Haruhi followed Kyoya and Fuyumi pulling Fuyumi's small, wheeled suitcase. "I'm glad she's taking some time for herself to consider what she wants her future to look like. Yoshio never allowed her to do that when she was young and then took away the one she was building with Seiji," she contemplated as she watched the siblings. Smiling in amusement, Haruhi mused, "In a way they are double siblings. First, by birth and then by choice."

Kyoya crossed his arms and leaned back against the side of Fuyumi's car as he continued their conversation. "Take all the time you need. We'll be here for the kids if anything comes up," he assured his sister.

Stopping by the back of the car, Fuyumi slipped her keys out of her purse. After a brief pause, she said, "I think I'll put my suitcase on the passenger seat so I can just grab it when I get there." Haruhi followed her and put the case in the car after Fuyumi opened the door.

Wrapping her sister-in-law in a hug, Fuyumi whispered, "In some ways, I envy you and Kyoya. But I can't forget that Seiji and I had a good life together, short though it was. Make the most of your time together, you never know…"

Hugging Fuyumi tightly, Haruhi's voice quaked slightly as she responded, "I know that better than most people. I'm just glad Dad finally found someone else after all those years the two of us only had each other."

The ladies pulled back to look one another in the eye. Haruhi took a deep breath and announced, "I'll head back inside and allow you two a few minutes alone."

With a playful pout, Kyoya muttered, "I suppose I have no say in the matter."

"None whatsoever," the ladies chorused in unison before dissolving into giggles.

Haruhi waved as she headed back toward the office to check in with Kosaku about reports for the next quarterly board meeting of the Hinan Family. She had been researching the establishment of a family trust that would allow certain assets to remain intact to support the extended family if anything happened to the establishing members. "No matter what we may think as young people, we won't live forever. It's better to plan carefully now than to hastily cobble something together in the midst of an emergency," Haruhi considered.

The siblings watched Haruhi as she disappeared inside. Humming in contemplation, Kyoya murmured, "I'm glad you were able to sort things out with HE and KC before they left."

Turning to look at him, Fuyumi nodded in agreement. "Helping Atsuhiro transport them to the airport gave us the opportunity to clear the air. I apologized and they assured me they understood how grief can sneak up on you at the most inopportune times." Chuckling, she shook her head and added, "They did, however, warn me that such behavior was prank-worthy, and I should watch my back."

"Sounds like them," Kyoya responded as he opened the driver side door for Fuyumi. Then he admonished, "Be careful. It's a long drive and you never know who else might be on the road with you."

Before climbing into the car, Fuyumi rested her hand on his arm. "At least Atsuhiro will be here at Hinansho and there are no rally car races scheduled along my route."

"That doesn't stop some idiot from trying to prove to the world that he's an overlooked driving genius," he huffed. His expression softened as he added, "I hope you enjoy your time in Karuizawa. Maybe the relaxation is just what you need to find your path forward." He dropped a brotherly kiss on the top of her head.

"Thanks," Fuyumi responded quietly. "I know that no matter what happens, I have all of you backing me."

"And just look at what we've accomplished," he quipped as he closed her door and stepped back to allow her to back out of her parking space and head for the garage exit.

She waved to him just before she disappeared from view.

Kyoya sighed wistfully. "Be careful. I don't know what we would do without you."

OHSHC

Fuyumi glanced at the list of suggestions Haruhi had given her for the trip. Chuckling to herself, Fuyumi thought about the first suggestion. "Stopping in Kawagoe to go to Candy Alley is something I will definitely leave for a stop on the way back. It will be fun to pick out some unusual treats to take back to the kids. I'm sure I'll even be able to find items for Masaya and Kirimi, who insist they are too mature for something as frivolous as candy."

As Fuyumi drove, she allowed her mind to wander to the significant points in her life.

*****FLASHBACK*****

Yoshio walked into Fuyumi's bedroom without knocking and dropped a box on her bed. "Get dressed in this," he ordered. "We leave for the courthouse in fifteen minutes. I expect you to be ready." He turned and walked out, barely giving her time to assimilate his demand.

Knowing that her father was a hard man, she hastily opened the box and looked in shock at the contents. "A wedding dress?!" she gasped. She stared at the door in shock before shaking herself and doing as she was ordered.

Fuyumi felt numb as she climbed into the limousine between her father and her oldest brother, Yuuichi. The drive to the courthouse was painfully tense, but Fuyumi knew better than to question her father. She twisted a handkerchief in her lap, trying desperately to hide her nervousness.

"Surely a marriage couldn't happen this fast," Fuyumi begged internally. "I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye to Kyoya and…" Her thoughts were cut off as the car stopped at the front steps of the courthouse.

As soon as the chauffeur opened the door, Yuuichi climbed out and stepped aside. Fuyumi was sure she saw pity in the eyes of the young man who gallantly offered his hand to help her from the car. She didn't dare smile at him, so she offered a silent 'Thank you' with her eyes.

"Don't dawdle," Yoshio ordered as he exited the car and headed up the steps. Yuuichi followed sullenly.

Fuyumi looked up at the daunting staircase. The dress was designed to require small steps to make her appear to be a delicate doll. She did her best to keep up, but their pants were more conducive to the long strides needed to ascend the stairs.

By the time Fuyumi reached the door, Yoshio was scowling impatiently. Once she caught up, he headed toward the court clerk's office. Again, his long strides left her struggling to keep up.

Yuuichi held the door open for Fuyumi because her hands were occupied keeping her dress from tripping her as she tried to hurry. Once she was through the door, she saw her father trying to intimidate a bored clerk who simply waved to a row of chairs against the wall and turned back to his computer.

Yoshio stalked over to the chairs and glared at them before settling in the one closest to the clerk. Once Yuuichi and Fuyumi joined him, he growled, "Shido is late. This does not bode well for our partnership."

Taking a deep breath, Fuyumi tried to remember everything she had heard about the Shido family. They were in pharmaceuticals, so it would be reasonable for Otori hospitals and clinics to forge a partnership with them. She tried to recall what the other girls at the elite parties had said about eligible bachelors among the Shido men.

She didn't have long to wait as the door opened and a small group entered. One man left the group and bowed respectfully to Yoshio. "I hope you have not been waiting long. My train was delayed, and my brother felt it would be presumptuous of him to meet you without me since I am the head of the family."

Yoshio nodded his acceptance of the explanation. Then he stood and said, "Shall we proceed? There are more pressing matters that I need to attend to today." He gestured to the clerk's counter as he approached it.

Within minutes, Yoshio and the Shido head had signed the paperwork. The clerk handed each of them several newly printed documents. After the men bowed to each other, Yoshio announced, "I have reserved the honeymoon suite at the flagship Suoh hotel in downtown Tokyo for one night." Then he left abruptly, was if adding, "She's your problem now." Yuuichi scrambled to follow him out.

Fuyumi stood up straight and fought back tears. She had expected to be married off to someone who would benefit the family, but she never expected…this. She had no idea who she was now married to. Was it the head of the Shido family, despite him being older than her father? Obviously it wasn't his brother, since his wife stood resolutely by his side as they all turned to look at Fuyumi.

A young man standing behind the couple stepped around them and approached Fuyumi. "Hello, my name is Seiji. I guess I'm your husband." He smiled hopefully at her.

Not knowing how else to respond, she quietly responded, "Hello, my name is Fuyumi. I guess I'm your wife." They looked into each other's eyes and began to laugh softly.

*****END FLASHBACK****

"For all that Yoshio basically handed me over like a token gift to the hostess of a dinner party, it really was a wonderful marriage," Fuyumi mused. She thought back through the years she and Seiji had spent together.

She remembered the excitement in his eyes when she told him she was pregnant for the first time. He had been almost afraid to touch her, like she was made of spun glass. That ended when she had him attend her doctor appointments so he would know as much about the pregnancy as she did.

The expression on his face as he held his son for the first time was…touching. The awe and wonder on his face was something Fuyumi would never forget. "Seiji had so much love for all of us. It's almost like he subconsciously knew that he would have to give us a lifetime's worth in a short period of time."

Seiji had been no less excited when Hibiki was born. The first time their little girl had looked up at her father, she had wrapped him around her tiny fingers. "There was no doubt that he loved our children, and he loved me," Fuyumi thought as she wiped a tear away.

Her memory brought up all the birthdays, holidays, trips, and activities they had together. They'd had a good life. There were tough times and struggles as well, but they worked through those together.

Remembering the lean times when Seiji's commissions were declining because the Otori group restructured the partnership agreement and reduced the percentages paid to the Shidos. They had been worried about how to make ends meet when Kyoya had approached her about acting as an agent for the Hinan family. It was just what they needed to fill in the gaps.

"I really need to do something for Haruhi. She has done so much for everyone. I'd never seen Kyoya actually happy until he met her. Even Rene couldn't reach him like she did," Fuyumi thought as she noticed a sign that said she was nearing Karuizawa. "Maybe I'll ask Ryoji and Shimura to help me plan something."

The drive had given Fuyumi plenty of time to think about her past. She felt the most settled she had been since before Seiji went to Europe. "This trip was a good idea. I'm already starting to feel like my head is clearer. Hopefully, Shimura can help me focus on deciding my next steps."

Approaching a traffic signal, Fuyumi realized that she was entering Karuizawa. Coming to a stop, she recognized that she was only a few blocks from the pension. Suddenly, an impact from behind threw her forward as the airbag deployed.