Hi, long time no see. I know what you're thinking and yes, I do have I good excuse. I had to take the ACT and then my computer crashed and I only had it fixed yesterday.

Anyways, I want to thank Katsura tree, Just Obsessed, YuYuHakushoObsessor, Narnia42, and KiyUzumaki for reviewing, your support means a lot.

Also, I want to thank YuYuHakushoObsessor, ShardX, ilrab, and felinesarefabulous for following my story. And I want to thank TheDarkLady55, ilrab, YuYuHakushoObsessor, and ShardX for favoriting my story.

Now all of you go read this very over due chapter.

I blinked open my eyes and looked at my clock. 'Seven thirty. The Ohtori's will be here in an hour and a half to pick me up. But my head still hurts, I don't want to get up!'

I groaned and pulled the covers over my head. I honestly didn't want to go anywhere today. My head was throbbing, I hadn't slept well, and I felt exhausted.

I uncovered my face and stared at the ceiling before sighing. 'Nothing is going to happen to stop me from going so I just better get up and start getting ready. I'll have all day to rest during the ride there.'

With this mind set I dragged myself out of bed and grabbed a blue sweater dress with a dark grey fashion belt and dark grey leggings. After changing, I stumbled out of my room to find Kairi so she could get me some medicine for my head.

Unfortunately, instead of running into Kairi, I ran into my younger siblings, Hiroki and Sakura. "Hey Madoka, you're going to the gala today, right?" Sakura asked eagerly.

I nodded my head numbly as Hiroki pulled on the edge of my dress as he asked, "Madoka, can I come with you?"

"No," I answered.

Immediately tears filled his eyes as he whimpered, "why can't I come? Do you not like me?"

"No, that's not it," I said quickly, trying to prevent the flood of tears that I knew was coming. "It's just that I'm going to a grown-up event. You wouldn't have any fun if you were to come, okay?"

"Okay!" Hiroki said, instantly happy again.

"Remember to bring my back a fan!" Sakura said as she tugged on my arm.

"Oh! And I want a Katana! Don't forget my katana!" Hiroki chimed.

"And candy!" Sakura said.

"Candy?" I asked. "But you can get candy here."

"Candy! Candy! Candy!" Sakura and Hirko chanted as they jumped up and down.

"Fine, whatever. I'll get you two candy," I said hoping they would stop.

"Yay!" They cheered.

"Good grief," I mumbled.

Luckily for my, Sakura and Hiroki's personal maids/nannies came to get my younger siblings. As I watched them being ushered down the hall, Kairi came up behind me with some advil and a glass of water.

"Thanks," I said as I grabbed the advil and threw the pills into my mouth before swallowing them with a gulp of water. "I needed that," I said as I handed the empty glass back to Kairi.

"I figured you would," she said as she slung an arm over my shoulder.

"I'm really gonna miss you," I said as I leaned onto Kairi.

"Well I'm not gonna miss you," Kairi said teasingly. "I'm going to enjoy every second of my vacation."

"You're mean," I whined.

"I'm just kidding," Kairi siad.

"I know," I said as I shrugged off her arm. Then as I started walking down the hallway, I nonchalantly said, "I want to have breakfast before I forget."

"Alright," Kairi said as she ran in front of me to go make my breakfast.

XXXXXXX

"Miss, master Kyoya is here."

"Okay," I said to the maid who had come into my room to announce Kyoya's arrival.

I shoved the book I had been reading into my purse before straightening my quilt and leaving my room. I walked down the hallway with butterflies in my stomach from my excitement and nervousness.

I reached the entry and Kairi was standing there with my coat in hand next to Kyoya. I gave Kyoya a small smile and a nervous "hi," as I slipped into my coat. Kyoya gave me a sly smile as my parents came in to see me off.

"Take care, Madoka," mom said as she wrapped me in a big hug,

I rolled my eyes as I saw tears rolling out of my mom's eyes. "Mom, I'm just gong to be gone for four days, I'll be fine. Besides, Kyoya will be with me."

"You're right," mom said wiping her eyes. "Kyoya, take good care of her."

"I will ma'am," Kyoya said, giving my mom a charming smile.

Then my dad grabbed me by the shoulders and pushed me towards Kyoya. As he did this he said, "I'm entrusting Madoka into your care. I'm counting on you to take good care of her."

"Don't worry, Mr. Yamada, I will." And with that, I gave my parents a final good-bye before climbing into Kyoya's limo.

As we drove away Kyoya looked over at me and asked, "how's your head today?"

I grimaced before saying, "better but I still had to take some pain killer this morning; I'll probably need some more later. Luckily, dad sent me with a bottle so I'm set."

Kyoya looked amused as he said, "let me see." As he said this, he gently grabbed my head then turned and tilted it so that he could inspect my cut.

I felt him part my hair and brush his finger over the cut, causing me to wince. "Hmm," he said. "It looks like it's healing well, though it will probably leave a scar. Fortunately, your thick hair should totally cover it."

"That's good new, I guess," I said as pulled away from Kyoya and ran a finger through my hair.

We were quiet for a while then I broke the silence saying, "when are we supposed to get there?"

Kyoya looked at his watch before answering, "let's see... We didn't leave your house till nine fourty-five and it will take about four hours of driving with, let's say, about an hour for stops; so we should arrive there at about three fourty-five."

"Okay, I guess I have plenty of time to relax." As I stretched my arms over my head I looked over at Kyoya and said, "oh, by the way, where's the rest of your family?"

"They left yesterday. My father didn't want us to miss more school than what was necessary so he had us come today," Kyoya answered casually.

"Oh, okay," I said, turning my face to the window. I soon got bored with that and picked up my book and started reading it.

"What are you reading?" Kyoya asked after I had been reading for a minute.

"Rapunzel Let Down," I said looking up from my book. "By Regina Doman. It's a modern retelling of the classic Rapunzel fairy tale. It's absolutely my favorite book."

"Sounds like the sort of thing you would read," Kyoya said turning back to the window.

'What's that supposed to mean?' I asked my self before shrugging and turning my attention back towards my story, ready to lose myself in a tale of adventure and romance during the long drive to the Kazahara's estate.

XXXXXXX

It was seven thirty when we arrived at the Kazahara estate. I was so relieved to be out of the limo. There had been a car accident in front of us so that delayed us for an hour. Then we got stuck in traffic and after that we hit a detour which added to our drive time. All in all, it was one long day.

"We're finally here," I said in relief as Kyoya and I walked up the circular driveway. "All I want to do now is go to bed, but if I did that it would be rude."

"Don't worry," Kyoya said as we climbed the steps up to the front door. "You'll manage to stay awake long enough to be polite. Besides, we can always sleep in tomorrow."

"Yeah," I said meekly before a maid opened the door.

When we told her who we were, she immediately ushered us inside and led us down a hall till we reached a large room. As we entered the room I saw that it was a western styled living room. It was a large room with a reading nook on the right side of the room and couches arranged in a rectangle, minus a side, around a fireplace on the left side of the room.

And there, sitting on the couches were Mr. and Mrs. Ohtori, Kyoya's two older brothers, and an older couple whom I recognized as Mr. and Mrs. Kazahara from the pictures Kyoya had shown me. (It was only the Ohtori family because the Ohtori's and the Kazahara's are personal friends)

"Kyoya! Madoka! You're finally here!" Mrs. Kazahara said energetically as she got up from her seat and came over to us. Then she shook Kyoya's and my hand while saying, "I heard you two got stuck in traffic, but I'm glad you're here now.

It's so nice to meet you, Madoka," she said turnng to me. "The Ohtori's have been telling me all about you. I just couldn't wait to meet you. Mrs. Ohtori showed me a picture of you but you're even more beautiful in person."

"T-Thank you, Mrs. Kazahara," I said while blushing.

"Oh, you're so cute, Madoka! It's okay if call you Madoka, right?" Mrs. Kazahara asked anxiously.

'She's super hyper, especially for someone who's nearly fifty.' "Of course it's okay for you to call me Madoka, we are going to be friends, right?" I said brightly while giving her a sweet smile.

"Of course we're going to be friends, Madoka!" Mrs. Kazahra said happily. Then, leading me to a couch she said, "here, you can sit by me."

"Thank you," I said. As I sat down I glanced first at Kyoa and then at Mr. Ohtori, both of them were giving me looks of approval.

'I can't believe it was this easy to make a good impression.'

After half an hour of talking I started tuning out the conversation as exhaustion over took me. I stifled a yawn and Mrs. Kazahara looked over at me and said, "Madoka, you and Kyoya have had a long day, you must be tired. Why don't I have a maid show you two to your room?"

"We would appreciate that," I said gratefully.

An elderly maid entered the room and led Kyoya and I through a maze of hallways before stopping in front of a door.

"Who's room is this?" I asked as the maid opened the door.

The maid gave me a strange look before saying, "this room is for both of you. My mistress assumed that since you're engaged you wouldn't mind sharing. Mr. Ohtori already approved of this arrangement, I thought you knew."

"Being so tired I must have forgotten," I said hastily, "thank you for reminding me."

Kyoya put a hand on my shoulder, then he said, "thank you for showing us to our room. My fiancee and I will have to excuse ourselves. Please give your master our regards."

The maid nodded and went away as Kyoya led us into the room. The room was huge, it looked like a fancy hotel room. Our luggage was in a huge walk-in-closet and we had our own private five piece bath attached to the bedroom. The wall opposite the door was floor to ceiling windows draped with satin curtains and there was white plush carpet and mahogany furniture.

Everything was perfect except for one small detail; there was only one bed. Granted, it was a king sized bed but still it was just only one bed.

I looked at the bed and blushed. Kyoya looked at me sideways before saying, "don't worry, we aren't married yet so I won't do anything to you. Why don't you go change?"

I nodded my head numbly before going to the bathroom and changing into a long sleeve, calf-length, dark purple night gown with grey accents.

When I exited the bathroom Kyoya just glanced at me before turning back to his laptop which made me relieved and a little disappointed all at the same time.

I crawled under the sheets and laid down. I glanced at Kyoya, he had changed into some black pajama bottoms and a white T-shirt while I had changed.

I closed my eyes and, despite my nervousness, I quickly fell asleep. Because I was asleep, I didn't see Kyoya run his finger down my cheeks nor did I see him kiss my head softly before he went to sleep.

So I hope you liked the chapter. Again, sorry about the late update.

One more thing, the book Madoka is reading in this chapter is a real book, I do not own it by any means, all rights go to Regina Doman and all of you should read that book because it's amazing.

Next time: A Chance Encounter.

-Karolyn Grace