I know, I know, it was supposed to be a one-shot. Let me explain : when I read legalronin's 2016 fanfic for Christmas, I thought I could write one for the New Year. Problem : I had two ideas. So, I kept the one with the morgue, because it pleased me better, but I recently reread my second idea, and, in fact, it's not that bad. So, second chapter, here we are! It's also a one-shot, completely unrelated to the first chapter.
Special thanks to Legalronin for her help. If this story is well writen in english, it's thanks to her. She was very busy but she took time to help me, so I wish her a very very good year ! (And all of you too, I'm not a jerk. A lot of kisses guys ! \(^o^)/)
PS : I had planned to put this online for January 1rst or 2nd. But thanks to lovely storms Carmen and Eleanor, multiples power cuts and sporadic internet connection got in the way... Sorry for the delay !
"My daughter, you're gorgeous."
Tokio stopped herself from rolling her eyes when she heard her mother. She she heard it every time she wore a kimono. Recently, she had heard it often.
If Tokio wasn't so aware that a lot of people were living in misery, she would have said that being rich, was a pain in the ass. But, because she knew, she only thought it from time to time, always trying to remember the advantages. Oh, yes, they were numerous, but that precise moment, she saw the inconveniences.
One in particular, her future wedding.
Since she was sixteen, her parents had dragged her to revery ball, formal gala dinner and society evening they could in order to show her off to as many suitors as possible. Tokio resisted for a long time, arguing that she was too young, and then that she was studying. But, now, she was twenty-three and she had no more arguments.
She grimaced when her mother hurt her, trying to stick a traditional hairpin in her elaborate hairstyle.
In the past four months, she had met ten men in arranged meetings, never more than once. None of them pleased her parents. She didn't have a word to say, plus wasn't impressed. Doctors, judges, lawyers... All from wealthy families, working those 'respectable' jobs, occupied by men either older than her or very full of themselves. Sometimes both.
Today's meeting was different though and it scared her. Oh, the guy was young, and – according to the pictures – handsome and nice. No, what frightened her was that her parents seemed to actually like the guy. They thought he was perfect for her.
Only because they didn't know her. They refused to see her as who she was. They were persuaded that she was the reflection of her mother, insipid, not very smart, and very decorative.
Tokio looked at herself in the mirror and sighed. Her mother gave her a dark look. No lady sighed in public.
Oh, she was pretty, she couldn't deny it. Pale skin, opulent dark hair, tall, with a pretty shape. Her big blue eyes were the 'icing on the cake' – according to the manager match making agency.
Only, her mother and the seamstress had turned her into a soulless, impersonal doll. Her beautiful blue kimono – matching her eyes – was like a porcelain doll's dress. Tokio realised that her look wasn't very alive either. All this pressure was draining her of her energy.
She wasn't a doll! She didn't like being stuck in a kimono, damn it ! She liked comfortable skirts and jeans, with loose tops and large sweaters. Not these long sleeves she never knew what to do with.
Once her hairstyle was finished, her mother took her to the entrance, where she helped her put her getas on. Tokio wasn't even capable of sighing anymore. Where were the sneakers, the ballet pumps and the comfortable boots ? These traditional outfits were traps for women. A gilded cage. Supposedly to made them pretty. Crap. It was the perfect way to make sure they wouldn't do too many things. Like interfering with men's business.
Her father and her mother smiled at her, proud of her appearance, without even noticing that their daughter was everything but happy. They saw money, not a person, and not their daughter. It was an awful way to think. They looked at her while she sat in the back of the car. Of course, it was the family driver who was taking her to the meeting. Was it even possible to make this whole thing even more impersonal ?
One hour later
It's a good thing that it's a sunny day, Tokio thought. At least, I'm not freezing.
Her date was late. Could an hour's delay still be called 'late' ?
Lawyers where supposed to be on time, no ?
She sighed – she was sighing a lot these days – wondering if she could leave. She was bored, standing here, waiting for some guy she didn't know. She had been there for so long that four men - and one woman - had hit on her. At least, the woman took her rejection with a smile, the opposite of the men.
Tokio looked at her watch. The needles hadn't really moved since the last time she checked, three minutes earlier.
A voice behind her made her turn around abruptly.
"You know, he isn't coming."
The man who just spoke was the opposite of the one she was waiting for. Souji Okita was one of those men who will always looks like a kid, even old. The man in front of her was much more to Tokio's taste. Manly, but not haughty. Tall. He had sharp features and strange yellow eyes. Not a classic beauty. He had a much more savage charm. To say it simply : he was much more attractive.
Tokio sniffed. "I'd like to, but I'm afraid he wouldn't miss his opportunity."
The man walked towards her, with a wolfish grin. « He already has an heir. And, it's not you. »
« You know him », Tokio stated.
« I have the doubtful pleasure », he answered. His rude words were in contrast to the pinch of affection in his voice. « You're not Okita's type at all. »
« Really ? »
« His girlfriend is a real doll. »
« Me too. » Tokio pointed to her kimono hairstyle.
« No, you are dressed like a doll. She is a real one, even if she is far from being an idiot. »
Tokio blushed. She wasn't used to being described so clearly by a stranger. « You seem to know a lot about me, mister... ? »
« Saitou. Detective Hajime Saitou, Miss Takagi. »
« A police detective, I hope. »
He frowned. « What else... ? »
« Well, one day, a guy in charge of detecting gas leaks presented himself like that. Ever since then, I ask. »
Saitou smiled. « A gas leak detective ? »
« Yup. I think he took me for an idiot. »
« The fool. »
Tokio blushed darker. He said that as if he was sure that she wasn't one. The young woman regretted not having a fan, just like her mother's. She was agitating it over any little thing , but Tokio began to see what it was really for.
She cleared her throat and changed the subject. The policeman's deep vibrating voice had an effect on her that decency forbid to name.
« So, won't come ? »
Saitou's grin made her understand that she wasn't fooling him. He got closer to her – more than good morals allowed for two unknown people – and Tokio understood the purpose of an obi : keeping you straight, even with knees turned to jelly.
« He is celebrating the New Year with his heir. »
« And couldn't he warn me ? »
Saitou's grin grew larger. « Well… The damsel's parents and his parents don't really appreciate the union. Too much money on one side, not enough on the other. Her parents said that she would lose her rank, and his said that, because his wife will have more money than him, he'll depend on her. »
Tokio couldn't stop herself from smiling. « I see. » She paused, then added « And you are here because… ? »
« No one should let a beautiful women wait in the cold for someone who won't come. »
She frowned. « You've been here the whole time, haven't you? »
He didn't even bother to look embarrassed, he just nodded.
« And when were you going to tell me ? At the end of time? »
« I wanted to know how much you wanted this wedding. »
« As much as your friend if you're telling me the truth. »
« You waited over an hour for him. »
« I was going to leave. I'm simply trying to do things so that my mother won't say I put a bad faith effort into it. »
« So you want an arranged wedding? »
« No ! »
Tokio surprised herself with the vehemence of her tone. Then, she realised that it was exactly what she was feeling. Since her first arranged date, she kept telling herself that it was what she had to do. For her family's future, she had to sacrificed her own. But today she was admitting what she always knews: if she got married this way, she was never gonna be happy. She was too free minded to fit into the mold expected of her.
« Good. »
Tokio lifted her head toward this almost unknown man who destabilized her. « Good ? »
He smiled. He had to stop doing that. Her knees wouldn't take much more. « Exactly. »
« And why is it any of your concern, detective ? »
He smiled again. Yup. Her knees were gonna fail her. « I'm not inviting an engaged woman on a date. »
Tokio lost her voice for a while, before pulling herself together. « Really ? » She didn't know she could speak in such a rough and low tone.
« Really. »
The weight of his amber look sent a shiver down her spine. He had a weird effect on her, but she hadn't felt this good in months. She smiled from ear to ear and decided that now that she had her hand on the plow, there was no turning back.
« You know what ? I suddenly want a prediction for the year to come."
Et voila !
Specification : Arranged weddings are common in Japan, even if there are less each year.
Specification n°2 : In Japan, New Year is the occasion to go to the temple, pray – or even make an offering – and, often, to draw a prediction for the year to come. There are also a bunch of stands – mostly food.
I hope you liked it ! A small review ? :)
Happy New Year again and see you soon !