15 Oct 2000
"He's going to town. This morning."
"Do you know where?"
"Sohm's - to get his wedding clothes fitted."
"Good. He'll need them."
"Sir? I thought you intended to stop them?"
"I do. He won't be marrying Noin, not if I have anything to say about it."
"But you said -"
"He won't be marrying Noin. He *will* be marrying me. Now listen, I have some instructions for you..."
"I think it's in the next block."
Zechs looked down the street, a skeptical look on his face. "Strange," he murmured. "I don't remember much at all about this place - and Relena had it rebuilt exactly as it had been..."
"Well, it's been years since you've been here, Zechs," Noin said. "She's done a wonderful job, though. it's so picturesque... did it really look this way when you were growing up?"
They began walking again, Zechs a little distracted, searching for shop addresses. "What? Oh - yes, it was. It's always been this way. Some kids get fairy tales read to them, Relena and I were born into the place they're all modeled on."
They wandered a little further along the shopping street. The streets were cobbled with a soft, gray stone and lined with small, traditional shops, each one with a gilded sign, either hanging from an awning or painted on the windows. There was clock shop, a delicatessen, a store that sold leather shoes and backpacks, a shop specializing in crystal, and at least three bakeries.
Coming to a corner, Zechs stopped and peered to the right and left. "Aha! There it is!" He headed off across the street, nearly getting run over by a motorist, who then jumped out of the car and apologized to him profusely. Zechs simply looked confused, but Noin smiled weakly at the man and hurried her fiance across the street, out of harm's way.
Sohm's was a very traditional tailor's shop, lined with dark cedar shelves and closets, drawers lined with dark green baise cloth, and brass hooks everywhere to hold clothing being taken off or on.
In the window was a small but exquisite display of ties that glowed with subtle jewel colors, and waiting for the happy couple was a small, gray-haired man with a tape measure draped around his shoulders and a pin cushion strapped to his wrist.
"A great pleasure, Your Grace," the man said bowing to Zechs. "My I offer my humble congratulations to you and your lovely bride, of course." He bowed less deeply to Noin, who surprised herself by blushing.
"Thank you, Sohm," Zechs said, with a gracious nod of his head. "Were you able to get the suit or were we too pressed for time?"
"I was a little worried last night, but we got several deliveries this morning and among them was the suit you ordered. Won't you step this way and we'll begin the fitting."
Zechs walked back towards the changing rooms, leaving Noin to peruse the ties and gloves, laid out in gleaming cases of glasss and rose wood. He stepped into the room, taking with him the unhemmed suit that Sohm had handed over and hanging it carefully on one of the hooks, then took off his shirt and trousers and slipped into the crisp white shirt and the sleek, black tuxedo trousers and jacket. Lifting his hair from beneath the jacket, he let it fall down his back and then turned and faced the mirror, freezing as he did.
There was a small white envelope taped to the glass, with his name written in concise but flowing script. For a brief moment he thought about calling for Sohm, and then thought better of it, reaching for the envelope with trembling fingers.
He turned it over in his hand, and opened it carefully. it was lined with a soft, satiny red paper and inside was a small note. Opening it, he read, with growing confusion,
"No need to fuss. You'll look stunning, as you always have. I long to trail the petals of a deep, red rose down your cheek. Soon, love. Soon..."
"It's Noin," he murmured to himself. "It has to be Noin... and she sent the rose, too, she had to... Just didn't realize about the symbolism, that's all..."
Was it Noin? If so, why hadn't she asked what he thought of the rose? And how to ask her, to acknowledge it, without revealing too much if she *wasn't* the sender?
"Your Grace?" Sohm's voice made him startle. "Are you ready to come out and let me take the measurements?"
"Ah - yes... yes, just a moment!" Zechs called back, stuffing the envelope in the pocket of his trousers and then stepping out of the changing room. Sohm led him to the front of the shop again where there was a small, raised platform and a tripartate mirror.
"Oh, Zechs... you look wonderful!" Noin was beaming at him, eyes running up and down his body in frank admiration. He gave her a small smile, feeling himself redden at the directness of her gaze, and turned to face the mirror so that Sohm could go to work on his trouser cuffs.
What he saw reflected back at him was a man in confusion, tinged with worry.
/What the devil is happening? It *has* to be Noin doing these things. She's the only one who knew I'd be coming here today, although that means she got Sohm in on it and neither one of them look suspicious at all. But if not her then *who*? And why... *why* all the references to roses? That's just cruel.../
"Turn, please, Your Grace," Sohm muttered with pins in his teeth. Zechs obeyed and now facing Noin, leaning against a tie case and looking pretty in a short, sage green sundress. He had to smile at her.
"I appreciate all the little encouragements you're giving me," he said softly.
"Encouragements?" she said, tilting her head to one side. "You mean coming with you? Or providing timely stress relief?" She winked seductively at him while Sohm was facing the other way and his cheeks went scarlet.
"Sending notes..." he said quietly, hoping she'd confess.
She looked at him in mild surprise. "*I* haven't been sending you notes, Zechs. Are you getting notes from someone?" Her voice was serious. It was obvious that she hadn't sent them.
"Oh, no," he said casually, "just kidding."
One dark eyebrow raised. "You? Kidding? Zechs what's come over you? Wedding crazies? Or just anticipating a *very* good honeymoon...?" Another wink.
Laughing weakly, his cheeks flushed red again and he dropped the subject.
"It was delivered. There's no way he could have missed it."
"Excellent. Well, I do believe it's time to move my base of operations to Sank, and begin the serious courting..."
End of Part 5
(:./kumiko/rosen5)
