Chapter 43

"Super sexy right?" said Shigeru posing like a cat in her lingerie.

"Sure…" I said pretty baffled by the sheer amount of scant laced articles of clothing lying around the room.

"Still can't decide which to wear though I mean the pink one is all girly and pretty and the red is pretty fierce but the blacks a classic right?" said Shigeru still standing in the doorway of the closet as if it were summer instead winter.

"I'm sure Dom will be happiest when everything's off." I say with finality and we erupt in laughter.

After donning a bit more decent clothing Shigeru and I head out to the bridal studio for our final fitting. We come out at the same time from the changing closet, Shigeru looks every bit the blushing bride all happy and glowy in her heavily embroidered and sequined dress; somehow her huge personality helped carry the big dress with its frills and folds.

"Tsukushi you look like a fairy!" exclaimed Shigeru.

"Really? There are no mirrors in there, but you look AMAZING. Trust me."

"I do trust you since I was involved in the designing process and all that I think I've worn this dress over 50 times. I'll be really glad when this is over." Shigeru says as we head out to the mirrors.

Just then I see Shigeru's eyes tear a little as she sees herself in the fully ready gown for the first time.

"Oh my God Wiess you're a genius!" she exclaims as she hugs the designer who too seems really glad that this will be the last that he sees of this gown.

"You really do look amazing babe," I hear a voice behind us say, and I know it's Tsukasa.

He approaches her and hugs her from behind placing a soft kiss on her shoulder then stares at their reflection in the mirror. They look the picture of happiness, my chest is suddenly tight and I cannot breathe. This happiness could have been mine perhaps had I accepted his proposal or even happier if I had run away with…

"Rui! Where on earth are you?!" I hear Tsukasa exclaim into his Blackberry.

"You are? We're in the boutique right next to it…Yes duh a bridal salon I am getting married in 6 days time…uh huh…see you in a jiff then…yup…yup…bye." I listen to the one-sided conversation my heart thumping harder with every word.

All I could think about was that very soon I was going to be looking into those hazel eyes again. What did he look like now, was he thinner has he been doing well, what was he doing for the past year, is he back for good? With all these thoughts running on loop mode in my brain the pause button was only struck when I heard…

"Tsukasa… congratulations…and Shigeru-san too." I heard his quiet voice from the other side of the curtain. The sudden silence made my thumping heart seem like a stampede of elephants. I needed to get out of here, but how could I when my clothes were on the other side of the room? I stood there rooted not being able to go out and see him and find the answers to all my questions simply because if I did I'd be right back where I was one year ago. I silently prayed for Tsukasa to get a hint and bring him away. Just then I heard Shigeru say, "Well why don't you boys go down to the café first I'm getting hungry I'll change out and meet you there."

"It's okay babe, I'll wait for you…" I hear Tsukasa say and at that moment I truly felt like throwing my heels at him but Shigeru must have given him an equivalent look because he continued, "Oh, yea I should probably go and order so that by the time you get there you can eat. Can't let my baby go hungry… let's make a move Rui."

I'm sure all Rui did was nod since following that was just footsteps. Suddenly I felt my legs give way and I slumped down and was douched in a pool of taffeta and silk. I heard the curtain being drawn back.

" Oh Tsukushi," Shigeru said as she knelt down beside me and rubbed my arms trying to comfort me.

"I'm fine… hurry there before they come back." I said trying to keep the tremble out of my voice.

"Tsukasa can be a bit dim when it comes to things like this… He must have forgotten… But Tsukushi, you know he's going to be at the wedding right?" said Shigeru still by my side.

Of course I knew, at least now I did. No word from him since last year, he wandered around leaving no tracks. In the meantime I had gone from I hope I get a chance to see him at the wedding to I hope I don't see him ever.

Shigeru somewhere in the middle of my reverie had changed out of her dress and was ready to leave, "Tsukushi, I'll be going over first… will you be okay?"

I nod feebly and she leaves in a breeze. My immediate plan was to - get off the floor, get my clothes, change and leave before any of them come back.

I slip out of the curtain divider and get my clothes when I hear a beep – it's a message, "T Rui is on his way up!"

I hear a bare whisper behind me, "Tsukushi…"