Arranged Marriage

YOUR Promise

"What's your favorite spot in the town?" You ask. "The patisserie and the chocolate fountain," he says easily, then he points to the fountain. You can see it in the distance. Chocolate fountain?! You start sprinting excitedly to the fountain, as fast as you can while wearing candy wedges. It's huge! The fountain IS chocolate and chocolate comes out of it too! You stick your finger in and suck the chocolate off of it. Mmmm, you moan, it's the best chocolate flavor you've tasted. You feel like crying again but for a whole other reason. You stick your finger back in and suck more chocolate off, wishing you had a cup to fill and drink. You turn to see where Katakuri was since you'd left him behind, but he was already there. "Want some?" You say showing him your chocolate covered finger. She shakes his head, "That doesn't look sanitary," he says, "let's go to the patisserie instead." Sanitary? Who cares?! It's a chocolate fountain! But you could see how living here your whole life.. chocolate fountains are a dime a dozen.

"So then why is it your favorite if you won't drink from it?" You ask. "My sister, Pudding, made it. So I like it," he shrugged. You smile, Pudding made it? Wow. You remember the hot cocoa she brought you, so tasty! She's really talented. "I love Pudding," you moan as you lick another finger full of chocolate from the fountain. "You've met Pudding?" He asked. You nodded, "she did my hair." Though, that wouldn't be a great example of her good work anymore, your hair was a wind blown mess now.

"And Ananas and Flampe?" He asks. You cock your head, "are you reading my mind again?" He sighs, "I can't read minds. The cake explosion. My two little sisters were behind it." You blush, "they didn't get in trouble did they?" He shook his head, "of course not." You exhale relieved. "Because I'm looking at the real culprit right now," he continued. "How did you know? I mean.. I didn't want them to destroy Big Mom's cake.. I just wanted.." you run your finger along the red ribbon on your wrist. "You wanted an out," Katakuri finished your sentence, "and my two trouble-making little sisters were more than happy to oblige." You clap your hands together and plead with big eyes, "please don't punish them for it. I take full responsibility."

Katakuri held his right arm out away from you, it started dripping mochi. "You're leaking," you point to his arm but he doesn't respond. Then a huge three-pronged trident drops out of his arm and he catches it in his hand. He swings it around effortlessly and points it at your chest. You scream and drop to the floor in front of the fountain. "What's wrong?" Katakuri says, "You told me you accept full responsibility for blowing up Mama's cake. The punishment is death." He twirls the spear in a circle. "What?! Why is the punishment, death?!" You scream again. "It's considered an offense against Mama," he says, "that's death." You shake your head, "No! But I'm so sorry! It's there something else? Besides death?" You refuse to believe Katakuri would hurt you after everything you've said. Everything you've confessed to him.. Things that you've never told anyone before. Not that he'd know that.

Then he moves the trident away and sucks it back into his mochi body. Which was really weird to watch. "I've already taken care of it," he says and he kneels in front of you offering you his hand. You look at his hand but don't take it, after all he was just about to spear you. "What do you mean you've 'taken care of it,'' you're almost afraid to ask. "You asked me what I do all day. That's what I do. I keep the peace within my family and I protect them. And I ask that you do the same," he tells you. You still don't take his hand, "How did you take care of it?" You ask but you feel like you know the answer. "It doesn't matter," he said, "I protected my little sisters and I protected you." You take a deep breath, "someone died because of me? Didn't they? It was my fault, I blew up the cake. Someone had to take the fall." He nods. You think you're going to be sick. You clasp your hands over your mouth.

Who would want to live in a world like this!? Since you've been here at least two people have died because of you! In only a day! You think you might have a panic attack. Your hands start to shake. You look around for things to ground you. Your attention is momentarily held by a woman in a bright green dress hiding behind a gingerbread house. A very tall girl, taller then you! You loved that the women here were all different sizes. You hated being the tallest one on your island. It was especially hard to hide yourself. The woman seems to be motioning for you to come.

She disappears when Katakuri turns his head to follow your gaze. He stands to go check out whatever held your attention but you can't let him do that. You jump up off the ground and grab his hand. He turns to look at you. "Katakuri," you say softly, and he blushes at hearing you say his name for the first time, "will you do something for me?" You swallow hard and add, "Please?" When he doesn't respond right away. It would go against his better judgment not to go check around the corner but he waits for you to continue regardless. "I need a minute to myself," you say because you know he can't deny you this small courtesy after threatening to stab you, "I'll stay here in the courtyard. The patisserie you mentioned, sounded amazing, get me something, will you? Anything you think I'll like. I'll wait here for you to return, I promise." You squeeze his hand reassuringly, "I promise," you say again. He releases your hand, "I'll be back in a minute." He says and he walks further into town.