Sayuri

"What's going on? Where's is he? Where's Hikaru?" I ask his best man. I look around looking for him. It's been more than an hour and he hasn't shown up to our own wedding. I'm standing at the alter waiting for him. Ken his best friend and best man is standing next to me. Nao walks towards me and puts her hand on my hands that hold the flower bouquet.

"Sayuri, it's ok. He's probably running late. You know probably got a stomach ache because of the nerves." She tries to reassure me. But I have a bad feeling. I know that's not true. Something else is going on.

"Ken?" He only looks at me and looks down again. "He won't be coming is he?" I ask but in reality, I already know the answer. He only shakes his head and doesn't meet my eyes.

I nod. I take a deep breath and walk down the aisle. "Everyone if I could have your attention," I shout getting everyone's eyes on me. "There will be no wedding, so everyone thank you for your time but you may leave." With that said I grab the bottom of my dress and walk towards the door. I don't want to see the petty in everyone's eyes. I can hear them talking asking what happen, but I keep on walking. I hear my name being shouted but I don't stop.

Tears fall from my eyes. The knot in my throat finally comes loose and a sob escapes my lips. Pain in my chest is the only thing I feel. I'm physically feeling how my heart is breaking. I'm feeling how every teardrop is like a piece of my heart that breaks off.

I don't know how but I end up in my apartment. A small note is placed under the door. I pick it up recognizing the handwriting on the envelope.

Sayuri, I'm sorry I did this to you. I should have come forward like a man and told you how I really felt.  It instead I took the easy way out and left you at the altar. I know you hate me right now and you have all the reasons to do so. I just couldn't get married. I don't love you like I thought I did...

I stop reading and drop to the floor. My heart just shattered even more. I can't breathe. The pain is too strong that makes it impossible to breathe. How in a matter of minutes everything can come so painful and black. How can one simple word "don't" can make everything more real and painful...

2 years later

I open my eyes and blink a few times after. The sun shines through the window as I wake up. I hear the alarm on my phone go off as I remove the covers. I don't even know why I have it, I always wake up before it goes off. I turn it off as I make my way to the bathroom.

After doing my morning routine, I change clothes. I take out a pair of skinny jeans and a black shirt. Putting those on I finish off with my snickers. I check my self in the mirror and just shrug it off. My hair is up on a bun so I'm ready to head to work.

The good thing about my small home is that it's just a studio on top of my shop. I love it. I don't have to drive or walk anywhere I just go downstairs and there it is.

As I go down I can hear the doorbell ring and see Nao walking in. She yawns as she closes the door. It's still early in the morning so not that many people are walking outside. "Good morning Nao," I say as I put on an apron and start the coffee machines. The room quickly starts to smell like coffee waking me up more. "Good morning. I'm so tired." She says as she tries to put on her apron.

I shake my head and smile. "I'm sure you are. Going to karaoke on a Tuesday night isn't really a good idea." I said as I tried to give a one last-minute tidy up so I could open the shop.

"It was so worth it. I just wished you would have come with." She said as she prepared the trays with small treats. I only shake my head and head towards the doors. "Maybe another time." I say. But we both know that it's not going to happen any time soon.

Looking at the clock on the wall I see it's time to open. I unlock the doors and let the regular customer that come at this hour come in. "Good morning Sayuri, Nao." Mrs. Ito says as she walks in. She's been our regular since we open the shop. She a small thin woman with gray hair. Eyes black the night but with a glow that makes them hard not to look at. And a smile that warms your heart.

"Good morning Mrs. Miyoko, the usual for you and Mr. Ito?"  Nao says as she starts the order. "Yes sweety, thank you. My husband told me to say hello to both of you and to thank you for the small pastries you sent him." Nao and me smile at her message. "We just hope he gets better soon and tha he can come and gives us a visit soon." I say as I put her order together.

"I'll let him know," She grabs the bag and smiles at both of us. "Thank you girls. See you tomorrow." As she walks out more people head inside.

The morning goes by fast and as lunch hour approaching, Nao takes the last two orders of the morning. "Ok, give me a few minutes and your order will be ready." She says to the two customers. The door bell rings and I can hear Nao sigh.

"I got it. Why don't you go get us something to eat. I'll close after this." I say taking the small bag off her hands . She smiles and nods. "I'll be right with you." I say to the two gentleman standing by the counter. I finish fixing the order and handed to the customers. "Ok, I how can I help you?" I ask. Both man look like in their early 20s. Both with brown hair but one of them has green eyes and the other purple.

The one with green eyes scratches the back of his head and smiles shyly. "Uhmm, we are actually here to speak with Sayuri Nakahara." He says as he takes out a yellow envelope out of a backpack. "I'm Sayuri, what is this about?" I say taking the envelope.

I open it and take out a stack of papers. On top of the first page the words "agreement" catch my attention. "We are here on behalf of Shinsengumi Enterprise. One of the company's CEO is interested in buying this location. He is willing to pay any price." He says as he takes out a small piece of paper and hands it to me.

I take it and unfold it. The check has a signature and it is blank. I look back at the two man infront of me as they just stand looking at me waiting for my answer.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not selling." I put the papers back in the envelope and place the check there as well. "Thank you for your offer but at this moment I don't plan on selling" with that I slide the envelope towards them.

The man with purple eyes looks at the envelope and slides it back towards me. "We can not take no for an answer. This is an offer you can not refuse." He says not taking his eyes off me.

"Ms. Nakahara, you see this building like the rest of them," the man with green eyes says point around us. "Are being purchased. It is to build a new hospital. So that's why it is necessary for you to take the offer." He says with a smile.

As I'm about to decline the offer again, the door to the shop opens. Mrs. Miyoko walks in with Nao. The smile on Mrs. Miyoko erases from lips once her eyes set on the two men standing infront of me.

"You two! What are yo-" Her eyes set upon the yellow envelope. She glares at them and rushes to my side. "Don't listen to these two pair of vultures." Her tone is not as sweet as I recall this morning. "They are trying to get every small business in this block and some of the other block with the excuse of a hospital but in reality it's just a way for their company to make more money. The hospital will only benefit those that can afford it."

I looked back at the men infront of me. They had a concern face. "You are even trying to get rid of the small retirement home and day care around the corner. You two and your boss Kondo are vultures that don't care the weak." She says with such anger in her voice.

See how this is affecting her I pick up the envelope and walk around the counter. "Please leave. Like I said I'm not interested on selling." Put the envelope on the green eyed man and walk towards the door. "Have a good day." I open the door for them to leave.

Both men look at each other, but grab their belongings and leave. I lock the door behind them and turn to see Nao walking towards Mrs. Miyoko. She stood there red with anger but in her eyes there was also pain. "Uhmm, well that was just awkward." Nao said. I gave her a look  and she whisper sorry.

"Mrs. Miyoko, are you ok? I asked moving towards her. She looked up to me with unshead tears. "What's wrong?" Nao quickly grabs a tissue and hands it to her.
"Oh nothing dear," she wipes her eyes and smiles at both of us. "Just some old memories. But you two need to watch out for those vultures from the Shinsengumi Enterprise. They will not stop until they get what they want."

"If they come here again I will throw them hot boiling water. They will never want to set foot here again." Nao said with a smirk. I only shook my head and look out the windows. I saw how those two men came out of another small business. They gave one last look towards my shop and headed the opposite way.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

Days went on normally. The men that came in the other had not come back but I had seen them in the business around us. Rumors of some men harassing the owners in to seeking came out as well. Saying how three men that were not from around would show up and threaten the owners. Making them sell.

Me being worry was an understatement but I also knew I had a crazy friend working with me. From far away she looks like she is normal but once she is forced to used force, there is nothing stopping her.

"I heard that the owner for the small day care around the corner was forced to sign the papers." Nao says with a sad voice. That days care had been there since she was a small child so it hit home when she heard about what happen. "I know. Poor children had to see all of that. How can someone do that. They are kids, parents depend on that daycare." I said.

I knew people around here would help each other a lot. That was the reason the day care was built. For parents that needed a inexpensive safe place to leave their children so they could work. The same thing with the retirement home that was also forced to close.

Today was a slow day to which I was a bit happy for. I could use this time to try and make new pastries for the new menu we were trying to put up.

As the day almost came to an end, Nao and I begun to clean. "I put soap on the floors so be careful when you walk!" Nao yelled from the entrance. I gave her a quick "ok" and continued with cleaning the small ovens and trays.

I heard the entrance bell ring. "Its close." Nao said. There was a silence after that there was a loud thump. "Nao? Are yo-" My question was cut off when I saw a blond man standing by the kitchen entrance. "Sayuri Nakahara, we need to talk." As he said this I saw another man with long blue hair pulling Nao with him.

"And I'm afraid you won't be able to refuse our demands this time."