It took a few weeks, but slowly everyone slipped back into their familiar routines. Except for Fuyumi. The past year had been anything but routine—losing Seiji, dealing with her father, finding out her father was responsible for Seiji's death, coming to terms with her new reality. She needed to establish new routines. Ones that could carry her forward to her desired future. First, she just needed to figure out what that future might be.

Startling at the knock on the door, Fuyumi looked at the time. "Not again!" she groaned to herself as she got up from the table to answer the door.

"Good morning, Mrs. Shido," Atsuhiro greeted cheerfully. "I'm here to drive you to your appointment."

"Just let me grab my purse," Fuyumi replied, leaving the door ajar as she carried her teacup to the kitchen and retrieved her purse from the counter by the sink where she had left it.

As they headed to the car, Atsuhiro asked tentatively, "Are you doing okay?"

Fuyumi pondered for a moment before she answered. Finally, she said, "I just don't know. Thank you for volunteering to drive me to my therapy appointments."

He shrugged as he held the car door open for her. "Not a problem. I just noticed that you seemed a little frazzled and running late that one time. I figured I could give you a ride and do errands in town at the same time."

They rode in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Halfway to their destination, Fuyumi turned to Atsuhiro and asked, "How did you know I was losing track of time? No one else seemed to notice."

Sheepishly, he responded, "I recognized the signs of someone…caught between where they wanted to be, but circumstances forced them to leave, and the new starting point in their life."

A soft expression settled on Fuyumi's face. "You sound like you experienced that personally."

Heaving a sigh, he admitted, "I did. I didn't want to leave the rally car circuit, but circumstances forced the issue."

Fuyumi gasped. "That's how you came to be at Hinansho, isn't it? I'm so sorry!"

"I'm not." Atsuhiro responded, the grin evident in his tone. "Hinansho and the Hinan family are the best thing that ever happened to me. Sometimes we have to let go of what we want so we can receive something that's even better." He hastily added, "I don't mean that losing your husband was a good thing. I just mean that sometimes after going through something as hard as that can prepare you for something more…" He tapered off as he had trouble expressing his thoughts.

Fuyumi patted his arm comfortingly. "I think I understand what you're saying. It gives me something to contemplate. Thank you for being willing to be vulnerable with me."

Atsuhiro pulled into the parking lot of the medical complex where Fuyumi's therapist had her office. "Meet at the usual restaurant for lunch?" he asked as Fuyumi climbed out of the car.

"Sure," she replied distractedly. "Good luck with your errands."

"Thanks," he called as she shut the door and he pulled away.

As soon as Fuyumi was called back to her therapist's office, she slipped off her shoes, sat on the sofa, and tucked her feet under herself. She pulled a rainbow zigzag afghan with fringes onto her lap and started running a finger up and down the colored ridges. "Ms. Komatsu, I'm worried. I've been losing track of time."

The therapist settled into a nearby armchair and crossed her legs. Tapping her pen against her notebook, she asked, "What do you mean by 'losing track of time'?"

Fuyumi shifted to get more comfortable. Continuing to run her fingers over the afghan, she replied, "There are days when I start washing the breakfast dishes right after the kids leave for school. The next thing I know, they're coming through the door asking about snacks and I'm standing there with my hands in cold water and the dishes half done. Other times, I'll be working on something and get distracted. When I get back to what I was working on, several hours have passed." By the time she finished speaking, the afghan was balled up in her fists.

"When did you notice that this started happening?" Ms. Komatsu prompted.

Brows drawn together in concentration, Fuyumi finally admitted, "I can't remember."

Glancing down at her notebook, Ms. Komatsu suggested, "Could it have started after the Otori, Suoh, and Mikoshiba trials?"

Fuyumi's eyes widened. She sat forward abruptly and dropped the afghan on the floor. "I…Now that you mention it, I think you're right."

Smiling, the therapist replied, "When we started with family therapy just after your husband was killed, you were very focused—on being there for your children, on finding out why Seiji died. Then, after the funeral, you were focused on dealing with Yoshio, Shizue, and Hayato."

"But what does that have to do with my lost time now?" Fuyumi picked up the fallen afghan and started running her fingers through the fringes.

"Simply put, your mind is tired from such a long period of focusing." Noticing the frustrated look on Fuyumi's face, Ms. Komatsu continued, "Now that you realize what's happening, you should be better able to deal with it."

Fuyumi leaned back on the sofa and huffed in frustration. Twisting the fringes between her fingers, Fuyumi asked, "On a different subject, do you think the family therapy sessions are going well?"

Tapping her pen on her notepad, Ms. Komatsu pondered for a moment before responding. "Is there a particular reason that you're asking about that?"

Noticing the knots she was making in the fringes, Fuyumi folded up the afghan and draped it over the arm of the sofa. "Lately, I've gotten the impression that Masaya has been getting frustrated with them and is only doing it to please me." After a deep breath, she continued, "Hibiki and Ageha have even seemed more reluctant to talk in those sessions."

Making a note, the therapist said, "We can discuss that at the next session. If the children believe they have received all the benefit they need, it may be time to conclude those. Remember, these sessions are about what you and your children feel you need, not some set schedule for my benefit."

"I know there are confidentiality rules even though the children are minors, but can I ask how they are doing in their individual therapy sessions?" Fuyumi looked at her hands folded stiffly in her lap.

Ms. Komatsu shrugged. "As their mother, I can tell you in generalities that their sessions are going well. I recently asked them to think about whether they feel the need to continue or if it's just taking up time they'd rather be using for something else."

Fuyumi relaxed slightly. "It's been nearly a year since Seiji's death and I was hoping that I wasn't imagining it when it seemed they were…happier lately."

"I believe they are doing quite well, even Ageha." Glancing at the time, Ms. Komatsu sat forward and considered Fuyumi seriously. "There is one topic I would like us to discuss before your session ends today. What's next?"

Brows drawn together in confusion, Fuyumi tilted her head and stared at the therapist. "What's next, as in therapy?"

Ms. Komatsu rubbed her forehead with her right hand, leaving a small pen mark. "Sorry. I should have given you some context for that question." Setting her pen and notepad aside, the therapist continued, "Yoshio is in jail and can no longer affect your life in any meaningful way. You accomplished your goal of teaching him, Shizue, and Hayato that they can't treat people like possessions. What are you going to do next?"

Fuyumi opened her mouth to say something but closed it and sat back with a puzzled look on her face. Then she sat forward and held up a finger as if to make a point before flopping against the back of the sofa again. With her arms hanging limply, Fuyumi leaned her head on the back of the sofa and stared at the ceiling. With a huff, she admitted, "I want to go back to the way things were, but that's impossible."

"What's 'impossible' about it?" Ms. Komatsu prompted.

Chuckling mirthlessly, Fuyumi replied, "I can't go back to being a wife because my husband is dead. I can go back to being a mother, but Masaya is finishing his first year of middle school and the girls are finishing their fifth year of elementary. It won't be too much longer before none of them need me." She closed her eyes and tried to will away the tears that were gathering.

The therapist sat silently for a few minutes, waiting for Fuyumi to continue. As the pause was just about to reach the point of uncomfortable, Ms. Komatsu challenged, "Are those really your only two options?"

Fuyumi's eyes snapped open and she sat up, staring at the therapist in a mixture of confusion, fear, hope, and excitement. Her jaw dropped and she covered her open mouth with both hands. When she finally spoke, there was a slightly hysterical note in her voice. "I am an IDIOT! Such an IDIOT." She leaned forward, buried her face in her hands and started to chuckle, still bordering on hysterical.

Ms. Komatsu looked at Fuyumi with concern. "Why did my comment strike her like that?"

Before the therapist could say anything, Fuyumi sat up straight and blurted out, "I CANNOT believe just how ingrained Yoshio's attitudes are in my life. I was raised to be nothing more than a piece of property to be sold to a man to provide him an heir. I tried to fight it, but apparently I subconsciously bought into it."

Relaxing as Fuyumi started to laugh and smile, Ms. Komatsu breathed a sigh of relief. "I can work with this. She's been denied choices most of her life. I wonder if she ever dared to dream?" she thought as she considered which strategy would be most effective to help Fuyumi.

Picking up her pen and notepad again, Ms. Komatsu asked, "If your husband were still here with us, did you two have any plans for after the children were grown?"

Taking a deep breath to regain her composure, Fuyumi replied, "We were going to be business partners. We hadn't decided what business, but he was not the heir for his family so we weren't locked into a specific path." She paused for a moment and sighed. "Seiji always appreciated my input and perspective on his work for his family. Yoshio ignored me because, as a female, he thought I was too stupid to understand, but I learned a LOT about business, both good and bad, from watching him."

"Is that how you were able to take down the Otori, Suoh, and Mikoshiba businesses?" Ms. Komatsu asked out of curiosity.

Fuyumi looked at her and a grin started to spread across her face. "Oh, the irony of it. The useless daughter who was too stupid to understand business took him and two others down. I have to remember to tell Kyoya about that."

Fuyumi was pulled out of her contemplation by a question from her therapist. "Will you continue in business?"

Immediately, Fuyumi replied, "No. What I did to Otori, Suoh, and Mikoshiba was fueled by anger and resentment. Without Seiji, it's just not any fun."

"Did you have any interests when you were in school?" Ms. Komatsu asked, trying to bring the conversation back around to gather information to identify a strategy for Fuyumi to move forward.

"I was expected to be arm candy or a brood mare. Neither is allowed to have personal interests," Fuyumi stated bitterly.

"Our time is almost up, so I want to give you three assignments for next week," the therapist said. "First, talked to your children about what they want to do for summer break. All four of you need to get away and have some fun. Next, ask your friends and family to suggest things they think you might like to try—hobby, education, travel, whatever. Sometimes the people around us can give us perspective on the things we are good at and enjoy. The final thing I want you to do is get a copy of the list of introductory seminar classes from a university. That could give you a way to explore things that sound interesting to you."

Sighing in relief, Fuyumi breathed, "This may be just what I need to focus and move forward. Thank you."

"See you next week, Mrs. Shido," Ms. Komatsu called as Fuyumi headed out the door.

OHSHC

Fuyumi washed the last breakfast dish and placed it on the drying rack. "Those assignments my therapist gave me really seem to be helping. We had a very good discussion during dinner last night about a summer trip." Fuyumi shook her head. "It surprised me that they all wanted to repeat the trip we took when we went to London to pick up Ageha. But they insisted that they wanted to re-live the good memories with Seiji. I'll make the arrangements with Kyoya later this week since he's currently on a business trip."

She had just finished wiping down the counter and hung up the dishtowel when there was a knock at the door. Opening it, she was greeted by Shima. "Good morning, Fuyumi."

"Good morning, Shima," Fuyumi replied, gesturing for her to enter. "How can I help you?"

Shima remained in the hallway and said, "I would like your help planning the graduation party for Rene. I thought about asking Haruhi, since Rene considers her to be okaa-san, but she's focused on studying for her bar exam."

"I'd be happy to help in any way I can. When do you want to start?" Fuyumi asked.

"No better time than the present," Shima said with a smile. She beckoned for Fuyumi to follower her.

Assuming that they were just going down to Shima's office near the front desk, Fuyumi slipped on her shoes and closed the door, not bothering to lock it.

The ladies settled into Shima's office and started discussing what Rene would like for his graduation celebration. "I remember his high school graduation party was more to suit Shizue than him, so I want this one to be as much to his liking as possible," Shima admitted.

"I agree. Kyoya told me Rene's party was more of a business networking affair than a congratulatory celebration." Fuyumi pursed her lips in annoyance as she recalled the parties four years prior. She bristled as she said, "And it was just a few months after those parties that Rene and Kyoya were disowned."

Shima chuckled. "I think their being disowned is the best thing that could have happened to them."

Sighing, Fuyumi responded, "I agree. I have been reminded a lot lately about how thankful I am that Haruhi set up the Hinan family."

Patting her hand, Shima agreed, "I don't know where any of us would be now if the Hinan family did not exist."

"We need to plan something special for Haruhi to celebrate when she passes her bar exam so we can also express how much her compassion and foresight has meant to us all," Fuyumi suggested.

"One party at a time," Shima admonished. "First, Rene's graduation, then Kyoya and Haruhi's wedding, and finally celebrating Haruhi."

Smiling ruefully, Fuyumi agreed. "Okay, so let's get back to Rene's party."

OHSHC

Rene grinned broadly, surrounded by his friends and family congratulating him on his graduation from university. "I cannot believe how fortunate I am. This is almost the complete opposite of my high school graduation four years ago. Then I was a resented disappointment, but now I am a cherished part of a loving family." He looked around gratefully at everyone who had come to celebrate with him.

Chisato walked up and poked him in the ribs. "Why do you look like you're about to cry?" she teased.

He took a deep breath and replied, "I'm just so happy. I don't know if you remember what I told you about my last graduation?"

"Yeah, I remember that Shizue was a complete…"

Haruhi walked up and stated, "That name is not allowed here today. This is Rene's day."

Rene opened his arms for a hug and Haruhi happily obliged. "Thank you, okaa-san. You don't know how much your presence means to me." Gazing around the room at the gathered crowd, he whispered humbly, "I don't deserve all of this."

"You've earned it," Kyoya stated, walking up behind Rene and clapping a hand on his shoulder. "You worked hard."

With one arm still wrapped around Haruhi, Rene turned to face Kyoya. "You don't know how much that means to me, otou-san."

Kyoya pulled the pair into a hug. Quietly, he said to Rene, "I don't know where I would be without you. You brought so much light and joy into my world." By the end of his statement, Kyoya's voice was being choked off by emotion.

Haruhi tightened her arms around both of the men. "That goes for me too, Rene. After my mother died, I subconsciously avoided making connections with people because I didn't want to lose anyone else. Stumbling into the Third Music room and breaking that vase was probably the best thing that ever happened to me."

"We agree," a deep voice said from behind them, startling the trio as they realized they were surrounded by Mitsukuni, Takashi, Hikaru, and Kaoru. "You brought light and joy into all of our lives. We don't know what we would do without you."

Rene fought happy tears as he looked at those surrounding him. "I don't know what I'd do without you guys either."

After a group hug, Haruhi laughingly commented, "Rene, you should probably greet your other guests. Don't worry, we'll be here for you whenever you need us."

"You're right," Rene agreed readily. "I have a lot of people to greet before it's time for my announcement."

"Announcement? What announcement?" Kaoru asked in confusion, watching Rene walk away.

Hikaru nudged Kaoru's shoulder and pointed at Rene with his chin. "Do you think maybe he and Chisato?" he speculated, leaving the thought hanging.

"I highly doubt it," Chisato murmured and Hikaru jumped in surprise.

"I didn't see you there," he stammered.

Kaoru looked at her speculatively. "Why not?"

She shrugged. "There are several reasons. The foremost being the fact I'm ten years older than him."

Hikaru grinned and waggled his eyebrows. "Are you sure? The older woman/younger man thing is really popular these days."

Rolling her eyes at Hikaru's insinuation, Chisato replied laughingly, "Like I said, there are several reasons."

Haruhi interrupted Hikaru's teasing. "We'll find out soon enough. Go mingle with the guests and be a good host."

Hikaru and Kaoru exchanged devilish grins as they wrapped their arms around each other, but Haruhi saw them and added, "No twincest routines. I would have thought you two had outgrown such childish antics."

"But it's so much fun to see the looks on people's faces," the twins whined in unison.

Fixing them with a stern glare, Haruhi stated, "This is your brother's day. Please try to not draw all the attention to yourselves. You can do that next week at your premiere in Milan."

Grinning mischievously at each other, they chorused, "Yes, okaa-san." Then they headed for the refreshments table.

"Wait," Mitsukuni said with a puzzled expression. "Didn't you finish Law School? Why aren't we celebrating for you as well?"

Haruhi shrugged. "Rene really didn't have a high school graduation celebration. It was more of a business networking event for Shizue. I wanted this to be all about him."

"But…" Mitsukuni tried to interrupt.

Shaking her head, Haruhi replied, "I already talked to Fuyumi and Shima about doing something for me after I pass the bar exam. That strikes me as a better time to celebrate my accomplishments."

With a small pout, Mitsukuni finally huffed, "I guess that makes sense. But you still deserve to be acknowledged too."

Haruhi pulled him into a hug. "And you just did. Now go enjoy the party."

"Yes, okaa-san," he replied with a smirk as he slipped an arm around Reiko's waist and looked around the room to see who they should talk to next. Reiko just smiled at Haruhi and shook her head at her husband's antics.

As she watched the couple walk away, Haruhi was startled by a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see Takashi and Chiharu smiling at her.

"Congratulations on graduating from Law School," Takashi said. Chiharu handed Haruhi an envelope. He continued, "This is a certificate for two one-week stays at my retreat on Hokkaido—one for a week in May and the other for a week in July. We figured that would be the perfect environment for you to study for the bar exam."

Haruhi smiled softly. "You didn't have to do that," she insisted.

"Of course we didn't 'have to,' but we wanted to," Chiharu murmured, pulling her into a hug. "We appreciate all that you've done for us, so we want you to have the best possible opportunity to study for and pass the bar exam."

"Then, thank you for your thoughtful gift," Haruhi said with a nod.

Kyoya wrapped his arms around Haruhi's waist from behind and looked over her shoulder. "A very thoughtful gift indeed." He nuzzled her ear and whispered, "We should probably mingle as well. Rene has been casting glances our direction as if to say, 'If I have to, you have to as well, otou-san and okaa-san.'"

Chuckling, Haruhi replied, "Then I guess we should be good examples."

Fuyumi was near the ballroom entrance when an agitated Mr. Kanagawa holding some papers stepped in and started looking around. Seeing her nearby, he approached and said, "The clerk at the front desk told me you would be here."

"Is there a problem?" Fuyumi asked, guiding him to a quiet corner by the refreshments where they could talk.

Unfolding the papers and pulling a pen from his inside pocket, he stammered, "The accountants were working on the due diligence to take the banks private as you requested. They encountered some…discrepancies. They want permission to put the computers in maintenance mode for the weekend so no one can access them and possibly delete or overwrite evidence. As the owner, you are the only one with the authority."

Taking the papers, she read through the document quickly, noting it was a standard computer access change directive. Holding out her hand for the pen, she set the papers on a clear corner of the table and signed. "Do you need to have these delivered somewhere?" she asked as she handed them back.

"No, I need to fax them to the security office at the bank." Mr. Kanagawa returned his pen to his pocket and re-folded the papers. "I need to get back to my office to do that."

"There is a fax machine in an office just down the hall, if you want to send it right away," Fuyumi offered.

Mr. Kanagawa relaxed and sighed in relief. "That would be much appreciated. The sooner the computers are in maintenance mode, the less chance for problems to occur."

Fuyumi motioned for him to follow her. The office was two doors down from the ballroom, so their errand was completed in a few moments. "Why don't you stay and enjoy the party?" Fuyumi asked.

"I don't want to intrude," Mr. Kanagawa insisted.

"You won't be intruding. It's just a graduation party for one of my brothers. The more the merrier," Fuyumi insisted as she maneuvered him back into the ballroom.

"Thank you. It looks like everyone is having a lot of fun." Mr. Kanagawa glanced around the room. "Your brother certainly is popular."

"He does have a way about him that draws people." She waved to Rene, who waved back at her with a grin on his face. Fuyumi looked from one of the men standing near Rene to the broker standing by her side.

The puzzled look on Fuyumi's face made the broker ask, "What's the matter?"

She indicated the man speaking to her brother. "I just noticed that man looks a lot like you."

Chuckling, Mr. Kanagawa said, "He should. That's my brother. He's a doctor at the Hinan Hospital"

"Well, that explains it," Fuyumi stated with a grin.

Rene was surrounded by several people from the Hinan Hospital as he prepared to make his announcement. "I'm so glad you could all make it this evening. It means a lot to me," he said humbly.

"I wouldn't miss this for anything," Dr. Morimoto exclaimed. "It's not everyday that I get to snatch up a newly graduated counselor with such potential."

"And I look forward to working with you," Dr. Hashiba added.

"Me too," Dr. Sekiya agreed.

Dr. Kanagawa shook his head indulgently at his colleagues. "I'm just glad to see you doing so well, Rene. I know how stressful the final year of university can be, but you seemed to have weathered it well."

"I had a lot of help from my family and friends." Rene checked the time. "I think it's time for my announcement." He nodded to the server he had spoken to earlier in the evening. The server tapped a spoon against a glass, interrupting the conversations around the room.

Rene waved his hands in the air to draw everyone's attention. "Thank you all for coming tonight. And thank you for all your well-wishes. I just wanted to let you know what my next step is." He motioned for Dr. Morimoto to step forward. "Dr. Morimoto has hired me to work in the counseling center at the Hinan Hospital. My focus will be helping patients who have received chronic or terminal diagnoses."

The crowd clapped and cheered. Kyoya and Haruhi made their way to Rene. Haruhi pulled him into a hug and murmured, "I am so proud of you." Kyoya laid a hand on Rene's shoulder and squeezed, as he said, "You've come a long way."

Rene ignored the tears in his eyes as he pulled them both into a fierce hug. "I don't think I could have done it without you."

The rest of the Hinans and their significant others gathered around the trio and Hikaru yelled, "Group hug!"

11