Page 88 of Pragma

“He couldn’t make it, but he wanted me to ask you one question,” Don Sebastiano says. “Who’s the pitcher, and who’s the catcher?”

Joel coughs while River utters a “fuck.”

Not in the least irritated by it, I reply with a smirk, “Well, my fiancé has Dumbo’s dad’s dick, tell him to draw his own conclusions.”

He simply nods, keeping his cool demeanor. “We’ll see you later.”

We move away to talk to the rest of the guests. A terribly boring experience.

Finally, we reach my crew who is waiting on the side. Yuna has a nice black suit on while Karin looks like a cute fairy with her curls down and her flowy dress made of chiffon and tulle. Both Masa and Soma are wearing dark suits. They all bow at us, showing different levels of joy—Karin is of course the merriest.

“Aww, I’m so happy I could die!” she exclaims with the brightest grin.

“Get in line, this necktie is going to strangle me soon,” Masa complains, earning an exasperated sigh from Yuna.

“That’s a Balenciaga. Show some respect,” I grumble.

“Yes, Mr. Boss. Sorry, Mr. Boss.”

“Congratulations.” Soma bows at us once again.

“Congratulations.” Yuna echoes him.

“It’s time to get married now,” River whispers in my ear. Fucking finally!

We walk down the pebbled path between the rows of white seats. Thekumichois sitting in the front. She gives us a close-mouthed smile as we reach the three steps that will take us to the small wooden stage where the Shinto priest is waiting. A big Momiji tree is casting shade over it, and the calming sound of water pelting down in the large pond on the left creates a lovely atmosphere.

We take off ourgetaand kneel next to each other, facing the guests as the priest starts talking. The ceremony is short but intense, first the purification rite where our impurities are taken away, then the reading of Shinto prayers, next the symbolic drinking ceremony in which River and Itake turns sippingsakefrom three wood and gold stacked cups, symbolizing our past, our present and our future, the unification of our families, and the sealing of our bond.

Finally it comes the time for the vows. We stand up and face each other, clasping hands. The silence is deafening in the garden.

River goes first. He clears his throat, and looking nervous he starts, “Love tends to blossom during the hardest times. We have spent years together and faced more than a handful of tough situations. And yet my love for you is not complex. It’s pure and clear, ever fresh and never ending. Warm as your hands in mine.” His thumbs gently caress my knuckles. “My heart beats for every breath you take, every word you say, every rule you break.” I smirk at that. “There’s no end to it. There never will be.Ima ijo ni anata o aisenai to chikau. Daga ashita ni wa, motto ashite iru.”

His Japanese is flawless. His words hit me right in the chest and wrap tightly around my heart, creating a shield that will protect it from ever breaking.

I take a deep breath.It’s my turn now. “My pragma soulmate, you can be tooth-achingly sweet, cheek-pinchingly annoying, and stubbornly maddening all in one.” I pause to gaze at the deep blue of his eyes for a moment, the scarred lines of his beautiful face, his trembling lips. “But you are my every impulse, my most uncontrollable urges, my ups and downs, my every purpose, and the sole meaning to my existence.”

He swallows hard, his fingers tighten around mine.

“A tomorrow without you is just as daunting as life without matcha,” I add, generating quite a few snorts and huffs among the guests. But it’s River’s big smile that gets all my undivided attention.

“I’ll kill anybody who will try to take you away from me.” I hope the threat reaches beyond the people present today. His lips find mine, devouring me for a too brief moment.

We don’t exchange rings. We already did. Under the reassuring clasp of our pinky family rings we both have teeth marks we left on each other, and we promised we will keep making them every time the marks start fading.

After a few more words from the priest, we turn toward the guests to receive warm applause. I don’t really care about all these frills. The only important thing in my life is River Ichigo Hebikawa.

Operation Snare the Bunny was a complete success!

The End