Tap.

Tap.

Krrrrunk.

Anna bolted upright. Something was hitting her window. She glanced over; Jeanne was still sound asleep. Anna slipped out of her futon and tiptoed to the window. Silently she slid it open.

"Hey, baby!" Yoh grinned up at her. "Merry Christmas!"

"Yoh!" Anna exclaimed. She grabbed a blanket, wrapped it around her shoulders, and leaned out the window. "It's...it's three o'clock in the morning! And Christmas isn't until tomorrow!"

"But it's the morning of Christmas Eve!" Yoh said. He smiled. "Anna, we're getting married today."

She smiled back. "I know."

"I'll let you go back to sleep now," he said. "Just a few more hours, and then you'll be my wife."

Anna blew him a soft kiss. "Good night, Yoh," she called softly. "I love you."

"I love you too, baby," he said, catching her kiss.

It was six-thirty when Anna awoke again. It was time for her to prepare for her wedding.

She quietly walked through the dark hallways to the bath. Quickly she undressed in the cold, tied up her long hair, and slid into the steaming water. Anna sighed and relaxed. Her pale shoulders began to lose their tenseness. She leaned back and her locket lifted up, floating on the surface of the water. Anna stretched lazily. She wished she could stay in the warmth all day, but she reluctantly picked up her shampoo bottle.

Anna finished her bath, dressed in her robe, and went back to her room. Keiko was waiting for her. "Are you ready, Anna?" she smiled.

"I suppose," Anna sighed. She twisted her fingers. "I think...I'm a little nervous."

"It's all right, Anna-chan," Keiko said. "You'll be fine. And now let's get this kimono on you."

The Asakura wedding kimono had been in the family for generations. It was once white, but now more of a cream-color with age. The obi was a brilliant red, and it was almost too large for Anna's petite waist. Keiko expertly twisted Anna's long blonde hair into a graceful bun at the crown of her head, securing it with hairsticks.

"You look lovely, Anna," Keiko said. She kissed her lightly on the forehead. "You should come down to the temple soon." Anna nodded.

The little bride walked alone to the temple, her sandals making soft little taps against the floor. The winter morning wind blew against the thin silk of the kimono, raising goosebumps on her thin arms and legs.

"Shouldn't you have a coat?" a soft voice teased. Something soft and warm draped over her slim shoulders. Anna looked up and caught her breath. Yoh stood behind her, handsome in his black hakama. He wrapped a blanket around her. "I thought you'd come out here without a coat."

"I hadn't really thought about it," Anna confessed.

Yoh put an arm around her waist and helped her up the steps. "Well, that's what I'm here for," he grinned.

He took her gently by the hand as they stepped into the temple. Yohmei, Kino, Keiko, and Mikihisa were waiting for them. Yoh squeezed Anna's hand lightly. "Let's do this," he whispered.

The family ceremony was short and quiet. Yoh held her hand as he recited his bridegroom's oath softly. Anna felt a gentle blush rise on her cheeks. The words were old, but coming from Yoh they sounded brand-new. He was promising to protect her, to care for her, to love her.

It was everything she need.

When he finished, they set the sakaki branches on the altar. Then the last step of the wedding was the san-san-kudo, the exchange of the sake cups. Yoh smiled at her over the rim. Anna's head swam; she didn't know if it came from the nine sips of sake or his smile. Honestly, it could have been either.

The quiet Shinto ceremony was over quickly. Before they knew what happened, the newly married couple was ushered outside by an already frantic Keiko.

Anna tugged the blanket back around her shoulders as she and Yoh stepped back outside into the cold. "You look cute," he murmured in her ear.

"Uh...so do you..." she stammered. Yoh laughed lightly and spun her around to face him.

"You're a darling little thing, Mrs. Anna Asakura," he said, smiling. He traced his hand along the soft, smooth contour of her cheek. "And I love you dearly." His face drew closer to hers.

Anna's heart began to pound. He's going to kiss me, I know it! She closed her eyes, half dreading and half anticipating his kiss. The blanket drooped off her shoulders.

A soft fingertip touched her lower lip. Her long eyelashes fluttered open. Yoh traced his finger along her lips. "Just a little longer, my love," he murmured. "Just a little longer." Anna smiled at him softly, transfixed. Her husband lifted the blanket and cuddled it tenderly around her. Yoh kissed her delicately on the cheek. "I love you, Anna Asakura." He kissed her on the other cheek, then took her by the hand and led her into the house.

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Author's Note: Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww...

Yeah...this is kind of short, because I only know the basics of the Japanese wedding ceremony, and I didn't know exactly how to go in-depth with it...

And I lied. –collective gasp—NOW we are halfway through the story. It's going to be eighteen chapters long, because I'm going all the way through to the honeymoon. Awww...heck, just see the first "aw"...

I'm not sure when I can upload a new chapter; my schedule's a bit FULL for the next week. I'm in my school play and we have FIVE-HOUR rehearsals EVERYDAY...yeah...well, I plan on majoring in theater, so I guess I should get used to it...