5 YEARS LATER

"You look beautiful." I turned around and smiled at Ying Sun, who was dressed in a sky blue bridesmaid gown. Miri (the maid of honor), Akemi, Mizuki, and Kizumi walked into the door, having just changed into their own bridesmaids gowns. Akemi handed me my bouquet.

"Huh. You almost don't look like a love sick idiot," she commented. Even after all these years, Akemi still called me that.

"One last touch," I said, and tilted my head so that Miri could fasten my locket on. It was the locket that Kaoru had given me in the hospital five years ago today; I pressed my fingers to it, like I always did when I was nervous.

"Almost ready?" Haruhi asked, walking in. She too was a bridesmaid. By this time, her hair had grown past her shoulders, and it was pinned back elegantly. Her daughter, who had inherited her father's purple-blue eyes and her mother's brown hair, peeked around her mother's skirt.

"Hi Yuki!" I greeted the two-year old flower girl. "You look very pretty in your dress…just like your mommy." She giggled and looked up at me.

"Awnty Kiwi…you wook pwetty, wike a pwincess!" I smiled at the little girl and looked back in the mirror, preening self-consciously.

My white satin gown was sleeveless with a sweetheart neckline. The skirt bellowed out from my waist, falling into a long train from a bustle on the back. It was all one piece of material. Blue pearls edged the top of the gown in the shape of small hearts, and silver thread made delicate swirls over the rest of the gown, invisible unless you look closely. Sapphire drop earrings brushed my jaw bone, falling in a small waterfall on each side. My hair was pinned up on the top of my head, and a sapphire tiara sparkled against my glossy hair. My veil brushed softly against my bare shoulders.

The music struck up, and the bridesmaids met their partners walking down the aisle. Miri with Hikaru (the best man), Mizuki with a male cousin of Kaoru's, Akemi with Kyoya, Haruhi with Tamaki, Kizumi with Mori, and then Ying Sun with Hunni; after they had taken their respective places, I took my dad's offered arm as the music struck up.

I saw Kaoru smile at me as I walked down the aisle. I smiled back nervously, and looked to my friends. They all grinned at me. When I made it to Kaoru, he took my hand and whispered, "like I said on our first date…the most beautiful of anyone." I felt tears come to my eyes in happiness, and he wiped them away gently, earning a laugh from the audience at the teary blushing bride.

"I do," I said when I responded, "forever and ever." Kaoru took my hand and placed my ring on my fourth finger, and I did the same for him.

"You may now kiss the bride!" When I tilted my head up to do just that, I felt my hair come unpinned, and my curls tumbled down around my bare back and shoulders. When we parted, I couldn't help but feel that Miri had done that on purpose. Kaoru brushed a stray curl from my face.

"Ready my bride?"

"Yes."

"Good." We smiled at each other.

"I love you, Kaoru Hitachiin."

"I love you too, Kirimay Zyo-er, Kirimay Hitachiin."

I giggled at his slip-up, even though I knew I would be making the same mistake for quite a while.

6 YEARS LATER

"Happy Birthday Kiri!" I had just walked into the living room, my 2-month-old daughter in my arms. Smiling, I greeted all of the people who had come. During the year, all of my friends had gotten married or engaged.

Mizuki was engaged to Hikaru; though how they could be so opposite and get along eluded me. Mizuki blushed shyly and attempted to hide behind her fiancée as she received all of the congratulations. He teased her gently, switching with Kaoru every now and then to play the, "Which One is Hikaru?" game. Mizuki and I never lost, both picking out our respective sweethearts instantly.

Akemi had won a gold medal in the Olympics for swimming a month after my wedding. She and Kyoya were now married, and expecting their first baby. And yes, Kyoya was still writing in his little black book, even though he now knew to keep it from his hyper wife, who still liked to snatch it and draw little hearts all over it.

Kizumi had married the stoic Mori two months after my own wedding, and had recently had a son who, even as an infant, displayed his father's personality with his mother's fiery red hair and hazel eyes. He barely cried and already had quite a grip…obviously he would grow up to be a great fighter.

Even Ying Sun had met someone. A sweet cousin of mine had started dating her, and they had told me last month that they were engaged. Kaoru still, even after six years, couldn't be around her by himself, but I was thrilled that she would be marrying into my family.

Haruhi had told me just yesterday that she and Tamaki were expecting their second baby, a little boy this time. I was thrilled for her and Miri and I were already planning her baby shower.

"Hmm. I don't think I planned this out well." I turned around and found Kaoru smiling down at me.

"What do you mean? It's perfect!" He put his hands on my waist, our baby in between us, asleep.

"Well, I'm glad you like it, but I didn't realize that I would once again have to share you. So, what will it take you get you out of here?" I giggled, and Taru, Kisu, and Fa looked up at me.

"Well…I think, my valiant swain, that now might be a good time to sneak away for a tryst." He laughed at my reference to our old game that had started so many years ago when I first lived in my old apartment.

We snuck out to the back flower garden, and sat on a swing, me leaning against his chest as he played with my hair, both of us looking at our baby girl as she swung her fists about, her blue eyes following a butterfly. She had no hair yet, but Kaoru said he hoped she looked like me when she grew up. Then again, he said, he'd have to beat the boys back with a broom.

"I love you, Kaoru Hitachiin." He kissed the top of my head.

"I love you too, Kirimay Hitachiin. See? Didn't mess up this time." Our baby girl squealed in our arms, and we both laughed and said in unison: "We love you too, Ashita Hitachiin."

We rocked back and forth for a while longer, and as the sun set, I said, "I still wish I could capture those colors and paint with them." I felt him chuckle softly, and he said, "and I still think that's poetic."

"Oh, and by the way," I continued, "I still think those uniforms are hideous…"

Domo Arigato everyone! It's been a lot of fun writing this, and I hope you've all enjoyed it! Please comment, and check back soon to read my next fanfics!