context it takes place about a week after Winner Takes It All.

Disclaimer: I do not own OHSHC, I do not own any of the original characters. I do own Miyamoto Kamiko. As much as anyone can own that archetype, anyway.

World Comes Down

Kyouya leaned back against the couch cushions with a sigh, pacing the cold glass of whiskey against his temple, hoping it would help soothe the headache that he could feel blooming behind his eyes. He was tired in more ways than one and he didn't know how to deal with it.

The universe must have been heaping on the punishment more than normal tonight, for before his thoughts could go any further than that, the door opened with a snap and Kamiko walked in. Looking about as content as that woman ever did.

He jumped slightly in surprise and snapped his laptop shut, not having the time to close the document that would have given way to much away where she to see it. He watched her out of the corner of his eye as she sashed in and perched herself next to him on the couch.

"Were you looking at something that you shouldn't be?" she asked in a sing-song voice. "Something perverted perhaps?"

"Not at all." he responded smoothly, choosing to answer only the second question. She had no idea how close to the mark she had come, before swinging off in the wrong direction. He had simply been reviewing certain documents and updating them with new information that hurt more than he could have imagined it would.

"You look tired," she said, placing her hands on his shoulders and kneading them with her thumbs. He stiffened a fraction at the contact, but not enough for her to notice. Those were not the hands he wanted.

Before he could snap at her and ruin his entire cool façade, Kyouya stood up. "If you will excuse me, I still have business to attend to." When Haruhi and he had still been together, they had shared an office. She was a diligent worker and did not unduly distract him provided he couldn't see her. Kamiko on the other hand had been all but banned from his office. She seemed to feel the need to fill any silence with chatter about nothings.

It made sense, in a way. She had never been expected to be more than passably intelligent. She was of a group that expected to be, and indeed were, married off young. They were supposed to be attractive and entertaining at a dinner party. To be a ornament that their husband could proudly display.

Any more than that was unnecessary.

With one last minimal smile he left the room, taking the drink and his laptop with him.

Once within his sanctuary, Kyouya began to relax again. He took a sip from the glass and then winced a little. The ice had melted, turning fine scotch into undrinkable swill. He placed the glass down and opened his laptop.

The document he had been working on was simply titled 'Fujioka.' In high school it had contained all the information he knew of Haruhi and Ranka-san, as well as some of his preferred photos from her middle and elementary school days. In the years of his dating Haruhi, it had been abandoned. Now it was being updated with information taken from a recent email.

Akida-kun was one of the best private detectives in Tokyo. Expensive, discrete and surprisingly loyal provided his fees were paid. Kyouya could not risk following Haruhi directly, but at the same time he had given up on the idea of a clean break. He should have known that it would be bullshit.

That didn't mean that he had to like what the report contained. On one hand he knew that she should be allowed to date whoever she wanted and that if she was going to dinner with some random guy from her class that it was none of his business. She had the right to be happy, just like everyone else. But on the other hand, fuck being rational.

She was his (had been, he was forced to correct himself) and the thought of someone else touching her made his insides burn in the most uncomfortable way. He tried his best to bury that feeling in work; and when that wasn't enough, alcohol.

Speaking of: he stood and used the liquid from his glass to water the abutilon on his desk. He refilled it, pouring too much, and took a deep sip. Kamiko didn't want him smoking in the house, but he lit a cigarette anyway. This was his room, in his home if it came to that, and she could deal with it.

He sat down again, took one more look at his laptop, and then snapped it shut. He emptied half his scotch. He could only take so much.

A/N: So you can see, thing are beginning to fall apart a little for our dear Kyouya. But fear not, this is called Up and Down for a reason and sometimes things need to get worse before they can get better.

Edit 04/09/2015: There was a plot inconsistency in this chapter that I have now fixed. I had forgotten that I have established Haruhi as still a student. Not a qualified lawyer.