Mr. Tachibana was ready to tear his hair off. He was stalking toward the line of models who were wearing his latest spring-summer collection, waiting to go on the runway here at the famous Princeton Hotel in New York. And yet, his finale, his best piece--his pride and joy--couldn't be on the show because his first choice of model refused to come on stage? Because she wanted a limo and a proper escort? Yes, Mr. Tachibana was ready to scream the hotel down and kill himself when suddenly he spotted his master piece on the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. She really took his breath away as he gazed at her. Instantly, he calmed down and cocked his head to one side.
Oh my Lord, she looked exactly like that spring Goddess he had seen in his dream. She was beautiful. She awed him. She was perfect. But she wasn't Sakura Taito. At this moment, however, Mr. Tachibana had no choice. Then there was also the fact that he was so impressed and taken by the pink hair beauty that he just didn't care anymore and raced forward.
He came to stop mere inches away from Sakura and stared at her long and hard.
Sakura was taken by surprise. Oh God, she thought, he was going to rip her to pieces. And where the hell was Jane?
Mr. Tachibana reached out and arranged the diamond necklace around Sakura's neck properly. "Now you're perfect," he said, his eyes shining.
Ms. Ruka appeared behind him and looked at Sakura. "But she's not Sakura?"
Mr. Tachibana waved his assistant aside. "Doesn't matter. She's perfect. Get ready girls, we're on in five."
Sakura could only stare at Ms. Ruka, her heart thumping loud and hard within her chest. Finally, she thought, she was able to meet her biological mother. Here of all places.
Sakura licked her lips, and was about to say something to Ms. Ruka when the woman walked away after Mr. Tachibana.
Akira chuckled. "What? Are you taken by him?" she asked.
Sakura turned to look at Akira in confusion. "What? You mean Mr. Tachibana?"
Akira laughed. "No silly, I mean Haruka Tanaka. Or I should say Ms. Ruka."
Sakura blinked in confusion. Akira could only laugh even more at Sakura. She said, "Haruka Tanaka was a man. She looks pretty as a woman, yes?"
Sakura's brain went numbed. Wait! What?
She turned to Akira. "What do you mean?"
"Haruka Tanaka had a sex change. She was a he before," Akira said, emphasizing the word 'he'.
Suddenly, Sakura felt her world spinning around her. Then when that information finally sunk in, she gasped. She couldn't believe it. She was here to see the woman who was supposedly her biological mother named Haruka Tanaka, and here she was, finally meeting that particular woman who turned out to be a transgender. Sakura wanted to die.
She turned to Akira, just to confirm that the information she had just received was a fact--a real, hard fact. "You mean Ms. Haruka Tanaka who liked to be call Ms. Ruka was actually a male?"
Akira smiled and nodded her head pleasantly. "Hai."
Sakura felt as though her heart was going to burst out of her chest any second now. But she didn't have time for that when only a few lines down some girls were giggling loudly.
"Really? Oh my Gosh! I have to do my best then," one said.
"I can't wait until this is over and we get to meet the brothers," another said.
"I'm going for Tristan. He's so hot." One giggled.
"Be careful, he's a one night stand."
"I don't care. He's totally hot."
"The hottest one is Sebastian."
"I'm going for Darcy. I think he's the hottest. He's also one of the youngest billionaire in the world, according to Ford's magazine. That new game he created was amazing. What was it? Snow White and the Seven Knights or something. It literally took over the gaming world by storm, so my brother said."
"Oh I'm totally into dark hair guys."
Sakura gritted her teeth, and her stomach flipped uncomfortably. Oh God! They were here? Now? Yes, she knew this was their hotel. Yes, she knew they all now lived in New York. But she knew for a fact that she'd never have to meet them again since there were millions of people living in New York. In fact, she had been hiding from them and had been avoiding them for a year now. She had done that marvelously, and she wasn't going to ruin that great record by stomping down the runway and letting them see her in her full glory, was she?
She was about to bolt when Akira caught her by the arm and said, "We're on."
Sakura froze. Now? On stage now?
At that moment, a couple girls up ahead of them glanced at Sakura.
"So that's the famous Sakura from Japan? She's short," one said.
"And she gets to wear the best gown," another muttered. "Just because she's Japanese."
"And the best necklace," yet another said.
"She doesn't look Japanese to me," another commented.
Sakura, however, wasn't listening to them. She was too busy being freaked out by the thought of going out there on the runway. The girls giggled and pretended to fall on each other, bumping into Sakura.
Sakura fell to her knees, causing the delicate mask to fall from her face, landing on the concrete floor and breaking into pieces.
"Shit!" she swore under her breath, staring at the broken mask.
"Hey, what was that for?" Akira shouted at the girls. "You definitely did that on purpose."
The girls laughed. "You got a problem with that, Kimono girl?"
Akira gritted her teeth and was about to head over to give them a piece of her mind when Mr. Tachibana appeared. "What happened?" he asked, his face red.
Sakura looked up. Mr. Tachibana could only stare at her in disbelief.
"Sorry, the mask, it's broken," Sakura said apologetically.
"It wasn't her fault," Akira interrupted.
"It was an accident," Sakura said, feeling pleased all of a sudden. "I suppose I can't go on after all."
Mr. Tachibana didn't answer. He simply stared at Sakura, his eyes wide in wonder. Without the mask on, she was simply too beautiful for words, especially with the gold glitter lining the recently broken mask still stuck to her flawless face. And those two different colors eyes of her. They were simply amazing. One was the color of summer, a bright azure blue like the wide-open spring sky. The other was the color of the cold winter, a mauve grey that he'd never seen before.
Mr. Tachibana couldn't be more pleased.
"Tachibana-sama, we're on," Ms. Ruka shouted from the other side.
Mr. Tachibana nodded. He said to Sakura, "Do your best. I'm depending on you."
Sakura blinked. Come again?
"You're my best work. Don't you dare let me down."
Sakura blinked. Is he crazy? She'd never done a catwalk before, let alone on a runway this big and in front of the richest and most famous people of all.
Suddenly, Mr. Tachibana was gone and the music blared all around them. The line started to move up, and Sakura shook from head to toe. Oh God, she felt sick. Very sick.
Then she realized something. My mask! She needed her mask. How could she go out there without a mask on like everyone else? What if the Princeton brothers were out there? What if they recognized her? Even with this pink hair, glittered face, and fancy gown?
Breathe, Sakura, breathe! She closed her eyes, wondering what she should do.
"I'm next," Akira said lightly. "And then it's you. Don't forget. Don't think about what you're doing. Just listen to the music and walk."
Sakura nodded, and then Akira was gone, as Mr. Tachibana and Ms. Ruka signaled for her to go.
"Sakura!" Jane suddenly appeared and called out to her. "What are you doing?"
Sakura was about to explain when Mr. Tachibana grabbed her by the arm and nudged her onto the stage.
*
CHAPTER 8
Destiny
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 a 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 tune 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 with 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 on 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 on to 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 for a 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.
She gained control of herself and moved out of his embrace. She took a few steps back, her whole body shaking uncontrollably. Then she found herself bumping against Sebastian and in his arms. She panicked and glanced up to see azure-blue eyes gazing down at her. There were both pain and pleasure in those beautiful eyes.
Sakura bit her lip and wanted to cry out in outrage. Why here? Why now?
She wasn't ready for this. She wasn't ready to meet them again. She hadn't prepared herself--both mentally and emotionally. Both of them had affected her too much last spring after they'd confessed their love for her. She herself had fallen in love--not with just one of them, but with both. How could a woman fall in love with two men at the same time? Even more shocking when those men were brothers!
She freed herself from his arms and stood in the middle, tears in her eyes. She had to get away.
Suddenly, Tristan appeared before her, his face only a few inches from hers. He grinned. "Interesting," he said. "Is that your idea, Mr. Tachibana? The two different eye colors?"
Mr. Tachibana cocked his head to one side and was about to say something when Logan said, "One blue eye and one gray eye. They look oddly familiar, don't you think, Tristan?" r />
"God, you guys are annoying," Hayden said and then turned to Sakura. "Come on. Mom and Dad are waiting."
"Sakura!" Conrad said, watching her. "Why did you leave us?"
Sakura wanted to cry when she saw Conrad's upset face. She didn't know what to say and suddenly felt awfully hot and dizzy. "I'm sorry. I... I have to go and change."
Confused, she started walking away. As she headed toward the dressing room, she noted the brothers were following her again. Couldn't they just leave her be?
She glanced to her right and saw Sebastian, Hayden, and Conrad behind her, following her but at the same time keeping a good distance. On her right, she saw Darcy, Logan, and Tristan following her, also keeping a good distance. She felt like she had six bodyguards with her and felt awfully trapped.
She glanced ahead of her. Yes! Thank God! People! So many people. Busy people going about everywhere, shouting, screaming, and scrambling. It was backstage after all.
That was when Jane appeared. Thank goodness! Sakura rushed up to her friend, her heart pounding. She knew there was a slim chance she'd be able to escape, and she'd take it if it killed her.
"What's wrong?" Jane asked the moment she saw Sakura's pale face.
Suddenly, a bunch of people rushed around them, and Sakura took that chance. "Don't tell them who I am, okay?" She hastily lifted her feet one by one and took the damn heels off. Bare feet and a lot more comfortable, she begged Jane, "Please, I beg you. Don't tell them anything about me. I'll explain later."
She handed Jane the shoes and then dashed away, her person blocked by hundreds of people, hiding her from the brothers' view. She raced toward the exit, shoved it open, and then sprinted down the stairs. That was close, she thought and continued running.