Yuiko Goes Forth

(A/N: I have always been a sucker for the mail-order bride archetype and I was inspired to write this. It's a sweet love story at its core, and, depending on reader interest, I may make this into a series or mini-series of short stories.

Well, short by my standards, anyway. Heh.)

18-year-old Yuiko Yukimura munched on a handful of popcorn as she and her best friend, Hanako watched the movie "Dirty Harry" in Hanako's bedroom. Hanako's room was bigger than her own and had become their go-to hangout spot when they wanted to relax after school. It also helped that Hanako's parents were often away on business, which gave them free reign to do as they pleased.

"America is so big," Yuiko said, pointing at the screen as the movie showed a vista of San Francisco Bay. "Did you know that, in many parts, you can drive for hundreds of miles and not run into a single other person? Imagine vast prairies that stretch on forever, Hanako, or great dry scrublands covered with cacti." She got out her phone and pulled up a picture of the dry, barren beauty of West Texas. "See?"

Hanako grinned. "It's true. America is a huge place. It's hard to believe that people live in such a place, you know? It's like they're just trying to survive against the odds."

"Not so long ago they were, back in the days of the Wild West. They even have mountain lions. Mountain lions, Hana-chan! And huge rattlesnakes, and alligators, and..." Yuiko gave a wistful sigh. "Perhaps I am simply naive, but the country has always fascinated me. Its vastness, its wildness. And America is like Japan's big protective brother, in a way. I would dearly like to try living there, and see if I too can embark on an adventure of my own."

Hanako reached over and patted her friend's hand, a knowing smile on her face. "You would fit right in, Yuu-chan. You have the spirit for it."

"You think so?"

"Of course I do," Hanako replied, giving her friend a reassuring smile. "I mean, just look at you. You're smart, you're hardworking, you're courageous, and you're not afraid to dream big. All of those are qualities that would serve you well."

"But how to get there?" Yuiko asked morosely. "My parents cannot afford to enroll me in an exchange student program, and I do not have the funds for anything like an extended visit. I am only eighteen, and do not graduate high school for another two months. I have no work experience, save for when I help my parents out in their store."

Hanako paused, as if thinking deeply about whether to say what was on her mind. "There...might be a way," she said at last. "But it may seem, well, drastic."

Yuiko cocked her head, intrigued. "Go on."

"Do you remember Kisu? The girl who lived a few blocks down? She was a few years older than us."

Yuiko nodded. "Yes, of course. She was in my middle school class for a while. What about her?"

"Do you know why you haven't seen her around for a while?"

Yuiko furrowed her brow, thinking. "No, not really. I heard something about her going to live with her father, but I haven't seen her since. Why?"

"You heard wrong. Kisu isn't around anymore because she's no longer in Japan at all. She became a mail-order bride for an agency that deals with such things. I overheard one of our neighbors talking about it. They're called Ever After Brides, and they are said to be very exclusive and picky. They select only the most beautiful, most suitable girls from among their applicant pool, and they match them with wealthy, successful foreign men who can afford to pay their fee." Hanako leaned in a little. "Do you know how much Kisu's husband paid the agency to match him with her?"

Yuiko's eyes widened in surprise. "How much?"

Hanako looked from side to side conspiratorially. "A hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The equivalent of 22,256,250 yen."

Yuiko's eyes widened even further at the mention of such an exorbitant sum. "Really?" she breathed. "But...isn't that illegal?"

"Not at all. He paid the agency for its matchmaking service--it's not like he bought Kisu at auction or something, like a cow." Hanako giggled. "And get this: the agency is even able to get the bride a green card. That's one of the reasons why they're so pricy, Yuiko. Getting one is very expensive, and the fee their clients pay helps reimburse them for that. Kisu and the other girls like her, they don't pay anything. The agency even paid for her plane ticket when the time came for her to go to her new husband. I hear she lives in Arizona now, and is expecting her first child already."

Yuiko mulled over the information for a moment. The idea of becoming a mail-order bride seemed incredibly strange and exotic to her, but she couldn't deny the appeal. If she could go to America, find a loving husband, and have the means to make her dreams a reality...

"It sounds almost too good to be true," she finally said.

"That's what I thought, so I did some digging. I even asked my uncle--the one on the police force a few towns over, you met him one time--and he looked into it as well. Everything about the agency is legit, Yuu-chan. I guess they call themselves Ever After Brides because they view themselves as making fairy tales into real life."

"Wow," Yuiko breathed. "That...sounds amazing. But I don't know, Hanako. It seems so...farfetched. What if I don't find someone who loves me, or if I'm not happy with him? I don't want to end up like one of those women you hear about on the news, you know, who get trapped in abusive marriages and can't escape?"

"I think that won't be a problem. The agency, from what I've learned, is very thorough in the way it screens and selects its clientele. Many of the men who want to use their services are actually turned away for one reason or another. By that same token, though, most of the girls who wish to become brides are turned away too. They accept only the best, and many do not meet their standards." Hanako grinned. "But I think you would. You are very beautiful, and you have a bubbliness, a passion for life and a precociousness that many men find attractive. If you wish to go to America, Ever After Brides might be a good way to do it. If you don't mind getting married in the process, of course."

Yuiko thought about it. The idea of being married to a wealthy foreign man was not without its appeal, and she'd always wanted children of her own someday. And if Hanako was right...this could be the chance of a lifetime.

She nodded, once. "Okay, I'm in. I'll do it."

"You're sure? I don't want you to feel like I'm pressuring you into anything, Yuiko."

"You're not, don't worry. This is my choice, and I've made up my mind. I'm always up for an adventure, and this is the ultimate one." Yuiko grinned. "So, where do I start?"

"You'll need to make an appointment with their nearest branch office to have an interview. I'm not sure how long it'll take, but I'm guessing it'll last for at least a few hours." Hanako whipped out of her phone and pulled up the agency's web site. "They've got a listing of each location here somewhere...ah, here it is. The nearest one is in Nagasaki."

"Nagasaki?" Yuiko repeated. "That's...quite a ways from here."

"Half a day by train," Hanako agreed. "Don't worry, though! I'll come with you. Tomorrow's Saturday, so let's go then."

Yuiko's heart swelled with gratitude. She couldn't imagine going through this without her best friend by her side. "Really? You'd do that for me?"

"Of course! You'd do the same for me, too. You and me, we've got to stick together." Hanako hugged her friend fondly.

The next day, they arrived at the Nagasaki office right on schedule. The building was modern and tastefully decorated, and the receptionist who greeted them was friendly and attentive. Yuiko, walking a pace ahead of Hanako, stepped right up to the front desk and boldly declared, "I would like to be a mail order bride."

The receptionist quirked an amused eyebrow.

"Well, I'm sorry to say that Ever After Brides doesn't just accept anyone who walks through our doors," she explained with a small smile. "We have a very thorough screening process for both our brides and our grooms. First, we'll need some personal information from you, and then we'll have you undergo a background check as well as a series of examinations to determine your mental and physical health. These tests are designed to assess your compatibility with our current pool of available grooms."

"Fine." Yuiko tilted her chin proudly, squaring her shoulders with determination. "Let's get started!"

The receptionist nodded at Hanako. "Your friend will have to wait here in the lobby, I'm afraid. Our screening process is confidential."

"I understand," Hanako replied, flashing her a warm smile. She patted Yuiko on the shoulder. "You'll do great, Yuu-chan. Just be yourself. You've got this!"

Yuiko gave her friend's hand a grateful squeeze before following the receptionist to a door that said "AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY" in big red letters. The older woman swiped a keycard to unlock it and gestured for her to head inside.

"To begin, our branch director will sit down with you and get to know you a little. Here at Ever After Brides, we pride ourselves on maintaining a close working relationship with each client and each young woman who comes through our doors. He will tell you a little more about our agency and have you fill out some paperwork."

The receptionist led Yuiko to an elevator that took her to the top floor of the building. The director, a tall, distinguished-looking man with silver hair and a warm smile, was waiting for her in his office. The room was decorated with tasteful art and comfortable-looking furniture. He offered her a seat and then began by telling her a bit about the agency and its history.

"Ever After Brides was founded by a husband and wife team who were deeply in love, but were separated by a great distance," he explained. "They wanted to help others find the same kind of love and happiness that they shared. Over the years, we've grown into one of the most exclusive and respected mail order bride agencies in the world. Our success rate is unparalleled, and we owe that to our strict screening process and our commitment to our clients."

He reached into his desk and removed a plastic binder. "Here are some of our past clients, Ms. Yukimura. These are the kind of men our agency does business with."

Yuiko flipped through pages, and each one left her more impressed than the last. The binder was filled with photographs of handsome men in their late twenties to early forties. Some of them were in office settings wearing expensive-looking suits, while others were standing in exotic locations or near famous historical or natural landmarks.

"These are just a few examples," the director explained. "We have a vast database of eligible bachelors from all over the world, though most of them are from the United States and Western Europe."

Yuiko nodded, her eyes scanning the photographs. "They all seem so... accomplished," she said, her voice tinged with awe. "I would be honored to have the chance to meet someone like that."

"If your application is accepted, you will," the director assured her. "Now, I'd like you to begin by filling out some forms. Tedious, I know, but it's necessary." He handed a thick sheaf of papers across the desk to her, along with an expensive looking pen.

As Yuiko began to fill out the forms, the director asked her a series of questions about her background, education, and work experience. She felt a bit self-conscious at first, but the director's warm smile and encouraging words soon put her at ease. He wanted to know what kind of person she was, what she liked to do in her free time, and what her goals were for the future. Yuiko was happy to share her story, and she found that the director was an attentive and empathetic listener. The forms were nothing unusual: they asked her to list her name, date of birth, hometown, where she went to school, her blood type, her height and weight, etc. None of it gave her pause until she came to one particular question, asking her to clarify if she was a virgin.

She hesitated for a moment, cheeks flushing slightly. The director noticed this and gently prodded her. "There's no need to feel embarrassed, Ms. Yukimura. This is an important question for us to know. It helps us understand your values and expectations regarding marriage, and it helps us find the best match for you."

Yuiko nodded, feeling slightly more at ease. "Yes," she said, taking a deep breath, "I am a virgin." She glanced up at the director, hoping he wouldn't judge her.

"Excellent." He beamed. "Many of our clients prefer that, so your virginity will definitely work in your favor."

Yuiko's blush deepened, but his words sent a thrill through her.

It took more than an hour for her to finish filling out all the forms, but the director waited patiently until she was done. When she handed them back to him, he said, "Now, if you'll please follow me, we have an on-site physician who will examine you. I'm sure you understand, Ms. Yukimura, that we must ensure our potential brides are in peak physical health. The exam will be very thorough, but the doctor will do his best to ensure you are comfortable throughout. He is very experienced and professional."

Yuiko nodded and was led into another room, where a middle-aged white man with salt-and-pepper hair and a kind smile introduced himself as Dr. Wilson. He was dressed in a crisp white coat and had a stethoscope around his neck. "I'll need to take your height, weight, breast size, blood pressure, pulse, and temperature, and extract a blood sample for testing," he explained. "I'll also examine your breasts and pelvic area. There will be a fertility test and a pap smear as well, just to make sure everything is in order, along with a few other things. I know this may seem awkward, but I will need you to disrobe completely."

Yuiko nodded, her cheeks flushing again, and stripped out of her clothes and undergarments. She resisted the urge to cover herself. Dr. Wilson seemed to sense this.

"It's okay, Yuiko," he said. His Japanese was almost flawless. "I have done this many times before. You do not need to be afraid."

She nodded, grateful for his gentle reassurance.

"Do you have any history of mental or physical illness or disability in your family? Alzheimer's, Hodgkinson's things like that?"

Yuiko shook her head. "Thankfully, no. Not that I'm aware."

"Are you on birth control?"

"N-no."

He scribbled on his clipboard. "Thank you for that. Would you please lift your arms and stand with your legs apart for me, so I can take your measurements?"

Yuiko did as she was told, feeling the cool air against her bare skin. The doctor took her height and weight, and then proceeded to measure her breasts and hips, all the while making notes on his clipboard. "I'm going to check your breasts for abnormalities," he informed her. "Do not worry. It will not hurt at all."

He placed a cold gel on her skin and began to press and rub her breasts with a flat, cool pad. It felt strange, but not uncomfortable. "Everything seems to be normal. I'm going to check your heart and lungs now."

The doctor placed the stethoscope on her back and listened intently as she breathed. Then he moved it to her chest, listening to the rhythm of her heart. "Your heart sounds strong." He placed the stethoscope on her chest again, near her breasts. "Breathe in deeply, and then exhale slowly."

As she followed his instructions, the cool air from her lungs brushed against his ear. He moved the stethoscope around, listening carefully to the sounds of her breathing.

He fished a tongue depressor from his lab coat pocket. "Would you please open your mouth?"

Yuiko opened her mouth, revealing her pink tongue. Dr. Wilson gently pressed the wooden stick against her tongue, holding it there for a few seconds. Then he peered into her mouth, examining her teeth and gums. "Your teeth seem to be in good condition," he said, "and your gums are healthy." He paused for a moment, considering her. "You stated on your paperwork that you are a virgin, correct?"

Yuiko nodded, feeling a blush creep up her neck.

"I'm afraid I will need to verify that by inspecting your hymen," Wilson told her with a rueful smile. "The agency wants to be able to tell its clients with absolute certainty that your virginity remains intact, and that means I have to sign off on it. Do you understand the necessity?"

She nodded again, swallowing hard. The doctor led her over to a table and instructed her to lie down, her legs spread wide. He placed a warm, wet cloth between her thighs and gently spread her labia apart. She felt a cold, lubricated finger pressing against her, and then a second one. She bit her lip as he began to probe deeper, searching for something she didn't quite understand. After a few moments, he withdrew his fingers, wiping them clean with the cloth.

"Your hymen is intact," he said, his voice gentle. "Thank you for being so cooperative. I'm going to inspect you now for signs of lumps or other abnormalities, then conduct a pap smear. Once I've done that, I'll need a urine sample to test your fertility. Then, for the final part of this exam, I'll extract a blood sample for testing, which we do in-house here at Ever After Brides."

Yuiko nodded, her heart racing. The doctor's fingers pressed against her again, feeling for any irregularities. He moved slowly, methodically, his touch both gentle and reassuring. As he worked, he spoke softly, explaining what he was doing and why it was necessary. He was thorough but not invasive and did his best to keep her calm.

After what seemed like an eternity, he finished the examination. "Everything looks normal," he assured her. "I'll perform the pap smear now."

He collected a sample of her cells from her cervix, using a small brush. The procedure was quick and relatively painless, but Yuiko couldn't help but feel a twinge of discomfort as he inserted the brush inside her. Once he had what he needed, he placed the sample in a special preservative solution and labeled it.

"Now I'll collect the samples needed for the fertility test." He handed her a plastic cup and showed her how to use it, explaining that she would need to urinate into the cup. Once she had done so in the examination room's small bathroom, he took the sample and sealed it in a bag.

Finally, he drew blood from her arm, using a sterile needle and a tourniquet to make sure the procedure was as painless as possible. The entire process was surprisingly quick and relatively easy, thanks to the doctor's gentle touch and reassuring words.

"And that about wraps it up," he said. "You may dress now. Thank you for being so cooperative, Yuiko. The results will be available in a few hours, and will help the agency decide whether to accept your application. My overall conclusion is that you are in excellent physical health, and your body is more than beautiful enough to meet the agency's criteria for such things."

He paused, studying her face. "I hope you don't mind my saying so, but you have an incredibly striking appearance. If your application is accepted, I'm certain you will have no shortage of matches eager to have you as their bride."

Yuiko felt her heart lift at his words. "Thank you, Dr. Wilson," she said, trying to sound calm and confident as she dressed.

"I'm going to hand you off to our on-site counselor, Dr. Smith, in a few minutes," Wilson went on. "She will perform an evaluation of your mental and emotional health and maturity, to ensure you are ready for a mature, healthy relationship. The evaluation will consist of a series of questions and scenarios. You must make sure to answer all her questions with absolute honesty."

Yuiko dipped her head. "Of course."