D/C: I don't own RK, I wish I did, I really, really wish I did, but I don't!
A/N: Hola ppl! Thanks to all those who reviewed, you're all wonderful! You've been very nice to both me and my story. I'll thank you all personally at the end of this chapter. This chappie is one of my favorites, I hope you'll enjoy it...
Chapter Five: Run for Your Marriage
Kenshin looked nervously from a panic stricken, teary eyed Kaoru, to a surprisingly menacing, narrow eyed Misao and vice versa.
"How can you prove your sincerity?" Misao asked. She sneered; proud that she caught him off guard.
Kenshin swallowed hard, thinking even harder.
"What if this is just yet another trick to 'stop her from crying'?" Misao asked, grinning victoriously.
Kenshin reached a hand to wipe one of the tears that ran down Kaoru's reddened cheeks, trying to ignore Misao, but she pulled even further back. He let his hand drop to his side hopelessly. He turned to Misao angrily and stood up. Misao stopped; she could almost swear that Kenshin's eyes were suddenly yellow, some how.
"I'll marry her" he growled, "now!"
Behind her, Misao could hear Aoshi cough and wheeze. She chose to ignore him and not break the intense eye contact with Kenshin.
"Now?" she repeated.
"Yes, right now" he answered firmly.
Misao cocked an eye brow at him.
"In the church at the end of the block," he said, then looked past Misao's shoulder, "Sano, would you be my best man?"
Sano nodded enthusiastically.
"Your honor, please, can we move the 'trial' to the church?" he pleaded the judge.
The Judge blinked at him at first, and then smiled gently.
"This would be a first," she said, "but so be it, I allow the displacement of this court room to the St. Michael church. But I have one rule: You either get married within an hour, or I'll lock you up for a whole week before I judge for her"
Kenshin turned to Kaoru who was still on the floor, she looked like a little lost kitty. He smiled at her as he offered her his hand. She hesitantly raised her hand and placed it in his, but smiled happily at him as he grabbed her hand tightly and pulled her up and dragged her outside.
The Judge, Aoshi, Misao, Sano, Megumi and the rest of the people who were in the court room followed suit. The small group hurried through the building and outside onto the street turning heads as they passed by. They reached the church, led by Kenshin who was still dragging a dumb stuck Kaoru. The Priest was rather surprised when he saw that many panting people rush in.
"Sir, please, I need you to wed me to this woman" Kenshin said urgently.
"When?" the Priest asked.
"Now" Kenshin answered.
The Priest sighed.
"Will you please come this way?" he exasperated, people now a days just have no patience. He led them to the altar where he and Kaoru took their respective positions and Sano, as the best man, stood close by hurriedly. The Priest was about to start, but Kenshin excused him for a second and turned to the people standing beside him.
"Aoshi?" he called, his tall friend replied by wheezing harder, Kenshin decided to ignore his physical state for the time being, "would you please be the ring bearer?"
Aoshi replaced the bag on his mouth and passed out, Megumi bent next to him.
Misao was so mad at him, she wouldn't even look at him.
"Don't worry, go on." she told them, "It's just an anxiety attack"
"Ummm, Yahiko?" Kenshin sighed, running out of precious time.
"Okay" Yahiko accepted, stepping over the unconscious Aoshi as he was in his way.
Kenshin turned back to the Priest. "We're all set" he said as he straightened his shirt.
The Priest opened his mouth to start the ceremony, but it was Kaoru this time that interrupted him.
"Wait" she rather yelled, apparently just realizing what was really happening, "I don't have bride's maids and you don't have your ring!"
Kenshin flustered.
Kaoru turned to the crowd.
"Megumi, Misao, would you please be my bride's maids?" she pleaded.
Megumi, who was still tending to Aoshi, and Misao who was standing next to them, both nodded enthusiastically and rushed over to her side, leaving behind Aoshi who was barely waking up. Kaoru searched the place with her eyes, looking for a certain circular object.
"Aha!" she cheered as she saw it, she reached for Misao's left ear, "Can I?" she asked as she gently but hurriedly removed Misao's earring.
"Sure," Misao replied laughing, "glad to be of service!"
"Thank you so much" Kaoru hugged Misao tightly.
Misao nodded and she bit her lower lip as she felt tears of joy from in her eyes; she was very happy for her friend, she deserved this happy ending.
Kaoru turned to Kenshin.
"Now can I start this?" the Priest sounded out of patience.
Kenshin looked at Kaoru questioningly and she nodded.
"Good" the Priest sighed and started the ceremony, "'Will the groom please present us with the rings?'
Kenshin raised the velvet box, which he was still holding for the entire past half an hour and opened it. Kaoru's breathing deepened with excitement and her cheeks flushed. She put Misao's earring in the box next to the ring and Kenshin gave the box to Yahiko to hold.
"What are your names?" the Priest asked Kenshin and Kaoru.
"I'm Kenshin and she's Kaoru" Kenshin answered quickly with excitement.
The Priest sighed again; he had meant full names, but whatever.
"Oh!" Kenshin said as it dawned on him, "Kenshin Himura and Kaoru Kamiya"
"'Mr. Himura, do you take Ms. Kaoru Kamiya to be your lawful wedded wife, to love and cherish in sickness and in health?" the priest asked Kenshin.
"I definitely do" Kenshin replied firmly, taking the solitaire ring and putting in onto Kaoru's delicate finger. Kaoru gazed at it.
"Ms. Kaoru Kamiya, do you take Mr. Kenshin Himura be your lawful wedded husband, to love and cherish in sickness and in health?" the priest asked Kaoru.
Kaoru gazed at Kenshin, who looked at her encouragingly.
She turned and looked back at the small group of people who followed them from the court to here, they were all waiting for her accept. She turned towards Megumi and Misao, they both smiled at her encouragingly. Finally, Kaoru turned to look at Kenshin. He smiled at her reassuringly.
She smiled back.
"I do" she finally said. She slowly took Misao's round earring and placed it onto Kenshin's finger.
The priest rolled his eyes.
"If any body here has a reason why those two should not be married speak nor or forever hold your peace" the Priest said aloud.
No one made a sound. They could hear someone confessing his sins in a hidden corner.
"Finally," he said, "by the power invested in me, I pronounce you husband and wife...the groom may now give the bride a kiss"
Kenshin took a small step towards Kaoru awkwardly, so that their noses were hardly an inch apart. She gazed into his eyes longingly, he gazed at hers hungrily. Then he grabbed her by the head and pulled her in for a long deep kiss as the crowd cheered and clapped for the second time this day. When they broke the kiss he wrapped his arms around her tightly.
"Oh God how much I love you," he whispered strongly in her ear, "I was such a fool, will you ever forgive me baby?"
Kaoru giggled happily in his arms as she buried her face in his neck.
"I love you too much you baka to stay mad at you" she whispered back happily.
He tightened his grip on her and lifted her up and swirled with her in his arms, both laughing.
He put her down and they kissed again.
Misao wiped her tears and clapped hard as she saw her best friend so happy.
"Case closed" the Judge announced aloud while clapping cheerfully.
"If this is it, I'd please like you all to leave now," the Priest requested, a little cheerful but still strict.
They started to leave, when suddenly Aoshi stopped them. He stood in their way with his arms straight at both sides. He was sweaty and looked very tired, but also very determined.
"Please, can you all wait?" he pleaded.
A soft noise of muttering aroused.
He looked at Misao.
"I'm so sorry" he said.
Misao felt sick; this didn't seem to be good at all.
A/N: I big, nice, juicy thank you goes to:
Vixenia, BlueberryStain, Sugoi-Hino, XKenKao12X, OrlisGurl4everB, skenshingumi, ss1128, liladprablepie, Brittanie Love, royal blueKitsune...
A bucket loads of thanks!
I hope you'd be nice enough to tell me what you think of this chappie! I'm so eager to get your reviews.
One final thing, remember when I asked you to be kind enough to read the story I co-wrote with Zen (starry nigh blue)? Unfortunately, you didn't and not many other readers did either! Zen and I were very disappointed, so we made a few changes and re-posted it, now it's called 'Got Cake?'. It's very nice, I hope you'd all give it a chance and read it. Please...
-Shimmering Tear