AN: Hey, sorry again about all the recent changes! This chapter is dedicated to PonyGrim for keeping us out of trouble. Many thanks, dearest friend! Also, we're starting a mini contest. Whoever leaves a review that makes us smile or laugh the most wins! They don't really win anything important, or even tangible, but hey y'know it's something. Maybe I'll give you a virtual hug and kiss on the cheek.

She means we will do something related to our fanfic, most likely a dedication, shout out, or if you have a story possibly telling our readers to check it out. LOL Imotou gets ahead of herself and forgets to explain things sometimes (;

We don't own Ouran (I wish) But enjoy our Fanfic!

Nekozawa, in full daylight, stood before the group, smiling with a crazy glint in his eyes as if the world was on fire and he was the one who made it that way. Haruhi stared up at him in complete shock, staring up at the typically hooded figure standing without fear in the light.

"Nekozawa," she began hesitantly, "how…?"

"Did I get my wig to look so good?" he interrupted quickly, bouncing slightly in excitement. "Well, if you truly care to know, I-"

"No, how are you able to stand outside like this without a hood!" snapped Haruhi. Although she had already been spoiled by surprising calmness of her friends over the last couple of days, this sudden return to chaos usually expected from the Host club and their acquaintances wasn't something she was entirely sure she wanted to deal with at this moment. Or ever again, for that matter.

Neko continued to smile, raising a finger and waving it in the air. "Ah, but you see, those things are connected. My hair, as I've kindly pointed out to you, no longer resembles a wig. It looks quite realistic, wouldn't you agree?" He paused, waiting for a response that never came. Slightly miffed but determined as ever, he continued: "Well, this is simply a side effect. You see, your country is quite renowned for its scientific studies. In the last few years, it's made quite a few astounding medical leaps, particularly those in the field of genetics, and the altering of them. Long story short, I've become your country's personal guinea pig in testing new methods that actually change the genetic structure by inserting a virus of sorts in the cells' nucleus. Very complicated, I'm sure. I'd be able to tell you for certain if I actually paid attention, but alas, I was too preoccupied by the fact that it's actually working. Short story shorter, here I am, in the light of day, happier and healthier than ever! For short time periods, anyways." Neko nodded, his lengthy monologue completed.

Haruhi nodded slightly, somewhat satisfied, thought the rest of the group seemed to have been lost in the tedious speech, shuffling their feet silently as they stared up at the dark-haired man with blank stares.

"Well, I'm glad that you're disease is being cured. It's good to know that you'll be near me and my family, as well. That way, we can make sure you're properly taken care of," Haruhi noted, "speaking of taking care of you, you seem pretty tired. How long have you been out here, anyways?"

Nekozawa frowned slightly, gaze shifting to the left. "Ah, yes. Well, I haven't really been keeping track. I got a bit carried away, I suppose." Beelzenef's head drooped slightly, its painted eyes somehow taking on a regretful look.

Haruhi let out a small huff before putting a hand gently on his shoulder. "Come on then," she ordered roughly, "it's best to get you home." Looking over her shoulder as she lead Neko away, Haruhi waved her friends on, signaling them that it would be alright for them to go on. Arte paused, staring after the two as they walked down the sidewalk, before turning to follow the others.

Haruhi and Neko took a different route to the palace, one shaded more thoroughly by trees growing along the sides of the path. Some of the guards slowly fell in line behind them, a bit closer than they had been at the beginning of the day trip, obviously intent on keeping a closer eye on the princess this time around now that they had found her.

"I wish you'd be a bit less reckless with this whole thing," Haruhi snapped, finally breaking the thick silence. "How do you think your sister would feel if your condition suddenly got worse just because you can't follow the doctor's orders?"

Nekozawa's shoulders slumped, head bowed, mimicking the puppet sitting solemnly on his hand. "You're right. I acted like an idiot, and if she suffers, it's my fault. I guess my head got so big that I forgot how to act sensibly…" Haruhi could've sworn his lips were beginning to tremble. She hesitantly reached out, patting his back awkwardly.

"It's fine. You just have to be more careful next time, okay? Don't get too far ahead of yourself."

Neko nodded, looking up at this willow-tree branches that were hanging over the edge the barred the paved walkway from the reaching forest. The buildings were beginning to get more spread out, shops slowly turning into cozy little homes with patches of grass and stone paths dividing them. They walked in silence for a while until the right side of the royal palace came into view. It resembled the town buildings in that it had pale tan walls, but unlike any of the other shops or homes, it had a pale blue roof and lining. It wasn't a huge difference, but enough to make it stand out against its surroundings, especially considering its impressive size.

"Come on, let's hurry up. The sooner we get you inside, the better," Haruhi urged, turning around to tug a jacket away from one of the confused guards, throwing it over Nekozawa's head. Grabbing his arm, she yanked him along the path that slowly grew wider and wider as they made their way closer to the mansion.

LINE

The mansion's clinic was an average-sized room, with white walls lined with informational posters, a clinic bed pressed against the wall opposite the doorway, shelves lining the right and left walls, with a sink on the left. Another door entered from the left towards an emergency surgery room, though Haruhi wasn't all that eager to peek inside it. Haruhi dragged Neko over to the bed despite his protests against it.

"Honestly, now," Haruhi grumbled, "just because you're better doesn't mean you're ready to go running all over the place! You'd think you'd have better sense than that."

"You were the one who dragged me to the castle!" Neko whined, clearly tired from his longest time spent outside. His eyelids drooped lazily, and Beelzenef swung back anf forth in long, slow motions, as if attempting to hypnotize Haruhi into leaving the weary duo to suffer alone.

Haruhi looked around, searching for a doctor or a nurse to take over her babysitting job for the time being. "Where are the people who work here?" she muttered before sitting herself beside Neko. "Oh well, guess we'll have to wait here for them until they arrive. So, what have you been doing since last night besides nearly kill yourself?"

Nekozawa let his head fall back against the window sill with a soft thunk, eyes closed and chest rising and lowering softly, a soft snore coming from his mouth. Haruhi stared at him for a bit, wondering whether she should wake him up just to get revenge for how rude he was in falling asleep mid-conversation, but in the end decided he deserved the nap. Hopping off the bed, she pulled Neko's legs down, stretching him out across the bed with a slight grunt, cradling his head so that it fell softly against the pillow. Stepping back, Haruhi looked for a second at the sleeping man before quietly leaving the room.