Surprises
Tohru's POV
I opened the door to Aaya's shop, a sudden burst of surprise and excitement coming over me. The shop was just as I remembered… Open and nearly overflowing with the weight of Ayame's personality.
All Kagura and I could do was marvel at the shop. Beautiful dresses lay on their respective mannequins… and I wondered to myself which of the gorgeous workings was mine. Maybe the white one, with the lace assembles trailing down the front. Oh! Or the violet one with the ornate rose pinned to the lapel of the neck.
Kagura, standing just to the right of me, eyed Ayame's creations with as much astonishment as I had. Dashing designs splayed on open worktables… Fabrics and machinery lining beautifully crafted shelves… Admittedly, the so Aaya-like atmosphere of the place was a bit much for my early morning. In fact its sheer extravagance choked me of words all together. I didn't need the expensive looking business card with his and Mine's name on it to know whose shop I was standing in. There wasn't another like it for a thousand miles.
"Well if it isn't the soon-to-be-wife of Kyonkichi! Surprise."
I jumped as though struck by lightening.
"Oh! And Kagura-san! Welcome, welcome!" He gestured to the ostentatious room around us. "Do make yourselves at home!"
"Hi, Aaya!" came Kagura's nearby voice.
Appearing as though from thin air, Ayame glided towards us in his usual over-the-top fashion, making perfect work of each carefully crafted step he took. When he was nearly even with us, and satisfied with the expressions we wore, he beamed down at me.
"My, my Tohru-chan! We haven't even gotten to the main event and yet, here you are in front of me, wearing that vacant expression of yours, entirely speechless from the sound of it! Has my mere presence left you intoxicated, or are you feeling faint from pre-wedding jitters?"
I gulped, overwhelmed by the fast execution of his words.
Mind fastening to the only thing it had made sense of, it tried to process the return of his earlier... 'greeting'.
I struggled to form words.
"Y-yes. Hello, Ayame-san."
"Now is that any way for an excited bride to act? Come on. Let us revive your latent optimism by showing the world how fabulous you can look while donning one of my creations!"
"Oh! But I am excited. I'm just getting used to being in here. This place really is lovely."
He placed his hands tentatively on my shoulders. I blushed at the seriousness that crossed his face.
"Has it really been that long, Tohru dear? So long that you have to relearn how to breathe everytime I'm around?"
He let off a dramatic sigh.
Then he unleashed the full force of his smile on me.
"I think that's the biggest compliment I've ever received! For that, I'll make Kyon's tuxedo black instead of its intended royal purple. Just for you."
I blinked up at him, as though his voice had just shocked me awake.
"Th-thanks but you really don't have to do that. I'm sure he'll be happy with anything you make."
"No need for flattery, Tohru-chan my love. Although my skills really are honed to that of a God's, and royal purple would look so very appealing with the carrot locks of Mr. Asinine's hair, Mine's made me reevaluate this perfect, perfect color for your beloved's clothing on his wedding day. Such a tragedy it is! But, as you know, I trust my Mine's opinion more than my own."
He seemed to think for a second.
"Oh and there was that… very unpleasant phone call I received from Kyonkichi himself, just minutes before your arrival." He frowned. "Is he deaf? He nearly shattered my delicate eardrums with his string of curses! I hope he doesn't treat you like that."
Not giving me time to construct so much as another thought, he snatched my hand up.
" Wow. Look at you both, staring at me like deers-under-a-strobe-light."
"S-sorry, Aaya-san."
"Is it my brilliance that's left you both so shaken? Or is it being in a shop as delightful as mine? Be honest, now."
"Umm… Ayame it's deer-in-head-"
"Come now, Kagura-chan and fiancée of Kyonkichi who will be adorned in a finely made black tuxedo in less than a month's time! I shall bestow upon you tangible evidence of my aptitude that has struck romance in the hearts of many!"
"I thought that… I was picking from one of these, Aaya-s-san."
"Weren't you listening before, Tohru dear? Mine and I have a special one just for you. Before you ask, it's non negotiable. I believe I've already picked for you, as you say. In fact, the bride must look her best!"
Ayame had gestured me into a room in the back, saying something about 'patiently awaiting the arrival of the dress that'd change my life."
Kagura sat on the bench in the far corner of the dressing room, staring at her feet in what may have looked like boredom to anyone else. One thing about Kagura I knew hadn't changed was the fact that long silences with her meant trouble. I unclasped my hands, concern evident in my tone as I questioned, "Kagura-san?".
She looked up from memorizing her shoelaces.
It took a second for her to reply, "Hmmm?"
"Is something… wrong?"
She smiled up at me, but the smile had fled from her eyes.
"No. I'm fine. Just anxious to see the dress that Aaya's going on about…"
I knew that there was something causing her inner turmoil. But Mine didn't give me time to find out what.
A thud at the door made both Kagura and I turn in unison.
"Tohru-chan! Can I come in?"
"Y-yes. Of course."
The door crept open and I warmly smiled as Mine's thick braids and usual maid outfit came into view.
"H-hello." I greeted her, bowing.
"Hello to you too, Tohru-san!"
I saw her benign expression change as her eyes turned to Kagura in the back.
I couldn't confuse the gleam that pierced Mine's eyes. I'd been under a gaze similar to that one dozens of times before, and knew without looking that Kagura was thoroughly shaken.
"Two cute girls? Why didn't Aaya-san tell me you were coming too! I would've prepared another dress!" She tsked under her breath, clearly disappointed. "Such a shame!"
Kagura gulped, relief sinking in now that she knew Mine's intentions.
"Oh, really it's all right! I just want to see what you have for Tohru-chan!"
"Oh. Right…" Mine looked at me, blinking as though coming out of trance. "Well, Tohru. I hope you're prepared for this. I'm bringing it in."
She slinked out of the room she'd just barely entered. Then, in what seemed not a moment's hesitation, she'd returned, carrying a nest of white fabric in her hands.
There was only one word for the beauty that rested in her hands- masterpiece. I felt flushed… robbed of speech and movement.
"Wow Mine! Its gorgeous!" Kagura chirped, having stood up to see it better.
Mi dangled the dress in front of me, the tone of her voice unmistakably pleased, "It was Aaya's idea to do the beaded silk across the shoulders and chest… Do you like it? And if you're wondering whose ingenious idea it was to snake lace down the middle- it was mine. Brilliant, huh? He, of course, did the majority of the stitch work, and hand picked the materials himself. I, on the hand picked out the silk buttons. The veil, too, I made myself- by hand."
She demonstrated this by holding out fingers that were slightly reddened at the tips.
My reaction was delayed for I couldn't breathe.
It was truly… a work of art. One I couldn't be deservant of.
The dress blossomed into long sweeps of lace and silk at the waist, breathtaking in all of its intricate beauty. They'd gone all out for this dress. I stared in utter amazement at the silken flowers ruffled at the finally hemmed edges of the dress. Beautiful. Lace spilled across the dress's lapel, bordering it until the affluent fabric ended at the last silken button. Silk was present in every edging of the dress, screaming of expensive taste.
Kagura and Mine were staring intently at me, waiting for me to speak.
I had to clear my throat before my voice box would come back on.
"It's beautiful… So beautiful… Th-thank you. You and Ayame-san… are such kind people. It's…"
The room went dead silent again.
I realized then, that it was because tears had begun to trail down my face.
"Aww… Tohru…" Mine said.
The next thing I knew a pair of arms were holding me. Kagura's arms.
"Tohru…"
I blinked past my tears, looking up at her.
"I've decided now that it's okay for you… to marry Kyo… I was a bit…" She lowered her voice, "weary of giving him up… To be honest, I've always been… a bit jealous, y'know."
I gasped at the word jealous. Kagura-san was jealous of me?
"Oh, no! There's no reason to be envious of me! Absolutely no reason!"
After I caught my breath, I finished…
" But I am glad… that I have your approval, Onee-sama."
She released me from the hug, and stood back to reach in her purse and pull out a hankie. She handed it to me with the warm smile I'd missed.
I knew she'd loved Kyo long before I had… And that I had no reason to assume she'd change her feelings at the drop of a coin. It had to have caused her great pain, hearing news of our engagement. Knowing this made me all the more grateful that she'd come to terms with it, and even escorted me to see my wedding dress. I never wanted to hurt Kagura-chan again. She was a good friend. An understanding and prized friend.
Yes, I was looking brightly forward to my wedding day. Already it far outshone my expectations… If possible, it even outshined the gentle smile of Mine, as she gave me a motherly kiss on the cheek, before helping me into the silken beauty of my wedding dress. I had a lot to look forward to, like Kyo's face when he saw me in this.
That evening, Kagura dropped me off at my front door, insisting, before I had even one leg out the door, that I let her keep my dress over at her place. Kyo and I did share a house… And he was bound to find it, sooner or later. I appreciatively accepted her offer, seeing her off with a wave over my shoulder before heading up to the house.
Imaginably, my mind wasn't occupied with details of the wedding. All I could think of was how good it'd feel to see Kyo again… To see him smile my favorite smile, to inhale my favorite scent.
Pressing past the front entrance of my house, I hurriedly kicked my shoes off, hanging my coat up as I fled down the hall leading to the kitchen.
Bustling past the dark rooms of my house, I became curious at the scent wafting in my nostrils. It was the unmistakable scent of dinner… What was it? Shabu Shabu, ginger pork? I gave another appreciative sniff at the air. Or maybe beef stew?
I magnetically followed the scent to the kitchen, smiling when I saw Kyo hunched over a cheese grater, wearing a pair of sweats and a white tee. I didn't look over to see what he was cooking. I was torn between changing into my pj's and clinging to him for dear life. It wasn't changing into my pj's that won out. I realized then that I was still smiling. He returned my smile, eyes flitting to mine momentarily, then revisiting the bowl of cheese in front of him, again.
"Hey Tohru."
My heart sank at the sound of his voice. I swallowed… Naturally, I'd missed him terribly. His fantastic orange eyes looked up from shredding cheese, shining with warmth for me.
How did I last a day without him?
I wasn't 100 percent on that one.
I just knew that I wanted to hold him more than anything.
I crossed the length of the room, possessively wrapping my arms around him. Snaring the hand, that wasn't holding the cheese grater, around my waist, he lightly kissed me on the cheek.
"I missed you". He confessed, hands covering mine where they rested at his waist.
It felt so good to be molded to his body. It was like wearing a favorite sweater, or curling under a warm blanket during a rainy night; it felt natural and right.
A/N- Hope you've all enjoyed reading this so far! More Kyo/Tohru fluff on the way, as well as a 'love scene' later on. So remember to review and feed my addiction. Thanks, that'll be all my readers.
