Chapter 247 The Weddings (1/2)
Nitocris continued to ignore the snarling little puppy beside him.
”So, when's the wedding?” Kyle asked.
”We're not having any,” Master Shifu said, ”It's the second one for both of us and a simple registration at the Civil Bureau office with everyone as the witnesses is enough.”
Rheia nodded, smiling softly, ”Yes. I just want a quiet one.”
Everyone nodded, understanding. The ones getting married were not them, but the ones in front of them so whatever Master Shifu and Auntie Rheia wanted, then they would get.
”But we should still have our own private celebration after that, right?” Kyle insisted, ”I'll have dinner reserved so that we can celebrate.”
Master Shifu agreed.
”So when is the date?” Kay asked.
Master Shifu grinned widely, ”Tomorrow.”
”WHAT?!”
”Why wait?” Master Shifu asked cheekily.
”Fine, fine. It's your day,” Kyle said, getting up and taking out his phone. He had some things to arrange.
”Erm,” came a hesitant voice at that moment.
Everyone turned to look at Hawthorne, who had started standing up.
”Erm,” he began again, clearing his throat, ”May and I ... well, we'd like to join Shifu and Rheia tomorrow.”
”You mean..?!” Kay gasped.
”Yes,” Hawthorn confirmed, ”We'd like to get married as well.”
Then May blushed and said shyly, ”We'd like to give our baby a proper family.”
It took a second for them to understand the implication of that statement before everyone started congratulating them. Master Shifu and Rheia were happy as well, with huge grins on their faces, not caring over the fact that Hawthorne and May's news far surpassed theirs.
It wasn't a competition, after all.
They were happy.
Their family was growing.
✿ Next Day ✿
Two couples were sitting at the registration desk nervously.
One old couple and one young couple. Both were dressed simply.
Master Shifu was in his traditional black and white wedding outfit, known as the montsuki haori hakama. Though one say ”simple”, Master Shifu wasn't really in simple clothes by his standards. The outfit was the most formal kimono for men.
It was essentially a traditional formal kimono known as a mon-tsuki (a black formal kimono) that is adorned with the Kazo family crest. The material used is the highest class silk, known as the ”Habutae”.
There were five of the said family crest, two in the lapels in front and three at the back. If Master Shifu was to stand up with his hands up straight at the side, the three family crest at the back would be seen to be one at each wrist and one right in the middle below the neck.
Master Shifu wore a pair of striped hakama trousers (kimono pants), and a dark haori (kimono jacket).* The haori is not worn with a belt but is loosely tied in the front with a white pom-pom'ed tie (himo).
However, Master Shifu opted for a pair of black dress shoes rather than white square-toe'd zori sandals worn with a pair of white tabi socks. It was more comfortable to walk long distances with his shoes than the sandals.
There was no way Master Shifu would not dress up for his wedding. Even though it was only at the Civil Registratino Bureu, he did not want to dishonour his bride by wearing anything less.
Rheia was in a simple white long dress and a small white hat on her head, her face partially covered with a veil. She looked elegant and demure.
Hawthorne was in a white shirt, black tie and black dress pants with black dress shoes while May was in a flowing white dress that reached up to her knees. A slight baby bump could already be seen if one was to look closely, but it wasn't truly noticeable yet.
It was a simple process.
First, they had to submit their identification papers and fill in the forms. Then, they were ushered into a room that had a desk with an official sitting in front of it. Since Master Shifu and Hawthorne were in the same group, all of them were in the room watching the process.
They needed at least two witnesses, which actually meant they could be witnesses for each other. So that part was covered even if the others didn't come.
To ease the process, both couples sat at the desk, facing the official.
He looked at the documents in front of him, the left one pertaining to Master Shifu and Rheia while the right one was for Hawthorne and May.
He looked at Master Shifu and Rheia first.
”Are you both single?” he asked solemnly.
”Yes,” Master Shifu replied, ”I am divorced.”
”I'm a widow,” Rheia declared.
Both of them then submitted proof of their status. Master Shifu gave his Divorce Papers while Rheia submitted Kazuya's Death Certificate.
The official took them, did some writing onto a form while humming.