A carpet of fallen cherry blossom petals guided Hattori through the Nook, the spring weather pleasant and the air still. The sun had only just started to peek over the horizon, casting the glade in gentle light, warm and comforting. A good omen, some might think. The area had been tidied up and organised as needed, unwanted visitors chased off and anything that made Nook look unseemly removed. Hattori's companions had been hard at work long before the sun had started to rise, they knew well to keep out of sight, that the ceremony was private and had to go according to plan.

Hattori owed Ochitsuki much for this, she had untaken much of the hard work of preparation, sourced what materials Hattori hadn't provided himself and was suitably knowledgable in what must be done. The rites and customs of their people, steady of paw and temperament. Such weddings were not usually such a private affair, marriages in Nihon were often political things, and thus it made sense to make a show of it, let it be known. But in typical Tojo fashion, the wedding was designed loosely in the traditional fashion, picking and choosing what suited them best and discarding the fanfare of it all.

All that was left now was to wait for Kiriko to finish readying herself, then they could begin their lonely procession through the Nook, to where Ochitsuki stood waiting.

In the wake of what had happened, Kiriko was grateful for the private nature of the ceremony. Should any informants be lingering, should reinforcements be coming, it would be best to not advertise her location while she was so vulnerable. Moreover, it would be best to keep the news relatively contained until they were ready. Perhaps it was best for the red koi's pride as well-- Kiriko was larger than some women her size at full term. They had been blessed.. It was perhaps better to keep the timing of this blessing ambiguous. Loosely based on tradition, loosely reminding her of home, the Nook was beautiful this time of year. Her husband-to-be had done what he could to pull things together. His efforts hadn't gone unnoticed. She finished preparing herself, not a hair out of place. The glow of the pregnancy about her was perhaps the most prominent accessory. Most of the traditional trappings had been broken out for the occasion, and she'd had plenty of time to create beautiful pieces of jewelry for the occasion. There were others tucked away to be presented later, including one for Ochitsuki-- a token of her gratitude. There is one for Hattori as well. Something for later. For now, Kiriko steps to her almost-husband's side. Offering him a little smile, the warmth in her unmistakable. The solitude of the moment feels like an oath in and of itself. Hanzō might be used to going it alone, but he doesn't have to anymore. Right. Moving shoulder to shoulder with the man (as best she could, with her current size), she's quite ready. "Speech"