Chapter V: 'Till Death do us Apart…
The rehearsal dinner ended sooner than expected. Kurama droved her back to her back because she said she felt tired. The moment her head touched the pillow, she was out like a light. A pounding on the door awakened her hours later. She dragged herself out of bed and went to answer it.
"Are you going to sleep through your wedding?" Keiko asked.
"What? I'm late?"
"Calm down, you're not late. But it's time for you to get ready for the big event."
"Give me a second to get ready." Botan said.
"Okay."
Botan went to the bathroom and splashed cold water to her face. She dried it with a towel and looked in the mirror. She looked refresh and not one bit tired. She got her handbag and went to find Keiko. She was in the kitchen, eating a cupcake.
"These are great, Botan." She said.
"Glad you're enjoying them."
"Come on. Let's go." Keiko said.
On their way out, Keiko said.
"Say goodbye. You won't be seeing this place for the next two weeks."
"I know. You're sure you guys won't mind packing up for me while I'm gone?" she asked, worriedly.
"Of course not. As long as I get to keep anything I like from your closet." She laughed.
Keiko, Shizuru, Yukina and Hinageshi had offered to pack Botan's belonging while she and Kurama were away on their honeymoon. Kurama knew about it of course. She definitely didn't plan to move in his apartment without his consent. He had agreed to give their friends a key to his apartment. Hinageshi, Shizuru and Yukina were in the car waiting for them.
"Are you ready?" Shizuru asked.
"Yeah!"
"Don't worry Botan; we'll be right there with you." Yukina said.
"Thanks guys."
Botan had hired two hair stylists and a makeup artist. They'd already had a pedicure and manicure done yesterday so they only needed their hair make up done. They only have three hours to get ready. Some might there was ample time to get ready but she didn't want to take any chances. There was no way she was going to be late to her own wedding.
They took a shower first. Afterwards, they get their hair done and their makeup. By the time, they finished, it was forty-minutes before the wedding. The makeup artist and stylist left them to get dress.
"Our hair looks great." Hinageshi said.
"Yeah! They did an amazing job." Shizuru added.
The bridesmaids and the maid of honor's hairs were put up in a chignon and were secured with hairpins that were decorated with diamonds and pearls. A gift from Botan to all her bridesmaids. The bride's hair was different. She wore hers curled and left down. A few of her tresses were restrained with hairpins.
"Come on. We need to get dress." Botan said.
The bridesmaids' dresses were very simple yet beautiful. It was a simpler design of the wedding gown. It was cream colored and strapless. At the top, it embroidered with pearls and on the left side, a red rose was attached. Each bridesmaid will carry a red and blue rose. They wore the same shoes. The sandals were transparent with a flower on the left shoe. The girls looked gorgeous but not as gorgeous as the bride did.
Botan's dress was white. The bodice was embroidered with pearls in an intricate pattern. The full-blown skirt was made of satin and was ruffled on the left side were the lace roses flowers were attached. There were three roses from her hip to almost mid tight. In the back, the gown was laced up and tied in a small bow that was barely visible under the flower hiding it. It was a very beautiful gown. The most attractive features of the dress were the sleeves. Though the gown was sleeveless, it had two gloves-like sleeves that were not attached to the dress and opened from her elbows to her fingers. Until now, only she and her bridesmaids had seen the dress.
"Wow, Botan. You look gorgeous."
"Thanks."
Suddenly there was a knock on the door.
"I'll get it." Yukina offered.
It was Shiori.
"Can I come in?" she asked.
"Sure."
Yukina let her in. she gasped in surprise when she saw Botan.
"My dear, you look stunning."
"Thank you. You look great too."
"Well thank you, dear. Are you girls ready?"
"Yup."
With Shiori's help, Botan arranged her veil in front of her face.
"Don't worry. You're going to be fine."
"I hope so."
Her bridesmaids and soon-to-be mother in law wished her luck and left. Botan took a deep breathe as she stared in the mirror.
"Okay. You can do this. Just go out there where your friends are waiting and most importantly the man you love." She told herself.
She heard the music started playing. Her heart was beating so fast she was afraid it might popped out of her chest.
"That's my cue."
With on last breathe; she left the room and start walking down the aisle. Her eyes were focused solely on her fiancé. He looked as composed as ever but she could tell that he was as nervous as she was. 'At least, I'm not the only one.' She thought. Her eyes darted toward her friends and they were all smiling at her even Hiei. She felt her nervousness ease up a bit, knowing that they were all in this with her.
She reached the end of the aisle. Kurama took her hand, and together they faced the priest.
"Dearly beloved, we are all gathered here today to witness and celebrate the union of Botan and Shuichi…."
The priest went on with his sermon. Both Botan and her fiancé listened and repeated their vows. Both knowing full well the promise they were committing themselves to and they were more than willing to accept it.
"Do you, Shuichi, promise to take Botan as your lawfully wedded wife? To cherish and hold, in riches or poor, through sickness and health, weakness and strength, happiness and sorrow, for better or for worst until death do you apart."
"I do." He said, slipping the ring in her finger.
"Do you, Botan, promise to take Shuichi as your lawfully wedded husband? To cherish and to hold in riches or poor, through sickness and health, through weakness and strength, happiness and sorrow, for better or for worst until death do you apart." The priest asked.
"I do." She said and then slipped the ring in his finger.
"By the power vested in my by the Vatican church, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
He pulled her veil away from her face and shared their first kiss as husband and wife. The crowd applauded. They broke apart and together they walk out of the church while their friends threw rice over their heads.
Kurama help her in the limo that was waiting to transport them to the reception party.
"You look absolutely breathtaking." He told her once they were inside the car.
"Thank you. You look quite gorgeous yourself."
He smiled and then leaned down and stole a kiss from his new wife.
"I love you." She said.
"I love you, too."
Today marked the end of the lives of Botan and Shuichi Minamino and the beginning of the lived of Mr. and Mrs. Minamino. They knew it's not going to be easy but they were both willing to work at. After all, something worth having is worth fighting for. They already have the right tools. Love, friendship, passion, understanding, and communication. They just need to use them right. If not, they knew they could count on their friends to help along the way.
The End…
I know Rush ending.but it was either that or discontinued the story and i hate doing. I hope you guys are not too angry at me...
Well it's been fun, till we meet again in my next story
