Chapter 4

Two days later Takashi and his family arrived outside Hunny's mansion. He wasn't sure why they were there but his parents had informed him that he would be coming along tonight for a special event at the Huninozuka's residence.

Satoshi was glancing at him every few minutes and then looking out the window again. It was starting to unnerve him, especially because his parents refused to meet his gaze. He could see his mother's face rapidly changing between happy, excited and sad, worried, His father was as unreadable as always – the perfect Morinozuka.

As the butler opened the door and led them to the dinning hall, he saw Haruhi and her father talking to Hunny.

Satoshi spotted Chika and moved away from the family.

The only others present was Hunny's parents.

As Hunny saw Takashi he skipped over to him,

"Ah! Takashi! You're here! You look nice tonight."

Haruhi had followed Hunny and he now realized that she was wearing a beautiful beige evening dress that flowed from her right shoulder into a figure hugging bodice and then to a floor sweeping skirt. Having recently only seen her in the school uniform, he realized that she had acquired a much more feminine physic. They wouldn't be able to keep her true gender a secret for much longer.

But tonight, she looked absolutely stunning.

"The black tuxedo suite you well Mori-senpei."

Haruhi remarked, but she didn't look at him. It tore at his heart. Haruhi had always looked him straight in the eyes when she was talking to him, making him feel as if she could see him, not the mask but the real him.

"Come along you two! There is something that needs to be said before dinner and the special event there after."

Both quickly looked at him and Haruhi stealing a glance at Takashi before they followed him to the sitting room where all the parents had already gathered.

Hunny waved them to the only open seats left – a coach opposite to where he was standing. Once they were seated, he cleared his throat,

"Nearly everybody here is aware of why we are here and it is now time to inform the main parties involved."

He now looked directly at the self-conscious Haruhi and Takashi.

"All of us present have discussed this and decided that an arranged marriage between you two is a beneficial move considering the present circumstances. Tonight you two will be getting engaged. After dinner the ring and tea ceremony will take place."

He was aware of their stunned expressions.

Takashi was trying to sort everything out. Hunny, his parents and Haruhi's father had decided that Haruhi would be his forever.

An arranged marriage meant that it was his duty to Hunny and his parents to go through with it.

He had always known that this was going to be how his wife would be decided, but that it would be someone he was in love with had never crossed his mind.

He only needed to look at Mitskuni to know. His friend had known! He had known how Takashi felt about Haruhi – this was an expression of his love for him.

He could only give his parents and Hunny a grateful look before his masked slipped back into place. It was an instinctive reaction to his shock and happiness. But it was at this moment Haruhi looked up at him.

All she saw was the expressionless Mori-senpei. She had been shocked to say the least and her mind had gone blank. This reaction gave way to a bubbling excitement. That is until she looked at his face. His expression deflated all the bubbles of happiness. But he was hers now! If he didn't love her she would make him fall in love with her. They had always said she could be as stubborn as a rock. Well she was going to get what she wanted. She had the rest of their lives to do it in, but she would prefer it if it happened before they got married.

The people around them looked on with amusement at the happenings between the two. They all caught the grateful look Takashi gave them – relieving them all of any last doubts about how he would feel about an arranged marriage. They also saw the mask slide back into place and Haruhi narrowly missing his true feelings – the happiness disappearing from her face to be replaced by a look of determination- the Haruhi stubborn look!

They all saw this and were satisfied that they had done the right thing.

The Morinozukas were happy that this girl could make their son happy – the fact that she was the best student in her year and would one day become an asset to their family was only a bonus. The strange father was just something they had to accept.

Ranka was just happy that his little girl would be together with the man that she loved. The fact that he came form a well-bred and rich family didn't hurt though.

Dinner went by quietly, nothing being said about the eminent ceremony.

Hunny had had a beautiful kimono made for Haruhi for the very traditional tea ceremony. She got dressed after dinner and as usual, Haruhi preformed the tea ceremony perfectly. Ranka was sitting next to her, watching Takashi and his family who sat across from them. He had dressed as a man for this special occasion.

Once the tea ceremony was done, it was time to give the ring. Takashi's mother had gotten a very beautiful but simple and elegant ring with Haruhi's fathers help. He reverently placed this on her finger. The contact with her skin was making his mask slip slightly and a little bit of his joy could be seen by the spectators but not by Haruhi, who had her head bowed. She was trying to suppress the trembling of her hand, but he felt it anyway. He dearly wanted to pull her into his arms, but was afraid that she would react badly to this, especially after the way he had been treating her. He didn't want to get pushed away like Tamaki and the twins.

Hunny clasped their hands between his,

"There is one more thing you need to know. At the end of next week the Morinozuka's need to officially announce that their oldest son and heir is engaged. The want the flow of invitations from other wealthy families to stop. But in the process Haruhi's name will be mentioned. …"

He looked away.

"Which means that people are going to know that I'm a girl."

Haruhi's famous bored expression was back.

"It was bound to happen. Kyouya will be unhappy that I won't be able to pay my debt off where he can control everything. Tamaki probably won't either, but hey!"

She felt a gentle pressure on her hand and realized she was still holding Mori-senpei's hand. She felt a flush of happiness run through her body.

Looking down at her, Takashi saw a blush creep across her cheeks and felt something he couldn't quiet explain. It was a jumble of emotions – love, happiness, protectiveness, joy…and possessiveness.

"Tamaki and the twins will not be happy that you are engaged to me."

He stated this matter of factly, still holding her hand. She hadn't seemed to realize that he still had her hand and he was thankful for the opportunity to just touch her.

"We will have to tell them soon. Tomorrow!"

"Yes. I'll have to tell my customers too. I think sooner than later would be best."