CHAPTER ONE

"Why couldn't I wear my pants?" I whined to my friend Mitsuka, attempting to pull the hem of my dress down and stretch it to my ankles. I never would have thought I would miss my pants this much. Never.

"You're the maid of honor, Aimika. You have to wear that dress!" Mitsuka sighed. She fixed a stray strand of her ebony hair back into her pulled up hair. I pouted, and still attempted to fix my dress.

"But you're the bride, not me!" I protested.

"Oh shush." She rolled her eyes.

"But Mitsuuuu!"I protested.

"Nooooo." She laughed. She got up from her seat and walked over to me, sitting behind me, and starting to style my hair. "Besides, " She giggled a bit, "Don't you want to see the boys in tuxedos?" I groaned.

"Unlike you were when you were my age, I am not a pervert." She sighed.

"Honestly, you're too much of a tomboy." She finally decided on just putting my hair into a messy-but-gorgeous curly chestnut bun. My bangs framed either side of my face today, instead of covering my right eye like it normally did. It was also curly, something it usually wasn't. My forest green eyes were brought out with dark mascara, and eyeliner, and also white eyeshadow (that, suprisingly) showed up on my creamy peach skin.

"And you pull off 'girly' so well, too, what a shame!" She croaned dramatically. She put some clear lipgloss on me, just as the other two brides maids-Shaira and Liona- walked in, fully dressed and ready, heels and all. Mitsuka was still in her robe, not in her gown yet.

"Get ready, Mitsu! It starts in ten minutes! Aren't you watching the clock?" Shaira asked.

"She was too busy trying to pry into my non-existant love-life." I replied, rolling my eyes. They copied the motion.

"Mitsu, you know that Aimika doesn't have her eyes on anyone. If she did, she'd be blushing heavily right now. And she's not." Liona laughed.

"I can dream can't I?" Mitsu replied, turning her back to me so I could zip up the back of her gown. I pouted.

"Oh, just tease the tomboy who's already being tortured, why dont'cha!"

"You look gorgeous, I'm worried about loosing my soon-to-be-husband!" Mitsu teased.

"Not interested, Mitsu. Really not. He's practically my brother." I rolled my eyes.

"So is my brother, but you used to be crushing on him!" she retorted, smirking.

"Just because I liked Mizuki-kun, doesn't mean you can torture me about that!" I frowned.

"Oh come on! If you two marry, we really WILL be sisters!" She giggled. I turned a light shade of pink.

"Will you just stop, please? I'm already in enough torture just standing in these heels!"

"Alright, alright, I don't want you to turn really red when you see him, so I'll stop." she smirked at something and I paled slightly.

"See him?" I asked, "Why are you smirking?"

"He's best man. And, he looks very handsome in a tuxedo." She smirked even more as I turned crimson.

"Hah! I knew you still liked him!" She laughed.

"Shut up! It's not my fault!" I frowned, looking away. The door opened just as Mitsuka pulled on her heels, and her father walked in.

"Ready, girls? Oh, sweetheart, you look amazing! His jaw will hit the floor!" He exclaimed.

"Arigatou, Oyaji." Mitsuka blushed. I stuck my tounge out at her, being extra careful of my lipgloss.

"Yes, we're ready, Mister Mizuki." Liona added.

"Where's Hajime-kun?" Shaira questioned, hiding a smirk at the blush that crossed my cheeks.

"Out with Yuki and the other grooms men, why?" Then he noticed me fighting my blush, and chuckled. "Oh, dear, you still like him?" I looked at him in shock.

"N-no!!" I protested.

He chuckled, "You're obvious to read, Aimika. Don't worry, I'll keep it to myself. But I can't promise anything about not telling my wife. Now, come on, we have a wedding to be in."

I resisted the urge to slap Mitsuka, Shaira, and Liona as they smirked at me, and we all walked out of the bride/maids' dressing room. And, being the Maid of Honor, I had to walk down the alter first.

I caught sight of Mizuki, and he looked quite a bit shocked, and I looked instead at the crowd, and saw my older brother gawking at me, My dad trying not to snicker, and my mom ready to squeal in delight. I turned to the front, and took my place near where the bride was. I held Mitsuka's ring in my hand, and wondered if Mizuki remembered Yuki's. But that thought slipped away as Mitsuki stood next to an extremely-gawking soon-to-be-husband of hers. I smiled happily as I saw her resist giggling and blushing at the same time.

I turned and caught eyes with Mizuki, who grinned at me and I smiled back. He mouthed something to me, and I tilted my head in confusion. I caught him mouth 'nevermind' at me the second time, and nodded. I turned back to the vows being adressed at the moment.

"Aimika!" I turned behind me in the parking lot of the Reception Hall, looking for who had called me. Mizuki ran up, grinning at me.

"Oh, hey Mizuki-kun, what did you need?" I asked. He shook his head with a sigh.

"For the millionth time, we've known eachother since we were kids, call me Hajime!"

"Nope. You're stuck with Mizuki-kun." I giggled when he pouted at me.

"Why do you always call me by my family name?"

"Because it annoys you." We reached the door and he gaped at me for a second.

"Hey!" I laughed as he pouted at me again.

"What did you need Mizuki-kun?" He pouted at his last name, but grinned afterwards.

"What I was trying to tell you during the ceremony, is that I can't believe you look feminine!" I gasped, and smacked him hard on the arm.

"Don't use that word and me in the same sentance! It's lies!" I protested.

"Just because you're always covered in mud from some kind of thing-tripping, tennis, volleyball, anything- and always in jeans, T-shirts, un-make-up'd, and stuff, doesn't mean you can't look feminine! Today proves that. You look amazing!" He shook his head with a laugh.

I tried to hold back the major blush, but failed, and pouted, looking away from his amused eyes, "Shut up." He chuckled and linked his arm with mine, pulling me into the Hall.

"Oi, sis!" He ran over, taking me with him, to his sister and her now-husband. She raised an eyebrow at our linked arms, and resisted a smirk-I could tell- at the blush on my cheeks.

"Yes, Hajime?" She asked.

"Tell her she can look feminine, she doesn't believe me." He replied. I glared.

"Well, she obviously can, because you look amazing, Aimika-chan. Hmm, too bad I'm married." Yuki teased, "I guess you're stuck with Hajime-kun."

"I told you I was afraid of you stealing Yuki!" Mitsuki pouted.

"Shut up, Mitsu." I blushed, before something clicked, "Wait! What did you mean by I'm stuck with Mizuki-kun?"

"Hajime-kun." Mizuki corrected, pouting.

"Mizuki-kun." I argued, turning back to Yuki.

"Let's say, Mitsu isn't one to keep things to herself on days like today." Mizuki and I looked confused, until realization hit me and my face turned red, as I turned to Mitsuki, gaping.

"You did not!" I whined.

"It's only Yuki! He won't tell!" She protested, hiding behind her husband.

"Tell what? I'm lost!" Mizuki protested.

"Nothing!" I immediately squeaked.

"Mizuki-kun!"

We turned to my savior, to find Mizuki's best friend, Yuuta Fuji. I resisted the grin of thanks that wanted to be released, as Mizuki pouted, and left off with Yuuta.

"Someone remind me to tackle-hug Yuuta."

"Saa, No problem." I turned behind me with a squeak, to see Yuuta's older brother, Syuusuke Fuji.

"Oh! Fuji-kun, hello! What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I grew up with Syuusuke's sister, so of course I invited him, Yuuta, and Yumiko herself." Yuki replied.

"Hai. What are you doing here, Tsukaina-chan?" Fuji asked.

"She's been my best friend for who-knows-how-long." Mitsuka laughed. "Hmm, I just realized something. I can't be called Mitsu Mizu anymore. I'm no longer Mitsuka Mizuki. I'm Mitsuka Reyakano."

"You JUST realized that?" I asked.

"Yep."

"You're a dork."

"Well, at least I'm not a dork that likes my bes--" I cut her off, pushing her away from a laughing Yuki, and a confused and open-eyed Fuji Syuusuke.

"Mitsu!" I protested, once out of earshot.

"I knew you would stop me, calm down." She laughed, "I wouldn't do that. And I didn't tell Yuki, he told me himself that he figured out that you liked Hajime. We just wanted to see what you would do. I told you it was obvious to us."

I sighed, "Don't do that!"

"Come on, let's get back to my husband and Syuusuke." She dragged me back and I thought randomly 'What is with Mizuki's and dragging me around?'.

--

media./image/dresses/smercy2005/SHORT EVENING PROM DRESSES/JJ7032.jpg?o159 My dress

Her dress:

media./image/wedding dresses/smercy2005/SHORT EVENING PROM DRESSES/weddingdressmadeinchina1.jpg?o10