Chapter 13

"Princess Fuji, how can you be so calm?! I feel so nervous that you'd think it's MY wedding that's about to start here and not yours!"

Ran Morimura flails her arms wildly above her head. She could not for the life of her understand how Fuji could just sit sedately while court ladies put the finishing touches on her ceremonial bridal gown. She knew that Fuji was not in love with Eisen, nor was he in love with her. To Ran's modern romantic mind, this was a union that should not be happening. And yet, here they were, just minutes before the actual ceremony was to begin.

"Fuji!! Why don't you say something?!" Ran was desperate. She had hoped against hope that Shimon and the others would bring back Takamichi in time to...well, she didn't know exactly WHAT they could do, being as this was the Emperor's order, but it would've done something, that she was sure of! It would've made the sweet princess resist at least!

Unlike now. Princess Fuji was resigned to her fate. She put on a weak smile and pressed Ran's hand firmly but kindly.

"Ran-san, thank you so much for all you have done for me, but I must do this---it is my duty and...it's not so bad really. so don't fret so. I will be just fine. I'm happy, so..."

Ran could see clearly that Princess Fuji was fighting back tears but she did it so valiantly that unless you knew the young lady very well, you would really think she was truly happy. All Ran could do was hug the princess and silently berate Shimon and the other Hachiyou for not coming to the rescue of her dear friend!

"Excuse me, your highness. Queen Kougou requests your presence at her---"

The court lady starts to ask Fuji to come with her to visit the Queen, but is cut off by the kindly lady, who pushes open the doors and sails in.

"Oh, never mind, my dear, Fuji is busy so I will come to her." The Queen nods for the lady to leave and the door slides shut, leaving the 3 women alone together.

"Now, my dear, let me look at you. Oh! You are perfectly lovely---perfectly lovely. Truly, you make a beautiful bride. I am so very proud of you." The Queen's statements were heartfelt and the pair of young girls could not help but be warmed by her soft words and praise. Though the Queen did not raise Fuji, as she did Chuuguu, she was nonetheless interested in the younger sister of her 'adopted' daughter.

When Chuuguu had disappeared, Kougou had been heartbroken. She felt as though she had failed her 'daughter' somehow and tried to make up for it by being like a mother now to Princess Fuji.

And now, on the day of Prince Eisen's marriage, she could not help but feel a pang of sadness shoot through her. After all, she had always envisioned that Eisen should marry Chuuguu. It had been her motherly dream. But alas, that was not to be.

Kougou shakes off the regretful feelings and smiles brightly at the younger sister that Chuuguu had left behind.

"Soon, you will be Prince Eisen's bride and as such, you will become even more a part of our family. Please know, my dear Fuji, that I welcome you as a daughter." Kougou holds out her arms to embrace the girl and Fuji, without hesitation, runs deeply into her arms. Here, she lets out all her pent up emotions, and weeps openly on the woman's bosom.

"My! What is this?!" The Queen had no idea that Fuji did not wish to marry Eisen and this burst of tears was quite a surprise she had not expected.

" hic It's...nothing.. hic ...Please forgive me, Your Majesty..." Fuji quickly composes herself and wipes her tears with her sleeve. But Kougou was not one to just let things alone. She knew something was amiss and was determined to discover just what that could be.

"Happy girls do not cry on their wedding days, my dear. There now, tell me what could be troubling you and I will try to help you." Kougou strokes Fuji's hair, with an empathic smile etched on her face.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me for what I did...I---I am fine. Really." Fuji pastes a humble smile on her face in an attempt to cover up her faux pas.

Ran couldn't just stand by and take any more of it. Fuji wasn't about to say a word, so she took it upon herself to speak up for her friend. Gathering her courage, she steps forward to address the Queen.

"Queen Kougou! Don't listen to her! Everything's all wrong! Please, can't you stop the wedding?!"

"RAN!"
"What?! Stop the wedding?!"

Simultaneously, the two other women cry out in confusion and horror. Ran tries to calm herself before she speaks out again.

"Your Majesty, Fuji is not in love with Prince Eisen! She loves someone else and---and---well, she's just doing this out of loyalty and duty to the Emperor. But it's wrong! Do you want her to spend her life with someone she doesn't love and won't be happy with? Don't people in this time understand the importance of true love?!"

Ran started out reasonable enough, but her staccato speech ends with a bang. She hangs her head when she realizes that she had just yelled at the Queen, who stands there in shock.

"I--I'm sorry, Your Majesty, for my rude outburst. It isn't my place to say anything, I know, but...Fuji is my friend and I can't just stand by and watch her throw her life away."

Kougou's shock turns into sympathy and she puts her hand on Ran's bent head.

"Have no fear, my dear. I am glad you spoke out, for now I know the truth. These past weeks, I felt inside that something wasn't right---Fuji wasn't as giddy nor happy as she should be, but I put it down to 'pre-wedding jitters'. Thank you for telling me the truth, Ran."

Kougou strides over to where Fuji was standing with wide eyes.

"Fuji, why have you said nothing of this before? Of course we don't want you to marry Eisen if you don't love him. My husband is not so cruel as that." Kougou looks at Fuji sadly.

"Your Majesty! I--I--I just..." Fuji stutters as she cannot put into words the feelings she had buried deep within her.

Kougou looks kindly at the little princess. "Who is it that you love?"

Takamichi's smile flashes through Fuji's mind at the Queen's words, but she says nothing. How could she? She lowers her head and closes her eyes tightly.

I have to marry Prince Eisen! It's my duty!

Kougou puts a worried hand to her lips, wondering what she could possibly do. Obviously, this girl was in no shape to get married now. How could she find out if Fuji wouldn't tell her?

Aha...

The Queen turns decisively to the other young lady in the room, who shrinks back when she realizes she was the Queen's target.

Uh-oh, what've I gotten myself into...?

"Ran, since Fuji seems to have lost her tongue, I must garner the information elsewhere. Now, please, think of me as a confidante and tell me truthfully all that you know---just who is it that she IS in love with?"

Ran glances from the Queen's concerned face to Fuji's pallid one. She takes a deep breath and says a quick prayer to help her through this. She hoped she was doing the right thing for Fuji, but she knew inside, that the truth was the only thing that could set you free...

"Queen Kougou, Fuji cares deeply for Prince Eisen, but not as a lover. He is one of her dearest friends, but nothing more to her. And he feels the same! Your Majesty, Fuji loves Takamichi! Can you help her?"

Ran clings to the woman's sleeve as Kougou looks towards the bride-to-be, who now had soft tears falling gently down her cheeks.

"Takamichi? Fujiwara no Takamichi? The Vice Minister?"

"Yes, yes! That Takamichi! But he disappeared weeks ago and everyone's been out searching for him since then! Fuji's been beside herself! She's tried to put on a good front, but I know her and she's dying inside from all of this! Oh, Your Majesty! Can you help us?! Can you at least postpone this wedding until we find him? Maybe then, maybe then, it can all be straightened out somehow!!" Ran desperately latched onto her impulsive idea. Anything would be better than watching her best friend commit herself to a man she didn't love.

Kougou looks sympathetically at the two girls, but with sad eyes she realizes how complex the situation has become, even for the Queen.

"My dears, my dears. How I wish I could! But it's all too late. The wedding ceremony has already begun and I know my husband. He is not unkind, but he can be quite stubborn. His heart is set on his brother's marriage today to Fuji. I fear nothing I could say would sway his decision. Oh, if only---"

Kougou stops short, catching her words. She did not want to trouble Fuji any further, but in her mind, she could not help but finish her statement.

---If only Chuuguu was still here! Then, SHE would've been the bride Eisen would be marrying and Fuji could have her Takamichi. It would've all been so perfect for everyone. Ah, Chuuguu, why? Why did you leave us?

Instead, Kougou can only rush towards Fuji and hug her warmly.

"Forgive me, my dear, for my lack of insight. I should've noticed earlier how unhappy you were and put a stop to it then and there."

"Please don't feel that way, Your Majesty. I...It's what I must---and should---do. My duty as a subject of the Emperor." Fuji wipes her eyes and lifts her chin in determination. "I will be just fine. I will marry Prince Eisen and I will never think of...Taka--...him...again. Please don't worry."

Fuji shakes her hair out of her face and prepares herself for the wedding. Kougou and Ran look gaze at each other in sadness as they watch the court lady arrive with the news that the ceremony is ready for Fuji's arrival.

And so, the three women depart, with heavy hearts and silent prayers on their lips.