A Few Years Later...

It had been a hectic month of planning and meetings with tailors, dress fitters, florists and caterers. They'd hired a photographer and made appointments with their stylist of four years, a fabulous young woman who would handle both hair and makeup. They'd visited a dozen venues, populated a guest list, sent out invitations, arranged for accommodations for those who would be playing a part in the ceremony, and basically given up sleeping for at least a week and a half.

Colours were debated, music for their first dance as newlyweds was selected, and the decorator was informed of their vision. Their registry was filled with selections from the bride and the groom, then gutted by a critical Mariya who cited that they should only ask for the essentials.

Everything had to be perfect.

The entire ordeal had been a massive headache, and the couple was exhausted-which was why these bachelorette parties were so important. It was a chance to decompress and destress before the big day; a chance to get their thoughts together now that the whirlwind of activity had abated.

...

"I can't believe you're getting married, Mariya."

A chorus of agreements followed, and Mariya himself couldn't help but agree.

Why Kanako? The little pervert had been so persistent during high school, and it had eventually worn him down into saying yes after being asked out for the hundredth time. He was glad he had given the girl a chance because she had been sweet and attentive and more than willing to feed Mariya's rather ravenous sexual appetite. He'd heard the whole soul mate spiel before and thought it was incredibly stupid of people to think that they could find themselves in another person, but Kanako was probably the closest thing to that... if you could believe in such things.

Mariya shook his head and sipped the fruity mixed drink that had been set down in front of him by the hunky bartender. The other girls had been swooning over the petorals and abs they got a peek of as he moved about, the front of his shirt totally unbuttoned, but he seemed keen on winning the attentions of the one person who wasn't at all interested.

'Good luck, buddy.'

As if he had heard Mariya, or perhaps seen the blond looking at him, the bartender swaggered over. "You the bride?"

Mariya nodded, curtly. Best not to give this guy any reason to think he was even remotely interested.

"Shame." He eyed Mariya up as though he was starving and the blond was a five course meal. No, that wasn't accurate. As though he was a wolf and Mariya was a lamb to slaughter. "You're absolutely gorgeous."

'Careful, I'm a wolf in sheep's clothing.' Mariya snorted at his own joke and the guy took that as an invitation to lean against the counter and chat some more. 'Great.'

"Thanks."

"Your husband-to-be is a lucky man."

"She is, yes."

Wrong choice. The man's eyes lit up and Mariya could practically hear those fake-ass moans women made in girl-on-girl porn. "You only get married once, you know. Now's the night to get it all out of your system."

'You only—what the hell kind of logic is that?!' "It?"

"You ever been with a man?"

'Poor fool.' Mariya had to wonder what he would say if he knew the "lovely young lady" he was hitting on had a dick. "Not interested, dude."

He smiled coolly as he grabbed his drink and retreated to the relative safety of his girlfriends. It had been nice of Hikari to offer her home to the group of giggling, tipsy women. They'd been nibbling at snacks and drinking all afternoon and they had a spa and movie night planned.

Mariya strongly suspected he'd end up getting a lap dance from the bartender, who's name he had already forgotten, by the time the night was over. While that wasn't his cup of tea, he wasn't going to decline if that made the girls happy. Though that did make him think...

Strippers were the norm at these functions, weren't they? Given that Kanako was the designated groom, he had to wonder what she and her friends were doing. She'd better not let any women of ill repute touch her if she knew what was good for her. A mental image of Kanako very awkwardly avoiding looking at the jiggling bosom of a half-naked stripper made Mariya smirk.

She'd always been like that. In fact, it's what Mariya liked about her most.

/ Kanako shifted from one foot to another, torn between running away from the situation and stammering awkwardly. She didn't necessarily choose the latter, but that was how she responded to the girl who was holding out a simple white envelope, her head bowed. She was probably a hundred times more anxious than Kanako was given that she was the one confessing her affections.

Unfortunately, the curriculum hadn't included "graceful rejection," so she was totally at a loss as to how to preserve her underclassmen feelings.

With shaking hands, Kanako took the note, squeaking a nigh-inaudible thank you. Why had she gone and said that?

Rather than dash off, the girl was staring at her with hopeful blue eyes. Was she expected to read it right here and now?

As she skimmed lines of beautifully penned sentiments, her mission blurred. This wasn't who she wanted to read such florid words from. Not that her love interest would ever return her feelings, but she had held out from dating up until now because she still had a silly little thing called hope.

"I, uh..." She couldn't very well say what was on her mind. It was far too embarrassing. "Sorry. I can't... I don't..."

Blue eyes welled up, threatening to spill over, and Kanako's already stilted word flow came to a halt. What was she supposed to do here?

"You heard her: she's not interested," a new, confident voice said. "Now scram."

They both turned to look at Mariya, whose presence dominated the previously deserted corridor. Crimson eyes watched dispassionately as the underclassman slunk away, her tail between her legs, then they focused on Kanako and made her heart race. Her pretty blond knight waved away her 'thank you,' turning his back and making as if to walk away.

"Wait!"

Kanako gave chase, only to step squarely onto the love letter she had dropped and slip. Her forward momentum sent her crashing into Mariya, whose smaller form was easily and instantly pinned.

"..." She swore she hadn't meant to place her hand directly on his crotch as she extricated herself.

"..." If looks could kill. /

"We're so happy for you, Kanako!"

That and jealousy were the most commonly expressed responses to her upcoming nuptials. A few of the people she'd stayed in touch with since high school had been absolutely floored that she had managed to tame the likes of the blond tyrant.

Kanako smiled and thanked them, but her mind was elsewhere. That memory was far from pleasant, given that she had made a complete and utter fool of herself, but she was happy that it had happened, nonetheless, because it had brought her and Mariya closer together. After he had finally calmed down, she had confessed for what had to be the hundredth time and furious and flushed, he had actually agreed to an apology lunch. It just went to show that you never knew what a small, awkward moment in time could become.

"A toast to Kanako!"

The brunette raised her champagne flute, which was wisely filled with sparkling water, and glanced out the window. They'd rented a limo, its destination unknown to Kanako. There had been several clubs along their path of debauchery; plenty of drinking and dancing and otherwise acting like fools. Anything Kanako had asked for, they had done their best to make it happen. It was nice to be the centre of attention like this, but she missed Mariya.

The very real, incredibly momentous occasion that loomed on the horizon didn't intimidate her, rather it excited her. Had someone told her in high school that she would get to spend the rest of her life with Mariya Shidō, she would have never believed them. And now that it was actually happening?

She couldn't wait for the weekend. Was it selfish to want the night to hurry up and end?

Their friends and family were all in attendance, but the only thing that Kanako could see was Mariya as he made his way down the aisle. She only knew because of their plans that a flower girl had sprinkled roses along the path he tread and that his sister was the ring-bearer who walked dutifully behind him. He had no one to give him away and he didn't need to; he owned the aisle like a runway as he sashayed down it, the train of his dress carried by two pretty young "women"—people like him he'd met at school.

Kanako had never seen him look more beautiful: light blue amethysts twinkled around his slender throat and decorated the bust of his dress. He had even agreed to a bit of makeup, so fair cheeks were dusted pink and cat eyeliner made his features all the more feminine. Kanako was so lovestruck that she didn't notice the appreciative way crimson orbs raked down her frame. Her tuxedo had been perfectly fitted to her figure, the black outer coat contrasting with the baby blue vest within. There was no mistaking that she was a woman, technical groom or not, as the years had been kind to her, filling in supple curves while still maintaining her girlish slenderness.

Mariya had never felt more in lo—attracted to the young woman. He drew even with Kanako, turning to face her head-on and she smiled. She looked happy and it made Mariya happy. It took both of them a moment to realise that the Officiant had been speaking.

"... No ceremony can create your marriage; only you can do that—through love and patience; through dedication and perseverance; by learning to appreciate your differences and, by learning to make the important things matter, to let go of the rest. This ceremony affirms the choice to you both make to stand together as lifemates and partners. Will you, Kanako, take this woman to be your wedded wife?"

Gulp. "I will."

"And will you, Mariya, take this woman to be your wedded wife?"

Smirk. "I will."

"The couple has written their own vows." They shared a look, losing themselves in each other once again until the older man cleared his throat. "Mariya, would you like to start?"

A ripple of laughter went through the audience, a gentle confirmation that their absentmindedness had indeed been noticed.

His cheeks heating, Mariya cleared his throat. "I, uh..."

"I'll start," Kanako said, coming to his rescue. She didn't fumble with a note card like she'd seen in movies because she spoke directly from the heart. "I have always loved you, Mariya—from the moment we met. Today, I promise you this: I will laugh with you in times of joy, and comfort you in times of sorrow. I will share in your dreams and support you in whatever your endeavour. We tie these knots to symbolize our connection to one another. They represent our trust in each other and the strength of our bond; in sickness and in health, til death do us part."

From her breast pocket, she pulled a simple gold band. She was proud of herself for managing to take Mariya's hand and put it on without dropping it, her trembling digits not helping in the slightest. Once the ring was fit snugly on his finger, she gave his hand a squeeze before releasing it.

Mariya's gaze was misty and, though he'd never admit to it later, he actually had clear his throat to keep his voice from wavering. "I guess you're alright. When we were just kids, had someone told me we'd end up together, I'd have called them crazy." More laughter. "I tolerate you enough to obey your commands on occasion, hold your hand when I feel like it, and cherish you as my wife even when I want to shake you. I tentatively submit myself to be your faithful, loving partner; in sickness and in health, though you'd better hope you're not sick often."

That was... so like Mariya. Kanako beamed, though the Officiant seemed to be at a loss. Mariya's sister offered her the ring, the same simple gold band, and he put it on Kanako's ring finger. His hands didn't shake at all, though his expression was pensive.

"That was lovely," the Officiant said. "By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you blissfully wedded. You may now kiss each other!"

'The first of many,' Kanako thought, surprising the blond by dipping him backwards as she laid one on him.

The applause that greeted the gesture was thunderous.

—Fin—