'Taiga,' Ryuuji picked up Taiga's hand and pressed his warm lips on the back of her hand before finishing his sentence, 'shall we continue with the ceremony?'
Following the grand saga of the missing groom and fresh engagement of Kitamura and Sumire, the room was engulfed in joyful chatters as everyone discussed the bizarre turn of events. Ami and Minori were laughing at an animated, possibly highly intoxicated Kitamura who laughed uncontrollably every now and then while standing next to a flustered Sumire who was desperately coping with the growing attention on her. Everyone seem to have neglected the highlighted couple of the day, although Ryuuji felt immensely relieved to have a slice of time to catch his breath and admire the beauty of his wife-to-be.
However all he saw was uneasiness in Taiga. Taiga wordlessly pushed away Ryuuji as she walked out of the room in quick and urgent strides. Ryuuji chased after her receding figure while the rest of the room turned to the couple, trying to understand this new situation. Minori was all ready to break into a run and chase after her best friend, but Ami placed a strong hand on her shoulder and returned an assuring smile. They all understood this instant that the only person who can pacify a raging Taiga would be none other than Ryuuji, and decided to wait patiently for their return while they move back to the main hall and manage the crowd.
Taiga's small hands plucked up the heavy cluster of cloth that made up her white, wedding kimono as she ran down the hall in her petite wooden sandals. Ryuuji who was in a similarly heavy black kimono with golden embroidery ran after her with great effort, his mind racing through a million worries. There were simply too many reasons that came to mind as he tried to pin-point Taiga's outrage, and his heart crunched painfully beneath his rib cage every time he recalled Taiga's assumption that he would leave her for someone else. How could that ever be possible?! She would always be the one for him, and she was the one his heart pinned for even though he thought himself to be in love with Minori for the longest time! A day without Taiga made time pass in long and aimless fashion and when they had to be apart, he was plagued by dreams of their reunion every lonely night. And each given day with her blessed him with memories he had no wish of ever letting go, be them good or bad. He breathed painfully as he recalled the agony he felt when they were apart, he must never let that happen for his heart would break and be grounded to dust if he will never be able to hear again her chime-like laughter or be greeted by her energized embraces each time he returned home.
But he understood all too well the pain she felt when she assumed his betrayal, the twisted ache in one's heart as jealousy seeps through the veins was something he wish he never have to feel. Yet he cannot deny that there were times when jealousy grips his mind whenever he recalls Taiga's past crush on Kitamura and how hard she tries to get his attention. He was there with her every step she took to get closer to the one she once loved, every burnt cookie she made for Kitamura and every fouled attempt to confess became all too painful for Ryuuji to recall. Ryuuji knew that Taiga must have felt the same way for his past crush on Minori, but for now they moved on as a stronger couple. So the loneliness and fear Taiga felt today was naturally a pain that would take an even longer time to heal and he was ready to assume all responsibility to make her happy once more. He was slowly catching up to a fast moving Taiga, and he stretched his arms out to grab her flailing white sleeves firmly. Finally, he caught the palmtop Taiga in his arms once more.
'Please,' he wheezed hard as he tried to catch his breath, 'Don't leave me. Don't say you won't be with me, kick me or scold me but don't say you hate me.'
His brows were twisted into a knot as he waited nervously for her response, his eyes blazing beneath the furrowed brows and if you had no idea that Ryuuji was anything but menacing, you would begin to fear for the tiny bride's safety.
Taiga's eyes widened at Ryuuji's desperate confession as she stood rooted in his embrace, after half a minute or so she made to push his hands away gently for she really could not hold back any longer.
'Er, Ryuuji, please let me go. It's rather urgent.'
'No! I said it before and I'd say it again, I'm never letting you go!' his voice sounded muffled as he buried his face in her white dress.
'No, you don't understand. I- Er- I drank too much water, Yasuko-chan kept trying to calm me down and just served me glass after glass and now it's becoming... rather urgent.'
Ryuuji pulled back and watched Taiga with confusion in his eyes as he weighed her words, 'What's really urgent? The wedding ceremony? Why is water involved?'
Taiga could no longer hold back and gave the persistent dragon a menacing head butt as she abandoned all modesty and said what she really wanted to say, 'I really need to pee urgently so let me go and stop asking me nonsensical questions!'
Approximately fifteen minutes later, Taiga reappeared from the washroom with a satisfied look. With some help from Ryuuji much to Taiga's dismay, they managed to relieve Taiga from her heavy robes and let her use the washroom in peace. Of course, Ryuuji was standing guard outside the washroom with her wedding robes waiting for his wife-to-be's return.
'Um, Taiga? I'm sorry for being such a klutz and misinterpreting everything, I even made you feel so uncomfortable when you were feeling most, er-'
'Restless?'
'Yes, restless is the word. I hope you're feeling better now,' he held up the pristine white robe for Taiga to flit into and then knelt on his knees to tie her obi quietly.
'Don't be apologizing to me, Ryuuji. I should be the one apologizing, I have so much to apologize for.' She held his face gently between her hands and looked earnestly into his eyes. 'I should have more faith in you, and less of that coward horrible temper of mine. As your wife-to-be, I really failed at so many things and I'd make it a point to control these insecurities better, and really! You should stop spoiling me, apologizing even though you have done nothing wrong is just spoiling me rotten you know!'
Ryuuji leapt to his feet and pulled Taiga into another soft embrace, 'I'm totally fine with spoiling you. And call me a masochist but I'm also loving the fact that you were angry at me, it made me realize how much you treasured me although I really hate the fact that I made you feel insecure as a result of that.' He tightened his arms around her and he felt Taiga snuggle in closer and a smile spread across his face, 'we will just have to learn together on how to be better at this.'
Taiga nodded against his chest, and breathed in relief that they had all the crazy knots from this morning sorted out. She sniffed again uncontrollably, before she asked in a curious voice, 'Ryuuji, you have cologne on today?'
Ryuuji smiled at her question, 'Sometimes I would put on some of the cologne Kitamura got me from America, but you only realized now?'
Taiga closed her eyes and sniffed again, 'No, I just realized how familiar this scent is. But today, it feels special. It's making me feel that all I want to do is to snuggle against your chest.'
Ryuuji's face flushed red quickly at Taiga's words, he pulled her into a tighter embrace so she wouldn't see his embarrassed expression. He too, wanted to be locked in this embrace forever, if only they didn't have a wedding to return to.
'Oh no! We forgot all about the ceremony! We have to get back to it now, Taiga!'
In the midst of their panicky state, they returned to the main hall looking ever more disheveled than before. But the rest of their friends were relieved to see that the couple were smiling from ear to ear and proceeded to prep them for their traditional Japanese wedding ceremony.
'Are you ready, Taiga?' Ryuuji asked as Ami helped him straighten his obi.
'More than ever,' replied a grinning Taiga as Minori pinned a few stray strands of hair into place.
The bells chimed, and the ceremony that everyone had anticipated the entire morning finally began.
- End -
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And this will continue with a few more chapters, so +follow if you would like to keep reading it! *^^*
I must say, it's taking the two beloved couple some time before they can be married safe and sound. But here's a relatively light-hearted chapter to offset the heavier chapter from before! They're taking baby steps, and all over the place as always but they're getting there now so be patient with these two okay? :D
Sorry that the gap between chapters are taking a little longer these days, previously I mentioned that the health wasn't great. Then, everyone else I knew kept going in and out of the hospital. But rest assured, the moment I can write, I will write! Writing these stories have been a wonderful way for me to indulge in my daydreams and I cannot stop myself from it either. A little challenge to getting the time to actually have the thoughts written into stories here but I'd keep trying!
There is also another dilemma - what should happen after the wedding? I'm not sure if I should continue and write about their post wedding life too? Can you share with me your thoughts? I'd be glad to hear them all!
And also, a big thank you to those who reviewed! I know I'm still learning the art of writing and sometimes it's hard to meet all expectations but I'd try the best I can okay? Hope to make the story enjoyable even in the future, and once again I cannot emphasize enough how important and wonderful it is to receive reviews, of all kinds! Much love xoxo!
