Chapter one - The Wedding
The shrine was a hustle of activity. In one room, the wedding feast was being prepared. The hired caterers hurried to set up the tables and prepare the food, under the direction of Domon.
"A little more to the right!" Domon said, helping to arrange the tables. He was dressed in a black suit, with a matching tie and jacket. Putting his strength to good use, he was as valuable as two ordinary men.
"Domon! Hurry up! The ceremony's going to start! And where the hell is Mii-chan? Ooooh, if he comes late I'll skin him alive!"
The voice belonged to a very edgy and frantic Fuuko, nervously pacing around the entrance of the shrine.
The main hall of the shrine was decorated beautifully with the primary colours of white and blue. Light blue cloth covered the ceiling, extending down to the four corners of the shrine, while white roses were everywhere, giving the whole place a mystic look. The altar itself held the essential items necessary for the wedding. Offerings of food were placed on silver plates; while on a white cushion were the wedding rings. Beside the cushion were three small cups and two small jugs filled with sake. The jugs were slightly different from each other, signifying male and female.
To the left of the altar stood the miko, maiden helpers who were dressed in white. They arranged themselves by height and did some last minute adjustments to their costume and hair. On the right side of the altar was where the priest was supposed to stand.
In the centre of the room were small tables with a small sake cup on it. They were reserved for the bride, groom, witness and relatives, arranged facing the altar with the bride and groom's tables in front. Everything was arranged perfectly.
A thin stream of silvery-blue caught Fuuko's eye.
"Finally you're here! Come on, the ceremony is starting!"
Fuuko grabbed his hand and and practically dragged him into the main hall. Tokiya could not even get a single word out in protest.
She's still so brash. Tokiya thought, smiling a little. He noticed that Fuuko had changed. She wore her hair longer now, touching her shoulders. She was actually wearing a dress, which complimented her figure nicely.
I never thought that she could actually look… feminine.
"Now what are you smiling about?" Fuuko glared at Tokiya, holding up a fist.
"You finally learned how to wear a dress. That was… unexpected." replied Tokiya, in his usual bored, couldn't-care-less tone.
To his surprise, Fuuko actually blushed a little, which is something that she had never done before. Before either of them could say anything more, Domon walked toward them.
"Mikagami! It's been so long." Domon was jovial as he shook Tokiya's hand.
Tokiya nodded and smiled, then turned toward the altar. The priest had arrived. As if on cue, Recca and Yanagi then entered from a side room, and sat beside each other at their table.
Next were Yanagi's parents, followed by Kagerou, Recca's biological mother, and Shigeo, Recca's adopted father. Kagerou actually looked older, a sure sign that her curse was lifted.
Tokiya looked around. He recognized many of the guests that were there. The three sisters, Neon, Aki and Miki. They noticed him looking at them and smiled back. Raiha was also there, and many more. Tokiya was reminded of the past again. Just a few years back, they were the most bitter of enemies.
The priest then raised his staff and said in a loud voice, "I welcome all who are here to witness the wedding of Hanabishi Recca and Sakoshita Yanagi. I formally announce the start of this ceremony."
The priest then walked around, skaking his staff at everyone in the room, chanting as he did so.
Purification.
After one round, the priest reached the altar. Taking up a scroll, he slowly unfurled it, then looking at Recca and Yanagi. He began to chant.
"We humbly speak before the Majestic and Sovereign deity
Who is awe inspiring and most highly revered
We imitate the work of the deities who performed this in days of old
Under the auspices of the go-between Morikawa Ganko
Who by grasping the middle of the majestic spear
Bids the bride Sakoshita Yanagi and groom Hanabishi Recca make a wedding vow
This day has been designated for ritual
Due to its auspicious character we celebrate the wedding ceremony today
It is because the law of marriage is majestically carried out in front of the great deities
That the proper deportment of ritual must follow
We make offerings of Sacred Food and Sacred Sake
A variety of tastes are arranged and set before you
Eat with delight, listen to the aroma of the offerings, enjoy, and so accept
The exchange of sake, three times drunk, shared, and poured for each other
We do that because we are extending out congratulations to each other
The vow does not exhaust itself; the cup is never dry
The vows we articulate are intricately inlaid into our lives in this world and the next
Growing old together, until our hair is long and white, we have been tied together
So does our bond exist in the universe
Just as the sun and moon exist in the heavens
Just as the mountains and rivers exist on earth
Side by side, shoulder to shoulder, putting our home, in order, making it settled
Maintain the family gate as a dignified one
The connection to the ancestors is to be continued and note neglected
The family name should flourish, be highly respected and widely known
Our grandchildren and grandchildren should continue forever
Just as the fifty red oak trees
Just as the eight mulberry bushes prosper and propagate
Thus we humbly and most respectfully speak."
The prayer ended, Tokiya glanced around, his eye unknowingly landing on Fuuko. There was something in her eyes that seemed different. For a moment, Tokiya thought that he caught a glimpse of envy and sadness in her eyes. This was a surprise to him.
Does she actually envy Recca and Yanagi? I wonder…
He wondered why he would think of her in this way. Lost in his thoughts, he turned his attention to the ceremony, and watched.
Author's notes: That concludes the first chapter. Personally I think it's a little short, but then this is just the beginning. The details of the wedding ceremony were the result of hours in the library doing research. I wanted everything to be accurate as possible, and the idea of a western style wedding in Japan does not make sense. Hence, a Shinto wedding. Does Tokiya sound too human? Well, he's not exactly a living refrigerator anymore, having moved on with life. His bitterness and angst is slowly disappearing.
