Tears spilt freely down Ichigo’s face as Ryou slid the ring down her finger.  She held out her hand to look at its beauty.  It glinted in the moonlight and was truly the most precious thing she could ever have received from Ryou.

“Yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!” Ichigo jumped up yelling in pure joy. She tackled Ryou who was still kneeling on the ground and lay there on top of him and kissed him endlessly.  Ryou slid his arms over Ichigo’s back and squeezed her tightly.

“This is the best day of my life,” he whispered into her ear.  “We should probably get up and share the good news with everyone huh?” Ryou got up and brushed himself off and leant down and helped Ichigo stand up.

“Wait.  I don’t wasn’t anyone to know. Let them figure it out for themselves it’ll be funny,” Ichigo said wiping her “happy tears” away.

“Alright whatever you wish, my princess,” Ryou emphasized on the possessive pronoun and Ichigo smiled so happily.

The couple walked hand in hand back to where everyone else was partying.  Ryou was heading back to the table while Ichigo pulled him to the dance floor.  With a forceful tug, Ichigo won the battle and in the middle of the whole luau they were dancing for everyone to see.

“Look!  Ichigo got Ryou to dance!” Pudding pointed over to the center of the dance floor.  “Come on Taruto!”  Pudding, being the hyper person she is, grabbed Taruto like he was a bag of potatoes and threw him towards the dance floor.  Taruto shuffled his feet uncomfortably while Pudding rocked out by herself.  

“Aww come on Taru-taru, dance with me!” Pudding called out to her supposed boyfriend.  She took his hands in hers and placed them on her hips.  “This is how you dance.”  She began to sway them to the beat, causing Taruto to blush uncontrollably.  Pudding giggled and moved closer to Taruto, only succeeding in getting him far more uncomfortable, but eventually, he calmed down a bit.

Kish slumped over on the table.  “Pai, I’m bored,” he whined.  

“Then go dance,” Pai replied not taking his eyes away from his book.  Kish sighed and shook his head.  

“I can’t.  Ichigo is nowhere to be found and there are no other hot human girls to prey on.” Kish dramatically flopped his head onto the table and sighed loudly. Pai saved the page he was reading and laid the book onto the table.  

“Then let’s go pick some up.” He grabbed Kish by the arm and dragged him over to the bar where a couple of girls were trying to get drinks.  Kish found a girl with light brown hair and a strapless dress receiving a cocktail from the bartender.

“Hey,” Pai said seductively as his piercing amethyst eyes drew her in.  “I saw you eyeing me from way over here, why didn’t you come say hi?”

“Uh-uhm, because, I-I don’t know you.” The girl stammered as Pai pulled her away from her bar stool.

“Dance with me,” he said turning her into him on the dance floor.  Pai gave Kish a look and nodded as the girl slowly began swaying her hips onto Pai.

Smooth as silk.

Kish went over to the bar and picked out a blonde girl that looked just like Ichigo, except she was blonde.  

“Hey, mind if I steal you for a dance?” Kish attempted the sexual innuendo while not trying to be too sleazy.  Not the best idea.  You will always look sleazy.

“Ugh grow up,” as she smacked Kish across his right cheek, grabbed her beer and bolted out of sight.

“So much for that,” Kish said as he rubbed his face tenderly.  He sighed in frustration and ordered a shot of tequila from the barkeep.  He received his drink and downed it as fast as he could.  Then he looked into the dance floor.  He saw Ichigo dancing with Ryou.  Her hand passed through the firelight and he saw something glint on her finger.  ‘Okay, no more drinks for me,’ Kish thought to himself as he shook his head.  He looked over to Ichigo again and saw her hand glint in the light once more.

“What the hell is that?” Kish squinted his eyes and concentrated on “the shiny”.  “That can’t be.  She is!” he raced onto the dance floor to find Pai.  When he finally found him and the girl getting cozy in a secluded corner, Kish pulled him away.  

“What the hell was that for,” Pai shot at Kish, apparently pissed off.  

“Pai this is important.  I think Ichigo’s engaged!  To that Shirogane guy!” Kish shouted over the loud music.  Pai stopped being mad and looked at Kish with interest.

“Are you serious?” Pai asked folding his arms across his chest.  “That’s unbelievable.”  

“Yeah I think its wicked funny…” Kish replied.  Pai blinked, that was not the reply he was expecting out of Kish’s mouth.  He was expecting how Ichigo will surely leave him or he would kill Shirogane.

“She’s going to find out that they are totally not compatible and come crying to moi. You’ll see I just have to be patient!”  Kish said as he marched over to pick up Pai’s girl. Pai shook his head in disgust.

“Typical.” He turned around to see Pudding and Taruto cuddling in the corner.  He smiled and materialized right beside Taruto.

“Hope we’re keeping this PG, Taruto.  Taking advantage of a young lady isn’t a way to show her your affection.” Pai said smirking.  Pudding giggled as Taruto blushed a deep red.

“Pai shut up! Why’d you have to ruin everything!?” Pudding gave Taruto an assuring squeeze and interlaced her arms around him even closer.  

“Relax I didn’t come over here to supervise, I actually have some gossip that I find it my duty to spread.” Pai leaned over into Taruto’s ear and began to whisper.

“Kish saw a ring on Ichigo’s finger and we think it’s because Ryou asked her to marry him.” Pai spoke quietly.

“Really?” Taruto’s eyes lit up with mischief.  “It was bound to happen,” he added.

“Don’t tell Kish that.” Pai warned as he rose from his position next to Taruto.

“Well I’ll be off.  Remember to use a condom!” Pai called out over his shoulder.

“Aww that fricking Pai!  I’m going to kill him!” Taruto said tensing up. Pudding slid her hand down Taruto’s arm making him shudder.

“He’s right Taruto safety first.  Now tell me, what’s the big secret?” Pudding sat staring at Taruto.  His face took an expression of pure shock.  He was kind of taken aback so it was hard for him to talk.  ‘I didn’t even know Pudding knew what a condom was,’ he thought to himself.  Taruto looked back up at Pudding who was staring intently back at him.

“Oh right!  Pai just told me that Ichigo and Shirogane are engaged because of a ring Kish saw!”  Taruto exclaimed.  The smile on Pudding’s face grew.  

“I KNEW IT!!! LETS GO WE HAVE TO TELL EVERYONE!” Pudding jumped up quickly dragging Taruto behind her.

“MINT! MINT! MINT!” Pudding raced over to the bar where Mint was getting a drink.  There was a near collision but Mint stepped skillfully to the side making sure her drink didn’t fall onto her.

“Would you please settle down?” Mint said as she slurped some of her alcoholic beverage before it spilt all over her.  “What is it?”

“I have a SECRET!” Pudding shouted causing all kinds of people to stare at her.  Mint set her glass down on a nearby table and held Pudding by the shoulders.

“Okay.  Let’s settle down.  First off how did you get so hyper? Oh never mind, I don’t think I want to know… and two if it’s a secret WHY ARE YOU SHOUTING ABOUT IT?” Mint said, err, screamed.

“Because it’s a good secret!” Pudding answered, smiling up at her onee-chan.  “Come here,” Pudding motioned for Mint to come closer.  Mint leant her ear down towards Pudding. “Pai just told me and Taruto that Kish saw a ring on Ichigo’s finger and he’s really jealous because she’s engaged to Ryou-san!” Mint pulled back at her and looked at Pudding with a shocked expression.  
Mint sniffed, sticking her nose into the air and picked up her drink again. “It’s about time those two decided to tie the knot.”

But she was secretly thinking:  ‘Oh my gosh!  Finally I am so happy for them!  I need to go tell Zakuro onee-sama!!!’

“Well, you two behave and thank you for telling me the good news.” Mint said dismissing the “children”.  The minute that Mint saw they were gone, she bolted to find Zakuro.  And there she was, sitting at a table while guys of all types were attempting to dance with her and buy her drinks.  

“Excuse me!” Mint said pushing aside a ton of men out of the way and sat beside her friend.  “Zakuro!  I have something to tell you!” Mint exclaimed waving some of the men off.  But some still persisted.  They got a glare from Zakuro, signaling that they should leave.  Now.

“What is it Mint?” Zakuro said stirring her margarita with her colorful straw.

“You will never guess what Pudding just told me!” Mint leant over to Zakuro’s ear and whispered. “She says that Kish saw a ring on Ichigo’s finger and that she and Ryou are engaged!”  Zakuro perked up and took a drink of her margarita.

“Really?  Finally I was getting restless,” both girls laughed at the joke and sat back drinking their cocktails and enjoying the night.

“Alright I need a refill.  Talk to you later Mint,” Zakuro said getting up, adjusting her dress and walking away from the table.  She went up to the bartender and ordered another margarita.  Out of the corner of her eye, Zakuro saw Lettuce and Keiichiro sitting at a back table talking.  She decided this was a perfect opportunity to tell them the surprising news.

Zakuro battled her way over to the table, avoiding sleazy guys and ignoring all sorts of inappropriate requests.  ‘They’re all drunk, they’re all drunk, they’re all drunk,’ was the mantra going through Zakuro’s head as she made her way over to Lettuce.  She plopped herself down at Lettuce’s table interrupting the conversation they were having.

“Sorry for intruding but I have something important to tell you,” Zakuro whispered to the couple.  Lettuce leaned over to Zakuro.

“Sorry I’m having trouble hearing you.”

“Oh my bad, well I just wanted to tell you that Kish saw a ring on Ichigo’s finger and all of us think Ryou and Ichigo are engaged!” Zakuro said smiling.

Lettuce smiled uncontrollably.  “That’s wonderful!” she exclaimed.  “I knew it would happen, this is great!” Lettuce hugged Zakuro and kept talking it over with her.  Then Zakuro decided to leave so Lettuce could tell Keiichiro.

“What was that about dear?” Keiichiro put his arm around Lettuce’s shoulders and waited for her reply.

“Oh Keiichiro it’s the greatest news ever!  Zakuro just told me that Ichigo and Ryou are supposedly engaged!” Lettuce started giggling.

“That is wonderful news!  I can’t wait to congratulate him for it!” Keiichiro replied and smiled back at his wife.

“Let’s go!” Lettuce got up and both she and Keiichiro went to go find Ryou and Ichigo.

“How long do you think it will take them to figure it out?” Ichigo asked Ryou as they danced to the rhythm of a slow song.

“Hmm I don’t know.  They are pretty slow,” Ryou answered as the song ended and he laced his hand with Ichigo’s.

“Yeah you’re right I’ll give them a couple of days.” Ichigo said going back to their table and gathering their things.  “I’m tired, let’s go back to the cruise,” Ichigo said as she put her shawl back on her shoulders.  The couple walked out of the slowly dying party.  Walking back to the ship.  They went up upon the runway and entered the ship.  It was so quiet, well maybe it being two o’ clock in the morning had something to do with it.  Until Ryou and Ichigo were bombarded by everyone.

“YOU’RE ENGAGED!?” all of their friends shouted in unison.  Ichigo and Ryou shared a look.  

“That was fast,” they both said at the same time and the real chaos began…