A/N: After four long years, I decided to update this story. I stopped updating 3 years ago after Chapter 4. So the real update is Chapter 5. But I had to rewrite most of it to match my current writing style which is why I suggest and appreciate if you would read it again and tell me how it was improved or whatever. I also changed some of the details but it's basically the same plot. Enjoy! Please leave your comments to tell me what you think. And continue supporting the story! Thank you!
Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN YAMATO NADESHIKO. I wish I do though.
I have rewrote this with them 3 years older. They are now senior college students (and more mature than they are now –based on how I think they will be when they mature nonetheless.)
Chapter 2: Still Indefinite
"I'll open it." Yuki offered.
He opened the door and in the sight of two smiling pretty girls on their trench coat that looks nothing casual, came to be. Moreover, are they wearing make-up?
Noi was wearing a brown wool trench coat with fur collar that goes below her knees, not long enough to show a glimpse of the dress she was wearing underneath though, fastened on her navel, not forgetting to trace Noi's side curves. Tamao, beside her, stood wearing a gray straight-cut baby-collared coat stopping on her mid-thighs, revealing that underneath is a teal flowing pleated long dress.
Ranmaru and Takenaga were too busy admiring the two beauties that Yuki had to clear his throat to remind the guys that they need to let the ladies in at some point. They cleared the way for their partners and led them to the living room where they take off their coats, enjoying the sudden warmth the outdoors does not offer. They they see the ladies in the full glory of their attires.
Noi was wearing a plain black off-shoulder cocktail dress stopping until three inches below her knees matched with a pair of red high-heel sandals with ribbons around her ankles. She wore no necklace but her hair braided on one side, resting on her shoulder, accentuates her defined neck and jawline. The only accessories she wore were a pair of ruby earrings the size of one's littlest fingernail with a touch of diamond stones around them, so small it makes the red stone shine more elegantly. On her left hand is a black envelope clutch bag with a wrist strap of a ribbon—from afar making the outfit look more interesting. She must have been proud seeing Takenage stoned on his spot for the next few seconds… or was it minutes?
Beside Noi, there stood perhaps the first girl that made Ranmaru speechless, in her teal long dress, the top of which is a lacy sheer fabric that showcase her white skin until slightly above her breasts. The lacy fabric stops subtly on her waist as it meets the pleated skirt flowing until her ankles, just high enough to make everyone see the white high-heel sandals embellished with a diamond pattern with various shimmering stones around it, the ankle strap in silver. What makes her dress more interesting though is the ombre effect of the overlayed pattern looking like a continuation of the lacy fabric that fades until her mid-thighs. She wore a silver earring that compliments the pattern on her footwear, and a necklace with a small diamond pendant cut in the same shape. Her curled blonde hair flowing against her shoulders on both sides. But they haven't probably seen the outfit in its full glory. But it will be rather hard to miss if she just faced about. The sheer fabric of her dress totally reveals her back, abruptly stopping just on the right point it will leave the guys totally fantasizing.
The gentlemen made a sound no one can take for just awe and admiration, it's the sound you make when you want to say something but your throat blocks the attempt. Just that for the Ranmaru and Takenaga, they might have lost all their voice.
"WOW! You girls are pretty." Yuki said is astonishment, making the red haired turn to him, eyes glaring, probably shouting, 'How can you say that so easily?' The blonde shrugged, "what?" While the dark-haired simply seconded Yuki's observation with a quiet "yeah", his eyes fixed on one person as of the moment.
"Thank you, Yuki-kun" Tamao shyly said. Ranmaru's attention going back to the girl, looking as if he wants to protest, probably something like "I also want to say you're beautiful but how come you only thank Yuki", but apparently he still hasn't found his voice yet so he stood unmoving. This was probably one of his worst struggles especially that she won't realize this inner skirmish as she was busy looking at the floor beneath her.
Noi blushes realizing Takenaga hasn't finished inspecting her beauty yet. But somehow she managed to squeak her thanks, all the while flustering.
"Pfft-" That was Kyohei, cracking at the stoned reactions of her two friends, well, especially Ranmaru, this reaction from him happens only once in a blue moon. "Anyway," he tried to continue, "Don't get more wrong ladies, you both look astounding… but what is it this time?" he asked disinteresting, but quite aware that things would definitely take different turns from this point on.
"Please change your clothes as fast as you can," Noi started "you are going to a formal party with us."
"What?!" they all answered at the same time as if it was rehearsed.
"No shit." Kyohei commented quietly, "Why?" he voiced aloud.
"But we don't even have any available formal wears right now. We're not prepared." Ranmaru protested, all heads turning to him accusingly, probably thinking the same thing, "that's definitely not true,"
"I mean, nothing appropriate perhaps," he corrected and coughed.
"You shall not consider that a problem now," Tamao clapped her hands to signal Edward, her personal assistant who entered with four more people behind him carrying a big box each, "please do wear these," she suggested.
Each of the boxes bear their name. Kyohei, upon receiving his, tried opening it immediately but failed, figuring out the box is sealed. Before he can ask, Noi already answered his question.
"It is sealed to make sure that it would reach you safely without missing anything since it still came from Paris, America, Mexico and Italy respectively. Took famous fashion designers three long months of preparation. So they had to make sure nothing is missed." Noi explained concisely.
"Cool." Yuki said in admiration.
"Now, dress up! We don't have enough time left!" she exclaimed.
"These are sealed." Takenaga reminded them.
"Oh! I'm sorry. The keys." Tamao signaled for her people to undo the seals of the boxes.
"But –" Yuki started asking but was shoved. "I-I still have a lot of questions"
"I know," Noi said reassuringly, "but you can do that after you dress up, right?"
"Well that's not fair," Ranmaru protested, but again he was pushed towards a room.
After an hour and a half, the boys went out of their respective rooms and assembled at the living room where the girls rest, all of them looking glamorous at their own outfits.
The four gentlemen entered the room in sync, making the room shine more brightly with the quartet being the source of the light. The two ladies who have waited patiently look at them with their mouths agape.
Kyohei wore a black Chinese collared coat on a vertically-striped dark gray long sleeve polo, the first two buttons unfastened, paired with a black pair of slacks that fits perfectly around his long thighs. His blonde locks neatly brushed up. His shoes was black leather with paisley pattern etchings at his heels. A silver necklace with a cross pendant completes his outfit.
Another blonde hottie stood beside him, carrying his coat instead of wearing them under of which he wore a black sleeveless tuxedo over a white polo tacked under his slightly fitted slacks, the buttons unfastened until the first button of his tuxedo. His blonde hair stylishly messy. His outfit absolutely matches his mahogany brown leather with laces that slightly points at the front. For the moment, he was resigned from being a cutie to an absolute hottie.
Walking right behind Yuki is the man of Noi's dreams. He wore white coat and slacks. The coat has geometric patterns lightly embroidered on it that only becomes visible when light strikes on it. Under the sophisticated work of art, he wore a navy blue pointy collared polo, with a silver ribbon loosely falling under it. His dark hair was parted unequally. In total, he looks like a prince drawn out from a fairy tale book.
Ranmaru looks the most confident out of the four, well, that's a given, but he does look good in a pink polo, with maroon neck tie, under a cotton off-white coat with pockets on both sides which matches with his pants. He wore a brown leather footwear while his red hair is slicked back. He looked over Tamao to see how flushed she will be looking at him but much to his dismay, she looks composed just like always.
"So, first question," Kyohei said plainly, all heads turning to him, "Where is Sunako in all of these?"
Noi looked like she just realized something, "Oh yeah! Sunako-chan! She is waiting for us in the car. Right Tamao?"
"Yes, she is." The boys silently wondered about that. But brushed it off, thinking that Edward probably won't go easy on her.
"What could she be wearing?" Ranmaru asked rather enthusiastically.
"Oh, she will be the most beautiful girl in the party later." Noi answered with the same enthusiasm.
"Pfft-" That was Kyohei, "I doubt that," he started giggling.
"I am not lying Kyohei. Just you wait. Hmph!" she rolled her eyes on him.
"So, okay," Yuki started after sometime of probably composing the question in mind, "all of us are coming to this formal party. But what is it specifically for?" all attention on him then to the ladies.
"As far as we know, this event has been meticulously organized for long. We haven't been told much aside from that we DO need to come or else… Sunako's aunt will triple your rent," she explained carefully, "we also just received the notice last night when we were having our 'girl talk'…" she paused realizing she not need say that, "anyway, it was Tamao's mom that contacted her first then Sunako-chan from her Aunt, saying that we have to come no matter what, nothing else."
"Tripling the rent huh?" Takenaga repeated, hand on his chin, "this probably means something serious, right?" turning his head to the other three gentlemen, "but what have you got to do with this?" then all heads on the girls. "It's not like you are directly affected by this whole deal," he said matter-of-factly.
The girls look at each other before Noi spoke, "Actually," she started, "I'm not sure if we are supposed to tell you this, but," she said nervously, "Tamao has heard something like us being models of the spa venture Sunako's aunt and Tamao's mom has undertaken," she continued quietly. "But we can't know that for sure," Tamao admitted.
"I see, but why did you agree with this? Especially that you don't know anything yet," Takenaga inquired.
"It sounds fun," she simply answered, "plus, I can't miss you looking this handsome" to which he flushed red instantly.
"So you're saying that none of us actually know what is going on?" Kyohei verified.
"Not much so, I'm afraid," Tamao answered. For a moment, they stood in silence until the door bell sounded the second time that day. Edward opened the door while they assembled by the foyer wondering who it is this time.
The door opened to reveal a woman's back against them. The sudden cold from the outside sent chills down their spines. She wore a black wool coat over her cocktail dress that stops on her knees and black net stockings. On her foot, she wore a black closed wedge shoes with ankle strap decorated with shimmering stones. Her violet-almost-black hair put-up in a ponytail, the ends curled. She was unrecognizable for a moment until she faced the crowd. Sunako stood there, shivering. She wore a light make-up, her lips resembled the color of plum, but she looks pale.
"Sunako-chan," Yuki called, taking notice of her shivering.
Kyohei walked briskly to fetch the girl and send her inside. "What are you doing out there in this cold?" he almost screamed. "How long have you been standing there?" No response.
They were ready to take action when she isn't responding for the next minute until she started speaking, "H-How long are you gonna take to finish?" whispering the question.
"Have you been waiting for us?" Yuki questioned.
"Or perhaps for a chance to escape?" Kyohei accused.
"Kyohei-kun!" Noi and Yuki simultaneously exclaimed.
"What? How would you explain her being outside then, when she is supposedly waiting in the car?"
"Edward?" Tamao firmly turned to his trusted assistant.
"My apologies Miss Kikuno, our efforts were not enough to keep her inside the car." Edward bowed deeply.
"No Edward. You need not apologize, it was my fault." Sunako chimed in, unexpectedly.
"So you don't deny it?" Kyohei inquired further.
"I'd rather die than have people see me in this outrageous thing," gesturing towards the dress she was wearing.
"What's wrong with your dress Sunako-chan? It looks perfect on you." Noi defended.
"I don't think so. That's impossible." She answered flatly.
By now, Sunako has taken off her coat and warming herself in front of the hearth. She wore a purple cocktail dress with e heart neck line that kind of emphasizes her breast in a conservative way, hugging her figure no one could have thought she had. She wore an oval dangling earring that matches the pendant of the choker clasping her neck.
"It doesn't look bad as you think," Kyohei said quietly, not intending for his friends to hear it, knowing they will make fun of him.
"Of course not, you look gorgeous Sunako-chan!" Yuki said definitely, lightly nudging the other blonde for not voicing it out correctly.
"You're beautiful Sunako-chan! You should know it to yourself by now." Ranmaru added.
Tamao chimed in as well, despite feeling a light tug in her heart when Ranmaru made the comment, "Sunako-chan, you look lovely. That's for sure, besides, can't you not do this for your Aunt? For us?" she said sweetly.
Sunako glanced at Tamao then lightly nodded. She stood up after feeling a little warmer and retrieved her coat from Noi then slowly walked to the main door, "shall we keep going then now?" asking the others.
They all smiled warmly and followed suit.
As the door opened, she braced herself again for the cold she must have suffered from a while ago. Then she felt a warm hand on her shoulders that didn't let go until they were inside the car. The rest of the gang appreciated Kyohei's attempt to keep her warm but they were all too shocked for the same reason. They looked at each other, quite wearily at first but were all smiles in the end. They must probably be thinking the same thing, "he still has a long way, but way to go, Kyohei!"
Before all the others make it to the Limousine, he stole glances of the transformed lady beside him. Well, It's not like he hasn't seen her made up before, there have been a few times, especially now that she doesn't resist the company of the bright creatures anymore nor does she hate being dressed up, but somehow, it will take a few more attempts for him not to find it foreign (in a good way).
Her eyes were fixated on her feet until they were inside the car so she didn't realize that he was looking at her when she turned to him. So their eyes met, Kyohei flinched and there was silence.
"Uhh," he tried turning away finding the right words to say, but before he could, she said, "I don't think I could do this afterall,"
"What?" he asked, somehow a little panicked, "No. no, no. You should definitely do this," he said.
"Why?" she asked back,
"Because it will be a waste if you don't," he answered immediately
"What do you mean?"
"I told you, it doesn't look bad"
"What?"
"It looks good on you," he almost murmured.
She tilted her head in confusion because she didn't hear him properly, "You look good, goddamn it! You're beautiful alright?! So don't let it go to waste." He practically shouted in frustration.
The timing was kind of teasing him, he figured, because all the others heard his semi-confession all right, and the worst is that they didn't say a thing about it, all the more for him to be embarrassed. They rode in silence but was somehow thankful for Kyohei's outburst that they didn't have to worry much about Sunako trying to run away of sorts.
Yuki decided to break the silence once and for all. He mustered the courage, "So Sunako-chan, why were you standing in the cold? Why didn't you ring the bell sooner? You could've died." He asked concerned.
She didn't answer so Kyohei did, "Let me guess. As soon as Edward left the car, you went out but there was no way out. So you opted to go back inside the car instead because just as you said, you'd rather die than let people see what you were wearing, but the car was locked from the inside. So you waited outside the door in hope you'll find another chance to escape… but didn't came. You rang the bell hopelessly." He explained plainly while his eyes watch the passing by of the other cars.
"Is that right Sunako-chan?" Takenaga asked gently to which she nodded lightly.
Their eyes shined with recognition, "He knows her all too well,"
When they arrived at the venue, some fancy hotel, they were dropped near the entrance in the parking space to avoid the cold. They were greeted by cameras already flashing the moment their car halted. More so, when the door opened. The crowd went wilder when they started scramming out of the car and on to the red carpet.
Yuki first. Takenaga taking Noi's hand. Ranmaru escorted Tamao. Then Kyohei, and then supposedly Sunako. He was willing to offer his hand to escort her but why isn't she coming out? He crouched down to check, "It's too bright. I-I can't do this," she said frightened.
He bent further so that he was squatting to the level of Sunako's eyes, and said seriously, "you can." Extending his arms, waiting for her to reach it.
Her fright melted from her face and she slowly accepted Kyohei's offered hand and went out.
By the time they were both completely out of the car, Kyohei's back against the crowd, still towering over Sunako, despite her three-inch wedge, the crowd of reporters has started squeezing in, occupying half the width of the path, all in care of having the photos of the last couple's faces.
They squeezed their way in, Sunako's head down to avoid the camera flashes everywhere. While they walk on the red carpet, which, for some reason seems so long, random questions and comments are thrown to the gang. Most of which are appreciations of their outfits and appearances, interest in their love life (upon seeing that three gentleman has a muse to escort), and their involvement with the company.
Finally the first five people reached the destination safely, the last couple lagging behind. There was a step-up a few steps to the entance that Sunako didn't notice despite her eyes on the ground. She lost her balance and was near to falling if Kyohei hasn't prevented it. His arms automatically reached for her waist and settled there even after she has regained her balance. For a moment, the breathtaking scene momentarily froze all the flashes and roars of the crowd, blinding them for a moment because of the certain glow the couple emits.
Kyohei sighed and looked at her straight in the eyes, "It's the shoes isn't it? Walk more carefully alright?" it was extraordinarily quiet when he voiced out his concern that the crowd roared "awwww," for the sweet gesture.
He was embarrassed and led them both to brisk walking to the entrance, the other members of the gang looking knowingly at him too. He rolled his eyes on them and bolted inside the venue, dragging Sunako along.