Motoko smiled at her reflection. The mirror cast back the image of a beautiful, confident woman dressed solely in white. Her long ebony hair spilling out over her shoulders and haloing her porcelain face.
It had been eight months since Koichi had defeated Tsuruko for the right to stay by her side, and on this day, they were to finally make that right official and binding.
Motoko Aoyama was to be wed.
The door of the tiny room she sat in creaked open and closed again as Naru slipped inside.
"You look beautiful Motoko", she said, addressing her friends reflection, her voice taking on an amused air, "Although somehow I always thought I'd be the one getting married first".
The older girl twisted the engagement band that graced her slender finger, somehow succeeding in smiling and frowning at the same time.
"I'm sure you and Urashima will finalise things eventually", Motoko said without looking around, knowing that such a thing could well take years. It didn't matter; Naru and Keitaro were already close enough to married without a bit of paper to confirm it in the eyes of the law. There was no rush.
Naru nodded, clasping her hands behind her back and walking over to her friend.
"Nervous?"
Motoko snorted a laugh, "You have no idea"
"Sure you want to go through with it?"
"Yes", Motoko said without hesitation.
Naru smiled again, that warm understanding smile that few but her closest friends ever got to see.
Wishing the younger woman well one final time, Naru slipped back out of the room, muttering to herself about keeping tabs on a certain 'pervert'.
"So, it's a promise?"Motoko swivelled on her chair to regard the spectral figure of a little boy with sea grey eyes.
She watched as the younger version of herself appeared in front of him, hands playing with her robes and blushing shyly.
"Yes Koi-kun, it's a promise, I won't forget you………you and me, together always"
"Together always, man and wife"
Motoko smiled as the image faded, lifting the cloth of pure white silk over her head.
"Promise kept Koi-kun", she whispered as she stood and swung the door aside.
"Promise kept".
---Author Notes---
And thus ends Love Hina: Blademasters
Continuation fics etc will depend solely on reviews, so keep that little button company, k guys.
Coming next: An Author's interview with Mutsumi Otohime
Till next time, Betweenheavenandhell
(PM me with questions you would like to see answered.)