A/N: I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. For those that did not see it, Hunny won the poll and A Christmas Proposal was posted for the Christmas story. I also updated 101 Uses for a Shinai. As for this story, Koji started something, but even he doesn't know what's coming (well ok, we all have an idea what's coming because we watched the anime). Enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 25 – Engaging the Enemy

Shizue Suoh sat in her parlor sipping her tea and reading a file she had been given. It had been rumored that Grand Tonnere Group were moving into Japan and were starting to buy up smaller companies; and although she didn't want to admit it, they could easily buy the Suoh businesses as well. It was not something she wanted, nor would she allow. Flipping another page, the matriarch of the Suoh family smiled. The Tonnere family had a daughter her grandson's age. It was perfect, and there was a little added bonus for Tamaki if he cooperated: his mother.

As she listened to the gossip flittering about the main estate and that of the second estate, she knew her grandson was causing trouble. Tamaki needed to learn how to be a proper young man if he ever hoped to take over the family business, but with an heir, she might be able to bypass him and use his child instead. If that child wanted to run around causing nothing but trouble, and if he thought he was going to marry some lowly commoner, then Shizue had a wakeup call for him. That was not going to happen. She would not allow him to behave as his father once did. He was a Suoh and he would not disgrace the family name. It had been something she had thought about at length… Tamaki's future, but now with the latest news going around about him, she had no choice. She needed to rein him in before he could make a mockery of himself and the family.

Smiling to herself, the grandmother believed that nothing would come between her and her plans. She just needed to execute and she would get everything she needed to secure her family name, her company, and her grandson further under her control. Shizue had known where the boy's mother had been hiding since her disappearance, and thus aligning themselves with the Tonnere's would allow Anne-Sophie to be back in his life. It was a win-win as far as the older woman could see, and she would see to it that she would indeed win. Tamaki had no choice but to obey. Now was the time to act. If she waited, she could lose her business and that is what was important, that is what would carry on the Suoh name, and that is what would help keep her dead husband's memory alive. Without another thought about it, she picked up the phone and made one call.

Philip Tonnere hung up the phone after a lengthy conference call. Shizue Suoh wanted to combine their families by engaging her grandson to his daughter Éclair. It was truly a blessing in disguise. He wouldn't have to spend the money to buy out the Suoh family, and he found a proper husband for his precious daughter. The fact that Tamaki Suoh was half French was even better. He would already know the language and the customs that came from living with a French elite (regardless if the Grantaine family is bankrupt and in ruin), and wouldn't expect his wife to cow down to him. His daughter would help run things and she would not be the perfect Japanese wife… she was French after all, and more importantly, she was a Tonnere.

"I received an interesting phone call earlier today," Philip had called his daughter into his office after dinner that night.

"Yes, father?" Éclair inquired. She was curious, but a bit bored with everything going on in her life right now. She wanted more.

Steepling his fingers, the patriarch narrowed his eyes and explained, "Shizue Suoh would like to combine our two families. It will give us control of the Suoh holdings without any further effort or money on our part."

"Suoh?" Her heart started racing recognizing the name, but she would not give anything away right now.

"Yes, you will become engaged to her grandson Tamaki Suoh. I expect you in Japan in one week to make it official. There is also another matter of business I would like for you to handle. I want Ootori Medical added to our holdings."

Éclair smirked and crossed her arms over her chest as she chuckled low, "Consider it done father." She would make sure that Tamaki was eating out of her hand and she would make sure the Ootori business is brought under the Tonnere name.

Leaving her father to his work, she went up to her suite of rooms and shut the door behind her. Tamaki Suoh… could it really be him. This was the boy her housekeeper talked about all of the time, the one that had flown off to Japan, and now the one that would be her future husband. The stars were aligning and she was about to get everything she ever wanted.

As she would listen to the stories time and time again, Éclair found herself thinking about this teen that could play music like an angel and had the heart of a saint. Oh she knew that the housekeeper had probably exaggerated her son's qualities, but it was enough to enrapture the girl and she found herself thinking about him, dreaming of him, and slowly starting to care for a stranger she had never met before. She would be able to make all of his dreams come true. He would be reunited with his beloved mother, the figurehead of the Suoh Group (because she had every intention of actually running the business herself), and he would get her (and she was one of the best women he could possibly have in the world, at least in her mind). He would have everything with her at his side, and she couldn't wait for her trip to Japan.

It had been almost a month since the initial visit and nothing had happened yet, but Reiko's vision of the Ouran Fair had yet to change. Something was going to happen and there was no stopping it now. With no way to tell how everything would play out, the Host Club and Black Magic Club had no choice but to remain on guard and plan for any contingency, but there were so many things they couldn't plan for… would never expect.

Now with only a week until the fair, everyone seemed to be wrapped up in trying to get everything finished for their different activities. The Host Club would be hosting their customers and parents (and anyone that wanted to come) in the Central Salon of Ouran. There was so much to do, that time seemed to be speeding by and forbidding anyone to think about what was in their future. One week and then they would know what Koji set into motion; they would know the true meaning of Reiko's vision.

"What's wrong Reiko-Chan?" Hunny asked his girlfriend as he pulled her away from her crystal ball. She had been gazing at it and trying to find answers to their problems ever since she had given them the original vision. There was only so much she could do, and now they had to just wait and see.

"I just…" Reiko started to answer and found a hand over her mouth.

Shaking his head, Hunny smiled softly, "You gave us warning and there is nothing else you can do. We just have to be patient and hope that everything will work out in the end. We are all on guard and ready."

She looked down at her feet wishing she could do more for the teen that had stolen her heart, "Okay."

Hunny wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her down for a small kiss, "We appreciate everything you have done for us, but now it is up to us. We are a family and close friends. We will get through this."

Returning his embrace, Reiko relaxed against him and let his very presence sooth her. She just felt like there was something she was missing, something she wasn't seeing and she should, and that is what had her on edge more than anything.

Haruhi was walking down the hall towards the music room when a cat appeared in front of her face and stopped her in her tracks; well, actually it was a cat puppet on a hand. Snickering, the female host shook her head, "You surprised me Nekozawa-senpai." One never knew who could be in the halls watching, and thus she had to keep up appearances.

Chuckling, the Dark Prince stepped out from the shadows, "I was just wondering how you were doing today."

They hadn't seen each other for a couple of days because they had both been busy with club activities and homework, but tonight she was supposed to go over to his house so that she could see Kirimi and spend some quality time with her boyfriend; and she couldn't wait. "I am okay. I still wish I knew what was going to happen, but I guess that would make everything too easy," she snickered. Haruhi had been mad and upset when she found out that Kyoya had kept something so important from her and the others. Yes, he had finally come clean and then her boyfriend had arrived to help calm her down, but still. It was stupid that he felt he had to keep it a secret when he chastises her for keeping things from him. Communication and trust is a two way street and the Shadow King cannot expect that courtesy if he is not willing to divulge himself. Yes, things had gotten better since, but it still irked her when she thought about it, which had led to a very heated debate between her and vice president the day after she learned the truth.

Nekozawa looked around them and quickly kissed her forehead when he believed it was safe, "It would, but don't worry. We will make sure everything stays as it is and nothing will hurt you or your friends."

"Let's hope not. I really don't feel like dealing with half that stuff Reiko saw."

"Are you still coming over tonight? Kirimi has been asking about you."

Sighing, Haruhi nodded, "Yah, I'll be there, but I can only imagine what she has been asking. The stuff she learns from her manga is kind of scary. She was giving me pointers the other day about how you are supposed to kiss me."

"What?"

"You heard me. She told me that you were supposed to sweep me off my feet and bend me over backwards like a real prince."

Nekozawa started to laugh, "Would you like me to try that?"

"What? No! I was just saying that she was giving me pointers," she told him and then looked up and down the hall before taking a step towards him and reaching up to kiss his cheek, "I think you do fine without the guidance from your little sister. I'll see you after club time." Smiling, she rushed off towards the music room so that she could be fitted by the twins. Apparently the dress she was scheduled to wear needed to be properly fitted to make sure it was perfect for the fair, and her lunch hour was the best time to do it. Once that was done, she only had to get through her afternoon classes, club time, and then she could leave her worries behind and go home with her boyfriend. She had a feeling life was about to get really bumpy and she needed a moment to forget they were all about to face their greatest challenge yet.