Weddings make people thoughtful :3 And excited XD

Also as a quick note, just based on my research of traditional Japanese weddings, the actual ceremony is restricted to immediate family, while friends and relatives are present for the after party or reception. Which is why our MC's aren't there for the vows and such.

Fun fact (though it wasn't fun at the time) I actually lost this entire chapter during a blackout, except for maybe like a paragraph. In the early stages of drafting the story I used notepad and I'm horrible at saving as I go! Switched to a program that auto-saves since lol. But yeah, I was so upset I took a long break from writing the story.

And look at that, it's a more reasonable length!

Musical inspiration: Bye My Friend by Tollan Kim (The name doesn't suggest anything I just really liked the melody and it fit the image and feel I had in my head :3)

CHAPTER 19: CHANGES

Morning had been a struggle to say the least.

The night prior, Lum posed the suggestion of her and Ten staying over Ataru's apartment, since they were meant to go to Sakura's wedding together anyway. And Ataru, in what he now regarded as a foolish moment of weakness, agreed. Time had muddied his memory, but it all came flooding back on the instant they arrived and Ten loudly affirmed his prediction that Ataru would live in 'squalor' - which was a ridiculous statement! Even a mansion would look like a dump compared to the luxurious space and futuristic accommodations of Lum's UFO!

Things didn't really improve from there. Ten took issue with everything, and even if Ataru agreed with the kid on some observations, he wasn't about to be insulted in his own residence after generously opening his home to them. Thus they argued fiercely between themselves, taking digs and burdening Lum with their complaints, which were often delivered in tandem.

Not all of Ataru's gripes were given honestly though. Ten was a plucky child, in whom Ataru could see little glimpses of himself reflected. Occasionally it was a source of pride, particularly when Ten hung on his advice or begged for scraps of his 'wisdom'. But more often than not, these similarities were the root of their relentless bickering and catastrophic fights.

And therein lay the foundations of every issue they had that morning. Age hadn't changed that for either of them. They fought over the bathroom like siblings and made every effort to get in each other's way from breakfast to the second they stepped out the door around noon. Fortunately, Lum had the foresight and conditioning to wake up an hour before either of them, so she was spared from the heat of their altercations. In fact, she largely stayed out of the way whenever possible, doing only minimal damage control to keep their squabbles from escalating. The train ride was uneventful at least, as both Ataru and Ten were busy rubbing shoulders in shared misery over Sakura's marriage for most of it. And when Ten turned to Lum for comfort, Ataru stole a moment to ponder their last several hours together.

Living with Lum meant living with Ten, an idea that left him at odds. Ataru was reluctant to weigh the situation in full, so he opted instead to avoid it entirely. Why stress himself out? Better to wait before doing anything drastic, like cohabitating. Come to think of it, maybe they had been moving too fast after all. Since that first night at Ataru's apartment back in December, Lum had stayed over a few more times, usually at her suggestion. Those were always nice days; Ataru had no complaints. But because of them he let himself get caught up in daydreams, and forgot to consider the obligations tied to her. Burdens that would have to be shared. Once more he felt pulled in two directions, and not knowing which way to lean, Ataru defaulted to the comforts of indefinite procrastination.

When they finally got to the Temple, the trio were left gaping at the number of people already gathered in the bay area for the reception. Sweet, affable Tsubame had won many friendships during his tenure as a student and apprentice; his guests alone made up a little more than half those in attendance. But once they drew closer, and more familiar faces popped out at them from the crowd, Ataru and Lum realized much of their graduating class, including some of the staff, were there as well! One of those faces, unfortunately, spotted Lum straight away and was now striding briskly toward them.

Mendō.

Just had to be Mendō. Ataru didn't trouble himself to hide the exaggerated rolling of his eyes, nor the clear disdain in his expression as his rival took Lum's hands in his, greeting her as if they hadn't just seen each other at his New Years party in January (months ago now, but still too recent in Ataru's opinion to warrant such a lavish welcome). A spark of jealousy flared up from his core, which was extinguished the second Ten zipped over his head woefully crying out Sakura's name. Ataru grasped the unspoken intention in his tone and promptly raced after him! If anyone was going to convince Sakura she was making a mistake it would be him! Not that stupid, pint-sized – hello? Ataru screeched to a halt and doubled back! A flash of brown hair and familiar chime of laughter hooked his attention.

Shinobu!

There was no mistaking her! Even wearing a simple navy dress couple with a light blue shawl, she was dazzling – Inaba, who stood next to her, may as well have been an actual rabbit. No matter where his heart lay, Ataru held a special appreciation for his oldest and dearest friend as one of the first girls he ever saw as more than a casual fling. Seeing Shinobu now stirred his mind to unclean thoughts and he was compelled to join her. Ataru straightened quickly, pulling at his suit jacket to clear it of any unsightly creases before making his way over. On the way his eyes were almost instinctively drawn to another familiar someone who managed to knock the wind from his lungs!

Ryuu! In...in a dress!

A modest dress - pale rust-colored, and paired with a gray jacket - but still a dress! All the subtle changes she'd made to her hair, her mannerisms, and now her attire, came together to form an unprecedented picture of feminine loveliness! Oh to be alive to see such a sight!

Ataru was among them in an instant, slipping deftly between the two couples with a girl on either side. A hand rested heavily on Ryuu's shoulder, while the other was held over his beating heart. Now gazing into her eyes Ataru regarded her with mock reverence that was honestly more real than feigned, speaking earnestly on her attractiveness and how honored he was to be her partner for the remainder of the evening. Nagisa, who he hadn't even seen standing beside her, donned in a black and gray pant-suit rather than his usual vestures, dispatched Ataru in traditional fashion, leaving him a crumpled mess on the floor. Feeling mildly annoyed, Ryuu claimed she didn't need saving, but was soon placated by Nagisa's reasoning that he was happy to defend her, particularly as a man. For someone so independent, who had gotten used to weathering her problems alone, falling into the customary role of a woman (the kind she spent her childhood yearning to emulate) was challenging. Still she appreciated his efforts to treat her like any other woman, betokened by the small smile that found its way to her lips. But it was short-lived, and out of embarrassment, Ryuu punched Nagisa playfully in the shoulder, doing her best to make light of a situation that had her heart racing.

It was then Lum arrived to whisk Ataru away, not because she saw what happened, rather, she was overtaken by the thrill of being at her first real Earth wedding! Secretly she'd hoped that by coming here together her husband would be inspired to take the next step in their relationship and propose, whether or not he had the funds saved. Ataru was a very unwilling audience to her romantic monologuing, and he did a poor job of hiding his intention to escape at the first opportunity. Lum either hadn't noticed or simply refused to, and fell to commenting on the beauty of wedding, her excitement for Sakura and Tsubame's union and how very happy they must be, interspersed with all the clever ways she chose to convey her own envy. Sadly for Lum, Ataru had checked out from the conversation the second she mentioned Sakura, and by doing so, inadvertently reminding him that Ten was out there somewhere, probably trying to sway her, while he loafed around in the bay! Ataru waited anxiously for an opening, finding one when Lum paused to admire a row of chōchin lanterns adorning the temple. With her eyes elsewhere he bolted into the crowd, disappearing from sight.

Careful to keep his head down, Ataru weaved through the assembled guests toward the back of the main hall, creeping along the walls, keeping to shadows cast by the mokoshi roof. He cackled quietly as a plan came together in his head – first he'd infiltrate the main hall and find Sakura, hopefully alone; then he'd attempt to convince her that it wasn't too late to call off the marriage. Would it work? No, not likely, but if there was even a chance at keeping her on the market, that was enough. So onward he crept and snickered, until there was a break in the wall created by an open door that led from the inner moya out into a small garden shouldered by yawning forests. And who should he find on the opposing wall, also snickering and plotting, but Ten! Anger flared on their faces, one for the other, both furious at being found out and for having apparently come up with the same idea. Ataru was weighing his options, Ten too, when words fluttered into their ears from beyond the thin temple walls.

"Sakura's missing you say?" It was Cherry.

"Yes, she went to change, but when I checked on her, she was gone!" Tsubame was relaying the news to Cherry, his voice quivering with worry.

Ataru and Ten locked eyes knowingly, and in a blink, raced out into the garden in a mad dash to find Sakura before the other, or Tsubame for that matter, could.

Scores of sightless stone eyes watched Ataru as he sauntered through the temple grounds. Little more than a cursory glance was spared to the myriad Buddhas, filed away as another oddity of Sakura's very old Temple, of which there were many. This was the first time he'd wandered so deeply into the maze of stone walkways and ancient bridges, and as could be expected, Ataru got lost almost immediately. Not that he minded. If he had to get lost, what better place than Sakura's own backyard? As long as he didn't run into Cherry, Tsubame, Lum, or, worse, Ten.

Fortune favored him today, or perhaps there was another reason Ataru wound up being the one to find her, standing solemn on a stone platform overlooking a winding river and sprawling forest of budding trees. Against the cooled wind they creaked and groaned with complaint, and Ataru bristled likewise at the chill leftover from a recently departed winter. Sakura moved not a muscle beside her windswept hair and her kimono which billowed playfully on the breeze. Ataru was beside himself. If she looks this amazing from behind, he mused, creeping closer, she must be a damn knockout from the front. Taking what he believed were quiet steps, Ataru inched forward until Sakura's voice lifted above the rattle of branches and babbling water, proving him wrong.

"What is it Moroboshi?" The touch of humor in her voice told him she wasn't upset. And indeed she wasn't. Someone was bound to come looking. And of all people to find her, Sakura had a feeling it would be him. Despite his great misfortunes, when it came to women, Ataru seemed blessed with peculiar luck. In any other circumstance she might have found his presence grating, since, if she had to guess, he'd likely come to convince her to call off the wedding, or do something questionable, or foolish, or all of the above. However, something on the wind told her their meeting today was destined.

Ataru was ignorant to the intervention of fate. Truth be told he was surprised to find her at all, doubly so when she called out to him, as though she expected him to appear behind her. Ataru stumbled, then laughed uneasily, fidgeting with embarrassment at being called out despite his attempted stealth.

"Nothing, nothing! I just noticed you were missing from the party and, naturally, I was worried." He lied, both outright and through omission. Better, he reasoned, to let her believe he was the only one who noticed she was gone.

"So what are you doing out here alone?" At least his interest was genuine. Ignoring the favorability of this situation, it was pretty strange of her to be out here alone, in the middle of her own wedding. Ataru never knew Miss (or Mrs) Sakura to run away from anything, so what gives?

On taking up her side, Ataru stole a subtle sideward glance; by all that was holy she was a spectacle of womanly splendor. Gorgeous and elegant with a touch of refinement that only comes of maturity. A sly grin crept across Ataru's face as he studied her dubiously.

"Having second thoughts?" Oh if only!

Sakura received his remark with a grin and the barest flicker of a glance. Ataru was a predictable fellow. And in a way that was comforting, especially considering how much of her life was changing. Their wedding was a public display but behind it, and behind the choice to hold their wedding on the cusp of Spring, were other secrets yet to be revealed. Despite her trepidation, Sakura embraced these new beginnings the same way she did every other predicament; with steady determination.

"No second thoughts." Which was true, evidenced by the steely conviction in her words. Her gaze never left the swaying forest. "I was just feeling a little claustrophobic. It's important to rest your mind sometimes." Both of these things were also true on the surface. Claustrophobic was certainly a word for how she was feeling, though it failed to relay the whole truth. Thankfully Ataru wasn't able to gleam these thoughts, and by how he kicked against the hard floor, Sakura supposed he was preoccupied with superficial lust rather than the rationale of her actions. Then a spark of mischief flashed in her dark eyes. A way to ensure his ignorance remained intact, and also satisfy a bit of her own curiosity.

"So when are you two going to stop playing house and get serious?"

Sakura's whimsical euphemism wasn't lost on Ataru, who flinched and nearly toppled over at the abrupt change of topics. Did she really have to twist this around on him so suddenly? He laughed to displace his discomfort and hide any emotions that might give him away.

"What are you talking about?" At first he tried feigning ignorance.

"You can't fool me," Sakura laughed, "I've known you too long."

Yes of course, there was no getting past Sakura's razor-sharp intuition. Ataru was humbled but not defeated. The walls around his heart wouldn't keel that easily. He dismissed her question as he did everyone else's: with an offhanded wave and abundance of prideful stubbornness.

"C'mon. What's the rush?" He relived the morning with Ten in a flash and shuddered, doubling down on his decision to maintain the status quo as it was. "There's plenty of time for all that." Ataru nodded with certitude, arms crossed as if shielding himself from any counterpoints she might have.

And to be sure, she had one ready to go. Now Sakura was even more certain this meeting was fated.

"I'm going to tell you something you might not want to hear." She said, her tone wise and motherly with a discernable hint of warning. "Time doesn't last as long as we think it does. When you're young a summer can feel like eternity. One day you think you have forever. Then before you know it, you're a graduate with a husband and career and - " She stopped herself before accidently revealing more than she intended and rounded out her warning with a final sentiment, "- wondering where the years went."

Ataru missed her hesitation, far too busy marshalling his own counter arguments against the point she was trying to make. However, he did notice her lesson seemed suspiciously catered to her own experiences.

"Are you talking about me or you?" He queried with a laugh.

Well, Sakura had to concede: she was speaking from experience. But it was an experience she knew to be shared across generations, across genders and spectrums of existence. All things, human or otherwise, recognized the weight of time on their hearts, souls, and lifespans. Ataru felt it keenly, that she knew for a fact. He spent his youth - from what she'd observed - hungrily chasing novelties and surface-level gratification while dodging anything that resembled commitment. It was amusing, and in its own way, endearing, while he was young. But as he grew older the pendulum of time would begin swinging in another direction. And she hoped, perhaps urged by her own warning, to make him aware of the dangers brought on by holding onto the past before it was too late.

"What I'm saying is," She continued patiently, "time goes by very quickly. If you're not careful, it'll get away from you."

Ataru's brows cocked and he looked on Sakura with smug skepticism. On the surface he couldn't see anything distinctive or pressing in her advice. He'd heard similar opinions from others, granted, with different wrapping. Most of the time it went along the lines of: you know you love her just settle down. As if it were that easy. As if he wasn't still in the prime of a life that seemed to be steadily slipping through his fingers. As if Ten wouldn't turn his world completely upside-down! Why couldn't they just let him be to map out his destiny at a comfortable pace? There was no need to rush. What was the harm in waiting another year or two? Or three? Five?

Ah, but therein lay the fault, and he was already falling into the very trap Sakura was trying to steer him from. Ataru just was too focused on the negatives and too arrogant to admit he wasn't immune to the consequences of procrastination to see the warning signs.

"You might find this hard to believe," Ataru countered with a condescending smirk, "but nobody knows better than me how fast time goes. It's barely been two years, but it feels like I graduated high school yesterday. And then, when I started that job," Ataru's cheeky demeanor faded more and more with every word. What started as an attempt to impress her with his worldly wisdom, devolved into an admission of how helpless and lost he'd been feeling on the inside. "Time just stopped making sense. A week goes by in a day, and then the weekend comes and I try to hold onto it." Unconsciously Ataru repictured snapshots of his many dates with Lum that disappeared almost as soon as they were conjured.

"But then it's over before I know it. Shit, I mean, almost half the year had gone by before -" Ataru caught himself just as he was about to admit something he wasn't ready to. The guilt he carried over ignoring Lum for months was a burden he bore silently. Ataru tried shaking off the memory but his heart still sank into his stomach when he considered how much they both suffered during that time apart.

Presently he recalled the decision he'd made on the train to slow things down between them, but while the idea survived, Ataru couldn't find the conviction behind it anymore. Was he the one having second thoughts about his second thoughts? Damn it all! Everything had been so clear to him and now...now he was lost in a haze of doubt.

"I'm just," Frustration began to build in his voice, "trying to hold on." Ataru's fists tightened and he glowered at the empty space before him. He really was trying to hold on...to everything. To Lum, to his independence, to his youth, to his future with her, to the perception he had of himself, who he thought he'd be, and who he wanted to become, to the way she made him feel. Foolish hope; he couldn't have everything and he knew that. Which was why he stagnated.

Ataru's reluctance to commit was born of many things. From the beginning he had a virile hunger for beautiful women; which would probably never fade. Besides that, life didn't exactly provide him with many examples of healthy relationships - a point of view that he conceded was reversing after seeing the positive changes in his friends' lives. Shinobu and Inaba, Ryuu and Nagisa, even Kosuke's feelings for Wren, had all served to turn his opinion on monogamous relationships. At least a little.

Then there were the days he actually spent with Lum. Something was different about them now; even before that first night she slept over, but especially after. A laugh came easier, the darkness no longer troubled him, and even when given the opportunity he found less sport in the art of chasing women. And most vexing of all, he honestly didn't hate any of these changes. He actually looked forward to seeing her, to hearing her voice over the phone. Being with her just felt normal. Good even.

And yet. Despite knowing this, feeling it within him, and recognizing the vastness of love he quietly harbored for her, whenever he imagined taking their relationship to the next level of commitment, Ataru was plagued by anxiety. Such a future he looked on with apprehension, like a diver before the great plunge into unknown depths.

"I don't want the best years of my life to become a memory."

By the time he was done Sakura was gazing softly and sincerely on him. She was more surprised at his openness than his reasons, which were commonplace for men and women alike. Though none of her fellow teachers attributed much depth to Ataru, she'd always suspected he harbored a wealth of complex emotions and feelings. She just never expected to hear them laid out so plainly and with such honesty. Although, she did observe he appeared to be hiding something behind those brooding eyes.

Still, the fact he was able to identify and admit these feelings was a positive sign. If he could admit them, they could be worked through. Perhaps he wasn't as far gone as she feared in the beginning. Sakura held onto hope that if given a nudge in the right direction, Ataru would realize these changes weren't quite as terrifying as the risks of waiting too long.

"Just don't hold on too tight," She advised with a knowing smile, "or you might find yourself left behind with those memories."

Ataru wasn't prepared for the many worries her words unlocked. At once he reflected on the past Summer, on Yamagata's words of caution, and the drunk old man in the park chasing girls half his age. Comparison grew from that image like a weed curling uncomfortably around his heart, strangling his throat so he couldn't speak. Son of a bitch. Would that really be him one day after all? So lost in the memories of his youth that he forfeit the future? Then he thought about the time shared between him and his friends and their many excursions that followed their initial trip to the arcade. And he couldn't help wonder; would the bonds between them strain if he refused to change? To grow up? Ataru had always clung desperately to the spring of his youth and to the philosophy of living life to the fullest, enjoying any pleasures that took his fancy, particularly with regard to women. But...was that really what he wanted anymore?

Or was it something else?

Of course, Lum didn't fall into the same category as his friends, Ataru assured himself. She would never leave him. Not ever. Not for any reason. Ataru held fast to that belief, and yet, there was a small voice still whispering in his ear, speaking words of caution: you never know.

At this whisper he recalled another fear - an unwelcome one he'd refused to entertain even after it had been discovered. The fear of losing her for good. Of the finality of goodbye. No matter how vehemently he rebuked the idea, Ataru witnessed that very outcome firsthand through the future door he'd crafted for himself. That day he learned Lum had limits. And though he'd stuffed the memory down, down, into the darkest parts of his subconscious, it came suddenly bubbling to the surface. Ataru never gave any serious consideration to the possibility of Lum leaving him before. But he sure as hell was now.

"There you are!" Tsubame's voice rang behind them, cutting through Ataru's musing and alarming Sakura, who whipped halfway around. On seeing her dressed in startling white against the forested landscape, he gasped. A mist of wonder and love came over Tsubame's face, reducing his vocabulary to a single word: "Wow."

In most circumstances Sakura strived to maintain a levelheaded dignity in everything she did. But under her new husband's gaze, so filled with gentle devotion, she became restive.

"Is it time?" She pressed, hoping to shift his focus.

"Huh?" Tsubame slowly absorbed the question as he regained himself. "Yeah. Everyone's ready." The adoration returned to his face and he extended his hand for her to take.

"Then let's go." Sakura was better prepared now to return his admiration as she stole to his side. Her eyes saw only him, and nothing else mattered. Whatever uncertainties she had about the future were washed away. She'd even forgotten about Ataru, who had taken it upon himself to claim her free side.

"Ready for what?" He piped up curiously.

Sakura felt her fantasy crumble with his intrusion.

"Kagami-biraki." She replied simply, and concluding he'd have no idea what that was and finding no sense in explaining it to him, added curtly, "You'll see." Thereafter Sakura said nothing more, and Ataru couldn't find anything else to ask. So the trio walked on in silence, two of them invested wholly in each other's presence while the third wheel indulged in his own fantasies.

The distant murmur of voices grew ever louder as they neared the main hall. Sakura felt a flutter in her stomach but gave no signs of it. Tsubame hadn't truly stopped jittering since that morning. And Ataru was more or less amazed that he'd been able to walk with his hand sneakily latched onto her flowing sleeves for this long. Sakura wasn't someone he could fool twice though. She stopped once they came to a divide in the paths, one leading to the torii gates ahead while the other ambled downhill where the other guests were waiting in the bay. Predictably Ataru didn't move. In fact he had the gall to look questioningly at Sakura, as though she were the crazy one. At this she found the end of her patience and kicked him squarely in the back.

"Go stand with everyone else!"

Stumbling and snickering to himself, Ataru joined the assembly of spectators. Once he was hidden among them, he fell to reminiscing over his life with Sakura, culminating in the conversation they shared seconds ago. Suddenly he realized Lum was nowhere to be seen! Ataru cast his slights like a net over the bay, which was a crazy thing to have to do in and of itself. Today of all days he assumed she would have been easy to track down. Then again, since they got here, she'd been absolutely captivated by the decor and ambiance. No doubt she was off gushing somewhere, too preoccupied with her surroundings to keep tabs on him.

Ataru stood alone amid the huddled mass of friends and strangers, the murmur of their voices rising around him like the roar of ocean waves. He spied his friends, Shinobu and Ryuu, engaged in what looked like a fun conversation with their partners and Mendō, the fifth wheel. And there was that light again, brightening their faces whenever they looked at one another – Shinobu, Inaba; Ryuu, Nagisa. It was the very same light he'd seen shining through Lum's eyes whenever they met his. He looked at his arm, imagining her there, clinging to him as she always did. And for the brief flicker of a moment, he felt the coldness of an eternity without her press in upon him from all sides.

"Darling!"

Lum!

Ataru whipped his head toward her voice and found her flying over the crowd straight for him. At the sight of her his heart leaped, and the fuss he'd made over Ten and the subsequent choice to pull back from their relationship no longer held any weight. For a brief instant he could do nothing but stand there looking up at her, marveling at the rays of light turning colors in her hair, the excitement sparkling in her molten eyes, the warmth of her smile – not the one she flashed casually at friends and family, but the one she reserved for him alone. And he was washed over with relief, with exultation, and his mind swam with visions of things wonderfully concrete and thrilling fantasies of what could be. When she touched down in front of him Ataru's body lurched as though he would gather her in his arms, only to be stopped by Lum herself popping something into his mouth.

"How's that, bland right?"

Still looking rather confused and feeling a touch uneasy in the wake of such strong emotions, Ataru tentatively chewed whatever she'd just put in his mouth. Bland was not the word he would have used whatsoever. It was savory and well-seasoned, melting in his mouth. Fish, if he had to guess.

"It definitely needs more spice." Lum muttered meditatively.

Ataru stared at her, unamused and unsurprised. Of course she would say that, she wasn't able to taste anything outside of a handful of Earth foods. He could just picture her rendition of a wedding feast, imagining all manner of spicy concoctions unfit for human consumption. Once he even saw her put red pepper flakes on ice cream, as if that were a reasonable thing to do! Nobody would survive her rendition of appetizing quinine. Nobody normal, that is.

"You're not allowed to handle the food." Ataru mumbled under his breath, forgetting himself and the implications of his words. Fortunately, Lum was too lost in her own daydreams to hear him, and Ataru could breathe a sigh of relief knowing she was none the wiser to his slip of the tongue. After the roller coaster of doubts and affirmations he'd silently endured, Ataru wasn't sure he could handle much else.

The chime of a bell rang over their heads, drawing the groups attention to the torii above where Sakura, Tsubame, and Cherry had gathered. Both the bride and groom were equipped with comically small wooden mallets. Between them set on a small cherry oak table was a sizeable sake barrel with a wooden lid, on which was etched the word: harmony. Cherry placed both the bell and striker beside the barrel and addressed the crowd waiting below.

"It is now time for Tsubame and Sakura to mark their new beginning with the breaking of the kagami." Then he sidestepped, signaling the pair to come forward with their mallets poised at the ready. Once they were in place, Cherry continued.

"On the count of three – ichi, ni, san," he counted, concluding with a final resounding cry, "Yoisho!" At that their hammers came down and the circle split down the middle, caving into the barrel with a gentle splash. An eruption of cheers was their applause, none of which, in Ataru's opinion, were as enthusiastic or as loud as Lum's.

Beside him she bounced, weightless, both hands flung to the sky in gleeful celebration. He couldn't help but laugh, just a little, at her boundless sense of joy. And in that moment Ataru found the answer to a question he'd asked himself before.

The truth was, he didn't want to be left behind, hanging onto memories that only grew more faded as the world turned. Nor did he find any sense in clinging to youth when it was destined to pass. Such a life didn't interest him at all anymore. Ataru wanted to reach out and grab the future alongside his friends. With Lum. And hell, even Ten. Sure, it would be a challenge, but that was nothing new. When Ataru reflected on everything he'd learned and experienced over the last year, seeing where he had been versus where he was now, how could he let himself be so easily intimidated? He'd overcome the rigors of employment to find his calling in spite of his poor performance as a student and the negative opinions of his educators and parents; he learned how to manage his money and had actually grown his account to the point where he no longer worried about his bills or the rent, really; he learned how to cook, and even asked Yamagata to teach him some other simple recipes. For the first time in his life Ataru's pride was rooted in something more than his ego.

And in light of these realizations, getting older and tackling life's many hurdles while sharing new experiences, with his friends and Lum by his side, was pretty exciting.

Gently, Ataru took Lum's hand in his, which was enough to quell her joyful acclaim if only for how abnormal the gesture was. Curiously she studied him, and in the moment their eyes met, Lum wasn't entirely sure the man staring back at her was the same one she'd come here with. She'd never seen him look at her the way he was now, sincere, kind, warm. Loving. Not exactly like the night he'd kissed her in a moment of passion, neither did it match the depressed longing of his gaze when she left the next day. This was...different.

Wordlessly Ataru lead her toward the line of guests waiting to be served their cup of celebratory sake, not once relinquishing his grip on her hand. Lum felt heat rise up in her cheeks and she wondered if, somehow, she'd walked into a dream. Step by step, like this, they made their way through the que, until at last they stood before the bride and groom. Sakura noticed two things in that moment; for one, Ataru was holding Lum's hand, and for another, he'd positioned them so that he would be receiving his cup from her while Lum stood before Tsubame. Clever boy.

Facing the two of them, Sakura walked back through her mind to those venturesome days of high school – of Ataru specifically, who was the center and catalyst to many of her most spellbinding trials. In her mind flashed countless snapshots of the past as clear and vivid as when they were made, and along with it, came a flush of sentiment spared for one particular fool. Love him or hate him, Ataru was no less an enigmatic presence in her life. Not to mention the amount of experienced she gained just being in the same town as him, which was integral to her success as a priestess. Strange though it was to think of his contributions, Sakura no less suspected her life would be quite as full without him in it. Lum as well, whose very presence had opened her up to a world of dimensions and quirks she never imagined prior, even with all her spectral encounters. Seeing them together before her now, Sakura almost felt as if the moment was flipped, and she could see their wedding in her mind's eye.

All these feelings shone through her, touching her smile with a tender softness that only comes from true appreciation and genuine care. For better or for worse, Sakura loved this pair of idiots, and she couldn't wait to see what sort of a future they would build.

She meant for the expression to be a kind gesture between friends, but of course Ataru had taken the liberty of reimagining it into something more promiscuous. Moving quickly, he clasped his hand over hers before she could release his cup, pulling her nearer with a roguish grin.

"Now Mrs. Sakura," He feigned a cautioned warning, "this is hardly the time to be having regrets." His brows hiked suggestively, making her skin crawl.

"My only regret would be inviting you!" Sakura bellowed, feeling a hint of embarrassment at having spent genuine emotion on Ataru of all people. To avoid spilling his cup and wasting what was very expensive sake, Sakura pinched his hand until he recoiled. Then she handed the cup to Lum, prompting with a glare for Tsubame to hand his off to Ataru, who begrudgingly accepted it.

"Honestly Darling you have no sense of tact!" Lum growled as she snared his ear with her free hand, yanking him off toward the sidelines and wondering what happened to the sweet, caring man who'd taken her hand and made her heart dance. Ataru laughed and yowled at the pain in his ear, tottering behind Lum with barely a fight while still wearing a shameless grin that betokened a lack of regret.

"Those two never change." Tsubame lamented with a smile while serving the next guest.

"You think so?" Sakura cast her gaze to the side where they stood, finding Lum in the midst of lecturing Ataru, who was looking everywhere but at her as he swirled his sake casually, most likely not listening to a word she was saying.

Then, surprisingly, Ataru glanced at Lum and clanked his cup against hers without saying a thing. Lum froze, looked down at her sake, and then back at her husband. Ataru met her confusion with a foolhardy grin, and Sakura could tell it worked at softening her ire. Lum's features smoothed and she rolled her eyes with a laugh. Together they lifted their cups for a sip, and though Ataru tried to hide it, Sakura caught him stealing a glance at Lum from behind his cup. And she could swear there was real love in his eyes. Now that, she said to herself, is definitely new.

After seeing this, Sakura found she couldn't agree with her husband's assessment. The energy between them was too different, and it brought a sense of peace to her heart.

"I think they've changed quite a bit."

In this chapter Ataru asked himself a very important question; does he really want to be stuck in the past? Is he really fine with rehashing the same script? Most importantly, can he weather the changes that will come of age and exploring his relationship with Lum?

After spending the day with Lum back in December, Ataru was open to the idea of taking their relationship further. He got swept up in the moment and in the image of what their life could be. However, just like he had when he first decided to move out, Ataru failed to realize the challenges that would come of that decision. Living together would mean more than just having fun. Ten was the catalyst for that realization, and it reminded him of all the worst parts of their history under one roof.

Joining two lives is never easy, and there are always periods of adjustment and moments of disillusion. Ataru wasn't sure if he could handle all that and it made him second-guess the trajectory of their relationship. But thanks to his talk with Sakura, Ataru was able to pull from his past experiences of living on his own and take stock of the ways he's changed, and he was able to see that he's come so far and overcome many challenges already. And further, he's proud of himself for it (which is a big deal in and of itself). Especially since so many adults in his young life sort of wrote him off as a failure. But he's not a failure. He managed to succeed. And in those successes was born confidence in his ability to face whatever challenges would come his way.

To live is to change, and change isn't always easy. But when he looked at his friends, and looked at Lum, Ataru decided that she was worth the effort. He can handle Ten, but what he can't and doesn't want to endure is losing Lum.

I took some inspiration from snippets of a few chapters in the manga where, if you ask me, Ataru does open up to Sakura as someone who he trusts. He might not always take her advice, or even agree with it, but I think beneath his surface-level lust toward her he sees Sakura as one of the few adults in his life that he can really turn to. Sakura in general has always struck me as a very perceptive and sensitive woman with a lot of empathy. She's young enough to understand how her younger charges feel, and old enough to have navigated the same troubles already. Having her sort of talk through her own feelings while imparting wisdom to Ataru, I felt, was a good way to help nudge him over this hump :3