A/N:

Chapter 17

Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap.

That was all that was racing through Kyouya's mind as he soared through the house with unknown speed and agility. He rushed past doors up stairs around corners and finally he reached the stairwell leading to the roof. It seemed to go on forever. He'd left Haruhi gushing tears of pure terror at the base of the house staring stricken up at Tamaki as he swayed in the wind.

"What is that idiot thinking!"K youya hissed hoping the stairs two at a time. What did he know? Was something more going on? Then it hit him hard almost toppling him down the stairs again. Was this his fault?

::

Haruhi moved from foot to foot anxiously staring up at Tamaki. She didn't know wheither or not to call to him. Just leave him there? Her heart was pounding crazily in her ears, she didn't know what to do. Why wasn't Kyouya there yet?

Her heart lurched suddenly when Tamaki's back faced her and his arms lifted into the air.

"No!" She wanted to scream but it was barely a whisper harsh against her throat.

::

Kyouya burst through the doors to the roof panting for breath his face flushed with the exertion on his body.

"Tamaki!" He shouted. Tamaki turned slowly putting his back to the world and looked at his…best friend? Was that still a good term? Tamaki wasn't sure who this boy was that stood in front of him. He observed the man in front looking for differences in his expression, posture.

Ah, there it was. In his eyes, a new life was staring panicked back at him. A completely new Kyouya was burning beneath those glasses.

"What the hell do you think your doing. Get away from the ledge right now!" Probably not the best thing to say a suicidal teenager but it came out and Kyouya didn't have the time to retract the words, he only stared. Tamaki chuckled and lifted his arms parallel to the ledge. Kyouya half took a step forward but stopped himself unsure of what Tamaki might do if he felt threatened at all.

"Why are you so panicked my friend? I only wanted to see into the garden." He shrugged and hopped down from the ledge putting his hands into his pockets and leaning against it with one foot against the wall. Kyouya couldn't help but sigh in relief.

"You scared Haruhi and me to death Tamaki!" Kyouya scolded trying desperately to reign in his composure.

"And why would you two be so worried? Its not like I haven't stood on high places before?" Tamki tiled his head to one side observing this new Kyouya from a different angle. He had a strange and creepy smile lining his weathered face.

"Um, well its not safe." Kyouya cleansed his voice of all the fear he'd had before and returned to the well known Kyouya. Tamaki's eyes narrowed though the smile remained. Kyouya shifted nervously under the gaze. Very unnerving. He took in a deep breath, calmed his mind and focused on being who Tamaki would remember him as, someone composed, calm and aware of everything around him.

"Why were you with Haruhi?" Kyouya tensed at the tone of his friends voice. His hands clenched but he released them forced a care free grin to his face and pushed at the bride of his glasses.

"The others were going swimming we needed to grab our swim suits." The truth, to a point. Tamaki's eyes narrowed further then burst open in a surprise attack of love. Kyouya turned to see Haruihi huffing and puffing at the very top of the stair case. Her face was just as flushed as Kyouya's had been but Kyouya recognized with anxiety that her eyes were flashing angrily between the two men. Glancing back at Tamaki, love had been replaced by cold, hard fear. He put up his hands in peace and his eyes widened as Haruhi took a step out of the doorway.

"You." She spat at him one fingers stabbing through the air right at him. Tamaki whimpered. "....I'..!" With each word she'd taken a step further and further from the stair case and with the last word she shouted and launched herself toward the other teen. Kyouya acted on pure instinct and snatched Haruhi around the waist trying to stop her before she could get to Tamaki. The blonde teen had retreated to a corner of the roof and was huddled there staring fearfully at his "daughter"

"Haruhi stop this!" She tried to struggle and crawl out of the boy's arms but he held firm and pressed her back to his chest and turned to face Tamaki. The boy flinched.

"Haruhi!" Kyouya snapped and finally Haruhi stilled and just trembled in his arms. He squeezed trying to reassure her but it didn't seem to help.

"What is wrong with you my Daughter!" Tamaki quailed from his huddle and Haruhi shrugged out Kyouya's arms and stared Tamaki down.

"You idiot!" She hissed and tore from Kyouya's graps running back down the way she'd come.