Mari awoke early that morning, so early, in fact, that she could have gone back to bed, but instead she just looked at Akko's peaceful expression and smiled.

"Nnh…" After a while, Akko was beginning to stir in her sleep. Mari took this as a cue and kissed Akko ever-so-softly on the lips. "Good morning, Akko."

"Morning Mari, or should I call you tiger~?" Even the first thing in the morning could be Akko's teasing, and she grinned all over. It wasn't very often that Mari was so aggressive in bed, but when it happened, Akko never complained.

"A-As long as you only call me that when we are alone…then, it is fine." Mari said while blushing. As she was getting out of the bed, she looked at herself and Akko. "We really need a shower. We have lots of time…let's take a shower together." That last part was whispered, just a little.

"That would be nice~" But as Akko was saying that, her stomach growled loudly, and she began to laugh sheepishly.

Mari also smiled. This, too, was becoming routine and she enjoyed it. "Let's get freshened up first. Then, we can do something about that black hole of yours."

"Mou~ Mari!" Mari loved to see Akko pout, which is why she sometimes did these little things, but to ensure that there was no foul atmosphere in the household, she went over and kissed Akko soundly on the lips. Akko seemed to be complacent after that.

They didn't feel the need to draw water for the bathtub. While it would be nice to just soak in, they had work and school to attend. They scrubbed each other's back, got dressed and applied their make-up in a carefree and relaxed manner. It was truly wonderful to be good on time. Of course, there was a bit of teasing and flirting. They were a lovey-dovey couple through and through.

Mari was rummaging through their cabinets for various things, "What do you want for breakfast, Akko?"

"Whatever you're willing to feed me~!" As long as Mari made it, Akko would eat it. Mari was a really good chef.

"That's what you said yesterday too, and that answer gives me the most trouble! But for now, we'll have some oatmeal with fruits and some raisins." Mari was looking through their cupboards to find everything she needed. While doing this, she asked Akko. "By the way, Akko, when will you be home today?"

Akko thought about it for a moment. "At 3, I think."

"I'm off work at 4. Do you think you could do the grocery shopping for tonight?" It was marvelous how routine their mornings had become.

"Sure, what do we need?" Akko was almost wagging her fictional tail, she was so eager to please after one of these nights.

"I'll make you a list before we go." Mari put the breakfast on the table and it wasn't long before Akko started eating it. Mari sat down and started writing the list, then, she too started eating.

They ate in relative silence. They had learned the hard way what happens when you try to mix flirting and eating at the same time. The ensuing mess is so hard to clean up.

"It's nice to have such a tranquil morning."

"Yes. Some mornings are rather hectic." Both of them began to chuckle when they looked back on those mornings.

When Mari had put everything away, they decided to put on jackets and shoes and then, they walked outside, where they hugged tightly.

"I'll see you when I get home."

"I'll be counting the seconds, Mari." A longing expression settled on Akko's face.

Mari poked Akko's nose gently. "Don't let the counting affect your studies~" Both of them laughed before giving each other a goodbye kiss.

Akko set out for her school.

Beauty school was vastly more fun for Akko to attend, because it could actually hold her interest. There, she actually scored decent grades; her average was a B, which she was greatly pleased about. At this school, she had also made new friends and she enjoyed hanging out with them. Of course, she hadn't ever told them about her girlfriend…So it was with some dismay that today proved to be that day.

"Hey Akko-chan. Do you wanna go to a mixer this afternoon?" It was a girl named Keiko who asked her.

One of the other girls in the group picked up on Akko's hesitation and really wanted her to join. "Yeah! it'll be totes fun!" This girl, named Sumiri, who had nicknamed herself Sumirin, bore a striking resemblance to Tamamin personality-wise.

"…That's very sweet of you girls. But I'm not interested in mixers. Besides…" Akko trailed off and bit her lip. "…Besides, I'm already devoted to my lover. I don't want to go to a mixer and risk a bad mood at home."

"Woah~! When did you get a boyfriend?!" Keiko was astounded, and her eyes gleamed with a burning curiosity.

"A long time ago." She told her friends. "A white lie." Akko felt a little shameful for not telling them the whole truth. However, she wasn't ready to face them just yet.

"But when we first talked about it, you were a little vague. Was it after that?" Keiko was curious about this boyfriend, who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere.

"Back then, our relationship wasn't exactly set in stone and S- He'd rather I didn't say anything…but now, we are dating. I just didn't have a time to talk with you all about it." Akko almost made a slip-up and let the truth spill out.

"He was one of those types that didn't want their relationship out? I'm surprised he changed his mind." Sumiri made a grimace. She seemed to know by experience.

"So am I. But I'm glad my darling did." Akko's smile was serene, and she had completely immersed herself into the lie.

Keiko put a fist in her open palm in a flash of genius. "OH! Is that why you've been looking terrible for the past few days but look giddy with happiness today?"

"No, that's not why. We had a big fight, and finally made up yesterday evening." When Akko said that, she almost looked kitten-ish.

"Well, good that you forgave him." Keiko laughed heartily. She knew what that face meant.

"I was the one at fault, actually. Right now, I'm living off of his income because I'm under education, without a part-time job, and I was spending money needlessly…Don't mention that I said that." Akko made a "don't tell!" gesture to them all, and they all laughed at her.

The group as a whole put a finger on their lips and winked at her. "Our lips are sealed."

"I guess this means you aren't going to the mixer, but that's okay. You should introduce us to him one of these days, though~" Keiko had a big grin plastered on her face.

"Y-Yeah, I will. You girls have fun at the mixer." Keiko noticed a tiny crack in Akko's voice, but she paid it no mind right now.

They parted ways and Akko was seriously relieved that the social interrogation was over with. She looked at the time and noticed that it was time to go grocery shopping.

When Akko got home with the groceries, she put them in the fridge and then went outside to check the mail. There were a few commercials, a single bill and a letter addressed to them. "That's weird. We don't normally get letters." Akko thought to herself. Most of their friends used e-mail and text messages to contact them with.

After putting the groceries away, Akko opened the letter, it read:

To Miss Oohashi Akiko & Miss Kumamura Mariko

It is our pleasure and honour of inviting you to our official and legitimate wedding, Saturday one month and one week from now, it will be held at noon, and at Hisagi hall.

Sincerely

Daidouji Tomoyo & (Soon to be) Daidouji Sakura.

P.S. I just recently learned that you're my step sister! I hope to see you at the wedding~

She re-read it again, and then a third time. It wasn't a particularly-long letter, nor was it hard to understand…but she just couldn't fathom how they would get around the Japanese law regarding fidelity among lesbians. Akko had researched that particular law thoroughly for her own interest. Also this was her step-sister A.K.A The daughter of the woman who was dating her mother, who she actually met yesterday.

"I'm home." The voice of her beloved Mari brought her out of her trance.

Her voice came out automatically, without ever taking her eyes off the letter. "Welcome home, darling."

When Mari came into the room, she noticed Akko sitting with a letter tightly held in her hands. "What's that?"

Akko seemed a little lost in thought. "…An invitation to a wedding between two girls."

Mari walked up to the letter and took a quick gander at it. "Huh…That's odd. They must know that they can't marry according to law…is it like a make-believe ceremony?"

"It doesn't seem to be…" Akko scratched the back of her head in confusion.

A look of contemplation crossed Mari's face. "Should we attend?"

"It's my step-sister's wedding, it would be rather rude if we didn't."

"Let's attend, then." A smile flickered briefly on Mari's face before she switched subject. "More importantly, the sleepover will be soon. Have you thought of preparations?"

"A few vague things that I know we'll need." Planning still wasn't exactly Akko's strong side.

"Let's get them out of the way, then." Mari grabbed the invite out of Akko's hands and put it on the fridge and then made a To Do list for the sleepover.

After the guests had all made themselves at home and gotten comfortable, they started to bring out a few soft alcoholic beverages. While this wasn't a drinking party, it was also enjoyable to have a few drinks with good friends.

Conversation went lightly until Tamamin turned her head to look at the host. "Mari-chin, do you realize how lucky you are? In these economic times, the place you were an intern in, decided to hire you the moment you were done. Do you realize how lucky that is?!" Tamamin was fuming. Clearly, she hadn't been so lucky.

Mari put down a cup of ice tea in front of her. "Yes, Tamamin. I do realize how lucky I am, which is also why I thought about a lot of things before getting this apartment."

Akko felt she just had to tease the devious Tamamin. "Even though you say that, aren't you doing well for yourself, 'Miss Hentai Doujinshi Artist'~?"

"No way, Tamamin! You're one of them?" Taguchi had a wide grin as she smacked Tamamin lightly on the arm.

"See Akko-chin? This is why I need a real job! I may be well off, but I can't set my foot anywhere without being a laughing stock!" Everyone chuckled as Tamamin fumed.

"What has happened in everyone else's life?" It had been quite a while since Mari had heard anything major from her old high school friends.

"I became a sports coach just recently! Kinda obvious, really, but I managed to fulfill my dream." Taguchi grinned all over. She was really proud of her achievement.

"Oh wow~! Congratulations!" There was a short round of applause.

"I'm still studying to be an anesthetist. Takes a long time." Everyone looked at Sugi, baffled by such a high goal.

"That's pretty amazing, Sugi-chin!" Taguchi was seriously amazed, and would have continued asking about it had Kuno not interrupted.

"…Prince and I are having a fight!" It was the usual drama in the life of Kuno.

Treading lightly around the subject, Mari asked with a somber expression. "...what happened?"

"He has been ignoring me and as I stalked him, I saw him with another woman!" Kuno was sulking, and whining and bitching. She had been with her "prince" for so long now, to think that he would betray her now.

Akko raised her fist and ground her teeth while thinking. "I told him not to hurt her feelings!" But before she could say anything, her phone rang, and when she picked it up, it was her mother.

"Aki, turn on the television on Kindai Station right now!"

"W-What's happening?!" The urgency of her mother's tone of voice startled Akko.

"Just do it! You'll understand when you do!" Haruko ended the phone call and Akko was still a bit baffled before she finally did what her mother told her to do and turned on the television.

"...re are some news from the Cabinet. The new law proposal that makes it legal for gay and lesbian people to be married has been made into law. The vote ended on an astounding 662 for, 60 against. Such a feat is unheard of. The only comment we have been able to get on the subject from any politician is that it will help the wedding industry back on its feet after a long decline…Though all of the politicians seem touchy on the subject." A reporter in front of the cabinet building was reporting to the studio could be seen. In the background, however, the girls could see a couple that hugged each other tightly.

"Hanyaaan~! We're getting married Tomoyo-chan!"

"I'm so happy, Sakura-chan~!" It was a long black-haired woman that had a look of pure bliss on her face that responded.

The journalist then noticed them and spun around for an interview. "I'm sorry, but I couldn't help but overhear what you said! Would you mind if I interviewed you?"

The woman with long black hair gave an affirmative nod while her partner scratched the back of her neck in embarrassment.

The reporter wasted no time. "How did you first know you were in love?"

"For me?" Tomoyo put a hand to her chin as she relished in the sweet nostalgia. "Love at first sight~ when we started 3rd grade together…though it sure took my lover more time to find out her feelings~"

Before the interviewer could even comment on it, Sakura had turned to her bride-to-be. "Wait, since 3rd Grade?! Tomoyo-chan…You should have said something!"

Tomoyo looked at her beloved with a patient expression. "But I did Sakura-chan. All. The. Time.You just didn't catch on~"

"Mou~" Sakura pouted and Tomoyo could do nothing but giggle at her cute expression.

The interviewer coughed delicately. "Anyway, what is your wedding going to be like? Any exciting decorations or themes? You areone of the first!"

"It is going to be big. We plan to invite 200 guests chosen from a lottery held by Daidouji Toys. And of course, the media are welcome to be there too. Why not come record it~?" Tomoyo smiled sweetly at the interviewer.

"Daidouji Toys! How did you manage to make them do such a thing?" It was too bad that this was live television. The interviewer mentally wished he could edit his own facial expression to not look like a carp.

"My mother is the CEO, so she was highly enthusiastic about it. She suggested it, in fact." Tomoyo nonchalantly brushed her hair to the side as she said it.

Getting over his flabbergasted-ness, the interviewer once again coughed. "I…I think I will! After getting an invitation like this, it would be rude to turn it down." He checked his watch. "I'm afraid we're out of time. This has been the Afternoon News of Kindai Station, reporting live."

"Splendid, see you at the wedding then." And with that the channel switched to the studio.

"Akko…is that…?" After hearing those names, Mari recalled the invitation they had received.

"Yeah…that's the couple that invited us to their wedding…Ah! That's my step-sister and her girlfriend! So, that is what she looks like..." That revelation was slow to sink in for Akko.

All the girls, except her girlfriend, looked at Akko. They had no idea that she even had a step-sister.

"Your…step-sister?" Taguchi seemed confused.

Akko thought it over in her head. "Yeah, my mother's lover's daughter."

"You hadn't mentioned that before…" Her tone of voice made Kuno seem like she accused them of some crime.

Akko waved her arms in defense. "B-Because my mother never mentioned them to me before just last week!"

"I see…more importantly, you're invited to their wedding?!" Taguchi exclaimed excitedly.

"Yeah." Akko shrugged, "As family to the bride, it wouldn't be polite to not show up. Besides I like weddings."

The look on Taguchi and Kuno's faces were undecipherable. Mari noticed that. "You don't approve of lesbians?"

"…I've never had to think about it myself, so the only thing I have heard is what my parents told me...Which isn't good…" Taguchi crossed her arms and contemplated the matter.

"I don't like it…personally, that is. And as long as I don't have to watch it or hear about it in juicy details, I don't mind." Kuno-chin tried to be polite to her friends, even if she was still really sour about the whole "getting interrupted" thing.

Mari and Akko exchanged a quick glance before Mari nodded. "There is something we'd like to tell you about Mari and I, in regards to our current topic…We are dating!"

Three pairs of eyes shot up in surprise. Tamamin felt that was exciting. "Wow~! When did that happen?"

"After our high school trip, the one where I fainted in the baths and Mari got ill." Akko was still slightly embarrassed about that trip. Looking back on it, she acted like such a fool. Well…a fool for love.

Taguchi slammed her hands on the table, "Wait! Back then?! That's so long ago!"

"Yup." Akko smiled all over.

"How has life been treating you?" Sugi's voice was almost monotone. Clearly, it had come as no surprise to her.

"Oh, I keep forgetting that you already know about us." Akko put on her most airheaded expression on purpose. "Well, we have had both ups and downs, naturally."

"Wait, wait, wait." Tamamin interjected sharply. "Sugi, you knew?! And you didn't tell me?"

"I honestly thought you'd figure it out yourself, what with all the yuri manga you read." Sugi acted all haughty.

"Haaaa…and all these years, I've had someone I could ask for advice as my friends..." Tamamin slumped over in regret.

"You too?!" It was both Kuno and Taguchi that exclaimed at that revelation.

"Well, I've always been fascinated by yuri, but I had never thought about being in a relationship with a woman myself…" Tamamin stole a quick glance at Sugi, which she immediately regret and hoped no one caught. "But lately…There is someone I've thought about spending the rest of my life with…and I really could have used some advice on the matter."

"Would you look at that~? The normally-carefree and cheerful Tamamin has worries~" Taguchi grinned impishly.

Tamamin was about to retort, but Mari put a hand on her shoulder. "What did you want to ask us about?"

"How do I confess to her? I mean, I've read countless manga and doujin on the subject…but I've learned over time that…that approach is not always the best." Tamamin crossed her arms and closed her eyes in contemplation.

"Ah, hahahahha." Akko began laughing nervously. "I…don't think we're the right ones to ask about that. Before we became a couple, Mari confessed, then played if off as a joke. I was slow to figure out my feelings, so she got a boyfriend to hide behind, then, the subject was brought up again when they broke up, and we kissed, but somehow we missed each other's intentions with that. I thought we were going out, Mari wanted to break it off. Then...the school trip happened, and it was as bad as it could be, Mari got sick because I kept pressing my intimacy on her, and she escaped…of course, I shouldn't have pressed the intimacy with the two of you in the room." She pointed at Kuno-chin and Taguchi with an embarrassed look on her face. The two others grimaced at that. "Anyway, it finally took a direct approach to get our feelings across…and our would-be First Official Kiss, as lovers, was interrupted by your phone call, Taguchi."

"…so a direct approach it is, then." Tamamin muttered to herself, while Kuno-chin and Taguchi flared up at the memory of the pair's odd sleeping positions that night, and how much sense it made now.

"How close are you?" Mari prodded the subject carefully.

"Very close…long ago, I joked about growing old together in the old folks' home…but now I understand that…that is exactly what I want." Tamamin knew that Sugi would remember a line like that.

"How serious are you Tamamin?!" Surprising for those present, Sugi's outburst was both harsh…yet it also held wonder.

"…So serious it hurts...Satoko." There was a kind of maidenly submission in that statement.

"…I see." Sugi fell into a speculative silence. She was just glad that two of the people present didn't catch on to the change in name choice.

An awkward tension spread across the room.

"A-Anyway, what was this thing about that wedding?" Taguchi was the one to break the silence. The tense atmosphere didn't sit quite right with her.

It was Mari that answered. "We got a letter some time ago that said we were invited to the wedding of Daidouji Tomoyo and Soon-To-Be Daidouji Sakura. At first, we thought it was a joke because homosexual couples weren't allowed to get married in Japan, but now…now, they are…what if they knew it would happen? Or more frightening…what if they are responsible for it?"

"…" There was a collective pause. None of them knew what to make of that, until Sugi answered. "If that is true, I would advise you not to get on their bad side…they have connections."

"…" Again all was silent…

"Damn it! When did we become so bad at keeping a conversation?!" It was Taguchi who shouted.

After a long while of saying nothing Kuno decided to speak up. "I'm just waiting for the subject to change from all this lesbian stuff, and back to something no-something I can relate to and talk about…like boys." Kuno bit off the word "normal" to at least try and be nice to her friends. "Speaking of which, how goes the boyfriend hunting, Urara?"

"…you just had to bring that up, didn't you?" An aura of chilly air began to rise from Taguchi as she cracked her knuckles, and in a split second, she had pulled Kuno towards her and was giving her a relentless noogie.

"Ow ow, ow, I apologize!" After hearing those words, Taguchi released her. "…not a single one. Though I've had multiple girls confess to me, I wasn't interested in them, so I told them no."

"You said that you had never thought of relationships like that before!" There was almost an accusation in Kuno's tone of voice.

"I've never thought about it seriously! Anyway, those girls weren't interested in the real me. They fancied the cool senpai." Taguchi imitated the mannerism of one of her admirers. "Which is why I rejected them." The subject was brushed off with a casual wave of the hand.

"That's surprisingly wise coming from you…" Kuno-chin stared at her friend like she was a Buddhist monk.

"Age brings wisdom to one and all." Taguchi shrugged off the would-be insult.

"Geez! Don't bring up age, now I feel old!" Everyone laughed at Kuno-chin's expense.

Author's Notes: I hope you enjoy this, I had to look up Japanese lawmaking for this. 722 votes, and Sakura & Tomoyo had to, bribe, blackmail, bully and cast illusions on a whole lot of politicians to get it to go through, though with only 60 votes against they might have overdone it. Next chapter I researched bridal makeup and wedding gown patterns and sewing... actually I had to plan the entire wedding from scratch, which is a lot harder than it sounds, because at a normal IRL wedding you don't have to worry about the guests getting ready or getting to the wedding… I'll let you see what I mean in the next chapter. also THANK YOU Japan, at the time of writing this, Japan has begun to change their laws little by little… must be Sakura and Tomoyo, eh. :P ALSO a big thanks to Major Mike for proofreading this for me, it means a lot man.