Title: "Bride of the Rin Jyu Ken" (Part I)

Author: Trinity

Fandom: Jyuken Sentai Gekiranger

Pairing: Rio/Mele

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Mele is set to become Rio's bride…after she undergoes a series of special ceremonies…

"Mele-chan, you must understand that the Confrontation Command ceremony you will undergo is very important." Rageku instructed as Rinshis attended to Mele. "You are to swear your complete and total loyalty to the Rin Jyu Ken Aku Gata, but more importantly, you are to swear your lifelong loyalty and devotion to Rio-chan."

"I understand Master Rageku." Mele said, staring into the mirror as the Rinshis fitted her black gown she was set to wear for the Confrontation Command Ceremony she was to undergo the following night.

"Your duties to Rio-chan are to take precedent above everything else." Rageku said, calmly. "You must do whatever he asks of you, even if it means taking his life or your own. It is your duty as his wife to be obedient, loyal, and strong."

Mele nodded.

"Rio-chan chose you because your loyalty, love, dedication and your strength all appeal to him. He needs a woman like you by his side, Mele-chan. Otherwise, he would have gone with Shizuka."

Mele's eyes narrowed at the mention of the Rin Jyu Lioness-ken mistress, her main rival for Rio. "Shizuka was only after Rio-sama because her hormones told her to go after him. She does not love him."

Rageku nodded. "You were jealous of her."

"It made me sick to her them in his bedroom every night." Mele felt her Rinki levels go up as her jealousy intensified. Secretly, Rageku was pleased. "Rio-sama deserves better."

"Rio-chan deserves you, Mele-chan." Rageku said. Her voice grew serious. "Mele-chan, once you make these vows of absolute loyalty, they can never be broken. If you break them, for any reason, it means execution."

The idea made Mele shiver a little, but she understood.

"Now, Mele-chan, did Rio-chan tell you about the coronation ceremony?"

"What coronation?"

"Why, Mele-chan, once you marry Rio-chan, you will become Queen…and Rio-chan will become King."

"Royalty?" Mele asked. "Rio-sama and I will become royalty?"

"Second under Kata and myself, of course, but your new status will assure your leadership of the Rin Jyu Den." If Rageku had a mouth, she would have smiled. "And you will be a Rin Rinshi no more."

Mele was confused. "But how? How will I not be a Rin Rinshi?"

"Kari-chan, come in here please." Rageku turned to the door of Mele's room and clapped her hands.

The doors opened and in walked Rin Jyu Crocodile-ken Mistress, Kari, one of Rageku's most loyal students. She was holding what looked like a fang on a pillow.

"Mele-chan, there was one more True Poison fang left." Rageku informed the Chameleon-ken user. "Consider this a wedding present from me. Kari, the fang."

The Crocodile-ken user handed her mistress the fang and Rageku faced Mele. "Mele-chan, may your body taste the flame of true life."

Rageku then stabbed Mele with the fang and Mele stumbled backwards, groaning in pain. Then, a warm feeling spread through her body as she struggled to breathe and then…came the feeling of something thundering in her chest.

Mele gasped, clutching her chest.

"Is she alright, Rageku-sama?" Kari sounded panicked.

"She will be fine." Rageku replied. "Give her a moment."

Suddenly, Mele collapsed to the floor, her vision blurring and then clearing and then, she passed out.

Sometime later, Mele opened her eyes again, her heart now beating in a calmer rhythm and her chest rising and falling.

"Rageku-sama, what did you do?" Kari asked.

"I gave Mele-chan true life." The Kenma of the Sea replied, helping Mele to her feet. "Mele-chan, how do you feel?"

"Alive." Mele murmured. "Is this what it feels like to be human?"

"Yes" Rageku replied. "Try changing into your Beast man form."

Mele closed her eyes and concentrated her Rinki and was able to transform into her powerful Beast man form. She was surprised, and please.

"You see, Mele-chan? You are a Rin Rinshi no more."

"Try telling that to Kata-sama." Mele muttered. She hated the Kenma of the Sky with a passion and hated the fact that he was supposed to preside over her Confrontation Command Ceremony and her wedding. "He despises me."

"Kata has no choice but to accept Rio-chan's decision." Rageku replied. "He knows that he's serious about you. Don't worry, Mele-chan. I will handle Kata."

Rageku clapped and more Rinshis tended to Mele's gown and Mele herself, fitting her with gloves and shoes and fussing over her hair.

The vows of loyalty, of total submission to Rio and the Rin Jyu Den…it was overwhelming for Mele, but she was excited. Her dream of forever staying by Rio-sama's side was about to come true.

Suddenly the doors to Mele's room opened and the Rinshis bowed out of courtesy for the guest.

It was Rio.

"Oh, Rio-chan." Rageku cooed. "What do you think of Mele-chan's outfit for her Confrontation Command ceremony?" She gestured to the nervous Chameleon-ken Mistress. "Isn't it lovely?"

The dress was Mandarin in style, with a cut going up the left side, like her usual green outfit, only it was a deep inky black, almost the color of midnight. Gold accented the trim and she'd been outfitted with matching black and gold gloves.

Under Rio's intensive gaze, Mele felt naked and vulnerable and she averted her eyes and started at her feet. He made a slow circle around her, inspecting her very closely. Suddenly, he stopped before her, titling her chin up so he could look in her eyes.

"You look beautiful." He murmured.

Mele's eyes widened at Rio's words a flush colored her pale cheeks.

"She does look beautiful, doesn't she, Kari-chan?" Rageku asked her young pupil and when the nod came, Rio looked at his bride to be. Mele was visibly nervous.

Rio's eyes burned into hers for a moment before he placed his lips on hers and gave her a gentle kiss.

Mele's newfound heart fluttered and then soared.

Rio-sama was returning her affections!

She shivered when she felt his hand run down her bare arms, fully aware of the warmth that filled her skin and the warmth of his touch.

"Mele, I hope that you will be just as beautiful on our wedding day." His voice indicated that his feelings towards her were changing. "I look forward to it."

With that, he turned and left the room, leaving a pleased Rageku, an impressed Kari and a love struck Mele in his wake.

Mele's head was spinning.

"Well, Rageku-sama…I think we can honestly say that Rio-sama does in fact have feelings for Mele-sama." Kari said. "I was hearing rumors of a loveless marriage and that he was only getting married to Mele because he was trying to avoid Shizuka."

"If you don't mind me asking, Kari-chan, what is the deal with Shizuka-chan?" Rageku knew that Shizuka was a main cause of Mele's problems, but she didn't know the whole story.

"Shizuka is a former ninja who came to the Rin Jyu Den after getting lost. Rio-sama recognized her potential and taught her Rin Jyu Lioness-ken ….the female equivalent of his own fist." Kari explained. "Unfortunately, as one would expect with two Jyu-ken users of the same fist, especially if they are of opposite sex, there was some…sexual tension."

"Some?" Shizuka muttered. "She was all over him like it was mating season!"

"There was also a thing between them because…well, Shizuka is HUMAN. She wasn't brought back from the dead." Kari explained. "Maybe Rio-sama got a craving for carnal pleasures and sought the only other living female to satisfy his needs."

Rageku nodded. "I see…well, I wonder how well Shizuka-chan would take it if she was regulated to Rin Rinshi status…"

As much as Mele didn't like Shizuka, she wouldn't wish Rin Rinshi status on her. "I think she'll be just fine with this."

Because if she's not… Mele thought venomously, I'd make short work of her.

Rageku looked at Mele for a moment and then sighed. "Mele-chan…you understand that your devotion and loyalty to the Rin Jyu Den must come after your devotion and loyalty to Rio-chan, don't you?"

"I understand Rageku-sama." Mele said. "Rio-sama, my husband, comes first."

"Mele-chan, I understand that this must be scary." Rageku's voice was reassuring. "But, Rio-chan will need you in the fight against the Geki Jyu Ken. He'll need his wife to be strong by his side and fight with him. Can you do all the things that will be required of you?"

Mele looked at her reflection in the mirror and sighed. For a brief moment she saw the Rin Rinshi she'd once been before the image was replaced with the image of her in the gown she now wore…as a human. She'd changed a lot since then. Now, she felt more confident than ever. "Yes, Rageku-sama. I can do everything that is asked of me."

Yes…I will be able to do everything. She thought to herself as she smiled. I will be a dutiful, faithful bride for Rio-sama…and I will do everything in my power to uphold my vows. Everything.