Prologue

(Akane's POV)

He was… Gorgeous.

Not that I noticed, of course. Or cared, even.

All I felt was anger.

Anger at my father. Who had engaged my sister to this stranger.

But there he was. At our door, staring at his feet while our fathers embraced.

I was angry. And I was angrier when I heard that he was staying.

I didn't trust him. I guess you could say I haven't had very good experiences with boys.

I thought I knew what all boys were like.

But… he didn't try anything. He barely even acknowledged me. Or Nabiki, for that matter. I guess he was just as upset with the arranged marriage as we all were.

Eventually that changed. We were in the same class at school. And I couldn't ignore him when he came to me for homework help…

I guess things changed between us. He was just so talented, so gorgeous… I couldn't hate him.

He really was talented. Much more so than me, though I could never admit to it. But I'd catch him watching me out in the dojo from time to time. Eventually he started coaching me, giving me tips. And I got better.

He was my best friend.

But… He was just that. Just a friend. He was engaged to Nabiki, of course. She was an obvious choice to inherit the dojo. She could run it like a business, make it profitable again.

And she really seemed to care for him.

Seemed that way, at least. Maybe it was a façade. You could never know with Nabiki…

But she would make a much better wife than I would. And that's what I want for him.

I want him to be happy.

Because I love him.