--
The next morning, Mr. Kuga wandered into his lounge and saw eleven young people sprawled all over each other on the couches. Smiling, he wandered into the kitchen, planning to whip up another batch of mayo-toast for his daughter… and something more normal for everyone else.
A minute after that, he came back… and searched for Chie's cell phone camera. Fully intent on capturing the sweet moment, he took several shots of the group before setting off on his breakfast making mission.
--
Out of the group, it was Haruka who woke up first. This was somewhat of a cruelty for everyone else as the blonde swiftly began hitting everyone, 'lightly' she claimed, on the forehead just to wake them up.
Just a second before Haruka's hand was about to make contact with Natsuki's forehead however, Shizuru's arm came up and stopped the blonde. Little did Haruka know that her friend's fast reflexes may just have saved her life.
"Stupid Haruka," Nao said sleepily when the blonde sat down again next to her. "Don't you remember Natsuki's rules? Even if she doesn't have her guns on her, she still has fangs you know."
"I was just being helpful!," the blonde retorted as she crawled back into Yukino's arms.
"Hmm, in a suicidal sense," said Tate with a yawn and a laugh. "We usually send Nao in for those kinds of jobs."
A sleepy Tomoe wrapped her arms around the girl in question as if to make sure Nao wasn't sent on any such 'jobs' at that exact moment in time. This of course, earned the redhead raised eyebrows from her friends.
Nao shrugged and stroked the girl's hair.
'Who said protective Tomoe couldn't be cute Tomoe?,' Nao thought with a smile.
Chie and Aoi looked on at the couple and heaved dramatic sighs.
"Ah, blossoming love," Chie breathed, making her eyes water and hiring some stars to shine above her head just for effect.
Mai and Tate laughed and Aoi playfully hit her girlfriend on the arm.
"Speaking of love," Mai began and motioned to Natsuki and Shizuru.
The mayo-pup was still asleep, comfortably cradled in her fiancée's arms as Shizuru looked down lovingly at the girl. Stroking Natsuki's cheek with her hand, Shizuru let her thumb sweep across Natsuki's lips earning it a small kiss.
--
"Dammit, they're just so cute!," said Chie. "Come on Aoi lets try and out-cute them! Where's that pen? We can be cat girls again!"
Haruka's head shot up at the suggestion.
"Wait, wait, wait, a competition against Fujino? Yukino quick we have to be cute too!," she announced. "I can be a cat girl! I can be a lion!"
Yukino gave her wife a small smile.
"Haruka dear, I think you're missing the point."
"I'm not! Reito! Reito wake up you idiot, transform us into lion girls at once!"
"Huh? Wha…"
--
Tate laughed at the trio and Mai hit him.
"Hey! What was that for?," he asked while rubbing his arm.
"How come you don't want to enter the cute contest? Are we not cute enough? God!," Mai said before storming off… about a meter away so she could watch Chie and Aoi's transformation into cat girls.
Tate shot the sleeping Natsuki an annoyed look.
"Before her cuteness only bothered her… now it's trouble for all of us!"
He was planning on sharing the annoyance with his cousin but Nao who had somehow managed to procure a pen of her own, was busy drawing on the snuggling Tomoe.
The redhead shrugged at Tate who just rolled his eyes.
--
Mr. Kuga then walked in to announce that breakfast was ready and found himself facing down a rather… unexpected sight.
'The girls all seemed to be undergoing some sort of odd transformation,' he thought.
Well this was true for all except Shizuru and Natsuki, the latter had now taken on sucking on Shizuru's thumb… needless to say, Mr. Kuga just blocked that little vision out of his head.
"Umm, breakfast?," he offered.
The group looked at each other and decided to take him up on his offer. Even Natsuki was soon roused from her slumber at the mention of mayo-on-toast.
Mr. Kuga surveyed the happily munching young men and women in front of him and smiled again.
'I wonder when I managed to adopt all these people?,' he asked himself with a chuckle.
--
After breakfast, Haruka herded the group back into the lounge and sat them down.
"Right, I take it we're ready to begin the preparations?"
The group looked at her blankly.
"For the wedding? Hello?!"
"Don't worry Haruka, Shizuru and I have everything under control," said Natsuki with a grin.
"You do?," her suspicious red headed cousin asked.
Shizuru nodded.
"Well, we have a big list of things we haven't figured out yet," she said.
"Still growing by the minute!," Natsuki added.
--
Haruka gave them incredulous looks.
"You two do realise that this is your upcoming wedding right? … Right? … Yukino, why aren't they answering me?"
The engaged couple were now busy pulling scrunched up pieces of paper from Natsuki's jacket before handing them to Haruka.
Looking over the lists, Haruka's jaw dropped to the floor.
"Ok, so at this rate, I assume you want to get married what? In your sixties? Unacceptable! We're planning this thing now! And really Fujino, even I would think that wanting all the species of flowers in existence is a little extravagant…"
--
A minute later, Haruka had the use of Natsuki's whiteboard again and had the group in front of her all holding a pad of paper and pens.
"Right, first things first, wedding party. Just to clear it up for the two non-planners over there, this is a Kuga/Fujino wedding. Understood? So Natsuki Kuga and Shizuru Fujino are the ones who are going to get married… so they should stop with the spaced out kissing and cuddling and start listening to me!"
… After two 'sorry Miss Kikukawa-Suzushiro's later', Haruka was able to continue.
"Right so, best man, who's it gonna be Kuga?," the blonde asked Natsuki. Shizuru was busy staring dreamily at the girl so Haruka thought asking her would be a bit of a waste of time…
Tate's hand shot up immediately.
"Oooh! Ooh! Me! Pick me! Natsuki! I'm your brother you have to pick me!," Tate said while waving his arm and bouncing up and down.
"I'll do it," proclaimed Nao with a smirk.
Haruka nodded and started writing on the board.
Tate's face dropped.
"What?! How can it not be me?!"
Haruka threw one of her spare whiteboard markers at his head.
"Idiot, of course it's you."
--
On the board she had written: Best Man- Tate Kuga (the idiot).
"Right, ok next one, Maid of Honour, Fujino? Fujino behave dammit!"
Shizuru smiled up at the blonde as she held her giggling fiancée (Natsuki apparently thought the pen-shaped red mark on her brother's head was hilarious).
"Haruka, as if you even had to ask. You of course," Shizuru declared.
The blonde indulged in an uncharacteristic blush.
"Thank you," she said softly, with a: "You damn bubuzuke woman!," added for good measure. "But since this is a Kuga/Fujino wedding… do you think one maid of honour is enough?," she asked.
Shizuru laughed.
"Nao, do you accept?," the avid tea-drinker asked.
The redhead grinned. "Well, if I must… just to keep an eye on Haruka of course."
--
"Ok, bridesmaids," Haruka started again once she had made sure Nao sported the same pen-shaped red spot on her forehead like the eldest Kuga did.
"Should we put you down for this too Tate?," the blonde asked with a smirk.
The group broke out into uncontrollable laughter… including Mr. Kuga who happened to be passing.
"Ah Tate, my poor son," he said between chuckles.
"Damn girls," Tate mumbled.
Natsuki gave her brother a pat on the back before naming her bridesmaids.
"Well, Mai, the cat girls, Yukino and Tomoe of course," said Natsuki matter of factly. "And Reito for our groomsman… wow we really need more male friends," she mused aloud, half-heartedly aiming the statement at Shizuru.
Chie, Aoi and Mai squealed as their dreams of being announced as bridesmaids at the wedding had now been realised. Yukino, Reito and Tomoe behaved much more 'appropriately' for the situation… they squealed on the inside.
--
"Ok, last but not least… we need a ring-bearer and a flower girls, please no one younger that sixteen alright? My God, I went to this wedding once and the whole time the flower girls were crying and the ring-bearer kept trying to hide in under the bride's skirt. … And then I get looked down upon because I yelled at them… people are just so unappreciative."
The group stared at the ranting Haruka, unsure of what to say.
Tomoe cleared her throat and was about to start speaking when she was immediately confronted with a simple Haruka-esque statement.
"No!"
"Why not?," the green haired girl inquired.
"Because she's too bouncy for her own good!," the blonde said adamantly.
"You said you needed a flower girl and she's the perfect age you asked for, I really don't see why not."
"Why not? Bouncy! Didn't you hear me the first time?! And also she just lacks common sense, and being around her makes me tired," replied Haruka who sat down to make her point.
"Come now Haruka, Tomoe's sister isn't as bad as you're making her out to be," said Reito with an amused tone.
"Yes, Haruka," Shizuru continued. "You're not still angry about that incident where she kissed your Yukino are you?"
The Kuga's of the group all turned their heads to see a severely blushing Yukino.
"It was an accident!," Tomoe and Haruka yelled out together.
--
"See! That sister of yours is just too clumsy," Haruka said, rounding on Tomoe. "On our very first meeting with her, she tripped and managed to somehow fall of my Yukino's face! How is that even possible?"
Nao and Tomoe laughed at the horror written all over the blonde's features, even Natsuki was amused.
"Sorry Haruka," the mayo-pup said. "We do need flower girls, and I do agree with this age restriction you're putting on so, you're over ruled. Put Tomoe's sister on the list."
Haruka sighed and shook her head.
"Oh fine, have it your way Kuga… but if she falls on Fujino's face next time around, don't say I didn't warn you. And don't you dare pull out any guns when I start doing my victory dance."
"Agreed," said an amused Natsuki. "Just write her name down. And also, you can add the name of my favourite cousin."
Nao rolled her eyes.
"You only like her because she's the miniature version of you," she proclaimed. "I should be your favourite, I'm coolest!"
Shizuru's eyebrows shot up.
"Hmm, I must meet this cousin of yours Natsuki," she said while nuzzling into the other girl.
"Don't get any ideas you. You're mine remember?," Natsuki asked playfully, before realising where they were and quickly clearing her throat.
"Anyway Nao, there's nothing wrong with her being a little like me is there? Unlike her older and much less mature, redheaded cousin she isn't overtly annoying…"
"Whatever Natsuki, you just like her because she tries to kill me as often as you do."
"She's only playing when she does that Nao," Natsuki started with a smirk.
"You gave her a gun for her birthday and told her to shoot me with it!"
"I was joking…"
"She wasn't! I have a scar!"
'Wonder where the scar is,' Tomoe thought. 'Maybe I'll find out later,' she added with a small smile.
--
Tate laughed at the memory of his sister sending their cousins off into a little war. Well if you could call it that, it was mostly just Nao running away yelling "Go away you spawn of Natsuki, I didn't do anything!"
"That was a good one," said Tate while wiping his eyes. "Natsuki you shouldn't have said that, you know she takes you pretty seriously."
The siblings shared more laughter.
Haruka shrugged and continued writing on the board.
'Flower girls: Slightly mentally retarded Marguerite and yet another crazy Kuga,' it said.
"Alright then, who's our ring bearer?"
"Ooh I know!," said Mai with her hand shooting up in the air as she bounced up and down, this was a move she probably picked up from Tate…
"How about Mikoto?"
Natsuki smiled. She did have a soft spot for Mai's younger sister.
"Of course, Mikoto would be perfect for the job. Just… pack her some snacks for the ceremony. And also… we should probably designate a baby-sitter of sorts, you know what she's like when she's bored…"
"I'd be happy to take care of her," said Reito with a smile.
Haruka rolled her eyes.
"Yes yes, Reito does see himself as a bit of a 'big-brother' figure," the blonde said. "Well we're finished with the bridal party now… onto the venue. Any ideas?"
"The venue? That's boring!," Nao proclaimed. "And also easy to answer… hello? Kuga/Fujino wedding, obviously the most expensive and exclusive private club in the country. Duh. Let's talk about where we're all going for the honeymoon instead!,"
Natsuki paled.
"What do you mean 'all going'? It's a honeymoon…"
"You're not taking us with you?," asked Mai feigning hurt. "After all we've been through planning everything… helping you on your little quests to win the girl…"
"After you called us all family," Tomoe added with a puppy-dog look.
"After Aoi and I offered ourselves to be slaughtered by Haruka that day on the cliff…"
"Huh?," Haruka asked with a confused look.
"And Natsuki, I'm your brother… I thought we'd all be included in your plans," Tate said for good measure.
--
Shizuru smiled.
"Of course you'll all be invited to the honeymoon," she said coolly.
Natsuki gave her an incredulous look.
"But naturally Natsuki and I will be… busy… during the course of it, so if you don't mind the noise at night… or in the morning… or through the day…"
"Shizuru!," the tomato-mayo-pup screeched out.
"For God's sake Fujino, a simple 'what the hell are you people thinking, of course you're not coming on our honeymoon!', would have been sufficient. Anyway, after this whole wedding fiasco is over, Yukino and I will be heading off to our summer island, the rest of you are welcome to join us of course."
Yukino beamed at her wife who for once seemed to be thoroughly warming up to everyone. Such a gracious and generous offer was very rare indeed.
Chie and Aoi laid out on the couch in bliss. An extravagant wedding followed by a vacation on a summer island, being friends with the richest families in the country certainly had it's perks.
Nao on the other hand, though equally happy with Haruka's offer was busy trying to plan how she was going to catch all of Natsuki's embarrassing moments while she was away… old habits died hard.
--
Deciding to take a lunch break at that point, Nao and Tomoe were given the jobs of picking up the 'slightly mentally retarded Marguerite' and 'another crazy Kuga', aka: Natsuki and Shizuru's flower girls for the wedding, and of course, their chosen ring-bearer, Mikoto.
Haruka had just previously decided that they, as part of the bridal party, needed to be present during these discussions, at the very least, she thought some bonding was necessary.
Because it was difficult and at times hazardous to one's health to argue with Haruka, Nao and Tomoe just nodded and set off on their new mission.
Taking Nao's S.U.V this time as all five couldn't fit in the GTO, the two decided to pick up Tomoe's sister first and headed off to the Fujino's.
Nao, picturing a younger version of Tomoe, another green-haired 'cutie', just hoped the girl didn't share her sister's ex-habit of holding a flame for Shizuru. That would be odd… and completely dangerous in the presence of Natsuki.
--
Upon reaching another one of the Fujino's estates, where Tomoe's sister was staying during her holiday, Nao followed the green-haired girl to the front door.
When they got there though, Nao was stopped by a familiar looking male dressed in a plain black tuxedo, sure that she had never seen him before, Nao didn't know why she just wanted to hit him…
"Miss Marguerite, are you aware that you have this… odd person following you? You aren't planning on letting her into this estate are you?," the man asked.
'Ohh, that's why,' Nao thought with a smile. 'He's an asshole!'
Tomoe looked down at the man, which was a pretty serious feat seeing he was taller than her… but then again… she shared some of Shizuru's genes.
"Listen, body-guard number one, who I choose to bring into this estate is none of your business, now move," Tomoe said in a rather annoyed yet commanding fashion.
"I apologise to you Miss Marguerite, but you are not the master of this estate therefore I cannot allow such unworthy looking strangers to…"
Then he was interrupted…
… by Nao smacking him on the forehead.
The redhead then burst out laughing at his furious look.
"Hahahaha!! Man, what the hell is wrong with you? Why are you speaking in such polite language when all you're trying to do is insult me?"
She wiped at her eyes and shook her head.
"You stupid moron. Come on Tomoe let's just get your sister and get out of here before I hit this guy again. Haha… Dumbass."
--
"Ah Tomoe, here to see your sister?," a man's voice asked from nearby.
"Mr. Fujino sir! I tried to keep the redhead out but…," bodyguard number one stuttered, hoping that there wasn't a red hand-print on his face.
Shizuru's father ignored him and immediately bowed to his two younger guests who bowed back.
"And Miss Kuga, very happy to see you again. I didn't actually have a chance to thank you after that… incident at the engagement announcement party, but please know you have my gratitude for standing up for my daughter."
Tomoe beamed proudly at the girl beside her.
"Just Nao is fine Mr. Fujino, besides, your Shizuru is practically… no… she is part of my family now so I was just protecting one of my own," Nao announced with a grin. "By the way, and I hope you don't take this the wrong way… but your door man is really annoying."
"I'm a bodyguard! Not a door man!"
Mr. Fujino nodded.
"Well, it's hard to get good staff these days, would you girls like some tea?"
Tomoe and Nao followed Mr. Fujino into the house leaving bodyguard number one nearly tearing up in frustration.
Nao of course… shot him a smirk over her shoulder.
--
Kuga mansion…By now, under the careful direction of Haruka, the group had managed to choose a colour scheme for the wedding… a base of white with soft shades of baby blue and light violet throughout.
Even the wedding garments were already with Natsuki and Shizuru planned to be wearing traditional wedding Kimono in their 'theme' colours for the ceremony and then later, changing into Yukata's for the reception.
The bridesmaid's Kimono were white in colour base, but as a symbol of the union between the two getting married, they were to have embellishments in both the baby blue and light violet.
This theme carries on through Tate and Reito's Kimono though theirs would have a black base and the colour embellishment's would take on darker shades rather than the 'baby' colour variety.
Also, taking the idea from Nao and Tomoe, Shizuru finally decided on the flower type she wanted for the base of her bouquets… lilies, of course it helped that they looked great in the theme colours.
Haruka was very pleased with the way things were going as she actually thought she would have to send a team to all four 'corners' of the globe just to seek out all the flower species Shizuru wanted.
Natsuki shared her relief and happily wrapped her arms around her fiancée who automatically settled into them.
--
At a Fujino estate…Nao and Tomoe were now settled into one of the entertaining rooms waiting for Tomoe's sister to arrive. Mr. Fujino had left quite a while before to look for her but… it was a rather large estate.
A minute later, their waiting came to an end.
"Tomoe!!," a young, happy voice called.
The green-haired girl smiled as her sister immediately latched onto her.
"Alright alright, that's enough," Tomoe said with a laugh, "Here, let me introduce you to Nao Kuga."
"Hiii!!! I'm Arik….aaaah!"
The clumsy girl had managed to twist out of her sister's grasp and fall directly on Nao's… no not her lips… think lower… and shook her head vigorously to get her bearings back.
Which again, was a rather idiotic thing to do as she forgot to lift her head up first and ended up nuzzling Nao's…
"Arika! Get off her!," Tomoe screamed, and picked the younger girl up by the collar, all the remnants of sisterly love going out the window.
Nao stood and dusted herself off wearing a look of amused indifference that only she could at a situation like that. Natsuki would have turned twenty different shades of red.
"Well, Arika is it? I find you very… forward."
"I'm so sorry Miss Kuga!," Arika said bowing repeatedly… "I try to be careful but these kinds of things just happen to me… I'm very sorry."
"Just call me Nao, it's alright. Miss Kuga is my cousin… Tate."
The redhead and Tomoe shared a laugh as Arika looked on, smiling blankly.
--
When their laughter finally subsided, they found Arika lying on the ground staring up at the ceiling a swinging her legs around as if she was playing 'helicopter'.
"How old is she again?," Nao asked, amused at the girl's innocence.
"Sixteen," Tomoe replied. "I know she doesn't act like it but…"
"Just wait 'til you meet my cousin," said Nao a little nervously.
Tomoe laughed. "A baby Natsuki doesn't sound that bad to me…"
"That's because the elder Natsuki has never tried to kill you, and, you met Natsuki post-engagement. Now she has Shizuru to keep her from killing m.. I mean everyone."
Tomoe took the redhead's hand and picked up her sister from off the floor… again.
"Come on Arika, we've got work to do."
"Where we going?"
"To see Shizuru, after we pick up the other flower girl and the ring-bearer for her wedding."
"Yaay! More girls like me?"
"God forbid," Tomoe mumbled with a smile. "I don't think I could handle another one of you."
--
Nao helped the younger girl into the S.U.V… mostly to make sure the girl didn't fall and crack her head open on the concrete and they made their way off to pick up the 'younger Natsuki'.
When they reached the smaller mansion, though a mansion it still was… the three girls saw that they were just in time to catch a large bag being thrown over the main wall, outside of it a smaller version of Natsuki's bike was waiting.
After the bag, a jeans clad leg swung over the wall and a girl deftly threw herself over, landing perfectly on her bike.
Unfortunately for her… Nao had already gotten out of her truck and had mounted the same bike only a minute earlier.
"Hey there, cousin of mine," the redhead said with a smile as she wrapped her arms around the other girl. "In trouble again are we?"
"We are not anything. Now get off, I've got some place to be."
Nao rolled her eyes.
"Just grab your bag, leave your bike. Hurry up, Natsuki wants you."
"Natsuki?"
"Geez if it's me who wants something all I get is a glare… if it's Natsuki then…"
Nao found herself talking to no one in particular as her cousin was already sitting in the S.U.V.
"Geez, the things I have to put up with."
--
The redhead got into her truck and was about to make introductions when she found that the scene in the rearview mirror amused her to no end.
Arika, who appeared to be very interested in the stranger that had just entered the truck, had gone and attached herself to the girl while spewing out many unnecessary facts about herself, including her uncanny ability to be able to fall on people in the most awkward positions.
Of course, Arika just had to mention the fact that earlier on that day, in fact, she had accidentally fallen on Nao and ended up nuzzling into…
"Arika, that's enough. Just tell her your name and relax. Breathe deeply… don't forget to exhale and repeat," Tomoe said to her sister.
Nao smirked at her cousin from the rear-view mirror.
"You ok there Nina?," she asked the girl.
"Oh, Nina? Is that your name? Because you didn't tell me before, you mostly just glared but anyway… I'm Arika."
"Yeah, you said. A lot," Nina replied, trying to move further away from the girl who didn't seem to have any sense of personal space.
"Are you a Kuga?," Arika asked her.
"Yeah, my father, Natsuki's father and that idiot redhead's father are brothers."
"Ohh I see. I don't remember seeing you at the engagement party. Were you there?"
"Uh, no… I skipped out. Hence the big bag and nearly completed running away you saw earlier. My parents were not pleased."
Nao raised an eyebrow.
'Nina's actually talking to the girl? … Without the use of guns or profanity? Well now… what a turn of events,' the redhead thought amused.
"And where were you planning on going exactly Nina?"
"Uh… can't say I thought that far ahead. I was only going until they calmed down about it…"
"Oh! That's ok, you can stay with me! I'm staying in a Fujino estate at the moment, in a really big room, well there are lots but you can stay with me in mine, I don't mind sharing a bed with you or anything."
Nina looked at the girl and in true Natsuki fashion, did her best impression of a Tomato.
Before even Nao could get a little comment in, Arika chose to go there for her…
"Aww wow you're blushing that's so cute!," Arika declared.
Nao cringed, hoping that her cousin wouldn't hit the semi-retarded girl too hard, but all she saw was Arika trying to get closer to her the other girl while Nina tried to half-heartedly swat the other girl away as if dealing with an annoying, though abnormally large, insect.
'Wow, Shizuru really was right… once anyone in the Fujino line decides on a mate…'
"Nao! What the hell are you doing?," Nina demanded to know. "You don't expect me to get on my bike and try to tow this truck of yours all the way to Kuga mansion do you?!"
Nao laughed.
Even a baby Natsuki couldn't be that threatening when she was being attacked by gentle pokes from Arika.
--
Kuga mansion…Haruka's next mission for the engaged couple, was to send them off into Natsuki's room to write their vows.
About half an hour later… when the noises coming from said room resembled none of those to be naturally expected from 'vow-writing' Haruka changed her mind and sent Natsuki off with Tate to help write her vows and took Shizuru out into the back garden to help with hers.
Chie, Aoi, Yukino, Mai and Reito were given a break from wedding planning and decided to spend their time relaxing.
For Chie, Aoi and Yukino, that mean drinking a warm cup of tea and watching the 'cuts' from the slideshow/ movie shown the night before. For the latter two, it meant setting up Mai's portable Karaoke machine and engaging in a battle to see who was the better singer out of the two.
--
Natsuki's room.
"Come on Natsuki, I'm sure you can do much better than, thanks for saying yes to marrying me…""I can't do this Tate! Apparently I'm only good at impromptu speeches in front of random members of her friends and family! I can't write this…"
"You know, you're gonna have to try harder than that Natsuki… you love her right? Dig deep! She and Haruka are probably spouting off screeds and screeds of excellent poetry right now!"
"Grrr… alright, alright I'll try harder… hey, where'd my pen go?"
"Geez Natsuki…"
--
In the back garden…
Little did Tate and Natsuki know but Shizuru and Haruka seemed to be having the same problem as Natsuki and Tate, that is, a serious lack of vows…
"Hmm, this is a little harder that I previously thought it was going to be," observed Shizuru as they sat on one of the swinging benches.
"Exactly how easy did you expect it to be Fujino? Really now, didn't you know that only writers should ever volunteer to write their own vows?, for normal people they're just a cause of unnecessary… and very intense stress in the last few weeks before the wedding."
"Haruka, you could have warned me of this fact earlier don't you think? But anyway, if I remember correctly, you and Yukino wrote your own vows did you not?"
The blonde smiled a little.
"Well yes we did, and I maintain my position. Very intense stress."
"But was the effort worth it?"
Haruka thought for a moment before nodding her head.
"Yes, I believe it was."
"So are you going to help me write mine?"
"Well you know I'd say no you damn bubuzuke woman," Haruka said while smiling, "But somehow you managed to rope me into being your maid of honour so… it's not like I can refuse you now," she added with a light laugh.
--
Natsuki's room…"Right, progress," said Tate. "What have we got so far? Can I have a look?"
Natsuki wordlessly handed him the piece of paper.
"Natsuki! You're supposed to be writing vows, not doodling wolves and guns!"
"Look I tried… but that's all that came coming to me!"
"Wolves and guns… we ask you for wedding vows and you come up with wolves and guns…"
"There's also a little doodle of a mayonnaise bottle in the corne…"
"Natsuki!"
"Ok, ok! Here goes… third time lucky."
--
In the back garden…
"Alright Haruka, I'm ready to write now."
"You're sure? You don't want to talk about tea or flower arrangements or the different shades of red your Natsuki goes depending on which of her buttons you push?"
Shizuru smiled but nodded.
"Yes, I'm completely sure, now what was it you were saying about the vows?"
"All I said was, the easiest way to go about it, is to keep the whole thing sincere, forget about all the poetic language or being cliché, this isn't about that. Remember, this is your wedding and you are speaking to you the one you're going to marry so… might as well start off the whole thing with a little bit of honesty right?"
--
Natsuki's room…
"Honesty? What do you mean honesty?"
"What do you mean, what do I mean honesty?! I mean honesty as in tell her the truth, why do you like her? why do you love her?, why are you getting married? Natsuki, why are you putting yourself forward to spend the rest of your life with her? These are the questions you should be asking now… and answering when you're standing together at the altar."
Natsuki nodded and felt a happy warmth washing through her as she thought about these questions…and found all the answers in the part of her heart that was reserved for Shizuru.
"Tate, thank you I think I understand now. Ohh… hey… what the… why are you crying?!"
--
Nao, Tomoe… and the two sitting in the back seats.
The older two of the group looked on amused at the two younger girls… this was a little dangerous as Nao was driving but thankfully no one had yet gotten hurt.
Arika, who still hadn't developed any common sense… or any sense of personal boundaries for that matter was practically sitting on the continuously reddening Nina.
"Nao… can we switch seats? I can drive you know," the blushing girl announced, not unexpectedly.
Arika beside her suddenly sent over a pout.
"Why? Don't you like me? Do I irritate you?"
"Because… and it's not that… and yes a little bit," Nina answered honestly. "… But you don't have to cry about it!," she added hurriedly as the other girl was starting to bat away a few tears.
'Arika honestly, you're really pulling out the big guns aren't you?,' Tomoe thought in her head. 'These Kuga's never saw us coming…'
--
They had finally arrived at Mai and Mikoto's and Nao found the younger girl sitting out in the lawn waiting for them.
Oddly enough, the girl seemed to be surrounded by the majority of the neighborhood's cats, this fact was made even more odd by the fact that Mikoto owned none of them.
When she saw the familiar S.U.V, Mikoto leaped off the ground and landed directly on top of the bonnet.
Nao poked her head out the window.
"Hey, off the metal work squirt, get in here."
Mikoto beamed and did as she was told.
--
Upon opening the door and seeing the two already in the back seat, she took a second look at Nao and hoped the redhead was joking.
"Umm, Mai said that you were bringing your girlfriend Nao… and that I wasn't supposed to say anything if it looked like you two were eating out of each other's mouths … but she didn't say anything about Nina bringing a girlfriend."
"Mikoto! She's not my girlfriend!," a near hyperventilating Nina said. "Just get in the damn car so we can get to Natsuki's!"
Arika added some sniffling to her previous pouting strategy.
"We're not even friends? I thought we were friends…"
"What? No! Wait… alright we're friends, but she said girlfriends," Nina stuttered.
"I'm not good enough to be your girlfriend?"
"Huh?! We just met! … And I'm not looking for a girlfriend!"
Nao did all she could to keep from laughing as she drove off in the direction of Kuga mansion, Tomoe wondered if she should save the little Natsuki from her sister and Mikoto… just sat as far as possible from the two sharing the back seat with her.
Unfortunately for Mikoto, it seemed that Arika had noticed her. Moving closer to the girl, a teary eyed Arika looked at the girl with her best pout.
"Are you looking for a girlfriend? Nina said she wasn't and I didn't even ask her if she was. But the way she said it sounded like she was rejecting me!"
Mikoto merely nodded and gave the girl a pat on the head… 'Isn't that what you do with upset animals?,' the girl thought.
"Hey! You can't ask Mikoto that! She's just a kid! Come back here alright," said an annoyed Nina while pulling the girl over to her. "Poor Mikoto, you're freaking her out! Geez. Nao for the love of God drive faster!!"
"Umm, Nina you know I'm only a year younger than you right?," Mikoto asked the girl who now had Arika re-attached to her.
"Quiet over there. Don't you know I just sacrificed the top half of my body to save you?"
Mikoto smiled and nodded thankfully… the two sitting in the front seats however chose to smirk instead.
"I don't know Nina," Nao said without much thought. "You look pretty comfortable over there."
Nina shot her older cousin a death look.
"Just drive woman!"
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AN: Thanks for reading and for all your reviews XD, I'm sorry this took a little longer than usual but my University schedule has me a little bogged down at the moment. Anyway I hope you enjoyed it!
A couple of people asked for the Nina/Arika pairing so I put them in… sorry if the seem really OOC, I don't really know how to write them that well… same with Mikoto who again, a few people asked for. Hopefully they fit well into the fold though! More coming soon, please send over a review if you've got a minute, they're seriously appreciated!
Ps:
If you want to see the kimono style that Natsuki and Shizuru will be wearing check this pic out XD… ok umm, the link didn't show here so I'll put it up on my profile. Their Kimono will of course be in the 'theme' colours though hehe.
More updates to come very soon! Catch you next chapter.
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