Summary for this chappie: It's been two years after Aya and Rei have gotten together again. That makes them…27 or 28 now. They're in love, obviously, Rei's less cold and more caring. Aya's less stressed out and more complacent. Everything's dandy since the last installment, but Aya still has doubts. Find out why! Foreshadowed in chapter 3.

Disclaimer: See chapter 1 or other previous chapters.

(kisetsu kawaru no kaze

michi o hashiru  zutto)

The season-changing winds

running along the streets forever

The coffee shop was bustling at this hour, but that was the state in which she liked it best. It was raining again, which might account for the increase in customers, but the weather had little to do with the reason why she sat there, in the same spot exactly two years ago, ordering the latte which would still not keep her up until dawn. This time, however, she was the one being made to wait.

The proverbial chimes announced the arrival of her companion, and she stood up to ensnare the entering man in a cordial hug, beaming as she did so. He squeezed her back and seated himself across from her.

"I'm sorry for the delay," He apologized; slightly abashed that he had made her wait. She was shaking her head, making her dark hair move with it.

"It's okay, Yuuya-kun. I don't mind." Her patience seemed eternal these past months according to people who knew her. Those who she had known longer shrugged it off saying, "Aya's back for good." They couldn't be more right.

Yuuya then took of his coat, laid it behind his seat, and propped his elbows on the table, proper mannerisms forgotten at the moment. He had been wondering why she had called him at such short notice.

"So what was so important it couldn't wait until your wedding?"

Epilogue: No need for promises (Yakusoku wa Iranai)

(ne  koi shite mo dare ni mo itsukaowari ga kuru no?ne  aozora yori mo sundatokimeki sutete shimau no?)Say, even if they're in love,could the end someday come for them, too?Say, could a feeling that's even

clearer than the blue sky end up being abandoned?

Aya was biting her lip, another one of her bad habits. It was a sure sign that she was nervous, and the fact that Rei hated it didn't make matters easier. But she couldn't help it. She was getting married tomorrow morning–another reason for her latte…Ran had decreed that lattés were the only caffeine Aya could take before her wedding because anything stronger would render Aya into a walking zombie. As if.

"Is everything all right?" He had noticed her slight discomfort, but preferred not to push her if she said otherwise.

She tried to worm a smile into her face to vanish that concerned look on his. "Yes. Just pre-wedding jitters."

"Aa. I understand." Yes, most likely he did. According to Rei, he almost had to drag Yuuya to the hotel where the wedding would occur on the man's special day.

There was a brief silence, in which Yuuya used to approach the counter and order. When he returned, he carried two containers in each hand, one black and the other covered and unlabeled. She presumed that the unknown one was for someone else, but was mildly surprised when he thrust it to her.

"Drink it. Helps the nerves." At times when his voice was commanding, Aya knew it was best to comply and ask questions later. She took out the straw that was already lodged in her latte, seeing as though this one had none, and sipped.

Pure H20 greeted her, and she almost choked on the sudden rush of liquid. She had been expecting something heavy with caffeine. Apparently, Yuuya knew all about Ran's laws.

As if reading her mind, he spoke, "Ran made me drink it too. It helped…too bad it didn't last all afternoon."

"So I've been told." Dabbing a table napkin to her lips, she wiped the remains of the water and tried to gain composure. After a moment of silence, she whispered, "thanks."

He smiled back, and tried to continue their earlier discussion. "What I was saying earlier…is there a reason for your spur-of-the-moment call or was it just the tension?"

"No…I…I wanted to know something…" She didn't know how to say it, but Yuuya was Rei's bestfriend, he should have an idea how her fiancé's mind worked.

He kept his mouth shut, but his eyes prodded her to keep going.

"Uh…I know it's silly but…what does Rei think of promises?" There, she had said it. Whatever possessed her to go out of her way for a simplistic question was still unknown.

"Promises, Aya-san? What of them?" He was baffled of what she was asking. However, now that he thought of it, Mami had asked a similar question back when they were dating. Of course, it had been phrased rather differently, but the idea was there.

"What's wrong with people who can't commit? Are they scared or something?" He remembered answering vaguely, as if his mind was on better things. Now, he was regretting that he hadn't paid attention.

"I mean," Aya paused, choosing her words carefully, "is he the type who'd jump off a bridge for me if he promised he would?" She was talking gibberish, she was certain of it.

"Maybe I should ask him to promise that then? The bachelor's party is tonight…I could get him drunk and–"

"Yuuya-kun!"

"Sorry, wasn't thinking. Err…" Yuuya scratched his head, hoping to stall for time. Women and their psychological tests. He even tried to avert his eyes just so he could think about it clearly. Because he knew what was at stake here. He was Rei's closest friend and if he didn't know, who would? Brides were known to bolt at the altar for the most trivial of things, and this minor question could trigger Aya to do the same tomorrow. Rei would clam up into his shell completely after that much rejection.

Admitting defeat, he sighed, closed his eyes, and prayed that his answer would suffice.

"Otohata Rei…he wouldn't promise you anything he isn't capable of doing. He isn't loud...but when he speaks, it's well thought out. It comes from here." At this point, he had his hand on his heart, "so you better believe in him." Cause he believes in you, Yuuya almost added. He watched her reaction in anticipation and in dread.

She was speechless because his words calmed the irrational part of her brain. Somehow, that statement reaffirmed her belief that everything would turn out fine. Rei loved her. He was someone she could trust to be honest with her–he knew his limits and chose to do his best with what he had.

You'll only get hurt if you stay with me…

Rei had warned her about himself way back then, but she had clung to him still. He wasn't the type who'd jump of a building is he promised–he wasn't insane, and that was how she liked him.

"Arigato…Yuuya-kun. That meant a lot to me."

"It was the least I could do for my best bud's love of his life," He winked, and went back to nursing his coffee.

The time for seriousness had past, and it was back to idle banter. She liked conversing on light topics.

"…so how's Hana-chan?"

"Getting prettier each day."

"And Mami-san?"

"Just fine. She's taken to redesigning the whole house. The next time you visit it'll be pink."

…

(ne aishitara daremo gakonna kodoku ni naru no?ne kurayami yori mo fukai kurushimi

dakishimeteru no?)

Say, when they're in love,does everyone get this lonely?Say, do they embrace the pain

that's even deeper than the darkness?

The wedding was to take place in a church, Western-style, notwithstanding the fact that neither bride nor groom were Christians. The bride's parents were averse about the whole plan, but they conceded after much convincing. All thanks to Ran, who was chief bridesmaid (she had been too in Miyu's). The groom's had no comments.

The church, a few ways from the city, was unimposing, and quite simple, just how the couple liked it. They were never one for extravagant things. The guest list was short, consisting only of immediate family, closest friends, and some co-workers. The whole affair was plain.

Earlier, however, when the bride had gotten back from the coffee shop, her mother had called, demanding that at least there be a fancy cake. Aya had smiled at okaasan's thoughtfulness but no, the three-tier cake would do, especially since Rei didn't have a sweet tooth. After that call, Aya had headed straight for her apartment, showered, and curled up in her comfy bed. Her mind was in a jumble, and she had to clear it before she could do anything that could be considered productive.

(Aya's thought sequence)

He loves me. He's never told me so, but I see it in his actions, his words, and the way his eyes soften when he looks at me. I know, because he used to look at Ran like that. Used to. He's mine now.

Mine? Now I'm getting possessive. Regardless, I've changed. He's noticed, but he's never said anything. I think he's accepted the fact that I'm not as shy as before, and I've accepted that he'll never be one for sweet gestures. We're both changing, which makes me wonder if our love will last.

Obviously, I'm not very optimistic today. First with that promise question, and now changing? Maybe I should just call this off now. I'm not ready. Wait…am I really sure that I'm in love?

Yes, yes, I love him with all my heart. I always have. Breaking up with him that first time was difficult, because I really felt something for him, though it was dulled by too much studying. I had my priorities in a bunch. But now I don't so I can't make it an excuse.

Back then I needed to get away, because my life was getting too complicated. I was too busy shaping my future, I forgot about the present. Rei…the gang. Now that everything's back on track, I'm feeling like something should go wrong. Ran always said I was a worrywart and a pessimist. But do I really deserve a happy ending?

I'm scared. I don't want to get hurt again.

(End of sequence)

…

Leaning back on his chair and staring at the last papers he needed to file, Rei felt that he needed a break. He had been rereading the same paragraph for the last ten minutes, not really comprehending what the words meant. It was weird, he had only read this last night and he remembered understanding what they claimed. But now…everything was just a blank.

His attention fell to the picture frame he had reached for unconsciously. It was of them, taken somewhere during the autumn of last year. At that time he had made a decision, one that was reflected now, and would continue to throughout his lifetime.

FLASHBACK

(Note: This is in Rei's POV, and is in a weird tense. I didn't feel like changing it into my usual style since that would ruin the mood.)

'She is special,' the thought comes, unbidden. It's only been a year and a half since he's started dating her again, and now, he has proposed. It wasn't easy--he had to come to terms with his feeling first. So he reminisced on the days when they were younger. When they were only sixteen.

He hadn't been in love with her then. Nope. He had been in love with her friend, the spunky Ran. Ran represented everything he went against. In spite of that, he still liked her more than the timid Aya. She went well in contrast with him.

But it was not meant to be. Ran found her soul mate in Kuroi Tatsukichi, a man as reckless and as silly as herself. Of course, Rei had no claims on her, much less than Yuuya, and he had let her go, immersing himself in his music. He had been too focused that he had not noticed that Hoshino Aya had developed feelings for him. He let them slide, dismissing it as a simple crush, but she proved to be more persistent than most admirers. If he had pondered on it longer, he would have known that she had seen past his looks. But he hadn't, and had gone about his life like her confessions and subtle hints of affection meant nothing. He hurt her, but he had warned her about that beforehand.

And through it all, she stayed. It surprised him that someone could be so dedicated and especially to him of all people.  He was a terrible person, one who deserved to be left alone. She never seemed to understand that. Her eyes always shone with undying devotion whenever he looked at them, and he almost imagined them whispering that they cared about him because he was himself.

But he didn't let himself be swayed. He led her along for the while, and as much as others thought he was doing it because he pitied her, he shut his ears to them. Because they weren't true. He DID lead her into thinking her cared, but it was because he didn't trust himself to know what could have happened if he had truly fallen for her. He was being a bastard, he was sure, but he was too unexposed to emotions that he had become numb.

He loathed Kasuki Katase. He despised him from the darkest and deepest part of the gaping hole where his heart should have been. Hatred seemed to be one of the few emotions that Rei found useful and worthwhile. And he knew why this emotion was at work, but chose not to acknowledge it. Yuuya had accurately termed it jealousy, but of course, Rei had not listened.

Aya had somehow, slowly but surely, reached him. Unconsciously, she managed to become a constant in his life. And for some reason her existence scared him. Seeing them together, and her tears...it was too much for him. He'd masked the bitterness in his voice with sarcasm and she had been convinced that he hadn't cared at all. But he had, that little part of him that he kept human. And it still did.

Those tears, as far as he was concerned, were his weakness. They made him do things he would have never agreed to. But today there were no signs of them. He was doing this because he wanted to, and not because he felt forced or he took pity on her.

He is in love with her now, there's no use denying it. He has been, ever since twelve years ago. When she left, his love for her grew stronger, for absence makes the heart grows fonder. And this time, he is blessed with a second chance with her. He's taking it, no strings attached. Whatever she will answer he will respect for he sees her as an equal. No matter how painful it will be, he knows he can take it. After all, it had happened before.

(tatoe ashita nakushite moanata o ushinatte mo

dekiru kagiri no egao de kayagakitai)

Even if I lost tomorrow,and even if I lost you, too,I want to shine,

smiling as best as I can.

She smiles, a rather cute sight with her dark hair filled with red maple leaves, and he knows everything will go right.

"Yes!"

END of FLASHBACK

(Okay, Rei's POV is over so it's back to the old way of writing.)

"What are you doing, Otohata?" His superior was doing her rounds again, and had stopped in front of his. "I know tomorrow's your wedding, but could you at least concentrate today? Do you need a break?"

He looked wistful for a moment, giving the photo a lingering look before answering, "No…not anymore."

…

When she was little, she had dreamed about her getting hitched and living happily ever after. Last year, she had had a dream about it too, only more realistic and her groom was faceless (remember that time she was running late?). And now this was it.

Walking down the aisle, dressed in a simple white spaghetti-strapped dress whose train was longer than she expected, Hoshino Aya smiled. Her father didn't notice; he was too wrapped up in the act of giving away his daughter to her groom.

She looked radiant, according to her friends who had helped her get ready. Of course, they had demanded she wear something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue before they had deemed her perfect. Aya had ended up wearing her mother's pearls that were given to her the day before to represent old and Mami's red lipstick for borrowed. Her dress was new, but for blue, there had been no ideas until the women had given up and Reki had tumbled in and mentioned that 'Aya-obaasan's hair is blue'. They went with the idea, and concentrated on making her blue-black hair shine.

At the end of the red carpet, a few feet away from the altar stood an equally anticipating Rei. The emotions on his face kept alternating, and Aya fought the urge to hug him and tell him it would all be okay. She hadn't seen him for two days, and the last had been a mere glimpse before Ran had whisked her to go shopping.

He grinned when he caught her looking, and she returned it. She was jittery, yes, but was too ecstatic to care. When she reached the front, her father handed her over, and she took Rei's hand in her gloved ones. The look on his face was serious, but she could tell that he was as nervous as she was.

I'm not going to run away this time.

The ceremony went smoothly enough, considering a lot of Rei's fan girls showed up to try and oppose the ceremony. Ran ended up rounding them up and taping their mouths shut--the perks of having a policewoman for a bridesmaid. When it had come to the exchanging of the vows, the priest had asked the couple the usual till death do us part, and they had replied with 'I do's'. Aya surprised herself by answering with so much conviction that the holy man had smiled.

"Then I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." It had felt like forever before those words were uttered, but now that it was over, Aya realized that it was just beginning.

Rei turned to her, and they kissed passionately. At contact, Aya let herself get lost in the feel of his lips. She was not Hoshino Aya anymore. Otohata Aya was more like it. It was then followed by hooting, (from Ran and Tatsukichi) and polite clapping from the more mature adults. Even the fan girls had to 'aww' and sigh.

When they broke apart, Rei spoke first, in a voice that was not above a whisper. "I can't promise that I'll be perfect…will that be all right with you?" Aya blinked at his question, but the memory of Yuuya's answer resurfaced.

He wouldn't promise you anything he isn't capable of doing. He isn't loud...but when he speaks, it's well thought out. It comes from here, so you better believe in him.

(kimi wo kimi wo aishiterukokoro de mitsumete irukimi wo kimi wo shinjiteru

samui yoru mo)

I…I love you.

I'm gazing at you with my heart.

I…I believe in you,

even on the coldest night.

"Iie, I know you will," she shakes her head and turns to beam at him, "I don't need to hear you promise…because I believe in you. Yakusoku wa Iranai."

Yakusoku wa Iranai. Promises weren't necessary.

The end

Author's Notes: It's finished!!! (does a victory dance to Haruka Kanata) I made this chapter the last because:

School is here! I'll be buried in schoolwork again… I had no more ideas for any further mayhem…so my sister suggested I end it now since they did get together. It'll be boring once they're dating so I'll just leave that to your imagination. Hee.

I did add the song (it's jumbled but yah), even though I told myself that the title had nothing to do with it. I don't own it, mind you.

Lastly, thanks so much to all those who took the time to read this little pointless fic of mine. I did my best to update it as soon as possible so you guys wouldn't have to wait so long. Hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it.