Mending Tamaki

After the hasty departure of Tamaki Kyoya searched and searched. He couldn't leave Tamaki in such a position. He just couldn't. He didn't care that Tamaki didn't want to be found.

However, his onion squad, private detectives and personal searches had proved unfruitful over  three months since their last encounter.

He was beginning to wonder if there was still a Tamaki around to save. It was a morbid thought but the reality was that the state Tamaki was in wasn't a healthy one. Especially for Tamaki. He didn't understand why Tamaki would hide from him. He wanted nothing more than to help. Wanting to think, he decided to pay a visit to the old music room at Ouran Academy.

"Oh how wonderful! You're the second former student who has come today. We must be doing something right!" The secretary smiled, "Of course you may visit the music room. No one uses it so you won't be disturbing anyone."

"Second?" Kyoya knitted his eyebrows.

"Yes...Oh but I wasn't to tell anyone..." The secretary covered her mouth in horror.

Kyoya was already running. It had to be Tamaki. It just had to be. Bolting along the halls and up stairs he stopped out the front of the room. He heard the sound of the piano from within. It was Tamaki playing. Only Tamaki could play like that. He stayed where he was and simply listened.

The music wasn't Tamaki's usual. It was dark, sad and full of an inexpressible agony Kyoya couldn't stand. He felt horrible about it all. He hadn't been there when his best and dearest friend had needed him. The music just got more and more intense and, finally, Kyoya quietly entered the room. 

Tamaki, who always looked especially lovely at a piano, certainly didn't look it now. He looked like a mad person. His whole body was being thrown into the music, his hair was all over the place thanks to the violence of his movements and he looked too thin.

With a clashing chord the playing ended and Tamaki sat still. Kyoya slowly approached but Tamaki's mind was somewhere else and he didn't even hear Kyoya. It wasn't until Kyoya's hand touched his shoulder that he turned to look at his friend. Kyoya was horrified. Tamaki's eyes had horrible dark rings, he was extremely pale and his face was totally blank.

"I didn't think I'd see you here Tamaki" Kyoya offered a hand, "Come on. Let's sit and talk"

Tamaki took his hand but it seemed it was all automatic. Kyoya could feel the tension in Tamaki's poor, tired body. It was so bad that Tamaki was literally shaking.

He guided Tamaki to the nearest lounge and sat him down. Sitting next to him he said "I don't know what to do Tamaki...Please just tell me what to do."

Tamaki stayed silent. Then Kyoya realised that there WAS something he could do. Something Tamaki wouldn't have had in a long time.

"Come here" he pulled Tamaki into a warm, gentle hug. Tamaki cried out and struggled at first but Kyoya held him tightly.

"It's okay...it's only a hug. Nothing more" Kyoya reassured him in a gentle voice. Eventually Tamaki began to relax and Kyoya relaxed his grip a little.

"I know I'm not the most sentimental person in the world and I'm not exactly the best at expressing how I feel but...You do know I care about you right?" Kyoya said quietly. 

Tamaki started to shake with suppressed sobs. Then he was crying heart wrenching sobs that had Kyoya fighting back his own tears. Kyoya wouldn't let himself cry though. He had to be there for Tamaki. Tamaki clutched desperately to Kyoya as he cried harder. He even screamed into Kyoya's shoulder at one stage. 

"I can't do it anymore...I can't" Tamaki whimpered between sobs, "where is everyone? I want my family back...You guys were all I had...where's Haruhi? I want Haruhi!"

"Haruhi is studying " Kyoya answered softly, absentmindedly stroking Tamaki's hair.

"Don't leave me...Please don't leave me...I'm sorry I ran away and hid...I'm so sorry...I was scared...please..."

"It's alright. I'm not going anywhere" Kyoya reassured him. In his head he was already forming a plan. 

"I...I can't...breathe..." Tamaki tried to breathe between his gasping sobs.

"I've got you. It's going to be okay now" 

Tamaki slowly moved out of Kyoya's arms and Kyoya got nervous as he walked unsteadily towards the window.

"Tamaki?" Kyoya stood as Tamaki opened the window.

Tamaki just stood there, still trying to breathe properly .

Kyoya walked over to him and touched his back.Tamaki fanned himself, leaning against the side of the large window.

"Tamaki you need to breathe" Kyoya rubbed Tamaki's back. Tamaki shook his head, he couldn't. 

Shortly after Tamaki went completely limp. Kyoya luckily caught him otherwise he would have fallen out the window.

"Oh Tamaki..." Kyoya pulled out his mobile phone, "What am I going to do with you?"