"Roselyn, are you almost finished," you asked her, doing your utmost to sit impeccably still before your vanity, keeping your voice tempered and restrained.
You didn't want to sound urgent, but in truth you were. You needed to be, after listening to your voice message left by Daiki, he wanted to go to the zoo the rest of the message said, you knew it was code for something else, but you didn't care and wanted to rush right over.
But you couldn't, not yet at least. You weren't properly ready to be presentable to him.
An instructed text message followed after Daiki's voicemail read:
-Sage green. Brown. Up. Minimal.
Which you instantly understood, despite your aversion, had to comply. With Roselyn's assistance, you found the only piece of clothing that was sage green; a dress with a plunging neckline, short loose sleeves, overlapped collar, and tied wrap hem. There was no open back.
You changed from your activewear to the dress, the brown, simple flats.
Up, your hair which Roselyn was styling back and collecting into a mid-height ponytail. She wasn't sure whether to keep your bangs framing your face, or not. You decided against it.
The last part, minimal, was makeup.
"Done," Roselyn whispered crestfallenly, dissolving the heavy silence, she hid attempts of her thoughts but carried out the instructions.
She set the brush down and left, in less than a minute she came back with the makeup and returned to her spot behind you.
"Hold still," she instructed softly, slipping a hand under your chin and tilting it gently upward. Her eyes with benign focus, asses your face.
You saw within her eyes click with a settled design. A wave of remembrance washed over you, she had the same expression when applied your makeup for your wedding.
"Similar to my wedding, wouldn't you agree," you jest lightly, unable to resist the words that came out. You tried to smile but she shot you a sharp warning not to.
She remained quiet, applying some natural-colored eyeshadow.
"Not quite," she said curtly, with a scowl. "The situations were different. Vastly."
You felt a pit in your stomach and couldn't argue back. Your shoulders slump a little, she noticed and changed the topic slightly.
"I am sure you're excited to see young Daiki." Her voice had a smile to it, she was now applying mascara.
Life sprung back in your eyes, "Yes. I wasn't able to speak with him last time. I'm sure he's enjoying himself."
"He is, if I may, he told me how he gets to enjoy the beach every day."
"The beach?"
"Yes. He builds sandcastles with the curses, just as he used to build them back on the island, with the mistresses Nanako and Mimiko. Remember?"
Your smile brightened fondly, "Yes!" Your shoulders perk up, "It's one of his favorite activities and eventually became shared between them. Thank goodness that hasn't changed. I wonder how the girls are doing?" Worry followed your words as they equally filled your eyes.
You were concerned about Nanako and Mimiko they were you essentially your daughters, and the others after December passed. Christmas was lonely that day and winter became subzero. The skies were completely empty when you remember standing, in a green sweater dress and boots, in your usual spot on the cliff waiting for Suguru and everyone's arrival. The villa was decorated for the festivities, with a tree the moment you enter the family room, and garlands hung about with decorative lights. The delightful scent of pine, peppermint, and soon-to-join vanilla and baking gingerbread with the girls. Even though they were teenagers, they enjoyed it.
Laughter and merriment were supposed to fill every part of the villa. But it never, Christmas never came.
You loved that holiday. You were looking forward to it, and though he didn't say Suguru did too.
Your thoughts linger on him, for a moment then to the girls, and Daiki. You stayed on him the longest, he was right there….all you had to do was reach out and you could hold him.
And maybe if you did then….everything could back to normal. If held on tight enough. If just could have gone with Suguru then-
"My lady," Roselyn's voice broke through, pulling you back.
You blink a few times to bring your senses back and find yourself still sitting before your vanity, finished and ready.
You also found the urgency in Roselyn's eyes on you in the mirror. You were slightly confused for a moment until she pointed to the clock hanging on the wall. You shot up like a firecracker, knocking over your stool, your heart racing rapidly.
The time!
You were going to be late and you couldn't be late!
Trying not to panic your mind spinning as you try to recount if you did everything and had everything needed and making sure nothing was out of place. With a quick glance in the mirror of yourself, everything was in order and you rushed out of the room.
Roselyn trailed with matching speed, she had your matching clutch and the required flats in hand. Within seconds you were out on the veranda.
And just as you were about to spread your wings, you stopped and remembered this dress had a closed back. If your wings came out then…you'd ruin it and you couldn't have that.
Your stomach knots in fear.
"There's a taxi outside my lady," Roselyn informs you, taking your hand and leading you back inside to the front door. "I called them while you changed. Here." She handed you your clutch and flats.
You take them and manage to slip on your flats when you reach the taxi. Roselyn almost tore the door open but was mindful and helped you in.
Once you were in, her eyes snapped to the driver and commanded, "Tokyo Central!" The car started up, she turned her eyes to you, and softened, "Be safe and send my warmest wishes to young Daiki."
She gave you a slight nod and shut the door.
Everything became a blur, you were used to blurs, and all you could think of was making it on time. Your increasing heart rate soon pounded in your ears. When the tax reached the station you almost kicked the door open and jumped out. Every running stride you did, ignoring the onlooking eyes of others you weaved in and out of to reach the arriving bullet train, you did your best to be mindful of your appearance.
Not a single hair was out of place.
You reach the terminal and find a ticket kiosk, the train arrives people exit and enter, and your eyes search for the location: Sendai.
You weren't familiar with it, but 'Geto' told you to go there.
It had to be on here somewhere, your eyes search vehemently for it, going back and forth a few times.
The doors were about to close, you bite your lip doing your best to keep your desperation at bay. But it was climbing, climbing fast.
Daiki, he became farther away.
You wanted to scream, the bubble in your throat expanded and was ready to erupt. It was right there, that high pitch of anguish you screamed only in moments of…duress.
"Sendai!" You gasp sharply elated and get the ticket.
You sprint to the train and get ready to leap onto it when for the briefest moment you feel your skin prickle as though someone is watching you, you ignore it and leap onto the train seconds before the doors close.
Somehow you managed to land gracefully, without a hair out of place. Your heart still racing, you set a hand over it, feeling every hammering palpitation.
This wasn't good, a dull hot pain clenched your heart disturbing your breathing, you started wheezing and coughing. If not for the pole you latched on to steady yourself, you would have surely fallen over.
You held onto the pole with every fiber you had. Eyes from others aboard looked on confused and oddly, you ignored them…those monkeys. You hadn't the energy to narrow your eyes, you needed what you had to regulate your breathing and focus on seeing Daiki.
Sendai, the place sounded old to you almost fictional. You had read a book about Japan years ago, to familiarize yourself with the country, Emiko bought it for you and didn't recall a place like that.
But, if Daiki was there, fiction or not, you'd go.
You reach a hand up to your locket and touch it softly.
"I'm coming, Daiki. M-Mommy's coming."