"Ina!" Hima dashed out after her, Kaoru right behind her.
Haruhi looked at Kyoya, her expression going from shock to anger. "You… you knew! You knew and you didn't say anything!"
Kyoya didn't reply, but Tamaki saw he was biting down hard to keep his silence.
Fed up, Haruhi ran out after the others.
They made it outside to the bustle of cars coming and going for the students who didn't stay for club activities.
"Wait!" Hima shouted, then pointed to a car at the end of the drive. "I saw her get in that one."
"That's a school car," Kaoru said, looking around for another. He waved down a school attendant. "We need a car! Now!"
The attendant paled and bowed over and over. "I am so sorry. The last one just left. If you wait a few minutes, we can call one for you, but none have returned yet."
"That doesn't help us at all!" Kaoru shouted, furious at the hold up.
Hima held his arm. "I think I know where she's going. You get a car, I'll get Haruhi. We can talk to her."
He nodded. "Hurry, Hima. Okay?"
She hugged him. "Promise."
Once Haruhi caught up and they got a car, Hima gave driver an address. "And hurry!"
Haruhi winced at the narrow path the driver took to get between cars and out to the road. "But Hima, that's not Ina's address…?"
"No, but it's where she'd go!"
They pulled up outside a sleek building and Hima hopped out at the curb, pulling Haruhi with her.
The lobby they crossed was an edgy modern with signed guitars, band pictures, and framed awards up on the walls.
"Wait, where are we?"
"The studio," Hima said, running up to the desk. "Is Inari here? Did she come in?"
The helper at the desk nodded quickly. "Yes, and she looked upset. She should be in her office. I want to help. What do you need?"
"Ramen," she said quickly, "the good kind. And call Nana and Itachi. She's real upset. Come on, Haruhi!"
Haruhi followed her to the elevator and they rode down to a sub-basement. "The recording booths are down here," she said, smiling nervously and fidgeting with her cosplay kimono. "She works near them so she can record stuff on the fly."
She held tight to Haruhi's hand, winding through hallways to a door she pounded on. "Inaaaa! Ina, lemme in, please? I brought Haruhi!" She pressed her ear to the door. "I HEAR you!"
The lock clicked and she hurried in, Haruhi close behind.
Ina sat in a corner on a big beanbag chair with an electric guitar on her lap, Hima bounded over and hugged her tight.
"Don't DO that!" she scolded. "You're not okay! I need to know when you're not okay!"
Ina, her face still sticky from crying, hugged her back. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all of it, I shouldn't have been so mean, or run off like that. I just… I didn't know what else to do…"
"Yeah, you were tough on Hikaru," Haruhi agreed, "but… well, sometimes he needs that." She sat down facing Ina's bean bag. "You know if you said what this was about, I'd have made time…"
Ina wiped her eyes roughly on the back of her hand and sniffed, getting better control of herself. "Pretty sure I was still in shock… probably still am."
"When did it happen?" Hima asked, all concerned attention.
"Father met with them Monday night," Ina explained, leaving out that the show she took Haruhi to was the place her future mother-in-law first saw her. "It's a good match," she said quietly. "Lady Sakurai's son, Goro is the first and only heir to Sakurai shipping and transport. They're the largest shipping network in the pacific, and well on their way to topping the Atlantic routes as well…"
"But," Hima said, her eyes big and worried, "you're not happy…"
"You'd think I would be," Ina said, struggling with that too. "Almost every night this week, Lady Sakurai has either been at our house for dinner, or we've all gone out. She talks about Goro constantly."
"Haven't you met him?" Haruhi asked, confused by it all. "You're supposed to marry him, not his mother."
"He's been in South Africa," she explained, "working some acquisition they're all proud about." She sighed, rubbing the neck of the guitar nervously. "If he's even half the man she says he is, I should be over the moon about this. Apparently he's intelligent, handsome, compassionate, loves art and music, is a dynamic leader, and is influential…"
"He's a stranger," Hima said, scowling.
"But you still haven't met him," Haruhi pushed.
Ina shook her head. "No… but I will. Tomorrow night. We're going to the opera."
"Again?"
Ina smiled a little at Haruhi's reaction. "They trade off leads. Different performers, different show. Besides, Carmen is one of my favorites."
"What makes you think they'll take you out of Ouran?"
"Lady Chiyo Sakurai is a graduate of Lobelia, and she's mentioned a dozen times how she left school to marry at my age and never looked back. "Ina frowned in disgust and plucked an off chord.
Hima snuggled up and joined Ina on the beanbag. "Maybe he'll be nice?"
Haruhi shook her head. "Don't worry, Ina. Just watch. Tamaki and Kyoya-senpai will work this out. It sounds crazy, but I've seen them do it. They won't let you get stuck where you're not happy."
After Hima, Kaoru, and Haruhi took off after Ina, Hikaru came back to his senses – shaken and knocked down a few pegs, but at least present.
"What do we do now?" he asked, eyes wide.
Tamaki lowered his head, hair hanging over and obscuring his eyes. "We can't entertain like this. Everyone turn in your costumes. We're cancelling club hours today." He looked at Chika and Satoshi. "Inari has a soft spot for you both. Text her until she answers. And see what you can dig up on who this man is and what he's after." He looked at Hikaru. "Go find Kaoru. They're likely down getting a car. Keep in contact with Hima and get them anything they need."
"Right!"
Kyoya went through the motions of closing up, wordlessly accompanying Tamaki home.
They sat in the car together and Tamaki watched Kyoya staring out the window. "You knew… didn't you?"
"Yes."
"Kyoya," he said, unsuccessful in his attempt to make eye contact, "why didn't you tell me? You could have said something."
"It was irrelevant."
"Irrelevant?!" Tamaki shouted, hurt. "After all this, that's all you can say? She's our Inari!"
"She's not our anything, you idiot," he said through clenched teeth. He knew if he looked at Tamaki, he'd regret what he'd say. "Her father made a choice."
Tamaki stared, confused. "Kyoya, what-?"
"It doesn't matter now."
Tamaki stared hard, trying to pick out the tiny scraps of emotion showing through. "You really cared for her… You…" His eyes widened. "You asked for her hand?"
Kyoya swore furiously in his mind while trying to seem over it. "I asked for her father's permission. Clearly it wasn't meant to be. The match doesn't make sense, not for either of our business interests."
"Love is not a business!" Tamaki snapped at him, about to leap to his feet. He only kept his seat because of the car's ceiling.
"What has love got to do with it?" Kyoya hissed back, then sack back into his seat, regretting yelling at him but trembling with helplessness.
Tamaki was quiet a moment. "… You give up too easily, my friend."
Hikaru caught up with Kaoru on Kaoru's way up the stairs back to the Club.
"Are they okay?"
"Hima said they're going to catch up with her," Kaoru said. "You okay? She really went after you…"
"Why though?" he asked, looking nervous.
"Because you were a jerk," Kaoru said. "That'd hurt anybody."
"No, no," he said quickly, as they went to change back. "I mean… do you think… from what she said, do you think she likes me?"
Kaoru stopped and looked at Hikaru's expression to see if he was being serious. He softened, seeing this was really weighing on him. "I don't think you're the one she's interested in," Kaoru said, hooking his arm in his brother's. "So, what's the Boss' plan?"
Hikaru felt a little better but wasn't fully convinced. "Boss wants us on standby for Hima. We're not receiving guests today. He's closed us for the day."
Kaoru nodded. "For the best… They'd better hurry. We don't have much time."
Inari came to school that next day, painfully aware she'd be meeting her fate that night. As added insult to injury, she was told she would be going home before club hours.
"So… you won't even get to say goodbye?" Kaoru said, crestfallen.
"I'm engaged, I'm not dead," Ina said with a little smile. "If he's not completely terrible, I'd like you to meet him."
"Is he completely terrible, though?" he pressed.
"I don't know," Ina said, trying not to show her worry. "Guess I'll find out tonight."
At the end of normal class, when they separated for electives, Hikaru followed Inari.
"Hey, you got a minute?"
She stopped. "Yes?"
"Look," he said, nervously rubbing the back of his neck. "You… you were right. Everything you said yesterday, I didn't mean to. I'm not too good at this stuff, but I'm working on it."
He had her attention now.
"Hikaru, I blew up… I could have made my point better without all that and" –
"Stop, okay? Let me finish!" He caught himself before he got mad. "I'm… sorry."
She stared at him a moment in shock. "It's okay. I forgive you."
"Now that's out of the way, I don't think we'd work," he said quickly, avoiding eye contact. "I don't feel the same and with everything, I think the most I'd want is to work out being friends." He braced for tears, or another shouting match. A moment passed, then a few more seconds. He looked up, confused.
Ina was shaking with silent laughter, covering her mouth with her hand.
"Hey!" he snapped at her. "I did it nice, you don't have to be rude about it!"
"No!" she gasped, recovering some from the giggle fit. "No, you were wonderful and that was very sweet of you. Cross my heart," she added when he looked doubtful.
"Then why are you laughing at me?"
"What I said yesterday," she said, "it was really about being friends. The tears, though, they – they were about somebody else. I'm sorry for confusing you. This didn't keep you up last night worrying, did it?"
"Psh," he said, folding his arms haughtily. "No."
"Good," she said. "But I really did want us to get on better. You're a loyal fan, I'd hoped to sort something special for you and the others… Not much chance now, and I'm disappointed about that."
"Fan?" Hikaru repeated. "Well sure, your dad produces most of the best bands, I guess, but" –
"Hikaru," she interrupted, "I mean Discovery. That's me. It's my pet project. Those videos you watch? That's me in them."
"No way," he frowned, his mind racing. "You're lying."
"They're recorded 3 or more months in advance," she said, "so you've got that to look forward to. But my new mother-in-law doesn't approve of my performing." Her face fell sadly. "I loved doing it. All the fun bits without stressful tours or managers. Just the music and creativity." She shook her head. 'I was planning a big reveal since I knew you liked my work so much, but then we got off on the wrong foot and Haruhi asked my help – guess this is my last chance."
"You're… serious." He watched her disappointment, realization dawning.
She nodded. "Of course. If… well, if you want, you and Kaoru can come for a tour at the studio sometime?"
Hikaru looked at her, suddenly terrified of what he'd be missing. "Yeah. Inari, don't worry. The Boss may be a complete idiot, but I promise he won't let this happen if you don't want it to."
Ina looked up as other students, late to their classes, ran by. She nodded unhappily. "We'll see tonight. I have to think this is better than I imagine…"
Ina arrived at the theater alone in the car sent by Goro Sakurai.
Her father provided the use of box six for the evening and she walked up with the attendant, wondering if not being greeted at the door was an insult or if she'd been spoiled with the Hosts and shouldn't expect to be fawned over.
The attendant held the door for her and as soon as she entered the box, Lady Sakurai slapped the door shut behind her. "Took your time with those stairs, didn't you? Stand up! Don't slouch," she pinched Ina's back with her sharp fingernails. "God what a horrendous dress. Didn't you have anything better?" She hissed behind her teeth in displeasure. "You're too flushed girl, you look ridiculous. Now come, stand in the light and don't move!"
Terrified, burning with indignation, and her back stinging from the pinch that had left a mark, Ina stood still.
"Goro, dearest, come along," Lady Sakurai cooed. "She's here!"
Ina's heart pounded fiercely, trying to imagine him to be nothing like his mother.
Goro followed his mother back and looked her over with a glassy, disinterested expression.
It took all she had not to feint. He looked at least 5 years older than his mother said, and just looking at him Ina felt he was nowhere near the suave, cultured, skilled businessman his mother described. Below his fashionable haircut, Goro's face looked down with boredom, heavy-lidded and almost forbiddingly angular.
She looked up at him, feeling like he wasn't even seeing her. "Hello."
Lady Sakurai glared at her. "You," she spat, "will speak when spoken to! Hold your tongue in my son's presence!"
Ina shut her mouth, trying not to tear up.
All sweetness, Lady Sakurai hugged her son's arm. "What do you think, my darling?"
He said nothing, just closed his eyes, raised his eyebrows, and gave a little nod, communicating a distinct impression of "she'll do".
He turned his back on Ina and took his seat again, immediately pulling out his phone even though the lights were down for the show to start.
Ina sat numbly next to him, Lady Sakurai at her back. She didn't dare relax or show how much she wanted out of there.
Intermission felt like the longest 10 minutes of Ina's life. Lady Sakurai left the box and locked it behind her, leaving Ina alone with her son.
Ina realized he could do anything to her and get away with it, but he got up and made a phone call, apparently completely unbothered by her presence as he told his assistant how much a waste the evening was, and how far this wedding would set them back.
Ina kept her eyes forward, refusing to break down in abject terror at the thought of joining the Sakurai family.
"What a tool," Hikaru said, sharing the binoculars with Kaoru from the Suoh's box.
"What's he doing?" Hima demanded, trying to squish between them. "I wanna see!"
"He's making a call," Kaoru said, letting her look through his side. "I don't know how much she can stand, boss."
"What kind of a man ignores a lady like that?!" Tamaki seethed. "And what kind of mother leaves a girl alone with a complete stranger?! And look at him! He looks 10 years older than her!"
Satoshi and Chika, while sympathetic, were not as outraged.
"10 years isn't that big a difference," Chika said. "Our cousin married someone 15 years older than her."
"All they have to do is sign a paper and go through the motions," Satoshi said. "We all want better for her, but for all we know from way over here is he's not a good conversationalist and doesn't like opera… Those aren't actual crimes."
"How can you say that?" Haruhi said, dumbfounded. "Even from this far, anybody can tell she's terrified. We need to do something."
Chika looked at her with sympathy. "Of all people, you should know," he said quietly, "sometimes life isn't fair. And you do what you have to, to get by."
Only a few minutes into the second half of the show, Goro had enough. Without a word to either of them, he dialed his phone and called their drivers to bring the cars around. His mother grabbed Ina's arm and yanked her to her feet.
"But it's not over yet," Ina said, trying to wrest her arm from Lady Sakurai's grip.
"You will go and come when we tell you," she said, appalled at Ina's impertinence.
After being marched through the near empty lobby, Lady Sakurai let go and left her at one of the cars. "Take her home," she told the driver. Without another word, she got in the other car with her son and they drove off.
Ina walked up to her door alone, feeling like she was living in a nightmare.
"Miss Inari," the butler said, surprised. "We did not expect you so soon… Where is your chaperone?"
"No chaperone, Mr. Smith," she said, her own voice sounding strange to her ears. "I need to talk to Daddy."
He took her up to Mr. Nakarami's office and let her in.
"Ina?"
She teared up and hugged her dad, breaking down.
He held her, utterly confused. "Ina… Sweetheart, what- what is this?"
"Please don't give me to them! I know Lady Sakurai was wonderful with us, but I don't even know what I did to make her so awful tonight!"
Mr. Nakarami grew serious and sat her down on a couch. "Tell me everything," he said, "from the beginning."
As Ina rehearsed the surreal, night-marish experience, she realized even more how completely out of line it all was. She felt disgusted being involved, even as the victim of such selfishness.
Mr. Nakarami saw the growing bruise on her arm from where she'd been pulled, and the angry red blister left from Lady Sakurai pinching her back.
"I am so sorry," he said, holding her in his arms. "This was not who I knew them to be. I am even more glad we have a second option."
She pulled away from him. "What second option?"