For about the dozenth time in a short time period, I couldn’t breathe.

All I could do was stare at myself in the dressing room mirror, completely aware of the fact that I was about to perform for the first time in front of a crowd in over a year. My head felt as if it were spinning and my stomach as if I was about to be sick.

“Nao-chan~!”

Startled into attention, I stepped over to the door. The other side wasn’t exactly what I’d been expecting however. Instead of two members, the entire host club was crowded on the other side. I could hear murmurs from the other girls in the room as they caught sight of them.

“What the hell?”

I quickly pushed them out of the doorway so that I could slip through and shut it behind me. The expressions I saw at that moment varied widely. Tamaki seemed slightly sheepish, the twins amused, Kyoya more interested in the people walking around us - not surprisingly, there were quite a few big name families at this tournament-, Haruhi apologetic, Honey excited, and Mori… well, his expression was his typical, calm look.

I felt my cheeks flush slightly as my eyes stayed on him a moment longer than the others.

“We came to cheer you on,” Tamaki announced. “How come you never said you were a fa-”

“I’m not famous,” I cut in, seeing where he was going with this. “And fine. It’s a free world, you can be here if you want, just make sure to make yourself scarce once the performances start. I’m pretty sure you’re not allowed back here at that point.”

It’d be best to just leave them be. I’d been around the host club enough to know that arguing with them would be more trouble than it was worth.

“Yes ma’am,” the twins chorused.

My eyes flickered back to Mori and Honey. In response, Honey gave me a bright smile.

“You look really pretty in that, Nao-chan! Doesn’t she, Takashi?”

Mori nodded in agreement. I pursed my lips, doing my best not to allow my blush to grow even more than it already had. It was bad enough the club was here, I didn’t need them teasing me as well.

“You two can stay.”

“Nao-senpai!”

“That’s not fair!”

I rolled my eyes.

“Deal with it,” I told the others.

The following argument was interrupted when Kyoya, who had disappeared for a few moments, cleared his throat to catch our attention.

“It would seem that the staff would be fine with it if we stayed,” he commented, adjusting his glasses.

I returned his smug expression with a thin lipped smile.

“Thank-you, so much, Kyo-kun,” I replied with a dry tone.

“You’re very welcome, Nao-senpai,” he replied instantly, seeming even more smug than before.

Feeling my temper begin to flare, I simply flipped him off and turned back around to the dressing room.

“Fine, you can stay.”

“Yay!”

_______________________________

A short time later found me nervously pacing backstage with music flowing in from the other-side. I could hear each beat, almost feel every second that passed.

“Calm down, you’ll do fine,” one of the host club boys said, I wasn’t even sure who it was.

I simply nodded, freezing in place as the music faded and the crowd began cheering.

“Dammit.”

I stared at the stage as the other girl made her way off. Everything around me seemed to move in slow motion for a moment until I spun around to face the others, my eyes locating Mori’s a short distance away.

“I can’t do it.”

I was shaking, my breath coming in short, shallow gasps.

The moment I stepped out there I knew I was going to mess up. It was impossible that I wouldn’t. Everyone would see it happen. Then, instead of the fond memories the dancing world seemed to have of me, they’d know they’d been wrong to hope that I’d come back. Everyone would know how I should have just settled for kendo.

Mori pursed his lips slightly and I shook my head.

“I can-”

I froze as he bent down, pressing his lips lightly to the top of my forehead. Everyone seemed to flip around us, but my reaction was the opposite. Suddenly, despite how my heart seemed to speed up even more than before and how my face was probably bright red, I could breathe.

“You’ll be fine.”

“What just happened?”

“Did he just…?”

“They ARE dating!”

“Nao-chan, they’re calling for you!”

Honey gave me a small push towards the stage and in a daze, I found myself walking out into the blinding light. Within a moment I forced myself to remember where I started and found the position before the music began.

When my cue came to begin, I did as I’d done in practice, I replayed those thoughts. The resulting feelings fueled the dance. My eyes slid shut, my lips twisting up. I flew from one step to another, as if I’d never stumbled over a movement.

When I realized the music had stopped, I stood still, my breathing coming in calm, but slightly labored.

There was a beat of silence.

My stomach churned. My nerves felt frayed to their breaking points.

The crowd began to cheer. I could only stand there, staring.

This feeling… I’d missed it.

A second later I remembered that I needed to get off the stage. I slowly forced myself off, my dazed emotions never changing.

The cheering only faded when they announced that the results would be announced soon. I’d been the last dancer in my section.

_______________________________________

 “All the dancers should wait here,” one of the workers announced. “When or if your name is called, then you can go onto the stage…”

I began to tune out the instructions, unable to pay attention to the words I’d heard a dozen times before. It was amazing, how I could go from being dazed to anxious again within a short amount of time. Once the man had finished speaking, the announcer on stage spoke up to calm the crowd.

His words became a mixture of names I faintly recognized, or didn’t recognize at all. They started from eighth.

“You did great, Nao-chan,” Honey commented from a short distance behind me.

I gave a short nod, too focused on the stage to really reply.

“Second place, Ino Yuni.”

The girl in question grinned, quickly making her way out on stage.

I couldn’t breathe.

If they didn’t call my name, then I didn’t place at all.

If they called my name, I got first.

If they didn’t call my name, then this had been a waste of time.

If they called it…

I took a small step back and was stopped by Mori grabbing my wrist. I tensed, glancing between him and the stage.

“I…”

“First place with an excellent performance… Morioka Nao.”

I didn’t move.

“Nao, they called your name!”

They called my name?

“Nao-chan, you got first!”

A feeling of disbelief flooded through me as my eyes flickered back to Mori’s. He smiled, releasing my wrist.

In that instant, something was clear to me.

I wouldn’t be standing here if it wasn’t for him and Honey.

I wouldn’t have completed the dance if it wasn't for him.

I wouldn’t be … me again without any of them.

I threw my arms around his neck, tugging him down towards me. Within a second I’d placed a quick peck on his lips and spun towards the stage.

“N-nao-senpai?!”

“She…!”

“Thank-you…”

Then, without any further ado, I walked out to accept my prize. The entire time my cheeks were burning, but I couldn’t bring myself to regret the impulsive action.

Thanks to all of them, I’d performed again. If I had anything to say about the matter, I’d find some way to pay them all back.

Especially Takashi.

A/N: So, this chapter was bit differen then the others. It was simply meant to finish things, not nessacarily as a chapter itself. Plus, all the NaoxMori fluff! Fun, right? Anyways. Now for the epilogue...