Chapter 24: All our secrets

Taiga pressed close to Ryuuji's ear and whispered, 'I'm wearing my ultimate-secret-weapon-nightgown.'

Ryuuji stumbled in the act of preparing their futon for the night and fell flat on his face, looking up his squashed face was red and poufy. Internally, he calmed his nerves and senses the best he could manage, and continued to gaze quietly at his mischievously ginning girlfriend. No, correct that, she was now officially his fiancée. They had taken a new step and now they were sitting close to each other on this square futon waiting for a future that used to be far out of their reach. She watched Taiga who sat on the futon, helplessly wondering what was beneath her robe.

Breathe, Ryuuji, Breathe…

Seeing that Ryuuji was busy processing the new information she had just revealed, Taiga began to plan her next move. She had gone into the situation blind and was clueless on what to do, but she felt that today would be the right day to make a move. Towards their future together as a couple, they had taken small and big steps along the way to be where they are now, and she wanted the happiness she felt today to reach him. Although this was a risky step for her – but she felt bolder following Ryuuji's daring display of affection earlier on at the party.

He took a seat next to her. She lifted her head to watch his dazed expression. He reached across slowly to hold her hand. She returned the gesture with gentle smile. She could feel his hands trembling and he could hear her heart pounding. Without a word, she closed her eyes and lifted her chin. In the quiet room, he leaned across and let their lips meet. The many moments they shared and built together made their common future so much more beautiful, so they promise each other to treasure every minute spent together. Their hugs and kisses may come and go like fireworks, but the emotions invoked would imprint in their hearts forever. They shared so much in common yet they were so different, and it made their life the most complimenting match for each other.

From now on, this is the beginning of an eternity together.

'You may soon be tired of hearing this, Taiga, but I love you.' Taiga opened her eyes and the sunlight streaming through the windows blinded her vision. Ryuuji's voice had woken her and she could feel his warm presence right next to her and she wondered how many more wonderful surprises are waiting for them in the future. The clueless stomach held no regards for such tender moments and protested with a loud growl. Of course, she was hungry! Ryuuji laughed heartily at Taiga's bashful display of hunger, her ears were red to the very tip. 'Alright, time for us to get up and prepare breakfast, would you help me, my dear wife?'

Taiga waved her hands frantically and playfully pushed Ryuuji's face away, 'Who are you calling your wife! I'm not married to you officially yet. No, I mean! Wait! Just stop… saying such embarrassing things you stupid dog!' Taiga was overcome with embarrassment and buried her face in her hands. Ryuuji smirked at Taiga's awkward outburst and gently peeled her hands from her face. 'I know you're hungry, dear wife, so let's just go have our breakfast now.'

To their greatest surprise, Yasuko had already prepared breakfast for them this morning – a simple but delicious spread of eggs and ham. 'Good morning, you two! I made an assumption that you'd both wake up late this morning so I decided to volunteer and make us some breakfast!' The couple flushed red from head to toe at Yasuko's words and returned shy gratitude to their mother.

'Ah! Ya-chan, I had ben intending to ask this since some time ago but the schedule was just too packed. When did Yasuko find out about Ryuuji's plans?' Taiga asked midway through breakfast, and Ryuuji wheeled around quickly to face Yasuko. 'Eh? Mother you knew about my plans?!' Yasuko nodded nonchalantly and watched Ryuuji with a seriousness she hardly showed. 'Mothers know everything about their children, Ryu-chan.' Ryuuji swallowed silently, somehow Yasuko had been surprising him non-stop these few days – and he suddenly recalled that his mother had actually became best friends with Taiga's slightly, just slightly, overbearing mother. 'That reminds me, and you've become good friends with Taiga's mother?'

Yasuko nodded with a smile and answered Ryuuji's inquisition, 'We are now very good friends! Although when we first met, we both lamented on how our kids have reached the rebellious age and would elope together leaving us behind! And then we got to know each other better we simply became the best of friends!' Taiga and Ryuuji regarded Yasuko in astonishment, that Yasuko was able to get along with such a difficult person so easily was both surprising and unnerving. 'Ya-chan, you're amazing!' Taiga was the first to voice her internal thoughts out loud and Yasuko beamed in pride. 'It's love, Taiga-chan! LOVE!'

'So Taiga-chan, if there is anything about the wedding that you need help with you can always ask your mother for help too. Never underestimate a mother's love for a child, no matter what had happened in the past, I can tell that she loves you very much.' Taiga nodded at Yasuko's words with tearing eyes and somehow, she could begin to understand the meaning behind Yasuko's words.

The next few weeks that followed went past at an insane speed and Ryuuji and Taiga were floored with preparations for their wedding. There were decisions to be made and plans to be put into action and instead of basking in their new status of blissfulness they were constantly swarmed to get things done. They wanted to hold their wedding at a traditional Shinto shrine and so had to locate one of a suitable location. Taiga had already provided their wedding outfit, but they needed to settle other details such as a photographer, plans for a simple reception and the invites to their friends. Ryuuji had to simultaneously prepare for his graduation ceremony although it was a relief when he found out that he no longer needed to attend classes. After two particularly long and busy weeks, Taiga was on the edge of losing her calm.

'THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE!' Ryuuji jumped in his seat and slowly put down his bowl of rice and waited for the continuation to Taiga's much expected outburst. 'ONLY A MONTH OR SO LEFT AND WE STILL HAVE NOT DECIDED ON SO MANY DETAILS! And then there's that impossible photographer who keeps bargaining with us, and the invites to print keeps getting delayed and, and, and!'

Ryuuji caught Taiga's flailing hands and looked firmly into her eyes, trying to calm her down and hear him out. 'Listen, Taiga. It feels impossible right now but I have a suggestion so hear me out.' Taiga took a deep breathe, and nodded. 'Let's get your mother to help. Unlike Yasuko, she has gone through a wedding herself and would know what to do.' Taiga's eyes grew wide at Ryuuji's suggestion but she remained calm, and then she heaved out a long sigh before saying to Ryuuji, 'I think we should.' Ryuuji gave Taiga a thoughtful look and then suggested that they let Yasuko contact her.

'No, I'd do it. I can do it.' She returned Ryuuji's concerned gaze with a determined look and Ryuuji smiled in relief. Slowly, but surely, Taiga was transforming before his very eyes. Once in the past, she had relied on him for almost every situation in life – whether it was her daily meals or chores to keep the place neat and tidy, he was there for her. It surprisingly made him swell with pride to see that Taiga had matured over their time spent together and she was becoming an incredible woman that he is madly in love with.

Wordlessly, he leaned across and kissed her gently on her lips, her hands unconsciously found its way to his shirt and she clung onto him. When they broke away from the kiss, Taiga smiled gently at her gentle protector and spoke in a hushed tone she reserved for tender moments like this, 'Thank you, for always being there for me, Ryuuji.'

Ryuuji pretended to frown at her words, and teased, 'When are you going to give it up and start calling me your husband!' Taiga laughed at Ryuuji's pouting face and leaned her head against his shoulder, 'The day will come when I call you that before everyone who stood by us.' Ryuuji blushed at Taiga's words and he had to admit that he could hardly wait for the much anticipated day to arrive.

Although there remains the very long list of preparation, that sits in the corner waiting for them to conquer.

- End -

Wooooohoooo, a little romance is in the air this chapter. Thank you everyone for the reviews, the likes and the follows! I'm trying to infuse as much real life details I know about planning for a wedding into this, but I'm enjoying writing about their newfound state of happiness at the moment! Hope I didn't make anyone too nervous in the first half of the story, I just HAD to write that in :p

I'm also writing a couple of other fanfics for shoujo stories, if you're a fan of Dengeki Daisy or Ao Haru Ride, check out these stories from my profile :D