Chapter 177 - Pieces

"Don't worry Miss Ara, the Young Master would never forget your wedding day. He would surely be here in time," Yayoi reassured the obviously fretful bride with a kind smile and a gentle squeeze in her hand.

Suzuki Ara, of course, knew this in her heart. No matter what happened, if Ryuu gave his word, he would always keep it. Still, she couldn't help but worry because there were times that someone's wish didn't always go the way he wanted it to. Accidents happened. So, regardless of how much she believed Ryuu would never break his word, she couldn't help but worry about him nonetheless.

"He and Big Brother Kaze went to check the accident, right?"

She already knew the answer to that question but she asked it anyway. Aoi came here wounded; of course, those two would go and check their people and the situation themselves. They're that reliable. Ara knew that very well. She probably just wanted to hear more reassurances to calm down.

"Yes, both the Young Master and the Young Master Gin went to Hakone to inspect. It's the first time something like this ever happened, and so, it's important that they are there to assess the situation with their own eyes."

Ara nodded in understanding.

"But, if it's like that, shouldn't we just cancel the marriage registration today then? There's no need to rush when there are other more important things to take care of first."

With an emergency at present, Ara was willing to push back her wedding. She didn't want Ryuu to force himself when he had so many things to settle first. They could just register some other time. However, Yayoi's words made her change her mind.

"Miss Ara, don't worry about the emergency. The Young Masters had already dealt with them, and they would honestly be here in time for the marriage registration. The Koutaishidenka had prepared a lot – even making the City Hall open on this day just for you to be married fast. If you cancel it, he would be sad."

"But shouldn't he take care of his people first?"

The Head Housekeeper shook her head. "Believe me, Miss Ara, our people will be happier and more reassured if you keep your wedding as planned."

Oh. Of course.

Ara gave the elderly woman a wry smile. "The prophecy," she stated blandly, surprising the other.

"Miss Ara knew about the prophecy?"

"Y-yes," Ara answered.

It seemed the Head Housekeeper was not expecting that Kou would tell her about it. After all, normally, any woman who'd be told she was chosen as the bride because there was no other option would make her unhappy. For the Koutaishidenka to confess this to Ara even if there's a possibility she would be angry meant that he trusted her a lot.

Or that his feelings had changed. This was no longer a marriage of convenience.

The Koutaishidenka of the Homura House cared for his wife for real.

Yayoi's surprised expression then softened into a smile as she patted Ara's hand.

"Then all the more that Miss Ara should understand that this marriage means a lot to the Koutaishidenka."

Ara kept quiet for a while as if she was debating something in her mind until finally, she sighed and nodded.

"Ara!"

Rin's cheerful voice then called out to her, making her and Yayoi turn in time to see Rin and the others walking towards them. All the girls were wearing the short dresses Ara bought for them yesterday, followed by Sonoda who totally looked uncomfortable and bashful in his suit and tie.

A warm smile finally appeared on Ara's face as she looked at her friends as they approached.

Her bridesmaids – and their groomsman.

Her smile turned into a grin. Normally, since they were just registering their marriage, there was no need for an entourage. Even if only Ara and Ryuu went to the municipal hall to register, they could be married. Still, she felt this day would be more special to have the people closest to her life now on her most important day.

Miharu and Midori turned to each other as soon as they reached the beaming bride, and shyly showed Ara a small bouquet of winter flowers with a cute lavender bow keeping it together.

"Uhm… we asked Kou last night if we could pick some of the flowers this morning to make you a bouquet," they said as they handed it to her.

Ara was beyond touched. She reached out her hand and took the pretty bouquet and cradled it like a baby. "Thank you guys," she said and they all huddled together in a group hug.

"Don't you dare cry Ara. Your face will puff up and you'll look ugly on your wedding photo," Rin warned jokingly, and they all laughed as they broke apart. 

"I won't," Ara readily agreed as she wiped the moisture from her eyes.

She didn't know why she's always crying since coming here. She wasn't like this at all when she was in Ritz. She was adventurous and brave – well except when it came to spiders. But she was never a crybaby. However, coming here on earth made her realize that she was. While this might be true, the real Suzuki Ara was quite cold and disagreeable on the surface but was an angsty person inside. She was always the sensitive one and would often cry alone.

Ara wondered if her current personality was because even if it's her soul within it now, the body had its own memories, and she inherited some of the original's traits.

On the other hand, the thought that she was a broken soul suddenly came to her mind again, and she couldn't help but feel uneasy. But as days passed, she couldn't help but think so. After all, how else would she suddenly be transported into this world when she was at death's door? It was as if the piece of her soul called out to her so they could join together.

"Am I really like that?"Ara asked herself in her mind, as she hid her face behind the bouquet to hide the expression on her face. She didn't want the others to see her so bothered.

Because if she was indeed an incomplete soul, then Ara wondered what kind of curse was cast upon her so she had to be broken to be saved? Also, if she really was like that, she wondered if there were more pieces of her out there, and where were they?