"I'm sorry, Lian," Ren's mother, Ran, whispered to her son, addressing him by his Chinese name as she prepared him for the wedding that was scheduled for later that day. "I didn't want you to mary that despicable man, either, but I have no power over anything, you know that well."
"I know," Ren answered softly as his mother gently placed various ornaments in his deeply colored purple-black hair. He felt so humiliated. First, he had to marry a man over twice his age. Second, he was forced to wear traditional clothing meant for Chinese brides.
Ran fastened her son's red robes around his waist, patting his head. "My only son, all grown up and getting married," she said, smiling weakly. "If only you had a choice in this." She looped a strand of jade beads around his neck and then stood up, handing Ren the red cloth veil that was traditionally used in Chinese weddings.
"Come out when you're ready to leave," she whispered. "I'm going to welcome the guests." With that, she exited the room, leaving Ren alone to contemplate it all.
He looked at his reflection in the mirror, mortified at how feminine he looked. He was very skinny; if it wasn't for his tongari, he could have easily passed anywhere as a girl.
A single tear dropped from his golden eyes onto his lap, followed by two more. He felt horrible. Even if it was against his will, he was betraying Horohoro.
He wiped the salty tears from his face on the back of his sleeve, sighing and placing the veil over his head. Like it was meant to, it covered his entire head like a red curtain.
Good. No one would have to see him crying.
He slowly got up, manuvering to the door and exiting. Ran and Jun watched sadly as he carefully climbed into the small carriage that was traditionally meant to transport the bride to the wedding.
He drew the curtains on the small carrige closed so no one could see him. He felt the carriage begin to move, the beginnings of the wedding procession.
In China, weddings are a big deal. There is a whole parade-type march to the area of the wedding, with curious passerbys lining the streets to watch.
He knew that Zan Ching, the groom, had to be riding a horse somewhere near the line's front. He bitterly wondered how strong of a horse they had to get to support his disgusting weight.
He could hear festive music being played by members of the march and lots of people chattering excitedly and cheering, throwing flowers excitedly to the "bride's" carraige.
Ren hated it. He was never too fond of troublesome commotions such as this one, and he hated the attention as well. It all made him want to throw up.
He thought about Horohoro again. He couldn't help but let a few more tears slip past his lashes. He didn't even have the freedom or right to choose whom he married, traded off by his father like a sack of flour. How he despised the old man.
He knew that Yoh was here, Jun had informed him of the occasion. Whether or not everyone else was here he didn't know.
He heard uproarious laughter and a familiar voice somewhere outside.
A smile drifted at the shaman's lips. So Chocolove was here to see him. He chuckled slightly. They'd probably laugh at him to see him practically in drag, but as long as he knew they cared enough to come, he felt somewhat reassured.
However, it wasn't enough to ease the sick feeling he had in his stomach.
The wedding ceremony couldn't be too bad, but afterwards, he'd have to spend the rest of the night with his husband. Together. And alone.
Ren shuddered, dreading the time when that would occur.
Soon, the carriage came to a stop. Trembling slightly with fear and anxiety, Ren carefully stepped out and onto the pavement.
Several "ooh's" and "ah's" were heard from the nearby watching crowd as he did so. Ren's cheeks flushed as scarlet as his robes under his veil. This was so humiliating.
He carefully made his way up a small pathway to the room he would wait in for the Zan Ching, hands shaking. He tried to conceal them in the sleeves of his robes, succeeding only somewhat.
Another tear fell, splashing silently onto the road.
Ren hated his life.