Jitters
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Chapter 3: The Groom
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Sawatari knocked on Auska's door and let himself in without waiting for an answer. He sauntered up to Asuka, gave him a hearty thump on the back and said, "Well, today's the big day."
"You said it," replied Asuka, "I almost can't believe today I will be marrying such a wonderful girl."
"I know what you mean, buddy, and you'd better treat her right or else," threatened Sawatari.
"Or else, what?" said Asuka with a smirk.
"I'm afraid I'd be forced to hurt you, after all you did take the best girl in the world next to my beloved angel."
Asuka gave him a questioning, incredulous look, "Since when have you had a 'beloved angel'?"
"Well, maybe I don't but that is beside the point," Sawatari said airily, waving his hand in the air.
"Uh huh, but you'd better stay away from Meimi," Asuka said.
Sawatari gave Asuka a long measuring look. He was trying to figure out how to get his point across to the once dubbed 'King of Cluelessness'. The look that passed across his face as he figured out the best approach was witnessed by Asuka who began to feel nervous, for the look was one that makes people suspicious and nervous.
Sawatari leaned forward and place his hands on the small table that between him and Asuka.
"I don't think you get what I am trying to tell you," he stated looking directly into Asuka's eyes, "You are about wed the most beautiful and amazing girl in the world. I still occasionally wonder why she didn't pick me, after all, I am advancing far in my career and I would be able to provide for her and spend lots of time with her. But you spend long hours away at work. Do you realize that she will stay with you even though that sort of marriage probably will bother her?" grilled Sawatari.
By this point Asuka was beginning to sweat and started to have doubts swill thorough his mind like a tornado.
Will I be able to provide emotional support? What if she needs me and I am out on a case? What if she gets kidnapped because of a case I've worked on? he questioned, conveniently forgetting that Meimi had once been Saint Tail and could take care of herself.
Sawatari noticed that Asuka was now sweating some. Good, he thought, he needs to sweat a little. Maybe, it'll teach him some humility. Then Sawatari turned his back to Asuka to face the mirror and put the finishing touches on his tux. He had to look his best after all; it wasn't every day that the best man also got to play cameraman.
After a few minutes he noticed that the groom was unusually silent. When Sawatari turned to say something to Asuka he stopped dead in his tracks. Asuka was turning white a sheet from worry. Oh crud, he thought, maybe I over did it.
"Hey man, are you all right?" queried Sawatari.
"Do I LOOK alright to you?" asked Asuka, "I am about to marry the most wonderful woman in the world and I'm not good enough for her," he said with rising panic in his voice.
"Whoa, man, calm down, its nothing to get upset about," Sawatari said but by then Asuka was all worked up.
Then there was a knock on the door causing both Sawatari and Asuka to jump.
"Could you come back in a bit," asked Sawatari trying to help Asuka save face from other people.
"You mean I can't see my soon-to-be son-in-law?" asked Genichiro.
It just keeps getting better and better, thought Sawatari, how do I get him to go away without being rude?
But before Sawatari could think of a polite way of sending Meimi's father away he let himself in.
"How's it goin' son?" asked Meimi's father.
"Urk," was the only think Asuka could say.
"Glad to hear that," said Genichiro not really listening as he was still remembering his conversation with his wife and daughter earlier.
"No pressure, son, but you'd better make her the happiest girl in the world," he said with a slightly predatory grin growing on his face as the feelings about the marriage surfaced from before his talk with his wife.
Asuka grew paler after that comment from Meimi's father and the thoughts that it brought to mind. No pressure indeed, thought Asuka. Urk. I don't know how much more I can take.
"Remember, make her happy because if you make her sad I may just need you to assist me in the sawing the person in half act at my next magic show," Genichiro commented almost offhandedly.
THUMP!
Genichiro and Sawatari both turned to see Asuka's fainted body lying on the floor.
Both of them were thinking 'Oops! Maybe I pushed him too far.'
Genichiro was feeling guilty because he had done precisely what his wife told him not to do and Sawatari was feeling bad because he had made Asuka nervous in the first place.
There was knock on the door and a voice said, "Ten minutes till the wedding starts. Wrap what ever you are doing up."
The two men started trying to rouse Asuka but to little avail.
Sawatari and Genichiro looked at each other with the 'WHAT DO WE DO?!?!' face.
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Boy, the chapters keep getting longer. And in case anyone was curious, I did not post for a little while because of the timing of the last chapter and because I was on Spring Break. You all know Spring Break. Well, I wanted a break from a lot of things so that is why I haven't updated till now. It'll be a least a couple of days till the next chapter but no more than a week. Thank you for waiting.
