Disclaimer: I don't own OHSHC. Although can I ask for Hunni just for once, it's a rainy day and I need someone to hug.

A/N: Thank you for those who still support this story! It keeps me going. I'm sorry though for all the delay, college is super busy.

Hara mansion,

"Leave me alone!"

The Host Club heard Ayumi's voice as it echoed through the whole Hara mansion. They thought that the girl, who was recently discharged, could use some company after her physical therapy session that day. Right after school, the whole group went to Ayumi's house and was welcomed by her mother. Kazuhiko served them with tea and cake while waiting since the session would be over soon. Everyone was minding their own businesses when they heard that.

Kaoru leapt to his feet, left his homework and sprinted upstairs. Hikaru also jumped up and watched as his twin brother come to his girlfriend's aid. The others, however, merely looked up from their work and remained on their seats. "Aren't you guys worried?" Hikaru asked, throwing them a glance.

"Kaoru's handling it on his own." Was the Host King's only answer.

"Okaa-san will be fine without us, ne?" Added Hunni-sempai who was divulging on tea and cake. "Otou-san would take good care of her." He beamed.

Hikaru sighed once more, "Why are you guys so calm about all this? Ayu-chan's throwing a fit."

"The physical therapist that Kazuhiko-san hired came from our hospital so I don't think there's any problem with her performance. I personally recommended her to the family," Kyouya's dark eyes shifted from his laptop screen to Hikaru who finally settled down on his seat. He leaned back on the velvet seat and shook his head, "The problem now is with Ayumi."

Hunni smiled sympathetically, "Physical therapy hurts." He has never experienced it before but knew people who have gone through it. Though the whole process hurt like hell, not just physically but emotionally as well, the results were always worth it. Hunni knew that a fragile girl like Ayumi could not bear pain like that but he hopes she'll get through the whole ordeal. He, like the Host Club members, want to see her walk again.

"She must be so frustrated right now." Haruhi commented quietly behind her book. Wanting something and enduring the pain and time just to get it wasn't new to her but it was certainly new to a girl like Ayumi.

Tamaki shifted on his seat and laid his tea cup down, "Do you think it's time we see Ayumi-chan?"

Upstairs,

Hikaru found his twin brother consoling Ayumi who was sitting in between the metal bars she used. The therapist was standing by the couple, watching Ayumi with sad eyes. Kaoru looked up to see who came and when he saw his friends, he beckoned them closer and went back to soothing his girlfriend's sobs, "Ayu-hime, it's alright." He wrapped a protective arm around her small figure and said, "I'm here now."

"I'm hopeless," She said, wiping her tears with a hand but they just kept on coming. "I'm not gonna be able to walk!" Ayumi shouted out of her hopelessness. "I give up!"

Kaoru lifted his head up again and silently asked for their help. He obviously wasn't going to win against this argument. Mori, the person Kaoru least expected to aid him, came forward and scooped her up.

"Mori-sempai!" Ayumi stopped crying as soon as she was in his arms.

"Try to." Said Mori. He had lifted her up, helped her stand up, laid each of her hands on the bars provided and looked at her intensely. "Don't let yourself be confined on that wheelchair." The girl, who seemed surprised at his words, just nodded and pursed her lips.

"Ne, Takashi's right." Hunni skipped forward and patted her hand, "You don't want to be on a wheelchair forever, ne? Of course not! You should dance and skip!"

Ayumi's smile appeared on her lips,. How can she give up when she had friends like these? "Arigatou, minna-san." She gripped the bars tighter and nodded at their reassuring faces.

The therapist who was happy at the turn of events announced, "Well, I'm sure we'll make nice progress tomorrow. I hope you all will be here to support Ayumi-sama again." She was grateful for Ayumi's friends; it is very hard to watch over a person who isn't motivated.

Mori helped Ayumi back to her wheelchair, "We will be here." He guaranteed.

"Let's get you back on your feet!" Tamaki spoke up with much enthusiasm. He went over to Ayumi and gave her a big grin, "When I'm through with you, you're feet will be so healed that you can join triathlons!"Without anybody's consent, he quickly wheeled her out of the room. Everybody didn't have time to stop him.

"TONO! Get back here!" The twins charged out.

Haruhi groaned, "Sempai." And then, remembering the chaos that the twins might cause, she followed them.

"Tama-chan!" Hunni squealed. He took Mori's hand and led him out.

"Tamaki! Where d'you think-," Before he could say something bad about Tamaki in front of his staff, Kyouya cleared his throat and walked out.

Ouran,

She tried. For two weeks. But even the therapist saw no improvement. Ayumi Hara was forever lame. At first, Ayumi felt so bad about what she discovered but eventually, she learned how to accept everything. She had long accepted it but people showed her hope so she kept on going. Now that even the physical therapist confirmed her thought, Ayumi tried hard not to say, "I told you so."

Kaoru, however, seemed to still want her to try but when she put her foot down, figuratively of course, he stopped. But he was still thinking about it. He was glad about one thing; Ayumi went back to school and was contented about how things were going. Kaoru would go to school early just to see her and be able to wheel her around the school. That was their new system and no one complained.

"Good morning!" Students greeted them as Kaoru pushed Ayumi's wheelchair down the hall. Kaoru gave them a big grin and looked over Ayumi who did the same, her hands folded over their school bags which were on her lap.

"The Host Club's hosting a dance party this week, Ayu-hime." He said as they took a turn and entered their classroom. Kaoru wheeled her towards her table and settled on his seat, right next to hers. "Kyouya-sempai told me that tono allowed me that I can be absent so I can spend time with you. So, what d'you want to do? D'you wanna go abroad?"

Ayumi gave him a questioning glance, "Why would you be absent? The dance party is an important event for the Club. You have to be there." And before Kaoru could explain, she gave him a teasing smirk, "Plus, I wanna see you dance."

Kaoru laughed, "Would you allow me to dance with other girls then?"

Her eyes narrowed, "I can tolerate it if Kyouya says it's important."

Ayumi's koibito leaned towards her and gave her cheek a quick kiss, "I'd rather not." Their conversation ended when they heard the bell. Their teacher, who is always on time, walked in the classroom.

Third Music Room,

The Club Room smelled like a bakery, Kyouya noted as he watched the twins fill each Host table cakes and other pastries. Today, Ayumi felt compelled to make these to show her gratitude to the Hosts who have been more than help to her these past few months. She had asked Kyouya if it was okay if she also prepare the desserts for that week's Dance Party. Kyouya happily told her yes; he was going to cross off the desserts -the most costly part of his list because of Hunni's fondness for cake- because Ayumi wanted no payment so why won't he be happy with that?

Tamaki, who was in his designated place, looked at the Danish pastries in his table and asked, "How did you make these when you're-," Haruhi glared at him, making him shut up. "Sorry, forget that I asked."

"A-YU-CHAN!" Hunni skipped around the girl, he has stopped calling her 'mother' in front of other people for club purposes. He was the happiest when he discovered that today, he will have a cake overload. Ayumi prepared more for Hunni-sempai, she knew of his particular penchant for sweets. "These look great, ne!"

"It has to be, Hunni-sempai. That's my career choice." She replied, slicing Hunni's cake for him.

Hunni tilted his head to the side, "To be cake, ne?"

Ayumi scolded herself quietly for not being clear. She should've known that the mere presence of cake stops Hunni's brilliance. "Ano..." It was a good thing that Mori led the hyper Host away from the girl and made him sit on his place.

Kaoru and Hikaru grinned. They helped Ayumi with everything since she needed it. The twins did the tasks which requires force and Ayumi did the others. They were both so happy when the desserts turned out better than what they expected. "Shall we?" Kaoru asked the others, on his right hand was a plate and on the other was a fork.

"Itadakimasu!"

Each of the desserts were heavenly, they declared. The flavours which Ayumi had created caressed their palettes that nearly everyone sighed in ecstasy. No one expected less from her, Ayumi had been taught by her father ever since she was little. Baking was in her blood.

"Oishii desu!"

Their positive comments made her blush, "Thank you." She said to them, a content smile on her face as she watched them fill themselves with the dessert she so passionately made. Ayumi turned her attention on Kyouya, who didn't have any designations and was enjoying a blancmange. "Do you like yours, Kyouya-sempai?"

"Hai," He nodded with a small smile. Kyouya wasn't very fond of sweets but he liked this one. "You never talk about your skill, Ayumi-chan. "

"I never saw the need to." Was her answer then she pushed a plate of cookies to him, "I'm glad you like them. Eat up, Kyouya-sempai. You're getting thin."

Hikaru, who was hovering over them, took a cookie and grinned, "Thank you!" Then he moved back to his table and saw his costumers trying to eat his own cake. It was made with everything he enjoyed -mapled syrup, spicy stuff and the likes- which made the cake less likeable than others. They preferred Kaoru's cake, it was mango-flavoured.

"How do you like mine?" Hikaru pushed himself on the love seat which was occupied by Kaoru.

Kaoru was trying to swallow his slice whole. Although he too enjoyed the same stuff as Hikaru, he didn't think they taste well together. "Ah, it's very good." He put down his plate and his fork when he was done but Hikaru mischievously placed another slice for him. "Hikaru... I'm full."

"D'you prefer me to spoonfeed you, Kaoru?" Hikaru leaned towards his twin and much to their costumers' delight, Kaoru went red like a tomato.

Ayumi was watching them with amusement when Kyouya captured her attention with his question, "I read from your files that you'll be enrolling in Ouran University, Ayumi-chan. Once you graduate? Is that right?"

"Ah, yes. Education is wonderful at Ouran."

Kyouya nodded but he raised an eyebrow at his next question, "Why not try Paris then?" Her condition was not a hindrance if she's thinking that.

Her only answer was, "Kaoru."

The younger twin was also going to be enrolling in Ouran University. He dreams of being a writer and Kaoru knew he'll be trained better in Ouran than anywhere else. His brother, however, dreams big. Hikaru has already planned to go to the U.S once he graduates and venture on the fashion industry. Hikaru finally expressed his interest in the field. It was surreal. But everyone knew it was better than thrusting something to Hikaru since he'd always lose the enthusiasm to do it sooner or later.

"Anyway, Kaoru told me about the dance party." Ayumi took a cookie and bit unto it, "Am I invited?"

The bespectacled Host gave out a deep chuckle, "They would protest if you weren't. Are you available?"

Hara Mansion,

"Baka." Ayumi threw her hair brush at the mirror and groaned loudly. Her reflection changed drastically over the past few months, which was why she considered banning mirrors in this house. Her mother said no, of course. She had always been a small girl but due to her present condition, she seemed smaller. Her frown didn't help much either. Ayumi didn't like those changes, it made her frown even more.

She thought back on the answer she gave Kyouya. Yes. Why the hell did she say yes? When she knows that she'll be miserable there? Not because Kaoru would be dancing with other girls but because he won't ever have a chance to dance with her at least once. The thought tortured her but she felt the need to come. She has to.

Ayumi clutched the wheels of her wheelchair, "You can't come with this." She hissed at herself and then Ayumi forced her body to lift itself up but her arms failed her. She sunk back unto the seat and broke down in tears again. "Baka!" She shouted at the mirror once more.

How can she come in this condition?

Maybe, she couldn't, after all.