The blankets had been spread out over what looked to be an enormous area, the reason for which became apparent when Tamaki explained his idea. In short order all seven hosts were laying down with their heads at the center of the blanket, bodies radiating outward like spokes on a wheel. Haruhi found herself laying with Mori on one side and Kyoya on the other, and though it seemed like an odd setup – especially when she considered how often lately either the twins or Honey had claimed places beside her – it also felt...right, somehow.

For a long while the hosts lay silently, gazing up at the black velvet heavens that were so strikingly spangled with celestial diamonds, precious beyond compare. The waves swished along the sand; the night blew a gentle breeze over them. It was so beautiful, so peaceful, that the soft words murmured into the night were almost a surprise. What was really shocking, though, was the voice which uttered them.

"So many stars. Older than time itself. How much they have to have seen. I wonder what stories they would tell if they could?" She'd never heard that soft, reverent tone from Kyoya before, and it threw her for a loop even as it filled her with a warmth and a tranquility she'd never expected. However, as she didn't want to obviously react or mention it and run the risk of making him feel self-conscious, she kept her own speech as gentle as his had been.

"I can't even imagine," she whispered. "We have thousands of stories about them – I never once thought of the tales they may have about us."

"Do you know any star stories, Haruhi?" Hikaru asked, also keeping his voice low, soothing. Though she knew he couldn't see her she shook her head as she replied.

"No. I think there may have been one or two that Mom used to tell me, but it's been so long...I don't remember."

"Takashi knows lots of myths and legends from all sorts of different cultures." Even Honey's tone was quiet, though his natural exuberance was still obvious. Beside her she could almost feel the tall host freeze, unused to being put on the spot in such a fashion. Something told Haruhi that she should be the one to continue the conversation, so she obeyed the impulse that had her reaching out and finding his large hand with hers. She felt the shock that ricocheted through him at the casual contact. He turned his head so he could see her, and when their eyes met the wordless communication that passed between them smoothed over any lingering hesitance or uncertainty left over from their encounter the night before. His smile was slow, sweet, and his fingers tightened around hers. Somehow she found the breath to speak.

"Mori-senpai...tell me a story? Please?"

For a long while he just stared at her, dark eyes warm but inscrutable. Eventually, though, he turned his gaze back to the heavens and Haruhi sighed. I should have known better than to push him like that. What was I thinking? she thought ruefully. Feeling a bit sad that she might have made him uncomfortable, she returned her own attention to the skies. And then from beside her, like a low caress, he began to speak.

"When the world was new, all was dark. And when the golden Sun was born, there was a joyous cheer from all of the creatures in the world. No longer would they have to live in the unending darkness. No more would they have to fear the void. Now there was light, and warmth. And goodness and joy filled all the days.

"Still, there were a few creatures that were not rejoicing. These were the ones that, through choice or through necessity, couldn't bear the brightness of Sun's glory. To the caves and the forests they went, seeking shelter in the shadows and the coolness. And their hardships were many. And their journeys were long, and sad. They had to leave behind their friends, their companions, the ones who could and did frolic in the light of day.

"Sun heard their voices, their sorrow, and their laments brought a deep discomfort to his heart. Those poor creatures, forced away from all they loved by his very existence – it was enough to sadden him. Burdened with guilt, Sun decided to disappear for a while, to give those hidden ones a chance to leave their dens and their safe dark homes and mingle with their loved ones again. Decision made, he began to creep slowly through the sky until he reached its edge and could duck behind the mountains, hiding his light from the world.

"Darkness descended once more, and the forest kin, the dwellers of the deep, dark places came out of hiding, happy to be one with the others again. And joy was had by all, for a time. Soon, though, those that had enjoyed and thrived in the bright warmth began to pine for it again, and once more Sun was saddened by the sorrow of others. So he decided to return, slowly approaching the roof of the sky, giving the dark-loving creatures ample time to say their good-byes and make their retreats.

"Thus Sun set a pattern for himself. Every so often he would retire behind the mountains to rest, then slowly return to his place in the heavens. He enjoyed being able to please both groups as much as he could, and he delighted in watching the small beings live and love and die and grow and continue on. In watching them, though, he became aware of a new feeling, an odd feeling.

"Sun was lonely.

"It took some time, but Sun was patient. He listened to ideas and advice from all of the creatures who were so thankful for his ongoing benevolence. And finally, after much trial and hope, Sun created a partner for himself. She didn't glow with his yellow light – rather, hers was a gentle white gleam. Setting her in the heavens beside him, he called her Moon. And together they were happy, and Sun wasn't lonely anymore.

"As time passed, Moon – being less glaringly brilliant than her mate – began to dawdle behind when she and Sun would make their way behind the mountains. Soon she was lagging in the sky long after her mate had retired for the evening. She met the night creatures, and they met her. She developed a fondness for them, a fondness they were happy to return, because she was not as harsh on them yet she still shone enough to give their eyes light to see by. She felt for these creatures, only able to come out in darkness, and she made up her mind to talk to Sun about them.

"As she spoke, he listened. She asked permission to stay awake after he went to rest, to provide light and guidance to those who until now had been relegated to the cold blackness, those that couldn't handle Sun's magnificence. Sun was unhappy, but proud that she was willing to sacrifice her own contentment for that of the small beings they watched over. And so when Sun rose to shed his warmth on those that craved it, Moon slipped away to slumber. And when Sun began to tire, Moon would rise to the sky and shoo him off for rest, shining her light over her favorites.

"The creatures were happy, thankful, and Sun and Moon felt loved and useful – but they were still lonely. Every so often, they would make time to share a bit of the sky together, but for the most part they stayed to themselves, watching over their respective groups and doing the best they could for them. The were lonely, but they took joy in helping, and that made the solitude easier to bear. Sun, a stronger personality, let no sign of his sorrow hinder his self-imposed duties. But Moon, a more gentle and loving soul, could not always keep her tears inside. One by one the droplets of her loneliness began to fall. Seeing the way they gleamed, each of them a small piece of herself, she chose to scatter them across the dark pelt of the night. As time passed her tears gained a light of their own, enough that she could sometimes feel comfortable in leaving her home in the sky to visit the mate she so missed deeply.

"And so it is on moonless nights the stars gleam all the brighter, so that Sun and Moon may cleave to each other for as long as they can before needing to travel their own paths once more."

His voice faded into the night air, the haunting spell his words had placed them under holding their tongues as, under the glittering stars, seven friends contemplated duty, devotion, and love eternal.

Haruhi fell asleep with her fingers still warmly threaded with Mori's.

The waking cries of the seabirds brought her slightly out of her slumber. However, it took a moment for reality, such as it was, to even begin to make any sense at all. The sun was just rising and Haruhi's first thought was something along the lines of 'this blanket is really nice and warm.' The shock came when she remembered she didn't have a blanket. Blinking quickly, she stopped breathing entirely when she realized that her pillow was Kyoya's shoulder, and the warmth she'd so happily noticed was coming from Mori's arm where it was draped over her waist, his hand resting on the sleeping Shadow King's hip. Deciding the situation was far too surreal to even contemplate and therefore she must simply be dreaming, she deliberately closed her eyes and allowed herself to drift back into the darkness.

Kaoru opened his eyes slowly, not wanting to leave the wonderful dream he'd been having but feeling its tendrils slipping away even as he tried to grasp them. He mentally shrugged and tried to stretch but had to disentangle himself from his brother's slumbering embrace first. In the timid early morning light he looked around at the tumble of hosts on the pile of blankets and smiled, affection and contentment quickly warring with a bit of amused disbelief.

On one side of himself and Hikaru, the two blonds had rolled toward each other in their sleep, the end result being that Tamaki was curled protectively around a sleeping Honey, who was in turn curled protectively around a firmly-held Usa-chan. It was such a sweet image that the youngest twin wished he'd thought to bring his phone out of the cabin with him so that he could take a picture. But it wasn't until he turned to look at the other section of the blankets that he truly cursed his lack of camera.

Kyoya was sleeping peacefully on his back, slumber and the faint light of the encroaching dawn smoothing away the edges, leaving him looking peaceful and surprisingly innocent – a term he'd never quite equated with the calculating host. Snug against him was Haruhi, her head resting on his shoulder, one hand laying on his chest, completely adorable as she slept. But the thing that really struck Kaoru was the sight of the tall, quiet host stretched out along Haruhi's back, one strong arm draped over both her and Kyoya. The redhead blinked in shock.

For a while he watched the trio, wondering why instead of the jealousy he thought he should be feeling, all he really felt was contentment. In his still-not-completely-awake state, it seemed to make sense. He'd never really considered it, but in the dawning morning Tamaki's words came back to him and he realized that the Host King had been right. This group, these people...now Kaoru understood what the violet-eyed blond had been saying. They were a family. A family of choice, and didn't that say something, that a group of people so very different could choose to band together, to stand together, to share such bonds of friendship? For the first time in a long time, Kaoru felt utterly humbled by the depth of feeling he felt for each and every one of their mismatched little band.

With a true smile he stood quietly and crept across the sand to the table where he'd left his notebook the previous night. Bringing it with him, he settled back onto the blankets at Hikaru's side, smiling when his brother snuggled closer in his sleep. He brushed his fingers across his twin's cheek before opening his notebook to a clean page. As the morning grew older, his pen began to dance happily across the pages, filling the pristine white sheets with as many words as his heart was filled with emotions.

Tamaki opened his eyes to see...blond hair? In a moment of clarity that was all the more incredible as it came on the dragging heels of sleep, he remembered the stargazing the night before and determined correctly that he must have rolled over in his sleep and curled up against the closest person – namely, Honey. Suddenly self-conscious, he moved as slowly as he could away from the senior he'd unintentionally been snuggling with. Creeping away inch by inch, Tamaki wasn't sure which was the stronger emotion; fear of disturbing the shorter boy and facing the wrath of a prematurely woken Honey, or confused apprehension as to what Honey would say if he found himself being cuddled by the Host King. A few moments careful maneuvering and the taller blond sat up, too many thoughts racing through his mind to get a handle on any one of them. He was just beginning to feel like he'd regained some equilibrium when he heard the quiet chuckle behind him.

"Nice work, Boss."

Cheeks heating, Tamaki turned to see Kaoru sitting beside his still-sleeping brother, pen poised idly above his notebook as he regarded his fearless leader with a look that could only be considered fond. When it became obvious that the blond had no idea what, if anything, to say, Kaoru smiled and spoke.

"You know, Tama, I've been thinking." He closed the notebook and set it beside him, stretching his legs out in front of him before crossing them at the ankles and leaning back on his hands, his expression thoughtful.

"About what?" asked Tamaki, still feeling slightly disjointed.

"You were right."

"I was?" He could hear the total shock in his own voice and was confused when his companion laughed softly.

"Me and Hika...you...Kyoya...Mori and Honey...Haruhi...we're a family." Floored by the awed sincerity in the younger boy's voice, all Tamaki could do was stare while Kaoru spilled out his thoughts.

"I didn't realize it until – actually, until about an hour ago. But, well," he gestured with one hand. "Look around. We're all so different. But what do you see when you look at all of us?"

Tamaki did as suggested, mouth dropping open in total shock as he saw Kyoya, Mori, and Haruhi curled up together. Honey had shifted in his sleep, rolling over and clutching Usa-chan tighter to his chest. Hikaru – still sleeping deeply – was pressed against his brother's hip. And Tamaki understood what Kaoru was just now seeing for the first time – something the blond had known from the start. With a soft smile Tamaki turned back to the redhead.

"Now you see why I...why I try so hard. You know, to make everyone happy. To make them comfortable. We're all family, and it is all so...so very precious."

"I do understand, now. I always thought you were just being – well, yourself," Kaoru said with a snort. The Host King nodded his head with a chuckle.

"I know, and I'm going to work on that, on listening more to what you all want rather than just assuming I know what's best." He shrugged a bit ruefully. "I may not always succeed, but I do plan to try my hardest." There was silence for a while as both of them wandered in their own thoughts.

"Tamaki," Kaoru said in a low voice, "is this the part where one of us is supposed to make some pseudo-deep comment about the trials and tribulations of growing up?" He smiled impishly and Tamaki laughed out loud.

"Probably. But I'm feeling too happy and relaxed to get all philosophical at the moment. You?"

"Nope," Kaoru laughed as well. "I've got nothing."

"Maybe we should pass on the meaningful sentiments, then, and start thinking about breakfast. They'll all be waking up soon and I'll bet they're going to be hungry." Nodding his agreement, Kaoru stood up and the two walked off the blankets, conversing in quiet words about food and in the silence between about friendship.

Author's note: So I know a lot of you have ideas of which host(s) Haruhi will end up with. I am here to tell you...I have absolutely no idea. Not a hint. Zero. Zip. Zilch. This story is truly unfolding as it will - for the first time I don't even have a tentative concept of how this is going to turn out. So she may end up with one of them. She may end up with more than one of them. Hell, for all I know she may end up in a convent, swearing off men for good. She may end up as a lesbian circus performer that breeds miniature poodles. I don't have a clue. I guess you'll all find out when I do. In the meantime, I give you this thought: so much world out there...too much to contemplate. Have any of you ever truly sat and tried to really, honestly contemplate the entire world? All of the opportunities, all of the myriad things to learn and do and be? It's terrifying and humbling and far too large to imagine accurately. So enjoy the journey because, really, who knows where you'll end up? :)