Disclaimer: I do not own PoT
Chapter 46: Small Wedding
It was no surprise that in the morning it was chaotic. Sakuno was surprised by a bunch of people that she didn't know putting her into a dress, doing her makeup and her hair. Just as the people were helping her into her dress to do her hair, Tomoka and Ann burst through the door with smiles on their faces.
"We can't miss you getting ready for your big day!"
They seemed like they were also attacked by people as their dresses were half finished and their hair was not even ready. Makeup seemed to be smeared a little, Sakuno giggled at the sight and soon the hoard of people that were working on the girls showed up and got the girls into any place they could find within the room so that they can fix the horror that was created from the scuffle.
"Sakuno so you have thought this through? Because somehow I had a feeling you weren't going to go through with it?"
Sakuno smiled again as she responded quietly…
"Yes… I wanted to stop because I thought he was sacrificing his life trying to fulfil his obligations…"
Tomoka seemed to perk up to her words as she asked with a raised eyebrow
"So what changed?"
Sakuno went pink and Ann's eyes widened as Sakuno responded
"Because he told me… he likes me… and I told him I like him…"
"Come on! Use big girl words! Did you guys use the word love?"
Sakuno went even brighter red as Tomoka and Ann were struggling to leave their stations but it seems the makeup artists and the hair stylists had enough of that and wrestled them into their seats again.
"I can't believe it! You guys finally said it. And here… we were thinking it will never happen. You guys have been dancing around each other for years."
Sakuno almost turned if her hair stylist hadn't stopped her. Her eyes turned to look at her friend's all-knowing faces as she asked
"How long have you two…"
Ann went first by saying,
"To be honest… When I first met you, I thought you two were already an item. Those glances… casual touches… how sometimes when grandmother Sumire wasn't home, he'd walk you home and stayed until it was virtually impossible to stay any longer… at times I think I heard that he stayed over."
"I get scared easily….He just tried to make me feel safe."
Sakuno tried defensively, was that what the world saw? Sakuno was surprised that it was seen that way.
"For me, since I knew you at the start of the year… at first, I had no idea that you two were even friends until I dragged you down to the tennis courts and a stray tennis ball was coming towards your head. He just reached out and grabbed it with his bare hands… and I swear I have never seen him so angry before. He basically yelled about being an idiot. I think it was to Momoshiro… Initially, I thought he was a stern captain, which he is but not really stern… more like stoic. Anyway when he turned to talk to you and he seemed to soften down… when you two talk… it was like you two knew each other for a long time. But it is obvious to anyone that his eyes soften when he looks at you and when you see him… your eyes light up. And then, when you had a crush on Ryoma… I just thought maybe I made a mistake. Because I mean… given how Kunimitsu had been so angry or protective of you, he didn't seem bothered by it."
"Oh, he was…"
Suddenly Sakuno looked up to see a video recorder and the man behind it as always. Fuji. Fuji smiled as he popped his head out and said
"We know him during tennis and because he was so stoic, we relied on tennis to tell us about him. He worked harder than anyone but he basically pushed himself further and further in practice when you were crushing on Ryoma. Basically almost hurting himself. Sumire knew too I think. She yelled at him for hiding behind practice but she never told him why. Thing is… he guides Ryoma well, but he never allows Ryoma to surpass him. Well, he says he will eventually and continue to guide him… but as we said. He works so hard, I bet he never wants to be surpassed by him. Something to do with a pride of whatever he had left. He sits with Sakuno talking about Ryoma, but then his face doesn't light up at all. I bet he was confused as well… thank goodness that crush didn't last long. Because I think your crush could have crushed him before you confess to Ryoma."
Sakuno's eyes glittered and softened as she never thought about it. Kunimitsu was the one who came up to her and asked her if she was harbouring a crush on Ryoma. She had gone with honesty because she knew he could protect her and that meant her secret too…. But as time grew on… actually that was the period Sakuno and Kunimitsu were distant. He seemed busy but he still kept an eye on her from time and time… and the period that she was crushing on Ryoma, she had missed Kunimitsu's usual presence in her life. Why did she give up on Ryoma? She had faced him and she said enough was enough… why?
"Sakuno, in your history, you have a tendency to like guys who were a little arrogant and a little protective…"
Sakuno smiled up at the camera as she said
"Perhaps… I was still looking for the boy who saved my life. I guess I just couldn't let go of my first crush… so I search for him… forgetting that he grew up but it didn't change who he really was to me. My hero."
Fuji smiled and said
"It's a wrap! I am going to the groom side now. I think he's nervous today, best capture his least confident side!"
"Fuji! Seriously! You have a sadistic tendency…"
Tomoka bemoaned and shook her head, Ann laughed as the three of them got ready and then when everything was finally ready, Sakuno smiled at the two of her best friends saying
"You look amazing…"
Tomoka wiped a tear from her own cheek as she said
"You are the amazing one… I can't believe it… a happy ending."
Sakuno smiled at the both of them and took their hands as she decided if she wanted to impart on any wise words, it better be now.
"I learned one thing… I loved Kunimitsu almost my whole life, and naturally no amount of distance or boys or work changed how I felt. I've always thought of him and perhaps… they think of us too. A relationship so precious is cherished and it takes time on both parts to create a beautiful beginning and a tragic ending… perhaps a tragic ending is an ending that isn't finished…"
Ann looked seriously at Sakuno as she said
"Sometimes, you are the one scaring me. As much as Momoshiro and I had a lovely beginning a sweet time I can't forget… doesn't mean the ending will change if I got back to him. He hasn't changed and I am not giving him a chance to do that again… to my heart. A tragic end could be a cycle of tragedies if I keep trying."
Tomoka smiled a little as she said
"I don't know… but let's just see where life really takes us. Maybe it is to where we want to be or where we should be. But for now… I am so happy to see you at this moment."
"Where is Akihiko?"
Sakuno asked curious to not have seen her precious baby, but then a knock on the door reassured them as Oishi walked in with Akihiko half in tears as he reached out towards Sakuno naturally.
"What happened?"
Tomoka asked, bewildered about a crying Akihiko. Oishi smiled apologetically
"Well, Kunimitsu and Akihiko got ready together, but he is the ring bearer so we had to separate them for the ceremony… Guess he hated it too much."
"Not to mention he was in the company of men he has never seen before…"
Sakuno's eyes widened at the sight of the next four guests that appeared through that door.
"Inui! Ryoma-kun, Eiji and Kawamura!"
Sakuno could not believe it… they were here and they all had the same smile except for Ryoma. He still did have a small smirk going on. Akihiko seemed to hold Sakuno tightly as she greeted each of them fondly. It has been awhile since she had seen them… years even.
"We wouldn't miss this for the world. Tezuka tasked me with tracking them down, emptying their schedules so that they could fly down here. Momoshiro helped flying them down… of course."
Sakuno could not help her tears as she sees her old friends. Akihiko seemed to grow fussy with the amount of men in the room and Oishi merely smiled apologetically,
"I'll help him down the aisle."
Ann reassured Oishi as he said
"I know he isn't familiar with the guys. Unfortunately… but fortunately, we will have these few days for him to get reacquainted. Speaking of which, guys you better go talk to Tezuka too… he probably doesn't even know that you guys landed."
"Yeah! We better give our congratulations to him too! Let's catch up later! See you AkiAki!"
Sakuno smiled gratefully at Oishi for returning Akihiko to her and reducing amount of guys in the room. Sakuno rocked Akihiko and his tears stopped as he smiled at his mommy. His mother was beautiful and he was happy because his daddy told him that they were finally going to live together. Akihiko wanted that so badly he can't wait for it to be over.
"Akihiko, you have a very important job."
Sakuno easily put Akihiko on the bed and retrieved the pillow with the rings from Oishi as she knelt down beside him and asked
"Will you bring the rings that will allow you, mommy and daddy, to live together?"
Akihiko looked down at those shiny rings, he had seen some mums and dads wear them and they seemed happy… and they seemed to be together all the time. He had asked his mum to get the rings of togetherness with daddy but he didn't know she did. He was ecstatic as he nodded his little arms reaching out to grab it. Ann leant towards Akihiko as she nodded
"Good boy. You can walk with me down the aisle okay?"
Akihiko nodded as they all exited the room together just as Oishi smiled
"Since I have no one to guide down the aisle, would you allow me to guide you down?"
Sakuno smiled and took his outreach hand and nodded.
"Thank you, Oishi."
He smiled a little as he responded
"I am just happy to see it happen. Finally…Two pieces of the final puzzle together. Our family picture isn't quite complete until this moment… perhaps a few more fixes needed to be done, but none holds a bigger part of the picture than this."
Sakuno smiled thankfully and they headed out the room and out of the hotel. Into the limousine and towards the beach. They arrived on the sandy golden beach… there weren't any chairs but there were a carpet and the arch… A priest stood steady and Kaidoh nearby to legalise it. It was down simple but when she saw Kunimitsu, she knew… this was perfect. Oishi helped her out of the limousine and together they headed towards the arch.
Kunimitsu had been waiting anxiously for Sakuno to appear, however seeing Eiji, Kawamura, Echizen and Inui really made him happy… it has been awhile since all of them reunited and he could not think of a wedding without them. Unfortunately, petulant Kotone had chosen to fly home after saying that it was a bad idea. Kunimitsu recalled Akihiko cried so hard when he had to be separated from Kunimitsu and so he felt extremely guilty and his heart broke a little when Akihiko cried like that. Then Oishi reassured him that he will handle it. Sure enough, Akihiko walked proudly down the aisle with his aunt or godmother Ann and he stood to a side his eyes sparkling and he held the rings like they were the most precious things in the world. He could not help feeling strangely elated at how important that meant to him.
When Sakuno appeared in front of him…. His heart seized up as he looked at his to be wife… when they were younger there was talk about who they want to see at the end of the aisle. At that point, he hadn't thought about it… but she was the one. Sakuno was so beautiful with the flowing wedding dress… silk white and off shoulder… exposing her skin. Her makeup light and her curls up in a bun with an orchid in her hair. White. Beautiful. She was always beautiful and as he recalled all of their memories, he could not believe that she was going to finally be his. She was going to marry him and he didn't know if he should cry or hold her tight.
"Here you are."
Oishi shook Kunimitsu's hand and handed Sakuno to Kunimitsu. Marrying Sakuno felt like he was given a goddess and asked if he would like to marry her. Sakuno smiled with little tears threatening to come out. He gently and easily took her hand and their vows went by so fast, Kunimitsu wasn't even sure he heard anything. To him… he already said his vows when Grandmother Sumire said to him all those years back in her hospital bed.
"Kunimitsu, I want you to take care of Sakuno for me."
"Don't say that… you will make it."
Sumire chuckled as she was dying and she raised a hand and Kunimitsu took it in his.
"I am old… I think I served my time well. But I need you to look after my treasure. I can only ask you of this. No one else can protect her… the way that you do. So please promise me that no matter what happens, keep looking after her… in sick and in health… in the dark times and in the good times… please continue to watch over her like you always do. Her hero… her knight… "
"I promise."
Kunimitsu probably understood what Sumire meant. Sumire meant that he was the only other person who treasured her the same way she does of Sakuno. When the priest said that he could kiss the bride, his heart thumped again. Was kissing Sakuno always going to be this nerve wrecking? It wasn't fair that he loved her so much he trembled in fear… He hoped her heart thumped hard just as his heart did. Their rings glowed in the sunlight as his hand rested on her waist and pulled her closer. She smelled amazing and she feels amazing… Passion and love as he pressed his lips to hers. This kiss was different, they melded their lips together as their tongues searched for each other and he could only hear his heart thundering and his body saying yes… he pressed them close until he heard a wolf whistle from Momoshiro and he pulled away. Sakuno looked pink and breathless. Gods, she is beautiful. He pressed a quick kiss because he couldn't help it and they all packed into two limousines and headed off to the luncheon back at the hotel.
TBC...
