Disclaimer: Man, if I owned it, I wouldn't be doing this.
Author's Notes: Umm… I'm betting lots of research went into this chapter. I write my A/N's before I really start… so yeah. Well, since I planned on looking up information, I bet I am! Or, did. Whatever. Enjoy!
Okay, I'm going with recent research and so… no yelling at me! I know the title makes no sense with traditional Japanese weddings… but shut up! I liked it!
Noriko's Story
Imagine, if you will, a large picture window. Outside, past the gleam of well made glass, you see the landscape spread before you. Tall, green grass shimmering in waves like a content ocean at rest. The sounds and smells and atrocities of the city life are miles from this peaceful scene. Now, if you would, picture birds flying about above the scene. Chirping, swooping enjoying the day just like we are through our window. And then…
Thunk! Flutter.
Watch a bird fly straight towards us. Watch it hit the window. It's not like a cartoon where it sticks and streaks downwards. No, it hits then falls back, wings splayed, eyes shut. A flock continues to do the same. Again and again.
Thunk! Flutter. Thunk! Flutter.
Now look at your window. See it? See the smudges, the cracks, marks, maybe even blood?
The window is the truth of everything. How simple. How clean-cut. And yet, it is our biggest obstacle. If we choose not to see it, we plow on through, hitting it full force, and, like the birds, smear it with our feelings.
The truth is shrouded in fallacies of which we call feelings. The truth is simplicity. The emotions and feelings make it muddled.
Some search for truth, but there is never a need to search when you're always staring right at it.
The Devil Wears White
The marriage had to be done quickly now that my parents knew I was pregnant. They didn't want me to show any sign of child during the wedding, so we only had several months or so to get everything ready. Since this was technically my second one, I'd start showing earlier than before. Somewhere between three and four months instead of five or six months. I was screwed. Weddings took years of planning, at least that's how it always seemed.
My mother and I argued over my hair for weeks. She wanted me to dye it back to its original color before the wedding and keep it that way. I refused. Why should I change who I am just for the sake of marriage? And all she could do was keep throwing shots about how disgraceful I was to our family, and what would such-and-such aunt think? Or so-and-so's son who's married to what's-her-face? Did I remember her? Wasn't she beautiful on her wedding day?
I dyed it black just to shut her up. I wanted things to go as smoothly and as painlessly as possible.
I had to admit, the shiro-maku 1 looked wonderful. It was well made and somehow comfortable. I didn't think it would be. The bunkin-takashimada 2 was a little uncomfortable. While tugging it into place, my scalp felt like it was on fire before turning into a painful numb state, kanzashi ornaments and combs prodding at my head. A little itchy too. The tsuno kakushi 3 only constricted everything. Annoying.
I was a wreck before hand, trying not to cry, trying to make sure the make-up didn't run or smear. Maki was with me, and she kept me from drinking myself silly before going over to see Tetsuya. But, I went through it sober (unfortunately) and tried telling myself it was all for the good of our child. It had to be best. It had to be done.
Tetsuya, I had to admit, looked good in the montsuki kimono 4 with the short haori 5 overcoat bearing his family's crest with pleated hakama 6 pants.
The music was beautiful for the moment in question. Flutes played lightly and I wanted to cry all over again. We were before the priest, who purified us. Oh, if they only knew how 'pure' I really was… and we went through the vows. Gods, it all seemed to drag on forever. Then it was time for san san kudo 7 and for once in my life, I didn't want to drink. It was a hard effort to swallow the sake, but I couldn't've stopped when Tetsuya did it so calmly. Lastly, we had the sakaki 8 given to the God, and it was over.
We were married.
There was still the reception party where we greeted our guests. And the food was good and appropriate. Our parents had thought of everything, really. Normally, this would've been any girl's dream, but it was my nightmare.
1 Shiro means white. Maku means pure. This is the traditional Japanese bridal kimono.
2 Bunkin-takashimada is what they call the hairstyle for the bride. It is decorated with kanzashi ornaments, combs and accessories.
3 Tsuno kakushi is the white wedding hood worn for the Japanese wedding ceremony.
4 Montsuki kimono is the traditional clothing worn by the groom of a traditional Japanese wedding.
5 Haori overcoat is a coat worn over a kimono, something like a jacket I assume.
6 Pleated hakama pants are the pants worn with the traditional clothing for a groom at his wedding. They are large and loose in the leg.
7 San san kudo is the sharing of the sake. Three sips for each the bride and groom, cementing their marital bonds.
8 Sakaki is the final part of the ceremony where the offer small tree twigs to the God. In the article I'm getting this information from, I was unsure if the is what the offering itself is called, or what the tree twigs were called. I opted on offering. Anyone can correct me if I'm wrong, just be polite!
Turns out my title worked after all! Anyway, sorry it was short, I did my best, but my time is growing short. The computers are being packed up next week. I'm not sure when, so I am rushing a bit. Review please!
SL