Okay guys.

This is the final chapter.

I'm sorry for taking so long to update. This has been the most difficult chapter to write, and without a doubt, the longest by far. This is the final chapter and epilogue rolled into one… so please don't kill me guys. I hope you don't get too bored with this, since it is really quite long.

I should probably warn you guys. This chapter has many kissing scenes... and an *ehem* kind of scene. I hope it's not too overwhelming... but all the same... hahaha.

Thank you, once again, to all those who had left a review. This story wouldn't have been possible without your feedbacks and support, so… thank you. Ravenanne, thank you for reading and following both my stories. Platinumheart and Pat… VampireManiac and MaFersk… Akitsuki Akira, plus all the other guests who decided to leave reviews, who finished reading this late at night or very early morning already…thank you. You guys are all awesome.

That said, we can now go to the chapter. Don't want you guys murdering me for keeping you from reading it. And I hope, once again, that you'll like it!

Friday

Komano Tsutomu and Oe Kanade's wedding

The next day had been a whirl of make-up, gowns and flowers left and right.

Chihaya tried to keep her focus on the occasion, but it was hard to do so when you were beyond yourself and you could feel as if you were floating. Honestly, it all felt as if she was walking with her feet off the ground.

She shook her head as she focused on what the events organizer was saying, as they talked about last minute details and things that might have been forgotten and missing. Flowers, check. Usherettes, check. Rings, check. Groom… check. Taichi would take care of that, she mentally noted.

Bride… check. She would have to see how she was doing with all the dressing up, -well, after she was done changing as well into her maid of honor's dress.

Checking all these, she took last minute notes and bit the edge of her pen, trying to recall if she still had forgotten anything. She didn't want to be surprised with last minute changes and emergencies, seeing as this was not the day for it.

"Spare the pen, Chihaya. Honestly."

She flinched from the baritone voice, the voice which she would recognize even if she was asleep, and today was making her stomach turn over with just even hearing it. She felt butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

Chihaya jokingly rolled her eyes as she turned to face the amber-eyed brunette she had just realized she was crazy about the last two days.

"Well I do apologize if I am a bit worried that I am biting the pen already. Can't have anything untoward happening today, can we?" She responded cheekily, though her smile was still kinda nervous.

She tried to avoid reacting when she saw him, but her heart did a somersault. He was already in his slacks and white long-sleeved dress shirt, the first few buttons undone as he was still holding his bowtie in one hand, but it already hinted to a toned chest hidden under the shirt. His hair was brushed up carelessly, which made him look a bit unfamiliar to her because he looked like someone else.

Like so-dashingly-good-looking someone else, because right there and then, he looked every bit handsome and drop-dead gorgeous.

Chihaya kept her emotions in check, though. She wasn't prepared to have him teasing her mercilessly because of what she was thinking, and she knew he would read through her expression. She was pretty much an open book to him.

"You do have a point." He murmured, sighing when he recalled the state he had left Komano in earlier. "I guess it's true that when it was your wedding day you get the wedding jitters. Komano drank a little of the red wine."

She gasped. "You can't have him getting drunk before the wedding starts!"

"I know, I know, calm down. I didn't give him the whole bottle." He was chuckling in amusement as she narrowed her eyes suspiciously at him. "He needs a little… encouragement boost. I kept the wine, don't worry, I didn't leave that there with him. Who knows what will happen if I did."

She sighed in relief. "Good. Because we'll both be hanged if the groom ends up slurring his responses throughout the ceremony."

Taichi was staring at her, his eyes lingering into her hair and face.

She felt conscious all of a sudden, knowing that she was still half-prepared for the wedding, as she already had her hair and face done, but she was still in her white sundress. Her hair was twisted into an elegant knot behind her –courtesy of Chidori-san, a few strands let down to frame her face. "I-Is there something wrong with my face?"

He shook his head, a serious expression on his face. "No –it's the opposite. You look absolutely beautiful it's driving me crazy."

Chihaya reddened, feeling her heart flutter, but she still smiled at him, albeit a little more shyly. "You sure knew how to make a girl feel good. Thank you." Then she winked at him playfully. "But wait till you see me in the dress. Hahaha."

He reached out and smoothed the worried line still lodged over her forehead. "I'm not making you feel good, I'm just telling the truth." He glanced at his wristwatch. "We have three hours before the wedding starts. Aren't you supposed to change?"

"Yeah, need to change already. Then I'll check on Kana-chan." She beamed at him, her smile like a gentle sunrise. "See you later?"

"Yep… see you."

And before she could react, he bent down and so casually kissed her on the lips that she gasped lightly and her heart literally jumped a foot in her chest. They weren't exactly hiding their relationship, but this is the first time he showed affection in public.

She resisted the urge to glomp him right there and then, and just responded lightly to the kiss. He pulled back before she was quite ready for it though, and she ducked her head to hide how red her face is. She heard him chuckle lightly.

"See you… later." He responded, and she didn't fail to notice how his hand lingered somewhere on her waist that she felt a tingle shoot down her spine. Still chuckling, he turned from her and left, going for the direction of the groom's room, probably to do a last check around with the groomsmen as well.

Face still unbearably hot, she smiled like a giddy schoolgirl to herself, and decided to start changing for the wedding of Komano Tsutomu to Oe Kanade.

Needless to say, the wedding of Oe Kanade and Komano Tsutomu had been a joyful and happy occasion. Komano read his own vows, and Kana-chan cried over hers, but she looked gorgeous, and Chihaya was genuinely happy for her.

There had been a lot of jokes and stories being passed around, most especially ever since the reception started –which was held in a hotel by the bay. Taichi had to give the first toast, which made the guests laugh as he recalled how Komano had been such a terrible anti-social. Well 'anti-social' may probably be an understatement, but the best man joked that he had to tone it down, as he didn't want the new Komano Kanade to murder him first thing after the reception.

"But jokes and teases aside, I am happy for the both of you. I mean we knew since second year high school that you guys were meant to be, and so now that Komano here had finally decided to get things moving… well, we just felt it was about time." He smiled at the newly-weds, and raised his glass. "Congratulations, and I hope, as we all do, that you both will last long-" here the guests once again laughed, and the bride jokingly glared at him as the groom also laughed, "-I mean, will have a happy and blessed married life. Everyone, let us all raise our glasses. Cheers, Komano, and Kana-chan."

"Cheers!"

The host,-which Sumire-chan had taken as a role by the way, handed the microphone to the maid of honor, but with all the looks and whispers she had been receiving throughout the whole night already, Chihaya had to decline. She didn't want to steal the night, -it was theirs after all, and her making a speech would definitely just attract more attention from the other guests. She wanted this night to be the best night her best girlfriend ever had.

The dancing started a few more minutes later, which were led by the newly-weds of course. But all the color drained from Chihaya's face when she saw Taichi approach her and wordlessly stretched a hand out to her.

"What… are you doing?" She asked in a gritted teeth, her voice conveying panic and nervousness.

Taichi had to roll his eyes. "Asking you to dance. What does it look like?"

Chihaya was staring at him as if she had seen a ghost for the first time in her twenty six years of life. "I… I don't dance." She said shortly, as if that alone explained everything in the universe.

"I don't dance as well."

"So what are you doing?"

Taichi sighed, his expression conveying martyrdom. "Chihaya. The best man and maid of honor will have to follow the couple's dance so that other people will join. We have to dance with them." He jerked his head toward the two, who were so clearly lost in their own world.

Chihaya was as pale as a sheet that a ghost would have been jealous. "But I honestly can't dance!" She exclaimed once again in gritted teeth.

He smirked, -that lopsided smirk of his she had always loved and found dear. "Don't worry, silly. I can." And so saying, he reached forward and pulled her up to him, easily catching her around the waist and whirling her around to the dance floor that her feet nearly tangled over each other she was thankful her heels were partly hidden by her dress.

"Are you trying to kill me?" She hissed as they both swayed automatically in time with the music. He chuckled, and she couldn't resist it when he held her right hand and placed it on his left shoulder, his arm wrapped around her waist. "I thought you said you can't dance." She added in a small voice.

"I said I don't dance. I didn't say I can't." He teased in a half-serious, half-joking tone that she blushed in response. "And no, sweetheart. I'm not trying to kill you. Far from it. Why would I want to kill you, when you just told me that you love me?"

"Shut up."

"Love you too."

She swatted him in the arm that he laughed.

"This is so not funny, Mashima Taichi!" She hissed again in exclamation, but she stopped at the serious look on his face.

He raised his hand from her waist in a moment to cup her chin. "Do me a favor, Chihaya."

She pouted, her lips lightly pushing forward as she met his amber eyes."What?" She asked in a sigh, giving in.

He was still staring at her so seriously that she felt her heart pound so strongly against her chest. "For this night –just this night, can you forget everything that you're worrying about, and just enjoy it with me?"

Chihaya's heart melted almost immediately, her lips still pushed out to a pout. "Please?" He added, still in the serious, brooding tone, that she had no other choice but to give in.

"Fine." She said with a huff, and finally allowing herself to relax in his arms. "That's not really a hard request to grant." She admitted, her cheeks reddening as he brought her hand which he was holding to his lips, grazing her knuckles with it.

"Thank you." He said sincerely, smiling once again at her, and pulling her closer against him that she shivered as his hand dropped back to encircle her waist. She frowned at her reaction. Realizing that she was, indeed, head-over-heels for this man had come with unexpected reactions from her. Every time he would touch her, even those moments that he would just peck her on the lips –like the one from earlier- hold her hand or place an arm around her waist, her heart had an audible reaction that she felt like she was about to die from the way it was beating so fast.

So… this is what it really felt like when you're in love…

Because she hadn't been like this with Arata, if she had to admit it.

"One of these days I'm going to die of a heart attack." She murmured as the slow music continued.

Taichi gave her a stern, almost-scary glare, when he heard her statement. "That's not a funny joke, Chihaya."

"I wasn't joking." She sighed as she returned his glare unflinchingly. "I never realized that just having the person you love touch you l-like this could mean an onset of heart attack with just the way my heart is reacting."

His eyebrows raised, realizing what she meant. "Like this?" He picked up on the keyword, and then his lips broke into a teasing grin. "Ah, you mean this."

And she nearly collapsed on his chest when he teasingly ran a finger down her spine once again as he did yesterday, which was even worse this time because her dress actually allowed the center of her back to be open and exposed and she practically felt the tip of his finger brushing feather-light against her skin. "T-Taichi!" she exclaimed, her face so red he resisted the urge to kiss right there and then. Her reaction had her clutching at his shoulder, her hand clenched around his so tightly he nearly felt his knuckles crack in protest.

"You look so cute when you're blushing." He teased even more as he finally pulled her against his chest. He felt her push him away half-heartedly but he kept her like that pressed against him, his breath teasing her earlobe as he lowered his head almost cheek-to-cheek with her.

"P-People were starting to s-stare…" She murmured quite worriedly as he twirled her around effortlessly away from him, then gave a gentle tug twirling her back against him that she automatically pressed a hand against his chest to steady herself after. She couldn't meet his gaze, as her cheeks were burning so furiously.

He chuckled, the sound deep and throaty that she couldn't resist the urge to smile as she heard it. "So what? Let them stare and talk. It's not like we're doing anything wrong, you know."

"But…"

People were already starting to gather around them to dance as well, so Taichi guided her away from the dance floor. They ended up at the balcony which the reception area was open to, and she stared at him as he leaned against the balustrades, smiling at her as he held her hand.

"If I tell you that I want you to be mine forever, would you still avoid it, because you don't want other people talking about us?" He asked, and the color drained off of her face she could almost hear it rushing downwards, as she met his amber gaze which had turned serious. "If I tell you that I want you, that I love you so much it felt painful just keeping it to myself for eighteen years, and that just staying by my side wouldn't be enough, would you turn me down because you're too afraid of what will happen?"

"W-Why are you asking me this…?"Chihaya wasn't prepared from all the onslaught of questions which were coming from him. She suddenly felt as if she wanted to run away from him.

"You and I both know we're going to have to talk about this soon." He muttered, keeping a tight hold on her hand as he averted his gaze from her, staring instead at the half moon which hung over the sky like an ornament on a Christmas tree. "One way or another, I'm going to ask you to remain by my side forever, and by doing that, I meant me offering you to bear my last name forever. I wanted to know if you feel the same." He added in a low voice.

"Y-You want to…" Her voice was nearly a whisper as she returned his gaze shyly and embarrassedly. "You h-honestly want me to-to be yours forever…?"

He sighed as he turned sideways in order to face her fully. "Of course I do. Why, are you actually expecting me to marry someone else instead?" He inquired in a peevish voice. "Seriously?"

"Of course not." And she surprised herself with the vehement denial and jealousy which had twisted her chest into an uncomfortable knot. "I j-just don't think I-I'm ready for that now. I-I mean, I still have to move back into the condo and everything, and I'm just going to start in Mizusawa…"

"I'm not asking you to marry me right at this instant, Ayase Chihaya. I was hypothetically asking you if you wanted the same things as I do. Jesus." He said, in that exasperated, but loving way of his that she still managed to chuckle.

Chihaya suddenly understood why he was asking her this now. "Ah, Mashima Taichi. You and your hypothetical what-ifs." She teased lightly as he reddened, the blush darkening his skin. "Are you worried that you're going to lose me, that's why you're asking me all this –hypothetically?"

But there was no humor in his tone when he responded to her question. "Is it wrong for a boyfriend to be worried that his girlfriend wouldn't want him forever?"

Hearing him refer to himself as her boyfriend served to make her blush, and at the same time, amused. The word boyfriend didn't seem to fit him.

"I gave you a 'yes', Mashima Taichi." She whispered as she finally allowed herself to wrap her arms around his neck and she snuggled against him, laying her head contentedly on his chest. "I told you that I'm head-over-heels for you. Wasn't that enough?" She looked up to him through her lashes.

He placed both hands against her waist to steady her against him, meeting her inquisitive dark eyes. "You think that's enough when you've made me wait for eighteen years?"He asked in a light and joking tone, which made her flinch.

She knew he didn't mean anything behind it, but it caught her bulls-eyed. Chihaya knew that what he was saying was true. She had been an airhead painfully for Kami-sama knows how long. So now that he was hypothetically asking her to be his, why is it that she was wary of wanting the same thing as him?

Could it be because deep down she was still somehow afraid of…

No. She told herself firmly. Chihaya please. Stop comparing him to Arata, you baka.

Taichi sighed when she went silent. "Okay, I get it. You're not ready."

"Taichi…" Her voice had gone soft, as she looked up to him but caught him averting his gaze from her. She brought a hand up to rub his cheek. "You know I want you, right?"

He didn't respond immediately that she had to sigh. "Taichi, please. I love you. I do. With every fiber of my being." She said, in a loving, sweet tone that he couldn't help but look at her. She took courage from those amber orbs that she was so addicted into seeing. "And of course I want to be… yours forever. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

Taichi's expression relaxed a bit. "That will do. Though you needed more practice." He once again joked, trying to lighten up the atmosphere which had turned serious between the two of them.

Chihaya pouted, once again drawing his attention to her lips. "Well I'm still getting used to it. Sorry." She rolled her eyes, but as she returned her gaze to him, she felt a shiver run down her spine with the way his eyes were gazing at her lips.

She couldn't resist the urge to tease. "Kiss me." She joked, but she knew that she could feel every trace of desire running through her as she said the words.

He didn't respond, just leaned forward and the distance between them decreased. But unlike yesterday, this one made her feel so impatient as he slowly, excruciatingly, lowered his head to hers.

And once their lips touched, her arms –which had been around his neck, tightened almost into a chokehold.

Taichi kissed her tenderly, almost shyly. Her lips molded into his, her heart once again racing a hundred miles per hour. He sucked on her bottom lip, and she sighed in satisfaction.

She felt his hand rub the small of her back, which left her weak-kneed and gasping for air, his other arm wrapped possessively around her waist. And a moan escaped her when she felt his tongue slide into her mouth ever so slowly, playful and teasing, twirling around hers in a sensuous dance, as she clumsily but eagerly responded to him.

Chihaya's hands tangled around his hair when his lips left hers and he began trailing small kisses down to her neck, making her bite her lip and arch against him in reaction, unconsciously pressing against him even more that his lips slipped into her collarbone and made her moan again at the slightest contact. He traced his lips upwards until he reached her earlobe, and she leaned against him, her strength nearly escaping her when he grazed her earlobe with his teeth, nipping and nibbling on it playfully and teasingly.

When her arms lost their strength at the mere touch of his lips against her ear, he decided to stop torturing her, turning back to her lips and pressing one last kiss against her soft buds and pulled away almost abruptly that her eyes opened in slight disorientation.

"What?" She demanded as she fought to catch her breathing, her dark eyes asking for an explanation, as he looked down to her, also breathing somewhat heavily, trying to regain the rhythm of his breathing.

He then smiled at her, a teasing, somewhat sexy smile which took her breath away and made tingles run up and down her spine. "You could have just asked me to stay with you at home if you wanted me to kiss you." He grinned knowingly, prompting her to blush furiously.

"No, you-"

He placed an index finger against her lips. "That will be enough for now, Chihaya. Before I suddenly decide to lock you in a room with me and…" he trailed off, suddenly unwilling to continue.

She raised an eyebrow at him. "And what?"

He didn't answer immediately, instead just avoided her gaze. "That would be something that I should keep to myself, I suppose."

Chihaya swatted him on the arm. "Mashima Taichi! You are being unfair."

He sighed. "I already told you that I love you and I want you, Chihaya. By want, I meant that I want you as a man does for a woman." He admitted, his cheeks darkening with a slight color as her mouth dropped open into a small 'o', but he was still gazing at her so seriously she fidgeted under his stare.

"O-Oh." Chihaya responded brilliantly, her thoughts currently disorganized and incoherent, and he thought that she would react with disgust, but then she just… reddened as well, almost pleasantly.

After all, what woman wouldn't feel pleased hearing her man admit that he wanted her… more than anything in the world?

She stepped forward, raising a hand and cupping his cheek, staring into his eyes. "So… So your instincts… you mean… you've wanted me all this time?" And as she asked so, her expression turned almost horrified, because she realized all of a sudden how he must have been holding himself back all this time that they had been together and he had never dared to cross the line when it came to her.

Taichi snorted, but his eyes were serious as they gazed upon her, almost heatedly. "Of course I did. And you can't imagine the ways it messed me up, Chihaya." He leaned against her hand. "But if you must know… I did and I still want you, but I respected the fact that I have to wait for you. I hope you know that."

She nodded, her expression turning embarrassed and shy. "Of course I do. And… I want you to know that I'm so sorry, Taichi. That I only became aware of your feelings now, and I never knew how you have always been hurt by the mere fact that you were always with me and I was such an airhead that I never knew the pain you must be going through…"

He shook his head and leaned forward to drop a kiss on her forehead. "Shh. It's not your fault, you silly girl, and I already told you that. What's important is that you're here now, and you already know what it is that you are supposed to know ever since before." He tucked a stray strand of her chestnut hair behind her ear. "Now I really think we should go back. Can't have anyone missing us now can we?" He was determined to close the subject all of a sudden and leave it at that, but she was still curious.

"I have one more question."

He turned to look at her, his expression careful and somehow guarded. "Shoot."

She fidgeted a bit, looking down to her hand still entwined in his, her cheeks heating up as she blushed at the question she was about to ask. "Do you… do you really find me attractive… in that way at all?" She had already heard his response from earlier, but it really felt all alien and unbelievable to her.

Taichi had to smile, despite of the weariness displayed on his face. "Sexy, as always." He joked, making her blush deeply even more that he had to chuckle. "I am a gentleman, Chihaya, but I am still just that… a man. Let's leave it at that."

She nodded wordlessly, looking down to her feet. And then he recalled one thing.

"I am curious now though…" he trailed off as she looked up to him, eyes wide and waiting with bated breath, "Have you ever…?"

She caught on immediately to what he was asking. "… No. I-I've wanted to yes, and I really wanted to know what it was like, but… well, I was too much of a chicken, and a lot of things had happened that I never really got the chance…" She admitted in an embarrassed, small voice, averting her gaze from him.

Taichi released a breath he didn't even know he had been holding, and he lifted her chin up again so that she would meet his gaze. " There's nothing embarrassing with that, Chihaya." He said tenderly, stroking her cheek gently all the while. "And honestly, that's nothing to be ashamed of. You just… really amazed me."

"Really?" She asked, and he chuckled, his eyes regarding her with light mirth and infinite adoration.

"Yes."

And she didn't back away when he leaned forward and pressed another kiss on her lips.

The wedding had been successful, she was proud to say. Taichi had driven the happy, newly-wedded couple to the airport as they would be flying to Kyoto for their honeymoon, and Chihaya and Sumire-chan, along with Nishida and the couple's parents, were the ones who had finished the reception and had packed up afterwards.

She had spent the next few weeks starting to pack her things up for her move back into her condo, and she had already started with Mizusawa. By the time the first week of August had rolled around, she was ready to leave. Her parents were forever grateful to Taichi who she had asked to help her with the move, to which she had earned a scolding from.

"Of course I'm going to help. You seriously needed help with packing things up and unpacking them."

"Hey! What was that supposed to mean?"

Taichi gave a low whistle of dissatisfaction as he and Chihaya finally entered her unit, a large human-sized daddy bear slung carelessly over his shoulder, and he was holding two boxes of her stuff. She didn't especially have too much stuff needed as the condo was pretty much the same since she and Chitose left it, but with the sudden rain which had poured in large drops, accompanied by thunder and lightning so relentlessly, his car had been pretty much useless and he and Chihaya had almost been drenched to the bone as they lugged her stuff up to her unit.

"Sorry, sorry…" She mumbled an apology as she helped him drop the boxes off carefully, and she took the daddy bear from him so carefully and gently that he almost felt jealous. "I didn't know it was going to storm all of a sudden. Oh my, he's so wet…" she said worriedly as she tried to dry the bear off.

Taichi sweatdropped. She was worried more with the bear wet and not him, who was practically drenched from head to toe, his shirt half-clinging against his upper body and making him shiver at the cool air conditioning of her unit. "At least worry about me, you know. I almost had a free shower outside." He snapped irritably, and she blushed at her blunder.

"Alright. Sorry." She rushed around her unit and grabbed a towel from one of the boxes, handing him one, but he looked at it, then to her. "What?" She asked, obliviously puzzled, face still somehow red from just looking at him.

And then he realized why –because his shirt was already clinging to him that it showed hints of the muscle underneath. And because she had worried more for her daddy bear than him, as cheeky as it sounded, he decided to tease her as punishment.

"Dry me off." He said peevishly, and her cheeks colored ten different shades of red.

"W-What?" She couldn't help but snap, an expression resembling panic and embarrassment blooming on her face as he sighed dramatically.

"My shoulders are aching, and you owe me for helping you out here." He responded pointedly, crossing his arms over his chest. "And I'm so wet. Can your conscience bear it if I got sick again because you don't want to dry me off?"He asked rhetorically, and inwardly, he was smirking as she reddened furiously.

"Weren't you supposed to help me as my boyfriend and all?" She had asked confusedly. At the expression on his face she sighed and relented. "Oh fine!" Chihaya exclaimed, pulled his arm and sat him down roughly on one of the couches that he groaned.

"Ow! Why do you have to be so violent? Aren't you supposed to be my girlfriend and everything?" Taichi gave her a sideways glare as she harrumphed.

"You deserve it."

And because he got irritated with her response, he took hold of the hem of his shirt and started removing it.

Chihaya immediately became flustered. "W-What are you doing?"

"Taking my shirt off what else?" He snapped back, as he pulled his shirt all the way off and slung it over his shoulder. "How will you be able to dry me off properly if I don't remove this off?" He said in a smug voice as he saw her swallow nervously. "Carry on."

"I swear you're such a baka." She muttered complainingly in a low voice and proceeded to carefully dry his upper body first before dealing with his hair.

Silence enveloped them in it's cocoon as she slowly and gently dried him off. He could see her cheeks flushed as she bent over him, and though he tried to deny it, how his heart pounded as her smell invaded his senses. Lavender and freesia… a very mouthwatering smell.

Damn it.

Well they say that when you plan mischief, it definitely turns around and bites you in the butt.

Ugh.

He took a deep breath as he felt her soft hands brush over him, and without meaning to, goosebumps would erupt on the spots where she touched.

He was thankful that she was preoccupied, but he wasn't relieved for himself. With each brush of her hands against him he could already feel the desire forming somewhere in his chest. He knew if he didn't control himself, he was going to grab her and throw her on the bed or something and just…

… Just make her completely his.

He was rather surprised and thankful when she finally wrapped the towel around his head and started drying his hair off. At least that prevented her from touching him, but he couldn't deny how suddenly empty he felt when she was no longer touching him.

"I could make us some soup for tonight," Chihaya began, somehow sheepishly as she rubbed the towel against his head. "I mean it's going to be freezing with the weather and all, and I honestly don't want you to get sick again or something, so… if you don't mind…"

"I don't." He responded, sounding suddenly exhausted. "Just as long as you're not going to poison it or something."

His response earned him a not-so-gentle smack on the head. "Ouch! Why you- you'll pay for that, Ayase!"

Chihaya gave a loud squeak as he stood up and chased her around the unit. "I-I'm really sorry! You just pissed me off and- hahaha!"

He had caught her immediately before she could run to her bedroom, and he was tickling her around her waist, making her laugh madly. "S-Stop! P-Please stop it a-already! I'm so s-sorry!" She pleaded with him as he mercilessly continued tweaking his fingers around her waist. "Taichi please!"

"Marry me first."

"Yes and what-?"

His fingers grew still as she looked up to him, her dark eyes wide with surprise and… fear? "I said… marry me first."

Chihaya's expression started to grow slightly worried. She couldn't understand what suddenly brought this on. "Taichi-"

"I know." He cut her off, not willing to let her continue her response. "I know what you're going to say. You told me before that you're not ready, that you still have to settle some things in your life. You may think that I was just joking, or that I wasn't sure about this since I suddenly said it, or that I was just saying this in a spur-of-the-moment, but the truth is, I'm not." He met her dark eyes for an explanation. "I know… that you're somehow scared that what had happened a year ago would repeat."

Her silence, and the way her eyes had averted from him, confirmed what he had just said.

Taichi brought a hand up to cradle her left cheek with it. "But I'm not going to leave you… ever, Chihaya." He muttered, looking her in the eyes and making her unable to look away from him that she could feel the sincerity behind the words. "Jesus, I've been waiting for you my whole life, I wouldn't be able to have the strength to do that or even think that… Kami-sama knew how much I wanted you to be mine, so all I'm saying is…"

He brought her hand to his lips, and she watched as he kissed the red ring that she was still wearing on her right ring finger. "Will you give me the honor… of being your husband?"

A thousand, mixed emotions ran through her as he ran his fingers behind ear then showed it to her, only to show her a simple, silver diamond ring which had three, glinting stones, holding it between his index and thumb finger, which made her gasp.

She recognized it.

It was the ring that she had once fantasized about from that jewelry shop where he had also bought the threaded ring he had given her, and the one time that she had to run a few errands for her mother, it had caught her eye.

I love that ring Kana-chan! Seriously! I feel like it has this connection to me, you know? Hmmm.. I'll marry whoever buys it for me! She had recalled gushing jokingly to Kana-chan, and how bitter she had been when the ring had disappeared from it's glass shelf one day that she had checked, and had found out that it was already sold.

"We're so sorry, ojousan." The ladies had told her calmly, since that was the time that she still wasn't that well-known.

But to see it here, again… seeming to have been magically produced with just a touch behind her ear by her dashingly idiotic boyfriend, she couldn't help but become teary-eyed.

"H-How did you…?" She asked shakily, unable to complete the whole thought.

He gave her a look. "I heard you and Kana-chan talking." He responded simply and gently.

"You mean to say you've been carrying this around with you for years?" Chihaya gasped, her tears finally falling to her cheeks.

Taichi simply wiped her tears which had fallen to her cheeks. "I love you." He added simply and shortly.

And as they stood there in her unit, in that place, in that time, him half-cradling her in his arms, she knew.

How could she be so stupid as to think that the disastrous events from a year ago would happen again? How could she think that Taichi, who had always waited for her, whose feelings had been as pure as it was ever since they were kids, who had never left her side despite of her foolishly deciding to accept Arata's feelings years ago, would do that to her?

She was such an idiot.

But if there was anything which had been taught to her ever since her butchered wedding, it's that she shouldn't be blind. Chihaya knew that she was slowly starting to rebuild her life, and what better way to do that than have the man she was crazy about by her side?

Before he could do anything else, she sprang forward and pressed her lips against his with all abandon he nearly dropped the ring as he automatically steadied her.

"Yes." She said, once she decided to heave a bit of oxygen. That little word was followed by two more kisses before she completed it. "Yes, I would love to!"

And she watched once again in fondness and exhilaration as her… fiancé –now, she guessed, grinned from ear to ear, kissed her hand and slipped the ring on her ring finger, right on top of the red, threaded one, and before she could react, he leaned forward and captured her lips squarely for a kiss.

"Thank you… Chihaya."

Mashima-Ayase wedding ceremony (Finally!)

To say that the wedding of Ayase Chihaya to Mashima Taichi was the biggest scoop of the year had been a big understatement. The media practically had a field day when rumors of the impending wedding had started flying around, but Chihaya had taken it all in stride with unbelievable grace.

Since she had started receiving requests for modeling once again, that meant that she was once again exposed to limelight and controversies as a former model-slash-karuta superstar. Taichi worried that it was too soon for her to get back in there, but she had just gritted her teeth and gave him an all-out growl when she was reassuring him regarding that, so… he knew that she could do this.

He didn't have any problems regarding her career, as he had told the media when he was so unexpectedly ambushed by them on his way to Todai.

Dammit!

"Did her popularity ever bother you?" "How was she as a fiancée?" "Was it true that you were childhood sweethearts?" Blah, blah, blah. He had managed to ask a guard for help before he was flattened to a pancake by the mob, and thankfully, the big, scary security head came out and shooed them away.

Chihaya was in his arms once again today, dancing with him as this was their first dance as a wedded couple. She was already laying her head contentedly on his chest, her eyes closed, probably just taking the moment all in. Her hair was carefully arranged for a waterfall braid, a few strands framing her lovely, youthful face. Her dress was a combination of tradition and modernity, which Kana-chan had helped her pick.

She looked like a goddess, simply put. Arata had to smack him in the head earlier when she first came in. You know that moment, when you were waiting for your bride and she finally arrives in the altar? Well he had pretty much wanted to carry her bridal style without reading their vows, just tell the officiate that he loved her more than anything else in the world, and make their quick escape.

"Self-control, Mashima." Arata had told him sternly. It was the first time that he was glad Arata was his best man. He sighed and turned to his bride.

"Don't fall asleep on me." He nudged her jokingly, and she lifted her head up to glare at him.

"I wasn't asleep." She said shortly, smiling at him, her smile like a gentle beam of sun.

He was silent for a moment, just whirling her around. "You're getting better at this," he said, referring to how she easily followed each of his steps as they swayed in time with the music.

"I could actually get used to this already."

"Hmm… and to think you hated dancing." He teased, and she stuck her tongue out at him, then just smiled sheepishly.

"Dancing isn't so bad… with you." She grinned cheekily, "But I was thinking more of this- "She pressed herself against him even more, "-of never having to let you go."

He chuckled. "Never."

Taichi leaned down to capture her lips squarely, and she lost the time and her thoughts. It was a serious kind of kiss, slow, but turning intense and building…

She had pretty much forgotten where she was when they were broke apart by the person she was least expecting to do it, -Kana-chan.

"It's time, Chi-chan!"

Chihaya felt a flicker of irritation for her maid of honor –who was also her wedding planner rolled into one by the way-, but at least she wasn't the only one. Taichi ignored her, still keeping her lips pressed against his.

"Do you want to miss your plane? I'm sure you will have a lovely honeymoon camped out in the airport waiting for an another plane." Kana-chan said irritably, now right next to her.

She turned her head minimally to look at her for a bit. "Just go away, Kana-chan." She said before kissing Taichi again.

"Do you honestly want the media to catch up to you, buchou?" Kana-chan snapped now, all traces of humor disappearing from her face.

"We'll manage." Taichi said lightly and uncaringly.

"I'll tell her where it is you're taking her, so help me I will." Kana-chan snarled, and Taichi finally lifted his face from hers to bestow Kana-chan a light glare.

"You're so awfully small, Komano Kanade, to be this hugely irritating." He muttered, glaring lightly at his favorite girl friend, his voice laced with amusement.

"I didn't pick the perfect going away dress just to have it wasted." Kana-chan huffed, annoyed, and grabbed hold of Chihaya's arm. "Come with me, Chihaya-chan."

She tugged against her hold, stretching on her tiptoes to kiss Taichi one more time. The watching guests were already chuckling, and Kana-chan jerked her arm impatiently, all but dragging her away from her new husband. Chihaya finally gave up and let her lead her into the empty dressing rooms of the hotel.

Chieko, Chitose and even Mashima Reiko, Taichi's mom, were already waiting for her at one of the dressing rooms. Truth be told, when Taichi first announced to his family that he was getting married already, and to her nonetheless, she had expected 'Mrs. Pressure' to blow up. But she had taken the news surprisingly well, and she just glared at her son as if to say, 'It's about damn time!'

The four of them had her immediately out of her dress, and helped her dress into Kana-chan's royal blue, going away dress ensemble. She then hugged her mother, -whose tears were flowing relentlessly all night, her new mother-in-law, her sister and lastly, Kana-chan.

She still looked lightly annoyed.

"I'm sorry, Kana-chan." She apologized lightly.

Kana-chan sighed, waving a dismissive hand. "It's not really your fault, Chi-chan. You couldn't seem to help yourself."

She threw her arms around her. "Thank you so much, Kana-chan. Everything was perfect. Thank you."

That thawed her out, and she embraced her back tightly. "I'm glad you liked it."

The rest of the women finally led her out of the dressing room and back into the reception. And then the cheering started.

Taichi was already waiting for her at the doors of the ballroom, one hand held out. She took it, and he leaned down to kiss her once again in front of the guests, -which made her gasp lightly,- and lead her out gently as the rice storm started. He covered her head as she laughed, waving to all of their friends, and they paused in front of the car, looking at each other.

"I love you." She told him as he smiled.

"Tell me something I don't know." He joked, and ruffled her hair. "I love you too."

He then helped her into the car and turned around for a last look. He saw Arata standing the nearest to them, his arm around his wife, Wataya Shinobu.

Arata approached him for some final words, he guessed. They stood there in front of each other, neither backing down from the stare they were giving each other.

"Omedeto, Taichi." Arata finally spoke, giving him a genuine smile. "I am happy for the both of you. Truly."

Taichi nodded, grinning back at him. "Thank you, Arata. And thank you… for being my best man."

"You know I wouldn't pass this chance up to finally see you settle down and everything, you being the fickle man you once were." The dark-haired sapphire-eyed man responded, and the brunette narrowed his eyes at him jokingly. "I was just kidding, Taichi. Sheesh." He reached out a hand and gripped his shoulder. "You take care of her now."

Taichi nodded. "Of course I will."

"Good. Now go, before I get too tempted to tell Chihaya where you were you taking her."

Taichi rolled his eyes. "Oh please. Not you too."

Arata's response was a laugh, and he laughed along lightly. He then turned to the former Queen who was now Wataya Shinobu, and bowed.

"Take care, Mashima-san." She said in a light, almost-teasing tone.

"You too, Wataya-san." He responded, and without further ado, got into the car. The cheers picked up, and with a final honk, he and Chihaya were off.

"Fukui?"

"Nope." Taichi had to grin as he saw her rock back and forth in her seat, obviously flustered with all the guessing she was currently doing. "You're a still a long way off, but… somehow near already."

Chihaya couldn't take it anymore, she glared at him. "Ah mou! Can't you just tell me where it is? I'm about to die of curiosity here already!"

He laughed in response, his index finger flicking her nose that she swatted his hand away in response with a grumble. "Have patience, Chihaya. Good things come to those who wait." He quoted, sounding smug and teasing as she crossed her arms over her chest irritably with a hmph.

He really loved riling her up.

"You know, if it hadn't been for the fact that you got us a nice plane seat, I would smack you in the head." She muttered, but didn't complain when he wrapped an arm around her.

"You know what, you can sleep. Perhaps then you'll be in a better mood when I wake you up." He whispered in her ear, and smiled to himself when he felt goosebumps erupt in her arms. And just to rile her up even more, he playfully nibbled her earlobe.

Her reaction was intense –her cheeks burned red, all the way down to the skin on the top of her collarbone. But she was too absorbed in her own thoughts to even form a coherent response, so she just leaned over and laid her head on his chest, almost immediately falling to sleep.

It had felt like hours later when Taichi kissed her awake. She jerked up, disoriented, and looked around.

"Let's go." He muttered, and busied himself with their luggage.

So… they weren't going to take a connecting flight as she had expected. Holding hands, they both walked out into the airport, and Chihaya immediately spotted the digital board.

"I knew you're taking me to Okinawa!" She whispered giddily, as he laughed at the child-like enthusiasm she was showing.

"Yes, but you never guessed that earlier. And Okinawa is just a stop-over. We'll be going deeper in."

She looked at him curiously. "Huh?"

Taichi winked at her. "You'll see."

They exited the airport, hailing a cab as they got out. Taichi told the man to take them to the docks, and Chihaya glanced at him questioningly.

"Are we going to spend the night in a boat?" She asked hopefully.

Her new husband chuckled. "I already said earlier not to keep guessing 'coz you're totally a long way off." He teased knowingly. "Just wait, you know. You'll find out later."

She sighed in frustration. "Fine."

When they finally got to the docks, he paid the cabbie generously and told him to keep the change. The cabbie laughed. "Thank you very much, oniisan! Good luck with you and your lovely wife in your honeymoon!"

Chihaya blushed as Taichi waved a hand to the old man. "How did he know that?" She asked, half-embarrassed, half-pleased.

"Dunno. Maybe because you're blooming."

"Shut up!"

He was laughing as he guided her to the edge of the docks. Chihaya saw that there was already a speed boat waiting for the two of them, and he effortlessly towed the luggage in.

"Careful." He warned as he turned to help her, when she suddenly slipped and nearly fell headfirst hadn't it been for him immediately catching her in reflex. "I just said be careful! Sheesh." He couldn't help but chuckle as she glared at him. "Come on. You're itching to know where I'm taking you, right?"

She rolled her eyes. "Isn't it obvious?"

Taichi flicked her nose again that she glared at him. He then sat her down carefully. "Just sit down and relax. We'll be there… around forty minutes."

Her mouth dropped open. "That long?"

But he just whistled as he started the engine.

Chihaya stared at his back as they lurched forward. She couldn't help but admire how dashing he still looked as he drove them forward, and with how little difficulty he was having with the boat. He hadn't mentioned any interest with boating… or even yachting before, but then again, he was always good with everything he does.

She was itching with all the guessing Taichi was keeping her in. Frankly, with all the secrets he was keeping, it only added to her nervousness –a sort of stage fright that she could feel pooling in her stomach.

Chihaya wasn't born yesterday. This was the first night they would be spending together as a married couple. And that meant… well…

Despite of the fact that they had been together for a year, (it had been a loooooong engagement, what with their work and their schedules,) they… had never done it. They came close to doing it, oh, like several times. But Taichi hadn't pushed her, forced her into it. He said he didn't want to surprise her all of a sudden, and that he was old-fashioned when it came to her. So… well she had allowed it.

But seeing as now that they were married, well, she couldn't help but be giddy that tonight… beyond all reasonable doubt, he was going to make her his, and her… well him.

She nearly dozed off, too lazy to keep on looking at countless islands they've passed, but then his voice called out to her.

"Look, Chihaya."

She stood up and approached him, her eyes wide in the dark. At first she could only see darkness and the moon's trail across the water, and then saw a fairly small island looming in front of them. "We'll be spending our honeymoon here?" she said excitedly, grinning like an idiot all the while. She had always loved beaches and islands, and this is her first time to go into one.

"Yep. Welcome to the Mashima Island."

Chihaya nearly lost her balance as the boat plunged into the waves and she felt the sea spray shower her in little droplets. "Mashima Island? You own this island?" She asked in amazement, her eyes nearly bugging out of their sockets.

She had always known that he is rich, but with this… well he really is filthy rich.

He shook his head. "Don't look at me like that. My parents own this… and 'Tousan all but pushed me to borrow this." He said as the boat finally slowed down. "Here we are."

Taichi pulled the speed boat to a stop on a dock specially made for it in this island, and helped her first off. He carried the luggage past the dark vegetation on the pale pathway of sand which, -she could see it now,- led into the front door of a spacious cabin, the lights already on. When he had placed them on the porch, he turned back to her, and in quick strides reached her and all of a sudden picked her up effortlessly –bridal style.

Chihaya laughed as he carried her to the threshold. "Traditional." She complimented him, and he chuckled.

"I'm nothing if not thorough." He joked, and opened the front door to carry her inside.

He set her down on her feet, and she immediately looked around.

The entire cabin was spacious, and she had to crane her neck around just to take it all in.

The floor was made of tiles, and on the ceiling hung a few glowing lanterns. She immediately loved the glowing things, and started walking around. She saw a glass wall further on, -probably leading to the beach, the two rooms set by her left, and the couches was spaced evenly around so as to make any visitor walk around comfortably she guessed. She approached a room and opened it, her eyes immediately landing on the huge canopied bed made of wood with carvings etched around it.

"That would be our room."

She nearly flinched when she felt him turn up behind her. And for some reason, she suddenly felt incredibly warm.

Chihaya turned around slowly to face him, his eyes meeting hers. They stared at each other wordlessly for a full three minutes, until he broke the silence somewhat self-consciously by clearing his throat.

"I know you loved beaches so I thought you might want to take a night swim first with me. The water will still be warm." He offered, and she nodded wordlessly, still staring at him as if it was the first time she was seeing him directly.

"Good. Well… I'll go first. I'll be waiting for you in the water." And as if he couldn't resist the urge to kiss her, he gave up altogether and leaned down, bestowing her a full kiss on the lips, which made electricity arce up her arm the moment his lips came into contact with hers. "Don't take too long… Mashima Chihaya." He whispered, his breath warm against her lips.

She nearly jumped at the sound of her new name, but before she could react, he had turned around and strode away from her, shrugging out of his long-sleeved shirt and tossing it to a couch as he made his way outside.

Chihaya swallowed and looked down to herself, trying to see if her skin had burst into flames. Nope, nothing was on fire. At least, not one which can be seen by the naked eye.

She shook her head and started taking deep breaths, stumbling on the large suitcase that he had placed beside the bed. She began rummaging through her things recognizing her toiletries on top, and immediately almost heard the blood rush down from her face when she saw the first cloth she came into contact with.

"K-Kana-chan!" She muttered in despair, holding out a silky, nearly-see through, black lingerie. She couldn't help but start hyperventilating when she held it out in front of her, looking at all the patterns weaved into the very lingerie-ish lingerie.

In what parallel universe did she ever think of packing something like this for her!?

And then she recalled. Yes, because she is married to Taichi already… that it was supposed to be normal to have something like this when you were on your honeymoon.

Someone must have secretly hated her out there.

Chihaya recognized the quick breaths that were tearing from her mouth aloud. She really is beginning to hyperventilate that she had to sit down on the cool tiled floor and put her head between her legs.

She wasn't terrified of doing it. It was like… the feeling was like how she had never thought of doing it with him. Because she knew she had already given her heart out to him, completely and utterly, just as he had done so a long time ago to her, of course.

She knew she wasn't making a mistake. The only problem was…

This felt exactly like she was in a karuta match with no idea at all of what the cards were before her, -like the time she and Taichi had to play with the cards turned over for Komano's benefit. Or something like walking out of a theater in front of thousands with no idea what her lines were supposed to be.

She was terrified because she had absolutely no idea on what she was supposed to do. Suddenly, she started to regret not asking her sister or Kana-chan (previous anger momentarily forgotten for her well-meaning maid of honor,) for advice on what to do. How do women act so confident and every bit a woman on your first night with your husband? If it wasn't Taichi out there who was waiting for her, as he had always done so, -if she hadn't known with every fiber of her being that he loved her much more that she probably does him, she wouldn't be able to get herself moving.

But it was indeed Taichi out there, so she straightened up, muttered the words 'Stop being such a girl' to herself, and moved forward out of the room, intending to clean up before swimming, just to calm herself down. She rubbed some warm water on herself, seeing how it helped her somewhat-feverish skin to cool down. But then she gave up altogether and just decided to take a dip in the large, roomy bathtub filled with warm water, and after she was sure she had calmed down… somewhat, she stepped out and wrapped a bathrobe around herself.

She wasn't going to wear those things now, for Pete's sake. She was going to wear that… when she had enough courage to do it.

Chihaya stepped out of the French glass doors which led into the beach, immediately looking for him. Something rustled in the slight breeze, and she turned to see that the rest of his clothes had been lain carelessly onto the bone-white sand.

A flash of heat went down her spine, and she tried to swallow down the nervousness that was building up in her chest once again.

She continued stepping forward though, deciding to just get into the water before removing her bathrobe altogether. Something told her it would be of help.

Chihaya saw him then, standing waist deep into the water, and her heart rammed in her chest when she saw his amber gaze directed at her. Suddenly reddening furiously, she swallowed down her heart and felt her toes break the water as she slowly but surely approached him.

And then finally, finally, she was standing in front of him. He didn't comment about her get up, just looking at her the whole time that she was approaching him, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Finally." He said when they were mere inches from each other. "I thought you're going to leave me all alone out here." He added lightly in a joking tone, which eased the tension like a thick nylon cord wounding itself around them.

She had the courage to roll her eyes. "As if I could ever think of doing that." She said back teasingly, but her dark eyes were serious. She could feel the hem of her bathrobe floating around her legs.

He then turned from her, looking at the crescent moon which hung from the sky like a strange piece of banana with stars. She followed his gaze, and smiled to herself. "You know, the moon was like this when you first brought up the topic of marriage." She said conversationally, grinning at him.

"Yes –to which you had all but turned me down at the first try." He glared lightly at his wife, who smiled at his reaction and went over to embrace him, bathrobe and all.

"I'm sorry." She cooed, looking up at him through her lashes. She could feel her pulse starting to beat violently behind her ears as she pressed herself against him, but she took it into stride. "I was such a chicken."

"Maybe." Taichi's voice had already turned husky as he wound his left arm around her waist. "But it was really worth the wait… don't you think?"

She knew he was talking about two things at the same time. "Yes, I think so too."

Chihaya felt him undo the knot holding her bathrobe together, and she tried not to shiver as he slipped the fabric off her shoulders, lowering his head to drop a kiss on her bare shoulder. Then his lips found her ear, and she leaned heavily against his chest as he kissed the sensitive back area of her ear before letting his lips trail down to her throat. It felt like every nerve ending in her body was a live wire.

"It is."

And she clutched at his neck tightly as he gave her what she had been dreaming off unconsciously the past years of her life.

Himself.

Her eyes were still closed, and she was sprawled across his chest, the blanket draped across her shoulder anyhow, comfortably asleep. But she didn't want to open her eyes just yet, her mind still wrapped around a wonderful dream.

The finger tracing circles slowly on her ivory skin told her otherwise, though. Soft, almost like a feather's caress, she could feel the finger tracing patterns which she couldn't figure out, and which woke her up more effectively than any other methods used to wake a person up early in the morning.

She finally opened her eyes, only to meet his own, bright, amber hues which were gazing at her, almost expectantly. Seeing this made her cheeks heat up, but then she smiled at him.

"Good morning." She murmured, watching him turn to smile back at her.

"Good morning." He greeted back, a grin starting to tug the corners of his mouth. "You look good. Somebody woke up on the right side of the bed."

Chihaya's response was a furious blush and an automatic swat on his arm that he laughed. "You perv." She muttered low in response, and she felt a shiver as his gaze turned teasing with a telltale darkening of his eyes.

"Excuse me. If I am a pervert, -which I am most definitely not,- it's because of only one woman." His arm wrapped once again on her waist, and she had no choice but to moan when he teasingly reached up and lightly kissed her collarbone, leaving her gasping and breathless. "Which I think, was already quite understandable why." He added in between kissing her, as she sighed a shaky breath out.

Last night… had been wonderful. There was no denying that. People say that you've found your other half when it felt as if everything was perfect. And it is.

She trembled as she recalled the way he touched her, the way that he had made love to her. They fit together, like corresponding pieces, as if they were two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle which had finally found each other.

He had been the perfect gentleman, allowing her to adjust fully. She didn't think that there was any other man in this world with the restraint necessary to think of a woman first before himself. And just for that, she felt her heart ache with just love for him.

Chihaya met his lips, almost overwhelmed with the desire which suddenly shot past her body down to her toes. He was startled for a bit, but recovered just as well,the kiss deepening with need as she kissed him like he was the oxygen she had been deprived of inhaling, -before pulling back to look at her, his eyes definitely a darker shade now than earlier.

"Don't you want to have some breakfast first?" He asked in a breathless, husky voice, eyes darting towards the door of their room, but Chihaya felt his body's response press against her legs already.

She smiled slyly, in an almost sexy way that he swallowed, his adam's apple bobbing up and down. "Hmmm… don't I fit as breakfast?" She said teasingly, that he smirked but his eyes were still serious.

"You definitely fit as breakfast." He murmured, before pulling her down into the bed, him on top of her. "Are you sure about this?" He couldn't help asking though, to which she rolled her eyes.

"We're married, Taichi. Need I remind you that?" She asked peevishly, before pulling him down. "I want you, Mashima Taichi. All of this." She murmured as her hand ghosted from his throat down to his stomach, making him shiver.

He was about to give in to his instinct when he recalled something quite important. Kissing her lightly with a teasing grin on his lips, he reached for something behind her and showed it to her. "I want to give you this first."

Chihaya looked at him, then to the box that he held in front of her. "For me?"

Taichi playfully rolled his eyes. "No that's for the cleaning crew. Yes, it's for you," he chuckled lightly as she socked him on the arm. "I… wasn't able to give that to you yesterday, seeing as we have been quite busy…" her cheeks colored at his statement, "I haven't had the chance to do so. So before I forget it, might as well give it to you now."

He dropped back beside her as she opened it. And she took a sharp intake of breath.

Inside was a gold pocket watch, with the cover embossed with something like a bear's face –her favorite toy in the whole world- daddy bear.

It was what she was dying to have.

"S-Sugoi!" Her cheeks flushed at the sight of the beautiful watch, and unmistakable tears formed in her eyes, the gift touching her incredibly. "A daddy bear pocket watch… b-but how did you…?" She trailed off in utter amazement, looking at him questioningly. "I mean I haven't seen anything like this before…"

He shrugged. "I had it customized. You can't find anything like that, so… well, I asked the jewelers to make it." He motioned toward the pocket watch she was holding. "Something's engraved inside the cover. You can read it if you want."

Chihaya, not wasting any second, her curiosity piqued, opened the cover. And her breath stopped when she saw one of the phrases she had known her entire life engraved on the underside of the cover.

Note that, though we may be apart, if I am to hear that you pine for me as the Inaba mountain pines, I shall return to you.

"That was my favorite card." Taichi spoke quietly, seeing the tears which had started to form in her eyes. "Every time I think of you, that card was what kept me going... especially around that time." He said, his tone tender and clear, knowing she would understand what he was talking about without a doubt.

Chihaya looked at him, her dark eyes uncomprehending as he reached over and wiped her tears with a finger. "I know… that you're not ready to see the cards… or even touch them, play once again. But I know, deep down inside, the love you have always felt for karuta was still there. And I know that you miss them, just as the cards- your friends miss you. Do you want to play again?" He asked, staring at her seriously.

It was amazing, how karuta can still stir all kinds of emotions in her. And as she stared into Taichi's eyes, she suddenly saw something in there which made her admit after a year of avoiding the game she had always loved, that she missed the feeling of swiping for the cards, of claiming them, or swinging her arm with precision. She nodded.

Taichi then smiled at her, ruffling her hair. "So… what? Are we going to play a match once again?"

Chihaya stared at him, now just realizing how lucky she was that this man had never given up on her.

She had thought before that her meeting him as a classmate back in their elementary years was just a coincidence. All the things that they had done together, -all the competition, the bragging, the teasing and childish behavior had been a part of it just as how much she knew that he was a vital part of her life. The Taichi of before had been a spoiled, rich brat, and she liked to think that perhaps they had become best friends for her to 'tame' him and show him that he was not, at all, perfect –perhaps to bring him back down a few notches.

But that was not all.

Perhaps everything had been decided by fate. And why shouldn't it be? She had been separated from him when they graduated from elementary, only to be reunited back in high school. He had been the 'backbone' of the Mizusawa karuta club just as she had been the heart of it. He had always been there, not just for the times that she was happy. But for the times that she had been incredibly down.

Chihaya was beginning to realize that the two of them… no matter how far the distance is, had always been there with each other. Always coexisting, always together. You will never see one without the other, and you will never hurt one without hurting the other. Cutting one of them from each other was like taking away the air they breathe.

She was bound to him, not by coincidence at all, but without a doubt, by Lady Fate herself.

The thought made her look down to the threaded ring that she wore on her ring finger along with her engagement ring. She really is stupid, isn't she, for just realizing that now. But then, perhaps the best way to show her remorse was to be happy that she is, for all intents and purposes, now bound to him forever. She had the ring to prove it, after all.

And then she slowly turned to smile at him.

Thank the Gods for this wonderful, wonderful man who had never given up on her.

Chihaya grinned cheekily at him. "Of course I would like to play... probably one of these days. But we're kinda in the middle of our honeymoon and as much as I love karuta, I love you more." So saying, she suddenly pounced on him and he laughed, the sound low and breathless.

"How unlike you to ignore karuta." He teased lightly, but his eyes darkened with desire. "But I understand where you're coming from." His fingers started stroking her hair, his hand beginning to torture her as it slowly made it's way down further. "Chihaya."

"Hmm?" She was looking at him expectantly.

"I love you." He muttered seriously as she returned his gaze softly and tenderly.

"And I love you too. Thank you for never giving up on me." She responded gently, and silence filled the space between them for a while.

Then she suddenly huffed cheekily. "You're so slow. Are you planning to make me wait or-"

She laughed as he swung her easily below him, making her breath hitch. His amber gaze burned into hers.

"Your wish… my command, your Highness."

And Taichi proceeded to show her exactly what a honeymoon is supposed to be like.

~~Owari~~

Before I completely leave you guys, I will be making an announcement:

I will be taking a short break from writing. It doesn't mean that I'm stopping, but I just needed to take a break. I have too many story lines cramped in my mind (no doubt about these two once again,) that I have to rest to be able to pick the most I like and begin writing them. I hope you will continue supporting my stories, and of course, the Chihayafuru fandom.

All hail Taichihaya shippers!

I love you guys. And don't forget to tell me what you think! Thank you, dear readers! :)