– Stray –
"I now pronounce you, man and wife… You may now kiss the bride…"
Cheers erupted as soon as the wizened yet healthy priest finished his statement; finally ending the hour-long ceremony. The church was filled with smiling faces, though some were tearful, all of which directed at the newly-wed couple standing before the altar. Colors of white and maroon filled up the cathedral, these being the theme for the matrimonial ceremony.
An orange-haired man sheepishly lifted the veil, revealing the confidently happy look on the features of his wife. They shared a quick kiss to which everyone applauded. Hired photographers then took the opportunity to take snapshots and pictures as the choir began to sing.
Warm brown eyes were caught by steely black ones owned by a prudish-looking man; the groom gulped. Welcome to the family indeed. But then again, his side wasn't any better. A man in a white tuxedo was exaggeratingly crying his heart out whilst two younger women attempted to console him; or at least one of them did. A tall brunet was wiping his hair-covered eyes at the end of a pew. Meanwhile, a bespectacled man held his gaze for a long moment before a light smile came on the man's lips.
"Congratulations!" a red-haired man shouted from the pew behind as many others clapped behind him.
"It's a bloody miracle, man! You're finally gonna get laid!" a blue-eyed muscular man exclaimed from somewhere in the back, causing a round of laughter to shake the crowd.
"Shut up!" the groom hollered back.
"Thank you, thank you…" he heard a voice beside him say and he could only smile as he watched the raven-haired woman in his arms give a small wave to the people at her side.
An auburn-haired woman was clapping exuberantly with tears of joy pouring down her cheeks. Beside her, a well-endowed strawberry-blonde woman was giving a thumbs-up sign, grinning none-too-subtly. A teal-haired female, on the other hand, had her camera out and was taking numerous photos.
"Hey! Do we get an invite to the honeymoon?" a dark-skinned woman with bright golden eyes asked aloud.
"NO!" the newly-weds replied in a shout, a bright blush adorning their faces.
And there was another good round of laughter.
– From G to U –
It was funny how a simple event could suddenly bring together everyone from his high school days. And of all occasions, it was a wedding! That's right, Kurosaki Ichigo's wedding was the big event. The carrot-top had finally made ties with his high school sweetheart, Kuchiki Rukia; and of course, the whole batch was invited to their matrimony. And who was he to miss this? Grimmjow Jeagerjaques was never out of the circle, so it was only natural that he was there. It's been four long years since he'd last seen his classmates, after all… Everyone looked so… different. They were no longer the opinionated and selfish teens that they were before, facing the truths of life head-on had changed them… well, most of them at least.
"Grimmjow! How are you?"
Sapphire eyes looked up to find four people heading towards him. He recognized them all at once, they were his own little posse back in the days; besides, nothing much had changed. Nnoitra was still lanky as ever, easily towering over everyone in the area – the main difference would be that he'd let his hair grow; it now went well past his shoulders. Tesla was totting beside Nnoitra, like always, the kind smile still plastered on his lips; unlike his idol, however, the blonde man had cut off his once shoulder-length locks. Szayel Aporro looked gayer than ever, his mussed up cherry blossom pink hair from high school was now straight with a delicate wave along the ends. Il Forte, on the other hand, was busy shooting looks at some girls at a nearby table; nothing at all had changed from his physical appearance.
The four men took the empty seats beside Grimmjow at the table as the other tables around them began to fill up as well. The usual catching-up talk ensued and it wasn't 'til Nnoitra had jabbed him in the ribs did Grimmjow pay any real attention.
"What?" the muscular man asked irritably; he'd been taking a drink of water, thank you very much.
"Look who showed up…" the raven-haired man said, his eyes staring at the glass doors where the last guests were arriving.
"Who–? Ohh…" Understanding instantly dawned on Grimmjow as his eyes latched onto a certain green-eyed man passing through the doors.
"What are you gonna do now, Grimm-Grimm? Looks like Ulqui's joining the party…" Szayel stated, eyes glinting mischievously behind his glasses.
"What do you mean, fruitcake?" blue-haired Grimmjow asked with a cross air. "Like hell that I care about that little piece of shit…"
"You still like him? Oh good lord, Grimmjow, it's been four years, bro!" Il Forte exclaimed.
"I do not like that scrawny bastard!"
"Those were the very same things you've been saying all throughout high school. If that wasn't sexual tension, I don't know what else was…" Tesla added.
"Ha! Maybe it's the other way around! He's the dumbass who–"
"Oh, he's sitting alone at a table!" Szayel mercilessly cut through Grimmjow's words. "Go to him!"
"Stop acting like a sissy, Szayel. I do not want to sit at a table with that retard…"
"Come off it, you've been pining for his ass since second year high, bro…" Il Forte noted casually, taking a sip of the iced green tea set down before him by a passing waiter. The reception lunch had begun.
"I'm not–"
"Seriously, I'm getting tired of yer denials Grimmjow." Nnoitra pointed out, "You haven't got a girlfriend throughout high school even when half of the girls in our year were flirting with you. All you ever talked about was 'how stupid Ulquiorra Schiffer is' every single day. We're your friends, man, we know these things."
"Get a move on, Grimmjow before someone hooks him up." Tesla advised, inclining his head towards the pale man sitting alone on the table behind theirs.
Grimmjow's lips formed a frown before turning into half a smile, sapphire eyes locking onto the ebony-haired man's form. "That's–"
"Ulquiorra! Hey, I didn't see you there!" a blur of teal rushed past them, followed by a small gaggle of other women. "It seems like there's no other seats available. Are these taken, by any chance?"
For the briefest moment, jade eyes met with sapphires before turning towards the women standing before him. Ulquiorra shrugged, "No. They're free, Neliel."
"Oh! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" the hazel-eyed woman gushed as she and her friends took the free seats at Ulquiorra's table.
Nnoitra and Szayel shared a look, Grimmjow was gonna be pissed. Without fail, when the blue-haired man turned to face his group once again, a definite scowl was on his features.
Il Forte looked sympathizing. "Ah well, maybe you can talk to him after the recept–"
"Shut it."
– From G to U –
"Guys! It's been a while!" The orange-haired groom greeted as he went over to the table, his wife right beside him. He donned a crisp black tuxedo with a single red rose pinned on the left chest pocket.
"I know! You already look as old as your Dad!" Grimmjow teased, grinning as the groom gave him a light punch on the shoulder.
"Congratulations, Ichigo, Rukia…" Szayel smiled up at the couple from his seat, eyeing the bride's pure white tube-topped gown with a rather longing look.
"Thank you," Rukia beamed, "I'm glad that you guys came…"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world!" Nnoitra grinned, raising his water goblet as though in cheer for the newly weds.
"Okay, couple in the middle, please." A violet-haired muscular man called, holding up an official-looking camera.
"Alright, Hisagi… Geez, what's wrong with taking a bit of time to talk with the guys?" Ichigo ranted half-heartedly as he moved into position, standing with Rukia in between Szayel Aporro and Tesla.
"What's wrong is that we still have two dozen tables to go! Alright, smile everyone!" Hisagi Shuuhei called as he positioned the camera and took their picture. The camera flashed and the photographer called for the couple to move to the next table.
"Well, nice seeing you…" charcoal-haired Rukia said as Ichigo's arm ran around her waist and dragged her off. "Ichigo put me down!"
"It's nice to see that people are finally settling in around us, no?" Szayel Aporro mused, watching as the new Kurosaki couple greeted the people sitting on the table behind theirs.
"Whatever…" Grimmjow rolled his eyes, and turned his attention to the bowl of iced almond and lychees. The lunch affair was just getting finished, which was basically why Ichigo and Rukia were circulating the tables and having their photo taken with every attendee.
Taking the blue-haired man's words as a cue to drop the topic, the rest of the table began digging in to their dessert.
Grimmjow had picked up his teaspoon and took in a mouthful of the dessert. His eyes searched for where the groom might be at, having nothing else to do. When he spotted the man, however, he wasn't met with warm brown eyes; instead, a pair of cool jade orbs held his gaze. The silver utensil was promptly stuck in between tanned lips as sapphire eyes looked back, wide with surprise.
Ulquiorra merely stared at him for a good ten seconds, then, slowly, the pale features formed into a small smile. A long pointing finger was raised to the pale lips, drawing a line along the bottom lip, indicating something.
The muscled man raised his own free hand (the one that wasn't holding the bowl of dessert) towards his lips; surprise fleeting through his features when his hand lightly bumped with the handle of the spoon he'd stuck in his mouth. Too-blue eyes quickly darted down to the spoon in between his lips and Grimmjow instantly pulled out the eating utensil, raising a brow incredulously at the silverware as though demanding what the hell it was doing in his mouth. When he looked back at Ulquiorra, the man wasn't staring at him anymore.
"Grimmjow? Is anything the matter?" Tesla's voice brought the blue-eyed man's attention back to his table where he found all the occupants staring at him.
"Were you just staring at Ulquiorra?" Nnoitra quickly followed up a question, leering suggestively.
"No. Of course not, why would I even look at that prat?" Grimmjow huffed, getting another spoonful of lychee and crushed ice.
The Granz brothers shared a look and consequently rolled their eyes.
– From G to U –
"Alright! Now that we've finished our lunch, I think it's about time to start the marriage rites!" A woman with deep purple hair donning a golden silk gown announced, holding up a microphone to her lips. She stood in front of the table where the bride and groom sat, her golden eyes scanning the crowd before her.
"So right you are, Yoruichi!" A blonde man wearing a white polo shirt and dark green slacks responded; a green and white striped bucket hat on his head catching most of the people's attention; he too held a mic, such that everyone in the vicinity heard his rather cheery voice.
"Let's get started then, with the freeing of doves… Why the hell those things symbolize purity is way past me…" Yoruichi continued, looking at her fellow emcee. "Ichigo and Rukia, please head over to the left hand side of the stage and get the doves from the cage."
The newly weds did as were instructed, and although there had been a slight problem involving bird bites on the groom's hand and much too tight handling of the dove on the bride's part, the freeing of the doves had been accomplished easily… That was until the dove that Ichigo had released flew out into the audience and settled a bit too comfortably on a particular brother-in-law.
Steely black eyes glared daggers at the groom who gulped in anxiety for the second time that day. The bride on the other hand, seemed to find the incident of great amusement.
"Ah! Nii-sama, it seems that your noble heart has attracted the dove!" Rukia exclaimed gleefully, oblivious to her very worried husband. "Good for you, Byakuya-nii-sama!"
Kuchiki Byakuya, meanwhile, had nothing on his mind but how sweet revenge will now be… Marriage did have its purpose after all…
"Now that that's finished, let's head on to the cake cutting ceremony!" Kisuke announced, one hand gesturing to the triple layer cake with white icing and dark red roses, made of icing, decorating the base of each layer.
A slice of cake was cut and the new couple was facing each other with Ichigo holding the plate in between them. Cutting off a piece each with their forks, the bride and groom crossed arms and proceeded to feed the cake to their better half.
"Very good!" Yoruichi declared once the newly weds had finished and the small plate of cake was left on the table. "Now, Kisuke, the chair please…"
"Right here~!" the blonde man replied, hauling a high-backed chair with cushioned seats, back and arm rests. "Rukia-chan, sit there please…"
The charcoal-haired bride nodded and instantly went over to the chair and sat upon it, looking expectantly at her husband who gave a rather weak smile in reply.
Yoruichi turned her golden eyes on the groom, a sly smile on her lips. "Now, Ichigo, we all know that next comes the retrieving of the garter from the bride, but…"
The brown-eyed groom paled considerably, hearing the emcee say 'but'… it was never a good sign for anything. Add that to the fact that Yoruichi was smiling her I-have-another-thing-up-my-sleeve-smile, it could not equal to anything good.
"It'll be no fun if we go by tradition," Kisuke supplied, grinning as well. "So, let's add a little twist to it…"
"Instead of retrieving the garter by hand, like all the old couples do," Yoruichi's gaze fell upon the awaiting audience, finally settling upon Rukia's adoptive brother who was glaring at her pointedly. "We'll have Ichigo, here, get the garter using only his teeth…"
A burst of laughter came forth from the watching crowd. Rukia blushed scarlet while Ichigo went pasty white. Yoruichi's grin widened and Byakuya looked ready to kill.
"Now, Ichigo, we mustn't keep the guests waiting!" Kisuke noted, giving the groom a not-too-light push forward.
The orange-haired man fell on one knee just beside the chair Rukia was in. He looked up rather sheepishly at his wife who had raised her gown an inch or two above her knee, showing the white-laced garter.
Deciding to ignore the flaring looks sent at his back, Ichigo went on with the task, a light dusting of pink settling on his cheeks. Eventually, the garter was removed from the bride's leg and Ichigo held it in his hand a bit sheepishly.
Rukia stood up from her chair and gave a small smile in return for the ones that the other women in the party had on their faces. The strawberry-blonde woman sitting at the nearest table even winked at her.
"Okay, now we'd like to call on all the single gentlemen in the area!" Yoruichi called into the microphone, her gold-hued eyes scanning the tables around them.
"Come on, Renji, be a good sport!" Ichigo called towards a red-haired man who was trying to exit the room.
"Ichigo, you–!" Abarai Renji looked at the groom with a glare on his face. However, his expression was completely wiped off when the blonde emcee headed over to him and forcibly dragged him to the center.
"Now, now, Abarai-kun, let's not spoil the fun, alright?" Kisuke said in all smiles, depositing the tattooed man before the groom. "Come on, guys, aren't any of you man enough?" He then asked to the room in general. This seemed to do the trick as every single man all around stood up in protest.
"I'll show you!" a man with a shiny bald head stood up from a table at the far left. "Madarame Ikkaku is no sissy!"
"Ah, well, might as well join in…" a man with sunglasses on his face spoke from the same table, taking a swig of beer before heading after the first one.
"Yo, best man! Come on!" Ichigo called, eyeing a bespectacled man.
"Alright, sheesh…" Ishida Uryuu spoke as he departed from his seat; inwardly thankful to have an excuse to leave his father and the groom's father to banter idiotically by themselves.
"Come on, Tesla, show them you're a goddamn man, for once!" Nnoitra hollered as he stood up from his seat, the aforementioned blonde man silently following after him.
Il Forte daintily rose from his seat followed by Grimmjow. Both of them turned to the younger Granz who was still seated and was easily sipping his iced tea.
Feeling the others' looks on him, Szayel Aporro raised a brow. "What?"
"Aren't you going to join in, bro?" Il Forte asked.
"Please, I am not so shallow to allow such a petty jest stir me…" the pink-haired man replied smoothly.
Grimmjow only rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath that sounded a lot like 'fruitcake'. The muscular man then jerked his head towards the crowd of men at the center, looking at Il Forte, "Well, let's go then…" And they headed off.
"Do we really have to?" a lanky man with short blonde hair asked as he followed a buffed man with white hair towards the gathering.
"Come on, Shinji, its fun! Smile for the ladies!" his companion said, baring his teeth as he marched over.
Shinji only frowned wider but followed nonetheless, scratching his head and ignoring the profanities being shouted at him by a small girl with pigtails from the table he'd just left.
On another table, a different conversation was on going.
"Shiro-kun, aren't you going to join?" a youthful-looking woman asked.
"I'm still underage, Momo…" was the reply that she received. "Besides, it's just stupid."
"But–!"
"No."
"Aw. Then, Kira-kun would join?" Momo turned her eyes to the droopy-looking man sitting on her other side.
"Er… No thank you, Momo…" Kira replied, his eyes glued towards the photographer at the back of the crowd who flashed him a smile.
"You guys are no fun…" Momo pouted.
"Alright! Now that all the gentlemen have assembled at the center, Mr. Groom, if you please…" Urahara Kisuke said into the microphone, he stood a little off ways from the crowd involved, just to be safe.
As he stood at the outskirts of the crowd, Grimmjow's eyes subconsciously hovered over the heads of the others, looking for a mop of unruly black hair. A frown graced his lips when his search summed up to be futile. Did that mean that Ulquiorra was already taken? He shook his head, nah… Why was he even thinking of such things…?
A smack on his cheek brought the blue-haired man's attention back to reality. Grimmjow blinked, catching the offending object with one hand as another covered his left cheek. He saw a laced garter lying innocently in the palm of his hand. Oh shit. Sapphire eyes turned towards the groom who was smirking at him. "What the fuck was that, Ichigo?!" Grimmjow shouted, a glare set in his face.
"What?" Ichigo's mien of innocence didn't fool anyone. "I didn't do anything, you caught that by yourself, Grimmjow… Good for you!"
The sapphire-eyed man seethed. "Why you little–!"
"Ohoho! Looks like the garter has already been caught!" Kisuke interrupted with a cheery call. "Congratulations, Grimmjow-san! Now come up next to Ichigo over at the platform please! All other the gentlemen may now return to their seats…"
"Nice going, Grimm…" Nnoitra said as he passed by Grimmjow, giving the other man a smirk.
"What in the name of fuck were you thinking, Kurosaki?" the muscular man asked in an undertone as he stood beside the newly wed man.
"Just giving my friend a little hand up in the relationship ladder," the orange-haired man replied. "Look, Grimmjow, high school had come and gone but I have yet to see you with a girlfriend."
"I'm fine and dandy being single, thank you very much!" Grimmjow replied cynically.
"Whatever… Just don't take this too negatively," Ichigo appeased. "It's just plain old fun…"
"Che." Grimmjow turned his eyes to the side, his irises narrowing slightly when they spotted a certain jade-eyed man re-entered the room, coming from the direction of the bathrooms. Oh…
"Well now, let's have all them single ladies!" Yoruichi announced into the microphone.
Unlike the half-assed response from the males earlier, the female population excitedly jumped out of their seats. It may be due to the prospect that it was one of the most sought after bachelors of the batch who was going to be handling the garter but either way…
"Ladies, please calm down!" Yoruichi was saying although the grin she had on was threatening to split her face in two. "Rukia, the bouquet!"
"Y-Yes!" The young bride nodded and held the bunch of roses tight to her chest.
"Rangiku-san, please stop pushing…" the auburn-haired maid of honor was saying as the well-busted woman beside her was fighting her way to the front.
"Hinamori-kun? You're here too?" Rangiku paid no attention to the one speaking to her in her surprise at finding the purple-haired woman standing just behind her.
"A little game won't hurt, right?" Momo replied with a small smile.
The groom's father, however, was causing a scene at the back. "Noo! My beautiful daughters! I'm not ready to give away my beau–!"
"Shut up old man! We're not even thinking of joining!" a black-haired female cut through, giving the man a solid punch in the head.
"Karin! Don't be like that!" a young brunette assuaged.
"Ooh! Come on!" a girl with short lime-green hair dashed through the crowd, followed by a blonde girl with pigtails and a raven-haired woman whose hair was set in a braid down her back.
"Calm down, Mashiro…" the raven-haired woman said, adjusting her red-rimmed glasses. "On another note, aren't you too young for this, Hiyori?" she asked the blonde girl walking beside her.
"Shut it, Lisa! That black woman said 'all them single ladies' and I'm a damn lady so I'm entitled to join the shit…" Hiyori replied, looking smug.
"Fine…" Lisa sighed and continued to walk.
"Halibel, Cirucci, aren't you going to join?" a hazel-eyed woman asked.
"No thank you, Neliel," was the chocolate-skinned woman's reply.
"I'm game!" Cirucci answered, standing up from her seat, joining the teal-haired Nel in going towards the crowd.
When all the women were gathered at the center, Yoruichi gave a go signal to the bride. Rukia nodded and turned her back to the crowd, she faced her husband and smirked.
Ichigo's eyes widened. Oh no…
Rukia closed her eyes and with a great heave, she turned on the spot and threw the bouquet of roses with much force. It soared…
It soared high above the heads of the waiting women whose face now showed disappointment as the flowers passed them…
It soared high above the outstretched hands attempting to catch it, fists closing without the bunch of roses in them…
It soared… and soared…
Soaring… soaring… THUMP!
Jade irises blinked, feeling a soft 'something' collide with the top of his head. The porcelain face turned, finding a bouquet of red and white roses sitting on his feet. He blinked at it, recognizing it to belong to the bride. He knelt on one knee, picked up the bunch of flowers, and stood up again, facing a rather shell-shocked crowd.
Every head was turned towards him, eyes were wide and jaws appeared to be unhinged. The only one who didn't seem shocked at this was a certain charcoal-haired bride.
"YOSH!" Rukia exclaimed, pumping a fist into the air. She turned to face her husband and the catcher of the garter, giving a none-too-subtle peace sign and a bit too wide smile.
Ichigo turned towards his old classmate who was staring, transfixed, at the ebony-haired man at the back of the crowd. "Er… Grimmjow?"
Sapphire eyes looked at the groom from the corner of narrowed eyes. "Remind me to kill you soon, Kurosaki," Grimmjow stated, the wide grin on his lips twitching at the edges.
Tumbleweeds seemed to run around the place in the sudden stillness that enveloped it.
Both emcee's were speechless at the turn of events, gray and gold eyes looking with raised eyebrows at each other.
Ulquiorra's large and too-green eyes darted to the newly wed woman, holding the bouquet of roses with both hands.
"Rukia-san, I think you dropped this."
– From G to U –
A/N: Inspired by the recent wedding of my fourth year class adviser.. yeah, practically everyone in our section attended… So that's that… sorry if it's somewhat insubstantial but we all know what happens next… It IS tradition, after all… ;D
4135 words, for the story alone, people! Woo~!