The day arrived, to see if the new clothing and dress that was ordered, would fit. Along with the fashion woman, came another lady for Sumi's hair. Enishi was in a meeting with the coolies, but finished up right when Sumi came to show him the first kimono and hair style. When she paused on the stairs, the coolies all saw her too.

"Wow! You're beautiful," one coolie said out loud. "Boss is she your wife to be?"

"The Lady Killer?" Another coolie asked.

"Yes to both your questions. Now get back to work," Enishi said impatiently.

Sumi watched the coolies bow to her and then him, before they quickly left. She smiled and carefully came down the stairs to show off the clothing. "Do you like the hair style?"

"He was right, you're beautiful. I don't like your hair, it's too old fashioned. I'm free now to tell the stylist what I want for your hair." He picked her up and carried her in his arms, back up the stairs and into the room.

There was a screen set up for her to change behind, for privacy, which Sumi went to for the next outfit.

"I want some of her hair up and the rest falling down her back. Flowers or jewelry in it too," Enishi explained the look he envisioned.

"I know exactly what you're thinking. Sumi dear, when you come to show your next outfit, let me do your hair again too."

The next outfit was the wedding dress, so she sat patiently while the hair dresser and Enishi discussed the look. When Sumi finally could look in a mirror, she was impressed.

"That's it, her hair is perfect." He exclaimed and then came to her. "Sumi you are a goddess, I'm honoured to become your husband."

The women expressed their awe and said how romantic he was. Sumi wanted to laugh, because they didn't know that Enishi could be deadly too. However, she locked eyes with him and finally believed his words.

In his ear she whispered, "I have the metal-leather vest on underneath. When you put on your wedding wear, do the same."

The hair stylist asked, "where are you holding the wedding?"

"On the docks at sunset."

"That's so romantic," the women gushed.

"We will take everything you've brought today," Enishi announced and pulled out a stack of yuan.

Sumi asked the dress maker, "can we make it a little looser here?" She gestured to her chest area.

"Yes of course, I'll bring it back tomorrow once corrected."

While Sumi changed out of the wedding dress, Enishi first paid the women, then gave details of when the hair stylist should return on Friday. Finally he told the door man to escort them out.

"This is my new fighting clothing. The pants aren't as wide, but still can conceal my knives. It's fashioned like a shinobi shozoku from Japan, but with Chinese styling."

"Does it have armour here in the forearms?" Enishi asked, touching the area in question.

"Yes, metal plates, like the vest has and the same are on my shins too. That way I can block swords or knives confidently."

"That's smart. And it even has a hood," he observed.

"Well I wanted to add an element of us to it too."

"Do you need my help to get the jewels out of your hair?"

She smiled again, "yes please. I'll sit down on the chair, after I change.... Will you really be able to wait to consummate our marriage?"

He watched her go behind the screen. "I can switch myself off, I've always had strict control over myself." When she came back and sat down Enishi began to remove the jewels in her hair.

"Why?"

"Well in regards to us, I don't want you to ever be scared of me. You accepted my past, the ability to kill and that I've been a criminal for so long. You understand me like no one ever has, not even my sister. And I want to give you all the time you need. Trust and communication are the only things important in a relationship like ours. Without either of those or just one, we can't be together."

[TRIGGER WARNING]

"Thank you for being patient with me.... Choke me, until I tell you to stop."

"What?... Is that what he did?"

"Yes, but he wasn't going to stop... I trust that even if I can't say those words, you'll stop."

"Wont that give you nightmares?"

"Maybe, but I've run from my thoughts for too long. I need to move forward."

"Tell me everything he did to you. We'll face it together."

Sumi remained in the chair by the fireplace, so he sat down in the chair across from her. He watched and noticed that once she began to relive the past, her eyes no longer focused on his. At first the words that described her trauma, came out in a rush. But when she got to the moments before the kill, it came out in gasps and broken moments. Enishi felt his rage build, but only because he wished that it was his hand that killed the man who hurt her so deeply. Now he truly understood why she had those nightmares. It wasn't just from being hunted. A part of her believed it was her fault, that the bastard had targeted her. He wasn't sure if Sumi could ever purge it all from her soul. Enishi kept his face neutral and didn't react to any of her story, until she was done. He got up and made her stand so he could hug her. They stayed embraced like that, until her breathing returned to normal.

"Go change into this old hanfu. Do you want me to do it all to you now or a little at a time?"

"All at once... you pick what point to stop."

What she was really saying was that her mind would be raw and she'd have to trust him completely. Once in the thread bare hanfu, Enishi began the attack. His one hand grabbed her by the neck, the other tore the hanfu partially off her. Then he pushed Sumi to the floor, before straddling her and restraining her hands with his other one. Enishi thought he had his emotions shut down, but as she struggled under his weight and control, he suddenly stopped.

"I can't do this to you... not as far as he took it." He released Sumi's neck and then her arms from the vice grip of his thighs. "Remember in Toyama when I threw you on the bed and lost my temper?"

She looked up at him, "yes."

"How about we try just pushing your comfort level to the extreme. I think that would trigger you."

Without waiting for her to agree, Enishi restrained both her hands with his. Then he forced Sumi's legs apart with his knees. He moved against her, with the same motion as a man having intercourse would. Enishi saw the exact moment she was triggered. He let go of her hands. Lowering his face, so that their noses were almost touching, he stared into her eyes. There he saw her inner struggle. It went from partial fear to something else.

"Sumi?"

"Thank you. I choose you... to face the present and future together. I had to face my past head on, in order to decide." To show him she had overcome the terror in her mind, she cupped his face and raised her body so that their lips met.

Enishi unwrapped the torn hanfu and slid his hand up her side onto a breast. She was in her underclothes, but the gesture was still intimate. Her kiss deepened. He picked her up and put Sumi on his lap. They remained lip locked, but his hands rested on her hips. She'd given her mind to him and soon it would be her body, just not that day.

"I love you so much, that it hurt me when I was pretending to be that asshole." Enishi admitted quietly.

"Part of me saw that, which is why when the fear got stronger, I was able to over come it. I love you too Enishi, without you I would've stayed stuck in the past."

** ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ** ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ **

That night she had one nightmare, but didn't wake. The next night, even going to bed before Enishi joined her, Sumi didn't have a nightmare. They still slept with his arm holding her, but she began snuggling up to him even when he was on his back. Neither knew what would happen when trying to consummate their marriage, but both were looking forward to seeing what the future held.