Truth, Perjury, and Sacrifice

Save the Date

Byakuya arrived home just before the sun had set, parking his car behind Karen's. He locked the gate behind his car, then the gate in front of their front door, before unlocking and relocking the front door. "I'm home," he called out, paying attention to the clattering in the kitchen. Putting his briefcase aside, Byakuya stood in the kitchen doorway.

"Oh, hi, welcome home," Karen said, forcing a grin. "Dinner's almost ready," she slipped on two oven mitts and turned towards the oven.

Byakuya stepped around behind her, pulling plates and silverware from their cabinet and drawer. "I apologize for not responding to your messages earlier. I did read them but work caught up with me. I appreciate the apologies and I am well aware of your efforts." He noticed Karen's brief nod as she turned back towards the counter behind them.

She sighed, "Thank you. But you should know that Fukawa was here just an hour or so ago. I don't think I'll ever finish apologizing."

"What the hell did the wretch say now?"

Karen shook her head, "I understand her concerns, but she made a point to remind me of how I left you here alone and neglected to acknowledge the others' struggles. I don't want to make a scene with her more than I had today." She took the plates from Byakuya's hands and began plating dinner.

"Have you spoken with Makoto or Kyoko today?"

"Not today, no. Why?"

"Three Saturdays from now. The 25th. What do you think?" Byakuya took the finished plates to the table, glancing back at Karen's blinking, confused face. The couple stared at each other for a moment.

"The 25th? As in...a date? The date?"

Byakuya chuckled, "Yes. The date. I figured since we've already had to reschedule and cancel once that we would just go for it."

Karen offered a small grin. "Going for it would be next week. Or hell, even tomorrow."

"Next week, then?"

Karen huffed, staring with wide eyes. "You're serious?"

"Why would I lie about this?" Byakuya slipped his arms around Karen's frame.

Her grin grew wide. "Oh my god, next week? How could we even pull that off?"

"Do you want to wait?"

"No, of course not! Next week. Next Saturday. Here," she looked around the freshly renovated home. The backyard was fresh with lush, summer grass with fencing high enough for privacy. Before Makoto's trial and the recovery of the Remnants, they had originally planned to marry at their Future Foundation's headquarters. The mentality had been if they chose to wait, there may not be a tomorrow to reschedule. After what had taken place in Towa City, Karen had been the one to push the notion. But the trouble with the Remnants and the last killing game ruined the mentality surrounding the decision. Unable to contain the giddiness, Karen latched onto Byakuya with a tight hug, giggling, "We have a date! We're finally getting married!" Two realizations slapped the giddy smile from her face. "We have to tell the others. I have to finish my dress." She gasped, "What if the others need something to wear? I have to call Hajime."

Byakuya held her in place, "Before you run off to not sleep for the next four days, why don't we have dinner first?" The pair glanced at the set table.

Karen had nearly abandoned the food she had just finished cooking. "Okay, but can we at least text them?"

Byakuya rolled his eyes.

"Three weeks from now?" Kyoko nearly choked on a bite of steak. "With everything that is taking place?"

"But what is he talking about?" Makoto began cutting another piece, pausing at the sight of Kyoko's 'really?' expression. "What?" He blinked. "Oh. Oh! Right! I totally forgot that they weren't officially married."

"No, they are. They have the paperwork, but they insist on the ceremony." She said, shaking her head.

"You wouldn't want a ceremony?" Makoto asked before he could contemplate what he was asking his girlfriend.

"I....haven't thought about it. I suppose it wouldn't be a terrible thing, but it would add to the stress." Kyoko's face tinged pink. They continued to eat in momentary silence. Their phones beeping shook them from the conversation they weren't prepared to have yet.

"Next week!?" Makoto gawked at the message.

"They've lost their minds." Kyoko tapped away on the screen, to which she was interrupted by an incoming call. "Hey. Oh, I know. Hina, calm down, I'm sure they have something planned. No, Byakuya originally mentioned a date three weeks from now." Kyoko shrugged at Makoto, slightly amused.

Makoto laughed, typing as fast as possible to respond to the mass of text messages. He tapped the call button and soon Byakuya picked up, "Hey, just wanted to say congratulations."

"Normally, you would save the congratulatory comments for after the ceremony."

Makoto opened his mouth to respond, but Karen had beaten him to it. He caught her comment on just saying thank you and chuckled. "Anyway, why next week?"

"If you recall, we've postponed the date once before. And I thought we could use a day of goodwill."

"I feel like that last part is a bit forced, but okay, I'll take your word on that," Makoto was thankful that they couldn't see him shaking his head. A beeping interrupted the short conversation, pulling Byakuya's attention away. "Got another call?"

"No," Byakuya said, "an email." Byakuya paused, leaving Makoto confused on the other end of the line. "Makoto, I need you and Kyoko to come over. Now."

Makoto heard Byakuya mention to Karen to call Hajime and Nagito immediately then hang up. "We have to meet them at their place," Makoto stood, grabbing his blazer from the back of the chair.

"Why? What's happening?"

"I don't know. Byakuya got an email that he doesn't sound happy about. Hajime and Nagito will be there, too."

Kyoko paused for a moment to end her call, a grimace coming to her face. They nodded to each other. Suspicion loomed and both had a hutch that bad news was going to turn to worse news.