Author Note: I've hit the 100 mark! And my 100th reviewer was Rachelle! Thank you so much! Replies and the rest of the author note will be at the end. Thanks again!

.: .The Lost Princess.: .

CHAPTER EIGHT--'RYO TANAKA'

By: Cecile Li

Recap.: .

Her mother smiled enthusiastically. "I have the most wonderful news for you, Chihiro!" Her husband kicked her underneath the table, but she continued, undaunted. "You know that polite boy who lives next door? Ryo Tanaka? Well, guess what?!"

"What?" Chihiro answer, every bit as unenthusiastic as her mother was enthusiastic. Her mind was reeling with images of all the horrible pranks Ryo Tanaka had pulled on her. The dirty worms in her lunchbox, the name-calling of 'Monkey-face', preying on her with those horrendously icky paintballs he hit her with, were all tricks from him.

"You're engaged to him! How nice is that?" Her mother watched her face for any sign of reaction.

Chihiro paled, then slumped over in a dead faint.

"Chihiro, dear," Chihiro's mother soothed gently, placing a fresh clothe on Chihiro's forehead, "You aren't upset are you? Ryo Tanaka is such a nice boy."

Chihiro blinked slowly. Where was she?

Then she remembered. She had fainted after her mother had told her, told her she was engaged to someone. Ryo Tanaka?!?!?!? There was no way she was engaged to that bastard!

Chihiro sat up quickly, her head aching with the sudden movement. Her mother pushed her down gently, but firmly.

Nice boy, Chihiro thought dazedly, groaning while rubbing her head, Nice boy?

"Mom?"

"Yes, Chihiro?"

"I'm sure I misheard. Who did you say I was engaged to again?" Please please please don't be Ryo Tanaka.

Her mother smiled brightly. "Ryo Tanaka. Isn't that so sweet?"

Chihiro gulped. Her worst dream come true. Chihiro sniffled, her eyes starting to cry. Why Ryo Tanaka? Why did her mom go and make her engaged to him? She hated him for heaven's sake!

The doorbell rang. Chihiro's mother got up hastily, brushing invisible pieces of lint off her apron. She hurried out of the room, walking to the door. Chihiro brushed her tears away, still sniffling.

"I've been expecting someone." Chihiro's mother called out cheerfully from the hall, pulling open the door. "Hello! Come in, Chihiro's in her room. Here, I'll show you her room."

Chihiro waited patiently, biting her nails like she always did these days. She hoped it was Keiko, her classmate from school. Keiko was so funny and always made her feel better. It'd be just like Keiko to stop by and see how she was doing.

Her mother laughed, still talking to the unknown guest. Bits of the conversation drifted into her room. Chihiro strained to hear what they were talking about.

"….Yes, I've told her…"

"…she's fine?…"

"…expecting bad reaction…"

Then the two started to walk toward her room. Chihiro sat up again, this time slowly and carefully. That was definitely a male voice. Oh no….it couldn't be…it couldn't be—

"Ryo Tanaka!" Chihiro shrieked, eyes widening in horror. Why couldn't it have been Keiko?

Ryo smiled warmly at her, his brown eyes taking in her appearance. His smile waned a bit when he realized she wasn't exactly overjoyed to see him. Quite the opposite, really.

Chihiro's mother looked at both of them, then decided to force them together. She smiled sweetly at her daughter and her (hopefully) future son-in-law. "I'll go get some tea. I'll be right back."

"Mom!" Chihiro called out at her mother's retreating back, panicking slightly. Her? Stuck in a room with Ryo Tanaka? No way!! "Mooooooooooooooooom!!!!!"

"Can I sit on your bed?" Ryo asked politely, eyes still on Chihiro.

"You can but you may not!" Chihiro snapped angrily, pulling her covers over herself.

"Here, let me help you." Ryo reached over and yanked the covers over her.

"No! I'm fine!" Chihiro shrieked again, getting more nervous by the second. She turned away from Ryo, refusing to look at him.

Ryo sat on her bed anyway, looking at the door, apparently dissatisfied with her manners.

Chihiro peeked at him. She had to admit, he was very handsome, though nothing like Haku. He was a popular person at school while she stayed out of the limelight, preferring to stay with her own group of friends. He was top in his class and was destined to be a Someone. I suppose, she thought, not nearly as angry as before, he's the kind of boy Japanese mothers dream about. I can't really blame mom.

Then Ryo turned. Chihiro started, blushing when she realized he had caught her staring at him. Then she blinked; he wasn't mad at all! If anything, his face was sad.

"I'm sorry." He apologized quietly, looking at her again with that look.

"For what?" Chihiro asked dumbly, still in shock that he was apologizing. "I mean…uh…I mean…" Chihiro stopped trying to say something nice. She couldn't say anything. She certainly hadn't forgiven him and she wasn't planning on it.

"I know you haven't forgiven me," He began again in that calm voice of his, looking away from her, "but I want to tell you that…the reason I did those awful things to you…were because I liked you."

Chihiro froze. She opened her mouth, then closed it. "That still doesn't atone for all those disgusting things you did to me." She spoke icily, surprising herself. She didn't think she had the guts to speak.

"But--" He tried to say, but Chihiro cut him off.

"Did you know," Chihiro interrupted defiantly, all fear of being rude leaving her now, "did you know that after you called me Monkey-Face, I cried all night? Did you know that?"

He spun suddenly, staring at her. His eyes were wide with a horrified look in them. "I…I…"

"You didn't know. You didn't know how mean you were to me. You think I can just toss my head and forget all that you did? I was so young then and you were so horrible to me. Don't you feel the least bit guilty?" Chihiro couldn't believe this. How could he be so naïve?

He gaped at her. "I-I do! You don't know how guilty I am!"

She gazed at him coolly. "Then why wait till now to apologize? Afraid your friends would find out? Afraid to associate with me?" Afraid I wouldn't forgive you? Well, you're right buddy, I won't!

Chihiro settled down onto her bed, closing her eyes. "You can go now. I don't need your apology." He didn't move, ignoring her words. Chihiro sighed mentally, maybe he would go away if she fell asleep.

A few minutes passed and Chihiro grew impatient. What was his problem? Why didn't he leave yet? Chihiro almost screamed with frustration but quickly remembered she was supposed to be asleep.

A noise broke the silence in the still room. Chihiro nearly jumped with surprise but managed to stay motionless. What was that noise?

She heard it again. Was it…was it crying? But who would cry?

She moved her head a bit, curious. This time she did jump. It was Ryo!

"What are you crying for?!" Chihiro exclaimed, amazed Ryo Tanaka, the perfect young man with the looks, the grades, and the money, would cry.

He smiled shakily through his tears. "You're not asleep?" Chihiro reddened, remembering. He smiled at her again, this time with sad eyes. "You're right. I should be going now. Good bye Chihiro."

"No wait!" Chihiro called out, getting out of bed and grabbing his hand. "I shouldn't have been so bold. I'm sorry."

He touched her hand, holding it. "You shouldn't be. You're right. Why didn't I apologize sooner?" Then he moved to leave.

"Why didn't you?" Chihiro asked one last time, dead set on knowing.

He turned around slowly. "You really want to know?" Chihiro nodded and he continued. "My mother wants me to marry Naoko, the mayor's daughter. She doesn't want me to marry you. She wanted to get me engaged to Naoko this week, but I asked your mother for an engagement.

My mother has planned my whole life for me. She's even planned the marriage to Naoko. She's very upset that I want to marry you."

Chihiro narrowed her eyes. "Then don't marry me!"

He smiled sadly. "I love you. My mother knows I do."

Chihiro suddenly noticed she was still holding his hand. She dropped it quickly then sat down. "Your mother wants you to marry Naoko. Maybe you should listen to her."

He frowned. "She's planned my whole life for me. It's time for me to take over my life. I didn't want to apologize earlier…because I thought that if I apologized, we would be on speaking terms again…and our families would be able to have dinner together, being neighbors, and my mother would have the chance to sabotage you."

Chihiro choked down a laugh. "Sabotage me?! She couldn't sabotage me if she was my own mother!"

"She wants me to marry Naoko very badly. She was so angry that my father agreed with me that she had a huge fight with my father and almost filed for a divorce."

Chihiro raised her eyebrows. "Why does she want you to marry her so much?"

"Some social problem. She wants me to marry Naoko so her own social position can rise and she can do whatever she wants through the mayor." Ryo smiled ruefully at her. "Can you forgive me now?"

Chihiro thought about it, then smiled. "I guess so. But don't expect me to marry you without a complaint!"

He nodded, looking relieved. "Now I really must go. May I have a kiss before I go?"

Chihiro drew in a breath. "What for?!"

He grinned impishly. "You are my fiancée."

"No!" She shouted indignantly, retreating to her bed.

"I thought as much. Good bye Chihiro." He waved before exiting her house.

"Bye!" Chihiro called through the window. Now where was her mother? Getting tea, yeah right!

Ryo walked quickly toward his house. He turned abruptly to check whether Chihiro was still in her window. When he saw that his fiancée wasn't there, he pulled out a silver cellphone. He dialed in a phone number.

"Naoko?" He listened for a moment before a big smile broke out across his good-looking face. His seemingly innocent face. "She fell for it, just like you thought. This plan is going to work after all. Love you, babe." He smirked calmly. Oh, Chihiro was just too easy to deceive.

Author Note: grins sheepishly This chapter is so cheesy and corny, I could dip tortilla chips in it, but really, I had to get rid of the tension between Ryo and Chihiro. Sorry!

By the way, does anyone read the author notes?

Thanks to: Moezy-chan (Chihiro doesn't go back by herself. Hint hint!), Fanficmaniac(The one thing I would never change is the fact that Haku loves Chihiro), Yana5(Lol, at least they don't hate each other anymore. Or rather, Chihiro doesn't hate Ryo anymore. Even if it was a stupid reason --;;;;;), Rachelle(hugs you're the 100th reviewer, thanks especially for that!), Kaoru Girl(I love your reviews, thank you!), tHe-aRisTocRatiC-aSSaSSiN (Okay, I won't! I'll try not to make it confusing), anonymous (I'll update as fast as I can!), Silver Petra, Rei( Lmao! Love that version!), Moonmage, Fire Kitsune Goddess (Yep, major twist), and Lil Pyro (Okay, I'll write more.)

3,

Cecile