AN: -hand raises from a grave- I'm baaaaack…! I feel the books, bricks, anvils, etc… being thrown my way…-crying- I am making it up with an extra long chapter! I had half of this chapter written a while ago but just never had the time to update…BUT! Since I keep getting reviews, I will update! Sorry for the bumpiness of it—I've gotta pick up where I left it and it's a little tough. Thanks for your understanding! Oh, and to get ready for some OOCness, listen to emo-ish music like 'mad world' from Gary Jules or something…

Wings of a Butterfly

To live is to gain experience no matter how painful it may be. Everyone has bad memories, it all depends on who and what it is and how he person took it. However, everyone interprets death the same way. It means no longer seeing a person. Any other thought is an opinion.

"How come you didn't call me before! Not Ranka! No, not Ranka! How!?"

Misuzu was slumped on the floor as he cried his soul out about Ranka. Haruhi sat in the waiting room with her wig on. She wasn't connected to her IV stand because she was finished her session of chemo and the experimental drug was administered via injections every morning and night. She was free to do what she wanted with her time in between because she was stable once again but had to return by nighttime. It had taken Misuzu a little under three days to arrive but when he did, it wasn't to good news. Haruhi had spoken to Misuzu alone without her friends around to ensure that there was no way she'd break down and look for comfort anywhere except herself and to stay strong until then. She had to be strong for Misuzu since she was going to have to break the news to him about everything in just a few minutes.

"When's his funeral!?"

"In two days from now at six."

Haruhi replied, finally placing her hand on his back. "Of course I'll take you in! I'll do it for Ryoji!"

"One thing before you jump the gun…"

Haruhi spoke, helping Misuzu to a seat beside her. Slowly, she removed the wig on her head to reveal a complete scalp void of a strand of hair.

"What did you do to your hair!?"
He began trembling, making Haruhi involuntarily flinch.

"Your beautiful hair! How long will it take to grow back!? How did this happen!?"

"I have cancer."

She forced the word to escape her mouth. She had been avoiding it for quite a while but had been practicing in front of a mirror to mentally prepare herself for the day he would arrive. Misuzu shook his head over and over again, a fresh batch of tears falling from his eyes as he began wailing.

"Where!? How!?"

"It's leukemia…I'll only be burdening you for a few months, so you don't have to worry-"

"If you say it's that then I'd rather worry! You can't leave in a few months!"

Haruhi smiled a bit. She didn't want to go through the same thing she did a few days ago. She hugged Misuzu.

"Will you adopt me still…?"
"Did you expect me to say no!? Of course I'll adopt you! I'll wash you and feed you and clothe you and wash your beautiful head in the morning and-"

He paused to take a breath but ended up burying his face in his hands. Haruhi rubbed her face in her hands and smiled.

"Everything's hard at the moment, so can we just smile…and pretend it's okay…? That everything's going to be okay until I have to come back tonight…?"

Misuzu nodded, wiping his eyes.

"I'll get the paperwork ready by tomorrow!"

"It takes longer than that, Misuzu-san…"

"It won't! Come on, let's go out!"

"I can't leave the hospital…! I'm under the head doctor's care and-"

"Kyouya-chan!"

He was already on the phone making arrangements. Haruhi's hand dropped as she let a smile cross her face. She placed her wig back on her head and smiled. The new medicine combined with the drug made her stronger than she was in such a short amount of time. Misuzu took Haruhi by her hand and led her outside to his vehicle, opening the door for her and shoving her inside. His head perked up for a minute as he ran back inside the hospital, stealing a wheelchair and shoving that inside as well.

"I don't need that-"

"Extra precautions!"

He said with a small laugh to hide the actual worry. Out of everyone, he seemed to be the one who was taking it the best. She guessed that was because he had an extremely (and not to mention slightly annoying) happy-go-lucky attitude. There were security after Misuzu but he drove off in an almost too amused state. Haruhi buckled herself in and leaned back, sighing. It was better than being in a hospital, but she didn't want to be going out…it was too troublesome.

"Your friends will meet up with us at the train station. They have other clothes than that awful plain pink one."

"Really, you don't have to go that far-"

"Oh, but I do. We're going to have a little trip and make it back tonight and you'll be right as rain!"

He laughed to himself as he drove on, worrying Haruhi as they went further and further from the hospital until it no longer was in sight.

Hikaru and Kaoru were rushing around their home looking for clothes that would suit Haruhi. After all, who better to clad her than those whose mother was a famous fashion designer?

"She's gotta look well and like she's stepped out of a spa!"

Hikaru spoke in a rushed voice, holding a bundle of clothes in his arms. Kaoru nodded as he was arranging wigs and accessories that she would wear.

"She won't like anything too girly either, but we have to make her look her best, so she'll need make-up!"

"And she has to look full, not like her sick self that's…thin."

Hikaru avoided the word 'boney' or something along the lines of, 'like a stick.' The older brother's cell phone rang, making him jump up and drop the clothes. He quickly picked it up, the voice not waiting for his usual formalities (or informalities).

"Are you guys ready?"

"Mori-sempai…no, we haven't found anything yet."

"Better hurry up. We're almost there."

The phone went dead. They all wanted Haruhi to have as good a time as she could get in her current situation. Hikaru threw his phone on the bed, biting his thumb nail. Nothing was good enough! A sudden realization hit him. He turned to look back at his brother who was trying different combinations with wigs and accessories and thought. They were trying to find something that wouldn't appeal to them, but to Haruhi herself. She said that she didn't care much about the way she looked, but he guessed that even she had a degree of caring since she was wearing that wig as often as she could. A small choke escaped him as he covered his mouth, masking it up to look like a yawn. When Kaoru didn't look his way was when he knew he was safe enough to let a few tears slide down his face before wiping them away, feeling slightly refreshed and ready to tackle the day. He hadn't gotten the chance to see Haruhi since she made the phone call to Misuzu and was worried about her. She didn't let anyone see her. Sure, they sent her flowers and Hani even tried sending her a cake, but who knows what happened to that?

"It's okay to cry, you know."

Kaoru's voice surprised him. Irritably, Hikaru picked up the clothes and placed them on the bed.

"You're the one crying, Kaoru."

"You're right…but that's because I care about her as much as you do…it's only been our world until now…"

"What are you going on about?"

"It's nothing."

Kaoru smiled weakly as he chose a wig with long hair that had a braid over the loose hair. It had only been their world until recently. But now that they had expanded it and their vision of it, it was more painful than ever. It was as if your third eye was finally opening and because everything that was being seen with it was the most painful experience ever, you'd want to gouge it out. But this was no third eye phenomena. There was no way to gouge out that eye and no way to close it either. It was open for good whether they liked it or not.

"You're so weird."

Hikaru's arms were now linked around Kaoru's neck and across his chest in a hug. Tears were falling from his brother's eyes too.

"I'm scared for her too…"

Hikaru whispered, the two of them turning to a black dress that they had lain out for Haruhi for tomorrow. That was going to be tough for everyone, especially her. Their lives were a rollercoaster, and this was the rollercoaster ride at Hershey Park that fell at a ninety degree angle and sent you plummeting towards the ground face first except this wasn't fun.

Their little moment was disrupted when Hikaru's cell phone rang again, making the twins jump in the air. Angrily, Hikaru went to pick it up.

"What now!?"

"We can see what's happening, you know…"

It was Tamaki's voice. The twins looked around frantically, spotting Tamaki standing clearly in the doorway holding up the victory sign.

"Homo brothers till the end, right!?"
"Why you…"

They both went to attack him, the rest of the host club laughing. They were hidden behind the wall. It was just like old times…all laughing at stupidity…forgetting about the world…forgetting about everything.

Misuzu was tapping his foot as he saw the host club running to them. Haruhi was using her stolen wheelchair slightly embarrassed but happy nonetheless. She waved to them and watched as they came to a slow, the twins holding their bag of clothes for Haruhi.

"W-where are we going!?"

Tamaki shouted still from a distance. Misuzu giggled and hugged Haruhi's head.

"She's gotta be back for nightfall at what time, dear?"

"Seven."

"So she's gotta be back at seven, so we're going to make the best out of the day, you hear me, boys!? Take her somewhere nice and expensive! Don't cheap out on her!"

"There's no way I'll let them do that, Misuzu-san!"

Haruhi argued, he interrupting her, "I have to go fill out papers and take some responsibilities off this girl's shoulders!"

"Ah, you're not coming along with us?"

Kyouya asked, Misuzu shaking his head. "It's a crying shame, but I must fulfill my duties first. However, I want to see Haruhi in something more befitting before I leave!" His eyes darted over to the twins, whom almost magically produced folded clothes and rolled Haruhi to a nearby bathroom, shoving her inside to change and waiting outside.

Walking out, Haruhi looked as if she were barely afflicted by anything at all. Her new hair fell a little past her shoulders. A white vest hung over her shoulders, covering a violet dress underneath. Heels would have been bad if she were to fall, so the twins settled for white slippers. Smiling, she wrung her wrist a bit, feeling uneasy. "This isn't necessary, you know…" The older man launched himself around Haruhi's neck, crying his eyes out. "I'll be back in a while, okay!? Boys, take care of her! Haruhi, you look beautiful." He took her hands in his and kissed her cheek, her throat knotting up. She didn't want to hear something like that when she felt so opposite. Nodding, he took Tamaki's hands and placed hers inside, looking up at him. "You better take care of her…"

"Y-yes…" He stuttered, everyone watching Misuzu get in his car and take off. A little stunned, everyone could only stare until he became nothing in the distance. "So…uh…where do you want to go, Haruhi?" Everyone turned to her as if she held all the answers to life. Pausing for a minute, she thought, everyone seeming to stand on edge. "The zoo…?" It came out as a question as she looked up to Tamaki with her large, chocolate eyes. Tamaki's features softened as he smiled, nodding. "Okay."

"Yaay! The zoo! The zoo!" Hani jumped up and down, the usual chatter beginning again as if everything were normal once again. The atmosphere brightened up as everyone began talking about their favorite animals and which exhibits they were to visit as they got into the limo.

"We're drawing too much attention…" Haruhi spoke, eyes drooping as she got out of the car, seeing eyes staring at them. Mori set up her wheelchair, she eyeing it with disgust. "I'm fine."

"You have to preserve your strength." Hikaru began, worry crossing his face. "It takes a while to go through the zoo."

"You know we don't have to go through everything…" She spoke, the limo going off to park. "Just a few exhibits. It's going to take a while just to get there."

"You're right…but you still have to rest…" Kaoru muttered, Tamaki stepping up now. "How about you walk for a while and we're just going to take more breaks?" Her eyes drooped as she nodded, forcing herself to smile. She didn't want to damper her spirits or anyone else's. "So let's go!" Hani exclaimed, going inside. Nodding, everyone else followed, someone always by Haruhi's side.

Half an hour into the walk, Kyouya took note of Haruhi's heavy breathing. "I want to stop to consult the map."

"Aw, already!? Kyouya, can't we make it a surprise!?" Hikaru groaned, taking a seat on the ground, Kaoru joining him. Grateful, Haruhi sat a little bit further away from the twins on a bench, catching her breath and closing her eyes. Hani was the first to take note as he went over to her, sitting and resting his head against her arm. "Haru-chan, you okay?"

"Yup." She smiled, patting his head. "This is a very complex map." Kyouya spoke in a loud voice, several of the other hosts going beside him to try and understand it. Haruhi smiled and took a deep breath, looking at the butterfly exhibit entrance. "You want to go in!?" Hani asked in an enthusiastic voice, earning a small nod from Haruhi. He took her by the hand and dragged her inside, people instantly greeting them.

"Haru-chan, look at this one!"

Hani pointed to a glass container. "The Monarch butterfly…?"

"Yeah! It migrates from the north all the way to Mexico! Only…forty to sixty percent of them don't survive…" Hani's eyes grew wide as tears threatened to fall. "That's so sad…!" Haruhi touched the glass, Hani taking note in her sudden curiosity. "Haru-chan…?"

"It's so beautiful…" She smiled, trying to hide the sadness on her face. Hani's face drooped before he slapped his cheeks, taking her wrist and pulling her to another exhibit, but her mind rested with the monarch. "This is the spicebush swallowtail! Wooow! It's so pretty!"

Hani was tempted to press his face against the glass but the security was near so resisted it with everything he had in him. "Shouldn't we get back to the others now, sempai?" Haruhi asked, looking back to the direction of the exit that was hidden behind a wall of containers. "Yeah, you're probably right. Are you feeling better?" He asked her, looking up with worried eyes. The question was a little surprising but expected.

"Yeah, never better. Let's go." They both nodded in agreement and proceeded to walk out, Haruhi checking her watch. They'd been in the exhibits for only ten minutes, the others should have still been there. Then again, they were the type to wander off on their own.

"They're gone!" Hani exclaimed suddenly, stopping abruptly in the middle of the path. Haruhi smacked her forehead. "Figures…do you have your phone on you? I forgot mine back at the hospital." She spoke, Hani turning to her with watery eyes as he shook his head. She let out another sigh. "Well, then, do you know their numbers by heart? We could go use a payphone…" He shook his head again. "Do you know it?"

"No…" Their faces fell. "We're doomed! Doomed! Takashiiii!" Hani began throwing a panicked fit, looking around frantically. "Hani-sempai, calm down! They're fine, don't worry! Let's just enjoy ourselves for now and-"

Hani took off mid sentence, Haruhi sighing and sitting down on the bench, looking down at her hands. Was she really going to end up like the monarch butterfly? Two shadows loomed over her, making her look up.

"Hey, pretty lady, waiting for someone?"

"Ah, so there's still crooked people in family vacation spots…" She stood up and began walking away, the two men walking behind her. "Come on, just spend the day with us!"

"Go away." One hand rested on her shoulder, making her turn around quickly, facing them. "I said go away!" She now yelled in a more forceful voice. "My name's Chad, he's Tadashi." She grabbed onto his hand, wanting to pry it off but felt the illness weaken her muscles. "What pretty hair…"

"It's fake, moron! Let go of me!"

"What…?" He placed his other hand on her head and moved the hair a bit, yanking it off. "What the hell!?" He threw it back at her, she placed it on her head, eyebrows furrowed together. "What the hell!?" He repeated again, she taking off without another second's hesitation. The 'never look back' rule was destroyed when she turned her head, seeing that they had begun their pursuit after her. She tensed up and continued, clutching her chest as she began coughing. It was painful enough to walk, running was near impossible. After a while, a certain group of people came into view. Her vision darkened as she extended a hand to them. "Sempai…"

"HARUHI!" A pair of hands caught her as she fell, breathing heavily and drenched in sweat. "Uh oh…" The pursuers stopped, about to run in the opposite direction only to be faced with the tiny terror known as Hanizouka Mitsukuni.

"Not so fast…" his eyes narrowed as he looked up, anger radiating off him. "That's my friend!" Needless to say, a bunny explosion cloud was seen for miles around.

Morning came and Haruhi was once again in her hospital room. She looked up at the ceiling, covered her eyes, and began to cry. Today was the day her father—Ranka, would get to see daylight and have to face the cruel, bitter cold of the ground. It was nice to forget for a day, but the wound was still fresh in her heart like one of the stabs that took away her father. "Good morning Haruhi! I know you're probably still asleep, but…" Tamaki opened the door and trailed off as he heard her tiny sobs. The world around him shattered as his gut dropped, turning into ice. His face turned down and he placed her tray of food on the table, taking a chair and bringing it beside her. Taking a seat, he picked her up and hugged her, she hugging him back, welcoming the warmth. "I want him to still be alive…!" She spoke. They were both gone…her mom…her dad…

"I know…I miss him too…" Tamaki spoke, biting his lip so tears wouldn't fall. He needed to be strong for her in her time of need. He hugged her tighter, swallowing the lump in his throat. "I know…" He forced himself to repeat those words, albeit it came out only as a hoarse whisper. "I'm sorry for everything that's happening….goddammit…!" He let his head fall on her shoulder now as he began crying for her. "Haruhi…you can't leave us too…"He whispered in her ear. "We all need you and your commoner-like things…we're all here for you too, okay?" He pulled away and thumbed a few tears away, resting one hand on her shaking shoulders. He hated seeing her like this. She was usually so unaffected by everything around her. It angered Tamaki, no, it enraged him. Such a strong girl was being brought down by death and illness around her…oh cruel fate!

"People from Ouran will be attending the funeral…will you go as a boy or girl?" He asked her, she let her head drop against his chest, feeling more tears coming. "I don't care about that…you know that…I don't care…"

"You have to care for when you're coming back to Ouran."

"If…"

"Don't say that!"

"You know it's true!" She yelled hoarsely, looking up with red, puffy eyes, teeth clenched as she stared intently into his eyes. She took a few breaths before looking back down, repeating herself. "You know it's true…" Tamaki tried swallowing another lump in his throat unsuccessfully. A choked sob came out of his mouth, making him look away for a second before turning back to her. "There's so many people wanting to support you…don't think like that...! Not when so many people want you to live! Understand, Haruhi!? Live!" He held on tightly to her shoulders but she seemed unaffected by it. Tamaki sighed and hung his head, pressing it against her forehead. "You're running a fever…I'll get the doctor…you should eat something." He rolled the table beside her and made his way to the door. "Tamaki…" Haruhi looked up to him from her kneeling position on the bed. He turned his head to her, seeing that a fresh batch of tears had made their way down her pretty face. "I will…" A smile crossed her face, brightening up the room and removing the heavy atmosphere. Her smile was contagious. Before he realized it, he was smiling like an idiot, almost forgetting what he was supposed to be doing.

AN: Whew….now that that's done…THANK YOU EVERYONE! Happy chapter was pretty much a failure…sorry –sweat drop-.