From This Moment On

Note: I don't really know much about Japanese marriage ceremonies or clothing... some of this information comes from part 18 of Raya-san's Heavenly Incarnations and the rest comes from my RL friend Mike who I totally pestered with questions. (Thanks Mike!) Please forgive any mistakes.

Oh! And major mush/WAFF warning! To read on risks cavities.

[I do swear that I'll always be there.]

Misao could feel the nervous expectation of the audience in the room as she slid the door open.

[I'd give anything and everything and I will always care.]

Looking down, she walked carefully toward the front, center area of the room where Himura and Soujiro sat. Misao walked slowly so as not to trip herself up in the brilliant crimson kimono she wore. Its deep red served as a contrast to the light tones of her face and hands and the raven up-sweep of her delicately bound hair. When Jiya had first seen her in the kimono, his face looked so nostalgic as he told her how much she looked like her mother.

[Through weakness and strength, happiness and sorrow, for better or worse,]

She though she heard a catch in Soujiro's breath as she kneeled on the mat opposite him. Only the small table holding the three meoto sakazuki cups with their sake sat between them.

[I will love you with every beat of my heart.]

All of the tensions and butterflies that had been converging in her stomach were released when she looked up to see his smiling face. He looked so handsome wearing his new hakama, shirt, gi and haori. They were blue, like his other clothing, but the colors seemed brighter on him today. Or maybe it was his beautiful face that made it seem brighter. Taking a deep breath, she smiled back.

[From this moment life has begun]

She was almost startled when Himura handed her one of the sake-filled cups.

[From this moment you are the one]

Bringing it to her lips, eyes still on Soujiro, she remembered the evening he had proposed to her in the clearing next to the river where they had first met.

[Right beside you is where I belong]

The ring he had given her shone on her finger as she sipped from the glass exactly three times.

[From this moment on]

She blushed as she remembered spending the night there, with him.

[From this moment I have been blessed]

Misao set her cup down and watched Himura offer Soujiro his cup.

[I live only for your happiness]

She fought down a smirk as she remembered Himura's reaction when they had shown up at the Kamiya Dojo to ask him to be their go-between.

[And for your love I'd give my last breath]

She always had been particularly amused when he fell over and Oro'd.

[From this moment on]

He was the only person that could do this for them. Misao still had not found a way to express her gratitude to Himura. He had given her back Aoshi-sama, though Aoshi-sama had not been hers to keep...

[I give my hand to you with all my heart]

And he had given Soujiro a chance to truly live.

[Can't wait to live my life with you, can't wait to start]

And Soujiro had taken that chance... and wanted to share his life with her.

[You and I will never be apart]

As she watched _her_ Soujiro sip his sake, Misao fought back tears.

[My dreams came true because of you]

Watching him set down his cup, she thought back to when they had shown up at the Aoiya.

[From this moment as long as I live]

She had sent them a message from Tokyo that she was coming home to get married.

[I will love you, I promise you this]

Jiya had run up and given her one of his back-cracking hugs while the others came out to greet them. Soujiro just stood back and smiled.

[There is nothing I wouldn't give]

Misao remembered looking at him while she was being buried in the mob of people and she could tell that the smile was not just his normal smile... he was genuinely happy to see her back with her family.

[From this moment on]

While Okon and Omasu dragged her away to catch up and make wedding preparations, Misao could see Jiya walking Soujiro inside to talk. She still did not know what they had said but when they were done, Jiya had come and given her his blessing on the marriage.

[Musical bridge.]

That night, when she had stepped out on the porch to take a breather from her 'Welcome Home' party, Aoshi had approached her and asked her one question.

[You're the reason I believe in love]

"Are you happy?" spoke the low tones that had once held so much promise and expectation for her.

[And you're the answer to my prayers from up above]

Tears had filled her eyes and it had taken her a moment to find her voice but when she did, Misao answered with a very sure, "Yes."

[All we need is just the two of us]

He nodded at her and turned away but she almost thought that she caught the ghost of a smile on his face.

[My dreams came true because of you]

From there, Misao had gone inside to find her husband to be. Seating herself next to him, she took his hand in hers and kissed it just for being there.

[From this moment as long as I live]

Himura took the two meoto sakazuki cups that she and Soujiro had taken their drinks from and poured the remaining sake into the third, joining them together.

[I will love you, I promise you this]

Her hand shook as he proffered the now full cup to her. Carefully, so carefully, she brought it to her lips and sipped, slowly, three times and hand the cup back to Himura.

[There is nothing I wouldn't give]

The tears that had been threatening to escape previously sneaked their way out of her eyes when Soujiro, equally nervous though hiding it better, repeated her motions.

[From this moment]

As Himura set down the cup, and though this was supposed to be a quiet, solemn ceremony, Misao heard someone (she was fairly sure it had been Sanosuke) begin cheering. It quickly caught on and soon the entire room full of guests was shouting their joy and congratulations.

[I will love you (I will love you) as long as I live]

When Misao looked over to Soujiro, she saw a single tear escape his eye and almost lost it. But he smiled at her, so truly, overwhelmingly happy that there was nothing she could possibly do but smile back. As one (forever) they turned to jubilant group and bowed their thanks.

[From this moment on]

The Beginning.

Sung by Shania Twain.

Disclaimer: I don't own the song or the characters. I'm making no money off of them. Please don't sue.

Author's Notes: This is the fic that slowly drove me insane... it was really the first one that I thought readers might have expectations on so I am very nervous as to whether it turned out well. A special thanks in this goes out to Sakka-chan, who served as a pre-reader, Becky, my sister who didn't get mad when I called her at 1:00 a.m. and who also suggested this song to me, to my friend Mike who put up with my obnoxious questions and to everyone who reads and comment on any of my stories (the comments really encourage me!). BTW, two people suggested this song to me, my sister and then someone on the list (I _think_ it was Miss Led but I can't find the e-mail so I'm not sure). Anyway, thank you to the second person who suggested it. If you haven't heard this song and would like to download a sample wav., it's under the album 'Come On Over' at:

http://countrywavs.inet-pro.com/twain.htm