Skip Beat!
Married life
Chapter 1: The Wedding
A/n: Here I go again, neglecting my other fics to write this. I just had to write this down. The idea just kept marching around in my brain, refusing to even let me sleep properly until I did so. It probably won't be long though, just a few moments from their married life, something fluffy and funny (hopefully good).
Happy reading!
"Flowers?"
"Check."
"Hors d'oeuvres?"
"Check."
"Bride?"
"…"
Kanae glowered at the poor wedding planner, "Well? Where did she run off to now?"
The poor woman cowered in fear, "I-I'm not s-sure… Toilet, maybe?"
Kanae was close to losing her temper, despite the occasion, "Maybe? What 'maybe'? I do not want to hear any 'maybes', understood?"
"S-Sorry, ma'am…" The lady was visibly shuddering, mentally cursing herself for agreeing to plan this wedding, even if it's the most highly-anticipated one of the decade. "B-But… the bride, s-she keeps running o-off…"
Kanae sighed, placing her hand over her face. Looking at the whimpering woman, she decided to let her off.
"Go, just go. Take care of the guests. I'll deal with the runaway bride myself."
The poor lady nodded and scurried back out to the front before Kanae could change her mind. She stalked towards the ressing room, muttering under her breath. She pushed the door open, not even bothering to knock.
The person in question was sitting on the sofa, her make-up being touched up by professionals in their trade. She looked up and smiled upon seeing her best friend, and maid-of-honour, even though her friend's face was anything but happy.
"Good morn-"
Kanae cut her greeting short, "Where have you been?"
"Everyone in the room froze.
Kanae crossed her arms, glaring hard at her best friend. "You had better not lie to me, Mogami Kyoko!"
The room never emptied this fast. Kyoko looked around the empty room and cringed.
"I'm so sorry, Moko-san!" She got up and gave a low bow. "It's just that the bouquet arrangement wasn't really to my liking, so I had to rearrange it again…"
Looking at her friend apologizing like that, it was hard to remain angry with her. Kanae sighed and took a seat. Her feet were aching from standing the whole morning. She kicked off her heels, "Forget it. At least you didn't go and do something ridiculous such as going into the kitchen to help with the cooking."
Silence. Kyoko remained in her position. Kanae could feel guilt radiating from every single pore of her friend's body.
A vein started throbbing in Kanae's temple. "Mogami Kyoko… YOU… Argh!"
Kyoko bowed even lower, if it was even possible. "I'm so sorry! But the chefs had some trouble with the recipes I gave them, so I had to go and show them how it was to be done! I'm really, really sorry!"
Kanae shook her head in defeat. She knew what a perfectionist her friend is when it comes down to the details. "Please, at least tell me you didn't go there in your wedding dress."
The bride looked up guiltily, though somewhat relieved that her friend's anger had appeased. "Well, I wore a dressing robe over it." She added on hurriedly. "It didn't get dirty! Really!"
Kanae gave up. She knew when she was defeated. "You have got to be the only bride in the world who takes care of everything, from the flowers to the food. Seriously, why did you guys even hire a wedding planner?" She let out a pent-up breath. "Anyway, stop your bowing and sit down before you ruinyour dress. And no moving anymore!"
Kyoko complied and sat herself happily next to her friend. Kanae glanced sideways at her friend. Her friend, who was normally very still, was fidgeting non-stop. She hid a smile, leaned ent towards the bride and spoke softly.
"Why are you fidgeting? Are you very nervous?"
Kyoko jumped slightly, caught up in her anxiety. She giggled, a nervous sound. "Well, who wouldn't be nervous on their wedding day? It's just that I have this horrific feeling I might trip and fall over the hem of my dress."
Kanae smirked. "Where did all your confidence go to? Just relax, and it'll be fine. Besides, President Lory won't let you fall. He cares too much about this wedding. Maybe even more than both of you."
Kyoko smiled slightly, remembering the President's kind offer to walk her down the aisle. Kanae continued, "I do have a method to get rid of nervousness though. Just draw a smiley face on your palm three times."
"Moko-san! That sounds ridiculous!" Kanae shrugged.
They sat in silence for a while. Kyoko broke the silence.
"Does it really work?"
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Yashiro glanced up in irritation at the noise. "Will you stop that? I can't concentrate on editing the press release with that noise."
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Without breaking a beat, the bridegroom spoke.
"I'm sorry. But anyway, you're supposed to be my best man. Shouldn't you be offering your support instead of writing the press release now?
Yashiro smirked. He went over to where the bridegroom was sitting. The press release could wait after all. The bridegroom continued tapping his fingers on the table.
"Showing you support? Haven't I shown how supportive I have been these few years? I'm rather offended. Didn't you notice my efforts at matchmaking both of you at all? Please. If anything, I'm more anxious about this wedding than you are, Tsuruga Ren. So both of you had better not mess up my wedding!"
Ren hid a smile. He seemed to have touched on a raw nerve.
Yashiro looked closer at the groom, who was still tapping away. "Wait a minute. All that talk about showing support... Don't tell me." He wore a delighted expression. "You're actually nervous?" He laughed. "Wait till the reporters hear about this. The great actor, ever popular with the ladies, always cool and collected, is actually nervous!"
His tapping faltered, missing a beat. Yashiro did not miss a thing. He grinned. "You are nervous! Then again, who wouldn't be nervous on their wedding day?" He observed his the younger man for a moment.
"Want me to teach you a method to reduce your nervousness?"
Silence. Except for the quiet tap, tap, tap.
Yashiro shrugged and walked back to his press release.
"Yashiro-san…" Ren said, exasperation creeping into his voice. "Just tell me already."
Yashiro grinned widely, turning to face the actor. "Simple. Just draw a smiley face three times on your palm."
Ren looked at his long-time friend. "There is no way I'm doing that."
Yashiro shrugged, "Hey, it's up to you." He continued with his press release.
The room was silent now. The tapping had stopped. Yashiro sneaked a glance at Ren and resisted the urge to laugh. After all, he wanted to live to see the wedding he dreamed of so long.
Ren was busy drawing smiley faces on his palm.
"Are you ready?"
Yashiro looked over at his friend. Ren got up and straightened his tuxedo. Years of acting experience, but never had he felt as nervous and unsure as now.
Ren took in a deep breath, and thought of Kyoko. He smiled.
"I'm ready"
Together they walked out to face the guests.
It was nearly time.
"15 minutes more. Ready?" Kanae looked at her friend, her veil already pulled over her face.
"W-What?" Kyoko looked up from drawing the smiley faces. "So soon…?"
Kanae couldn't help but smile. She walked over to the bride. "It's okay to be nervous. Personally, I find nervousness to be quite useful. It helps me perform better in front of the camera."
Kyoko looked, wide-eyed, "Really?" Her friend nodded.
She took a deep breath, and thought of Ren. She smiled.
"I'm ready"
Together they walked out.
The ceremony was about to begin.
The wedding was held in a beautiful villa. President Lory had kindly offered, or rather practically demanded, his villa as venue for the wedding. He, together with Kuu, planned the wedding. Only the best were hired. Top chefs, top make-up artistes, top stylists, top designers from all around the world were called in to help out with the wedding.
The ceremony was to be held in the humongous hall, lavishly decorated, but at the same time rather simple. Fresh flowers adorned every single chair and the beautifully hand constructed arches. The wedding favour is something simple as well, a pair of chopsticks with the couple's names engraved upon them.
The guest list only consists of friends and family. The media was there as well, but only a few reporters from the most reputable magazines. Everyone there was either a friend or family. There were no strangers that day.
As Ren shook hands with the guests, the first strains of melody could be heard. Everyone started making their way towards their seats and settled down.
Ren looked over to the piano. He had his doubts about this at first, but Kyoko had convinced him that he was a friend now. The President had wanted a full orchestra but Kyoko insisted on this instead. Him playing the piano today was his way of giving them his blessings.
The melody was sweet, but Ren detected a sad note under it. The pianist looked up for an instant and gave a small, rather bittersweet smile. Their eyes met and Ren realised the melody, an original composition, conveyed the pianist's feelings as well. In a love triangle, someone would always walk away hurt. Much less the fact that it could not be called a love triangle seeing how Kyoko never truly loved the other person before.
The pianist looked down and continued his playing.
Kyoko, Kanae, Maria and President Lory stood outside the grand doors, closed at the moment, which lead into the hall. Maria was now 15, and had grown tall and beautiful. Whenever her grandfather looked at her, he saw her mother in her.
Maria was rather upset at first at the thought of her Ren marrying someone other than her. But when she saw how happy the couple was together, she gave them her blessings wholeheartedly, and offered to be their flower girl despite her age. Also, since it was her beloved Kyoko-neechan, she was okay with it. Any other girl other than her would have to face her wrath.
"Kyoko-neechan, are you alright? You're shaking. Are you cold?" Maria looked at the bride in concern.
Kanae spoke up, "Come on. Remember, it's ok to be nervous."
Kyoko took in a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. President Lory did not say anything but gripped her arm tighter, a way of showing his concern. Kyoko, despite her nervouseness, was thankful that the President was dressed in proper clothes today.
Kanae continued, "Remember, when you walk in there, I don't want to see Natsu, or, heaven forbid, Mio, or any of your drama characters at all. I just want to see you, Mogami Kyoko. Now, are you ready?"
Kyoko looked at everyone, all who care for her so much, and smiled. She was ready.
Nodding his head at the assistants standing by the doors, President Lory gave the signal to open the doors.
The ceremony begun.
He watched as the bride entered the hall. She was so beautiful. She gave a small smile as she glided gracefully across the hall, with the President holding her arm.
Past the guests who were staring in wonder at the beautiful bride, past the photographers who were busily snapping photos, walking under the flower arches, towards him.
His heart thudded painfully.
He had her once, but threw her away callously.
What had he given up?
The melody slowly came to an end as the President passed Kyoko's hand to him.
Fuwa Sho could only watch sadly, while bringing his piano playing to a stop, as the girl he loves marry someone else.
The celebrant cleared his throat and started speaking. The music stopped.
He had lost her forever.
Ren could only stare in wonder at her. She smiled gaily at him and squeezed his hand tighter. Ren gave a small smile in return, as the celebrant continued speaking.
"I do" She vowed, saying the words that would bind her to him forever.
The celebrant was now speaking again. Ren stared at her, marvelling at her loveliness, when herealised that it was extremely quiet in the hall.
Crap.
The celebrant cleared his throat, "Ah, Tsuruga-san. Should I repeat that again?"
He could hear muffled snickering, coming suspiciously from where Kanae was standing. He could also feel Yashiro's exasperated sigh from behind him. Kyoko had an amused look on her face.
Ren gave a small cough, his ears red, and vowed, "I do"
The celebrant, bless him, proceeded on as if nothing happened.
After the exchanging of rings, the celebrant announced, smiling.
"I now pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride"
The guests stood and applauded thunderously. Photographers snapped photo after photo. But the couple took no notice of them, happily in each other's arm.
They were in their room now, the ceremony and dinner long over. She had changed into a simple dress. Both were tired, but exhilarated. They stood, with his arms around her, watching the night view from their suite. They snuggled close, in comfortable silence. Ren broke the silence first.
"I love you so much, Bo."
Kyoko giggled slightly the nickname. He had been rather shocked when he found out. Though she was probably more shocked upon learning his real identity.
"I love you too. Corn."
A/n: I'm done! Woohoo! This is the longest I've written so far. I hope you all like it. Please review and tell me how it is. Personally, I felt they were a little OOC. But I figured who would be in character on their wedding day. I've grown rather impatient waiting for Kyoko to fall in love, so I just had to do this. Also, you may dislike this, but don't hate it. I have a phobia of people saying that to be. Feel free to point out my mistakes though. Thanks again =)
