Ch.11- Old Habits
Brianna woke up feeling sore from her last few days of training. Major Shachi pushed them harder than she anticipated, but he seemed pleased with their abilities. She could smell Valentina's cooking. She got up to get dressed. Her room was small, and her bed was uncomfortable. She also missed Risha. She saw her a couple of times while her son, Shachi, was training the militia. With him back on the front line she doubted she'd see her again. Risha seemed rather upset about the whole situation which was odd to Brianna. Looking presentable, she came out to the cramped kitchen which was also the dining room. Senju sat at the table watching Valentina adoringly as Dominic talked to him. As Brianna neared, he looked at her in the same type of way Senju looked at Valentina. It felt nice to be so cherished. She smiled at him. He stood to pull out a chair for her.
"So, four days until you three are heading to the front line." said Valentina with a heaviness. "What's the plans?" she asked as she served breakfast. "Dominic, your mother is coming into town today. Do you plan to see her?"
"Yes, Auntie Val." he replied. "Would you join me, Brianna? My mother would love to see you."
"Sure." Brianna agreed.
"Why don't we all go?" asked Valentina. "We can spurge a little by going to the place in town to eat."
"That's an idea!" exclaimed Dominic. Brianna nodded. She didn't really want to go back there but didn't want to explain why.
"Sounds like a plan." said Senju. "Just don't try to drown me this time, Brianna." She forced a smile at the joke. Dominic looked at her beaming.
It was late in the morning when Valentina's sister finally arrived town. Brianna put on a nice dress. She was brushing out her hair when Valentina came into her room. She smiled at Brianna.
"You look beautiful!" she said happily. "I'm so glad you decided to stay with us!"
"I'll be ready to go in a moment." said Brianna as she was trying to open her makeup case. Valentina came closer and took it out of her hands.
"You don't need it, Bri." she insisted. Brianna smiled a little with a nod. Then she got up and left with Valentina.
"Where are Senju and Dominic?" she asked as they walked into town.
"They went ahead." said Valentina. The women walked the rest of the way in silence. They entered the restaurant in town. They were escorted out to the back like she had been with Yomi. She took a deep breath before walking out. Over in a far corner were Senju, Dominic and Dominic's mother, Catalina. She followed Valentina out to them, but she turned her head and there across the pond was Yomi. He was eating alone. She knew he could hear her as she greeted Catalina. As they all sat down, she grabbed a chair that would seat her with her back to Yomi.
After pleasantries, it didn't take long for the real reason for being here to come out. Dominic scooted his chair back and got on one knee before Brianna. She was shocked. He took her hand.
"Brianna," he started as he pulled out a simple silver ring with a small stone, "we met as children. We grew together and played together. I remember you were always there, like a shadow. When we became teenagers, you were my first crush and my first kiss. Time may have taken us apart, but it also brought us back together. So, I ask you today to become my wife so I can be your last kiss." She looked around to everyone at the table. Dominic took her hand and began to put the ring on assuming her answer. She looked down at it then looked around the table again. She began to feel the mentality of her past take over again. These were people she didn't want to hurt so she nodded. Dominic stood pulling her up with him, kissing her on the lips. They all jumped up from the table to hug the happy couple. Brianna glanced Yomi's way. He was leaving. When they all sat back down, the waiter brought them some champagne.
"We didn't order this." said Catalina surprised.
"Lord Yomi sent it with his regards." said waiter. "He also paid for the meal."
"What a great ruler!" Catalina exclaimed. "You stayed with him for a short time, didn't you, Brianna?"
"Yes." she replied. "He truly is benevolent." She looked around the table feeling overwhelmed. She refrained from chugging her glass despite her desire.
"Let's talk wedding!" said Valentina with excitement. "I think the sooner the better!"
"What's the rush?" asked Brianna softly trying to defuse this wedding mania. They looked at her surprised and baffled.
"We are going off to battle!" exclaimed Dominic. "I'd like to fight a long side my wife for our home!" Brianna felt even more pressure to conform to their wishes. She gave into the temptation of chugging her glass. This was what she wanted when she was a girl. She went into deep thought wondering why this isn't what she wanted now.
"We have a couple of days." said Catalina with a bitter sweetness. "I saw a dress in a shop of the street that looked like it would be perfect for Brianna."
"The priest at the temple does owe me a favor." said Senju. "I did fix their roof for free." She felt like she was free falling. She stayed silent and went with the flow hoping she'd feel different in the morning. She was dragged to the dress shop after the meal by Valentina and Catalina as Dominic and Senju went to the temple.
The next day when she awoke, she sat on the edge of her bed dreadingly. A pale dress hung in the corner reminded her that this was real as did the ring on her finger. She put her head in her hands. She stood up after a moment feeling trapped. She paced a bit. She didn't leave the room until Valentina and Catalina took her to a bath house. The women spent the majority of the day being pampered. That night there was a big party at Valentina's small house. Brianna drank herself into a stupor ending up by the pond. Dominic was the one to finally find her.
"Ah!" he exclaimed. "My beautiful wife to be!" She took another swig out of the bottle in her hand. "What's wrong?" he asked coming closer. He sat down in the grass with her.
"I can't do this!" she slurred.
"Can't do what?" he asked. She looked at him with glassy eyes.
"This!" she said trying to get up. She fell back onto her bottom through. Dominic chuckled. Brianna relinquished the nearly empty bottle and began to pull the ring off her finger. "You deserve better!" He quickly stopped her confused and alarmed.
"You're just having jitters is all." he said pushing the ring back on her finger.
"No!" she snapped pulling away from him. She got up and remained on her feet this time. "I don't want to be your shadow… or your last kiss! You don't know me! I don't even know me anymore!"
"Brianna!" he exclaimed pleadingly. "I know you!" She was on the verge of tears.
"No!" she replied. "You don't… You are the past! You are what old Brianna wanted! I'm not that person anymore! I'm not!"
"You don't mean that!" he said.
"Stop telling me what I mean!" she yelled. "Stop telling me who I am! That's not for anyone but me to decide!" She began to try to walk away. She stumbled and staggered for a little way, but soon fell, blacking out.
The next day she found herself in her bed. Valentina was in her room getting the dress ready so they could go down to the temple.
"Come on, Brianna!" she said loudly. "It's your big day!" Brianna slowly got up. Her hair still felt a little wet. She couldn't remember why. She looked herself over. She was clean and in her night gown. She tried to remember last night. It was a blur. She looked down at the ring still on her finger. When Valentina exited the room, Brianna took it off and set it on the bed. She scurried out the small window and ran for it in nothing but her night gown and bare feet. She wasn't sure where she was going at first, but she knew she was getting away from a place she didn't want to be anymore.
