The Scorpion

Yeah, it's short but it's because it goes along with the previous chapter. 

Tamaki didn't say a word the entire drive back to his home. Kaoru followed him in silence to his room, where Tamaki headed straight for his bookcase. Kaoru jumped out of the way as several stuffed toys and books went flying, while Tamaki rummaged through the case.

"What's going on?" Kaoru tried yet again.

"Kyoya told me," Tamaki tossed another book. "That we were never friends. That it was just a lie for his Dad."

Kaoru sighed. He couldn't say that the idea had never crossed his mind before, but he didn't think anyone would take it this far.

"Kyoya…" Kaoru stopped. "He's…"

"He was lying." Tamaki tossed another book.

"Why would he lie?" Kaoru asked. He stopped as he thought about it. "Well, about that anyway."

Tamaki flipped through a book full of photos. "Because he wanted me to go away." He tossed the book aside. "He does that."

"He does that," Kaoru echoed, and then shook his head.

"When Kyoya gets upset he usually reacts the same way. First he brushes it off and says something to hurt your feelings, but it's not bad enough for you to actually call him on it. Then if pushed further, he makes you want to leave by exposing or validating an insecurity."

"Like your friendship," Kaoru nodded.

"It's not an insecurity of mine." Tamaki frowned. He sighed. "If you push Kyoya further, he's liable to tackle you to the ground."

"Yeah, right. Kyoya wouldn't, it's not his style." Kaoru looked down to see one of the photo albums opened. It had pictures of Tamaki's 2nd year in high school.

"Well, he threw a table first," Tamaki told him.

"What?" Kaoru looked up. "What in the hell did you do to piss him off?"

Tamaki sighed. "Today I said the same thing everyone else says to him: 'you're too smart for your own good,' which pisses him off to no end."

"Then why'd you say it?"

Tamaki sighed, "because he was being too smart for his own good."

Kaoru shook his head, "What are you looking for?"

"This." Tamaki pulled out an old photo album. "In middle school Kyoya locked himself from the world. He sidestepped for his brothers and was ignored by his father. By the time I met him, even Fuyumi had trouble getting him to open up. He was almost dead inside." Tamaki handed a picture to Kaoru. It was a simple picture of a 14 year old Kyoya with his sister. His eyes were darker than usual.

"So he's crankier." Kaoru shrugged. "He sure as hell isn't locking himself up now."

"You're wrong," Tamaki sighed. "Kyoya's already done the whole quiet thing: it didn't work. I broke through it. Now he's going a different route, he's pushing everyone away."

Kaoru stared at him. "Are you saying he's just acting out?"

Tamaki picked up another picture. "He's calling for help."

"Calling for help?" Kaoru scoffed.

"Because if he's not." Tamaki looked at the picture. "Then he may be too far gone already.

Kaoru looked over Tamaki's shoulder to see a picture of a young boy with black hair and the biggest smile he had ever seen, being held by a woman with black hair and gray eyes.

"So," Kaoru straightened up and held his jaw. "You're telling me that Kyoya's just acting out?"

Tamaki sighed. "It's not that simple."

"So my dear drug addict of a brother is in the hands of a maniacal, evil jackass that just needs attention?" Kaoru glared.

Tamaki sweat dropped. "Look Kyoya's in a dark place right now."

"No! Hikaru's in a dark place, Kyoya's a black hole!" Kaoru said angrily.

"Kaoru," Tamaki sighed. "Right now Kyoya's the only person Hikaru trusts."

"Hikaru is being an idiot right now and needs some sense talked into him. Kyoya is a bad person to be around."

"Kao-"

"He's getting by because of brain power and making it seem like he has everything under control, that he's pulling all the strings. But strings break!"

"He's not-"

"He keeps coming so close to hitting rock bottom and makes it back out. But someday he's going to have too many strings break and-"

"He'll hit rock bottom." Tamaki sighed.

"No." Kaoru shook his head. "He just won't wake up in the morning."

Sorry about the shortness. It goes with the chapter beforehand and I wanted them close together. PLEASE REVIEW!