�Neko-chan, would you like to speak your vow to Tenshi-chan?� Neo-Queen Serenity repeated, breaking the silence.
Mi-chan�s eyes widened, absorbed in Neko�s thoughts to her. �Uh, Tenshi�,� she began hesitantly, her eyes finding a place slightly above Tenshi�s as she spoke, �since we have been��
*Tenshi, since we have been together, you have provided me with strength, security, confidence, honesty, love and plenty of much needed guidance. Where there has been cold, you have brought warmth; where my life was dark, you have brought light. In my darkest trouble, in my coldest silence, I looked for you, and you were there. You are truly my knight in shining armor. You may not realize it, but you have helped me and saved me in so many ways, and I love you for that.
I am honored that you will have me as your wife, and I am proud to have you as mine. I believe that we were meant to be from the start, and I will always love you with all my heart.*
��with all my heart,� Mi-chan finished an instant later. Tenshi thought she might have been a tad lackluster, but nobody seemed to notice, and she didn�t care since she could feel Neko�s heartfelt words.
�Tenshi-chan, would you like to speak your vow to Neko-chan?�
Tenshi spoke aloud, though she focused the meaning of the vow in her mind, concentrating with all her might to get the message to Neko. Speaking aloud had always helped her with her ability to speak psychically to Neko anyway.
�Neko, you are a star from the heavens, to love, honor and cherish, for all the days of my life. You are my pearl of choice, my strength at my side. My love for you will never fade. When you are sad, I will dry your tears. When you are scared, I will comfort your fears. When you are worried, I will give you hope. When you are confused, I will help you cope. And when you are lost, and can't see the light, I will be your beacon, shining ever so bright.
Neko, you are my lover, my friend, my life, my wife. May our marriage be blessed in peace and happiness for all time.�
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Tears began to stream down Neko�s face. Those of happiness from Tenshi�s vows to her, but uncontrollable were those of her regret that she couldn�t be there with Tenshi. She should have been there!
She ran through the building, knowing it was much too late. She didn�t know what Tenshi and Mi-chan would do, but she did know one thing: there was no way she�d make it before the end of the wedding. Whether or not Tenshi and Mi-chan went through with the rest of it, she, Mizuno Neko, was not going to be Tenshi�s wife today.
Exiting the building, she ran into someone who immediately grabbed her. Still upset, she began to claw at her new captor until his voice made her surrender.
�Shhh, Neko-chan, it�s okay. I�m here to rescue you�. Though you seem to be pretty on top of that yourself.�
�Jasper-kun,� she sobbed. She threw her arms around him, grateful for a friendly face. �I was kidnapped by this guy � he thought I was Mi-chan � and he hates Jian-kun, and I�m missing the wedding, and Tenshi must hate me��
�No, Neko-chan. Please don�t cry,� he hushed her. �We can still make the end of the wedding, I promise.�
She looked up at him in disbelief. �How?�
He held her tighter to him, �Just trust me, Hime-chan.�
Neko laid her head on his chest and closed her eyes. Big Brother Jasper � he always knew what to say to make her feel better.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
�Neko-chan and Tenshi-chan will now exchange the rings they have chosen for each other as a symbol of their love and the promises they share today,� Neo-Queen Serenity said, continuing the ceremony, despite Tenshi�s overwhelming feeling that it all was over now. She had done everything that she could possibly do with Neko, and everything else was going to be her and Mi-chan going through the motions.
Suddenly another thought occurred to Tenshi. She looked at Mi-chan in panic. After they exchanged rings and Neo-Queen Serenity spoke her next words, they would be married. Kind of. She didn�t know which mattered more, the person standing at the altar with her when they were declared �husband and wife,� who had actually said the vows, or who she had directed the vows to. She knew it was more important that she and Neko were married in their hearts, but the ceremony meant something to Tenshi too.
And she didn�t want to be married to anyone but Neko.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Jian avoided Mi-chan�s eyes as he handed her Tenshi�s ring. Mi-chan took it from him, fingering it gently. It was identical to the necklace that hung around her neck, tucked in under her dress shirt. The one he handed Tenshi was the same, except that the middle row of diamonds was pink instead of blue.
Everyone�s eyes were on her, and she fumbled for the words Neko was supposed to say. �This ring� I give you��
�STOP!� Jian-wa shouted. �I can�t let you two go through with this.�
Instantly, a great murmur went through the crowd. People were shocked at his outburst.
�Oh, thank god,� Mi-chan and Tenshi both sighed in relief.
�What�s going on here?� Neo-Queen Serenity asked, her annoyance and curiosity fully visible on her face.
�I�m sorry, Your Majesty, but I can�t let you marry these two. I love her too much to let her marry another.�
�Are you saying you�ve fallen in love with the bride?� Neo-Queen Serenity asked, scandalized.
�Oh, no!� Jian-wa replied quickly. Mi-chan turned to look at her koibito. His eyes were shining at her. �I love the groom.�
