From Distant Lands - Juro's Return

Chapter Eight

After going home with the girls and bidding each other farewell, I did in fact find myself all alone in my stupid empty bed and slept fitfully most of the night as I tried to get comfortable without Katsuki there to snap at me for moving around too much. Now, I stare at myself distastefully in a dressing room mirror.

"Shiori... I think this sucks" I call out to her, wiggling around in my third option for bridesmaid's dresses and glowering at the dark circles beneath my eyes.

"What do you mean, it sucks?" she demands, voice slightly muffled by the door. I sigh.

"I mean, it sucks" I reiterate, throwing the door open to reveal an unflattering purple frock. Shiori pauses, her own face wearing a mask of aversion.

"Oh wow, that one does suck" she agrees, frowning.

"It looked so good on the rack though..." she pouts in disappointment.

"Well, it's a no from me. I would prefer not to look like a sack of purple potatoes on your wedding day" I reply flatly, earning a scrutinizing stare.

"Are you okay?" she wonders. I narrow my eyes, really tired of that question lately.

"I didn't sleep very well, so I'm a little irritable, but otherwise I'm fine" I tell her and she sighs.

"You don't want to live with the guy, but you can't sleep when he's not home? Hm" she muses, sort of to herself, but mostly loud enough to be directed at me. I glare at her.

"Okay, smartass. Next dress" I snap, closing the dressing room door and shedding the hideous second skin to pull on a much simpler design; a dark purple, subtle a-line dress with thicker straps and a gently plunging v-neck. When I finally get it on and zipped up, I twist and turn in the mirror, surprised by how good it actually looks.

"Why do I hear silence? Did we find the one?" Shiori demands. I can't help but smile, a little excited that I think we did.

"Okay, don't get your hopes up quite yet... but..." I open the dressing room door and dance out into the open, swaying the flowing skirt around my legs. Shiori's eyes immediately light up.

"Kaida!" she gushes, her whole face displaying her undeniable joy.

"I know! It's the one, right?" I say, turning around again.

"It's exactly what I was looking for! And it looks so good on you!" she says excitedly, an even fresher look of determination in her expression. I laugh a little, raising an eyebrow.

"Why do you look so relieved? You knew we'd find one eventually" I tell her and she smirks.

"Because now that you're satisfied, everything else will run smoothly. I'm pretty sure if I can find a dress you're happy with, I can do literally anything" she replies, making me gape.

"What? I'm not that difficult" I insist, earning a flat stare.

"Just own it, Kaida. You're a stubborn ass and you know it" she disagrees. I frown, again, both impressed and discouraged by my own reputation. I can't decide whether or not I like being seen as so hard headed and opinionated... I guess part of me has always wanted to be one of those sweet and flowery girls that make even tears look beautiful, but that's just not me. It often makes me wonder how it's possible for someone like me to have friends that actually enjoy being around me when I'm so damn prickly, but Shiori says it's part of my appeal.

"Well, I am satisfied with this one, so... when are we looking for your dress again?" I demand, but Shiori makes a face. I squint at her.

"Shiori" I say suspiciously, glaring at her when she averts her gaze, face heating.