Tamaki was exhausted, he leaned back against his pillows and closed his eyes. His father looked on with concern.
"Tamaki, I know this has been difficult for you,you're handling it very well and I want you to know that...I'm very proud of you." Yuzuru said gently. The ill boy opened his eyes to look at his father.
"You haven't said that to me in a long time." Tamaki replied weakly.
"I know, it was long overdue. I'm sorry. It's no excuse but with everything going on with your grandmother and trying to-"
"It's okay. It's not easy to make your family proud when your an illegitimate child, that's what she says. She hates me and I know that, everyone who knows her can see it. I never meant to be-"
"This isn't your fault, it's mine. You didn't ask to be born into-"
"Sometimes I don't understand why I was, if I brought so much pain to your family."
"You were born because your mother and I loved each other and because we wanted you. I wanted to bring you both home with me Tamaki, I know I wasn't with you as much as I should have been, and I should have put more effort into fighting for you and your mother.."
"Your hands are tied, there wasn't much you could've done."
"Tamaki, I-"
"Good afternoon Mr. Suoh, Tamaki, I just got the test results and I have some news to share with you." Yuuichi said, sitting down. Yuzuru attempted to read the expression on his face but couldn't.
"Your blood tests show that your white blood cells, which is what helps fight infections aren't functioning properly, and you're anemic That could be part of the reason you've had a lot of illness and would also explain your paleness. Your CT and ultrasound confirmed that you have some swelling in your spleen -"He looked away from the boy.
"All of these things point to Leukemia, it's-" Yuzuru bowed his head covering his face with his hands.
"That's not right. Tamaki couldn't possibly have it, no one on either side has it." He said in disbelief.
"There is an astonishing number of cases in which this happens, but there are treatment options, it's best if we begin immediately, I can have an oncologist come in in just a few minutes to take you through the steps of what you'll need to do. It's not an automatic death sentence Mr. Suoh, Tamaki has some strength in him and I know it sounds like-"
"Test him again, I need to be sure. I can't just accept this."
"You want to put him through the bone marrow removal again, knowing how sore he was after, I know it's not easy to hear but if you want a second opinion I can save him the pain and send the findings to another doctor, you're certainly entitled to that,just keep in mind that if you wait to treat him, he'll only get sicker." Tamaki remained silent, he wasn't sure how to react to then news, he thought of the hosts, how would he tell them, would he ever see the music room again. Haruhi's reaction to him lying in the hospital was painful for him. How would she take this news, should Tamaki even tell them or wait to be sure?
They're what matters now, whatever happens I have to do the best I can for them. Tamaki thought.
"I can give some time to think about this if you like, it's a tough road ahead but he has a chance right now." Tamaki pulled himself out of his thoughts and looked to his father, who was still talking to Yuuichi.
"I think that's best." Yuzuru said not looking up as he spoke.
"In the meantime, I'd like to give him some antibiotics, to help him start to feel better and try to bring the fever down." Yuzuru merely nodded his consent.
"If either of you need anything, My father and I will be here a little later than usual, we can stop in before we leave for the day."
"Thank you." Tamaki said quietly. After the doctor had gone, silence filled the room, neither Tamaki, nor his father knew what to say.
"Tamaki,I-"His father began after several minutes. He stood up from his chair to move closer to his son.
"I have no right to ask you for anything, but I need you to promise me that you're going to do everything you can to fight this, I'll give you anything you need to do that. You can do this, you have so much to-"
"It's going to be okay. I still have a lot of things to do with my life, I promise." Tamaki said with a faint smile. He was taken by surprise when his father leaned down, wrapping his arms around him.
"I'm very proud of you Tamaki, I love you very much."Yuzuru whispered in his ear. Tamaki returned the hug.
"I love you too." he whispered back. Though he hadn't heard these words from his father since he was small,Tamaki had never doubted his father's love for him. Even still, Tamaki was comforted by the words, Yuzuru tightened his grip slightly lost in his silent regret. He should have been saying it all along, he should have found a way around his mother. Tamaki had always made him proud and now, he would do everything he could to make his son feel the same way.
