Author's Note: My deep apologies for this being so delayed. It's due to a mix of illness (I've come down with two separate colds in the last month) and good old-fashioned writer's block. Hopefully I'll have the rest of the fic out in a better timeframe, though.

X-X-X

For Us, Forever

Rating: K+

Chapter 2: Arrival

X-X-X

Then...

Naomi Viola currently had her hands quite full. For one thing, she didn't entirely trust this mode of transportation - Shizuru had called it a "buggy," and she'd explained that it was the only way other than walking to get through the wilderness and to the wedding site - and so Naomi was holding on rather tightly with one hand. The fact that her husband Kenichi was driving and apparently having the time of his life at least brought a small smile to Naomi's face, but she still didn't feel particularly safe.

But while Naomi didn't feel safe at all in this buggy, open as it was to the air, the small dog on her lap seemed to consider that the best innovation in the world. Fuyo, the Shiba Inu that Naomi and Kenichi had adopted as a puppy many months ago, had recently grown to his full size, but he still had the mind and energy of a puppy. It was hard enough to train him to sit still on a drive through Windbloom - looking out the window was alright, but absolutely no attempts to climb out - but once the scents of the forest and the complete lack of windows of the buggy were added to the mix, the task of keeping him contained became nearly impossible. Naomi had resorted to putting his leash on and keeping it grasped in one hand, as there was no way she'd be able to keep him from squirming out of her arms for the whole ride.

"Ken..." Naomi said, a slight warning tone entering her voice. She wasn't sure if Kenichi would hear her over the wind, but thankfully he soon slowed the buggy down, giving Naomi a chance to get Fuyo under control.

Ken looked back at Naomi, a somewhat sheepish look having entered his eyes. He cleared his throat and said, "Erm, sorry, dear."

Naomi slowly shook her head. "You can have your fun, love, but at least drop Fuyo and me off first," she said. "And promise not to get yourself killed."

Kenichi raised an eyebrow. "Oh really?" he said. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you cared about me."

Naomi snorted at this rather lame attempt at a tease. "Right. I do wonder how I could have ever given you that impression," she said. She reached over and placed a hand on Kenichi's knee, giving him a soft smile. "Just drive, love."

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Now...

Shizuru held her breath as the music reached a bridge. This was it; there was no turning back now, no time left to succumb to nervousness. Haruka and Ahn had been waiting in front of Shizuru, blocking her from the view of the audience. On the musical cue, they stepped to the sides and Shizuru stepped forward. The music rose up to accompany Shizuru as she began her walk down the aisle.

Although she was supposed to look forward as much as possible as she walked, Shizuru allowed herself a moment to look over at her parents. They were up in the front row to her left, but Shizuru was still close enough to see the immense pride on her mother's face and the affection on her father's.

She didn't allow her gaze to linger on them, though. She looked up toward the altar, where her beloved was waiting for her. Shizuru was still quite nervous, but Natsuki would be her beacon. There was no way she would turn back from her love. That went double when Natsuki was as beautiful as she was today. Natsuki had bought a deep blue gown with black trim to wear for the wedding. She cut quite a striking figure on the altar; both commanding and beautiful. Was it any doubt she'd won Shizuru's heart so easily?

With a smile, Shizuru stepped once more toward her love.