By Kristen Gupton-Williams

Vincent and Tifa returned to Yokazi's house to find everyone else busy getting ready for the funeral. Most of the men, including Cid had gotten black suits for the occasion and were sitting around the family room talking while the females all continued to get ready. Vincent and Tifa went into the room that they had been assigned and started to lay her new outfit on the bed.

Once everything was out before her, Tifa looked at all the items she was supposed to put on. "I have no idea how to get this all on right."

Although being a man Vincent had never had the chore of putting on a kimono, however he did know that it wasn't a one-person job. "Would you mind if I got Yokazi to come in here and help you dress?"

Tifa glanced over at him. "No, that'd be great."

He nodded in response and went out the door. Vincent found the old woman in the kitchen, already dressed in her own kimono. "I have a favor to ask."

His aunt turned to him. "Anything."

"I bought Tifa a kimono this morning and she doesn't know how to get dressed, and I am of no help to her," he admitted.

Yokazi just smiled in response and went to Tifa's door, indicating that Vincent should stay out with the other men.

Tifa automatically bowed to the older woman, at least having that much programming in her regarding Wutains. She pointed to the kimono and accessories lying on the bed.

Yokazi walked to the foot of the bed and clasped her hands before her chest, impressed with the objects. "Very nice."

"Huh?" Tifa couldn't believe that she had just heard the other woman speaking in English.

Yokazi turned her eyes to Tifa. "You don't get to be my age and not learn the language of the outsiders."

"But… Vincent said you could only speak Wutain!" Tifa was shocked.

"No, no." Her smile widened. "I just tell that to the young ones, so that they are forced to remember their own tongue. You cannot let them get lazy."

"Oh this is so great!" Tifa was thrilled that she could communicate with her hostess. She then motioned toward the bed. "Isn't this the most beautiful thing you ever saw?"

"It is lovely." Yokazi reached down and touched the silk. "Tsuvati must have paid a fortune for this."

"Yes, he did." Tifa felt a little embarrassed that her husband had spent this much on such an outfit for her, regardless of his wealth.

"Well then, let's get you dressed." Yokazi picked up the cotton slip that had come with the kimono. "This is first, then the under dress. Next we will get your tabi and geta on, followed lastly by the kimono and sash."

"Okay." Tifa began to don the outfit with Yokazi's help. It took her a few moments to learn how to stand in the raised shoes that she had to wear but soon she had her bearings.

Yokazi helped to slip the kimono over her shoulders and then they came to the task of winding the long sash about Tifa's middle. Yokazi secured the end of the sash to the kimono and then had Tifa begin to slowly turn so that the obi was wound properly about her waist and lower chest. The old woman's skilled hands soon had the job finished and she pinned the sash to itself beneath a silken over wrap in the back. "Now I just need to fix your hair and makeup."

Tifa smiled. "Oh, okay."

"Wait just one minute." Yokazi slipped from the room, quickly returning with several brushes and hair sticks in her hands, as well as a makeup case. She had Tifa sit down on the end of the bed before starting to put her hair up. This was the longest portion of Tifa's dressing time as Yokazi intricately wound up her hair and decorated it with various gold ornaments. Lastly, she did Tifa's makeup in the traditional way, making her skin white, lips blood red, and eye shadow pink.

When Yokazi was finally done, she had Tifa stand so that she could inspect her. "Look in the mirror, you're finished."

Tifa walked over to the full-length mirror and admired what Yokazi had done for her. "Thank you! Do you think Vincent will like it?"

The old woman smiled back at her as she prepared to leave the room. "I think you will even test the monk's conviction today."

Tifa laughed shyly.

As the old woman stepped out, she said back over her shoulder, "Remember our secret."

"Okay." Tifa turned to look at her image in the mirror again, still in disbelief about the clothes she was wearing. They made her feel like royalty.

Vincent came back in after seeing his aunt leave. He spotted Tifa standing in front of the mirror. He cleared his throat to get her attention.

Tifa spun to face him.

Vincent's mouth fell open. "Tifa…"

"What? Is something wrong?" she asked, not familiar with the look on his face.

"No…" he took a few steps closer to her. Tifa had always been beautiful to him, but there was something so much more wonderful about seeing her here dressed in his home's traditional clothing. Everything about her was perfect. "You are the most incredible thing I have ever seen in my life."

Tifa blushed, but it wasn't visible beneath her makeup. "Stop, you're embarrassing me."

He came to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. "God, I wish I could kiss you right now without messing you up."

"Down, boy." Tifa giggled. "Tonight, okay?"

Vincent growled deep in his throat. "That's too long."

Tifa slapped him playfully. "Knock it off! I've never seen you like this!"

He cocked an eyebrow and smirked. "And I've never seen you like this."

Tifa couldn't help but realize that his behavior wasn't helping her want to keep away from him at the moment either. "Come on, let's go before Yokazi has to come back and get me dressed again."

Vincent picked up one of her hands and brought it to his lips, closing his eyes while he kissed it. He then let go and turned for the door.

Her own heart racing, Tifa walked out. "You just wait."

When Tifa stepped out into the living room of the house, all conversations at once ended as every man present turned to look at her. Most noticeable amongst them Cid, who had a slack jawed look on his face. "That you Tifa?"

She smiled, wanting to put her hands over her face and hide from the attention. "Of course it is, Cid."

Brad looked over at his old comrade and whispered to him. "Didn't know Wutain style could look so good, huh?"

Cid pushed his friend away. "Bite me, Brad."

Vincent looked at the clock on the wall and called everyone's attention away from his wife. "Okay, it's time to go."