Wedding Planners From Hell!

by Ulquiorra9000

Chapter 25: Finally Crossing the Finish Line (here goes nothing!)

July 20th. The day of the wedding.

6:42 PM.

Grimmjow hoped that stepping into the cool, air-conditioned interior of the Cherry Road Ballroom and Suites building would soothe his nerves, but it sure as heck didn't. He kept finding himself smoothing his shirt, fiddling with his bow tie, or chewing his lower lip. Ichigo seemed to notice, too.

"Dude. Your hands are going nuts," Ichigo told him, helping Grimmjow lower his hands from his bow tie.

Grimmjow nodded shakily. "S-sorry. I'm fine."

"At least we're a bit early," Takeshi said brightly. "I imagine that Halibel and the girls want a little extra time to get ready, you know."

"Then what should we do?" Grimmjow asked tensely. "Sh-should I wait at the altar? Or linger outside the door? Or..."

Takeshi clapped a hand to his son's shoulder. "Why don't we say hi to everyone and thank them for coming here today? You should at least say hello to your mother."

"Right. Yeah." Grimmjow smoothed his shirt again, then willed himself to lower his arms. Be cool! This "nervous wreck" thing isn't funny. The last time you were this nervous was at that Star Trek costume party last year. Just chill!

The three men made their way up the stairs, down the lavish hall, and through the doors into the huge room where everyone was already gathered. Grimmjow stopped and stared in awe, his jaw going slack. Whoa. Tatsuki, Rukia, Orihime... you've outdone yourselves!

Potted ferns, well-trimmed bushes, and mini-trees filled the room with a comfortable, natural green aura, interrupted by bunches of white and yellow flowers to add a little pop without being gaudy. There was an elegant wooden arch at the makeshift altar, decorated with more yellow flowers and strings of white Christmas lights, and each of the seven round tables had bunches of yellow, white, and pale pink flowers held in empty wine glasses and jam jars. There was even a large wooden sign along one wall with the names GRIMMJOW AND HALIBEL JAEGERJAQUES hand-painted in gold katakana characters. As a bonus, Sosuke Aizen and Momo Hinamori were playing classy music at a low volume from their music system in one corner of the room. And to add to the rustic, outdoorsy theme, someone had set up an old-fashioned bicycle against the wall (with flowers in its basket), and a bronze and wood trolley.

Ichigo made a quiet whistle. "Whoa! I had no idea... this is cool!"

"Those girls outdid themselves," Takeshi said. "Miss Rukia mentioned that she and her friends had set up 'the perfect decor', and now I see what she meant."

Grimmjow blinked. "When did she say that?"

Takeshi grinned. "Your friend Rukia called me to boast about how perfect the wedding would be under her leadership. Apparently, she called Keiko, too. She was determined to prove to the groom's parents that she is the maid of honor of the century."

"No kidding." Grimmjow nodded with a small smile. "I can't blame her for wanting to brag a little."

"That's my Rukia, all right," Ichigo said with amusement. "So, are we ready to mingle a little?"

Everyone was already seated, but each person managed to see Grimmjow ands clap and cheer for the groom's arrival. Keigo waved madly from his table, and Isshin actually sprang to his feet and hurried over to throw his arms around Grimmjow in a monster of a hug.

"The groom! We've already got half the happy couple here!" Isshin cried. Not to mention how he was actually crying by now. "Oh, I can't believe it... I'm so happy!"

Ichigo rolled his eyes and pried Isshin off of the groom. "Dad, can't you chill for one minute? Jeez."

"But this is such a big day... for all of us." Isshin got out a tissue and blew his nose. He checked his pocket. "Oops. I'll have to get another tissue packet..."

Ichigo rolled his eyes again for good measure. "You already went through a whole tissue packet?!"

"I... have allergies. Yeah, that's it," Isshin said, fooling exactly no one.

By this time, Karin and Yuzu had joined the party, the former looking even more exasperated than Ichigo, the latter, crying just like Isshin. This evening, Karin had done up her dark hair in a bun with bangs framing her face, and she wore a deep blue, sleeveless gown to contrast with Yuzu's pale turquiose ensemble.

"So... big day, huh?" Karin said off-handedly.

"B-big day? The biggest day of our lives!" Yuzu said between sobs.

Karin cocked her head. "If all these waterworks are for Grimmjow and Halibel, what the heck will happen when Ichigo marries?"

Yuzu wiped her eyes dry. "I guess we'll find out together, won't we? Come on, Karin... you don't seem excited at all."

"What d'you mean? I'm having a good time," Karin said defensively. "This place looks great. And the Kuchikis cooked up a proper dinner. I'm fine."

"Yes," Isshin said, "but consider: you're about to witness two of your friends starting the rest of their lives together! It's a once-in-a-lifetime event! It's incredible!"

"Yeah. In just a few minutes, my life's gonna be transformed," Grimmjow added, trying to ignore his squirming insides and racing heart. "I've been waiting for this for so long. I get to marry the best girl in the whole world, right here, today."

Karin glanced away and blinked. "Yeah, I know. That's what your wedding invitation said, genius."

Yuzu peeked closer at her sister's face. "Is that a tear?"

Karin blinked again. "No!"

"It totally was!"

"These flowers are inflaming my eyes, okay?"

Yuzu handed over a tissue. "Here you go."

"I'm not crying, I swear." Then Karin caught the mortified look on her dad's face. "Okay... maybe a tiny bit?" She blinked again.

"Thanks, Karin. It means a lot," Grimmjow said with a smile, then moved on through the chattering crowd, where he ran into the Kuchikis.

"There you are, mister groom," Hisana said fondly, rising from her seat and giving Grimmjow a polite hug. "I can't even imagine how excited you must be!"

"Thanks, Hisana. I can't wait," Grimmjow said, returning her hug. He let her go and waved. "Hi Byakuya, Ginrei. Glad you all could make it."

Byakuya nodded as his wife took her seat beside him. He held her hand. "Of course. We are all here to support those we care about. I am sure that this will be a wonderful wedding."

"Mmmmm. Indeed!" Ginrei said. "I haven't had this good a time in years, young Jaegerjaques. This will be a night you remember for the rest of your life."

"Thanks, sir." Grimmjow bowed his head and moved on. At that moment, Keiko emerged from the crowd and threw her arms around both Jaegerjaques men.

"Grimmjow! Takeshi! I can hardly believe it," Keiko said with tears in her eyes. She held Grimmjow's head in both hands. "My little boy is about to start the rest of his life today..."

"Thanks, mom," Grimmjow said in a muffled voice as Keiko directed all her hugging power at him. Then she shook hands with Takeshi.

"Takeshi, it was wonderful seeing you and Grimmjow again these last few weeks," she said. "Look... I'm flying out of the country the day after tomorrow. I have some... things... lined up. I should have left yesterday, but the wedding, you know..."

"I understand," Takeshi said simply. "Keiko, I..." He swallowed. "I feel like there's a lot more things I should tell you."

"Oh, I don't know about that. Seeing you and our son again... I think if we read between the lines, we said everything that we owed each other."

Takeshi blinked. "You have a point there."

"But all the same..." Keiko smiled. "I'll be sure to visit a little more often. Even if I have to come all the way from Costa Rica or Norway, I'll see you both again."

Takeshi gave his ex-wife another handshake. "I'll remember that. Thank you, Keiko."

"Yeah. If Halibel and I get our own place, you'll totally have to see it, mom," Grimmjow added eagerly. "I mean, it's not a real home 'till my parents approve of it."

Keiko smiled and patted Grimmjow's cheek. "You're darn right."

Before Grimmjow knew it, it was time.

Everyone was seated at their round tables as Grimmjow took his place under the arch with Ichigo and Uryu standing close to him. At the same time, the five bridesmaids: Rukia, Bambietta, Orihime, Tatsuki, and Nelliel, all gathered in a row, all wearing lovely gowns of light lavender. The officiant, an older man named Mr. Katsumura, stood ready, hands clasped at his navel.

Then everyone went quiet as Aizen started playing Pachebel's "Canon in D" and filled the room with the music.

Through the doors emerged Halibel in a sleeveless white gown with lace on the torso and an elbow-length white veil, escorted by Keito Tier, who wore a gray suit and red tie. They both walked slowly and calmly down the short aisle that was formed between the round tables, and as per tradition, Halibel carried a bouquet of flowers in both hands.

From where he stood, Grimmjow could tell that Halibel was trying not too smile too broadly at this point, but he smiled wide, and she did, too. Grimmjow's mind was in an excited and nervous haze as the bride joined him under the wooden arch, both facing each other. Halibel handed her bouquet to Rukia, and the couple was ready.

The officiant cleared his throat. "We are gathered here today to witness the happy marriage of two young individuals, mister Grimmjow Jaegerjaques and miss Halibel Tier. At both the bride and groom's request, the ceremony is to be 'pretty short and really sweet', as the maid of honor, a certain Rukia Kuchiki, demand I describe it. Let it be known that she is the best maid of honor of all of Japan."

Everyone chuckled at that, and Grimmjow would bet every yen in his bank account that Rukia had bribed the officiant to say that.

"Now, we will have the exchange of vows," Mr. Katsumura said as Hanataro roved around the room, taking photos. "The bride will give hers first."

Keito handed his daughter a folded piece of paper, and Halibel unfolded it. "Grimmjow, my love, my everything, I don't have all the words, even in these vows, to fully explain why I have chosen to marry you, or how much I look forward to our life together." She took a deep breath and continued, "I sat down every night for the past two weeks to write down my thoughts, often with Nelliel's or Rukia's help. But my real plan is to show you every day, without fail, why I will love you as my husband. No matter where we go, what we do together, what new adventures we have, or any hardship we endure, you'll find a new reason every day why this is the best decision of my life."

Halibel waited a second before she continued. "But I can explain that I love you for your passion of your life, and the life we will now share. I love how you care for animals, and that you're studying so hard to become a veterinarian. I love how you always take everything in life with a smile and a laugh, and that you find the fun and cheer in everything. Even when you quote Captain Kirk, or take me on dates to the arcade, or tell me to watch you perform a new stunt on your old skateboard, I'm happy because you share all of that with me, and that you are true to yourself. With you, I feel loved, I feel safe, I feel hopeful, and I am absolutely confident that we can overcome anything. Together." She folded up her paper and handed it back to Keito.

No one clapped or made a sound out of respect for ceremony, but Grimmjow was sure that everyone was mentally clapping really hard! In fact, he was sure he heard one of the bridesmaids mutter "top that!" as the officiant said, "And now, the groom will share his vows."

"Yes, sir." Grimmjow got his own paper from his pocket and unfolded it. He cleared his throat and squared his shoulders. "What I will say today is similar to what I said at our rehearsal dinner, so even if it's familiar, that's because it's worth saying twice. In fact, a lot of the sentiments I say today are worth saying every day from here on out." He took a breath. "Halibel, I didn't know you when I first saw you on that sunny afternoon when you moved in next to the Kurosakis, but from that very moment on, I knew that you were someone special, someone I couldn't be without. It took some time for us to be official, but I couldn't have been happier getting to know you, and finding out that you're the best girl a man could possibly have the privilege to know, and to love."

By now, Grimmjow could hear some noses blowing in the audience. Well, that means the vows were good. Score! "With you, Halibel, I am a better man. With you, I learned to take control of my life and my future, and to become a man you can love and respect. With you, I learned to laugh and love, and to see the best in everything and in others. With you, I became someone you could marry, and I will continue to prove that for all of our time together. In short, you give me hope: in myself, in our relationship, and in whatever future we build together. For that, all I can do is give you my thanks every day from here on out, and never forget what a gift you have given me." He folded up his paper and pocketed it. "My vow is done."

He motioned to the audience, and this time, everyone clapped, and a few people whistled, too.

"I can't believe it," Bambietta said, also clapping. "Grimmjow did top Halibel's vows!"

"No he didn't," Rukia shot back.

"I thought they were both fine," Orihime said. "Right?"

Bambietta and Rukia shared a look and nodded.

Now, Grimmjow took out the gold wedding band from his pocket and slid it onto Halibel's finger. "With this ring, I promise to be the best husband you could ask for, and a man who is worth your love."

Halibel smiled and returned the favor when she accepted a ring from Keito. "With this ring, I promise to be your faithful and loving wife, and to uphold our marriage to the best of my ability."

The officiant spoke up. "Do you, Halibel Tier, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do," Halibel said in a clear and strong voice.

The officiant nodded. "Do you, Grimmjow Jaegerjaques, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

Grimmjow nodded once. "I do."

"Then I now pronounce you husband and wife," the officiant said. "You may kiss the bride."

Everyone clapped and cheered even louder when Grimmjow leaned forward and kissed his new wife. It felt like... victory. Perfect!

Just for fun, Grimmjow and Halibel held hands, turned to face the audience, and bowed like stage actors after a play. "Thank you all for coming tonight!" Grimmjow cried. "It means everything to us."

"Please enjoy the banquet and reception," Halibel added. "And thank Byakuya and Hisana Kuchiki for cooking for us today. Lots of dancing, music, and fun are ahead of us!"

On cue, Aizen and Momo put on an upbeat but classy song to announce the dinner's start. Ballroom staff started serving everyone, and Halibel gave Grimmjow a kiss on the cheek.

"I'm so happy for us both, my dear new husband," she said fondly.

Grimmjow smiled widely. "Me too, dear wife."

"But there's one more thing I need." Halibel held up a finger.

"Wh-what is it?"

"Dinner! I'm famished." Halibel giggled. "I was so nervous today, I've hardly eaten a bite. Come on, let's get to our table."

Already, the Jaegerjaques and Tier families were already seated at the biggest and best-decorated table, waiting for the bride and groom to join them.

Grimmjow felt his stomach rumble. "My belly thinks that's a good idea. I can't argue with that guy, yknow."

Halibel smiled and, taking her husband's hand, led him to the table. "I bet you can't. Now, let's dig in. The Kuchikis really know their way around a kitchen..."