A/N: Awww I love warm and fuzzy ^_^ both this chapter and the next will be totally packed full of it to make up for all the sad crap I wrote before. That's all I'm saying, just prepare for cute (because I'm only good at angsty and cutesy and that's about all)

Chapter Twenty-Four – The Wedding

It felt good to smile. Kallen found herself smiling automatically as she drifted between the different groups of people – talking to people she hadn't seen in a while, people she'd seen the day before last. It didn't matter. There were no fights, no politics, no hidden motives or tactics. They were just people spending time together.

It was a little awkward. But it was good.

Rivalz was enjoying himself thoroughly – he was a social butterfly and there was no doubt about it. Millay looked as gorgeous as ever, and she gave Kallen an enormous hug when she walked in, chattering about her job at the television station and how much she missed school and spending time with the council. It was a nice thought, but Kallen knew everyone missed the real student council – not what was left of it.

Tamaki, Kento and Yoshikata looked more than impressive in their formal suits, Tamaki brushing his down with a worldly pride as they all checked to make sure they hadn't dirtied their polished shoes. It was quite cute, actually. Kallen wondered who the best man would be, as there didn't seem to be one yet. Maybe it was Toudou, she thought, but he looked a little too casual, wearing traditional Japanese attire, standing down the back of the hall talking quietly with Chiba and Hong Gu. Chiba was wearing a dress, too, and she caught Kallen's eye and smiled nervously. Kallen smiled back. They both knew they weren't the most feminine of women, but Kallen thought she looked very pretty in her shimmering pale pink kimono.

Li Xingke, Zhao Xianglin and Tianzi were being led through the wide double doors by Kaguya, who had been in charge of decorations as far as Kallen knew. And she'd done a wonderful job. The hall that Villetta and Ohgi had reserved for the wedding was huge – it was one of the larger parts of a traditional Japanese temple, and it had been decorated with cherry blossom bouquets and silver ribbons, petals lining the aisle.

Xingke was wearing traditional Chinese garb as he always did but this was his formal outfit. It wasn't the same royal blue he always wore, but rather a deep crimson colour. He was wearing new boots – black ones. He'd also got himself a new shirt that wasn't quite so worn. He looked as intimidating as ever but he smiled affectionately down at Tianzi who giggled and ran off with Kaguya. The Empress wore a gorgeous yellow dress with red bows and trim. Xianglin stayed with Xingke, as she always did. She was careful of him – they all knew Xingke was unwell but nobody was quite sure how serious it was. Tianzi didn't seem to be too worried, so Kallen supposed it was alright. Xianglin herself wore a royal blue dress made of silk.

And as she looked around the room, Kallen felt a warm cosiness settle inside her stomach and she felt at ease. She felt happy. This was the way things should be. Her mother was still talking with Millay and Rivalz, and She watched as Kaguya ran back outside with her arms open wide to greet some other guests. Kallen looked away to admire the decorations once more, gently touching a small bundle of cherry blossoms tied to the aisle seat, and then she heard a voice.

It was a little bit deep but not in an old businessman sort of way. It was calm and smooth, and spoke with a hint of a chuckle. It struck a chord in Kallen's mind and she felt her chest tighten as she held her breath and turned, and then she saw the messy, golden-blonde hair and the sapphire-blue eyes that danced with laughter as he was led in by Kaguya who was almost dancing with excitement, and behind Gino came Anya and Jeremiah, a casual smile on his face.

But Kallen didn't have eyes for either of them as Gino's eyes glanced over her as he stared around the room. Didn't he see her?

No, he had. His eyes flicked back and a crooked smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he began to walk towards her.

Gino was deep in conversation with Kaguya about the temple itself (which had been on her family's lands for many centuries, as he found out) when she saw Cecile and Lloyd arrive outside, and she excused herself and skipped out to greet them, smiling as he had never seen her do so before. Her smiles had always been so bright before, but Gino wondered if they had been forced.

Anya mumbled something about the overly elaborate decorations and Jeremiah directed her towards a seat, saying that it was about to start. Gino watched as the last car full of people walked in – Lloyd and Cecile walked in and smiled at him before finding their seat, and then Cornelia and Lord Guilford followed, both as icy cold as ever, but obviously making an effort to put differences behind them and be polite.

Gino glanced around the room, his height advantage allowing him to see almost everyone in the temple. His eyes scanned back and forth across the room and then, he had to do a double take.

There she was. In all of her blue-eyed, red-haired, nervous-in-a-cute-dress glory. There she was, staring around the room, trying to find her seat. And there she was, as beautiful as ever.

Her eyes seemed to draw closer and closer until finally, she was looking at him. And she looked pale as she blinked, and then she couldn't help a bewildered sort of smile as he began to take swift steps towards her.

Gino quickly made his way over, knowing that he had to sit down very shortly and Kallen met him halfway there, and they stood staring at each other for a few moments before Gino composed himself and said, "Hey Kallen."

Keep your composure, he thought, having to scream the words inside his head as he reached out and hugged her, telling himself not to get carried away as he leaned down and placed a polite ghost of a kiss on her cheek.

Kallen blushed as she stared up at him – wide-eyed and tongue-tied, she only managed to say, "Hello, Gino," before there was a hush about the room and Kallen's mother beckoned them over to their seats. Gino grinned and he couldn't have been happier as he sat down beside her, greeting her mother who smiled gently up at him and then the music began to play.

And as Gino stared at the front of the temple, he felt Kallen slip her delicate fingers into the palm of his hand, and he squeezed her hand gently, reassuringly, and they both smiled like idiots as the wedding began.