A Wedding, For Love

Michiru’s mother visits her on the morning of her wedding. A pretty short companion to A Wedding, For Real at just 900 words.

She’d sent Rei away on a series of menial missions—- call
the caterer one last time, check on their bouquets, go to the hall early to
ensure Haruka was in no amount of trouble. Setsuna, she told she wanted to be
left alone. The truth always worked with her.

Michiru stared herself down in the mirror. She was supposed
to be feeling things, she knew. She was supposed to be happy and dewy with
tears over the day and how beautiful she looked. But her reflection looked like
a doll, the fitted bodice of her dress and the arrangement of her hair too
perfect to be quite real. She’d been a doll for all her childhood. The urge to
be real and the need to be a beautiful bride worthy of marrying Haruka battled
within her. If she loosed just one strand of hair, snagged just one edge of
lace…

The door opened with a creak.

“I assure you I’m fine, Rei, and I do need you to—“

“You’ll find I can’t be kept away so easily.”

Michiru stood straighter and cleared all emotion from her
face. “Mother.”

“You look beautiful, though I do wish you’d let us help pick
the designer.” She came close and smoothed the lace over Michiru’s collarbone. “I
suppose I should be happy she didn’t take you to a department store.”

“If this is what you’re here for, I will have you removed.”

Her mother smiled. “You are still the woman I raised after
all.”

MIchiru said nothing.

“I merely wanted to get a picture with you before the
ceremony.”

“I’m to expect a photographer stationed outside the door,
aren’t I? The shot will be in the papers before I say ‘I do.’”

“Well, Michiru, there’s very little we’ve been able to put
out, lest anyone look into your choice of… partner.”

“Yes, I know I’ve quite ruined your plans. It’s so appalling
that I’ve fallen in love with someone who works for her living, isn’t it?”

“Have I taught you nothing? Love isn’t what’s important
here.”

Michiru let herself have a derisive laugh. “Yes, mother, if
there’s one thing you’ve taught me, it’s that.”

Her mother sighed and sat down, folding her hands over her
lap just so. “I suppose it’s easier for your kind.”

Michiru watched her in the mirror. “I’m not sure what you
mean.”

Her mother gestured vaguely with her hand, oddly
uncharacteristic. “To throw it all away for love. You all put so much into
getting marriage, you must feel like you have to marry whomever you want.”

Michiru froze. This was territory she’d never entered with
her mother.

In the mirror, Mrs. Kaioh rubbed her thumb against her
wedding ring. “It’s standard, for the rest of us to marry for other reasons.
Even people like your partner. You see it in the papers all the time. They
marry for insurance, or for tax reasons. It’s always been a business
transaction.”

“Did you love someone?” she dared ask, very quietly.

Her mother looked off, away from the mirror and away from
Michiru. “There was a boy, yes, before I met your father. Looking back, it was
very juvenile. He played polo with my brother. It was all a great secret. We
believed in it then, that we would find a way to bring the idea to our parents.
He wouldn’t have been a terrible match.”

“But then father came.”

“Neither I nor my parents could say no to his proposal.” She
ran her fingers along the hem of her dress, just as she had chided Michiru for as
a child. “I always thought we would find a similar proposal for you. It being a
woman is no great obstacle. You have an acquaintance, even, who is the daughter
of a senator…”

Michiru laughed—genuinely laughed in front of her mother for
the first time since childhood—unsure if it was funnier to hear her maid of
honor called her acquaintance or to hear it suggested that she could marry Rei.

Even her mother smiled. “I do suppose, with what I know, the
two of you would have a messy and expensive divorce.”

“That would only be if there wasn’t a messy and expensive
murder first.” Their eyes met in the mirror. “Haruka has something better than
money or status. She’s going to take care of me, even if you can’t understand
how.”

“You’re certain?”

“More than anything.” Michiru pressed her lips together,
mindful not to smudge her lipstick. “I thought for a long time I would marry
your way, and then hoped that I would not marry at all. But she… she shows me
there’s something more to life. There’s something worth it under the charade
and under the horror. I love her, and for that love I’m going to marry her.”

Mrs. Kaioh closed her eyes and sighed with the slightest
smile. “With all my love for you, I wish you the greatest happiness.”

“Thank you.” Michiru turned to face her.

Her mother immediately straightened in her chair and crossed
her ankles. “Well then, are you quite ready to leave? I will not have you cause
the spectacle of being late for your ceremony.”

Michiru turned back quickly, loosing one strand of hair near
her ear. She made sure that side faced the photographer as they passed him
outside, but she squeezed her mother’s hand tight, knowing they’d never have a moment
like this again.