Previously:

It was comforting, listening to stories about child Miyako and then that prompted more stories from the Host Club members.
All the while Mori was glued to Miyako's side and if one wasn't looking for it, they wouldn't see the way he was discreetly clasping her hand in his.
Haruhi was helpless to the smile that formed on her lips at the sight. And with a glance at her friends she saw that Miyako's mother and Honey had also seen it.
Both were wearing startling similar mischievous smiles. Oh my.

It had been two days...

Two days that she had been stuck in bed!

She was coming to realize the Host Club members can be extremely overprotective, on top of an already overprotective brother-like figure that came in the name of Kei, her quietly brooding father who's silent look always made her bend to his every unspoken suggestion, and her somewhat controlling Grandfather that wanted what was best for his family and village, even if it meant going a little overboard.

But this was going to be the third day and she was not going to spend it being trapped in her bed for the whole day. Two days of that was enough.

Granted it hadn't been that bad the first day. People had taken turns spending time with her so she had girl talk with Haruhi, compared sweets with Honey, listened to Tamaki's wonderfully outrageous and terrifyingly true stories - she knew they were true thanks to her nose...

The twins came in, telling her all about her friends' hilarious mistakes and also about the pranks that they had pulled.
Kyoya came in, they talked a bit about politics, making sure those criminals were punished - Kyoya assured her his family was already on it - and simply about life had been since the last time they had seen each other so many years ago.

Kei came in, hovering like a frantic mother hen before her mother would always boot him out and come in. She had been wearing a smile on her face that Miyako knew she was plotting something, and it was somewhat scary because Miyako knew her mother's smile was aimed at her.

Her father would then come in and offer her a reprieve, a very welcomed reprieve. He offered her a time of quiet. If they talked, then they talked. If they rested in silence, then that was good too.

Her grandparents visited once making sure that she was doing well, she assured them she was, and they made small talk before excusing themselves. Miyako understood, they did have a village to run after all.

Then Mori would come, at the end of both days his calming presence would wash over her and make her really how weary she was of socializing all day. Who knew that simply talking could be so draining?

But today was the third day and she would not be put through all of that again. She had woken up early, her body had been plenty rested considering she hadn't done any physical activity and her mind - the part of her that had truly been tired at the end of those two days - was fully alert now.

She looked over at Mori, smiling to see that he had once again spent the night in her room, sleeping on the cot her mother had set up on the other side of the room.
Miyako watched him warily as she slowly slipped her legs out from under the covers and onto the cool floor. Continuing to watch him she shifted her weight so as to stand and winced slightly at the stiffness in her wounded leg but it wasn't as bad as she feared it would be.

She slid her feet over the wooden floor, desperately hoping the floorboards wouldn't creek and give her away. As she slowly and cautiously made he way to the door she kept her eyes trained on Mori's sleeping form to make sure he did not wake.

He was sound asleep.

Another smile tickled her lips at the sight of him. He truly was too good looking for his own good.

Turning her attention - reluctantly, she had to admit - away from Mori she carefully turned the doorknob and slipped out into the hallway. Silently she continued to make her way through the sleeping household and out to the front porch.

She needed to be outside. She needed to feel the fresh air fill her lungs, and hear the birds sing and the rustle of the winds in the wind, and smell the dew damp grass and fertile soil, and see the dew glitter with the rising sun and watch as the forest came to life.
She needed it badly and she would not let anyone delay her.

Miyako managed to creep out to the front door and shut it quietly behind her before she let herself find a comfortable position to take in the morning.

It hit her like a physical blow and she sucked in a breath at the magnificence of it all. It had only been two days that she had not been outside, had not seen the beauty her mountain had to offer, and yet she was gasping at the splendor.

The songbirds greeted her in passing before continuing on their gossiping through their whistled tunes. The squirrels scrambled about in a frantic hunt for food or ran around each other in a playful chase. Rabbits hesitantly hopped to and fro, nibbling on the grass before bounding off to a more alluring patch of green goods.
The sun slowly offered more and more of its illuminating warmth to the land, coaxing more and more of the earthly beings to life and Miyako knew that soon her human companions would wake.

The door creaked behind her and she realized that perhaps they would wake sooner than she thought. She scented the air and was not surprised.

"Good morning Mori."

He sat beside her and gave an inquiring and slightly scolding look, wondering what she was doing up.

Miyako blushed, wondering why her body had to betray her before answering, "I couldn't stay in bed any longer."

His brow rose and Miyako knew he was asking why she didn't feel the need to wake him up. His look plainly told her that he would have been more than willing to help her.

"I didn't want to wake you," she confessed, blushing still which made her face shine like a ruby.

Mori gave her a dull look. How he managed to say so much without saying anything would never cease to amaze her. Miyako understood his message, he was saying she was being foolish. That's what friends are for. He wanted to be able to help.

Her reply was whispered, "Sorry."

After a moment in which his body seemed to relax with a sigh her reached over to give hair a tug, letting her know she was forgiven.

Her mouth curved into a pleased smile and she felt her heart give a flutter. She enjoyed the feelings he evoked in her and truly enjoyed his company. She sneaked a glance over at him and felt her features soften. Yes, she truly felt for him.

But, was it like or was it possibly...love?

Author's note: Another chapter! I can't believe this story is slowly coming to an end. I believe we have maybe five more chapters? Wow. Well, I hoped you enjoyed this chapter!