I beg for forgiveness for not updating in such a long time, but at least I am here now. And to you my lovely readers I offer the epilogue I had promised so long ago. Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING
Epilogue
Breath Kagura breathe, one foot in front of the other, she repeated to herself. With her arm firmly linked with Umibouzu's and the bouquet of coral peonies and ranunculus gripped tightly in the other, the Yato was at last walking up the altar. And only two hours prior the vermilion haired woman laid sound asleep at home.
" OH MY GOSH! KAGURA! YOU'RE NOT AWAKE YET! THE WEDDING!" screamed Shinpachi as he fainted from the turmoil of his inner mind. The Yato slide her closet/bedroom door open, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. " Stop screaming and having a hissy fit megane." Kagura caught sight of the motionless body, " what's his problem?" she asked her anego. The brunette, clad in an elegant silk kimono spuriously smiled at the female.
"Kagura-chan." She began, false enthusiasm lacing her voice, " my dear brother fainted from the shock of the bride not being prepared for her own wedding, that begins" she glanced at the clock," in roughly two hours. So the question now is WHY AREN'T YOU FREAKING OUT!"
The Yato's jaw dropped, shit, she forgot. Leaping from the closet Kagura rushed to complete her daily routine while Otae emitted a malicious aura from the corner. " Kagura-chan, if you make Okita-san wait at the altar I will be very displaced." The subtle threat resonating crystal clear to Kagura. The vermilion haired woman quickened her pace, fear of her anego's wrath acting as an impetus.
" Go now." She commanded, " the boutique is waiting for you, I'll deal with Shinpachi. I hope to see you at the wedding, on time."
Grabbing her umbrella Kagura rushed from the Yorozuya office in a mad sprint to the high class salon a few blocks away. If she was indeed late to her own wedding there would be many upset people for her to deal with; a crazy sadistic groom and an intimidating boss lady, Kagura shivered at the thought.
" Miss Yato! We've been expecting you for some time. Hurry, get her into the dress!" directed the manager of the wedding boutique. Kagura was flooded by employees, all tasked with successfully delivering her to the wedding, or else via threat by the Shinengumi, or more specifically the first division captain himself. The mob savagely stripped her out of the qipao dress and slipped on the ivory gown that had been chosen in advance. The short sleeved gown, fabricated of intricate lacing, dipped into a modest V shape in the back as a pink sash completed the look. The sadist instantly fell in the with the dress, thus under his orders Kagura forcefully agreed to wear it, the dress though was undeniably stunning.
" Makeup and hair next!" the manger shouted. Kagura was forcefully pushed into a chair while the employees tried to multitask by tackling both the hair and makeup simultaneously. The Yato had to admit, their teamwork was certainly laudable, in such a short time frame they were transformed the unruly Kagura into a vision of a bride. The vermilion locks were fastened in an elegant low hanging bun, with pearl pins adorning her hair, and the minimal application of eyeliner and blush brought forth a natural sense of beauty.
The salon team, along with their manager, stared at the woman, at their hard work, and at their safety card. They did it.
The brunette manager gently placed the bouquet, which was also chosen by the sadist, onto her lap. " Its time to get you to the reception miss Yato." She said amiably. The bride was lead to the waiting car, which was chauffeured by none other than her surrogate father Gintoki.
" Why did I expect nothing less from you Kagura, to be late to your own wedding." The bride pouted, " How rude Gin-chan, no "you look beauty", no "that dress is absolutely stunning", no "wow" even, only "your late"."
The silver haired samurai sheepishly grinned, " You don't need me to say it, you already know it yourself. Now come on before they slaughter both of us for being late." She slide into the seat as Gintoki held the door open like a gentleman, she looked up at the man, " Thank you for being with me all these years." A heartstring was pulled on his chest.
" Oii Kagura, don't get all sappy on your Gin-chan or I may just start balling my eyes out at the reception."
She childishly grinned at the man, " Oh shut it Gin-chan and let's get to the wedding!"
The Yato hurried to the dressing room where her two bridesmaid impatiently waited.
" Kagura-chan." Said Soyo-hime, " you're late."
She slumped into her chair, " I've been told."
"The man is mad." Stated Nobume in a monotone voiced, " He was cursing at the wind the last time I pasted the male dressing room."
Kagura slumped even further into her seat, " I'm going to get an earful aren't I?" The princess, wearing a short strapless coral dress, placed a reassuring hand on her friend's arm, " Don't worry Kagura-chan, Okita-san will forgive you once he catches a glimpse of you, you look so stunning."
The Yato smiled tenderly at her friend, " Thank you."
"He'll also want to tear the dress off the second he sees you too, he is a man." The bride blushed, changing her normally pale skin into a deep red.
" Nobume!" Soyo-hime cried at the Mimawarigumi officer. The stoic woman tilted her head, " But its true." Kagura had befriended the so called demon years ago and now here she stood as her bridesmaid, however her one quirk of over bluntness never did change. " That's what the guys are probably talking about right now, your wedding night." Nobume said.
" Nobume!" cried both women in unison.
" Okita-san." Said Shinpachi from the doorway, " Gin-san told me that Kagura just arrived." The soon to be groom released a sigh, damn that woman and her spontaneous ways.
" Are you happy Sougo, your bride didn't leave you at the altar." Said Hijitaka.
" I don't want there to be any deaths today but if you really want to die Hijitaka-san, then you should have just asked."
The Shinsengumi lieutenant pointed a single finger at the sadist and shouted, " OIII! I dare you to say that one more time!"
" Gladly." He replied. Kondo stepped in between the two men, " Ma ma, let's all calm down. Don't get angry on your wedding day Sougo, and Tosshi don't go yelling at our son, he's about to be married! Oh how fast the time flies!" the gorilla said with hiccups between breaths, the tears streaming down his face, and the snot building up. " Tosshi! Our baby's leaving us!"
" I WOULD NEVER BE THIS SADIST'S MOM!"
" Don't flatter yourself Hijikata, I would never want to be your son either."
"YOUUUU!"
" Don't." Hiccup," Fight." Hiccup." You guys." Hiccup.
" That's right." Said Otae, standing alongside her brother at the doorway, " don't fight anymore, the receptions is going to begin very soon and I would be extremely unhappy if the groom and his guests were arguing." She said with a big unnatural grin. Kondo stopped his tears and leap forward, screaming " OTAE!" she sidestepped, allowing the gorilla to collide with the wall.
" Ma now darling, that's inappropriate behavior. You are going to have to behave yourself in public now."
" Anything for you my love!" with hearts swirling around him. Shinpachi shuddered, he still couldn't believe that the gorilla and his sister had gotten married; the glasses wearing man swore that this was a test by god. But he also could believe that Kagura and Okita were minutes away from matrimony either. It was evident that the two liked each, heck even a monkey could tell that the rivals had sparks flying everywhere. Shinpachi just never assumed that one, the two would engage in a relationship, two Okita would propose, or three Kagura would accept the said proposal. The world truly was an odd place, and yet he still couldn't find a girlfriend!
" Earth to Megane, the reception is about to begin, are you coming?"
Shinpachi blinked, "DON'T CALL ME MEGANE!" he shouted at the silver haired man before him.
" Whatever you say megane." He calmed his anger for the sake of the wedding, following close behind Gintoki and Tsukuyo.
Kagura poked her head into the reception room, absorbing the splendor of the décor. The sadist had been right, it was better to leave these details to him. The wedding was held in the grand hall of a hotel, the bland white room now was transformed into a wonderland of pale pink, white and silver. Encompassing a majority of the area were the circular tables, each holding a vase of exquisite pink or white peonies as well as matching napkins and elegant white trimmed greeting cards. A single path, covered with white petals, lead the way to the platform which doubled as an altar. Personally, her favorite part was the sparkling walls, she didn't know how the sadist did it, but the walls twinkled with a shade a pink, shining upon the guest a glow of seemingly natural light. She clapped to herself, he had outdone himself. Instead of the girl being bridezilla, the sadist had become the bridezilla.
Umibouzu tapped her on the shoulder, catching her attention, and displayed a giant grin, she happily smiled at her father as well, it was time to begin
Kagura had counted, about one hundred people showed up, a majority of them being the Shinsengumi officers, but she saw her family, Gin-chan, Shinpachi, Anego, Tsukuyo along with Otose in the front, sitting alongside Tama and Catherine. Further back was Zura, the Shinsengumi promised to comply with the terrorist this one day, as well as Elizabeth, Maodo, Kyubei and so many more friends. Even her deadbeat brother quietly sat in a corner, curtsies to Nobume of course. Smiling contently to herself, Kagura faced the Sadist as her father reluctantly let go, he seemed nervously excited. His eyes were burning while his hands trembled slightly, the Yato couldn't blame him. She had oddly been calm minute ago but now her heart beat frantically. Kagura stared the sadist in the eye, smiling tenderly as he reached for her hands, the crimson eyed man did the same, offering his bride a joyful smile.
" Do you take this woman, in sickness and in health, for better or for worst, to be your lawfully wed wife?" asked the clergyman.
" I do." The priest turned to the bride.
"And do you take this man…" as he continued on with the vows Gintoki leaned towards Shinpachi, whispering in his ear, " Are they even Christian?"
" Um I don't think this is the place to be asking that question Gin-san." He whispered back." Look the vows are over." Pointing to the couple prominently displaying off their rings. The bride and groom stole one more kiss from each other, walking down the isle hand in hand to the car outside. Okita leaned slightly, whispering into Kagura's ear, " I'm a much better groom then the decoy one right China?" She smiled at the easily jealous man, " Yes yes." she said jokingly," the perfect groom to be exact."
"I like the sound of that." he said as they reached the door to the outside.
Before going any further Kagura announced the bouquet toss. A deranged mob of woman crowded behind the bride. Sa-chan pushed the other woman out of the way, insisting that this bouquet would ensure Gintoki's love, which the said man refuted to all possible means, stealing at glance at Tsukuyo's expression which was serene, too serene. Kagura chuckled at the frenzied spectacle occurring behind her, she gently tossed the holy grail of marriage, turning to see the outcome.
"Ehhhhhh!" cried the crowd and Kagura herself. Her diabolical brother of all people, caught the bouquet conveniently within his arms, he held it up with wonder, " Does that mean I am to marry next then dear sister?" Before Kagura even had the chance to answer the mob of angered woman tackled the male Yato.
Nobume watched idly from the sidelines, munching on her donut as her boyfriend was pummeled to death by angry woman.
" My brother-in-law is so unfortunate to catch the bouquet in front of these crazy woman."
" Eh, he kind of deserved it." She replied.
Slipping his hand into hers, he chuckled, " And you call me the sadist."
" Because you are, threatening to decapitate me if I was late." She raised her head, kissing her husband on the lips.
" I never said that I would decapitate you, just possibly injury."
"Same thing."
"Not quite China."
She pulled him towards the car," Well it doesn't matter Sadist, all I know is that our new life is about to begin." He smiled at his wife, " And I wouldn't want it any other way."
There was much more fluff and love in this chapter then anticipated, sorry if Kagura did not receive any form of punishment, I felt that it was better to end with a real wedding when the whole mini series pertained to a decoy wedding. I hoped you guys enjoyed!