Chapter 36 - The Wedding
And time passed.
Ken recovered nicely from his little debacle with Piedmon in a couple of weeks. He still gets small twinges in bad weather, but nothing serious to worry about. Following the incident, Yolie's become a lot more possessive of him. He doesn't mind too much, but I get the feeling that he needs a little more space than she's giving him.
Davis, on the other hand, has begun to reexamine his priorities. He's done a lot of growing up recently. That isn't to say that Davis isn't fun anymore, he's just become somewhat more mature and reliable. He's changing from his former bumbling self into someone who's just occasionally inexplicably goofy.
To the relief of all of us, even Davis, TK and Kari finally got back together after nearly two months of dancing around the issue. I had the misfortune of being the first to find out. I accidentally happened across the two of them making out in a school closet.
I'm not sure if it's a good thing or not, or even if I should mention it, but I'm only one of three men, her father and TK being the others, to see her with her top off. Things were awkward for a few months after that, but we got over it. It was a little disorienting at first because, as faked as it was, Kari and I hadn't 'officially' broken it off yet. But I hope they have good luck from here - and that TK manages to lighten up a little. Kari, TK, and I have actually managed to coordinate a study group amongst the younger Digidestined and me, so that I don't have to go bug Izzy all the time, which is good, all things considered.
Izzy did something so unexpected that most of us still can't believe he found the guts. I mean it. Davis explodes over it every day.
He asked Mimi to marry him.
Honestly, until we looked at it a little more closely, we all thought it was a rushed decision, but when you stop to think about it, it's really not. When we considered it, they've been living together for years already. The only real change from their dating to marriage would be the ceremony.
And since she said yes, Mimi's spent more money than I've ever seen putting together the most expensive and extravagant wedding I've ever heard of. I've never had the misfortune of attending another one fortunately.
It's ironic, really, that Matt is more panicked over the wedding than Izzy is. And that's saying something. Jun keeps giving Matt these suggestive looks, and he's pretty close to cutting and running.
Sovereigns help us all.
Joe, sadly, remains missing to this day. We haven't seen or heard from him since that day that Gomamon showed up crying on Sora's doorstep. Gomamon is deeply troubled by all of this, but still refuses to say anything about what happened to make Joe react like that, but from what Tai, Matt, and Izzy have said, we assume it's a girl. Gomamon is as recovered as possible, but often drifts off to be alone.
Sora has suffered a loss as well. Her mother died. This has left the flower shop pretty much completely in her hands. Well, not completely, we all try to pitch in a little when we can, and Kari has taken a more or less full time position beside her.
Tai, on the other hand, lends Sora as much emotional support as he can, and tries to help in subtle ways. Sora flat out refused to let Tai pay for anything she needs other than the usual small gifts, so he's compensated by taking her out to eat more often. We've all made a silent pact that any of our flower needs come from her. Not like we would have considered anywhere else, but Ken and TK buy flowers for every date now, and the Mimi paid Sora to do all of the flowers the wedding. And that's a lot.
I'm fairly sure she knows what's going on on some level, but she isn't saying anything. So far Tai says it's working okay, but I don't want to speak too soon.
I had to claim to be jumped by someone or something else, never saw it, to dodge the 'where were you' question after the Piedmon battle. My appearance, degraded by the hour I spent in the gutter, helped the story along. Fortunately, true to Kari's word, the clamoring of the fairer gender for me died down. Not completely though. There's no way life in general would let me off that easy. At least I'm not openly propositioned anymore.
And time passed, and I began my last year in high school, my last year in the eastern quadrant.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nervousness, thy name is Izzy.
I was standing there with Izzy, watching him fidget. The Best Man gets to do that kind of thing, and make fun of him while he's on the honeymoon.
I glanced idly around the room. Izzy, hair combed for once, was wearing a pure white tuxedo, as Mimi claimed that the black was simply 'not right' on him. In fact, the tuxedos of all of the groomsmen were white as well, only varying in the colors of the center-frill-things.
Sora would kill me for not knowing the name. Oh well.
The room itself was done tastefully, if abundantly, in lilies, orchids, and several exotic species I couldn't identify off the top of my head. The chapel interior was done mostly in mahogany, and one of the more open and spacious I'd seen when Sora dragged me along her, Mimi, and Izzy on the hunt for the 'perfect' location.
There were several stained glass windows, but most of the light in the room was coming from an elevated window directly behind the pulpit, which was at the perfect spot, and this was taking place at the perfect time of day, for the altar to be bathed in concentrated white light.
There were a lot of people in attendance today. In addition to the Odaiba Digidestined and their families, also present were the New York crew, all smiling proudly, with the possible exception of Maria, who I couldn't see well at my angle since she was a bride's maid.
From my side, one of the groomsmen, Takato to be specific, swore softly under his breath. I turned back to him, hissing under my breath so that the priest wouldn't shush us. I noted that Izzy has noticed as well, despite the fact that he was probably contemplating running.
"What?"
His face took on a far away look for a moment, then he shook his head.
"Don't worry about it. It's nothing."
I frowned, but didn't comment. Now wasn't the time. Fortunately Izzy distracted me then, bringing in a new problem. He looked at me with wild eyes. He, too, hissed under his breath.
"Tai, I can't find the rings!"
I rolled my eyes.
"Relax. I have them, remember?"
I patted my pocket for good measure, and grinned at the look of relief that crossed his face. We stopped fidgeting and resumed our main places as the music started and we all turned to look down the isle at the doors.
They opened gracefully, and Mimi, escorted by her father, came down the isle at a slow, stately pace. This seemed to settle Izzy a bit, as he simply stared; only the fact that Mimi would have been furious kept him from using a slack-jawed stare. Mimi was in a floor length white gown. It was strapless, and there was lace everywhere, and there was subtle embroidery in a gold thread. Mimi also wore white gloves that proceeded half way up her upper arms, as she held a smaller arrangement of the same flowers that were everywhere else in the room.
She had also changed her hair. She was wearing it in a high pony tail, with two thick tendrils hanging down to frame her face, much like she had worn it when we first entered the digital world. Her hair was back to its original brown color for the most part, but the hair that was hanging down to either side of her face was still that bright pink color. On her head she wore a delicate silver tiara to keep the veil in place.
Mimi reached the altar, and with a quick peck to her cheek, her father joined her mother in the isle. The priest looked over the gathered crowd.
"If there are any here who have cause as to why these two should not be joined, speak now, or forever hold your piece."
There was a long tense moment then. The air was still, as if awaiting someone who would object. But it never came, and the room breathed a silent sigh of relief.
The priest spoke for quite some time after that about the state of matrimony. As the prototypical male, I tuned most of it out, but I noted that Sora nearly had tears in her eyes, so knew that I had better not admit it. I did fade back in for the vows though, even as I subtly handed Izzy the rings. Those were important to Izzy and Mimi, as they had chosen to write their own.
That, and it might be helpful to know something about this kind of thing for the future *cough*.
Izzy spoke first.
"Mimi, you are my greatest love and my only love. Until I met you I didn't give true love much thought, but since you came into my life, I struggle desperately to find the words to tell you how much I love you - how much I adore you. It is difficult for me to verbalize my feelings for you, because mere words can't begin to express how deep my love truly is.
"I promise to be a companion worthy of your precious friendship.
"I pledge you compassion in good times and bad, encouragement in sickness and health.
"It is my intent that our life together include our large circle of friends and our loving families.
"We'll cherish the memories of our individual pasts, and create out new life as we go along together.
"As we face the future together, I promise to stand by your side.
"I promise to unfailingly share and support your hopes, dreams, and goals.
"I vow to be there for you always.
"When you fall I will catch you.
"When you cry, I will comfort you.
"When you laugh, I will share your joy.
"Everything I am and everything I have is yours, from this moment forth and for eternity."
And with that, Izzy slipped the ring onto Mimi's finger, and she in turn began to speak.
"Koushiro, since we have been together, you have provided me with strength, security, confidence, honestly, love, and plenty of much needed guidance.
"Where there has been cold, you have brought warmth; where my life was dark, you have brought light. In my darkest trouble, in my coldest silence, I looked for you and you were there.
"You are truly my knight in shining armor. You may not realize it, but you have helped me and saved me in so many was and I love you for that.
"I am honored that you will have me as your wife, and I am proud to accept you as my husband.
"I believe that we were meant to be from the start, and I will always love you with all my heart.
"I accept you as my husband, secure in the knowledge that you will be my friend, my faithful partner in life, and my one true love.
"On this special day, I give to you in the presence of all those in attendance my promise to stay by your side as your wife in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, as well as through good times and bad.
"I promise to love you, comfort you in times of distress… laugh with you and cry with you, grow with you in mind, always be open and honest with you, and cherish you for as long as we both shall live."
And then Mimi slipped the other ring onto Izzy's finger. I wiped a tear out of my eye.
It's just a spec of dust there… that's all, really.
The priest smiled at them, and spoke, moving through the 'I do's. Like at any other wedding I could imagine, Izzy's, the guy's, voice was nervous and shaking, while Mimi's, the girl's, was clear and true.
"By the power invested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Izzy carefully lifted the veil and tried for a chaste kiss, but Mimi was obviously having none of it, as she wrapped her arms around him and went for something more passionate. When they came apart three seconds later, Mimi had a better sense of decorum than to let it go on longer, Izzy had a slightly dazed and foolish grin on his face as the crowd cheered.
A little later, we were standing outside, watching the rented limo with the 'Just Married' sign written in soap on the back window, cans clinking, drive off into the afternoon.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Takato pull his glove/digivice out of his pocket and walk carefully behind the chapel. I whispered a quick, probably completely false, explanation to Sora, and followed.
"Takato, wait up!"
He turned, his reddish brown eyes glinting for a moment. He didn't stop, but he did slow enough for me to catch him.
"Oh, hey Tai."
"What's going on?"
He frowned.
"You'll see. I really hope nothing bad happened."
I arched an eyebrow.
"To who?"
"To anyone. BlackGuilmon, you can come out now."
"You said to stay hidden Takatomon!"
"It's okay, it's just me and Tai. Bring our guest out with you."
"Okie dokie!"
And with that, BlackGuilmon came out of the bushes backwards, dragging someone by the seat of his pants. My eyes widened in recognition.
"Michael?!"
Takato nodded.
"You can imagine my surprise when BlackGuilmon said he saw him earlier."
I grimaced.
"Well, I'm going to call the police. I imagine they're looking for him."
Takato grinned.
"At least he never got to make an objection."
I laughed as I looked up and dialed the number of the local precinct.
To get the answers to your reviews, go to my author's profile, and go join my yahoo group. It's the only way that it can function really.
And time passed.
Ken recovered nicely from his little debacle with Piedmon in a couple of weeks. He still gets small twinges in bad weather, but nothing serious to worry about. Following the incident, Yolie's become a lot more possessive of him. He doesn't mind too much, but I get the feeling that he needs a little more space than she's giving him.
Davis, on the other hand, has begun to reexamine his priorities. He's done a lot of growing up recently. That isn't to say that Davis isn't fun anymore, he's just become somewhat more mature and reliable. He's changing from his former bumbling self into someone who's just occasionally inexplicably goofy.
To the relief of all of us, even Davis, TK and Kari finally got back together after nearly two months of dancing around the issue. I had the misfortune of being the first to find out. I accidentally happened across the two of them making out in a school closet.
I'm not sure if it's a good thing or not, or even if I should mention it, but I'm only one of three men, her father and TK being the others, to see her with her top off. Things were awkward for a few months after that, but we got over it. It was a little disorienting at first because, as faked as it was, Kari and I hadn't 'officially' broken it off yet. But I hope they have good luck from here - and that TK manages to lighten up a little. Kari, TK, and I have actually managed to coordinate a study group amongst the younger Digidestined and me, so that I don't have to go bug Izzy all the time, which is good, all things considered.
Izzy did something so unexpected that most of us still can't believe he found the guts. I mean it. Davis explodes over it every day.
He asked Mimi to marry him.
Honestly, until we looked at it a little more closely, we all thought it was a rushed decision, but when you stop to think about it, it's really not. When we considered it, they've been living together for years already. The only real change from their dating to marriage would be the ceremony.
And since she said yes, Mimi's spent more money than I've ever seen putting together the most expensive and extravagant wedding I've ever heard of. I've never had the misfortune of attending another one fortunately.
It's ironic, really, that Matt is more panicked over the wedding than Izzy is. And that's saying something. Jun keeps giving Matt these suggestive looks, and he's pretty close to cutting and running.
Sovereigns help us all.
Joe, sadly, remains missing to this day. We haven't seen or heard from him since that day that Gomamon showed up crying on Sora's doorstep. Gomamon is deeply troubled by all of this, but still refuses to say anything about what happened to make Joe react like that, but from what Tai, Matt, and Izzy have said, we assume it's a girl. Gomamon is as recovered as possible, but often drifts off to be alone.
Sora has suffered a loss as well. Her mother died. This has left the flower shop pretty much completely in her hands. Well, not completely, we all try to pitch in a little when we can, and Kari has taken a more or less full time position beside her.
Tai, on the other hand, lends Sora as much emotional support as he can, and tries to help in subtle ways. Sora flat out refused to let Tai pay for anything she needs other than the usual small gifts, so he's compensated by taking her out to eat more often. We've all made a silent pact that any of our flower needs come from her. Not like we would have considered anywhere else, but Ken and TK buy flowers for every date now, and the Mimi paid Sora to do all of the flowers the wedding. And that's a lot.
I'm fairly sure she knows what's going on on some level, but she isn't saying anything. So far Tai says it's working okay, but I don't want to speak too soon.
I had to claim to be jumped by someone or something else, never saw it, to dodge the 'where were you' question after the Piedmon battle. My appearance, degraded by the hour I spent in the gutter, helped the story along. Fortunately, true to Kari's word, the clamoring of the fairer gender for me died down. Not completely though. There's no way life in general would let me off that easy. At least I'm not openly propositioned anymore.
And time passed, and I began my last year in high school, my last year in the eastern quadrant.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nervousness, thy name is Izzy.
I was standing there with Izzy, watching him fidget. The Best Man gets to do that kind of thing, and make fun of him while he's on the honeymoon.
I glanced idly around the room. Izzy, hair combed for once, was wearing a pure white tuxedo, as Mimi claimed that the black was simply 'not right' on him. In fact, the tuxedos of all of the groomsmen were white as well, only varying in the colors of the center-frill-things.
Sora would kill me for not knowing the name. Oh well.
The room itself was done tastefully, if abundantly, in lilies, orchids, and several exotic species I couldn't identify off the top of my head. The chapel interior was done mostly in mahogany, and one of the more open and spacious I'd seen when Sora dragged me along her, Mimi, and Izzy on the hunt for the 'perfect' location.
There were several stained glass windows, but most of the light in the room was coming from an elevated window directly behind the pulpit, which was at the perfect spot, and this was taking place at the perfect time of day, for the altar to be bathed in concentrated white light.
There were a lot of people in attendance today. In addition to the Odaiba Digidestined and their families, also present were the New York crew, all smiling proudly, with the possible exception of Maria, who I couldn't see well at my angle since she was a bride's maid.
From my side, one of the groomsmen, Takato to be specific, swore softly under his breath. I turned back to him, hissing under my breath so that the priest wouldn't shush us. I noted that Izzy has noticed as well, despite the fact that he was probably contemplating running.
"What?"
His face took on a far away look for a moment, then he shook his head.
"Don't worry about it. It's nothing."
I frowned, but didn't comment. Now wasn't the time. Fortunately Izzy distracted me then, bringing in a new problem. He looked at me with wild eyes. He, too, hissed under his breath.
"Tai, I can't find the rings!"
I rolled my eyes.
"Relax. I have them, remember?"
I patted my pocket for good measure, and grinned at the look of relief that crossed his face. We stopped fidgeting and resumed our main places as the music started and we all turned to look down the isle at the doors.
They opened gracefully, and Mimi, escorted by her father, came down the isle at a slow, stately pace. This seemed to settle Izzy a bit, as he simply stared; only the fact that Mimi would have been furious kept him from using a slack-jawed stare. Mimi was in a floor length white gown. It was strapless, and there was lace everywhere, and there was subtle embroidery in a gold thread. Mimi also wore white gloves that proceeded half way up her upper arms, as she held a smaller arrangement of the same flowers that were everywhere else in the room.
She had also changed her hair. She was wearing it in a high pony tail, with two thick tendrils hanging down to frame her face, much like she had worn it when we first entered the digital world. Her hair was back to its original brown color for the most part, but the hair that was hanging down to either side of her face was still that bright pink color. On her head she wore a delicate silver tiara to keep the veil in place.
Mimi reached the altar, and with a quick peck to her cheek, her father joined her mother in the isle. The priest looked over the gathered crowd.
"If there are any here who have cause as to why these two should not be joined, speak now, or forever hold your piece."
There was a long tense moment then. The air was still, as if awaiting someone who would object. But it never came, and the room breathed a silent sigh of relief.
The priest spoke for quite some time after that about the state of matrimony. As the prototypical male, I tuned most of it out, but I noted that Sora nearly had tears in her eyes, so knew that I had better not admit it. I did fade back in for the vows though, even as I subtly handed Izzy the rings. Those were important to Izzy and Mimi, as they had chosen to write their own.
That, and it might be helpful to know something about this kind of thing for the future *cough*.
Izzy spoke first.
"Mimi, you are my greatest love and my only love. Until I met you I didn't give true love much thought, but since you came into my life, I struggle desperately to find the words to tell you how much I love you - how much I adore you. It is difficult for me to verbalize my feelings for you, because mere words can't begin to express how deep my love truly is.
"I promise to be a companion worthy of your precious friendship.
"I pledge you compassion in good times and bad, encouragement in sickness and health.
"It is my intent that our life together include our large circle of friends and our loving families.
"We'll cherish the memories of our individual pasts, and create out new life as we go along together.
"As we face the future together, I promise to stand by your side.
"I promise to unfailingly share and support your hopes, dreams, and goals.
"I vow to be there for you always.
"When you fall I will catch you.
"When you cry, I will comfort you.
"When you laugh, I will share your joy.
"Everything I am and everything I have is yours, from this moment forth and for eternity."
And with that, Izzy slipped the ring onto Mimi's finger, and she in turn began to speak.
"Koushiro, since we have been together, you have provided me with strength, security, confidence, honestly, love, and plenty of much needed guidance.
"Where there has been cold, you have brought warmth; where my life was dark, you have brought light. In my darkest trouble, in my coldest silence, I looked for you and you were there.
"You are truly my knight in shining armor. You may not realize it, but you have helped me and saved me in so many was and I love you for that.
"I am honored that you will have me as your wife, and I am proud to accept you as my husband.
"I believe that we were meant to be from the start, and I will always love you with all my heart.
"I accept you as my husband, secure in the knowledge that you will be my friend, my faithful partner in life, and my one true love.
"On this special day, I give to you in the presence of all those in attendance my promise to stay by your side as your wife in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, as well as through good times and bad.
"I promise to love you, comfort you in times of distress… laugh with you and cry with you, grow with you in mind, always be open and honest with you, and cherish you for as long as we both shall live."
And then Mimi slipped the other ring onto Izzy's finger. I wiped a tear out of my eye.
It's just a spec of dust there… that's all, really.
The priest smiled at them, and spoke, moving through the 'I do's. Like at any other wedding I could imagine, Izzy's, the guy's, voice was nervous and shaking, while Mimi's, the girl's, was clear and true.
"By the power invested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Izzy carefully lifted the veil and tried for a chaste kiss, but Mimi was obviously having none of it, as she wrapped her arms around him and went for something more passionate. When they came apart three seconds later, Mimi had a better sense of decorum than to let it go on longer, Izzy had a slightly dazed and foolish grin on his face as the crowd cheered.
A little later, we were standing outside, watching the rented limo with the 'Just Married' sign written in soap on the back window, cans clinking, drive off into the afternoon.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Takato pull his glove/digivice out of his pocket and walk carefully behind the chapel. I whispered a quick, probably completely false, explanation to Sora, and followed.
"Takato, wait up!"
He turned, his reddish brown eyes glinting for a moment. He didn't stop, but he did slow enough for me to catch him.
"Oh, hey Tai."
"What's going on?"
He frowned.
"You'll see. I really hope nothing bad happened."
I arched an eyebrow.
"To who?"
"To anyone. BlackGuilmon, you can come out now."
"You said to stay hidden Takatomon!"
"It's okay, it's just me and Tai. Bring our guest out with you."
"Okie dokie!"
And with that, BlackGuilmon came out of the bushes backwards, dragging someone by the seat of his pants. My eyes widened in recognition.
"Michael?!"
Takato nodded.
"You can imagine my surprise when BlackGuilmon said he saw him earlier."
I grimaced.
"Well, I'm going to call the police. I imagine they're looking for him."
Takato grinned.
"At least he never got to make an objection."
I laughed as I looked up and dialed the number of the local precinct.
To get the answers to your reviews, go to my author's profile, and go join my yahoo group. It's the only way that it can function really.