Morg: Heyo! Well, shit, guys. So many reviews!

Ikuto: I think she fainted.

Amu: Should we just leave her there?

Morg: …

Ikuto: Yep.

Amu: Well, I suppose we don't have to help her. She doesn't own us or anything.

~The Eighth Sea~

The growing town next to the bustling harbor was froth with excitement over the newly announced engagement. The people congratulated Tsumugu and Midori wherever the two went. Even Ami came home from school with words of praise for her sister's good fortune. There seemed to be only five people on their coast that were not excited about this union. The four Hinamoris and Madame Hotori.

Amu could not figure out how Tadase had managed to convince his mother to go along with the engagement considering the woman absolutely despised her. There was not a thing that the pinkette did to the older woman to make her feel as she did, but Amu knew that she was hated. Probably had something to do with her low status and poor family. There were better matches for Tadase and they both knew that even if he didn't want those matches.

Being that her agreement erased all debt for their family, Amu was forced to stay home during the days prior to her wedding. She'd tried on the first day to return to the yards. A jump or two would have relieved a lot of her stress, though it was not meant to be. The head repairman informed her that if he allowed her to work there anymore then he would be fired. Not wanting that to happen, Amu respectfully left and returned to her home. She could always paint.

That plan was quickly discouraged as she discovered that leaving her house meant that she would be bombarded with questions and looks of jealousy. The girls her age that admired the man she was being forced to marry would wait outside her home to yell things at her. It got to the point where Amu was worried about Ami's safety.

Tsumugu made certain that his youngest daughter made her trip to and from school safely as per Amu's request. The three older members of the family were almost at a loss as to what they should do with their free time considering that all their debts were paid and Tadase had given them a good sum of money to make their lives easier. Midori was on her second washing of the house. Amu thought it had never looked so good.

The day before the wedding was to take place, the girls out in front of her house suddenly scattered. Several moments later, Amu found out why. Tadase had shown up in his buggy being pulled by two magnificent horses. Whatever he wanted, Amu did not want it as well.

"Amu."

"Tadase."

"Please don't bother to bring anything with you since I will replace it all with better things. Tomorrow is our wedding. Tonight you will be staying at my house to make certain that everything runs smoothly."

Amu could hear a threat when one was given. Despite the fact that she could play the role of the dense idiot without anyone else being the wiser, the girl was extremely smart. The man was forcing her to come now just in case she got any ideas of running. A pointless gesture since Amu already knew there was no escape for her. "You are too good for me. Let me tell my family goodbye."

Without waiting for his response, Amu shut the door in his face before turning and hugging her mother. Ami and her father weren't home yet since the day was hardly half over. She would not get to see them again until her wedding. For the first time in ten years, Amu would not be singing her baby sister to sleep. "Tell them I love them, mama. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Don't be so hard on yourself, Amu. This is my fault more than it is yours. You should not be the one to have to fix things."

Hugging the older woman tighter, Amu forced herself to keep her emotions in line. She didn't want Tadase to suspect her of having a brain. "I'm willing to do this because I love you. I'll see you tomorrow."

Midori forced herself to let go of her daughter. Her hands gripped the wood of their small door tightly as she watched Amu follow Tadase down their small path. It wasn't until Amu was safely tucked into the little carriage and the two were well on their way that Midori allowed herself to cry.

Forcing herself to look anything but bothered or annoyed with the fact that Tadase was forcing her to leave her home, Amu tried to think more about the fact that she was riding in a carriage for the first time in her life. Before they had always had to walk everywhere. The horses looked so strong and massive as they pulled the buggy along. Amu had always liked animals.

Tadase could not have been more pleased with himself. Amu was his and there would be no way to stop him now. The girl had always been more of a free spirit than the others in their colony. Something that Tadase both admired and hated. He liked that she could do what she wanted while she did what she had to, but he hated that she could be so free and he couldn't. In the end, he decided to control her. If he had the power over such a person then he would be content.

Watching his future wife carefully, Tadase still saw the same undimmed air around the girl. Nothing would make her sad or angry. Not forcing her to wed him. Not forcing her to leave her family that everyone knew she did everything for. Not even the fact that she'd been forced to leave her precious job. In that moment, Tadase hated her. "They're just horses, Amu. Stop looking so excited. My mother had the cooks prepare a large feast tonight to celebrate tomorrow. You'll be expected to attend with impeccable manners. Do not embarrass us."

There was nothing she could say or do at that moment that would make the situation any better for herself. Knowing this, Amu simply nodded as she tried to pretend to not be so excited about the horses. Not that she was in the first place considering she'd been using the beasts as an excuse to hide her real emotions. Now, however, she had nothing to distract her as the animals pulled them through the small town and up to where Tadase's parents lived in a large manor. As they pulled through the gates and up the large drive, Amu couldn't help but be reminded that her life was forever going to be different now.

A maid was waiting just outside the doors of Tadase's home to welcome them back. The young master paid her no mind while Amu smiled at the girl before giving her a small bow. There was no reason for her to be rude. The girl bowed a deeper bow back. The two knew each other from the times Amu had come to help her mother in the evening. They could have been considered friends even though they would not be allowed to speak with one another now.

Tadase waved the two of them off with one of his hands. "This maid will show you to your new room. She'll help you bathe and get ready for dinner. Don't be late."

Amu waited until Tadase was gone before she gave the girl a small smile. "Please take care of me."

The other girl bowed back without a word but wore a similar smile as she showed Amu the way to her new room.

Though she tried several times to get the maid to speak to her, the girl would not. She would simply shake her head yes or no in response to any questions that Amu had. Otherwise, the maid was dutiful in getting the soon-to-be-mistress ready for her meal.

Completely clean from head to toe, Amu wrinkled her nose in disgust at the dress she wore as she looked at it in the mirror while the girl forced the ties in the back to go tighter. Her pink hair that she usually tied back was down and curled just so that it would rest upon her shoulders. The dress that had been picked out for her was one that did not cover much skin on her chest or back. The sleeves started below her shoulders and Amu never hated a dress more. The darn thing was too tight and she disliked how much anyone taller than her would be able to see if they looked down from her face. That was probably why the young master picked it.

Once the dress was properly tied on, Amu was told to sit as the maid silently applied makeup to her face before a necklace was tied around her neck. Amu sat in silence while the maid worked.

The maid put down her brush and comb before looking at Amu through the mirror. Seemingly pleased with her work, the maid nodded once before motioning for Amu to follow her out of the room and back down to the main floor.

Other people were already in the dining room as Amu was shown in. Tadase's parents along with a few other people she recognized to be influential in their town were present. Tadase himself moved to the door as she entered to offer his arm and lead her over to the table. Amu had to resist the urge to rip his eyes out when she noticed his gaze slip from her face down to her dress.

The meal went as a meal should. Conversation happened while people ate. Amu found it all rather dull. Laughter filled her table at home while this table was filled only with contempt and the dirty looks that Amu continued to receive from Tadase's mother. Almost if the woman was making certain that Amu knew that no amount of soap or beautiful clothes would remove the filth she saw on the younger girl. Poverty could not be washed away or hidden.

Pleased with herself for not messing up during the meal, Amu was even more thankful when Tadase walked her to the door of her room. For a moment, she feared that he was going to kiss her. At the last second, he pulled away. "I'll save that for tomorrow. Good night."

Relieved even if it was only being put off until the following day, Amu entered the room to find the same maid that had helped her before. Just as last time, Amu spoke about everything and nothing while the girl helped her out of the dress and jewelry and into some sleeping clothes.

Sleep was the last thing Amu wanted to do when the maid left. Usually, by this time of the night Ami was just finishing up with her homework and Amu was planning out which song she should sing to her sister to put her to sleep with. With tears stinging her eyes, Amu whispered out a few lines of one of their favorite songs. Even though she knew it wasn't possible, she hoped her sister could still hear her singing just for her.

XXX

The servants were vigorous as they moved about the manor and yard in order to make certain everything was absolutely perfect for that evening. Tadase had expressed his desire in getting married as the sun set hence their wedding wasn't going to take place until that was possible. Amu didn't mind in the slightest when she was told that she could wait a little longer before being tied to that man forever.

Unlike the day before, however, Amu was aided by more than one maid as she prepared for the most important night of her life. Her gown was one that showed the wealth of the family she was marrying into. The damn thing was almost impossible for her to move in. The pinkette supposed it was just another ploy in making certain she could not run away. Amu could barely walk with how tight the dress fit.

The afternoon wore on as she was primped and fussed over. No matter how many times she attempted to start conversations with some of the servants she knew, Amu was ignored unless they were giving her an order to sit or stand or face a different direction as the army of maids assaulted her into perfection.

Just as she was starting to feel the hunger of not being allowed to eat all day long, she was declared to be flawless and left by herself with the threats of staying that way hanging over her head. Amu felt all of her emotions catch up with her faster than she thought they would. There really was no way for her to get out of the predicament she was in.

There was a knock on her door as Amu stared out the window. Without bothering to answer, Amu continued to look out at the ocean. Just on the horizon, she could make out the small dot of an incoming ship. Jealous of whoever had the freedom to be aboard such a vessel and not where she stood now, Amu felt the tug of a hand on her sleeve.

"It is time."

Nodding her head, Amu tore her gaze from that ship and the freedom the ocean promised to face her doom.

.

Morg: I seriously hope you all enjoyed the second chapter as much as the first!

Ikuto: I'm not in this one so I don't really care.

Amu: Marrying Tadase really wouldn't be that bad.

Morg: I think there is something wrong with your brain.

Ikuto: I can fix it.

Amu: Why are you touching me there!?

Morg: While Ikuto is 'fixing' Amu, please let me know if you guys still like it! I promise not to wait long for the next chapter!