Chapter 8 - Weddings

Everyone started the second semester, they were all top of their class, as to be expected. Izumi was working diligently at learning to become a teacher. The members of the host club went to their place often, as did Yasuchika and Satoshi. Meanwhile, Mistkuni and Takashi also kept their promise of visiting the host club often. Takashi still had yet to tell her about the house, but it was common knowledge that Takashi, Izumi, and Mitskuni lived in a mansion together… until, Mitskuni surprised everyone by proposing to Reiko Kanazuki.

"What?" everyone exclaimed when Mitskuni told them the news. They were all sure that Tamaki and Haruhi would be the first to get married. They had been engaged since Boston and wedding plans were already underway.

"Well, she said she wanted to talk to me. When we first started dating, I did tell her I liked a girl who overcomes her fears, so when she mentioned marriage, I proposed."

"Hani-sempai," Kyoya adjusted his glasses, trying hard to understand, "while I applaud you for rewarding her when she speaks her mind… don't you think this is a little over-board? You've known her less than Tamaki and Haruhi have."

"Well that's true, but Takashi practically proposed to Izumi only after a year… not even." Tamaki blushed, embarrassed at how rash that decision seemed when stated like that. "Besides," Mitskuni continued, "I love her and that's the most important thing right?"

"So when did this happen?"

"Huh? Oh, Halloween!"

"And when is the wedding?"

"January first. We wanted to start the new year together as a family."

"So will she move in with you guys?"

"Oh, I don't think so. The house should be done being built by then."

"House?" The club thought for a moment… "Wait, that house being built near you guys is your house?"

"Well yeah. I still want to live close to Takashi. It'll be easier for the family to visit us that way." Their mouths hung open, still in shock. Takashi and Izumi were unaffected. They had a feeling that something like this might happen, Takashi more than Izumi.

Haruhi's hand reached out to Takashi, "Um, Takashi?"

"Hrm?" he said as he refilled her tea cup.

"Did this surprise you?" Izumi looked lover as Haruhi asked.

"No, not really. While we are on the subject, how is your wedding planning going?" Takashi changed the subject! Izumi giggled to herself.

-.-.-

All three of them were busy with the wedding planning, actually, it was more like Tamaki and Mitskuni. Haruhi and Reiko spent more time together as the twins' mom was also helping with Reiko's dress.

"I can't believe my brother is getting married," Yasuchika whined as he played with Piyo. "First he moves in with Takashi and Izumi, now he's really moving out."

"It's hardly a surprise Chika," Satoshi patted him on the head. "Maybe you should learn to pay attention to him more instead of focusing on the fact he's an alien."

"Boys," Izumi chided as she brought over dinner with the help of the servants, "be nice please."

"Sorry sis," Satoshi blushed. Izumi's eyes went wide and Takashi dropped Pome on the table. "I was just trying it out." Pome crawled back into Takashi's arms.

"So, I guess this means that Mitskuni always had this planned. That house's construction took place shortly after I arrived." Izumi said thoughtfully biting into her dinner.

"Where is he anyway, he's supposed to have dinner with us," Satoshi said.

"He's caught up in wedding planning. He'll be here shortly but wanted us to start eating just in case."

Mitskuni, magically, ended up arriving just in time for desert. "Everything's pretty much been decided which is really lucky because of the short time frame."

"Ooh, details please." Izumi asked.

"Well, it's all Reiko's vision. She wants to get married in an old gothic cathedral in an old vintage lace gown and have the reception in an old, classic ballroom. Luckily the cathedral has a reception area on the premises which fits Reiko's desires. The dress we found was vintage so it just needs to be tailored to fit. The flowers are going to be Vendela roses. The food will be French and the cake will be a hazelnut torte with butter cream frosting. Oh and the wedding band will have to be retrofitted since her engagement ring is also vintage. The seller did not have the original wedding band, but we decided it would be best to have it be an eternity band of yellow diamonds."

"Wow, Mistkuni. That's a lot… of details. How did you guys decide everything so quickly?"

"Oh it was easy, Reiko's had a vision of what she wanted since she was a little girl. I just went based off of that."

-.-.-

It all went by quickly. Before everyone knew it, they were celebrating Thanksgiving (for Izumi, which was now becoming a tradition with the host club members) and then celebrating Mitskuni and Reiko's wedding. It was a grand affair and everything, of course, went perfectly. The black magic club dressed up in vintage tuxedos and Nekozawa even took off his wig for the event. Izumi caught the bouquet and everyone made it a point to let Takashi catch the garter, not that he was going to let anyone catch it to slip it on Izumi's leg.

Izumi spent New Years at the Morinozuka Estate and the Haninozuka's spent the New Year at Mitskuni and Reiko's new home. Reiko invited Yasuchika to stay with them for the last trimester of the semester in order to get to know him better; and, much to everyone's surprise, he did.

During the last trimester everyone prepared for Haruhi and Tamaki's wedding, which would take place shortly after her high school graduation. Izumi was quickly finishing up her lesson plans and picking up her elementary school teaching uniform for Ouran.

"Are you nervous," the chairman asked Izumi as he finished approving her curriculum.

"I would be lying if I said no. It's not my first time teaching, but Ouran is vastly different than teaching dancers."

"It is our pleasure to have you here as a teacher of Ouran. The parents will be happy to know there's a native English speaker who is also fluent in Japanese and can write as well. Too often we find native Japanese speakers who learned English, but are average at best… or we have a lot of English speakers with no degree, no teaching experience, or no Japanese skills. It is hard to find someone like you, although, I would be remiss to say that I'm disappointed you did not take up the University portion of the program. Might I ask why?"

"I'm just unsure of what I want to do. It'd also like to earn money and be as financially independent as I can."

"You mean from Takashi," the Chairman asked knowingly. Izumi blushed and avoided his gaze. "I understand what you mean about being independent from those with much influence. It is a hard thing to do and I commend you on your desire to try. There is no shame in accepting what others freely offer you."

"Oh, I know…" she hesitated.

"You remind me of Haruhi when it comes to that you know?"

"Sir?"

"Surrounded by others willing to assist her but still wanting to make her own path. Strong women like you keep our boys in check. They're so naive to anything outside this small world that we privileged live in. So, when is your turn?"

So that's where Tamaki gets that mischievous smile… "Sir?"

"When are you and Takashi going to be married?"

"We're not even engaged, sir."

knocking

"I really thought you two would be the first to marry out of Tamaki's friends," the chairman said quietly to himself. "Enter."

"Sir, you should be getting ready for your Corporation meeting this afternoon."

"Yes, yes," he waived his assistant on, "Ms. Saitou, it was a pleasure. I'll see you during the orientation."

Izumi bowed as the chairman walked passed, "Yes, Chairman."

-.-.-

A week after Haruhi's graduation, she and Tamaki were married. It was another beautiful affair and nearly twice the size as Mistkuni and Reiko's wedding. Ranka dressed as a man despite Haruhi saying he could be in drag.

Once again, Izumi caught the bouquet, despite her obvious attempt to not catch it, and once again, Takashi caught the garter.

"They're lucky, aren't they Kaoru," Hikaru asked watching a thoroughly embarrassed Takashi slide the garter on Izumi's leg. "I bet you he's going to stop at her knee, but he should really slip it up her thigh."

"Hikaru? That's pretty brazen."

"I don't understand why they wait or play this game of prim and proper."

Kyoya noted, "Maybe they're not playing a game and just taking their time. Maybe it's of no benefit to them to rush."

"How is there a benefit in waiting," Kaoru asked.

"How is there not? Regardless of what we think, it's what makes them happy right?"

"But they've been together for three years!" the twins sang.

"True," Kyoya said.

"But Takashi is an old soul when it comes to things like this," Mitskuni said, returning to the table with Reiko.

"Don't forget, he wants to be independent as well. And, Izumi will be teaching soon. They both want to be independent individuals first." Reiko finished.

"You know, at one point, they're going to get tired of everyone asking them why they're not getting married," Kyoya noted.

"Yeah, well maybe it'll make them hurry up and get married. Everyone else is." Kaoru said, slightly irritated that the two were slow moving.

Reiko felt bad for Izumi and Takashi. As someone who rarely speaks up for herself, she can empathize with things taking time and waiting until you have the courage to take action. It wasn't like with her and Mitskuni, where it took her a year to even acknowledge the fact that she liked him. Then a few months to even ask him out on a date. "You guys, just don't keep saying it to them okay? Let them go on their own."

"We wouldn't be who we are if we did…" Hikaru smiled.

Kyoya came to Reiko's defense, "She's right you know. Mori's plenty capable of handling himself."

"Since when, he's always hid behind Hani."

"Hey!" Mitskuni said in defense of his cousin.

"What, it's the truth. Even when the two of you have an opinion, you were the one doing the talking."

"Mori has come out of his shell since high school," Kyoya said, not understand the 'gang up on Mori' turn the night had taken. "Boston was a great growth experience for him, for everyone for that matter."

"Are you irritated the way you were with Tamaki and Haruhi," Hani stated rather than asked.

"Well, dear, it's probably more like the way Tamaki ignored his feelings for Haruhi," Reiko tried to clarify.

"I think it's probably the way he tried to force the 'false family' ideal," Kyoya interjected. "Speak of the devil…" his voice trailed as Takashi and Izumi were returning.

"Hey!" she said breathless having just danced with Takashi. Hikaru walked off and Kaoru pretended to get water.

Kyoya tried to direct the conversation, "You looked lovely Izumi. We're used to being surrounded by those who know how to dance, but you are truly a professional."

"Aww, Kyoya, thank you. That's awfully kind of you to say."

"You're so pretty when you dance, I don't even notice the height difference!" Reiko added. Takashi was over a foot taller than Izumi, wearing heels did little to close that gap.

-.-.-

Izumi slipped off her shoes as they left the reception. Takashi leaned down, "Are you okay?"

"Hrm?" she said, surprised but happy to see him so close. She gave him a quick kiss on his lips, "I'm okay."

"I can carry you."

Izumi giggled, "I'm fine love." He swept her off her feet anyway. As there were people around, they quickly kissed. He carried her to the car, where the chauffer opened the door, smiling at the approaching couple.

People watched them leave, some shocked at how open they were with their actions, but others were caught up in the romance of it all. The couple commanded so much attention, no matter how much they preferred to stay out of it.

NOTES

Reiko Kanazuki wedding stuff (not my taste, but I did some searching for vintage and gothic on google):
2 . bp . blogspot . com / -0fGr0OMKiEU / Tbs2T7YJfLI / AAAAAAAAALU / Zl8EfZeesSg / s1600 / princess-Grace-Wedding-dress . jpg wedding dress
www . topazery . com / antique-jewelry-item-rg3015 . htm engagement ring

Ps. I thought that Mori was the first to get married, but in reading Volume 18 extras, it was actually Hani. So I had to change my story a bit, and since I already posted the earlier chapters, I would feel bad rewriting it all… sorry about that!

PPS. I figure if you're an OHHC fan, then you've already seen the pictures of Tamaki and Haruhi's wedding.

PPPS. Mori is actually getting ready to turn 21, in his 3rd year of university – sorry my ages were off in re-reading and I was too lazy to go back and fix the earlier chapters. My apologies also for the rushed sense of writing (sad face)