Chapter 25

"Just a curious little question, Kyoko-san." Chiori asked while examining the dresses for her and Kanae, then taking in the design for Kyoko's.

Kyoko glanced back at her friends, not noticing Kanae shaking her head and running her fingers across her own throat, to tell Chiori not to ask what she was thinking. "Hm?"

"Well... I kind of understand my and Kanae's dresses. They're cut well, light and airy, somewhat formal, with the dark blue silk and amber colored trim. They're your favorite colors, after all... but I really don't understand why your's is all white with only the trim in dark blue, and your's is considerably more formal than ours." She asked and Kanae groaned a bit, of course she knew the reason.

Kyoko sighed. It's not like she would mind if Kuon won, but if another did... Well. "It's my wedding gown. I'll be wearing my dress armor at the coronation and tournament. This dress will be worn directly after if the victor is able to participate, if not I'll be wearing it for the ceremony after he heals. Then there will be the banquet, the ball and finally for two months... the hon-honeymoon." She blushed fiercely.

Chiori stared at her in shock. How could they allow something like this to happen? Didn't she have a choice in the matter?

Kyoko gave her a little bit of a sad smile. She saw the question in her eyes. She shook her head. "No, it's one of the burdens of being royalty. I can only hope that the one that I love will win..." She shook her head again. "No... I know he'll win. I just have to believe in him. He told me he would, and he will."

Kanae and Chiori had to fight the urge to hug their friend, they were still having the dresses fitted. They made a decision to take her for ice cream or dinner later. It had been a couple of weeks since she'd seen the couple from the Darumaya. Maybe that would cheer her up.

"I'm really not comfortable with her decision to leave the palace without at least one guardian, Kazu." Saena groused as she and Kazu sat in the garden enjoying their lunch.

He chuckled a little. "She'll be fine dear. She has Kotonami-san, and Amamiya-san with her, not to mention the Taisho and Okami are Kitsune, they will not allow any harm to come to her."

"What about that Special Mission Lory's giving her?" She asked curiously.

Kazu shook his head. "She'll be safe with Lord Kuon."

Saena's brow furrowed. "How can you be so sure? Won't someone recognize her?"

Kazu chuckled. "You'd be surprised. I saw a photo of her in disguise... Trust me you wouldn't know her if she was standing next to you, him either. Those two are amazing in their ability to conform to a new look and personality. Lory said that he'd send candid video of them. I trust that he'll keep her safe and hidden."

She gave him a somewhat skeptical look.

He shook his head. "It's for her own good my dear, and his. They both have trouble trusting others, and believing that they're worthy of love."

She furrowed her brow. "Kazu... What happens if Kuon doesn't win the tournament? What do we do then? Especially if she falls in love with him? Do you truly think this is a good idea?"

He nodded. "I saw the footage of his training. I have every confidence that he'll be the one to take her hand. Everything will be just fine, My Love." He assured her.

Kazu was rarely wrong. She would take his word for it, and plan on having Lord Kuon as their daughter's mate.

"Isn't there a way around it?" Chiori asked as they sipped the tea that the Okami made for the girls.

Kyoko sighed. "I'm not really sure. I honestly wouldn't know where to begin to look."

Kanae gave her a frustrated look. "Mo! With all the books and papers they've given us to study, there has to be something in there regarding the tournament and it's rules." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "And if we can't, you know Maria-chan can." She giggled. "I mean, she was able to turn Fuwa into a human, and that couldn't have been easy information to find." She reminded them of what Maria had quietly revealed about a week ago.

Kyoko shook her head. "I really don't want to get her involved in this. She's young and she doesn't need to burden herself with my troubles."

Chiori rolled her eyes, and glanced inconspicuously at Kanae. Kanae gave her a nod. Maria was going to find out regardless of whether Kyoko wanted her to or not. There had to be a way to spin things in Kyoko's favor, and at least have some good come out of the situation. If their friend absolutely had to marry, she should at least be able to choose her husband, not leave it up to fate or other circumstances. Most of the suitors on the list, according to her friends, weren't the most trustworthy. They wanted her to be happy, not miserable and betrayed. She'd had enough of that for one lifetime.

She was honestly regretting the fact that she'd turned down an escort at school. Yes, she did have a driver, and guard that would pick her up and escort her to work or home, but they would not accompany her in the halls. She didn't want to bring attention to herself or disrupt classes.

"Well, well... If it isn't the worthless, lovesick freak, that's willing to marry anyone that plays a game, with her as a prize. I have to say I'm a bit impressed; although, I suppose it would be easy to be your husband for show. A position that high, he would be able to have anyone he wants on the side and no one will say a word, not even you." He laughed, leaning against the wall. He shook his head before leaving. "Pathetic."

What he said was so patently offensive, she honestly didn't know how to respond, but the seed was planted and now she couldn't get it out of her mind. Technically she was a prize. She would be forced to marry the winner, and if he wanted to, he could definitely have lovers. She knew she wouldn't say anything about it, because she wouldn't want to bring that kind of attention to the Royal Family.

She would go from being someone's servant to being someone's wife in name only. She knew that Kuon loved her. He would never do anything like that to her. He had made his promise to her long before either of them even understood what the promise meant. She didn't even know the other men that were volunteering themselves to be her Prince, and later her King. She knew that it was a strong possibility that was the only reason they were participating, they wanted power and position. She shook her head at that thought. She was not going to allow that to happen.

At the end of the school day, she made her way out of school and to her guard and driver. She sat quietly in the back of the unmarked, black sedan, pulled out her phone and dialed.

"Mōko-san..." Her voice sounded so sad and hollow that Kanae was more than just a little worried. "What we talked about... Can you help me with it?"

"What happened?" Kanae asked. Kyoko wouldn't be asking for help like this if something hadn't tipped the scales dramatically, and made her start questioning how the tournament would turn out.

Kyoko sighed. "I got a visit from a cockroach..." She sighed. "I don't want to be the only one married. I don't want to be used again." She confessed quietly, so the driver and guard wouldn't hear the conversation.

Kanae sighed. "Mo... We'll discuss this when you get here. We'll figure something out. There has to be a way to prevent anything like that from happening. Okay?" She knew Kyoko was probably nodding in agreement. "Not another word or thought about that asshole. He's just trying to upset you. Do you want me to call Maria-chan and ask her to turn him into a human again, maybe a real cockroach this time?"

Kyoko giggled and shook her head. Kanae really knew how to cheer her up. "You don't need to do that Mōko-san, but thank you for thinking of it. I'll see you in a little while. I don't have to get ready for my Mission for another couple of hours."

"Okay, I'll see you in a few, and don't let what that jerk said upset you. He's just jealous." They ended their call as the car was turning into the parking garage. Kyoko would head straight up to the LoveME room and hopefully, she and Kanae could figure out how to ensure that she married the man she wanted. If she absolutely had to do this, she was going to do it her way.