Sakura Lace

Naoko looked up at the high summer sun. Nicholas just loved to talk. Guess it’s part of the job, he thought. He listened closely to what the bar tender had to say. The mouse gave him many questions as a result.

*A Few Minutes Ago*

Nicholas leaned in close to him. “What type of gift are you looking for?”

Naoko took a moment to think about this. “Well, we were getting married and she was on her way to pick up her kimono.”

The bar tender listened intently to him. “Do you plan to wed in the tower?”

“I never thought of that.”

“I think you should.”

The mouse looked up at him with a slightly puzzled look on his face. “Huh?”

“Marry your Midori-chan in the tower like you planned to in the living realm.”

The patron’s eyes grew big at those words. “You can do that here?”

“Of course. Couples in the upper circles get married all the time. My twin brother even performs the ceremonies.”

“You don’t say.”

“It’s true.”

“I see.” Naoko turned to the bar tender. “Do you know of any bridal shops in this area?”

Nicholas gave him a huge grin. “You’ve asked the right man.”

*Right Now*

Naoko drew in a breath before he memorized the directions in his head.

“Yes!” he said. Then, he headed out on his quest. As he walked, Naoko took in more of the sights and sounds around him. The cicadas chirped just as loudly as they did in the living realm. He and Midori-chan took it as the “anthem of summer.” Such pleasant filled his head. He couldn’t help but to smile.

Midori-chan…

But then, his smile dropped into a frown. Oh…, Naoko thought. What will I do about money? He reached into his pockets and turned them inside out. He could’ve sworn that he saw a tumbleweed fall out and roll away down the street. His stomach dropped at his revelation.

I have no money!, he thought. He was so wrapped up in his conversation with Nicholas that good sense choose a fine time to take five. The mouse boy sank to the ground in defeat.

“Crap!” he wailed. A fifteen-year-old couple walked by, laughing and smiling as they held hands. Naoko looked down at his knees.

“Right,” he mumbled. “So now what?” The mouse lifted his head and looked around for a bank or an ATM to help out. He turned and noticed the couple walking away. The mouse boy raised up his hand.

“Hey!” he called to them. The couple paused and looked up. The boy walked back over to him.

“Yeah?” he asked. Naoko swallowed his pride for a moment.

“Do you know of any place where I get some money?” he asked.

“What?” the girl asked.

“You know, money for shopping,” the mouse went on. “Shopping for gifts for my lover.” The couple didn’t speak for the longest time. The girl finally broke down into giggling. Naoko blinked at her.

“What?” he asked. The girlfriend leaned in, smiling.

“You don’t need money in these shops,” she said. The mouse looked really confused.

“Huh?” he asked. “Then… how do you pay for these in shops here?” The girl leaned in close to his ear and cupped it with her hand.

“You pay with kisses,” she whispered. Naoko looked her in the eye.

“What?” he asked. The girl turned to her watching boyfriend.

“Looks like we’ll have to show him,” she said. The boyfriend smiled and nodded.

“Guess we’ll have to,” he said. The boyfriend turned to Naoko.

“Where are you headed?” he asked.

“A bridal shop,” the mouse replied. “Sakura Lace Petals.” The couple’s eyes brightened.

“Ooo!” the girlfriend said. “You picked a high-end place!” She turned to her boyfriend. “I always wanted to go inside.” He gave her a little shrug.

“Alright,” he said. “We’ll go in.” She cuddled on his slender body with a smile.

“Yay!” she cheered. Both boys gave off a nervous laugh.

The cherry blossom pink threw up all over the bridal shop known as Sakura Lace Petals. Lace and silk kimono were on display on his left and right. The girlfriend looked around giddy at so many selections.

“Darling, look!” she called as she looked around at everything she saw. Her boyfriend chuckled with a sweat drop on his head.

“Why do women get excited about weddings?” he asked. Naoko tuned them out as he looked around. A simple kimono wouldn’t do it; she had to have some beyond special. His eyes settled on a bright pink fan-designed kimono with white trim and a matching obi. He walked over and read the tab. 100% pure silk, hand-made, and brand new. Naoko felt his heart skip a beat.

Midori-chan needs this!, he thought. He reached up to get it down from the mannequin.

“Wait!” he heard someone shout. The mouse paused and turned to see a clerk dressed in red and white. Her miniskirt showed off her legs to the mouse. Her blouse tried to contain her bouncing bosom. Despite her frown, she looked kind of cute. Naoko blinked at her.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Please don’t touch the merchandise!” she cried. “Don’t touch the merchandise unless you are buying! That’s out policy here!”

“Miss!” Naoko gasped.

“We have to keep these fresh!” the clerk wailed.

“But I am buying this one,” the mouse said. The woman blinked at him for a long moment before she calmed down.

“You are?” she asked. Naoko nodded at her.

“Yes,” he replied.

“Oh,” she said. “In that case…” The woman put her hands up in the air and clapped.

“Ladies!” she called. “We have a paying customer for kimono number seventy-eight! Please take it down to bag it up!” Two teenage girls came in matching outfits came out to the display window. The clerk turned to the mouse boy as they got to work taking down the kimono from the mannequin.

“Come with me,” she said. Naoko nodded as he followed her to the counter where the young couple stood waiting for them. Moments later, the clerk stood behind the counter, smiling.

“I am so sorry for that,” she said. “We have to keep the kimono in good condition for sales.” The mouse nodded.

“I understand,” he replied. The clerk totaled up the price. Naoko looked at the couple for what to do next.

“Watch and see,” their eyes told him. The mouse nodded in understanding. The clerk finished with the total.

“Two thousand kisses, please,” she said. Naoko blinked.

“How do I do that?” he asked.

“Kiss the screen on the machine right here,” the clerk said as pointed to the pink heart-shaped machine next to the cashier register. Naoko stared at her for a moment, then glanced at the couple, and then back at the clerk. They all gave him looks of approval. The mouse dropped his shoulders.

“Alright,” he said.

“I’ll time you,” the clerk said. Naoko looked at the green screen on the machine. Okay…, he thought. He drew in a breath and kissed the screen. They all watched him, silently. After a minute, clerk tapped him on the shoulder.

“Thank you, that is enough,” she said. The mouse stood back, panting. The clerk handed him the bagged up kimono.

“Have a nice day,” she said. Both parties bowed before the trio left the store.

“Where will you go now?” the girlfriend asked outside of the store. Naoko pondered this for a long moment.

“I don’t really know,” he said. “What other shops are there?” The young couple grinned at him.

“We thought you would never ask,” the boyfriend said. He and his girlfriend grabbed each of his arms before he could speak and lead him down the street.

“Slow down!” Naoko called out. “You’re hurting my arms!” The couple only laughed as they kept power walking.