To New Beginnings
Akito x shigure wedding.
It was a decision he'd left up to her of what type of wedding they should have, Shinto or western styled. The latter was growing in popularity, and with Akito maturing and moving away from the olden ways of thinking, Shigure had assumed she would choose it. So, it was to his surprise when she'd picked Shinto. You hate wearing suits, was her justification, and that was true. Shigure preferred to wear a comfortable kimono, but he also knew that for the females, the heavier wedding type could be very cumbersome. Akito had merely shrugged it off, saying she didn't mind.
She chose a heavily brocaded red uchikake kimono over the pure white shiromuku type. Both colors represent purity in the Shinto religion, but in her opinion, she didn't deserve to wear white, which even in the western sense invoked a sense of piety and virginal goodness that did not fit her background. He had to agree. Akito has made many leaps in terms of gaining forgiveness, but not all of her sins have fully washed away in everyone's minds. 'Yet,' Shigure reminds himself. Saying I'm sorry doesn't fix a lifetime of pain inflicted, but considering every zodiac RSVP'd to the reception, it showed a promise of absolution.
With the help of the Sohma family staff, the wedding ceremony was set to be a very small affair with only the closest members in attendance, with a bigger reception planned for the late afternoon to host the rest of the family. It was a big deal for the head of the Sohma clan to be marrying, but Akito didn't want it to be blown out of proportion simply for her.
"Who should we have as the nakodo?" Shigure asks his fiancé, "the priest said we should choose someone to fill the role."
"It's stupid to have a fake matchmaker," Akito responds.
He chuckles, "I agree, but it's part of the tradition and you did chose Shinto."
"I did," she sighs. "Well I suppose Tohru might be the closest to match the description, if not for her coming into our lives, this may never have taken place."
"You really believe that?" Akito nods. "In that case, Tohru it is!" Shigure teases and kisses her on the cheek. "I'm sure she'll be honored."
The eleven zodiacs with any significant others stand at the back of the room behind the tables of sake and fruits, watch the shinzen kekkon procession. In the middle stand Shigure and Akiko, while up front flanking the alter, a priest and miko call upon the Gods to bless the couple. Everything is highly ritualized, and for a few in attendance, this was the first time they were seeing a Shinto wedding ceremony.
"Please," the priest motions for Shigure and Akiko to stand in front of the altar where three cups now sit.
As the husband-to-be, Shigure begins the san-san-ku-do ceremony, picking up the smallest cup. Sake is poured in and he drinks from it before offering it to his bride-to-be. Akiko now takes the second cup. Again, sake is poured for her, she drinks, and offers it to her husband-to-be. And finally, the third cup and final partaking is first drunk by Shigure, then Akiko, symbolizing an oath of sharing both the joys and sorrows between them.
Once the sake portion is complete, the priest address Shigure. "Your vow, please."
Shigure takes Akiko's hands in his, smoothing over the webbing between her thumb and pointer fingers. He lowers his gaze, a light tinge of moisture filmed over his eyes, and a sunny smile perched upon his face. "It had been an endless dream for so many years, haunting me ever since I knew of your existence. But I knew, I've always known, that there would never be anyone else in this world that I could ever love more than I've loved you. The first half of our lives were a struggle. There were moments that I wanted to give up and times it was the furthest thought in my mind. I've watched you go from a broken and angry man to a humble and adoring woman, whose raven-hair beauty now matched with the soul that resides within. I give thanks to the woman who helped to make this all possible," he looks over, and Akiko follows his gaze, "Tohru Sohma. Whose kindness and loving nature disrupted all of our lives, breaking through the walls around our hearts and opening them to receive love again. It is because of you," Shigure returns his gaze back to Akiko, "that I get to marry the woman that I love. To new beginnings my love, we shall write a new chapter of our lives from this day forward."
Tears gathered in Akiko's eyes as she quietly listened to Shigure's vows. All of the emotions, their lives and the journey that to led to this moment coming back. She could honestly say, it was the happiest time in her life so far. It was clear how much this man truly loved her. He pushed her, struggled with her, and yet never gave up on her. Shigure could have easily done so a long time ago when she'd been cruel, but because he stuck it out, she was now blessed with his acceptance.
More sniffles ring out from the back of the room while the rings are exchanged, and the priest does his final prayers to Izanagi and Izanami. "May the Gods bring you peace and balance," the reverent older man prays as he places the ornamental evergreen upon the altar. Shigure and Akiko then place their offerings next to the altar, followed by their chosen familial representatives, Hatori and Tohru.
"Kanpai!" Once the offering symbolized a closing to the ceremonies, congratulatory tributes ring out from the gathered zodiac's and Sohma family members. "Kanpai!" Sake is poured and everyone, even those still under 19, get a sip to honor the new union. Shigure and Akiko give their thanks to everyone for being there to bear witness, then take their leave to change before the reception.
In an adjacent changing room, Shigure kisses his new wife and gathers her in his arms. "How are you feeling?"
Akiko sighs, closing her eyes and resting her cheek against his chest. No other words could truly describe how happy she felt. "Just Blessed…"