Dark Before Dawn

Epilogue:

“You're married!” Mina squealed as she enveloped Usagi in a hug, both of them tangled in the her long veil.

“I know!” Usagi shrieked, “I'm married! I'm married!”

“You're married!” She and Mina sang inanely as they spun around the reception hall of the hotel.

“For the last time!” Rei growled, “Knock it off!!”

Makoto stuck her foot out nonchalantly and Mina and Usagi tripped over it, falling onto a conveniently placed couch.

The reception room was large, stately and decorated in red and gold, with floor to ceiling windows which reflected the bright lights against the black night sky. A fountain in the center of the room trickled with a peaceful sound, adding to the hum of the talking guests.

Ami, wearing a jacket over her pink bridesmaid's dress to hide her bandaged shoulder, was sitting quietly on a large gilt chair next to the couch, sipping punch. Her cheeks were growing rosier and her eyes sleepier.

Rei watched her face and sniffed at her own cup suspiciously.

“Mako,” Rei murmured, leaning over to catch the taller girl's ear, “I think there might be something in this punch.”

Mako turned to catch Kazuya's eye, he was standing by the punch bowl talking to some friends of Mamoru's, when he saw her expression he blinked innocently. Makoto turned back to Rei and shrugged.

“It's just your imagination,” she replied.

Rei frowned, but said nothing.

Usagi jumped up off the couch and threw herself on Rei.

“Stop looking so mad at my wedding reception!” she ordered, “If you don't smile right now -”

“I'm smiling, I'm smiling,” Rei exclaimed, forcing a smile, “see?”

Usagi rolled her eyes and bounded away to the banquet tables.

“Do you think they're going to make it?” Rei asked Makoto, as the two of them watched Usagi grab Mamoru's arm and twirl around the room with him.

“They'll be fine,” Mako smiled.

“Of course they will,” a male voice interjected, they turned to see Kazuya had joined them, putting his arm around Makoto's shoulders.

“You weren't conscious at the time,” he added for Rei's benefit, “but the second we reappeared in Tokyo, we saw Usagi and Mamoru standing together, holding hands, with about a million pounds of dead youma dust around them and not a scratch on either one of them.”

“Hardly a million,” Sazume countered, having come to refill Ami's punch glass.

“The point is,” Kazuya continued, “that when we asked them if they were alright they said, “Never better, what took you so long?”” he sighed and shook his head sadly, “They don't really need us.”

“I think the point is,” Mako replied dryly, “that all they really need is each other.”

“Hm,” Kazuya caught her eye, and said, in an uncharacteristically serious tone, “point duly noted.”

Suddenly Ami giggled. They turned to her in surprise.

“Ami? Do you have a fever?” Sazume asked, “You looked really flushed.”

Kazuya snickered and Rei's eyes snapped to his face.

“I knew it!” she exclaimed, “You spiked the punch!”

“I swear I didn't -” he began, flinging up both hands.

“You – you,” Sazume spluttered, “You got my girlfriend drunk!?”

Kazu burst into laughter.

“This isn't funny!” Sazume snapped, then turned to Ami, “Ami, don't drink anymore of that, I'm bringing you some water.”

“But I like it,” Ami argued, causing another explosion of laughter from Kazu.

“Kazuya! -”

Toshiro came up behind Sazume and laid a heavy hand on his shoulder.

“I don't know what the problem is,” he said, “ but do you think you could wait until after the wedding reception to pick a fight with Kazuya?”

“He's made Ami-chan drunk!” Sazume accused.

“Really?” Toshiro eyed Ami speculatively, “she looks alright to me.”

“What!? Come on, Ami, we're leaving before Kazuya tries to corrupt you further.”

Sazume helped her stand then half pulled her outside.

“That was very irresponsible of you, Kazuya,” Toshiro remarked somberly, “but also very funny.”

“Thanks,” Kazu grinned, “I know it's none of my business but those two need to loosen up a bit.”

“You're right,” Rei said, unexpectedly. Kazu looked at her in surprise.

“It is none of your business.” she replied flatly, and walked toward the banquet table.

“Speaking of loosening up,” Kazu muttered under his breath. Mako smacked him in his bad shoulder.

He was about to complain, until he caught Mako's eye. She was giving him a very significant look, and nodding in Mina and Toshiro's direction. The two stood somewhat apart, staring awkwardly at nothing, trying to pretend they didn't notice each other.

“Uh, how about some cake?” He asked, then without waiting for a reply he and Mako deserted Mina and Toshiro for the banquet table.

Toshiro was the first to crack. He cleared his throat and said:

“I've been meaning to speak to you, after the last conversation we had.”

Mina didn't say anything, but she moved closer so that he could speak more quietly.

“When I said I thought we should take a break...”he trailed off.

“Yeah?” Mina asked, somewhat coldly.

“I'm very selfish, Minako,” he sighed, “I thought that, maybe, you need someone...more like you. That maybe someone younger and...”

“With more emotions than a rock?” she supplied tersely.

“Something like that,” he agreed, “would make you happier, down the road, that is.”

Mina huffed.

“But,” he added, “I'm selfish because I realize now that I don't really want you to be happy.”

“What?” she asked.

“I want you to stay with me,” he explained, “regardless of whether that makes you happiest or not, because it makes me happiest.”

“Well, you're lucky,” Mina jabbed a finger into his chest, “Because I am happiest with you, even if you are cold, unfeeling, arrogant and an idiot.” With each word she poked her finger harder.

“And you,” she added, crossing her arms, “will just have to put up with me. Even when I'm an air-head or when I embarrass you in public.”

“I can live with that,” Toshiro conceded.

“You're damn right you can,” Mina exclaimed, grabbing his arm, her voice only slightly shaky, “Now, take me to the cake table and get me some cake this minute.”

Toshiro complied obediently, and happily.

“Where's Rei?” Mina asked when they arrived.

“I don't know,” Mako replied around a mouthful of cake, “She was arguing with Kazu, and then Junshi -” she broke off and shook her head.

“What?” Mina asked.

“I've never seen Junshi do that before,” she marveled, “he just took her hand, told her to stop arguing, and took her outside.”

“He looked,” she added, thoughtfully, “pissed.”

“Junshi, mad? No way.” Mina replied, then without turning her head she snapped, “Where's my cake?”

“Coming, dearest one,” Toshiro answered.

Mako quirked an eyebrow at this but Mina's eyes dared her to comment on it.

The cool outside air had a positive effect on Junshi's emotions and he calmed down considerably.

He'd had plenty of time to think about what he was going to say to Rei; ever since he found her unexpectedly alive and well and realized he wouldn't have to spend the rest of his life eradicating youma in vengeance, he'd been planning this moment. He'd meant to wait until after the wedding, but when he caught her bickering with Kazuya he suddenly snapped.

“Alright,” he said, releasing his hold on her wrist.

“What are you doing?” she exclaimed, “Why did you drag me out in the cold?”

“Because I want to talk to you.”

Rei looked at him almost nervously, she'd never seen him upset before. But the determined tilt of her chin didn't imply that she was inclined to listen.

“Well, I want to talk to you too,” she began, “I've been thinking and -”

“Hush,” Junshi commanded. Rei snapped her mouth shut in surprise. But before she could open it again in anger, Junshi continued:

“You will listen and you will not talk back,” he said, ignoring the warning flash in her eyes, “If you want to fight, then we'll fight – I'm a match for you whatever you may think – and goodness knows I've been quiet for too long.”

“Rei,” he blew out a frustrated breath, running his hands through his hair distractedly, “When I asked you to marry me, or when I tried to, anyway, you gave me a pretty clear answer, and I thought, at the time, that if that was what you wanted then I had no right to ask anything more of you.”

“But that's what I wanted to talk to you about -” Rei broke in, “when I said that -”

“I'm not finished,” Junshi pronounced imperiously, “When you were captured, and later, when that, that, -” he slammed his fist on the railing of the hotel's massive balcony, making Rei jump in spite of herself, “when I thought you were dead, I thought I would have to tear that entire place down with my bare hands.”

He flashed a furious glance at her, but for once she had nothing to say.

“But,” he took in a deep breath, “when I found out it was a lie, when I knew you were alive, I decided, then.” He looked down at her face, his eyes intent on hers, “Rei, I have, in the course of a millennium I have dealt with loosing you twice. It's not going to happen again, so I'm telling you now that you are going to marry me whether you want to or not, because I am not waiting any more.”

Rei stared at him in silence, she had never seen Junshi look so utterly beside himself. She had an odd urge to giggle, but decided to stifle it.

“Junshi,” she said quietly, “I would like to marry you.”

He blinked, completely dumbfounded.

“That's what I was trying to tell you,” she added.

“Oh,” he answered, in a small voice. All the anger, panic and frustration blew over in an instant.

“You know,” Rei said “You shouldn't hold your emotions in all the time, otherwise you'll lose your temper.”

“You are giving me advice about not losing my temper?” he asked wryly.

“Yes, and if you're smart you'll listen to me more often,” she finished, “Now, come here.”

“Hey, guys! Usagi's about to throw the -” Kazuya stopped, his head half way out the door. Immediately he turned around and hollered:

“Mako! Come here, there's some really interesting stuff going on out on the balcony!”

“Shut up!” Junshi and Rei shouted in unison as they broke apart from the shadow of the balcony rail.

“You really are a whiz at coming in at the worst moment, Kazu,” Junshi added as he let Rei lead him inside.

Kazuya chuckled maliciously. Then went in search of Ami and Sazume who, it turned out, were sitting on the deck chairs, talking.

“You guys are so boring,” Kazu complained when he was finished sneaking up on them, “I just caught Rei and Junshi making out on the balcony. Now you two are sitting here like two old people, talking about, of all things, school!”

“Sorry to disappoint you, Kazu,” Ami smiled, “I guess we just aren't that exciting.”

“Not that it's any of your business,” Sazume added sourly.

“Whatever,” Kazu replied, “I know you guys are probably super freaks when no one's around.”

Sazume choked on his punch.

“What is he talking about?” Ami asked as she patted Zume on the back.

Zume shook his head frantically, “Nothing,” he wheezed, “don't worry about it.”

“I'll explain later,” he added.

Kazu chortled and got a cup thrown at his head because of it.

On the steps of the hotel foyer, Usagi, dressed in a pink shirt and skirt, raised her arm to hurl the bouquet like a Frisbee.

“Come on, Mako, baby - win!” Kazu yelled.

“Please don't kill each other,” Junshi pleaded.

“Turn around, turn around, you moron!” Rei shrieked.

“Oh!” Usagi whirled to face the street and launched the bouquet into the air. She threw it high instead of wide, however, and before Mako or Rei could reach it, as they nearly strangled each other, an elegant hand plucked it out of the air.

Mako, Mina and Rei landed in an ungraceful heap on the floor, staring up at the woman who'd caught the bouquet.

“Looks like I got here just in time,” a low, pleasant voice crooned.

“Oh,” Ami clapped excitedly, “Good catch, Setsuna-san!”

Setsuna smiled and slung the bouquet over shoulder like a trophy.

Note: That's all he wrote! (A.C., that is.) It's funny, because looking back at this, it shares some plot stuff that he used later in other stories. But this one was written a long time ago, so, oh well. Hope you liked it. - Firefly