Xx The Wedding Day xX

"NOOOOOOOOOOO!" I jolted awake at hearing my mothers scream. I ran out of my room and down the stairs to where she stood in the main room looking out the window.

"What's wrong?" I spoke alarmingly. I watched as she turned around and spoke while storming off into the kitchen.

"It's raining! Of all the days it had to be today!" I looked out the window to see she was right. I smiled at this and walked back up stairs and into my room closing the door behind me. I climbed out the window and jumped to the tree and then down to the ground walking around bare foot in the front yard. I didn't wish to go to the back, as that's where the whole wedding was being set up. I lifted my hands in the air turning slowly around making sure I was being totally drenched by the rain that fell. My shirt and pants clung to my body.

"I don't think you're suppose to be out here." I turned around hearing that deep voice and noticed Aoshi standing under one of the large trees looking straight at me and rather damp too. He was pretty nice like that. I wander what he will look like later today, I thought to myself. I bit my lip feeling nervous about this afternoon and was wandering if he was too. I wrapped my arms around myself and said nothing.

"Aren't you suppose to be pampered today?" He spoke again curiously while walking closer towards me. Small droplets of water fell from his long bangs making a pathway down his handsome face. Come on Misao speak for crying out loud, the small voice snapped at me.

"I hope not." I spoke back. He raised an eyebrow looking at me silently and I spoke again.

"I'm not really one for liking attention. Seriously I would have rather them made us go to a dingy marriage building, signed a few papers and that's it. A wedding in 10 minutes, not something as elaborate and non-personal like this. So many people here and I don't even know who the hell most of them are. This is not my type of thing at all."

"I doubt anyone would like being forced to marry someone like you...err...I mean any stranger for that matter and in a limited amount of time." I heard Aoshi's voice change as he tried correcting himself, trying to take away the hint that he still detested me. I placed on a fake smile, but was still crushed inside. It was as though our small meeting at the hall meant nothing. I sighed loudly and spoke to him.

"I guess you're right. I mean I am still a kid in your eyes and I guess that's just the way you'll always think of me." Misao you just need to be patient. Remember two sides to every person. Maybe he's feeling a bit stressed out. I spoke inside my head trying to reason with why he was being like this.

"MISAO WHERE ARE YOU?" I turned my head to the house of where that yell had come from. I glanced up at Aoshi and spoke softly to him and then walked off.

"I'll see you at the wedding..."

xxxxxxx

I had been sitting in the warm bath for about half an hour, as I was ordered to get in it by my mother. The wedding was not for a couple more hours and yet she ran around panicking about flower arrangements or the catering or the band. I shook my head and got out of the bath wrapping a nice thick robe around me. I left the bathroom and walked to my room to find Kaoru, Megumi and my mother standing inside waiting for me.

"Now Misao, how do you want me to do your hair and make-up for you?" My mother spoke while carrying a rather large case and placing it on my bed.

"No…I don't want your help mother…I can do this! Besides Kaoru and Megumi are here and they can help me." I watched my mother frown but she left the room without saying another word.

"Okay Meg, start working on some light make-up for Kaoru while I do the hair." I stated while dragging Kaoru over to the chair and facing it away from the mirror so she was unable to see what was happening to her. I grabbed the brush softly stroking her hair and parting it to turn it into a loose braid. I grabbed three silk thin ribbons placing them with the hair making sure they went throw her hair so everybody could see it. Loose parts fell down framing her face. I grabbed the sakura blossoms and began weaving them through the braid after I had tied it off. Megumi had finished with the make-up and we finally turned Kaoru around to have a look. Her mouth was parted as though speechless. She looked a few years older and glowed with beauty. It was now Megumi's turn and the same was down as well, applying light make-up and the same hairstyle.

"Sano and Kenshin are going to go nuts at how gorgeous you two look." I watched and giggled as they faintly blushed and mumbled something I couldn't understand. I walked to the cupboard and brought out a zipped bag. I lay it down flat on the bed and unzip it. I brought out the dresses and faced them towards the other two to see what they think.

"Oh Misao…they're beautiful." Megumi spoke. I watched as Kaoru nodded her head in agreement having lost her voice. Megumi and Kaoru dressed and stood in front of me so I could have a look. I smiled as the dresses were perfect and needed no hurried adjustments. The dresses where plain but very elegant made of complete silk and in an ice-blue colour. The neckline was 'V' shaped and the sleeves nearly fell off their shoulders, but not quite, so a strapless bra was needed for them. The dress had long flowing sleeves that went passed their hands, hiding them like a traditional kimono. The waist above hugged Megumi and Kaoru's curves while the lower half fell to the floor flowing, so they were able to walk easily. Megumi had a split up her right leg just above her knee while Kaoru's was on her left leg. The shoes they wore were a pearly white but couldn't be seen unless they walked around.

"You sneak! I can't believe you did this by yourself!" Kaoru spoke while placing her hands on her hips. I laughed a little and they ended up joining in. The tension was leaving my muscles but I was still a nervous wreck.

"Actually your grandmother made them for me. I didn't even know who she was but she still helped me out a lot. I wanted it to be a surprise for you guys since you welcomed me into your group." I watched as their eyes teared up and I shook my hands in front of them alarmingly.

"No don't! Think of your make-up...you guys can cry later!" They stopped and we all burst into laughter once more.

"Misao would you like us to help you?" Megumi spoke since she was the first to get her laughter under control. I shook my head negatively and grabbed their flowers.

"It's nearly time, so you guys go down. I just need some time to myself. I hope you don't mind." I had bowed my head saying this hoping they wouldn't take it meanly and I froze when I received a hug from Kaoru, then one from Megumi. I watched as they silently left the room and closed the door. I sat down on my bed for a few minutes and began brushing my hair.

I pinned it up into a loose bun and let the smaller ends fall down my neck and frame my face. I broke off some of the blossoms and placed them in my hair just like Megumi and Kaoru's. I looked into the make-up case my mother had brought in ages ago and placed on some lip-gloss making my lips shine and turn a bit darker then usual while applying some eyeliner and mascara. That's all I wanted. No matter how much Aoshi hated having to be married to someone like myself I just wanted to look natural. I smelled the perfumes and picked the one I thought was best and placed it on as well.

"Misao honey, it's nearly time." I heard my mother say behind the door.

"I'm coming...but take dad with you. I want to walk down the supposed aisle by myself." I spoke demandingly at them.

"Alright sweetie..." I smiled as her voice seemed defeated and I dressed in the ice-blue silk under dress. It fell down to my ankles and had a split on either side of my legs just above the knees. It was loose fitting but still showed the contour of my curves. The chest area was lace with silk underneath so nothing could be seen while the rest was complete silk. I placed on the robe, opting for a traditional look. The robe was a pearly white also made of complete silk. Small ice-blue sakura blossoms were etched into the robe as well. The sleeves were also like Kaoru's and Megumi's dresses, long and hiding my hands from view. I tied it up using a nice pearly silk ribbon and placing it in one simple bow at the back. It hugged my form showing off my curves as well. The robe bunched on the floor but I placed on the pearl sandals, matching to Megumi and Kaoru's and now it skimmed the carpet. I clipped on the silk veil just under my bun and grabbed my flowers and walked hurriedly down the stairs when I heard the music begin.

xxxxxxx

I was standing at the archway, which was placed in the garden area and began walking down the "aisle" when the music for me started. I was playing it slow not wanting to trip and make a complete ass of myself. Megumi and Kaoru where already up the front and had turned around to look at myself as did Sano and Kenshin. I could see their shocked face expressions as all four had their mouths open wide and eyes larger then normal. This is so embarrassing! I spoke to myself.As I walked past the chairs in which people stood near I could hear their collected gasps and whispers on how beautiful I looked. I hate this! I spoke inside my head again. I nearly faulted in my footsteps when I watched Aoshi turn around to look as well. He was wearing a black suit with an ice-blue tie. How did he know about the colour? I spoke inside my head. His fringe was ruffled slightly from the wind and I knew those blue-green eyes were staring straight into my ocean-blue ones. The coat fell down to his knees and I slightly blushed at how gorgeous he looked. Misao! You're supposed to hate this remember! I berated myself. I stood next to him and handed my flowers to Megumi.

"Who is the one that gives this young woman away?" The priest had spoken out loud. And so the wedding begins… I speak to myself yet again.

"We do." I turned to see my parents who had stood up saying this.

"Please, I wish for the two of you to face each other." I gulped a little and turned to my right and looked up into those intense eyes that stared at me hiding all emotions. I silently seethe inside at how calm he could be during a moment like this. I was pulled a bit closer to Aoshi by the priest who had taken a hold of my hands and placed them into Aoshi's larger ones. I looked down at our joined hands and felt an electric shock go through my entire body. My hands slightly shook at being so nervous but the priest tightened Aoshi's hands against mine to stop this from occurring. I knew a faint blush covered my cheeks. Dammit! How can this idiot be so calm! I yelled inside myselfI was cut from my thoughts as the priest spoke talking to me first.

"Now repeat after me… I Misao Makimachi take you Aoshi to be my husband…"

"I-I Misao Makimachi, take you Aoshi to be my husband…" I spoke not being able to break my eyes away from his.

"…To have and to hold. Through sickness and in health for the rest of my life."

"To have and to hold. Through sickness and in health for the rest of my life." I spoke a little softer then before. Misao, this is not good…stop blushing! I spoke irritatingly.

"Now… I Aoshi Shinomori take you Misao to be my wife…" I froze as it was now his turn to say these words to me and yet I felt saddened that this was not true. He felt nothing for me and yet here we are getting married in front of all these people.

"I Aoshi Shinomori take you Misao to be my wife…" His voice was rich and deep but still no emotions. Is anything happening inside this guy? I silently thought to myself.

"To have and to hold. Through sickness and in health for the rest of my life." Wow…was that said fast or what! I spoke again. He had spoken this without letting the priest say it first.

"May we have the rings?" The priest had asked Sano. He brought out two silver identical bands and gave them to the priest. I dropped my hands away from Aoshi's and took a hold of his ring in my right hand.

"Now Misao do you have anything to say while you give Aoshi this ring?" The priest had spoken to me. Oh shit! What the hell do I say! I yelled inside my head. I took a deep breath and looked up at him and spoke softly so only he and the priest could hear.

"I give you this ring as a symbol of our bonding together. I one day wish for you to see me as the person I truly am and I hope that we will become the best of friends, maybe even soul mates." And with that I placed the ring on his finger knowing I was blushing even more then before.

"Aoshi do you have anything to say while you give Misao this ring?" I stared into those eyes and watched them flicker everywhere but on me. I frowned slightly but watched as he bent his head down to look at my hand and another electric shook went straight through me as his larger hand cradled mine.

"I give you this ring because without it you would not be bonded to me." I inwardly smiled, as I knew there was a hidden meaning in that message somewhere and I secretly prayed that one-day he would tell me.

"By the vows you two have spoken in front of your family and friends and in the name of God I pronounce you man and wife. Aoshi…you may kiss your bride." WHAT! I screamed in my head. K-kiss him…but in front of everyone! I spoke again. I watched as he faulted too forgetting about this part but my eyes widened the slightest as Aoshi's face drew closer to mine. Our lips met in a sweet gentle kiss. For the few seconds that it lasted, that was long enough for us to be bonded in a way we never knew possible. Aoshi stepped back a bit looking down at me as if surprised about what had occurred but the priest turned us to face the audience and joined my left hand with Aoshi's right one and spoke proudly and happily.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Mr & Mrs Aoshi Shinomori."

Xxx to be continued xxX