The Dimensional Witch tuned out the complaints from her adult employee and went on writing and making invitations. She had had a long talk with him several years ago about taking over her shop when it was her time to go and so instead of working to get rid of his ability, he worked for training.
"Watanuki, here. Mail these invitations."
Watanuki frowned as she handed him a stack of elegant invitations, most of the magical in nature, and went back to sorting those who she was going to invite to her cute little replacement's promise ceremony. She had been waiting for this moment for seven years and she finally got to plan what was basically a wedding. When she'd told Himawari about it, her lover, even after all these years, had been overjoyed.
She had yet to tell Watanuki that Himawari was a powerful sorceress or had been the one to put Doumeki Shizuka into a woman's body so many years ago, which had led to their love confessions to each other and their current happiness.
"I don't believe this. He actually let you do this?"
Yuuko looked up at the Ame Warashi that had just entered her usual meeting room that was also currently filled to the brim with all sorts of things necessary to setting up a wedding. Her smile was smug and she set down her pen on the table in front of her. "Of course. He's unable to say no to Doumeki-kun."
"Ah. So it wasn't you who convinced him."
"Well, in a roundabout way it was."
"How so?"
"I convinced Doumeki-kun."
"Which is the same thing," the Ame Warashi retorted and they laughed.
"So you needed to see me?"
"Only to tell you that Zashiki and myself will be there, naturally."
"And my request?"
The Ame Warashi scratched her cheek in thought. "I can wrangle it, I think. However as you always say, there's a price to be paid. Even you're bound by those constraints."
"Naturally," she purred back and her smile grew in a way that only Watanuki really knew was dangerous. "However, I have already got a payment method in mind."
"Oh? And that is?"
"I have it from a very, very reliable source that Konoo Masami will be there. In fact, I believe he will be the 'best man' for Doumeki-kun. You know, the captain of Doumeki-kun's archery team in high school."
In seconds, the proud and blunt Ame Warashi had red cheeks and wasn't meeting her eyes. Yuuko's smile widened. It had not escaped her notice that the Ame Warashi had been smitten with Konoo for almost a year since the boy had accidentally come across her two errand boys when doing a minor job for them, by request of the Ame Warashi.
"H-How is that payment?"
Perhaps it was her vice, as Clow used to say, but she had her most fun teasing those around her. Watanuki was an endless source of entertainment, but the prouder they were, the funnier their reactions were.
"Well, according to my information," she told her, picking up another piece of special paper for more invitations, but her eyes never strayed from the Ame Warashi fidgeting in front of her, "Konoo-kun is currently single, quite immersed into the spiritual world, is a telepath, and most notably, and perhaps the most important thing, is not gay. I might be able to set something up with my…informant and arrange a meeting."
"A-are you sure that would be equal in payment for—"
"Yes, quite well. You will see why later."
"Ame Warashi! What are you doing here?"
Her eyes finally slid to Watanuki, who had just appeared in the doorway. The flush on the Rain Sprite's face faded instantly and her disposition was back, but Yuuko would never forget the sudden lack of composure and neither would the Ame Warashi. And she had once criticized the Zashiki Warashi for falling in love with Watanuki. She had little room to talk anymore.
"Just arranging a few things for your wedding." Watanuki blushed at the blunt words of the sprite as she sped past him and faded away.
Well, that took care of the perfect weather part of the planning. Now, to convince Watanuki to wear a wedding dress…
End