The Unexpected

This is the answer to the question, "How is this Mai Shiranui's Big Day?".

Disclaimer: - None of these characters belong to me. They belong to their respective owners.



Answer


Question: How is this Mai Shiranui's Big Day?

Answer:

The large crowd is gathered at Mai's house, and they are waiting for the hour to

arrive, but their expression is bleak.

Her hair may be done up beautifully, and she may be dressed in her best kimono, wearing

her most expensive make-up, but Mai Shiranui did not choose this for herself.

Her cheeks may be glowing, but that is only the effect of her blush.

Her mouth may be in a smile, but that smile does not ever falter or grow wider.

Her hands may be positioned perfectly, but positioned by someone else.

Her eyeshadow is always visible by anyone who walks by her.

Not once does she greet the guests who have come to see her.

Her husband may be standing beside her, and she may be smiling at him, but that is only

because of her never-ending smile.

Mai Shiranui is smiling up at him.


Mai Shiranui may be wearing her finest clothes, but she did not pick them out to wear

earlier this morning. Her clothes are not creased or wrinkled in any way, but are

perfectly ironed.

Her hands are folded gently at her stomach, her lips smiling up at all the people passing

by.

There may be music playing in the background, but it is not celebration music. It is,

rather, a slow tune.

Mai Shiranui's eyeshadow has been showing the entire time simply because she has not

opened her eyes even once.

Her cheeks are pale and lack the breath of life, and not even make-up can entirely hide

that fact.

Her husband may be standing beside her, but she does not speak to him or glance at him

lovingly.

He may be wearing his finest suit, but it is not his wedding day, nor his birthday.

Andy Bogard leans down to touch her face for the last time...

For Mai Shiranui is dressed in her best not for a celebration, but for her own funeral.

Her make-up was applied by a make-up artist for this occasion, her traditional clothing

chosen for this solemn day.

She lies on a coffin lined with white silk, guests arriving at her door. Yet these guests

are here to say their final good-byes, and to give their condolences to her loved ones.

This is Mai Shiranui's big day, an important day, where she is the centre of attention.

Her smile gives comfort to those who come to see her, she is resting in peace, and it

reminds them that they will see her again a year from now.

Mai Shiranui is dead.

~

* "they will see her again a year from now" - they will visit her burial site in a year.

No character bashing intended AT ALL. Don't get me wrong, I like Mai. This is only the first of my series of stories. Please let me know if you would like me to continue. Your comments/critisms would be appreciated.

Norika.