a ring; promise
Princess Sapphire was as beautiful as he imagined on her wedding day, resplendent in white lace and a birdcage veil that had a lovely silver flower atop. Almaz replayed the moment over and over again in his mind; he wanted everything to be perfect. When they said their vows before the priest, Almaz would look straight at Sapphire and say, "I do." Out of all the decisions that Almaz had to make in his life, he never felt more sure than this. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with Sapphire. Almaz once thought such a thing were a wishful fantasy, though here he was, standing by the altar with Sapphire.
When the priest asked if Almaz if he would take Sapphire as his lawfully wedded wife, Almaz said, "I do." He didn't stutter nor hesitate. Likewise, when the priest asked Sapphire if she would take him as her lawfully wedded husband, Sapphire said, "I do." Then came the lifting of the veil and the long-awaited kiss. Raspberyl and her female companions Kyoko and Asuka sighed and swooned at the display of romantic affection. Mao hyperventilated and probably said something about dissections or something about that nature; Champloo made some cooking analogy with Almaz being salt and Sapphire pepper, while Master Big Star made a suggestive nudge towards Salvatore, who merely smacked him in the back of the head.
Once the ceremony was complete, Almaz and Sapphire mingled upon their friends, before they retired to a luxuriant bedroom strewn with rose petals. Almaz figured that the rose petals must have been Raspberyl's touch; being a delinquent, she was well-versed in all things contrary to evil nature, which also included romance. At least Mao hadn't penetrated into the room and did something weird to the décor or anything like that. Despite the amorous atmosphere, Almaz wasn't sure he was ready for that part yet.
Yet Sapphire guided him, and then suddenly in a flurry of kisses and caresses, Almaz found himself encouraged to become bolder. His head dipped between her breasts and kissed within the cleft between them; Sapphire blushed and moaned, before she drew her arms across his neck and plunged him deeper inside of her. At the moment, Almaz was in pure ecstatic fantasy. Here was the person that he loved above all else, making love to her. Making love to her was like slipping inside some kind of exquisite oil, and the scent of her drove him wild with pheromones and confused hormones. He loved her, needed her. He wanted this to last forever. The start of a marriage was a beautiful one, and Almaz would remember their lovemaking several years later when they've gone old and wrinkled, but still amorous as ever. Their love, for sure, was one that would last for several lifetimes and beyond; even if Almaz reincarnated into a different person, he knew that he would find Sapphire again, in some way or some form, and he would always love her.
Once their lovemaking was finished, Sapphire and Almaz lay on the beautiful bed together holding hands. Almaz blushed and leaned in to kiss Sapphire on the lips, and she returned his kiss with as much passion and fervor as their lovemaking. Once she allowed herself to relax, her body gleaming with sweat, Almaz then said, "Sapphire? Did I…do okay?"
"It was my first time," Sapphire said with a slight blush that was becoming of her. "You were my first, Almaz."
"You were my first too," Almaz whispered, and then he smiled. "It was…unbelievable. I love you, Sapphire. I knew that I loved you ever since I vowed that I would save you. Your fierce determination, your strength, your beauty; everything about you is amazing. To think that you would've chosen a wannabe hero like me is.."
Sapphire put a finger to his lips, to silence him. "You're a great hero to me, Almaz. You're better than all the princes and knights in fairytales that I've read while growing up. So…just enjoy this moment, and let us enjoy our presence."
Almaz smiled again before he gave Sapphire's hand a squeeze. Wannabe hero or wannabe knight, Almaz knew that the thing they had with one another was real.