Kitagawa Family Genesis Part 1: Marriage
A big day was coming for two people in our favorite band of Phantom Thieves. Who were those two people; Haru and Yusuke! And what was the day about; their wedding!
Today is the day before the wedding, and the girls of the group took Haru dress shopping before heading off for a bachelorette party, while Yusuke invited the guys of the group, plus Daisuke's cousin Ryuta, to brunch at the Universal Mansion of Waffles, A.K.A UMOW (IHOP). The only problem with this is that the fathers of the group, Ren, Daisuke, Hayato, and Ryuji, offered to babysit their babies, Minato, Nariko, Hotaru, and Himari respectively, for their wives while they went with Haru. But the four of them were generally quiet and well-behaved, unlike most other babies, so they didn't mind bringing them along to Yusuke's brunch.
Speaking of which, we begin our story at the UMOW in Suidobashi, more commonly known as Dome Town. The group of eight men and four babies are seen sitting around a table as the adults nosh on waffles, pancakes, sausage, bacon, hash browns, and fresh cut fruit, as well as sip on coffee and orange juice. The babies meanwhile have typical baby food and cereal. The likes of Yusuke, Ichiro, Yuuki, and Ryuta watch as the other four men dote on their bundles of joy.
"Oi, Minato, you're growing up to be a big boy, aren't you?" Ren asked in a Scottish accent that he knows makes his son laugh every time.
"Open up, Nariko, here comes the train," Daisuke said as he had a spoon of baby food in his hand. As he guides it towards Nariko's mouth, he goes 'chugga chugga, chugga-chugga' to imitate a train and keep his daughter engaged. Baby Nariko opens her mouth and eats her food with no problems.
Ryuji is looking at Himari as she sits in her highchair, looking back at her father with intrigue, "You're not going to get me to blink," Ryuji says to his baby daughter, causing her to giggle.
Baby Hotaru notices a T.V in the corner of the room that's showing the news. Hayato notices this and pulls out his phone, "I don't think you want to watch that, Hotaru," Hayato says as he gives his baby his phone, which had an episode of 'Flip's Tips' (Blue's Clues), "Here, watch Flip's Tips."
He places the phone on the tray on his baby's highchair thanks to a handy little kickstand attached to his phone case. Baby Hotaru watches what's on his father's phone with much intrigue.
"I must say you guys make some pretty good fathers," Ryuta said.
"Thanks, cousin," Daisuke said.
"I wonder if Haru and I will ever have children one day," Yusuke wondered.
"Or us," Yuuki and Ichiro quietly muttered together, envying their friends' respective children.
"I gotta say, Yusuke, I'm glad you wanted to come here for brunch," Ryuji said, "UMOW is the bomb!"
"I second that," Yuuki said as he took a bite from his hash brown, "These hash browns are cooked to perfection."
"After this we'll get you a nice suit," Ryuji said to his blue haired friend, "Drop the kids off at my mom, Sojiro, Himiko, and or Reina's place, then it's off to the bachelor party!"
"Actually, Ryuji, this brunch is the bachelor party," Yusuke said.
"For real?" Ryuji asked in shock.
"Are you kidding?" Ryuta asked in a disappointed tone.
"No, I'm serious," Yusuke said, "Go crazy. All the chocolate chip waffles you can eat."
"Oh yeah, because when I hear the term 'bachelor party' I totally think of UMOW and an endless supply of waffles," Ichiro said with obvious sarcasm.
"You don't just skip out on a bachelor party, Yusuke," Ren said…completely forgetting he's still talking in his Scottish accent. When he realizes it, he clears his throat, returning his voice back to its normal self, "Sorry about that."
"I'm sorry to disappoint you all," Yusuke said, "But, A: Bachelor parties are expensive, and B: I don't want to get 'totally wasted' the night before the biggest day of my life, and show up to my wedding groggy."
"I'm sure you have your reasons, Yusuke," Yuuki said, "But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed."
"I agree," Ryuta said, "I like to eat wings and drink beer at my bachelor parties, not waffles and fucking coffee."
Hearing Ryuta curse just now made an elderly couple at the next table over look at him with dirty looks. Ryuji notices this and decides to make a joke out of it.
"It's okay, he's allowed to swear here, it's a bachelor party" Ryuji joked, "Drink up everybody! Oh wait! I forgot! There's no alcohol. We're at a fucking UMOW!"
"Uh, ix-nay on the wearing-say in front of the abies-bay!" Daisuke said as he pointed at Nariko, Minato, Hotaru, and Himari, "I'd like little Nariko's first word to not be something you'd find on late night T.V."
"Well, it's my decision, and it's final," Yusuke said, sticking to his guns, "So, how about a toast?"
"Yeah, come on guys, cut Yusuke some slack," Daisuke said, "It's his special day. Let him celebrate how he wants it."
The other six guys soon realize how immature they were acting and they hold up their orange juice cups with Daisuke and Yusuke.
"Sorry for how we were acting, Yusuke," Yuuki said.
"It's quite alright, Mishima, all is forgiven," Yusuke said, "A toast to a bright future for me and Haru!"
"Here, here!" Ren said as the eight men clinked their juice glasses and took a sip.
"Now then, let's get down to brass tacks, everyone," Hayato said, "As best man for this whole thing, we need to help Yusuke decide on what tuxedo he should wear to this event."
"Good call, Hayato," Ryuji said.
"Actually, while I appreciate the thought," Yusuke began, "I don't really need any…"
"Maybe if we remind you what we wore to our weddings, it'll give you an idea," Ryuji said, "Remember mine and Makoto's wedding? I wore that killer white suit?"
"And you couldn't have picked a worse color," Ichiro said, "Remember later at the reception when you accidentally spilled your wine glass…onto the crotch of your pants making it look like you pissed blood?"
Hearing that made the other seven men chuckle as Ryuji sat back down in his seat, embarrassed.
"You can never go wrong with classics," Ren said, "In both mine and Mishima's weddings, we wore the traditional black tuxedo."
"Boring," Hayato said, "If you're going to get yourself a nice suit, it has to be one with a top hat. Like what I wore to my wedding."
"The top hat was ridiculous, Hayato," Ichiro said, "You looked like Mr. Walnut (Mr. Peanut)."
"You're just jealous because you can't pull off a top hat better than me, Mr. Blue Suede Suit," Hayato joked, referencing the suit Ichiro wore to his wedding with Sumire.
"Don't hate on my blue suede suit, Hayato!" Ichiro scolded his scarlet haired friend.
"Excuse me!" Yusuke raised his voice, catching his friends' attention, "If you'd take a few seconds to listen to me, you'd know that I already know what I want to wear for my wedding."
"Well, don't leave us all in suspense, Yusuke," Ryuta said, "What did you decide on."
"I think I'd rather show you," Yusuke said, "Let's finish up here and I'll take you to the mall where the perfect wedding suit is."
"Alright," The other seven men said as the group of twelve finished their brunch before finally paying for it and leaving for the mall.
At the clothing store where Yusuke's suit is, Yusuke is seen inside of one of the changing rooms as the other seven men and four babies wait outside for him.
"What kind of suit do you guys think he wants?" Yuuki asked.
"Hopefully he doesn't get one that's a silly color," Ryuji said, "I feel like Yusuke is the kind of guy who would do something like that."
"Well, whatever he decides on we have to support him," Hayato said, "He wants what he wants."
"Hey, you guys think Sae is coming to this wedding?" Ryuta asked.
"Are you still crushing on Makoto's sister?" Ryuji asked, "Dude, just tell her how you feel!"
"It's not that simple, Ryuji," Ryuta said, "Whenever I try to talk to her I get absolutely tongue tied and I feel like the world is crashing down around me. No woman has ever made me feel the way she makes me feel. I just feel alive whenever I'm in the same room as her."
"You think this'll be the time you finally man up and ask her out," Daisuke asked.
"I don't know," Ryuta said as he sheepishly rubbed his arm, causing his cousin and even baby Nariko to roll their eyes in annoyance.
As the group continued to wait for Yusuke to change, Ren gets a text from Ann on his phone. He takes it out and finds a picture of Ann, Shiho, Makoto, Sae, Sumire, Hifumi, and Futaba wearing matching purple dresses. Beneath that picture is a text from Ann that reads…
Ann: Haru doesn't want to show off her dress until tomorrow, especially since Yusuke is with you guys. It's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding after all.
"Check out the girls' bridesmaid outfits, everyone," Ren said as his friend gathered around his phone. All seven males blushed with hearts in their eyes as they admired their beautiful wives (or crush in Ryuta's case).
"They look absolutely gorgeous," Yuuki swooned.
"Purple really is my darling Hifumi's better color," Hayato smiled.
"Nariko, you might be a big sister sooner than I thought," Daisuke said to his baby daughter.
"What are you all looking at out there?" Yusuke asked from within the changing room.
"The girls have picked out their bridesmaid outfits, and they look really cute," Ryuta said.
"Any word on Haru?" Yusuke asked.
"Ann didn't want to show her in her wedding dress in case you see it," Ren explained, "She believes in that superstition on how you're not allowed to see the bride before the wedding."
"I understand," Yusuke said.
"Are you almost done in there?" Ryuji asked.
"Just about," Yusuke said as he put on the last of his suit, "Alright, I'm ready!"
The seven guys and four babies watch as the changing room door opens and Yusuke steps out wearing the traditional montsuki kimono that most Japanese men wore to their weddings.
"Well, what do you think?" Yusuke asked.
"It looks great on you, Yusuke," Hayato complimented his friend.
"You do look rather dapper," Daisuke said.
"What made you decide to go this route with your suit?" Ren asked.
"Well, we're getting married tomorrow at the Senso-Ji Temple," Yusuke said, "I figured I'd dress the part."
"Smart thinking," Ryuta said, "I'm sure Haru will think you look handsome."
"I hope so," Yusuke said.
Suddenly, Ichiro got a ring on his phone and he answered it, "Okay, babe," he said as he hung up his phone, "I gotta go," Ichiro says, "Sumi wants to play a round of 'Exposed Twister' before she heads off for the bachelorette party later tonight. Which means there's a 99.9% chance that I'm getting some love today."
"Nice," Ryuji said.
"Have fun, Ichiro, and remember to wear protection," Ren joked.
"Yes, dad," Ichiro joked back as he left the store.
"I guess I'd better take that as my cue to leave too," Hayato said, "I've got to put Hotaru down for his nap. I'll see you guys tomorrow."
"See you Hayato," Yusuke said as his scarlet haired friend and his infant son left.
"And I guess as long as I'm here at the mall I'm gonna go get a head start on finding a birthday gift for Futaba," Yuuki said as he made his leave, "Catch y'all on the flip."
"Take it easy, Mishima," Ren said as it was now only him and Minato, Yusuke, Ryuji and Himari, Daisuke and Nariko, and Ryuta in the clothing store.
"Well I guess if there's nothing left to do, I'll take this off and pay for it," Yusuke said.
But before Yusuke could go back into the changing room to change into his street clothes, the group heard a voice.
"Yusuke?" the voice said. Everyone turned around and found the face of Ichiryusai Madarame, Yusuke's former foster father and art teacher.
"It's Madarame!" Ryuji exclaimed.
"Wait, you know this guy?" Daisuke asked.
"Yes, Daisuke," Yusuke said, "This is Ichiryusai Madarame. At one stage in my life he was my father and mentor…but now he's just another face on the streets."
"I can see you still have hard feelings over everything I've done," Madarame said, "I can't say I don't blame you."
"What are you even doing here?" Ryuji asked, "Last I heard you were rotting away in jail!"
"I got out early for good behavior," Madarame said.
"What do you want?" Yusuke asked.
"I heard you were getting married to the daughter of the late CEO of Okumura Foods," Madarame said, "I was hoping to find you so I can express my congratulations, and to say how sorry I was for everything I've done to you."
Yusuke stared at his former mentor with a stoic but confused expression. He wasn't sure what to think at this moment. On the one hand, he still felt anger for Madrame deep with his heart, but on the other hand, this was his father-figure that he was talking to. A part of him at least wanted to hear him out to see what he had to say.
"I don't expect you to forgive me right away," Madarame said, "I just wanted to make peace with you before I go, and to express how proud I am with how far you've come as an artist. During my time in jail, I've heard about your successes, and I was happy to know that you did it on your terms. You really do look happy with where your life is right now."
"So, that's all you wanted to say to me?" Yusuke asked, "To say you're sorry and that you're proud of me."
"Again, I don't expect you to forgive me," Madarame said, "I just wanted to let you know that I'm ready to atone for everything I've done, and the first step towards that is addressing how horrible I've been to you."
"That's big of you, Madarame," Yusuke said, "Thank you. But, you said you were going somewhere. Where exactly?"
"I'd rather not say," Madarame said before reaching into his pocket to give him something, "I also wanted you to have this."
Out from his pocket, Madarame pulled out an expensive gold and silver Dolex Wrist Watch (Rolex), and he gave it to his former pupil.
"Your Dolex," Yusuke said, impressed.
"It won't do me good where I'm going," Madarame said, "And I don't really have anyone else to give my most prized possession to. Consider it my wedding gift to you. May it serve you well, Yusuke. And may you and your wife have all the happiness in the world. Goodbye, Yusuke, and once again, I'm sorry for everything."
With a bow, Madarame turned around and left, leaving a surprised Yusuke and his friends to wonder what just happened.
"Well that was unexpected," Ren said.
Baby Himari let out a confused coo as she stared at her father from her stroller.
"I hear you, Himari," Ryuji said, "That was weird."
"I hope Madarame is okay," Yusuke said, showing concern for his former foster father for the first time in a long time.
"Who cares he gave you this sick watch," Ryuta said.
"I should probably take this to the jeweler real quick to make sure it's real," Yusuke said, "I can't believe Madrame would just give me this. But I will admit, a part of me did love to hear his approval."
"At least you and him made peace," Ren said, "But we can't dwell on this for long. We've still got a wedding to get ready for."
"Yeah," Yusuke smiled, "Yeah we do!"
The next day at the Senso-Ji Temple, all of Haru and Yusuke's closest family and friends gathered to celebrate their wedding. The ceremony was set to take place in the temple's courtyard where beneath the largest cherry blossom tree, Yusuke was seen standing underneath it with the priest as they waited for Haru. On his left were the groomsmen, and on his right were the bridesmaids. Minato, Hotaru, Himari, and Nariko were currently in the care of Sojiro, Ryuji's mother Nanami, and Daisuke's mother Himiko.
As Yusuke waited for Haru to show up, he felt his heart pounding out of his chest. Hayato noticed his friend's body language and whispered over to him.
"Hey," Hayato whispered as Yusuke turned to face him, "You'll do just fine. You and Haru were meant to be together."
"Thanks, Hayato," Yusuke smiled.
Not long after that, a string quartet was heard playing 'The Wedding March', meaning it was time for the wedding to start. The people in the audience stood up as Haru began to walk down the aisle with her uncle by her side, ready to give her away since her father, Kunikazu Okumura, passed away via mental shutdown.
As Haru walked down the aisle with her uncle, Yusuke was taken aback by how stunning she looked in her wedding dress; a white kimono with a pink cherry blossom pattern, and her floofy auburn hair was neatly tied back.
"Haru…" Yusuke said to himself, completely stunned with his soon-to-be wife's beauty.
Haru and her uncle finally made it to the altar just as the string quartet stops playing.
"Here you are, Yusuke," Haru's uncle said to the artist, "I know you'll take good care of my niece."
"I will, sir, thank you," Yusuke said as Haru's uncle took a seat at the front of the audience and everyone sat down. The blue and auburn haired couple took each other by the hand as the priest cleared his throat, ready to start the ceremony.
"Thank you one and all for coming," The priest said, "We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of Yusuke Kitagawa and Haru Okumura. From what I understand, you two have prepared your own vows?"
"Yes, father," Yusuke and Haru said.
"Well, you two have the floor," The priest said as Haru and Yusuke, still holding hands, looked each other in the eyes and prepared to go over their vows.
"My dearest, Haru," Yusuke began, "You are more vibrant than any painting, more beautiful than any sculpture, and sweeter than any candy. You are my muse, and my very reason for existing. I can think of no better way to spend the rest of my time here on planet Earth than by being your husband; caring for you, and loving you until the end of time. From this day forward, I vow to stay by your side and be your support system no matter what the current situation may be. With this ring, I proudly declare you my wife and the most important person in my life."
Yusuke takes Haru's wedding ring and puts it on her finger as the floofy haired woman prepares to say her vows.
"Yusuke, my darling," Haru began, "When we first met, I was stuck in an arranged marriage. But thanks to you and our friends, I'm now free to betroth anyone of my choosing…and I chose you, my sweet, handsome Prince Charming. In the past I've been told by many that I was pretty, but not once did I believe them. Ever since I met you, I truly feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. You make me feel loved, appreciated, special, and overall happy. You are my everything, Yusuke Kitagawa. I'm honored to be your wife, and being with you is the best decision I've ever made; I have no regrets. With this ring, I promise to show you the same love, respect, and loyalty that you've shown me since day one."
Haru takes Yusuke's wedding ring and puts it on his finger.
"I love you," Haru said.
"I love you too," Yusuke said.
"With all of that said and done, if there's anyone who objects to this union, speak now or forever hold your peace," The priest said as nobody responded, "Very well then. Do you, Yusuke Kitagawa, take Haru Okumura to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do," Yusuke said.
"And do you, Haru Okumura, take Yusuke Kitagawa to be your lawfully wedded husband?" The priest asked.
"I do," Haru said.
"Then, by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife," The priest said happily, "You may kiss the bride!"
Haru and Yusuke stare into each other's eyes as they lean forward and give each other a loving kiss, causing everyone to applaud. When they pulled apart, they continued to stare into each other's eyes for a few more seconds, with Haru letting out a cute giggle, before the two of them walked down the aisle together to get to the limousine that would take the two of them to the reception.
The reception was held at the Wilton Hotel ballroom, and everyone was having a blast. Among the other delicious foods that were served at the reception, Sojiro came with his famous curry, and he even baked a cake with purple frosting for the occasion. Yusuke and Hayato's mutual friend, Naoya Makigami was seen taking pictures and getting video footage of the party. When it came time to throw the bouquet, Sadayo Kawakami caught it and she looked over at her boyfriend Yamato Hashimoto, causing them both to blush. And, of course, there was some amazing music, courtesy of Daisuke, who DJ'd the whole affair.
On top of the usual party music, Daisuke played some slow songs for the couples present to slow dance to. For Haru and her uncle, 'Wind Beneath My Wings' played. For Yusuke and Hayato's mother Reina, who was basically a surrogate for the artist when she learned about the fate of Yusuke's biological mother, 'God Only Knows' played. And finally, for Haru and Yusuke themselves, they danced to 'A Thousand Years'.
A good time was had by all, as we see Haru and Yusuke sitting next to each other, happily watching as everyone had the time of their lives.
"We have some pretty good friends, don't we?" Yusuke asked.
"The best," Haru said, "This whole day has been absolutely perfect. And I can't wait for our honeymoon to Paris next week."
"I can't wait either, my love," Yusuke said as he and Haru shared a peck on the lips, "Though personally, I don't care where we are as long as you're by my side."
"My thoughts exactly, sweetheart," Haru smiled.
The two of them fed each other pieces of their wedding cake before picking up their champagne glasses and clinking them together before taking a sip.
"Shall we dance, Mrs. Kitagawa?" Yusuke asked as he stood up from his chair and held out his hand for his new wife.
"We shall," Haru said as her new husband guided her to the dancefloor and they danced with their friends, the only people on Earth that they love as much as each other.
This was definitely a day that both Haru and Yusuke will cherish for the rest of their lives.