Shiki stared idly into the fountain on the back patio of the Sohma property he'd come to visit with his parents. The hot summer temperature was beginning to recede as the sun began to set for the evening. The alley behind the house was empty except for a single red tabby cat slinking between a wrought iron gate to make its evening rounds.

The muffled sounds of women bickering caught his attention. It was coming from an upstairs bedroom where, no doubt, an overzealous Hibika must have cornered Kinu again in a futile effort to dress her up.

Shiki allowed himself a small smile. The thought of his elder cousin trussed up looking like a doll brought him a little bit of amusement. While he didn't particularly look forward to coming over here, he couldn't deny that each trip was eventful even if a tad exhausting.

"Hey," Chizuru had stepped out of the home that doubled as a shop to visit with Shiki a bit. The adults were all inside visiting after finishing a marvelous dinner by Chiru's mother.

"Hi." Shiki turned to see a sour look on Chiru's face. "Is there trouble?"

"Isn't there always in our house? I wish they'd just tone it down for 5 seconds. Maybe pretend to be normal for a day. Why is that so much to ask?"

Shiki couldn't blame him. Did they ever just... relax? Quietly?

As if reading his mind, Chiru continued. "The only time dad really calms down is when he's around mom and they're being all... lovey. It's a little sickening to watch, I suppose, but at least I know they love each other."

Shiki nodded. He was mostly used to it. His dad would bring him over here sometimes when he was younger, but his mother definitely took every opportunity to "accidentally" make double plans. Shiki couldn't help but wonder if maybe Auntie Mine tried to dress his mom up once or twice?

"What's this?"

As they approached the inner door, Akito bent down to retrieve a small envelope with brilliant gold lettering on the front.

"It's addressed to us," Akito observed.

"Well, open it?"

Shigure had that knowing look in his eye. Akito was not fond of surprises, having been teased and toyed with by Shigure for far too long.

"Do you know what it is?" She questioned him.

"I think I have an idea..."

Inside was an equally gorgeous card with another folded envelope and... an invitation. On the corner of the paper there was a stamped seal that was immediately recognizable.

"Ayame..."

Shigure smiled softly. "I thought so."

"It's a wedding invitation. Who is he intending to wed? Himself? I wouldn't be surprised." Akito mused to herself more than anything else.

"Now now, she happens to be a very lovely lady and a perfect fit for him if I say so myself."

Akito stood in the doorway holding the invitation. She'd had no idea. A brief moment of some indiscernible feeling passed through her. Shigure had known. Who else knew and deliberately concealed this information from her? Hatori? Yuki?

She had avoided the snake for so long. Being in the same room with him was exhausting, and yet... they had shared the pain of being bound by the same mysterious chains. He cried alongside Shigure, Hatori, and Kureno on the day she was conceived. Whether he admitted it or not, he did care. He cared what she thought. He feared her.

"Are we going?" Shigure asked cautiously. She knew what he meant. He meant 'are you going?'

"At the very least, you should give them your blessings..." Shigure paused for a moment, and then slowly continued, "unless you're aren't going to allow the marriage, of course." He finished quietly.

She hadn't even though about that. The damned snake didn't even ask her.

But who can blame him, she supposed.

There was nothing to fear anymore.

"Yes, I will go and yes, I would like to give them my blessings in person. Let's meet them next week." Akito wasn't feeling excited about the visit, but she was trying to do her best in turning a new leaf. Small steps.

She would never be prepared for what awaited her that evening. Akito adamantly refused all attempts by Mine to get her into anything other than what she came in wearing. Surprisingly, Mine did not put up much of a fight.

"Aya probably asked her to tone it down" Shigure thought to himself, a little surprised.

It was a short visit.

The next day, another small box arrived. The box was boring and completely modest, with not so much as a tag on it.

The contents, however, were anything but.