"Stop and Say You Love Me" – Evan's Blue

Highly inspired by Save the King by The Dream Whisperer

Chapter 10: Stop and Say You Love Me

The light from the chandeliers gleamed off every diamond that the girls wore, rendering them even more fabulous. Then again, all the girls of Ouran were automatically fabulous in Tamaki's eyes. But none of them were quite perfect. There was one person in the room who was perfect, however.

"Welcome, princesses, to the second annual Host Club dance party!" announced Tamaki, standing atop the platform, looking out over his lovely guests. His snappy white suit blended well with the décor. "Please enjoy yourselves." He bowed in a dramatic flourish and several girls fainted, while the others cheered loudly. He then flew down the stairs to join his fellow hosts in dancing with the ladies.

After the first hour, in which everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves well enough, Tamaki finished a dance with one of his regular clients with an quick apology.

"I'm sorry, princess, but there is something very important I must do," he said ever-so-smoothly. The girl was too busy squealing in happiness to respond. Tamaki left the dance floor to find Kyouya sitting by himself, gazing out over the guests, no doubt doing some extensive calculations in his head. Or so Tamaki thought.

Little did he know that Kyouya was really thinking about the one person he truly wanted to dance with, and how he couldn't possibly, and as a result how he shouldn't be thinking about it, for it would do him no good. A soft voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Kyouya…"

He glanced up to find the blonde wearing a small smile. Kyouya restrained himself from blushing, like always.

"Yes, Tamaki?" he prompted. The other reached out a hand.

"May I have this dance?" Tamaki asked. Kyouya had to stop for a minute and think, Was this a dream? He decided it couldn't be, and so accepted the outstretched hand. Tamaki wanted to dance with him, and – as always – he had to give Tamaki what he wanted. Silently Kyouya let Tamaki help him up from his seat, practically shocked into silence. His brain rationalized that this was all a joke, a ploy to elicit more 'flames of moe' from the female crowd, while his heart hoped otherwise.

He produced a small smile himself to cover up the mental mess inside. Kyouya could feel everyone's eyes on them as Tamaki lead him out onto the dance floor. He was sure Tamaki felt the gaze too, but – being Tamaki – paid it no heed. Kyouya's heart skipped a beat with the squeeze that Tamaki gave his hands as he guided them into place for the dance. It was not unlike the hand-squeezes that Ranka often gave him in motion, but the wonderfully distinct effect it gave Kyouya could not be an illusion.

Together they danced to the slow, smooth rhythm of the classical music as if no one was watching them, and yet at the same time everyone was. The sheer bliss that Kyouya felt at each and every moment that Tamaki guided him across the floor outweighed, by far, his pondering as to why. For now, he simply soaked in Tamaki's soft gaze and the way his violet-blue eyes shown, showing he was enjoying himself as well.

It was this that convinced him he was in love with Tamaki – he could do nothing or anything at all and it would be fine; Kyouya would revel in it. Ranka had to fulfill Kyouya's wishes – though he certainly did, much to the boy's gratitude – in order for Kyouya to truly enjoy his presence.

Ranka was handsome, but Tamaki was captivating.

As the song came to a close, Tamaki released his left hand from the grip. For a moment, Kyouya mentally faltered, feeling deep the loss of contact. His unease was soon put to rest, however, as Tamaki brought his hand even closer, his arm around his partner's back, and pulled him closer. Kyouya had but a moment to be intrigued, for Tamaki then leaned forward, covering the now relatively small distance between them, and brought his lips to Kyouya's own. The other arm broke free from its grip as well and traveled to the back of Kyouya's head.

Kyouya wrapped his now free arms around Tamaki's neck, all the while gratefully returning the sudden, yet wholly desired, kiss. His first thought was occupied by how different he tasted from Ranka, and the second by how much more beautiful this flavor was. All too soon Tamaki broke away, much to Kyouya's dismay, and reverted to staring into his eyes and caressing his dark hair.

"Tamaki," Kyouya whispered, prompting the other to explain his actions. Regardless of his thankfulness, he needed to know why.

"I love you, Kyouya," was Tamaki's answer, his eyes shining with something Kyouya had never seen in them before. Something dazzling. The King brushed away a tear that began forming at the edge of Kyouya's eye. Those eyes briefly widened in surprise. Their relaxing accompanied a genuine smile.

"I love you too, Tamaki." A sweet embrace followed, letting loose the withheld ecstatic exclamations from the crowd of girls. Kyouya laid his head on Tamaki's shoulder, clinging to the other's shirt as if for dear life. "What took you so long?"

"I thought…you and Ranka-san…" Tears sprung forth from his eyes. Kyouya didn't want to see him cry.

"I could never love Ranka – or anyone else – like I love you." He stepped back from the embrace. Placing his hands gently on either side of Tamaki's face, he rotated the other's head so that they stared face to face. Kyouya's frown caused the other to copy the motion in apprehension. "I need you to understand that." Now that I understand it myself…

Tamaki nodded. "I think I understand. It's just like how I could never love Haruhi – or anyone else – like I love you." For a second time, Kyouya's eyes widened. But before he could question further, Tamaki engulfed his lips once again in a kiss.

--

Later, they had sneaked out of the ballroom to spend some time alone, just the two of them, talking to one another – or not talking, for that matter, it didn't really matter. Kyouya insisted that they drop by the Fujioka's apartment for a moment before settling down in one place. Although Tamaki was displeased with the prospect, and Kyouya would have done almost anything – almost, he thought carefully – in order to relieve this discontent, Tamaki also had a feeling that this was something very important to his friend, his companion, his partner, his so-much-more-than-that.

And so, Kyouya knocked on the Fujioka's door, only to be greeted with the confused face of Ranka.—Wasn't there a dance tonight?

Then he spotted Tamaki standing by the railing, and a smile curved onto his lips.

"Ranka, how much of this did you plan?" Kyouya asked with a suspicious twitch at the corner of his mouth.

"Plan? Why, Kyouya, you flatter me," replied Ranka, displaying his characteristic good humor. His smile turned into a half-smirk. "I didn't plan any of it. I simply set it up."

Kyouya chuckled. They shared one last hug – one that felt more like a father's – before saying good-bye for the night, and, silently, good-bye to their convoluted affair. Then, Kyouya returned to the impatient Tamaki. As they headed down the sidewalk, not really having a concrete destination in mind, but at the same time not really caring so long as they were in each other's company, Tamaki posed a nervous question.

"Um, Kyouya…" he began, unsure of how to ask it.

"Yes, Tamaki?" Kyouya prompted.

"Um…what, exactly, did you do with Ranka-san?"

A pause followed. Then, Kyouya emitted a light laugh. "How about I give you a demonstration later?"

It was undoubtedly more of a statement than an offer, which even so would have been one that Tamaki couldn't refuse.

The End