In Every Life || Yoko Tanaka & Divina

Birthmarks Or Curse Marks

Sixteen year old Gemma stood frozen at the news she was just given. She couldn't believe it. Well, she could. But that didn't mean she liked it. A week before her seventeenth birthday and she's told that on her eighteenth she'll be marrying Prince Osbert Goldwyn. She felt sick to her stomach just at the thought.

She ran away from her parents as they shouted after her but not giving chase. She couldn't be around then right now. And she gets why they're doing this now. Her mother explained it to her. The politics of securing kingdom relations, and the unfortunate reality that if you don't have relations you can't make money and then the entire kingdom goes to shit. Including them. So yeah, she understands why this was happening. But by no means did she like it. She firmly believed there had to be other ways to secure relations. Why is marriage the go-to? She hated it. And she hated her parents at the moment for making her do this. Though she appreciated the heads up, if nothing else.

She ran to the steps of the castle where Yoko and her father were due to arrive any moment now. She just wanted her girlfriend. And she was going to have to tell her. God. Could this be any worse? Looks like Lavinia really was right. Having to marry Prince Rodrick isn't so bad when compared to having to marry Prince Osbert.

Yoko and her father arrived the same time Gemma's parents came out and down the steps to greet them. Cecilia put her hand on Gemma's back, but she immediately stepped away making her hand fall back. Yoko jumped out of the carriage before it completely stopped and ran to Gemma. The two embraced in a tight hug and then Gemma grabbed her hand and immediately ran, pulling Yoko with her.

"Woah, what's going on?" Yoko asked as she ran with her so to not fall.

"So much," was the only answer Gemma provided as they ran to their destination. She wanted to have this conversation in the comfort and privacy of her room. Once there, she pushed Yoko inside and closed the door behind her. She pressed her ear to the door to make sure no one might hear them talk.

"Yoko!" Roland stood up from where he was laying on Gemma's bed.

"Hey, Ro." Yoko walked up to him and the two did some handshake they had made up. These days they were best friends. Though it felt like just yesterday she hated him. "Any idea what's going on with Gem?"

"No? Is something going on?"

Gemma, satisfied that the coast was clear, stepped away from the door and to Yoko, pulling her in for proper reunion kiss. Though she kept it short for Roland's sake.

When they pulled away, Yoko asked, "What's going on?"

Gemma sighed and leaned her head on Yoko's shoulders. "On my eighteenth birthday...I'm to marry Prince Osbert."

Yoko's body tensed as her jaw tightened. "What?" Yoko knew about Osbert now. Gemma had no choice but to tell her after their run in at Lavinia's wedding. Yoko began hating him immediately on principal. This news certainly wasn't going to help. "No. Not happening."

Roland sat back down on Gemma's bed. "Oh my god."

Gemma pulled away to look into Yoko's eyes. "There's nothing we can do."

"There has to be something! I am not letting you marry that guy!"

"And how are you going to stop it, huh? Tell everyone we're dating? You know you can't."

"And why can't I? Why can't I just tell everyone that you're mine and I'm yours?"

"Because the law states it. Or have you forgotten?"