12.

A pair of Ducati motorcycles tore down the road, until they came to a particular cliff overlooking the sea. They both pulled over, their riders dismounting.

"So," Genichiro looked out over the ocean, "This is the place."

He and Natsuki each tossed in a boquet of flowers.

"The cliff's been cut," he noticed.

"That was from when Shizuru rescued me from Nao. One stroke of her blade, and the whole side just fell clean away. It was actually kind of terrifying to watch."

Genichiro sighed, "You know, the more I hear about how this whole HiME business went down, the more I wish I'd understood what Saeko was trying to do. Perhaps things wouldn't have ended the way that they did if I'd been involved."

Natsuki shook her head, "I know how you feel. But I've learned the hard way that dwelling on the 'could-have-beens' will only drive a person crazy. We think things like that based on learning new information that we didn't have, back when we made the choices we made. Often when we had no choice but to make those choices then and there. Dwelling on them after the fact won't change anything."

"She'd be proud of you, you know," Genichiro smiled at his daughter.

Natsuki said nothing, but smiled.

"By the way," he reached into his riding suit and pulled out a check, handing it to her, "I had to sell my company. Turns out that due to anti-trust laws, I can't have my company and run Alyssa's at the same time. So, I sold it off. I thought I'd give you and Shizuru the proceeds. Consider it my present to the happy couple."

Natsuki tucked the check away safely, "Speaking of Alyssa, she was trying to say something about a ceremony?"

"Well, you and Shizuru can't legally marry here in Japan, but that doesn't mean we can't have a ceremony. You're a few days away from turning nineteen, and she wanted to do something to celebrate the two of you as a couple. But there was a problem with choosing a venue. Sister Yukariko has stated that while she personally doesn't oppose the two of you, she has to abide by the church's official rules against having a same-sex ceremony at the Chapel."

"I'm not sure Shizuru would have cared for a wedding celebration on the same grounds we technically died on, anyway," Natsuki smiled ruefully.

Genichiro laughed, "No, I suppose not."

"So, what did she end up deciding on? I know Alyssa, and she wouldn't just give up like that."

"Indeed not. You and she both inherited Saeko's stubborn streak, that's for certain. She proposed the Student Council Room. She said its where the two of you spent most of your time, together, and Director Himeno gave her approval…after receiving a rather…generous donation."

"I suppose that I'll have to propose to Shizuru, first," Natsuki sighed.

"Problem?"

"I don't know. I know for certain that I want to spend the rest of my life with her. And I know, without a doubt, that she feels the same way."

"But?"

"But…do we need a ceremony to make it official in a country where it technically wouldn't be, anyway? Is it a sign that we're committed to each other, or just a way of showing off to our friends?"

Genichiro shrugged, "That sounds like something the two of you should discuss. But don't take too long. Alyssa is badgering me to get a date set."

"I'll talk it over with Shizuru tonight. How are things between you and Satsuki Yuuki?"

"Complicated. But progressing. I'm still trying to prove to myself that I'm not going to make the same mistakes I made with your mom. And she's still grieving for her late husband. She lost him in the same incident that put her in a coma, and so for her, it was like waking up to find that everything is gone. Her daughter grew up while she was in the hospital. The man she loved is dead and buried. The only reason that she even agreed to date me is because it had been a few months and she'd had a chance to come to terms, slightly, but she hasn't had near as long to deal with his death as I've had to deal with Saeko's. And, I'm sorry to say, both of us were pretty much parted by that time, anyway."

"Nao's still worried you two are going to get married."

"Well, that's not impossible," Genichiro noted, "But if we did, you can tell her that she doesn't have to worry about any new siblings coming along. A consequence of the chemotherapy. She'll just have you and Alyssa."

"A scary prospect in and of itself," Natsuki grinned.

888888

"Ara, married?" Shizuru tilted her head.

"Well, unofficially. Look, if you don't want a ceremony or anything, I get it. I trust you. You trust me. I don't need a ceremony to prove my commitment. You and I have literally been to the grave and back for each other. But, if you want a ceremony, Alyssa is offering."

Shizuru frowned, "I wouldn't mind. But I do have one outstanding concern, and we're going to have to deal with it before we can proceed. Because, as Natsuki says, I trust her, and she, me. However, we have the issue of my family to deal with."

Natsuki closed her eyes, but nodded, "We can't keep it from them forever."

"With what you said about the money your father gave you, being cut off financially would hardly matter. However…"

"You're worried about being cut off from the people you've loved all your life."

Shizuru nodded, "It is a concern."

"Then let's get it out of the way," Natsuki said.