A/N: Already late on my first deadline LOL. Was a bit ambitious last week since I also went to con over the weekend… Anyways enjoy the new chapter!
Chapter 2
Mamushi had her head to the ground the minute her father woke up. Her whole family had slept in the same room as her it turned out. Her parents laid in one futon while her sisters just clambered on top of her last night.
Having gone to bed the earliest, she was shocked almost to tears to see that her family was with her when she woke up.
But she knew that was no excuse to not deeply apologize for the shame she had brought to the family. Her younger sisters would instantly forgave her, she could do no wrong in their eyes. Her mother held her hand the whole time she explained exactly what happened and how she naively followed the words of her former teacher. Her father was a bit more reserved, but she could see no hatred in his eyes, only sadness.
"It seems there will be a lot of changes happening in the sect." Her father said, standing up. "I should go clean up and find Yaozo-san, there's much to discuss."
But before he could reach the door, there was a knock coming from the outside.
"Come in," Mamushi replied, wondering if it was one of the attendants checking up on her.
"Good morning! Ah, Mamushi, Uwabami-san, you're both here. I have something I'd like to discuss immediately, if that's okay."
To her surprise, it was Juuzo. She sat with her mouth slightly open and her face already turning pink. Still exposed from yesterday's feelings, she quickly hid her face behind her sister's back. Her father frowned.
"Is this an important matter? I actually need to talk with Yaozo-san first and Mamushi should be resting."
"My father's already waiting in a room, and it'll just take a few minutes. I promise I'll let Mamushi rest afterwards." Juuzo replied in a matter-of-fact way.
"Hear the boy out," her mother said. "I'm sure it'd be good for Mamushi to walk around a bit as well, she's slept most of the day yesterday."
"Obaa-san, Nishiki, Ao, I'd like you all to join as well if you'd like." Juuzo politely requested.
"Oh my, what can this be about, I'm getting curious." Her mother gave an all-knowing smirk.
"Unfortunately, I have to run back home and get everything settled for Mamushi's return. But please let me know the details afterward."
Dear, make sure you take it easy today yourself all right?" She told her husband.
"And Nishiki, Ao, watch over your sister for me? I'll see you all at home tonight."
Her mother tidied up the room and prepared to leave as the rest of the group continued talking.
"Juuzo-san, just give us all a few minutes to get ready and we'll meet up with you. Which room is your father in?" Uwabami asked.
"Great! He's waiting in the small conference room on the East side. I'll go let him know now that you're coming."
The two men left first, most likely to discuss more of yesterday's events, but Mamsushi wondered what they needed her and the rest of her family for. Her sisters busied themselves by pulling out a clean kimono for her to wear. But it was her mother who got her up and started pulling her hair into its usual ponytail. While helping her get dressed, they started talking.
"What do you think that monkey wants to talk about?" Ao asked, her curiosity showing.
"Who cares, it's probably something stupid. I'm just glad Ane-sama is fine." Nishiki replied, carefully tying the obi around Mamushi's waist.
"What do you think Ane-sama?" Ao asked Mamushi. But all Mamushi was thinking about was how red her face was when Juuzo came in.
Did he think she was a bother clinging onto him yesterday? Oh god, if she fell asleep on him did he also hear her snore? What if she drooled?
"Ane-sama?" Ao asked again.
"Are you still not feeling well? We can ask them for another time." Nishiki proposed, worried about Mamushi's health.
"I think," her mother commented. "That everything is going to be just fine, might even be better."
"What do you mean Mother?"
"We'll just have to see what happens at this important meeting you all should be running off to."
Mamushi sighed. "We might as well get this done and over with." She gave herself one last look in the mirror, specifically the eyepatch that will now become a permanent accessory to her outfit.
The three girls quickly went to meet with the Upper Class Exorcists, waving goodbye to their mother who was heading out first. Mamushi knocked on the door curtly, announcing the arrival of her and her sisters.
"Ah, this is perfect," Juuzo said, a casual smile lingering on his face. "Can you sit over here, Mamushi?"
"What's going on Juu-ni?" Kinzo asked, settling down next to his father.
"Uwabami-san, this is a discussion I wanted to have with the whole family, but it's always so hard to get all of us together… I've been thinking about this for a long time now, and I don't think there's a point in discussing this much further. Our families are close, and I'm thankful for that, but after recent events, I want no more mistrust or thoughts of betrayal. I don't want to lose anybody ever again…"
He paused to look at Mamushi. He spoke with such purpose, she wondered what he was trying to infer.
"That's why… Mamushi will be mine from now on!" He smiled. His eyebrows turning in as usual when he laughed, it was the first time in a while he was able to show such an expression.
"Huh… HUH?!"
Mamushi could not believe her ears. What was he talking about? This was a joke right? Was this her punishment? Get ridiculed by her crush in front of her family? If so, she was fine with never showing her face in public ever again.
What was happening?
"I wanted to settle down about now. It's perfect." He says nonchalantly shrugging his shoulders.
"Wha-why are you saying such irresponsible…" Her face was turning redder and redder by the minute. She almost couldn't even get words out.
"I haven't consented to any of this!" She finally yelled out, embarrassingly looking away from her father and sisters.
"Consent, you say?" He responded. "Last night, the course of events were quite natural between us, weren't they?" Juuzo leaned closely to Mamushi's face. She could practically feel his warmth from last night…
"Stop that!" Her hands started to shake, either from horror or embarrassment. "St-st-stop saying that here..."
Not knowing what else to say, she also threw in a "I'll kill you" threat even though she knew that never worked with him. He only smiled wider.
Her poor father was turning even paler than he usually was. Her sisters started freaking out as well, throwing accusations right and left, doing their best to protect her maidenhood. She also picked up Kinzo mentioning how Juuzo wanted a busty blonde as his wife… Was that the type he liked?
"Enough!" Her father yelled, silencing not only the noise but the movement in the room. His mouth was literally smoking and even Yaozo-san looked nervous.
"Juuzo," Yaozo began. "It doesn't look like Mamushi-chan is consenting to this. Maybe you should talk it out with her a bit more? It's an important subject to discuss."
"I told you… I don't think we will come to any agreement if we talk about it." Juuzo muttered, looking annoyed that nobody else was getting it.
Her sisters laughed.
"Hah! That's right. Ane-sama would never be with a guy like you!"
But Juuzo wasn't listening to them. He was only staring right at her.
"Mamushi. I'm serious. Are you truly against it?" He asked. And it wasn't fair. It wasn't fair at all. How could she say no when he was making such a sincere face like that? She could just taste her defeat. But half of her was still thinking this was just an elaborate prank to get her to admit her feelings.
"...I am in a position to receive punishment. I'm not allowed to marry." She knew that even if this wasn't a dream or a prank or whatever, there was no way she was going to be allowed to have a happy ending. She was a traitor.
"Ah, then why don't you think of your marriage to me as your punishment?"
Mamushi was almost angry at his stupid response. She forgot this was a monkey she was talking to.
"I'm not as stupid as you!" She yelled. "I...I wouldn't see it as a punishment at all." She admitted. It was the closest she would admit to a confession as she could get.
She could hear her sisters whining in the back, but Juuzo was happily smiling at her and she couldn't not look at that, especially when he was smiling because of her.
"Juuzo-san," Her father stated, bringing her back into reality. " After this incident, Mamushi will lose her meister status and will be expelled. Her right eye… won't come back either. Are you okay with such a woman being your bride?"
"Yes," he replied without any hesitation.
"I formally ask, Uwabami-sama, Please give Mamushi to me."
Juuzo lowered his face respectfully to Uwabami. It was then that it hit Mamushi that this was actually happening, and her father's response was going to determine a strange new direction her life was going to.
Only a second past, and Mamushi heard the bow before she saw it, and before she knew it, both Juuzo and Uwabami had their heads slammed against the floor.
"It is I who should say, please take good care of her!"
"Thank you very much!"
Mamushi freaked. She didn't think her father would say yes! She technically hadn't even said yes yet! She didn't even notice that her family's conversation was causing a commotion outside the room, which meant even more people heard her father agreeing to her marriage.
The entire room started chatting with excitement. There hadn't been a wedding in a long time in their sect and now there was finally a reason to celebrate. Mamushi was still trying to wrap her head around all of this. Yesterday, she helped release an evil demon, betrayed the entire Myōō Dharani sect, and last an eye, and now she's getting married? What kind of dream is this supposed to be?
Lost in her own thoughts, she didn't even notice Juuzo casually placing his hand on top of hers. He was leaning close to her again, causing her to blush ridiculous colors.
"I hope this is all right," he began. "I knew if I talked to you in person you wouldn't take me seriously so I wanted to make sure you heard me loud and clear."
"How do you do that?' She asked. "I can't even say what's on my mind and yet you can easily say things like 'marry me''. It's not fair…"
He had began to brush his thumb against her fingers.
"I know," he said. "Ever since you were little you had trouble saying what you've wanted to say. It was hard on you growing up, but I don't mind it at all. I'm going to break you down piece by piece until I can hear the words I've been waiting to hear."
He put both his hands on hers now, engulfing her in warmth.
"...What words?" she asked, trying to casually not sound too lovestruck.
"I love you."
Ah, there was that beautiful smile again.
A/N: And this here kinda ends the "canon" part of the story. The rest will just be up to my imagination hohoho
