Fuuko was surprised. A few days after she had broken up with Raiha, Mikagami had rushed up to her and comfort her—and thus both fall in love and were a happy couple from then.

 Now two years have passed, and Fuuko realized that she and Mikagami wanted more than a relationship—as Mikagami had revealed, he wanted marriage and kids, and he wanted both of them to have a future. She was surprised, of course. Ice Man? Asking her hand for marriage? It’s weird, to say the least. (Yes, it’s the very least then)

 Of course, Fuuko had accepted Mikagami’s proposal, and she had never been happier. Of course, memories about her spending her time with Raiha had been tying her up, but all Fuuko could do was ignore them. And she loved Mikagami—Raiha was the past. Raiha was the one who had broken up with her at the first place, and Fuuko was actually glad he had broken up with her.

 If Raiha had never broken up with her, Mikagami would never muster up the courage to comfort her, to love her…

 The Hokage team was even more surprised than Fuuko is—and Fuuko is supposed to be more surprised. After all, wasn’t she the one who’s going to have a relationship with Mikagami? Ah well… Mikagami does have a reputation of an Ice Man, or Fridge Boy…or anything like that. But time does change people—even Fuuko was surprised by how much she had changed. If she hasn’t changed, why did she accept Mikagami as her partner for life?

 Fuuko didn’t need to think twice about the marriage—she was ready to take Mikagami’s hand in marriage, and she doesn’t need any others’ opinions. If Raiha had the sense to marry her in the first place, he would’ve done so—he should’ve done so—in the first place. She didn’t need anymore heartbreaks. She definitely doesn’t need more nightmares in her sleep.

 Mikagami had his doubts, of course. He asked her if she really loved him, and she replied with all her heart, that she loves him. It was the most she could give him—she knew how much he treasured her, and she returned that feeling toward him without regrets.

 “Fuuko?”

 Fuuko turned to Mikagami, who was in the bed beside her. She smiles.

 “Daijoubu ka?” he asked her, looking concerned.

 Not that she blamed him. “I’m fine, Mi-chan. I’m just… thinking. After all, it’s two weeks until our marriage—and I want everything to be perfect,” she said, giving Mikagami a soft kiss. “You know I can’t wait.”

 Mikagami smiles, looking satisfied with her reasoning. “Well, you better go back to sleep because we have a lot to do tomorrow.”

 “Nanii?”

 Mikagami laughed. “Just go to sleep, Fuuko-san.”

 “I will, Mi-chan.”

******

 Fuuko looked at her reflection. Her eyes betray no feeling of regrets or anything, but her smile wasn’t there. She tried smiling, but all she could manage was a fake straight smile.

 Fuuko was wearing her mother’s wedding dress—which Mrs. Kirisawa had given to her before she went to Europe, before she died—and she shot herself a furtive look once in a while.

 “I can never pull this…” she muttered to herself.

 “You can’t pull what, Fuuko?”

 Fuuko gasped, and looked into the face of Yanagi. “Oh…it’s only you, Yanagi-chan,” she said, her heartbeat returning to normal. “What are you doing here?” Let’s just hope she forgot what she was supposed to ask me, Fuuko hoped.

 “I’m merely visiting my friend, Fuuko-san,” Yanagi said in a timid, shy voice. “You can’t pull what, Fuuko?”

 Fuuko sighed. She knew Yanagi wasn’t stupid. “Well…” she said, sitting down. “I’ve been thinking about the marriage, Yanagi-niichan. And…well, I’m not saying I’m having regrets or anything, but all I can say is that I don’t really think I can look happy on my wedding day… Does that sound weird?”

 Yanagi blushes. “Oh, Fuuko-chan!” she cried, holding Fuuko’s hands in hers. “It’s only natural to feel that way when your marriage is so close… Trust me, I feel that way before I got married to Recca-kun, see…? And, I…well, all I can say is, when it comes to saying I do, it’s never been easier.”

 Fuuko looked at Yanagi, surprised. Have Yanagi been thinking a lot of this before she got married to Recca too? She couldn’t have guessed. Both of them looked so deeply in love that nothing could separate them, surely.
 “You won’t feel so awkward, Fuuko…” Yanagi said.

 Fuuko stared at Yanagi, open-mouthed. “I…it’s just that I’m nervous, you know…?”

 “Yes, Fuuko, I do know,” Yanagi said, smiling. “But when you reached the altar, when you are about to say ‘I do’… There can never be anything easier than doing that, Fuuko-san. Because when it comes to confirming that you’re going to spend your lifetime with the one you love, you just know.”

 “Uh…I—well, I’m certainly surprised,” sputtered Fuuko.

 Yanagi stood up. “I’m visiting you for a reason, Fuuko,” she said, smiling. “I know what you’re going through…” She blushed a little. “I will have to go now… Recca would be waiting for me.”

 Fuuko merely nodded. “Well…of course. I’ll—I’ll, uh, see you later…”

 With that, Yanagi walked out of Fuuko’s apartment, leaving Fuuko to sort through the matters herself.

******

 “Fuuko!” Recca called from the end of the booth.

 The Hokage teammates are all gathering for the…25th time after the fight perhaps? Just for old times’ sakes; and besides, they love having reunions and god knows they still act like their old selves when they gather around.

 “Eh, Mikagami! You made it!” Domon said, a glint in his eyes.

 Fuuko took a seat at one of the inside booths and Mikagami sat next to her, holding her hand. “How long have you guys been here?” she asked, tying up her (now long) hair into a ponytail.

 “Oh, not long,” Koganei said, grinning and showing his fangs. “An hour, perhaps.” He had grown into a handsome teenager, though still very obnoxious and making wisecracks every time he can.

 “Oh, come on, we have not been that late,” Fuuko said, grinning at all her teammates, who had all arrived before she and Mikagami does. “And besides, we really shouldn’t be gathering at an ice cream parlor. I wouldn’t fit into my wedding dress when I get home…”

 Yanagi smiles. “Don’t worry… stress will make you lose weight as fast as Slim Fast drinks do…”

 Fuuko laughed dryly. “I didn’t really mean that.”
 
Ganko, who looked very pretty in her plain T-shirt and jeans, smiles. Kondo was still the same, still perverted and sly. And so is Koku, as Fuuko found out later when Koku emerged to make sly remarks about Ganko.

 “Fuuko, are you nervous?” Ganko asked mysteriously, smiling.

 Fuuko chose to ignore that, but she gave a mysterious wink to Ganko, grinning. Mikagami just regard it with a smile. By the look of it, perhaps the Ice Man is nervous. Weird—really weird to see how much he had changed over the past years.

 “I say we should have a bachelor party, eh, Mikagami?!” Recca cried out, laughing obnoxiously.

 Yanagi’s face burn and she pulled Recca’s ears, muttering something that sounded oddly like “oh no you don’t”.

 Fuuko laughed and marveled at how much Yanagi had changed too. She had spoken her minds in few occasions and Recca doesn’t actually mind. In fact, Fuuko could’ve sworn Recca loved the new Yanagi. :)

 “Hey, that’s not a bad idea!” Domon said, grinning.

 Fuuko looked at Domon and smiles. Domon didn’t deny that he still hasn’t gotten over her, but Domon had found a girl to fill his life. They have been getting steady for a few months now, and Fuuko couldn’t be happier. She’s finally free from all the obnoxious remarks by Domon, even Fujimaru have been behaving when he learnt that she’s going to marry Mikagami. Of course, the fact that Mikagami’s an ensui wielder doesn’t hurt either…

 “Fine, then!” Koganei said, showing his fanged-grin again. “We’re having a bachelor party the night before your wedding, ne?”

 “Don’t go forgetting me while you’re having fun, Mi-chan,” Fuuko said softly, giggling as she saw Mikagami’s face burnt with embarrassment (or with flames, no pun intended. Or do I intend it?).

 “Nanii ten yo?” Mikagami said, smiling. “You know I can’t forget you.”

 “Oh, ugh, no!” Koganei exclaimed. “Get all of the mushiness out of here. Bleargh!”

 The Hokage teammates laughed. Fuuko could see that Ganko’s blushing though, and Fuuko could certainly see why. Koganei had put an arm around her shoulder, thus getting them both closer to each other. And Koganei had been trying to deny he liked her these past years… Fuuko thought. Pfft!

 Nothing had changed between them, even though most of them had started their own family. And Fuuko was glad that nothing had changed. She loved to keep all of their old memories being together…

 She scoffed as she remembered about all the times she had with Raiha. Of course, she pushed that aside—all those memories are useless. She has Mikagami now, and she’s happier with Mikagami now that she think about it. Sure, Raiha kept her happy—but making her heart break doesn’t count as making her happy, no it doesn’t.

 All she can do now is forget about the past and hold on to Mikagami as tight as she could.