Arranged Marriage

YOU Are Out

Outside the chateau, you want to dance, skip, run, jump but you settle for a lazy stroll. You can't go far, they'll think you ran away and you'll be in trouble. Not only you, your friend Brulee would be in trouble too. But there's a big bench under a tree not far, so you walk over to that. You jump up and sit in it, loving the fact that your feet don't touch the ground. Things here were build to accompany all sorts of shaped people. You swing your legs out like a child, enjoying this moment of freedom before you're most likely dragged back into the chateau kicking and screaming. Minutes pass and you hear a familiar sound, the 'clink' of Katakuri's boots on the ground. That was quick, you thought, so much for some time alone. You never thought you'd miss all your days in solitude... You liked the attention.. but it was a lot to take in all at once.

"I could tell that wasn't easy for you," Katakuri says when he's right behind you. You looked up hopefully at him. "I could see your internal struggle," he restated. You weren't expecting that from him at all. "So," you say casually, "you can read minds now too?" To your surprise, he sits down next to you, "No, you don't hide your emotions as well as you think you do." You nod, "yeah? That sounds about right." There's a short pause then you ask, "you're here to take me back inside aren't you?" He shakes his head, "I wouldn't do that. You look much happier out here." Relief sweeps over you.

He crosses his arms and legs, "I don't pretend to know what you're going through, but it will be different from now on." Your brow furrows, what does that even mean? That sounds like.. you'll be here a while. You hate to read into literally EVERY little thing, but no one's giving you information. And it's killing you! Over-analyzing everything reduces the chances of being surprised later.

"You don't pretend to know? And here I thought pirates knew everything," you say in your usual sarcastic tone. "Where did you hear that?" Katakuri asks. "I just made it up right now," you smile at your own sense of humor, you even manage a small laugh. You could have sworn you heard a loud exhale coming from him that could have resembled a chuckle. You can't believe the day you'd had, from start to finish. Your small laugh turns into a big one. You start laughing uncontrollably at the weird string of events you've endured today. And then.. at some point your uncontrollable laughter turns into tears. And you're sobbing into your hands. You're certain Katakuri's looking at you like you're pathetic. But you don't care. You don't even want to face him. You feel his big hand gently close around the top of your head. It was his attempt at comforting you.

You sit there on the bench next to Katakuri, bawling your eyes out with his hand on your head for who knows how long. When you look up, you see the sun has begun it's decent, it will be sunset soon. The change of colors in the sky from blues to pinks, oranges and purples has a calming effect on you, and your sobs become few and far between. Katakuri removes his hand from your head. You look up at him, you're sure he won't think you're the same beautiful woman he first saw in the throne room anymore.

"Thank you," you manage to say through your uneven breaths and sniffles. Then he does something you wholly weren't expecting. He wipes your cheeks dry with his gloved thumbs. You're momentarily captivated by the gesture and your breathing evens out completely. You have a strange flash back to a distant memory. Black gloved fingers wiping away your tears. But it's a dark face from the past and you can't recall anything more. "Let's go into town," he says. It's not an offer, he's telling you, but at this moment, you think had you said 'no' he'd respect your wishes.

You jump off the bench first to show that you accept the idea. A welcomed distraction. He follows you to the path that winds its way to Sweet City. You're excited to get to spend some time in the city. It looked wonderful when you'd walked through it earlier on your way to Whole Cake Chateau. You feel your hair being brushed out of the way, and a familiar hand on the back on your neck. The corner of your mouth turns up in a half smile. "Is this what you normally do all day? Throw tea parties and walk pretty girls through town?" You joke. "No," he says plainly, "and you're not a 'pretty girl,' you're beautiful," he says in that same cool and even tone. You blush, you like this side of him. You feel like you're getting to know the real Katakuri.