"Just keep her mind on my wedding man, and you should be good." Sora said in finalization for Riku, running a hand through his spikes one last time and preparing to head out the door.
"I'd be careful about letting Yuffie hear you say that." Riku laughed, walking smoothly and closely behind Sora. "As far as any one is concerned, this day is hers and hers alone. You and Kairi are just the lead actors. You're very lucky Kairi is so patient with her friends."
Sora paused by the door, the faint light of the outside coming through it part way.
"Yeah, I am lucky…" he murmured.
Sora began having thoughts of Kairi dance in his head.
He turned to Riku, disbelief in his eyes. "Riku, how can everything suddenly be so perfect? How does it seem that just yesterday I thought I had lost the both of you forever, but today I'm standing next to my best friend getting married to the girl of my dreams. It just doesn't add up, can I really be so lucky now?"
Riku stopped, put a hand on Sora's shoulder, and looked at him dead center. His reminiscence of Yuffie had given him a sudden solid answer to Sora's bewildering.
"Sora, it's not luck. You earned it. You may not think you deserve to be happy just yet, but you really do. You're just so used to having to fight for everything, it's a mystery when it falls in your lap all at once."
No matter what Riku said, he still didn't know in a million years how he had come across some one like her. It either had to be destiny or a lucky star of fate. That's probably what it was. The very same star that had brought her to him on the islands.
Sora didn't care if he had earned his happiness or not. To him, every trial and tribulation was worth it to reach Kairi. He would do it all over again, suffer every challenge just to reach her. Just to reach her beautiful smile and violet blue eyes.
He smiled, and a whisper of a breeze coming from outside felt as if it was letting him know she was doing the exact same thing right now. She was so amazing, how could he really be spending the rest of his life with her as of this day?
Riku gave Sora one last piece of advice, trying to soothe his younger friends worries with a piece of his own acquired knowledge.
"The door of the past has closed for you Sora, and whether you're ready to or not, you've got to decide to step through this new one. But no matter what happens, you better know that Kairi and me are waiting for you on the other side. That's the way it's always been."
Sora turned back to Riku, the smile lingering on his face, and nodded giving the reassurance that he finally ready to walk out the door. The groom and best man shared one final smirk between them, and then Sora continued walking out the door.
"Lets go Riku," he said, deciding to step through the door. "I'm ready."
"Kairi you look gorgeous!" Selphie squealed, putting the final touches on Kairi's hair. "My work is amazing! Am I not amazing? Dear God I'm good at this! Namine! Yuffie! Everyone you have to come look at her!"
The large room filled with bridesmaids cluttered around the chair that Kairi was practically strapped into. Kairi blushed, not really used to all the attention as the Princesses of Heart and her other best friends cooed about her appearance. It's not like if she knew whether it was justified or not. The girls (mostly Selphie and Yuffie) had refused to show her what she looked like, wanting it to be a surprise. She just sighed with good nature and let herself be fawned over.
"You look lovely!" Alice cooed.
"Simply beautiful! You really do look like royalty, Kairi!" Jasmine encouraged.
"Truly a fair vision!" Snow White added.
"Sora is very lucky Kairi." Belle smiled, gazing fondly at the fellow Princess' dress.
All the princesses of heart were adding their say, and Yuffie (with her daring) pushed herself to the front of the huddle to inspect approvingly.
"Nice job Selphie," she said officially with a smirk. "That do looks great on you, all we have to do it reposition the tiara the right way." She went and adjusted the veil on Kairi's head in her desired fashion.
"Wow, Yuffie." Kairi giggled, blowing a stray curl out of her face. "You really got into the details. Didn't think you'd be one to care about all the extra frills and sparkles."
Yuffie shrugged, re-arranging some more of Kairi's already perfect hairpieces.
"Probably the hidden girl in me. I can be feminine sometimes ya know. Maybe if my own 'special day' hadn't been so short, I wouldn't be fussing over yours."
She huffed at the thought of the hurried ceremony between her and Riku.
Kairi just smiled, remembering too. She had let Yuffie plan her wedding as a request from Riku. She didn't mind.
Kairi was never particularly picky, so she was more than happy to let Yuffie take over. Yuffie had erupted into a sudden planning machine, wanting everything to be perfect.
The justification? Possibly that secretly all girls want the perfect 'special day', Yuffie's just hadn't allowed her the luxury of time of to plan one. It seemed her naturally gung ho nature was put to practical use and she arranged everything that would suit Sora and Kairi.
But of course since Selphie was Kairi's best friend for longest time, she had thrust herself into having a say on what was going to happen, so Kairi told them that they could work together. Little did she know that her good natured suggestion might just have created a monster.
All of the sudden Yuffie stopped fussing and examined Kairi's face slowly, then turned to Selphie. "You did use the color of eye shadow I told you right?"
Selphie shook her head. "The magenta was too strong on her face, so I used a pastel pink with a hint of charcoal to give her a smokier look. It looks better than what you suggested."
Yuffie's eyes suddenly narrowed. "But there are magenta star gazer lilies in her bouquet. Her eyes were supposed to be accentuated by her bouquet. I thought I told you that already. How is that supposed to happen if the shadow color doesn't match the bouquet."
Yuffie's hands were on her hips, and she was holding said bouquet for Kairi, clad in one the bride's maid dresses that she had chosen (Namine had helped Kairi hint her preferred suggestions).
All of the girls had slim, silk strapless dresses. Each dress was a soft and beautiful silver color, with accenting jewelry and bouquets in the signature color of each princess.
Selphie huffed, and shot a look right back to her wedding partner in crime. Yuffie may have liked to take charge, but Selphie was also very passionate about her own romantic dreams. She would not have her vision criticized.
"She looks better this way! That's how she's going to stay!" Selphie said, completely determined.
"We have a color scheme!" Yuffie argued, thrusting the bouquet she was holding in Selphie's face.
Selphie swatted it away and gripped Kairi's shoulder, as if to defend her territory.
"I thought I told you to leave the beauty stuff to me ninja girl!" Selphie said. "Kairi is MY best friend and so I get decide what make up goes on her pretty face!"
Yuffie pursed her lips. "Kairi told me I could plan this thing! There fore I get say on final touches! You better not even mess with me right now!"
Kairi sighed helplessly. "Guys…really…its alright." She put her hands up, trying to keep the peace. "It really doesn't matter on the make up. You've both done so much already. It's okay, really."
The two still continued to bicker and Kairi threw Namine a pleading look, which Namine picked up straight away. She glided to the group softly, looking particularly stunning in her silver dress since it went so well with her pale features. She tapped on both girls shoulders lightly, rescuing her Other.
"Guys," she said softly, yet boldly. "Why don't we let Kairi decide for herself about what she looks like. You've kept her in the dark long enough. It is kind of her wedding, remember?"
The two quarreling girls stopped and looked embarrassed. Selphie un-seized Kairi and stepped away, playing with the silver choker around her neck.
"I'm sorry Kai," she said abashed. "Guess I got a little carried away. This is YOUR day. I hope you like the job I did. If not, I can change it right now. No questions asked."
Kairi stood up from the chair with a hand from Namine and shook her head, smiling and hugging Selphie.
"I'll love it Selph. Who else am I going to trust at getting me ready for anything? After several years of dances, parties, and sleepovers, I know you know what you're doing."
Selphie beamed and stepped away as Yuffie stood in front of Kairi, her signature hand behind her head, trying to lighten herself up (though carefully not messing up her flipped out down do she had actually taken the time to do).
"I'm really sorry Kairi. I got carried away too. Guess it's in my nature though." She held out the white and pink bouquet for Kairi to take.
"I'm glad you did." Kairi said with a slight giggle. "You took care of all the things I wouldn't even think of. Everything is so awesome. Thank you. If both you and Selphie hadn't put this together I don't know who would have."
"Sora?" Namine' suggested jokingly, putting gentle finger to the corner of her mouth.
The entire room laughed and all the previous tension disappeared.
"That's a really serious joke Blondie." Yuffie laughed affectionately, then turning back to Kairi. "But seriously Kairi I really don't know what the hell was wrong with me. Honestly, its probably just all of the new hormones now, but still-"
"Wait!" Kairi paused her suddenly. "Did you just say 'hormones?' Yuffie, you don't mean what I think you mean, do you?"
Her last words had just spawned a single insinuation in her head. Her and Riku had been together for a couple months now, so it wouldn't be out of the ordinary. But actual news of something like that would still be shocking enough to here.
An impish grin played over Yuffie's face and she winked knowingly. "Don't tell Riku yet, kay?" she told them all in a hush-hush tone. "I want it to be a surprise."
The entire room squealed in congratulations, Cinderella, Aurora, and Jasmine especially, being mothers them selves already. Kairi through her arms happily around Yuffie. This was amazing news to her, and especially being that it was proof that a new bright future was happening for all of them.
Just then, Aerith poked her head into the dressing room, looking beautiful in her own pink formal halter.
"Excuse me girls, but the ceremony is going to start soon, so every one has to take their places." She announced.
She examined the bride's maids and smiled warmly. "You all look lovely." Her eyes then caught sight of Kairi and she clapped her hands in delight, gushing over the vision of white and lace that Kairi had become. "Oh! Kairi! You look absolutely beautiful!"
She came and gave Kairi a quick hug as she blushed, and then led the rest of the girls into the area to get ready for the bridal march. Yuffie grinned and handed Kairi her bouquet, going out the door herself.
"Guess you'll have to take just a quick look, princess." Yuffie said. "Cause now its show time!"
She picked up her own bouquet and sprinted excitedly out the door to watch her set up in action.
Namine paused for a moment and held Kairi's hand, smiling gently.
"Thank you." Kairi said appreciatively to her other half, holding Namine's hand tightly.
"No," Namine said shaking her head. "Thank you. I'm so happy right now, you truly don't even know."
Namine lowered her head slowly, feeling almost unable to look at Kairi.
The two of them had been bonding even more so since the moment she had received the other half of Kairi's heart. During that time the recollections of her actions in the past seemed to come back to her. With the new set of real and individual emotions she now possessed, guilt had become reoccurring. Actually looking into the eyes of Kairi on a daily basis now, it became harder to face her. And seeing her and Sora together in all their happiness hurt her as well. She didn't long for Sora anymore, she had Roxas to fill that place more perfectly in her heart. It was just the thought that she had almost torn apart such beautiful relationship between them. It brought real tears to her eyes.
"Everything is as it should be." She added softly, trying to get Kairi to understand her new honest emotions. "You and Sora together…that's how it should be. I'm so sorry for the past, everything that I did to the both of you…"
A grateful tear slid down her face as she held Kairi's hand tighter.
"I owe you both so much…" she murmured, her head hung.
Kairi pulled Namine into a sisterly hug instantly, feeling the connection between them.
"I think that we're even." Kairi whispered with a smile.
Namine nodded knowingly, brushing the tear away with an appreciative look. She gave Kairi one more tight squeeze, and then exited the room to give the bride to be a moment to herself before everything started.
Kairi saw the door close and let out a relieved sigh, letting the events of the day wash over her. Walking over to a floor length mirror, she got the first view of herself since the events of the day had begun.
Her breath was nearly taken away. Selphie really did have her work cut out for her.
Her auburn hair was thickly curled and was put into messy, yet elegant up do. Stray curls were let out all around her face, and others dangled delicately out of the bun in the back. It was held up with dozens of silver hairpins, a small pale pink pearl glittering at the end of each one. In the center of her head was the tiara she had received for her sixteenth birthday. She hadn't touched the headpiece till this day, saving it for a special occasion. Kairi was sure this justified as one.
Kairi's eyes were painted a pale, smoky pink and the violet blue color of her iris popped against her full dark lashes. She appeared to be continuously blushing, and her lips were a shiny, rich pink. Pearl earrings dangled daintily against her ears and a white lace choker embedded with pink pearls was wrapped around her throat.
The most stunning feature had to be the dress.
The dress was a strapless, like the bride's maid dresses, but much more elegant. The bottom layer was white silk and hugged Kairi's every curve tightly running straight to the floor with a long train. The top layer of the dress was a cover of white lace over the white satin. It gathered flatteringly at the bust, with a lace belt around the waist and leaving the rest of the lace to flow freely out and over the cut of the dress. It carried in a train several yards behind Kairi, and drapery pieces connected from her wrist to the dress flowed every time she moved her arms. The lace veil attached to her tiara was the length of her train and tiny pink pearls matching her tiara were sewn into the fabric.
To Kairi, the person in the mirror was completely foreign and breathtaking.
She caught a sight of her empty ring finger in the mirror and smiled, excitedly waiting for the new ring that was to be put on it. Visions of Sora danced in her head, and she couldn't help but smile, thinking of him and their future for the rest of their lives. She had prepared something special for him and she couldn't wait to share them with him once the ceremony began.
It had been a long and perilous journey for them, but it had prepared them for the next step in their lives. No matter what could happen to them now, nothing could separate her and Sora. No darkness in existence would be able to penetrate the bond of devotion the two of them shared in their hearts. The world could crumble around them tomorrow, and she wouldn't care, because it would crumble with Sora eternally at her side. That's all she had ever wanted.
The perfection she had foreseen for the future was finally coming true, she had never doubted its presence.
She gripped the bouquet in her hands and exhaled excitedly, finally heading for the door where Namine was waiting to help Kairi with the train of her dress (one of her many 'maid of honor' duties).
"This is it," she whispered to herself happily, reaching for the handle of the door. "I'm ready."
First! Big shout out to thedemon117! Thankyou so much! You are awsome beyond words for reviewing first and then messaging me! And lets not forget Stealth Photographer too All of you should follow their reviewing example! THEY are feasting on tons of cyber cookies at this very moment.
But This chapter has got to be one of my favorite scenes in this thing^^ I wasn't going to have these at first, but I wrote them and couldn't leave them out. I think its great to know what each half of the couple is thinking before the big walk is the taken. XP
Yuffie's controllingness you make us? I just thought it would be hilarious! It was just selphie at first, but I think having Yuffie as her partner in crime gave it even more humor and motive. I tried very hard to not make her OOC, but this is fiction and I wanted it in there. Besides, with Yuffie's spunk and new "hormones", I thought her going all star struck about the wedding would be funny^^ tell me if you oppose!
Tasia'sEndlessDreams…