Chapter 173: Chapter 172: Finally!

A/N: For those who might not be interested in reading their actual wedding ceremony, you can skip the parts between the 　◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇.

During this last year, Sofi, Chinatsu and I turned 16. The twins are 2, and Honoka is 17. After a discussion, Chinatsu and I decided to hold off getting married. We thought that it would be simpler and for the best, due to how many guests will likely want to attend our wedding, for us to wait until Ryu had turned 16, and then the three of us will have our wedding ceremony. Plus, back in October when Chinatsu turned 16, I was so busy that I barely had the time to take a breath. Simply too many things were coming together all at once.

I should mention, Mama has been making wedding plans like a crazy lady for months now. When we ask her about them, all she does is grin and tell us, “Let me take care of everything.”

I suppose, if she’s that into it, I don’t mind. Chinatsu says that as long as she gets to marry Ryu and me, she doesn’t mind how we do it. Ryu, well, he’s being Ryu. I think he knows some of what is going on, but when I try to ask or talk about it, he takes me in his arms to kiss me, and I, being me, forget about my questions in short order as I lose myself in our kiss.

Regardless, in a couple of days, Ryu will be 16, and a few days later on the 11th, we’ll be getting married.

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Immediately following Ryu’s birthday, Mama told me to take the rest of the week off from work. While I’m reluctant to do so, Mama wouldn’t tell me to do it unless it was absolutely necessary. So, I call Erica and explain that I won’t be in for the next week.

The week is spent almost in a daze for Chinatsu and I. How Ryu can remain so calm is beyond me. Me? I’m excited and as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.

We have a rehearsal dinner with Ryu’s and my family along with the minister that will be performing the weddings.

Then there is double checking the fit of our wedding dresses and having some minor adjustments made. For some odd reason, Mama won’t let us see the bridesmaids dresses.

And then so much more that my head was spinning.

[Saturday, June 11, 2061]

Mama wakes us up at 6 in the morning. We bathe, throw our hair up in ponytails and put on comfortable outfits. After breakfast, we ladies head out to the salon because apparently this is going to be a fairly long process. Hair, makeup, mani/pedi, and eyebrows are being done. Of course, there is the obligatory hand, foot and neck massages during all of this. Trust me, it helps.

Afterward, we head home, eat a light lunch and relax until it’s time to begin getting ready.

You should remember what our wedding dress looks like. Matching ivory, off the shoulder, knee length dresses in satin and tulle, along with a lace floret hair comb and birdcage veil that comes down to our chin. Nude stockings and matching open-toe, strappy sandals. Add simple diamond stud earrings and a platinum choker with diamond pendant and we’re done.

Everyone fusses over us getting us dressed, and once we are, they take off to get dressed themselves.

By 2:00, everyone is ready to go, and we load up to head off to the venue. We still have been told very little about this, so I turn to look at Mama.

“Mama, where is the wedding being held?”

“The Grand Ballroom at Royal Park Hotel. Nothing else was big enough.”

“Am I correct in my assumption that everyone from the UNE is sending representatives?”

“Mhmm. Along with a lot of the business and finance people you know. As well as your friends and their dates and all of your executive personnel, anyone you consider to be important at DTI and TGR, and of course, Yui will be live streaming everything.”

“That’s a very long list of people.”

“Mhmm. 651 people along with their plus one RSVP’d. Sora… Baby girl, do you still not get how important you are to people?”

I sigh. “I get that, but today isn’t only about me. It’s about us. The three of us. They are just as important as I am, more so in some ways, because without them, I wouldn’t be here.”

Chinatsu reaches over and takes my hand. She smiles at me. “Sora, my love. Ryu and I don’t take a backseat to you. We have our lives, just as you have yours outside of the house. We are, and always will be, your equals in our relationship. You have to see that.”

“I see it. It’s just… it irritates me to no end when the three of us are together and someone overlooks you two as if you aren’t important.”

She squeezes my hand. “And, we love you for that. Sora, do you think we care if those people think we are important or not?”

I shake my head. “No, I don’t.”

“Sora, the three of us are bound together. Maybe you and I were destined to be with Ryu. I don’t know, and I don’t care at this point. The only opinion that matters is ours. We don’t care what those people think because we know that we are the most important things in life to you, just as you are in ours. Nothing. Else. Matters. Sora, focus. Ryu, you and me are getting married today. Married! Finally! Stop overthinking everything, and be happy!”

I smile and chuckle lightly. “You’re right.”

She winks at me. “I usually am.”

Mama interrupts us by saying, “Ladies, today is going to be a little different.”

Chinatsu asks, “How so?”

“You two will be having a separate ceremony first. Afterward, you’ll exit the hall again and Ryu will come in to wait at the altar for you two, and the wedding will proceed like any other polyagamous ceremony.”

Inside, Chinatsu, Mama, Dad and I wait out in the hall.

Mama tells us, “Chinatsu, your father will escort you to the altar, and I will escort Sora.” We nod. “Your sisters are your bridesmaids and are already waiting.”

Which I think is simply perfect. A couple of minutes later, a song by Essense - My Love, My Life, begins playing. I glance at Mama to see her beaming at us. Chinatsu takes Dad’s arm, and I take Mama’s.

The ushers open the doors, and we proceed down the aisle to the altar. I glance around as we slowly make our way. Off to the side, I see Yui running the camera, live streaming the whole thing. It shouldn’t be so surprising to me at this point, but the number of national leaders that are present is astounding. No wonder security was so tight.

Standing at the altar are Honoka and Sofi in matching sky blue, a-line, v-neck dresses that they look beautiful in. Mama and Dad leave us at the altar with a kiss on our cheeks.

After Mama and Dad take their seats, the minister begins, “A very warm and heartfelt welcome to you all.

“First, I would like to say what a privilege it is for me to be here performing these ceremonies today. On behalf of Chinatsu and Sora, welcome, and we thank you for being here.

“They are thrilled that you’re here today to share in their joy during this special moment in their lives.

“By your presence, you celebrate with them the love they have discovered in each other and their decision to commit themselves to one another for the rest of their lives.

“The greatest happiness of life is knowing that we are loved. If there is anything better than being loved, it is giving love.

“This afternoon, we are here to celebrate love. We come together to witness and proclaim the joining together of these two persons in marriage.

“Marriage is not to be entered into lightly, but reverently, honestly, and deliberately. Thus, it’s into this union that Chinatsu and Sora come before us to be joined.

“Chinatsu, you have chosen Sora to be your partner throughout life. Will you love and respect her? Will you be honest with her always? Will you stand by her through whatever may come?”

Chinatsu looks at me smiling and says, “I will.”

“Sora, you have chosen Chinatsu to be your partner throughout life. Will you love and respect her? Will you be honest with her always? Will you stand by her through whatever may come?”

Smiling, I reply, “I will.”

“Now, in the spirit of joy and affirmation, I ask your families and friends a question. Do you, the families and friends of Chinatsu and Sora, give them your blessing and support this day, wishing them a wonderful life together? If you agree, please, answer we do.”

The audience says, “We do.”

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“Chinatsu and Sora, now, we come to your vows. May I remind you that saying your vows is one thing, but nothing is more challenging than living up to them everyday. What you promise today must be renewed tomorrow and each day that follows. Will you now please turn and face each other, and hold hands, looking at each other.

“Chinatsu, please repeat after me: In the presence of God, I, Chinatsu, choose you, Sora, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, to love and to cherish. This is my solemn vow.”

Chinatsu repeats the vows.

“Sora, please repeat after me: In the presence of God, I, Sora, choose you, Chinatsu, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, to love and to cherish. This is my solemn vow.”

I repeat the vows.

“Chinatsu and Sora, we have heard your promise to share your lives. We recognize and respect the covenant you have made here this day before God and each one of us as witnesses. Therefore, in the honesty and sincerity of what you have said and done here today and by the power vested in me, it is my honor and delight to declare you married and partners in life, for life.

“You may seal your vows with a kiss.”

We lift each other’s veils and exchange a short kiss so that we don’t smear our lipstick.

“It is now my personal privilege and great joy to be the first one to introduce Chinatsu and Sora Kobayashi as a newly married couple.”

A beaming Chinatsu takes my hand, and we make our way down the aisle to exit the venue.

Mama and Dad come out a short time later, hands us each a bouquet and Mama tells us, “Fix your veils. Good. Ryu and his groomsmen, Kei and Jim, will be led in through a side door in a moment. When the music starts, you each will take an arm of your father, and he’ll lead you to the altar, alright? Of course, your sisters will still be up there as your bridesmaids.”

Mama heads back inside, and soon, the music begins, and Dad escorts us to the altar.

Before the minister can start, I look at him to say, “Before we begin, I have something that I’d like to relate to Chinatsu and Ryu. It’s nothing much, just a little something that came to me this morning, and I thought it perfectly describes how much the two of them mean to me.”

He nods and gestures for me to continue.

“There’s a quiet place
Where there’s no one except you two.
You’re the air that I breathe
And you light my way.
You’re why I persevere
Upon this long and difficult path.
At times the world overwhelms me
With its chaos and its noise.
It’s times like those
When my heart knows exactly what to do.
It guides me along that shining path
Right back to you two.
To rest in that quiet place
Always and forever with you.

“I love you both more than words will ever be able to say, but I hope that my little poem gives you a good idea.” I hug them both, take my place beside Chinatsu again and gesture for the minister to continue.

“That was unexpected, but that was a beautiful way to start off their ceremony. Thank you, Sora.

“We’re gathered here today to celebrate the wedding of Ryu to Chinatsu and Sora. You have come here to share in this formal commitment that they make to one another, to offer your love and support to this union, and to witness the beginning of their married life together, surrounded by the people dearest and most important to them. So welcome to one and all, who have traveled from near and far. Ryu, Chinatsu and Sora thank you for your presence here today and now ask for your blessing, encouragement, and lifelong support, for their decision to be married.

“Marriage is the greatest and most challenging adventure of human relationships. No ceremony can create a marriage; only you can do that. What this ceremony can do is to witness and affirm the choice you make to stand together as lifemates and partners.

“Will you, Ryu Ueno, take these women to be your wedded wives?”

“I will.”

Will you, Chinatsu Kobayashi, take this man to be your wedded husband?”

Chinatsu replies, “I will.”

Will you, Sora Kobayashi, take this man to be your wedded husband?”

I reply, “I will.”

“People in love do not live in isolation. Their love is a source of strength with which they may nourish not only each other, but also with the world around them. In turn, we, their community of friends and family, have a responsibility to them. By our steadfast care, respect, and love, we can support their marriage and the new family they are creating today.

“Will everyone please rise.” Everyone stands. “Will you who are present here today, surround Ryu, Chinatsu and Sora in love, offering them the joys of your friendship and supporting them in their marriage?”

“We will.”

“You may be seated.” They sit down, and then he continues, “We’ve come to the point in your ceremony where you’re going to say your vows to one another. But before you do that, I ask you to remember that love, which is rooted in faith, trust, and acceptance, will be the foundation of an abiding and deepening relationship.

“Ryu, please repeat after me: In the presence of God, I, Ryu, choose you, Sora, and you, Chinatsu, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, to love and to cherish. This is my solemn vow.”

Ryu repeats the vows.

“Chinatsu, please repeat after me: In the presence of God, I, Chinatsu, choose you, Ryu to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, to love and to cherish. This is my solemn vow.”

Chinatsu repeats the vows.

“Sora, please repeat after me: In the presence of God, I, Sora, choose you, Ryu to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, to love and to cherish. This is my solemn vow.”

I repeat the vows.

“May I have the rings, please?”

Honoka and Kei present our rings to the minister.

“Please, exchange your rings while repeating the following: I give you this ring, as a daily reminder of my love for you.”

Ryu places our wedding bands on our fingers, and Chinatsu and I place his while we repeat what he said.

“By the power of your love and commitment, and the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wives! Ryu, you may kiss your brides!”

Ryu lifts our veils and gives us each a short kiss.

We turn to the audience, and the Minister says, “Ladies and Gentlemen, I have the honor of presenting to you Ryu, Chinatsu and Sora Ueno!”

Everyone stands and applauds as we leave the altar and make our way down the aisle. Many of them offer their congratulations as we pass by.

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I won’t go into detail about the reception, but I can tell you that for the three of us, it was a dizzying event of toasts, speeches, congratulations, and dancing. I’m sure that somewhere in all of that, we cut our cake. By the way, I did find out that my nanites do not purge alcohol from my system as I ended up a little tipsy after all the toasts and such.

One event did make a rather deep impression on me. Jenny came up, hugged me and said, “Congratulations, Mrs. Ueno.” It took me a moment to catch on to who she was talking to.

Smiling happily, I say, “That’s me, I’m Mrs. Sora Ueno, and thank you. Thank you for being here for us.”

She smiles. “All the secret service agents in the world couldn’t have kept us from attending. Princess, there’s some people we need to have a conversation with soon.” I give her a questioning look. “King George and Queen Anne have been appointed as the lead representatives of the Alliance to have a conversation with you about this subject. I’ll be there as well as a couple of others… Princess…” She giggles for a moment. “It’s kind of funny that I gave you that nickname, considering. Anyway, it doesn’t need to be this week, just sometime soon, alright?”

I’m more confused now than when she brought the subject up, so I ask, “Alright, but what is this about?”

She smiles, winks at me and says, “You’ll see, Your Highness.”

Which doesn’t even begin to alleviate my confusion.

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