Hello Helloooo~~~~
New Guinee is BACK! Two updates in a week! I ROCK! (Don't I? No? OK, maybe I don't... *sulks in moldy dark corner*)
Thank you fatemoon for your heartwarming review, and that you enjoyed it. You deserve a cookie! *tosses cookie* I lurve you!
Disclaimer: I do not own KWMS in any way. If I did, I would dress Usui up in a different maid outfit everyday, and have Misaki and Usui snog each other in each episode.
On with the story!
Eighteen years later...
"Onee-san, you're eligible!"
Ayuzawa Misaki promptly coughed up milk, spilling the white liguid on her tatami mat.
"Wh-What?"
"You're eligible, onee-san, to audition for the lord's wife!"
Misaki coughed up more milk. "Onee-san, you should stop drinking that. It's gross that you're spitting it up."
"Thanks a lot, Suzuna."
Suzuna smiled, which was even creepier than her regular apathetic expression. "Onee-san, do you know what would do you some good?"
"More rice."
"A husband."
Misaki coughed, this time irrelevant to the fact she had swallowed the milk.
"See, you won't have to work forever, and you'll still get sufficient food, have presents every other week, and tons of chances to enter raffles!"
Misaki glared. "I told you to stop gambling at that pub."
Suzuna shrugged. "The men don't mind anymore. Actually, most have given up, since I win the jackpot every month."
"Then why don't you audition?"
"I'm ineligible. I'm too young." Misaki swore she saw regret in Suzuna's face. "But maybe you'll win!"
Misaki stared at Suzuna as if she had just chewed off her own hand. "Suzuna, have you seen me around men lately?"
"What, that you try to kill him every chance you get?"
Misaki sighed. "How do you think I'll be able to pass the audition, let alone live with him peacefully? And what kind of lord has women audition to be his wife?"
Suzuna shrugged. "That's up to you."
XXX
"Misaki-chan! It's been so long!" squealed Sakura, compressing Misaki in a tight hug. She smelledd of cherry blossoms, and her lavish kimono was also painted a pale pink, courtesy of her name.
"Sakura-sama..can't...breathe..." choked Misaki. When she finally let go of her, Misaki smiled. "It's great to see you again, Sakura-sama."
"Oh please, stop putting that honorific behind my name. I'm Sakura, OK? I'm your friend, not your slave driver."
Misaki stared. Sakura sighed. "OK, maybe that wasn't the best analogy."
"So what did you call me for, Sakura-sama?"
Sakura glared. "Stop with that 'sama' or else I'll never tell."
"Sorry, my lady."
Sakura sighed. "Fine. Did you hear about the lord looking for a bride?" she asked, positively flushing.
"Yes," Misaki said with a hint of disgust.
"Well, he's totally gorgeous! Golden hair, emerald eyes, the finest complexion..." Sakura went on with praise and briefly traveled away to La-La Land, where the sun shone all day and hot lords were plentiful.
Misaki cleared her throat.
"Oh, sorry. Where was I? Oh yeah. So, I want to enter the audition to become his wife."
"Then do as you wish, Sakura."
Sakura beamed. "Great work. You've finally called me as a friend. But no, I can't."
"Why not?"
Sakura's expression darkened considerably. "Look at my face. Do you see this blemish?" she asked, pointing at her nose.
Misaki did not see said blemish, but nodded so as to humor her. "Uh, yes.."
"That's why I can't go. I have to get rid of it before I see him. So I need someone to go instead of me."
Misaki stared. "And so..."
"You'll go for me!"
Misaki choked on air, for probably the fifteenth time that day. "Sakura, that's ridiculous!"
Sakura shook her head. "You're very pretty, Misaki. Did you know that? If you weren't so scary to the men, you'd have had at least ten proposals by now!"
"But I hate men!"
Sakura's expression turned even darker. "That's why, you shall go for me, bearing my name, and fetch me the lord. You have to overcome your disabilities!"
"Hating men isn't a disability!"
"It is for your love life. And this will be good practice, too."
"But what if he realizes I'm a commoner!"
Sakura waved her hand. "That won't happen. Besides, the first audition's more of a preliminary thing. The lord himself won't be there; some other people will be. The first audition's just there to pick out the very ineligible girls."
"Like me."
Sakura shook her head. "No! And when I'm done with your makeover, you'll be irresistible! And I'll go for the second audition. All you have to do is pretend to be a sweet, nice, loyal wife candidate for only a few hours."
Misaki groaned. This was near impossible.
XXX
Three days later...
"Sakura-sama!"
"What? You're gonna look sooooo hot! Even Yukiko will be jealous."
Misaki glowered. Yukiko was the town's most popular geisha. "Great encouragement, Sakura."
Sakura waved her hand. "I'm telling you, once you go in there, even the ladies will fall in love with you. Believe me! I'm awesome at makeovers."
Misaki groaned as Sakura roughly yanked a brush through her hair, trying to smooth the usually untidy strands.
Somehow, Misaki endured the time of torture.
Sakura beamed at her handiwork. "What'd I tell ya?"
She handed Misaki a mirror. She took it and almost dropped the glass.
Black hair neatly curled and braided. Her face was painted with red and pink, her cheeks blushing and eyes bright. Dark gray charcoal outlined her eyebrows and eyelids. Her lips were painted Sakura's favorite red. A gold kimono with occasional splashes of pink.
In short, Misaki looked like Yukiko's twin.
Sakura smiled widely. "Now, all you have to do is go! They'll love you!"
Misaki grumbled all the way to Sakura's carriage, to be used as transportation to the lord's mansion.
Sakura waved her hand as the carriage took off. "Have a great time!" she called.
When Misaki was out of sight, an evil smile crossed her face. She went back into her room. Sakura opened a door to the secret room that was usually used as a kimono storage room. "Did you get her to go?" asked Suzuna, who was hiding behind piles of fabric.
Sakura grinned evilly. "Mission accomplished."
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Hearts,
New Guinee.