She turned back to Tenshi. �No offense, Tenshiko, but I wasn�t really looking forward to kissing the bride,� she admitted quietly.
Tenshi�s eyes widened. �I hadn�t even thought that far ahead in the wedding,� she admitted.
Mi-chan smiled at her as Jian-wa put his hands on her shoulders. But it was far from over. They still needed to deal with Neo-Queen Serenity, the wedding party, not to mention most of the crowd, who were still talking amongst themselves in confusion.
�I�m sorry,� Jian-wa said to her. �But I just couldn�t let you marry Tenshi-kun.�
�Wait, you love Neko-chan?!� Chibi asked angrily, but densely, from Jian-wa�s side. He was ready to fight for his sister�s honor � both of them. �I thought you loved Mi-chan!�
�I, uh��
�Matte!�
Everyone turned to the back of the church, where an exact copy of the wedding�s groom ran in. Her clothes and hair were tousled, her face had a streak of dirt on it, and she was in her stocking feet, but beyond that, she was identical to the girl on the other end of the aisle. Another murmur went through the crowd, but for those who better knew the twins, everything suddenly became clear.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Neko held tight to Jasper as he teleported her to the palace. As the yellow smoke dissipated around them, she looked up and watched as the remaining glow in the necklace died out.
�Goodbye, Amber,� he said under his breath.
�Jasper-kun�,� Neko said softly, touching the yellow stone gingerly. �You�.�
He smiled at her. He would do anything for her, give up everything to make her happy. Even if it meant he had to give her away to the woman she truly loved. �It�s your wedding day, Hime-chan. You can�t meet Tenshi-san with tears.� He kissed the tears off both of her cheeks and smiled at her bravely. �Go in and get married before it�s too late.�
Jasper let go of her but made no indication that he was about to follow her in � something that made her frown with concern. �You need to come too,� she whispered.
�I have something to attend to first. But I promise I�ll come back.�
Neko smiled bravely, trusting him to stick to his word. �Thank you, Jasper-kun. You truly saved me today. Suki da yo!� she cried with a hug. Then she dashed to the church.
�No I didn�t,� Jasper muttered, pulling Amber�s necklace off with a simple yank. �I didn�t save anyone.� He pocketed the necklace yet again and set off in search of a guard to send to take Neko�s kidnapper into custody at the church before he transported to Japan.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
�Matte!� Neko yelled from the church entrance. She hadn�t missed everything yet. She didn�t know where they were in the wedding, but Tenshi and Mi-chan still were at the altar.
Tenshi�s eyes met hers, and Neko stifled a sob as she flew at her bride. She was absolutely angelic in her beautiful wedding dress. Neko couldn�t believe she had missed so many moments with Tenshi in such a heavenly dress.
�Tenshi!� Neko cried as she reached her. Tenshi embraced her and showered her with kisses. �I�m sorry, Tenshi. I�m sorry,� she sobbed.
*Shh, you made it, Koneko. We can still get married� today. You made it!*
Neko looked up at Tenshi and knew why she wasn�t speaking out loud. She was on the verge of tears, herself. Neko needed her not to cry. If Tenshi wasn�t strong enough to get through this without crying, how could Neko ever hope to be?
�It�s okay,� Tenshi whispered. �They expect us to cry.�
Neko answered her with something that was in between a sob and a giggle. She gave Tenshi a long passionate kiss, not stopping until Mi-chan elbowed her in the ribs.
*Oh, yeah. We�re, like, in front of a hundred people* Neko thought sheepishly.
Neo-Queen Serenity seemed to be unable to decide whether she was amused or upset. �Would anybody care to explain what�s going on?�
�I was kidnapped!� Neko gasped, breathless from running and the overflow of emotions. �This Chinese guy kidnapped me, thinking I was Mi-chan, and I told Mi-chan to keep Tenshi from knowing, so she took my place in the wedding.�
�I see,� Neo-Queen Serenity said slowly. She thought about this a second and then addressed the audience with the full volume of her voice. �An emergency has kept Neko-chan from the wedding so far, and she had asked Michiru-chan to stand in for her until now. However, now that she has joined us, she and Tenshi-chan will continue the wedding together.�
This silenced people, and Neko found herself holding her breath in anticipation of the fact that she was just about to get married now. �Here,� Mi-chan said, handing her the ring, before shifting to her place at Tenshi�s side instead of Neko�s.
�Are you two ready?� Neo-Queen Serenity asked, and the self-conscious couple let each other go and nodded. �Would you like to say your vows?�
�We already said them to each other,� Tenshi disclosed.
�Very well. You may exchange the rings.�
Neko beamed at Tenshi and took her hand. �This ring I give you in token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love,� she told her bride, sliding the ring onto Tenshi�s ring finger.
Tenshi took her left hand and repeated the mantra, slipping the pink version of the ring on Neko�s finger right next to the tanzanite engagement ring.
Neo-Queen Serenity smiled. �By the power of the cosmos, I pronounce the two of you married.�
Neko squealed and threw her arms around Tenshi�s neck, kissing her again. *Aishiteru.*
*I love you too.*
