Expect the Unexpected

"Ah, it's a good thing we found this cave quickly. I don't think the storm would be stopping anytime soon." Haji attempted to lighten up the mood as he tended to the small fire that they had made using some firewood they found in the cave. Ever since they got there, Saya had not uttered a word; she simply sat down and leaned against the walls of the cave, hugging her knees quietly.

"Bah! I give up!" Haji muttered to himself in annoyance. Taking off his jacket, he took a seat beside Saya.

They kept on waiting and waiting for the storm to cease but their prayers had not been heard. He was about to fall asleep when he felt her head lean against his shoulder. "Haha, I knew you were secretly in love with me princess!" he laughed and lowered his head to look at her. But much to his surprise, it wasn't a sweet, lovey-dovey faced expression that Saya had. Instead, Saya was fast asleep and shivering. Placing his hand over her forehead, he found out that she has a fever. "Shoot! She's burning up! Argh! What should I do?"

Being a man of royal birth, Haji had never experienced doing things like taking care of sick people. There were always the royal house's nurses to do those things. Hmm… Whenever I was having a fever…I do remember them making me change my clothes whenever I got all sweaty…so, since Saya's all soaked from the rain and her fever, it'd probably be best for her to have a change of clothes, or at least get warmed up… Haji gulped hard. "H-her dr-dress?" Looking back at Saya who was still shaking from the cold air, he became red-faced at the mere thought of the situation he needs to be put into, but then if he doesn't do anything, Saya's condition might worsen.

"T-there's nothing wrong with what you're doing Haji. This is nothing perverted, you're just concerned about Saya's well being." He reassured himself as he shakily reached for the ribbons behind Saya's dress.

After about fifteen minutes or so of fumbling with the buttons, ribbons and frills, Haji was able to take the dress off Saya. "Women, I wonder how they manage to bear putting on and removing such hard to work on clothes!" he snorted out of curiosity as he hung Saya's clothing near the fire to dry it off. Now, what can I use to warm her up? I read somewhere that one's own body heat is effective…he turned his head to look at Saya who was now wearing only her undergarments. She'll probably kill me once she wakes up but there's no other way! He thought grimly as he unbuttoned his shirt and hung it next to Saya's dress.

Haji then sat down beside Saya and slowly lifted her off the ground and placed her on his lap. His arms encircling her small frame and pulling her as closely to share his as much of his body heat with her as possible. He could feel her skin burning against his but he didn't mind at all. The only thing on his mind right now was to do everything that he can to help Saya get better.

After a couple of hours, Saya's temperature had somehow returned back to normal and at the same time, the storm was finally over. Stirring from her sleep, Saya was absolutely embarrassed and shocked to find herself to be just in her undergarments while being locked within a sleeping and half-naked Haji's arms. Her attempts to free herself managed to wake Haji up. "How are you feeling Saya?" he asked.

"W-what have you done to me?" she stammered, face in a beet red color as she stood up and moved away from him. "I swear I'm going to have you imprisoned or better yet, executed for sexual assault and harassment!" she then started throwing every rock or pebble within her reach towards Haji.

"Wha-? H-hey, calm down, let me explain things!" Haji answered nervously as he tried to avoid whatever she threw at him. "Your dress was soaked from the rain so I took it off and hung it by the fire to dry. See? My coat and shirt are also hung next to it!" he pointed to the small pile of logs weakly burning and the make-shift clothesline there.

"I-if that's th-the case then why was I in your arms when I woke up?"

"You had a fever and you were shivering badly so I simply shared my body heat with you. Now, your dress is over there, you can go put it on."

"Okay, turn around and don't you dare peek at me while I change!"

"Heck, I've already seen you barely dressed!" he laughed.

"I SAID TURN AROUND AND DON'T PEEK!!!" a very angry Saya cracked her knuckles and sent Haji flying out of the cave with a single punch.


"Thank goodness you're both safe and sound." King Joel breathed a sigh of relief as Saya and Haji arrived in the castle. "I was worried that something bad might've happened to you two that are why you two haven't returned."

"I'm sorry for making you worry father, we got caught in the storm so Prince Haji and I temporarily took shelter in a cave we found near the lake." Saya replied.

"I see. Well, you must both be exhausted. I'll just have the maids bring you dinner to your rooms." King Joel told them.

"Thank you Father." Saya kissed her father on the cheek and simply frowned and stuck her tongue out at Haji before she hurriedly retreated to her bedroom.

"Prince Haji, my daughter's a bit cold, stubborn and rather bold with her words whenever she's talking to you or with you, but just give her some more times and I'm sure she'll gradually warm up to you." He said, turning to Haji. "And just between you and me, Saya loves pink roses and strawberries." He added with a wink

"Ah! Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you for the advice." With a bow, Haji then took his leave.


"Ooooh! He really gets on my nerves! He's annoying and rude and he always teases me like I'm some child!" Saya was furious as she walked back and forth her bed. What had happened the day before was still fresh and vivid in her mind. "If only cousin Ryouichi was here then I'm sure he can help me get rid of that stupid jerk of a prince!"

"Someone said my name?" replied a young man sitting casually by the open window. He had shiny, shoulder length sable hair pulled back into a ponytail with just a few loose strands sticking out in front. His eyes were like the ones Saya had, bright ruby-red, and his skin, a bit paler than hers.

"Cousin Ryouichi!" She cried out happily and flung her arms around him. "I'd say you've gotten much prettier since we've last met."

"Handsome dear Saya, I am handsome!" he corrected her sternly as he straightened out his coat and tie that got ruffled a bit. Ryouichi was older by Saya by roughly three months and they were like siblings in closeness both in their relationship and their appearances. One who has met them for the first time would have easily mistaken them to be twins especially when they were young.

"Whatever, at least I didn't call you by your other name." she said, flashing him a mischievous smile. "Anyway, how come you've climbed all your way up to the third floor? You could've used the front door for goodness sake!"

"Tch. If I did, my attendants would have grabbed me by the collar and force me to wear those kind of stuff that mother dear insisted me to wear before meeting you and Uncle Joel." he answered thickly before plopping himself onto the couch. "And earlier, I heard you rambling about some guy who's irritating you, care to name him?"

"Yes, the name of that dear man is Haji, Prince of Armador." Saya rolled her eyes as she sat next to Prince Ryouichi. "And guess what? Dear father and his best friend, King Louis, a.k.a. Haji's old man, had arranged for poor lil' me and that twit Haji to get married when I turn eighteen."

"Seriously?! That Prince Haji?!!!" Ryouichi began laughing aloud.

"This is no laughing matter Aiko! I'm serious! I'd rather die than marry that conceited, arrogant jerk!" Saya hit him with a harisen.

"Hmf, you didn't have to go that far as to call me by that cursed name! The Harisen was enough to have kept me quiet!" Ryouichi shot her a glare.

"So, will you help me out or not?"

"Sure, sure. We could either have him guillotined or skinned alive using one of my prized antique katanas, or beat him up with a nailed club, or we could kidnap him and throw him down the rapids of river Guildor…. Which method do you prefer? Or do you have better ideas?" he inquired, eyes twinkling mischievously at the thought of blood, gore and torture.

Again, Saya hit him with the harisen, but this time, twice as hard as her first hit. "You fool! That'd caused a war between Miriador and Armador and your country, Guildor, included! I want something that would be the cause of him not wanting to agree to the arranged marriage thing."

"So he wants to marry you?"

"Well we did agree to just pretend to agree then break things off halfway then lately he said he's starting to want to marry me but that's probably just him trying to piss me off."

"Probably…or maybe he has fallen for you." Ryouichi teased her, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.

"Oh, shut up will you? Or would you rather have me address you by that title?" Saya hissed.

"Please! I'll shut up! Really! And I'll do whatever you want so just please don't say that cursed word!" Ryouichi cried out.

"Very well, what are your ideas to help me break off the engagement?" Saya asked.

"Hmm.. Since my theory is that Prince Haji harbors some feelings of affection towards you, I deem that the best way for now is to show uncle and Prince Haji that you are interested in some other man of royal or noble birth."

"And where could I find someone like that? I mean, Prince Kai is my best friend and big brother figure. He's also engaged to Lady Mao von Schlitz, the daughter of the Count of Saxonburg state. Then there's another good friend of mine, Lord Karman, but then, he's also betrothed to Lady Irene of Francia. Dear Prince Moses is also a big no-no, we're first cousins twice removed at Father's side of the family. The son of the King of Astoria, Carl Beaumont, is beyond creepy and I've heard he's pretty sadistic and crazy too so he's waaay off the list."

"Eh? You've mentioned almost all of the names I was going to suggest!"

"Oops. Don't you know anyone who's handsome, sweet, gentlemanly and single, of course."

"In fact I do, dear Saya. My best mate from the Guildor academy, Solomon. Back in our school days, he was the most sought after bachelor. Known for being an exceptional swordsman and a gentleman who never seems to run out of sweet speeches and praises for the ladies, he's also the first in line heir to the throne of Heliodor."

"Hey, if he's of royal birth, and a prince at that, how come I don't know him?"

"During the fourteenth day of February and the eighth day of October, each and every year, someone sends you a large bouquet of red roses and a box of an elegant jewelry right?" Ryouichi asked her.

"Yes, though it's always simply signed 'Anonymous'" Saya replied looking rather confused by her cousin's questions.

"Oh god, I didn't know Solomon was that cheesy when it comes to love!" he laughed.

"Wait, Does he know about you-know-what?"

"Of course, we've been mates since elementary days. Took the daylights out of him when he first saw me revert, but then, he's also been able to use it several times against me. Like making me dress in drag and have me pretend to be his girlfriend or fiancée whenever he has some ball or party to attend to."

"That is not drag cousin dear, 'tis reality."

"Do you need my help or not?"

"Do you want me to reveal your secret or not?"

"Fine! I'll stop!" both of them, unexpectedly, said the exact same thing.

Stifling a giggle, Saya took her cousin's arm, "Come now Ryo, your servants and mine must be worried sick looking all over the castle grounds for their missing prince."

"hahaha, I guess you're right! And I can't wait to see Uncle Joel and your beloved fiancé."

"Ohh, he won't be my fiancé soon. I'm sure I'll be able to get rid of the whole engagement stuff before they even start planning my seventeenth birthday."

"Really? I'd like to see you try and triumph on this one because I think Uncle Joel is dead serious on having you marry Prince Haji."

"I've always gotten what I wanted and I still will this time." Saya answered him with a confident smile as they left the room.


Yuki's notes:

I've put much more time and care than I usually did with the first three chapters of 'engaged' because of the following reasons:

1.)The OC character, Prince Ryouichi, was someone that I had based from my best chap (also named Ryouichi) since sixth grade.

2.)I tried to imply a bit passionate citrus content but I'm not sure if it worked well. You tell me. haha.

3.)This is the chapter where I introduced/mentioned some of the characters in the future chapters, who will/might play an important role in the upcoming events.

I hope you guys loved this chapter as much as I did working on it. Hahaha. Reviews and PMs are my inspiration and creativity meter booster so just keep on sending 'em! XD

"ONLY PEOPLE WHO COME UP WITH THEIR OWN IDEAS AND STORIES DESERVE TO BE CALLED A WRITER. THOSE WHO STEAL IDEAS AND PLOTS FROM AUTHORS AND TRY TO PASS THEM OFF AS THEIR OWN ARE NOT WRITERS BUT THIEVES."