Final Chapter: The Wedding

A month has passed since Aizen's incident, Soul Society has returned to its former peace. But today is destined to be an extraordinary day, as a grand wedding will be held.

There were more than one couple getting married; the first couple was Ye Yang and Soi Fon. Ye Yang had been planning this wedding ever since the great battle ended. However, the battle with Aizen had exhausted his Spiritual Power and damaged his lifespan, so it wasn't until Ye Yang had fully recovered that the wedding could be held. Ye Yang was determined to make the wedding as grand as ever to make up for Soi Fon's silent waiting all these years.

The second couple is naturally Urahara and Yoruichi. Although Yoruichi eloped with Urahara to the World of the Living a long time ago, they had never held a formal wedding. Perhaps it was because Yoruichi's parents were in Soul Society, and how could Yoruichi approve of a wedding that even her parents didn't agree to? So the two of them kept putting it off.

The third couple is Gin and Rangiku. After going through such trials, they finally came together. Moreover, the fact that Gin had been infiltrating Aizen's side for more than a hundred years for Rangiku's sake has become a legend. Originally, Ye Yang only invited Yoruichi and Urahara to hold the wedding together, but Gin heard about it and wanted to join in the fun, so they also set the wedding date for that day.

The fact that all of them were of high status made their wedding date a shock to the entire Soul Society. The news caused a huge uproar as soon as it spread, and the captains of each division were busy preparing gifts.

Needless to say, the grand wedding of the nobles was unprecedented! They considered it an honor to receive an invitation, as those who did were immediately held in higher esteem, since Ye Yang's invitations were limited to the upper-class nobles and did not extend to the middle-class nobles.

The head of the Fon Clan has long been Soi Fon. Originally, the Fon Clan was just a lower-ranking noble family that was attached to the Shihoin Clan family. After Soi Fon became the captain, she rose to the rank of middle-ranking noble family in just a few decades. Now that Ye Yang and Soi Fon have officially married, the Fon Clan has also risen to the rank of upper-ranking noble family.

The wedding was officiated by Yamamoto, and in Soul Society, only he was qualified to officiate such a grand ceremony. No one was more suitable than him in terms of seniority or status. When Ye Yang extended the invitation, he rarely smiled, expressing his pleasure in officiating the wedding. Such a joyous occasion would help people forget the previous turmoil, and besides, Soul Society hadn't had such a grand celebration in a long time. Why wouldn't he be happy to do it?

Ye Yang invited quite a few people, including high-ranking nobles, captains and vice-captains of various squads, and Seated Officers. Even Hirako and his Hirako from the World of the Living were brought by Ye Yang, making the entire Visored present.

After the final battle, Hirako and his group saw that Soul Society hadn't suffered many losses, and there were no vacancies in captain positions. They seemed to have no reason to return, and the World of the Living was more peaceful and free. Therefore, they decided to stay in the World of the Living, so that they could quickly resolve any situation that might arise World of the Living.

However, unlike them, Kaien and his wife Shiba Miyako, although Miyabi had long since lost her Spiritual Pressure, still had no problem living in Rukongai. Therefore, Kaien decided to return to Soul Society, where he was born and raised, and continue to serve as the vice-captain of the Thirteenth Division, while Miyabi stayed at the Shiba Clan, so that Kaien could visit her often.

When Rukia saw Kaien again, she cried for a long time. The two talked all night, and when Rukia returned the next day, she still had a smile on her face because the Captain Kaien she had longed for had finally returned.

Ichigo from the World of the Living also came to Soul Society specifically to offer his congratulations, and even Ishida, Orihime, and Chad came along. They also brought an unexpected person with them, namely Isshin Shiba, now known as Isshin Kurosaki, who has already revealed his identity to Ichigo.

When Kaien saw him, she was overjoyed. Isshin was her uncle, and Ichigo was her cousin. When the two met, they stared at each other in disbelief, because they looked so alike—except for the color of their hair, they were practically the same person! No wonder they were brothers.

Today marks the official start of the wedding. Ye Yang got up early and dressed in formal attire. The groom's clothes weren't actually that complicated; Ye Yang wore a gray-black kimono, and the strand of white hair at his temples had disappeared. After all, two hundred years is not a short time in the long life of a Shinigami, so after Ye Yang fully recovered, his white hair also disappeared.

A glint of silver occasionally flashed in his dark eyes, and a confident smile played on his lips, making his already handsome face even more charming. The aristocratic etiquette he had learned since childhood made his words and actions impeccable.

His parents weren't here; they had already arrived at the wedding venue long ago. The wedding would start promptly at eight o'clock, and they had half an hour to prepare.

Soi Fon's situation was more complicated. As long as it was a woman's outfit, it was troublesome. The cumbersome twelve-layered Soi Fon was extremely uncomfortable for Soi Fon to wear. The Second Division's uniform was designed for optimal combat use, so Soi Fon, who was used to wearing combat attire, didn't even know how to put it on. Fortunately, Yoruichi helped her put it on.

The only regret is that Soi Fon's parents have already passed away, so she can't sit with Ye Yang's parents.

When everything was ready and the time was almost up, Ye Yang slowly walked out of the room. The sedan chair was already waiting at the door. Ye Yang then quietly went inside, ready to welcome the most important event of his life.

The sedan chair slowly rose, carrying Ye Yang towards the wedding venue. The event was, of course, held at the Shihoin Clan, so Ye Yang quickly, being the last of the newlyweds to arrive.

Today, all three brides are dressed in snow-white formal attire. White symbolizes the beginning of a new life and also signifies the end of the old one, so brides traditionally wear white formal attire at weddings.

Although all three were dressed in white, they each had a different style. Even the elaborate twelve-layered kimono couldn't hide Rangiku's mature charm. Coupled with the beauty mark on her lips and her alluring smile, everything about her exuded the charm of a mature woman.

While Yoruichi and Rangiku have similar figures, they possess a completely different style. Yoruichi exudes a dashing and spirited aura. Her cheerful smile is captivating, and coupled with the aristocratic air she cultivated from a young age, she appears dignified rather than elegant!

Unlike them, Soi Fon has the image of an innocent young girl, and her naturally petite body is even more in line with the image of a young girl. Her slightly shy face makes her look very cute, like a fairy dancing among flowers. Compared with Yoruichi and Rangiku, Soi Fon is less mature, but more lively.

Urahara was unusually dressed in a dark green kimono today, and he had finally shaved off his beard.

Although his smile was still as lewd as ever, it was much better than usual. Yoruichi stood next to him, their arms tightly linked, their lips curled into endless smiles.

Gin was dressed in a silver-gray kimono today. He still had that smiling face, but it was different from the usual, formulaic smile. It was a genuine smile from the heart, and he no longer squinted to hide himself. His indigo eyes were full of happiness, simply because Rangiku was by his side, and he would not go far away again.

Ye Yang stepped down from the sedan chair and approached Soi Fon. Soi Fon, who had been waiting for a long time, showed a hint of joy in her eyes. Ye Yang took her hand and couldn't help but recall the poem from his past life, "In the north there is a beautiful woman, peerless and independent. One glance could topple a city, a second glance could topple a nation. How could one not know the power of such beauty? Such a woman is hard to find again!"

Soi Fon blushed slightly upon hearing this. Yoruichi laughed heartily, "Little brother Ye Yang, you're quite the smooth talker today. No way, you'd better come up with an even better poem to say to me than you just did!"

Ye Yang smiled wryly, "Don't make things difficult for me, sister. I was just expressing my feelings."

"You've forgotten your sister now that you have a wife? That's not fair of you," Yoruichi said with a smile. However, she didn't say anything more, as the wedding was about to begin. The group quickly got ready.

Ye Yang's parents and all those who received invitations had arrived, and even Yamamoto was smiling at them. First, the three couples led everyone to wash their hands and enter the venue. They were holding the most traditional divine wedding ceremony. In Soul Society, the Soul King is naturally regarded as a god, and here there was only a statue of the Soul King, and it was even a statue of the first Soul King.

Three couples stood in front of the statue, while their relatives sat on either side at the front. However, apart from Ye Yang 'Yoruichi parents who were still alive, the rest of the couples either had parents who had passed away or did not even know who their parents were.

The remaining captains and vice-captains, along with the nobles and those who came to offer their congratulations, sat in the back in order. Only Yamamoto in front of the three couples; he was the host for the day.

Once everyone was ready, Yamamoto performed certain rituals before the statue of the Soul King, and then formally announced, "Today, under the witness of His Majesty the Soul King, the three Ye Yang Shihoin and Soi Fon, Kisuke Urahara Yoruichi Shihōin, and Gin Ichimaru and Rangiku Matsumoto— will be married. The wedding ceremony now officially begins!"

The audience erupted in applause. The first item on the agenda was to present Soul King delicacies from land and sea, praying that he would forever protect the three couples.

Afterwards, Yamamoto began reciting blessings before the statue of the Soul King, and everyone present stood up to pray for them, praying for this hard-won love. They had endured so many hardships before, and now the lovers were finally united...

After the prayers, Yamamoto gave them wine cups, which is the so-called "cross-cupped wine". However, unlike Ye Yang's previous life, the custom here is to cross the cups nine times, which means to live together forever and grow old together.

Ye Yang picked up his wine glass and crossed arms with Soi Fon. Soi Fon's cheeks were slightly flushed, but her expression was one of happiness, and her gaze towards Ye Yang became increasingly tender.

After drinking the nine cups of wine, Ye Yang and the others were fine, since they were all regular drinkers and had a high tolerance for alcohol. However, Soi Fon was different. She usually didn't drink alcohol, and after nine cups, the blush on her face deepened, her eyes became slightly hazy, and her expression showed a hint of drunkenness.

Ye Yang gently supported her and asked, "Shaoling, are you alright?"

"It's alright," Soi Fon said, regaining her composure. After all, this was their wedding; how could she possibly collapse? Soi Fon gave a slight smile to indicate that she was fine.

Next came the most important part of the wedding: the vows. Ye Yang faced Soi Fon and said, "Today, with His Majesty the Soul King and all our relatives and friends as witnesses, I, Ye Yang Shihoin, take Soi Fon as my wife, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to share joys and sorrows, and to love you forever."

!"

Hearing this, Soi Fon's eyes welled with tears, but she held them back and said, "Today, with His Soul King and our family and friends as witnesses, I, Soi Fon, am willing to marry Ye Yang Shihoin. From this day forward, I will bear the surname Shihoin. From this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, for better or for poorer, in sickness and in health, we will stand together through thick and thin. I will love you forever!"

The two embraced tightly, as did Yoruichi Urahara and Rangiku Gin. The audience erupted in applause, especially Ye Yang's parents, whose faces beamed with smiles. Their children had finally gotten married, and they could finally enjoy their retirement. They would even have grandchildren to hold in their arms. What parent wouldn't look forward to this day every day?

Then Yamamoto before the statue of the Soul King and said, "I hereby declare that Ye Yang Shihoin and Soi Fon are officially married from this day forward; Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihōin are officially married; and Gin Ichimaru and Rangiku Matsumoto are officially married! Let us sincerely wish them a long and happy life together!"

Then the event ended. First, the host, Yamamoto, walked in front, followed closely by Ye Yang and his group, then Ye Yang's parents, and finally the remaining witnesses.

The wedding ceremony had ended, and everyone moved to the banquet. This unprecedentedly grand banquet was naturally exceptionally lavish, and one could only imagine the scale of the banquet hosted by the Shihoin Clan and Kuchiki Clan.

Ye Yang, Urahara, and Gintoki stood there as the hosts, while the three brides went inside to change their clothes. When they reappeared, they once again enlivened the atmosphere.

Rangiku wore a fiery red kimono, symbolizing her passionate nature, while Yoruichi wore a gold kimono, as dazzling as her eyes, and her sun-like smile was blinding. Soi Fon changed into a pink kimono, which perfectly showcased her cleverness and cuteness. The three of them could be said to each have their own unique charm.

The rest was relatively simple. Ye Yang, accompanied by Soi Fon, began to move around the banquet, offering a toast at each table. When he met friends, he would linger a little longer to chat. He also observed proper etiquette when meeting nobles and other dignitaries.

The wedding banquet lasted until midnight. As soon as midnight struck, fireworks lit up the sky above the Shiba Clan, their beauty dazzling everyone. At that moment, no one noticed that the main characters, Ye Yang and Soi Fon, had already vanished...

As midnight approached, Ye Yang took Soi Fon's hand and led her to a place—the very spot where Ye Yang and Soi Fon first watched fireworks, and where they sealed their love with a kiss—a little-known lakeside.

Soi Fon nestled in Ye Yang's arms, and the two quietly watched the beautiful fireworks. Suddenly, Soi Fon looked up and asked, "Brother Ye Yang, do you like fireworks?"

Ye Yang smiled slightly and gently pecked Soi Fon's pink cheek. "You know what? Shaoling, Captain Shunsui once asked me this question."

"So what was your answer?" Soi Fon, somewhat curious.

"I said at the time, although fireworks are beautiful, I don't really like them. Who will remember such fleeting beauty? That's not what I want. I prefer something eternal."

"Brother Ye Yang, can we be together forever?"

"Of course, trust me!"

"Um"...