Sakura wasn’t prepared for today. In fact, she wasn’t at all prepared for any of this to happen to her. There she was, standing in the middle of the endless runway, watching Akira expertly doing her walk, her slim hips slightly swaying as she elegantly held one hand to the long dress, showing it off. Meanwhile, a few other girls were heading back toward her.
Thump! Thump! Thump! What was she supposed to do? She nervously glanced at Mr. Tachibana, who nodded at her to start walking.
Don’t think, she told herself. Just listen to the music. That was when she heard it. Why hadn’t she heard it before? It was lovely Japanese traditional music mixed with modern pop, and it caused her heart to soar like a bird. She felt as though a pair of white feathery wings had just grown out of her back and were taking her up higher into the air.
Then she did it. She walked. She was actually doing her walk in time with the music. She wasn’t thinking of her stage fright, nor was she thinking of the audience. She was now in her own world, a world where spring existed forever, where she was surrounded by cherry blossoms and the pale petals rained down on her.
Then it happened. In the distance, in her mind’s eye, she conjured up seven samurais. They were standing right there before her, dressed in the Japanese traditional clothing, and at their sides, they held katanas, ready to fight for their loved ones. As she walked closer to them, she noticed two very distinct samurais. Both were very handsome, tall, and muscularly built. One had blond hair and blue eyes, the other sinful black hair and mauve-gray eyes. They were both staring at her, their eyes intent on her.
Sakura felt her heart jolt within her chest.
She was coming toward the end of the runway now. That was when the music soared and the singer raised her exotic voice higher. It was so beautiful it took Sakura’s breath away and tears brewed in her eyes. Then she stopped right at the end of the runway and the light flashed around the audience randomly. Sakura decided to lift her head just then, and that was when she saw them.
She was so shocked to see them she nearly fainted right there in the center of the stage while thousands of people watched her, marveling at her exotic gown and exquisite necklace. No, she mustn’t faint. She must not.
Finally, she managed to take control of herself and stood as proudly as she could, posing elegantly, showing off the gown and the necklace under the bright light.
Oh God! Please don’t let them see me! Please don’t let them recognize me!
Her hope, however, died a sudden death, for standing there before her were the seven Princeton brothers, staring at her on stage as if they’d just witnessed an angel descending from heaven.
Heart thumping furiously within his chest, Darcy couldn’t believe it. After a full year of intense searching, here she was, standing right there before them onstage.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Oh God, his heart was going to burst out of his chest any moment now. Darcy, however, didn’t bother to tell his heart to stop beating so fast and so furious. In fact, he encouraged it. The pain and the pleasure, they were both there within his being.
Snow! My Snow! Tears brewed in his eyes as he watched her. His Snow, with pink hair and wearing the most beautiful gown he’d ever seen. Slowly, he walked toward her.
Sebastian felt his heart jolting within his chest furiously. He couldn’t believe it. Sakura! She was right there standing before them. Oh God! His heart was going to burst out of his chest any moment. Sakura! She was back. He felt his heart heaving with pain and pleasure. Slowly, he walked toward her, his legs weak.
Sakura panicked the moment she realized the brothers had recognized her after all. She instantly knew for a fact they weren’t going to let her go that easily. She hastily turned on her heel and started walking back. As she went, she noted Nicolas, Tristan, Hayden, and Conrad were following her on her left amongst the crowd below the elevated platform. On her right were Sebastian, Darcy, and Logan. Oh God! Please make them stop following me. Please, God!
Finally, she reached the end of the runway and breathed with relief. Now was her chance to escape. She rushed down the stairs, taking two steps at a time, never mind the four-inch heels that were burning her feet.
She was about to go free when Mr. Tachibana caught her by the arm and said, “We’re not done yet, my dear.”
Suddenly, she found herself being dragged back onto the catwalk. Then, only a moment later, she was striding down the runway yet again with Mr. Tachibana by her side. She noted he was waving happily. No doubt his show was a success, she thought. Sakura’s mission, however, wasn’t at all a success. In fact, it was a total failure, and not only that, she now had herself in a big mess.
She noted the brothers were still onto her. Please, she thought, let this finish soon so I can run away.
Her prayer, however, didn’t reach God, and hence, it didn’t come true, as once all the models returned to the end of the stage, Mr. Tachibana began to make a speech.
Sakura glanced to her left and noted both Sebastian and Darcy watching her intensely. Her heart raced and her stomach flipped. She gritted her teeth. Why here? Why now?
Suddenly, Mr. Tachibana took her hand and raised it up high with his as he bowed. Sakura didn’t know what to do and decided to awkwardly bow as well. Then there were loud cheers and clapping. Finally, they started exiting the runway, and Sakura sighed with relief. Once they got backstage, Sakura thought this was it.
“Tachibana-sama,” Ms. Ruka said. “We have a request. Mr. Princeton would like to meet with our finale girl.”
Sakura gasped. No! No! No!
She released her hand from Mr. Tachibana’s grasp and shook her head.
“I can’t. I’m busy,” she said and made to run. She was dashing to the right when, to her horror, she found Sebastian standing there, his large frame blocking her exit. Her heart jolted again, and she wanted to cry. Blast him, she thought. What the hell was he doing here anyway? She needed to get away and fast. She didn’t want to see him, or any of his brothers for that matter.
She turned and dashed in the opposite direction. Her body, however, slammed into another hard, masculine body. Oomph! Strong arms wrapped around her, and Sakura looked up to see mauve-gray eyes watching her. Her heart somersaulted and her breath caught at the back of her throat.
Darcy! My dear Darcy!
She gazed up at him, his large body against hers and his arms wrapped around her, embracing her tighter, indicating he’d never let her go.
Darcy stared down at the woman who’d been responsible for his hell this past year, his sleepless nights and aching heart. She was now here and in his arms once again, and he would never let her go, ever again. Oh God! How his heart ached. How he felt so much pleasure and so much pain seeing her again.
Sakura felt like she wanted to cry. The last time she’d seen Darcy was when he’d been unconscious and in the hospital after he’d tried to save her from drowning. Now he was here, standing before her, embracing her and breathing his warm breath on her skin, causing her body to tingle with beautiful sensation and something familiar that stirred deep within her soul.