Title: 43. We were twins too poor to have the dignity of separate names.

Pairing/Character/s: Yuki/Machi

Word Count: 809 words

Summary: Machi and Yuki attend Kakeru's wedding rehearsal dinner

A/N: Sequel to Chapter 12/#28 - Sleight of hand. I refer to Kakeru and Komaki as already married, because they already received a marriage license before having this ceremony. The outift Machi is wearing is from the cover of Ch. 130. I had so much fun writing this! It went on and on...

The extensions are eight inches long, silky and shimmering and barely noticeable. Guests in various forms of formal attire can't help but stare. "Did you see? She looks beautiful," they whisper.

"I think everyone's staring," Yuki muttered, bowing his head.

Machi shushes him, sending him a glare so that he knows to keep walking. He focuses on the long white sleeves of the shirt she's wearing under a red dress. Heels tap through a revolving door. They see Kakeru and Komaki greeting guests at the base of a staircase. The shiny wooden stairs lead up to a simple restaurant. A chandelier throws tiny rays of light across the fancy lobby.

The happy couple had been talking to a relative, smiling at the heartfelt congratulations they received. The black of Kakeru's suit complements Komaki's ivory pink dress. Every once in a while he tugs at the tie neatly cinched at the base of his throat. He's bored; the overwhelming glee from being married is squashed by the dozens of relatives repeating the same worn out words. Komaki stops talking to redo his tie, smiling and reprimanding him. He simply laughs, forcing his new wife to whack him on the shoulder.

"Oi-" Yuki raised his hand to wave a greeting, and remembers the long gray locks that brush against his arm. Yuki's ordinary short grey locks now reach his shoulders. He automatically slumps, trying to unsuccessfully hide behind Machi.

It's too late.

Kakeru looks up, staring at the Yuki-with-long-hair, a near copy of Ayame. Then he looks at Machi, whose extensions match her boyfriend's.

Nothing happens at first, except for Yuki's face getting redder and redder until it matches the exact shade of Machi's dress. Then, slowly, Kakeru's mouth moves up into a smile. Komaki turns to see what's so interesting. Everyone else turns, too. And the whole lobby goes silent.

Finally, Kakeru breaks the silence. "A fairy godmother has come to bless our wedding, Komaki!"

"Eh?" Komaki recognizes Yuki suddenly. "Sohma-san, you really are a girl!"

"No I'm-"

The crowds are roaring with their approval. "Fairy godmother! Fairy godmother!"

Panic drowns Yuki, who longs to rip out the extensions from his head. He looks at Machi, who watches him with a faint smile. "Can I take out the extensions yet?"

"I thought you said you'd do anything to make sure I went to my brother's wedding," Machi says innocently. "Besides, you're wearing a suit. No one is going to mistake you for a girl."

"They already did."

"Yuki-"

"Give us with a wish!" Kakeru shouts, adding fuel to the fire. The crowd roars in anticipation.

"WISH! WISH! WISH!"

Yuki's eyes blacken with rage as he strides across the room, gripping Kakeru's shoulder. He doesn't want to risk killing the groom, after all. The tie slides down to the floor. "You owe me for this. I got your sister to attend this thing."

Meanwhile, Komaki is desperately trying to pry the fairy off her husband. "Sohma-san!"

A lazy smirk lights up Kakeru's features. "Alright, alright. Calm down, Fairy Godmother. I already have Kimi here to distract everyone."

"Machi told you about this?" Yuki growls. As he shakes the groom, a lock of gray hair falls over his shoulder. He flips it back, and then groans with frustration at the girliness of it all. Kakeru laughs.

"Brother-sister telepathy." He pauses to raise his voice. "Oi, Kimi!"

At the top of the staircase stands a beautiful young woman who admires all the attention suddenly thrown at her. "Hello, everyone! Kimi is here to bring everyone to their tables! And..." With a wink, she added, "Kimi's special tour is boys only." A new stampede begins up the stairs as dozens of young men trip over each other, trying to get to the pretty girl. Kimi cheers them on, delighted with the attention.

"No one's looking for the fairy godmother now!" Kakeru chirps happily.

"This was all your fault!"

Machi sighs, pulling her boyfriend away from her brother. She sends Kakeru a meaningful look, which he interprets as: 'Are mom and dad here yet?' Kakeru smiles sympathetically. 'Yes.'

She wrinkles her brow, shaking her head. Her long extensions fly about just like Yuki's hair. Kakeru blinks, and then understands. The question: 'Was this a good enough present for you?'

The answer doesn't change: 'HELL YES.' The bizarre twins make their way up the staircase, avoiding the boys who have collapsed from exhaustion.

"I love forcing those two together," Kakeru sighs happily, squeezing Komaki's hand.

She leans in to his ear, whispering, "I got them a reservation to use this place next year for their wedding. Do you think that's too late? But I can't wait to be relatives!"

"It's perfect," he says with satisfaction, squashing the tie beneath his shoes. She laughs, sneaking a kiss before more guests arrive.

It's a match made in heaven.

A/N: I'll clarify what happened if it's too confusing, but I think it makes some sense... haha No, Yuki did not propose yet here. Komaki and Kakeru are jumping to conclusions!

There's another sequel to this... Can't believe I'm doing this to myself.