Beauty and the Beast
Inspired by the song Sukiyaki! Or Ue o muite arukou (I will look up as I walk) By Kyu Sakamoto-san! Anyone heard of it? I'm from the late 90s, yet I love this song from the early 60s. Gosh I feel old. But it has so much feels! DISCLAIMER, I DO NOT OWN SUKIYAKI AKA UE O MUITA ARUKOU. IT WAS ONLY INSPIRING!
I looked up as I walked back to my house. The stars greeted my tear-filled eyes. The cold winter breeze runs through my body. I started to remember the first time we met.
Fifteen years ago, on a spring day, you and your father came to see my father. You were the prettiest girl I had ever seen. You loved nature and the beauty of it. You had a crystal clear heart. You were a beauty. Yet, I was the rowdy beast who tainted your heart. I showed you a scary sight. I thought I was a knight in shining armor. But I was a beast.
I decided to pursue the road of beauty instead of the road of fighting. I decided the next time I met you, I would show you how I had changed. It was the summer, on my eleventh birthday, when I met you again. I had changed so much, you didn't recognize me, nor did I recognize you. I fell in love with you again. I thought I was being unfaithful to you. I loved someone else who was the complete opposite of you. Who knew you was the same person all these years later? I didn't. Talking about our hopes and dreams, you proposed a bet. Thus, we started our journey. We went through a lot. You went through a lot.
A week before your eleventh birthday, in the autumn leaves, you confessed to me. I was thrilled out of my mind. But I knew. I knew I couldn't accept your feelings. Not after I knew you were that girl. Not after I traumatized you. I just couldn't.
But now… I'm regretting it. Now, we are 20. Now, you are in Kanto while I'm in Hoenn. Now, you are getting engaged and married when I can only wish you happiness. Now, there is nothing I can do because we are thousands of miles apart.
I'm still remembering our time together when I arrived at my house in Littleroot. The lights in the living room were on. I wiped the remaining tears on my eyes with my sleeve. I open the door and joyfully say, "I'm home!" I put on my best smile. My mother and father were sitting in the living room. "Welcome home, honey!" she said. I smiled and started heading towards the stairs to my room. I know what you are thinking. I'm 20 and I still live with my parents while you already live on your own. Well, you used to anyways. But I had a reason. HAD. I had a reason to stay in Littleroot. A specific blue eyed reason. A beautiful blue eyed reason. But now, that reason is no longer here.
"Ruby, honey?" my mother said. I turned around and faced her, "Yes?" I asked. "Well, your father and I were discussing where to go for our winter trip. Do you have any place you want to go?" she asked. Yeah. Kanto. I really want to go to Kanto. To be with you. To see you at your finest moment. But I don't say anything. "Anywhere's fine, mom." I replied and started going up the stairs. My father spoke up, "Let's go to Kanto then. We could go to Mt. Silver for skiing." God, I swear my father's a mind reader. "Ohh. That sounds nice. Is that okay with you Ruby?" my mother asked. I tried my best to prevent myself from exploding from joy. "Yeah. That'd be great." I managed to squeak out. I ran up the stairs and into my room.
I got to my room and dug out some notebooks that were pretty much covered in dusk. I opened them and they were full of sketches of beautiful white satin dresses on a skinny figure. I've got to admit, even I was impressed by my own skills at the age of 17. That was when I decided to become a fashion designer. That was when I made up my mind to speak out my mind to you once I graduated college. But why? Why couldn't you wait for two more years? I know. I was selfish. I had made you wait all these years. Tears dripped upon my sketches. I quickly wiped them away. My winter break was two weeks away. I was determined to make you a dress. The very last dress I would ever make you. Only for you. My final surprise for you. I can only hope that you will wear it on your special day. I can only hope while I look out my window to see the thousands of stars in this winter day.
I barely slept in these past two weeks. I stayed up extremely late to work on your surprise every day. And in the morning, I get up early to go to college. The time seemed eternal. But the day finally came. The day where I can see you again. I got on the plane heading to you. I would be there. In just 5 hours, I would be there. Please just wait.
We arrived in Kanto and got into a taxi to take us to Celadon Hotel. My parents were checking us in when I heard your voice.
"Ruby?" I turned around and saw you in the outfit I made for you some years ago. A white tank top under an ocean blue sweater and dark green pants that went up to your ankles. Designed just for you. Just like how I remember you.
"Hey, Sapph." I say.
"What are ya doin here?" you asked me.
I shrugged. "Vacation." I replied.
"Oh." We stood there in silence.
"Oh! Hi Sapphire!" my mom said, breaking the silence.
"Hi Auntie." You replied to her.
"So… Where's your mom?" my mother asked.
"She's upstairs in the room." You replied.
"Oh." Silence returned. My mother spoke up again. "I'm really sorry Sapphire."
"For what?"
"Well, a month ago, I had a fight with your mother over something trivial. And well, she sent your marriage profile to the Oak residence the next day. Your marriage is my fault. I'm sorry," my mother confessed. I knew Auntie Carol had something to do with it. Old man Birch would never let you marry off so far. I looked over to you for any sign of reaction. My heart shattered when you just smiled at us and said, "It's alright Auntie. It doesn't really matter." I guess you had your heart set. I could do nothing to stop you. But it's alright. I was prepared. A walked up to you with my two suitcases. I handed you one of them and whispered in your ear, "Do not open this until your wedding day okay? It's my wedding present to you. I'll slip the code under your door that morning. Do not try to pry it open. Do not damage it. Do not do anything to it. Just leave it alone until that day. Do you understand Sapphire?" You nodded and stepped back. My mother called me. "Coming!" I yelled. "Okay. See you, barbarian," I smirked. You looked steaming mad. I got on the elevator before you could slug me and watched as your face disappeared behind the closing door. Your wedding was a week away.
Before, I felt that time went too slowly as I waited for the day I could come to Kanto. Now, I feel that time went by too fast. The day had arrived. I got up extra early and scribbled some numbers on a piece of paper. Well, not just any numbers. 0702-0920-0080. July 2nd – September 20th – 80 Days. They were our special numbers. And the code to the suitcase. I walked over to your suite and slipped the paper under your door and listened. I heard you stumble yourself over to the door and silence took over for a while. I heard you say, "Gah. Stupid Ruby. There's so many numbers." I laughed silently. Through the door, I heard you slam the suitcase down on the floor and I cringed. I thought I told you not to damage it. I rolled my eyes. You were never good at directions. A few moments later, I heard your footsteps quickly run to the door. I tried to run away and hide, but you were faster. The door swung wide open and we were face to face. No one said a word as we stared into each other's eyes. They were a bit moist. I broke the silence first, "H-hey." Soon after the word left my lips, you pulled me into the room by my wrist. You led me to the suitcase. "What is the meaning of this?" you demanded. I just took the dress and held it up to your frame. "Surprise! It's my wedding gift to you. Like it?" You frowned at me for a brief moment. Then, the frown turned into a small smile. "Yeah. It's beautiful, Ruby. Thanks." You said as you took it from my hands. "Well? Aren't you going to try it on? I'm not sure the measurements are correct. They were from last year. Go on. Try it!" I said as I pushed you into the bathroom. I slammed the door behind me and I slid down it with my hands on my face. I sat there for a while, almost ten minutes. I was about to open my mouth and ask if you were done yet, when I fell back from the door you opened.
I was lying on the floor as I started up at you in the dress. An angel had descended upon me. In my eyes, you looked like you were glowing. I quickly scrambled up and looked at you properly. "You're beautiful," I breathed. "What?" You asked. I was about to repeat myself when I caught myself. You were to be married today. Who am I to say that you were beautiful? I looked at you and you were waiting for an answer. "I said, it's beautiful. I've got to love my handiwork." I replied. You looked a bit crestfallen as you said, "Oh, is that so?" but almost immediately, you perked up again. "Hey, how bout you walk me down the aisle? Papa doesn't want to be in a suit and Mama won't let him walk the aisle without one." You caught me by surprise. Me? Walk you to your fate? Might as well kill me now. I was about to refuse when I saw the hope on your face. I couldn't resist. "Fine." I said, defeated. I could never refuse when you showed me your puppy face. Before I realized it, you threw your arms around me. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what I could do. I just pushed you away and walked towards the door. "I'm going to get ready. See you!" And I ran out. I didn't look back to see if you were there. I just ran straight to my room. I closed the door and collapsed on the bed. What have I just promised to do? I swear, this may be the worse day in my life. I walked over to my suitcase and tried to find my finest clothes, which was hard, considering my many options. I finally choose a black vest over a blood red shirt and some black dress pants. I don't usually feel this way but the clothes were strangling me, constricting me, and not letting me breathe. I decided to take a small walk to calm myself down. I looked up and saw the sun, shining brightly and happily on my gloomy world. But my world had lost its sun. I felt water drip on my face. I thought it was rain but it was my tears. They streamed down to my face and they wouldn't stop. No matter how much I wiped them, they wouldn't stop. And I realized something. I love you. I can't let you go. Let go of my only reason to live on to this day. I can't.
I rushed towards the church were you were to be married to Green. As I got out of my car, you immediately pulled me towards the chapel. "Wait, Sapphire, I have to tell you something." I said as I tried to pry my arm free. "No time. Mama's getting impatient. Wait till later." You continued dragging me towards my dreaded fear. Either you are too strong, or I just gave up resisting. We arrived at the large doors in no time. I could hear the music play inside. You grabbed the flowers placed to the side and straightened out the dress. The doors opened and revealed the large inside. I could see Green standing up there on the alter, waiting for you. I swallowed and started walking with you. The only things I could think while I walked down the aisle were: I can't let you marry him. I can't let you stay here. I want to be the one who waits for you up there.
Before I knew it, we had arrived and I was ushered to my seat. The priest started talking as I squirmed in my seat, shifting here and there, "We are gathered together on this beautiful afternoon to share with Sapphire Birch and Green Oak as they exchange vows of their everlasting love." God, I want to puke. He continued as I interrogated myself, closing my eyes. What can I give her? Will she be happy? What can I do? What will I do? God, give me an answer. Give an answer to this cowardly beast. Please.
Say your true feelings.
My eyes snapped open, looking around for the person who said that. My eyes fell on the cross up in the front. "You've got to be kidding me." I muttered under my breath. Was there really a god? But I had no time to ask. The priest repeated the question to Green, who was spacing out just like me, "Do you, Green Oak, take Sapphire Birch as your lawfully wedded wife?" Green's mouth was opening, ready to say two simple words. But I only had one to say.
"STOP!" I yelled out. Wait, is there and echo in here? The echo was Silver, another senior to me when we were in high school, who threw the doors open. Be it one or two, I was determined to get you back. I got up to the alter next to you and pulled you into my chest. "Back off you two! Sapphire is mine!" I could feel the blood rush to my cheeks as I said those words. Silver was the one who spoke up first, "I'm not here for the girl you idiot. I'm here for the groom." He grabbed Green's wrist and started dragging him away. The first thing that came to my mind was, 'You're gay, Green?' I think it clearly showed on my face because Green stopped Silver and asked, "What are you doing Silver? Why are you…" Silver didn't let him finish as he pulled a letter from his pocket and shoved it in Green's face. Green saw the front of the letter and ripped it open. He took a few moments to read it as the rest of the church was silent. When he finished reading it, the paper was crumbled in his fist. Silver spoke up when he finished, "She met with your father seven months ago. He said he wanted to get you a marriage partner. A suitable one who was pretty, rich, and smart." He glanced at Sapphire, hesitant with the last word. I glared at him. "Blue protested of course. But he threatened her. Do you know how terrified she was?" he continued. Green snapped as he ran over to his father. "WHY THE HELL DID YOU DO THAT?" he grabbed his collar angrily. "Calm down Green. She wasn't good enough for you. She wasn't from a respectable family." He said as several people tried to get Green off him. "I loved her. That's all that mattered. And it still does." Green said as he released his father from his grip and walked out of the chapel saying, "But you wouldn't know that. That's why mom left you. But I'm not like you. Silver, let's go." Silver complied and the two men walked out of the chapel.
Parents from all three sides were shocked. Green's father just sat there, still reflecting on his son's words, while Professor Oak shook his head at him. Your mother looked like she was about to faint. You father just laughed out loudly. My mom seemed shocked at my boldness and my dad just gave me a nod. I took a deep breath and turned to you. "Sapphire, I like you. Ever since we first met, I'd always loved you. But I had scared you, tainted you, terrified you. Can you ever forgive me?" I let it out all at once. You held up your hand and you brought it down. I expected no less of a slap from you. But that didn't happen. My face were cupped in your hands as you looked into my eyes and said, "You idiot. I never blamed you." Tears started dripping down and I wiped them away. I held you in my arms again. "I love you." I whispered so only you heard. "Me too." You murmured. I held you closer as I was restored from a misunderstanding beast to your loving knight. You, my princess, is my treasure.