Sayuri continued to pace in her spot. Excitement was evident on her face with the light brightening her dark eyes. For the moment, she had managed to drag Reiko out of the estate and back into the village. Rumors were circulating that there was a fortune teller around, and that most of what he had spoken of, came true. She knew it was a bit childish of her, however; if what they were speaking of was true, she had to know. What would her future look like? Was she destined for marriage and children? The thought alone caused butterflies within her stomach, however; as soon as they came, they disappeared. What if her future wasn't there? What if she was destined for a short life?
"I don't know if this is such a good idea now," she muttered to herself, grabbing onto Reiko's arm. It was her idea, after all, to visit. "Rei-chan!" she nearly wined, second-guessing herself. She clung to the older girl and pursed her lips up at her. "You're so cruel to me, Rei-chan. How could you bring me here!?" she continued as she continued to pout. She knew it wasn't Reiko's fault, but her own. She dragged Reiko here, not the other way around. Instead, she continued to wail lightly until something sparked in her stomach. It was a pleasant feeling, and it managed to calm her. Maybe she was over thinking this? Shaking her head, she waited patiently for the person to come out of the tent.
"Are you going to get one too, Rei-chan?" she asked, a hint of something light and playful behind her question. "Because it won't be fair if I'm the only one doing it," even if she was the one who instigated to come here. As much as she wanted to know her own future, she also wanted to know what Reiko's would be. She wouldn't live like her family did, and knew she would eventually die before the rest of them. She just wanted to know if Reiko would be okay. She was slightly worried, however; she quelled the fear long enough for her to wait for Reiko's response.
Reiko smiled slightly at Sayuâs antics; she was probably the only person in the world to whom the vampire girl felt like an older family member. She was so used to being younger than her familyâit was nice to feel like she had someone to indulge and look after, even if Sayuri didnât really need her to. She did, however, huff her frustration slightly when her friend seemed to be having second thoughts, and then shook her head. "This one is not so sure this one would want to know the future, Sayu-chan.â Especially not considering how bleak sheâd been feeling recently, some unnamable dread taking root in her heart and pressing down on her chest like lead.
"But if you really want this one to come with you, she will.â Reiko hadnât heard much more than rumors of the strangely-accurate fortunes that had been read to the townspeople, apparently by some mysterious stranger. It was all a little silly for her taste, but then she wasnât so close-minded as to believe it was impossible for someone to have some grip on precognition. The things that her family was capable of werenât supposed to be possible, either. "Where are we supposed to go, anyway?â
"Yes I really want you to come. I wouldn't have dragged you here otherwise," she stated, shaking her head slightly. She released Reiko and allowed one of her hands to fall to her side while the other tapped her chin. She didn't know exactly where the place was located, and only knew that it was somewhere on the outskirts of the market place. It could have been any number of places. She released a nervous chuckle before glancing back at Reiko.
"I don't know, honestly," she confessed, glancing back into the market place. "I heard it was on the outskirts of the market place, but I don't know where exactly. In all my excitement, I forgot to ask," she continued, laughing nervously before turning towards one of the passing villagers. She left Reiko's side for a moment, asking if the villager knew, and to her luck, they did. Once she found out the location, she turned to Reiko with a large grin on her face. Grabbing her arm, Sayuri led Reiko through the streets.
"Oh look! This must be it!" she exclaimed, pointing to a rather plain home. There was a sign outside, the words for fortune barely legible as Sayuri resisted the urge to giggle. The kanji was written so poorly, that she could barely make out any of the other words, however; there was no doubt that this was the place. "Here goes nothing," she stated more to herself, and continued to drag Reiko along. Her hold on the older girl, however, loosened once she was inside.
She blinked a few times, trying to process what she had just seen. The place looked every bit as old as it appeared. Parts of the roof were caved in, and some of the tatami doors were torn. Was the fortune teller really in a place like this? She heard the sound of someone laughing, a woman, and tilted her head to the side to find the source. The woman seemed to give a polite bow before standing, making her way out and paused momentarily in front of Sayuri and Reiko. She greeted them before making her way out fully, and Sayuri stood in her spot trying to process the place, still.
"Oh. I wasn't expecting more company," a familiar voice spoke as Aram appeared. He glanced at Sayuri and Reiko, smiling softly when his gaze landed upon the older girl, and Sayuri kept her gaze on the man. "Can I help with something, Reiko-san, Sayuri-san?" he questioned, his gaze lingering upon the two of them.
Reikoâs lips were pursed slightly as she took in the house. Most of those in the village were in much better condition than thisâher family kept the tariffs mostly concentrated on those who could afford them, so that nobody fell into financial trouble unless they gambled themselves into it. She suspected this house had once belonged to such a person, but now it seemed to be the one Ayla and Aram were sharing, and she felt a stab of guilt for not knowing that their circumstances were like this. It wasnât like it would be terribly difficult for her to do something to help, but she suspected that both of them had too much pride to just accept money from her or something like that. Aram almost had too much pride to barter, and she knew Ayla wouldnât just accept charity, either.
She almost didnât hear him speak, so absorbed was she in trying to figure out how she was going to get them to accept her help, at least with the repairs and such. But thankfully, she did, and she moved her eyes from an obvious hole in the floor up to his own, red meeting blue. She smiled, not especially broadly, and tilted her head in Sayuriâs direction. "Sayu-chan heard about a fortuneteller in town, and she wanted to have her fortune read. This one is⊠company, she supposes.â Shrugging lightly, she removed her shoes before stepping properly into the house, treating it as if it were in perfectly fine condition and not at all run-down. Respect was important, no matter what circumstances someone found themselves in, after all.
"This one did not expect it to be you, Aram-san. Are you busy, or do you have time to see us?â
Sayuri kept the fits of giggles under control as she followed behind Reiko. Aram, however, merely chuckled lowly before motioning them towards the same hall he had just been in. "I always have time for Ayla's friends. Fortune teller? Is that what they are calling me now?" he mused out loudly as Sayuri nodded her head. Once they were in the small of the living area, Aram set aside a new spot for Reiko to make herself comfortable. They didn't have chairs quite yet, so the only comfort he could offer her was a pillowed cushion. "Is there a reason as to why you'd like your fortune read, Sayuri-san?" he questioned, turning his attention to Sayuri. She stumbled over her words for a moment, trying to put them together the way she wanted them to be.
"Well," she began, folding her hands in her lap as she sat, her posture correcting itself before it could falter. "I just thought it would be interesting to know what my life had in store for me. I mean, we only have such a short time and..." she paused, shifting her gaze towards Reiko. She wouldn't live forever, she knew that. She just wanted to know if she'd have a purpose to her family before she left. It wasn't a thought she entertained, but one that she had accepted. Instead, the smile brightened on her face as Aram gave a knowing one in return. He reached over the table, motioning for Sayuri to give him her hands in the process.
She complied, and he allowed the warmth of her hands to cover his own. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and waited for something to spark. They remained like that for a few minutes, the silence filling the home as if it were empty. Sayuri could feel the tension building in her hands as she tried to remain calm. Is this how he did things? It felt a little intimate for her, however; she relaxed when the smile faded from his face, and he opened his eyes. The usual blue of his eyes was replaced, almost entirely, by the faint gold that usually resided within his eyes, however; as quickly as he'd opened them, the color receded back to the usual blue.
"You will find yourself in a position to help where no help can be found. It will not be a choice to make so lightly, however; it will give you and those you love, peace of mind. The union may also bear fruit to something you wish for," he stated, but there was more. Her future, one that seemed so bright and innocent, would not be very pleasant. She would endure, suffer perhaps, but she would preserver till she could no longer. It would eventually kill her. It pained him to know that her future wasn't what she wanted, however; it would bring her peace, for now. Sayuri, however, seemed confused by his words until it finally clicked.
"You mean... I'm... what?" she stated in a confused stupor. She turned to Reiko, pointed a finger at herself, and allowed a light tint of pink to dust her features. "I'm.. going to get married," she finally stated. Aram only nodded to confirm her statement, and she beamed at Reiko. She lunged herself towards the girl, wrapping her arms around her neck and tried her best not to let the excitement overwhelm her. "I'm going to get married, Rei-chan," she repeated. Aram's face, however, faltered slightly as he continued to dwell upon her future.
"What about you, Reiko-san? Would you like to see what the future has in store for you as well?" he questioned, trying to tune out what he had seen previously. Perhaps Reiko wouldn't share a similar fate, however; he wasn't so sure he wanted to know, now.
Reiko hadnât missed the telltale shift in Aramâs facial expression. There was something more to what heâd seen, and it troubled him. Her eyes narrowed slightly, though not from anger, more like thoughtfulness. She knew she didnât want to ask with Sayu right there, of course; it might be something to bring up later. She still wasnât sure she believed he could see the future, but if he could and she didnât ask him about it, she would feel quite the fool.
When the offer was extended to her, though, she tilted her head to the side, still hugging Sayu. Before the other girl could pull away, she made sure to plaster a convincing smile on her face. She knew she was good at this, misleading with the expressions her face could make, even if she tried not to do it. Still, she didnât want to bother her sister-friend over something that could be nothing, not when Sayuri herself clearly believed what she was told. "Oh, umâŠâ She hesitated when the offer was extended to her. She wasnât sure she wanted to know her future, if indeed he could see it. To her, the future was something one made, with oneâs own two hands and the people around them. Certainly, there were constraintsâsome things were just not possible. But even the improbable could be made real with work and a little luck.
"This one⊠she supposes it could not hurt.â Giving Sayu a chance to right herself, Reiko shuffled over so that she occupied the spot her friend always had, and extended a hand, palm upwards, fingers curled gently inwards. She caught a glimpse of her own calluses and winced a little. They werenât awful, of course, but⊠she lacked soft, feminine hands, from all the time sheâd spent practicing with a sword. Sayuâs hands were much prettier than hers, in all honesty.
Aram took her hand into his, clasping his free hand over hers and his, and did as before. He closed his eyes and waited for a spark. Time seemed to stand still for Aram. He continued to wait, however; minutes seemed to pass and Aram found himself stunned. For as long as he had lived, he could always see someone's future. There were no blanks, no empty space, however; he couldn't see hers. Tentatively, he released Reiko's hand, and opened his eyes, peering into the girl's own ruby colored orbs. He studied her for a moment, furrowed his brows, and tilted his head to the left.
"I apologize, Reiko-san," he stated, realizing he'd been staring far longer than what was deemed proper. It dumbfounded him, though. Why couldn't he see her future? Moments ago, he had dreaded knowing her future, but now, he was curious. "I can't see your future. I... don't understand it," he continued, causing the confused look to pass onto Sayuri's. She pursed her lips together as she turned to her friend. Aram merely shook his head and pulled his hands into his lap.
"It seems I am drawing a blank," he confessed. "Perhaps... there are some things I cannot see, after all," he continued, trying to make light of the situation. Still, it bothered him. He would have to investigate upon it at a later time. For now, he had guests to attend to.
Reiko blinked several times, a light dusting of color rising to the surface of her cheekbones as she found herself the object of a rather intent scrutiny. She wasnât sure he realized he was doing it, and indeed, he soon came to himself and apologized. She wasnât sure why he couldnât read her future, but if anything it actually gave her more confidence that he could do something of the kind in other cases. Or at least, something happened. If he just made up his predictions, there would have been no reason why he couldnât make one up in her case, too.
"Oh,â she murmured softly, looking down at her hand with traces of confusion. "Well, in that case donât worry about it. Sometimes, odd things happen to this one at the most unexpected times. Perhaps youâre just tired from the other fortunes you read today.â She smiled, as comfortingly as she could, and her hands moved to her waist, deftly untying her purse and counting out three ryo. Normally, she expected such a service would go for no more than a few mon, but⊠sheâd just pretend she didnât know that, and hope he managed to keep enough of it to do something about the hole in the roof. They were lucky it hadnât snowed in a few weeks, but Hokkaidoâs winters were longâthey may yet see more before it was over.
"Thank you for your time, Aram-san. We should not keep you from your work longer than necessary.â She bowed slightly in her sitting position.
Aram glanced at the three ryo she had offered, and blinked. He couldn't take this, it was too much. He tried to hand her back the ryo, however; Sayuri glanced at him and pursed her lips. She shook her head and he sighed in defeat. "Perhaps you are right. The day has been long and perhaps the fatigue has settled more than I thought it has," he stated as he returned the bow. Sayuri resisted the urge to giggle at the behavior between the two, and stood.
"Thank you, Kyabetsu-san, for the fortunes. We should have lunch together, one day. You, Rei-chan, Ayla-chan, and myself! It'll be fun," she stated, smiling brightly. Aram allowed a thoughtful gaze to cross his face before he nodded. "Good, then it's settled," she continued before grabbing Reiko's arm. She bid Aram farewell, as he returned it, and they left his abode. Sayuri continued to beam as she allowed his reading to plague her mind.
"I'm going to get married."
"I don't know if this is such a good idea now," she muttered to herself, grabbing onto Reiko's arm. It was her idea, after all, to visit. "Rei-chan!" she nearly wined, second-guessing herself. She clung to the older girl and pursed her lips up at her. "You're so cruel to me, Rei-chan. How could you bring me here!?" she continued as she continued to pout. She knew it wasn't Reiko's fault, but her own. She dragged Reiko here, not the other way around. Instead, she continued to wail lightly until something sparked in her stomach. It was a pleasant feeling, and it managed to calm her. Maybe she was over thinking this? Shaking her head, she waited patiently for the person to come out of the tent.
"Are you going to get one too, Rei-chan?" she asked, a hint of something light and playful behind her question. "Because it won't be fair if I'm the only one doing it," even if she was the one who instigated to come here. As much as she wanted to know her own future, she also wanted to know what Reiko's would be. She wouldn't live like her family did, and knew she would eventually die before the rest of them. She just wanted to know if Reiko would be okay. She was slightly worried, however; she quelled the fear long enough for her to wait for Reiko's response.
Reiko smiled slightly at Sayuâs antics; she was probably the only person in the world to whom the vampire girl felt like an older family member. She was so used to being younger than her familyâit was nice to feel like she had someone to indulge and look after, even if Sayuri didnât really need her to. She did, however, huff her frustration slightly when her friend seemed to be having second thoughts, and then shook her head. "This one is not so sure this one would want to know the future, Sayu-chan.â Especially not considering how bleak sheâd been feeling recently, some unnamable dread taking root in her heart and pressing down on her chest like lead.
"But if you really want this one to come with you, she will.â Reiko hadnât heard much more than rumors of the strangely-accurate fortunes that had been read to the townspeople, apparently by some mysterious stranger. It was all a little silly for her taste, but then she wasnât so close-minded as to believe it was impossible for someone to have some grip on precognition. The things that her family was capable of werenât supposed to be possible, either. "Where are we supposed to go, anyway?â
"Yes I really want you to come. I wouldn't have dragged you here otherwise," she stated, shaking her head slightly. She released Reiko and allowed one of her hands to fall to her side while the other tapped her chin. She didn't know exactly where the place was located, and only knew that it was somewhere on the outskirts of the market place. It could have been any number of places. She released a nervous chuckle before glancing back at Reiko.
"I don't know, honestly," she confessed, glancing back into the market place. "I heard it was on the outskirts of the market place, but I don't know where exactly. In all my excitement, I forgot to ask," she continued, laughing nervously before turning towards one of the passing villagers. She left Reiko's side for a moment, asking if the villager knew, and to her luck, they did. Once she found out the location, she turned to Reiko with a large grin on her face. Grabbing her arm, Sayuri led Reiko through the streets.
"Oh look! This must be it!" she exclaimed, pointing to a rather plain home. There was a sign outside, the words for fortune barely legible as Sayuri resisted the urge to giggle. The kanji was written so poorly, that she could barely make out any of the other words, however; there was no doubt that this was the place. "Here goes nothing," she stated more to herself, and continued to drag Reiko along. Her hold on the older girl, however, loosened once she was inside.
She blinked a few times, trying to process what she had just seen. The place looked every bit as old as it appeared. Parts of the roof were caved in, and some of the tatami doors were torn. Was the fortune teller really in a place like this? She heard the sound of someone laughing, a woman, and tilted her head to the side to find the source. The woman seemed to give a polite bow before standing, making her way out and paused momentarily in front of Sayuri and Reiko. She greeted them before making her way out fully, and Sayuri stood in her spot trying to process the place, still.
"Oh. I wasn't expecting more company," a familiar voice spoke as Aram appeared. He glanced at Sayuri and Reiko, smiling softly when his gaze landed upon the older girl, and Sayuri kept her gaze on the man. "Can I help with something, Reiko-san, Sayuri-san?" he questioned, his gaze lingering upon the two of them.
Reikoâs lips were pursed slightly as she took in the house. Most of those in the village were in much better condition than thisâher family kept the tariffs mostly concentrated on those who could afford them, so that nobody fell into financial trouble unless they gambled themselves into it. She suspected this house had once belonged to such a person, but now it seemed to be the one Ayla and Aram were sharing, and she felt a stab of guilt for not knowing that their circumstances were like this. It wasnât like it would be terribly difficult for her to do something to help, but she suspected that both of them had too much pride to just accept money from her or something like that. Aram almost had too much pride to barter, and she knew Ayla wouldnât just accept charity, either.
She almost didnât hear him speak, so absorbed was she in trying to figure out how she was going to get them to accept her help, at least with the repairs and such. But thankfully, she did, and she moved her eyes from an obvious hole in the floor up to his own, red meeting blue. She smiled, not especially broadly, and tilted her head in Sayuriâs direction. "Sayu-chan heard about a fortuneteller in town, and she wanted to have her fortune read. This one is⊠company, she supposes.â Shrugging lightly, she removed her shoes before stepping properly into the house, treating it as if it were in perfectly fine condition and not at all run-down. Respect was important, no matter what circumstances someone found themselves in, after all.
"This one did not expect it to be you, Aram-san. Are you busy, or do you have time to see us?â
Sayuri kept the fits of giggles under control as she followed behind Reiko. Aram, however, merely chuckled lowly before motioning them towards the same hall he had just been in. "I always have time for Ayla's friends. Fortune teller? Is that what they are calling me now?" he mused out loudly as Sayuri nodded her head. Once they were in the small of the living area, Aram set aside a new spot for Reiko to make herself comfortable. They didn't have chairs quite yet, so the only comfort he could offer her was a pillowed cushion. "Is there a reason as to why you'd like your fortune read, Sayuri-san?" he questioned, turning his attention to Sayuri. She stumbled over her words for a moment, trying to put them together the way she wanted them to be.
"Well," she began, folding her hands in her lap as she sat, her posture correcting itself before it could falter. "I just thought it would be interesting to know what my life had in store for me. I mean, we only have such a short time and..." she paused, shifting her gaze towards Reiko. She wouldn't live forever, she knew that. She just wanted to know if she'd have a purpose to her family before she left. It wasn't a thought she entertained, but one that she had accepted. Instead, the smile brightened on her face as Aram gave a knowing one in return. He reached over the table, motioning for Sayuri to give him her hands in the process.
She complied, and he allowed the warmth of her hands to cover his own. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and waited for something to spark. They remained like that for a few minutes, the silence filling the home as if it were empty. Sayuri could feel the tension building in her hands as she tried to remain calm. Is this how he did things? It felt a little intimate for her, however; she relaxed when the smile faded from his face, and he opened his eyes. The usual blue of his eyes was replaced, almost entirely, by the faint gold that usually resided within his eyes, however; as quickly as he'd opened them, the color receded back to the usual blue.
"You will find yourself in a position to help where no help can be found. It will not be a choice to make so lightly, however; it will give you and those you love, peace of mind. The union may also bear fruit to something you wish for," he stated, but there was more. Her future, one that seemed so bright and innocent, would not be very pleasant. She would endure, suffer perhaps, but she would preserver till she could no longer. It would eventually kill her. It pained him to know that her future wasn't what she wanted, however; it would bring her peace, for now. Sayuri, however, seemed confused by his words until it finally clicked.
"You mean... I'm... what?" she stated in a confused stupor. She turned to Reiko, pointed a finger at herself, and allowed a light tint of pink to dust her features. "I'm.. going to get married," she finally stated. Aram only nodded to confirm her statement, and she beamed at Reiko. She lunged herself towards the girl, wrapping her arms around her neck and tried her best not to let the excitement overwhelm her. "I'm going to get married, Rei-chan," she repeated. Aram's face, however, faltered slightly as he continued to dwell upon her future.
"What about you, Reiko-san? Would you like to see what the future has in store for you as well?" he questioned, trying to tune out what he had seen previously. Perhaps Reiko wouldn't share a similar fate, however; he wasn't so sure he wanted to know, now.
Reiko hadnât missed the telltale shift in Aramâs facial expression. There was something more to what heâd seen, and it troubled him. Her eyes narrowed slightly, though not from anger, more like thoughtfulness. She knew she didnât want to ask with Sayu right there, of course; it might be something to bring up later. She still wasnât sure she believed he could see the future, but if he could and she didnât ask him about it, she would feel quite the fool.
When the offer was extended to her, though, she tilted her head to the side, still hugging Sayu. Before the other girl could pull away, she made sure to plaster a convincing smile on her face. She knew she was good at this, misleading with the expressions her face could make, even if she tried not to do it. Still, she didnât want to bother her sister-friend over something that could be nothing, not when Sayuri herself clearly believed what she was told. "Oh, umâŠâ She hesitated when the offer was extended to her. She wasnât sure she wanted to know her future, if indeed he could see it. To her, the future was something one made, with oneâs own two hands and the people around them. Certainly, there were constraintsâsome things were just not possible. But even the improbable could be made real with work and a little luck.
"This one⊠she supposes it could not hurt.â Giving Sayu a chance to right herself, Reiko shuffled over so that she occupied the spot her friend always had, and extended a hand, palm upwards, fingers curled gently inwards. She caught a glimpse of her own calluses and winced a little. They werenât awful, of course, but⊠she lacked soft, feminine hands, from all the time sheâd spent practicing with a sword. Sayuâs hands were much prettier than hers, in all honesty.
Aram took her hand into his, clasping his free hand over hers and his, and did as before. He closed his eyes and waited for a spark. Time seemed to stand still for Aram. He continued to wait, however; minutes seemed to pass and Aram found himself stunned. For as long as he had lived, he could always see someone's future. There were no blanks, no empty space, however; he couldn't see hers. Tentatively, he released Reiko's hand, and opened his eyes, peering into the girl's own ruby colored orbs. He studied her for a moment, furrowed his brows, and tilted his head to the left.
"I apologize, Reiko-san," he stated, realizing he'd been staring far longer than what was deemed proper. It dumbfounded him, though. Why couldn't he see her future? Moments ago, he had dreaded knowing her future, but now, he was curious. "I can't see your future. I... don't understand it," he continued, causing the confused look to pass onto Sayuri's. She pursed her lips together as she turned to her friend. Aram merely shook his head and pulled his hands into his lap.
"It seems I am drawing a blank," he confessed. "Perhaps... there are some things I cannot see, after all," he continued, trying to make light of the situation. Still, it bothered him. He would have to investigate upon it at a later time. For now, he had guests to attend to.
Reiko blinked several times, a light dusting of color rising to the surface of her cheekbones as she found herself the object of a rather intent scrutiny. She wasnât sure he realized he was doing it, and indeed, he soon came to himself and apologized. She wasnât sure why he couldnât read her future, but if anything it actually gave her more confidence that he could do something of the kind in other cases. Or at least, something happened. If he just made up his predictions, there would have been no reason why he couldnât make one up in her case, too.
"Oh,â she murmured softly, looking down at her hand with traces of confusion. "Well, in that case donât worry about it. Sometimes, odd things happen to this one at the most unexpected times. Perhaps youâre just tired from the other fortunes you read today.â She smiled, as comfortingly as she could, and her hands moved to her waist, deftly untying her purse and counting out three ryo. Normally, she expected such a service would go for no more than a few mon, but⊠sheâd just pretend she didnât know that, and hope he managed to keep enough of it to do something about the hole in the roof. They were lucky it hadnât snowed in a few weeks, but Hokkaidoâs winters were longâthey may yet see more before it was over.
"Thank you for your time, Aram-san. We should not keep you from your work longer than necessary.â She bowed slightly in her sitting position.
Aram glanced at the three ryo she had offered, and blinked. He couldn't take this, it was too much. He tried to hand her back the ryo, however; Sayuri glanced at him and pursed her lips. She shook her head and he sighed in defeat. "Perhaps you are right. The day has been long and perhaps the fatigue has settled more than I thought it has," he stated as he returned the bow. Sayuri resisted the urge to giggle at the behavior between the two, and stood.
"Thank you, Kyabetsu-san, for the fortunes. We should have lunch together, one day. You, Rei-chan, Ayla-chan, and myself! It'll be fun," she stated, smiling brightly. Aram allowed a thoughtful gaze to cross his face before he nodded. "Good, then it's settled," she continued before grabbing Reiko's arm. She bid Aram farewell, as he returned it, and they left his abode. Sayuri continued to beam as she allowed his reading to plague her mind.
"I'm going to get married."