OK guys time for the wedding. Hopefully I don't disappoint since I know that so many people have been waiting for this chapter and I have unmercifully been drawing it out, sorry for that. I even looked up how a real Japanese wedding proceeds to get this right with little bit of western style and that's why it took awhile to write this chapter :).
Go to .com/watch?v=F288j5ZNr8g&feature=related to see a real Japanese wedding. Then you can get a better sense of the wedding, since I'm basing everything on that and what some of the shrines looked like when I went to Japan in the spring.
Disclaimer: Junjou Romantica is Shungiku Nakamura (this is the last time I get to say that for this story )
Now on to the main event:
"This is it this is it." Hiro kept saying to himself pacing back and forth. He heard the people filing into the shrine across the courtyard. He also heard the distant sounds of thunder and was glad that the shrine was under a wooden roof.
"Akihiko I lied…I can't do this." Hiro said to his friend. Usagi looked at him and sighed.
"Well you can leave whenever you want but just remember I get to keep the 2000 yen, and Nowaki is going to be very upset." Hiro pulled on his bow trying to get more air to his throat.
"I hate you, you know that right."
"Hai." Before anymore words could be exchanged his mother and father opened the door followed by his little cousin Rei who skipped in with her basket of flowers.
"Are you ready Hiro-chan?" His mother smiled happily. Her eyes filled with tears and she walked up to her son and kissed him on the cheek.
"We so proud of you and I want you to always know that." His mother cried. Hiro scratched his cheek in embarrassment and Akihiko laughed. A Miko (1) came in and bowed.
"The wedding is ready to begin. Are you all ready?" The family looked at Hiro in anticipation. The groom sucked in some air and let it out slowly.
"I'm as ready as I'll ever be." The Miko nodded her head again.
"Then I will bring in the Priest and grooms bride." The Miko left and came back a few minutes later with the Priest followed by Tsumori-san as Nowaki's best man, Sister Izumi and Father Peter as Nowaki's guardians and then Nowaki. He slipped in and closed the door wearing his black tuxedo with a red rose tucked into his jacket pocket. He smiled gently and walked over to Hiro who just stood in awe. He was his and he was going to marry him. He never thought this day would actually come. Sister Izumi walked over to the soon to be couple and kissed them both on the forehead. No words were needed when she pulled back with tears running down her face full of joy.
"Shall we begin?" The priest asked. They all nodded and Nowaki held out his arm for Hiro. Hiro shyly looped his arm around his soon to be husband and took an umbrella with his other arm that the Miko had handed him.
Hiro's cousin walked out first fluttering Sakura pedals along the ground. As the doors opened he could hear the Gagaku music (2) playing in the distance. The priest than walked out with one of the Miko's following him with an umbrella over his head as droplets of water began to fall. Hiro opened the umbrella as he and Nowaki walked out next followed by Hiro's parents and Nowaki's guardians and then the two best men.
As the soft music played they walked down the pebble courtyard to the covered shrine and the standing guests. When they got to the beginning of the shrine the Miko took the umbrella's and motioned everyone in the line besides the two grooms to take a stand at the altar. After they left the crowd watched as the Priest took a stick with white paper attached at the end and did the shubatsu ritual(3) while reciting the norito (4) to celebrate the new beginning of the couple's life, and to ask for the Shinto god's grace. When the Priest finished the prayer he motioned for Hiro and Nowaki to walk down to the altar.
As they walked hand and hand passed their friends and family the guests all bowed. Hiro looked around at all the familiar faces. There was his student Misaki with a big smile plastered on his face taking pictures. They passed Hiro's family and Nowaki's co-workers. He passed Shinobu and Miyagi who had secretly placed his hand around his lover's hand. He passed the other children from Nowaki's orphanage. Megumi was beaming and Yuki smiled gently. Shin the man who helped him out at the bachelor party winked and bowed to the couple. Hiro frown a little as he saw Osamu. The young man was glaring at Hiro who had cringed at the site. Shin then bumped Osamu's side and with his elbow making Osamu flinched and then bow to the couple.
When they got to the alter the Miko's took cups of sake and began handing it out to everyone. One of the Miko's poured sake into three small bowls of different sizes in front of Nowaki and Hiro. They then did sansankudo (5) and drank all the sake from the bowls.
It was than time for the rings. Tsumori smiled as he took the rings from his pocket. He handed it to Nowaki who took it graciously. He kept the small silver one and handed the bigger gold one to Hiro whose hands were shaking so much he almost dropped it.
The priest placed Hiro's hand into Nowaki's.
"Please repeat after me…I, Hiro, take thee Nowaki, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; and I promise to be faithful to you until death parts us." Hiro repeated the words slowly and carefully. If he was going to do this than he was going to do this right, after finishing he took the gold ring and slipped in onto Nowaki's finger
The priest than turned to Nowaki.
"Nowaki please repeat after me… I, Nowaki, take thee Hiro, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; and I promise to be faithful to you until death parts us." Hiro looked at their hands intertwined and waited for Nowaki to say his lines…and waited…and waited, and waited. He looked up to see Nowaki staring at their hands mouth opened slightly and eyes wide.
"Nowaki." He whispered. "This is where you're supposed to say your lines." The guests were dead silent, someone coughed, the rain got heavier and a car alarm went off in the distance. It was weird of all the things you notice when your fiancé isn't saying anything.
Nowaki looked like a fish out of water with his mouth opening and closing trying to form words. Hiro looked out into the crowed to see if anyone knew what to do, but his eyes went straight to a smiling Osamu. Hiro growled.
"Excuse us for a second!" He yelled and griped Nowaki's hand tighter and dragged him out of the shrine and out to the rain. Once out of ear shot Hiro turned to Nowaki and was about to shout how embarrassed he was. But he couldn't, not with the face Nowaki was giving him. Nowaki's head was down as the water drenched his hair and face. But Hiro could still make out the tears coming down his face. His eyes widen as he notice how much Nowaki resembled a little kid who just lost his favorite toy.
"Nowaki?" He said quietly "what's wrong?"
"I…I don't know I just froze up." Hiro didn't know what to say. He always thought that if someone was going to screw up the wedding that it was going to be him. He tried to think of what to say but he was never very good at situations like this. So he did the only thing that he knew made him feel better. He grabbed Nowaki around the waist into the strongest hug he could muster. He then placed his hand on Nowaki's head and rubbed it. Nowaki's eyes widen in the sudden embrace and then soften as he placed his arms around Hiro.
"All this time everyone was so worried about my feelings…No one asked you how you were." Hiro said sternly. "Gomen."
"No Hiro-san it's my fault. I want to marry you…I really don't know what happened."
"You just got nervous that's all. It happens to the best of us." Hiro said and then began to laugh.
"What's so funny Hiro-san?" Nowaki asked as he gently pulled himself from Hiro's arms.
"Nothing, nothing, I just thought I would be the one who froze." Nowaki looked down in shame.
"It's not a bad thing Nowaki…It actually makes me feel better knowing that you're just as scared as I am." Hiro continued to laugh. Nowaki thought about it for a minute and then joined in laughing. When they finished they stared at each other for a few minutes. The rain began to let up until it was back to a light drizzle.
"Feel better?" Hiro asked.
"Much better Hiro-san."
"Ahem."The couple turned around to see Usagi-san and Tsumori-san standing at the edge of the shrine.
"So." Tsumori said in a smug voice. "Is there going to be a wedding or not." Hiro looked up at Nowaki.
"You know we don't have to do this if you don't want to."
"No I'm alright…let's try this again." They walked up to the best men. They both handed the couple a hank chief.
"I know it's not a towel but it will have to do for now" Usagi said. They dried themselves off as much as possible and then went back to the shrine.
Both Hiro's and Nowaki's face was red with embarrassment as they entered the silent shrine. Everyone was staring at them in anticipation. Nowaki closed his eyes and breathed in deeply. He moved in front of the priest and took the ring that he had put in his pocket. Taking Hiro's hand he slipped the silver piece of jewelry onto Hiro's finger.
"I…I Nowaki, take thee Hiro, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; and I promise to be faithful to you until death parts us." A sigh of relief could be heard through the entire crowed. The Priest smiled.
"Well then if you come with me we will offer the gods your offering, and the Miko's will exchange the sake with your guardians." The priest handed a branch of a sacred sakaki tree and both men placed it on the alter in prayer. The Miko's gave the sake to Hiro's parents, Sister Izumi and father Peter. They handed each other the sake and drank showing they approve of the marriage.
Hiro and Nowaki both looked at each other and smiled. The priest put his hands on their shoulders.
"Then with the permission of their family I know pronounce them partners you may kiss your husband." The guests cheered well all except for Osamu who had snuck out of the shrine. Nowaki smiled and bent down. Hiro blushed as Nowaki lifted his chin and pulled him in for a deep kiss. The music picked up and the Hiro quickly pulled Nowaki down the aisle with flowers being tossed and the new married couple. They walked up to the limo hand in hand. Hiro's mother walked up to them as Nowaki got into the back of the car. She hugged Hiro tightly.
"I'll see you at the reception hall OK."
"Hai mother." Hiro said and then yelled as Nowaki pulled him into the Limo for another kiss.
~At the Reception hall~
Misaki sat at his chair looking through his digital camera at all the pictures he took. He felt something tickle the back of his neck and bit his ear. He yelped and turned around to see Usagi with two glasses of Champaign.
"Usagi don't do that."
"Aww why not, today's a day that we should be all over each other." The older man said taking a seat next to his lover. Misaki closed his eyes in frustration.
"Usagi not here, this isn't our day its Kamijō-sensei's and Kusama-sans day. You're just going to have to wait until it's your turn." Misaki said. When he didn't hear Usagi say anything he opened his eyes to see Usagi look at him all lovey- dovey.
"No wait that's not what I meant…I mean if we were to get married…No I mean if you were to get married." Usagi placed a finger onto Misaki's lips.
"I know what you mean. You'll want me eventually I'll just wait until then." Misaki sighed and slammed his head onto the table over and over again.
A pissed off Shinobu followed by Miyagi passed the table that was now having its top bashed in with Misaki's head.
"But Shinobu you even said yourself that you were too young to get married."
"Well I changed my mind. I want to get married. Then we can move in together instead of living across the hall from each other. And then I can make you bento boxes and dinner every day and…" Miyagi placed his hand over the boy's mouth and sighed. It was going to be along evening.
The lights dimmed and the band in the corner stopped playing music.
"Ladies and gentlemen can you please have a seat." The lead singer of the band announced. The guests all sat done in their assigned seats. When they all settled in the singer then began speaking again.
"I now present to you for the first time Hiro and Nowaki Kamijō-Kusama- san (I know that sounds weird but I didn't know how else there last name should be) The guests burst into applause as Hiro and Nowaki both in new dry suits walked out hand and hand smiling.
"And now it's time for their first dance." The singer picked up his guitar and began playing Beautiful world by Hikaru Utada (6). The new married couple moved to the dance floor and Nowaki took Hiro's hands and began their first dance together as a married couple. Slowly other couples began to get up and dance as well.
Usagi pulled Misaki up who tried to squirm for his grip but soon realized it was futile and gave up. He allowed Usagi to lead him on the floor and dance.
Shinobu was still sitting in his chair looking at the people dancing. Miyagi sighed and tapped the younger boy on the shoulder.
"Care to dance?" Shinobu smiled and pulled Miyagi to the floor.
As the night wore on Tsumori was beginning to get tired of all the fun around him. He opened the door to the balcony to get some fresh air when he spotted a young man on leaning on the ledge, a glass of Champaign by his side.
"Konban wa." (7) He greeted walking up to the man. He leaned along his back along the ledge and smiled.
"My names Tsumori… Nowaki's sempai at the hospital." The black haired man turned to Tsumori his eyes red from what looked like cry. He wiped his eyes with his sleeve.
"Osamu I'm…well I used to be Nowaki's boyfriend."
"Oh you're that Osamu, Nowaki told me about you. Well if it makes you feel any better I had a little crush on Nowaki myself. Hiroki-san kind of persuaded me not to go for him though." Tsumori said rubbing his head where Hiro had hit him at the hospital with a very heavy bag. Osamu placed his hand over his mouth and laughed.
"Hiro-san tends to do that doesn't he?" He turned around and they both watched as people came up to the couple handing them wedding gifts. Through the closed door they can see Hiro mouthing something and then Nowaki laughed.
"But there good for each other." Tsumori answered back. "So all this wedding stuff is a little mushy for my taste, what do you say I take you to a bar I know of down the street, my treat." Osamu looked at Tsumori with skepticism.
"What's in it for you?"
"Just some company." Osamu looked back at Nowaki who had now wrapped his arms around the smaller man in front of him.
"Yeah sure why not." Osamu said and was surprised to find Tsumori with his arm out. Osamu smiled and wrapped his arm around Tsumori and was lead out to the bar.
Back in the hall it was time to cut the cake. Hiro was expecting the three layered white cake with some rose sugar flowers. Suddenly a huge shadow fell upon him. He turned around to see two of the caterers with a huge cake. It was five layers with flowers, pearls, and diamonds. To some it was gorgeous and expensive. But that didn't stop Hiro from seething at his so called best man. He was about to shout when cake was smooched into his face. He gasped and wiped his mouth. Nowaki laughed his hand covered in the vanilla frosting. He then stopped laughing as he watched helplessly as Hiro angrily stuck his hand in the huge cake and grabbed a fistful of cake.
"Wait Hiro-san gomen I…wait…I mean." But his plea was over heard as Hiro threw the cake at Nowaki who tried to dodge but was struck in the face by the dessert. The guests laughed and took pictures as Hiro help clean the cake off his husbands face and tasted it.
"Not bad."
~later that night at Hiro's and Nowaki's apartment~
Hiro opened the door yawning and was about to walk in when he was pulled back.
"Wait!" Nowaki shouted. He then lifted Hiro off the ground bridal style.
"What are you doing you baka put me down?"
"But it's tradition to carry the bride over the threshold."
"Nani…I'm not a bride."
"But you can't lift me up so I'll just have to hold you." Nowaki laughed and walked in and then placed Hiro on the couch. Nowaki began to take off his jacket. He walked over to the kitchen to make him and Hiro some tea.
"I can't wait to go to Fiji tomorrow. Aren't you excited Hiro-san?" Nowaki turned around only to see that Hiro had curled up on the couch and had fallen asleep. Nowaki smiled lightly and placed a blanket on his husband.
"I love you Hiro-san." And he kissed the sleeping man on the head.
~The next day at the airport~
A smiling Nowaki walked through the air terminal next to a very grumpy Hiro. The spotted Usagi and Misaki by the gate and Nowaki ran up to them waving.
"What's wrong with Kamijō-sensei?" Misaki asked.
"He's just upset he fell asleep when we got home." Hiro walked up to his husband and placed his suitcase down. Usagi smiled.
"Aww, Hiroki didn't get his after wedding sex?" Both Hiro and Misaki gasped.
"Akihiko!"
"Usagi-san" The two men shouted at the same time. Nowaki laughed and rubbed the back off his head. Usagi fished his hand into his pocket and pulled out to plane tickets.
"Here you go two tickets for the happy couple to Fiji."
"Arigatou Usami-san" Nowaki said taking the tickets and handing Hiro's his. Hiro took a look at the ticket and grimpsed.
"Usagi what are these?"
"Plane tickets to Fiji."
"I asked for regular coach tickets. These are fully paid first class round trip tickets with everything included."
"Nani!" Misaki shouted. "I didn't order that!"
"Oh its OK Misaki I changed it. I thought that Hiroki and Nowaki would like it." Usagi smiled. Hiro slapped his face.
"What about our hotel room. Did you change that?"
"Hai, you needed much more than the average honeymoon suite. So I got you the deluxe version. It's 10 times bigger and has sound proof walls so you can be as loud as you want." Usagi boasted. Steam was seething from Hiro's head. Nowaki took a step back and Misaki hid behind Usagi crouching behind the author's legs.
"Arigatou Usami-san." He bowed and took his and Hiro's luggage with one hand and then carefully took Hiro's arm and led the now grumpier Hiro to the plane.
Once the plane was in the air the stewardess offered the couple Champaign and took their order for dinner. Nowaki was looking out the window with excitement.
"You act like you have never been on a plane before." Hiro said as he watched his husband act like a little 4 year old.
"I was too occupied with leaving you last time to really enjoy myself. This is much better." Hiro took a sip of his drink and smiled. "I can't wait to go scuba diving, horseback riding and sailing…oh and I'm going to defiantly learn how to surf. This will be so much fun right Hiro-san." He turned to see Hiro looking down.
"Well I was kind of hoping we can spend a little more time inside…like in the bedroom to make up for last night." Nowaki smiled and pulled Hiro in for a kiss.
"Of course. Now we have a life time for that." The two of them sat back on their seats and Hiro rested his head on Nowaki's shoulder.
"Yeah we do…I guess we can do a little scuba diving." And the two of them laughed.
THE END
Miko-A temple priestess who helps the priest with rituals.
Gagaku music-traditional music played at a Japanese wedding
Shubatsu- A Japanese ritual to purify the people taking part in the ceremony
Norito- The prayer said with Shubatsu
Sansankudo- exchange of the nuptial cups. means 3 * 3 = 9 and represents the couple's dedication to each other
Beautiful world by Utada Hikaru- I just think it's really pretty but here's the lyrics and song .com/lyrics/u/utada_hikaru/beautiful_
Konban wa- Good evening
So that's it I'm finished. Hoped you liked it. It might not have as well as I wanted it to but hey it was my first fic ever so Yay me.
It might have felt like there should be more but I'm saving it for a sequel. So tell me if you guys want one and I will do it. I have new characters, more weddings and more problems in mind. Thank you all for sticking with me and for the last time for this story…
Review Kindly Onegai (BOW)