"Are you okay, Kyoya-senpai?" Haruhi asked. "You don't seem like yourself today. You hardly said a word to the guests and stayed out of sight most of the time."

"I'm fine, it's nothing to worry about." Kyoya assured her, lying on one of the sofas in the music room.

"I'm sure senpai won't mind if you went home to rest if you don't feel well."

"I know he wouldn't," Kyoya replied. "It's not as bad as it was." Kyoya's headache had started around lunchtime and had continued through the day. Kyoya struggled to keep his focus on the day's lessons.

"So you're still coming with us to see him?"

"Of course. By the time everyone gets ready, I should feel better. I would appreciate it if you didn't mention it to him. Within the next five days he'll have his procedure, he has enough to worry about."

"So, your headache...it's from those injections?"

"Yes. That reminds me, I've been meaning to talk to all of you about next week."

"What about it?" Hikaru asked. Kaoru, Honey and Mori appeared behind him.

"Tamaki's going to be receiving the bone marrow and I'll be taking several days off. It's going to be painful for me to get around for a little while. I'll be fine, the marrow is taken directly from the bone which will make it difficult to walk so rather than leave all of you to divide the responsibility,I've decided to close the host club temporarily."

"I guess that makes sense, it's going to be strange not coming here after class." Honey said.

"Yeah, but we'll be able to spend that time with the boss. It would be good for him, you know that he likes visits." Hikaru added. "If nothing else, it makes him happy and it's just temporary."

"I hope he comes back soon,it just isn't right." Haruhi sighed as the group made their way to the Ootori family car. The journey to the hospital was silent. Kyoya rested head against the back of his seat,closing his eyes. He hoped the pain would be gone before Tamaki could take notice.

"Kyoy-chan," Honey said softly after what seemed like mere moments to Kyoya. "Kyoy-chan, we're here,are you feeling better?"

Kyoya opened his eyes,the pain had subsided. "Yes, I feel much better, thank you." The hosts climbed out of the car and filed into the building where they were met with the now all too familiar scent of heavy disinfectant. They stopped at the elevator and waited as Haruhi pressed the button.

"It seems like the elevator is taking its time today." Hikaru said.

"It really does." Haruhi confirmed. When at last the door opened, the group stepped inside,Kyoya selected the number three on the panel and again the waited, their eyes fixed on the numbers above the door.

Upon reaching the third floor, the hosts made the short journey to Tamaki's room,where the stopped, noticing Yuuichi beside the ill teen. The eldest Ootori son examined the thermometer.

"Your fever's back." He announced. "I want you to stay in bed today. You look like you could use the rest a little more than usual."

"I'm fine, just feeling a little drained, I've been worse. I'd like to get up for just a bit, Kyoya's bringing everyone today and I don't want to upset-"

"Tamaki,I know they're important to you,we've been over this. Especially today, just focus on you. I want you to work on getting stronger." Tamaki sighed, but said nothing.

"I'll leave you to your visit, but remember what I said." Yuuichi exited the room without another word. Kyoya led the group into the room quietly.

"You're a little early today." The ill teen greeted softly.

"We finished kind of early so we thought we could stop by." Honey replied. The hosts settled themselves into their usual seats.

"Are you having a bad day,Tama-chan?"

"You could say that."

"What happened, boss?" The twins asked in unison.

"I got a surprise that I wasn't quite ready for. That's all."

"We can't help if you don't talk to us."

"There's nothing you can do. I just have to deal with it. My father brought my grandmother today." The hosts shook their heads.

"It must've been very difficult for you." Haruhi said sympathetically.

"Interactions between us can be tiring...it certainly was today. I really needed this visit today, I just...need something good to happen."

"What did she say to you?"

"This is what happens when you have a serious lapse in judgement, she said I'm weak, just like my mother. She's rethinking her original idea because someone as weak as I am could never be capable of being an heir to the family. She called me a weak link in our family chain. if I do live through this, my mother-"

"It's going to be okay, Tama-chan. Don't worry just get better. We'll figure it out."

"She's wrong about my mother. She's the strongest person I know.I saw her struggle everyday, there were days she would stay in bed but if I needed her, she was always -She's the reason I turned out as well as I did. I just don't want to put anymore stress on her. I'm starting to wonder if I'm even-" Tamaki stopped, he knew what his friends would say if he finished his thought.

"That's cold." The twins said in unison.

"Even what, Senpai?"

"It's nothing."

"Are you sure?" Hikaru asked.

"Yeah, I'm just tired I guess, and this fever isn't helping anything. I'm sorry. Don't worry, it's just a slight fever." He added quickly, noticing the worried expression on his friends' faces.

"It won't be too much longer. You should be feeling better shortly after-"

"You know, I hardly remember what it's like to feel well. I've been in here so long."

"It's certainly been a long process." Kyoya admitted.

"Yeah, and I can't tell you how much it means to me that you've all been here."

"You tell us that all the time, Tama-chan. It'd be great if we were spending time with you under better circumstances, but we like visiting you."

"It's not like there's anything better to do during the week." The twins said, slipping back into their usual tone.

"Yeah, it's this or homework." Hikaru added.

"No one in their right mind would want to rush home to do all that." Kaoru said dismissively.

"So how was the club today?" Tamaki asked.

"The usual." Kyoya stated."the guests were asking about the weekend trip, I told them I'd get back to them. I think we should reschedule-"

"No." Tamaki insisted.

"But Senpai, you're-"

"As hosts, our guests are the priority. I'm not strong enough to go, but the rest of you are. I expect each one of you to continue with your duties as members of the host club. I might not be able to be with you, but that doesn't change the fact that you have to keep going. Your lives shouldn't stop because I'm in here."

"I know, but that doesn't mean we should just leave you like this, how can we just go off for the weekend knowing that you'll be lying here-" Haruhi cried

"Because I need this from you." Tamaki said sincerely. "The host club is important to me, as I hope it is to all of you. Kyoya and I built it, but all of you made my dream a reality, I need you to keep it going until I get back." The hosts were silent. They knew in their hearts they couldn't refuse the request.

"I want to hear all about it when you get back. Maybe by then I'll be strong enough to get out of bed if the treatment works."

"It will." Kyoya replied. "You'll be strong enough to be home before you realize it and all of this will be in the past." Tamaki forced himself to smile.

"Yeah, you're probably right. You'll go then?"

"Yes, Tamaki, we will." Kyoya promised. The ill teem took his hand.

"Merci, Mon armour." Kyoya brushed back a few strands of golden hair, kissing Tamaki's forehead.

"Leave everything to us, you just make sure you're taking care of yourself.

" it won't be that bad,I'm sure you'll all be too busy to worry about me. It's only for a weekend, then you can visit after club hours the following Monday." The hosts reluctantly agreed and left that evening with an uneasy feeling in their hearts.