Hey guys! Did you miss me? Well, even if you did, you missed the story more. Yay, chapter number ten! I'm so happy; I just like this number, lol. Thx a lot for everyone who had reviewed my last chapter, I'm glad you guys are liking it. Maybe what Shun said was something you all wanted to read about. Anyways, here are the review replies.
Review replies:
Animerules96: Thx a lot for reviewing, glad you liked it. Sorry about the late update XD hope you'll enjoy this one.
Colorfullife1993: Thanks for reviewing and glad you liked it. Hope you enjoy this one.
xXPhantomGirlXx93: thx for reviewing and glad you liked the chapter.
Lol: thx for reviewing and glad you liked the chapter =] ya he likes her. Hope you enjoy this one.
Alicefrombakugan: thx for reviewing. Well, the proposing seems too soon, because he actually had no time to decide, he had to do it before the party. He's remarrying for his kids so everything he does is for them. Ya, the story focus more on family ties, not love. I tried to put as much moments as I can for them in the past three chapters for I knew the proposing will feel like it is too soon. But, it is a part of the plot (I guess) I'm glad you liked those parts too; they were my favorite as well. I'm glad you found Nicole original, her background will be put in chapter 11. The Marucho part, everyone told me the same thing about it, sometimes boys' games get out of hand. Don't worry, you hurt no feelings. To be honest, I thought it was rushed too ;) the past chapter was for Shun's feelings and here it'll be Alice's, hope you like it.
Akiko Suzuki: thx for reviewing. That part was scary, wasn't it? Thank god Marucho is still okay. Thx again and hope you'll enjoy this one. This chapter is dedicated to you because you are the reason I wrote this chapter^^
Katzike123: thx a lot for reviewing and all, glad you liked it. You have to wait and see how Nicole will react. Hope you like the chapter and thx for your support.
Dan and Runo 4 Eva: thx for reviewing and glad you liked the chap. Hope you like this one.
Fluffy cloud: glad you liked it, ya too many events. That's why the chaps are so long. Hope you enjoy this one.
Helios: ya that were mean weren't it, hehe. Thx for reviewing and glad you liked it.
AliceXShunMEGAFan17: here's the next chapter. Sorry for the wait, I wrote my other stories since I forgot about them for a while. When the story is done, you have the right to kill her as much as you want, but now, I need her. Thx for reviewing, hope you like this.
Sukikimura: thx a lot for reviewing, glad you liked it ^^ hope you enjoy this one.
Chibi Waru-Chan: thx a lot for reviewing, I'm so glad you liked it. Thx for what you said, hope you'll enjoy this one.
JazzGirl123: thx for reviewing, glad you liked it. You have the right to kill Nicole when the story ends, so don't worry. You have to read and see how will she reacts. Hope you'll like it ^^
11th Prince the Ripper: I'm sorry if it hurt your eyes. You are the only one who complained about it, I find the story easier to read this way and I'm not the only one doing it. I will jeep writing this way, I'm really sorry, but I got used to it. Thx a lot for reviewing and sorry again.
MarshmellowsSleeping: thx for reviewing, glad you enjoyed it =] read and find out what her answer will be. Hope you enjoy it.
Pokemonlover417: glad you liked the chapter, thx a lot for reviewing. I love the couple AceXMira too, so I added the scene for their lovers, glad you liked it. Hope you like this one.
Shadowjinx: All the final chapters will be long, because they have lots of events in them. I know I was surprised and happy about the number of reviews, thx a lot for your support. Glad you liked the chapter and thx a lot for reviewing. Hope you like this one.
Flippy17: ya, I like writing epic long chapters that have many events in them and gives my reader a headache, hope that didn't happen to you, lol. I was surprised too when I got his name, but it's nice. Nicole seems to get on everybody's nerves. You have to read the story and see, hope you like this chappie.
So…On with the story, now =)
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
This chapter is dedicated to Akiko Suzuki, I was planning to post the chapter next week, but when I read Akiko's pm, I wrote it today. You should thank her, lol.
Chapter ten:
Unexpected Proposal
It was the night of the ball and the house was in complete chaos. Everyone was running in the whole place, getting ready to serve the guests of the party. The chandeliers' candles were lightened up, giving the maids the chance to look at the dining room. Their faces looked amazed at the fine job done.
The seven were in their rooms, each trying to look his best for the party. The boys didn't care much about their appearance, but the girls sure did with Runo's boyfriend, Dan, coming to the party.
Runo didn't want to, but she let Julie prepare her for the night. The said girl squealed with joy and started working her 'magic' as she puts it. Mira was getting herself ready, too. She didn't do much to her face, but she changed her hair style. Instead of the spikes her hair would be put in, she curled it. The wavy strands of her hair went perfectly with its length and the shape of her face.
Chan was busy with the appetizers, putting them on silver trays and in a special pattern to be beautifully served away to the guests. Her eyes looked sleepy and tired for she couldn't even sleep thinking about how the whole party will be like. More importantly, how Nicole's face will look like when Shun proposes to Alice instead of her.
She let a yawn escape her mouth, a tear or two appeared in her eyes, but she continued to work. Mylene looked at herself in the mirror and fixed her make-up. She decided to go for a change and wear a dress. It was light blue with white hearts on it and it went down and stopped just above her knees.
The red-headed nanny entered the kitchen to drink a glass of water. She was wearing a white strapless dress; she wore a mint green jacket over it. The jacket was short and it only went down quarter of her back. A couple of high heels surrounded her feet and gave her few inches of height. Chan looked at her and went closer to Alice as she poured the pure water in the glass.
"Hey, Alice. You look really nice," Chan said. Alice looked at the girl and smiled.
"Thank you," she said. Chan looked at her, her face said she wanted to ask or say something she wasn't sure about. "What is it, Chan?" Alice asked with concern.
"I want to ask you something. What…umm…do you think of Mr. Kazami?" Chan asked. Alice blinked in confusion; she didn't know what brought that question up.
"Why do you want to know?" Alice asked.
"Just tell me!" Chan urged.
"Well, he is a very good man. He was mysterious at first, a puzzle waiting to be solved, after that happened; I found a side of care and softness I never thought I'll find when I first met him," she paused for a second. A light blush appeared on her face. Chan grinned.
"He is a lovely father, even though he had lost his way, he came back and I think the upcoming days will be more beautiful with his new…wife," she said the last word with a sigh.
She felt this strange feeling build up in her heart. She put a hand on her chest, right where her heart was. It was hurting and she could feel flames in it, from…jealousy. That was the definition of the feeling. She mentally shook her head; it wasn't possible for her to feel jealous, even if it was little. She was not involved in any kind of relationship with Shun, but him being her 'boss'. After a while of thinking, she decided to let it go.
"Chan, I-I have to go. Forget about it," she said and left the kitchen. Chan stared at her, with the same grin on her face, and continued to work.
"What was that all about?" Mylene asked, suspiciously.
"Mr. Kazami is planning to propose to Alice instead, TONIGHT!" Chan answered excitedly. Mylene frowned and left the kitchen. Chan shrugged her shoulders and got back to working.
"WHAT! Are you sure?" a shaking Nicole asked. Mylene nodded. After hearing from Chan, Mylene went straight to Nicole's room to tell her. After all, their plan will be ruined.
Nicole sat down, with a thud, on the bed. Her eyes showing surprise and fear; fear of loosing her chance with Shun. She shot up, abruptly, and glared at Mylene.
"It's your fault! You were supposed to make him fall for me!" she shouted. Mylene glared at her.
"I am the one who introduced you to each other! Maybe he would have loved you more, if you had been good to his children!" she yelled back.
"Don't turn this on me, I was never good with children," Nicole said and covered her face with a pillow. Mylene sighed, calming herself down.
"We have to think now. What are you planning to do about it?" Mylene asked.
"I don't know," Nicole said, her voice wasn't completely heard, for she still had the pillow on her face.
"Are you planning to give up, then? Aren't you going to fight?" Mylene asked angrily. The brown-haired lady nodded.
"We have done so many to get here, I don't believe it! Fine, let the sweet, weak, caring woman beat you," she pouted. Nicole stood straight and threw the pillow on the floor. She had an evil smile on her face.
"Mylene, you are a genius," she stated. Mylene looked at her, confused.
Alice knocked on the door of the office. Shun said she could come in, so she opened the door.
The said man was struggling with his bow tie; he was pulling the fabric hard and he was so near to shock himself. Alice couldn't help, but giggle at the sight as she came up to him and started helping him with his tie.
"One thinks after all this time, I would be able to do my tie correctly," he said, smiling ironically to himself. Alice giggled and continued to untangle the soft fabric. Shun only gazed at her as she did the tie and knotted it perfectly. She was unaware of his gaze, but it was still there. In this time of his life, she looked like an angel to him.
"Done," she stated. Shun shifted his gaze to something else.
"Thanks," he muttered. He fixed his shirt and took a look at himself in the mirror. Alice sat down on one of the chairs and poured some tea in the two cups. The vapor started coming out from the cup as the hot red liquid was poured in it. Shun sniffed in the smell of the tea and sat down on the other chair and took hold of the cup before him. They started drinking in silence.
"Are you engaged, Alice?" Shun asked, breaking the silence. He asked the question for it would be embarrassing if he asked her to marry him and she was engaged to someone else. He didn't mean for the question to come out like this.
Alice nearly chocked when she heard what he had asked. She put her tea cup down and looked at him; she didn't know what was meant from that question, but she decided to answer it anyway.
"Well, no, I am not," she said. Shun smiled, mentally.
"I said no to the last person who proposed to me," she added after awhile. She was looking down.
"Why?" he asked, he felt it was something he should know about.
"Because…I felt nothing towards him at that moment, though he was my boyfriend for some time. It's just…you are supposed to feel this happiness rush through your body, and other emotions should mix themselves in your heart. Your eyes would water and you feel that this is the person you should spend your live with, but that didn't happen" she said. She really didn't know why she was saying that to Shun, but maybe it was because she felt well talking to him.
"I hope that won't happen again," he said with a soft voice. Alice looked at him and smiled.
"I hope so," she said, hopefully.
They finished their tea and went to the ball room for the party was about to start. Once the door was closed, they heard a sound of footsteps coming down the stairs. They turned around to find out it was Nicole and Mylene. The duo smiled at the two ladies, they smiled back and the four of them went to the ball room.
Before they reach it; Nicole pulled Alice aside and dragged her to the living room. She let go of her and looked at the confused young woman with sad eyes.
"I wanted to talk to you," Nicole started with a shaky voice that got Alice worried a bit.
"Sure, what do you want to talk about?" the red head asked.
"I am afraid my journey with this family had come to an end. This shall be the last night I would spend here," she said, a few tears in her eyes.
"Why? You and Shun are going to announce your engagement tonight, wh-" Alice was cut off by Nicole.
"No, you and Shun are going to announce your engagement," Nicole corrected. Alice was dumfounded.
"What are you talking about? Shun and I! We are not together," Alice said, doubtfully.
"Not yet, but he's planning to propose to you now. He wants you Alice, not me. He loves you, not me," Nicole said, a tear sliding down her cheek. Alice used the sofa's arm for support, but her legs gave away and she fell on the sofa with a shocked expression written all over her face.
"I don't know who had told you, but he's wrong. He doesn't like me and even if he did, I don't like him," Alice said after recovering.
"Don't lie to yourself, who wouldn't like him? He's so perfect and amazing and I know you believe so. Besides, didn't you see yourself blushing when he's around? You do like him," Nicole said and put her head down.
Alice was hit by the realization of her feelings. Maybe, Nicole was right, after all, she did feel her cheeks warm up whenever she was around him. Her heart would beat rapidly as well and maybe it was why she was feeling this slight tense of jealousy inside her. But, was he really planning to propose to her? It would explain why he asked her if she was engaged, it made sense.
But even after all this; she still refused to believe that it was real. She tried to talk Nicole out of believing so, but failed.
"It doesn't matter now. Shun is a great man and his children are adorable, they deserve the best and if it was you, then I won't complain. Please be a good mother to them and a good wife to Shun," With that, Nicole left the room with a smile on her face. Alice sat with herself inside the room, thinking about it all.
"Are you sure it's gonna work?" Mylene, who was waiting outside the room, asked.
"Yes, you said it yourself. She is so sweet and caring, she will not allow my heart to get broken, just wait and see," Nicole said, Mylene smiled evilly admiring their evil plan being put into action.
Music filled the air of the mansion as the party started. The main room and the ball room were full of people with smiles on their faces. The waiters were moving gracefully between the guests, serving the drinks and appetizers. The party was just beginning and everyone was having a good time.
The seven stood next to their father with bored look on their faces. They were only standing there, smiling at the guests as they came to talk to their father.
One by one, they started slipping away from their father's attention. Ace and Mira started dancing together, Baron dragged both Marucho and Joe to the food table, and Julie spotted a 'hot' guy and went to ask him to dance with her. Runo stood beside her father as he was holding her hand and introducing her to one of his friends so she wasn't able to escape. She looked around the place trying to find Dan; she was starting to wonder if the brunette had come to the party.
She finally spotted him near one of the food tables. She turned to look at her hand which was put in her father's. If he wasn't her dad, she might have just pulled her hand free, but she wasn't able to do that. She sighed in defeat.
"Do you want to go and talk to Dan?" Shun asked her. She looked up at him and smiled. He let go of her hand and motioned her to go, she gave him a quick hug and moved towards Dan.
"Hey Dan," she said, happily. He turned to look at her and his jaw nearly fell to the ground for his girlfriend looked beautiful. She was wearing a light yellow dress that reached half of her thigh. The neckline was quite low as a white jewel rested in between her collar bones. Her hair was put up in a high ponytail, it was a style he never saw Runo does before. All in all, she looked beautiful.
"You l-look amazing," he said stuttering a bit. She blushed a light pink.
"Thank you," she said and stood next to him. Dan was searching among the food to find the most cloth-staining one; he found a cupcake with jam on top of it. He smiled and held it close to his white shirt.
"What are you doing?" Runo asked, giggling a little.
"Trying to get a stain on this thing so my mom would let me take it off," he answered like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Runo giggled more for she remembered he didn't like tuxes.
"Why? It looks good on you," she commented.
"Really? Ok, then," he said and put the cupcake back on the table. "Do you wanna dance?" he asked. Runo nodded and the two made their way to the dance floor.
Alice was walking in the room, with a glass of water in her hand. She smiled sweetly at the guests as she passed them. She didn't know why, but each time she looked at Nicole, she felt strange and slightly hurt for her. She looked at the people and how they were enjoying their time, she wished she could feel like them, but she had too much in her head that it started aching.
She walked through the crowd, trying to find the host of the party. She found him standing with a couple of people, chatting with them, a smile printed on his face. She sighed and walked closer to the trio.
"Excuse me for interrupting, but can I go up to my room to take a rest? I have a headache," she asked Shun.
"No!" he said quickly. Alice looked at him, confused. "I mean, you must stay, you will miss the party," he added.
"Yes, but…" she said.
"No buts. You are the guest of honor, you must stay," Shun said with a smile. Alice's heart started beating faster; what was meant by that? She quickly composed herself and nodded. She then went to the balcony to get some fresh air. The people Shun was talking to; thanked him and left to get a refill.
"When are you going to ask her?" Chan's voice spoke from behind Shun.
"When the time is right," Shun said, simply.
"And when will that be, next year?" she said. Shun looked at her.
"You are right, I should do it now and get it done with," he said, trying to summon every bit of confidence and courage. Chan smiled at him.
"Why are you still wearing your apron? It's a party Chan, go and dance with Joe while I go to see Alice," he said. Chan looked at herself and sighed, she had forgotten all about it. She gave Shun a thumps up and went upstairs to change.
"It's a beautiful night," Shun stated as he walked in the balcony. Alice looked at him and nodded, she felt a little uneasy.
"I…I wanted to talk to you, about tonight," he started.
"O-of course, I am all ears," she said.
"You know that tonight I am supposed to announce my engagement to the woman who will become my wife," he said, Alice nodded. "You know, sometimes one thinks he was doing something right, like he chose the right person, but it all turns out to be wrong," he added. Alice nodded once more, gulping every now and then.
"I didn't have much time to choose a second wife. The challenge wasn't only finding one I'll get along with, but the kids as well. So, Alice…" he looked at her straight in the eye, she tried to avoid his gaze, but it was hard.
"Nicole is a good woman, but…she doesn't have a way with kids, I don't think the seven liked her and for sure…she wasn't the one who entered m-my heart. Alice, that person was you," Shun said. Alice gasped.
"I-I…I really," she didn't know what to say, she was at the loss of words.
"You, and in this month you spent with us, managed to change everything. The seven loved you and you reconnected us and reminded me that I should be there for my children. We were blessed by having you in our household," Shun said and got the navy box out of his pocket. He knelt to the ground and opened the box, revealing the diamond ring in it. Alice's eyes grew wide, Nicole was right.
"I know it wasn't a long time we spent with one another and I know I would be asking you to leave all your past life and stay with us, but: Alice, will you marry me?" He said and the place grew silent for a while, afar from all the music playing inside the house.
Different emotions swirled and danced in her heart, her facial expressions showed this. That surge of happiness rushed through her body and her eyes were holding tears in them, just the way she should feel, and it felt so right. But, even though, she couldn't erase Nicole from her memory.
Her emotions settled on one and her heart stopped beating wildly. She looked down at Shun, who was still waiting for her answer.
"Shun, this time I spent here was probably the best in my life. I felt like I belonged here, but I do have a life back at my school with my students. I am sorry, but no matter how much I want to stay here, I must say no. Nicole is a wonderful lady and she will help, I'm sure she'll be great. I am really sorry, but I can't give away my life like that," she said, lying at some parts. Shun looked at her with hurt in his eyes.
"I should leave, I think I overstayed," Alice said and ran inside the mansion and up to her room, tears falling from her eyes, leaving Shun alone in the balcony. She quickly got her suitcase, opened it and started stuffing her clothes in it, still crying. She wiped her tears away and went down stairs to leave from the back door.
…
Nicole walked in the balcony and looked at Shun, who was standing up looking at the sky, with the box in his hand. She smiled to herself and came up to him. She looked at his face; he was sad and surprised at the same time.
"Is that our engagement ring?" she squealed happily and took the ring and placed it on her finger while Shun kept silent. "Shun, I love it. Now, come on, the diner is about to start," she said and dragged her 'fiancé' to the dinning room.
Everyone was in the huge dinning room, another two tables were put there so all the guests could sit down. Shun and Nicole sat in their places. Shun couldn't help but gaze at the empty chair next to him.
"So Shun, what is the big surprise you wanted to tell us about?" one of the guests spoke. The others agreed and nodded, wanting to know too. Shun said nothing, so Nicole stood up and decided to say it herself.
"We just wanted you to join us in our celebration, for Shun and I are engaged now. Also, you are all invited to our wedding next weekend," she said, cheerfully. The crowd started congratulating the couple for the happy news.
Alice was walking towards the main gates when she heard the cheers. She felt sad she wasn't going to see them again, but she knew it was for the best. She got her cell phone out and dialed a number.
"Ms. Doglass, I am coming back," she said with a shaky voice.
I guess you all wanna kill me now, right? Sorry about that, but I had to put one final twist in the story. R&R and tell me what you think of this chapter and what you think will happen next.
Bye for now =]