~Ten minutes later~
Bou-san knocks on the door to John's office.
"Mai, may I come in? It's me, Bou-san."
Mai gives him permission to enter, and they walk out of John's office. They stop right behind the double doors. Bou-san's bandmates begin to play "Here Comes the Bride". Lanterns lighting the way to the groom, Bou-san and Mai make their way down the aisle.
Lin's pov
When I see Mai coming down the aisle, it was like I couldn't get enough oxygen into my lungs. She looked so beautiful in her pale pink wedding dress. When they got closer, Bou-san takes our hands so we could stand together. Mai gives the older man a kiss on the cheek and thanks him for walking her down the aisle. Mai stands next to me and we face the priest, ready to say our vowels.
Six months ago we asked John if he would marry us and he agreed with a big smile on his face. You're probably wondering when did I start calling Brown-san by his first name. Well, you see, Mai wasn't the only one who told me to let go of my prejudice. John helps me a lot, not by telling me that the war was before my time, but that my grandfather believes what he was fighting for. And that it if I want to live a long and healthy life, I should forgive and learn from the past, but he also said take my time and think about it. 'Is it worth hating a bunch of people you don't know?' That's the question he asked me that day. I stood on that question for over a week and I came to the realization that it was not worth it.
Everyone settles down and John begins the ceremony.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here tonight to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony."
John asks me, "Lin Koujo, do you take this woman to be your wife, to live together in holy matrimony, to love her, to honor her, to comfort her, and to keep her in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do." I answer.
John asks Mai, "Taniyama Mai, do you take this man to be your husband, to live together in holy)matrimony, to love him, to honor him, to comfort him, and to keep him in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?"
Mai answers, "I do."
John begins to speak once more, "Repeat after me."
"I, Lin Koujo, take you, Taniyama Mai, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part."
"I, Taniyama Mai, take you, Lin Koujo, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part."
John asks me to place the ring on Mai's finger and to repeat the following,
"I give you this ring as a token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love."
John asks Mai to place the ring on my finger and to repeat the following.
"I give you this ring as a token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love."
John asks us to join hands, then declares, "By virtue of the authority vested in me under the laws of the country of Japan, I now pronounce you husband and wife." John looked me Lin and says, "You may kiss the bride."
I take the veil in both hands and flip it over her head. I put both hands on her face and bend down to give her sweet kiss. The crowd cheers loudly. I pull away from her gently and we turn so that we are facing the audience.
"I now present Mr. and Mrs. Lin Koujo." John says over the loud crowd. I take Mai's hand and we walk back up the aisle hand in hand.
The End.