They were in a private lounge suite. Ryoma, who was sitting on a sofa, arms and legs crossed, was pissed off. She was furiously stamping the floor with her right foot. A huge, red vein was popping on her forehead. The atmosphere was very heavy. Ryoma hadn't said a word since they stepped in the lounge. Obviously, she was still very angry. She had gotten kidnapped right in the morning. And she hadn't eaten anything yet, so she was starving. Anger and a hungry stomach are not a good combination.

The atmosphere was particularly heavy for Kirihara, Marui, Niou and Ootori. They were covered with band-aids everywhere, courtesy from Ryoma and Karupin. As for the others, they weren't bothered by the heavy atmosphere. They just silently watched Ryoma and her kidnappers, waiting to see what will happen next. As for Karupin, he was no longer mad at being kidnapped. He was very pleased with himself by now. As a matter fact, Karupin was settled on Yukimura's lap, enjoying the gentle strokes from Yukimura's soft hands. He was purring contently.

Shindou, Fuji's butler, stepped into the lounge with two maids.

"Echizen-hime-sama, a bath and new clothes have been prepared for you. Please, follow Kaoko and Aoko. They will assist you," Shindou told Ryoma. Ryoma looked at herself. Maybe it's not a good idea to go around in her pajamas. And she was pretty messed up after her kidnapping. A bath was not a bad idea at all. Ryoma stood up.

"Hai, this way please, Echizen-hime-sama," Kaoko, one of the maids, said, smiling.

Before she followed the maids, Ryoma spun on her heels and glared menacingly at Kirihara, Marui, Niou and Ootori. They flinched, sweating cold, their faces blue.

"YOU don't go ANYWHERE until I return," she raged at them. The four boys gulped. Then, she turned to the maids and followed them out of the room.

The next second, Kirihara, Marui, Niou and Ootori were kneeled in front of Yukimura, bowing to him, clinging to him.

"Ah!" Yukimura got caught by surprise.

"Yukimura/buchou, save us! Woeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" they begged, crying like babies.

Karupin, finding them too loud, jumped onto the laps of the person sitting in the sofa next to Yukimura - Fuji. He freely settled on Fuji's lap. Fuji chuckled and started to stroke the cat. Karupin enjoyed another heavenly good treat of strokes.

"You shouldn't have forced her to come since she refused your invitation," Yukimura said.

"But we only want to spend the summer with her! Woeeeeeeeeee!" Kirihara wailed.

"We had never spent the summer with any girl before! Woeeeeeeeeee!" Niou said.

"And this is our last summer at school! Woeeeeeeee!" Marui wailed.

"We just want to have good memories of our last summer! Woeeeeeeeeee!" Ootori wailed.

"WOEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" the four of them wailed louder.

Yukimura sighed. Most of the tennis club regulars were seniors and they will graduate this year. It was their last summer at Seiyou Academy before heading for university.

'I understand their feelings,' Yukimura thought.

It's true that this time, they went overboard, kidnapping Ryoma. But they only wanted to have good times while they still have a chance before leaving their high school life period. Yukimura resigned himself.

"Atobe," Yukimura said. Atobe nodded, understanding what Yukimura wanted of him.

"Enzou," Atobe called his butler.

"Hai, obocchama (1)," Enzou came in.

"Have the chiefs prepare a special Japanese course meal and French pastries for everyone," Atobe said. "We will eat as soon as Echizen is finished."

"Hai, kashikomarimashita (2), obocchama," Enzou said. He bowed and left.

When Ryoma finished bathing herself and stepped out of the bathroom, where one of the maid was waiting for her.

"Let us assist you in dressing yourself, Echizen-hime-sama," Kaoko said. "Please, this way."

Kaoko guided her to the room next door. There, Aoko was waiting for Ryoma, smiling. And she was holding something in her hands. Ryoma froze on the spot when the saw what Aoko was holding.

'Gah! A monstrosity. It's a monstrosity!' Ryoma thought, her face blue, her right eye twitching.

Indeed, it was a "monstrosity", as Ryoma called it. There was no other way to name it. It was pale blue puffy-sleeved knee-lenght dress. The neck was cut square with embroidery on the neck line. If it was from her mother's and her cousin's perspective, the dress would be lovely and adorable. But from Ryoma's perspective, it was a horror. A pure horror. A horribly abominable monstrosity that should be not allowed to exist on this world. Not to mention that the dress perfectly fit her frame, hugging her every curves.

'Who's perverted mind that chose this… this… monstrosity?!?' Ryoma wondered, pissed at having to wear a dress, as she looked at herself in the long lengh mirror.

But she had nothing else to wear. They disposed her pajamas away. They said that she won't need it again because they will give her a new pair of pajamas to sleep in. There was nothing else she could do. She had to resign herself to this outfit.

"Ah…" Ryoma sighed.

When Ryoma returned to the lounge, there was only Yukimura and Fuji waiting for her.

"Ah, Echizen-chan. You're ready," Yukimura greeted her. "Let's go then." And he walked ahead.

"Huh?" Ryoma raised an eyebrow, not understanding. Fuji took her hand.

"Come," he only said, smiling to her. Bewildered, she followed him anyway.

In the room next door, a feast was waiting for them. And on the top of everything, it was all Japanese foods, prepared by high class cooks. And there were also various sorts of sweets and cakes. A wonderful smell was caressing Ryoma's nose. She took a deep breath. Without realizing what she was doing, Ryoma smiled at the sight in front of her. She forgot about her previous anger of being kidnapped. Seing her smiling, Kirihara, Marui, Niou and Ootori sighed out of relief.

'Pioufffffff! Her brother was right. You can tame her with Japanese foods and sweets,' they thought. They looked up in the sky, hands joined. 'Thank you, kami-sama!' Then, they turned to Yukimura and to Atobe with large, teary, grateful eyes, letting their eyes saying 'Thank you for saving our life!'. Yukimura chuckled.

When Ryoma finished her coffee and mocha flavored tiramisu, she was very happy. She hadn't eaten anything since the sunrise, but everything was fine now. She just had a very good meal. She smiled. Seeing that, Kirihara, Marui, Niou and Ootori took their chance.

"Echizen, are you still mad at us?" Kirihara asked hesitantly. Ryoma turned to look at him and at the three others.

"It was wrong to force you to come like that and we know that now," Marui said.

"You see, this is our last summer vacations with everybody. We just want to enjoy it to the most," Niou said.

"And with you," Ootori added.

"We are sorry for kidnapping you," the four of them finished, sincerely repenting. Ryoma stood a moment in silence, not saying anything. But seeing their sad faces, she sighed. Then, she spoke.

"It's not like I can jump in the sea and swim all the way back to Japan now. Anyway, maybe it's better to spend my vacations with you than in my bed for the whole summer," Ryoma said reluctantly. She hadn't actually said that she had forgiven them. But since it was from Ryoma, it meant that she was no longer mad at them. Kirihara, Marui, Niou and Ootori smiled a huge smile and,

GLOMP! multiplied by four.

"Thank you! We love you!" they said, tightly hugging her.

"Ugggggggggggggggggggggh!" Ryoma chocked. "Okay! Okay! I understand that you're happy, but LET ME GO! LET ME GO! LET ME GOOOOOOOOOO!" Ryoma yelled. But the four boys kept hugging her.

Hug! Hug! Hug!!!

Nuzzle! Nuzzle! Nuzzle!!!

They understood now why Kikumaru enjoyed so much glomping her every time he can. Talking about Kikumaru…

"Ahhh! Ochibi-chan, that's so nice from you!" Kikumaru glomped her too. Thus, The-joy-of-glomping-our-human-size-stuffed-toy-Ryoma club was officially created. Yukimura and Fuji chuckled at the sight of them together. They are so heart warming to look at. Even Tezuka, Yagyuu and Sanada smiled slightly.

"Meooooooow!" Karupin said, perched on Kabaji's head.

The evening.

Some of the regulars were playing games inside. The others were outside, enjoying the fresh breeze of the sea and the sight of the thousand of twinkling diamond-like stars in the blue velvet cobalt sky above them. But something was bothering Ryoma. It was Kaoko and Aoko. They told her that the two of them came to be Ryoma's exclusive maids. And it was Fuji who told them to bring the clothes for Ryoma. How did Fuji know that she would be joining the cruise when she had refused the invitation? Unless…

"Fuji-senpai, you were in the plot for having me be kidnapped, right? You had Kaoko-san and Aoko-san to come. And the clothes were also prepared for me already," Ryoma said, suspiciously eyeing Fuji, who was sitting next to her. Fuji chuckled.

"Oh no, I wasn't in the "kidnapping plot", as you put it. I simply agreed to help. If you came, the clothes were ready for you to use them. If you didn't, then I just have to return them. I had Kaoko-san and Aoko-san to come and the clothes to be brought for just in case you came," Fuji said, smiling, putting heavy emphasis on the "just in case".

Ryoma frowned, not believing him entirely. But she gave up trying to worm the truth out of him. Beside, what's done is done, so there was no point to waste time trying to figure things out. She preferred to ignore him. She turned her head away to look at the sea.

Fuji chuckled. Then, he opened his eyes and watched her profile cut on the velvet blue of the night. He wasn't in the plot for kidnapping her, but he was the mastermind behind her kidnapping.

Flashback

The day before.

Ryoma already left home. A couple of the regulars were still at school.

"Ahhhh…" Kirihara, Marui, Niou and Ootori, sitting on a divan, sighed all together for the XXXth time. They were depressed.

"What's wrong with you, guys?" Yuuta asked. "You havn't stopped sighing for a while now."

"Echizen refused to come on the cruise with us," Kirihara answered.

"Ahhhh…" The four sighed again. Yuuta slightly sighed and sat with them.

"Yeah, I'm also a little bit disappointed. But since she refused…"

"Ahhhh…" Sighs multiplied by five this time.

"I would like her to come along too…" Yuuta said.

"Ahhhh…" they all sighed together for the second time. Seeing that, Fuji came to them.

"We will leave only tomorrow. You can try again. You could go to her place tomorrow morning and invite her again, just before we leave," Fuji suggested. Kirihara, Marui, Niou and Ootori immediately straightened up, their attention all focused on Fuji's words.

'Try again… tomorrow morning… Try again… tomorrow morning…' Fuji's voice echoed in their head.

"Maybe she will change her mind by then," Fuji finished. But Kirihara, Marui, Niou and Ootori didn't hear this last part.

"Ah! That's right," Yuuta said. "I will go to her place tomorrow morning."

"ME TOO!!!" Kirihara, Marui, Niou and Ootori shouted in unison, catching Yuuta by surprise. Yuuta looked at them. They were fire up, their eyes shining with fiery determination.

"Err… Okay…" Yuuta trailed off, sweat dropping.

"Nhya hahahahaha…" Kirihara, Marui, Niou and Ootori cackled evilly.

'What are they planning to do?' Yuuta wondered, slightly worried. Fuji smiled. His sadistic smile.

'She will come, even if it isn't of her free will,' Fuji thought, knowing the four mischievous boys perfectly.

"Fuji, that was tricky and underhanded of you, but it's a very good idea, an excellent one," Yagyuu said. "I better go with them to reassure her family. And at the same time, I'll get her passport." Fuji was surprised by Yagyuu's reaction, but very pleased. So Yagyuu also agreed on the (cough cough) underhanded scheme and he will help too. Fuji chuckled.

End flashback

Fuji chuckled again, remembering what happened the day before.

'I better not let her know that it was because of me that she is now on this cruise with us,' Fuji thought. He looked at Kirihara, Marui, Niou and Ootori, all wrapped in band-aids.

'Having the four of them suffering from her fury it's enough. I don't need to put my life in danger too. Huhuhuhu!' Fuji chuckled again.

After all, all what he did was suggest inviting the female regular again for the cruise. But he made sure that certain people heard him. And the said people were Kirihara, Marui, Niou and Ootori of course!

'If it wasn't them, then the plan wouldn't have worked,' Fuji chuckled. Then, he looked at Yagyuu, who was calmly sipping his English Earl tea.

'He too won't tell her anything either. Huhuhuhu!'

Omake!

"Echizen-hime-sama," Kaoko asked

"Hum? Yes?" Ryoma answered.

"How do the clothes fit you? And the shoes too? Are they too big or too small?"

"Ah? Oh! No! Their size are perfect. They fit me perfectly. Thank you," Ryoma said.

"And how does the underwear fit you? Do they fit your taste? Do you need a different size?" Aoko said.

"Ah! The underwear?" Ryoma blinked. That's right. She hadn't paid any attention to them. They are so comfortable that she completely forgot about them. Humm… Well, maybe the embroidered flowers and laces and ribbons were too girlish, but since they were worn underneath her clothes, so maybe it was fine.

"Ah, they fit me perfectly too and they are very comfortable," Ryoma said.

"Yokatta (3)," Kaoko said.

"But how did you know my size?" Ryoma asked.

"Ah! Actually, it was Fuji-sama who selected everything for you, the clothes, the shoes and the underwear," Aoko said.

'What!?' Twitch twitch. Ryoma's right eye twitched.

"Wait… (Twitch!) You mean… (Twitch twitch!) that it's… Fuji-senpai… (Twitch twitch twitch!) who selected… (Freeze) my underwear…"

"Yesssssssssssss!" Kaoko and Aoko chanted.

". . ." Ryoma couldn't say anything. She blushed.

"But as expected from Fuji-sama! He's a genius for selecting the perfect size for you, Echizen-hime-sama. It's not easy for a man to select underwear for a woman," Kaoko said.

Twitch! Twitch!

"Not to mention that he has such good taste!" Aoko said dreamily. "Ahhh! I wish I had a boyfriend who can choose my underwear that are pretty and fit me perfectly like Fuji-sama did to you, Echizen-hime-sama."

"Ahhhhhh!" Kaoko and Aoko sighed dreamily.

Twitch! Twitch! Twitch!

Ryoma wasn't sure she was happy to learn who had chosen her underwear. In fact, she wished she hadn't heard about it.

"But I would like to know too," Kaoko said. "How did Fuji-sama know the right size for Echizen-hime-sama's underwear?"

"Me too," Aoko said.

"Let's go ask him!" Kaoko said.

"Hum? You want to ask me something?" Fuji said, smiling to Kaoko and Aoko.

"Fuji-sama, how did you do to know the perfect size for Echizen-hime-sama's clothes and shoes?" Kaoko asked.

"When we played Cinderella at school, I danced with her and put her glass shoe for her. That's how I know the size of her clothes and shoes," Fuji said.

Ryoma still remembered the play in question. She blushed.

"And how did you know her underwear size?" Aoko said.

"Ah! Well… For that's… Hmmm…" Fuji pretended to think. "There was… uhmmm… a little "accident"… during the first day I met her."

Ryoma blushed at the "accident".

"And last time, I thoroughly umm… (cough cough) measured her too," Fuji said, smiling.

"You mean the last time you repeatedly groped her breasts, in the omake of the chapter 19?" Yagyuu said.

"Oh! Was that obvious?" Fuji innocently asked.

"Yes!" everybody said, excluding Ryoma and the maids.

'He even admitted it!' people thought.

"Gag!" Ryoma became a white statute.

"But I assure you it's only to measure her size. I didn't have any perverted intentions," Fuji said with a big smile, a golden halo on the head, like an angel. But he also grew a devil tail, which was happily swinging right to left, and which enticed Karupin to play with it.

Ryoma was enraged. She wanted to kill him. Now. Right on the spot. And torturing him with a lot of pain. First, she will make him drink a whole lot of water until it pour out from his ears. Then, she will put him on a stretching machine and pull his legs and arms to no end. Then, she will stretch his mouth and eye to see how big she can stretch them. Then, she will skin him alive first. Then fry him on high fire until he becomes crunchy and crispy. Then slice him with a chainsaw. Then shove him in a blender. Then shove him down the toilet. Then…

As Ryoma was developping homicidal ideas, the others regulars could see - watch - what she was thinking. It was like a live movie shooting on the top of her head.

'She sure has a vivid imagination,' they thought.

Yukimura was laughing in his corner.

"Oh yeah!" Fuji hit his right fist in his left palm. "Ryoma-chan, how exactly the underwear fit you? Let me judge it by myself," Fuji said as he holds out his hands toward her breast. Blue, Ryoma stepped back away from him.

"FUJI-SENPAI! STEP AWAY FROM ME OR I'LL CHOP OFF YOUR DIRTY HANDS!!!" she yelled from the top of her lunges.

Fuji and Yukimura chuckled.

(1) obocchama: a polite to call a boy from wealthy family in Japan, from "obocchan" and "-sama".

(2) kashikomarimashita: "I understand", used toward a superior.

(3) yokatta: it's all right, it's good to hear that.