#14 – and they lived happily ever after

She touched the luxurious satin of the gown, allowing her fingers to travel along the gentle folds and up over the tightly woven brocade to the delicate pearls above. The soft gleam of early morning sunlight drifted through the window, illuminating the masterful creation. The door behind her opened and closed and she pulled her hand away in reflex.

"Hey, I thought I told you to start getting dressed. What are you waiting for?"

Usagi blinked as Rei's face appeared in the mirror next to her own. Her cheeks flushed under her friend's impatient gaze and she turned her eyes down to her lap. Rei placed a hand on her shoulder and knelt down next to her chair so they were at eye level.

"Usagi, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," came her meek reply.

"Nothing?" Rei repeated. She didn't sound convinced.

Usagi chanced a quick glance at her raven-haired companion; she didn't look convinced either. Turning her eyes back to the safety of her lap, she fingered her cotton shorts and blew out a small breath. "Maybe I'm just a little nervous."

"Nervous?" Rei repeated, this time incredulous. "You've called me at dawn every morning this week to remind me about today. You've been planning for months, driving all of us insane with details. You've been waiting for your 'happily ever after' since you were fourteen. What is there to be nervous about?"

Usagi's eyes squeezed shut. "What if something goes wrong?" she squeaked.

Rei's other hand came to rest firmly on Usagi's left knee. When the Shinto priestess remained silent Usagi raised one eyelid in curious trepidation. Apparently this was what Rei had been waiting for.

"Everything will be fine, Usagi-chan."

Usagi felt her stomach clench with nerves and couldn't stop the tremulous whine from escaping. "But Rei-chan, something always goes wrong."

Rei's expression was steadfast, her gaze unwavering. "Then we'll deal with it," she affirmed, giving Usagi's shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Like we always do."

Usagi swallowed the reflexive protest that bubbled up in her throat and bit her lower lip. The two stayed like that, silent, eyes locked, for a time. Then Usagi's lips turned up in a small smile and she gave a quick nod.

Satisfied, Rei surged to her feet and pulled the small blonde up with her. "All right, let's get this show on the road. You have an hour to get dressed," she announced, pulling the dress from its hanger and pressing it into Usagi's awaiting hands. "I'll go see if I can help Ami and Minako pull Makoto away from the cake for more than five minutes," she continued, heading for the door. "Make sure you're in that dress by the time we're back. I imagine Mamoru-san would gladly marry you in those bunny pyjamas, but let's aim a little higher, shall we?"


My cheeks suffuse with rosy hues
When readers send in their reviews!