Author's Note: My apologies for the wait, but here it is at last!

Other Author's Note: Raijin Tora here, and as Leebot stated previously, we apologize for the delay. But it gives me great pleasure to present to you the final chapter of For Us, Forever. I took it upon myself to write the majority of Natsuki's speech, and I'm honored to have been included in working on such an important part of the Oneesama series. Again, we hope you enjoy this last chapter and hope you will look forward to more in the future!

X-X-X

For Us, Forever

Rating: K+

Chapter 5: Forever

X-X-X

Then...

"Okay, I can do this… okay, it's just a speech and a few actions, that's all…" Natsuki muttered as she stared into the mirror, trying to make sure there wasn't the slightest flaw in her attire today. She'd already gone over everything three times so far, and everything from the heels of her shoes to the tip of her hairpin was as good as it was going to get. But she had to do something to keep herself from getting too nervous about this.

If she thought about it, her nervousness really made no sense right now. She'd given speeches to students at Garderobe countless times, faced down foreign ambassadors just as often, and there was even that one time she'd gotten Miss Maria to back down in an argument. Granted, it was an argument over a paperweight, but still, that was an achievement.

Natsuki breathed deeply to try to focus herself. Perhaps she could go over her vows one more time. That was at least somewhat productive. Though going over them was a little tricky, in the-

"Natsuki?"

The sound of a deep, male voice caught Natsuki off-guard, nearly causing her to jump in place. She'd left instructions with Mai not to be disturbed except in an emergency, so the first thing her mind went to was that it might be Sakumizu out there, informing her of some international incident. But that was only for a moment. Her mind soon informed her that no, that wasn't Sakumizu's voice. It was one she'd learned a lot earlier, but hadn't heard in many years now.

"...Dad?" Turning around from the mirror and heading to the door of her tent, Natsuki unzipped it and pulled it open, revealing that indeed, her father had deigned to show up for her wedding. Part of her wanted to chew her father out for making her think he wasn't going to show up, but another part was simply glad he had in fact shown up. With those two parts of her mind battling it out, all she could say was a simple, "You… came…."

"Yeah… I figured I couldn't let my problems with Saeko get in the w-" Takeshi was cut off mid-word as the air rushed out of his lungs, the result of a sharp punch to the gut from Natsuki. As he'd been speaking, the angry part of Natsuki's mind had resolutely won the battle. From there, it was simply a question for her of what to do. A punch to the face was her first instinct, but that could have left a mark, and she did not want to have to talk with anyone else about this later. So, she'd settled on a punch to the gut as the next best choice.

"Damn right you couldn't. And it shouldn't have even been a question in the first place," Natsuki snarled at her father. Normally she'd be yelling at him, but they weren't quite remote enough here for that to be an option without attracting undue attention. "This is my wedding. You should have been here to support me from the beginning, not worrying about Mom glaring at you - which, by the way, is the least of what you deserve. You know, it's a wonder you haven't soured me on all marriage after the mess you've made of yours."

Takeshi coughed, trying to stand up, though Natsuki's glare seemed to keep him from straightening up completely. "Natsuki… I… I'm not asking you to forgive me. I just… had to be here…"

Natsuki continued to glare at her father. "You did. Now give me some space. I have a wedding to get ready for, in case it slipped your mind."

Her father nodded, and wisely slipped out without saying another word. Natsuki let out a sigh and turned back to her mirror. She had to admit, she actually felt a bit better after that.

X-X-X

Now...

Natsuki's knees buckled, but she kept right on standing. Shizuru's words blew her away. When doesn't Shizuru make me melt with such sweet words anyway? Shizuru must've written and rewritten that over and over, trying to find just the right words to convey her feelings. It reminded her of Shizuru's love confession from so many years ago.

Her throat clenched and Natsuki forced herself to take a deep breath, steadying her mind. The Second Column and Ice Silver Crystal could not and would not make a fool of herself during her own wedding ceremony. Not now. Not ever. Right now she didn't see Yukino, nor her parents - seated on opposite sides of the seating area to avoid a scene - nor the rest of her friends sitting and watching her. All she saw was Shizuru, and right now, that was all she could focus on.

The dark-haired woman relaxed, closing her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again, she felt like she was in a world of her own, with Shizuru the only other person in existence.

"Shizuru... Your words move me so much that I can only hope to live up to them, to make our marriage the greatest story ever told. To that end I must confess that I do not have such a speech. I could not write one. I drew up words on paper for hours, even into the dead of the night, trying to form my thoughts into something tangible. I realize now that I need nothing more than to speak to you openly and honestly. It's... certainly not the kind of speech I'm sure you were expecting, but now that the words are pouring out of me, I might as well let them flow.

"Shizuru I love you. I love you with everything that I am. You are my everything, and for you I would give all of myself. Even though in just a few moments we two will become one, united forever in the way we deserve, I will devote myself entirely to you. Each little thing I do, I do for you, and I couldn't be happier than to spend my life with you. Today will come and go, as will the days that follow, but for me, the moments I share with you will never end. I wish to keep making you smile and finding ways to make you laugh. I yearn to find new things about you that I never knew before. I want to make you breakfast in bed, and spend the day inside watching your favorite movie. I want to show Kiyo that he has a loving home. I want to raise a family with you. I want to grow old with you, and still be able to make you feel the same as the day we first confessed our love."

Natsuki reached out and took Shizuru's hands in hers, mirroring the gesture her love had made to her earlier. "It's why I cannot live without you. You are my other half, my soulmate. You have given me all that I never would have thought to achieve and more. Everything that I am, and will be, is yours. That's why I'm here today. Not to prove my love to the world, but to you. Shizuru… my love… This is for us, forever. Be my wife, and I'll be yours, until the end of days and beyond. May our love never end."

As Shizuru seemed to melt in front of her, Yukino's voice broke into Natsuki's private world. Natsuki was still focused enough on Shizuru that the words barely registered with her, but she'd rehearsed this part, and so she knew what to do now. She reached over to take the ring from Mai, and then slowly placed it onto Shizuru's finger. "With this ring, I thee wed, Shizuru Viola," she said, grinning widely at her love.

Shizuru blinked as Natsuki slid the ring onto her finger, her eyes nearly tearing up. But she was able to maintain her composure as she took the other ring from Natsuki. Natsuki let Shizuru bring her hand up, and she waited in anticipation for the ring to slide onto her finger. She could swear that everyone present could hear her heartbeat right now, but she didn't care. It was finally happening. "With this ring, I thee wed, Natsuki Kruger," Shizuru said.

"I now pronounce you duly married," Yukino said, these words managing to pierce Natsuki's world loudly and clearly. "You may now kiss."

By the time Yukino had said this, Natsuki had already made her move. She reached her hands around Shizuru's head and pulled her wife in for their first kiss as a married couple. Warmth flooded her heart as their lips joined together, forever bonding them together.

X-X-X

Author's Note: Thank you everyone for reading this. I do hope to find the time and inspiration for every more from Shizuru and Natsuki, and I hope you'll all continue to read and enjoy what future fics may come.