One Year Later

Lightning flashes in the window, accenting the fat droplets of water clinging to the glass, the too-early morning sky stretching black across the city. Evident even behind closed eyes, it's as if the lighting is made to call attention to the overly obnoxious pain that drifts through his leg; the bulk of the discomfort residing fitfully in his knee.

The room is dark, the spot next to him warm but empty as he curls in on himself in the oversized bed. Tired eyes concentrate on the crack of pale yellow light teasing the edge of the closet door.

A quiet jostling of hangers punctuates the silence before his husband extinguishes the light. It's another moment longer before Kaoru emerges, traipsing quietly and still unaware that Kyoya now lay irreversibly awake. Eyes closed, there's no way around acknowledging the obtrusive blue glare set off by the still flashing world around him. Eighteen stories high, and this storm is more than intent on informing the high rises of Tokyo exactly what nature is all about.

Kyoya listens instead, as the quiet pad of footsteps approaches his side of the bed, a careful weight sinking into the mattress next to him.

Stilling his features, he maintains a cadence heavy with the desire for sleep, and waits for the sweet rake of fingers to comb through his hair. Kaoru's hand pulls gently at ravened cowlicks before gliding to meld against his jaw. Warm rose gold brushes his skin, and the touch is so gentle that Kyoya is certain he'd of missed it were he less awake.

A moment passes before Kaoru removes his hand, only to find lightning reflexes pulling him back onto the bed.

"You stealthy bastard. Spying on me while I admire you."

"Storm woke me up." He mumbles into a pillow while twining their fingers together. "Nefarious weather…"

Kaoru pulls back the covers and laughs at murmurs of protest while helping Kyoya's right leg across his lap. He moves with ease, his hands melding to disfigured skin, fingers having learned the good touches from the bad. Marks forged by scalpel and staples lay beneath Kaoru's fingers, and he moves slowly, leaving it all to muscle memory as he massages Kyoya's knee just so. Kyoya finds it within him to oblige, and lays back into the pillow, relaxing while waiting for painless sleep to claim him once more.

"You used to like the rainy season." Kaoru's voice is soft, the statement nearly sounding like an apology.

"I still do. Even if these days it comes with drawbacks." He stretches one hand toward Kaoru, fingernails trailing the length of his spine until he feels him shiver for the trail of goosebumps his touch leaves behind. The involuntary reaction is precisely what he'd been looking for, and it brings him a smile.

"Yuuichi says it's not forever."

Kaoru makes a noise in acknowledgment, glad to hear the small mention of his eldest brother-in-law's name. He takes it to mean Kyoya has at least one brother in which he can properly confide; a fact that has become increasingly evident by Yuuichi and Kyoya's growing presence in one another's homes. Admittedly, it causes Kaoru to miss his own brother.

I wonder if Hikaru's started to notice me sneaking random belongings back to Japan on the end of these work trips… Kaoru smiles, excited that arrangements have been made, and it will only be a short matter of time before Hikaru and his wife return to Japan.

The years have made the brothers independent of one another, if only in lifestyle and proximity. Their wavelength as twins has remained bar none throughout the years, and there can be no possibility of overstating the excitement each of them shares over Hikaru and Nanako making the start of their life together alongside family in Tokyo.

Maybe when they get here I'll just start leaving those things around their new house…

"Kaoru. It's four in the morning, what is it that you're smiling at?"

"I think this time I'll take off with that cerulean vase Nanako likes so much."

"I can't help but wonder what the underlings of the fashion world would think if they knew the sort of antics their senpai gets up to."

"Maybe I'll sneak into their new apartment before they even see it. Leave all of it there."

Throughout their exchange, Kyoya has managed to keep his tired eyes closed. Feeling the shift of Kaoru's weight, he turns expectantly to lean into his husband's soft, predictable kiss.

"Don't you have somewhere to be?"

"Mm." Gentle hands accommodate the sore knee, and Kaoru slides upward, one hand cupping Kyoya's face while the other draws down his waistband. "We still have a while."

Kyoya raises his hips just enough to be relieved of his boxers, his attempt to sit upward rejected as Kaoru's arm adamantly pins him against the mattress.

"It seems you've gotten yourself dressed for nothing." Kyoya's teeth sink into the inside of his cheek, reminding himself there are more prudent times to partake in Kaoru's charms.

The damp glide of his tongue brings Kyoya's senses to full attention, therein throwing most of his worries to the wayside.

Most of them.

His sudden intake of breath inevitably contributes to Kaoru's own growing erection. It does not go unnoticed, however, that save for allowing himself the tease of friction, that Kaoru's needs go ignored.

"Don't know what you're talkin' about. My clothes aren't going anywhere."

Kaoru… "Hardly seems fair."

"Sorry." Kaoru smiles, more than pleased with himself as he carefully drapes the still delicate knee over one shoulder. Long and informed fingers tread clever patterns, knowing precisely what it takes to draw that stilted breath from Kyoya's lungs.

It's a new kind of reality. One where Kyoya sees the facts in front of him and instead of feeling dismal insecurity, has learned to acknowledge the constantly changing limitations that remain in front of them. There is nothing easy about it. He knows all too well what Kaoru is up to when he's left in no position to lay hands to narrow hips. Knows he's being pinned out of pleasure as much as he is not to rile Kaoru further.

Kyoya wonders how much time must pass before certain past times become commonplace once again.

He wants a countdown of finite means. Not a questionable frame of time to tell him when he can dismiss the fear that comes with his husband working too hard. He wants to shirk the insecurity that accompanies their passion as he worries whether he's asking Kaoru's body for too much, too fast.

He wants to know when he can expect Kaoru to throw his head back with uninhibited and raucous laughter, unafraid that an air bubble might show up and collapse a lung. Kyoya needs to know if he'll ever again dare to drink in the gasp that comes with shoulder blades razing the wall, or the ensuing chaos that reduces their owner to a sex-spent wreck.

He catches a glint of liquid as it pools in Kaoru's hand, coating his fingers while allowing it time to warm. Breath shudders out of him with the press of fingers, as Kaoru's other hand rubs assuring circles over his heart. Leaning into the touch, he watches as equal parts love and lust light Kaoru's face. Kyoya considers whether he is willing to pretend they've all the time in the world, and not a plane waiting for their foray to end, when it's hardly even begun.

"Kaor—" Nails graze his chest and make their way downward, stopping short of where Kyoya prefers his husband's hand to be.

So that's how he's going to be.

Reasoning with this man is a lost cause at such a point, and Kaoru grins because he knows it.

"Right now, all I want is your voice breaking over my name." He adjusts the lapel of his blazer in an effort to accommodate the heat trapped against his skin. It's enough to feel Kyoya relax beneath his palm, his free leg beginning a slow wind around his waist.

Pieces of reality remain unspoken, albeit not forgotten. If lately Kyoya's knee finds itself cramped and throbbing, then Kaoru's lungs will have not taken kindly to the sudden cold front and changes in atmosphere, either.

For Kyoya, there is both relief and immeasurable pleasure in seeing Kaoru walking around, his chatter uninterrupted by the need to resituate over one lung's stilted attempt to breath. The burden on what remains of his lungs is no trivial injury, and is a constant reminder of that near fatal night.

Even now, in the throes of pleasure, Kyoya's reminded of only a few days earlier, how the pain in Kaoru's chest had forced him to put down his work in favor of lying face down on the sofa, conforming to his body's needs until the pain went on its way. He'd asked for Kyoya's help in using physician-learnt motions to relieve his chest of a particularly obtrusive pocket of air.

Indeed, pain had become a consistent part of both their lives. That Kaoru now sought to pleasure him while remaining too cautious to partake, made Kyoya more than leery of the his partial lung collapsing again.

"Kyo." A whisper as gentle as the gesture he used to pull back Kyoya's foreskin, fingertips lavishing the spot and begging his focus to come back to him. Attentive lips trace across flushed skin, an expectant tense of muscles satisfying Kaoru that he'd regained his lover's attention.

"Kyoya, I'm fine."

"Mm. Better be."

"I am." Curling his fingers inward, Kaoru encouraged the delectable sounds Kyoya now made for him. "Come on, love. I need you to give me something to keep on my mind the next two weeks."

.

.

Lazy droplets plink into the bath, vying against the steady thrum of rain still going strong on the other side of the windows.

Kaoru would be boarding his plane, soon. No doubt going over sketches, checking on the progress of various projects, and perhaps making an attempt to catch up on what had to amount to a lifetime of lost sleep. Indeed, there was something to be said for keeping oneself far ahead of schedule, as well as having a private plane at the ready.

He'd left Kyoya sated and useless in the warmth of their bed, throwing his husband encouraging snark while correcting his lapels. Kyoya had taken his time adjusting rose gold cuff links before allowing Kaoru to be one his way.

"You going to laze about these last two weeks before taking up all that responsibility?"

"Hardly. I'll either be in New York tying up loose ends, or signing off on various projects with Coalesce or my brothers for the rest of it."

"You know," Kaoru mewls, his tone and flirtation reminiscent of a young, single thing instead of a happily married man. "It doesn't matter that you're not nineteen, anymore. You won't say anything if he asks how it tastes to have your cake and eat it, too."

Kyoya plays stoic, refusing to so much as raise an eyebrow. The depth of bewilderment within his brother, The Second Son, was more a fact than a question to either of them. The only thing that irked Kaoru more than Akito's lack of empathy was Kyoya's steel resolve not to call his brother out for brandishing his distaste across both sleeves.

"So little tact, Kaoru." He reprimanded. Pulling him closer, Kyoya nudged his nose close to Kaoru's ear. "But if he were to ask right now, I'd have to tell him it's rather delicious." He placed a kiss along Kaoru's jaw before pulling back for the last time.

He'd tell Akito how he felt when the time was right. There was no need to remind Kaoru that today, nor any in the foreseeable future, were that day.

The red head's smirk softened, giving way to an expression of forced goodbyes and the anticipation of reuniting in due time. "Love you."

"Love you, too." He'd whispered from a bevy of pillows, turning onto his side while murmuring a final, farewell.

.

Another Year Later

.

Looking back to make sure he's being followed, Kyoya bid farewell to his mother and sister. Stepping quickly through the myriad conversations and polite laughter that filled the great room, he hears Kaoru's laughter ring somewhere amidst the crowd. Brothers in tow, he accepts a kiss from his mother whilst assuring her the three of them will not stay gone for long.

Thankful to leave the crowd behind if only for a short while, Kyoya moves to retrieve his own belongings from a second living room, therein relieving the only remaining maid of at least one mundane chore. Akito and Yuuichi follow suit, and before long the three of them shuffle wordlessly through the front door.

Stepping through a cloud of their own breath, three peacoats wrap tightly across three very differently motivated people. They make quick work of closing the distance between themselves and the vehicle waiting at the curb, while the two elder siblings watch curiously as Kyoya ensures himself to be the last entering the car.

"Alright, little brother." Yuuichi sighs. "What is so important that we're driving across the city in the middle of New Years?"

"New Year, indeed. We don't have to go all the way to the offices, if you don't want to." Kyoya opens the center consul, extracting three clear files from inside and hands them to his brothers. "We can simply drive, if you like. Have our own bonenkai right here."

The packets of information pique Yuuichi and Akito's interests. Each sifts through the contents of his clear file, zeroing in on different pages. Akito stops to inspect several profiles, each accompanied by a photo clipped to the corner. Yuuichi has yet to make it past the first page, his eyes perusing the details of texts and charts in front of him. When he does stop, it's to focus entirely on Kyoya.

"Does father know about this?"

"Yes." Kyoya grants. "And no. I started asking specific questions as far back as Father announcing your inheritance. Since then, there's been a certain amount of dancing around the subject."

"You're serious with this."

Kyoya throws him a look demanding they not insult his intelligence or accomplishments.

"It's only a proposal, but yes."

Yuuichi's gaze returns to the paper. "Why?"

"Are you happy?"

"What does happiness have to do with it? Do any of us really have any room to complain?"

"If you've got grievances, Yuuichi, air them. What good will you be as president if you're making decisions out of resentment, and later apathy? You've been the head of Ootori Group for over a year now, and while you hide it well, I can already tell you'd much rather be in your field."

At this, Akito cuts in. "You're honestly going to talk to your elder brothers this way?"

"As opposed to what?" Kyoya shoots. "A lifetime taking advantage of knowing you could take any tone you wanted with me, guaranteed I wouldn't bite back?"

Even Akito will occasionally acquiesce to hard truths set in front of him, and for at least one moment has the good grace to step back while Kyoya continues with what he has to say.

"How do you imagine this playing out when we all have families?"

Akito snorts, condescension and impossibility dripping from his words. "I assume you mean if any of us will have children? What has that to do with anything?"

"Do you want to sow that kind of competition between siblings? Cousins? Do you plan to sit back while your children run a rat race where they grow up to hate or not even know one another?"

"Kyoya, that's rather dramatic."

"Oh, I don't know." He meets Akito's eye while addressing Yuuichi. "When Akito wanted something from you, he always deemed himself important and close enough to be directly at your side. Meanwhile, most of my interactions involved him sneaking around to gain information about my personal life. That, or he went looking for opportunities to reprimand me."

"Kyo-"

"That's over now, and not to be taken personal. But it's still a fact, isn't it?"

"Alright."

"Why not change that? We're in a position to do so. What's more, it's hypocritical to be in control of a company whose main objective is quality healthcare, only to run ourselves and each other into the ground."

Akito shrugs. "Yes, well. Devil's in the details."

"If we do this, we start planning now. The best people, no second guessing, and at the end of the day it will still be Ootori holding the reins."

"You're suggesting Yuuichi step down as president? To make room for you?"

"No, Akito. For you."

The admission leaves Akito momentarily speechless, while Yuuichi betrays an assuming grin.

"No one's questioning your knowledge or capacity to lead." Kyoya continues. "You're as good a choice as any for it. In fact, better."

"You've always respected your place, Akito." Yuuichi confirms. "I accepted father's offer as heir out of obligation, and I know it's why you do things the way you do. He wasn't always about meritocracy, you know, and he had people grooming me before I was barely a teenager. Stepping up to his challenges was the right thing for me to do. Kyoya is just as brilliant as you, but unconventional. Which is why I asked father to make him vice president instead of you. Wouldn't you say that it's already starting to pay off?"

An awkward quiet begins to muffle the air, prompting Kyoya to forgo waiting on Akito's answer.

"Yuuichi, whether you were on board with it or not, the second you knew what was in that envelope your mind was already qualifying and disposing of certain ideas and people. Am I right?"

Yuuichi smirked at the younger man, noticing more and appreciating the ongoing development of Kyoya's easy sense of leadership. "You're right."

"Then we start there."

It's difficult for Yuuichi not to show distinct interest in Kyoya's plans, particularly when he's been making room for him not only professionally, but personally for the past year.

"All I want for today is to know if you'll take a chance and commit to this in the new year. Yes or no. Then we go back to Fuyuumi's, and pick it up after the holiday."

"Do we include father in this?"

"If he wants."

Kyoya waits a moment longer, his brothers exchanging mutual glances before meeting him with affirmative eyes.

Akito moves to speak with only the slightest of hesitation. "You honestly like the timeline?"

Kyoya nods firmly.

"Twelve months from now, with Akito standing at the head, we take the Ootori Group public and announce that we're dissolving the zaibatsu."

They finish their ride in silence, contemplation heavy amongst them. Kyoya takes in the festivities around him, gazing after kimonos and paper lanterns that eventually fade into the world behind him. The sun is setting, and there's a sense of comfort as he notices his eldest brother's quiet smile through the gold-tinted reflection of his window.

.

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The note first, because I'll forget the note: Bonenkai are forget-the-year parties in Japan. :)

It's done, and I can barely believe it.

I started writing Team nearly a year ago, and it was just meant to be a oneshot. I suppose as is the case with all amazing things, it totally took on a life of its own. In writing this story, I made friends, pushed my own abilities as a writer, learned when to keep going and when to step back, and in wanting to better understand certain characters, have seriously developed my love for literary criticism.

A huge thank you to LuxArtisan, StephaneRicherthanYou, and Lady LRC; your comments, letters, headcanon banter, mutual love for Ouran, and overall friendship has been a huge deal to me. 3

To everyone who has left encouragement and/or criticism here, at AO3, or on Tumblr, I also owe you a very big thank you.