A/N: Me again, my little pumpkins! I'm glad people are enjoying the story so far! Bet you're wondering where Tamaki and Hikaru got to last chapter, so this will fill you in~

Enjoy!

Hikaru POV

Tamaki Suou (15:35) – My house, ASAP, don't bring Kaoru.

When I'd received that text I knew that this night was going to become stressful. We had only just gotten out of class and Haruhi had run off to the library to cram in a bit of studying before hosting began, so we were loitering about the corridors trying to kill time. I assumed by the text that Tamaki wasn't going to the host club, so it was either cancelled or I had just been given permission to bunk off for a day. So I left Kaoru standing outside our classroom, letting him think I'd be right back. In hindsight that was probably a stupid idea but it was the first excuse that came to mind.

We were in one of the studies in Suou's second mansion and Tamaki was just sitting there focussing intensely on the wall with no explanation as to why he had asked for my attendance. I watched him for a while until my interest began to wane, "Tono, what are you doing?"

"Shhh! I'm trying to think!" He held up a hand and furrowed his brows. I could almost see the exhausted hamster running furiously on the little wheel inside his head.

I lounged back on the armchair and laughed dryly, "Don't try too hard, you might hurt yourself."

"Very funny, Hikaru," he shot me a glare but the irritation faded quickly from his face. He looked a mess, no wonder he skipped out on host club tonight.

"Seriously, boss. Why did you want me here? Kaoru's gonna be mad at me for standing him up. And I don't wanna know what Kyoya-sempai's gonna do when he finds out we skipped hosting hours," I shivered as I realised that I was probably in for some punishment next time I went to club. Probably stuck with cleaning for a week or, if Kyoya was in an especially bad mood, for a month.

"Kaoru will get over it. And Kyoya can't do anything to us, he's harmless really," Tamaki waved a hand at me dismissively.

"Like I believe that," I muttered. Then silence fell upon us. It was uncomfortable and I could sense that he wanted to speak but wasn't able to find the right words for the purpose. Eventually he met my eye and the stare off began. He lasted much longer than usual, but as always he was the first to look away, focussing on one of the books laid out on the hardwood desk.

"Hikaru… I can't go back in there," he whispered. The words were so soft that I almost couldn't make them out but I knew I hadn't misheard. Our King wanted to give up his throne.

"Huh?" I pushed myself out of the armchair and made my way across the room. Tamaki watched cautiously as I moved closer and sat on the edge of the desk.

"You said it yourself, I'm in love with Haruhi," his voice cracked as he spoke. "But I don't think I'm the only one. I'm too late."

"Kyoya-sempai isn't in love with her. He's a robot. Besides, his father would never approve of him dating anyone from a commoner background, regardless of the fact that she got into Ouran," I argued fruitlessly. Honestly I didn't believe all of the words that came out my mouth but if they cheered Tamaki up then that didn't matter.

His eyes were disbelieving but his voice was stronger as he spoke, "He's can be cold but that doesn't make him heartless. Can't you remember when you and Kaoru gave every single person that approached you the cold shoulder? Now look at you."

I crossed my arms tightly across my chest and looked away. He was right, but that didn't mean he had to use it as leverage here. All I was trying to do was cheer the guy up. "Whatever, boss. Look, you're being ridiculous. You and Kyoya-sempai founded the host club, you can't quit it just like that. We're a family."

"Are we though? Honey-sempai and Mori-sempai will be leaving at the end of the semester. Haruhi will have to come out as a girl sooner or later and her debt is almost paid off, then she can do what she likes," Tamaki whispered tearfully, clutching tightly at his knees. "That leaves us with four hosts in total and that isn't enough for the club to stay running. Eventually we have to let our children grow up and move on."

"Sempai…" The emotion radiating off of him was immense and I wasn't sure how to handle it. It was frustrating and pitiful at the same time but I had to try and be patient. My hands gripped the edge of the desk with more force as I sat and waited for him to compose himself slightly.

"Aren't I right?" he asked with hopeful eyes.

That was enough to make me snap. I pushed away from the desk and grabbed him by the shoulders forcefully. Our eyes locked, mine in a blaze of fire and his as icy and dim as I'd ever seen them. "…I don't want it to end. You're overreacting!"

"Well what else am I supposed to do!?" He yelled, shoving me away. We both stood in the centre of the room, clenching and unclenching our fists even though we knew we weren't going to fight, not over this.

"Talk to her! Talk to him! Kyoya-sempai is your best friend, he'll understand!" I waved my arms about as I shouted. We had attracted the attention of some of the house staff who were trying to slyly peek through the doorway and observe.

Tamaki deflated and dropped to his knees before me. I instantly went down to his level and watched as a tear made its way down his cheek. "Best friends don't steal the girl you love."

"You're not the only one that loves her, sempai," I draped an arm around his shoulder as he tried to keep his sobs under control. "We all do, you're just the one we thought would make it work with her. Her prince charming."

He looked up in confusion and searched my face for any trace of a lie, "Hikaru?"

My eyes sought out the floor and my stomach knotted up as I let the words leave my lips, "Kaoru loves her, I know it even if he doesn't say it out loud, but he hasn't done anything about it because he wants me to have a chance. Reading his diary really wasn't as smart an idea as I'd thought it would be…"

He tilted my head up and his determined eyes met my own. It was as though I fed off the renewed fire within the host club king and it was the only thing that stopped me from shedding a tear then and there. "Are you saying I should do the same?"

"I'm saying you have to decide. You either let her go or fight. So what's it gonna be, boss?" We sat there in silence. Both of us were in deep thought. It was the best advice I could give him but it was potentially throwing a spanner into the works of the host club. Even ruining the perfectly good friendships between some of the most influential business heirs in Tokyo. Oh god, why didn't I bring Kaoru? He always knows what to do.