"What are your intentions towards my mother, sensei?"

A little drip of Chardonnay managed to escape Sonomi's lips despite her best efforts to contain her choking reaction. Painfully conscious of her dinner date's wide-eyed stare, the toy executive wiped away the trail with less than perfect table etiquette then thrust herself towards and hissed at her daughter. "Tomoyo! What are you asking?"

Touya watched nervously as the candle stand in the middle of the table for four wobbled from his aunt's gesture, and since he hoped to call her mother-in-law one day, Touya joined in on her behalf. "Maybe this isn't the best topic..."

"Shush, Touya. I'm asking your father a question." The young man felt the girl squeeze his hand under the table, and the two concerned fell silent as the conversation turned into a smiling contest between Fujitaka and his niece, by far the only person on the planet who could match him in the art. "I've come to the knowledge that mother has been inviting you over on a more frequent basis, especially when I'm not home. It started six months ago, when Touya took Sakura and I on a ski trip, and most recently two weeks ago when she asked for your help on tax filings, which is curious, because mother pays others to do her taxes. Now, it isn't hard to tell that you two are interested in each other, but I think it is fair for me to ask what your intentions are with her."

"Of course you're right, Tomoyo-chan. I suppose I should have told you sooner." Sonomi watched in disbelief as the professor, acting cool as a pickle, sliced into the butter with his silver and proceeded to spread it over his dinner roll. "I love your mother deeokt. With her, I find myself capable of feeling for another what I thought was no longer possible, and even though it's only been six months, I amfairly certain that this is a relationship I want to commit to for the rest of my life... if it's alright with her, that is."

And with that, Fujitaka rose from his seat, got down on his knee and in front of the entire restaurant presented a diamond ring to Sonomi, who remained in a state of petrification, speechless and burning like a Christmas light from the sudden turn of events. "... This is a setup, a conspiracy."

"Now, dear..."

"I knew you were up to no good, that's why I thought a double date would be a good idea to keep you from trying anything." She covered her face and closed her eyes, unable to cope with reality. "But to think that my own daughter would betray me like this, I just..."

"So is that a yes?"

Moisture in the corner of her eyes, Sonomi bit her lip and took the ring from her smiling date with the most grudging expression of acceptance possible. "... I'm never going to forgive you for this, Fujitaka."

Then she kissed him, and as the sound of applause rose the weight that had been on Touya's chest receded.

---------

"Did you plan that with my father?"

He drove her back to the mansion, since their parents had after dinner plans elsewhere that would most likely keep them out late. She stood with him in front her door and looked up innocently. "I didn't know he had a ring ready in his pocket, if that's what you mean."

"Then why?"

"To help them along, else mother would never admit to herself what is so glaringly obvious to us."

"You'd make a terrifying businesswoman, Tomoyo Daidouji."

"Business is driven by profit and incentive, Touya Kinomoto, and I expect suitable reward for the services I render."

She winked to clarify her intentions, and was satisfied when he bent down to press his lips against hers. "That enough to cover the bill?"

She sighed happily as she pressed herself against his chest. "Pleasure doing business with you as always."

Author's Notes: With a little grownup love thrown in. Another drabble written for Mellowcandle, who provided the prompt, "What are your intentions towards my mother, Sensei?" Another one hundred or so of these and I'll think my stories will begin to add up to the greatness that was Shadows. Thanks for reading, folks.