Chapter Two, please enjoy. I'm not tellin' who'll end up with who either. Nya.


The kimono trailed behind her, a spill of black silk decorated with bamboo and red cranes held together by a gold and orange obi, it was a beautiful outfit. Her hair, normally in pigtails or a high ponytail, was down and brushed to a shine, only a flower, a tiger lily, was nestled behind her ear. Light make up enhanced her already pretty features, making her stunning. All in all, the overall effect was beautiful and flawless.

And it annoyed the hell out of her; the only thing that stopped her from changing was the years of training she went through for this moment. That and the guys were all teary eyed as she modeled her new look. She huffed but smiled for them. She liked wearing kimono, they made her feel beautiful and confident; it was just that it was difficult to move in. She was going to take a leaf out of her grandfathers book soon and just start dressing in casual yukata for everything. She was going to be the Kumichou, she could do it too!

"Wonderful Kumiko-chan," She looked up from the mirror in front of her to see her grandfather entering the room; he was smiling at her and chuckling. "You look wonderful. Today, you're going to greet the clan as the official heiress. All of the allied families will be here too, including a few of their own heirs. You'll need to make a speech and talk to them one on one. You don't necessarily need to meet all of them but try to greet most of them. Can you handle it?"

She nodded. The meeting would be in an hour and the families were slowly arriving. The road outside was clogging up with black cars and limos; the neighbors who had heard the news were stopping by too to offer their congratulations and encouragement. Everyone was so pleased by her decision that the meeting was shaping up to be more of a party than an announcement ceremony.

"Ojou," Tetsu, who had disappeared for a moment, appeared again around a wall, a wary look about him. "you have visitors."

"Eh?" She went to the door, moving slow and gracefully, because moving awkward was just too embarrassing in what was supposed to be a formal occasion. She stepped out onto the landing and saw to her amazement, Odagiri Ryu, the ring leaders of Kurogin Gakuen and Sawada Shin, lined up and looking at each other, mostly Ryu and Shin looking at each other. She made a noise and they looked at her, really looked at her.

"Wow, Yankumi, you really clean up good!" the smallest of them, Taketa Keita, the boy with the silver hair pins always in his wild auburn hair said, "You look cute!"

"Thanks. So do you." The guys blinked at her flirt, not used to how she looked or how she was acting. "Wow, it's been a long time. It's so good to see you all again!"

Tsuchiya Hikaru, the boy who seemed to never be without a fan grinned at her.

"Same to you Ojou-sama." He said, fanning himself.

She laughed, stepping closer to all of them. She patted down the front of her kimono, before reaching up. Her hand hesitated and her smile became gentle and she wrapped her arms around him in an embrace. He looked down at her in surprise.

"Wow, if I'd known calling you Ojou would have gotten your attention before, I'd have done it when we were in school." He put an arm around her and she looked up at him. She grinned.

"Well back then I would have hit you if you so much as thought of it. It was a secret, remember?" She moved to the smaller man and put her arms around him. He grinned back at her, 'nya'-ed and hugged her too.

"Yankumi, what's with the get up? You got a wedding or something? Say, with me?" She gave him alight punch in the arm.

"What's wrong with dressing up every now and then?" She hugged Yabuki Hayato, who picked her up, making her squeak. He was a happier man, though he kept his smile down to a light smirk. "it's good to see you too Yabuki."

"Likewise Yankumi" He set her down and she adjusted the obi before looking at Hyuga Kosuke. He waved at her.

"Hey Yankumi. You look good. I can barely recognize you." She widened her eyes and feigned shock.

"Was I really that dowdy back then?" They all answered at once.

"Yes."

"Hmph; well it's still good to see you all. But I still haven't heard anything from the two leaders." Here, she looked at Shin and Ryu who were just staring at her in all her finery, neither could seem to speak until she directed her attention at them. She went over to Shin, whose gaze never wavered from her eyes. "Sawada, how have you been? How was Africa?"

"It was fine. I helped people build houses." Her eyes were soft as she took him in. She hugged him and drew away. The Kurogin guys watched them closely, unaware of how she knew this guy, he seemed only a little older than them. Ryu watched their interaction with hooded eyes.

"That's wonderful; when did you get back?"

"Last spring; I stayed a few more months to help with a school there." He gestured to her clothes. "So what's with this? You embracing your inheritance Kumichou?"

"Maybe;" she said coyly, moving away from him to Ryu. "I'll tell you after I've spoken with my other precious student."

"Hey Odagiri"

"Hey Yankumi" She touched the front of his jacket.

"It's Kumiko now; Ryu" His eyes widened as well as everyone else's, though Shin's narrowed a moment later. "You're a graduate. And I'm not a teacher anymore." A few strands of hair had settled in front of an eye.

Ryu reached up and pushed it behind her ear, a tiny smile on his face, and settled his hand on her shoulder.

"Kumiko-san"

She hugged him, and his arms settle around her.

"Just Kumiko" he chuckled and it was a man sound.

"Okay, Kumiko"

The guys watched the interplay in silent awe; who knew Ryu of all people could be this gentle with someone. And since when had the two embracing had such a close relationship?

"What about us Yankumi?" Keita whined to her, his face still incredibly cute even in his twenties. "Can't we call you Kumiko too?" he pouted at her and she laughed, Ryu and her letting go of one another.

"Of course you can if you like. All of you can." She lifted the front of her kimono a bit, stepping up to the next landing and gesturing with a hand said,

"Please come in"