Disclaimer: *holds a banner that says: SD characters belongs to Inoue Takehito*

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: Authors' notes: Sorry for the late update as usual. ^^|. Thank you very much for the reviews as well. Lastly, Happy Holidays! And as a gift, we also posted the epilogue of the story. ^_^

Across Time

by: Asashouryuu



- Chapter 13 -

In Tenkai, Tekken was awakened from the chants coming from the quadrangle which should have been empty if there were no announcements coming from him.

"Tekken!" Rukawa's mother barged into his room. "This is bad".

"What's bad?" he inquired groggily.

"There is an uprising!"

"A what?!" A fully awake Tekken demanded then he stepped out from his room. The building for the noble gods was totally empty. He met Rukawa's father at the back part of the stage. When the three stepped out from the curtain, they were surprised to find every person- noble gods, common gods, fighting gods- present in the quadrangle. This has not happen even when he celebrates his birthday. But what surprised them the most was that they were protesting on their treatment towards Kaede and Hanamichi. All protesters thought that what they were doing was wrong and cruel but they kept that opinion to themselves until they were discreetly approached by the goddess of mercy, Jinjin and his troops.

"OUST" was the word being chanted the minute the three stepped out into view.

"What is so bad about loving another who is not from the same station?" one woman shouted and words of agreement were being shouted. "As long as there is LOVE?"

"Bring them back here" another one shouted.

"This is bad" Tekken muttered. He knew there's a big chance that he'll be ousted if he's not going to give in.

-------

Back in the cave, Rukawa and Sakuragi were heavily making out already. Sakuragi tracing the edge of Rukawa's earlobe with the tip of his tongue while Rukawa was nibbling Sakuragi's collarbone.

They heard a sound that sounded like a cough but they didn't mind it. However the cough became louder and louder until it cannot be ignored. They looked at the direction from where the sound came from and they blushed. It was the goddess of mercy.

"W-what are you doing here?" Rukawa asked.

"I'm going to show you something good." was all she replied.

"We're doing something better" Rukawa replied which made Sakuragi blushed. The goddess just arched her eyebrow. Rukawa and Sakuragi sighed in surrender.

The next second, Rukawa and Sakuragi found themselves in the quadrangle. Few steps behind the crowd.

"Wow...What's this?" Sakuragi said in awe

"They are protesting." the goddess of mercy informed them.

"My uncle won't give in." Rukawa muttered.

"He did" she said "That's why I brought you here".

Somebody must have notice them since their names were being muttered from one god after another until it was spread around. And the voices mentioning their name grew louder and louder until it reached to crescendo and everybody was looking at them. The crowd separated as they made a way for them to the stage. Sakuragi and Rukawa froze.

"What are you waiting for?" the goddess of mercy whispered to them. They both saw Jinjin at the first row and first column of the crowd located at their left and he was motioning for them to walked to the stage.

Rukawa squeezed Sakuragi's hand and they moved forward. They stepped on the stage where Tekken and Rukawa's parents was waiting for them.

The three bowed before the two. "Gomenasai" the three said in unison but the two just looked at them as if they didn't see nor hear anything. They both knew they were sincere.

The three made their voices louder. And when the two didn't reply, the three fell to their knees, placed their hands on the floor in front of them and bowed their heads. Their heads were touching the floor. They apologized again. Rukawa and Sakuragi looked at each other and smiled. Rukawa knew the three were sacrificing their pride but it was still not enough for all the pain that he and Sakuragi went through.

The amused crowd has already lost count of the times the three were apologizing to the two. The last count of the last person was 60. After what was like an eternity to the three, they finally heard the acceptance from the two. The three stood up.

"What we did was wrong and we apologize for it." Tekken spoke "You are welcome to Tenkai Sakuragi-gensui and you can resume your work already"

"I'd like to stay in ningenkai. It's more exciting there" Sakuragi said.

"I'll stay where my Hana stays" Kaede announced.

Tekken sighed "You're welcome to stay in ningenkai as long as it pleases you. And when you want to escape from that place, you'll be more than welcomed in Tenkai".

Rukawa draped an arm around Sakuragi's shoulder and looked at his relatives seriously, "If you are going to try once more in taking Hana away from me... I will destroy this heaven and create a new one" he warned. Then they stepped down from the stage where everyone started congratulating them.

The two shared a smile.

"Ne Kaede, are you really going to do that?" Sakuragi asked as they were left alone.

Kaede nodded "I will do anything just to have you by my side."

And the two started staring into each other's eyes.

"Hey!" Jinjin greeted, "There's a welcome party for you guys in the dining room of the military building" he announced then sighed when the two looked like they weren't listening. Jinjin started running from them. "See you at the party" he shouted at the two as he looked over his shoulder and wave at them.

"Let's go home Kaede" Sakuragi said as he entwined his fingers with Rukawa's.

"I am already home" Rukawa said as he embraced Sakuragi.

"You are my home too. But when I said let's go home I meant it literally."

"I know that" Rukawa chuckled and kissed Sakuragi deliberately awakening Sakuragi's desire. And when Sakuragi was moaning and asking for more than a kiss, Rukawa pulled back.

"I'll finish what I've started when we get home" Rukawa promised with shining eyes.

"But you are already home" Sakuragi said batting his eyelashes.

"I meant home literally Hana" Rukawa tucked his chin, "For the meantime let's go the party"

"Party? What party?" Sakuragi asked innocently

"The one Jinjin said the guys are throwing for us in the dining room of the military building"

"I didn't hear Jinjin said that."

"Of course you didn't. You were too busy looking at my beautiful eyes."

"Conceited bastard" Sakuragi murmured.

"True but you love me" Rukawa said as he pulled his lover towards the military building.

~ TSU ~ ZU ~ KU