In the late afternoon, we'd just enjoyed a nice lunch of piles of garlic shrimp and colorful vegetables. Someone had told Natsuko the food we'd enjoyed together. It was perfect, and I wanted to eat more than I should have.

Now, we were on the floor in her tatami room. My kimono bags were on the floor, and some of my kimono were spread out about the floor. All three of us were admiring them again. In particular, Tetsu kept eyeing the obi-age from the 1800's.

I picked it up with two hands, and his eyebrows raised, watching it lift. He seemed to come out of a trance. His large, lovely eyes blinked several times, his finely arched eyebrows so high.

"Hold it," I said, smiling so much. He was obviously so interested in it.

He breathed out, a sound of curiosity coming from him. He outstretched his arms, and I placed it over his hands. So respectfully, he brought it to himself. He spread it out on the floor in full length, and kneeled in front of it. In almost an extreme bowing position, he examined its embroidery up close.

"Do you need glasses? What's with that?" Natsuko chuckled.

"Uh uh. I'm checking out the technique. I don't get to see something like this every day, especially up close. If this piece were brand new looking, it could belong in a museum. I can't believe Sana got his hands on it. I was so surprised when I first saw it. I couldn't dream of wearing something like this as Aurelia, who does some historical kimono looks. This is the real thing."

I was puffing up with pride, to provide him with this thing which he clearly loved so much.

Watching him examine it, I picked up the pink kimono he'd liked so much at my apartment. I eyed the orange of the obi-age he was studying. I noticed a color match. There was a pale yellow obi which we'd brought with us, and a red obi-jime in front of Natsuko would match also. Such a colorful delight, mind bending colors. My lips pushed out, and my eyes squinted.

"What's that face?" Natsuko chuckled. I realized she was watching us more than looking at kimono. My face snapped back to normal, and I put down the kimono back in its place..

"Nothing," I smiled.

The flash of her cellphone camera went off, and I blinked rapidly, the smile never leaving my face. Tetsu hadn't seemed to notice the flash, so absorbed he was in his study. I decided to speak.

"I see a lot of interesting vintage kimono and kimono accessories," I said. "I like the vintage ones. I know they don't fit right, and some can come with permanent stains. But, you never know what you might find. I once found an outdoor market with a really old man selling some. He had pieces from the 40's and earlier. I was admiring them for over an hour. Some were hand painted. I couldn't afford any at the time, but if I could I would have gone home with an armload. I hope we can go to a similar market some day and find something good. I want to go kimono hunting with you, Tetsu."

He looked up slowly. His mouth was hanging open, such wonder there on his face. "I want to go! Where was the market?"

I shook my head. "I don't remember now. It was up north. I used to travel a lot. It was a random town, where I happened to get off the train."

Natsuko tilted her head, thoughtful. "Well, if it's on a train line, you might be able to find it. We can research it. I'd be interested in going, too. It sounds really fun."

"Yes, I'd like to find it again. Let's all go there if we can find it."

Such a gentle feeling of joy was filling my heart. Content peace. Tetsu got up, and picked up the obi-age. Before I knew it, he was behind me, wrapping it around my waist. His mouth was next to my ear, and I felt a sweet smile spread on my face.

"Wear this tonight. Wear a kimono with it. I bet the color would offset the light blue of the rainbow flower kimono nicely. I would like it if you wore it. It's my favorite piece, for sure. I want to see you wear it. You'd look so beautiful." He said this in a rushing flurry of words, in a tone as peaceful as the feeling in my heart.

"Okay," I breathed, my smile turning into a grin. He kissed my cheek, and I turned to him. He was smiling so beautifully, his eyes sparkling. My arms wrapped around him, and his took me. As we embraced, Natsuko's camera was going off quicker than a pulsar star.

Towards the evening, we were in Natsuko's guest bedroom alone. She had gone off to get ready for the party. Tetsu was tying a gold threaded obi around my waist, citing it's significance because it had cranes embroidered on it. His face was so serious in the full length mirror. My arms were spread apart, the beautiful flowery furisode sleeves hanging perfectly.

"Ah, there, beautiful," he said, grinning in the mirror. He turned me to my side, admiring his work. "I knew it the second I saw it. It's a fukuro obi. I tied it in a special knot, see?"

What met my eyes was an elaborate bow-like structure, which also shared features of a flower. My mouth dropped open. I could never hope of tying such a thing on my own. The lighter golden obi-jime paired with it perfectly, complimenting everything. Peeking out of it above the obi was the orange obi-age he loved so much. He'd been right, the faded orange color accented the brightness of the blue of the kimono, but also brought out the gold of the obi. He was so knowledgeable. Of course he was. Kimono were his life as a performer. It made absolute sense that he'd know so much about them. I wanted to pick his mind about his knowledge. I admired myself in the mirror, turning this way and that. He chuckled a little.

"You look so cute," he said in a laugh.

"I've never had my obi tied like this," I responded in awe. "I usually tie it myself, or Nobu tries to help."

"Nobu does?" He sounded shocked. "What does Nobu know about kimono?"

I shook my head, smiling, still staring in the mirror. "Not much. He just tries to help me out."

"Well, I'll tie your obi from now on. Don't worry."

He turned me and embraced me, and I rested the side of my face on his neck. He hugged around my shoulders, and my arms were around his waist. I wanted to dance with him, so happy. This overwhelming feeling of love.

Into his neck, I spoke, so sincere. "I want you to wear a kimono, too. I'll tie your obi for you. I can't do anything special, but I can tie a bow kind of knot. It wouldn't be perfect, but I'd try hard." I kissed his neck. He began swaying me slowly back and forth, his chin on my shoulder, his elegant neck bent slightly in this pose.

He breathed out. "I wish I could," he whispered into my ear. "I was thinking about it as I tied your obi. But, my whole family will be there. Friends, too. I don't know who." He sighed, but still sounded peaceful. "I know Haru has men's kimono. Maybe I can wear one of those. Maybe he has a more formal one, I don't know. We seem to be about the same size. He's a little taller than me, though."

I kissed his neck again, and he sighed more, pressing my cheek to his. I closed my eyes, drinking in his touch. "If that's how you're comfortable, I think it's perfect. I want you to be happy."

He nodded slightly. "I'm happy. I'm happy, for so many things. I'm so grateful." His cheek was getting hot against mine. He parted from me slightly, gazing at me with such calm eyes. His eye crinkles were showing, even though he wasn't grinning. Smiling with his eyes, the purest form of a smile. He puckered his lips, showing his front teeth a little bit. He leaned in as I did, and as his lips pressed against mine, his hand found the back of my head. His other one slid below where my obi ended, holding me to him. In this, he dipped me slightly, and I was helpless but to feel his kiss. At his mercy, and my eyes closed, my whole world the warmness of his lips, his gentle, dear movements, his strong and sure arms. As I enjoyed him, he kissed the side of my mouth, and a small trail of kisses led to the spot under my ear, the edge of my jaw. I melted in his hands, my lips parted in the beautiful touch of his kiss.

At five-thirty, we carefully got into Natsuko's car. Haru helped Tetsu get me in my seat, making sure I wasn't crushing my kimono. Natsuko had chosen one of my kimono to wear also, the one she'd liked at my apartment. Tetsu had helped her get ready, and she used a formal obi which she already had. He'd borrowed a formal kimono, haori, and hakama outfit himself from Haru, and Haru was wearing a similar outfit. Apparently, he'd had a these due to liking to wear them to formal functions that he went to as a doctor a few times per year. I was so grateful when he'd opened his closet and they were there to choose from. He'd given Tetsu the most formal ones he had.

At Tetsu's parents' house, we could hear the sounds of the party when we'd gotten out of the car. The sun had been setting, and the sky was so pretty. We'd stood there together, admiring it for a few minutes. Pink faded into purple quickly, and Tetsu wheeled me into the house. I gathered my sleeves into my lap, and worried about the beautiful obi knot Tetsu had tied getting squashed.

Once in our room, Tetsu brought over one of my wigs as I sat on the edge of our bed. He fussed about, getting my hair in the wig cap, bobby pins in his mouth. He secured the wig on my head, and began to put it into an elegant style which rested a little above my neck. I indicated that I had hair ornaments, and his eyes brightened. I showed him the box on top of our desk, lovingly placed there by one of his parents while we were at Natsuko's house. When he opened the box, it was as if his whole body filled with child-like wonder. He carefully brought out different pieces, feeling them in his hands, turning them over. Finally, he brought over a lovely bunching of pink and white flowers with cherry blossoms trailing off it. He carefully placed it in my hair, his face so close to my head that I felt his breath.

Watching him, I felt a sureness in my body. A knowing.

"Can you bring the dress to me that I wore yesterday?" I asked.

"Okay," he said, a curious expression on his face. He went over to the shopping bag which Natsuko had put our clothes in. His hands dipped into the bag, rustling back and forth. He brought it out, and handed it to me over the bed. I took it, my hand slipping around it. I found what I was looking for. I put the dress on the bed behind me.

"Stand in front of me," I smiled. The biggest smile was forming on my face. He looked so beautiful, standing there full of wonder.

"Hmm?" He asked, getting in position.

Gently, I slid to the floor. His mouth opened, and his arms reached out to help me, but I was already where I wanted to be. Kneeled there, I peered up at him. His eyebrow was creased, trying to figure it out. He was leaned over slightly, his arms still out.

My body sent a rushing of love upwards, like a strong wind full of beautiful colors of all kinds of flavors. My arms went up, my hands meeting in the middle of it. Outstretched, my fingers held out the pink diamond ring to him.

His hands went over his mouth, and his eyes were sparkling in the orange soft lighting of the room.

"Marry me for love," I said, my body full of peaceful waves.

He made a small sound behind his hand, a wet sound in his throat. He began to gasp over and over, sniffling. He nodded, his hands wiping away his sudden tears in fists like a child.

"You can't speak?" I asked, almost giggling. He smiled so beautifully, his teeth showing slightly, as he wiped his eyes over and over. He nodded. I made to get up, and he realized this. His pretty hand extended out, and I grabbed it. He helped me up, so strong even with one arm.

I took the same hand, and tried to slide the ring on any of his fingers. It found its home on his pinky. "We'll get it resized," I teased, my cheeks hurting because I was smiling so much. He nodded again, starting to hiccup so adorably. I wrapped my arms around him, and he hugged me gently, swaying me back and forth slowly.

After a few long moments like this, he found his voice. A tiny thing in my ear. "I love you," he whispered, sniffling. "I love you."