The Yellow Brick Road
Chapter 21: WEDDING – Cagalli sends Kisaka off
February, C.E. 81
Cagalli's quite excited. It's tradition for family to give away the groom and the bride on their wedding day, and Cagalli always imagined that she'd be giving away her child maybe in forty years. Never did she think that she'd be given the opportunity before she even turned thirty. But there she is in her seafoam dress, relaxing on a lounge chair and grinning proudly at one of the best men she's ever known while he's getting ready.
"Stop looking at me like that."
"Like what?" Cagalli feigns innocence and remains calm in the face of Ledonir Kisaka's stern expression. She's used to that look anyway.
Kisaka gives Cagalli a blank stare as her face shifts to a playful expression. "Like that."
Cagalli still acts like she doesn't know what he's talking about, so Kisaka can only sigh in exasperation. "Why are you even here? You're not supposed to be."
Kisaka's right, of course. Traditionally, females aren't allowed to be inside the groom's chambers before the ceremony. Stupid customs, really.
Cagalli shrugs, unaffected. "I have my ways. I've come to realize people find it very hard to deny me."
Kisaka's eyes are narrowed, but they both know he's just thoroughly amused. He scolds her, "You've become so drunk with power."
"For all the right reasons," Cagalli says without missing a beat.
Kisaka responds drily, "You should be removed from position."
"You wish," Cagalli scoffs, rolling her eyes.
Kisaka laughs, and it comforts Cagalli to hear his deep voice show so much mirth. She'll miss that, and him. She stands from her seat and makes her way to him, who's been standing in front of a full-length mirror. "It must've been difficult trying to keep me alive all these years. I feel like I've held you back for so long. I didn't even know you had a long-time partner until recently."
He smiles fondly at his ward — former ward, that is. "It's been an honor to have watched you become the person you are now. You've endured well. I'm very proud of you."
"You've endured well too. Thank you for putting up with me." Cagalli smiles up at him, reaching to fix his crooked tie. Then she offers him a wide grin, with a mischievous sparkle in her eye. "I call dibs on godmother!"