Author's Note: Don't look too closely at the timeline of the epilogue. It all takes place some months after the previous chapter, over the course of a vaguely-defined week or so. It makes more sense if you don't squint at it too much.

Knock Knock.

"Sorry to disturb you two when you're working so hard, but can I have the kitchen prepare anything else for you to eat? Something other than tea to drink?"

Kana jumped as her mother opened the door for the third time, to check on her and Mori studying. Instinctively, she scooted another inch away from him on the couch. Not that they had been sitting close enough to touch or anything—mostly not—but her mother's raised eyebrow communicated volumes. Even worse, she looked amused. And sort of pleased.

"Mn. Tea is fine for me. Thank you." Mori responded absently, as he continued reading through the section of the history textbook they had been on. Kasuga Anna's interruptions did not seem to faze him. But he suddenly glanced up and looked at Kana quizzically, clearly asking if she wanted anything.

Her mother looked even more amused.

Kana cleared her throat, covering her blush by hurriedly picking up her notes and pretending to study them intently. "Huh? Oh, no...nothing right now. Probably not for awhile...this is the final exam, and I'm pretty focused..." She swallowed. What she said was true. The school year was nearing its end, and her final exam in Japanese History was tomorrow. She willed her mother not to imply that she was focusing on anything else.

Anna merely smiled. "Well...if you're sure. I'll leave you two alone for awhile, then..."

Kana cringed, bringing her notes even closer to her face as she heard her mother shut the door behind her. She willed herself not to look at Mori, but the silence became too much for her, and she peeked out from behind the papers.

His eyes had never left her. She swallowed as he gently took the notes from her hands, leaving her with nothing to hide behind. He chuckled. "...Are you ready to come out now?"

She opened her mouth to protest, her face burning, but he simply shifted the history textbook so it sat between them, and started to show her a section he'd found to answer her questions about post-war reconstruction. Of course, he had to lean in to point out the important points. Of course.

Mori had become...bolder...in the past few months. Kana couldn't make up her mind whether he was doing it on purpose. Most of the time, she convinced herself that it was all her imagination; he couldn't possibly be flirting with her. Other times...she wasn't so sure. Like now.

She forced herself to read the text he was pointing at. It explained some of the finer implications of radiation fallout after World War II, and the long-term impact on the Japanese people, physically, financially, and psychologically. She drew the book closer. This is...interesting. Her eyes darted over the words, making the connection between this current culture and past events.

History had started coming together, making so much more sense, since they resumed tutoring just after her first day back at school in the wheelchair. Mori started coming over every evening, insisting that he would help her catch up on the time she'd missed. A few times, she insisted they go to his house, particularly when her father was home, because it had simply become too embarrassing. Her father had been impressed with Mori's kendo record, and invited him to stay for dinner on more than one occasion. He and her mother were so bad at hiding their knowing looks, winks, and amused smiles, that Kana experimented with willing herself to sink into the floor. It hadn't worked so far.

Despite the embarrassment, the last few months had been happy for Kana; she visited the host club almost every day, studied with Mori, spent time with her parents, and her ankle healed quickly enough for her to begin riding again. On mornings her Dad was home, he walked her to school. Everything seemed perfect...as long as she pushed from her mind the thought that Mori would be graduating in a few short weeks. In fact, today was likely their last studying session. After tomorrow, there would be no more history tests to pass.

Kana sighed.

"Mn?" Mori looked at her quizzically.

"Oh! Uh, just...a tragic time in history..." She swallowed, and immediately felt guilty for misleading him. So many times, she'd thought about just asking to keep in touch with him after he went on to University, but it felt so...forward. Even though they spent time together almost daily, and had been for the past several months, there had never been a clear definition to their relationship. And she didn't want to read too much into Mori's kindness.

Mori nodded, seeming to take her explanation at face value. "We've covered everything I'd expect to be on your exam, and then some. I think it's time we stopped."

Kana stood up nervously. "Ah! Of course, Takashi...sorry, I didn't mean to keep you so late, it's just that it's the final exam, and I want to do well-"

"Kana." Mori stood as well, placing a hand on each of her shoulders. "You are prepared." He looked at her face searchingly. "There is such a thing as over-studying. Promise me you won't open these books any more tonight."

Kana swallowed. It's not that. It's not that I'm worried about the exam. I just don't want you to go. The words stuck in her throat, and she simply nodded, averting her eyes.

He was having none of it. He took her chin in one hand and made her look him in the eye. "Promise me." He seemed to think her nervousness was due to some illicit plan to study her brains out after he left. If only it was so simple.

Again, she nodded, this time looking him in the eye as steadily as she could manage, if only to get him to release her before she gave in to feeling shy again. He hesitated a few moments, only tentatively convinced, but did let her go.

Her parents expressed their regret that he could not stay longer, as they always did, and reassured him he was welcome anytime. Kana nodded along, as her parents so easily expressed sentiments that she wished she could tell him herself, but which would take on an entirely different meaning in that case. As he turned to leave, he reached out and ruffled her hair affectionately. Affectionately! It wasn't anything new, but...she couldn't seem to figure out just what kind of affection he was expressing. Maybe I'm like a little sister to him...she thought glumly.

The next day, Kana put down her pencil, having completed her history exam, feeling strangely...confident. I think I understood every question, she thought, cautiously hopeful. She allowed herself a small smile as she glanced over her answers quickly before handing in her paper. Tamaki, who had finished his exam several minutes ago, met her eyes as she headed back to her desk. He smiled quizzically, and Kana gave him a discreet thumbs-up. His dramatic gestures of triumph were so enthusiastic, that he earned a loud throat-clearing from their teacher, and several bemused glances from classmates. Kyouya rolled his eyes. He, of course, had also finished his exam long ago.

Tamaki contained himself until the end of class to congratulate her more vocally. "Kana-hime! You did it! Congratulations!"

Kana held up her hands. "Slow down, Tamaki! They haven't been scored, yet. I don't want to celebrate too early..." She stood to gather her things, a little embarrassed at his enthusiasm. She'd grown more used to it throughout the school year, but sometimes...

Tamaki smiled warmly, looking at her with his chin in his hand. "Ah, but Kana-hime...I saw you smiling. You felt good about this one, didn't you?"

She blushed, stammering, "I-it's all thanks to Takashi-sempai..."

Kyouya stood as well, smirking. "Well. I suppose that arrangement worked out well for you, then. I'm sure he'll want to hear the good news from you today at the host club..."

Kana had taken to designating Mori every day she visited the host club. Their...friendship...had become something of a popular topic among the guests, and several of Hunny's fans seemed to like to think of them as his parents. It was a little awkward.

When they arrived, sure enough, Hunny's fans listened attentively as Mori inquired about her exam.

"Kana-chan, did your exam go well?" He looked at her expectantly as he poured her tea.

She smiled up at him. "Yes! I...actually feel good about it. Thanks to you."

He smiled back, lingering over her longer than necessary, murmuring, "I'm glad."

This earned the two of them a chorus of wistful sighs from their "audience" of Hunny fans. Kana felt a blush creep up her neck at the attention; she knew they were there, of course, but to have her every interaction with Mori...commented on in this manner never ceased to be embarrassing.

"Kana-chan, Kana-chan! We have a new kind of cake to try today! Would you like some?" Hunny broke the tension with his sunny, innocent smile. The girls turned their attention to him and began cooing over how adorable he looked with a white satin napkin tied around his neck like a bib.

Kana tried not to laugh. "Of course, Hunny-sempai! What kind is it?"

"It's almond torte!" He announced proudly. Carefully, he prepared to cut her a slice, but the sight of him hovering over the dessert with a sharp object was too much for Mori, apparently, because he came along behind his cousin and took the knife from him.

"Let me."

The girls swooned.

Mori brought her slice of torte, and she thanked him, laughing a little. "Hunny-sempai always gives me more than I can eat!"

Hunny puffed out his cheeks. "I just give you how much I like to eat, Kana-chan! I-I know you like cake, so..." His eyes shone, and while Kana didn't believe he would really cry over something like that, his fans were beginning to look concerned.

"I do like cake!" She hastily reassured him, picking up her fork.

Mori watched her a little too closely as she took a bite, but she was spared having him stare at her while she ate by Tamaki, who stood regally from his chair in the middle of the room. He tapped a silver spoon to his glass, making a clinking sound to signal for quiet.

"Fellow hosts! Honored guests..." he bowed. "As we approach the end of this school year, I am happy to announce that the date has been set for our annual Host Club Ball!"

This was met with squeals of approval and a smattering of applause. Tamaki warmed to his audience.

"And this year will be a special one, my lovely guests! This year...we will also be celebrating...Hunny-sempai and Mori-sempai's graduation." He gestured toward their table, and suddenly all eyes were on the two senior hosts. Kana felt a sting in her chest at the word "graduation".

She wasn't the only one. There were several sad murmurs, and many of Hunny's fans began to tear up openly. Kana fixed her eyes on the almond torte so as not to follow their example.

Tamaki responded to his guests' melancholy with a disarmingly sympathetic smile. "I, too, share your grief, my princesses. For us to lose the company of our esteemed seniors is almost too much to bear...but take heart! In the end, we remaining hosts will be here for you to seek comfort and solace, and we will find consolation in your gentle embrace..."

This seemed to make most of the girls in the room swoon, but it completely killed the mood for Kana. Haruhi, too, was looking at her sempai with an arid expression. The girls made eye contact and rolled their eyes.

Kyouya cleared his throat and stood next to Tamaki, a cool smile plastered on his face. "Incidentally, we will be offering a special Graduation Booklet featuring Hunny-sempai and Mori-sempai, available for your purchase from now until the end of the year. Orders placed before the Host Club Ball will include entry into a raffle for a dance with Hunny and Mori...simultaneously. There are a limited number of raffle tickets, I'm afraid, so..." Before he could finish, guests started springing out of their chairs to form a line in front of him, clamoring to get one of these "limited" tickets...Kana could not help but notice that Kyouya had specified neither a price, nor how "limited" these tickets really were...and she could have sworn she saw the ghost of a smirk on his face before he was flooded with orders. He adjusted his glasses and smiled good-naturedly at the guests. "Now, now, ladies...one at a time, please..."

"Mitsukuni."

"Hmm? What's up, Takashi?" Hunny had been largely focused on his plate of cake during all the announcements, and looked up at Mori happily with frosting on his face. Mori reached over and gently wiped it off without a thought.

"...Did Kyouya tell you about the raffle?"

"Eh? I can't really remember..." Hunny mused unhelpfully, taking another bite of cake.

Mori sighed.

Kana reached out to touch his shoulder. "Sorry, Takashi...but at least you won't have to put of with this kind of thing anymore after you graduate, right?" The words, meant to cheer him up, tumbled out of her mouth before she could think about it. The implication that he would no longer be at the host club, that they would no longer see each other every day, echoed in her ears.

From his blank expression, she couldn't tell if the same that occurred to him or not. He shrugged noncommittally. "Mn."

Guests were starting to leave, having made their purchases of the coveted Graduation Booklet, and Kana found herself fidgeting. Up until now, they had left together nearly every day to continue their study sessions. Now there was no need.

"Well, um...I guess I'll...see you tomorrow!" Kana smiled briefly at Mori, not quite meeting his eyes, before turning and hurrying out the door before tears started falling.

With no more studying to distract her, and no further need to worry about her parents, Kana was truly left to deal with her own thoughts and feelings. She sat in her room on her bed, staring at the ceiling as Flick nestled in the crook of her arm for a nap. A gentle rap on her door got her attention.

"Come in..."

"Kana?" It was her mother, dressed for another fundraising event, makeup half-on and fluffing her hair. "I wanted to apologize for not being home for dinner tonight, especially with your Dad gone, and wondered if I could make it up to you by bringing home a post-dinner movie and maybe some ice cream..." She trailed off, eying her daughter, and paused her hair-fluffing to sit in the desk chair and pull it up next to Kana's bed. "What's up?"

"Just...mulling over the end of the year, I guess..."

Anna smiled. "Yes, a lot has happened this year, hasn't it?" She trailed off, watching Kana's face. "...You've made some really good friends this year."

"...mmhmm." The downcast look, the immediate tightening around Kana's eyes, told her mother she'd guessed right.

"...But some of them are graduating, right?" She continued carefully.

Kana closed her eyes and nodded.

Anna sighed. "Sometimes I think your life would have been easier if you'd taken after me a little more in this department..." She reached over to smooth Kana's hair out of her face, and then gently wiped away the single tear that escaped her closed eyes.

Kana's tension broke. She rolled over on her side, closer to her mother now, facing her and blurting out, "But I can't be like you! I-I'm not good at meeting new people and making speeches and being charismatic...I'm not good at just...saying what's on my mind and having it come out right and make sense, and-!"

"Shhh." Anna quieted her, now pulling Kana in for a hug. "Making speeches has nothing to do with it. You're right; I've always been good at talking to people. But you're better at thinking, and at listening, and I think out of the two of us, that makes you the wiser one." She smiled faintly, meeting Kana's puzzled gaze.

"...Wiser? How do you figure that?"

"It is the burden of the wise to notice problems. And we both know you're very good at that." Anna smirked teasingly.

Kana rolled her eyes. "Noticing them doesn't help me solve them."

"It does, in a way. You can't solve a problem you don't know about. But I do think in this case you need a little something extra..."

"'In 'this' case'?" Kana had a bad feeling about where this was going.

"If things are ever going to work out between you and Morinozuka-kun, one of you is going to have to speak up."

Kana gulped. "M-mom..."

"Kana-chan, it's your life. I can't tell you how to live it. But I do know that for most things, if you want something to happen, you have to make a decision and you have to take action. It's a risk. It takes courage. But I think you've developed some of that over the past year, haven't you?"

"I..."

When it became clear that Kana did not know how to answer that, Anna sighed, giving her another hug. "I love you and I'm proud of you, whatever you decide to do. But I want to ask you something important for you to think about: Are you hesitating because you're really afraid of his response, or because you're afraid of changing yourself?" She regarded her daughter steadily.

Kana didn't know what to say, except, "...I really don't think I'm wiser than you are, Mom."

Anna laughed. "No? But I'm great at talking a lot, aren't I? In fact..." She glanced at the clock. "I think I've talked so much that I might be running late now." She gave Kana a kiss on the forehead and stood to finish getting ready. "Don't worry about it too much, honey. Thinking and worrying aren't really the same thing! But...I'm eager to hear how it all turns out."

Less than a week later, Kana found herself standing on the threshold of the Ouran High School Ballroom, armed only with a gown and a decision to tell Mori about her feelings, once and for all.

For once, she had chosen the dress herself. After much consideration, Kana decided she had grown tired of being dressed up by everyone but herself. Before, she would never have had the confidence, but today...If I'm going to confess to him, it needs to be fully as myself, not as anyone else's vision of what I should look like. This reasoning had led her to choose a gown in her favorite color; an airy periwinkle blue that shifted shades between blue and violet as she moved. The sleeveless bodice was fitted and simple, fanning out into frothy folds of tulle around her hips and to the floor. A simple heart pendant was her only other ornamentation, and she left her hair down with just a slight curl, and the barest application of mascara and lip gloss, all of which she did herself. She was not the most glamorous girl in attendance by any means, but she felt more like herself than she ever had in a dress.

The twins greeted her at the door.

"Kana-hime!"

"Welcome!"

They both grinned cheekily at her, taking their bows, when Hikaru raised an eyebrow at her. "Hey, who picked your dress?"

Kana sighed. Here we go. "I did." She tilted her chin up just slightly, hoping the posture would strengthen her confidence.

"Hmm..." said Kaoru, circling her slowly. "Not bad...I like the color, but I'd have gone with a little more sparkle..."

"Well...I like it. And I'm the one wearing it, so..."

Koaru looked up at her, a little surprised. Then, he grinned again. "Is that right? In that case, you look fantastic!"

Hikaru rubbed his chin. "Yeah...a little confidence doesn't look too bad on you, Kana-hime." He winked.

Kana beamed at the compliment, which was higher praise than she'd ever expected from the twins. "Thank you." She felt so pleased that she even gave them a little curtsy. "I'm looking forward to the party." She quickly turned and walked away before they could catch her getting nervous. Not bad so far. Let's keep up this momentum.

As she entered the ballroom, dazzled by the mood lighting and glitzy décor, she took the first hit to her confidence. Aaa, I actually stand out amidst all this sparkle. I think everyone except me is wearing diamond jewelry. Are those diamond-studded napkin rings?! Feeling a little plain in comparison, Kana made her way over to the punch, deciding to take in her surroundings before making another move.

It wasn't long before the floor lights dimmed and a spotlight shone on the stage, illuminating the members of the host club as they assembled before their guests. Kana looked eagerly for Mori and found him, looking handsome in his tuxedo and coattails, white-gloved hands and platinum cufflinks. She imagined what she was about to say to him when they had a moment alone, and quickly needed another drink of cold punch. She was so flustered, she missed the majority of Tamaki's speech.

"...So without further ado, let us begin the first dance!" He finished, gesturing dramatically at the crowd. There was a chorus of unladylike squeals, but they refrained from stampeding him, instead parting like the red sea for the hosts to descend the marble stairs.

Gulping down the last of her punch and setting the empty glass on a passing servant's tray, Kana took a deep breath and made her way closer to the center of the room where she could ask Mori about talking alone before the night was out.

There were, surprisingly, several other young men in attendance at the ball, supposedly for the girls to have a chance at dancing partners while the hosts were otherwise occupied. She noted with surprise, and some amusement, that Tamaki was starting off by dancing with Haruhi, in her usual male attire, and it was causing quite a stir among the other guests. Even more interesting was the slightly pink tint to both her and Tamaki's cheeks. Haruhi spotted Kana in the crowd and looked at her, wide-eyed, as if to say, "I have no idea what is happening or how I feel about it." Kana just smiled encouragingly in return. For some reason, seeing them together gave her a little more confidence.

Kana wove her way between several dancing pairs, noting that Mori had not started dancing yet, and was simply standing with Hunny-sempai, receiving well-wishes from a group of guests huddled around them. She was interrupted in her quest by a strong hand on her shoulder.

"Kana."

Kana turned to see Kyouya's glasses glinting under the sparkling party lights, and she jumped. "Yikes! Don't sneak up on people like that, Kyouya!"

He arched an eyebrow at her, but did not respond to the comment. "I came to see if you had gotten your ticket yet."

"Ticket? You mean the raffle? No, I...see, I don't really care about-"

"No, your dance ticket. So you have a chance at dancing with a host tonight."

"Dance ticket?" Kana looked dumbfounded, and Kyouya sighed.

"You weren't paying attention, were you? Tamaki explained just now; you'll need a ticket to dance with a host tonight; obviously we won't be able to dance with every guest, and so we've developed a lottery system that ensures fairness." He pointed at a small screen above the stage that had a few numbers flashing. "Those two ticket numbers are for the girls dancing with the twins right now. We've arranged it so there are always some of us dancing, and some of us mingling, to keep the maximum number of guests satisfied. I can tell you now that Hunny and Mori will be quite busy tonight. Even though they aren't normally the biggest draw for guests, the impending scarcity of a thing increases demand and therefore its value."

Kana looked at him, deadpan. "Like your 'limited edition' raffle tickets?"

"Yes, like those." He answered her with a straight face, adjusting his glasses slightly.

Kana sighed. "All right. Where do I go to get tickets?"

Kyouya steered her by the shoulder so she was facing a line of people that curled its way all the way around three punch tables, and she felt her heart sink. "I have to wait through all that? Will you guys even have time to dance with that many guests?"

Kyouya shrugged. "It's a lottery. Only so many random numbers will be chosen. And while you may only receive one ticket per instance, I'm afraid many girls have circled around to the back of the line to obtain their second or third ticket, in order to increase their chances."

Taking one last look at Mori, feeling torn, Kana decided her best bet to speak with him alone tonight was to try to get a dance. It looked like he would be receiving well-wishes for awhile. Sighing again, she turned and made her way to the back of the line.

Kana watched the numbers above the stage change again, and somewhere in the crowd was a chorus of squealing. Someone else won a coveted dance with one of the hosts. To keep things livened, Kyouya had initiated the raffle drawing when Kana had just about made it to the front of the lottery line, and the line stopped moving so everyone could observe the drawing.

Not being a participant, Kana could only watch curiously while Kyouya drew the winning raffle ticket for the lucky girl who got to dance with Hunny and Mori simultaneously. Kana smiled a little when she recognized one of Hunny's fans bouncing toward the stage to claim her prize. The dance was certainly entertaining, as Hunny insisted the three of them clasp hands and spin in circles, but it was a far cry from romantic. Still, it seemed like the girl had the time of her life, and that was what mattered.

As she finally reached the front of the line and received her ticket, she anxiously checked the numbers again, reminding herself they weren't due to change yet, but she couldn't help it. This doesn't even guarantee me a dance. Maybe I should try talking to him anyway...

Kana made her way to where Mori was taking another break, still surrounded by guests, and one of the girls recognized her.

"Ohh, Kana! You're here to see Mori, aren't you? Coming through!" To Kana's embarrassment, the girl practically forced a path through her peers and pushed Kana right in front of Mori, looking very pleased with herself. Most of the other girls around recognized her, too, and suddenly hushed as they waited for what was about to happen between the two of them.

Ugh, I can't ask him now! Kana looked up at Mori nervously, suddenly dizzy with his proximity. The attire suited him well; a little too well. Kana gulped, suddenly speechless.

Mori smiled. "Kana." He bowed to her, took her hand, and before she could process what was happening, touched his lips to her knuckles in front of everyone.

"...!"

Hunny, who had been standing idly by, watching (and Kana swore she had seen him smirk just now), tugged on Mori's sleeve. "Takashi, you had your last exam today, didn't you?"

"...Ah."

The girls let out a chorus of sympathetic noises.

Hunny screwed his face into a cutely thoughtful frown. "Were you up all night studying for it?"

Mori regarded his cousin steadily, blinking a few times, then glanced away. "Not all night..."

The sympathetic chorus let out another refrain.

Kana felt a pang of guilt. Takashi...did you not have enough time to study for your own classes? Because of me? She reached out and placed a hand on Mori's shoulder. "Takashi, are you okay?"

Mori nodded, then gave her a reassuring smile. "I'm sure I did well."

Kana sweat-dropped. That's not what I meant. Not getting enough sleep, taking an exam, then having to entertain guests? And he's been trying to get ready for college...he must be exhausted...For a moment, she questioned her resolve to talk to him tonight. She really did not want to put him out. But then again...if not tonight, when?

The song ended, and Kana unconsciously glanced at the stage, noticing the numbers changing. None of them were on her ticket, but somewhere, another lucky guest let out a squeal of excitement.

In a moment, Kyouya made his way through the crowd. "Mori-sempai, Hunny-sempai, there are two guests who would like to dance with you tonight who just won our lottery."

Mori nodded, preparing to leave, and glanced at Kana.

That's not...regret in his eyes, is it? Ugh, I'm probably just seeing what I want to...Before he left, Kana tugged on his sleeve, and he stopped in his tracks gazing down at her. "Don't push yourself, Takashi. If you need to rest, get some rest."

He blinked a few times and smiled, reaching out as if to ruffle her hair, and she squeezed her eyes shut. He paused. Then, she felt one gloved finger trace from her temple down to her chin and back, slowly tucking her hair behind her ear on the return. His hand was warm even through the glove. She opened her eyes, face burning, and saw him smile down at her. The girls around them stared in open-mouthed rapture. Then he disappeared into the crowd.

Once he was gone, the girls around Kana closed in on her, leading her to a chair and bringing her punch. Someone even brought her a fancy lace fan; apparently she was notably red in the face. They chittered at her, a mixture of concern and envious delight, retelling the moment to each other, and to any newcomers who came by to see what all the commotion was about. Kana felt too light-headed to be any more embarrassed. She had rarely seen Mori act so boldly, and never in front of anyone...She hardly dared allow herself to hope she would be let off the hook tonight. Maybe, just maybe, something good would happen between them on its own. It took several songs for her to get her bearings again.

Finally feeling calm, she thanked the girls for their support (several winked at her or wished her good luck), and scanned the dance floor for Mori. She'd assumed he'd gotten caught up in entertaining guests and dance partners, but as she looked around the room, she did not see him anywhere. It was odd; normally he was the easiest person to spot in a crowd. His height made him something of a landmark.

Thinking maybe he'd gone to the washroom, Kana waited a few more songs, until she noticed the crowd starting to thin, as guests became tired and several started taking their leave. Her heart started to pound. Takashi? Where did you go?

She clutched her lottery ticket to her chest, watching the numbers change with each song, and still no sign of him. Finally, her number appeared on the screen. She hurried over to Kyouya, noting how much easier it was to cross the dance floor with the sparser crowd, and presented her ticket. He arched an eyebrow, looking a little surprised. "Kana-chan? You're still here?"

"I have the ticket for that number..." she pointed at the screen. "And...um...I was hoping I could dance with Takashi-sempai." She blushed a little saying it aloud, but pressed on.

Kyouya's eyes widened. "Mori-sempai?" He looked around, taking Kana by the shoulder and leading her to the side of the room. "Kana-chan..." his voice was surprisingly gentle, "I'm afraid Mori-sempai left."

"What?" Kana felt her heart drop. "N-no, he..."

"I haven't seen him for some time, now. I thought perhaps you had left with him..."

"No. I...he didn't even...say goodbye..."

All that planning. All that courage she'd somehow managed to summon. You did tell him to go rest. He might have taken your advice, her mind pointed out coldly. Kana swallowed.

"...You could dance with one of the other hosts, Kana..." Kyouya searched her expression, but she hardly noticed.

"No...um...that's all right." She pressed her ticket into Kyouya's hand. "Actually, I think I'll go freshen up. It's...been a long night. I'm pretty tired." She managed a weak smile before turning to go, trying to retain a regal posture. She made for the nearest exit, a hallway picked at random that would take her somewhere else in the school. Somewhere dark where she could cry without anyone seeing.

Tears were already running down her face when she found herself standing in front of the music room. The familiar hallways had carried her there without thought. She brushed at her cheeks and pushed tentatively at the door, surprised to find it unlocked.

It was almost too dark to see inside, but Kana was loath to turn on a light. Even though no one else was here with her, she was ashamed of her tears and felt better hiding them. After all, who was to say she wouldn't get another chance? Who was to say she wouldn't see Mori again? She could still attend graduation, maybe get the chance to talk with him there...

The more she tried to justify it to herself, the hotter her eyes felt. She had so wanted it to be perfect. To be composed and thoughtful as she explained her feelings to him, mentally prepared and feeling as confident as she could muster. She clutched at her skirts and sat down on one of the plush couches. Well...at least I picked my own dress, and I felt good in it...She remembered how Mori stroked her cheek, and somehow felt happier and sadder all at once. And I got a good memory out of it...

Suddenly, something moved beneath her, and she shrieked in surprise, standing up abruptly. The something was very large and seemed to be taking up the length of the couch and then some...she noticed this just before realizing she had somehow managed to sit on a person.

"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry! I didn't know there was anyone..."

The person had reached up and fumbled around, finding the switch to a decorative floor lamp. He turned on the light, and rubbed his eyes blearily. There, sans jacket, tie, and gloves, hair disheveled, was Mori.

Kana's hands went to her mouth. "T-Takashi?!"

Mori's eyes opened wider when he realized who was in the room with him. He sat up quickly and ran a hand through his hair, which only served to muss it up more. He looked up at her. She stood barely taller than he was, sitting down. "Kana..."

"You're still here! I thought...you'd left, and...heh..." Suddenly, she started laughing, having no idea what to feel anymore.

Mori looked at her quizzically, then a sharpness came to his expression and he tugged on her arm, gently but firmly guiding her to sit beside him. "Kana, have you been crying?" He asked seriously.

Erk. "Well...maybe a little..." It hit her suddenly that this might be her chance, the opportunity she had waited for and worked so hard to engineer, had fallen into her lap. It was not the way she'd envisioned it.

His eyes darkened. "Why? Did anyone bully you again?"

"Oh! No, no, nothing like that...I just..." She trailed off, unsure of how to continue. His hand was still on her arm.

"...Just what?" His expression had softened from dangerous to concerned.

"I...I..." She swallowed, feeling her cheeks flaming at what she was about to say. "I thought you'd left without saying goodbye, and...I wanted to dance with you tonight, I..." Her mouth went dry, and she licked her lips nervously.

Something in Mori's gaze shifted. He didn't take his eyes off her, but there was a heat present that wasn't there before. Kana felt she should look at him directly for the next part, but every time she tried, she got tongue-tied, so she settled for looking at her own hands on her lap, noticing that their knees were nearly touching.

"Takashi, I've been so worried about you graduating. I won't get to see you as much, and...well...I really like you. A lot. I-I don't know how you feel, but...I needed you to know...before you...left." She finally got the courage to glance up at him, and her breath hitched at the look on his face. His lips parted slightly, and he pulled her against him into a tight hug. She suppressed a gasp.

For several long, warm moments, they sat together, arms wrapped around each other, feeling each other's hearts pounding.

She heard Mori's voice softly by her ear. "I want to be with you. Even if we're not at the same school, I don't want to be with anyone else. So, if that's what you want..." He pulled back to look at her.

Kana was so surprised and happy that she pulled him down by the neck and kissed him enthusiastically. Quickly, she realized what she'd done, and that she had no idea what to do next anyway, so she pulled back, abashed. "I-I'm sorry! I was just-! I was so-!"

Mori laughed. It started as a deep chuckle, but started growing until he rested his forehead against her shoulder, shaking quietly. She blushed hard. "T-Takashi..."

"I'm sorry..." he said, pulling back again. This time, he stood up, taking her hands and pulling her with him. He grinned down at her, stroking her cheek. "I'm sorry...you're just so cute."

She blushed harder, trying to hide her face in his shirt. She tried to protest, but it came out more like a squeak. "..!"

He tilted her chin up, still smiling, and bent down to softly touch his lips to hers. The kiss was gentle but lingering, and his face was much more serious when he pulled away. It left her breathless.

"Now..." He took one of her hands in his, and placed the other on her waist, gazing into her eyes. "...May I have this dance?"

He didn't need to ask twice. As they swayed to the sound of nothing in particular, Kana couldn't hold back a nervous giggle. Mori quirked an eyebrow.

"Takashi...why were you sleeping in the music room?"

Mori blinked, as if the answer was obvious. "You told me I should get some rest. I thought it was best to listen to you. I...tend to have lower inhibitions when I'm tired." She could have sworn his ears were a little pink.

"Well...I don't think I mind it..." she said softly, smiling up at him. He smiled back, pulling her a little closer, so her head rested on his shoulder.

Even without music, even with her mascara smudged and his hair rumpled, it was perfect.

THE END

I hope you all liked it! I thought you guys deserved to see Kana and Mori get a real start to their relationship, even though that wouldn't actually take place until months after the story's end. Of course, if you've read the manga, you know what happens in terms of the host club. I'll just say this: Kana goes where the host club goes. Also, to quote Bisco Hatori about Mori's future: "He definitely cherishes his wife and children."

...And so you have it.

Please continue to review if you liked it; I have purely selfish reasons for asking you this, since I have nothing left to bribe you with! I just like to know if my writing could move you in some way...to smile, laugh, muse thoughtfully, or whatever. Please tell me!

My sincerest and deepest thanks to you all for reading. It's been a long journey. But I've proven to myself that I can finish something! It's been something of a roadblock for me.

I have completion anxiety. That's why I keep writing even though I have nothing left to say.

Help.

Okay, I'm really leaving now.

Really.

...

[Mori and Kana kissing in the back]

Hikaru: GET A ROOM YOU GUYS!

Laleanen: Uh...they did. They literally did get a room, and-

Kyouya: It's time to say goodbye now, Laleanen-san.

Laleanen: But-

Hunny: Be brave, Lale-chan! Like Kana was!

Laleanen: But that's not-

Kaoru: Shhhh.

Laleanen:...Goodbyes are not forever! Goodbyes are not the end! They simply mean "I'll miss you!" Until we meet-

Haruhi and Tamaki: [Drag Laleanen forcibly off-stage]

[Crickets Chirp]

[Curtain Closes]

[Finally]