Author's Notes: Here we are folks, the big 5-0.
Let me reiterate; Happy New Year. May this be a decent kick off for 2018.
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Ryuuji fiddled with his tie lightly, more out of nerves than anything. In front of him a small army of well-wishers and relatives were seated, and the more Ryuuji tried to tell himself what he saw was real, the harder it became to believe. He looked down at the front row, where Yasuko was grinning. A cage was seated next to her, Inko-chan looking back, hopping from one leg to the other. Most dismissed the bird as dumb, but Ryuuji knew, he knew the bird could predict the future, and when Ryuuji had denied a certain would ever come, the bird had shown perception unlike Ryuuji had ever known.
"Bullshit indeed, Inko-chan."
Next to Inko-chan were his own grandparents, which were the end of Ryuuji's blood-relation on his side of the building. Yasuko had been an only child, and in turn only had one child, and it wasn't like Ryuuji knew anything about his father beyond the stories Yasuko shared. The rest of Ryuuji's side were friends, or plus-ones thereof. There was Hisamitsu, and Maya. They'd happened, eventually. He'd never gotten details there, but they were a couple. Next to them were Koji and his wife-yes his wife. Ryuuji was still trying to figure that one out. Ah, whatever, like he was in a position to judge what was normal for a relationship.
On the row behind them was Sumire Knou, a woman he couldn't be sure he'd shared a full hundred words with. She'd been followed across the world a time ago, like objects rushing through the cosmos. Yuusaku had only rushed faster, burning brighter, until the two met in a brilliant blaze.
(That had been Yuusaku's wording, and to this day, Ryuuji didn't grasp the meaning, nor did he want to. He realized long ago that his closest friends were some of the most unhinged people he knew.)
He'd have looked to the Bride's side of the crowd for sanity, but considering who the bride was, that was a fool's hope.
The front row had an elderly couple, Mr and Mrs Aisaka, otherwise known as Taiga's grandparents on her (good for nothing) father's side. Rikurou was a black sheep in the family, apparently. Ryuuji would admit only to himself he was just a bit more terrified of Taiga's grandmother than of Taiga herself, if only for the thought of what would happen when such a far-beyond overly affectionate woman would do when angered. He'd heard only stories, but when the woman had learned of her son's actions during Taiga's high school years, well, Rikurou's brothers tended to shudder on the topic of her reaction.
Said black sheep was kept at the end of a row, up against the wall. Ryuuji would joke it was to keep him from running, but true words were often spoken in jest, and unhappy truths had no place here. it'd taken a while for the man to resurface after his business had collapsed, and even longer to hunt him down after he vanished again, but he had, and here he was. He had actually offered to walk his daughter down the isle...
...it took all of ten seconds for Taiga to get him to withdraw the offer. If she'd refused, he'd have likely ran off again! What else could she do?
(well that was her excuse, and Ryuuji didn't question it in the slightest. He was not going to question a woman with her...temperament.)
At the other end of the row (for Rikurou's safety) was Yuu, and her husband, Taiga's half-brother clinging to his mother tightly. Yuu did not come with a set of grandparents. Yuu's parents were, well, Rikurou was actually here. Taiga had made a colourful remark when it became clear they would not be attending.
Ah, more unhappy truths. Ryuuji took a breath, trying to force them from his mind. There were better things to focus on.
Better things, which were heralded by song. The wedding march was sounding out. Ryuuji turned to the distance, the doors opening.
Ryuuji smiled, this was gonna be good.
Two figures walked through the door, but neither were the bride. Taiga had insisted that the friends that made this happen be part of the entrance in one way or another. Somehow, that intent lead to this. Ami and Minori walked forward, each holding what was akin to a giant scroll as they walked forward.
They were literally rolling out the red carpet.
Minori's grin could be it own light source, restrained only by the pace Ami kept her walking. Minori was just keeping herself from cheering, a side effect of her current career pursuit, no doubt. Ami seemed briefly distracted, turning to a seemingly random face in the crowed, and winking.
Ryuuji found the target on the groom's side of the crowd, and found him with a slight blush. A few years after high school, Ami had decided to follow in her mother's footsteps, who had used her connections to get Ami the lead female role of a short series based on a book Anna had liked. Said book's author insisted on being part of his creation coming to life.
He and Ami hit it off. Well, she hit him, and it went from there. (Something about her character being "bitchy" during a scene, and a suggestion that Ami should "act natural".)
The pair reached the end of the scroll, setting it down and taking their places. Ryuuji's eyes were already at the door, where the bride was making her entrance.
Arm in arm, Kitamura and Taiga walked down the isle. Kind of odd to have the best man also being the one giving away the bride, but never let anyone claim Taiga did anything normally. He'd try finding a word, "radiant", "beautiful", but he'd never been a poet, and words seemed cheap anyway. Taiga had never needed grand words.
He didn't have grand words to offer. He made his vow long ago. Today would just be repeating It. Since Ancient times, only a Dragon could stand with a Tiger. All he would do to today was declare that he would stand with his Tiger, forever. By her side, and the side of the three lives Taiga carried within her.
He'd say nothing they didn't already know.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today..."
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End
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