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Some Princes Become Kings (3/10)
021. Vacation
It was the end of the semester. Kyouya finally had the chance to sleep in, and he fully intended to stay in until the weekend was over. At least, that was the idea before Tamaki started tugging at his blanket, and clambering for him to wake up.
It was too early to think. Kyouya didn't wonder what Tamaki was doing in his bedroom. It was a dream. A nightmare.
"Good morning, Kyouya! Come on! We're going to Hokkaido! Up!"
No.
He had no Hokkaido plans, not since that time Tamaki made him want to wring his scrawny little...
Yes.
"Kyou-Ack!"
022. Mother Nature
Fuyumi warned Tamaki that her brother was not a morning person when she let him into Kyouya's room. However, Tamaki wanted to learn what Kyouya was like when stripped of all pretenses, with his true nature revealed to the world.
When Kyouya's fingers instinctively clamped around his throat, Tamaki flailed, lost his footing, and realized in the instance he collapsed on top of his best friend that he'd somehow fallen into bed with a natural predator.
Need. Air!
Suddenly, Kyouya let go.
Tamaki wheezed.
Neither moved.
"I'm sorry!" Tamaki jerked up. "Mommy! What do I..."
Kyouya was asleep again.
"... do?"
023. Cat
He wasn't in bed when he woke up, but in... Tamaki's car.
"Wha..?"
"You're up?" Purple eyes sparkled. "You're up!"
"How... Where are we headed?" Kyouya straightened his glasses, looked down, and frowned. "Who changed my clothes?"
"Me. Fuyumi helped me get you to the car though. We're going to Hokkaido, remember?"
"... No."
"Kyouya!"
"What's today's plan?"
Tamaki perked up instantly. "First, we check into the Nekozawa resort in Noboribetsu, eat brunch there, trek around Hell Valley until dinner, then soak in hot springs. Sound good?"
Hell... "Nekozawa?"
"Yup!"
"... You're a cat person?"
"Hm? Sure! It's animal magnetism actually. Why?"
024. No Time
As they spoke in his car, Tamaki started hand-combing black, sleep-mussed hair.
Kyouya fell silent. After a moment, he searched his pockets.
"No watch... No phone," he stared foreword unseeingly, voice straining as his fingers curled over his knees. "No wallet, meaning no ID...
"Tamaki." Kyouya growled in a low, dark baritone that made the blonde freeze.
Wide-eyed, Tamaki scoot back. "Everything's in the trunk, Kyouya. All safely packed." He was babbling. "Don't you worry! I packed your toothbrush, and underwear, and... Hey, you'll have me all weekend."
The chauffeur coughed.
Tamaki fretfully asked the man if he was sick.
025. Trouble Lurking
The Nekozawa resort was crawling with cats. The staff sported tails, cat-ears, and frilly gothic costumes. While Tamaki captivated the female receptionists, and acquainted himself with "cosplay" and "cat-speech" and cats, Kyouya retrieved some vital belongings from the car.
His head hurt from thinking of how to convince the chauffeur that he and Tamaki were just platonic friends - that he had the boy's best interest at heart, and absolutely no ulterior motives, or designs on him. None. Whatsoever.
"Don't hurt him."
The chauffeur spoke!
"You'll be sorry if you hurt my young master."
Kyouya smiled wryly, "He's my young master, too."
026. Tears
After eating, Tamaki ushered Kyouya into the car again. They got off at Jigokudani, "Hell Valley," aptly named for steam vents, sulfurous streams, and other volcanic activities.
"This is nothing like the Val d'Enfer." Tamaki softly remarked.
He began telling Kyouya about a vacation he spent with both parents in Les Baux de Provence, France. He described an otherworldly landscape of limestone, of the ravaged Citadelle, and the Val d'Enfer, "Valley of Hell" below medieval ruins.
Abruptly, Tamaki whined that the sulfur in Hell Valley stung his eyes.
Kyouya agreed.
Back in the car, they laughed, and dried their tears.
027. Foreign
Kyouya wanted Tamaki back in France. The thought made him laugh, incredulously, because it was one of the same thoughts he entertained when they hardly knew each other - but for different reasons.
Now, looking at the somewhat-subdued blonde, Kyouya remembered the earthbound angel he first saw in the music room before they were formally introduced, and before Tamaki fell in Kyouya's regard for being so utterly, frustratingly human.
When they returned to the Nekozawa resort, Tamaki rushed out of the car, exclaiming that he was starving. Kyouya had a fond smile on his face.
The chauffeur was their only witness.
028. Sorrow
Tamaki found a dark corner, and hugged his knees for the few minutes Kyouya spent in another room changing out of dirty clothes. Purple eyes watered, just a little. He stared at a wall.
Happy thoughts.
Mother smiling, teaching him piano. Father ruffling his hair, because he played well. Mother fixing his hair, laughingly, telling father not to mess it up...
Not enough. Something else.
Kyouya beside him, watching him play. Kyouya disheveled in the morning. Kyouya when his hair's proper, and he's wide awake...
Perfect.
There was a knock at the door.
"Tamaki, are you ready?"
Tamaki instantly changed.
029. Happiness
Standing proud in an expensive resort robe with matching slippers and a cool gaze behind designer glasses, Kyouya knew he was the picture of an attractive, respectable, rich young bastard.
Tamaki struck him as what a top class centerfold might look like with his belt artlessly knotted, so that the black fabric hung luxuriously too loose around his neck, its color accentuating his fair skin and fine hair.
Words came unbidden.
"Tamaki, you look like a male host."
Kyouya pushed the blonde back so he could invite himself into the room. The door locked automatically.
"Kyo-kyouya?"
Kyouya straightened Tamaki's clothes.
030. Under the Rain
Kyouya untied Tamaki's belt, pulled the sides of his robe higher, tucked the cloth tighter at his sides - "Hold that up. Yes. Like that. Now stop squirming." - and retied the knot.
Tamaki's heart tried to beat it's way out through his windpipe. He swore he'd never dare appear inappropriately dressed in front of Kyouya again.
He couldn't quite meet Kyouya's eyes for the rest of the evening, not after what happened in his room. He wasn't even sure he'd be able to fall asleep in the room now.
Dinner was an awkward affair.
He was scared of what came next.