Disclaimers : I don't own Sakura Taisen...

This is the final chapter...I won't say much words about it. Thanks a lot to Stelok and Ice Spectre for their reviews, and thanks to Leni Milchstrasse for her answer...Please R&R...

1953

The wedding day finally had come.

The way from The Imperial Theatre to Ueno Park was full of standing people. They wore their nice clothes, and many of them brought flowers in their hands. Others brought big official photographs of Edelweiss, which had been signed by Edelweiss herself.

"Will she be beautiful like usual?" asked a curious young lady to her mother.

The mother smiled as she gazed at her daughter. "Happy women will surely try to look their best in their marriage," she answered.

"But...is she really happy?" asked the daughter back.

Her mother smiled again as she realized how curious her daughter was. "I didn't say that she will certainly look her best, right?" she said.

The daughter turned red as she knew that she couldn't win from her mother.

"You want to say you envy her, don't you?" asked the mother again.

The young lady nodded.

"Each person carries his or her own problems and joy," explained the wise mother.

"So?"

"So? My honey, that means you'll someday find your happiness."

1928

"Get in, both of you! Quick!"

The cell's narrow door was blamed behind them as they were pushed into the extremely dark room.

"Who are you?!!!" asked the frightened but still aware Maria.

"We won't harm you, Maria-kun."

Maria's face turned green, and secret tears started to appear on her face. "No need to tell me who you are," replied her hopelessly.

"So...we've failed?" asked the unbelieving Kouran who was sitting at one of that room's corner.

No one answered.

"We can escape! Come on, guys, we can escape!" shouted the dissapointed Kanna.

"We can't," whispered Leni, "we arrived here with eyes closed, and I'm sure Taichou and Kayama-san too."

Silence filled the huge but frightening room.

"We've arrived, Miss," said one of the policemen.

Sakura didn't say anything.

Another policeman opened the door for her, but she didn't seem to get out or even moved from her sitting position.

The policewoman beside her looked at her with a great sympathy. Even with red eyes, pale cheeks, and empty expression, Sakura was still beautiful. "You'll better get out and meet your mother, Miss Shinguji. You can explain to her what happened, and ask her to set Liutenant Oogami free," advised her.

Half-hypnotized by that words, Sakura sighed and, slowly, got out of that car.

"I'll show you the way back to your convenient life," offered the head-policeman.

"Whatever, but," said Sakura as she gazed angrily to the rather young man, "you'll be leading me to death."

All of the policemen and the policewoman looked at each other, hardly believed that a soft woman such as Sakura could say such threatening statement.

"You'll soon forget it, Sakura," said Yoneda, who, no one realized, had stood near to them.

Sakura didn't replied. Without saying anything to or just looking back at the police team, she entered the big hotel.

"She don't know where this way will lead her," whispered Yoneda, as he signaled the policemen and policewoman to go.

"Wake up, all you bandits! It's time for court!"

Maria, Reni, Oogami, and Kayama jumped out, while Kanna and Kouran were still sleeping like babies, hug each other to keep warm.

The head-guard pointed his flashlight to each of them. "Give me the water," ordered him to his man.

The young policeman handed his superior a bottle of iced water.

The older man received it coldly, then, walked towards Kanna and Kouran. "Here you are!" shouted him as he poured that cold water on the girls' faces.

Kanna and Kouran screamed as the sat up and looked at the middle-aged man with a great hatred.

"Tie their hands. They're high-class crimes," commanded the head-guard as he left them behind.

Sumire, Iris, Orihime, and Kaede said nothing as the make-up artist put more colors on their faces.

Wakana was checking the bride and bridemaids dresses. "All right," said her, satisfied with all the dresses, traditional ones and modern ones.

The hair stylist, who was arranging Sakura's hair, smiled cheerfully as she said, "I guess this marriage will be Teito's biggest event for this month."

Sakura didn't response at all, as she had spent all her tears before. The other girls didn't either, as they didn't know what to do.

"We've arrived! Quick, come out!" shouted the lead-guard.

"Finally! They pack us here as if we're sardines!" shouted the relieved Kanna.

"Kouran! You get out first! You're the nearest person to the door, aren't you?" asked Kayama impatiently.

"Stay calm, Kayama-san! The door hadn't been opened yet!" reminded Leni.

"I know, but...can you imagine that both Kanna and Maria are sitting upon me?" asked Kayama, hardly breathing.

Oogami took a deep breath. "I must apologize for all," he said to his friends.

"You have no time to apologize," said a familiar person as he opened the door.

"Y...Yoneda-shihainin?!!!"

"Maria, Kouran, Kanna, and Leni. Hurry up! The dresses are in your rooms. Oogami, your suit is in your room, as well as your sister. Kayama, you can change in my room. Quick!"

"The man you'll be married with," promoted Wakana, "is very nice."

Sakura sighed and concentrate at the buildings they were passing on their way to Ueno Park.

"He's well educated, and he has ever studied overseas."

Sakura took a rather deep breath, barely interested in what her mother was talking about.

"His family is rather wealthy so you don't need to be afraid of your life in the future. That wedding dress is the guarantee of their promise to give you a queen-like live."

Sakura took a deeper breath.

"You won't regret your decision," said Wakana again.

Sakura turned to her mother. "Decision?" asked her bitterly, as the wedding car stopped in front of Ueno Park's gate.

"I have no time to answer, my daughter. Get out! Your man is waiting for you!"

"Your soon-to-be wife is a beautiful woman," exclaimed Oogami's sister.

Oogami kept looking at his shoes, the thing he'd been doing since they arrived at Ueno Park.

"She's rather traditional but not old-fashioned," continued the elder woman.

The shoes still seemed more interesting for Oogami than what her sister was saying.

"She has a good career so she can help you a lot. She won't be such an opportunist who only knows how to spend money without knowing how to produce it."

Oogami still looking at his shoes. Why must in this place? One of our meaningful place? said him to himself.

"Alright, alright, brother. Now, forget those shoes. Your woman is on her way to you!"

"Sou desu ka!" whispered the extremely surprised Sumire.

Kanna didn't say anything since she was too shocked to speak.

Yoneda nodded at both of them. "Since I've made such a good plan to make their special day much more unforgetable, please host this event well," asked him.

"So, what will the rest do?" asked Kayama.

"Kayama, you're the best man. Maria, you're the maid of honor. Remember to act like you're not your own selves, and wear your masks since this party takes masquerade as its theme. Kaede, Kouran, Iris, and Leni, would you please greet the guests for us? Give your loveliest smile."

"Ryoukai!"shouted them in unison.

Every steps to the meeting point took much part of Sakura's heart.

Forgive me, Ichirou. My heart is yours forever.

She stopped for a while, as she realized that it was the place where she and Ichirou first met. Memories of the past began to attack her awful mind.

"Go on," whispered the maid of honor lightly but clearly.

She froze as she saw the man who was waiting for her.

Oogami closed his eyes and sighed as he heard some shivering, doubtful, and rather painful steps.

You're the only love I have, Sakura.

He turned to the bride, and, his face turned both green and red.

"S...Sakura?"

"Is that you, Ichirou?"

They fell in a meaningfull embrace.

Yoneda, Wakana, and Oogami's sister threw tricky glances at each other, while Maria and Kayama removed their masks and others appeared and clapped.

It took nearly five minutes until Oogami and Sakura stopped embracing each other. They turned, just to see the people they loved and who loved them around them.

Ueno Park was nearly the same with what it used to be when they first met. With its flowers, beautiful and calming, and with its pleasant atmosphere. There, Shinguji Sakura was officially proclaimed as Oogami Ichirou's wife, and Oogami Ichirou was officialy proclaimed as Shinguji Sakura's husband. No family ties were broken at the ceremony, but, there, a new family tie was created.

It took not so long for them to wait until they got their first son, Taro, and even not five minutes to get the second child and first daughter, Tanpopo. Four years after the twins' birth, they got their last child and last daughter, Suiren. Many things had happened as they walked through their life path. The path that continued two paths, just like what Sumire and Kanna said as the opening for the celebration at Ueno Park. But, with their strong love, and also supports from the people they loved, they could pass all the difficulties and increase love and respect at each other.

1953

The party had been over, and the newlyweds were ready for their special night.

"Good luck for both of you!" whispered Sakura as she came out of the newlyweds' room.

Suddenly, she felt Taro's hand on her shoulder.

"What's up?" asked her surprisedly.

"We have something for you," explained Taro as he gave his mother a thick envelope.

"Who are 'we'?" asked Sakura curiously.

"Everybody in Teikoku Kagekidan," answered Taro.

"What is this?"

"You'll know it after you open it," said Taro as he closed his door quickly, followed by Edelweiss' soft giggle.

Still confused, Sakura went back to her bedroom, where Oogami had been waiting for her.

"What's that, Sakura?" asked the interested Oogami.

"I don't know. Taro gave it to me. He said that it's from everybody in Teikoku Kagekidan."

"Let's see."

"W...what is this?"

"Looks like a map, a car key, and some hotel guides."

"Hey! This is the letter!"

"What they say there?"

"Happy honeymoon. Enjoy yourselves. This is the path of your Velvet Road."

"Velvet Road?"

"A road I used to tell the children everynight when they were small. It's the road where the princess and the prince, whose love was against what their kingdoms want, found the real meaning of love and friendship, and finally found their eternal happiness."

"Sakura?"

"Hmm?"

"I love you."

"I love you too."

They share another passionate kiss.

THE END

Author's notes :

It's over! After one year, Velvet Road finally has been over! Special thanks to my readers and my reviewers. You've encouraged me to write and write again and finish this story. Keep enjoying, and keep remembering the Velvet Road...