Chapter 11 - The Real Purpose

Takashi left Izumi and Lucas together to finish talking. The host club had gone downstairs sometime during the fight feeling like children having witnessed their parents arguing.

"I'm really sorry," Takashi said to everyone.

"It's okay, don't feel bad..."

"There was no way you could have known this was going to happen..."

They all decided to try and plan another dinner later, hopefully with Lucas before he left back for the tour. Haruhi was following Tamaki out, when she stopped. "I'll be right there guys... Please give me a minute."

Takashi looked down at Haruhi.

"Ya know, senpai, about Izumi... I... I don't fully understand her feelings of loss because I had my dad... but I can understand her feeling like she had to make a choice. Your world is completely different from ours. Izumi had whatever money her parents had left over and whatever she could work for. And she has this adoptive family who cared for her when she was at her lowest. So, think about it from their point of view and not from an outsider."

"Haruhi I don't understand?"

"Lucas feels like he's losing his best friend... Izumi probably had a hard time choosing to come back to Japan after her accident... I mean, it's kind of like the life she thought she was meant to have was rejecting her. She thought she'd go on happily living with her parents and dancing, and just being a normal kid... and in the middle of it all, she loses everything. And then she falls in love with you, whose this super rich and successful person. It's almost... it's like it's too good to be true. Izumi is probably hurting a lot... like she chose you and it's being thrown back in her face by the only sense of stability she's had. So feel bad because you asked Lucas to come and they ended up fighting."

"Haruhi?"

Tamaki placed his arms around Haruhi and kissed the top of her head. "Takashi, Izumi is probably feeling guilty right now... for choosing this new path... you versus Lucas. Haruhi is trying to tell you to understand why you should feel bad." Haruhi nodded. "Don't feel bad because they ended up fighting, feel bad because their lives are changing again in a major way. They've always been together just like you and Mistkuni... now they're going to be on different continents."

"Sorry...I can't articulate as well as I used to... I think the baby's making me stupid," Haruhi rubbed her belly. "Make sure you remind her that it was okay for her to choose love."

And with that, they left.

Takashi understood that Izumi was giving up a lot, but after hearing them talk... it really was a huge change. Izumi was born, then given up by her biological parents. She was adopted by a bi-racial couple whose Japanese family rejected the marriage and whose father was an only child...Izumi grew up not looking like either parent. Her best friend comes out and his family is ripped apart. Her parents are killed in an accident and her life is ripped apart. She just decides to study abroad and ends up falling in love and wanting to stay. She goes back to pursue her old dreams and they crumble before her... she goes back to Japan... it was non stop for the two of them. So much pushing and pulling... how much of it did she have to just... go through the motions of it all?

Takashi went into their room, where he found Izumi curled up crying. "Izumi," he said pulling her into his lap, "it's okay."

"I think he hates me..."

"No, he's just hurt..."

"I abandoned him!"

"No," he rubbed her back, "you both decided your paths... it's just the first time that they ended up different."

She nodded. "He's really embarrassed. He's afraid to look at you."

"I'll talk with him tomorrow."

"Please don't hurt him, Takashi." He looked down at her, hurt that she would think that. "You're the one who got all Terminator on him with the whole i will stop you. He's afraid you'd break his legs."

"He threw you."

"That's not the worst fight we've been in, believe it or not. It's the first one where he's attacked someone other than me."

Takashi looked at her. How much worse can it get?

"I'm going to go bring him something to eat. He won't leave the room when he's this upset and embarrassed."
"I'll bring him something, I'd like to talk with him." Izumi gave him a part suspicious and part warning look, but kissed him.

-.-.-

knocking

"Yeah?"

Takashi pushed open the door and saw Lucas fixing up what he could.

"Oh man, I'm so sorry..." Lucas began.

"Don't apologize anymore." He set the tray down. "I was actually hoping I would be able to talk to you...but with what happened, I think the timing may be off."

"What did you want to talk about?"

"Marrying Izumi..."

"Okay?"

This was not the reaction that he had expected from Lucas. "I want to propose to her."

"Well that's kind of obvious isn't it?"

A year and change with Izumi and he still couldn't get used to the directness with which Izumi and Lucas spoke. Lucas saw the look on Takashi's face, "Look, I'm sorry, but you all have a McMansion here, you're a gazillionaire whose more like a kitten in a pile of money than a super ninja... so of course you'd be asking Izumi to marry you... I mean, for crying out loud, you got her a ring already."

Takashi just looked at Lucas, still in shock.

"I know given everything that's happened, you won't really believe it... but I'm happy for you. I'm..." he took a sigh, "I'm jealous and bitter and I'm not sure I even understand the entire reason I feel this way. But, Izumi needs stability. She needs someone whose her opposite to be with her, to pull her up when she falls, to stand behind and push her forward... As much as I hate to say it, I'm from the part of her life where she needed someone to do things with her to keep her going. I just... I just didn't think we'd be so far apart..."

Lucas looked at Takashi, "Dude your silence is irritating. Don't you say anything?"

"Yes."

"God, how does Iz put up with you? Aww, don't get like that... for a big guy, you wear that just-kicked-puppy look too much. Most people would wonder why it's taken you so long to propose, that's my point."

"I wanted to propose to Izumi when I knew I'd be able to support her by my own doing, not by my family. And I know Izumi's independence is very important to her. So we were taking our time."

"So why are you asking me about it now?"

"I wanted to know how you felt, if you approve. Izumi doesn't have a father to walk her down the aisle, but I assumed she would pick you for that role. You've been her consistency throughout her life, it seemed fitting that I should talk to you."

"Man, is there a rotten bone in your body anywhere?" Lucas paused, "wait... if you said that you guys were waiting... and you're in college... you've got two more years left right?" Lucas's eyes went wide, as he slowly quietly said, "You-bought-the-ring?"

Takashi nodded.

Lucas made sure to keep his voice low... but he just wanted to scream. "You bought the ring and you're asking me for permission!"

Takashi nodded.

"Oh my God I'm such an ASS! I totally ruined everything!"

"I wasn't going to do it tonight."

"Can I see it?"

Takashi shot him a questioning look, even Mitskuni wasn't this excited about the ring when he told him about it.

"Oh honestly, I am a girl at heart."

"I don't have it. It's in a vault."

"You have a vault? No, that shouldn't surprise me."

"So did you have it all planned out? I mean, when are you going to ask her, how are you going to do it? Are you going to dress up? You have to dress up, you're supposed to be the night in shining armor, so you have to play the role..."

Takashi's head was swimming. Lucas and Izumi were an insane roller coaster ride of emotions tonight. Maybe I should have waited to talk to him? Lucas stopped his pacing...

"Man, and I thought you brought me out here to flaunt your money," he shook his head, "I am so wrong about so many things."

Takashi was a bit hurt by this, but reminded himself that Izumi was basically being passed between two men. One who saw her past to the one who will hold her future.

"It's fitting isn't it? Thinking that you're asking me if I accept. I'm a little jealous ya know? You can take much better care of her than I ever could. Your selflessness alone speaks volumes. Izzy and I would end up killing each other one day."

Lucas turned to Takashi, "I accept...err...I approve." They shook hands. "But I want to see the ring...before her."