Chapter Two
"I'm so excited!" Kotoko squealed as she waited for me by the door, all dressed up and ready to go for lunch.
I grabbed our room key and out the door we headed to a restaurant down the street from the hotel. Despite it being our fourth day in Okinawa, we'd still had yet to find time alone with Mari and Takumi seemingly popping up everywhere we went. Today, it would be nice to have time to ourselves.
"What kind of restaurant is it, Irie-kun?" Kotoko said, taking hold of my arm and letting go for nothing.
"Some kind of sushi bar."
"I can't wait. I've never been to a sushi bar before." She smiled at the floor.
Outside, the sun shone the way it had the day before and warmed my back on the walk to the restaurant. Once there, Kotoko beamed through the window and bit her lip smiling. I chuckled at her liveliness as she tugged me through the door.
"Wow, look at how colorful these fish are!" She said as she discovered the fish laid out behind the bar.
A waitress came out from the back of the restaurant, "Table for two?"
"Yes, thank you." I said.
Kotoko followed the woman eagerly as she led us to our seats.
"Newlyweds?"
"Yes, we are!" Kotoko said. Sometimes, I could've sworn she couldn't say it enough.
"What a coincidence," the waitress said, "We have another newlywed couple here too today."
Just then, I heard the voice of the woman who had been the death of yesterday's plans.
"Naoki, Kotoko! There's two seats over here. Come join us!" Mari said, standing from her seat and waving. She seemed rather pleased, although I could say that spending so much time with her was beginning to annoy me. Yesterday it was showing up at the cafe we'd had breakfast at and touring with us. Today, she certainly must've had more plans.
Kotoko's smile became a scowl as we took the seats beside Mari and Takumi.
"I was beginning to question this restaurant, but now that Naoki's here, it's so much better." Mari said. I completely ignored her as Kotoko's frown deepened.
"So, how'd you guys sleep last night?" She continued without needing to hear anything from me.
"We slept fine." Kotoko said.
Mari raised her eyebrows, "Is that so? Just fine? How sad." She pursed her lips and Kotoko blushed. The comment pinched a few of my nerves.
"Maybe you two aren't suited to each other and that's why you're not having a very good honeymoon." She went on and gave me a playful look. I took a side glance at her, offended.
"Mari, that's none of our business," Takumi patted his mouth clean with a napkin and stood, "I'm afraid we should be going."
"Aw, but Naoki-san only just got here." Mari said with a whine.
"Come on, Mari." Takumi said.
"If you want to go, you can, but I want to visit some more." Mari took my arm and smiled up at me with her predatory eyes. Takumi left with his head hung, looking frustrated.
"So, Naoki-san, I have yet to learn anything more about you. What's your favorite color?" Her nails dug into my arm like the claws of an anchor.
"Irie-kun," Kotoko said and I immediately pulled my attention away from Mari, "Um, I'm going to go to the bathroom. I'll be back." She giggled nervously and waddled over to the bathrooms.
"With it being just the two of us now, people might start to think we're on a date." Mari said. Still, I found no words, "Whenever I would go out with Takumi, nobody ever thought we were a couple. But maybe it's just because he's not as handsome as you."
My shoulders tensed and I glared at her. It was outraging how easily she could cheat on Takumi. With every word she said, the less I wanted to be in her presence.
A server brought two menus to the table, but I didn't touch them.
"Hey, do you want to do anything with me later tonight?" She asked.
"What about Takumi?" I said and it seemed to put a damper in her mood.
"I'm back." Kotoko slid into the chair next to mine and picked up a menu to burrow her frown in.
"Actually, I think we ought to get back to the hotel. There's a call I've forgotten I need to make," I pried Mari off of my arm and got up, "Let's go, Kotoko."
And, in step with me on the way out the door, it seemed I was not the only one eager to get away from Mari.
On the walk back, Kotoko slipped her own arm around mine and gave me a grateful look.
…
A large, white chapel stood before us. Kotoko was in awe of it, as she had been of everything in Okinawa.
"What a beautiful chapel," She said as she hurried up the steps to get a closer look, "It's like a palace."
Once inside, her eyes followed the windows all the way up to the ceiling where they stopped.
Caught up in the chapel, she didn't notice a man approach us.
"And who might you lovely couple be?" He said.
"Naoki and Kotoko Irie." I said and held out my hand to shake his.
"What brings you here today?" He held his hands behind his back with a broad grin.
"We were sight-seeing and noticed how beautiful this place is," Kotoko chimed in, wearing a matching grin, "But if you don't mind me asking, why does it look like it's ready for people to get married but no one's here?"
"We do photo shoots for newlyweds on occasion and we happen to have a couple coming in later."
Kotoko's eyes widened in excitement, "We're newlyweds! Do you think we could get our picture taken?"
Pictures… I'm sure my mother got more than enough at our actual wedding.
"Well," The man said, "We usually do appointments, but since you're already here and they're not coming until later, I don't see the harm."
"Yay!" Kotoko turned to me, "What do you think, Irie-kun? Do you want to?" Her face hopeful and silently pleading for a yes, I ignored my abhorrence for cameras.
"I guess so." I said.
"Great," He said, "The dressing rooms are down this way. There are a few different suits and dresses to choose from. Just come out when you're ready. Also, here's the sheet you need to fill out with your information on it." He handed me a clipboard and a pen.
Led down a long hall and into two rooms across from each other, I got ready and was out first to wait for Kotoko. A photographer arrived and set up his camera on a tripod. When Kotoko emerged, she wore a lacey dress, pink flowers adorning her hair to match her cheeks. She looked beautiful.
"Looks like we're all ready to go, here!" The chapel director said, "Get up to the altar and we'll start taking pictures."
On the way up, Kotoko stumbled over the long hem of the dress, not unlike her.
In front of the tall windows overlooking the ocean we stood. She took my arm and I placed my hand on the small of her back.
"Good, now smile!"
There was a click and I was reminded of why I hated cameras. A couple more clicks sounded.
"Looking good," the photographer said, "Let's take a few more." I only wanted to be away from here more with each photo taken.
Kotoko looked up to me and I heard a click, "Very good. Now, why don't you place your hand on her shoulder?"
Anything to be done and away from the camera, I complied.
"Give me a smile." He said, but I could hardly find it in me, cameras being the bane of my existence.
"And we're all done here." The photographer said. He brought the camera to us and scrolled through the pictures.
"We're so lucky we could get our pictures taken without a reservation," Kotoko said, "It reminds me of our wedding ceremony." With that, she was ecstatic. I, however, never wanted to do this again.
"Ah, right on time," The chapel director said, "The other couple is ready."
"Other couple?" Kotoko turned to face the hallway and found Mari and Takumi on their way out of the dressing rooms, dressed in all white.
"Oh, you're getting your pictures taken, too?" Mari rushed forward down the aisle. There wasn't one other person I would have hated seeing walk through those doors more. Always clinging and ignoring her actual husband. Whereas Kotoko's clinging was charming, Mari's was greedy.
"What a coincidence, we meet again!" She ran right up to me, a little too close for comfort, "You look so good in a suit. And so tall, too."
There she went, grabbing my arm again. She laid her head on my shoulder, "Our height is perfect for each other," Takumi stood back, his mouth hung open, without a word, "While we're at it, maybe I should take photos with Naoki-san, too."
"I think not." Takumi said, although quietly.
"Kotoko, I'll lend you Takumi-kun. What do you think, Naoki-san?" Kotoko's brows knitted together in upset. I tore my arm away from Mari.
"No. We'll be going now," I said, "Kotoko wanted to buy some souvenirs. Didn't you?"
Kotoko pressed her lips together and nodded, "Y… yes."
Both of us headed back down the hallway and got into our clothes. And then we left, Mari staring me down the whole way, seeming as though her pride had been hurt. I couldn't say she didn't deserve it.
A/N: Just so you know, it may be longer in between chapter updates because of my work schedule. But I'll always find a way, so no worries. ;D Happy reading.