The sun was well behind the mountains when they left the restaurant, but bright lanterns lined the streets, winding through the village to light the way to the shrine that was nestled at the base of he mountain. By now people were starting to fill the streets as the sounds and scents of a summer festival filled the air.

Kurosaki surprised her as led her back to the car. "That nice old lady said we could leave the car here if we wanted to walk," she reminded him.

He opened the car door for her. "We still have one more stop."

Teru kept sneaking peeks at Kurosaki as he drove, looking for some clue since he wouldn't tell her where they were going. He wound through a few side streets, avoiding the main thoroughfare until he pulled up to building which housed several businesses. She smiled as she saw the ice cream store at the corner, thinking about how they might share a sundae.

But Kurosaki instead took her hand and steered her towards another store which highlighted traditional clothing.

She stopped in her tracks, jerking Kurosaki to a halt. "Why are we going in there?"

He gave her hand a tug. "Come on. have a surprise for you."

She didn't budge, but instead looked him in the eye and asked, "Have you been talking to Rena?"

He stared above her head and paused just a moment too long. "Um, why would you ask me that?"

Teru stomped her foot as best she could in heels. "I never should have told her about those old festivals!" She let go of his hand and turned back to the car.

Kurosaki stopped her by putting his arms around her. "What's the matter? I thought you liked this sort of thing? Even Souichirou used to tell me stories about how he'd take his 'adorable Teru' to the Sakura festival and the shrine festival and how much you loved it."

She closed her eyes as he leaned down and pressed a kiss to her temple. "It's just that when Rena tells you things like that it makes me feel like you're being pressured or that I'm being pitied. You don't have to do this kind of thing for me or buy me things, Kurosaki." She reached up and cupped his cheek in her hand. "I'm happy just to be with you."

"That's sweet." He turned his head and kissed her palm. "And overly-dramatic." He let go of her only to scoop her up and head towards the shop. He walked towards the doors with her squawking and slapping at his arms. "You should damn well know by now that I don't do anything I don't want to," he told her, ignoring the people outside the ice cream shop who were now gawking. "And if I want to make you happy and give you something you're just going to have to suck it up!"

He gave the door a couple of kicks until a middle-aged woman in traditional dress opened the door. Teru quit squirming at the her polite hello and nodded her head. If the lady thought a man carrying a girl into her store was odd, she gave no indication, but just opened the door further so Kurosaki could carry her in.

He set her down in a room that had her drawing her breath at all of the beautiful clothing and accessories. Silk kimonos, brightly patterned obis, and other items covered every surface. Forgetting Kurosaki for a moment, she walked around, arms crossed like she was afraid to touch such luscious fabric.

Kurosaki gave a relieved sigh as he watched her, then he bowed to the proprietor. "I greatly appreciate you staying open a little later for us. I apologize for the inconvenience."

She waved away his thanks. "I am glad to help. I have several things ready in the back ready for her to look at." She looked at Teru's heels. "Will she need sandals?"

He reached into his back pocket and pulled out the pair Riko had slipped him. "Um, you might have to talk her into trying things on. She can be stubborn and she might be a little mad at me."

They watched as Teru ran a single wondering finger down a trail of flowers on an obi sash.

"A woman who looks like that will not be mad for too long at the one who gives her such a thing." She patted his shoulder and pointed to a chair. "I will take her back now."

Teru soon found herself in a dressing room where several yukatas and obi sashes were laid out for her perusal as well as the undergarment, the juban, since it was obvious that she had to lose the dress. Her eyes welled up when she spotted a familiar motif among the cotton creations. She walked over and picked up one of the short sleeves. "Did he ask to get this one in particular?"

The lady, whose name was Wada, smiled as she unzipped Teru's dress. "No. These are actually all that I have left, since people have bought quite a few for the festival." She picked up the yukata, whose blue, daisy-like flowers adorned the white sleeves and hem, before the petals melded into to the darker blue that comprised most of the fabric. "I find that women tend more towards the chrysanthemums or the bird motifs, lately," she explained as Teru took off her shoes and donned the white juban, whose collar would layer under the edges of the yukata.

After the juban, the yukata was put on; the right edge tucked under (tucking in the left edge was reserved for death, she was told). Two straps of fabric then secured it, one under her breasts and then one right at the hip bone. The fabric was then arranged so that the robe hit her right above her feet and the excess fell over her waist in a fold. Wada made sure there was a fist-sized gap between the back of her neck and the collar (as befitted a single lady) and then suggested a light pink obi with white flowers to contrast the robe.

Wada fussed around her, adjusting pleats, checking cinches, and generally ensuring that everything would stay in place as she moved around. She snuck a peek at Teru's face before she smoothed the traditional drum knot she'd made at he back with the obi. "You know, your young man was nearly frantic when he called me a few days ago."

"What? Kurosaki? Why?"

She ran a hand over Teru's hair, tucking in strays and making sure the pins held fast. "Because he was so anxious to surprise you. Because he was worried we wouldn't have anything in stock with the festival so close. Because he was worried that you might not like anything." She patted her lightly on the cheek. "Because he loves you." She stepped back. "Now. What do you think?"

Teru turned around to look at herself in the mirror.

She stood there for so long without saying anything that Wada felt compelled to ask, "Is there anything wrong?"

Teru shook her head. "It looks amazing," she said softly, running a careful hand down the fabric.

"You have the perfect straight silhouette for a Japanese woman. Yukatas and kimonos were made for shapes like yours. Now, walk around the room," she was told. "Sit down and then stand up. See how it fits. This way we know if we need to adjust something. Oh! And don't forget these." She produced the shoes Kurosaki has given to her and bent to slip them onto her feet.

Teru was now actively trying not to cry. It was (technically) just a simple cotton yukata, but it meant a lot more to her. It brought back a flood of memories from happier times. It also told her a lot about Rena and Kurosaki that they'd cared enough to try and recreate those feelings for her.

She had the best friends and the best boyfriend in the world.

"Did you want to try on one of the others?" Wada gestured to the other garments in the room.

"No!" Teru had to stop herself from crossing her arms protectively over the robe. She cleared her throat and said more calmly. "Um, this is perfect. It's definitely my favorite."

"Alright." Wada carefully put Teru's black dress in a garment bag. "Stay here for one minute. Then we'll go show your young man." She smiled at Teru's nervous blush.

Wada left the dressing room first and smiled at Kurosaki who was nervously tapping his feet in the chair. He jumped up when he saw her. "How did it go? That was fast. Did she choose something?"

She held up a hand, nodding her head in approval of his own change of outfit. "Your young lady has good taste and she knows what she likes." She rung up the sale, noticing that he kept looking back towards dressing room. She smiled and handed him the garment bag with the dress. "I will send her out."

As she disappeared behind the screen again, Kurosaki looked in the mirror once more and checked his own yukata. It had been so long since he'd worn one that he'd had to double check on his phone that he was wearing it right. He'd stashed it in the car earlier in the day along with sandals. He'd hurriedly changed in the shop's restroom, worried they'd get done before he could get ready. He'd figured it would be harder for her to say no to her on outfit if he was already dressed and ready to go.

"And here she is."

Kurosaki took a breath and forgot to let it out as Teru stepped from the dressing room. Her eyes were shyly cast downward, so he took a moment to appreciate the the picture she made. If he'd thought she looked good in a little black dress, she looked amazing in the yukata, delicate and beautifully feminine.

Teru felt ridiculously shy, especially after how she had acted in front of the shop, so she kept her eyes down and fiddled with the cloth cinch purse that had come with the outfit. "Well? Does it look okay?"

She heard him take a step towards her and finally looked up. Then her mouth fell open and stayed that way.

The Kurosaki she'd left in the shop had been wearing a very nice and well-tailored black suit, an elegant tie, and shiny shoes. This Kurosaki was wearing a dark gray yukata that reached to just above his ankles, a midnight blue obi (much less wide than hers), and the sandals he'd worn all weekend on the beach.

He looked amazing.

He took her hand, apparently oblivious to her reaction to him, and bent his head to press a kiss to her knuckles. "You look beautiful." He straightened up and addressed Wada without turning away from Teru. "Thank you for your help. She just shines, doesn't she?"

Wada laughed as Teru blushed and told her young man to 'stop it'. God, they were cute. "She does indeed. Now!" She clapped her hands, making the couple (who were still staring at each other) jump. "You two go out and enjoy the festival. I know I'm going to." . She gently scooted them towards the door. "Leave you car here. I'm closing the shop now, anyway."

They bowed to her, thanking her again for all of her help and for the beautiful clothes. She bowed her own thanks and sent them off, smiling to herself as she remembered past festivals and the boys she had walked with hand in hand. She also remembered when one of those boys had finally looked at her like Kurosaki had looked at his Teru.

Speaking of her husband, she'd better go and check his obi, she thought lovingly. He never got the knot quite right.

On to the festival! Please feel free to leave a review if you're enjoying the story so far. Thank you.