Work Text:
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『一緒にいようよ、瑞稀。』
…
“Ena, do you accept me?” Mizuki asks the brunette. A question that has lingered on her mind for way too long. Even if they’re dating, even if it’s wrong to think like that, she can’t get the feeling that it’s all a front and she’d be like the others. She’s asked this countless times, worrying the answer will change, worrying Ena wouldn’t love her like she used to every more. And every time this question is asked, it makes Ena scoff. The artist faces Mizuki, a look of faux annoyance on her face.
“Of course I do, idiot, why wouldn’t I?” She asks, a smirk on her face. She dips her paintbrush in pink paint and boops Mizuki’s nose with it, snickering at how dumb it looks. Mizuki pouts and crosses her arms, sticking her tongue out. Ena drops the brush and kisses her cheek. “If I didn’t accept you, we wouldn’t be dating. We wouldn’t be friends. We wouldn’t have such an exciting future awaiting us, Mizuki. Of course I accept you, dummy.”
Mizuki smiles. “You’re too good for me.”
Ena shakes her head. “No, you’re too good for me. To me, you’re not just my precious friend anymore, Mizuki. You’re my precious girlfriend. You’re my precious everything. And I love you. I’ll always accept you, no matter what comes our way. I told you, I’ll wait forever if it calls for it. Now, I’ll stay and accept you forever, no matter what comes our way.” She gently caresses the pinkette’s cheek with her thumb. “So, yes, I do.”
Mizuki smiles. “Thank you, Ena.”
Ena nods. “Let’s be together, Mizuki.”
…
『いいのかなあ…？』
Mizuki fidgets with her hair, twirling a strand idly with her finger as she walks with Ena through Ueno Park. It’s been a few years, yet the couple has stayed strong and thriving. Comfort, hugs, dates, you name it have been shared between the two. It’s cherry blossom season, and the trees are so pretty. It reminds Mizuki of that one day, back in her hell of a past.
…
“They say spring’s a time for meeting new people…”
…
Mizuki looks up at the beautiful cherry blossoms that hang below them. Then to the lake beside them. The warm, sunset glow shines right on the two girls, putting them in a seemingly natural spotlight. Mizuki stops walking and turns towards the lake, and Ena does the same. The water is so pretty. Everything here, it’s so pretty. Life is a beauty. To be able to do this with the girl she loves is a beauty. Love is a beauty. Everything is a beauty.
Mizuki inhales. She’s about to do this.
“Isn’t it pretty here, Ena?” Mizuki asks, not daring to look at Ena. The artist glances over, but nods her head and averts her gaze back to the lake. Her hand grips Mizuki’s tighter. Mizuki takes another deep breath. “The cherry blossoms. They remind me of our love. They symbolize love and affection. New beginnings. After all that happened, it was a new beginning, right? Knowing who I truly was, knowing my secret, yet…”
A look of doubt and worry flashes onto Mizuki’s face. She can’t help but think like this again, no matter how much it pains her to. She wishes she can control it, but she can’t.
“Ena, do you—“
“I do.”
Ena glances over, a gentle smile on her face. She knows what she’s gonna ask, and she already knows what the answer is. “I always will, Mizuki. Don’t ever doubt it. I don’t care that you’re transgender, I don’t care what’s between your legs, you’re still Mizuki. And I accept that. Always. If I didn’t, like I said before, we wouldn’t be dating. We wouldn’t be friends. We wouldn’t have such an exciting future awaiting us, Mizuki. So don’t doubt it, you cute dummy, okay?”
Mizuki nods, looking away sheepishly. “Okay. No more doubting. Now, like I was saying…”
“Despite all of what happened, you stayed. You heard me out. You comforted me, Ena.” Mizuki’s hand lets go of Ena’s and reaches into her purse. “You stopped me from killing myself. You hurt the boy who hurt me in such a vile way, hell, I haven’t seen him since you beat his ass. You, Ena, were the light to the seemingly endless darkness. You were my beautiful butterfly in an eclipse of moths. You were the last stroke to my canvas, the last stitch to my dress.”
A blue butterfly passes by them, landing in Mizuki’s hair like a decoration. “You waited, waited for so long. I ran, you chased. And if you didn’t, I wouldn’t be alive right now. I’m forever grateful to be with you, to be dating you, to love you, Ena. So please.”
A box is discreetly opened in Mizuki’s purse, and her fingers grab something. She takes a few steps to her left and holds her right hand out, not daring to look at Ena. Ena looks over, and gasps at the sight before her. Between Mizuki’s fingers, is a beautiful silver ring, and in the middle is a pink jewel, carved into the shape of a cherry blossom. Small, intricately cut diamonds surround it, some in the shape of butterflies. It immediately brings tears to Ena’s eyes. Is this really happening? Her hand goes to cover her mouth, still stunned.
Mizuki inhales yet again. “I’ve made up my mind. After everything you’ve done for me, I want to stay with you forever. You are my soulmate, and I will not let you go. I want to be with you until our fate decides to tear us apart, and even then, I’m sure we’ll meet again in another universe. So, Shinonome Ena, please, under these cherry blossoms tonight, give me this answer;”
“Will you marry me?”
Ena’s breath hitches as she hears the words out the girl’s mouth herself. She doesn’t hesitate, nodding her head rapidly, letting the tears fall down. Her hand drops, clutching at the skirt of her dress. “Yes!” She exclaims out, happier than ever. “Yes you dork, yes yes yes! Of course I will~!”
Mizuki looks at Ena, tears welled up in her eyes. She smiles and grabs Ena’s left hand and slides the ring right onto her finger, watching it shine in the sunset. Ena chokes on a happy sob, overjoyed. Never in her life would she think she’d be marrying her crush— her best friend, her beloved groupmate, her Akiyama Mizuki. The title ‘girlfriends’ or ‘dating’ doesn’t match with them anymore. Now it’s fiancées, and engaged. Ena couldn’t ask for anything else. Mizuki couldn’t ask for anything else.
“Akiyama or Shinonome…?” The question comes out of Mizuki’s mouth as a breathless whisper. Ena looks up, immediately knowing the answer. What’s so good about being a Shinonome anyways? Akiyama Ena… she loves the sound of it. She wants to be an Akiyama. She looks directly into those beautiful light pink eyes, a smile on her face.
“Akiyama. Akiyama Ena.”
Mizuki smiles. “Akiyama Ena. It sounds so pretty. I can’t wait to call you my wife, Ena… I can’t wait, I wish we could get married right now…!” She sniffles, on the verge of breaking down right then and there. The tears start, and she doesn’t even bother wiping them. They don’t matter. What matters right now is Akiyama Mizuki and Shinonome— soon to be Akiyama, Ena. Nothing else. She sniffles again, her voice coming out in choked sobs. “Ena, I love you so much...”
Ena wipes a tear, before stepping closer and pulling Mizuki into a deep, passionate kiss that’s full of love and affection. Her arms wrap around the fashionista’s neck, pulling her closer. Mizuki’s arms wrap around Ena’s waist, kissing her back like the world would end if she didn’t, like Ena would fly away like a scared butterfly if she didn’t. The wind breezes, blowing cherry blossom petals and broken-off flowers their way. They stand there, lips pressed against lips, basking in the warmth of the atmosphere, in the warmth of each other. They both eventually pull back, looking into each other’s eyes. Ena speaks up. “I love you too, Mizuki. Always.”
“I guess you’ll have to say ‘I do’ to something else instead of my dumb question,” Mizuki giggles. Ena smiles and chuckles, reaching up and thumbing a tear away from Mizuki’s cheek. It’s true, because soon, before they could even realize it, Ena would be standing under the altar, speaking her vows, and saying ‘I do’ to accepting to be Mizuki’s wife, and to accepting to be Akiyama Ena. And she can’t wait. She can’t wait for that precious moment.
“I can’t wait.”
… - 🎀
『いやいやいや！！やめて！お願い！やめて！放して！！お願い…』
… - 🎀
『ああ…….. あっ…..』
… - 🎀
『ああ、消えたいな。』
… - 🎀
『いいのかなあ？』
… - 🎨
『ニーゴのみんなも、待ってるよ。』
… - 🎨
『おかえり、瑞稀。』
**A/N - 1st mizu note in this part is not canon (aka the 1st one marked with this … - 🎀)
The stars shine bright in the dark blue night sky, a comet or two shooting down here and there. Two siblings’ arms are interlocked. A long veil floats in the wind. The sound of heels clicking down the aisle fills the air. A bouquet of cherry blossoms is gripped tightly in her hand as Ena walks. Akito walks down with her, ready to give his older sister away to Mizuki. Ena sniffles and looks up, seeing Mizuki waiting at the altar, staring at the pinkette with love in her eyes. She looks absolutely stunning. The wind blows, bringing a bunch of cherry blossoms their way from the trees. Butterflies fly around them. Akito looks down at Ena, smiling at her.
“Congrats, Onee-chan. Now go.”
He lets Ena go, and Ena immediately goes to stand parallel to Mizuki, facing her. Mizuki smiles and reaches to brush a stray strand of hair away from her lover’s face. “You look stunning,” she comments, gently kissing her hand. Ena giggles and blushes, wiping a tear with her free hand. This was so worth the year-long wait. After all, she did tell Mizuki she’d wait for her again in no time. And this proved it, she waited for her to surprise her with the dresses, to plan all this out, to get this stunning venue, she waited all for this. And she is never going to regret it.
“You do too.” Ena looks up at Mizuki. “We’re matching hairstyles. It’s so cute. We’re so cute, aren’t we?”
“Ahem…”
The officiant starts.
“We are gathered here today to join together the lovely couple of Akiyama Mizuki and Shinonome Ena in marriage…”
Mizuki doesn’t focus on the words too much, just focusing on how beautiful Ena is. Focusing on how she looks in her dress that she made for her, focusing on how her makeup looks so nice as always, focusing on how her hair gently sways with the wind, focusing on how perfect she is. She never understood how she got so lucky to even meet her in the first place, and become such good friends, to eventually lovers, and now, under the altar on their wedding day, getting married. She never understood what she had done so well that she was blessed with Ena. And to that, she considers herself lucky. So lucky. So lucky to have such an amazing woman in her life like that, so lucky to have someone who cares and accepts and defends her, someone she can call ‘hers’.
The officiant goes on. It all sounds like nonsense to the both of them. Until;
“Akiyama Mizuki, please stand before your friends, family, and lover as you make a solemn and heartfelt vow.”
Mizuki inhales. She has practiced for this moment for days on end. Now’s not the time to mess it up.
“That day when I asked you permission, I never expected it to go anywhere. I never expected to be making music with you, to be friends with you, to love you, to be marrying you, Ena. But kami-sama, was it the best thing in my life. You waited for me. You supported me through my trauma and everything I’ve been through, you listened to me when I needed it the most. You saved me. You found me and told me what I didn’t want to hear, even though I needed to hear it. And Ena, I am forever grateful. For that, I vow to cherish and adore you, to love you whenever you need it the most or need it the least. To never leave you, even if it's a tough time, even if you’re sick, even if you’re going through an episode. I’ll never forgive myself if I left you.. I want to stay linked, I want to stay connected. To close the distance between us that held us apart. I promise to forever shatter that barrier, Ena. So please…”
“Mizuki…” Ena breathes, sniffling again. Tears cloud her eyes. That was… so beautiful. So heartfelt. She feels like she can’t breathe, her body flooding with love for the other girl. The officiant announces that it’s her turn to say her vows now, and the last thing Ena wants to do is mess this up. She takes a shaky breath, and speaks.
“I told you I would wait. I told you I would hear you out, and I promised myself I would accept anything that came my way, no matter how surprising it may be. And surprised I definitely was, when I heard it from them. But I didn’t accept that, because it never came from you. I chased you. I confronted you. I brought the warm glow I carried with me until it reached you, and reached you it did. I’m so glad I could help you, Mizuki. And I’m so glad you could help me. No matter how insufferable you may be sometimes, you make me feel amazing. You make me feel so happy, so euphoric. I want to bring that feeling to you, as you deserve it too. So, Akiyama Mizuki, I vow to you my forever love and affection, my forever promise to wait and accept anything that comes my way, from your mouth to my ears. I promise to stay by your side, to help fully sew close the opened seam that had held us apart for so long. I will complete you, Mizuki.”
A small sob escapes from Mizuki’s throat right then and there. She smiles brightly. Her heart was touched, like Ena had reached right inside of her and cradled her heart with gentle hands, bringing a whole different level of life and love to it. She takes a deep, shaky breath and stares down at Ena. “You’re too sweet. I don’t deserve you…”
“Of course you do,” Ena counters. “Don’t ever say that. You deserve me as much as I deserve you. We’re made for each other. Remember what you said? ‘You are my soulmate, and I will not let you go’. I feel the same. Let's stick to that, darling.” She gently takes Mizuki’s shaky hand and kisses it.
The officiant holds out the rings on a soft, velvet pillow. “These rings are the physical proof of the affection and connection you two share with each other. They represent the love and the sanctity of your relationship. With these rings, you will officially wed each other, and they will serve as a constant reminder of your bond of love. Akiyama Mizuki, please, take the ring to give to Shinonome Ena…”
Mizuki takes the ring off of the pillow and takes Ena’s left hand in hers, sliding the ring onto her finger. She does not listen to the instructions and the words to repeat the officiant gave her, because what’s the fun in that? This is their wedding, after all. “With this ring, I wed you, Shinonome Ena. I give you this as a symbol of our love, our bond, our commitment, and our connection to each other. I give you this as the final stitch in the seams, closing the gap that was built between us due to a simple secret.”
Ena giggles and stares down at the ring. It glistens in the moonlight. “So pretty. Just like a girl I know…” she comments. Mizuki blushes and looks away sheepishly.
“Shinonome Ena, please, take the ring to give to Akiyama Mizuki…”
Ena takes the ring and practically yanks Mizuki’s hand to her, causing the both of them to giggle. They both know it doesn’t mean anything bad, actually, it’s been a joke for them for some time now. Ena, being the switch-up that she is, gently slides the ring onto Mizuki’s finger, and also doesn’t listen to the officiant’s next words and instructions. “With this ring, I wed you, Akiyama Mizuki. I give you it as a symbol of our love, our bond, our commitment and our connection. I give you this as a final stroke on the painting, finishing the blank spot between us that was held by what you were hiding, and what you told me.”
Mizuki looks down at her hand. She can barely suppress a squeal of joy as she looks down at the beautiful ring. It looks the same as Ena’s but the cherry blossom in the middle of the ring is fading from a baby blue to a pastel pink, a representation of her transition from male to female. And she’s so proud. So happy, so proud.
Now’s the time.
“With the ring exchange complete, now’s the time to give your full consent to this marriage. So, Akiyama Mizuki, do you take Shinonome Ena as your wife, and promise to love, cherish, and protect her, to stick with her through poor and through wealth, to stick with her through sickness and through health, until death do you two part?”
Mizuki’s breath hitches. But she knows her answer.
“I do.”
“Now, do you, Shinonome Ena, take Akiyama Mizuki as your wife, and promise to love, cherish, and protect her, to stick with her through poor and through wealth, to stick with her through sickness and through health, until death do you two part?”
Ena stays silent, just staring at Mizuki, which gives the taller butterflies. She looks around nervously, worrying if Ena will say ‘I don’t’. But they’ve come so far. Surely, she can’t change her mind now, right? Ena smirks, and scoffs.
“Of course I do, idiot, why wouldn’t I?”
Mizuki lets out a shaky sigh. Ena giggles. “What, did I scare you there, baby~? I’d never leave you, Mizuki~ not my good—”
“Please, save that for the honeymoon.”
Ena shuts up and blushes, furrowing her brows at what the officiant had said. She just stares up at Mizuki, flustered. Mizuki’s eyes are widened, and she blushes a deep pink on her cheeks. How… embarrassing. To be called out like that, in front of an audience…! They’ll never live that one down. Ena giggles. And soon, so does Mizuki. What a nice wedding memory, even if it was embarrassing.
“Does anyone have something to protest against the marriage of these two? Please, speak now or forever hold your peace.”
Silence.
“Very well. Now, with the power vested in me, I now pronounce Akiyama Mizuki and Shinonome Ena wife and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”
Ena wastes no time lunging at Mizuki, immediately pulling her into a deep, loving kiss. Mizuki instantly kisses back, wrapping her arms around the artist. The wind blows again, the moonlight shines down on them. A butterfly lands on Mizuki’s shoulder. Petals blow past them, creating a perfect atmosphere for this wedding. Applause is heard in the small crowd of their friends and Mizuki’s family. The camerawoman that was hired (An, for a pay of ¥0 and a new vape) takes a picture of them on her phone and on the camera that was given. But that doesn’t matter. Right now, the world is non-existent to Mizuki and Ena. They’re in their own little space. And they never want to leave.
The kiss lasts long, before they both pull back. Ena immediately pulls her into a tight hug, not daring to let go.
“Mizuki…”
“Ena…”
They both open their mouths to say at the same time;
“I love you.”
…
“Ena,” Mizuki calls out, sitting on a chair as the rest of the small group that was invited has fun and party. Ena looks over and hums, a silent demand for Mizuki to continue. “Do you truly want to stay together? I’ve put you through so much, and I’m a burden, I don’t want to be a burden to you…”
“Mizuki.” Ena grabs onto the fashionista’s hand. “I do. I would’ve never said I do if I didn’t want to stay together, you big dummy. You gotta stop doubting yourself! I love you so much. And so what if you put me through a lot? Honestly, if you mean you made me wait for so long, I don’t care. I said I’ll wait again in a heartbeat, and I did, didn’t I? And, I’ll wait again if need be. I’ll keep that promise. Always. I want to stay with you. To be with you.”
Mizuki smiles. “Then, let’s be together, forever, Ena.”
Now it’s Ena’s turn to smile. “Let’s be together, forever, Mizuki.”
…
Everywhere you went, I brought my warmth to you. Yet it never seemed to reach you like I wanted it to. The invisible barrier built between us never let it reach you. You always had the chance to spread those beautiful butterfly wings and flee, and flee you did. Until you had the courage to tell me, but that was spoiled. Yet I still gave you what I had to offer. My butterfly, no matter how many times you fly away, I’ll be waiting for you to fly back. I want you to embrace the warmth, to let it nurse you back to life whenever need be. You’re not weird because you were embracing yourself, because you were painted a different color than you were intended to be. Don’t let the rain wilt those beautiful pink wings. And if it does, let my sunlight dry them. Land on this cherry blossom in the sunset, and relish in the light.
Let your true self show, my beautiful butterfly. My beautiful Mizuki.
『ずっと一緒にいようよ｡』
— Akiyama Ena ♡