Author's Note: Here's a Special A story that's 100 percent fluff. Based entirely on the manga it's my take on how Hikari could accept Kei's proposal in chapter 99. There are referrals throughout to significant events that were exclusively in the manga so those who have only seen the anime may be confused so I recommend highly to read the manga…although the comedy is intact like the anime the story is far richer. And as usual these characters are not mine, they belong to Minami Maki and are licensed by Viz.

THE MAN WHO HAS EVERYTHING…EXCEPT

It's Time for an Answer

It was late afternoon with the westering sun's golden light flooding the Tokyo high rise office suite of the successor president of the huge global conglomerate Takishima Group. Seventeen year old Kei Takishima, eldest son of Midori and Satoru and grandson of the enigmatic Kaname sat before his notebook computer and studied the ancillary tables of the fiscal year for the large insurance subsidiary of his family's company. It was one of the many holdings making up the three divisions under him exclusively, which he ran as he continued attending the prestigious Hakunsekan Academy high school. This day, he had returned from a potential crisis situation he had averted in their Beijing office in China, having had to go there just at the beginning of his summer break and right after having obtained his driver's license. Trying to balance both lives before he even fully reached adulthood to say Kei's life was complicated was an understatement. For due to his genius level IQ he had a natural grasp of complex business strategies which had made him indispensible to the company while at the same time he longed for a life of adolescent normalcy. And since he was the heir apparent to be Chairman of the Board on his grandfather's upcoming retirement, planned for right after his graduation it appeared his adolescence was anything but normal.

As Kei finished skimming through the tables and was typing out his recommendations to the department heads he idly reflected on this truth of reality. For him, who at the tender age of six months had put together full sentences and could solve difficult equations his extraordinary abilities served as both blessings and curses…the ultimate paradox. And yet, that was not the only paradox in his life that he dealt with. He completed his work, exited the program and then clicked on his desktop the file labeled "Light". The folder opened to several digital photos of a lively and lovely girl with a long mane of raven hair and large bright eyes of a deep midnight blue, in various candid shots…his classmate, rival, best friend, and beloved Hikari Hanazono. He clicked on one, her pretty face kissed by the golden light of a sunset on a recent trip to Hawaii and just stared. Gazing at her image on his notebook Kei's golden brown eyes were mesmerized as always and he reached his fingers to touch the screen reverently, his heart pounding as his mind filled with her essence…her laugh, her voice, her smile, all precious to him. A smile touched his lips and his memory brought her to him as she was the night of end of the school semester festival fireworks…the night he led her to the bell tower of the academy and presented to her his heart's wish, written in the sky…

HIKARI…PLEASE MARRY ME

And I've yet to get an answer…because once again she sees this as a match between us. It was my plan so I purposely did it then…because she loves festivals. She's stubborn as always but truth be told she defeated me ten years ago when my heart became hers…

Kei sighed as he contemplated the current situation with him and Hikari…they were about to begin their final year at Hakunsekan and their eleventh year of knowing each other and his eleventh year of loving her. A love that began when they were both six and brought together by pro-wrestling fanatic fathers who wanted the two youngsters to pit their fighting skills against each other…he defeated the feisty little girl in pigtails who refused to be beaten and in turn pushed him to be better, constantly challenging him. By doing that she became the love of his life; a love that consumed him to the point of obsession at times, making him lose his usual cool façade and turning him into someone who became as Akira would point out, a beast…insanely jealous and possessive; chasing off any potential rivals and at times bearing an almost stalker tendency, wanting to know where she is if she was not in the greenhouse with the rest of the SA. When that was the case he would then search the school to find her. And on the days Satoru would shanghai him to take him to business meetings that required his brilliant business acumen in between he would text her four, five, sometimes even more times. It was the reason he gave her the cell phone with unlimited international coverage via satellite…

Yeah…I guess that would qualify me as a stalker…that foreign prince Finn even calls me that. But when it comes to Hikari I just don't think, period…she's on my mind constantly, I even dream about her…generally becoming totally strung out when I don't know where she is or who she's with. And I can't stand to have any other guy near her…I wanted to kill Tadashi when he took her on that date even though it was to fool his mother…and Aoi… after trying like hell to break us up (admittedly, following the Chairman's orders) he was all smitten when in her usual compassionate way she made him go to the hospital with his ulcer (I got a little carried away there, threatening him). But that whole ordeal with Tokiwa…my blood boils even now when I think of it…

Iori Tokiwa...He transferred in our second year and scored second place in the spring mid-terms, tying with Hikari. She was bugged by that then mysteriously began disappearing everyday, studying hard and spending less time in the Greenhouse. I confronted her when I found her working in a grocery store and she was suspiciously evasive when I asked her why she was wearing Tokiwa's name tag so when I tracked him down I found her at his apartment with him. She said she was helping him while he was sick but when I knocked and then threw open the door I saw his arms around her. Sick or not I wanted to kill him…instead I introduced myself, told him she was my girlfriend and took her back. In spite of that at the Golden Week barbecue he still tried to get closer to her so then I knew for certain he was my enemy. My suspicions were affirmed when I confronted him and the bastard told me his intent was to steal Hikari from me, and after he had used her kindness to help him again by modeling for him in the big Tokyo Gals stylist competition, the son of a bitch also manipulated her into granting his wish…to break up with me as a reward for winning the competition (she told me this) so I challenged him in kendo and he admitted it before I defeated him. I knew then that I wanted him to disappear but killing him was not an option (even though now I REALLY wanted to), so I pulled some Takishima Group strings…our company held and sponsored the Tokyo Gals stylist competition …and he did…literally and legally. Thanks to his talent and my influence he's now in London, at a top hair salon living out his dream to be a famous stylist…problem solved. And I couldn't care less about any other woman, like Alisa Appleton, who my grandfather tried to marry me off to…there's only one woman I want to make my wife…

Kei reached for the burgundy velvet jewel box sitting on his desk took it and cracked it open to examine the contents. Nestled on red satin was a two carat flawless diamond ring; in a white gold setting, an Empress stone that was very popular almost sixty years ago. It was a beautiful ring; a family heirloom that once belonged to his grandmother, Izumi. And the amazing way he got it still left him stunned…

Earlier This Afternoon…

Kei had just arrived at his office from the meeting in Beijing and wasting no time began going over the minutes of the last board meeting when the door opened and Kaname Takishima strode in. As he was still the chairman over the huge conglomerate he could come and go as he pleased with no questions asked. So Kei was startled when he entered unannounced…

Seeing his grandfather Kei used the proper gesture of respect he always did when addressing him. Rising to his feet he bowed and said, "Chairman."

Kaname nodded a slight acknowledgement and began, "I understand that you've proposed to Hikari-chan during the school festival…is that true?"

Seeing his grandfather's stern expression Kei immediately became defensive… and defiant. "What of it?"

Kaname came right to his grandson. "And that you've contacted Harry Winston in Beverly Hills regarding the purchase of a ring for her. Yet, she hasn't accepted…is that right?"

It was true. He had e-mailed the famous jeweler requesting pictures of their finest diamond rings just yesterday at the conclusion of the meeting at the Beijing office. His grandfather's intelligence network as usual was coldly efficient and spot on. Kei nodded, his eyes locked on Kaname. "So what's your point, Chairman?"

"Don't be insolent," Kaname commanded brusquely as he reached in the pocket of his jacket. He handed a burgundy velvet jewel box to Kei, then stepped back. "Open it."

Now curious Kei opened the box and saw his grandmother's ring. With wide eyes he looked in amazement at Kaname, who with a rare soft smile cleared his throat and spoke…

"When she accepts…please tell her that wearing this ring would deeply honor me."

With those words from his grandfather Kei had felt his heart well up as he then remembered the time in Australia…when the events and actions initiated by Hikari with his grandfather brought about reconciliation in his family between his mother Midori and Kaname....the end of a grudge that had separated father and daughter for many years. And then he picked the flowers that Izumi had requested Kuze to plant on her grave…flowers that Kaname had always given to her in apology…to give to Hikari…formally accepting her. However after the festival when Kei had the fireworks spell out his proposal…she had been embarrassed and saw it as a challenge. It amused him at the time but since then she had been avoiding the subject completely, causing him much anxiety. He even tried to approach the subject when he took her to an elegant restaurant in Shinjuku to celebrate her decision to stay in Tokyo after her family moved to Kyushu but she evaded his attempts to discuss it…leaving him frustrated and unsure…

Remembering this Kei sighed heavily as he said, "IF she accepts." He closed the box and placed it on the desk, his face showing his discouragement and Kaname reached his hand to Kei's shoulder.

"Kei, that girl…is stubborn, headstrong, impulsive, obstinate, persistent…all qualities that are problematic in a potential Takishima wife."

Annoyed Kei groaned at his grandfather's referral to Hikari in a fashion that made it appear as if his family were royalty…and as if she were unsuitable for such a lofty honor. "If you're trying to talk me into changing my mind about marrying Hikari, Chairman--," but he was cut off.

"If you'll let me finish," Kaname intoned. "She's also loyal, devoted, supportive, sacrificial, has great integrity…and to do what she did to help bring your mother and I together after so many years estranged…was miraculous…all qualities that make her someone who will make an exceptional Takishima wife. And most important of all…she loves you."

"You can see that?" In light of Hikari's recent bout of ambiguous behavior regarding their relationship Kei had his doubts…even though she had confessed and displayed her feelings over and over her continued evasiveness for the last month concerning his proposal was wearing him out. It was nothing new; she was the one thing in his life that never came easy.

"More then that…I know it…why else did she work so hard to bring Midori and I together?" Kaname's tone was firm and he added, "There is no guile in that girl or I would have never accepted her into our family. Everything she does has purpose."

Kei met his grandfather's steady amber gaze. The Takishima patriarch had predator eyes; eyes that when facing down an opponent in business were ruthless, calculating…qualities that increased exponentially when it came to protecting his family. Yet they were also eyes that were honest, straightforward and true…it was why he was both feared and respected in the business world. And his words and especially his gesture…giving his beloved wife's ring for Hikari to wear… meant the world to Kei.

Deeply touched he bowed and said, "Arigatou ojii-sama..."

Still studying the ring Kei sat back and mused "Everything she does has purpose"…ojii-sama was right, everything Hikari does has purpose. She went on that date with Tadashi to help him with his mother, she offered to help Ushikubo-san when she was my omiai partner by promising to tell her my type of woman (without seeing that SHE is my type)…even though Ryu told me it made her cry (I HATE it when she cries)…she's always selflessly helping others with their troubles sometimes even putting herself in danger like those times with Aoi and Yahiro ( I could've killed them both for involving her in their schemes) but the list goes on. She's got the wisdom of the ages when it comes to others but when it comes to her own feelings and us…she's dumb as a box of rocks…or seems that way as she evades the truth. However, I know why she does that. The night I told her I loved her she told me she can't trust in her feelings as a woman, that her mother said she wasn't one but she's dead wrong…Hikari's a woman in every sense of the word. She's an ideal woman and she's the only woman that I love…that I'll ever love. Like ojii-sama said she always has a purpose in her actions so there must be a valid reason for her hesitation in answering my proposal…not just wanting to beat me…

The buzz of his cell interrupted Kei's thoughts and the CID was Hikari. Coming up as 2nd Place…his nickname for her he grinned as he flipped it open. "Hey Nii-san."

That got the expected response. "Don't call me Second Place, baka…So are you back in Japan, Takishima?"

"Yeah…I got back this afternoon from Beijing…and I'm at the office tying up loose ends. So how was your day?"

"Okay…Akira picked me up after breakfast and we both went to Sakura's pool to go swimming…I just got back home."

Kei's grin widened as he asked, "You went swimming, huh? In your blue bikini or the one I got you?"

Hikari snorted, "Pervert! Do you have to ask such embarrassing questions?"

"What's so embarrassing about that? You're my girlfriend and I think you look cute in a bikini…that's why I got you that new red one."

She sniffed, "And weren't you the least bit embarrassed to buy it? Really Takishima, it's very skimpy."

Kei replied nonchalantly, "It was imported from Paris…I was told it's the latest design at the boutique when I got it."

"Whatever…is that why you texted me to call you or is there anything else?"

Holding the box with the ring Kei asked softly, "Have you been thinking about our latest…match?"

The line was quiet for a few seconds then her subdued answer, "Yes."

"And?" His heart was pounding, not knowing what to expect…

Hikari's response was unusually gentle, like a little girl. "Takishima…I-I'm confused."

"About what? You asked me the same question not long ago, right?" He reached in his pocket for the rubber band that she gave him at the Tokyo Gals Style Show when she asked him to be her husband and fingered it and the box with his grandmother's diamond while they talked.

"Yeah…and if I remember you refused me."

Was there a twinge of disappointment there in her voice? Kei blanched and responded, "Only because I thought you just did it to make it up to me for helping Tokiwa behind my back…and as everybody got all excited about our engagement I saw how nervous you were getting." Sensing her reticence increasing he sighed and quickly added, "Look, let's change the subject…I also wanted to know if you're free this evening. I got my driver's license just before I left for the business trip and my father got me a new sports car that was delivered today. Want to go for a ride with me?"

Hikari's voice brightened. "A new sports car? Takishima, that's so cool! What kind of car?"

"A Lotus Evora…brand new model…it hasn't even hit the dealerships yet…Ryu's father got it for me imported from England."

"Sure. I'll have to change first."

Kei was elated at her instantaneous change. "Great…I'm leaving here now and I'll pick you up in about an hour. We can head over to the bluffs out of town past Shibuya and towards Machida and Sagamihara where they drift…I want to try the car out over there."

"Drift? What's that?"

"It's a type of racing. Kids go up the mountain roads and bluffs and as they make the turns they try to come out of them fast. Tadashi's really into it, he's the one that told me about it."

"And you want to try it?" There was a bit of uncertainty in Hikari's voice and Kei immediately picked up on it so he hastily refused.

"No, no…at least not tonight." His voice became lower, more intimate. "Tonight I just want to be with you. I missed you while I was in China." He picked up the ring and added, "The view of the city and Fuji is really something up there and we can be alone to talk."

"Talk? About what?"

"Just talk." Kei definitely had more than talking planned but he did not want to scare Hikari into refusing…after four days away he was desperate to be with her and could not wait to take her in his arms. He held his breath as he waited for her response.

Another few seconds of silence and then…"Okay"

Relief flooded his being…followed immediately by anticipation. "Okay…I'll be at your house in an hour. Bye."

Flipping the cell shut and shoving it in his pocket Kei then logged off of his notebook, closed it, grabbed it and the jewel box and strode out of his office, slamming the door in his haste…

In her room Hikari sat on the tatani, staring at the cell phone in her hand so Takishima wants to go for a ride in his new sports car to talk…and he mentioned the "match" which means that he wants an answer to his proposal so he wants me to...but he doesn't know that if I beat him then by refusing I have to leave for Kyushu. That was the deal with my father…but if I do accept, I'll agree to become…

His wife…

As she had been doing everyday since the night of the fireworks display at the festival Hikari again contemplated the concept. Since she and Kei had officially become a couple, they did not always act in conventional lovey-dovey ways. By her choice since she still considered him a rival…although they did kiss often enough…doing all things well he was also an incredible kisser. In that sense Kei was very persistent in displaying his affections, which never ceased to embarrass her but also brought warm sensations of exhilaration when his lips captured hers. And since he proposed she had thought seriously about what being a wife meant…and that always brought a blush to her porcelain cheeks…

Takishima's always trying to act romantic with me…putting his arm around my shoulder, touching my cheek, holding my hand, kissing me when we can be alone and Tadashi doesn't interrupt. But if I say yes and we do get married we'll…

Hikari bit her lip as her cheeks grew warm at the thought of marital intimacy with Kei. While at Sakura's as she, Akira, and Sakura all sunned themselves and after swimming their conversation had touched on Hikari's tentative engagement and marriage…which included talk of that very subject…

Earlier…

Sakura reclined in a chaise lounge, flanked by Hikari to her right and Akira to her left at the curved end of the large kidney shaped pool. Accepting a tall glass of iced green tea from a serving maid she sighed and turned to her right…

"So Hikari-chan…have you thought about what your answer to Kei-kun's proposal will be?"

Hikari blushed and replied, "You're as straightforward as always."

"So true…but I'm just asking what I'm sure everyone else and especially Kei-kun wants to know…right Akira?"

Akira sniffed, "I could care less what stupid Kei wants…he had his nerve to say something like that in the fireworks and embarrass my Hikari."

Sakura smiled dreamily. "I think it was romantic…and just proved to everyone what I knew the day of the omiai when he ditched to be with Hikari. And his doing that was actually prince-like."

"But you said Takishima was a demon king," Hikari pointed out.

"Yeah I know but the ways he keeps showing you how much he loves you makes him a prince." Sakura sighed as she added wistfully, "I wish Jun would be more open and honest about his feelings but as long as he has Inner Jun I really shouldn't complain…which reminds me…" She cast a sly look at Hikari. "Have you and Kei-kun…discussed…THAT?"

"THAT?"

"You know what I mean…you're discussing getting married so I'm sure you've discussed THAT."

Hikari frowned as she thought hard about to what Sakura was insinuating. Then as she realized what marriage meant as far as relations she blushed as she remembered some recent intimate times with Takishima. After exchanging some intense kisses with her he had hinted how he couldn't wait until their relationship deepened into sleeping together as husband and wife…all said with a playful twinkle in his eyes, which had her calling him "hentai" as she became mortified, her face turning several shades of pink…

"Well…w-we sorta did…b-but I told him that he was a hentai to talk that way."

Outraged Akira snapped, "You were right…that bastard had a hell of a nerve, saying something like that to you."

Sakura shot back, "Oh come on, Akira…Hikari-chan and Kei-kun are practically engaged to be married and they're not children." Her jade eyes sparkled mischievously as she turned to Hikari…

"So Hikari…what are you planning to answer him?"

Hikari bit her lip as she remained silent, her heart thrumming in her ears as she was faced with the dilemma that had her pinned between the two most important men in her life…

"Well?" Sakura was persistent and Hikari decided escape was her only option. The pool beckoned like a friend…

"Ahhh, it's so hot why don't we take a dip?" She jumped up and with one fluid movement dove into the blue water as both Sakura and Akira exchanged a quizzical glance…

Brushing away the thoughts of intimacy Hikari sighed as she then looked at the day's mail…along with some junk and a bill was an envelope with a Kyushu address in her father's scrawl. She tore it open and read the contents; another missive that relayed how much he, her mother and brother missed her…making the guilt flood her as her heart constricted and brought her back to the real root of the problem…

Father wrote me…again…telling me how much they all miss me…and again he said if I beat Takishima I can come out there to Kyushu. Well, I can do that by refusing Takishima's proposal. But if I do and defeat Takishima by refusing his proposal, I'll be hurting myself because it'll be over between us…I'll never see him again and I can't stand the thought of that. While he was gone on his business trip I missed him so much it hurt. But if I accept and am defeated again my father said I can't come home and I'll won't see my family…

Hikari sighed as she folded the letter and put it with the others, her mind teeming with conflicting scenarios and circumstances…giving birth to the conflicting emotions that had her heart in turmoil these weeks since the departure of her family. Always perceptive concerning her; astute and not wanting her to be alone Kei had done his best to help ease things by inviting her to move into the Takishima mansion with his father's blessings, even preparing a private suite in his wing just for her but not wanting to be a burden she declined. And seeing that he was just as distressed as she was, she did what she usually did…hid her agony behind a smile that he, as usual, saw right through…but also as usual he did not push and told her not to over strain herself. For that she loved him even more. But she knew deep down inside how he yearned for an answer and how he deserved one…

Through all of this Takishima has been so wonderful…patient and kind; undemanding and supportive…I love him with all my heart. But I don't know if I can be his wife…I don't know if I even know how to be a wife…at least one that can be the kind of wife for a man like Takishima. I come short as a woman in so many ways…that's what Mother had always told me…

Her ambivalence about her situation had Hikari so preoccupied that she lost track of time and gasped when she saw that her woolgathering caused nearly half the time to pass. Knowing Kei to be punctual and downright early at times she hurried to her closet to choose an outfit. She then quickly dressed…

NEXT…SUNSET CONFESSIONS