Tohru sat quietly as the taxi whisked her off towards her next suitor. She didn't feel like smiling anymore. She felt so alone. Maybe she had been wrong. Maybe she should have gone ahead with Yuki to America. At least then she would not have felt so miserable now. Yuki hadn't spoken to her since last night. And he hadn't returned home that day before she left either. She wondered if he was angry at her for ruining his abduction plan after all. Perhaps he felt rejected now that she had another man interested in her. Tohru didn't know the reason Yuki had been so distant, she only knew she missed him, and it hurt.
The car pulled up outside the restaurant breaking Tohru's train of thought. She managed to hoist herself out of the vehicle, and walked very slowly towards the open doors; partly because she didn't want to face what she had to inside and partly because of the traditional style sandals she was wearing with her kimono once again. She met grandpa in the private dining room as planned. The other party had not arrived yet. Tohru felt a little relieved. She greeted Grandpa with a kiss on the cheek. "Hi Grandpa", she said through a forced smile. "You look lovely as always Toru-chan". Grandpa seemed especially chipper tonight. "At least one of us is", Tohru thought. "You are a lucky young lady" grandpa offered enthusiastically. "This young man who you are meeting tonight is from a good family. They have money and power. You will never want for anything". Grandpa's eyes twinkled as he spoke. "I won't lack for anything…..but love" Tohru thought morbidly to herself. No, she mustn't give in to such thoughts. She must remain ever thankful for her life no matter what. "Ah, I believe he has arrived", Grandpa announced after he ducked his head outside the doorway and scanned the entrance. "I will go to greet him. You stay here and await your intended like an honorable wife", Grandpa admonished with a smile, and then he disappeared around the corner to the lobby. Tohru thought about what grandpa had said. "Honorable wife" she sighed. She felt too young, and too sad to be any such thing. All she could think about was Yuki and how she wanted to be at his side, but that was never going to be possible now. Grandpa was obviously determined. Tohru's eyes filled with tears, and she stared at the floor and tried to blink them away at the sound of Grandpa's return. Tohru kept her eyes down, partly to mask her tears, and partly because she was too shy, and too embarrassed to look upon her future husband. "This is my granddaughter, Tohru" Grandpa said proudly to the strange man. All Tohru could see were her own feet. She daren't lift her eyes even a bit. She was so full of emotion at the moment she was sure if she did she would burst into tears and dishonor her family with her display. She held out a hand of greeting, to the silent man who stood assessing her. She felt his eyes on her, and suddenly felt a little like so much merchants goods on display. Tohru's face flushed. For a long moment the man's eyes seemed to scan every inch of her body. "This is so uncomfortable", she thought. He still said nothing, but slid what felt like a ribbon around her outstretched wrist. "He's tying it already?", she thought aghast. Tohru hadn't even spoken to him yet. Was he going to choose her simply on her looks alone? What kind of man would do that? What was he expecting of her? By the time Tohru finished these thoughts it was too late. The ribbon was secured firmly around her wrist, and she was spoken for once again. Hot tears stung in her eyes, but she blinked them back. "Must not cry" she fought, even though she wanted to scream out to Yuki to come rescue her from this lecherous man, and carry her off to America after all. How could she have been so stupid?
"Miss Honda", a soft familiar voice spoke to her from the other end of her arm. Tohru finally looked up incredulously into the eyes of Sohma, Yuki! He was dressed very traditionally in a dark solid blue kimono and sandals, and he was beaming at her. Tohru couldn't believe her eyes. "I think you already know each other" Grandpa grinned impishly. "Yuki-san here insisted he was old enough to be his own representative in the marriage negotiations" grandpa chuckled. "At first I was skeptical, but he has proved to be very shrewd, and persistent. I feel quite confident he will be a good provider for you". Yuki smiled at Tohru. She looked so beautiful, and he was going to make her his, and his alone. He hadn't worked out all the details in his mind yet as far as the elders of his family were concerned, but he really didn't care what they thought anymore. Haru and Uo had both actually been right. Yuki needed to step up and demand what he wanted. He had almost lost Tohru once, and he wasn't going to let it happen again. He would do whatever he had to to keep her, and to protect her. That was his decision, now what would be hers? "Miss Honda", Yuki smiled sweetly at her, his eyes full of love, "will you marry me?" The tightness in Yuki's chest was gone, but the butterflies in his stomach were working overtime. Tohru finally understood what was happening, and a warm, genuine smile spread across her face. "On one condition", She teased. "Will you still take me to Disneyland?" They both chuckled lightly together, beaming. Yuki took Tohru by the hand and gently pulled her towards him. Their lips met in a soft, sweet kiss. They lingered there a little too long for grandpa's comfort, however. "Now, now" he sputtered" you aren't married yet!" They released each other and smiled again. "Why don't we see to dinner?" Grandpa suggested cheerily, feeling as if he wasn't even there, the young couple was so intent on each other. They began to move in the direction of the table though, letting grandpa know he had been heard. Tohru suddenly stopped. "Yuki, why were you looking me over like that?" Tohru asked with false annoyance. "Like what?" Yuki innocently shot back at her. "Like I was a used car or something" Tohru teased, narrowing her eyes. "Oh", Yuki answered as if the memory had barely dawned on him. "I was just checking out the goods one more time before I bought," he snickered. "Oh!" Tohru exclaimed as she hit Yuki on the shoulder in mock protest. Yuki dodged her blows playfully. At the table Yuki gave Tohru his hand to help her kneel, and then took a spot very close to her, and smiled at her again. The waiter placed a bowl of hot misso in front of each of them. "Thank you", Tohru whispered to Yuki as she slipped her hand in his. Her eyes were full of love and gratitude. Yuki smiled at her. "I wouldn't have it any other way", he said. They picked up their spoons. "Wait", Yuki stopped suddenly serious. He retrieved his cell phone from his robe, and turned it off. "No more phone calls during dinner" he commanded with mock authority like future husband to his future wife. He smiled at Tohru again as she squeezed his arm, and stole one more kiss.