Chapter 1: Nemesis

A woman in an orange jumpsuit does a backflip and lands perfectly on the edge of The Hancock Building. She takes a seat and looks out onto the horizon. She sees high school students wearing white uniforms, some wearing gold emblems on their chests, others with red, scurrying around hanging flowers, arranging candles, and preparing tables.

The sight below brings a smile to her face. She squiggles as she can barely contain her joy. Three years I've waited for this! And just a few more hours more... She rubs her hands together, and laughs to herself.

Inside the church, Nagia twirls in front of the full-length mirror, her long, white, Cinderella gown flowing behind her. She grins from ear to ear. This is it! I can't believe it!

"You look so beautiful, Miss Johnston." A young lady wearing a white school uniform and a gold blazer helps pull Nagia's veil out of her face with one hand and carries a bouquet in the other, "Or, shall I start now saying Mrs. Parker?" She giggles excitedly.

Nagia covers her mouth with her gloved hands, overwhelmed with excitement. She lets out a small squeal.

"Nagia!" Iva admonishes. "Careful of your gloves!"

Nagia removes her hands from her face, revealing smudged lipstick and red blotches on her gloves.

"Nagia!" a chorus of Ahimsa, Lindsay, and a shorter, plump woman in glasses cry as they rush toward her. Sofia snickers from her seat, wearing a beautiful, gold wedding band. Ahimsa and Lindsay set to the gloves as the woman reapplies her lipstick. Soon, they step back, admiring their work.

They hear a cellphone ring.

The plump, older woman picks it up, "Hello? … Randolph? This had better be important!...Again?... Really now... oh fine. Wait a minute." She puts a hand over the receiver. "Miss Johnston, sorry to bother you on you're big day, but one of the water-benders fell asleep again in class and broke another pipe. The entire first floor is flooded."

Nagia twirls again, determined not to let it ruin her mood, "Have all water-bending classes moved outside until further notice. Also, set up a meeting with the student and their advisor. A lot of pressure is put on these kids. We need to find out if this child is simply feeling overwhelmed."

"I understand," the woman opens the door just as Nagia's mother enters, eyes teary.

"Ichigo says..." the older woman starts on the phone as the door shuts behind her.

Ichigo? Nagia's mother thinks, but soon forgets as she lays eyes on her daughter.

Nagia stares back at her mom, expecting her to cry any minute. The room stands still. All of a sudden, her mother begins bawling. "My baby's all grown up!" The two have a tender mother-daughter moment full of kisses and fussing over flowers, jewelry, makeup, and veils.

As Nagia's mother gives her daughter one more once over, they hear a knock.

"Come in," Nagia calls.

In comes Anton and Shirogane, wearing suits. Ahimsa blushes and looks down while Iva pretends not to notice how manly and dashing they've become. Anton shuts the door behind them as Shirogane walks over to Nagia. She twirls once more to show them her dress, but freezes as she catches their expressions.

Shirogane puts his arm on her shoulder. Nagia looks up at him, afraid of what he will say.

"Nagia..." he starts. He opens his mouth again, but nothing comes out.

"What?" Nagia asks, panicking. "What is it? Is Andrew okay? He's not hurt, is h-"

"He won't be here, Nagia." Anton finishes.

"What do you mean? He hasn't gotten here yet? He left?"

"No, Nagia. He will not come." Shirogane says.

Nagia pulls away from him, "But our wedding..." she looks at the pillow on the vanity bearing their wedding rings. "He'll be here... unless something's wrong. How do you know he isn't coming? Where is he? Did he tell you-"

"Ichigo, we weren't going to have a bachelor party and worry you, so we were going to meet right after his classes about two hours ago, but he didn't show. We've searched all over, thinking something had happened to him, and finally found him..." Anton's voice begins to shake in anger and sadness for Nagia. "Please don't ask anymore. Please just leave out the back. We will take care of-"

"NO!" Nagia screams, beginning to fall apart. "What is going on! Please! Tell me!" She runs to Anton, and grabs his lapel. "Is it that bad? Tell me!"

"He was... with... another woman. They were..." he looks uncomfortable.

"No. That's not true. He wouldn't. I know him. He wouldn't. Something happened." tears begin to fall from her eyes. "Not on our wedding day. He wouldn't do that." she lets go of Anton. "No. You're wrong!" she looks him straight in the eyes, but has to look away when she sees his pain.

He wraps his arms around her. "I am so sorry, Nagia... We confronted him, but..." Nagia's mother, Iva, Ahimsa, and the others rush to Nagia to comfort her. "It isn't you're fault..." No one notices as small spots on Nagia's hand turn a grayish tan.

"No..." Nagia cries. "No..."

A loud wail echoes through the sanctuary. All face the dressing room, quiet. All except one. One woman, wearing a low hat and an orange dress hides her face with a fan. Underneath that fan was a grin wider than a Cheshire cat. A laugh escapes. She stops as the congregation looks at her. She lowers her head, and pretends to cry. She slips out into the sunlight. As soon as she hears the church door close behind her, she lets out a giant laugh. Oh Ichigo, Darling. This is only the beginning.

She snaps her fingers, and moves instantly to a dark hallway. Even as she walks on the stone floor, no sounds come from her heels. She rounds a corner, and peers into a jail cell. She leans on the bars.

Inside sits Andrew with thick, black bands on the arms, legs, and neck. In front of him lay a toppled plate, food everywhere. He turns to her, eyes betraying his intense hatred.

"Ooh... So scared..." she laughs and begins to pace back and forth. She taps on the jail bars. "Ah... it was just too easy... You're beloved Ichigo loves you so much." She snaps again and a pole appears. She slides down it like a stripper, opening her legs. "And your "technique" is so good..."

Andrew transforms into The Red Knight and walks toward the bars, livid, "That's the illusion you showed her!"

The woman snaps her fingers again, and he is pulled back forcefully against the opposite wall by the bands. He coughs as he doubles over.

"Silly, silly boy!" She snaps, and the pole disappears. "I made this dimension. You are in MY world." she sighs. "It was almost too easy..." she touches her lip sexily, then looks Andrew in the eye. "Hmm... She just absolutely loves you..." she points to him, then blows him a kiss. "...hmmm... wanna hear my plan?" She slides to the floor. "I'll tell you." she perks up. "Remember a couple years ago when Ichigo beat Kisshu? You know, that form she almost used?" she giggles. "Well, what if she were to turn completely like that?"

"No..." Andrew panics. "No! You said if I did what you asked, you'd leave her alone!"

"I lied."

"What do you want me to do? I'll do anything! Just please leave her!"

"Awww! Aren't you sweet! But..." she makes another sexy pose. "He won't praise me if I just let her go that easy..." she thinks for a second. "Ooh! I know!" She points at Andrew, pretending unsuccessfully to have just thought of something. "How about I inject little, teeny, weeny bombs that pack a mile-wide punch in your precious darling's wedding ring. Then, if you don't do exactly what I tell you to, I kill her." She claps her hands excitedly. "You see, she either turns into the monster and destroys the world or dies. And...here's the kicker... it's all up to you! Well, like it? Like it?" She gets up. "I knew you would, Darling!" She smiles, revealing two rows of sharp teeth. She takes off skipping down the hall, laugh echoing off the walls.

Andrew punches the ground. Nagia...