Ryuken fumbled with his tie, trying to make it straight. His hands were trembling though, so this didn't come with the best of ease to him. Sweat was beginning to bead behind his neck and he kept running his hands anxiously through his hair, making it sloppy. He was a nervous wreck, and he knew it. Luckily, his best man was there to help him out.
"Chill out man, let me fix it." Isshin said, grabbing his tie away and correctly looping it around so that it was straight. "Brush your hair too." He said, handing his friend a cloth so he could pat the sweat from his face. Ryuken did that first, then ran a comb through his hair, then leaned over on the table and rubbed his forehead nervously.
"Man, chill out! What's so scary? Wrong girl?" Isshin asked with a raised eyebrow. "If you have cold feet, I'll explain it. But… You really seem to love that Katagiri chick."
"She's perfect, she's all I could ever ask for." He snapped, not liking the idea of cold feet. No, he had nothing near cold feet. But he was scared. What if Kanae did? What if… What if she changed her mind, and decided she didn't want him anymore? What will his mother think when she sees her former house maid walking down the aisle… They had never bothered to tell who it was he was marrying, they were sure she would try to ruin it. So he decided early on, that his mother would know nothing about it until they had wedding rings and were inseparable.
"Then why are you freaking out?" Isshin asked, plopping down on a chair.
"It doesn't matter." He said back. Ryuken didn't share his thoughts with anybody but Kanae, and even though he and Isshin had worked things over together, he wasn't about to admit his biggest fear out of all of them… What if he wasn't good enough?
Music started playing.
"Come on, we need to get out there." Isshin said, grabbing the groom by his arm and dragging him out. They both stood in their correct spots. The chapel was tiny, with few people there. Only Ryuken's parents, Kanae's parents, and Masaki. Plus one of the old maids that Kanae once worked with, to which his mother was confused. Why on earth would a maid be at his wedding? She was about to find out.
Several nerve wrecked moments passed, though they felt like hours to Ryuken. But finally… finally! The music played, and first Kanae's maid of honor walked out. Masaki. Isshin smiled at his fiancé, who was clad in a pastel pink dress, holding a small bouquet of yellow roses. Then the music changed once she was standing up front. The music was now for the bride, for Ryuken's beautiful Kanae.
She was holding a larger bouquet of yellow roses, and her midnight hair was curled and let down. Her deep blue eyes glittered with happiness, and her cheeks were the most perfect shade of red. Her dress was white, with lace sleeves, and it had a small train. All beneath one embroidered veil, the most beautiful woman that Ryuken had ever seen, walked toward him. Then he remembered: he was marrying this woman. This gorgeous, perfect young girl was his soon to be wife. He would be with her forever and ever, and he wouldn't let anything separate them. It felt like a dream… How on earth, did such a cold insensitive man become so in love and lost in the most caring and empathetic woman on the face of the earth? He didn't deserve her, truly he didn't… But he would never stop trying to.
She was at his side now, her dad had walked her down. He didn't even notice her father by her side. Her father was old and gray, and handed Ryuken her soft little hand. He intertwined their fingers, then turned to face the preacher, who would be giving them their forever that day.
The elderly preacher spoke a short sermon about love and marriage, but neither Ryuken nor Kanae could hear him. They were lost in each other's eyes, in each other's smiles, just like Kanae's soft hand was lost in Ryuken's sticky and sweaty one.
It was time for their vows now. Ryuken was to say his first. "W-what?" He asked in shock, looking to the preacher with wide eyes.
"Your vows." The preacher repeated in a whisper.
"Oh… right, I know. Umm.." He turned back to Kanae, holding a ring and trying to remember the soppy vow that he had memorized and made. What were the words? What did he say? Something about her eyes, right? He couldn't remember. He was at a blank. He would have to wing it.
"Kanae… I love you, so so much… I swear, you're making me lose my mind, but it's the most thrilling experience I could ever ask for… And the most terrifying. I always loved you. When I met you as a little boy, I could only think; wow… what a beautiful girl. Somehow I knew that I would fall in love with you. But I didn't think I would get to marry you. I promise, Kanae, I will try and try harder every day of my life to be deserving of such a beautiful, and caring woman like yourself. I will be a warm and sensitive husband, and take care of you. I will be faithful, and never leave your side no matter what happens in our lives. As long as we both shall live." Ryuken fumbled with the ring. He dropped it, and watched it role down the aisle. His eyes widened. Had he just made such a silly mistake? His face flushed red, though luckily, his best man had him covered.
Isshin ripped down the aisle, grabbed the ring, and ran back over to his insanely nervous friend. Putting it in his hand. "Say with this ring, I be wed." He said, knowing he forgot his vows. But in a way, he like his better, it was meaningful and straight from his heart. Not rehearsed.
Ryuken held the golden band tighter this time, and slipped it upon his… his wife's! His wife's fingers! "With this ring, I be wed." He said nervously. Kanae smiled at him lovingly.
Now it was her turn. She was crying. Tears of happiness welled up in her eyes. She smiled and laughed softly at herself, then looked up at him. "Ryuken, you are the best thing that's ever happened to me. You were my first real friend, then you were my first crush, then my first love, and I know that today; you will be my last. I will love you forever, and try to be on time whenever we schedule things from now on." She paused. She actually had been several minutes late to the wedding, luckily it was just pulled out of her get-ready time. "I will try to be less stubborn so that you are allowed a relaxing and love filled life. I will support you in all of your future endeavors. I will be faithful, and never leave your side no matter what happens in our lives. As long as we both shall live." She grabbed the ring, and slipped it on her.. husbands finger. "With this ring I be wed." He said tearfully, smiling so incredibly huge.
The preacher smiled. "You may kiss the bride."
At that, Ryuken didn't hesitate a second, instead pulled her into his arms, and kissed the love of his life. And he knew, that he would get many more of these kisses.
