"Tsk, this is no good," The old seamstress clacked her tongue, giving Aki a stern look while tugging the dress with extra vehemence, "Miss Izayoi, you lost weight; I will have to re-cinch the waist and bust now. I never quite understand it with you young girls. You already have a great figure; there is certainly no need to starve yourself!"
"I don't starve myself, Frau Maria," Aki said defensively, "And I wasn't trying to lose weight." She felt slightly guilty when she said this, because it was bending the truth a little. Of course she wanted to look her best at her wedding, so she did cut back on ice cream and pastries, from occasionally to never. But more likely than not, it's her chaotic schedule which contained so little spare time for eating that really did her in.
A rose-coloured head poked out from behind a row of clothes and said, "I am sure she didn't try, Frau Maria, it's just lately she could never find the time to sit down and finish a meal. If it weren't for me forcing her to eat whenever I can, you would see even less of Izayoi Aki!" And that would be Black Rose Dragon in his handsome human form. He tagged along with Aki to her wedding dress fitting so he could find some appropriate tuxedo at the old seamstress's shop.
Frau Maria nodded with satisfaction and said while sticking pins into Aki's dress, "I know you are a good boy. You take good care of her, won't you? Make sure she eats regularly and sleeps enough, make sure she stays very healthy! Otherwise she will have so much trouble when it comes time for that first child."
Black Rose Dragon grinned cheekily and said, "Thank you for your excellent advice, Frau Maria, I will do that. Speaking of children, I can't tell you how much I look forward to playing with them!"
Aki glared at her dragon. God, that overgrown lizard is shameless! And Black Rose can keep dreaming about playing with her children, but it certainly won't happen anytime soon. She would never introduce her children to the family dragon until they are at least school age. Doesn't Black Rose understand that he is the stuff nightmares are made of? So while Frau was busy studying the folds and the hem of her dress, she leaned over slightly and hissed at Black Rose Dragon, "Will you just stick to what you came for and save the cheeky comments?"
"Right, mistress," Black Rose in human form grinned at her, and then rose-coloured head retreated once more behind racks of clothing.
The peace and quiet hardly lasted, not with Black Rose around. Only minutes later, Aki heard a triumphant: "Ah, found something great!" Then she heard hurried steps and then fabric rustling—it sounded like Black Rose was scurrying into the changing stall and was trying something on.
A few moments later Black Rose emerged from behind the changing stall curtain with a wicked smile on his face. He was wearing a set of pure white tuxedo suit, with a creamy yellow vest and a silk tie of the same colour, looking nothing short of splendid, like the sun in its zenith. The lapel and cuff of his jacket were decorated with roses embroidered in silver thread, florid yet subtle, making him appear elegant and polished despite his often childish expressions. Aki narrowed her eyes a little. Black Rose so dressed up to the nines was blinding, and running a serious risk of upstaging her groom. She was still pondering how best to pursue her dragon to go for something less glamorous, when Black Rose Dragon said to her proudly, "Look, this matches the design on your wedding dress! Isn't it wonderful?"
Aki scrutinized Black Rose Dragon's suit a bit more, then looked down at her own dress. Indeed, the rose embroidery on that white tuxedo was the same as the beaded pattern on her bodice. At this she blanched. But Frau Maria looked extremely satisfied; she said with an approving nod, "You have a good eye. I have been leaving that matching suit out just for Miss Aki, hoping she would notice and choose it for her man. But Miss Aki is not very observant. Good thing you came along today, my boy."
Black Rose Dragon's grinned and replied sweetly, "Indeed, and Frau Maria, you do have great taste. I really love this! Though it does need some more fitting, you see..."
"Oh no you don't!" Aki snarled at her dragon, "We are not wearing matching clothes on my wedding day, you boneheaded lizard! Cross me again and you will have something to regret, Black Rose."
Black Rose Dragon actually cowered. He took a step back and said with a placating smile, "Alright, alright! I will change this minute, and I promise to find something more appropriate!"
"Good," Aki said with a cold glare.
Even as Black Rose Dragon beat a hasty retreat back to the changing stall, he dearly wanted to whistle. By the Red Dragon, Izayoi Aki in all her fury was an awesome and frightening creature; even yards upon yards of puffy lace and tulle could not make her seem soft and meek!
Some minutes later Black Rose emerged again, this time in a sleek black suit with white vest and a gold pin-stripe tie—a get up that made him just as blindingly glamorous as the last. Aki looked at him critically for a few moments, before letting loose a small sigh. "Black Rose," She said, "How about you tone it down a little? This is a big occasion, but you clearly are not the man of the hour."
Black Rose Dragon retorted with a frown, "Oh come on, mistress! Would Yusei really be so petty as to resent me for looking good at his wedding? I thought him a bigger man than that."
But Aki was having none of that. "Oh, Yusei is a bigger man than that, no doubt," She said in a dangerously calm voice, "But I am not. I am as petty as a woman can be, and I would absolutely resent you for outshining my husband-to-be at my wedding!"
"Aww," Black Rose Dragon mumbled, "Alright, mistress dear, heard you loud and clear. What would you like me to wear?"
Seeing that Frau Maria was at her desk doing something rather than bending over her dress, Aki strode over to the hangers and shuffled through a row of suits. She took a good minute before pulling out one. "This," She said, tossing another suit towards her dragon, "Skip the vest, and go with a white shirt, plus a nice tie."
Black Rose Dragon eyed the suit, lips pulling into a pout and face incredibly sour. Oh, it wasn't an ugly suit per se. After all, Frau Maria was a famous seamstress and it was generally safe to say there were no ugly clothes at her shop. This grey two-piece was made from supple wool, single-breasted, with a simple but elegant British cut; it had a very refined look, but it was also serious and somber, much too business-like. Anyone wearing that suit would not stand out in the crowd.
"Really?" Black Rose Dragon asked.
"Really," Aki replied firmly.
Black Rose Dragon said sulkily, "Mistress, just saying, don't you think this suit matches Yuse's personality much better?"
Aki glared at him, not saying a word but at the same time making her command very clear. Black Rose Dragon sighed, hung his head like a puppy, and slinked off to the changing stall. Why, for a moment, Aki thought she could see the thorny tail swishing behind the big boy.
Serve you right, she thought with a smile, and returned to admire her own wedding dress.