Burning. Easing off at some points then coming back like a raging storm. A permanent itch, the urge to scratch away at my throat growing more desperate as time passed. How much time, I really wasn't sure.

I sorted through my memories, the most recent ones. I was in the hospital; I didn't even need my thoughts to know that. The familiar too-clean stench hung heavily in the air, causing me to wrinkle my nose.

I unwillingly opened one of my eyes, assessing that the surroundings were safe I opened the other and glanced about with a grimace at the plain white walls.

I hated hospitals; I'd spent enough time in them as a young child with my asthma and had hoped I'd never have to be in here for that reason again. But no, god had a twisted sense of humor and enjoyed my discomfort.

The hunched figure sitting awkwardly in the chair across from me caught me eye and I stared intently at it, trying to focus my disorientation to see who it was.

My expression softened at Kyoya, his face was tired and he had bags under his eyes. Had he even gone home once? His crumpled Ouran blazer suggested that in fact he hadn't.

"That's too much." I chastised him in my thoughts but smiled a little.

If this was one of his ways to win me over, though I knew it wasn't, he was going a job at winning me over. Dedication is what I sought out.

I became aware of the oxygen mask clamped over my mask and carefully reached up to pull it off my face. I was fine now, well to be more exact I wasn't in a life-threatening situation anymore. This was normal with my worse attacks, my body managed to recover pretty quickly leaving me only with a deep burning itch in my throat. Annoying but tolerable.

I pondered the idea of getting out of bed and stretching my legs, I guessed it had been a day or two judging by the stiff ache in my lower limbs, but didn't feel like having people yelling loudly in her face- particularly Tamaki- for disobeying hospital rules.

So I stayed put much to my distaste. Kyoya's crumpled figure moved and I quickly snapped my eyes closed and maintained a peaceful expression as I listened to him groan, then the squeak of the chair as he got up and probably stretched his arms.

I heard light taps on the tiled floor and the same squeak in the chair beside my bed, a warm hand slipped into mine and I resisted the temptation to flinch. This was probably a little despicable, pretending to still be unconscious but I was truly curious to hear what Kyoya would say under the impression that I wasn't awake. The best things seemed to happen when I wasn't conscious.

"I'm worse than Tamaki, in the stupidity department, I mean..." He said with a sigh as if he knew I was awake and listening to him.

"It only took me up until now when your life was under threat that I realized that I really can't live without you. You mean too much to me, how I would go on is a mystery, truly."

There was a soft sarcastic laugh and I pictured him shaking his head sadly.

These words of his, they were going to capture me and I wasn't entirely sure if I could allow that to happen just yet, I had to test myself first.

"But… despite all the things I've done, I'm going to make one more selfish request. To whoever is up there, I know I don't deserve it but just this once, listen."

I waited for him to go on; noticing that I would have to take care with my racing heart- those stupid monitors caught everything and could alert Kyoya to my fake sleep. I'd be dead if he caught me at this point, besides I needed to hear what he was going to say- I was dying of curiosity.

"…Just please, I'll get on my knees and plead if I have to, let her be alright. I can't have her dying on me, I… I don't know what I'd do then… I'd be lost."

My breathing caught for a second and I quickly let it flow normally again.

Were my mind playing cruel tricks or was I really awake and hearing this?

My eyelids fluttered open and I stared inquisitively at Kyoya's pained expression, eyes closed and head bent down towards where he has clamped both his hands over mine. It was like he was praying with all his soul.

Feeling my stare his eyes opened slowly and flickered to mine, widening in shock.

"R-Rei?" He whispered, most likely questioning himself rather than me.

"Hey there." I said lightly and gave him a lopsided smile.

Then it came, that deep sigh of relief and shook a little chuckling to himself an peeked up at me, his eyes once more full of life.

"I think god decided you deserved to be listened to." I teased him flippantly.

He stared at me for one long minute before it hit him.

"You were actually awake for all of that…?"

"Long before that actually." I said with an impish grin and he half-heartily glowered at me, at a loss for words. He covered his face with his hand.

"You are unbelievable." He chastised me and I shrugged with a smile.

"What's really unbelievable is to hear such loving words come out of your mouth, of all places- it was quite a shock I must say, but I am very flattered you think so highly of me."

I smiled charmingly at him and he stared back, expressionless.

Finally he exhaled sharply and reached up to flick my head.

"You may joke about it now but you really did scare me, don't do that again. Ever."

My smile softened and I nodded once and he stood up, straightening himself out.

"I'll go inform everyone that you're awake." He explained and strode towards the door; before he exited he turned on his heel in my direction.

"Also, you'll never tell anyone of the things that happened here and the words that were spoken, do I make that clear?"

I arched my eyebrows and gave him an amused little wave. "Roger that chief."

He nodded and walked out and I rolled my eyes.

"Not that Haruhi is included in 'anyone' though…" I thought frivolously.

Now that his presence was gone the silence wasn't warm or friendly anymore, it felt claustrophobic. The walls were getting darker, closing in on me and locking me away inside myself. Letting me run along the stitch of sanity that at times would slowly undo.

Dealing with myself was enough work for a thousand people in itself.

"I'm a nutter…" I mumbled pessimistically and watched the shadows reflect on the door.

A small head of soft brown hair, messy as if they'd just gotten out of bed, peered around the corner of the door and we blinked at each other in unison. Haruhi gave me a little wave and placed herself in the seat beside my bed, leaning to push the hair off my forehead.

"How are you feeling?" Her voice was soft and melodic, that calming tone she used at times like this.

"I've been better." I shrugged and there was silence again.

It wasn't awkward, more like we each didn't really know what to say to each other. Was there much you could say to someone how had just been in a potentially fatal situation? I don't think a 'happy you're still alive' would suffice.

She found things to talk about though; I had been unconscious for a while so there was a lot to tell. Stories of Tamaki and the Twins arguing who would fit in the hospital bed and sleep there to keep me company until I woke up.

"They're idiots…" I shook my head in disbelief and laughed picturing them arguing in my head.

She nodded and clasped her hands together, then looked up at me her eyes full of a different sort of warmth.

"And Kyoya… He never left your side, not once. Dad came and tried to death glare him out of the room but he wouldn't give up, as soon as the doctors would leave he'd be in this chair stroking your hand again."

I wasn't sure what to say, I knew that seeing the softer side of Kyoya made Haruhi happy, especially when it was around me.

I appreciated how he had stayed beside me, I really did, and I was surprised at how easily we exchanged in light conversation earlier. It really was like nothing had happened. Could it be like that again?

Before my sister could speak again a chatter of loud voices carried into the room and she grimaced, it had to be the club.

"Rei-Rei~!" The twins sang in unison and posed in the doorway, their flaming hair styled to perfection. Behind them was that blonde idiot I couldn't help but love, Kyoya, Mori and Honey, his Usa-chan in his arms as usual.

I looked as Kyoya talked to Tamaki in the doorway, the way his mouth moved and how he always pushed his glasses up.

A familiar hot rush I hadn't felt in awhile rushed across my cheeks.

"Why is it, that no matter what happens, I keep falling more in love with you…?" I pondered the thought with a giddy smile and waved them all in.

"I guess there isn't a reason when love is involved."

Besides, I had bigger things to think about, my newly lit flame in my heart would have to take backseat priority apparently.