Well, hello again! Hope you guys like this story! Um, this chapter is being written by me… and umm… I can't really think of any more things to say or add… just a sorry that's it a bit late… but I have a lot of other stories to update as well… and a ton of homework (sheepish smile) Add in the fact that I'm super lazy and it's a wonder you get updates at all! Haha, kays, have fun with this chapter and review please! (From Strawberry-chan)

Just My Luck

Written by Keeper of Yoh and Strawberry Promises

Anna is thrown into a marriage lottery where spouses are chosen by chance. The Prince, her husband-to-be, is abusive so Anna flees. He captures her but not before she meets someone she thought a commoner: his younger brother!

Chapter Three: Strong Spirit

NO. WAY.

Anna stood there, dumbfounded. Why, why did the gods hate her? She had to – she stifled a shudder – marry this creep?!

While Anna was battling the urge to cry or to laugh ironically, a murmur spread through the crowd like fire.

Anna Kyouyama?

Have you heard of her?

I've never heard that name…

I wonder if she's pretty…

She's not prettier than me! And I should be the one for Hao!

All through the crowd, one question was evident. Who was Anna Kyouyama and why didn't she go up to Hao and claim her husband?

"Anna!" a voice hissed at her. "Anna! Go up there!" Tamao made furious motions with her hands to move.

Anna couldn't comprehend her words. She came up with the all-too-intelligent, "Huh?"

Tamao groaned and started to push her through the crowd.

"T-Tamao, where are you taking me?" Anna said.

"To your…" she paused, her lips pursed tightly. "Your husband."

"What!" she screeched. "He's not my husband yet! Don't you dare call him that!"

Tamao smiled a little. "Hah, you're so lucky and you don't even think so."

"Of course not! Who wants to be married to a creep like him?" Anna scowled. "If you want him so bad, why don't you go up there in my name?"

"I couldn't do that." Tamao murmured quietly.

Anna just shrugged. They were pretty close to the stairs now and Anna was panicking more and more.

At once, an image of that strange commoner came to mind. She shook her head. Why was she thinking of him??

Whatever. A more pressing issue was at hand: the looming stage where her future "husband" stood.

Tamao finally reached the edge and gave Anna one more push and swiftly turned away.

Anna stumbled onto the steps and with growing disdain and dread, climbed the last couple of stairs to greet the prince.

Her scowl deepened when she saw how his eyes lit up and when a smirk formed on his face when he saw his bride-to-be.

"Hello," His deep voice said to her.

And then --! He had to nerve to put his arm around her!

In a flash, Anna stepped out of his embrace and slapped him smartly across the face.

The crowd grew silent.

Hao chuckled. "So spirited are we?" He leaned in and a cruel smirk came into view. "Well, I'll just have to break that spirit of yours, won't I?" He said quietly, only to her ears.

Anna's eyes widened in fear but then narrowed in anger. "I'd like to see you try."

His smirk grew and a glint formed in his eye. "Don't worry, I will."

Anna tried to keep a mask of indifference on but fear kept making it slip.

Something caught her eye. She turned and stared. Her eyebrows rose. A pure white stallion…? Whose horse…? And then something else caught her eye.

Oh! It was that commoner! A hint of a smile formed on her face as she watched him try to mount the animal and failed. When he finally got onto the horse and faced her direction, she noticed something that was so infrequent on his smiling face. A frown.

Hao caught her attention again as he spoke to the crowd. "I'd like to bring my bride home now, so if you'd all make way for Anna and me."

Anna fumed. How dare he think that he could call her by her name?

But Hao never let her act on her anger. He grabbed her (harshly) by her elbow and dragged (literarily) her down the steps and into a carriage.

Anna scowled again. Who was he to handle her so roughly?

Practically throwing someone into a carriage was not husbandly behavior.

Anna tried to fix her appearance. She probably looked disheveled and scruffy.

Hao stepped into the carriage as well and smirked at her. He indiscreetly wrapped an arm around her and pulled her closer.

Anna cringed. "Let go of me." She spoke with coldness and authority.

"I don't think so." He pulled her even closer and in one swift movement, Hao pulled Anna on his lap and buried his face into her neck. He placed butterfly kisses along her neck.

Anna squirmed and she gasped as his lips touched her bare skin. With a renewed energy, Anna pushed Hao off her and slapped him again.

Or at least, tried to.

He grabbed her hand before she could finish the action.

"Now that has got to stop." His voice was husky and his eyes dark.

Anna shivered and pulled her hand away quickly.

She huddled in the corner of the carriage, as far as she could get away from her "husband".

Hao watched her with hooded eyes, dancing with amusement. This one had spirit all right. Lots of it.

But not enough to match his.

As soon as the carriage reached the gate of his estate, (AN: Dudes!! That rhymed!) Anna opened the door and jumped out.

The butler came out and started to make his way to the carriage to open the door. He was thoroughly startled when Anna jumped out and ran for the door herself.

"Hao-sama, shouldn't I --" he started.

Hao smirked. "No. Leave her be. She will be your new mistress of the house so I gather you will make her feel welcome."

The butler bowed deeply. "As you wish, Hao-sama."

He opened the door for his master and closed it gently after he got out. The carriage started to move towards the stable and the butler followed Hao at a reasonable distance away.

Hao looked down and followed the footprints Anna had left behind when she had fled. The girl had too much spirit. And Hao didn't like that. He was going to do something about that, just you wait.

He was going to break that spirit.

Tonight.

Strawberry Promises: Haha! A little cliffy! Hehe, yay! This chapter's finished!! Now it's to you, Keeper of Yoh-chan!!

Hope you guys liked this chapter, and I'm sorry it took so long. Even so, I updated quicker than usual, huh? Hehe, and don't worry, Resurfacing will come soon, too!

:) Um, I gave you something (the update) now you give me something! (REVIEWS!!)

Thanks!