Winters First Kiss - Tamakyo/Kyotama

Chapter 5: Parents

He didn't let himself cry that night, nor did he let himself think about what he would do. The phone call he had received from his father shook him, although he knew his grandmother must really be behind it no difference was made... he had a month, a single month, to get married to someone or he would be sent to a random country with a random woman never to see his friends again. To make matters worse something was up with his best friend, and their fight made him feel terrible. In any other situation, he would call Kyoya and together they would figure it out, but when he reached out for his phone he felt a deep ache in his heart.

Both boys spent the night sad, alone, and longing for each other.

Tamaki almost didn't go to school, but he felt it was selfish to abandon the host club due to a petty fight. However, when he got to school, the tension between him and Kyoya was almost enough to make him leave; both didn't know what to say nor how to say it. And so, they sat in silence until the host club.

The tension could be cut with a knife, everyone felt it as the two walked in the room, "what's going on with them?" Haruhi whispered.

"Looks like Mommy and Daddy had a little fight," the twins replied synchronised, disregarding Haruhi's hushed tone.

"It looks like Kyo-chan really hurt Tama-chan by lying yesterday but doesn't know how to say sorry," Huni replied, deep down Tamaki knew it was true. Huni jumped out of his chair and walked over to Kyoya, Mori keeping a watchful eye on his cousin, and took hold of his wrist.

Tamaki wasn't sure what the look on Kyoya's face was about, but he looked like he was in pain, "You okay Kyo-chan?" the boy Lolita asked in reply.

"Of course," he waved off in reply, "it was just unexpected," but the glint in his eye made Tamaki wonder about the truthfulness of that.

It was good enough for Huni-senpai, he basically dragged Kyoya over to Tamaki, "make out!" Huni demanded.

Both boys felt their cheeks warm at the outlandish request, the word 'confused' basically written on Tamaki's face.

"I think you mean make up," Mori-senpai finally chimed in

"Oh! Yeah! Do that and be friends again!" innocence shone on his face, but Tamaki wondered how much of it was planned.

Despite the shady twins losing it in the background, the space between him and Kyoya was silent. It made his body cringe.

"Tamaki," Kyoya began, "I-"

"No, Kyoya, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that; I wasn't angry at you but I took it out on you. You were just trying to help me, and I lost it and-" Tamaki's apology – or blabbering – was cut short as Kyoya placed a delicate hand over his mouth.

"Tamaki, I shouldn't have lied to you. Friends, and family for that matter, shouldn't do that. I don't blame you for getting mad, you were emotional and I should have handled it better. From now on, ask and you will be told. Okay?"

"Why would you be apologising, Boss?" The twins unnecessarily chimed in.

Before Tamaki could answer, Kyoya glared at Haruhi, "I'm sure the clubs darling daughter could answer that for us. Am I right, Haruhi?" His words were laced with salt.

"Haruhi?" Tamaki copied mockingly, "you dare suggest Haruhi would break our trust and- and eavesdrop on us!"

"Only as much as she'd break a vase," Kyoya retorted.

"Looks like Mommy and Daddy are at it again," laughed the twins.

"Wait- Tamaki don't get mad at him... I- I did listen. I didn't mean to! I was just walking, and I heard you and Kyoya senpai arguing! I wasn't trying to listen in, it was just bad timing," Tamaki was shocked she would defend Kyoya, but could feel in his guts it was the truth no matter how much he wanted it to be a lie.

"I hate to interrupt," one twin started, "but it's about time we started for the afternoon," the other one finished.

Just before the doors were opened and club festivities began, Kyoya grabbed Tamaki by the tie and leaned into his ear, "we need to talk after this," the dark-haired boy whispered, "please," he almost begged; it felt to Tamaki he was trying to say, 'I don't want to lose you.'

Unfortunately for Kyoya, Tamaki had to kill everything he felt towards his friend; it's better in the long run, it's for my own sanity, he'll only get in the way of what I need to do, Tamaki had convinced himself. It appears Tamaki was too oblivious to acknowledge the best path for them both.