Graduation and the wedding came sneaking up on me. A month after graduation was the wedding. Haru took most of the planning on himself. He never seemed to mind. He would pass ideas by me in the early morning when I wasn't likely to object. Even when he ran by his ideas when I was fully awake, I never said no to him. He was so excited about the wedding. I was too, but I was more nervous. He must of sensed my nervousness because he began to talk less and less about the wedding.

"The planning is done," he told me one morning. It was a week until my graduation. "We should to go the main house and give everyone their invitations."

"I don't want to see Akito," I said, drowsily, only hearing "main house." I put my food down, since we were eating breakfast.

"You don't have to see Akito," he told me. "I'll do that myself, Yuki. I'm going to tell him he can't come to the wedding."

"He's going to come anyway, Haru," I said. "He won't let me go."

He took my hand up in his. "You let him go so he won't have to come," he said. "You're not his puppet anymore, Yuki. You don't have to be afraid anymore."

I nodded. "Okay, I'll go," I said. I smiled at him. "Now I'm your puppet."

He laughed. "More like my bitch," he replied. He stood up, having finished eating. He walked by me and kissed my cheek.

I looked at him and smiled. "Like hell I'm a bitch," I said. I kissed him. "You'll just have to find another name for me, then. When are we going to the main house, exactly?"

"It's up to you," he replied.

I pushed my food aside and laid my head on the table. "Too early," I muttered. Haru poked my side. I sat up and moved away from him. He took my plate and went into the kitchen. "Not fair!" I screamed after him, smiling.

"You deserved it," he said. He came back into the dining area. "When do you want to go?"

"Might as well get it over with today," I said with a sigh. "We can stop by Tohru's house for lunch and then head over to the main house."

Haru kissed my cheek. "You're wonderful," he said.

I smiled. "It's too early for you to be flirting with me."

He wrapped his arms around me. "You're just going to get over that, aren't you?" He kissed my forehead. I rested my head on his shoulder. Haru really knew how to make me feel better about anything. "We should get going," he said.

We stood up and left the house. We arrived at Tohru and Kyo's apartment. Tohru made lunch for us. Tohru was now six months pregnant and Kyo seemed to beam with pride at his wife. After lunch, we all went to the main house. Haru made the announcements and I just sat at his side, holding his hand. Haru left me with everyone else while he went to inform Akito he wasn't coming. He returned shortly after.

"He wants to see you, Yuki," Haru said. "He's angry and he wouldn't listen to me."

I sighed. Damn it, I thought. I stood up. "Come with me, Haru. I'm not going in there alone."

We walked to Akito's room and entered. "Welcome, Yuki," Akito muttered. "Tell me, why am I not invited to the wedding?"

"I don't want you to come," I replied. I tried to sound as brave as I could, but my voice cracked. I knelled in front of him. Haru sat next to me.

"As the head of this house, I'm the first person that should be invited. Besides, I haven't even given you my blessings to be married. After you graduate, Yuki, you will not marry Haru. I will not allow it!" Akito stood and walked over to me. Instead of hitting me, he leaned over and hit Haru. Big mistake! White Haru turned into Black Haru.

"You think you can decide for him," Haru yelled. "Ask him if he wants to marry me, Akito. If he says no, it'll be called off. If he says yes, then it goes the way it is planned: without you."

Akito turned to me. "Do you want to marry him, Yuki? Answer carefully because a life may be at stake."

"I'm going to marry him," I replied, confidently. "You will not be there to ruin it for me. I'm happy without you in my life."

Akito punched me across the face and advanced on Haru. I fell backwards. Haru stood up and prepared himself for Akito. The head of the family flung himself on top of Haru and wrapped his hands around my boyfriend's neck. I jumped to my feet and tried to pull Akito off Haru. I was pushed back off my feet. I hit my head on the floor and blacked out.

I woke up in a different room. My head hurt. I sat up and looked around. There wasn't anyone in the room. I rubbed my head. Where's Haru? I got out of the bed and exited the room. I walked a ways down the hall until I heard Hatori's voice.

"He's going to be fine," he said. "We got in there just in time. Yuki will be glad to hear when he wakes up."

"He'll want to see him," Tohru said, not far from the door.

"He'll have to wait until he wakes up," Hatori said.

"Poor Yuki, he's gone through so much." The door opened and Tohru stood there, blinking at me. "Yuki, you're awake."

"Yeah," I said. "Is he...?"

She nodded. "He's just fine," she said. "Hatori says to wait—"

"I don't care what he says," I said. I pushed passed Tohru and walked into the room. Haru was asleep on the bed. He had cuts on his arms and bruises on his neck. I sat down next to him and took his hand. "Haru."

He opened his eyes and smiled. "Are you all right?" he asked. His voice was as strong as it had been. He just seemed weak.

I smiled. "Just a headache," I replied. "You gave me a scare. I was afraid you were dead." I placed my head on his chest.

His hand rested on my head. "I can't die," he whispered. "Our wedding is only next month. You need me to protect you."

"You've protected me enough, Haru," I said. "It's my turn to protect you." I took his other hand in mine.

Haru and I returned home before school started for the week. He recovered nicely and was back to tickling me. Before I knew it, Tohru was planning my graduation party. She was sneaking behind my back, though not as well as when she was planning my birthday party. She never told Haru not to tell me, so he did. He had picked up that it was a good idea to tell me things in the morning from planning our wedding.

Graduation snuck up on me. I had passed all my classes easily. The ceremony would be three hours long in long black robes on. It was extremely warm and I was sweating the whole time. It also became difficult to breath. I was afraid of an asthma attack, but the end of the ceremony came quickly. Haru was the first person to meet me and he took me in his arms. I was excited to see him. Tohru and Kyo came up. I started to take the robe off.

"Not yet," Tohru demanded. "I have to get a picture."

I kept my robe on, still sweating. Tohru took a lot of pictures of me in my robe and cap, without them on, and with and without Haru. It was rather embarrassing. She insisted on it and so did Haru. We returned to the house, shortly afterwards. The party commenced and Ayame insisted on hanging on me the whole time.

"I'm so proud of my baby brother," he yelled over everyone else. "He's out of school and about to get married."

"Ayame, keep it down," Hatori said, rubbing his head. "Haru, can I see you for a moment?"

Haru, who hadn't released my hand since we got there, squeezed it and followed Hatori. Ayame continued to scream out his pride.

"He is my brother after all," he said to Kyo.

"I can tell," my rival said. "He has the same girly figures as you."

I hit him on the head as hard as I could. It felt nice to actually hit him. I hadn't done it in so long. He clutched his head in pain. I smirked as Tohru attended to her husband. Haru returned to my side, rubbing his neck.

"Are you okay?" I asked him.

"Yeah, Hatori was just checking up on me," he replied. "He was just a little rough, is all."

I kissed his neck and hugged him. "I'm sorry," I whispered to him. "This is my fault."

He hugged me back. "It's not your fault," he told me. "Akito attacked me to get to you. If that's what I have to do to protect you, then I will."

"Oh my, the little love birds are cuddling," Ayame yelled in my ear. I let go of Haru and attempted to bash my brother on the head. Two hands grabbed my fist. One belonged to Haru the other to Shigure.

"Leave him alone, Yuki," Hatori said, coming into the room. "He's just excited."

I growled and turned back to Haru.

He took my hand in his. "You should wear your ring now," he said. I untied the necklace I had been wearing for a while, put my ring on, and handed Haru his necklace. He tied it around his neck and kissed my cheek. "Tohru's about to bring out your cake."

"Why did she make a cake?" I asked. "It's not a birthday."

"All celebrations deserve cake," Tohru said, coming out of the kitchen. She held a beautiful cake with white frosting and purple letters that said, "Congratulations Yuki."

I smiled at her. Only a month left, I told myself. Only a month left until I marry Hatsuharu.

Just like graduation had snuck up on me, the wedding did, too. Haru and I were on our way to the rehearsal dinner and my nerves were shot. I shook and was constantly sweating.

"Calm down, Yuki," Haru said while tying my tie. "You don't have to do much. I know how you don't like public appearances."

"That's not it," I said. "I'm really nervous and excited about tomorrow." I hugged him when he finished tying my tie. "You've been so good to me. I'm so happy that I'm with you."

He hugged me back. "You deserve this," he told me. Haru released me. "Let's get over there."

"Why do we have to have the rehearsal dinner at the main house?" I asked him. Akito's actions against my boyfriend were still vividly in my mind. I wasn't ready for him to get hurt again. He told me it wasn't my fault, but I felt otherwise.

"Because it's a bigger place," he told me. "If we had it here, we wouldn't be able to get all our guests in." We walked out to the car and we started on our way to the main house. "It won't be all that bad." Little did he know that everything would go wrong because of that stupid rat.

"Why do I have to wear a suit?" he screamed at Tohru.

"Because it's Haru and Yuki's rehearsal dinner," Tohru explained calmly.

Kyo spotted me and Haru and marched up to me. "Why the hell have I got to wear this? You're enjoying this, aren't you, you damn cat?"

"Of course I'm enjoying this," I replied, "I'm getting married tomorrow."

Kyo turned to Haru. "It was your idea, wasn't it?"

"Kyo—"

"No, it's part of tradition, you stupid rat," Haru snarled. "Why don't you just shut up and take your seat?"

"Too late..." Haru had turned black. "Haru, let's go now," I said. I pulled on Haru's arm. Before Tohru or I knew what was happening, Kyo and Haru got into a physical fight. I stood between the two and pushed Haru into the banquet hall where the dinner was being held. It took him a moment to turn white again, but he was back before the dinner was served.

"I'm sorry, Yuki," he said, looking guilty. "This is your night. I shouldn't ruin it for you." He took my hand in his.

"Just don't talk to Kyo tonight," I said. "He seems to be a little pushy right now. He wants a fight."

He nodded. Dinner was served.

"What the hell is this crap?" Kyo yelled. He was sitting a little ways down the table. "I'm not going to eat it." He stood up and punched the table.

Haru was about to say something when I interrupted him. "Then don't eat it, Kyo," I said, "and keep your mouth shut." That was a mistake.

"Why should I listen to you?" Kyo screamed at me. Everyone went silent and looked at us.

"Just shut up, Kyo," Haru yelled. He could see my desperation to want Kyo to shut up. He didn't turn black, though. "God so help you if you continue."

"What are you going to do about it?" Kyo yelled.

"Why are you doing this to me tonight of all nights, you stupid rat?" I yelled. "Couldn't you wait until it was all over? I sat through your wedding without raising my voice once. You never yelled at your own wedding. Why do you have to do this to me?"

I felt eyes on me from the door. I looked over and saw Akito standing there with a smirk. I wanted to through something at him. Shigure followed my gaze and saw Akito. He closed the door and sat back down. I looked back over at Kyo.

"What the hell do you want me to do?" he yelled.

I didn't even know. Without another thought, I walked over to him and punched him in the face. Kyo fell back into his chair. "Thanks, you stupid rat," I said. "Thanks for ruining everything like you always do." I stormed out of the room and stood in the hall: another mistake.

"It seems that everything's going as Haru planned," Akito said from a shadowed room. "What else did he plan? For you to meet me and find yourself beaten again?"

"Go away, Akito," I snapped. "Just go the hell away." I walked down the hall and exited the building. I sat on the walkway.

Tohru joined me slightly afterwards. "Everyone's worried, Yuki," she said, "Haru more than anyone. Are you okay?"

"Just a little upset," I replied. I was holding back tears. Tonight, I'm not going to cry, I promised myself. "I'm so sick of that stupid rat."

"I understand and I'm sorry for what he is doing," she said, apologizing for her husband. "Can't you just ignore him and be happy for the rest of the evening?"

"I tried that the first time he yelled," I said. "Go on back to the hall, Tohru. I'll be back in a moment."

She stood up and walked away, leaving me alone again. I wanted Haru to come to try comfort me. He was the only one who could.

"We meet again, Yuki," Akito said, behind me. I stood up and turned to him. "My, this must be a small house. No one seems to be around. I wonder where they might be. Oh yes, they're in the banquet hall. I think you should join them." He paused, walking closer to me. "You don't want to go back? Maybe, you should join me in my room." He reached forward for my hand.

I ran around him and back towards the banquet hall. Akito ran behind me. He caught up with me about half way there and jumped on me. He turned me on my back and pinned my arms above my head. He held both my hands over my head with one hand and the other over my mouth before I could scream. He removed his hand and kissed me. I tried to squirm away, but his grip held me in place. I knew bruises would show tomorrow.

I heard footsteps from the direction my head was pointed. There was more than one person.

"Get the hell off him, you sick bastard," two voices said at once. I recognized one as Kyo and the other as Haru.

Akito released me from his kiss and looked up at the two. I looked, too. Haru was now black and more pissed off than I had ever seen him. Kyo was always angry. Why does he care? He's always hated me and I've always hated him.

A dagger appeared from Akito's robes and he placed it to my throat. I was truthfully more afraid of Akito right then than I was of the wedding that would be happening the following afternoon. "What are you going to do about it?"

Two pair of hands pulled Akito off me. I saw Shigure and Ayame hold Akito from me. Shigure took the knife from the head of the Sohma house. I stood up and walked backwards away from him. I bumped into someone, who turned out to be Haru. Haru pulled me behind him. I rubbed my wrists.

"Akito, we have had enough of you," Haru screamed. "Leave Yuki alone. He hasn't done anything to you."

"How would you know, cow? You don't see what he does when you're not around," Akito screamed. "He comes crying to me! He doesn't love you!"

Haru turned to me. I felt ashamed somehow. Nothing he said was true, but I felt ashamed. I wanted to wrap my arms around him. Instead, I turned and ran. I ran and tears fell down my cheeks. What am I doing? I ran until I fell flat on my face. I cried into the wood floor. I could hear someone following me. I tried to get up, but someone fell on top of me.

"Don't run, Yuki." It was Haru. I cried even harder as he helped me up and held me. "Do you really not... want to marry me, Yuki?" he asked. He seemed more scared that I was at the time.

"I do, but I want to be as far away from Akito as I can," I sobbed. "Please, don't leave me because of what he says."

He took my face in his hands and looked into my eyes. I was frightened. I wanted to spend this night and the day after as happy as I had ever been. Akito was trying desperately to end that happiness before it happened. So far, it was working. "I won't leave you, not when the only thing left for you is Akito." He leaned forward and kissed me. I wrapped my arms around him as we kissed.

Someone cleared his or her throat behind me, breaking our kiss. "We're waiting for you guys," Hatori said. He was standing there alone. "We've locked Akito in his room, he'll be fine. Come one with me." We followed Hatori back to the banquet hall. He stopped us just before entering. He looked at my wrists. "They won't bruise, Yuki, don't worry about that. You'll be fine, but I'd like to look at your chest and back before you leave tonight."

I nodded. I held Haru's elbow and we entered the hall. Everyone clapped for us and we all went back to eating. Kyo didn't yell again. He even apologized to me for yelling. Haru, evidently, had assigned him as our best man. He must have told me this when I was still out of it so that I would agree with it. I didn't know that Kyo was Haru's best man until Kyo stood up to make the traditional speech. I didn't mind. Haru had given me the part of the bride since I was "the more feminine of the both of us" as he said. I didn't mind because it was true. Tohru, Haru decided, would be the "maid of honor," for lack of a better term.

Haru never left me alone for the rest of the evening. After the dinner was over, Hatori took me to his office to examine the rest of my back and chest.

"You have a lot of bruises on your back," he said to me. He pushed on a tender spot and I winced. "Turn around." I turned around and faced him. "Haru, you're going to have to be gentle on him tomorrow night."

I blushed. "Hatori!"

Hatori smiled. "He left hand print bruises on you, Yuki, and they're everywhere." He pressed on one of the thumb bruises. I screamed in pain and the bruise started to bleed. Hatori gently pressed a cloth against the bruise. "Be more careful than ever. These bruises are very sensitive."

"I can see that," I said, through gritted teeth.

"Sleep on your back and apply ice to these bruises," Hatori said. "Take two aspirin every four hours, including tomorrow." He patted my shoulder after I was buttoning my shirt. "Good luck tomorrow, Yuki. Ayame, Shigure, and I will make sure Akito doesn't make a surprise appearance."

"Thanks, Hatori," I said. I picked up my tie and jacket and put them over my arm. Haru and I returned home.

I woke up very easily the next morning. I was so excited that the first thing I did was kiss Haru. The wedding was being held in our backyard. Tohru and Kyo arrived before Haru had finished making breakfast. Tohru and I disappeared into the spare bedroom so that I could get ready. Lunch rolled around quickly and Tohru was already in her dress and I in my tuxedo. Everyone else started to arrive. Haru had invited some of our friends to the wedding as well. Kagura was a "bride's maid" so to speak. She was very jealous over Kyo's marriage to Tohru.

The three of us waited in the kitchen for Haru's chosen music to play. I was pacing back and forth, shaking. Tohru took my hands and stopped my pacing.

"Yuki, you need to stop pacing," she said. "You'll mess up your tux."

I took in a breath. "I'm so nervous," I told her, "and excited. If it weren't for the pain in my side, I would have forgotten about what happened last night." A bruise in the shape of a hand was on my side. In my sleep, the bruise had been broken and started to bleed. Haru dressed it that morning and told me everything would be okay. Haru called Hatori to have him look at it after the ceremony.

"Akito isn't coming," Kagura said. "Ayame locked him in a room at the main house. He's not going to get here anyway. The family cars are all here right now."

I sighed. "I know," I said. "I just don't understand why everyone is taking a chance against Akito like this."

"It's because we care about you and Haru," Tohru said. "Akito wants to take away the one thing that is good to you in your life. He did it with your brother and he's doing it with Haru."

"My brother? How did he...?"

"Since Akito kept you inside all the time, Ayame never really knew you existed. At least, he had never seen you, but been told about you," Tohru said. "He told me the first day I met him, Yuki, that's how I know."

"Man, if I weren't about to go out there, I'd hug you," I said, smiling. The music outside started playing and my nerves became shot again.

Tohru held one elbow and Kagura the other. They both pulled me out of the door and onto the lawn. We walked down the aisle between the chairs. All I could see was Haru. He was handsome in his white tux with black pants. His bow tie was crooked and it was cute. He wore his necklace over his shirt and his earrings still on. I smiled at him as I came closer to him. We took hands at the alter and the ceremony started. I kept my eyes on Haru's face. When the time came, we both locked eyes.

"Do you, Hatsuharu, take Yuki to be your lawfully wedded husband to have and to hold, through sickness and in health, 'til death do you part?" the priest asked.

"I do," Haru replied and my smile widened. I'm almost married to the man I love, I thought.

"And do you, Yuki, take Hatsuharu to be your lawfully wedded... uh... husband to have and to hold, through sickness and in health, 'til death do you part?" the priest asked, turning to me.

"I do," I said, without question.

"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you, husband and... husband?" the priest said, finishing the ceremony. "You may now kiss the... groom?" The priest had obviously come unprepared for our ceremony, but I was happy.

Haru took me in his arms and kissed me. I returned the kiss. Everyone seemed silent and no one seemed to be there. It was just the two of us, kissing in front of our family and friends. We broke our kiss and every one was cheering.

"Are you happy, Yuki?" Haru asked me

I smiled. "Very happy," I said. "I'm glad I'm spending the rest of my life with you."

We joined the rest of the world and continued on to the "after party." I didn't know the name of it. Haru had planned it all, as I have said. I didn't know where he was taking me for our honeymoon, but I was pretty sure he didn't want me to know.

"Congratulations," Hatori said to us. Ayame and Shigure were standing close by.

"I should thank you, Shigure, and Ayame," I said. "I appreciate everything that you've done for me."

"Oh, Hatori, did you hear that? Yuki actually appreciates me," he yelled. He wrapped an arm around me. "He really appreciates me. Did you hear what he said Shigure? He said he appreciates what I did."

"Let him do it, Yuki," Haru whispered to me.

"What do you think I'm doing?" I asked him.

He smiled.

"Let me in," a familiar voice yelled from the front of the house.

"Like hell I am! Yuki doesn't want you here! You weren't invited!" Kyo screamed. He was also at the front door.

"Yuki, come with me," Haru said. He pulled me to the front of the house. "We're going on our honeymoon early. Hatori and Shigure will end the party." He opened the passenger's side door of our car. I got in and Haru went around to get into the driver's seat. Akito came over to my door and started pounding on it. I locked the door. Haru drove away from our house.

"Where are we going?" I asked, trying to forget about Akito.

"You're just going to have to wait and see," he said, smiling. "You're going to forget about Akito and all your problems."

"You're the only person who could do that, Hatsuharu," I said.

He took my hand. "Are you complaining?"

I shook my head. "Why would I do that? It is the only thing I look forward to." I pulled his hand up and kissed it. "I don't regret this. I'm really that I fell in love with you."

"I am to, Yuki," Haru said. "I'll love you until the day I die."