Tales from Music Room #3

Goodbye (Pt. 3)

It was graduation day, and Tamaki was scheduled to give a speech.

It had been a little over a year and a half since Kyoya had left the country. The remainder of Tamaki's second year had been brutal without him; fielding questions from the students about where he'd gone, getting used to turning around and not having Kyoya right there, and figuring out how to keep the Host Club running exhausted him.

(Though he will admit to sending Kyoya the information and having him make the finances report once or twice.)

Apart from that, he missed him. They'd been friends for a while before they'd been lovers, and Tamaki was very lonely without him.

Of course, Kyoya kept in touch. Saturday nights were Tamaki's only, and Tamaki would call promptly at six to have Kyoya all to himself until one or both of them fell asleep. He talked to the other hosts on a weekly basis, and had so far been right on time with holidays and birthdays.

The day of Honey and Mori's graduation, there had been two tickets for a world-wide kendo exposition on the club room table that no one took credit for.

On Haruhi's two year anniversary with the club, a replacement vase, identical to the one she'd broken, was in the club room when Tamaki opened the door. There had been a note in familiar, impeccable handwriting-

Don't break this one... it may not end as well as the first.

But Tamaki had yet to see him. Video chatting didn't count. Kyoya couldn't find an opportunity to come back to Japan, and any tickets Tamaki bought to America were always mysteriously canceled.

The plan was tonight, after the graduation ceremony, the entire club would meet at the airport and surprise Kyoya the next morning.

A year and a half of separation was driving Tamaki insane.

A sharp elbow in his ribs made Tamaki's attention jolt back to his ongoing graduation ceremony.

"... And now, a speech from our class valedictorian, Tamaki Suoh."

Tamaki stood to an uproar of applause and made his way to the podium. He'd gone over his speech a hundred times with Kyoya and Haruhi, and was confident it would win over the crowd.

"Thank you," Tamaki said, his voice echoing through the microphone. "I cannot express how honored I am to be here in front of you all..."

His words sounded fake, even to his own ears. Was this really going to be just another Host Club act? Done to please a crowd? This was his final act at Ouran High School. It should be worth more than that.

Tamaki made a split-second decision and mentally tossed his planned speech.

"But it really shouldn't be me up here today. There was another student who was a higher-ranked student, ran the Host Club behind-the-scenes, and did all he could for this school... all without so much as even a thank-you. He didn't ask for anything, never corrected anyone's view of him. He should be the one giving a speech, and it would be something incredibly inspiring and motivational."

Tamaki paused for a moment. "He told me once, 'What sets your spirit free is something only you yourself can know.' To this day, I think that's the best piece of advice I've ever received."

He took a deep breath, hands shaking. This was harder than he thought. He closed his eyes for one moment, envisioning Kyoya's proud smile when Tamaki did something right, and kept going.

"Tomorrow starts a new chapter of our lives. Ouran will be behind us, and unknown great things in front of us. But don't ever let anyone tell you what should make you happy. Do what you love, decide for yourself what sets your spirit free. This isn't the end of something good, not really. This is the beginning of something great. I am very grateful to have spent this time with you all. My experience at Ouran will always be a part of what sets my spirit free."

Tamaki grinned as several students cheered in approval.

"I still think it should've been Kyoya up here. But on behalf of him, myself, and the other members of your host club, thank you for joining us. Ladies and gentleman, I give you your graduating class!"

All the students stood, cheering loudly and tossing their caps into the air. The faculty applauded as well, some looking touched at Tamaki's mention of Kyoya. Tamaki smiled and remained at the podium, looking fondly over the crowd.

"It should've been me, hmm? That's an intriguing thought, in its own way. I don't remember that in your original speech."

Tamaki spun around in disbelief to see Kyoya leaning on the railing of the steps beside the stage, holding a bouquet of white roses in his hands and his signature knowing smirk on his face.

Tamaki ran and flung himself into Kyoya's arms enthusiastically, almost knocking him over.

"You're here," he said happily, "you're really here."

"What, did you think I was going to miss your graduation?" Kyoya said with a smile. "Of course I'm here. I've missed you."

"I missed you too. So, so much! I can't believe you're back!"

Kyoya smiled and handed him the flowers. "You made a lovely speech, though that's not the one I remember hearing you practice."

Tamaki flushed. "I was thinking about you," he admitted.

Kyoya pulled him into a slow kiss without another word, surprising Tamaki- they were still standing on the stage as everyone left the gardens leisurely.

After a long moment, Kyoya pulled away, staying very close to Tamaki.

"For what it's worth," he murmured, "I was thinking of you too."

"How long are you in Japan for?" Tamaki asked breathlessly.

"As long as it takes to get through university."

Tamaki's eyes widened. "You mean..."

Kyoya nodded. "I'm back to stay. I don't plan to leave again unless we're leaving together."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

"Good." Tamaki looked Kyoya up and down- slightly taller, hair a little longer, a different pair of glasses that wasn't dented on the corner of the frame, but still mostly the same.

Kyoya appeared to be doing the same. "You got taller."

"So did you."

"A year and a half tends to do that to a person."

"Ugh, don't remind me. That was way too long apart."

"Agreed. At least you still had people you were acquainted with here. I had the disadvantage of starting over socially." Kyoya sounded unamused.

"How were the people in America?"

"And I had thought you lot were idiots," Kyoya mumbled. "I am not going back alone."

Tamaki, smiling, leaned forward and kissed him again. Kyoya responded instantly, wrapping his arms around Tamaki's waist and drawing him closer.

Tamaki felt as if his world had just shifted back into place- like he'd been living in a crooked photograph all this time, and Kyoya had just set it upright.

"Mon cherie?"

"Yes, Tamaki?"

"I love you."

Kyoya smiled, taking Tamaki's hand in his own. "I love you too."