I ain't no little girl
So you can't steal my innocence
I know you're a lady-killer, mister
So don't try to sweeten me
With your honey words
And your charming smiles
Won't work on this dame
Flowers and fancy dinners
Won't buy what you're looking for
Don't underestimate me
This girl's not like the rest
I don't like to be used
You think I'll be another pawn
On your amusing chessboard?
Take another guess boy
And watch, as I become Queen
I'll play your game of cat and mouse
And we'll just see who wins
UNEXPECTED
CHAPTER THREE
The mirror never lies, it showed what it saw and always will. Emiko fluffed her corn-silk hair and beamed at her reflection, why wouldn't anyone fall in love with a gorgeous face like hers?
"Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?" She giggled cutely, "Why of course it's me, myself and I---"
"Did you call?" A bored but still beautiful voice asked.
Kay sauntered in with only a nightshirt and somehow still looked elegant. She could wear a pillowcase and make it look like fashion.
"I didn't know there was a pajama party going on, how come you didn't invite me?" Emiko sniffed in annoyance.
"That conversation you had with your mirror seemed pretty intense, I didn't want to interrupt."
"You just wait," Emiko scoffed and then smirked at her sister, "The minute Prince Kyou lays his eyes on me, he'll sweep me off my feet and then declare our everlasting love. Then we'll just see who's going to be his happy bride. Maybe if you treat me nicer, I invite you to the wedding, since you are related to me and all…"
"It's amazing how your dimwitted imagination lasted all these years." Callie snorted in an unladylike way and made herself comfortable on a nearby sofa, "Considering how much empty space you have in that brain of yours."
"Are you saying he'll choose one of you two?" Emiko challenged icily.
"Hmmm…" Callie pondered, "Beauty and smarts or…nothing. Gee, that's a hard one."
"You're killing my brain cells." Kay barely tried to cover her yawn.
"Fine then," Emiko's eyes flashed, "Let's make it a competition…and see who'll be the one that wins Prince Kyou's heart."
* * *
The afternoon sun greeted Tohru cheerfully as she dragged a basket full of laundry out to dry. The garments hung one by one beside each other on the clothesline, swaying as a cool breeze that passed by and by.
Memories from last night were still fresh on her mind, and the other servants had already spun their own tale of gossip that spread faster than a forest fire all through the castle. Things like 'Tohru knocked over the Prince and then poured a pot of boiling water on him. I swear, I saw his scars---I even help treat them' or 'the Prince was attacked by Tohru and then she tried to stuff his face with cake' were often heard between finger pointing and silent stares.
And that was another thing she couldn't believe… he was a prince? Or rather
---The prince? She had imagined herself catching a glimpse of him while serving tea or taking away dirty dishes---but never dumping food on him twice! It was a miracle she wasn't dismissed or punished. I will do better next time! She thought in determination, I'll do such a good job that everybody will forget about this incident, they'll never even bring it up again---
"Tohru!" A head servant snapped as he passed by, "Be careful with the laundry---you might just drop it."
Several maids nearby burst out laughing at this remark; Tohru dipped her head and blushed crimson.
Maybe I have to get used to this for a while.
* * *
Emiko fumbled for a hairbrush and then frantically pulled at her hair.
"Where is Tae?" She shouted a nearby manservant just came through the door.
"She…s-she…" He stuttered for the right words, as if afraid of what the Princess would do to him if he answered.
"Don't stand there like a moron, I'm suppose to meet the Prince tonight, and I can't make my grand entrance like some slob with screwed up hair, if he sees me like this he wouldn't think twice about marrying me! SO WHERE THE HELL IS THAT %^&*^&$ TAE?"
"S-she's s-s-s-sick Princess Emiko!" He squeaked and fell on his knees, his face positively white from fright. "She sends her apologies!"
"SHIT!" She threw the comb at the door just as maid stumbled in, but backed out as soon as it whizzed by her ear.
"Come back!" Emiko demanded and the maid uncertainly obeyed.
"Princess Emiko, I brought in your new dress…"
Emiko waved a hand carelessly, "Do you know anything about hairstyles?"
The girl stared at her blankly before replying hesitantly, "A little bit…from my mother…"
"Whatever, can you fix my hair?"
"I-I…what?"
"Good," Emiko sighed, "And can you do it fast?"
"…"
"Well? Get to it! I don't have time to waste!"
"H-hai!"
* * *
She was more skilled than Emiko expected, with her quick fingers and delicate hair strokes, her hair was looking better by the minute…
"You're pretty good." Emiko mused thoughtfully. "You could just become my next hairdresser."
"My mother was much better than me, I just learned what I can from her." The maid's sweetness was very appealing, Emiko almost felt sorry for being so harsh earlier.
"Well, invite her to the castle, you and her could become my special hairdressers." Emiko suggested in what was her own way of an apology. It was very hard for lower class to find work in the castle, to be asked personally was a downright extreme honor.
"Mother can't…she passed away last year."
"Oh." Emiko bit her lip and said the only thing she could think of, "I'm sorry."
"But Emiko-sama didn't do anything wrong." The maid pointed out quickly.
The two girls stared at themselves in the full-length glass mirror before giving each other an understanding smile.
"I heard the prince arrived yesterday," Emiko changed the subject in a hurry, "I didn't go to the welcome feast because I had my dress and beauty appointments to take care of…but you must've been there." She added eagerly, "Did you see him?"
Nod. Was it her imagination, or did the maid look slightly paler?
"Was he handsome?"
"Uh…" Her cheeks turned bright pink.
"You don't have to be so shy with me." Emiko rather like this girl, and she was sick of those robotic servants that either didn't talk or was just scared to death of her.
"You can call me Emiko when no one else is around."
The maid's eyes grew wide before the corners of her mouth lifted into a friendly grin.
"My name is Tohru."
* * *
"Did you seriously do that?" Emiko's eyes grew wide with shock.
"Yes." Tohru admitted in embarrassment and the Princess bubbled up with laughter.
Tohru liked her laugh a lot; it was a warm and happy sound, like how the flames of a fire danced so brightly on a cold winter's night. Tohru wondered why she bottled up all that life and charisma inside, why she didn't share it with the rest of the world.
"And you did that not once---but twice?" Emiko forced out between non- stop giggles. "Splattering the prince with food---that is the funniest thing I've ever heard… I wish I had been there."
"I thought I was going to be punished or dismissed, but they just told me to clean up the mess and leave."
"What did Prince Kyou do during the whole time?"
"He was being very kind about it all, he didn't yell at me or insult me or anything…" Which was true, she even thought he gave her a little smile.
"He sounds like a nice guy." Emiko took a deep breath and forced her self to calm down. "I hope he chooses me to be his bride… my sisters are being really nasty about the whole thing and it makes me mad because they always think they are everything…I want to prove to them I am important too." She turned to Tohru, "Do you think he'll like me?"
"Emiko-sama…?"
"I told you to call me Emiko---lose the 'sama' and the 'princess', sometimes I hate being royalty."
"I'm—sorry."
Emiko smiled a hint of a smile. "But you didn't do anything."
Small chuckles turned into stomach aching laughs, and their troubles melted away quicker than a knife through hot butter. The beginning of a friendship has started.
* * *
Kyou caught a whiff of perfume as soon as he stepped in the dining hall, the three princesses stood at once and offered him their most dazzling smiles and graceful curtsy; each was beautiful and unique in their own sense and charm. Princess Kay radiated beauty without trying to, Princess Callie's smiles were brighter than the North Star, and Princess Emiko was a lovely rose blossom. As confused and frustrated as Kyou was, he flirted with them and smiled his never failing smiles that would've made lesser women swoon or faint over him.
"So how do you like Holaine so far, Prince Kyou? If you need some one to show you around, feel free to call on me." Princess Kay leaned forward and her dark curls fell down her bare shoulders.
Kyou raised his wine glass to his lips and took a sip, "I'd like that."
Princess Emiko piped in, "How was the Banquet yesterday?"
"The food was amazing," He smiled at her and she beamed, "I'm sorry you and your sisters weren't there."
Callie sighed a soft, elegant sigh. "I heard some clumsy oaf spilled food on Prince Kyou, the servants these days have really gone down hill. I'm sorry you had to endure that."
The maid's innocent eyes and soft smiles flashed into Kyou's mind before he shoved the image away forcefully, he had to concentrate on one thing at a time.
"Just a little accident." Any other day he would've enjoyed his time with three attractive females fighting for his attention, but today was not the day, they were crowding him and making him irritated, and the mere thought of choosing a Queen was nausiating.
* * *
Callie flashed him another coy smile before flipping her hair over her shoulders, hoping that it would glitter like it was suppose to catch Prince Kyou's attention, wishing he knew what she did for him, how she washed her hair in 3 bowls of egg whites and sat in a bath tub with pickle slices over her eyes for an hour.
"You're so witty darling!" She giggled coyly and twirled another strand of hair, he rewarded her with a sexy grin before going back to his original topic of conversation, something about his home country…what was the name of it again? Who cares, all that it mattered was that Prince Kyou was obviously attracted to her, and it will be very soon before he asked for her hand.
That's right Emiko, Callie shot a smug look at her sister, maybe I'll just find it in my heart to et you come to the wedding, since you are in my bloodline and all…
* * *
When Kay was twelve she started to get non-stop anonymous love letters that all began with 'My Dearest, loveliest, most sweetest…' the heading usually took half a page. By the time she was fifteen she had to avoid many outdoor activities because there wasn't anyplace she didn't go without being sidetracked by a dozen of her fan club members. She was used to being the center of attention and everybody's mortal goddess, so when this Prince Kyou came along, she was not expecting any difference.
But he was, first of all; he was the only man she has ever met who didn't stutter speech in her presence. Then there was his attitude, he was his own person and acted like it. Prince Kyou also had natural power; he could command people with out making it seem like a command, you wouldn't realize it after afterwards. Kay loved that about him because she loved power; she spent half of her life to obtain that.
And she would do anything to get it.
* * *
Emiko could just sit there and watch him for the rest of her life.
She wasn't expecting the ugliest guy the face of this planet, but she definitely did not expect Mr. Gorgeous. His mischievous eyes kept locking with her own, and she could feel the heat that spread to her cheeks.
How stupid of me to doubt myself, She almost laughed out loud, that he actually would not like me? I should have more confidence… how could I have almost believed Kay or Callie's stupid ideas, like someone as perfect as Prince Kyou would even THINK about marrying them?
Now all she's have to do was wait a few more days to become Queen.
Author's note: Wow, I actually have reviews! A big thank you to all of you who reviewed, I thought no one was going to read this… I hope this is long enough, It's a line over 6 pages, a little better than chapter 2. 'Unexpected' is going way better than I expected, all these little ideas just jump out at me and I just want to put it all down on paper, I have a BIG IDEA for this and hopefully I can start it off in chapter four. If anyone would like to e-mail me for anything, please do. Other than talking on the phone, my next favorite way of communication is e-mail; it's fast, easy and free…so please hop to your nearest internet access and send me something, whether it's comments, or just to talk about anime.
So you can't steal my innocence
I know you're a lady-killer, mister
So don't try to sweeten me
With your honey words
And your charming smiles
Won't work on this dame
Flowers and fancy dinners
Won't buy what you're looking for
Don't underestimate me
This girl's not like the rest
I don't like to be used
You think I'll be another pawn
On your amusing chessboard?
Take another guess boy
And watch, as I become Queen
I'll play your game of cat and mouse
And we'll just see who wins
UNEXPECTED
CHAPTER THREE
The mirror never lies, it showed what it saw and always will. Emiko fluffed her corn-silk hair and beamed at her reflection, why wouldn't anyone fall in love with a gorgeous face like hers?
"Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?" She giggled cutely, "Why of course it's me, myself and I---"
"Did you call?" A bored but still beautiful voice asked.
Kay sauntered in with only a nightshirt and somehow still looked elegant. She could wear a pillowcase and make it look like fashion.
"I didn't know there was a pajama party going on, how come you didn't invite me?" Emiko sniffed in annoyance.
"That conversation you had with your mirror seemed pretty intense, I didn't want to interrupt."
"You just wait," Emiko scoffed and then smirked at her sister, "The minute Prince Kyou lays his eyes on me, he'll sweep me off my feet and then declare our everlasting love. Then we'll just see who's going to be his happy bride. Maybe if you treat me nicer, I invite you to the wedding, since you are related to me and all…"
"It's amazing how your dimwitted imagination lasted all these years." Callie snorted in an unladylike way and made herself comfortable on a nearby sofa, "Considering how much empty space you have in that brain of yours."
"Are you saying he'll choose one of you two?" Emiko challenged icily.
"Hmmm…" Callie pondered, "Beauty and smarts or…nothing. Gee, that's a hard one."
"You're killing my brain cells." Kay barely tried to cover her yawn.
"Fine then," Emiko's eyes flashed, "Let's make it a competition…and see who'll be the one that wins Prince Kyou's heart."
* * *
The afternoon sun greeted Tohru cheerfully as she dragged a basket full of laundry out to dry. The garments hung one by one beside each other on the clothesline, swaying as a cool breeze that passed by and by.
Memories from last night were still fresh on her mind, and the other servants had already spun their own tale of gossip that spread faster than a forest fire all through the castle. Things like 'Tohru knocked over the Prince and then poured a pot of boiling water on him. I swear, I saw his scars---I even help treat them' or 'the Prince was attacked by Tohru and then she tried to stuff his face with cake' were often heard between finger pointing and silent stares.
And that was another thing she couldn't believe… he was a prince? Or rather
---The prince? She had imagined herself catching a glimpse of him while serving tea or taking away dirty dishes---but never dumping food on him twice! It was a miracle she wasn't dismissed or punished. I will do better next time! She thought in determination, I'll do such a good job that everybody will forget about this incident, they'll never even bring it up again---
"Tohru!" A head servant snapped as he passed by, "Be careful with the laundry---you might just drop it."
Several maids nearby burst out laughing at this remark; Tohru dipped her head and blushed crimson.
Maybe I have to get used to this for a while.
* * *
Emiko fumbled for a hairbrush and then frantically pulled at her hair.
"Where is Tae?" She shouted a nearby manservant just came through the door.
"She…s-she…" He stuttered for the right words, as if afraid of what the Princess would do to him if he answered.
"Don't stand there like a moron, I'm suppose to meet the Prince tonight, and I can't make my grand entrance like some slob with screwed up hair, if he sees me like this he wouldn't think twice about marrying me! SO WHERE THE HELL IS THAT %^&*^&$ TAE?"
"S-she's s-s-s-sick Princess Emiko!" He squeaked and fell on his knees, his face positively white from fright. "She sends her apologies!"
"SHIT!" She threw the comb at the door just as maid stumbled in, but backed out as soon as it whizzed by her ear.
"Come back!" Emiko demanded and the maid uncertainly obeyed.
"Princess Emiko, I brought in your new dress…"
Emiko waved a hand carelessly, "Do you know anything about hairstyles?"
The girl stared at her blankly before replying hesitantly, "A little bit…from my mother…"
"Whatever, can you fix my hair?"
"I-I…what?"
"Good," Emiko sighed, "And can you do it fast?"
"…"
"Well? Get to it! I don't have time to waste!"
"H-hai!"
* * *
She was more skilled than Emiko expected, with her quick fingers and delicate hair strokes, her hair was looking better by the minute…
"You're pretty good." Emiko mused thoughtfully. "You could just become my next hairdresser."
"My mother was much better than me, I just learned what I can from her." The maid's sweetness was very appealing, Emiko almost felt sorry for being so harsh earlier.
"Well, invite her to the castle, you and her could become my special hairdressers." Emiko suggested in what was her own way of an apology. It was very hard for lower class to find work in the castle, to be asked personally was a downright extreme honor.
"Mother can't…she passed away last year."
"Oh." Emiko bit her lip and said the only thing she could think of, "I'm sorry."
"But Emiko-sama didn't do anything wrong." The maid pointed out quickly.
The two girls stared at themselves in the full-length glass mirror before giving each other an understanding smile.
"I heard the prince arrived yesterday," Emiko changed the subject in a hurry, "I didn't go to the welcome feast because I had my dress and beauty appointments to take care of…but you must've been there." She added eagerly, "Did you see him?"
Nod. Was it her imagination, or did the maid look slightly paler?
"Was he handsome?"
"Uh…" Her cheeks turned bright pink.
"You don't have to be so shy with me." Emiko rather like this girl, and she was sick of those robotic servants that either didn't talk or was just scared to death of her.
"You can call me Emiko when no one else is around."
The maid's eyes grew wide before the corners of her mouth lifted into a friendly grin.
"My name is Tohru."
* * *
"Did you seriously do that?" Emiko's eyes grew wide with shock.
"Yes." Tohru admitted in embarrassment and the Princess bubbled up with laughter.
Tohru liked her laugh a lot; it was a warm and happy sound, like how the flames of a fire danced so brightly on a cold winter's night. Tohru wondered why she bottled up all that life and charisma inside, why she didn't share it with the rest of the world.
"And you did that not once---but twice?" Emiko forced out between non- stop giggles. "Splattering the prince with food---that is the funniest thing I've ever heard… I wish I had been there."
"I thought I was going to be punished or dismissed, but they just told me to clean up the mess and leave."
"What did Prince Kyou do during the whole time?"
"He was being very kind about it all, he didn't yell at me or insult me or anything…" Which was true, she even thought he gave her a little smile.
"He sounds like a nice guy." Emiko took a deep breath and forced her self to calm down. "I hope he chooses me to be his bride… my sisters are being really nasty about the whole thing and it makes me mad because they always think they are everything…I want to prove to them I am important too." She turned to Tohru, "Do you think he'll like me?"
"Emiko-sama…?"
"I told you to call me Emiko---lose the 'sama' and the 'princess', sometimes I hate being royalty."
"I'm—sorry."
Emiko smiled a hint of a smile. "But you didn't do anything."
Small chuckles turned into stomach aching laughs, and their troubles melted away quicker than a knife through hot butter. The beginning of a friendship has started.
* * *
Kyou caught a whiff of perfume as soon as he stepped in the dining hall, the three princesses stood at once and offered him their most dazzling smiles and graceful curtsy; each was beautiful and unique in their own sense and charm. Princess Kay radiated beauty without trying to, Princess Callie's smiles were brighter than the North Star, and Princess Emiko was a lovely rose blossom. As confused and frustrated as Kyou was, he flirted with them and smiled his never failing smiles that would've made lesser women swoon or faint over him.
"So how do you like Holaine so far, Prince Kyou? If you need some one to show you around, feel free to call on me." Princess Kay leaned forward and her dark curls fell down her bare shoulders.
Kyou raised his wine glass to his lips and took a sip, "I'd like that."
Princess Emiko piped in, "How was the Banquet yesterday?"
"The food was amazing," He smiled at her and she beamed, "I'm sorry you and your sisters weren't there."
Callie sighed a soft, elegant sigh. "I heard some clumsy oaf spilled food on Prince Kyou, the servants these days have really gone down hill. I'm sorry you had to endure that."
The maid's innocent eyes and soft smiles flashed into Kyou's mind before he shoved the image away forcefully, he had to concentrate on one thing at a time.
"Just a little accident." Any other day he would've enjoyed his time with three attractive females fighting for his attention, but today was not the day, they were crowding him and making him irritated, and the mere thought of choosing a Queen was nausiating.
* * *
Callie flashed him another coy smile before flipping her hair over her shoulders, hoping that it would glitter like it was suppose to catch Prince Kyou's attention, wishing he knew what she did for him, how she washed her hair in 3 bowls of egg whites and sat in a bath tub with pickle slices over her eyes for an hour.
"You're so witty darling!" She giggled coyly and twirled another strand of hair, he rewarded her with a sexy grin before going back to his original topic of conversation, something about his home country…what was the name of it again? Who cares, all that it mattered was that Prince Kyou was obviously attracted to her, and it will be very soon before he asked for her hand.
That's right Emiko, Callie shot a smug look at her sister, maybe I'll just find it in my heart to et you come to the wedding, since you are in my bloodline and all…
* * *
When Kay was twelve she started to get non-stop anonymous love letters that all began with 'My Dearest, loveliest, most sweetest…' the heading usually took half a page. By the time she was fifteen she had to avoid many outdoor activities because there wasn't anyplace she didn't go without being sidetracked by a dozen of her fan club members. She was used to being the center of attention and everybody's mortal goddess, so when this Prince Kyou came along, she was not expecting any difference.
But he was, first of all; he was the only man she has ever met who didn't stutter speech in her presence. Then there was his attitude, he was his own person and acted like it. Prince Kyou also had natural power; he could command people with out making it seem like a command, you wouldn't realize it after afterwards. Kay loved that about him because she loved power; she spent half of her life to obtain that.
And she would do anything to get it.
* * *
Emiko could just sit there and watch him for the rest of her life.
She wasn't expecting the ugliest guy the face of this planet, but she definitely did not expect Mr. Gorgeous. His mischievous eyes kept locking with her own, and she could feel the heat that spread to her cheeks.
How stupid of me to doubt myself, She almost laughed out loud, that he actually would not like me? I should have more confidence… how could I have almost believed Kay or Callie's stupid ideas, like someone as perfect as Prince Kyou would even THINK about marrying them?
Now all she's have to do was wait a few more days to become Queen.
Author's note: Wow, I actually have reviews! A big thank you to all of you who reviewed, I thought no one was going to read this… I hope this is long enough, It's a line over 6 pages, a little better than chapter 2. 'Unexpected' is going way better than I expected, all these little ideas just jump out at me and I just want to put it all down on paper, I have a BIG IDEA for this and hopefully I can start it off in chapter four. If anyone would like to e-mail me for anything, please do. Other than talking on the phone, my next favorite way of communication is e-mail; it's fast, easy and free…so please hop to your nearest internet access and send me something, whether it's comments, or just to talk about anime.