An AmutoDevilCat storyline presents Bones of Marriage. I don't own Shugo Chara or Corpse Bride. I know the title isn't that great, but give me a chance. Now, on with the story.
Characters: Amu = Emily; Ikuto = Victor Van Dort; Saaya = Victoria Everglot; Yoru = Scraps; Su = Black Widow Spider; Miki = Maggot; Tadase = Barkis Bittern; Kukai = Bonejanglee; Tsumugu = Elder Gutknecht; Souko = Nell Van Dort; Aruto = William Van Dort; Yukari = Maudeline Everglot; Nikaidou = Finis Everglot; Lulu = Hildergarde; Utau, Rima, Yaya = Chef Corpses; Kairi = Pastor Galwells (priest)
Summary: Amu's story began when she was alive. She fell in love with a young man named Tadase and they both wanted to marry. When her parents didn't approve, they decided to run away. Tadase told Amu to wear her dress and bring the jewels and wait for him in the forest. After a long wait, Amu is murdered by her finance and is known as the Corpse Bride because she wears the wedding dress that she was killed in. Ikuto's story begins when he is pulled into an arranged marriage with Saaya. When he purposely ruins the reheasal, he goes into the forest to practice his vows. He places the ring on what he thought was a tree branch, but turned out to be Amu's finger. She thinks that he proposed to her aand takes him to the land of the Dead. Amu soon learns the marriage was never valid because "till death do you part" and death has already parted them. The only way to make the marrige official is if he recites his vows in the Land of the Living and drinks poison to join her in death. Will he choose the living or the dead?
The scene starts with Ikuto Tsukiyomi drawing a picture of a butterfly he caught. He marvels at its beauty for a while then releases it from the jar. The butterfly flies around the gray, dull, depressing town. The lovely insect is the only bit of color for miles.
The town crier proclaims, "Hear ye! Hear ye! 10 minutes to go until Tsukiyomi's wedding rehearsal!"
A mysterious young man, Tadase Hotori, wore a classic suit and was waking to the church. He attempts to swat the butterfly away when it comes in his line of sight.
Ikuto looks out his window when the family carriage arrives and his parents, Aruto and Souko, exit the mansion.
It's a beautiful day.
It's a rather nice day.
A day for a glorious wedding.
A rehearsal, my dear, to be perfectly clear.
A rehearsal for a glorious wedding.
Assuming nothing happens that we don't really know,
That nothing unexpected interferes with the show.
And that's why everything, every last little thing, every single tiny microscopic little thing must go...
According to plan,
Our son will be married.
According to plan,
Our family carried,
We'll go right into to the heights of society...
Unknown to the Tsukiyomis, Tadase was listening in on them.
To the costume balls,
In the hallowed halls.
Rubbing elbows with the finest.
Having crumpets with her highness.
We'll be there; we'll be seen, having tea with the queen.
We'll forget everything...that we've ever, ever been.
Souko attempted to get in the carriage, but her dress gets caught. "Aruto, I need some help! My dress is caught!" She kept struggling as Aruto tried to help her in. "Where is Ikuto!? He's going to make us late!"
The Yamabukis were watching the Tsukiyomis from across the street.
"Fish merchants," Yukari Yamabuki scowled. Nikaidou Yamabuki just looked at her.
It's a terrible day
Now don't be that way
It's a terrible day for a wedding.
It's a sad, sad state of affairs we're in,
That has led to this ominous wedding.
How could our family have come to this?
To marry off our daughter to the noveaux-rich.
They're so common,
So coarse.
Oh, it couldn't be worse!
It couldn't be worse? I'm afraid I disagree.
It could be land-rich bankrupt aristocracy,
without a penny to their name...just like you...and me.
Oh, dear.
They start walking through a hall with many self-portraits of ancestors.
And that's why everything, every last little thing,
every single tiny microscopic little thing must go...
According to plan,
Our daughter will wed.
According to plan,
Our family lead,
From the depths of deepest poverty,
To the noble realm,
Of our ancestors.
The two stop in front of their daughter, Saaya's, portrait.
And who'd have guessed in a million years that our daughter, with the face
of an otter in disgrace,
Would provide our ticket to our rightful place?
Lulu was tying up Saaya's wedding dress for the rehearsal.
Still looking in the mirror Saaya asks, "Oh, Lulu. What if I don't like Ikuto?"
Her parents walk right in. "Ha!" her mother laughs, "As if that has anything to do with marriage. Do you suppose your father and I like each other?"
"Well you must. A little?" Saaya guesses.
Both answer together, "Of course not!"
Yukari looks at Lulu. "Now, get those corsets tied properly! I can hear you speak without gasping!"
Ikuto runs out of the house and into the carriage that immediately heads toward the church.
Aruto speaks up first, "You've certainly hooked a winner this time, Ikuto."
Souko chimed in with a smile, "All you have to do is reel her in."
Ikuto sighs. "I'm already reeling, mother. But shouldn't Saaya Yamabuki be marrying a lord or something?" he asks with annoyance.
Souko chides him, "Oh, nonsense! You are just a handsome and refined as a lord." She started fixing her light brown hair. "You deserve better than a fish merchant's life."
"But I've never even spoken to her," Ikuto tried to reason with them.
"I know, but we need some of their financial aid in our family expenses," his mother says, raising her voice.
The Yamabuki parents talk about their Saaya's naïve side.
Yukari looks up at Nikaidou. "Marriage is a partnership, a little this for that. You'd think a lifetime watching us...might have taught her that."
Might have taught her that.
Everything must be perfect
Everything must be perfect
Everything must be perfect.
Everything must be perfect, perfect,
That's why everything, every last little thing,
every single tiny microscopic little thing must go...
According to plan!
The Tsukiyomis ring the bell to the Yamabuki household. Souko tries to fix Ikuto up to look perfect. "Your hair is sticking up a bit. And your collar is a little crooked..." When she spots the Yamabukis looking at her, she gives a small giggle and walks into the mansion, admiring its many antiques. "Oh my goodness. Such impeccable taste! Oh beautiful, idnit?"
Aruto looks around disapprovingly. "It's not as big as our place, dear. Bit shabby really, isn't it?" he comments.
Souko playfully whacks him with her fan. "Be respectful dear."
"As you know, we are Lord and Lady Yamabuki. You must be Mr. and Mrs. Tsukiyomi."
Aruto looks at Yukari. "Why, you must be Miss Victoria. Yes, I must say, you don't look a day over 20," he jokes.
Yukari whispers to Nikaidou, "Smile, darling, smile."
He tries his best but ends up giving a strained, awkward smile. "Well hello~. It's a pleasure. Welcome to our home."
"Thank you," Souko replies.
"We'll be having tea in the west drawing room." Mrs. Yamabuki says. "Oh, do come this way. It's just through there." She leads everyone out.
The families have their conversations, leaving Ikuto behind. He lets out a deep sigh and his hand accidentally presses a piano key. He looks down the hall and sees that the door shuts. His long fingers start playing a part of a melody on the piano. After looking down the hall again to make sure no one heard, he took a seat and starting playing a sweet but sorrowful melody.
Unknown to Ikuto, Saaya was fixing her hair in her room, until she hears the piano. She walks out into the main room to see Ikuto at the piano. She quietly makes her way down the stairs and toward Ikuto. When he finally notices her, he flinches and knocks the chair down.
"My bad," he apologizes.
"That's a beautiful tune," she compliments him, "You should teach it to someone so they could play it at our wedding!"
"I do apologize, Miss Yamabuki. I don't play for other people's entertainment," Ikuto says, keeping a calm face while putting the chair back up.
"Well I would it, but mother won't let my near the piano. She's says music isn't becoming of a lady."
Self-centered much, Ikuto thinks, with a small smirk that went unnoticed by Saaya.
"Well Miss Yamabuki soon—" Ikuto starts but Saaya cuts him off.
"Surely under the circumstances you may call me Saaya!" she squeals.
Ikuto's eye twitches a little. "Well…Saaya…tomorrow we are to be ma-ma-ma," he stutters, trying to say the dreadful word.
"Married," Saaya finishes.
"Yes. Married."
Saaya's eyes suddenly twinkle. "I've always dreamed of marrying a handsome man that would sweep me off my feet!"
Can this girl get any more selfish, Ikuto wonders with curious look on his face.
Mrs. Yamabuki quickly comes bursting in on the two. "What is this!? You two shouldn't be alone together! Rehearsal is in two minutes and we won't be kept waiting! Come immediately."
Ikuto gives a small sigh only he can hear. Well, almost time to give my life away, I guess.
Well what do you think!? I tried to keep everyone in usual character as much as possible.
Please R&R or I'll cry!
