10.

Natsuki and Shizuru lay intertwined on the mattress of their room at the inn. Shizuru was enjoying the warmth of the afterglow, the softness of Natsuki's skin against her own, and the scent of Natsuki's cobalt tresses in her nostrils.

"I'm sorry, Natsuki," Shizuru sighed, "I know it was selfish of me to ask for this…"

Natsuki chuckled, "Shizuru, you apologize for the strangest things. I know you aren't just interested in my body. But I also know that you enjoy these things. And you're allowed to be a bit selfish when it comes to the people you love. After all, you wouldn't want me doing this with someone else, right?"

Shizuru's crimson eyes widened, "Someone else?"

"Relax, Shizuru. There isn't anyone else I'd want to be this way, for. But that just proved my point. Thank you, by the way."

Shizuru blinked, but smiled, "Ara, and just what is Natsuki thanking me for?"

"For dropping the flirting. I…never said anything before, because I didn't really get it back then, but those kohai fawning over you just…irritated me. And then there was that bit in the lingerie shop with you and Mai…"

Shizuru sighed, "Whatever closet I was in, it must have had glass doors, because many people saw what I didn't."

Natsuki smirked, "Then that makes me a blind idiot for not seeing it. Or…maybe I just wasn't ready to see it, back then. But now we have a big decision to make."

"Yes. We arrive at the temple of Gygax tomorrow. Or, we take the alternate fork, and head for the Holy City and take up the quest Nagi wants us to go on. I know Natsuki said that being in love excused a degree of selfishness, but..."

"But you feel like asking me to marry you is a bit much, especially if it's just to let us open a door home," Natsuki concluded.

"Given what has passed between us, Natsuki, I already have more from you than I deserve."

"If you're going on about the Festival again, I'm going to pinch you," Natsuki warned.

"The idea of being married to Natsuki is a dream I would never have dared to hope for," Shizuru said, "However, I feel…I don't want to cheapen it, Natsuki."

"I get that, Shizuru," Natsuki sighed, "Want to know a secret?"

"I am already aware of the ticklish spot," Shizuru grinned. She then yelped as Natsuki pinched her.

"I'm trying to be serious here!" Natsuki protested.

"Apologies. Kanin-na."

"The secret is…after we moved in together, I already considered us married. I mean, we take turns cooking and cleaning. We have nights where we do this. We sit and read together. Do our homework together. And when you had that really bad case of flu, I got to play doctor, nurse, and personal valet. Other than a ceremony to make it official, we're already like a married couple."

"I think…I think the ceremony is important," Shizuru said, "It's a public declaration that we intend to remain side by side for as long as both of us live."

Natsuki sat up, holding the sheet to herself, "Well, I would be more than willing to do that, Shizuru, if it's important to you. You only had to ask."

"Forgive me, Natsuki, but I was always afraid to ask. Not because I felt that you would reject the idea, but because…I felt that I had already had my way on too many things I didn't deserve. If it was to happen, I felt it would be better for us if it were you to do the asking."

Natsuki gave her a rueful look. Shizuru yelped again, "Natsuki, ikezu! That hurt."

"You were brooding on the Festival again. You're not allowed to brood on things after I've forgiven them. Shizuru, you're being silly. If you want something, you have to ask for it. But this is something that we both want, right?"

"As you say."

"Then we both have to ask each other. And after all this time, we don't have to do say anything to ask, right?"

Natsuki looked into Shizuru's eyes. Emeralds and Crimson rubies twinkled at one another. Natsuki put her arms over Shizuru's bare shoulders. Shizuru did the same. Both of them flushed slightly, a rosy tint to their cheeks. Without words, a question passed between them. They both smiled, and each gave a soft nod of her head. They leaned forward, their lips touching tenderly.

"It would seem," Shizuru grinned, "that we are in agreement."

"Well," Natsuki began peppering Shizuru with kisses along her neck with each word, "We kiss should kiss celebrate kiss."

888888

"We're going to Gygax," Natsuki announced in the morning as they all gathered.

"We had a feeling that would be the case," Mai smiled.

"Don't worry," Haruka added, "We know this isn't just to get us back home. Your affections for each other are pretty obtuse."

"Obvious, Haruka," Yukino corrected with a soft smile.

"Yeah, that."

"Ara, would Haruka be my flower girl, then?" Shizuru grinned.

"There will be other roles to play," Dungeon Master appeared out of nowhere, "The Sacred Ceremony of Union is, at its core, a wedding. But it is fraught with danger, as well. And take heed, a perfect union is about compromise and mutual sacrifice."

"Old man, can't you just say things straight and…he's gone, isn't he?" Natsuki groused.

"That does seem to be his schtick," Nao lamented, "Give me Nagi and his half-truths, any day."

"Oh, Nao, do you mean it?" Nagi appeared beside her, leering at her flirtaciously.

"Sure," Nao grinned, "I'd feel guilty beating up an old runt like Dungeon Master. When I rearrange your face, I won't feel so much as a twinge."

Nagi sighed, "You girls are such difficult people to work with."

"Pot, this is kettle," Natsuki remarked.

Everyone but Mikoto laughed. Mikoto, for her part, just looked around with blatant confusion.

"We gonna eat anytime soon?" Mikoto asked.

"Just remember," Nagi grinned, "Your CHILDs will be waiting for you. They're going to present some interesting challenges, and ...URK!"

Duran had leaned down and grabbed Nagi by the scruff of his shirt. And, as it would happen, he couldn't pull a disappearing act if someone was actually holding him.

"Good boy, Duran!" Natsuki pet his flank affectionately, "Who's a good boy? You are! Yes you are! Just don't eat him. He might give you a stomach ache, eating someone that sour."

"You're a real laugh riot, Natsuki," Nagi griped, "Now get me down!"

"Shizuru, why don't you and the others buy us a nice breakfast," Natsuki looked at Nagi with a grin, "Nao and I are going to see if we can loosen his tongue a bit."

Nao raised an eyebrow, but grinned, "Oh, you're going to give me a chance to do my thing, huh?"

"Sure. You've got daggers. He's got soft bits. Let's see if we can arrange an introduction."

"You wouldn't!" Nagi's eyes were wide.

Natsuki and Nao were both laughing evilly.

Nagi gulped, "You would!"