THIS MARRIED LIFE
CHAPTER 9: A Wedding to Remember
Thank you to everyone who reviewed!
Author's Notes: Nothing like fluff and craziness to cure exam blues. This entire fic is smut/lime-free. Only minor suggestions, PG-13 level, I think, or maybe just PG, hmmm.
Shiromaku: The traditional white Japanese wedding kimono.
Uchikake: An elaborate rich patterned silk brocade kimono is worn over the white kimono at the wedding reception.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own any part of Bleach, anime or manga. I don't own any of the songs used in this chapter either.
It was a peculiar wedding; somewhat different to what Hinamori had in mind. Well, in truth, the actual ceremony went as expected; it was the reception after the ceremony that went somewhat astray.
At the beginning of the day, a feeling foreshadowing something strangely unexplainable passed through her, even as she tucked her folding fan, which signified future happiness and luck, into her obi. She straightened her shiromaku and breathed her concerns off as the traditional pre-wedding jitteriness.
After the exchange of the nuptial cup of sake, the bride and groom were pronounced man and wife and the newly wed couple walked out together while the guests cheered and threw rice on them. This was when events started taking the wrong turn.
For the march out, Hinamori had Rukia prepare the shrine's inbuilt sound system, (courtesy of Rukia's wedding), with the traditional wedding tune. Unbeknownst to her and all others, Renji had stumbled into the shrine the night before for one of his well known 'karaoke-nights', - the shrine did, after all, have the best sound system save for Ichigo and Rukia's house. However, the couple had long banned Renji from using their sound system ever since his random musical inspirations had caused him to come over at ungodly hours and burst out in rather creative displays of songs and dances. Thus, the shrine became his stage. As it was, he had forgotten to take his CD out and had taken the wedding CD with him instead.
Hence, as the newly wed couple was walking happily out of the shrine, they were suddenly accompanied by Elvis Presley's 'You Ain't Nothing but a Hound Dog'. Startled, Hinamori whirled around to stare at Rukia with large, round eyes. Rukia returned her confused and startled expression while Hitsugaya looked on with amusement as though he was wondering how on earth his wife had acquired such bad taste in music.
Byakuya and Ichigo eyed Renji while Hitsugaya steered a flustered, frozen-to-her-spot Hinamori out of the shrine as Shuuhei asked, genuinely baffled, "what's a 'hound dog'?"
Rukia and Matsumoto helped put the uchikake on a shaking Hinamori while the poor girl pondered aloud on how the CD had been misplaced. Rukia and Matsumoto decided to keep silent for Renji's sake and continued in silence to fitting her with the elaborate red outfit.
A high-pitched shrill suddenly pierced the room, followed by Hinamori quickly grabbing the nearest pair of hands to her , which happened to be Rukia's, and squeezing it in a death grip.
"Let…go, Hina…mori," pleaded Rukia. Matsumoto winced at the painful look on Rukia's face and helped pry Momo's hands from Rukia's.
"What's wrong?" Matsumoto asked, wincing again at Rukia's red, swollen and throbbing hand.
"I'm married!" she stated breathlessly. Rukia glared at her – that was really no reason for her to maim her hand.
"That's usually what happens at a wedding," Rukia hissed. Hinamori was too lost in her own world to take notice of her comment.
"I mean, I know that I knew that we would be married when we get married," she rambled, "but now that it has happened I just can't believe I'm actually married!" Matsumoto looked at her weirdly and placed a hand each on her shoulders.
"Hai, hai," she said as she ushered the bride out of the room to the reception area.
The reception area was simple but beautiful. The tables were draped with white cloths with lit candles and flowers set in the middle. They were set on a grassy area under the shade of full bloomed sakura trees.
The reception progressed well for the first half but the problem lied in sake. Sake is always readily served at celebratory functions such as these and an abundance of alcohol is never a good match with some selected guests
In due time, chaos broke out everywhere. On (top of) one table, the talented singing trio: Isshin, Shunsui and Renji, were singing their own version of "I Will Survive" with a strong asian-English accent.
Isshin: "At first I was afraid"
Shunsui: "-I was petrified"
Renji: "Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side"
On the next table, beads of sweat rolled down Ikkaku's face continuously as he tried to answer each and every one of Mayuri's 'are-you-good-enough-for-my-daughter' questions. So far he wasn't doing too well.
Mayuri: "What is your brain equipped with?"
Ikkaku: "…fighting techniques, avoiding fukutaichou, …knowledge?"
Mayuri: "You savage. How will you improve my daughter?"
Ikkaku: "Umm, …happiness?"
Mayuri: Way wrong answer.
Ikkaku: - sighs out soul –
Even old reliable Yama-ji was under the influence as he sat slumped against a tree talking to his staff, "back in the old days…"
Things did not get better when Byakuya graciously offered Unohana some hair tips.
Byakuya: "I feel inclined to inform you that the style in which you fashion your hair is utterly abominable."
Unohana: -chuckles-
Zaraki storms in to her defence
Zaraki: "feh, talk about yourself heh." –Runs a hand through his spiked hair- "I should really take that curler off you."
Byakuya: "I wasn't aware that someone of your skills could accomplish what would seem to be an impossible task for someone like you."
Zaraki: "Want me to try?" –Smirk-
Byakuya: "Want me to allow you to try?" –Inward smirk-
But even amongst all this chaos, Hinamori remained deliriously happy. It seemed as though nothing could dampen her spirits today. Even if Yachiru was drunk. And the trio were now singing "I Can't Live If Living is Without You".
It was late night time when the newly weds arrived at their new house. Hinamori squealed when Hitsugaya lifted her up and carried her into the house. He gently set her down in the front hall. As soon as the door was closed and the main light switch switched on, Hitsugaya drew Momo close to him and kissed her.
-.-.-.-
Hitsugaya crawled on top of the western styled bed. "So comfortable," he mumbled, dropping his head onto the soft pillows and turning to his side. Hinamori's eyes widened when she heard him snoring softly. She peered at his sleeping form.
"Mou," she exclaimed with a pout, "what kind of person sleeps so early on the night of their wedding." Hinamori gave a little jump when she saw a smirk cross Hitsugaya's face.
"What else are they supposed to be doing?" he asked coyly, his eyes still shut. Hinamori fidgeted with her uchikake and looked everywhere except at her husband.
"Moon watching?" she suggested innocently. Hitsugaya chuckled
"I'm too tired for moon watching," he replied. At this time, Hinamori was extremely flustered. I really was thinking of moon watching, now he probably thinks that I'm suggesting the other thing…
By the time she had recovered from her irrational embarrassment, she found that Hitsugaya was truly asleep. She sighed and decided to join him.
Horror and anxiety filled her when she realised that she couldn't untie her obi. How did Matsumoto tie this! I can't possibly sleep in all this. She stole a glance at Hitsugaya, and then she moved towards the door.
An urgent knock sounded on Matsumoto's door, waking the vice-captain up. She grudgingly got out of bed and answered the door sleepily. Her eyes widened when she saw that it was Hinamori.
"Hinamori?" she asked, shocked, "what happened?"
"Umm, ano, Matsumoto-san," Hinamori began sheepishly, "can you, um, please help me untie my obi? I can't get it undone, it was tied rather elaborately."
"What!" Matsumoto cried, "can taichou not get it undone?" Hinamori blushed at the question.
"What are you embarrassed about, Hinamori?" she asked, "even after you untie that obi, there's still three layers of clothing after that."
"Hitsugaya-kun is sleeping," she answered in a quiet voice, hoping that Matsumoto would get the clue and not wake the whole Seireitai up.
"WHAT!" Hinamori winced. Matsumoto slapped a hand on her forehead and shook her head. She placed two firm hands on Hinamori's shoulders and turned her around.
"You are going to go back there," Rangiku instructed in a deceptively calm voice, "and you are going to wake that baka taichou up, and you are going to get him to untie that obi, and then you are going to go to sleep."
She gave her friend a little push out the door and closed it quickly before another word could be uttered.
Hinamori attempted to untie the obi herself again, but after many efforts she decided that it was futile. Maybe I should just get my zanpakuto and… No, I can't.
She sighed and tugged on Hitsugaya's sleeve.
"Shiro-chan," she called softly, tugging him as she called.
No response.
"Shiro-chan," she called normally, tugging him a little harder.
Still no response.
"Hitsugaya-Taichou!" she called loudly, yanking him this time.
After the obi was finally undone, she hung the obi, the uchikake and the shiromaku over the divider screen before climbing under the bed covers in her white under robe. Sighing from the comfyness of the bed, she moved over towards Hitsugaya to use his chest as her pillow.
Hitsugaya nuzzled her neck but was stopped when Hinamori held out a hand to stop him.
"I'm tired," she said sleepily. Hitsugaya entwined his fingers with hers and leaned down to kiss her. A small frown embraced her mouth when he pulled away.
"That's cheating," she said with a pout.
"It's not cheating," Hitsugaya countered.
"What is it then?" she asked.
"It's strategy," he replied smugly, leaning down to capture her lips again before she could protest. The kiss deepened, and Hitsugaya moved over her as he pulled the blankets over their heads.
End of Chapter 9
After notes: The chapter was a bit silly, and the characters were kinda OOC, but what's important is that it made me feel somewhat less stressed about my upcoming exams. -gets shot- This chapter was supposed to include some more serious bits of evil plans but I wasn't really in the mood for it.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed the somewhat random chapter.
Reviews would be wonderful. Next chapter will be out after the 15th of November and sorry for the recent slow updates.