Maria sat up in her bed, surrounded by the Hosts. Haruhi sat next to her on the bed, and everyone else sat or stood around her. Maria had a big smile upon her face. 

Chapter 11

Starry Nights

"You all didn't have to come and see me." Maria smiled. Haruhi shook her head, along with everyone else. 

"We wanted to see you!" Tamaki insisted. 

"We wanted to see your house." The twins replied simply. But everyone knew they wanted to see Maria too. 

"Are you feeling okay?" Haruhi asked, placing her hand on Maria's forehead. The twins turned to look at Tamaki, who was gripping his fists together tightly. He was trying to contain his fangirl moment. 

Tamaki suddenly realized something, and went over to Maria. He gave her a cup of ice cream, the flavor Maria dreamed about. Maria's eyes widened. "Did you buy this for me?" Maria asked, touched. She looked down at the ice cream.

"We wanted to make you feel better. Plus, a little ice cream wouldn't hurt." Haruhi smiled. Maria blushed in embarrassment. "You all.. didn't have to go out of your way ..to... give me something." Maria teared up. She looked up and gave them a teary smile. The Host's blushed. Even Kyoya who looked away, fixing his glasses. Even Takashi, who kept his stoned expression. But his lips twitched, holding in a smile. 

Tamaki's eyes glistened, and he smiled gently. He was happy to be by his friends, by Maria. Maria took a bite, then sighed happily. "I haven't had this flavor since France. It's my favorite flavor, y'know." Haruhi giggled with Maria, and the two got into a conversation about the lifestyle of France. Tamaki would've joined, but his mind was elsewhere. 

"Tono, who knew you were a pervert." Hikaru crossed his arms. Tamaki choked on his current feeling, which was now down the drain. "Waking up a girl in her room, then leaning in closely towards her." Tamaki was shaking his head 'no' frantically. 

The twins walked in when Tamaki's face and Maria's face was close together, then called him a pedophile. It ruined the moment, but made Maria giggle. Ah yes, that giggle. Tamaki loved it. 

"You just walked in on an awkward moment, you two. If I walked in I would of probably done the same thing." Maria smiled. She looked around, and noticed everyone around her. They were all laughing and having a good time. Huni was talking to Takashi, demanding how the Host Club should have a higher supply of cake. Kyoya's glasses slightly cracked at Huni's demand. He then began to talk with Haruhi, about her debt. The twins were bugging Tamaki, the normal conversation of how they were going to marry Haruhi and Tamaki crying over it. 

Maria smiled. Her dream came true, she was surrounded by friendly faces and comforting atmospheres. Maria felt.. like she fitted. She no longer was the puzzle piece that got mixed up with the rest, she fitted perfectly next to everything. She looked down at her ice cream and took anther bite, her eyes tearing up. They were tears of not joy or sorrow, but tears of relief and.. the feeling of you finally belonging somewhere. 

Soon Maria was in on the conversations too, but it was all cut short to an awkward one when Cass came in with her medication. "Lady, your medication time is now. Here's the pills." Maria took the pills and swallowed, but not before taking a big gulp of water. 

"Thank you, Cass." Maria smiled. Cass bowed, and then left the room. 

"Maria, it's better now to tell them than later." Kyoya shifted in his spot uneasily. He didn't know how Maria was going to settle this confusion, or how the Hosts were going to react to such 'mild' conditions. But actually, it was fatal. Mild is when you're telling a child that the dog ran away, when really he got ran over by the drunken neighbor. 

"I know, I guess it's time to scramble up the puzzle again." Maria sighed, smiling sadly. "Maybe I can figure out a way to put them back in order." Maria's hand was then covered when Haruhi placed her's over it. Maria looked down at the hands intertwining together, her eyes softening. "A disease if a curse, especially if it came as a result of the devil's sin." Maria shifted in her spot. Her hair shuffled behind her. 

Tamaki was on edge, as like the rest of the Hosts. 

"Long ago, at a young age, I was trapped in a house that was blazing fire of rage. The smoke made it hard to see, and the only memory was the fatal one. I stood, before my mother. She was yelling at me, but images were blurred. Sounds became distant and my head was spinning. I heard her shouting, and desperately shooing me away with her arms. She looked scared, judging by her frantic state. I could tell she wanted me out, but... I didn't want to go. Not without mommy." Maria let go of Haruhi's hand and brought up her knees, hugging them. She tilted her head and rested her cheek on her knee. She looked at the stars on the walls. 

"She was trapped under wooden planks, her legs stuck and broken. She couldn't do anything; she was a frail, weak women. I didn't want to go, I really didn't. With the tears and smoke blurring reality, I made a decision to listen and ran. But as soon as I did, the ceiling collapsed upon her. I stood, unable to move. The sight of your mother there, then gone in a second. The feeling of helplessness, that you couldn't do anything about it. You were only the helpless bystander, unable to move but only watch." Maria teared up, and she began to shake. 

"Because I was traumatized, I couldn't of seen the wooden pillar. It fell right on top of me, and it blazed flames of unbearable heat. It hit my side directly, and most of my back. That's how I got the faint burn scar. Sometimes, I wonder if I would of stayed, I could of helped her out. I was too scared to come any closer.." Maria's breath was caught in her throat. She stuttered, but then continued. "I-I woke up in the hospital, and received information on my condition. Due to the amount of smoke I inhaled, I was diagnosed with an incurable and deadly curse. COPD, or Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A week later, my mother died. I still remember her last words to me." Maria smiled, tears streaming down her face. 

"W-What was it?" Hikaru stuttered, tearing up. The twins and Tamaki was the most affected by her story. Huni was sobbing, though. But the trio's perspective on her will change. 

"Never flicker out of light. Stay strong, and don't forget you're a star no matter who you are." Maria lowered her head. "That's why I became so obsessed over astronomy. When I first met all of you, you all shined so brightly." Maria smiled. "Filled with hope, friendship, faith, trust. People can rely on you." Maria suddenly stood up and wiped away her tears. 

"I've decided!" She announced, pointing at them all, and then landed her finger on Tamaki. She gave him an encouraging look, a determined one. Tamaki looked at Maria with wide teary eyes. She smiled at him reassuringly. 

"I'll become stelliferous if I have too, in order to be among your Asterism. I just need to become brighter." Everyone was confused with her words, but she just smiled the brightest smile they've seen in a while. 

Tamaki's heart skipped a beat, his eyes shining brightly with realization. His stomach churned and he looked away, feeling embarrassed. His cheeks flooded with the color of his own rose, and he covered his face quickly. 

Maybe, he was in love. 

Maria smiled, and the Hosts only smiled back. They sure didn't shine brightly, at least in their eyes. But, she did. Maria looked over at Tamaki, who was hiding his red face. His blush reached his ears. Maria's eyes shined, and widened in realization. Her heart skipped a beat and she felt weak. 

Maybe, she was in love.