Chapter 121 - Kiss

"Ara, will you marry me?"

Ryuu's soft yet firm voice echoed in her ears, and she blinked several times as if she hadn't absorbed his words yet.

Huh? What?

The hands that held her shoulders tightened and she realized time had passed and she hadn't given her answer. She was about to open her mouth to ask why he was asking her when they were already engaged. It's not as if there was another option for her anyway.

Then she felt the very slight trembling of his hands on her shoulders. It was night time, and since his back was turned towards the light, it was hard to see his face, but his tensed stance told her that he was nervous.

Only Ara then realized how foolish, naïve and thoughtless she had nearly become. If she had said those words she almost did, it would have been a total disrespect to Kou's sincere feelings.

This man, this powerful man had kept on doing things he didn't have to just for her. She should think more about him from now on. Ara's uncertainty vanished, and she swallowed her stupid question while her heart filled with a certain kind of warmth.

Feeling the tightening of his hands on her shoulders, Ara cleared her throat. "Sorry," she apologized for taking too long to answer, but Kou misunderstood, and let go of her, his handsome face closing up like a frozen mask.

Ara wanted to hit herself at that moment. She had to act fast.

"I mean I'm so sorry for making you wait for my answer. I was surprised," she said immediately as she threw herself at him – with the pup yelping at the sudden movement. "Of course I'll marry you – you dummy."

Ryuu caught her in his arms and stared at her smiling face as if he couldn't believe what's happening. He had thought he had already been rejected earlier when she apologized.

"Y-You will marry me?"

"Of course – who else am I going to marry?" she grinned up at him, and watched as the rigid mask on his face vanished, and his ice-blue gaze turned into warm pools as he stared at her.

"Thank you for this very cute puppy," she said demurely, as she stared lovingly at the panting little canine in her arm.

Kou's lips twitched in amusement at her words. "Err… No, I'm giving you the ring, not the dog," he corrected her, and when she frowned, he cleared his throat. "He comes with marriage though."

This naughty big husky! Taking such a cute hostage!

Ara elbowed him playfully in the rib, but Kou pulled her closer as he made her let go of the pup which jumped back down to the floor. It happily circled their feet, yapping excitedly as Ryuu lifted Ara's face and leaned over for a kiss.

The two of them were oblivious to the collective sighs around them, as several pairs of eyes watched them seal their engagement surreptitiously from the house. Everyone knew the Koutaishidenka would be proposing tonight, and were cheering him on from the shadows.

They all had been very nervous earlier when the Young Master popped the question and Ara didn't answer immediately. When they heard her say sorry, their hearts had stopped, some even felt like crying. It was a good thing it was just a misunderstanding and that they were now formally engaged.

"You go, bro," Aki whispered at the sight.

It was very weird watching his little sister got kissed by a guy, but since he's on the Koutaishidenka's side, he felt genuinely happy for them.

Kazehaya Gin, ever the drama boy, was wiping imaginary tears at the corner of his eyes as he too felt relieved and happy for the couple. However, there was something that's still missing.

When Ryuu kissed Ara, they had pivoted and exchanged positions, and so Ryuu was now facing the room where they came from – where the single dog cheering squad was.

Kazehaya Gin stepped out of the engawa and did some weird waves and dances just to attract Ryuu's vision – which he successfully did after a few butt jigs. When the Koutaishidenka's eyes were on him, Gin signaled for him to give the ring to Ara by pointing at his finger and making gestures of slipping a ring in his finger.

Ryuu raised a hand to say he understood, and Gin immediately returned to the room, as the lovers stopped kissing.

Ara looked flushed and dazed with her swollen lips, and Ryuu's face softened with a smile. He crouched on the floor to scoop up the Siberian husky puppy to remove the ring from its collar. He took her hand afterwards and slipped the exquisite diamond solitaire ring in her finger, but continued to hold her as they both admired the jewelry on her hand. 

It was a huge four-carat diamond solitaire with pavé diamonds on the platinum band. Ara then recognized the ring. It was one of the engagement rings on the Cartier Destinee Solitaire series. She knew because the old Ara was the brand's fan.

A thought crossed her mind, as she turned to stare at Ryuu's face. "Did you know I like Cartier?" she asked, and his smile turned into a big grin which answered her question.

Oh, so that's why…

Another wave of warm feeling assailed her. Ryuu for her at the moment seemed so adorable; she wanted to kiss him again. Not a simple peck on the lips, but a full-blown out of space or out of this world type of kiss that the girls told her about.

Huh?

Ara froze. What was this indecent thought in her head?

Ryuu noticed her sudden stiffness and frowned. "What's wrong?"

Ara snapped out of her reverie after scolding herself twice. "Ah, nothing. I just had a bad thought."

"What bad thought?" the Koutaishidenka prompted his eyes curious.

Ara who was totally new to this type of thing replied honestly. "I was thinking of giving you an out of this world kiss – but forget about it." She smiled sheepishly, hoping he'd ignore her madness.

But of course, he wouldn't let this pass.

"Let's do it then," Ryuu suggested as he started to lean over again.

Ara's eyes widened in alarm. "Ah no – no need, really," she excused as she backed away, but the prince held her in place.

"Of course there's a need. These types of thoughts of yours towards me should be put into practice no?" He teased, and his lips pressed against hers again in another out of this world kiss.