Wedding
The day of the wedding has arrived.
Hideki was adjusting his traditional black and white, wedding montsuki - as the first event was a traditional shinto wedding, held at the shrine near to their reception. They have done the rehearsal the day before the actual wedding, but he was still feeling nervous.
He puts on his contact lens and stares at the mirror, he wasn't used to it but he only uses it during special occasion. He sighs as he steps out of the bathroom.
"Hold on, miss. You need to put this on..." an assistant said, and Hideki looks over at her direction.
"Hey, Ishigami.. no peeking..." Hiroshi said as he blocks his view.
"What do you mean peeking? I've seen her for almost everyday..." he replies.
"Today is special..." Hiroshi laughs and gave him a pat on his shoulder.
"Alright, alright... you know we're in a rush, no?" he said to him.
"Yes, we know... she's ready, but needs a little adjustment to her kimono..." Hiroshi said before disappearing back into the room, while closing the door.
"How come he is let in... he's a guy after all..." Hideki thought to himself before walking away from the room.
As he went into the living room, he saw Nagi talking to his phone.
Nagi saw him, and gave him a 'wait' gesture.
After hanging up the call, Nagi turns around to face his brother in law.
"The family members are at the shrine. Shall I go give them a push?" Nagi said and points to the room where his sister and crew are.
"She's almost done..." Hideki replies.
Then, Shiki came out to the living room.
She was in her white wedding kimono, with her wataboshi (hood) over her head.
She pushed her hood up to revealed her face.
"Sorry... we had a little trouble with this thing..." she said as she points to her hood.
Hideki had his mouth open while staring at her, she noticed it and walks up to him.
She adjusted his kimono and smiles at him.
"It's finally come, huh?" she said to him, and he retains his posture.
"Yeah... you look beautiful..." he replies while placing his hand on her cheek.
"Oh? So you mean... I'm not usually beautiful?" she laughs.
"I didn't mean that. Stop changing my words..." he scolded, but he couldn't stay mad for long.
"Ok, lovebirds! Off to the venue!" Nagi chased them.
Moments later...
They had arrived to the shrine.
Their family members and the members of the shrine ready their positions.
As the ceremony started, the priest leads the way - followed by the rest.
Hideki walked in front of Shiki, and she was shielded by an umbrella that was carried by the shrine member.
Her parents and grandmother, including Yuusuke - was sitting and waiting at the shrine.
As the ceremony progress into the traditional sake drinking, Hideki steals a look at Shiki.
She was rather shy, and listen to what the priest says.
"It's time to exchange rings..." the priest says with a smile.
"I have never seen such a lovely couple as this one. It's like watching a movie.." the priest continues and laughs.
Hideki stares at the priest and looks at Shiki, and she did the same.
"Go ahead, exchange rings..." the priest laughs at them as he tries to order them to do what he says.
"Right.. the rings..." Hideki panicked while Shiki giggled.
"Happy marriage to you two..." the priest patted his hand on to Hideki's shoulder.
Hideki thanked the priest and the other guest before making his way to Shiki so they could change their outfit and head to the reception.
They weren't in a rush, but they do need to be fast.
Hideki was the first to get out in his suit, so he waited in the living room.
He was checking his phone for emails or anything important, then he saw Hiroshi running out of the room - leaving the door slightly open.
He saw Shiki in her gown, she was thirsty and gotten Hiroshi to fetch a glass of water for her - but he was stopped by Hideki.
"Hiro... I'm really thirsty. After that cup of sake, my throat has been dried out..." Shiki said before turning to see Hideki holding the glass of water.
"Thirsty?" he asked and hands her the glass.
"Erm... Hiro!" she blushed and frantically shouted for her boss.
"It's not my fault~ he stopped me!" Hiroshi cries from the living room.
"You done?" Hideki asked.
"Yeah... I think I'm done..." she replies after drinking a gulp of water.
"Shiki, let me help you with your dress..." her co worker said.
"Oh, thanks..." she replied and they left the place to head to the reception.
As Nagi drove them to the reception, he was being reminded by Hideki of his work.
"You know, you shouldn't have to worry about it. Namba have Kaga's team finishing up the process..." Nagi said while pulling up to their destination.
"I'm not worried..." Hideki replies, but he was pushed out of the car by Shiki - who was giggling.
"Stop talking about work..." she says to Hideki.
"Ok, you're right. Let's go..." he said and held his hand out to her.
Hideki leads her to the reception where everyone was...
The sisters did a good job in decorating the place.
Kurosawa then brought them towards the gazebo in the middle of the place, when suddenly...
Confettis shot out from all directions.
"What?" Hideki was taken by surprise as he covers Shiki with his body.
"Congratulations!!!" everyone shouted.
Shiki peeks from Hideki's embrace and looks at everyone, "look at them! They looked so cute together..." someone said when they noticed Shiki hiding from the confetti.
Hideki's face flushed and let's Shiki go.
Then they heard people sighed in awe when he let's go of her.
Suddenly...
"Eh hem! Excuse me!!!" Yuusuke voice comes through the speaker.
Everyone turned towards him, he was at a makeshift mini stage by the gazebo - and behind him was a white screen and a projector, Hideki was a little nervous when he saw it with him.
"Right... as you all know, Ishigami Hideki has been my best friend and family member when we grew up in the orphanage. We used to fight with each other as kids, and the caretaker has to pull us apart. But, that actually made our bond even closer.
When I knew him, I teased him about his hair. Heck, I still do it. Anyway, that's our love story, ha ha.
Then, in his final year in high school. He met his sweetheart, Shiki. When I was finally able to meet the one that he kept talking about, it was through an accident. She was replying some message on her phone, and as a graduate from that school - I pushed her away from danger, Hideki... you still owe me one for that.
Oh, yeah. When I finally met her, I was shock that - Hideki would choose a cute kind of girl like her. Since he was the almighty cyborg, his stoic face was one of his key traits, but having a cute girl like her was rather... I don't know, out of place for him.
He flustered, he stammered, he was acting weird when he is in front of her, he only does that as a kid when he wants to eat - pudding. And I know well on what to do... tease him more.
But, all happy things come to an end. He graduated high school and gotten himself a scholarship to go to the U.S to study... I remember waiting for him in his room, with his favorite snacks and a camera.
But when I saw him coming home alone, without her, I knew something was wrong. He broke down and cried, and went out alone before finally leaving Japan. But that doesn't stop there, he was rather stubborn on letting go of stuff. He would call me up everyday, letting me know of his progress in university and all, then he would ask me... have you seen her.
Whenever he asked me this question, I would scream and scold him.
It took him years to finally get him to where he is, and it took forever to search for her back. I remember telling him about her attending the high school reunion, and he was there just 5 minutes after she left - I told him, fate will bring them back together again. And it did...
Hideki, Shiki. You two made it happen. You two have been founded back by fate, even though that it's not in a good way, but... I'm so proud that it did... Congratulations..." Yusuke finished his speech, leaving Shiki to formed tears in her eyes - Hideki noticed it and hugs her tighter, letting her know that - he will never leave her again.
"Ok! Enough of that... let me show you something that I had collected through my years with Hideki! Hit it Kurosawa kun!" Yusuke signals for Kurosawa, who eventually turn on the projector.
It was showing pictures of Hideki and Shiki as kids, and some pictures during high school. And that only one picture that was taken in Disneyland with Shiki. Hideki glares at Yusuke for showing everyone his pictures and not letting him know.
"Yo, I think it's time for you two to go to the gazebo..." Nagi says to Hideki.
With a nod, Hideki leaded Shiki by gently pushing her back to the area.
"Everyone, please be quiet. The groom has something to say to the bride..." Kurosawa announced at the gazebo was getting excited, since Shiki doesn't know anything about Hideki's speech.
"OK... here goes..." Hideki whispers to her and breathe in the air heavily
"Since the first day I met you in school, till the day I graduated from it. I was the happiest person on the planet. But, when I tore it apart, after my graduation, I became the worst person ever. I tore us apart, yet left you alone. I regretted it.
For all those moments, being without you. I felt lonely... like how I felt when I lost my parents. I was miserable. And I kept myself busy with my studies and my part time job.
Then, when I was finally back, the first thing on my mind was - to find you. I tried going through records and all. Trying to go to your old residence. And I couldn't find you, but I didn't give up.
Finally... your case came to me.
And your nickname pops up in it.
I finally told myself that, I might have found you. And worked hard to get you meet me in that station.
Next, was the incident that you were caught by that stalker. My heart pounded so hard, afraid of losing someone who was very precious to me. I had already lost her once from my stupidity, I'm not gonna lose her again. I... was really scared.
When we saved you out of it...
I promised myself to never let you go again...
And my vow for today, tomorrow and for all the days to come. Till the day we have our own family and they have their family.
I wanted to be with you. Stay by my side and watch me grow old... and annoying?
I will do whatever it is, to make you the happiest person on earth.
Even if you cried... I want them to be tears of joy.
And I will always be the one who will still jinx you... no matter what.
I'm ready to protect you.
To love you even more.
To build a family with you.
And to watch us grow old together.
Are you ready?" Hideki finished his speech, everyone was silence - looking at the couple, waiting for Shiki's reply.
"H-Hideki... of course I do..." she finally says and jumps at him for a hug.
She was basically in tears now, and the only worry was, if her makeup was tear proof.
As the reception was progressing, Hideki took Shiki and walked along the sides of the park. They were quiet, but they were smiling. Hand in hand, Hideki admires the ring that he had put on onto her finger - it was the sign of his vows. He still couldn't believe that, this day has arrived. He day dream of it when they were dating, and he thought about it when he was alone. He found a spot to lean on, and wraps his arms around Shiki as he continues admiring her in every single detail.
"What is this?" he asked as he pokes her cheek.
"Hey... what are you doing?" she giggled.
"Looking at you... I don't know how to say this, but... I can't get enough looking at you..."
"What on earth are you talking about?" she blushed and giggled.
"Maybe the sake is kicking in... I don't know what am I talking about either..." he laughs along.
"If it was the sake... then, you're a light weight today..."
"Hm... maybe I'm just drunk of you..." he says and hugs her closely.
"You're pretty clingy today..."
"I'm tired, that's all..." he then puts his chin on her shoulder.
She patted his back and said, "rest here... there's more to do later..."
"More to do later? Where?" he looks at her.
"What do you mean, where? The reception needs to see the groom, you can't expect me to go around alone..." she replied.
"Oh, that... I thought of something else..."
"Something else? Like what?" she asked.
"Something that has got to do with a... bed..." Hideki smiles.
"... get your mind out of the gutter..."
"Don't mind if I do..." he laughs and tugs on her hand as he walks towards the crowd.
To be continued...
