A/n: Bleh, I finally got 'round to writing this. Sorry it took so long! ((Cries)) I had to finish the tenth chapter of 'Prince Kish' and well that only took me forever. I'm really sorry guys! I'll try to update regularly but you know life gets in the way sometimes. Hehe, well anyways here is the long await chapter Three!
ENJOY!
Chapter 3
Preparing
She had been there for three days, just staring out of the dusty attic window; wallowing in her sorrow. Ichigo sighed causing her crimson hair to sway a little. A frown found it's way to her lips; she didn't feel happy … no … she felt sad, horribly sad, to the point where she felt as she couldn't go on anymore.
What was wrong with her? Why was she so sad? Ichigo's frown deepened when she couldn't answer her own question. Inhaling a shaky breath Ichigo fought the erg to let tears flow from her eyes. She would not cry anymore. She promised herself that.
You love him…Ichigo nodded sadly to herself, her conscience was right she did love him, but she already knew that, so why was she so sad? It's not like they were lovers. Maybe he just thought of her as his childhood friend, nothing more? While she … she loved him dearly, but she would never be able to tell him. He was having a ball to find a wife. 'Does he ever think about me, even if for just a little while? Did that kiss from so long ago mean anything to him?' Ichigo wondered in her thoughts as she gently ran her finger over her slightly parted lips.
Friends don't just kiss each other. Her conscience taunted, it had to have meant something.
He conscience was right; you don't normally kiss someone how is just a friend, do you? You would only kiss someone you really liked so wouldn't that mean that Kishu loved—or at least liked her? Ichigo shook her head sadly, 'Who am I kidding? We were young, of course he didn't mean anything by it … I should stop joking myself …' Ichigo thoughtbitterly as she sat up out of her chair and stared at the door.
Maybe she should go to the market and talk to Keiichirou, would that help to clear her head? Perhaps she would go to the ball, even if it were just to see if Kishu would recognize her. She hoped dearly he would. Pushing herself up out of the chair, Ichigo walked to the door of the Attic and exited the room. Quietly Ichigo made her way down the winding stairs. She hoped that Matti or the evil brat twins wouldn't wake up.
Ichigo Sighed in relief when she reach the front door—so far so good. Opening the door Ichigo slipped out with out uttering a word and made her way to the Market all the while arguing with her conscience.
(BoldItalics Conscience talking Italics Ichigo's thoughts)
You have to go to the ball…Anou…how? I don't have a dress! I still haven't saved up enough money to buy the old ragged dress from Keiichiro-san that I was going to fix up!
I'm sure Keiichirou-san wouldn't mind if you gave him all the money you have, then every time you have extra money, give it to him till you've paid for it all.
True … but …
But what?Anou…I guess…
That's the Ichigo I know, now you seriously need to get rid of those three hags at –
Ichigo giggled cutting off her conscience off, how did she get into a conversation with herself? It sounded absurd, but it did get her in a better mood. Perhaps she would even ask Keiichirou if you could pay for the dress that way.
Upon arriving in the market Ichigo scanned the shops looking for Keiichirou, in a matter of seconds she spotted him and ran up to him gleefully, "Keiichirou-san! Keiichirou-san!" Ichigo called out as she stopped in front of his shop stand.
A man with dark brown hair tied back into a very long pony tail turned to smiled at Ichigo, "How my I help—Oh, Ichigo-san. What brings you here on this day, shouldn't you be preparing for the ball that's being held tonight?" Keiichirou asked as he began to hang up a few dresses on the rack labeled 'For Sale.'
"Well, you see Keiichirou-san … I was wondering, if you could sell me the dress I wanted and I pay you over the months since the ball is tonight and all…" Ichigo said unsurely as she avoided Keiichirou's Gaze and looked at the ground.
Keiichirou smiled at Ichigo warmly, "Of course Ichigo. I'll be right back I have to go to the back room to retrieve it, since I was holding it for you." Keiichirou said kindly before disappearing into the back room leaving Ichigo to think to her self. Moments later Keiichirou emerged form the door that led to the back room with a yellow-white dress in his hand.
"Arigatou Keiichirou-san!" Ichigo exclaimed excitedly as she took the dress carefully from Keiichirou's hands.
"No, Thank you Ichigo." Keiichirou said kindly receiving a confused look from Ichigo, "For coming to my store when you could have gone to many other stores. And for letting me see your pretty smiled every time you come to the market."
Ichigo blushed softly, "A-Arigatou." Reaching into her pocket Ichigo went o pull her money out but stopped, "Anou…Keiichirou-san…How much will the dress be all together?"
"You don't have to pay for it Ichigo-san." Keiichirou said nonchalantly as he lined the dresses up shortest to longest on the rack.
"Eh?" Ichigo exclaimed in surprise, "B-But Keiichirou-san! That's hurting your business! I would never ever do anything that could lead the bankruptcy of your shop its such a horrible thought!"
Keiichirou shook his head, "It's alright Ichigo-san, such a thing wouldn't happen. Now move along, I'm sure you need all the time you can get to finish fixing up that dress, am I right?"
"Hai … but-" Ichigo said only above a whisper when Keiichirou cut her off.
"No buts, Hurry."
Ichigo nodded before running back to her 'house' as fast as her legs could carry her. Once she arrived she was out of breath and gasping for air. Waiting until her heart went back to a normal pounding rate and for her ragged breath to become stable again Ichigo said down at the foot of the door and began to think.
How was she going to fix this dress up before the ball that night? She had no supplies or ribbons. She could always sneak into Minto and Minta's rooms but … that was risky, What if they recognized the ribbons on the dress? Ichigo considered this for a while, the possibility of them asking her where she got the ribbons or the dress from were always there, what was she going to say?
She would have to risk it.
Standing up with the newly required dress still in hand Ichigo opened the front door and ran up the stairs quickly hoping that none of the house hold inhabitants would spot her and question her about the dress. The worst that could happen would be if Minto or Minta found her and forced her to get rid of her dress, her only dress.
Finally Ichigo reached the top of the stairs. She exhaled a breath she didn't even know she was holding until she opened the door to her dusty attic room. Sighing Ichigo dusted of the floor and smoothed the dress against the old oak floor.
Fixating her gaze on the dress Ichigo began pondering what she could do to fix the dress up a bit. It could use a bit stitching around the stomach area so that it would cling to her waist and upper body. She would also need a really long ribbon to tie around the waist, 'What color should it be?' Ichigo asked herself in silent thought. After thinking for a moment Ichigo decided on the color, 'Pale blue should do it!'
A loud high-pitched voice suddenly boomed through out the house, "CINDERBERRY!"
Ichigo sighed as she rolled her eyes and walked over to her door and opened in sticking her head out, "Hai?" She asked grimly as she waited for whomever it was to reply.
"GET DOWN HER NOW! I NEED HELP PREPARING MY DRESS! I HAVE TO LOOK ABSOLUTLY BEAUTIFUL IN FRONT OF THE PRINCE YOU KNOW!" Another high-pitched voice screamed up at her. Ichigo sighed as she made her way down the winding stairs. Following the voice. Ichigo was led to Minto and Minta's room where she saw a horrible sight.
Minta and Minto were both running around in their underwear and bra whacking each other with their ribbons.
"Minta! You brat! I'M wearing the purple dress!"
"No! I'm wearing the Purple dress, MINTO!"
"Are not! I am! I have to impress Onee-sama!"
"Eh! No fair! I was going to wear it to impress Onee-sama!"
"Copy cat!"
" -over dramatic gasp- are not!"
"Are too!"
Ichigo coughed causing both girls to look at her in shock, they obviously never noticed her come in, "Well, I heard the Prince's favorite color was red?" Ichigo offered hoping the twins would stop fighting—sadly they didn't.
Completely ignoring Ichigo the twins continued.
"Red! The Prince loves red! I must wear the Red outfit then!" Minta cried out dramatically as she raced to the closet still in nothing but her bra and underwear, "The prince will so pick me over you," Minta paused as she pointed at Minto, "My arch nemeses MINTO!"
"WHAT! Arch nemeses! I'm your twin sister for gods sake! Cinderberry should be your arch nemeses! Not me! Baka!" Minto hollered as she pointed accusingly at Ichigo.
Ichigo sighed; somehow this day had only gotten longer.
"Gr! I hate you Minto! Your so mean!"
"Whatever Minta, I can't believe we came for the same womb! I am so smarter than you! And more beautiful to! Onee-sama and the prince are sure to notice me over you."
"Uah! I am SO smarter than you Minto! And for you information! We look the same; only I'm far more beautiful than you! Oho ho ho!" Minta growled back at Minto.
"Um, Minto-sama, Minta-sama. Do you need my help?" Ichigo asked tiredly as she interrupted the twins' fight.
The both turned to glare at her.
"I don't need you help. Why'd you come here anyways!" Minto asked as she frowned at Ichigo.
"Yeah, get out of here Cinderberry." Minta added as she sneered at Ichigo.
"But-" Ichigo began but was cut off when Minto and Minta threw a ball of pale yellow sting, a needle, and a blue ribbon at her. Ichigo winced as the needle hit her in the side then fell to the ground.
"And while you're at it throw those away, we have no use for them anymore."
Ichigo glared at the two before exiting their room and walking up the stairs with the needle, Pale yellow sting, and the blue ribbon. Half way up the stairs Ichigo stopped and stared at the supplies for a moment.
She had exactly what she needs to finish her dress and just enough time to finish it. Gleefully Ichigo ran the rest of the way up the stairs. Once she reached the top she swung the attic door open quickly and slammed it behind her. Sitting down on the floor Ichigo spread out her Supplies and decided on what she would start on first.
'Maybe I should put the ribbon on first? Or stitch it properly, then again maybe it would be better if I fixed pale blue ruffles on the bottom of the dress and by the sleeves?' Ichigo asked herself as she stared at the dress, confused on what do to first.
Finally deciding Ichigo took the needle and threaded the pale yellow thread through the end of it. Hurriedly Ichigo started stitching the stomach area to make it fit her waist better. Then she set in on making the pale blue ruffles on the dress rufflelier. (a/n: xD!)
After a couple of hours of stitching Ichigo started to stitch the pale blue ribbon onto the dress, which was fairly easy. In a matter of minutes Ichigo's dress was completed. Smiling to herself Ichigo took off her old cloths and carefully pulled her newly made dress over her body.
A perfect fit.
"Cinderberry!" A voice that Ichigo knew all to well called form the bottom of the stairs. Matti was calling her.
Ichigo smirked to herself. Matti had been the one that had said if she could find a dress to wear that was suitable enough for the ball that she would be able to go. Running down the stairs as happily as she could Ichigo reached the bottom.
"Ichigo I expect the house to be—" Matti stop right in the middle of her sentence as she stared at Ichigo in shock, "W-Where did you get a dress?" She stuttered as he eyes scanned Ichigo's dress.
"I made it." Ichigo answered simply, "You said if I had a dress I could go. So we should get going now, shouldn't we?"
Minto gasped as she pointed at the ribbon around Ichigo's waist, "T-That's my ribbon!"
Minta gasped as well, "And that's my Yellow string that sown into that dress! How disgusting! It's touching her!"
"Oh?" Matti said as she raised an eyebrow.
"Yes that's stuffs ours!" Minto and Minta cried out in unison as they ran up the Ichigo and began to rip off what was once theirs.
"No!" Ichigo shrieked, "PLEASE STOP!"
Minto and Minta backed up smirking at Ichigo, "Looks like you don't have a dress so you can't go to the ball."
Matti smirked as well, "Yes, Come on girls we don't want to be lat now."
Ichigo fell to her knees as she watched them walk out the door. Tears started to form in her eyes, spilling over her eyelids hot tears streamed down her face. All of her hope had been shattered. She would never see Kishu and again and he would never see her and most of all.
She had broken a promise she had made to herself.
She had cried.
A/n: ((sniff)) Poor Ichigo. I can't believe how much I'm making her suffer! ((Feels guilty)) Oh well! I can't believe I actually finished this chapter. I'm serious, I had SUCH a hard time writing this chapter, not because of writers block but because I just wasn't in the mood. So I had to make sure I got on my lab top that doesn't have internet on it just so I wouldn't get distracted. ((Sweatdrops)) anyways the eleventh chapter of 'Prince Kish' will be up soon (I hope)! Well the next chapter is called 'The Ball Part One.' Till then! Ja Ne!
- Daisuke-fan-gurl
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