Tamaki's bucket List

Diclaimer: Dude, I don't own Ouran.

The last lazy Ouran class before summer vacation found a tired Tamaki Suoh doodling in his World History notebook, dreaming wistfully of the season to come. He would soon be free of all schoolwork, free to hang out with his friends, and best of all, free to go to the beach.

Oh how he loved the beach.

He could just see it now.

The sun,

Haruhi in a swimsuit,

the sand,

Haruhi in a swimsuit,

the ocean,

Haruhi in a swimsuit….

"Hey, Daddy,"

A bored, slightly mocking voice pulled him from his reverie. "Not that I care, but you're drooling on your notebook."

Tamaki jumped. He looked up to see Kyouya routinely taking notes beside him, speaking out of the corner of his mouth. Tamaki was suddenly VERY glad that Kyouya couldn't read minds.

But then again, you never knew with Kyouya. He was so full of dark surprises that Tamaki wouldn't put it past him. As a precaution, he tried to push the thought of Haruhi on the beach further into the recesses of his mind.

"I wasn't drooling," he insisted. "Kings don't drool."

He hastily wiped the telltale line of spit from his chin. Kyouya smirked, but said nothing, returning his attention to the teacher.

"And that, kids, is why Japan kicks the rest of the world's collective ass," Their teacher, Tanuya- sensei, finished. "And with that completely true statement…."

The class tensed in excitement, ready to spring out of their seats and burst spontaneously into song. (They'd seem it done on Disney channel, and were very excited to try it.)

"….I have but one more thing to say." The class groaned and sat down. Unfortunately, their spontaneous singing would just have to wait. Tanuya-sensei ignored them, and pressed on.

"Now, as you know, I am very old." The second years nodded in agreement. It was common knowledge at Ouran that Tanuya was, in fact, very very old.

"And," the elderly teacher continued, "There are many things that I regret doing in life."

The class sighed, mentally preparing themselves for another lecture. Tanuya detected their annoyance.

"Just hear me out," he pleaded, and continued. "Now, although I have many regrets, what I regret the most are the chances that I didn't take, the things that I didn't do."

He surveyed the students in the room. "There are so many things that I wish I'd done, but now It's simply too late." He sighed. "But, my young friends, it is not too late for you. You are young, and well off-"

The class chuckled appreciatively. At Ouran, the students were always happy to be reminded of their money and social statuses. Tanuya smiled sadly.

"But I fear that many of you will turn out like me, and will end up regretting not what you did, but what you did not do." His face hardened. "And that is why I'm giving you a very important task."

The second years protested. "But sensei, we have sooo much summer work already!" A girl protested. Her classmates nodded in agreement. Tanuya smiled. "Fear not, children, for this is an optional assignment. It will not affect your grade in the least, and you don't even have to hand it in."

"Oh," the girl said simply. Relieved that there was no more work to be done, she and her classmates began to talk excitedly amongst themselves about the upcoming summer break, completely ignoring the teacher.

But one student sat at attention, riveted by the old man's words. Tamaki, the ever emotional King of the Host Club, quietly sat in his seat, waiting for his teacher to continue.

Tanuya glanced around sadly. "Yes," he said quietly, surveying his ignorant students. "This is for yourself, and only yourself. If only you could see that."

Tanuya's gaze then fell on Tamaki, who was watching him intently. The teacher smiled.

"Tamaki Suoh," he muttered to himself.

"Interesting."

Out loud, Tanuya continued his lecture. "Yes," he repeated, now ignoring the fact that most of his class was doing other things.

"What I would like you to do," He paused for dramatic effect, pretending that there were actually people in the room that cared (well, Tamaki cared, but he meant anyone that mattered, really).

"Is to make…"

The room (meaning Tamaki) held its breath in suspense.

"….A bucket list." Tanuya finished with flourish.

Tamaki gasped.

"A BUCKET list…" He thought. "Interesting!"

Now he was excited. He smiled, raising his hand.

"Tanuya- sensei," he yelled, almost falling out of his chair in an effort to speak to his teacher. "That's a wonderful idea! A bucket list…why, I've never even thought about it!"

He tossed his gorgeous hair back and laughed with excitement, then quickly raised his hand again. "Tanuya-sensei," he screamed again.

Tanuya looked at him expectantly, happy that at least someone understood what he was saying, someone thought that it was important.

"Yes, Suoh?"

Tamaki smiled, ecstatic.

"Tanuya- sensei…" he paused.

"...What's a bucket list?"

Tanuya rolled his eyes.

Classic Suoh. He should have known.

"A bucket list," he explained calmly, "is a list of things that you would like to do before you die."

"Before I…die?" Tamaki cocked his head, thinking about it.

Finally, he raised his hand again.

"Oh, I get it!" His eyes shown with excitement, and Tanuya leaned forward. At last, someone who understood.

"It's one of those commoner games, isn't it?" Tamaki squealed. He began speaking very quickly, his excitement taking over, like it always did when commoner things were mentioned.

"I have to go out and collect things, and put them in buckets, right? Like..before the end of the time limit? If not, then I die, right? Like, Game over!"

He laughed at his own brilliance. "Man," Tamaki thought to himself, "Sometimes my amazing smartness astounds even me!"

If Tanuya had known what a facepalm was, he probably would have done it, right then and there.

But he didn't…so he didn't.

"Leave it to Tamaki to ruin a moment with his utter stupidity," he sighed.

"No, Suoh, I mean like actual dying. It is NOT a game. A bucket list is a list of things that you must get done, places you must go, things you MUST see, before you die."

He paused, not sure that Tamaki fully understood. "

As in, for good."

He looked over at Tamaki. "Get it now?"

A look of intense concentration appeared on Tamaki's face. "Things I must see…" Tamaki thought.

Instantly, an image of Haruhi in a bikini popped into his mind. His eyes widened.

"OOOHH! I get it now!" He nodded fervently. "Yes, I see! A bucket list is EXTREMELY important!"

His imaginary bikini clad Haruhi winked at him.

He ran up to the front of the room and army saluted a very surprised Tanuya.

"Tanuya-sensei," Tamaki announced loudly, seriously. "I promise you, I WILL complete my bucket list. I'll…I'll make you proud!"

And with that, he sped out of the room.

"Wow," Tanuya watched him go, impressed, "He really understands the importance and complexity of this assignment…I think I've really changed him."

Satisfied with himself, Tanuya smiled and dismissed his class, not realizing that they had all already left five minutes ago. He didn't care, though. He had really made a profound difference in a student's life. He firmly believed that Tamaki Suoh had become more mature after those ten minutes of chatting.

That night, he went to bed a proud man.

And Bikini-Haruhi mentally followed Tamaki everywhere that day.

A/N: Thank you for reading!

Review, please. It would make Tamaki happy. You know it.