�Nothing,� Mi-chan answered quickly, throwing out thoughts of how beautiful this wedding was going to be. She began to feel better, sensing that she had made a difference after all, when she felt Neko relax again. That was until she dug another bobby pin into her head.
�Ow!�
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Jasper hovered at the edge of the palace�s expansive courtyard. This would be only the second time he had entered the palace grounds. The first time he had been with Team Eclipse.
It had been much simpler then. All he had had to do was find the name of a person due to enter that day, an easy feat with his trusting manner, and tell the guards that he was that person. They let him in with no problems at all.
Today, however, his own name had caused more of a fuss. First, the seemingly good-natured guard had frowned at the list, demanded Jasper�s ID, and finally, his invitation. Realizing that he had foolishly left the invitation sitting on his bookcase, Jasper had found himself fairly flustered. He tried for several minutes to talk his way in, before the guard finally began to laugh and let Jasper in. As he passed by the guard, the official checked off his name. Jasper could swear he saw written on the list in Mi-chan�s scrawl, �If he shows up, give him a hard time,� right next to that checkmark.
He groaned inwardly. There was no doubt that Mi-chan was not going to make this easy. All he could hope was that Neko and Tenshi kept her too busy today to actually run into him. *Yeah, right. Like Michiru-san�s going to leave her sister�s side for even a moment.*
He took the small necklace out of his pocket and held it in his hand a moment. He missed his own sister. �Amber,� he whispered, and the jewel in the center glowed for a fragment of a second as if answering him.
As if drawn to do so by an unknown force, Jasper slipped the necklace over his head and tucked the golden stone under his dress shirt. He looked up at the crystalline palace shining before him, took a deep breath, and stepped onto the grounds.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Tenshi danced around the room, making it near impossible for her mother to do anything constructive towards making her ready for this wedding. Kaiou Michiru didn�t mind too much. She thought it was adorable. Tenshi hardly ever danced around like this. She was truly happy today.
Be that as it may, Michiru knew her daughter was going to eventually have to get dressed. �Tenshi, honey, don�t you think you should think about getting ready?�
Tenshi returned to the vanity and sat down on the stool, but she didn�t let the dreamy smile leave her face. �I can�t wait to marry Koneko,� she happily confessed.
�I couldn�t tell,� Michiru giggled. �But you know, they can�t start the wedding without you, so you might want to actually get dressed.�
Tenshi ran a brush through her hair as she inquired, �Where�s Haruka-papa? Is she helping Koneko get ready?�
Michiru smiled with amusement. �She muttered something about an overly sappy groom and took your impatient sister for a drive.�
�As long as they don�t fall asleep somewhere and miss the wedding�.� Tenshi�s voice might have betrayed a hint of worry, but her blue-green eyes still shown with the certainty that this would be the best day of her life. �I wish I could see Koneko��
�Now don�t start that!� Michiru warned her. �Neko-chan is too feminine to not be considered a bride. And with Michiru-chan running around here too, you wouldn�t know which one you found anyway.�
�Please, Michiru-mama, they�re not that similar. Besides, Koneko�s in a tux and Mi-chan�s wearing one of those frilly dresses Jean Pierre made for my bridesmaids.�
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
He watched from afar as Jian-wa Chang greeted his green-haired beauty of a girlfriend. Watching from the shadows, he overheard Jian-wa exclaim, �There you are!� The dark-haired youth was grinning as he continued, �What were you complaining about? The dress looks cute on you!�
�It�s too frilly, too pale, and too blue,� she responded, but it was clear that she appreciated the compliment.
�I like blue,� Jian-wa pointed out.
�I know you do. But I�� She was about to complain more, but he silenced her with a kiss.
Still unseen by the couple, their observer withdrew from the scene while he could.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Tenshi took a good look in the mirror, admiring the wedding dress she had chosen. The classic white satin a-line dress looked fabulous on her. Her bodice was composed of beaded Venise lace, and the dress sported cap sleeves that graced the top of her shoulder in flowery lace appliqu�. Neko was going to love it. With a blissful sigh, Tenshi picked up the glossy pink lipstick she had decided to wear for the event. Puckering up to blot it a little, she realized that in about an hour, she and Neko would be sharing their first kiss as a married couple.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Neko knew she was the groom, but she couldn�t help but put on a little bit of lipstick. She wanted to look her best for Tenshi.
She beamed at her reflection in the mirror. Mi-chan had done a great job on her hair. The twins had decided to put their hair up in a French twist and adorn it with a single white stargazer lily and some pearled bobby pins. The tuxedo she wore already had the approval of her bride. Neko had to admit, though, that by the time Tenshi had gotten to see it, the tux had been half off. Her eyes sparkled at mischievously at the memory.
She was just putting the lid back on the lipstick when she heard a couple of knocks at the door. Doing a quick check to make sure it wasn�t Tenshi, she called, �It�s open, come in!�
Her face brightened as she saw in the mirror�s reflection her entering visitor. �Jasper-kun!� she cried happily. She ran to him, laughing joyously as the tall guy swept her off her feet in a hug. �Oh, I�m so happy you came!�
He released her and took his first good look at her in months. She blushed as his eyes softened. �Oh, Hime-chan, you look beautiful,� he said, using the half nickname he often used for her.
