All In the Name of Cement Shoes – Don't Rip My Band-Aid Off

Misao had been shaken up by the stupid interaction she had had with Aoshi but had finally gotten her professional mojo back. She was undoubtedly becoming better in her line of work and was ecstatic to learn that four brides to be had asked for Ms. Makimachi personally. Spring and summer usually became the busiest times of the year for her small business and the binders full of floral arrangements, catering options, and cake designs flooded her desk to the brink of insanity. But it was money in her pocket and with these last four weddings, she would be able to make an offer on her little cottage.

She hummed happily to herself as she arranged the black binder according to her first bride's preferences – blue and brown with subtle hints of cream. Misao wasn't quite sure how the color scheme would play out but she was excited to have the job nonetheless. The bride in question was a well known name in New York and her marriage to a young politician was at the top of the list for gossipers. When the binder was in a more orderly state, Misao turned towards the stack of magazines and newspapers sitting on a smaller desk behind her. She kept the many articles in order to keep up with the latest wedding fashions and seasonal flavors but a single page with big, bold, black letters caught her attention amongst the many pieces of paper. 'LOCAL MOBSTER CONVICTED OF TAX EVASION – OFFICIALS SIEZE ESTATE' was printed neatly across the local newspaper and the wedding planner couldn't help but let her eyes wander down to the color photo underneath. Staring back at her with Italian charm was Santino Barazzi. Misao's fingers trailed the printed article for any other indiscretions he may have been convicted of but her search was thwarted when the office phone began to ring. She hastily put her surprise on hold and answered. The voice on the other line spoke first in a thick Russian accent.

"Is this Misao Makimachi?" His voice was rough with the signs of a smoker's rasp but he sounded polite enough.

"Yes it is, how can I help you?"

"A very dear friend of mine relayed your name to me and I find that I'm in great need of your assistance. Let me introduce myself – my name is Mikhail Koryishnikev, perhaps you've heard of me?" Misao took a deep gulp. Of course she had heard of Mikhail Koryishnikev! He was only the greatest Russian humanitarian that ever graced New York City! His list of achievements was long and great, but his greatest story was about the problem at hand. Mikhail had come from a very long line of wealth and shocked most of his family when he fell in love with a local waitress. She had very little money to her name but was working two jobs to pay rent and go to school to become a teacher. From what the tabloids had reported, it was like a wonderful fairy tale. She had refused his expensive gifts from the get go and only agreed to go on the first date if they went Dutch. The rest, as they say, was history. The couple gained popularity amongst the younger generation of New York and they were deemed the modern version of Cinderella. But what on earth could they want from Misao?

"Yes, of course!" The hints of a grin could be heard on the other side of the phone and Misao blushed from her sudden excitement. Mikhail was rumored to be a very kind man but that didn't mean he didn't get flattered by young wedding planners.

"I was wondering if you would be able to pull off my fiancée and I's wedding? We're aiming for a fall wedding since most people plan on spring and summer. Annie likes to be different. She also says that it would be easier to get a planner, too." The mousy woman feigned going through a busy schedule with the various papers lying around and finally said yes. It was better to keep the clients thinking you were hard to snatch up. "Thank you so much, Ms. Makimachi! Annie and I look forward to meeting you!" A conference was arranged for two weeks from the present date where they would talk about the standard contract that Hannya had arranged for Misao in hopes that she would make a better profit if protected by the lawful piece of paper. Mikhail quickly thanked her again.

"Um, Mr. Koryishnikev? May I ask who gave you my name?" The Russian man chuckled.

"Of course! Her name is Natalia Barazzi. She told me you were going to plan her wedding until she called it off." Misao smiled. It was only fair that the spoiled Natalia could be able to save face after her fiancé had been swiped from her and her father had lost practically everything. "Oh! If at all possible, could you perhaps meet with Annie first? She wants to shake hands with the woman that comes so highly recommended by Natalia!"

"Sure!" Misao hastily scribbled down the name of the restaurant Annie worked at during the mornings before hanging up with Mikhail.

She was utterly, blissfully excited. A high profile wedding like Mikhail's would push Misao's house plan up further than anticipated. Her quaint little dream was quickly becoming a reality.

"I don't understand. It was on the market for so long and NOW somebody decides to buy it?" An angry cloud was drifting over Misao's head as she pouted over the word 'SOLD' printed in bold red letters over the real estate agent's information. For months, the wedding planner had driven out of her way to swoon over and glamorize her little cottage and for months, not a single flyer with the house's information had been taken. Misao had counted the wisps of paper every time she stopped. Her country cottage was going to be her private piece of heaven to come home to and now some idiot had gone and bought it right out from underneath her. Sano's obnoxious crunching from behind her caused the mousy woman to glare over her shoulder.

"The paint was chipping anyway. You'd be putting money towards a never ending pit." Leave it to her brother to see the glass as half empty as he wiped the remnants of his potato chips on the leg of his jeans. She should have never agreed to buy him snacks in order for him to tag along.

"I wouldn't have minded. I would've been secluded from all the bad things in the world like materialism and greed and…"

"Aoshi?" Misao winced at Sanosuke's oblivious comment. The millionaire wasn't necessarily a bad thing; he just jumbled up her life at a bad time. Sano finally managed to catch on to the spiteful name and began to rummage through the numerous pockets littering his leather jacket. "I'm glad I've got you alone today, though. I need your opinion on something." He shoveled out a black velvet box as his little sister eyed the container curiously. No way would the rooster head be brash enough to…

Misao gasped as a single sparkling diamond lit up the box in simple elegance. It wasn't too flashy but still let other females know that Megumi's man was dead set on her and her alone. Her petite fingers traced the edges of the expensive rock and for a moment, her insides twisted. It hadn't been too long ago that a diamond could've been placed on her own finger.

"Do you think she'll like it? I would've gotten a bigger one but my cash is limited while I'm in training. But Megumi always said she didn't want a super expensive wedding." Misao smiled at her big brother. He deserved all the happiness in the world and there wasn't a more wonderful person for him than Megumi.

"It's perfect. She'll love it." The former gangster plucked the jewel from its satin cushion and held it up to the light like he knew what he was doing. Misao held her breath. She didn't know how much her brother had paid for the ring but she knew from experience that it should be kept in the box until he was ready to propose. Setting his chip bag down he asked her if she thought it was shiny enough.

"Sano…I really think you should…"

"SHIT!" Misao watched Sano fling himself to the ground like a possessed being. "I dropped it!" She was on her knees in an instant, trying to find the delicate ring that was ultimately the key to a future between Sano and Megumi. Nothing glinted in the sunlight and for an hour, the siblings scoured the area for the ring. It wasn't until Sanosuke had given up and dumped the remaining contents of his chip back down his throat that an answer came to them. He coughed once and tapped his chest with his fist.

"Well if you'd actually chew your food like a human being instead of inhaling it…" But the funny look on his face told her something else was up. His dark brown eyes widened as he gulped once and smiled crookedly.

"I think I found it.

Megumi had just finished with one of her most favorite patients who had complained of a horrid cough when she received a pink post it with the words 'Sano, Room 4' scribbled in red ink. Delilah, the head nurse, was one of the few ladies involved in the drama known as the doctor's love life and was absolutely tickled every time the hoodlum made an appearance. Megumi sighed and signed off on her patient before making her way down to room four. She pondered the location for a moment before realizing that they had put him in one of the rooms with lighted tablets to see x-rays with. Had he hurt himself? She scurried down the hallway and was almost relieved when she saw Misao leaning against the door with her wedding binders laid out before her. The situation wasn't too serious if she was concentrating on work.

"Megumi!" One of the newer residents ran up to her with a manila folder and Sano's charts. She politely thanked him and shoved open the heavy door to her boyfriend's room. He was seated soundly on the examination table with a chicken shit grin pasted to his face.

"Spanky buns!" Megumi chuckled and pulled open the manila folder.

"What is it this time, Sano – broken pelvis, ruptured spleen?" He had concocted many illnesses when he had pursued her but he never got the x-ray technicians involved. His stomach was shown to her by the back light and she tapped her chin lightly as she circled an obtrusion in his stomach. "Sano…what the hell did you get into...?" Her voice drifted as she examined the picture closer and the angles of the diamond came into focus. "Sano…what's going on?" She turned to find him off the table and on one knee, an empty box resting in his palm.

"Megumi…I love you. I can't put into words the way you make me feel except I know I feel…warm and complete when I'm around you. And I know I can't offer you millions of dollars…but I can offer you me. And I know I'll always be there to wash dishes and make you smile when you're sad and take you on impromptu motorcycle rides when you need to just get away. I know I can do these things for. All I ask, is you love me at least a fraction of what I love you." Tears were forming in the doctor's eyes and she nodded her head. He didn't need some grand speech, she loved the man in front of her with her whole heart and nothing would ever change that. She did another double take as he stood up and handed her the box.

"You swallowed my ring?" Misao winced outside the room as a loud thump echoed through the halls. This was the beginning of a very wonderful marriage.

The future Mrs. Koryishnikev was the epitome of the average New Yorker. Her short, chestnut colored hair was cropped short and just barely fell past her ears. Retro bangs made the once chic look pass as more adorable than sophisticated – especially when she clipped the mini hairstyle back with plain white clips. Big brown eyes widened innocently when she smiled and it was safe to say that the large pouty lips creating said simper was more playful than seductive. She was tall and spoke with a heavily pronounced accent. Misao could only imagine the young waitress cussing out a rude taxi driver and putting most of the men on the Yankees to shame. Annie smiled brightly as she waved her wedding planner inside the miniscule diner and mouthed 'five minutes' while pointing to an empty booth.

The diner wasn't incredibly unique with the stainless steel tables and the black vinyl cushions, but it had a certain friendly atmosphere that was rare to find in the deepest part of the city. Misao squeezed her tiny frame into the nearby booth and waited for one of the waitresses donning a cheaply manufactured t-shirt to come take her order.

"Hi, Misao." The usually squeaky woman gasped in surprise as Natalia Barazzi filled her line of sight. The once stereotyped blonde was now showing her Italian roots with a wonderfully natural ebony bun sitting atop her head in a very messy manner. Her makeup was simple and her fingernails were filed down to black nubs with a single white daisy on her thumb – possibly made with white out. She was nothing like the spoiled socialite who had stolen her car and left Misao with a wonderfully handsome problem.

"Natalia? Oh my gosh, you've changed!" Misao reminded herself that she needed to think before speaking as she watched the mobster's daughter cringe with amusement.

"Yeah…it's amazing to watch the transformation happen when you have no funds to keep the life you're used to going." She patted the wedding planner's hand and shrugged off the pity party she was planning for herself. "I actually need to thank you, Misao. It wasn't fair of me to dump all my problems in your lap but I was terrified of marrying a man I had no attraction for." Misao pondered the information given. She knew that Aoshi and Natalia had never met so how would she know if she was attracted to him? Obviously she had never seen the man without a shirt; otherwise the words 'no attraction to' would've never left her mouth. Her hand was still resting on the petite woman's appendage and it was then that she noticed the simple gold band adorning her ring finger.

"Natalia! You got married?" A pink blush swept over the waitress' cheeks and she nodded like a schoolgirl admitting to her first crush.

"His name is Paul and he works for his dad's auto shop. That's why I abandoned you that day. See…Paul wouldn't be considered by my father to be a…'wise choice'. But he made me laugh the very first day I brought my Lexus in and he's very good looking! And he's so sweet to me!"

"Why didn't you just tell your father that you found someone else?" Natalia scanned the room for any eavesdroppers and situated herself in the seat opposite Misao.

"That marriage was supposed to a business transaction…and if my father reneged on it, his life would've been put in danger. But I didn't want to keep making Paul miserable after he told me he was in love with me. Oh Misao, if you only knew the problems I was facing that day and here you were…oblivious to everything and out of any real danger as far as I could see, you were the perfect answer. I ran away to give myself time to think. And from the bottom of my heart, I am so sorry. I never thought people would come after you." Misao shrank back into the booth and grinned sadly.

"People were going to be after me no matter what. It seemed my father had other debts I wasn't aware of. But I'm not sorry for what happened. Those months were the happiest I've had in a long time." Natalia's smile warmed at the girl's words.

"I knew you would be a good match for him. He needed sunshine…not more rain." A cup of coffee was put in front of the wedding planner by another waitress as Natalia tucked a loose curl behind her ear. She had to admit, the gangster's only daughter looked better as a brunette than the fake blonde she had encountered that fateful day.

"Something's still bothering me, though…is everything okay between your father and you? AND…how did you know you wouldn't be attracted to Aoshi? I mean…he's very…scrumptious." Natalia chuckled at the infatuation still lingering from the young woman sitting across from her.

"My father lost most of his followers after he was put in jail and I think he wanted to retire from the business anyway. My brother is taking over the legal parts of the business." Misao waited for the waitress to continue with the second part of her interrogation. "And Aoshi wasn't my type. I don't think he realized it but he met me once at a charity function a year ago and there was no real spark. Besides," her attention fluttered to the bell at the front door announcing a new customer, "he couldn't compete with THAT!" She followed Natalia's gaze and couldn't help but smile at the young man waving in their direction. He looked to be a couple years older than the two females smiling at him and his dark reddish brown hair revealed his Scottish heritage. His rustic five o'clock shadow made him look dignified until he smiled and a pair of large dimples surfaced. He was…average. Not thin, but he looked like he worked out from time to time but the shine that emanated from him when his large chocolate colored eyes fell on Natalia made him the cutest man in the world. Misao could understand the attraction. That was her prince charming in all his average glory. Natalia parted ways with her so she could go plant a kiss on her new husband leaving Misao feeling horrible about all the vile things she had said about the woman.

"Adorable, aren't they?" Misao jumped as she spotted Annie sitting across from her. "He was actually the one who got her the job here when her father lost all his money. It's safe to say she had no idea what she was doing. But somehow she managed. She didn't even hesitate to give me your number when Mikhail and I got engaged." Both girls waved at the young couple and Natalia winked in Misao's direction. She had made a mistake the day she threw all her problems at the wedding planner. But she was re-paying a debt in her eyes and hopefully making a few friends along the way. "So, I was hoping to have an outdoor wedding but that depends on the weather. The wedding itself…I'm trying to make it as small as possible but Mikhail has a lot of friends and family in Russia that want to come down for the whole thing." The magical moment was lost as Misao set to work and began scribbling down notes in a purple binder.

"Are you sure you dropped it over here?" Paul was next to his wife on his hands and knees beside an expensive piece of work, looking for Natalia's necklace. He had warned her that morning that it was ridiculous to wear such extravagant jewelry to work but she insisted on it, saying the antique jewel was the only thing she had left of her mother. She had noticed the unusual feel of nakedness on her chest shortly after leaving the diner and was almost positive she had felt it slip off in the location they were presently searching.

"Excuse me, miss, I think you dropped this." Natalia popped up to see her mother's necklace dangling from the fingers of one Aoshi Shinomori.