Chapter Two: Sakura Bride:

Jiao grinned at this latest victory. “Mosh is marrying Noiz!” she bragged in Roka’s ear. *Plus-cross on the priest’s head* He gritted his teeth.

“Shut up!” he hissed. The sexy demon smiled wickedly at him.

“Ah, why?” she asked. Roka glared up at her. He had an evil look at the woman. She gave him a fox-like smile. Jiao leaned in and embraced him from behind. She nuzzled his nape. The priest looked over at her.

“Get off,” he mumbled. Jiao looked up at him.

“Why?” she asked.

“You’re freaking me out.”

“Why?”

“What are you doing?”

Jiao giggled as she breathed in his hair once again.

“Mmm,” she murmured. “Thinking about riding your hot, big, throbbing…”

Roka’s face went bright red as he pushed her off. “Stop it!”

Jiao gave him a little smile. “Lighten up! I’m only playing with you!” Roka just sneered at her. The sexy demon drew back, smiling.

“Anyway,” she said.”Just sit back and enjoy the wedding in few days.” She walked away smirking. Roka leaned over the garden fence and sighed. Two parts of the bet would be won for Jiao. Noiz and Mosh were getting married. They had been dating for a year and now this. He could still hear Jiao laughing in his head. He had to act soon. But how at this moment? Wedding nerves, maybe? He would have to see.

Meanwhile, Noiz and Mosh got started on planning their wedding. The news of their engagement had mixed reactions. Some were surprised. Others were happy for them. Only a small few were disappointed. Tami tried to understand and be happy for Noiz. Andrea, on the other hand, was thrilled to bits.

“This is great!” she cheered as she clapped her hands. “We need to party!” *Sweat drop on Mosh’s head*

“All that’s not necessary,” he said.

“Oh come on!” Andrea cheered. “You both deserve it!” She turned to Noiz.

“You should invite your seir along!” Andrea cheered. The kitty’s face lit up in shock.

“What?!?” she exclaimed. “Are you sure about that?”

“Of course!” she cheered. “She will be related to me through you after all!” The couple looked on with sweat drops on their heads. They had a feeling this would be a bad idea. But, Andrea wasn’t going to listen. She wanted an excuse to party and was happy that Mosh was finally getting hitched. So, let her have her joy.

The couple and their mentors went out to Tokyo’s finest steakhouse. Noiz decided to treat her fiancée and his mentor to something nice tonight. They seemed game for it. Tami was a little hard to push at first.

“I don’t eat meat,” she reminded Noiz.

“I know,” she said. “You can just get ramen without beef. Please do this for me. Mosh is bringing his seir. Please!” Tami’s stoic face didn’t change.

“And you sure you want to marry this boy?” she asked.

“Yes!” the kitty replied for close to the millionth time. “I love Mosh and want to marry him.” Tami’s face still didn’t change.

“Whatever, just no meat for me,” she declared. Noiz smiled and bowed her head.

“Thank you,” she murmured. So here they were. The seirs sat together on one side with their backs to the window while Noiz and Mosh sat on the other side together. Nobody spoke at first. The mouse looked on nervously at Tami as she shot him a cold look. Andrea grinned and raised her glass.

“A toast to the couple to wed!” she cheered.

“Her, her!” they replied. The group toasted and took a drink.

“Ah!” Andrea said aloud with a smile. Tami made a face at her.

“Must you be so loud?” she asked. The seir ignored her as she turned to the couple.

“So, any plans for this wedding?” Andrea asked.

“Not yet,” Noiz said. Her soon-to-be seir-in-law smiled as she shook her head.

“You better get to it!” she said. “But right now, let’s party!” The old lady raised her arm in the air and snapped her fingers.

“Waiter!” she shouted. “Where’s the food? Tonight’s a special night!” *Sweat drops on the couple’s heads* Tami made a face at them.

“Is she always like this?” she whispered to Mosh. The mouse nodded at her.

“Just get used to it,” his eyes told her. Noiz’s seir sighed. Her childer was marrying into this family? Buddha help them all!

The wedding plans got under way. Aden offered to design Noiz’s dress. The kitty kindly declined.

“I want to go somewhat simple this time,” she said. The fox woman raised an eyebrow at her.

“Simple how?” she asked. Noiz shrugged at her.

“A kimono, maybe?” the cat offered. Aden gave her a little smirk.

“I have just the place,” she replied. Her bride-to-be friend looked at her funny.

“Where?” Noiz asked suspiciously. The fox leaned her face in closer.

“Come along and you shall see!” she replied. Noiz swallowed hard. “I don’t like the sound of that…” she thought.

But to her surprise, Aden did her right this time. She took the bride-to-be out Michiko’s Wedding Parlor. This store was the mother of all wedding stores in Tokyo. Michiko’s opened in ’87 and has been growing ever since. Today, the store was all over Japan. Noiz looked at the pale white building with big eyes. She had to blink many times. No, this was real. She and Aden were in front of Michiko’s and were about to go inside to shop. Noiz turned to Aden.

“Are you serious?” she asked. The fox nodded at her.

“Yeah, it’s the least I could do for a friend,” she replied. Noiz turned back to the shop.

“Wow!” the kitty mouthed to herself. Aden stepped forward.

“Well,” she said. “We have work to do. Get inside and pick the kimono.” It took the bride-to-be a moment to calm down. She nodded when she could think straight again.

“Right,” Noiz replied. Then, she walked into Michiko’s with Aden following behind.

White silk and pearls as far as the eye could see. Kimono as well as Western-style dresses ruled the store. Pastel colors were well-hidden. Noiz couldn’t take her eyes off of the silk. Aden smiled at her.

“See?” she asked. “I did you right.”

“Uh-hm,” the kitty said with a nod. The back door slid open. The cat and fox looked up and saw the clerk. The lady looked at the pair. A smile came across her face.

“Good afternoon,” she said. “How may I help you today?” Noiz giggled a bit. Aden put her arms around her.

“This little kitty is getting married,” she said. The clerk’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree.

“Ooo! When’s the big date?” she asked.

“We’re still trying to plan it out,” Noiz replied.

“Either way,” Aden spoke up. “My friend needs a new dress.” The clerk smiled at them with pride.

“I am just the person to help out,” she said. “Come with me.” The woman walked towards the white sea. Noiz and Aden followed behind.

“So,” the clerk said. “What exactly are you looking for?” Noiz looked around for a moment.

“Hm,” she said. “I want a kimono first of all. And then, I want to be different.” The clerk considered those instructions for a brief moment. A plan formed in her head.

“I have just the section,” she said. The woman took them further into the back. So the perfect kimono hunt began.

Nine kimono later, Noiz and Aden came across the best one.

“Aden, look!” Noiz exclaimed.

“Hm?” the fox asked as she did so. And there it was. The kimono was whitish-cherry blossom pink. Pure silk and 100%. The flower pattern finished its look. Stars filled the girls’ eyes.

“I want it!” Noiz whimpered. The clerk walked over to the all-mighty kimono in question.

“Ah yes!” she said. “This is the third one in our donated spring collection.”

“Donated?” Noiz asked.

“Yes,” the clerk replied. “The previous owner died three years go. Her daughters are donating her kimono to the city.”

“Well,” said Noiz. “Can I have it?” The clerk kept her eyes locked on the bride-to-be.

“It’s still under repair,” she said.

“Please?” Noiz asked. The clerk bit her lip.

“I can’t sell this one,” she said. “But, I can make an exact copy.” Noiz raised an eyebrow at her.

“How long will that take?” she asked.

“Five weeks,” the clerk replied. The cat turned to the fox.

“What do you think?” she asked. Aden nodded after some considerable thought.

“She’s right,” she said. Noiz turned back to the clerk.

“Fine,” she said. “I’ll take it.” The clerk bowed.

“I will have it sent to your address in five weeks,” she said. “Come with me to fill out the paperwork.” Then, she walked back to the front desk. Noiz and Aden followed behind. The bride-to-be squealed in delight.

“Calm down,” Aden whispered. Noiz nodded quickly. That didn’t work, naturally. The fox only smiled to herself. “She’s excited,” Aden thought. “Let her be.”

The plans got underway from there. Noiz and her girls did most of the work. But, the cat decided to go easy on her fiancée.

“I don’t want overkill,” she said. “That’s not his thing.”

“But what about you?” Louise asked. Noiz only smiled at her.

“I’m getting my kimono, dinner, and cake,” she pointed out.

“A cake?” Sapphire asked as she looked up from arranging the white roses in the temple.

“Yeah,” her boss said. “I ordered it yesterday. Mosh hasn’t seen it yet. This is my surprise to him.”

“And he’s doing the same?” Louise asked.

“Yeah,” Noiz said with a nod. The two women said nothing. Noiz looked at all of them.

“What?” she asked. Lou and Sapphire shook their heads.

“Nothing,” Lou said. “Nothing at all.” Noiz kept her eyes on her.

“Think I won’t the surprise?” she asked. Sapphire shrugged at her.

“She didn’t say that,” she pointed out. Silence for a long moment. Noiz gave them a sharp look.

“I’m watching you!” she hissed. The women didn’t speak. As usual, Noiz was in control here, not them. So shut up and take it.

The day of the wedding came. Everyone got dressed up and headed to the temple. Mosh and the groomsmen waited to begin. Mosh wore black and white traditional robes. They seemed to eat up his body. The priest in front of him was an older middle-aged man. He too was wearing ceremonial robes. The crowed was small this noon. Just the staff, some friends, some students, Tami, and Andrea as the guests. The ceremony wasn’t over the top, either. Just the simple Japanese tradition and a reception. However, the bride and groom has surprises for each other today. Noiz’s came first.

The doors finally slid open. Everyone looked up and saw the bride. Noiz looked so elegant in her kimono and bridal accessories. Mosh’s cheeks turned a candy apple color.

“Wow!” he thought. Noiz smiled as she walked down the aisle. She knelt down next to her groom. The priest stood and began the ceremony. In the middle, he turned to the audience.

“If anyone objects to this union,” he announced. “Speak now or forever hold your peace!” No one spoke as they waited. The priest breathed.

“Okay,” he said. The priest turned to the groom.

“Mosh, do you take Noiz as your wife?” he asked. The mouse took his bride by the hand.

“I do!” he declared. The priest turned to the bride.

“Noizchild, do you take Mosh as your husband?” he asked.

“I do,” she said with a nod.

“I now pronounce you man wife,” the priest said. “Kiss your bride.” Noiz and Mosh shared a kiss for the witnesses around them. Everyone clapped. The priest rose to his feet.

“I present to the Benson-san!” he said. Everyone clapped again. Noiz and Mosh and were now married. The reception was a nice one. Noiz had the food in Japanese and English cuisine. (Mosh only ate the Japanese food. He still wasn’t used to English food.) At dinner, Mosh looked a little disappointed. Noiz noticed his face.

“What’s wrong, babes?” she asked. Her husband smiled and shook his head.

“Nothing,” he said. “I just thought I would be on the menu tonight.” His mistress bride gave him a wicked smile. She lightly stroked him on the cheek.

“Aww, is that all?” Noiz asked. Mosh nodded. His bride gave him another naughty smile as she kissed him on the tip of the nose.

“Don’t worry babes,” she whispered. “That’s for the wedding night and honeymoon.” Mosh’s eyes widened.

“Really? You mean it?” he asked. Noiz nodded at him.

“But right now, enjoy the cake,” she said. That’s when catering wheeled out the wedding cake. Mosh looked at it with wide eyes. The cake was double white chocolate in the shape of a wedding kimono. White with a tint of pink.

That evening, Roka blew out the prayer candles in the middle of the losing battle.