Ever After (Shinobu x Giyuu)

Chapter 11: Ever After

"Shinobu, what do I do? I'm so nervous." Toko cried out as she gave Shinobu a massive hug, her beautiful white dress following her every movement. Shinobu giggled as she gently disengaged herself.

"Relax, Kanata-kun has been in love with you forever now. You could wear a sack and he would still think you're beautiful." Shinobu said as she scanned Toko's face for any smudged makeup. She reached for Toko's lipstick and gently fixed it. Her best friend was absolutely stunning and Kanata was lucky to have her.

"I wish we'd gotten married earlier, but medical school." Toko rolled her eyes, but her smile said otherwise. Shinobu knew that Toko so extremely happy that Kanata managed to pursue his dreams, though it was felt strange that Kanata would be working for the Kocho family hospital during his residency. The fact that she may very well be his boss in the future was nerve wracking. "So did little Giyuu propose yet?" Toko teased. Now it was Shinobu's turn to roll her eyes.

"We've been dating for less than a year. If he proposed now he would be a married college student." Shinobu said. Although she knew that Giyuu wouldn't mind, she didn't want to tie him down during college. She also wanted to savor what they have before diving head first into marriage. She waited more than a lifetime to be with him, so she was more than happy with what they have now.

"Ah yeah, but you'll be so old when he graduates. You'll be twenty seven you know." Toko said.

"You're twenty six." Shinobu countered.

"Didn't you just hear me saying that I wanted to get married earlier." Toko stuck out her tongue, but then her mouth curved into a smile as she gave Shinobu another hug. "Thank you for being my maid of honor."

Shinobu sniffled as she tried not to cry for her friends' happiness. Oh how she wished to see all of them happy and married in her past life but she died before she could. Now, not only was she alive, she can see all of their descendants obtain their own happiness. She gave her a genuine smile and gently pushed her best friend towards the door.

"What are you waiting for? Your future is right outside the door."

-

The outside ceremony was beautiful, and when Kanata and Toko kissed, a hundred of white and pink balloons filled the air. Shinobu was delighted to see that they were finally married and clapped energetically to show her support. Toko glanced around and locked eye with her before smiling cheekily. And just like a baseball pitcher, she threw the bouquet right at Shinobu who barely caught it.

"Wasn't this suppose to be up to chance?" Shinobu shouted as she clutched onto the beautiful pink bouquet. Toko giggled and waved her hand to show that she didn't really give a damn before linking arms with Kanata. Shinobu shook her head in half disbelief half amusement as she watched them walk away. They shined brightly as if the sun itself was giving them its blessing and soon they were surrounded by cheers and warm wishes that made the air feel sweet.

"Does that mean you're getting married next?" A low pitch voice said as she felt two arms wrap around her. She sighed in content before leaning into him and looking up. Giyuu looked at her with a smile gracing his lips as he dipped his head towards hers. Now that he finally stopped growing, he stood much taller than her and now she had to grab his collar whenever she wanted a kiss.

"I guess. I wonder who the lucky guy would be." Shinobu teased lightly. Giyuu raised an eyebrow before glancing around quickly. "I bet he'll - mmph." Giyuu silenced Shinobu with his lips. When he pulled away, Shinobu felt her cheeks flush as he grinned mischievously at her.

"You were saying?" He asked as he placed another gentle kiss on her forehead.

"When did you become such a cheeky boy? Where did my cute little Giyuu go?" She complained, as she turned around so she can properly face him, and embraced him. It was still hard to believe that they were able to find each other in this life. What were the odds that out of everyone on Earth, they would have found each other at the convenience store all those years ago. But now, he was here, with her and just as much in love with her as she was with him. She felt his chest move when he laughed as he wrapped his arms around her.

"I'm an adult now, and I worked hard to become one." Giyuu said. He lifted her chin so that they were looking at each other. He was different than the Tomioka Giyuu from the past. He was younger, and his hair was shorter, and he was much much happier. And now, he was hers. She blushed as she looked into his eyes.

"So, should we get married?" Giyuu asked as he leaned in to kiss her. Shinobu blocked his kiss with her hand as she smiled, but the wrinkle in her brow betrayed her anger.

"Really? You're proposing to me at my best friend's wedding? And you're in college you know." She scolded as she glanced around hoping no one heard. Everyone was still congratulating the happy couple, so luckily no one heard. She sighed in relief and released her hands from his lips. He pouted cutely making Shinobu giggle.

"Then how much longer am I suppose to wait for?" he said dropping his voice into a whisper. His deep voice in her ears made her heart skip a beat. He really wasn't a child anymore was he?

"Then, at least until I graduated medical school. And no kids until after college. You will not be a father in college." She relented as she pulled his face towards her and kissed his cheek. She started walking away, but he caught her hand as she was leaving.

"So, we can make a family after I graduate?" His question made Shinobu speechless as she smacked his arm. The audacity! He ignored it as he gave her a mega watt smile. He pulled her into a tight embrace as he whispered into her ear.

"I can't wait."

"Oy get a room!" Sabito shouted as Makomo laughed beside him. Shinobu quickly tried to remove herself from Giyuu's embrace, but he refused to let her go. It wasn't until Shinobu stomped on his foot that he let her go reluctantly. She walked over to Makomo who grabbed her hand.

"C'mon, Yoshiteru is trying to take a group photo but he won't stop crying." Makomo said.

"Sumihiko told us to find you because this was all giving him a headache." Sabito laughed as they led her to where her friends were. Shinobu reached out her other hand to Giyuu who took it with a cute disgruntled look after being so rudely interrupted. Shinobu Kocho was happy. Her friends and family were alive. The man she loved was holding her hand. And she had a future to look forward to. She gave Giyuu's hand a squeeze just to make sure he was there with her, and he squeezed just as hard back.

She didn't think she could be happier until Giyuu got down on one knee two years later at her graduation ceremony. And again until she said the words that sealed their future together.

"I do."

Author's note:
Welcome everyone to the last official chapter of "Ever After". Thank you so much for following this story and I really hope that you enjoyed it for all its angst. This story was a rollercoaster with its highs and lows, but I like to think that the lows made the highs that much sweeter. It was so much fun writing this and I can't believe it went by so fast.

I'm thinking of having a little Q and A where I answer all of your guy's questions either about this universe or about me, your favorite author (haha jk unless?). I figure there were some gaps or plot holes I never filled so ask away with as many questions as you want. I'll answer all of your questions in a week from now so look out for that fun chapter (unless there are no questions then I'll write up a chapter with "what if" scenarios that I think are light hearted cause we seriously need something fun after this emotional train wreck.)

I'll be writing one shots about this universe in a separate story so make sure to be on the look out for that. It'll be called "Epilogue" and it'll have some stories that happen during the time skips that I want to add (summer camp, Makomo's graduation, Yoshiteru's graduation party, Shinobu's research, Giyuu's trouble with romance in high school). But first, I got a fun one shot idea (not from this universe) that I want to give a shot writing. Please look forward to it. It'll be called "The Witch and the Knight", a story of an immortal witch and a knight whose liege wants the potion of immortality.

And if you can't wait another second to see me, may I encourage you to look at my art Instagram @nubilose.  Haha jk unless?

Again, thank you so much for reading to the very end. I loved reading all of your comments and I had a blast writing this.

Until next time!