I know this is probably where everyone went with this prompt, but how could I NOT write about their wedding day when I am given the prompt "forever"? Also, I got caught up in a D&D session, so this entry ended up getting published at 1:45am on October 13th, when it was nearly good-to-go at about 5pm on October 12th... whoops...
Full story is below, but you can also read it over on AO3, on FFN, or on DA.
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Meet, Remember, and Love Again
Spoilers: Headcanon for their wedding; minor shipping spoilers for other characters
Romance Level: Exchanging Wedding Vows
Word Count: 2376
Summary: Kyo and Tohru finally get married
Kyo's leg twitched with nervous energy. The collar of his Jacobite shirt was already loose, but he tugged on it all the same. While Tohru made sure to pick out a comfortable suit for him, Kyo was still unbearably hot.
“Hey,” Yuki whispered in Kyo's ear, his hand firmly on the redhead's shoulder. “You're not getting cold feet, are you? I'm sure Tohru-chan would hate it if I had to kick your ass right now.”
“Enough, ya damn rat,” Kyo shrugged Yuki's hand off, but gave him a half-smile of gratitude. “Nothing is going to make me run away, that is, unless Tohru's hand is already in mine.”
“Good. At least you grew some smarts since high school.” Yuki smirked, and straightened out Kyo's collar for him.
“Yeah, well, wait until it's your turn up here,” Kyo playfully hissed.
As if on cue, the music started up, and a parade of bridesmaids walked down the aisle. Kisa had grown so much since Kyo last saw her, and it was a pleasant surprise to see her walk with such confidence. Next was Rin. She still had a dominant stride, but she certainly seemed more graceful and gentle – slightly – than when they were growing up. She had also restricted her punk accessories to a single thick, black tungsten band on her left hand: her engagement ring from Haru. Kagura walked in behind Rin. She looked like she was about to burst into tears, but her smile seemed genuine enough. Machi was the last to walk the aisle. She started off staring at the floor, as meek as always. Then a thought must have flickered though her mind, because she bolted her head upright and stared directly at Yuki. The moment their eyes connected, Machi stood tall and glided the rest of the way to the alter.
Kyo smirked, leaned back so Yuki could hear, and hummed the Bridal March. Yuki playfully pushed back against him. Then both men stood at attention. The whole congregation stood and turned, and Tohru walked into the doorway.
Her white gown was simple and flowy; cinched at the waist, and lacy along the bodice. Her shoulders were bare, but a delicate white ribbon was wrapped like a choker around her neck. Her hair was pinned up, but some tresses were strategically spilled down her neck and across her shoulder. Kyo couldn't believe she could ever be more breathtaking. He was wrong.
He wasn't sure if it was the elegance of the dress, or how her hair was pinned, or the sheer fact that she was going to be his wife in a few short minutes. Maybe it was a particular glow coming off of her from the joy they shared. Whatever it was, Kyo fell in love with her all over again.
Uotani and Hanajima skirted to Tohru's side, escorting her to the alter as if they were her parents. The Yankee actually looked quite elegant with her hair now chopped short; still emulating Kyoko's look. Her makeup was subdued, and her gown was a lovely lavender that complimented her still-blonde locks. In her arms, instead of a bouquet, she carried Tohru's picture of her mom, so that Kyoko could attend her daughter's wedding.
Hanajima was still in her signature black, but it was a much more modern evening gown style than her standard Gothic look. Her long hair was woven into an intricate French Twist, giving her a very sophisticated air about her. She didn't wear a mourning veil – much to Kyo's relief – but she still held a handkerchief to her face; eyes welling up.
Tohru was grateful to have Uo-chan and Hana-chan escort her down the aisle. She was so nervously excited about everything that she could barely stand; her legs were shaking too much beneath her. Seeing Kyo made her all the more weak.
Kyo hated ties; hated having something around his neck. Even after the curse was broken, he hated having his neck restricted at all. Tohru had seen a bunch of pictures of Western pirates in loose-fitted but still elegant-looking cotton shirts. The v-neck collars plummeted to the chest, and was laced closed. These pirate shirts – Jacobite shirts, they were called – had a refined look to them, but would be comfortable for Kyo to wear. With a pair of dress slacks and shoes, and a paisley-patterned blue vest, he looked almost regal. There was no doubt that everyone would see him as a Western Prince; just as she had always pictured him.
His groomsmen – Yuki, Haru, Momiji, and Shigure – were in much more traditional dress suits: deep blue dress shirts, black slacks, and a black tie and vest. It made Kyo stand out a little, but neither of them cared. Tohru pointed out that her dress had a different style than the simple ballroom gowns her bridesmaids wore; and they both knew they couldn't really reign in Uotani and Hanajima. Sure, the bridal party would seem a bit disjointed, but their priorities were more on comfort and people being happy anyway.
Upon reaching the alter, Kyo stepped forward to take Tohru's hand.
“You better take care of our girl,” Uotani threatened softly.
“We will find out, and we will do whatever it takes to protect her,” Hanajima calmly added. Kyo felt the hairs on his body stand on end as she stared him down.
“Uo-chan, Hana-chan,” Tohru giggled, “We'll be fine. Thank you.”
The girls all embraced, and Tohru got kissed on her temples from both best friends at the same time. Kyo and the girls jointly helped Tohru to the alter, and Uo and Hana took their places as co-maids-of-honor behind Tohru.
The officiant welcomed their guests, and spoke briefly about the beauty of love, the trials of life-long companionship, and the rewards of putting in the daily effort to love each other. While Kyo and Tohru had paid close attention during their rehearsal the night before, in those moments the officiant's words washed over and past them. There was no one else in that room.
It was Kyo. It was Tohru. It was her hands in his. It was his orange eyes, and her brown ones. It was their equally shaky breaths, and trembling legs. It was their soft smiles and half-lidded glances. It was the mental countdown to them officially being one family.
“Sohma-san,” the officiant cut through Kyo's reverie, snapping him to the present.
“Hmm?” Kyo ignored the muffled chuckles of his friends and family.
“Your vows,” the officiant coaxed.
“Right.” Kyo blinked a few times to bring the words he practiced a thousand times to the forefront. Refocused on Tohru, he ran his thumbs over her fingers; playing with them. “Tohru, even when we didn't know it, you have been a constant in my life since I was a kid. I dunno if it was with the 'red thread,' but we were definitely tied together somehow. It terrified me to know that we'd be sharing a roof, but I think part of that fear was because I had wanted that so badly, and I didn't think I deserved it. Thank you for showing me that it was alright to want a future; to want a future with you. Thank you for telling me that I deserved to be loved. Thank you for rescuing me.”
Kyo pulled Tohru's right hand to his lips, and tenderly kissed her knuckles. “I was terrified of the idea of my soul being bound to another; forced to come together lifetime after lifetime. Now, I don't want anything more intensely. I want to start a new banquet with you. One where we are surrounded with love, acceptance, and happy memories. Oh! And lots of hugs.”
The Sohmas collectively chuckled and muttered their agreement to that last vow.
“Very lovely.” The officiant turned to Tohru. “Honda-san, please speak your vows to your groom.”
Tohru shook. She didn't think she had anything as lovely as what Kyo had just said. He had memorized it, no less! She slowly pivoted to Hana-chan to pass over her bouquet, and then turned to Uo-chan to accept her index cards. Still quaking a little, she held her left hand out to Kyo, and stared at her vows.
The second Kyo's hand again cupped hers, Tohru calmed. He didn't care. She could simply say 'I love you, and I want to be your wife,' and he'd be happy. These weren't for everyone else. They were for him, and for her to let him know how much he meant to her.
“Kyo-kun, you are sunshine and warmth that I didn't know I could ask for. You are the strength I don't have, and the safety I didn't realize I was yearning for. You are my smile and my joy. You are a subtle kindness, and a sweet gentleness. You've always been a prince in my eyes. You don't judge me, but you always try to teach me. Together, I hope we can always rise each other up, and grow more.”
She squeezed Kyo's hand to steady herself, and then looked up from her cards. She didn't need them for this part, but she did she need to look in Kyo's eyes. “I'm positive that my mom considers your promise fulfilled, because with you I am truly found, and I'm as safe and protected as I would have been with her. She would have been so proud of the man you became. I know, because I am.”
Kyo again pulled her hand to his mouth to kiss, tears spilling down his cheeks, and she felt droplets squeaking out of her eyes as well.
“Now, if you'll take the rings.” The officiant gestured to Yuki and Hanajima. The two of them stepped forward. Yuki handed Kyo Tohru's wedding band, and Tohru exchanged her index cards for Kyo's wedding ring.
“As you exchange rings, recite your commitment to each other,” the officiant said. “Sohma-san, you start.”
Kyo delicately slid Tohru's engagement ring off her hand, never once taking his eyes away from hers. “For the girl you were, for the woman you are, and for the wife you shall be to me. I choose you to be my only one.” He then slid the wedding band onto her hand. “With this ring, I thee wed. I take you as my friend, my lover, and my wife from this day forth and into the fullness of time, where we will meet, remember, and love again.”
Tohru couldn't see anymore. She just kept blinking tears away. She had no clue that Kyo was shamelessly letting his tears just spill. She felt him slide her engagement ring back on after her new wedding band, and she squeezed his fingers.
Taking Kyo's left hand in hers, Tohru slid the wedding band over his fingernail, and let it rest there. “For- for the- for the boy you were,” her voice shook and cracked. She knew she was about to start sobbing with joy, but she had to resist. The ceremony was almost done. Just a couple more minutes, and then nothing could take Kyo from her. “For the ma-man you are, and- and for the- the husband you shall- you shall be- be to me. I choose you to- to be my very only and solitary one.”
The polite chuckle rolled through the congregation. Kyo mouthed 'you got this' to Tohru, and she slid his wedding band the rest of the way onto his finger.
“With this ring, I thee wed. I- I take you as my friend, my lo-lover, and my husband from- from this day forth and into the fullness of time, where- where we will meet, and we'll remember, and we'll love again.”
Kyo mouthed 'I love you' to her, and she quickly mouthed it back.
“Beautiful! I now pronounce you The Sohmas: Kyo and Tohru. You may kiss.”
Everyone cheered as Kyo cupped the back of Tohru's head, and pulled her to him, his other arm wrapping around her waist. Her arms circled his neck, and she rocked onto her toes. Their lips met, and neither wanted to separate again. They were a family. They had been for a while now, but it was finally official. He was her husband. She was his wife.
It was actually Uo clearing her throat that caused the two to break, their cheeks flushed from the excitement and mild embarrassment at kissing so passionately in front of everyone.
The recessional began to play, and hand bells rang. Hanajima passed Tohru's bouquet back to her, and Kyo escorted his bride – his wife - down the aisle. They passed through the back doors, and started their receiving line. Uo and Hana followed, linked arm-in-arm. Then Yuki walked with Machi, both a-blush with thoughts of their own potential trip to an alter. Rin and Haru were a bit more playful on their trip back up the aisle, Haru nipping a bit at Rin's neck. Momiji escorted young Kisa, the two of them talking bubbly about the ceremony while trying to still look serious. Finally, Shigure escorted Kagura to the receiving line, muttering comforts into her ear.
As they waited for their guests to spill out and congratulate them, Kyo pulled Tohru against his side. She nuzzled his chest, and he breathed in the scent of her hair. He then played with her rings, and she did the same: spinning his band around his finger.
“How does it feel, to wear a ring?” she asked.
“Like the greatest thing in the world.” He kissed the top of her head and squeezed her tight. “You're my wife now.”
“You're my husband! Kyo-kun is my husband!”
“Forever,” he whispered in her ear. “Forever and for always.”
“Until the end of time, and beyond.”
Kyo angled her chin, and he leaned in for another kiss. He could never get enough of them, and he knew he could indulge for the rest of his life. Tohru was just as greedy, and wept as she thought of her parents.
Their love story lasted for eternity, but Tohru and Kyo's would last longer than that.
