Previously...
'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.
29: Sweet Dreams are Made of This
The oriental bells rang in sweet harmony while flower petals snowed down on the joyous crowd that had moved to the outdoors. Hand-in-hand, the newly-wed ran down the stone aisle smiling deliriously and everything in their future looked even more promising than ever. Their hands warmed against each other even on this chilly spring morning, and such exhilaration coursing through their veins made the bride and groom do the unthinkable, surprising everyone in an instant.
Taiga began peeling off her pristine kimono layers that were dragging her down and tossed them over her shoulder in her trail. Ryuuji followed suit and let himself loose from the binding black robe but characteristically folding it into a neat pile before depositing it with Kitamura. Taiga on the other hand could care less for these burdensome pieces which left Ami and Minori picking them in her trail in the likeliness of flustered mothers. When Taiga was down to her last basic layer, she was almost tempted to lose it too but Ryuuji caught her hands in good time and pressed his lips to her ears and reminded her what she had momentarily forgotten, only to leave both of them chuckling like babies at the end of it all.
While most of their audience laughed along with their mischievous antics, Taiga's mother was assessing the newly-wed with an appraising sneer, no doubt disapproving it with her grisly glare. And she did it with good reason, the couple was due for a post-wedding lunch with their guests and yet they had went ahead undressing indecently in public, nonetheless. She was about to make her statement heard when a gentle hand landed on her shoulder and Yasuko persuaded her that it would all be fine. With a shrug, the two mothers watched their children behave, well, like children.
When Taiga and Ryuuji decided to marry, they were instantly drawn to the idea of holding it near their special place. And it had happened coincidentally that there was a plausible location near there which became their choice of a wedding location. But this - what they are about to do, was definitely not in their plans. Not originally, at least.
Taiga and Ryuuji were still charging on at full-speed, leaving their guests behind by a great deal of distance. Ami, Minori, Kitamura and Sumire were still tagging along, and when they finally got close enough to see where the couple were headed to they finally apprehended this strange behavior. In a unison leap, the couple jumped into the river and kicked around in the water like kids. This was the very same river under the bridge where Ryuuji fumbled with his confession, it was also where they pledged their love for one another after their separation. Ryuuji pulled Taiga into an embrace and began twirling her petite frame in circles, causing them both to laugh uncontrollably as they spun out of control. When Taiga finally shouted for a time-out, Ryuuji stopped spinning and they both collapsed into the river giggling.
'Oh my gosh, Taiga, not only is your mother going to freak but you still have an entire roomful of guests awaiting your return. Are you sure you'd be fine looking - like this?'
Ami gestured at Taiga who looked down consciously and her cheeks immediately flushed fuchsia. Her last layer of white robe had became translucent in the water and her inner wear was clearly outlined. Ryuuji instinctively covered his wife in a protective stance and glared at a helpless looking Kitamura who looked away frantically.
'Come on kids, get out of there and put this on Taiga.'
Minori handed Ryuuji one of the robes Taiga had previously discarded and they carefully packed the bride in layers of robes so she would neither been seen in this state nor catch a cold. Ryuuji was soon decked in his black robe and shivered in the chilly cold.
'Seriously I wouldn't say I'm the least surprise to find chibi-chan behaving so impulsively, but even Takasu?'
Even Sumire took the chance to mock the inappropriate couple while standing next to a somewhat reserved looking Kitamura who was trying to overcome the glare from his usually gentle best friend.
Taiga was grinning ear to ear when she looked up at Ryuuji, and Ryuuji smiled back despite his tendency to shudder in the cold every now and then.
'Well, we can't help it since this place -'
'This is where it all began.'
The rest of the gang looked on at the silly couple with such warm smiles that the chilly February wind soon bothered no one and shortly later, they made their return to the wedding celebration.
-OAOAOA-
'Give me one good reason on why I should not give you an honest piece of my mind?'
Taiga's mother glared from behind her rimmed glasses, her stare crumbling Taiga's every wall of defense.
'It is within my plan to be wearing a western dress for the celebrations so the kimono matters not, and the traditional kimono is paid for by me-'
The dowager cleared her throat loudly.
'-okay, alright. By us! By you! Therefore, a little fun at the side of a rather stressful morning isn't too much to ask for now is it!'
Taiga's mother sighed and then bit down her lips, as if considering a dire situation that involved exploding kimonos and flesh-eating gowns.
'I suppose it was my one-sided expectation that you would behave more feminine-like now that you're all grown up and due as someone's wife. Well, I suppose if FUN is that important, have it your way.'
Taiga blushed furiously at her mother's words and Ryuuji wondered if she was so overcome with anger that words have failed her. He continued to bounce between his mother-in-law and wife, hoping to find a way to mediate the situation.
'Well, although I should be putting a harsh word down too since my son was equally mindless in this situation but I can't deny that happiness does occasionally get to people's mind. I've done some pretty reckless things despite being someone's mother.'
Yasuko was beaming proudly as if she had just announced her winning of the noble prize to an entire roomful of admirers. Ryuuji cannot help himself from admiring his mother's frank approach in such situations. Even the relentless glare from Taiga's mother floundered under this outburst.
When all dust has settled, the couple continued to enjoy their wedding celebration among their friends and family until night arrives. And when night time arrives, Taiga began to feel helplessly nervous and began fussing over every detail with Minori and Ami.
'And all our outfits are dried, packed and collected?'
'Yes, ma'am!' Minori giggled in her reply.
'What about the gifts? Do we have it nicely sorted, and packed?'
Ami did a salute and a nod in response.
'I think I missed out signing on some of the papers - they're gonna be really pissed off and I might have forgotten to pay them their check!'
Ryuuji kissed the top of Taiga's forehead and replied in an assuring tone, 'It's all paid and settled, my dear wife. I've done all of that.'
But Taiga was anything but calm now, her cheeks flushing fuchsia and she continued in her flustered voice, 'I know what it is, I've left our wedding certificate in the river!'
A confused looking Ryuuji took out a file from the bag he was holding and showed evidence of the existing, dry and safe wedding certificate to Taiga.
'Taiga, what's wrong? We've got everything covered so why are you so flustered?'
'I'm NOT flustered! I'm - I am seriously working hard on being a proper wife alright!'
Ami and Minori chuckled at Taiga's attempt to explain herself, clearly disagreeing with Taiga's unconvincing explanation.
'Taiga, don't let your mother's words get to you. You're perfect (Ami snickered some more at this point) - and it is our wedding night so why don't you-'
'Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!'
Taiga punched the air around her aimlessly where one caught Ryuuji in the jaw. He rubbed his painful jaw and watched his wife's reaction in utter shock.
'Why do you - How could you - JUST STOP TALKING!'
Silence permeated the entire room and everyone froze in action, wondering when it would be safe to move without triggering another round of panic attack in the bride.
When sufficient time has passed, Ami broke the silence and ushered Minori out of the room.
'We'd leave the trip back to your honeymoon suite to you two love-birds, surely you need no help in that department!'
Their trip back to their honeymoon suite was unfortunately plagued in silence even when they were both seated closely in the cab, both were equally lost in their own thoughts. Ryuuji was more than afraid to speak, as he desperately tried to fathom his wife's strange behavior. And Taiga was doing such a good job in letting Ryuuji on to her concerns that she spent most of the trip staring out of the window.
Finally, they arrived in the beautifully decorated suite. To call it beautiful, is a fair understatement. The walls were lined with elegant floral wallpaper, the bed decked in luscious materials and topped with rose petals. Even the dim lighting set the room in an inarguable romantic atmosphere. Except for the silent newlywed who stood out like sore thumbs.
Ryuuji heaved a loud sigh and set their bags in a corner. He turned to Taiga expectantly and grinned. Realization had dawned on him just as they entered the room, he knew exactly what was bothering his wife to this extent.
'My dear wife -'
He watched Taiga's expression closely, and as expected her cheeks turned red in an instant.
'As your husband, I'm really very concerned about this situation we're having.'
Taiga twisted her fingers together nervously.
'As wife and husband, we should communicate things clearly, you know. In spoken words, not merely implied.'
Taiga raised her hands to hide her face but Ryuuji caught them in an instant.
'Gotcha! Did you really think after years of being a couple I wouldn't be able to guess what you're thinking? And you're still gonna try and hide this from me?'
Taiga looked up at Ryuuji with her rosy flushed cheeks, her eyes glistening in the semi-lit room and her lips quivering in apprehension. Ryuuji felt his knees go weak at the sight before him, and steeled himself for the following. He took a deep breath and continued to explain his theory.
'Do you have to be so embarrassed to be called my wife? Just this morning, you seemed incredibly happy kicking around in the river with your husband.'
'Ryuuji! You - you dog! You're doing this on purpose aren't you! How dare you-'
Her sentence was cut short promptly when Ryuuji pressed his lips onto hers, her mind went blank in that moment but slowly, she began to respond to the kiss. It was soft and tender at times, but urgent and passionate every other moment. Taiga felt her knees lose strength and crumpled onto the floor, pulling Ryuuji with her but not once cutting off their fervent kiss.
'I love you, Taiga. And I understand it's going to take you some time to get used to this new way of calling each other, but we can do it slowly you know?'
'You- you just went ahead embarrassing me non-stop before our-'
She blushed before she could finish her sentence, and Ryuuji giggled silently before kissing her hair. Even small things such as these makes him more in love with her. He pulled her to her feet and bent his knees slightly to reach her face, their noses kissing.
'Even if you get embarrassed and act funnily, even throwing a tantrum - it's fine. I'd take it all,' he smiled at her reassuringly.
They pulled in closer for another kiss and the night ended peacefully.
The next morning arrived without any surprise, and Ryuuji woke to a blissful morning while peering into Taiga's eyes. To his surprise, Taiga was wide awake before him for the very first time and was propped on her elbows as she smiled at Ryuuji mysteriously.
'Good morning, my dear husband. Suppose you are feeling exhausted after a busy day yesterday?'
Ryuuji's eyes widened at Taiga's implied words and was just about to speak when he was silenced promptly by a kiss from her. She pulled away, an impish smile flitted across her face, as she walked away from the bed with the blanket wrapped around her petite frame and spoke in a confident tone missing from her demeanor yesterday.
'Just thought I'd be a better wife and not keep my husband waiting too long for me to get used to his new name-calling business.' She turned and grinned at Ryuuji who was floored by her sudden change.
He should have known better that Taiga was never one of those girls who would let the episode from yesterday go without a little payback time.
- End -
Don't forget to drop the author a little love with a +fav or a +review if you liked the author's effort. Small encouragements like these are power fuels for us! :)
Although I have an update for all...
Hello everyone, first of all let me earnestly apologize for my rather long hiatus. I was away from the site for many personal reasons, joyous and busy reasons and it's becoming more than difficult to balance everything. Maybe I could say is whatever is happening is sort of a parallel to this story and what I'm on to write about
But when I returned to (after discovering that all the alerts from had ended in my SPAM folder, tsk!) I was delightfully overwhelmed by the +reviews and +fav for this story! I hear everyone who wish for the story to continue, but because of whatever is happening in work, life, love etc it's becoming hard for me to make a decision. I can only say either of the following two might happen:
1. I continue the story, but updates are going to be unpredictable and possibly more sporadic (sorry!)
2. To wrap up the story in a few more chapters to the best I can (I think I can still manage another 3-5 chaps max)
So my dear readers, if you have not abandoned me after reading the above, do let me know your thoughts and I'd most likely take on the more popular choice. I love this story so much, it's probably my favorite written piece on but alas one only has 24 hours a day and as you age, obligations increase and your time is spread thinner. I seek your understanding on how difficult a choice this becomes, and I desperately wish not to be one to leave things open-ended.
On another note, I hope you all liked the chapter with all the fluff, drama and usual-silly-antics from our lovely gang. I must say, even though I have not written for such a long time, I had much fun writing this still!
I patiently, and humbly, await for the responses to come in and heaven to give me a sign!
With love,
Hanabiaki
