He was dressed in all white. It wasn't a tuxedo, yet it wasn't a dress, either. He had a white, three-fourths sleeve button-up top that hung down to flutter around his hips, skirting out ever so slightly from the middle down. A blue sash was tied around his waist with a cutesy bow tied up in the back, its tails swaying as he continued his trek up to the altar. His white pants were simple to neutralize the intricate design of his upper body, and small white shoes joined the mix. In his hands he clutched a bouquet of more deep blue flowers drowning in clusters of Baby's Breath.
What really completed his appearance, however, was a gorgeous flower in his hair. The tips of the petals were cobalt, and as they got closer to the core of the flower, they whitened until there was a snow white ring around the center.
Nowaki was sure he had never seen anything so unbearably beautiful before, and he wilted slightly as Hiroki neared him. He was humbled by Hiroki's simple appearance, and when Masanori escorted him up the few steps to the altar, Nowaki felt the urge to drop to his knees in worship. However, he couldn't move, and could only stare at his blushing bridegroom.
"I trust you'll treat my son right, forever and always. I'll hunt you down if you don't," Masanori said lowly, scowling at Nowaki. Nowaki could only smile- Masanori was so much like Hiroki. He was so driven to emotion by everything that was happening that he had tears dripping down his face and into his mustache. He was blushing just as hard as Hiroki was, trying hard not to show Nowaki just how shaken he really was.
"I promise," Nowaki murmured, bowing his head slightly. Masanori smiled tearfully and reached up to squeeze Nowaki's shoulder. Without another word, he took Hiroki's hand and offered it to Nowaki. Nowaki took it and bowed his head respectfully to Masanori once more. Masanori bowed back and took Hiroki's bouquet so his hands were free.
"Thanks, Dad," Hiroki whispered as Nowaki slowly turned him towards the priest that stood before them. They faced each other and took hands. There was a pause as the pianist finished her song. As the final chords faded, the priest began.
"Good evening, and welcome to the ceremony that will unite Nowaki and Hiroki in marriage. We gather here today to celebrate their union, and to honor their commitment to not just gazing at one another, but to looking outward together in the same direction. Today Nowaki and Hiroki proclaim their love to the world, and we rejoice with and for them."
Nowaki smiled at Hiroki, who grinned confidently back up at him, his head slightly tilted.
"In marriage, we give ourselves freely and generously into the hands of the one we love, and in doing so, each of us receives the love and trust of the other as our most precious gift. But even as that gift is shared by two people who are in love, it also touches the friends and family members who, in various ways, support and contribute to the relationship. All of you are Nowaki and Hiroki's community, and each of you has played some part in bringing them to this moment. This is why gathering as a community is such an important part of a wedding ceremony. Because Nowaki and Hiroki are now taking a new form as a married couple, and in this form, they become part of their community in a new way."
Nowaki slid his hands up Hiroki's arms and took him by the elbows, bringing him in closer. Hiroki's eyes creased questioningly.
What is it?
Nowaki's eyes softened.
You're absolutely gorgeous.
Hiroki blushed and briefly shut his eyes.
Thank you.
"Vows may now be exchanged at this time."
Nowaki smiled. His vows had never been clearer in his life.
"Hiro-san… I know I'm an idiot, and that I'm not very good at words-"
Hiroki rolled his eyes and smiled.
"-but I just wanted you to know that you are unlike any person I have ever met before. You're beautiful. You're determined. You're amazing at anything you do. It baffles me that you could fall in love with a person like me. It's even more mind-blowing that you still love me after all of the idiotic things that I have done, so much so that you would be willing to stand up here with me today. I've made you cry, I've made you scream, I've made you hit and freak out and I've pushed you to the edge. You deserve someone so much better than me, yet here you are, about to become a Kusama. You mean so much to me. I love you. I can't imagine myself in a world without you anymore. And as repetitive as it's getting… I solemnly swear to never leave you. As long as I live, I will love you and care for you. And if there's an afterlife, without hesitation I will continue to love you."
Nowaki reached up to caress Hiroki's cheek and stroke a lock of hair behind his ear.
"As lovers, as a couple, as fiancés, as two married men, as the best of friends, we will grow old together."
Hiroki simply smiled his stunning smile, his eyes softened and adoring yet showing no signs of wetness. Nowaki's eyelids lowered. Now was not the time for tears- now was the time for the purest of joys.
"I don't have much to say to you besides the fact that you are an idiot, you do infuriate me, and you are quite possibly the dumbest person I have ever met. But, you're right. If I didn't love you, I wouldn't be standing here with you right now. I guess I'm just madly in love with this idiot."
Nowaki's eyes creased as his smile wavered ever so slightly. Hiroki nuzzled against his hand, smiling joyously up at his soon-to-be husband. His blush was as red as ever, but not with embarrassment.
It was that confidence that made Nowaki fall in love with Hiroki all over again. The priest smiled and continued.
"Nowaki and Hiroki, we are here to remember and rejoice with you and to recount with one another that it is love that guides us on our path, and to celebrate as you begin this journey together. It is in this spirit that you have come here to today to exchange these official vows."
"Nowaki, repeat after me:
I Nowaki take you Hiroki to be my husband."
"I, Nowaki, take you, Hiroki, to be my husband."
"I promise above all else to live in truth with you."
"I promise, above all else, to live in truth with you."
"…and to communicate fully and fearlessly…"
"And to communicate fully and fearlessly."
"I give you my hand and my heart."
"I give you my hand and my heart."
"…as a sanctuary of warmth and peace."
"As a sanctuary of warmth and peace."
"…and pledge my love, devotion, faith and honor."
"And pledge my love, devotion, faith, and honor."
"As I join my life to yours."
"…As I join my life to yours."
Nowaki smiled as he finished, and the priest turned to Hiroki.
"Hiroki, repeat after me:
I Hiroki take you Nowaki to be my husband."
"I, Hiroki, take you, Nowaki, to be my husband."
"I promise above all else to live in truth with you."
"I promise, above all else, to live in truth with you."
"…and to communicate fully and fearlessly…"
"And to communicate fully and fearlessly."
"I give you my hand and my heart."
"I give you my hand and my heart."
"…as a sanctuary of warmth and peace."
"As a sanctuary of warmth and peace."
"…and pledge my love, devotion, faith and honor."
"And pledge my love, devotion, faith, and honor."
"As I join my life to yours."
"…As I join my life to yours."
The priest turned to Akihiko and Miyagi, who both stepped forward to give Nowaki's silver ring to Hiroki and Hiroki's gold ring to Nowaki.
"For thousands of years lovers have exchanged rings as a token of their vows. These simple gold bands are not of great value in themselves, but are made precious by our wearing of them. Your rings say that even in your uniqueness you have chosen to be bound together. Let these rings also be a sign that love has substance as well as soul, a present as well as a past, and that, despite its occasional sorrows, love is a circle of happiness, wonder, and delight. Nowaki, take Hiroki's ring and put it on his finger, and repeat after me:
Just as this circle is without end, my love for you is eternal."
"Just as this circle is without end, my love for you is eternal."
Nowaki lifted Hiroki's left hand and gently splayed his fingers.
"Just as it is made of indestructible substance…"
"Just as it is made of indestructible substance..."
Nowaki slipped the ring onto Hiroki's finger, then held his hand.
"…my commitment to you will never fail."
"My commitment to you will never fail."
"With this ring I take you to be my trusted confidante…"
"With this ring, I take you to be my trusted confidante."
"…and partner for life."
"And partner for life."
Hiroki was finally beginning to crumble, his lips trembling as his hand began to shake in Nowaki's grasp. Nowaki squeezed reassuringly.
"Hiroki, take Nowaki's ring and put it on his finger, and repeat after me:
Just as this circle is without end, my love for you is eternal."
"Just as this circle is without end, my love for you is eternal."
Hiroki mimicked Nowaki's movements, splaying the fingers of his left hand.
"Just as it is made of indestructible substance…"
"Just as it is made of indestructible substance..."
Hiroki put the ring on Nowaki's finger.
"…my commitment to you will never fail."
"My commitment to you will never fail."
Hiroki's voice cracked and got gravelly. Nowaki felt a lump forming in his throat at the warmth encircling his ring finger. Hiroki's warmth.
"With this ring I take you to be my trusted confidante."
"With this ring I take you to be my trusted confidante-"
Hiroki burst into tears, hardly able to finish his final words.
"…and partner for life."
"And p-partner for… life."
The priest took a deep breath.
"Nowaki, do you take Hiroki to be your wedded husband to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love, comfort, honor and keep him, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful only to him so long as you both shall live?"
Nowaki smiled gently at his little soon-to-be husband, enjoying the last few seconds of their lives as fiancés.
"I do."
"Hiroki, do you take Nowaki to be your wedded husband to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love, comfort, honor and keep him, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful only to him so long as you both shall live?"
"I-I-I do…" he hiccupped.
"Then it gives me great pleasure to pronounce you Husband and Husband. You may kiss the bridegroom."
Nowaki barely had time to react before Hiroki threw himself into his new husband's arms and kissed him through his tears. The audience clapped and whistled as Nowaki wrapped his arms around his little husband and gently kissed him back. They pulled away a moment later and happily held each other.
"We did it," Nowaki murmured. Hiroki sniffled.
"Y-You bet your ass w-we did."
