Chapter 4

Kyoko had never been more embarrassed in her whole life. After the Rehearsal Dinner, Kanae, Julie, Chiori, Mimori, Tina and several of her other friends decided to take her out to a club that was hosting a troupe of male exotic dancers and a night of drinking. Yes... It was a true bachelorette party, naughty lingerie and all. By the time she was finished and they were on their way to the Hizuri house it was about 3am and at 6am they would begin preparing for the special day.

Across town a rowdy group of young men, that would include Kuu, Reino, Nick, Hidehito, Mike, interestingly enough... Ren and several other of Nick's friends, were serving up nubile young females to the bachelor party gods in mourning the loss of yet another young victim to ye old ball and chain. (As Hidehito and Mike so eloquently put it.) They would end their evening also at around 3am and three sheets to the wind, stumbling into Mike's house to sleep off the gallons of alcohol that had been heartily consumed.

As the others slept, a father and a son would discuss the coming day.

"Are you sure you can handle this?" Kuu asked with worry.

Kuon looked down at the floor in resignation. "Yeah... I think I've come to terms with it." He looked up at his father. "I realized that I couldn't give her what she deserved. He's a good guy. He treats her well and loves her."

Kuu nodded and patted him on the shoulder. "She's forgiven you... You know that, right?"

Kuon nodded. "I know..." He sighed. "I'm just not where I wanted to be. It is my own fault though. I should have told her a long time ago."

"Well... All you can do is pick yourself up and move on." Kuu consoled.

Kuon gave him a small smile. "And not make the same mistakes."

Kuu smiled and sipped his coffee. "At least you have her as a friend still."

Kuon agreed. "Well... I think I should head to bed. The wedding's at ten and we need to make sure Nick makes it."

Kuu laughed. "Yeah... What kind of Best Man would you be if you couldn't do that much?"

"Yeah well, considering you're giving her away... Don't you think you should be hitting the sack too?" Kuon smirked.

Kuu laughed. "We are quite a pair, huh?"

Kuon agreed and took his place on the sofa while Kuu dozed off in the recliner.

After a morning of preparations, headache and hangover remedies and light breakfasts, the hour was upon the gathering of friends and families. Kyoko and Nick were a bundle of nerves. Kuon was surprisingly calm and relatively happy for the couple. Julie and Saena were proud and Kuu was apprehensive about giving away his precious baby girl at least until Lory Takarada arrived dressed in a black tux, demanding to speak to Saena Mogami.

"Lory... What the hell are you doing?" Saena whispered outside the bride's dressing room.

Lory stared at the floor. "I'm here to give away our daughter Sae-chan. I reserve that right. I've stood on the sidelines long enough."

Saena pinched the bridge of her nose. "You choose now to do this? After Kuon, how in hell do you think she's going to take this? Did you actually think this through or, did you just jump on the plane and decide to fly by the seat of your pants like you always do?"

"I... I..." He stammered.

Saena furrowed her brow in her characteristically cute Mogami way and sighed. "As I thought."

He gave her a little pout and sad puppy eyes.

"Don't you do that..." She growled cutely. "Lory... Haahhh... Fine... But don't say I didn't warn you. You have one hour left to convince her and not ruin her wedding." She warned.

He perked up and pulled her into a hug that she stiffly accepted.

"You can't possibly be serious." She stated flatly while her eyes darted from her mother and the groveling man standing beside her. Kyoko closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to stave off the coming headache. She rubbed her forehead. "And how long have you known this?" Her voice took on an ominous tone.

"Since your mother signed your emancipation documents?" He winced.

"YOU'VE KNOWN FOR ALMOST FOUR YEARS?! AND YOU DECIDED TO TELL ME NOW WHY?!" She exploded and could be heard down the hall where the bachelor and the Best Man were lounging.

Kuon and Kuu had stopped Nick before he tried to rush in. "Wait... I'll check." Kuon told him and Kuu scuttled him back to the lounge. Kuon cracked the door open so he could check on the bride.

"I just wanted to give you away at your wedding Pumpkin..." Lory plead with her sheepishly.

"Don't you Pumpkin me, Otou-san! You've known we were family for four years and haven't said a word?! Explain!" She growled.

Kuon winced. He knew that tone and Lory was not coming out unscathed unless he had a valid reason.

"I didn't want people to hold the Takarada name against you in your career. I didn't want them to say that you only got by because I gave it to you." He explained. "I didn't want them to treat you like they do Hiou or, Kuon."

Kuon was ready to step in and vouch for Lory until she spoke.

Kyoko sighed. "I understand." She told him in a small voice. "It's been painful for both of them and they've dealt with it all their lives. Thank you Otou-san..." She whispered and Kuon smiled softly then made his way back to his father and Nick.

"Everything okay?" Kuu asked with concern.

Kuon smiled softly. "Yeah... Just a Father-Daughter reunion."

Kuu shook his head and chuckled. "I was wondering if he was going to be able to hold back or, not. I guess not. How did it go?"

Kuon smirked. "Better than it did with other matters. I guess you'll be sitting this one out."

"Tsk... Well I guess the old goat finally grew a pair." He grumbled.

Kuon turned to him sharply. "You knew?" Kuon finally just realized.

"Yeah..." Kuu whined. "I knew."

Kuon rolled his eyes. "You guys are infuriating." He shook his head and left to let Nick know everything would be okay.

That morning, a father would give his daughter to her new husband. Friends would be reunited. New pairs would be made and families would come together. A blond Japanese rock star would arrive too late and an old friend would become a new lover as Tina took Kuon's hand in forgiveness and they danced the night away at the wedding reception of a mutual friend.