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Ever since they started dating at the age of seventeen, Kojiro had the habit that when he fell off his skateboard, he would afterwards automatically drop to one knee and jokingly ask Kaoru to marry him.
Until many years later, one day he did it and it wasn’t a joke at all. He knelt down in front of Kaoru, and although he knew what Kojiro was going to do and say, he didn't expect his boyfriend to pull out of his pocket a small box containing a precious engagement ring.
Kaoru was speechless, but his tears of joy were more than enough at first for Kojiro to know that those tears were a 'yes', until Kaoru managed to answer him by actually saying yes over and over again.
What for years had become a recurring joke between them both, it had become a reality; Kaoru and Kojiro really were going to get married.
Kojiro never thought that organizing a wedding was so stressful; or expensive. Luckily he and Kaoru both wanted a small, intimate wedding with their closest friends and families.
After debating for weeks when it was best to hold the wedding, they finally decided to do it in the spring. Not only because the place where they would celebrate the ceremony would be beautiful, full of cherry trees in bloom; but because spring was when they met in kindergarten as well.
Kojiro wasn't sure if soulmates and destiny really existed, but when it came to his relationship with Kaoru, he believed in it firmly. Who was going to tell him that that bossy child who insisted on following him until he managed to win his friendship would become his best friend; that years later he would become his boyfriend, and that now, in a matter of hours, he would become his husband.
Whether by chance or fate, Kojiro felt infinitely lucky to be the person Kaoru wanted to spend the rest of his life with. And that was something he planned to show him until the last of his days.
The night before their wedding day he spent it with Shadow and Oka. It was still weird to hear someone call Shadow by his real name, but he was very happy to see the lovely couple that pair made. The three of them had stayed at Kojiro and Kaoru's home, while Kaoru had preferred to stay at his parents' house. Although Kojiro didn't care a lot about traditions, Kaoru was excited that they wouldn't see each other until the time of the ceremony to surprise each other with their kimonos. So, as much as Kojiro wanted to see Kaoru, he had to patiently wait until the next day; but oh, how much he wanted the hours to fly by so he could marry him as soon as possible.
He and Kaoru had opted for traditional kimonos, fully customized with their personal style. He still didn't know what Kaoru's was like, and he was dying to see it. Kojiro's was black and white with green details, adorned with embroidered suns.
Shadow for his part had been in charge of preparing all the flowers and bouquets for the wedding; and though he knew how good he was at his job, Kojiro was sometimes surprised that someone who looked like Shadow was such a skilled and passionate florist. Although well, as they say, looks can be deceiving.
“Are you nervous?” Oka asked him, smiling softly.
Kojiro smiled too, sighing.
“I would like to say no, because I think I've been prepared to marry Kaoru all my life… but the truth is that yes, I'm quite nervous.” Kojiro acknowledged with a sheepish smile.
“I'm sure everything will turn out great and you'll have a beautiful wedding, right, Hiromi?” Oka asked, looking for the validation from his boyfriend.
“Yeah, of course. Besides, you've been like a married couple ever since I met you, you don’t have nothing to worry about.” Shadow explained while laughing.
Oka nodded, agreeing with him. Kojiro laughed.
“Thanks for your support, guys.”
Kojiro looked at the clock once more, wishing the hands would turn faster so he could be with Kaoru in front of the altar as soon as possible.
The big day had finally arrived. And although Kojiro had hardly been able to sleep because of his nerves, when the alarm rang he got out of bed with more energy than ever.
Shadow and Oka soon woke up too as well, and soon after the rest of their friends came home.
“What are you doing here so early? Hadn't we said to meet up here in a couple of hours?” Kojiro asked, puzzled as he opened the door and saw Reki, Langa and Miya.
“We're here earlier to demand free breakfast because we weren't invited last night.” Miya snapped indignantly.
“Yesterday was an adults-only party.” Shadow said sarcastically.
Before the boys could protest, Kojiro waved his hand for them to enter.
“I have to cook even on my wedding day?” Kojiro sighed dramatically. “Alright, come in.”
Though deep down he was glad to have them all home, listening to their lively conversations and making breakfast for them made it possible for him to keep busy and not think about how nervous he was.
After everyone had breakfast and the adults had showered, they began to get ready.
“Aren't you going to take off your bandana?” Shadow asked Reki.
Reki flushed with indignation.
“This bandana is my personality, and if people don't like it, I simply don’t care.”
“Well said.” Kojiro sentenced. If he liked something about Reki, it was that he was always so true to himself and his style.
Kojiro found it very strange to see everyone dressed so elegantly in their suits, but they all looked spectacular. When Kojiro finally slipped into his kimono, Shadow and Oka helped him to put on his obi correctly and everyone cheered at how well the outfit fit him. Kojiro breathed heavily, feeling his heart beating faster and faster at the thought that he was finally about to marry Kaoru; his Kaoru.
When they arrived at the venue where the ceremony would take place, Kojiro was amazed. The wide garden was full of cherry trees in bloom, and the soft air that swayed the branches of the trees made the petals rain down, giving a magical touch to the environment. It was a wonderful day; sunny but not too hot.
The flowers that Kojiro and Kaoru had chosen for the decorations —pink hydrangeas and white tulips— stood out against the light wood furniture, giving everything a perfect touch of color. Shadow had really done a wonderful job.
Slowly, all the guests were arriving and Kojiro was getting more and more nervous. His parents told him how handsome he looked and how well his yukata fit him, then hugged him tightly to encourage him and went to sit in their respective seats. Later Kaoru's parents did the same, letting him know that his future husband looked gorgeous in his yukata. Kojiro no longer knew if he was gasping for breath from nerves or excitement, although it was probably a combination of both. Kaoru was about to arrive, and Kojiro's heart was beating so fast that it was about to burst out of his chest.
The officiant stood behind the altar and Kojiro also took his place. The guests fell silent and looked expectantly at the door through which Kaoru would enter. And when he did, Kojiro swore he had seen an angel. His kimono was white and pink, decorated with cherry blossom petals embroidered on the sleeves. His hair was pulled back in an intricate braid decorated with small white flowers, and two strands framed his pretty face. As soon as Kaoru reached the altar beside him, Kojiro felt his breath catch in his throat; he was about to cry seeing how beautiful his future husband was. Kaoru caressed his cheek to wipe away a treacherous tear, his eyes were just as watery as Kojiro's.
“Your parents have tried to warn me, but to say that you look gorgeous is an understatement. Kaoru, you look so beautiful…” Kojiro said reverently. He was falling in love with Kaoru all over again.
Kaoru blushed and smiled widely, intertwining his hands with Kojiro's.
“So do you.” Kaoru said, his voice full of adoration, making his future husband grin widely.
As the officiant began the ceremony, Kojiro couldn't stop looking at Kaoru, and Kaoru felt exactly the same way; their gazes were fixed on the other; full of love for each other.
When it was time to say their vows, Kojiro felt his heart beat faster and faster. He lost himself in Kaoru's golden gaze and took a deep breath before beginning to speak.
“Kaoru, you have been by my side for twenty years; twenty years in which we have lived and seen the best and the worst of the other. I've watched you grow, both inside and out. And every day you have shown me that it is possible to fall in love with the same person over and over again, and today, seeing you here in front of me, I know that I have fallen in love with you again as if it were the first time. Although I can't remember when was the exact moment that happened, I do know that I have loved you all my life, and that I plan to love you until my last breath. I know that not everything will be perfect and that we won't always have good days, because we love to argue even about the weather,” Kojiro paused to laugh, “but I want to promise you that every day I will do my best to make you happy and make you feel loved. I love you more than anything in this universe, and I feel very lucky to have you in my life.” He concluded, placing the gold band on Kaoru's ring finger. It fit perfectly, and Kojiro felt another treacherous tear slide down his cheek.
Kaoru for his part, tried to hold his composure as much as possible, but he was on the verge of tears. The hand that Kojiro had taken to place the ring on was trembling slightly, and Kojiro placed a kiss on his knuckles.
“How do you expect me to say anything coherent after everything you've told me? I should have started with the vows.” Kaoru said, trying to suppress a smile, making Kojiro laugh.
“Let your heart speak for you.” Kojiro replied.
Kaoru rolled his eyes, but smiled widely at Kojiro's advice.
“As you said, it's been twenty years since we first met. I remember that day in kindergarten when I saw you smiling and suddenly my heart felt so warm, as if the sun's beams were bathing my skin. I guess that was the way my childish heart had to realize that I was starting to be in love with you. Maybe that's why I tried so hard to be your friend, but I've always known that it was the best decision of my life. Seeing you grow into the man you have become is something that has always made me feel very lucky.” Kaoru took a deep breath, trying to contain his tears. “I can't imagine a life without you by my side, and I hope I never have to find out how that feels. Kojiro, I love you with my whole being, and I want to make you feel as loved as you make me feel, forever.” Kaoru concluded, finally letting the tears fall free as he put the gold band on Kojiro's ring finger.
When the officiant declared them officially married, Kojiro cradled Kaoru's face delicately and kissed him with all the love in the world. Kaoru deepened the kiss, wrapping his arms around Kojiro's neck. The guests clapped and whistled, but while they kissed it was as if nothing and no one else existed around them; it was as if there were only the two of them. They were finally married, and they both cried happily, embracing and kissing each other over and over again.
After the banquet and after their parents told embarrassing anecdotes about them, it was time for their first dance as newlyweds. Although it was a bit difficult to move comfortably in the yukata and geta sandals, that didn't stop Kaoru and Kojiro from embracing each other and moving slowly to the beat of the music. Soon after, other couples joined them on the dance floor; Reki and Langa followed them along with Oka and Shadow.
Kojiro had his beautiful husband in his arms; he was surrounded by his family and friends, and that made him feel immensely happy.
“What are you thinking about?” Kaoru asked him.
Kojiro smiled and kissed his temple.
“That I'm the luckiest man on the planet.” Kojiro replied, grinning.
“Well, that's debatable, because I am also the luckiest man here.” Kaoru countered.
And as if nothing had changed between them, they discussed which of the two was the luckiest and who loved the other more among other sappy things. Bickering over everything was their love language, and Kojiro hoped that Kaoru would never get tired of competing with him over everything.