Chapter 2

Later that evening, Tamaki slammed into his father's office.

"How could you propose this, father? It's insane, me marrying Haruhi!"

"Is it?" asked his father looking up from his desk. "I'm surprised at you, son. You're always the first one to help out a friend."

"This—this is different…" said Tamaki, sitting down, petulantly.

"Is it? I know it's a bit unconventional, but it really shouldn't be that inconvenient. Are you engaged? Are you in a relationship that this would interfere with? Have you been in a relationship, ever?"

Tamaki glared at his father. And then he looked down. It was true. He dated here and there, but no one ever seemed right, no one had ever seemed worth pursuing. No one except …

Tamaki had been quiet a long time. "Dad," Tamaki finally said softly, not lifting his eyes, his fury dissipated, "I can't marry Haruhi…"

"Why?"

"Because …" An emotion came over him that he hadn't allowed himself to feel in years—one he thought he had finally rid himself of. And then it had all come rushing back this afternoon when she sobbed in his arms. "Because…"

"Because you're in love with her…" Yuzuru finished the sentence for him. He had known his son had loved the scholarship student back in high school and could never quite understand why nothing ever came of it. He had observed the way the two interacted and it seemed that she had feelings for his son as well. But for some reason Tamaki had pulled away from her just when he thought they were coming together. But today, when he saw Tamaki in the garden holding the sobbing girl, he knew why his son had never found someone special after all these years. He was still in love with her.

Tamaki looked up startled at his dad's astute observation—one he wasn't fully aware of until this day, this moment almost.

"So, how can you suggest…" asked Tamaki, his voice drifting off, his meaning clear. How could Yuzuru ask him to embark on a charade that Tamaki wished with all his heart was true? It was downright cruel.

"Because I think she loves you, too…" he said simply.

"She doesn't, Dad – I know for a fact that she doesn't. What's more, I know she won't. Ever." He thought back to that day all those years' ago, to an overheard conversation. How it had changed everything for him. How he had abandoned all hope. How from that point on he had purposefully put distance between them, thinking it would diminish his feelings. How he had even left the country—avoiding any close contact in the years since his return, exchanging vague pleasantries every time they met, convincing himself that he felt nothing for her. And how today when he held her in his arms he realized he had been wrong.

"Dad, this isn't fair – and I doubt Haruhi would go for it anyway…"

"But you're wrong. She has—I spoke to her shortly before you came in. She said as long as you were okay with it so was she."

"Okay with it …" he echoed. Could he be he okay with it? He thought for a moment. It was painful, no doubt, to pretend to marry the woman he actually secretly loved.

But could he watch all her dreams die because it made him uncomfortable? Not if he could help save them? He had always wanted happiness for anyone he loved. That was his life's goal. And as he moved away from her all those years' ago, told himself his love was gone, he also told himself he had no responsibility for her happiness. It was not his to safeguard. But now. Now that he acknowledged that his love had always been there, that he had been lying to himself all along? Could he walk away from her happiness now?

He knew the answer was no.

"A wedding? Are you kidding me?" Haruhi was incredulous. "Why can't we just go to city hall?"

"Do you think a Suoh heir would do that?" asked Ayame, the fixer Kyoya had sent to help advise the two on how to make this work. The former Ouran classmate had found her calling discreetly cleaning up the affairs of the rich and influential, moving fluidly due to her own bone fides and connections. She had helped cover up secret love children, scuttle blackmailing mistresses, swept scandal under the carpet. Putting together a fake marriage? Piece of cake.

"We do want this to look authentic. Kyoya has told you that immigration is very strict these days and has become quite political. Well, that carries over to marriage visas—because of the ease of gaining them, inspection has ramped up. You must look like a real couple or you could both be in trouble."

Haruhi looked concerned. "But don't worry—this isn't as hard as it sounds. A fake wedding, a fake honeymoon, and then you're set. You probably should live together, too, for a while. That should keep officials from sniffing a rat and there'll be nothing to worry about."

"Okay…" Haruhi said uncertainly, looking at Tamaki. "I'm sure it will be fine," he said, smiling at her reassuringly. He nodded gallantly at Ayame. "If Kyoya's adviser said it will be fine, then it will be." At least that's what he wanted Haruhi to believe. The more familiar he became with the laws surrounding visas and citizenship the more he understood how challenging the other routes open to Haruhi were. She needed this to work.

"Obviously, it wouldn't be a huge affair as we want it to happen as quickly as possible," continued Ayame. "But it would be just plain suspicious to do it at city hall."

Haruhi groaned. A wedding. That meant fancy dresses and opulent settings and lavish food. "What a waste."

Tamaki looked down, unable to respond to such a remark. "Tamaki-Senpai? You want to weigh in here?" asked Haruhi.

Tamaki snapped out it. "Of course! A wedding! What fun…" he said, laying on his thickest host club charm, not meeting her eyes.

"What fun? That's it? Isn't this your kind of thing—a big fancy event, Senpai?"

Tamaki finally met her eyes. Senpai. Just like in high school. That was all he was to her. That was all he ever was. How could he go through with this?

Because he said he would. It was time to put on his big-boy pants and push his feelings down, be a good friend, and deliver on his promise. It was time to be a host.

Tamaki's face lit up with his most charming smile. "Of course, it's my thing!" He exclaimed. "Flowers, dancing, the best food…"

"Nothing too extravagant, Senpai." Haruhi interrupted. "Plus we need to get this done sooner than later if this is going to work."

"Haruhi! Do you doubt my ability to pull together a first-class event in as little time as possible? How could you?" He put on his most dramatic faux wounded face.

"All right, all right, no need to run to your corner of woe," she said patting his knee and smiling at him. "I assume your 'ability' to pull together a first-class event will involve Kyoya-Senpai?"

Tamaki delicately placed the back of his hand to his forehead. "You know me too well, Haruhi," he breathed.

"Well, let's hope mommy isn't too busy to help," Haruhi sighed.

"Of course, I'm too busy!" barked Kyoya on the phone to Tamaki. "Do you think I just have a blueprint for a fake wedding sitting in my desk?"

"Kyoya…please?" Tamaki, said softly. "I'd rather just go to city hall, but Ayame insisted. And doing it myself … with Haruhi…" his voice drifted off.

Kyoya sat silent for a moment suddenly recognizing the anguished undertone to Tamaki's voice, his early reluctance at this scheme suddenly making sense. He had always suspected as much, when it came to Haruhi. "This is hard for you, isn't it?" said Kyoya finally, with real understanding. "Is it for the reason I think it is?"

Tamaki was quiet. No answer was also an answer where Kyoya was concerned. Nothing needed to be said.

"I'm sorry," Kyoya said gently. "Okay, I'll do it. I'll plan the wedding."

"Thank you, Kyoya."

"Let me see…" Kyoya immediately launched into planning mode. "We should have it at a Suoh property to give it the proper exposure and it will be the easiest to book…" He then proceeded to sketch out some ideas.

It would be small—friends and family only, with the recent illness and then death of his grandmother the previous month given as a reason for the intimate size as well as for the engagement and wedding having been kept under wraps. Tongues were sure to wag—most assuming there had to be wedding for another, more scandalous reason. Well, there wasn't anything he could do about that. They'd be set straight in nine months.

With not too much effort and with help from Ayame, the event was set to happen in two weeks.