It Was All Arranged [R. Sakamaki]

The Dress

"Your final piece is fantastic," Sanji said, peered over the frames of his glasses, "I'm not too sure why you're worried."

"I made a mistake-"

"Ah! There are no mistakes in art, Athena," his head shook as he placed the sketchbook down, folding one leg over the other, "you know this."

"I just…"

"It didn't turn out how you planned it?" He suggested, eyebrows rising, "A few smudges here, the colour wasn't the right one?" He sighed. "Often, it is the mistakes within our art which make it perfection's perfect rival." 

Athena took a long breath, feeling the shame knot in her shoulders as she stared down at her teacher's desk. "Athena, do you not think that artists like Michael Angelo and Van Gough didn't make mistakes? Every artist makes mistakes and they perfect them. Do not beat yourself over an incredible talent… now more importantly, what is that beautiful ring?"

"O-Oh," Athena's cheeks pinkened as her teacher swept her hand into his, admiring the shimmering beauty.

"It's real too," he gasped, "Ruki finally proposed?"

"Ruki and I were never a couple," Athena said sternly, "he was a man with a crush and I happened to be his housemate." She sighed, slowly pulling her hand back.

"Then your fiancé-"

"There you are," his husky voice sounded, catching Athena's attention, causing her long waves to swing in her ponytail. Red lips tugged into a bright smile.

"This is my fiancé," she beckoned Reiji close, the tall man bowing respectfully to her teacher.

"Reiji Sakamaki," he greeted, shaking Sanji's hand.

"You're that politician's son!" Sanji's eyes widened, "The second son, correct?"

"That is right, yes." Reiji's jaw clenched as his arm snaked around Athena's waist.

"It's no wonder those diamonds are real," Sanji said, eyes sparkling as he smiled sweetly up at Reiji, "you look after her, won't you?"

"Of course," Reiji said, "shall we, dear? Our appointment is in twenty minutes." Athena's eyes widened as she grasped her bag from the chair, swinging it over her shoulder.

"Goodbye Sanji."

"Goodbye Athena, I'll see you on results day." She gulped.

-_-_-_-

"What… flavour is this?" She asked as she peered at the pink layer of jam spread between the cake tiers.

"Grapefruit," replied the cake maker, a simple smile on his lips, "very popular-"

"It's revolting," said Reiji.

"We were thinking more along the lines of cherries?" Athena said, crossing one leg over the other as the cake maker's assistant's removed the nibbled into cakes and headed to the kitchens. "Just normal sponge cake with cherries in - would that be okay?"

"And the decoration?" The cake maker's accent was thick.

"Vintage style?" Athena suggested, "white icing with cherries on top - oh three tiers please."

"Have a look through my folders," said the cake maker, gesturing to the open one before them, "pick design."

-_-_-_-

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Grunted Yui as the two women crept around the charmed tower which stood before them. It was tall and circular with a pointy, red roof and the bricks had been chipping away due to the tower's age.

"Yes," said Athena, "this is where my Mother's dress is."

"I feel like we're robbing the place."

"I'm the last remaining child, technically it should all be mine anyway."

"How do we get up there if we can't teleport?" Yui squinted as she looked up, her ponytail blowing in the summer breeze.

"Climb," Athena shrugged, stepping back to scour the building, "there must be a way…"

They searched for three hours until Athena yelled, slamming her fist against the bricks of the tower. The bracelet her mother had gifted her glowed as the bricks groaned, peeling away to reveal a dark spiral staircase.

"Oh my God," whispered Yui as she pushed herself off the meadow's floor and stood beside her friend.

The walk up the stairs was long and tiring and both girls decided to sit on the wooden floor as soon as they'd reached the protected room… until Athena looked around.

Dozens of canvases stood against the round walls, paintings of a long haired man who was not her father and ones of her brothers and… her. Athena's lips parted as her knees wobbled and she collapsed before the largest painting in the room.

Giesbach stood behind them all, Krone beaming as she wrapped her arms around little Athena's neck and her two brothers standing either side of her. "The only family portrait Mother loved," whispered Athena as she caressed the painted oval faces of her beloved family.

"She has a diary," said Yui, catching Athena's attention as she lifted a red leather-bound book.

"I won't read it, I won't invade her personal thoughts." And then…

Yui gasped as she spotted the beautiful white fabric poking out from the closet. "We found it."

"We found it…"

[THIS CHAPTER IS VERY SHORT BUT DON'T WORRY! THE WEDDING IS NEXT <3]