REMINDER: I don't own Skip Beat and its characters; this work is purely fictional any scenes related to real-life situations and other stories are purely coincidental. XD This is a collaboration work with my friend, beta reader, and co-writer Shirahane Aikawa.
Thanks to Yukihito Yashiro's hard work, he managed to rent the whole of Himeji castle for Ren and Kyoko's wedding. The night prior the couple and their family arrived at the castle through helicopter thanks to Takarada Lory's help, to avoid the public getting whiff of the most anticipated wedding of the year. While Ren and Kyoko's friends stayed the night in Michael's private yacht docked in Himeji Port who just arrived the day prior.
The morning of their wedding Ren and Kyoko decided to take a walk around hand in hand together at the Koko-en, the garden inside the castle to take a look at the cherry blossoms in full bloom, century-old gingko trees and koi fishes swimming around the pond inside. After touring Koko-en they took a boat ride around the castle to look at the marvelous structure of the castle and the preserved nature around it.
"This is so beautiful, can't believe this is the first time I've been here." Kyoko said, her eyes twinkling as they rode the boat around.
"I'm glad you liked it. The moment I saw this castle the last time I've been here I thought I'll marry the woman I love in this place." Ren said embracing his future wife.
Their eyes looked into each other and were not able to resist to kiss under the bridge leading inside the castle.
"As much as I love to continue, we still have the rest of the day to prepare for our wedding. So, I'll save more of this for tonight." Ren said his eyes never leaving Kyoko's
Kyoko nodded and embraced her future husband excited for the later ceremony.
After their tour around the castle, Ren and Kyoko started to prepare separately for their wedding later that afternoon. Kyoko walked towards her dressing room in anticipation of her shiromuku (pure white bridal kimono made of silk). Although she saw and tried it before to see it prior to her wedding hanging by the kimono rack made her heart beat fast in anticipation.
"Can't believe I am going to wear that later in front of my Kuon later. Hope he loves the way I look later. Thank you so much Jelly-san that is beautiful beyond words." Kyoko said bowing, surprised at the sophisticated and well-crafted work of her friend Jelly Woods.
"Don't bow Kyoko I'm not that old, besides I'm happy you are happy with my creation nothing but the best for you and Kuon." Jelly said with a smile, happy for Kyoko about to enter the next part of her life. "Now I will transform you into the most beautiful woman."
Jelly did her best on Kyoko's makeup to show the purity of her heart and love for her future husband. After her makeup was done Jelly fixed Kyoko's tsunokakushi (shimada style wig) on her hair that she spent the whole night preparing by putting golden accessories on it.
Inside Ren's dressing room his father who was done wearing his kimono helped his son wear his montsuki haori hakama (kimono of the groom). Ren first started by wearing juban kimono and tabi socks before wearing montsuki haori bearing his family crest on the sleeves and back followed by his black hakama tied together by a dragon emboidered obi by his father finished off by a white haori himo.
Kuu can't help his tears from falling after seeing his son become a fully grown man before his eyes. He wanted to hug his son but didn't want to ruin his beautiful black kimono before his wedding.
"Father…" Kuon held back his tears but assured his father he appreciates him being there for him.
Saena and Juliena now wearing their formal kimono joined Kyoko inside her dressing room after they were done with their makeup and hair. They helped Kyoko wear her shiromuku (pure white bridal kimono made of silk) starting with a pure white nagajuban (simple robe inside of a kimono) followed by kakeshita wrapped around her body by an obi her mother tied for her. After her obi was tied Juliena helped Kyoko wear her uchikake (thick silk robe jacket embroidered with orchids, phoenix, carriages to bring good luck on her married life).
Jelly retouched her makeup and then helped Kyoko wear her wataboshi (bridal kimono hood). After she was done wearing her wedding Kimono both Saena almost had tears in her eyes happy her daughter looking beautiful before her eyes.
"After everything my daughter endured it was all worth it seeing her grown into the woman she is now." Saena said inside her mind happy for her daughter's happiness.
"You are so beautiful my dear." Juliena said happily.
Kyoko nodded, "Thank you my mothers."
Due to the solemnity of the traditional Shinto wedding of Ren and Kyoko, their close friends arrived one by one in limousines and proceeded to the banquet hall of Himeji castle where they will wait for the newlyweds and their family after they are done. As per notified by Yashiro in advance through the wedding invitations they all wore formal kimono attire.
Because of the many limousines that arrived in Himeji castle media and people got curious about what was happening inside but were stopped by the police now surrounding the gates to the castle. The media thought a royal family member was getting married without their knowledge, not knowing it was Ren and Kyoko's wedding.
Kyoko's father also in his formal kimono was outside her dressing room waiting for her. Lending an arm to her daughter he led her to the middle of the hallway where her future husband already waits for her.
Before he gave his daughter's hand he said, "Take care of her for me Kuon. My daughter's life is now yours."
Ren nodded and reached for Kyoko's arm to wrap it around his, "Thank you father."
Slowly Ren lead Kyoko to the end of the hallway where two assistants of Jelly woods were waiting for them to wear their setta sandals on their feet before walking outside to the rickshaw that will pull them to the shrine where the wedding ceremony will take place.
When they reached the shrine, Ren helped Kyoko down from the rickshaw where the head Shinto priest greeted them and said some reminders for the wedding. After the reminders were said the official wedding ceremony started beginning with the procession led by the Shinto priests called sanshin no gi where the shrine maiden carries a red umbrella escort the bride and groom inside the shrine pavilion where the priest will announce their marriage to the gods. After this sankon no gi a ritual to strengthen the couple's bond takes place where the bride and groom takes turn sipping sake from three sake cups increasing in size and poured three times. Followed by their marriage vow to the gods prepared by the priest that they will read.
On this great day, before the gods, we are sincerely thankful for this ceremony.
Going forward, we will love each other, trust one another, share the good times, and the bad.
We swear that this will stay unchanged throughout our lifetime.
Kuon Hizuri, Kyoko Mogami
AN: Thanks for all the reviews, follows, favorites.
