Chapter Forty-Three: Not Your Bride:

White does not suit her. She’s done this before. Earlier, Anna looked at the woman holding the dress at the door.

“What?” she asked.

“I’ve brought your dress,” the woman said.

“Why?” Anna asked.

“It’s for the wedding,” the woman said. The “bride-to-be” chuckled with a sweat drop on her head.

“Oh, right…” she said. Damn it. “Thanks, I guess.” Anna took the dress in the plastic. The woman bowed and left. Anna sighed with the dress in her hands. Jotaro sat on the bed.

“What do you plan to do now?” he asked. The “bride-to-be” clutched the wrapped dress.

“Like hell I will do this!” she shouted. “I’m going to reject him to his face!”

“You can’t run away, you know?” he asked.

“I won’t,” Anna said. “But you will.” The boy looked up at her.

“What?” he asked. Anna walked over to him. She gently touched his cheek.

“You’re eighteen, right?” she asked.

“Yes,” Jotaro said.

“You can walk away from this,” she said. “Why would you want to stay? You should miserable.”

“Walk away? But…”

“What do you want really?”

“What do I want?”

“Yes.”

Jotaro lowered his eyes. “I… I… I… I don’t know.” The woman caressed the young man’s cheek. He blushed as he looked her in the eye.

“Then go and find it,” she said.

“And then what?” Jotaro asked.

“That will be up to you,” Anna said.

“What about you?”

“I’ll be fine.” Her smile dropped into a frown. “I just need to get through this crap and get back to my husband.”

Jotaro pumped his fist in the air. “Good luck.”

“Yeah,” Anna said. “Could you step out for a little bit?”

“Huh?” he asked. She turned to him, smiling.

“Please leave,” she said. “I have to get dressed.” Anna winked at the boy.

“Oh!” Jotaro said. “Of course. See ya.” He turned and walked out of the room.

“Thank you,” Anna said. The door closed behind him. Anna looked down at the dress in the plastic.

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What a gawdy dress. Too much white lace and the sleeves looked too puffy. The skirt looked too much like a walking hazard. The waist felt too tight. Anna didn’t know whether to laugh or scream.

Nice dress, Airi said.

“Shut up,” Anna said. “Not my fault he has bad tastes.” She snorted at the dress in the mirror again. American 80’s didn’t suit her.

So what’s the plan? Airi asked. Anna regained her composure.

“Confront the asshole,” she said. “Slap him in the face. And then make him take the mark off of my soul.”

Good. Airi nodded. How will you do the third part?

“By physical force if necessary. What time is it now?”

18:52.

“Eight minutes left, huh? It’s about time.” Anna looked up when she heard a knock on the door.

“Who is it?” she asked.

“I’m here to take you to the wedding,” another woman said. “Are you ready to go?” Anna toughened her resolve.

“Yes,” she said. “Hang on.” Anna had to lift her skirt to walk. She opened the door and saw a kitsune woman dressed in a light pink dress suit.

“Nice to meet you,” the woman said.

“Yeah,” Anna said. The women bowed and walked down the hall. The whole time, the ‘bride-to-be’ plotted her revenge.