DISCLAIMER: well Takumi is still mine; not the manga but that guy is mine!
PLZ ENJOY AND REVIEW
DEDICATION: I dedicate this chapter to Mr. old listener, cuz I know boy exactly how tedious it is for you to read each and every word I write here, but you still follow through each and every whim of mine; so you should know how much that means to me. Thank you! Now leave a good review – not those two worded ones! I am serious.
Chapter 7: Announcements; part 1
It was a bright sunny morning the next day, and Misaki was barely stirring up from her sleep when a booming voice echoed through her room,
"Wake up Misaki dear, we have a shopping expedition on our list today."
"What the, Sakura it's barely 7 in the morning, what are you doing here so early?"
"Ask what are we doing here?" Harumi added entering her room.
Misaki let out a huge puff of air, " What the heck are you BOTH doing here so early on a Thursday morning?"
"I already told you lovely; we are going on a shopping expedition for the party we have to attend tomorrow at the Walker Mansion, so we need an appropriate dress for the future Mrs. Usui or is it Mrs. Walker?"
Misaki groaned aloud at that, " Are you both insane? It's freaking seven in the morning and what shop will be open at this god forsaken hour of the day?"
"Who said that we have to start with shopping right away? We can get breakfast first." Sakura chimed.
"It's a weekday, if you have forgotten I have a university at which I teach and I just cannot take leave without any prior notice." Misaki tried getting back under covers.
"It's a national holiday today." Sakura replied yanking her covers back.
"Whatever for?"
"Because the elusive Mrs. Sakurai is out for shopping today!"
"Why is she calling herself elusive?" Misaki asked Harumi with a mock shocked face to which a simply shrug came as a reply.
Harumi laughed at that and Misaki scowled at her,
"But I cannot take a leave."
"You have to; we have to find you a perfect dress."
"You really think it will take me a whole day to find me a 'perfect dress'? Look I have atmost three to four lectures today and after that I am free, it's a pretty easy day for me so just give me until noon to join you on this shopping expedition."
"That is a pretty reasonable bargain I believe, is it not?" Harumi asked Sakura, who was looking as if she was having a hard time deciding what to do.
"Where is my voice of reason? Why isn't she with you?" Misaki asked Harumi in context of Shizuko.
"She was needed by her husband for some prior engagements, whose details we are completely clueless of."
"Oh…"
"Okay!" Sakura's voice interrupted their talk, "you have my permission to go to your college for half the day, until then we both will get dresses for ourselves, and this way we can focus more on you when you join us! It's a win-win."
Misaki sighed happily over the turn of events.
"But right now get your ass off the bed and treat us to some breakfast." She completed.
At almost half past noon Misaki reached the place they had decided on meeting which was a nice coffee shop near the shopping district. She entered the establishment and simultaneously spotted the three girls sitting at a far off corner. She reached them feigning enthusiasm over the prospect of shopping for dresses together.
"So you decided to join us Shizuko?" Misaki asked the new addition to their plans.
"As if I had a choice."
"Yeah I know exactly what you are saying."
"So…" Harumi interjected, "We both already got ourselves dresses, and Shizuko here says that she brought it yesterday with her husband- like the traitor she is; now the only dress that we need to find is yours' Misaki."
"Great!"
"Wanna see our dresses?" Sakura was always proud on her shopping skills.
"Not now, atleast let us get out of this coffee shop." Shizuko said; the voice of reason.
"Yeah, but before we go, we found something Misaki – look." She produced a few magazines from her huge handbag and kept them in front of Misaki.
"The infamous Mr. Usui Takumi, the voted no. 1 bachelor of Japan, voted by critics and public, likewise. And this is the section of top 100 wanted men – worldwide edition; " she pointed another magazine
"Where your husband – to – be is rated no. 5!" Harumi completed Sakura's sentence.
Misaki looked at all the issues and stared them wide eyed," why is he so famous – and wanted?"
"Jealous much?" Sakura snickered.
"You caught quiet the hottie – hon." Harumi said.
"Because my dear Misa, he is the no. 1 businessman in Japan, and owner of an overly powerful company and the bonus of good looks and smart physique makes him the dream of every teenager and young naïve women." Shizuko explained.
"And poor girls still don't know he is already taken." Sakura feigned pity.
"I see. But they will know soon, it will be announced at the party today."
"It will?" everyone asked at once.
"Yes, our engagement will be announced with the announcement of him taking over the complete business."
"Your engagement? Isn't this an arranged marriage? Is it still called an engagement?" Sakura was a bit confused.
"Well he did propose me." With that statement she got up, grabbing her purse made a bee line to the exit door. While others still seated - stared at each other.
When they registered she has already left the place, they all grabbed their shopping bags and handbags, and dashed towards the exit.
"He proposed?" Sakura yelled when they caught up with Misaki and everyone on the street looked at them.
"Stop yelling – people are staring. And yes he did propose, when we went for that drive."
" Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god! Why didn't you tell me – us?"
She looked away sheepishly, " Well I didn't get the time!"
Suddenly Sakura yanked her left hand and eyed the ring, "Is this the ring? How did I not notice? Oh my, this is sooooo pretttyyyyyy!" she yelled again.
Misaki yanked her hand back and entered a showroom and started looking at the dresses section.
"So how was it?" Harumi was excited; her voice dripping with excitement.
"How was what?"
"Don't act innocent with us. The proposal; how was it?" Sakura was jumping up and down like a kid.
"It was…. It was sweet. He included a lot of cute things. How is this dress? Does it suit my complexion?" she tried changing the topic.
"No not that shade, try the blue one," Harumi handed her the pointed dress and continued, " What cute things did he include? Was he overly romantic? Did he kiss you? Was it under the moonlight?"
"Did he bend down on one knee?"
"How was it? Tell us."
"I am not telling you anything, it was my proposal and you get to know nothing, its personal."
She stormed towards the changing rooms and the girls followed.
"She is right. We really can't force her to tell the private details of her proposal." Shizuko said
"True. But something at least! The most insignificant, please Misa. Please. Please. Please." Sakura was calling from the other side of the curtains in the changing room.
She came out wearing that blue dress, and everyone shook their heads in unison indicating that the dress would not do.
"He did mention something about me knowing him the best." She turned back to try other dress.
"Huh! We already know that, details. We need details, Misaki!"
"No you are not getting any details, I told you its kinda personal." She said from the other end of the closed curtains.
All three let out a frustrated sigh, "Okay!"
Then she stepped out in a dress that the girls all initially said won't look good on her, but one look and the three whistled.
The party had barely begun when; Takumi and his grandfather were entertaining men near the bar. Even the rich couldn't resist open bars.
Takumi was again and again looking towards the entrance; awaiting the arrival of Misaki. He had a glass of champagne in his hand and looking towards the door when a shoulder tap made him look the other way around.
He saw his three crisp looking friends, Tora, kugga, Kanou.
"Oh good, you three are here, looks like it's just Misaki remaining. Where are your ladies, lovers?"
"Our ladies are around here somewhere, but what about you, how are you buddy?" Tora asked a little awkwardly.
Takumi handed them all three a glass of champagne each and then looked Tora in the eye giving him 'seriously?' look.
"What?" Tora questioned him on his look.
"Did you just 'Buddy' me? What is it, what are you here to talk to me about or should I say what your ladies have set you up to talk to me about?"
"No the ladies have no hand in this. It's our idea." Kugga cleared the names of their wives.
"Okay, shoot."
"So the ladies told us about your proposal."Kanou initiated.
"So it does have the ladies written all over." He interrupted.
"No, they just told us about your proposal – undetailed, mind that." Kugga said.
"And we thought that its about time we voice our opinion over this marriage." Tora said.
Suddenly Takumi straightened up, " Are you not happy about this marriage?"
"No. No. it is perfect looking at your history together." Kanou cleared and continued, "But if this is a sort of contract arranged marriage then we fear how this might affect us all in future, provided you decide to call it quits."
"You know, it might get awkward if it doesn't work out; and this can affect us all in many ways. And do wish you don't only see this as an arranged marriage Takumi, because that woman you are marring is important to us all. And we all including you wouldn't wanna see her hurt." Tora said.
"What we are trying to say is, if you are seeing this marriage as your average idea of wedding than we must tell you that that is not the case and Misaki is family, Takumi, and a bad relation can destroy both your happiness and futures." Kugga completed.
Takumi had a soft smile all through this ambush and his head was turned towards the entrance all the while, and as if on cue on Kugga's last words Misaki made her entrance.
She looked around spotting the girls at the opposite corner and waved at them, and Takumi had his eyes widened on her sight, she was wearing a light mint and white dress that might look extremely ordinary on a hanger but she looked breath taking in it. When she turned towards the girls; her exposed back literally took his breath and he stopped his glass mid air, keeping it from reaching its destination to his lips. He was feeling hot all of a sudden as heat rose from his neck to the tip of his ears.
The boys followed his gaze and cleared their throats, to which Takumi smirked, turned to face them and said,
"I understand your concern and even appreciate it to a level; but I proposed that girl so you might at least give me some credit, its Misaki guys, she means a lot to me, more than what you can understand and trust me, when it's her; I don't take chances; especially not with her future and happiness. I am willing to make it work and worth it. Understand?"
"Completely." They all said in unison.
"Good," he gulped the remaining contents in one swig and slammed the glass down on the counter, "Now excuse me, I have a lady to woo."
He nodded and started to make a bee line towards his lady, when he suddenly stopped turned around to look at the guys again and said, "I really like her. Really." And he continued on his former path.
"He is W-H-I-P-P-E-D. Smitten. Fallen head over heels. What other analogy is there?" Kanou asked.
Tora smiled softly and said, " In Love. He is in love." He shakes his head and grabs another glass of champagne and pats on Kugga's back and says.
"Come lets dissuade our ladies to stay with Misaki all the time so they two can have some alone time in this extra stuffed party."
Kugga and Kanou laugh and set out to bother their lady love.
This evening was bound to be entertaining.
TBC…
A/N: so I promise some extra cheesiness coming right up, I sort of promised it to Innerflame98. And I am always good on my promise. And I want to heartily thank every single reviewer. It literally makes my day to see your review.
Next chapter will be updated soon, as soon as I can type the remaining of my idea for this eventful party.
This chapter is a gift for our TAKUMI USUI! Happy Birthday Takumi. And I do think if he was real, he would be voted the best looking man on this planet!
Until next chapter people. Cyber XOXO.
