a/n: here it is. the last chapter. i hope u all enjoy it, cuz frankly, it was fun to write... i've written stories where it was just like, eating my soul and i hated writing it... but this was so much fun! thanx to all of u who read, there were too many to list off, but i luv each and every one of u! and don't fail me now, plz review this chappie!

disclaimer: i never said i'd make u mine... y do u insist on pushing all the time...?

Chapter 16: Weddings (The End)

"Megumi you look absolutely wonderful!" Kaoru praised.

"Really? I thought it was a little too tight… and the veil…"

"Don't worry about it! You look amazing. Sano's gonna drop dead when he sees you," she assured her friend.

"But-"

"Sano always thinks you're beautiful, ne? This will make him think you're drop dead gorgeous," she told her.

"I suppose-"

"No more if ands, or buts about it!"

"Demo-"

"I said no!"

Kaoru dragged Megumi away from the mirror by force, making sure not to rip the seams in her dress. She continued telling her that she was stunning while she pinned the veil back to satisfy her.

"Now, I have to get going, okay? Don't cry; you'll ruin your makeup. Don't forget to smile! And don't trip! Smoochies!" Kaoru called, rushing out of the room.

Megumi smiled brightly and waved to her as she left. With a great sigh, she turned back towards the mirror. The veil was still…

"Argh!"

"Megumi-kun!"

"Gensai-sensei!" she exclaimed. "I'm so glad you decided to come walk me down the aisle!"

"I wouldn't miss it for the world, dear." He smiled, grasping her hand in his. "Now, shall we go make Sanosuke-kun the happiest man on Earth?"

"Of course," she agreed, looping her arm through his. "Let's go."

The music played in rhythm with the butterfly's in her stomach as she and Gensai-sensei walked the length of aisle. She glanced nervously towards the alter where the rest of her life would begin. Sano smiled encouragingly at her; Kaoru, too, gave her a dazzling smile; and Kenshin had that constant smile plastered on his face. She tried to smile in return, but she feared if she opened her mouth to smile, she'd get sick all over the red rug that carpeted the floor.

"Don't worry, dear." She heard Gensai-sensei whisper into her ear as they got closer.

She squeezed his arm with her free hand in a show of thanks and finally made that smile they all knew so well appear on her face. She felt him slip his arm from hers and murmur his well wishes as he stepped away. She mouthed the words 'thank you' to him before taking her place up next to Sano.

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"You may now kiss the bride," the priest said, bowing his head.

Sano grinned at his blushing bride and claimed her lips with his in a sweet kiss. He gently held her waist as she wrapped her arms around his neck. The world melted away for a moment before the sound of clapping broke them apart. He slid his hand in hers and they walked back towards where the car was waiting to take them to the reception.

Everyone who was invited threw bird seed at them as they walked towards the car, giggling and laughing.

"Hey, you guys!"

"Kaoru, you had best catch that bouquet at the reception! Or I'll kill you! That goes for you too, Ken-san!" Megumi yelled over her shoulder. "You better catch that garter!"

Kenshin chuckled, holding Kaoru's tiny waist as he pulled her into a hug. Kaoru laughed, waving the whole time. She hugged Kenshin back, watching as the new couple drove off.

"Well? What do you say we head over there to greet them?" Kenshin suggested.

"Uh-huh!" Kaoru chirped, walking off to the car with her hand clenched in his.

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"Come on, Kenshin!" Sano called across the room. "You have to get in there! Megumi just tossed her bouquet! We have to see who-"

"Yes!" a triumphant weasel ran through both of them, flowers clenched in her hands tightly.

"Misao!" Kaoru yelled, chasing after her. "You little thief!"

"You know it, now prove it!" she answered right back, never stopping in her sprint. "But you have to catch me first!"

"Grrrr, Misao!"

"Misao, what's going on?"

"Aoshi," she uttered, surprised. "I got the bouquet!"

"No you didn't!" Kaoru tackled her to the floor, snatching the bouquet. "I got it!"

"Oro… Which of you really got it?"

"Well… We both kind of did. We each had a hand on it and…"

"It turned into a full out war," Sano finished. "I guess this means we'll need another garter…"

"Huh?"

"Megumi would be pretty upset if she found out both of them caught it, but only one got to have the garter put on them," he explained with a shrug. "She just wants to see those two finally get hitched!"

Everyone stared.

"To their respectives! Not to each other!" he quickly corrected. "Although…"

"Don't you dare finish that statement Sagara," Misao threatened, ready to kill him.

"Same here. You say one more syllable even, we'll rearrange your brains for both you and Megumi," Kaoru promised in a low voice.

"Okay! Okay! I won't say it!"

"Good." Both of them backed up.

"Now! Time to get that other garter…."

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The whole affair with putting the garter on both ladies turned out to be quite hilarious. Misao, it would seem, was a little ticklish and every time Aoshi tried to put it on, she broke out in giggles. Kenshin finished fairly quickly and then disappeared with Kaoru shortly after… Everyone was having a good time watching Aoshi attempt to finally get it all the way up on Misao's thigh.

"Enough!" she gasped, crying from her laughter. "No more!"

Aoshi obeyed, taking her hand and helping her up from the chair she'd slumped in. She gratefully took it. Sano and Megumi watched them walk out as the party started to dye down and everyone figured that the bride and groom wanted some alone time. Tae congratulated Megumi on getting into a successful relationship after so long. Laughing she and her own husband, Katsu, left.

"So, my beautiful wife… What do you propose we do now?"

"Don't play games with me, Rooster," she said. "You know exactly what we're going to do…"

"I do?"

"Uh-huh," she whispered, cocking a finger at him. "Follow me, my dearest husband… Because you won't be going anywhere any time soon…"

"Wouldn't have it any other way, Fox," he agreed, a grin spreading over his features. "Shall we?"

"You bet." She slipped her hand into his and ran all the way down the hallway to the room they were staying in. They'd purposely had the reception at a close hotel, knowing neither of them would have the patience to go anywhere else…

And they were right.

Fin