Chapter 12:

As promised, Ranmaru went to get a replacement key two days later. He had had the key with him all along, but he didn't tell Sunako, of course, in fear of getting his face smashed in.

But during the one day in between when they were chained together, Sunako had gotten used to a constant brightness behind her, and her nosebleeds almost completely stopped. She was glad about it, because it meant she could be around Kyohei without fainting, or losing massive amounts of blood. Now that she had admitted her feelings to herself, and to him, she felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders. But some of it was still left. She'd have to figure out a way to let down Ranmaru, and she had to prepare for a little dinner date with Kyohei. For the first time in her life, she picked up the telephone and called a friend, to ask for advice.

"Noi, I need help" she said into the phone.

"I'll help you. But with what?"

"You promise you won't tell anyone, not even Takenaga?" she asked nervously.

"I promise. Now tell me!" Noi was the kind of person who had to know all the rumors at school.

"Don't laugh, okay?"

"Get on with it."

"Um…Kyohei and I are kind of dating."

"WHAT??? REALLY? WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN? TELL ME EVERYTHING!" shouted Noi, forcing Sunako to hold the phone away from her ear.

So Sunako launched into a long description of Ranmaru's stupid trick, and how she had confessed, etc

"No. Way. This is so, so COOL!" squealed Noi. "We could go on double dates!"

"Err…no thanks, Noi. Anyway, what I need help with is, I don't know what to wear for this very 'elegant' dinner date he asked me to. I don't know what to buy. Could you come shopping with me?"

"Sunako, I've been dreaming of this day ever since we met" said Noi, sounding like she was floating a thousand miles away from reality.

"So, you'll come" Come at lunch. We could eat and then go. Okay?"

"Yeah! Always shop on a full stomach, I always say!" said Noi. Sunako was regretting ever asking for Noi's help.

Noi came promptly at lunch. Sunako had made fried shrimp (again) for Kyohei and the others ordered out, because they were so sick of having fried shrimp for every meal.

After lunch, Sunako and Noi headed for the door.

"Where are you two heading off to?" asked Kyohei.

"For a little…ladies' day out. Just a bit of shopping and some salon time" replied Noi.

"Lady?" asked all four boys. Their eyes were swimming with tears. Their mission had been accomplished. Sunako had finally changed into a lady.

"Don't be late!" Kyohei called after Sunako.

"Late for what, Kyohei?" asked Takenaga after the girls had left.

"Date."

"Finally. Took you long enough. So Oba-san was right. Love would change her. Thanks, Kyohei."

"You're to thank, actually, for setting all this up."

"You figured it out?" groaned Takenaga.

"Yeah, from the very beginning" lied Kyohei. He had not noticed anything strange until Sunako pointed it out.

"Ranmaru and I tried so hard to keep it secret!" said Takenaga "It's just that…Ranmaru got a bit sidetracked. Not very professional, eh, Ranmaru?"

Ranmaru smiled. He realized at that moment that it would be pointless to pursue a romantic relationship with Sunako. He held up his imaginary white flag.

"Yeah, it was" said Ranmaru. Luckily, he was not one to let a lost love keep him down for too long. He was already racking his brains for another lady friend to ask out for dinner.

"Kyohei, where are you taking her?" asked Takenaga after Ranmaru had left the room.

"I'm taking her to a dinner-dance place. You know that new one that opened a week ago?"

"But that place is so expensive!"

"I know. I called Oba-san and told her that Sunako had finally turned into a lady, but I was having trouble getting a grand place to take her out. 'Grand' being the key word, of course. She sent over, like, 500,000 Yen almost immediately.

"Looks like she wanted Sunako to be a lady really badly."

"Yeah…Hey, you think Ranmaru's really hurt by all this? I know he liked Sunako too."

"I think he's already over it. He's probably in the living room now, asking some other girl out for dinner."

Indeed he was.

Meanwhile, Sunako was having trouble with makeup. She had no idea that putting on makeup took so much effort.

"Noi, which color do I choose?" holding up two different shades of blushes.

"I would go with that one" said Noi, pointing to the one in Sunako's right hand.

Later, at the dress selection, Noi decided that Sunako would look absolutely stunning in black. She scavenged around the store for a full half an hour before she found the perfect dress for Sunako.

It was actually more of a gown. It was tight fitting till the waist, and from there it flowed endlessly. She pushed Sunako into the changing rooms, and she rushed off to the hair sections to find some curling irons for Sunako.

When Noi returned, Sunako was waiting outside the changing room. She looked absolutely gorgeous. Noi felt very proud of herself. She had captured the right look for Sunako. In this dress, Noi was sure Kyohei wouldn't be able to take her eyes off Sunako all night.

"Oh. My. God! You look awesome! You totally have to buy it! AND it's on 50% discount!!! Oh yeah, and I thought of the perfect hairstyle for you, and I bought some curling irons. Okay?"

"Sure. Can we go home now?"

"Yeah, we're about done."

Half an hour later, Noi and Sunako went to Sunako's room to get her dressed. Noi took almost forty-five minutes to curl Sunako's hair completely. Then, she twisted it into a bun at the back of her head, and let some strands hang loose.

Noi stood back to appreciate her work.

Outside the room, they had a bit of a surprise waiting for them Oba-san was waiting for them. When she saw Sunako in her new clothes, hairstyle and makeup, she jumped up and down several times.

"Sunako-chan! Oh my god, you look amazing! So Kyohei wasn't lying. You really have changed!" she said tearfully." They don't have to pay rent any more, I guess."

Hearing these words, Takenaga, Yuki and Ranmaru rushed into the room.

"AAAAH! NOI, YOU'RE BRILLIANT! YOU'VE DONE IT!" they shouted.

"Well, I've got a helicopter to catch in about five minutes, so buh-bye, you guys!" said Oba-chan,

Later, Kyohei came into the room, wearing a black suit, to see Sunako sitting on a chair, looking like so incredibly amazing, that it wasn't Sunako who had a nosebleed attack this time.

Epilogue

Three years later: Sunako and Kyohei were still going strong, and they were twenty years old now. Sunako was still a horror-loving creepy person, but she could also be a lady if she wanted to.

Sunako, Kyohei, Noi, Takenaga, Yuki, Ranmaru and a couple of other people were sitting at a table.

"Guys, we're playing truth or dare, okay?" asked Takenaga.

Everyone agreed, so they started. After a while, it was Sunako's turn.

"Truth or dare, Sunako?" asked Yuki.

"Hm…Truth" said Sunako.

"Out of all these people at the table, who would you pick to marry?" asked Yuki.

"Yuki, she's obviously going to say Kyohei!!" said everyone, a bit annoyed by Yuki.

"Too late. I pick Kyohei" said Sunako, laughing.

"Then why don't you?" asked Kyohei.

"What?" asked Sunako, a little alarmed by now.

"Sunako, will you marry me?" said Kyohei, pulling a little box out his pocket.

"I thought you'd never ask!" said Sunako, jumping on Kyohei.

The others cheered.

Later that day, Sunako found Ranmaru in a room, all by himself.

"Hey. What's up, Ranmaru?"

"Nothing."

"Well, I just wanted to thank you."

"For what?"

"For helping us get together. I'm sorry if your feelings got hurt in the process, but you changed me forever."

"No, I don't think I did."

"You did. That one day you handcuffed us together. Remember? That day was like a turning point for me. Thank you so much." Sunako bent down and kissed his cheek very quickly as a sign of gratitude. "I'll convince Kyohei to let you be best man"

As Sunako ran out of the room, Ranmaru realized something.

He was in love with Sunako all over again.

But that's a whole different story…

END! It's over!

Review, please!

I know it's a bit of a corny ending, but I like it.