Mysteries in the Jungle (Junjou Romantica)

[21]

"Daddy!" Hikari gripped Nowaki's hand, tugging him to hurry down the trail. Her pout brought an amused smile on her parents faces. "C'mon, we'll miss the ceremony! I heard Uncle Misaki is wearing the flower crown I made him. I had to fight Uncle Aki's cousins to have Uncle Misaki keep it."

Nowaki chuckled, picking up the little girl and booped her nose. "The ceremony won't start until the other village arrives, dear. Trust me, Aki won't start the vows without us in the front row." Nobuyuki ran to Nowaki's side, putting up his arms in the motion of wanting to be picked up. Nowaki spared no second to waste and crouched down to pick up his son.

The children loved being picked up by their tall daddy. They loved the height and saw the horizon over the bushes without a problem. Although, their papa handled heavier weight like nothing and the both of them without straining himself.

Hiroki scoffed. "Aki's village is still irritated that Aki and Misaki decided on holding their ceremony here. I mean, Aki visits here often enough that he's already a part of our population. My father still scolds him like a child. He's ours at this point."

Nobuyuki and Hikari giggled at the mention of their uncle Aki. The silver haired man spoiled them on purpose to irritate their papa.

Hiroki glanced at both of his children. "Don't you dare copy Aki's behavior. I won't have my kids follow in his footsteps."

"Okay, papa!"

Nowaki shook his head. "I have to agree with your papa." He kissed the top of his children's heads, both of them squealed. "Do not follow Aki's example...or the behavior of his younger cousins either."

At the reminder of Aki's little cousins, a trio of hellions who caused trouble, that appeared eerily similar to Aki, Hiroki cringed. "Don't bring those three up, Nowaki. I don't know how Takahashi handles that family in general. The father, brother-in-law, and those cousins! Patience of a saint, I tell you."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

In the middle of the village, Misaki wore a colorful flower crown on top of his head. Wearing his usual clothing, slight differences came from the small braids cascading down his back and intricate jewelry that Aki somewhat forced onto him. Well, Aki gifted them to him throughout the years in order to win his affections. He fiddled with his medium length hair, trying to keep himself distracted from thinking about his husband-to-be's dramatic entrance.

Imagining younger Misaki's denial brought a snicker out of him, breaking some of his nervousness. The mere thought of having anxious feelings for Aki's arrival was impossible back in those days. Aki's pushiness scared him and did nothing more than put a strain on an otherwise decent acquaintanceship. Bringing back his attitude, Aki managed to wear his way into his heart.

A significant amount of time passed before Aki pulled Misaki into a kiss, a bruising and breathtaking kiss which stole Misaki's breath away. A surprise kiss which prompted Misaki to push Aki into a lake. A good portion of people caught the mortifying moment where it spread throughout the island fast.

Aki still received comments about letting his guard down.

When Aki appeared at Misaki's side, Misaki's face flushed pink from the sight of flowers threaded through Aki's hair. Aki kept an air of elegance about him through the well crafted jewelry and colorful clothing he wore. On this day, Aki didn't show overabundance in his appearance, wearing only flowers and the usual clothing on himself.

Peeking back at the crowd, he saw Aki's extended family in the front rows. Many of Aki's relatives warmed up to him without any issue, washing away any reservations in thinking they disliked him. Out of all of them, three little boys followed after him the moment he met them. All three of them looked like Aki. Same silver hair, purple eyes, he almost thought Aki married someone else before meeting him. Taking their age into account, this wasn't the case.