* I own NO rights to Skip Beat! *
Something Borrowed (Part One)
Trying to understand the conversation was like watching a tennis match, as the words were volleyed back and forth between the couple.
"Well, we already have the dress."
"And the Tux."
"And the cake."
"And the meal choices."
"Chicken or Fish."
Then the Bride- and Groom-to-be said in unison with their tongues out, "Oahu Omelet Rice will not be choice." And they laughed at the inside joke.
The Taisho and Okami-san of Darumaya sat and listened quietly to the young couple's mirth.
"So," the Okamisan started, "it sounds like everything is already seen to."
Kyoko shrugged, "I guess so. I just feel so," she looked at Ren with a dreamy stare, "happy."
Okami-san smiled, "I know the feeling. When we got married I was a bundle of nerves just sparkling with the glow of near marital bliss, isn't that right dear?"
Taisho had a monosyllable answer to that one, "Hmm."
Okami-san laughed, "We got married in Kyoto at a family run inn called…oh give me a moment, I have everything in a box, I'll go get it."
When Okami-san came back she was holding a shoe-box that contained a few papers and a few preserved flowers from the ceremony.
"Ah here it is, there is no name but the proprietor is mentioned, one Kenichi Fuwa."
Okami-san saw Kyoko pale, but before she could ask her what was the matter, Kyoko got up and ran to her room. "What did I say?"
Ren sighed and smiled reassuringly at the elder couple, "She used to work at an inn owned by the Fuwa family. Now she only has poor memories of the place. Excuse me, Aunt and Uncle, I should go check on her." And with that he left to find his fiancé.
Okami-san began tidying up their lunch and looked at her husband, "That is really too bad, because I have such fond memories of that inn." She smiled at him.
Once again, just one syllable "Hmm?"
Okami-san put her hands on her hips, "That was where we were married and had our honey moon and all you can say is 'hmm'? Really it wouldn't kill you to show you have a romantic bone in your body."
"It was a lovely place but I was thinking about Kyoko."
Okami-san sighed, "Yes, that girl. I knew she was from Kyoto, but I never thought she would live near there, let alone have bad memories of the place."
"Well, I was thinking about the young man I had met at the river when we were there."
"I don't remember this, what were you doing down at the river?"
"I was having second thoughts on the wedding and had gone there to breathe through my cold feet, or run away using the river to cover my trail."
"Sweet-heart?!"
"I was joking, I married you didn't I? Well this boy of about ten was walking around, along the riverbank, when he saw me and tried to run away. I had walked up and put my hand on his shoulder and asked him if something was troubling him. He told me he wasn't happy and that he sometimes thought of jumping into the river and letting the current drag him to the next life."
"Darling, is that true? The boy was only ten."
"It's true. So I sat him down on a nearby boulder and I had a long talk with him and when we were done, he told me he felt much better, and to tell you the truth so did I. Before we parted ways I asked him for his name."
"Darling, don't keep me in suspense?"
Taisho smiled sadly at his wife. "He answered, 'my name is Zero Mogami'."