Title: A Fear of the Inevitable
Disclaimer: I'd never own this series. Not in a million years. But please allow me this small pleasure of imagining I can.
Summary: This story does not contain spoilers. It's just purely out of my imagination. The rainy season sort of affects my brain or something… It's about football, love, and life. It's about Hiruma (and then some other people).
Note: All in BOLD letters in dialogues are being said in english, all italics are thoughts, all normal formats are in japanese.. These kinda confused me too.. hehehe
Chapter 10: Gathering of the Dearly Beloved
Two days passed like a whirlwind. Hiruma and his assistant had been running off here and there – doing this and that, probably tormenting some people – and now comes THE DAY. To Gen Takekura, this is the ultimate day or day zero; the day of all days. How excited he is, he cannot explain. One would probably even think he is the bride. He wanted this day to be perfect, which is why at 6 o'clock in the morning he was already bustling about his small apartment. Robin is splayed on the floor – almost all dignity forgotten – snoring loudly amidst the tangled sheets. The boy had accustomed himself to Musashi's old futon. Maybe there's hope for you yet, he thought and decided to let him sleep for another ten minutes.
He knocked on Hiruma's door. Unsurprisingly, the devil is already awake, busy on his laptop and holding a big beretta. Hiruma smirked at him as he threw something to his face: "That's your suit; better start preparing now. The ceremony starts at 9" then he walked away to prepare breakfast (which he would most probably regurgitate even before the ceremony begins).
"You look so pretty Misaki-san!" Suzuna exclaimed. The bride's mother, her two aunts and another cousin also appraised her. Her dress was cut simply and was made of tulle and lace, sewn by her grandmother from an old wedding dress. She wished Musashi would like it.
"It's still too early, it's barely eight o'clock. I'm going to get this thing dirty and rumpled", she answered with concern.
"Well, you better not move" her mother chuckled.
"I think Musashi-san would fall head over heels in love with you again", Suzuna teased. Misaki blushed with her remark. Luckily, she'd had no wedding jitters, not even now. And she thought about her groom, and how he worries about the smallest things and she smiled despite herself. She was right on point.
The wedding will take place in the temple maintained by the Ryokans. Afterwards, the small group of family and friends will transfer to a small yacht that will sail through the river until nightfall during the reception. Misaki thought of this as romantic. Both of them had planned this thoroughly and meticulously. Behind her back however, Musashi had prepared an additional surprise at the conclusion of the party – in the form of a fireworks display.
The groom's party arrived first, to comply with all protocols of propriety. A hired chauffeur arrived to pick the three men up from Musashi's apartment. Inside the luxury car, Kurita was already seated snugly, snacking on low fat muffins and early morning tea. The big man's eyes were beaming. Musashi was not sure whether this is a sign of happiness for his friend or happiness because weddings meant parties and parties meant lots of food. When they arrived at the temple, a few people are already congregated, including:
"Congratulations MAX!!! Musashi-senpai!" Raimon Tarou greeted, bowing his head severely.
Behind him, a skinny guy with bald head also greeted: "Conratulations, Musashi-san!" with a calm tone – then he froze when he was who was standing right slightly behind the groom.
"Kekeke.. How're you fucking baldy?" Hiruma mouthed to the dumbfounded Yukimitsu.
"You? How? When…" the old Deimon receiver stuttered in whispers.
Hiruma smiled menacingly at him.
"Ah, Manabu – I remember you got married not so very long ago yourself", Kurita said as he clapped the skinny man at the back.
"Ah.. eh.. ye – yes" he answered, still looking at Hiruma.
"Yukimitsu-senpai, how is Saaya-san?" Monta asked, now also looking at the tall man behind Musashi.
"Er—well, she's fine. We're both fine" the confused Yukimitsu answered as Monta continued eyeing the 'stranger'.
"Oi, stop fooling around. You also invited him to be part of your team right?" Musashi scolded his other best man.
"Kekeke.. still an idiot I see, eh, fucking monkey?"
Monta's eyes met his then his recognition dawned.
"Hi – Hiruma – Hiruma-senpai?" he asked, wide-eyed.
"Oh, this is great, everyone's here. Look there's the Huh-Huh brothers!" Kurita exclaimed, pointing near the shrines. Three figures were coming at them, headed by a brown-haired man with a big scar on his right cheek, wearing a dark blue suit which framed his body perfectly. Following him are two figures: one with a shaved head and wearing a black suit, looking quite serious and the other with dark sunglasses and hair tied back in a ponytail.
"Kazuki, I thought you were traveling on business" Musashi greeted, shaking hands with the blue-suited guy.
"Business finished early. I'm still invited, right?" Kazuki Juumonji answered.
"I bid you my best, Takekura-san" the shaved man greeted the groom.
"Oi, oi, Kuroki, don't be so proper and boring. These are friends here you see" the one with the glasses said as he put an arm above the bald guy's head.
"Congratulations, Musashi-san" Shozo Toganou greeted, revealing his clear brown eyes.
"Well, if isn't the fucking Huh-Huh trio.." Hiruma interrupted with his drawling voice, which did not fail to catch all the men's attention.
The three who just arrived suddenly paled, upon recognizing who just called them then:
"Huh?"
"Huuuhhh?"
"HHUuuuuHHHH???"
But before Hiruma can abuse them further, a small white van arrived at the grounds, then it was Musashi's turn to pale.
"Everyone one of you: go to your seats. Kurita, Hiruma, come with me" the groom barked than everyone frantically scampered away.
"Ah.. she's here already, Misaki-san" Kurita said.
Hiruma just chuckled in reply.
Amidst the immediate chaos, the guests actually managed to find their assigned seats. The groom and his two best men had placed themselves at the end of the aisle to patiently wait for the bride, who was at the moment, being ushered inside a small temporary tent. Just before the wedding march started, Kurita made some gurgling noises.
"What is it now, Kurita?" Musashi whispered at the big man.
"Er – The--- the—the.."
"Tch. He probably had too much fucking cake. He'd been stuffing his face up since this morning", the other man spat.
"No. It's – er – the ring – the ring, I forgot it".
Musashi looked at him with horror.
"Well, that's just fucking brilliant, fucking fatty.. kekeke" Hiruma commented, highly amused.
Then someone tapped at Musashi's shoulder.
"Here it is. My usually scatter-brained son forgot to take it from our coffee table" Mr. Ryokan said, handing a small black velvet box to Musashi, who caught it with a great surprise in his face.
"Papa.." Kurita pleaded with relief and sniffed, as his father walked away.
Just then, the wedding march started, which immediately awakened the seemingly comatose Musashi. The bridesmaids who walked down the aisle were Suzuna and Misaki's cousin whose eyes caught Hiruma standing dashingly beside the groom. She blushed profusely as she walked away from the center.
The last person on the line was, of course, the bride. She looked magnificent, with her pretty gown and a see-through lace over her face. Musashi's heart was racing – or rather it wanted to melt. He didn't know whether he wanted to cry or to laugh. Somehow, she sensed a bit of his discomfort, because her walk suddenly faltered. Musashi caught himself in between a frown and a tearful cry.
Then Hiruma whispered to his ear: "Fucking old man, don't start puking on your damn shoes and start ruining the mood".
It effectively woke him up.
I must relax, he thought. This is making my bride uncomfortable.
Then he flashed the warmest smile he could muster, as she continued waling towards him, matching his radiance. Walking there, she is so full of grace and everything around her was magical. All else dissolved in his mind, except for her.
The fucking old man was really into it. He looked like a fucking schoolboy seeing the biggest lollipop on the store window. His bride didn't look half-bad. She smiled forlornly at first, as if sensing his doom. Kekeke… everyone here are idiots. The whole scene amused him.
"Just wait and see what I have in store for you, fucking newlyweds" Hiruma muttered and chuckled darkly to himself.
They just arrived from Okinawa. The train they had boarded was rather cozy, compliments of Musashi and Sena. It did not take long and hard for them to convince her to come. She wanted to share this glorious day with the rest of the Deimon Devilbats' old members. She had missed Sena and Yukimitsu's weddings. It brought a deep ache inside her heart, because all of them are so dear to her. Besides, she is ready to explain everything. Rather, part of everything.
The kids are sleeping now, tired from the long travel. They had been to Tokyo before, to visit their grandmother once before she went to America. But they had lived in such a different place that everything seemed new. They are kids after all, she thought, as she looked at them sleeping – Hiroshi's arm over his sister's torso, guarding her, protecting. They are so young and vulnerable, it scared her.
She left her note on top of the dresser, just beside the bed. She wrote that she will be back before 8 pm, had ordered room service to be delivered at 6 and reminded them profusely to not let anyone else in. Then she left for the wedding.
"Hello? Musashi-san? I don't think I can make it to the ceremony. Traffic here is terrible, there's an upturned truck right at the middle of the road. I'm sorry. I know I should have gotten here earlier but I needed to attend that teaching convention. I promise to be there at the reception. I can't wait to meet everyone, including Misaki-san. See you!"
Click.
Hopefully, he'll be able to listen to my voice mail, Mamori thought. She sighed. Of all times --- a traffic NOW?
She hoped against all hope that the ferry boat reception won't leave her behind, as she waited patiently inside her cab.
end of chapter...
I'm sad Eyeshield 21 is finished.. But in the last chapter, it turned out that Hiruma and Mamori are still together in the same team. They really are meant to be together… YAY!!!