Hinge Factor Part 3: Fathers' Wishes: Sons Vie

Chapter 9: End Game

A/N: Here's the penultimate chapter in this story. There are no points to be awarded; however this chapter does include the answer to a previous question.

Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran or the characters contained therein.

Laying my head on Kyou's shoulder I watched the scenery smoothly slide by. However, instead of giving way to palatial estates the businesses surrounding the airport became apartment complexes.

"Tori!" I shouted, "Where are you taking us?"

Obviously amused that I had finally remembered his name he replied, "I'm following your father's orders Kyouya-sama."

For the first time since I stood across the judo mat from Davenport-san I felt frightened. Given the fact that Father was extremely angry when last we spoke I couldn't be sure what he'd do. Haruhi and I held hands in silence.

To my surprise I began to recognize the scenery. Pulling beside an identical limo, Tori opened the door and ushered us up the stairs to my apartment. The gathering crowd asked impertinently if I were marrying into the Yakuza.

Kyou smiled and said, "Oh no, my family is far more dangerous than any of those upstarts." They quickly dispersed, leaving us alone in front of my front door.

Knocking on the door, Ranka-san answered, beaming at us. I had to say this was a welcome sight.

"Please Kyouya, Haruhi, come in. There's someone here to see you."

Hugging Haruhi, he examined the ring on her left hand and said, "Now that's more like it Kyou-kun." And then he stepped aside revealing the tableau of Father sitting at the Fujioka's table drinking tea. Approaching him I bowed silently, waiting to be addressed. Instead, he turned to Haruhi and said,

"Fujioka Haruhi, I must say that in the last few months you have acted admirably. You have never bandied about the Ootori name. You have never asked for anything and you have received our gifts under the parameters set for their acceptance."

He paused here, taking on a softer look before continuing in a kinder tone.

"If my son has been less than compliant it is because he resembles his great-grandmother who fell in love with a simple tea merchant and pursued him even though our family was dead set against it. And while we often push that connection to the side we should honor that tea merchant as he was a savvy businessman and understood the importance of diversifying one's portfolio. He was the foundation for our powerful family and set us on the road towards medicine. For in addition to the teashop, he also owned a small apothecary shop. As you are also savvy, I'm sure your own talents will bring honor to our family."

Bowing to him, I said, "Thank you very much Ootori-sama."

After his simple speech he turned to my father and shook his hand, the preliminary step towards the actual marriage contract (and highly detailed pre-nup) that would be drawn up when we both graduated from college. We were both glad to hear that we wouldn't have to wait until we went through law and business school respectively because I don't think we could have taken another eight to ten years of this. Four was apparently sufficient for Ootori-san to determine if I were actually serious about his son and if I had the mental acuity to get through Harvard's Pre-Law program if I were accepted. However, as we were now openly betrothed the years flew by. I did go to Harvard and Kyou also went to his first choice school.-in Japan.

Following our graduations from college we were married four years from that day on the grounds of Ouran. All of the members of the Club and many of the original customers were there to see us wed. Most, including Renge, were very displeased to hear Haruhi announced as my wife rather than husband.) The Twins took care of the fashion and Tamaki handled the music. Incidentally, he did find his opera singer at Julliard and was happy to say that she was indeed capable of hitting that notorious whistling register from Mozart's Magic Flute. They informed us that the following spring we would be expected to attend their wedding.

A/N: Whoo! Just the epilogue left. I hope that you have enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed writing it. Please r and r and thank you to those that do.

TTFN!

Acta