Intro Note: The wedding is finally here! I did a lot of research for this chapter. You can find my links & commentary on my live journal along with an 8tracks mix for this fic. Just imagine some of those songs being played at their reception xD

"For your precious sake,

Once my eager life itself

Was not dear to me.

But now it is my heart's desire

It may long, long years endure."

-Fujiwara no Yoshitaka, Poem 50

CHAPTER 10

July

*.*.*.*.*.*.*

Chihaya and her older sister left the bathhouse; saying goodbye to the other girls who would be at the wedding tomorrow. Chitose slipped her arm through Chihaya's as they walked back to their hotel room. The past year had brought them much closer together and Chihaya was thankful that she could share this moment with her sister. It was amazing what adulthood could do for sibling relationships. All of their past differences seemed to melt away somehow.

Chitose combed through Chihaya's long hair and said, "I can't believe you're getting married tomorrow. I used to think you'd always be childish, but you're more mature than I am."

"Oh I don't know about that," she replied with a laugh.

"No, it's true. I've only just started getting serious, but you've been that way for a long time. You pursued karuta with such determination and you worked really hard to get where you are today. I admire you for that, you know?" She paused, stilling the comb. "I feel bad that I used to look down on you for karuta. I was such a selfish brat."

Chihaya smiled. "It's okay, Chitose. You were just a kid. I did some insensitive things too."

"Even so, I'm still sorry." She placed her hands on Chihaya's shoulders, who turned around to face her. "I just want you to know how proud I am of you."

Her eyes filled with tears. Chihaya had always been the one who was proud of her older sister. Hearing that she was admired in return was a wonderful feeling. Chihaya threw her arms around her and said, "Thank you, nee-chan," in a trembling voice.

Their mother knocked on the door a short time later. "I wanted to spend some time with my girls. I brought a DVD," she said, holding up one of their favorite romantic comedies.

The three of them lounged together on the bed, leaning against each other and laughing while they watched the movie. For two hours, Chihaya got to be a little kid again. It was a shining memory for her to treasure.

*.*.*

Arata was flipping through the channels, trying to find something interesting to watch. A knot of anxious, excited energy had formed in his stomach. He felt his pulse racing as he thought of tomorrow morning. *How will I even sleep tonight?*

"Let me have that remote," Matsuyama requested. "You're making me dizzy."

"Oh, sorry." He tossed it over on the other bed. "I wasn't paying attention."

"No kidding. Too distracted, huh?"

"Yeah." Arata rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "What if I make a mistake during the ceremony?"

"You won't. You were fine during the rehearsal today," he reminded him.

"But the real thing will be different… more people will be watching."

"Arata, you played in two meijin tournaments. There won't be nearly as many people in the room for the wedding ceremony. All you have to do is focus on Chihaya. You've got this."

He gave him a grateful smile. "Thanks, Matsuyama-san."

"I wish you'd stop addressing me so formally. You're practically my little brother, plus we're going to be related through marriage eventually."

Arata chuckled. "You sound awfully sure about that."

"Of course I'm sure. Chitose and I will be married in the near future. I won't spend another lifetime without her." Matsuyama went over to his bag on the floor, crouching down to unzip it. "Speaking of Chitose, I brought her show. Shall I put it on?"

"Go ahead," he replied, leaning back on his pillows.

The second episode was just ending when Arata's phone chimed. He checked it to see a text from Chihaya. Getting ready for bed. Will you stop by to say goodnight? Arata smiled and typed out a quick message.

"Be back in a few," he announced to Matsuyama.

Arata couldn't keep the smile from his face as he walked down the hallway to see his bride-to-be. He knocked softly on the door. Chihaya opened it a moment later, looking irresistible in a flowered camisole and matching pair of boxer shorts. Her hair was in a braid that fell over her shoulder. Chihaya's brown eyes sparkled as she pulled him inside. She stretched to her full height, wound her arms about his neck, and kissed him. Her breath hitched as he placed his hands on the exposed skin of her waist. She pressed herself against him, running her fingers through the back of his hair as their kiss intensified. Arata hadn't even heard the bathroom door open.

"Oi! Can the two of you wait until I leave?"

Arata pulled away; face blazing as he glanced over at Chitose. She laughed at his expression. "It's hilarious that you still get so embarrassed. Everyone knows that you and Chihaya go at it like bunnies."

"Nee-chan!" she exclaimed, blushing at the comment as she let go of Arata.

Chitose grinned. "I'll give you a few minutes alone. I want to say goodnight to Takashi anyway." She pulled on a knee-length robe before leaving the room.

Arata took Chihaya's hand and led her over to the couch by the window. "Err, sorry about that. I know we agreed not to do anything tonight, but I guess I forgot when I saw you."

She smiled as she laced their fingers together. "It's fine. Let's save it up for tomorrow when we're officially married."

Married. The word still sent a jolt through him. He glanced at the clock to see that it was nearly midnight. Chihaya was going to be his wife in just 11 hours. Arata said it aloud and she reached up with her free hand to cup the side of his face. "It feels like a miracle, doesn't it?"

He nodded. Arata couldn't give voice to the happiness he was feeling, but Chihaya already knew. Arata closed his eyes at the touch of her lips. *Wife… husband… married.* Even his thoughts wouldn't form themselves into sentences.

*.*.*

Chihaya was dressed in a white bridal kimono with the help of her mother and sister. She had chosen to forgo the Shinto style hood in order to show off a hairstyle that Chitose had been practicing. Chihaya's long hair was secured into an elegant twist with perfectly concealed bobby pins. Her fringe was swept over to the side and Chitose tucked a comb embellished with silk wisteria vines for the finishing touch.

"I better call dad in before I start on your makeup," she told Chihaya. "Otherwise your tears will smudge all of my hard work."

Chitose's expectation was an accurate one, because Chihaya did in fact cry when her father said, "my little girl" and gathered her into his arms.

A similar emotional scene was going on next door, with Arata's mother asking: "How can my baby look so grown up?" as she hugged him.

His father placed a hand on his shoulder a minute later. "I know your grandpa will be watching today and feeling just as proud of you as we do." Arata's eyes burned with tears and all he could manage was a nod.

Within an hour, the bride and groom had emerged from their changing rooms. Chihaya thought Arata looked handsome in his traditional black kimono with matching hakama trousers. But before she could tell him so, he leaned next to her ear and whispered, "You look gorgeous."

She turned her face to kiss him. "So do you." Chihaya straightened his glasses, which she had accidentally bumped. Their wedding photographer was already taking candid shots of them as they prepared for the procession.

Arata held her hand as they walked down the hallway of Oumi Jinguu. Arata noticed that her engagement ring had been moved to the other hand in preparation of the wedding band which would soon be on her finger.

It was a beautiful day, with bright sunshine and puffy clouds that drifted lazily in the sky. The cicadas were singing in the trees as they walked side by side. An attendant was a step behind them, carrying a large red umbrella over their heads. They noticed some cameramen filming the procession and they assumed the karuta association had sent them to cover the event. The couple talked quietly as they walked, smiling at each other. Their nerves were nearly gone by the time they arrived at the main shrine.

Only family and close friends would be seated inside for the ceremony, but the rolled up screens would allow the other wedding guests to watch from outside. Arata and Chihaya sat down on cushioned benches in front of a table. After the prayers were finished, the shrine maidens brought over the trays with three sake cups. They stood as one girl presented the cup and the other filled it. Arata drank three sips and then it was refilled for Chihaya. This ritual was repeated two more times.

A small box containing matching gold wedding bands was presented afterwards. They were now able to face each other. Arata took her hand in his, sliding the ring onto her slender finger. Chihaya's happy expression filled him with a giddy warmth. Then it was her turn to put his ring on. Arata held up the paper containing their vow of commitment, which they recited together. The shrine maidens performed a dance with bells and a sacred branch was offered to the gods. The ceremony was concluded with all of the guests drinking sake to celebrate the families joining together in marriage.

The wedding party posed for photographs outside. Chihaya linked her arm with his as they walked slowly for the last procession. All Arata wanted to do was hold her in his arms, but affection would have to wait until they were back in their changing room.

"Look Arata," Chihaya said, pointing to a pair of magpies on the grass. "That's a good sign for us, don't you think?"

He smiled at his wife. "Of course, Mrs. Wataya."

Chihaya gave him an impulsive kiss on the cheek. He loved that she could be herself in even the most formal of situations.

After being helped out of their clothing, their mothers left the room to give them their first private moment as a married couple. They held each other close. "We did it, Arata," Chihaya said between kisses. The reality of the situation made them feel weak and they had to sit down on the loveseat. She nestled herself at his side, resting her head against Arata's chest. Chihaya could feel the thump of his heart beneath her cheek. He stroked her arm through the lightweight kimono shift and she closed her eyes as a warm contentment stole over her. A sparkling brightness filled her body, as though each cell had been made anew.

They would have gladly remained that way for hours, but a knock sounded on the door signaling that it was time to dress for the reception. Chihaya sighed as she extricated herself from Arata. When they were standing again, he took her hand and pressed a kiss to her fingertips. Chihaya's stomach leapt with butterflies at his touch.

"We'll have plenty of time to be alone tonight," he murmured with a little smile. "Until then, let's enjoy our day."

Chihaya smiled back at her husband. They did have a lot of fun events planned.

They changed into more casual clothing that would be easier to move around in. Chihaya was wearing a sky blue kimono paired with a red floral obi sash. Arata's kimono was a few shades darker with a subtle pattern of ocean waves. He wore navy hakama trousers over it.

A chorus of cheers filled the banquet hall as they entered hand-in-hand. The room looked stunning with pearly balloons drifting up to the ceiling. Long chains of 1,001 white paper cranes were suspended over the tables. Chihaya's friends had folded them to bring good luck to their marriage. The floral arrangements were pinkish-purple peonies and white lilies.

Their parents stood before lunch was served, thanking everyone for sharing such a special day with them. Once the meal had concluded, additional speeches were given. Harada-sensei spoke at length about meeting them as 6th graders and how it had been a joy watching them grow and compete over the years. Matsuyama read some poems he had composed for them (one that was already prepared and a few he had written that day).

Photo slideshows were also shown to document their life from babyhood until the present moment. Arata and Chihaya read a heartfelt letter to their parents afterwards; resulting in a lot of tears and hugs all around.

Once their emotions were under control, the bride and groom went around to socialize with their guests. Suo gave them a box filled with adorable Daddy and Mammy Bear wagashi that he had made himself. He was obviously learning a lot at his Kyoto confectionery school.

"You look so pretty, Shinobu-chan," Chihaya said, touching the sleeve of her friend's kimono patterned with morning glory flowers. Her dark hair was pulled back with a few curls framing her face.

Meanwhile Arata was asking Suo about life in Kyoto.

"It's great," he replied. "I get to see Shinobu a few times a week and sometimes I eat dinner with her family. Mostly we go out to cafes though. I think she likes being driven around on my motorcycle."

"Oh, in the sidecar?"

"No, I got rid of that." A sly expression crossed his face. "She has to sit behind me now."

An image of Shinobu with her arms around Suo's waist, holding on tight as they sped down the streets popped into Arata's mind. "Bet you love that," he said with a chuckle.

"She does too," Suo replied in an undertone, "but she'll never admit to it."

Chihaya and Shinobu excused themselves to use the restroom. Arata was now able to ask Suo about his relationship with Shinobu.

"Well, we go on dates, but I don't know if we're an official couple. She doesn't object when I hug her in private." A faint blush colored his cheeks. "We haven't kissed yet… I'm waiting for her to make the first move. I don't want Shinobu to get angry at me if I try."

Arata nodded sagely. "Good idea. She can have a pretty bad temper."

"Yeah I'm not willing to risk it." He smiled. "But Shinobu will be with me in Nagasaki for Obon, so maybe we are a couple now."

Arata remembered back to the previous summer when Shinobu refused Suo's invitation. Her accepting this time around was definitely a good sign for them.

When Chihaya returned, they said goodbye in order to visit with more people. All of their karuta friends were clustered together at nearby tables: former teammates, members from Shiranami and Nagumo, even Hyoro was there. A few of them mentioned how excited they were for the karuta tournament in the Hall of Learning.

They sat down with Naoki, Tomome, Sai, Shina, and Matsuyama for a bit. It was during this time when their landlord surprised them with a spectacular gift. Chihaya gasped when she read the certificate; Matsuyama had named a pair of stars after them. Arata unwrapped a framed photo of two twinkling lights beside each other in the galaxy. Tickets to a planetarium in Tokyo were tucked inside a wedding card with a painting of a maple tree on the outside.

"You'll be able to see the stars in person with these coordinates," Matsuyama explained. "Just bring the certificate with you and they'll set the telescope up."

Chihaya couldn't speak right away so she gave him a hug instead. They both felt overwhelmed at all of the generous, thoughtful things that Matsuyama had done for them over the past year. He was their own benevolent god supporting their love.

*.*.*

They changed one more time during the reception, putting on western-style wedding clothes. Arata was in a tailored midnight blue tux and Chihaya wore an ethereal white tulle gown that reached the floor. The strapless bodice was covered with shimmery silver jewels that cascaded down onto the full skirt. Everyone thought she looked like a goddess.

The bride and groom posed for pictures inside the hall and outside on the grounds. There were also the customary group shots. Chihaya threw her bouquet of vibrant pink roses in the courtyard. She wasn't surprised to see that Chitose had caught it. Her sister grinned in happy triumph.

Everyone went back inside and the cake was brought out. It was a showstopper: 3 tiers of smooth white frosting with trailing wisteria blossoms. Arata and Chihaya cut it together and fed each other small bite-sized pieces. That was a bit embarrassing, but they laughed and smiled along with everyone else.

Within twenty minutes, the married couple was sharing their first dance to Kokia's version of "What a Wonderful World." Chihaya looked into Arata's eyes and said "I love you" in English along with the lyrics. Her brilliant smile made his heart skip a beat. Arata kissed her softly and rested his forehead against hers. Even in a room full of people, that moment was theirs alone. The Wataya's danced to another slow song before returning to their seats.

They were now able to observe the other couples in the room. Shinobu was dancing with Suo. At one point he leaned down to say something, and when her face came into view again, she was blushing. Chitose rested her head on Matsuyama's shoulder and his blissful expression was beautiful to witness. But the sweetest pair was Kana and Tsutomu, who were both dressed in traditional kimono. He held one of her hands in his with the other resting on her waist. Their nearly identical heights added to the general air of cuteness.

The dance portion of the reception lasted for about an hour. Arata and Chihaya bid goodbye to the guests who would not be attending the karuta tournament at 3 PM. There was plenty of time to relax after this. They changed into their practice gear and walked around outside, meeting up with Sumire and Taichi by chance. The four of them sat together under a tree; chatting about the day's events and their summer plans. They discovered that Sumire had got her passport so she could go to Korea with Taichi. The younger girl was thrilled about staying at a fashionable island resort.

"We better head back now," Taichi said at ten minutes to three. "Don't want to be late for the tournament."

Arata and Chihaya played each other in the first match. It was an intense affair, with Chihaya winning by three cards. He gave his wife a congratulatory kiss on the tatami before helping her up.

Arata sat beside Suo on the sidelines. "Did you let Shinobu-chan win?"

He gave a nod. "I only wanted to play against her today. I have no interest in competing with anyone else."

"I hope you don't always fix your matches," he commented. "She'd be really upset about that."

Suo looked down at the snowmaru scrunchie in his hands. "No, Shinobu has beaten me on her own a few times. My reflexes aren't as good as they used to be. It was definitely time for me to retire." His expression looked sad and Arata patted him on the shoulder sympathetically. "I never loved karuta, but I guess it does bother me that I'm not the best anymore."

"Yeah, I can understand that." Arata paused, searching for the right words. "Even so, there will never be another karuta player like you, Suo-san. What you accomplished is amazing."

That put a smile back on his face.

Chihaya lost to Taichi in the quarterfinals, setting up a match between him and Shinobu. The other semifinal was Harada-sensei vs. Murao. Chihaya fell asleep against Arata's shoulder during the memorization time, but he woke her when the matches began. To everyone's surprise (except Suo's), Taichi won by five cards. Harada got into the final on luck of the draw. Taichi's skills had drastically improved and he amassed a lead that Harada-sensei couldn't recover from: winning by eight cards.

Suo was quite proud of his prodigy; clapping him on the back and saying, "Keep it up and you'll be the next meijin." No one in the room doubted it. Taichi was sure to be stiff competition in the autumn tournaments.

The players were starving by this time and pizzas were called in. Everyone went outside to enjoy the cooler air. They talked about the students who would be competing there in two weeks. Arata and Chihaya were supervising this year.

Shun and Hiro Matsubayashi, who were highschool seniors, promised to do their best in leading Fujioka East to a championship.

"You'll have to beat Misuzawa first," Sumire said with a grin, "and my kouhai's are determined to win again."

"Nope, Mizusawa's reign is coming to an end," Shun declared boldly.

That led to some good-natured trash talking between them.

"Hey, don't forget about Hokuo!" Hyoro reminded them. "We're still a karuta powerhouse you know."

Harada-sensei laughed at their youthful exuberance. "That's the spirit! I'm excited to see how the schools perform this year."

Everyone went their separate ways as evening descended. Arata and Chihaya sat on the steps of Oumi Jinguu to watch the sun set. He slipped his arm around her. "What a day, huh?"

"The best day," she replied, leaning against him.

*.*.*

The Wataya's left for their honeymoon on the following morning. They would be spending a week on Taketomi Island in Okinawa Prefecture. The plane flew into Ishigaki airport, and from there they took a ferry ride to the remote island. Arata and Chihaya were amazed by the beauty of Taketomi: sparkling blue water, palm trees, tropical flowers, and quaint houses with tiled roofs. A lot of pictures were taken before even arriving at their hotel.

After checking in at the main building, they were shown to a private guest villa. Surrounding it was a spacious courtyard enclosed by low stone walls. The inside of the villa had high ceilings with rustic beams and screen doors that were immediately opened to let in the fresh ocean breeze. They lounged on a daybed together, soon drifting off to the peaceful sound of birdsong.

Rumbling stomachs eventually woke them from their slumber and they went to the hotel café for lunch. Arata and Chihaya now had enough energy to go exploring. Taketomi was tiny and they were able to see the entire island in a matter of hours.

"The people who live here are lucky," Chihaya commented as they walked down an unpaved residential street covered with white sand. "It's so relaxing without traffic or cars… like stepping back in time."

"Yeah, it's nice, but the appeal would probably wear off after a month. There's no karuta tournaments for one thing. We'd probably get bored."

She smiled. "That's true. I suppose for us it's just an escape. This is a perfect island for writers though, lots of inspiration. Matsuyama-sensei should come here to start on his novel. But he wouldn't be able to bring Chitose with him."

That made Arata laugh. "Your sister would never be able to survive here."

"And she'd only distract him from his work," Chihaya added.

They stopped to pet a tabby cat who was perched on a stone wall. "I hope Momiji is behaving for Sai," she said, scratching the friendly cat underneath the chin.

"I'm sure she is. And even if Momiji started clawing his furniture, Sai wouldn't even care. He's a crazy cat guy who thinks everything they do is cute."

Chihaya laughed. "I'm glad Momiji has such a doting uncle to look after her when we're busy."

The couple said goodbye to the cat before continuing on towards Kondoi Beach. They took off their shoes when they arrived, but the sand burned the soles of their feet, and they had to make a dash for the ocean. The water was pleasantly lukewarm: a perfect temperature for swimming. Chihaya had a bikini on underneath her sundress and all Arata had to do was remove his shirt. They didn't spend that long inside though because someone warned them about jellyfish that were spotted earlier.

The Wataya's sunned themselves on their towels until they dried off. "Let's sit underneath those trees," Chihaya suggested, pointing to a shady area.

Arata took an old blanket from his backpack and spread it on the ground for them. Chihaya pulled a little notebook from her purse, plopped down on her stomach, and began to write. Arata smiled as he opened his book. The only noise surrounding them was the sweeping waves, the wind rustling through the leaves, the scratch of a pencil, and the turning of pages. Chihaya tried to describe the beauty and serenity of the scene, but it was a moment that words could not adequately capture; a memory that is better felt with the heart.

*.*.*

Their week was blissfully lazy. They spent most of their time in the villa, particularly in the large bed or soaking together in the modern bathtub. But sometimes they got the urge to be active and that's when the Wataya's would ride their rental bikes around the island, stopping in souvenir shops, and eating delicious Okinawian food. Arata got Chihaya a long necklace with a little bottle of "star sand" that was collected from a local beach.

They ate at a more upscale restaurant on their last night in Taketomi. Chihaya wore an elegant red dress that was a gift from her sister. She put on a pair of comfortable gold sandals instead of heels so they could walk on Kaiji Beach afterwards. A warm breeze stirred their hair as they strolled across the sand.

The clearness of the night sky still took their breath away. Due to very little light pollution, thousands of stars were visible. They felt connected to the universe in a way they never had before. Arata and Chihaya looked up at the sky, knowing that the stars named after them would burn far past their own lifetime. An eternal love in the heavens.

Closing Note: Thank you for reading until the end {hugs}, hope you liked it xD "The Snowstorm" is a direct sequel to this fic, which gives a glimpse of the Wataya family. I'm not sure if I'll write more about their kids, but I do have some ideas for AU's, and I'm definitely writing a Suo x Shinobu short story next year ;)

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