Chapter 13: Ranmaru's Story

Author's Note: This happened before Chapter 12!

In the darkness of Tokyo, Ranmaru ran like the wind, dodging each person getting in his way. His one destination: Tamao's House. After half a day of travelling, Ranmaru finally reached the Kikunoi residence. The house was breathtaking. From the modern-day living of Tokyo, this old-fashioned, humongous Victorian-style house sprouted from the metal and concrete. Ranmaru shook his head, saying, "I knew it. Just like a Kikunoi."
Ranmaru held his breath and rang the doorbell. "Who is it?" asked an old, husky voice.

"Ranmaru Mori," said Ranmaru politely. Suddenly, the big gates guarding the palace opened up. Ranamaru walked in with his heart pounding a mile a minute.

"Am I crazy? I have a thousand other women waiting for me, why her?" he asked himself as he approached the front entrance.

The big doors opened and it revealed an old lady. "Grandma, is Tamao-sama here?" he asked with a smile. Then, the old lady gave him a whack on the head and Ranmaru looked at her.

"Don't you call me Grandma. I'm the official keeper of Miss Tamao. You, son, can call me Kaito," said Kaito the Keeper.

"Okay, Kaito-san, where is Tamao?" asked Ranmaru as he walked to the living room.

"Miss Tamao will be with you shortly. Right now, she's in her father's study," said Kaito and she left Ranmaru alone in the huge living room.

Ranmaru looked at all the portraits of the Kikunoi family. All of them seemed so royal, so far beyond Ranmaru. However, Tamao looked different from the rest. Her soft eyes differ from the proud, fierce eyes of the Kikunoi family. Her cheeks seemed sullen and her face pale. She looks like a princess that never came out, never seemed to enjoy anything, yet her only joy, it seems, was being near Ranmaru. Ranmaru went near a mantelpiece and looked over all the photos of Tamao. The recent photo surprised Ranmaru. It was Tamao smiling widely with a man beside her.

"If you're wondering who that is, it's my cousin from France," said a familiar, calm voice. Ranmaru turned around and saw Tamao leaning over the wall. He was stunned by how much she has changed. No longer does Tamao look like the damsel in distress.

Her long, straight hair was changed to a shoulder-length layer look. Her pale face has some color and her cheeks are fuller. She transformed into a modern-day princess! Even her style changed! Now, she wears more sophisticated clothes that are within her age. However, traces of her dolled-up princess days are still seen in her cute headband and tiny purse.

"Tamao-san, you look stunning," said Ranmaru after collecting his thoughts.

"Well, you don't look bad yourself," said Tamao with such attitude.

"Whoa, what happened to you, Tamao-san?" asked Ramaru. Then, the air began to shift and the atmosphere became tense. Tamao shut the big doors cutting of them from the rest of the world.

"Ranmaru-sama," said Tamao as she strode to Ranmaru. Ranmaru gulped and beads of sweat starting coming down from his forehead.

"Ranmaru-sama, I'll tell you what happened," said Tamao as she grabbed Ranmaru by his collar. She pulled him closer to her face and whispered, "Just stay put." Then, Tamao's guard burst from the door, grabbed Ranmaru, and tied him up to the closest chair. "Thank you, Mogami-kun."

"It's a pleasure, Kikunoi-sama," bowed the guard and left, shutting the door behind him.

"What's the meaning of this, Tamao-san!" yelled the angered Ranmaru.

"Shush, Ran-chan. You don't have to yell. My parents aren't here and I ordered the staff to have a day off," said Tamao as she slid towards him, sexy-like.

"Tamao-san, please tell me what happened," begged Ranmaru as he shivered in his seat. Never has a woman done this to Ranmaru, but Tamao had him. The Playboy King has been trumped, but will he survive?

"You want to know what happened, Ran-chan," said Tamao as she looked him in the eyes, so seductively. Then, her gaze turned fierce, "I'll tell you what very DAMN well happened!" Tamao breathed heavily as she looked sharply at Ranmaru.

"Remember four years ago, when our marriage arrangements were still on. Well, it was going fine with me. I finally realize that you weren't such a bad guy after all. I mean, with the occasional woman, you never stepped your boundaries when it comes to me," explained Tamao as she sat cross-legged on the couch opposite Ranmaru. Then, she went closer to him.

"Then, you did it. You finally won me over," cried Tamao as her tears began flowing, "I thought that the marriage arrangements could be off since I pitied your lost. But I developed something for you. When I finally had the courage to say so, you disappeared. You left me, stranded, heart-broken, and alone."

"Tamao-san, I'm sorry…"

"You haven't heard the rest. Since I couldn't get hold of Noi-san or Sunako-san, I decided to embark on a journey, a journey to change myself. In the daytime, I was Tamao, the Kikunoi's princess. But by night, you wouldn't even recognize me. I tried to be just… like… you." Tamao looked Ranmaru in the eye as she stressed on the last word.

"It isn't my fault that you turned into some kind of girl version of me. You see, that four years, I finally found my calling. I decided to open up a host club." That done it. Tamao screamed as she charged for Ranmaru. But instead of killing him, Tamao gave him a passionate kiss on the lips. Shocked, Ranmaru had to respond to her by giving in to the kiss.

"I've always wanted to do this for a long time, Ran-kun," said Tamao as she tried to catch her breath.

"Me, too," said Ranmaru. The Kikunoi princess looked at him with the familiar puppy dog eyes and started to drip more tears. "Look Tamao-san, I didn't mean to leave you. I thought you deserve someone better than me. I'm serious. You're the Kikunoi Princess, the purest girl of high society, and I'm not going to be held responsible for any perverted thoughts you acquired."

"Hah, too late for that now."

"Well, if you untie me, I'll show you how sorry I'll be," said Ranmaru. Tamao shook her head and said, "I'm not going to fall for the Ranmaru trick. Please, I've grown up and you should too."

"Tamao-san, please, don't be like me."

"Like you… Ranmaru-kun, I was just joking," laughed Tamao. Ranmaru looked at her with a "What-the-hell" look.

"Joking, what do you mean?"

"After you left me, I didn't know what to do. So I turned to the theater. It was marvelous, they thought me everything I need for acting. Besides, who wants to be a helpless princess forever."

"And the kiss?" Tamao went to his ear and said slowly, "What do you think?"

"I think, my dear, that it was every bit as real!"

"You think so? I thought I did pretty good acting there."

"Please, I know a real kiss when I feel one. Now untie me, please. My wrists are getting uncomfortable." Tamao laughed and began untying the knot her guard has made her. The guard purposely made it so that only Tamao can undo the knot. I guess the Kikunoi Princess does have some tricks up her sleeve after all.

Without warning, Ranmaru stood up and faced Tamao with a serious look. It was a bit frightening, but Tamao tried to stand her ground, but her knees are getting weak. Ranmaru slid his hands to her back and pulled her closer. Then, he kissed her, but unlike the first one, his hands aren't limited.

"Ranmaru-kun, what are you doing?" said Tamao as she tried to brush off Ranmaru.

"I didn't come all the way here for a measly trick. I came here because," said Ranmaru as he looked deeply in her eyes.

"I came here, Tamao-san, to be the perfect fiancée. I love you," said Ranmaru as he took her hand, "I'm sorry too," and he kissed her hand softly.

"Oh Ranmaru-kun," said Tamao as her voice began to falter, "But Ranmaru, I couldn't accept this offer." Ranmaru's jaw dropped.

"I've cut you off at the prime of your life. Look, you're what, 25 years old. I'll give you one more year of bachelorhood before you settle down," said Tamao. Ranmaru's eyes lit up and gave Tamao a twirling hug. Both of them laughed and Ranamru said, "I wonder how I would spend my last year as a bachelor? Hang out with the Bunnies or have fun in Vegas?"

"How about me? I can't decide if I want to play it cool here in Japan or travel to Europe?"

"So many choices," both of them said in unison.

I guess the Playboy King and the Kikunoi Princess will be a royal family soon, but both of them need to taste Single Life before they regret it.

"Ranmaru-kun, promise me something."

"What is it, Tamao?"

"Keep the engagement ring close to you, please." Ranmaru shook his head and laughed.

"Fine, now… Turn on the television, Tamao-san, the room is getting quieter."