"Happy birthday Fumi-chan!"
"Happy birthday mommy!"
The happy congratulations echoed the room as a young girl walked in, anaware of all of this. She didn't expect them to really remember. Last few days were so hectic none of them could really focus on anything. They weren't even properly used to this house yet. Escaping from Mafia proved to be much more difficult than they expected. It's been two years now and all they could do so far was changing places quicklier than their former boss could find them, a hard deal indeed. They just recently found this lovely village in south Italy they were now living in. And her beloved Odasaku and children still found time to throw her a party. But the biggest surprise was still awaiting her.
Tears ran down both of her cheeks as Oda kneeled down in front of her, pulling a small white box from behind his back. He took her small hand in his and gave it a light kiss first, then he looked up to see her eyes, now swollen and watery.
"My darling, Fumi... We've been together for the last two and half years. And it didn't take long till I realized I was falling for you. And now, at this very day, I finaly can ask you if you too would like to spend a lifetime with me. Would you marry me, my dearest Fumiko?"
There was silence, disturbed only by quiet sobs coming from the girl. She dropped to the floor as well, hugging the man tightly around his neck, hiding her tears in his well-built chest. Repeating the one teary "yes" over and over again, he slipped a simple silver ring on her finger. They couldn't afford anything too special but it wasn't about the things they could buy. They all knew there were way more important things than money, power or fame.
_______________________
The day arrived, one and only day they both were looking for for the past few months. It was hard to believe that much time passed already since Fumiko's eighteenth birthday. Everything was going great since then. It seemed that nobody found them this time. The older kids started going to school, learning the language even faster than Oda or Fumiko, and Aku and Atsu were always by the girl's side, sticking to her like she was their real mother. Although today, nothing of that mattered.
People in the village were very kind and nice towards each other and many of them soon befriended the big family, welcoming them warmly. Even so, the two adults decided for a simple and quiet wedding on the seashore about sixty kilometers from their house. Together with them came only the three people necessary for the ceremony - the registrar and the best men. Well, best man and best woman. Those two obviously grew very close to Oda and Fumi's hearts - their best friends Sashiko and Antonio. All in all it was a nice and quiet wedding.
No invitations were really needed but just for the kids they ordered a few, discussing the design with everyone. Fumiko's dress was long to her ankles, white like snow and simple, falling from her shoulders lightly as the fabric made her curves look even more lovely than usual. On her neck there was a small silver necklace instead of a usual scarf - Sashiko gave it to her for this ocassion. Her vail was falling down to her waist and in her hands she held a bouget of white lilies, picked by another dear friend of hers.
Odasaku wore a simple black suit, white shirt and black necktie. In his hands there was another little box, this time hiding more luxurious rings, two made of silver with a crystal clear diamond on them. It wasn't like they could normally afford them. In fact they came with the letters just a few days before the wedding and none of the family was sure what was it supposed to mean. Perhaps one of their friends decided to save them the trouble and money.
The time was now finally here. Odasaku took Fumiko's hand in his and lead her towards the priest, Sashiko and Antonio staying just close behind, watching over the kids, who were happily humming the music or, in Atsu and Aku's case, sleeping in the grass peacefully. At one moment, Sakura actually touched her mommy's dress to feel the silk slip between her fingers and imagined herself in the same lovely dress standing there with someone she might not know yet but who will once be her everything.
The priest looked at them both with a gentle smile on his usually grumpy face and cleared his throat before speaking: "Oda Sakunosuke, do you promise to take Fumiko Enchi here as your rightful wife and to love her in good and bad, in health and illness forever or until the death makes you apart?"
Odasaku looked at his beautiful bride for only a quick moment and gave her one of the kindest smiles of his life. Tjen he nodded, "I do."
The priest nodded and looked over to the woman standing next to her husband-to-be, "And you, Fumiko Enchi, do you promise to take Oda Sakunosuke as your rightful husband and to love him in good and bad, in health and illness forever or until the death makes you apart?"
A blush, even deeper than before appeared on young girl's cheeks as two wet ways made of tears were created down her cheeks. With a quiet sob she nodded, "I-i do..."
"I now proudly announce you," the priest smiled at them both, "as husband and wife, Oda and Fumiko Sakunosuke. You may now kiss the bride."
Odasaku reached for the shorter lacy vail covering Fumiko's face. As he lifted it up, it was as if he saw her for the first time in his life. The world slowed down in the very moment just for the two of them and all the worries they might ever had before were suddenly gone. The two of them alone were now the only important people in the world. Then there was a hand on her cheek, gently holding her still as their lips slowly drew closer and closer before finally meeting and melting into a dance of love. At the very same time, there was a cheer coming from the small children, who suddenly made a circle around them. Odasaku then put the rings on both of their hands. There was nothing that could ruin that day.
Turning slowly back, they only now noticed the two figures in white and with gentle smiles on their faces. One od them was a bit shorter than the other, had black hair and a pair of glasses was sitting on his nose. The other one had brown hair and his wrist was wrapped in bandages, same for his neck and forehead. The two hearts that just now connected suddenly felt too heavy to beat. Did the Mafia find them again? Were they to be punished for their betrayal?
The man with a pair of glasses cleared his throat and started walking closer, "Let me congratulate you. Not only have you safely made it away from the feared Port Mafia, you also found the true happiness here. The best of luck to all of you."
"A-ango-san..?" the girl asked, almost panicking, "What are you doing here?"
"Don't be so scared, Fumiko," Dazai suddenly smiled too, "You are quite powerful, you don't need to be scared. Ango isn't part of Mafia anymore and neither am I. But we needed to go underground for a while, a bit like you. I'm really glad we made it on time today. We couldn't pretty much leave Odasaku alone on such an important event. He is our dearest friend after all."
Odasaku's beat slowly returned to normal. Picking Fumiko up in his arms, making her squeel and blush even more, a happy smile crawled on his lips, "Dazai, Ango, let me introduce you my wife, Fumiko Sakunosuke. I am more happy than you can imagine that you are here today."
"Too bad we couldn't train more." Dazai chuckled, "I can't really do it my way now when you're Oda's wife, Fumiko."
"It's Erica though." Ango stated, adjusting his glasses but nobody seemed to listen anyway so he just left it be for now.
Looking around, Fumiko found the two smallest children still sleeping calmly, the five older ones playing with Sashiko and Antonio and Odasaku's happy smile. She set her head on his shoulder, finally calming down too. That was right, there was nothing to be afraid of anymore. She had her children, friends and amazing husband. It felt like she was born again just this very second. None of the past had to bother her anymore, that weight was somehow lifted off her shoulders.
'Yes, this truly is the happiest day of my life.' she thought with a smile.
