Made For Each Other

~*~

The music rolled forth from the organ, loud and strong as it soared over the heads of all the people gathered in the small church. A slender form walked down the aisle, and her garb was that of a bride's. A dark-haired man stood at the alter, his eyes never leaving his face as he marveled at her beauty.

The sun warmed the family gathered to watch the wedding as it streamed through tall, stained glass windows. The scent of flowers perfumed the air and petals littered the long, red carpet that formed a line straight to the center of the alter.

The bride finished her slow march and moved forward to stand with her soon-to-be husband; the couple exchanged glances, intense love shining out of both pairs out.

Hiryuu squeezed Luka's hand as the priest began the words of the wedding ceremony. "Don't they look cute together?!" she whispered in his hair.

Luka merely rolled his eyes and glanced down at the blonde girl by his side. "I thought you were supposed to be quiet in church!"

"Shh!" Zena hissed, leaning over and glaring at the two young people.

With a grin, Hiryuu turned and watched as the same priest who had married almost everyone in her family joined Ten and her fiancée Rad for all of eternity. Hiryuu didn't know Rad all that well, but he seemed nice enough and she could tell by the way they doted on each other that the two were in for a long, happy marriage.

She sighed inwardly and stole another glance at Luka, who was watching the proceedings with a fascination he wasn't even bothering to hide. "I guess this would be his first time seeing a wedding…since he's never been to church before coming here…" Her lips twitched as this thought ran through her mind and she quickly turned her face back to the alter.

Sensing eyes, Luka glanced down and caught the very edge of Hiryuu's look as she faced forwards once again. He tightened his grip on her hand and felt an answering squeeze. Over the past three or so months, he had grown closer to the young mage then he had ever thought possible. She had shown him so much tenderness, bared her soul so completely that he had found himself unable to resist. It seemed as if the heartless Luka Guillaume Reinhardt had finally fallen in love.

It still sent shivers up his spine when he thought of the very first time they had kissed; it seemed like years ago now, but he knew better. The days seemed to fly when he was with Hiryuu and he couldn't even bring himself to think about going back to Luel, Neo, and the Batollis. True, both knew that he would eventually have to go back, but until then, they were going to enjoy the time they had.

"Look! Look! They're gonna kiss!" Hiryuu tugging on his sleeve shook Luka from his daydreaming stupor and he grinned in spite of himself as Ten pressed her lips to Rad's. Cheering erupted from the gathered family and friends as the groom swept his bride off her feet and ran down the alter carrying her in his arms. Bells rang out, sweet and pure, from the church rooftop and Hiryuu let out a loud whoop as her cousin went by.

Zena wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and handed it to her sister. "No matter how many weddings I see, I always cry," she admitted to Luka and Hiryuu. "I'm such an old sentimental fool."

Laughing, Hiryuu grabbed Luka's arm and the two joined the throng in the aisle, heading to the reception. Zaio and Sousuke joined them, all four getting squashed by people on all sides.

In the past months, the resentment between the Sousuke and the triplets and Luka had faded; they still weren't best friends, but at least the five could be around each other without someone's head getting burned off. Now, Luka and Zaio exchanged identical glances that conveyed their mutual annoyance.

Half an hour later, the people had gathered again, this time in the reception hall. A toast was made to the smiling, kissing couple and then the music began. The first song was a love song, dedicated to the newlyweds, then a faster tune was started.

Whooping loudly, the older teenagers all swarmed onto the dance floor, and a very confused Luka found himself being pulled along for the ride. He looked over and caught a glimpse of Hiryuu's laughing face and sighed. "What did I get myself into now?" But a moment later, her eye met his and both her hands gripped his tightly.

"Luka?" His name was spoken as a question.

But the wizard shook his head mutely.

Baffled, Hiryuu stood and stared at him until Zaio swept by, alone this time. "What, can't dance?!" he threw over his shoulder at Luka.

Enraged, the black mage took a menacing step towards the other man, but it was too late. With an obnoxious chuckle, the blonde-haired boy disappeared into the crowd. Growling, Luka stole a glance at Hiryuu and found her trying to suppress a chuckle. "What?" he asked.

But she only giggled and swept him into the crowd of dancing people, moving her body in time to the music and using her hands to guide his hesitating movements. After a few songs, the 21st century's greatest wizard found that dancing had grown easier, and that he could feel the rhythm more naturally now with less of the female mage's guidance.

But just as he had seemed to find his niche, the music changed and slowed drastically in tempo. A wistful grin crossed Hiryuu's face, and Luka caught the unsure glance she stole at his face. Regret flickering in her eyes, she turned, as if to lead him from the dance floor.

But he caught her arm and held it tightly. She turned to face him, surprise plastered all over her face. "Will you dance with me?" he asked, feeling only the slightest bit foolish as he said the words.

A soft smile crossed her face as Hiryuu raised one hand to rest upon his shoulder. Luka's hand slipped down to hers and his other one rested gently on her waist, his grip sure and comfortable.

Sousuke drifted by and he winked at Hiryuu around the girl in his own arms, who turned out to be Zaio's older sister Noriko. Luka also seemed to have caught the wink for he gave a dry chuckle and only held her closer. Sighing happily, Hiryuu closed her violet eyes and rested her golden head on his shoulder.

Luka put his chin gently on her head and inhaled the scent of her hair; he felt his own eyes wanting to drift shut.

Suddenly, Hiryuu pulled back and stared up at him, biting her lip as if something were troubling her.

"Hiryuu?" her lover asked, concerned.

"I love you," she blurted out, all traces of doubt leaving her face. Her cheeks tinged pink immediately afterwards and the blonde girl buried her face in the wizard's chest.

Stunned a little, Luka merely held her and continued to sway in time to the music She…she loved him? His mind awhirl, Luka glanced down at the top of her golden head and almost spoke aloud as his own revelation hit him.

He loved her too.

This was why he had been unable to harm her, been unable to hate her. This was why he had been growing slowly more open over the last ninety days and why he had disliked leaving her side so much. He loved her, he truly did.

A wry smile played about the corners of his mouth. Who would have thought?

"I love you too…" he whispered.

Head rising, Hiryuu gazed into his eyes and trembled at the magnitude of his words. He had admitted to loving her…

Tears in her eyes, she yanked her hands away from him and hugged him tightly, lips pressing against his cheek. Luka wrapped his own around her waist and hugged her back, pulling his head away so he could touch his lips to hers.

And as the music swirled around them in a vortex of sound, the two allowed themselves to be swept away on a tide of euphoria. This was where they belonged, with each other. Despite what others may say, they were not here because of the prophecy, they were here because they loved each other, because each had had the strength to pull through the hardships of true love and prove their worth. They were not here because of a predestined fate.

They were here because they were made for each other.

END

~*~