View source for Uranept Wedding Fic

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Haruka cursed as the phone rang yet again. Why, oh why, did it have to be raining? If only she could get away and *do* something. Like spar with Jed in the park down the street. But he was busy being a ‘lawyer,’ as he called it. She sighed.
<br />
   “Moshimoshi, Tenou residence,” she droned, barely listening to the babbling voice on the other end of the line.
<br />
   “Tenou-san, I can’t…blah blah blah...”
<br />
   Haruka was thinking about the next night’s RAW and her bet with Mo.
<br />
   “I quit!”
<br />

   “Huh what? Shacho-san?”
<br />
   “Are you listening, Tenou-san?”
<br />
   “Uh...”
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   “I quit! I can’t do this any more! That woman! She’s insane! She hires me to plan her wedding and then goes and does it herself! She shows up everywhere I go, 100 phone calls a day! I haven’t slept in days!”
<br />
   The man was raving, and Haruka began to think. Normally she wouldn’t care, but this was her and Michi’s wedding, and she wasn’t letting anything get in the way of the woman she loved. Michi...she’d had her dream wedding planned since childhood. And even after being so adamant against it, Haruka really did care.
<br />
   “Listen, Shacho-san,” she said, taking a deep breath and praying everything would work out. “It’s only two more weeks, right? Just do everything exactly as she says. If nothing goes wrong at the wedding, you’ll get a huge bonus.

<br />
   “I don’t care! I won’t stand for it,” he said. “She hates me, she hates everything I do. Nothing’s ever good enough.”
<br />
   “Yeah, she’s like that. And you’re a man. Besides, don’t you have a partner?”
<br />
   “Hai, hai, but...”
<br />
   “But what?”
<br />
   “She’s a bit...hen, da yo?”
<br />
   "What way?” Haruka snapped in a quick pang of jealousy.

<br />
   “Well, you see, her daughter disappeared a few years back. She never got to throw the big wedding she was planning, so now she does it for other people.”
<br />
   “I see.” Haruka thought a minute. “Let her do it, then. She’ll be as picky as Michi, it might work.”
<br />
   “Oh, thank you, Tenou-san, thank you! Oh, Kaiou-san, how nice to see you! Unfortunately, I have an emergency...” he went on before remembering to turn off the phone. That had been close. Now she just hoped it would all work out in the end.
<br />

<br />
   No one heard of saw much of Michiru over the next few weeks, except for to give each person their orders for attending the affair. Hotaru would act as maid of honor and witness. Everyone else was resigned to the ‘lower’ guest section, at which they might attend the party, even if they wouldn’t be seeing much of bride and groom. Everyone was expect to dress in appropriate attire (meaning nothing less than the best) and at no instance draw attention to themselves. The spore was allowed to attend only because she was royalty, and under the condition she was attached to rei.bot the entire time. Sakura and Setsuna were also allowed to attend, assuming they chose to show up for the occasion. Haruka herself was given an exact time table of everything she was supposed to be doing, and told transportation would be provided. She couldn’t even drive to her own wedding and look damn cool getting out of her current snazzy, blue Ferrari. The only time she saw Michi for more than five minutes was when she was measured for whatever she was going to be wearing.
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   And so the day before came, and at promptly 4 o’clock a limo pulled up outside and the driver came to the door with suit and another garment in hand, and Haruka was told to be ready in precisely 17 minutes.

<br />
   “So you’re going to drive me around to all this stuff?”
<br />
   “Yes, sir,” he said, and she stalked off to do what she was told.
<br />

<br />
   “Haruka-papa, what are you doing?” Hotaru squeaked out as her ‘papa’ began to strip in her room.
<br />
   “Well, my room’s filthy, you know. Michi’d have a fit if I even went in there today.”
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   “But you could have at least warned us,” Artemis said, crawling back out from under the bed.

<br />
   “What are you doing up here, anyway?”
<br />
   “Working on the divorce,” Hotaru said, holding up a book entitled Defense against the Cheating Wife.
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   “Hm...Armani,” Haruka said, examining the label in her suit.
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   “For just the rehearsal?”
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   “No wonder she spent all our money. Eh, at least I get the benefits. Here’s yours.”
<br />
   Haruka handed her a long purple dress, size small. Hotaru stared at the dress as if it would bite her. But in the end she gingerly picked up the dress and retreated to the bathroom to change in privacy.

<br />
   Artemis looked Haruka over when she was dressed. “Get Hotaru to fix your tie.”
<br />
   Hotaru, meanwhile, was getting a crash course in high-end fashion. She’d been secretly hoping Michiru-mama would have forgotten her, but refusing to ‘cooperate’ would be even worse. The gown had semi cap/around the shoulder sleeves, a mostly straight neckline, and—were those padded cups? She blanched in horror, and there was a muffled snicker behind her. She dropped the dress and crossed her arms over her shift, but Haruka-papa walked right in anyway.
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   “You may as well get it over with,” she said, holding up the dress.
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   “If this is the rehearsal dress, what could she possible have found for tomorrow?”
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   Haruka just shook her head and turned to Hotaru slip out of her shift and into the dress. There were some sounds of struggle, and Haruka turned to see yards of fabric draped about the girl’s shoulders.
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   “Some help?”

<br />
   The fabric bobbed up and down in answer, and Haruka pulled down the inner layer, almost laughing in the way the sown-in cups shaped Hotaru’s slight bosom.
<br />
   “Don’t you dare,” Hotaru warned, and Haruka did her best not to as the rest of the gown slid into place. As for the rest of the gown, it had an empire waste and a border of dark silver embroidered flowers around the hem. (Imagine this in purple and flowers around the hem, and a little heavier fabric. Maybe eventually I’ll actually design it. <a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a361/zairafirefly/hotarurehersal.jpg" target="_blank" class="postlink">http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a361/zairafirefly/hotarurehersal.jpg</a>).
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   “A regency dress,” Hotaru said, looking in the mirror. The only problem—not only was the fabric a bit light for her tastes, it was scandalously low. But under Haruka’s gaze, she mustered a smile and tried to project an air of confidence. Then she noticed something.
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   “Haruka-papa...what happened to your...uh...” words failed her, and she just pointed to Haruka’s chest.
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   “Oh, uh...it’s bound.” Haruka had turned a very dark shade of red.

<br />
   “Michiru had to get a priest to agree to marry you, didn’t she?”
<br />
   “Uh, yeah. Something like that.”
<br />
   “So she’s playing you as a man.”
<br />
   “Yes, but only because no one would marry us otherwise, and you know it is...” Haruka looked down, then picked up another small bag. Hotaru pulled out little kitten-heeled slippers that matched the dress.
<br />
   “I suppose these are kind of cute.”
<br />
   “Well, time to go, kiddo,” Haruka said, opening the door for Hotaru to pass.

<br />

<br />
   Although no one had said a word, everyone had gathered to watch them leave. Everyone seemed to be staring at Hotaru, except Tomoe, who was beaming and giggling uncontrollably at his daughter’s busty appearance.
<br />
   A finger poked the side of her breast, and she slapped it away, glaring at Minako.
<br />
   “They’re fake,” she announced, matter of factly.
<br />
   “Of course they’re fake, did you think they grew since lunch time?”
<br />
   “Hay, ohw kum si gatts to og?” the spore popped up, irate.

<br />
   “Because she is Haruka and Michiru’s adopted daughter,” Dr. X said, effortlessly restraining his wife from exploring Hotaru’s ‘breasts’ more thoroughly.
<br />
   “It’s only proper,” Jedite sneared, stalking down to his sub-basement apartments. Haruka headed out to the car.
<br />

<br />
   “Haruka-papa?” Hotaru asked once they were on their way, “Do you even know what church you’re getting married in?”
<br />
   “Uh...” A huge sweat drop appeared on Haruka’s forehead.
<br />
   “You don’t know much more than any of us, I suppose.”

<br />
   “Nope. I’m as in the dark as the Prof. down there in his lab.”
<br />

<br />
   Yet both of them were shocked when the car pulled up in front of St. Mary’s Cathedral. Haruka gulped several times, and Hotaru a deep breath before stepping out onto the pavement, and both of them knew there’d be a great white carpet up this walk tomorrow. People walking on the streets stopped to look at the two of them in their finery as they walked up the path toward the entrance. A short man in a sharp black suit with a decked out and simpering woman hanging on his arm were just going through the doors, paying them only a glance before disappearing inside.
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   “Who was that?” Hotaru asked.
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   “Michi’s father and mother.”
<br />
   “But I thought they were estranged...”

<br />
   “Keeping up appearances, ‘taru. Where’d you think she got it from?”
<br />
   “Sh,” Hotaru cautioned as they entered the Cathedral.
<br />
   Sure enough, mother and father were greeting their daughter most formally and politely in the annex. Michiru was wearing a simple, sleek dress, and Haruka just looked at her a minute before turning to see everyone else in the room (<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a361/zairafirefly/michirurehersal.jpg" target="_blank" class="postlink">http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a361/zairafirefly/michirurehersal.jpg</a>). Next to them was the priest, and in another corner an alter boy, an unknown man in a suit, and a woman with her back turned. The woman was in deep conversation with the unknown man, going over some kind of list.
<br />
   “Tsukino-san?”
<br />
   “Eh? Ah, Tenou-san, Tomoe-san. A moment.” She finished her conversation, then came over to them.

<br />
   “Tsukino-san, what are you doing here?”
<br />
   “You made me her wedding planner, what do you think I’m doing here?”
<br />
   “You mean you were Shacho-san’s partner? I had no idea!”
<br />
   “Well, I have to thank you, Tenou-san. This wedding’s going to make me famous, and then I’ll be able to ditch that impossible man!” she said, very happy.
<br />
   “Haruka-kun,” Michiru crooned, drawing the two of them over toward her parents. Haruka quite distinctly felt both parents looking at her like a bug under a microscope, while Hotaru felt a deep pitying when they looked at her with their hard eyes. But Haruka made it extremely clear they were to be as polite as possible, and everyone was relieved when Tsukino-san called them all together.
<br />
   “Now, we’re about to start. You stand exactly at this spot, Tenou-san,” she pointed at a little X on a map of the sanctuary. “And then the mother of the bride will be escorted down...” she said, going on about the proper way to walk and hold a bouquet. Before they knew it they were whisked away to their starting places to begin rehearsing, Haruka standing perfectly and handsomely on the spot marked out.

<br />
   <span style="font-style: italic">Blasted perfection field</span>, Hotaru through as the rehearsal began.
<br />

<br />
   The remainder of time was a blur, eating, drinking, little sleep, and more of Michiru’s relations, and her own distant relations, than Haruka cared to remember. And suddenly she was thrust back into the magnificent church with the shock of  a flaming red Hotaru walking down  the isle between pews and pews of people in what was literally a corset and full skirt. (This corset in purple with black embroidery and the same skirt <a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a361/zairafirefly/hotaruwedding2.jpg" target="_blank" class="postlink">http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a361/zairafirefly/hotaruwedding2.jpg</a>). The swelling reverberations of the famous organ transformed into the wedding march, and Haruka’s heart stopped as Michiru appeared in all her elegant splendor.
<br />
   At opposite sides of a large crystal ballroom, a large crowd of royals and nobles separated them, Michiru in her court dress for presentation to the great Serenity (<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a361/zairafirefly/michiruwedding.jpg" target="_blank" class="postlink">http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a361/zairafirefly/michiruwedding.jpg</a>). The one immediate glance had joined them for eternity. But they knew would never meet again in that life, communicating only in radio transmissions between lonely castles.
<br />

   Haruka took Michiru’s hand, holding it tightly. This time they had a thousand lifetimes waiting for them.
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And if you’ve read all the way through, here’s the table settings at the reception, as well. <a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a361/zairafirefly/img3_big.jpg." target="_blank">http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a361/zairafirefly/img3_big.jpg.</a>
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And in appreciation for Dr. X, who runs this stuff so we can have fun, some dresses for Minako-chan &#61514;.
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<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a361/zairafirefly/venusforx2.jpg" target="_blank">http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a361/zairafirefly/venusforx2.jpg</a>
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<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a361/zairafirefly/venusforx.jpg" target="_blank">http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a361/zairafirefly/venusforx.jpg</a>
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Last but not least, for information on the St. Mary’s pipe organ, go here: <a href="http://www.mascioni-organs.com/nuovidemo/tokyocat.htm" target="_blank">http://www.mascioni-organs.com/nuovidemo/tokyocat.htm</a></span></td></tr>

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