Chapter 181 - Felicitations

"I believe it's now time to seal your union with a kiss."

Their lips met in a sweet, sweet kiss amidst cheers and jeers. Kazehaya Gin even did the infamous catcall whistle making the others laugh as the couple continued to seal their wedding vows with their lips.

Suzuki Ara couldn't feel any happier than she had ever been; the overwhelming feeling brimming to the cup, threatening to overspill in the form of tears.

"Congratulations!"

As were feelings, felicitations, and cheers also came in waves.

Ara and Ryuu reluctantly ended the kiss, their lips parting but they continued to smile at each other, their eyes dancing in glee. The husband reached out to take his wife's hand in his, and Ara could feel the promise of security and dedication in the warmth of his palm.

The two of them faced their equally ecstatic audience, receiving their good wishes simultaneously.

"Congratulations Master Homura," the mayor, officials, and lawyers shook the newly wedded couple's hands.

Suzuki Ara – no, Homura Ara had never felt so amazed, yet, bashful in her life like right at this moment. She had been feeling funny in her stomach as if someone had released a thousand butterflies there, fluttering their wings altogether, tickling her incessantly up to her chest where her heart beat fast.

"Thank you," the couple replied to them.

Suzuki Aki then stepped forward and shook Ryuu's hand.

"Take care of my sister okay? Although if she's being a pain, you can bring her back," he teased with a mocking severity in his tone, making the Koutaishidenka laugh.

"Yes, of course, I will take care of her, but I won't give her back," he answered readily as he turned to his new wife, his hand pushing the small of her back onward so she could go to her brother. 

Ara stepped forward into her brother's open arms and welcomed the embrace that came soon after. "Behave. Be patient. Don't do stupid things anymore, okay?" Aki reminded her, making her laugh.

"Ya! I'm already behaving okay?"Ara retorted laughingly, and Aki chuckled in equal mirth as he pushed her forward to her friends who crowded around her.

"Congratulations," Kazehaya Gin said with a grin as he and Ryuu shook hands.

"Thanks," Ryuu answered as he turned to look back at his bride who was busy exchanging laughs with her friends a few feet away.

Gin followed his gaze, and his grin only grew bigger. "My, my prince, you're so whipped," he teased, making Ryuu turn back to him with a brow raised.

"Better whipped than rejected," the Koutaishidenka deadpanned, making Gin gasp as he placed his hands on his chest dramatically again.

"I haven't been rejected okay? I haven't even confessed yet," the chestnut prince countered, and Ryuu gave him a knowing look, his blue gaze glinting at the information.

"Oh, so you are going to confess," Ryuu commented as he nodded condescendingly. "Good luck."

"You…"The light in Kazehaya Gin's eyes dimmed. "I don't need luck okay?" he sputtered as he pulled Ryuu and pushed him towards Ara and her group. "Stop being mean and go fetch your wife so we can go home."

With this, Ryuu indeed went to Ara's side and took her hand in his again. The couple looked at each other, their lips breaking into a soft, intimate smile.

"Let's go?"Ryuu asked and Ara nodded.

The Koutaishidenka then signaled the others that they were leaving, and so everyone followed suit.

Unlike when they came to the city hall, Ara left with Ryuu, while Gin took Ara's place in Aki's car so that the couple could ride back to the Cedar Palace together without them disturbing their time alone.

"Are you tired?"Ryuu asked Ara within the confines of the car.

The interior of the Maybach Zeppelin, of course, was big, and yet, the two sat as close as possible to each other with their hands remaining entwined.

"No. I was able to sleep well last night," Ara answered as she scrutinized her new husband's face. "Aren't you the one who's tired?"

"Me?"

Ryuu seemed surprised. He hadn't slept at all indeed, but he was very sure nobody could ever tell since his divine power always made him look alright.

"Yes. Didn't you pull an all-nighter?"Ara continued to ask. "Yayoi-san told me about the accident and the fire in Hakone. I saw Aoi too."

"Oh…"

Ryuu then smiled reassuringly at her as he used his free hand to pat her head.

"I'm fine," he told her, and he really was. Not sleeping a day or two was nothing to him.

"Is it okay now?"

Ryuu inclined his head at her, thinking about how he could explain without sounding so outrageous. "It's already not that bad, but it's still not settled."

Ara's silver-grey eyes continued to study his face carefully. "Do you need help?"

Ryuu's smile only turned softer, his eyes brimming with emotions he hadn't shown before. The hand that clasped with hers loosened and he caressed her palm. "No –at least not for now." He then lifted his hand to pull at her hair a bit. "But I'll definitely call my strong wife in case I need help okay?"

His teasing voice echoed within the posh interior of the car, and Ara grinned.

"Right. Call your goddess of a wife in case you're in trouble okay?" she said approvingly, making her husband chuckle.

"Uhum, but my goddess of a wife will need to focus on her exam this week," Ryuu reminded her and Ara almost groaned.

She had totally forgotten about the exam. It was a good thing that it was just a formality for their graduation and she wouldn't really need to study too hard for it.

"Ara…"Ryuu began and Ara focused on her husband again.

Ryuu looked like he was hesitating on what to tell her, but she could see that he was trying his best and so she remained patient, waiting for him to be ready to speak and not made him hurry. The hand caressing her palm then stopped as he held her hand tightly again.

"Ara I think after today, you may go back with your brother to Denenchofu…"