A/N: To be honest, I never thought this thing I wrote this morning would be my first Ouran fic. I was planning it to be how the six male hosts thought of Haruhi lol. I might make that in the future.

Please note: Mori and Honey here are strictly BroTP, because Honey is too precious to be romantically shipped with anyone.

Also, I don't own the anime or manga.

Takashi, stoic as ever as he sat, watched the sleeping boy laying on the couch. The others had left long ago, but Mitsukuni had fallen fast asleep before the end of the Host Club activities. As he continued to stare at the boy-lolita, he gave a slight smile.

Serving and protecting this boy filled Takashi with purpose. He loved Mitsukuni as if he were a younger brother. If anything were to happen to him, how could he ever forgive himself?

The strong, silent one sighed contentedly and slowly closed his eyes, but still stayed vigilant, listening for anything that could harm his cousin. That's when it started: the whimpers.

Takashi's eyes snapped open. The sleeping boy had begun to roll over in his sleep and gave small whimpers like a small puppy would, squeezing the stuffed bunny that lay on the couch with him. His face was filled with discomfort.

The larger boy felt himself tense as he stared at Mitsukuni. He's only having a dream, he told himself, trying not to worry too much. Dreams can't hurt anyone, right?

As the minutes passed, with Takashi growing more worried, Mitsukuni began to shake and sob in his sleep. He clutched Usa-chan tighter and tighter.

Takashi placed a hand on his shoulder to wake him up. A risky move. "Mitsukuni," he said gently, giving him a little shake.

The eyes of the smaller boy opened as he continued to bawl. "Takashi!" he cried as he ran over to him, dropping his Usa-chan to the ground. He wrapped his arms around him and continued to cry into his chest. "Takashi! Takashi!" he continued, his voice muffled by the uniform. Takashi placed one arm around Mitsukuni, caressing his sandy hair.

He let the time pass, giving Mitsukuni a chance to start calming down, his sobbing turning into small hiccups, and his screaming dying down. "Do you want to talk about it?" he asked during this calmer state.

The loli-shota looked up into the silent one's eyes, his own sparkling with tears. He used his sleeve to wipe them away as he sniffed. "I-I couldn't save you," he answered quietly. "O-or Tama-chan, or Kyo-chan, or Hika-chan, or Kao-chan, or Haru-chan. I..." His large eyes began to water more. "I couldn't protect you..." He clutched the boy's uniform tighter, obviously disturbed by the nightmare.

"It was only a dream," Takashi told him as he pet his hair. "We're still here."

Mitsukuni looked up once more, then jumped into his arms, hugging him around his neck. "Please don't leave me, Takashi," he begged, pain in his voice.

The silent one wanted to tell him, to PROMISE him, that he would never leave, that he would always be at his side. In his heart, he knew he couldn't lie to the boy, the boy who was like his little brother. "Mitsukuni," he began, "I can't promise I'll be next to you everywhere you go. But I'll always be there for you, whenever you need me."

It wasn't much, and it wasn't formal, but it meant much to the person it was addressed to. With a quiet "thank you," he let a few more tears roll down his cheeks and onto Takashi's shoulder, before once more falling back asleep.

Takashi stood up. With one arm, he held the sleeping boy while using the other to pick up the stuffed bunny laying on the ground. Glancing once more at Mitsukuni, he walked towards the door, exited the music room, and began the journey home.

THE END