Swallow your pride

Make way for the new bride

Hold your tongue

As they call another winner

- Tonic -

"Mr. Golden Deal"

-/-

Without You

By Ricchan

-/-

- Chapter 6 -

"Hana-chan, come on! You don't want to be late for your own wedding!" Tohru called, laughing a little.

It was Halloween, the day of the wedding between Saki and Kazuma. Because the ceremony was to take place at the main estate of the Sohma family, Kazuma had gone on ahead in the morning with Kunimitsu, leaving Tohru and Saki alone in the house to prepare. Saki planned on dressing at the estate, but was pinning up her hair at home with dark red roses (courtesy of Yuki's flower shop). And now, she was running late.

"Come on, Hana-chan! Do you need help in there?" Tohru said again.
"Well, if you have time, help me braid this one section here," Saki replied. Tohru sighed and entered the room, where Saki sat in front of a small personal mirror, a pile of roses to at her side. She had been thoughtfully braiding large sections of hair up into a knot, and inserting roses in a sort of crown at the top. Tohru undid a rather messy braid on the left side of her head and finished the job rather quickly.

"Isn't this exciting?" she asked. "Hana, the first of us to get married!"
"And I always thought it was going to be you," Saki said thoughtfully.

"Haha, me? But I'm not in a relationship with anyone, Hana-chan," Tohru laughed, "and I never dated anyone in high school."
"What about those Sohma boys? Yuki and Kyo?" Saki suggested, her head being tugged as Tohru pulled on a strand of hair.

"Those two? Are you serious?" Tohru laughed. "I barely knew them, Hana-chan! Why would you say that?"
"Just being silly, I suppose..." Saki said, laughing a little. "Are you done?"
"Uhuh, just let me put these last few roses in..." Tohru replied, weaving a new rose into her hair. "We're leaving right after this, right?"
"Right." Saki replied. "You have your dress, right?"
"My bridesmaid's dress?" said Tohru. "Uh-huh! Hana-chan, they're so beautiful! You're so lucky to have found such a nice tailor to create them. I can't wait to see what your own dress looks like!"
Saki smirked a little; she had been very secretive about what her dress looked like, and the only people who knew what it truly looked like were her, the designer, and the seamstress.

"I can't wait to show you," she replied. "It's really very beautiful."
"Is it black?" Tohru asked, laughing at her friend's usual clothing selections.
"You'll just have to see," Hana laughed. "We should go soon, mm?"
"Yes!" Tohru replied.

The two women set off shortly afterward, Tohru's dress neatly folded in a box she held (Saki held a black parasol, which, along with her button-down dress, served to protect her hairstyle and makeup).

"It makes me wonder," said Saki thoughtfully, "what Kyoko-san would have done if she were here with us?"
Tohru thought for a moment on her mother.

"Well, she'd probably be the loudest guest there!" Tohru laughed. "And she'd give you the biggest hug you've ever seen, I'm sure."
"Oh yes," Hana sighed. "Maybe she'd start teasing you, Tohru."
"Oh, no, not mom!" Tohru said, laughing a little. "Or wait, what would she tease me about?"
"Always a bridesmaid and never a bride," Saki chuckled.
"I will not!" Tohru protested, with an intensity out-of-place for the question. "I won't always be just a bridesmaid! Someday...I'll find a man who loves me, and we'll get married, I'm sure!"

Saki began to laugh, and Tohru joined her, rather embarrassed at her enthusiasm.
"But still," Saki said, regaining herself. "I sincerely hope that Kyoko-san, wherever she is, might join us this afternoon."
Tohru looked at the sky and smiled.
"Yeah, mom. Come on and visit us, okay?" she asked nobody. The wind blew a faint reply as the stood on the sidewalk, then continued on.

The walk was short, and they quickly made it to the Main House, and were greeted cheerily by a few maids.
"This way!" one of them said enthusiastically, dressed in a formal kimono that day and leading them to the building where the bridesmaids were getting ready. Tohru and Saki entered in on several of the Sohma women, both friends and relatives of Kazuma, were getting dressed in the sophisticated black, white, and pastel pink dresses. As the door opened, the conversations they were having stopped.

Tohru looked around confusedly, for two women were staring intensely at her; one with sleek black hair that brushed her shoulder blades, the other with brown hair tied into a knot.

"Is that who I think it is?" someone asked.
"It's that woman," the brown-haired woman said, ice in her voice.

"Huh?" Tohru said, very confused at the sudden animosity.

"Kagura, shut up," the black-haired woman said, glaring at the brown-haired woman. "Who needs their back laced up?"
Kagura sulked and marched away, while the black-haired woman looked back at Tohru once more, then left in a different direction.
"Come on, let's get your dress together," Saki said comfortingly.

Tohru smiled, and they went together to a corner of the room.

Later on, Tohru was wandering around the estate in search of the room where the ceremony was to be held. She seemed to find the place, once she found a building where a large congregation of men and women in suits and dresses were gathered and chatting. She stood outside, admiring the view, when she heard a vaguely familiar voice.
"Well, bless my soul! Is that who I think it is?"

She turned around to see an elegant man with long silver hair smiling behind her, dressed in a suit with the pale pink tie that matched the rest, and a woman in a bridesmaid dress behind him, her hair pleated at either side of her head and pearls dangling from her ears.
"Eh?" Tohru replied.
"It must be her!" the woman said. "You're Honda Tohru, right?"
"Ehr...yes, um...yes I am," Tohru said nervously.
"Ah, you're just as cute as Saki-tan said!" the man exclaimed.
"What?" said Tohru, confusedly.

"Niisan!"

Another voice, this one decidedly more familiar; it was Yuki!

"Yuki! Oh, I nearly forgot you were coming, hello!" Tohru said cheerily.

"Hello to you too, Honda-san," said Yuki cordially, before diverting his attention to the man. "Niisan, what are you doing?"
"I was just saying hello to this lovely young lady; judging from her appearance, I thought it was Tohru-chan!" he said. "And guess what? It really was her!"
"Ah..." Yuki said, furrowing his eyebrows in a perplexed fashion.
"You're as lovely as I remember," the woman smiled, "but you probably don't remember me, do you?"
"Um, no, where have I seen you before?" Tohru said, poking her head and searching her memory.
"Kuramae-san, wait just-" Yuki began, before he was interrupted.

"At your school play, I helped make the costumes, remember?" she said. "We created those gorgeous costumes, right Aya-ou?"

"Oh yes, such wonderful designs! Quite memorable," the man said.
"Oh! I remember that!" Tohru said, batting her fist into her palm. "I'm sorry, I just can't quite recall your name! What was it again...?"
"I'm Sohma Ayame, and I am Yuki's older brother, didn't you know?" he said, grabbing Yuki around the shoulder.
"Ah! Wait, I think I remember this!" Tohru said, delight in her voice. "I thought there was a similarity between you two!"
"Yes, well, we aren't alike in every way...let go!" Yuki said, breaking free from Ayame's grasp.
"I'm sorry, Yuki, I was just getting excited!" Ayame exclaimed. "Ah, isn't this exciting, Mine-hime?"
"Oh, most definately!" Mine replied, adjusting her glasses. "Oh, I guess I should say who I am. I'm-"
"Wait, wait...let me guess!" Tohru laughed. "Your name's...Mine, right?"
"Correct, correct! Wow, you got it right on your first try! Wow!" Mine said, jumping up and down in her heels. Tohru smiled and laughed, while Yuki looked on, absolutely lost.

"Ah, yes yes, it's good to see you again, but isn't the ceremony beginning?" Ayame said.
"Oh! I guess," said Tohru. "Are you two in the ceremony?"
"But of course!" Ayame stated gallantly. "Kazuma-dono is a close friend of both Yuki and myself, so it's only natural that he invite us."
He began to laugh a loud, happy laugh, but was stopped as a somber man with plain black hair walked past.
"Ayame, stop it and come with me," he said coldly.

"Ah, right!" Ayame said, bouncing in the man's direction, with Mine following close behind. "I'll see you there, ahahaha!"

The somber man tossed Tohru a backwards glance for a brief moment, and his face stirred a slight memory in her mind. Time stopped for a moment; she had seen him before, but where?
"I'm sorry for all that, my brother's rather...outgoing," Yuki said, breaking her thoughts, bringing her back to the wedding and away from the man. "Having a good time?"
"Splendid!" Tohru replied. "I can't wait till the ceremony starts, do you know when we're expected in?"
"Very soon," Yuki replied. "Are you the Maid of Honor?"
"Me? Oh, yes, I suppose I am," Tohru said. "I suppose you're just a groomsman, right?"
"I'm the Best Man, actually," Yuki said. Tohru threw her hands up in shock.
"Re-really!" she said, visibly showing she was more than suprised by waving her hands around. "Oh, th-that's something! Why?"
"I'm filling in for Kyo, he won't be able to attend today," Yuki said simply. "Shi-han...I mean, Kazuma-dono asked me to represent him."
"Kyo? Why not?" Tohru asked, tilting her head innocently. "Why wouldn't he attend the wedding of his own father?"
Yuki opened his mouth, knowing he wouldn't be able to provide a good answer. Luckily, he didn't have to.
"Hey, Yuki! Tohru, Tohru!"
A loud, cheerful voice bounded down the square, and Momiji entered, his tie yet undone.
"Hello, Momiji!" Tohru called, happy to see him. "So I see you're here too?"
"Of course! Marriages within the Sohma household are big affairs, you know, just about everyone shows up," he said. "How are you?"
"Good!" Tohru replied, laughing a little. "So first that, and now you? Goodness, it just seems like I'll be seeing people I know everywhere, won't I?"
"Oh? How so?" Momiji asked.
"She just met Ayame," Yuki explained. "She remembers him from school."
"Aya? I see!" said Momiji. "So I guess Haru'll want to see you too, huh?"
"The boy with the black-and-white hair, right? He's here?" said Tohru, raking her memory.
"Yup, that's right, although now he's hardly a boy! Like me, eh? He was a student of Kazuma-san, so he's got to be here," Momiji explained, bouncing a little on the balls of his feet. "We should get in the room, shouldn't we, shouldn't we?"

"You're awfully energetic, aren't you?" Yuki said, looking a bit reproachfully in Momiji's direction.
"It's because Tohru's here! That makes things much better!" he replied, causing Tohru to blush. "A normal wedding would have me snoozing in a minute, but having you here is twice the fun!"
"Oh goodness...!" Tohru exclaimed, beginning to walk to the room the ceremony was to be held at.

"Don't push it, Momiji..." Yuki hissed into his cousin's ear, as Tohru was a bit further up.
"I'm not, I'm not! I'm just being truthful," Momiji replied, sticking out his tongue before dashing to Tohru's side and hurriedly knotting his tie. Yuki sighed, and followed behind.

The service was going to be held in a large, ceremonial room with a wooden floor; Saki, who had a very interesting idea in her head of what she wanted for her ceremony, had called for a traditional Japanese service, but with a western setting, complete with appropriate attire, and wine instead of sake. Kazuma had, at first, been skeptical, but as she went on, it became very lovely-sounding indeed. As it was going to be a generally traditional service, the head of the family would be able to perform the marriage legally. The bridesmaids and groomsmen were to sit in chairs at the front while the bride and groom knelt at center, and the rest of the wedding guests sat in chairs behind them, set up almost like pews.

Tohru quickly found her place; someone had placed helpful signs on the chairs, designating who sat where, and a sign at the front telling all that they were to take a seat and wait for the service to begin. Tohru found her seat to the left, right behind where Saki was to kneel; looking to her left, she saw that the next chair over was reserved for "Uotani Arisa", and she giggled as she realised her other best friend was going to arrive, although she hadn't shown up yet. She saw Yuki and his brother sitting directly across the aisle from her, with Ayame chatting animatedly to the creepy dark-haired man, who seemed to be completely ignoring him. Mine was sitting a few chairs away from her, sitting quietly with a wide smile on her face. A few other women she saw in the bridesmaid's chambers sat and gossipped, excluding the woman who gave her the nasty glance, who was sitting silently, with a scowl on her face.

Suddenly, there was a loud rumbling from outside the room, strangely reminiscent of a motorcyle. Instantly, Tohru stood up and joyously ran for the entrance, where a woman and a man on a motorcycle had entered.
The woman got off and took off her helmet, and her bleached blonde hair and blueish-black eyes instantly identifying her, even as she shouted loudly for all to hear: "Awright, where the hell's this wedding at?"

"Uo-chan, Uo-chan!" Tohru called, running towards her and embracing her.
"Tohru! Oh my god, Tohru! Hey!" Arisa said, in pleasant suprise. "Oh my god, it's been so long! Look at you!"

"Look at you, you look fantastic!" Tohru replied. "I'm so glad you could make it!"
"Yeah, where's Hana-chan?" said Arisa.

"She's still getting ready; she said she's not going to show up until the wedding starts, I think," Tohru replied.

"Aww, man, I really wanted to see her..." Arisa said, a bit dejectedly. "Oi, Kureno! Come on down, I want you to meet Tohru!"

The man who had been holding her gently on the motorcycle dismounted and took off his helmet to reveal a youthful face with dark, rust-colored hair, and thoughtful brown eyes.

"Hello, it's nice to meet you," he said courteously, bowing. Tohru bowed as well, a tad nervous.

'So this is the Kureno I've heard so much about!' Tohru thought, looking at his face. 'Funny, I could swear he looks familiar, but I'm absolutely sure I've never seen him before.'

"So, where are we supposed to be at?" Arisa asked.
"Well, do you have your dress on under there?" Tohru asked in reply, gesturing to her trenchcoat.
"Hell no! I have it in my saddlebags," she said. "What, do I have to get dressed like...right now? I wanted to hang out a bit."
"From the looks of it, darling, I think the wedding's about to start," Kureno said, glancing around a bit.
"SHIT!" Arisa swore. "Dammit, where can I go get changed?"

"Over here, I think!" Tohru replied, taking her arm and leading her across the estate to the room where she got changed.
"I'll go meet up with everyone, okay?" Kureno called after them.
"Yeah, just do what you need!" Arisa replied, laughing her head off.

Arisa had gotten dressed and prepared in time for the wedding, and returned to the room in time to see a pale young man with chin-length hair in a black and wine-red outfit enter, with an older man that wore a suit; the man in the suit took a seat along with the groomsmen and started chatting with Ayame, but the other man instead stood calmly at the front of the chamber and waited.

"Who's that?" Tohru asked Arisa.
"Hell if I know," she replied. "Kureno, you know who that is, don't you?"
"Arisa, I'd expect you to remember Akito-san," Kureno replied patiently, walking over at Arisa's call. "He's the one that let me be with you...oh, I don't think you met."

"Akito-san?" said Tohru, looking at him. "Is he performing the ceremony?"
Kureno nodded. "Yes, he is. Perhaps he'll speak with you later, I think he'd like to meet you, Tohru-san."
"Meet me? Oh goodness, I suppose that would be nice," Tohru replied.
At that moment, Akito glanced at Tohru with ink-black eyes, and faintly smiled at her. She couldn't help but smile back at the sickly person, before he spoke.
"Everyone, may I have your attention?" he asked; his voice was soft, yet husky. Instantly, the room quieted.
"Kazuma-san, enter, please," he said. Kazuma, who had been waiting outside the door, entered in his suit, looking stately and positively blissful. After he walked along the chairs, he knelt at Akito's right, and looked behind him.
"And now, the bride may enter," Akito said simply.

Saki appeared in a vision of white, her face covered by a veil, the red flowers in her hair practically shining. A few people sighed in admiration at the lovely gown Ayame had designed for her, and Tohru and Arisa smiled in spite of themselves. Slowly, she walked down the aisle, and knelt next to her husband-to-be, shyly casting her eyes downward the entire time.
The ceremony began.

Words were spoken, the wine was shared, and people cried; Arisa was sobbing by the end of it, and Tohru offered her shoulder to her for her tears. Saki's mother was crying as well, although Megumi observed stoically the wedding of his adult sister (although he was supposed to be at school, he felt that the wedding was important enough to skip for).

And then, they were married. There was celebration as the guests left the building in the direction of the reception hall, where food and speeches awaited them. Tohru found herself the last one left in the building, after the large group left. Thoughtfully, she walked out of the room and decided to take a stroll in the gardens to think a while, before joining the group in the reception room. The Sohma gardens truly were lovely, with carefully sculpted trees and flower bushes. Her feet carried her through the unfamiliar place, but suddenly, she stopped.

She came to a small room, seperate from the rest of the house, and for some reason, it seemed to hold her attention. She looked at the room curiously, and found a small package on a stone outcropping in front of the latticed wall. Observing it, she read a small tag on it.
"To Father and Mother, from Kyo," it read.

"Huh? Kyo? This is from Kyo?" she said, and peered into the room. "Hello? Anyone in here?"

She looked further, and thought she saw something in the shadows far beyond, but...

"Tohru-chan!"
It was Hana, running briskly by in her dress.
"Tohru, what are you doing here? The banquet's about to begin!" she said.
"Oh, sorry, Hana! I was just taking a walk," she replied. "What's this little house here?"
"I don't know," Hana replied, lying perfectly. "Come on, Momiji's saved a spot for you."
"Really? Oh, okay!" Tohru replied. "Umm, you don't suppose this package is for you and Kazuma-san, is it?"

"That?" Saki said, looking at it and reading the tag. "I think it may. He and I will look at it soon, don't worry. Let's go!"
Tohru laughed and followed her friend to the hall, but not before stealing one backwards glance at the room.

The hall was set up with tables for both the guests and the bride and groom. Saki took her seat next to her husband and lovingly looked in his eyes, while whispering something in his ear. He nodded thoughtfully, while Tohru looked for her table.
"Over here, over here!" Momiji called, seeing her. Tohru's face lit up and she took her spot at the empty chair on the round table, where Momiji, Yuki, and two people she did not know sat.
"Hello there, again," Yuki said politely. "Haru, I suppose you should introduce yourself."
"Haru?" said Tohru. The man with black-and-white hair bowed his head slightly.
"I'm Sohma Hatsuharu, we attended school together, it's nice to see you again," he said politely. "You look absolutely lovely today."
Tohru blushed at his politeness and shook her hand.
"No, no, I'm not that pretty," she replied.
"You are, really," the somber woman to his side replied, looking at her. "I'm Isuzu, and I don't believe we've met before. It's nice to meet you. Sorry if I wasn't able to talk to you when we were dressing, my cousin was being rude."
"Your cousin?" Tohru said.
"Kagura, she has brown hair," Isuzu replied. "She was being rude to you, so I'll apologize to you for her."

"Oh...really, it's no worry, really," Tohru replied. "How was the wedding?"
"It was really pretty!" Momiji replied enthusiastically. "Saki-san looked so gorgeous!"

There was a small clanging as someone tapped on their glass, and everyone looked to where it came from.
Akito had stood up with his water glass, his tired face showing a slight smile.

"If I may say a few words?" he asked. Immediately, there was silence, and Kazuma and Saki had their eyes fixed on them. Tohru observed the slight, beautiful person standing there, a small murmur in the back of her mind. Did she know this man? She couldn't tell.

"Well, if I must say, I haven't seen such a suitable pair in a long while!" Akito exclaimed, looking at Kazuma and Saki. "Kazuma-san and Saki-chan, I wish nothing but happiness for the two of you, truly. It is my fondest wish that you stay together through the years, and stay supportive and understanding of each other, as couples should be. To them!"

He raised his glass, and others across the hall did the same.
"If I may say something," Akito added, placing his glass down, "if you are to have children, then I am assured that they will grow up to enjoy the wonderful compassion of their father, and the loving wisdom of their mother."
There were a few laughs, and Saki blushed; chances were that they wouldn't have children besides Kyo, considering Kazuma's age.

"Congratulations to the both of you," Akito said again. "I wish happiness to the both of you, and also..."
He raised his glass. "I wish the best of wishes to my dearest Kureno and his fiancee Arisa, for when you are wed this summer!"

Instantly, there was a clatter in the hall.
"YOU'RE ENGAGED!" Tohru exclaimed, getting out of her chair and looking at her friend.
"Well, we wanted to keep it a secret!" Arisa replied, smiling sheepishly.
"Akito-san, I thought I asked you not to tell anyone!" Kureno laughed.
"I couldn't help it," Akito replied with a smile. "It's good news!"

Tohru spent most of the banquet gushing with Arisa and Saki about what was happening, before they went off to speak with other people. Tohru thought for a moment about perhaps finding Yuki or Momiji to talk to, but she was approached before she could make a choice.
"Pardon me, Honda Tohru?"

It was Akito, calmly approaching her with a slight smile on his face.
"Oh, Akito-san! How nice to see you!" Tohru said, bowing. "How are you?"
"Fine, yourself?" Akito asked.

"Very well, thank you," Tohru replied. "So, you're the head of the family?"
"I am," Akito replied. "And you're a friend of Saki-chan's, I take it?"
"Yes, I am," Tohru replied. "She and I have been friends since we were in middle school!"
"Is that so?" said Akito thoughtfully. "That's wonderful, that you've been able to stay together so long."
Tohru nodded. "Our friendship is something precious."
"Unfortunately for me, I can't quite say I've had a friendship that's lasted through the years like yours, you're quite lucky."
"Ohh, that's...you must have at least some friends, I mean..." Tohru said, sadly looking at him. "...you're the head of a...really large family! You must have at least some friends within the family."
"Oh...I do, I suppose," Akito said, glancing at the floor thoughtfully. "You're such a wonderful person, Honda-san, it's nice that you've come by. Please stay longer, if you can."

"Huh? What do you mean?" Tohru asked.

"Akito-san!"

Yuki came by, a slight smile on his face.
"Why, hello, Yuki," Akito said placidly. "How are you?"
"Fine, um, Honda-san? May I speak with you for a moment?" he said.

"Sure, what is it?" she asked.

He took her a bit further away in the hall, Akito following subtlely behind and listening.

"I've been thinking, lately, I've been in need of somebody that'll...take care of my house, you know?" he said, stumbling a bit over his words.
"Huh?" Tohru said, laughing a little.

"What I mean is...would you be interested in being my housekeeper?"