Previously in Heart of the Melting Blood RELOADED…
"Well, what do we have here?" he spoke.
The girl in red kimono was startled and bowed before the author. "Kawasumi Mai desu. Yoroshiku," shyly she introduced herself.
"Why, hello Mai-san. I'm Lone Wolf NEO, just call me Lone Wolf," he greeted. "I see that you didn't come here alone, right?"
"Umm," she replied. "I came here with Hikki-san."
A pair of fox ears popped on his head. Lone Wolf had a devious grin and stared back and forth between the girl and Hikki. "Aha. So both of you are couples, huh?"
Mai blushed. "I… why are you asking me that question, Lone Wolf-san?"
"Nothing," the author answered and chuckled. "Just an absolute curiosity, that is."
"Ara, are you planning something in your head, Lone Wolf-kun?" Ciel asked.
Lone Wolf glanced at the Vatican agent and foxily chuckled. "Even That Girl will be surprised when I reveal what's inside my head."
Cue music of Boom Town Bluesbegan to take place.
x-x-x-x-x
Guilty Gear
Heart of the Melting Blood RELOADED
Written and conceived by:Lone Wolf NEO
Lone Wolf NEO does not own any of all the games or anime or manga featured in this story, but he owns the copyright to all his original ideas in this fiction. The author would really appreciate if readers do not plagiaries everything inside this story without his knowledge.
Chronological Note:Heart of the Melting Blood RELOADED takes place scarcely half a year after Guilty Gear versus SNK 2: Battle Revolution, and currently runs roughly in parallel with Guilty Gear: The World Within and Without written and owned by Sheo Darren.
Featured music is She Will Be Loved by Maroon 5.
Dedication: to Sheo Darren, who always inspires Lone Wolf in all sorts of things and for Kawasumi Mai-san who will be loved by the man she loves. This is for you.
Warning: some of the scenes may cause unrest and uproar among readers. Self-judgment is advised.
Chapter 31
She Will Be Loved
The living room was almost idle and silent, with echoes of classical music composed by legendary composers Tchaikovsky and Beethoven filling in the air. Lone Wolf NEO and Ciel, as well as the woman in red Kawasumi Mai, were staring at each other in deep silence. Neither of them was saying anything, albeit they did thank Hisui for serving teas for them. The Swordswoman was staring deep at the author in uncertainty of what he would be saying to her.
"Lone Wolf-san, please stop staring at me like that, mou," Mai begged and pouted.
The author coughed and corrected his trench coat. "Well, I'm sorry for that, but unless you agree to cooperate with us."
"What is it you want me to do, Lone Wolf-san?" she asked.
Lone Wolf coughed again. "Then allow me to begin this Q&A session. Are you ready, Kawasumi Mai-san?"
Mai could only nod.
"Well, then," and Lone Wolf stared at her, "state out your name, and if possible, your current title and responsibility."
"Ka-Kawasumi Mai. I am a Wanderer and a Swordswoman," she stated out her name.
Lone Wolf nodded. "Ah, we have another Wanderer. That's a pleasant surprise."
"Mai-chan," Ciel called her, "who do you serve and protect, as a Swordswoman?"
"I…" She frowned. The question was too hard for her to answer, she thought. "Gomennasai; I don't know how I should answer the question. Gomennasai."
"Well, it doesn't matter whether she can answer it or not," Lone Wolf insisted, "a warrior, by nature, must have already figured the answer even before he or she knows it. Ciel-senpai, next question please."
Ciel coughed and corrected her eyeglasses. "Kawasumi Mai-chan, I can understand the logical understand behind your existence as a Wanderer, and your reluctance to answer my question. A Wanderer, he or she, is destined to roam this land alone, isn't it?"
Silence. Then Mai broke it with a light breath. "Y-yes. A Wanderer is a lonely person."
Ciel chuckled. "I believe that's an understatement. You seemed to be in happy mood whenever Hikki-kun is accompanying you around. And you don't mind being constantly teased by his mischievous and happy-go-lucky persona, do you?"
Mai was startled. Her face burned bright red in response to the question. "That's not true! A Wanderer like me wouldn't…"
"What's the matter, Mai-chan? Are you trying to deny your feeling? Or is there a better reason that may have prohibited you from believing in your heart?"
Mai was speechless. The painful and aching memory of her trying to winning Hikki's heart (and taking him away from Yuu) while she was under the spell of the Sukebe Shinken, True Fist of the Perverted Star (to quote Plaplaman: "Sukebe Shinken has no equal") reappeared. She felt embarrassed and humiliated for being unable to fight the force of the Without; she was embarrassing herself and her pride as a woman for subduing to the power she knew was wrong but was unable to fight. Moreover, she felt guilty for toying with Hikki's emotion without ever considering what he felt about her.
"I… I feel not worthy…" she finally spoke, "to be staying by Hikki's side. I mean… he's well known with the girls, and he doesn't seem to be bothered by their constant… nuisance. I can only watch at him from faraway, and I…"
She was startled by a slam on the floor and looked in front of her. Lone Wolf was seen scratching his head and shaking head in disgrace. "Shame on you, Mai-san. He has the so-called fan girls following and bugging him around, YES. He has his sister glomping and ogling with him like nothing else, YES. He has the two women who are wholeheartedly loving and always concerned on him, YES."
"That's true; I myself see those things happening to him a lot, but how am I related to those?"
"To tell you the truth, Mai-san, he has YOU," and Lone Wolf pointed at her puzzled face. "That's right; he, the one whose Time is in hand, the Child of Chrono, the God of Cosplay, the Mirror of Kuradoberi, and the one named Kokurabuji Hikki, has only you."
"But Yuu-san… what about her? What about the girl he loved?"
"Whenever he sees into you, he can see Yuu-chan," Lone Wolf spoke, "and that's a fact both you and I cannot deny. HOWEVER…"
Mai was waiting for the answer in worry. Ciel was staring at him, waiting for him to continue the statement.
Lone Wolf smiled. "…whenever he sees into your heart, he sees you. Yes, Mai-san, it's you, the girl he has longed to look for. Not because you're like Yuu-chan or you can replace Yuu-chan, but because you are you. After all, he can se his own reflection every time he sees into the emerald eyes of yours."
Mai blushed for the unknown time and frowned. "Then… he's been thinking of me along this time? How can I never realize this…?" she spoke and softly wept. Ciel approached her, helped her wiping off the tears, while staring at the author, and chuckled.
"Ara, Lone Wolf-kun has become a lover counsellor already," she commented while rubbing Mai's back.
Lone Wolf shyly chuckled and scratched the back of his head. "I just wanted to help. Anyway, we aren't here to question you for nothing. We come here to help you." The author, then, explained the plan he had discussed with Ciel and Alexander and Sagara days earlier. Mai just listened to the detailed explanation in intrigue, then was taken in both surprise and disbelief when she finally realized the reason she was called in. "So to make long story short, and to make short story summarized, you are going to take Hikki for a date. And this time, it's for real. No escape, no trick, no cheating, no deceiving, no cheapness, and no whatsoever. Just a date in its true origin and context."
Mai seemed reluctant. "But Lone Wolf-san, I…"
"Please, Mai-san, this is for the sake of Hikki," Lone Wolf spoke and bowed before her, "if you can't do it, then who else would? You're the only one Hikki can and will trust. Onegaishimasu."
Mriya jumped out of nowhere and dive-hugged Lone Wolf, knocking him away from the mat he was sitting on. Both Ciel and Mai gasped in surprise by the sudden entry and watched at Lone Wolf who lied on the floor motionless. "Here you are, Kiba-chan!! I've been looking for you everywhere!" she squealed and rubbed her cheek against his. "You shall be punished for worrying me! Therefore, I shall haunt you forever with my cutely hug!"
"Now even you call me with the nickname, Mriya," Lone Wolf commented.
"Aw, can't I?" cutely she asked and tightened her tight arms around his neck.
"Now you remind me of Hikki, Mriya," Lone Wolf uttered, while letting the playful woman hugging and ogling with him, "what becomes of him now? I haven't seen him since this morning."
"Oh, you're looking for Chrono?" she uttered. "Well, he told me that he's having an errand at the city with Hibiki-chan and Dizzy-chan. Why do you ask about him, Kiba-chan?"
Lone Wolf glanced at Mai and noticed the sudden change of her facial expression. Again, fox ears popped on his head and he deviously cackled, ignoring Mriya who was playfully poking and pulling the ears. "She's jealous. This is a good sign."
Ciel could only sigh at the reaction. "Yare, yare…"
x-x-x-x-x
The captain of the Tuatha de Danaan submarine watched in her supervising duty as Sagara and MITHRIL intelligence division installed closed-circuit cameras, microphones and electronic instruments around the theme park in the dark night. She was informed by Sagara that MITHRIL was to be involved in Lone Wolf's special operation, and the author needed full cooperation from the mercenary organization in ensuring the success of the operation.
"What is inside of your mind this time, Lone Wolf-san?" Tessa asked and gazed at the night sky. She shrugged the thought off her head and continued monitoring the work. "Oh, well. He's always like that to everyone. Typical Lone Wolf."
x-x-x-x-x
She was alone inside her room, and was sitting on the bed while embracing Traveller. She had everything in her mind for the upcoming date and she felt she was ready to fulfil Lone Wolf's promise, and yet she was still doubtful of the reason she was requested (or rather, begged) to take him for a date.
"So, my child, you are going out for a date with the Child of Chrono,"again, Nagalintar talked to her through telepathy. Mai was no longer surprised as she usually did whenever the Dragon of Time was to have a talk with her. She just nodded to answer the question, while keeping the Sword of Travelling Angels close to her body. When she thought the dragon was not answering, she heard a low-sounding chuckle and knew that Nagalintar was not leaving. "I will be watching you with the Goddess of Present and wishing you luck. You deserve to have this rare opportunity."
The girl smiled. "Arigatou, Nagalintar-sama."
"Well, then, I must take my leave; I would rather leave a girl who is preparing for her faithful day alone,"Nagalintar spoke and excused itself to leave.
"Nagalintar-sama, please wait," she called, "both of us… can we have a talk? I… I have this kind of feeling that…"
Slowly the dragon materialized itself from the thin air and floated behind Mai. It swirled around the Swordswoman for a while, staring down at her with its eyes glowing in intrigue. "Very well, my child. I'd like to have a conversation with a Swordswoman in the first place. So, what is it you want to talk with me of?"
x-x
The conversation lasted for the whole night. Mai slowly learned things about the boy she was to date with, as Nagalintar told her everything about Hikki from the very start. Never before in her life she would eventually meet a person whose similarities were very much the same to her, and she never expected the person to be Hikki. There were so many things similar between him and her that she was almost confused and could not think. The thought of Hikki gone berserk and killing innocent people while he was under control of his own power was still frightening; strangely, it was also the power that brought the two of them close, albeit not to the level of becoming lovers.
"Chrono had Yuu as his only love," Nagalintar spoke and stared at the ceiling, "while you, my child, had Sayuri as your best friend. I must apologize for saying this, but your friends had sacrificed their souls for the sake of both of you. The Child of Chrono, especially, had been troubled by the death of Yuu, and it almost took his entire life just to recover his tormented soul."
"Yes, I know," Mai answered, "I had heard from the people about… his cloudy past. I felt sorry for him for losing everything; I wish I could do anything to help him…"
"Yet you already are." Mai stared up at the mystical beast in surprise. "When you fought him back at the bridge of promise, you were actually helping him fighting himself. It was not you he fought; it was not I, Reia, or anyone else he was fighting against. He was struggling to win the battle against himself." Nagalintar gave out its beastly breath and gazed at the empty ceiling. "5000 years… 5000 years have passed since I descended to Earth to watch over the Children of Chrono. This is the first time I saw and met the Child as fascinating as Chrono… no, Hikki. I can only say that I am somewhat proud of becoming his Guardian."
Mai did not respond to the Dragon. Deep inside her heart, she could tell that Sayuri, too, was having the same thought as Nagalintar and would have spoken the same matter had she been here instead. She closed her eyes and embraced Traveller closer, as if whispering to the very soul of her beloved friend with the medium. She stared at Nagalintar who continued its rant of Hikki. Never did she know that she was already sleepy and before she realized what happened next, she fell on the mattress and dozed off. The dragon glanced at her and blinked in surprise.
"Already fallen asleep, my child?" it asked while a white aura enveloped its body. It took seconds before the Dragon of Time took a new, human form, and the Kamui-lookalike with angelic wings and a runic marking on his forehead hastened to approach the girl. He stared at her sleeping face for a moment before he smiled and put blanket upon her. "It was my pleasure to have talked with the bearer of the Sword of Travelling Angel," he whispered and brushed his lips on her forehead. The girl stirred in her sleep. Nagalintar smiled; it was a good sign. He stepped backwards and disappeared in a blanket of light, leaving her in her slumber. "Sweet dream, my child."
x-x-x-x-x
The faithful day had arrived. Mai was standing in front of the ticket booth in her school uniform. Her black hair was tied up with a sapphire blue ribbon, and she was wearing a necklace given by Ciel before she left for the theme park. She looked at her wristwatch; it had been an hour, and there was no sign of Hikki. She was getting impatient; she already promised both Lone Wolf and Ciel that she and Hikki would be enjoying the date as much as they wanted it.
"Mou, where is he? I've told him to come here before eight, and it's already 9.16," she mumbled. She looked around and saw Hikki running toward her while Hibiki was following him from the behind. "What's taking you so long? I told you in the phone that we'd come here together, didn't I?"
"Gomen, gomen,"Hikki apologized and laughed silly, "but I had to convince Mriya-neesan for, like, million times. Gomen."
"You're always with your oneesan. Quit it; you're siblings, don't you know?" she insisted.
"Aw, Mai-chan is now teasing me. I'm so scared," Hikki teased. Mai pouted and glowered at him, demanding him to stop acting childish and teasing her.
Hibiki giggled and took Hikki's hand, putting a charm on its palm. "This is a lucky charm I inherited from my great-grandfather. I'll lend this to you for today, so use it wisely. Ne?" she told him.
Hikki thanked the iaijitsu woman and kissed her hand, much to Mai's great dismay. Angrily (if not jealously) she stomped toward Hikki and pulled him away from Hibiki. "Come on, we're leaving." Hikki could only wave goodbye at Hibiki before he was pulled toward the ticket booth. Hibiki watched at them before she smiled and walked to the other entrance gate.
x-x
"Charlie Zero to Mobius One. Target is entering area. Now moving to new position. Roger."
"Keep on observing target and don't lose track of them."
"Roger."
Lone Wolf nodded and turned off the intercom. "Alright, everyone. Do whatever you want at this park, and stay out of trouble. Okay?"
"Aw, I can't date Chrono today," Mriya whined and pouted. Standing beside her, Ky declared his victory and began his rant as a righteous Holy Knight.
"My duty as a Holy Knight is more righteous than your affection toward your younger brother, Falken," Ky spoke. "You shall have no mercy from God."
Mriya scowled at the comment and hurled herself at Lone Wolf. "Kiba-chan, Ky-kun hates me for loving Chrono. Ky-kun hidoi…" she cried and clung onto his trench coat.
The rest of the girls glowered at the scandalized Holy Knight and demanded him to apology at Mriya. "I was stating the truth, for God's sake! This woman has committed a sin, and I cannot forgive it because it's beyond the grace of God!"
"But you have disgraced Mriya-san, Kiske-san," Azmaria insisted. "How can a Holy Knight be righteous to the teaching if he has no respect toward women?"
"Ky-chan, say sorry to Mriya-chan right now!" Arcueid exclaimed.
Sion took out her lasso and glared at Ky.
Ky was struck in extreme embarrassment and ran away from the group. "THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST DEGRADING AND HUMMILIATING DAY IN MY LIFE! I SWEAR I WILL NEVER TALK WITH ANY OF YOU FOREVER! YOUR SIN IS BEYOND THE GRACE OF GOD!" Out of nowhere, a gigantic fireball popped in the sky and crashed on the running Ky, instantly KO'ing him on the spot.
"God? I don't want to have anything with it," Sol declared as he landed on the ground. He stared at his burnt out archrival and shook his head. "Owned." Kagura glomped him out of nowhere. Sol grumbled and walked away from the scene, leaving the people in bafflement.
"I wonder whether we're bullying Ky too much," Alex commented before he was pulled toward the Ferris wheel by Sion. The girls watched at the new couple before they, too, headed to their own destination at the theme park. Lone Wolf was left with Mriya and was in confusion.
"I know!" Mriya exclaimed and seized his arm. "Let's have our own date! It's been a very long time since we last walked together as a couple? Can we, Kiba-chan? Can we? Can we?"
Lone Wolf was about to answer when he was bopped by a tessen. He turned around and gulped when he saw a pair of burning eyes glowering at him. "Err… Hibiki-chan… well, you see…"
"LONE WOLF-SAN BAAKA!!"
x-x-x-x-x
"Rule #1: whenever a couple enters a haunted mansion, the girl must cling to her boyfriend when a ghost appears and scares them. This is to give the boy cue signal to protect her from danger."
"You know, honey," Millia said as the two of them entered the haunted mansion, "when was the last time we had to fight ghosts and zombies?"
"Uhh… I think we already have a zombie in Guilty Gear, Millia," Venom told her.
"You mean that Aussie freak?" she uttered and heard a loud sneeze from inside the house. The ex-assassins looked at the source of the sneeze and sweatdropped. Zappa was seen freaking out after being scared by a skeleton puppet, while Megumi was enjoying the horror scene very much with her ex-spirit colleagues. "I think Sadako alone is scary enough," Millia said.
"True, true."
The two couples saw Hikki and Mai entering the haunted mansion and immediately took their position, as well as Zappa and his spirit companions. They waited, as the young couple was approaching one of the mirrors. Millia signalled at Megumi, and the woman immediately spooked them in her Ringu form. "IYAAA! HIKKI, TASKETTE!" Mai screamed and jumped into his arms, crying in fear. The Korean blinked in surprise and was standing erect, not knowing of what to do.
"Just hug her, damn it!" Venom shouted under his breath.
Mai slowly pulled herself from his body and stared at Hikki. "Hikki, what's the matter?"
"Umm… I think we better go to the roller coaster before the people lines up," Hikki told her, scratching the back of his head. "And that was so unexpected from you, to scream in fear and… jump into my arms?"
Mai blushed. "You haven't had a date before? Not even this?"
"Not this kind of date," Hikki said, shaking his head.
"Not even with Yuu-san?"
"Well…"
A group of skeleton warriors jumped out of nowhere and surrounded the young couple. Mai cried in fear and clung onto him, while Hikki faced the 'undeads'. "Kawasumi-san, boku no mamoru!" he declared and tossed a Reppuken at the warriors. One of the warriors was hit and knocked off range. The remaining 'undeads' watched at the gale fighter and lifted their swords as to strike upon him. Hikki screamed a battle cry and tossed a gigantic Reppuken at them, effectively sending them out of the haunted mansion. He breathed out in relief and stared at the still clinging Mai.
"Come on, Mai, we're leaving this place," he said and took her hand. Mai blushed as he tightened the hold and could only follow him to the exit door, leaving the married couples in disappointment.
"Well, at least he's done with the job any guy's supposed to do. When he will ever learn?" Venom snorted.
"Well, you can do it on me instead," Millia said, shyly nudged him with her arm.
Venom stared at the Russian woman and smugged. "Miss Megumi, do it again."
"Again?" Megumi asked, scratching her head in concern, before Venom insisted her in 'scaring' them. "Oh well." She transformed into S-Ko and glowered at them with her eye of death. "Have you had any pleasant dream?"
"WAAAA! Honey, I'm so scared!!!" Millia squealed and jumped into his arms, clinging onto his body.
"Works for me anytime," Venom uttered, silently chuckled in victory.
Outside the haunted mansion, Leon Winchester winced and writhed in pain. "Damn that English assassin! Millia is mine! ALL MINE!!!!!!" he roared.
x-x-x-x-x
"Rule #2: whatever happens, make sure that your partner doesn't get frustrated. Take him to somewhere where he can enjoy himself as much as he can, and don't hesitate yourself to spend your time with him."
"Aw, man." Hikki complained, whining in disappointment, "the queue is damn long. I can't afford to wait; I want to ride the roller coaster right now."
"Then why don't we go to the other place, Hikki?" Mai suggested.
"But I want to ride on that roller coaster," he insisted. "Great, now I have to wait for…"
Unexpectedly, the long line began to break up. Hikki watched and was wondering of what was going on when he saw a pair of Oriental dancers having roadside performance, along with a spike-haired American and a Japanese woman who didn't look like a woman. "Eh? Aren't those…?" Mai already took him to the roller coaster before he even asked for the people's identity. Before long, he was enjoying his ride of life together with Mai, forgetting the people he had seen earlier.
"Alright, Anji," Baiken said between the dance, "those kids are already riding the roller coaster. What are we going to do… Anji!?"
"Dance is the very essence of life, ladies and gentlemen," Anji spoke, as he beautifully danced to the audience. "And remember, always keep you body and soul happy and free of troubles by dancing to your heart. This is what the Oriental dancers had achieved in the past, and we are on the mission to spread the spirit of the past legacy." The audience clapped their hand at the performance, while Baiken just shook her head in dismay. Chipp, on the other hand, was Holy Zenning around while Chii was sitting and watching the area around her in curiosity.
"Oh, well…" the one-armed samurai thought and kept on dancing on the tatami mat.
Several minutes later…
"That was the most exciting ride I ever have!" excitedly Hikki cried as they walked from the roller coaster. "Don't you think so, Mai?"
"I know," Mai gasped for air. "The ride was scary; I almost felt my heart pulled out of my body. Yet it's really fun! I feel like I want to ride it again!"
"Then let's go back there!" he cried out and ran toward the ticket booth. "Come on, Mai! Let's scream from the top of our heart!"
x-x-x-x-x
"Rule #3: seize the opportunity to confess your feeling toward your partner. This can be done when the two of you are alone or in privacy. Just make sure that nobody is interfering, or the confession isn't going to work."
"So, this is our final destination, isn't it?" Hikki asked and watched at the Ferris wheel. "I nev er thought we'd spend our day walking around the park and doing things every couple would do. Not that I'm uncomfortable with coupling and things like that, but I find it a bit exaggerating."
"Then you don't like having a date with me?" Mai demanded and glowered at him.
"Hey, relax. That's not what I mean," he told her. "Well, I can only tolerate it if the girls I'm to date are those I know and trust. Hibiki and Dizzy, if you ask me who."
Mai kept on glowering at him. "Of all women and girls I know, why are you mentioning those names? Are you trying to act playboy, Kokurabuji Hikki?"
"Ow, come on, we're just friends," he insisted. Mai pouted and turned away from him, refusing to listen to the answer. "Oh, I know. I'll buy ice creams for the two of us. There's an ice cream booth I saw while we're going here. Can you wait here for a moment, Mai?"
"You better be quick," she insisted in a possessive voice tone.
"Oh, Mai, are you some kind of jealous?" he asked. "Oh, wait. You remind me of Hibiki; she's always jealous whenever she sees Lone Wolf hanging around with another woman."
She was startled and felt her face burning in embarrassment. "I am not jealous, and don't compare me with Takane-san, mou!"
Hikki shrugged and ran to an ice cream booth, promising her to be back as soon as he could. He arrived at a junction and saw a woman lying on the pavement unconscious. He recognized the woman from the yellow ribbon tying her hair in bunch. "Dizzy?!" He approached the woman and shook her body as to wake her up. "Shoot, she fainted. Now where I should take her?" He looked around and saw a shelter not far from the junction. He slowly lifted Dizzy in his arms and walked toward the shelter, and put her on the floor. "Is she alright? And what is she doing at the junction, lying like a fainted person?" he whispered as he knelt beside her and put his hand on her forehead. "She's okay, to me. Hmm…"
A lithe hand seized his hand by surprise. He looked at the Gear and saw her eyes opening. "Sheesh, Dizzy, don't scare me like that, okay? Are you alright?" he asked and softly patted the hand.
"Hikki…" softly she murmured his name while tightly clenching his hand.
"Dizzy, are you really alright? You look like… WHAT THE HELL!!" The hand was pressed against her bosom, and the pace of the movement increased. The Gear ignored his shocked reaction and continued caressing her assets with the hand, occasionally glancing at him with a seductive smile. The teen tried to pull him off her when he was pulled down to the pavement and pinned her down. "Dizzy, what the hell are you doing?! Dizzy!!"
"Hikki… you've always looked at me as a woman…" she whispered and encircled her arms around his neck, "my heart is always aching to see you up close and personal… and your eyes…"
Hikki gulped. Dizzy was acting out of her usual character, and this was the worst out-of-character he had ever seen. "Dizzy… you're already married… I mean…"
Dizzy giggled. "You don't have to be shy, Hikki… I know you've wanted to be with me along this time, right?" she asked and pulled him closer.
"NO FREAKING WAY!" Hikki stood up and dashed away from the Gear. He was unlucky to head the wrong direction and was cornered between the walls. He was panicked and tried to climb the wall when he heard a purr from the behind. He turned around and was pulled to the ground, while Dizzy herself lay on top of him. "Dizzy! Dizzy! Hey, Dizzy! Don't do this, damn it!"
"You make a married woman burn so much, baby…" she muttered and touched his face with her free hand, smoothed his hair, touched his forehead with her warm lips. "You bad boy… you must be punished for your crime…"
"Stop this, Dizzy! You don't realize what you're doing!" he begged and gasped at the warmth of her breath, as she bent down and kissed his throat.
Dizzy pulled back and gazed at him. The teen realized something wrong the moment he checked her eyes. "I knew it! You're being hypnotized! Dizzy, wake up! Somebody's controlling your mind! Get over it!"
It was no use.
A pair of warm, tender lips crushed upon his mouth. Hikki was stirred by the kiss and tried to fight back, yet the kiss deepened and hungrily stole away his strength. Subdued, stunned, paralyzed, numb, overpowered and slowly conquered by the overwhelming strength of the Gear, he struggled to keep himself conscious, trying not to submit to the ever-enraging flame. He was defeated and was unable to do anything, and afire with the wanting igniting and burning inside of him, he was answering her kiss; her kiss grew more possessive now, open, wet, her tongue touching the recess of his mouth, tasting himself on her lips…
"Mai!"
As if a tidal wave had surged the coastline, his strength revitalized. Abruptly Hikki broke off the kiss and pushed Dizzy away from him. "Stop this disgraced act, Dizzy! You… you're embarrassing yourself!" he exclaimed and rubbed his lips against the sleeves. "And what the heck is with you?! You're not the usual…"
He muted. Standing at the entrance of the shelter, she was staring at the two in shock. Her emerald eyes were burning in an absolute disbelief and anger, and tears began to fill in. "Mai! This is a misunderstanding! I didn't do this to Dizzy on purpose! I swear!"
"Hikki…" Her voice was shivering in disgrace. Her fists clenched tightly, her eyes were glowering at him in a murderous intent and the tears finally fell down her cheeks and dampened her blouse. "BAAKA!" She immediately ran away from the shelter, leaving both the confused Dizzy and the appalled Hikki. Ignoring the Gear who had regained her conscious, he chased Mai.
"Eh? What am I doing here?" Dizzy asked and looked around her in confusion. "And… I can't remember what had happened to me… except for the orange juice the weird cameraman gave me…"
x-x
"Mai! Wait! I must explain this to you!" Hikki cried out as he chased her down the pavement, heading toward the nearby lake garden. The girl ignored him completely and increased her running pace, trying to outrun him. "Mai! Please listen to me! It's a misunderstanding!"
"Leave me alone, Hikki!" she cried. "Stop chasing me around! Onegai!"
"To hell with that! I've told you it was a misunderstanding!" he shouted back.
"LIE! I saw you kissing her back there, and you didn't even other to resist!" she replied. "You lied to me! YOU LIAR!"
"I don't want to listen to everything! Let me go!" she cried and struggled to flee from the grab.
"Mai!! Don't be such a stubborn! Stop this act! MAI!"
A palm landed on his cheek, promptly silencing the Korean teen. Subsequently, the hand that was holding her arm loosened and rubbed the bruise, he was staring at her, bewildered, shocked, humiliated angered. "Mai, you…"
"I don't want to see your deceiving face anymore! Get out of my sight!" she cried and ran. Hikki was too stunned to think of what to do when he saw a speedboat approaching toward the park.
"MAI!"
An orb was summoned and dispersed, causing Time to slow down. He took the opportunity from the Time Halt and lunged toward Mai. He jumped toward her, seized her body and leaped before the speedboat crashed on the concrete pavement. The couple was knocked off to the nearly grass patch. He glanced at the vessel for a while before he looked back at Mai. "Are you alright, Mai?"
It only took a couple of seconds before they noticed something awful.
One: Hikki's face was close to hers, by an inch.
Two: he was lying on top of her, in a position that could be considered… provocative?
Three: both of them were holding hands. Very, very, tightly.
Four: both of them were staring at each other, and his emerald eyes were giving her a hypnotic gaze. A very dangerous hypnotic gaze.
Five: from Hikki's point of view, he noticed that she was blushing.
Six: from Mai's point of view, she could feel her heart throbbing and pounding wildly against her chest.
Seven: what the hell do those six supposed to mean? This is no Green Green!
"Hikki …" she called out her name.
"Mai…" he spoke her name.
As if something self-triggered inside the mind, Hikki bent down, bringing his face closer to hers, calling out her name in a low whisper. Mai realized the consequences, yet she could not prevent it from proceeding, as she slowly closed her eyes and let their lips met. She could not stop their lips from being sealed in a kiss, yet she did not care. She let that be, giving herself fully to him…
"AHA!!!"
Both of them were startled and looked at the direction of the voice. They saw a group of people jumping off the speedboat and rushed toward them, carrying video cameras and studio equipments. A very bright, embarrassed blush stained their very face when they realized they had been watched by outsiders. "Who the hell are you!?" Hikki demanded and quickly got back to his sitting position.
"We are the crews of the Virras Mall," the newcomers victoriously declared, "famous in Sheo Darren's universe for their exclusive R-rated and uncensored filming industry! And today, we're going to make a love movie on you two!"
"What the hell does that supposed to mean?" Hikki questioned and immediately stood up.
"We failed at our attempt to make the Gear woman seducing you," the director explained, "but that was because you already knew our dirty work."
Hikki looked back and forth between her and the so-called Virass Mall crews. "That potion… you made Dizzy drank the potion?! Have you realized what you had done?! HAVE YOU!!"
"Too bad we don't give a damn about that," the Viras Mall people answered. "Besides, we're going to avenge our consecutive defeat to those people back there. They cannot understand the true value of 'cheap' movies, and by our definition, we mean 'cheat'. Now we're going to show you the price of messing with the Virass Mall crews. Okay, people! Hit it!" Immediately, the crews set up the props and positioned the cameras in various angles. The director nodded at the work, approached Mai, and handed over the potion he held in his hand to the young woman. "Now, Missy, do us a favour and drink this. It will help us in shortening the time and hassle we might face in this video production."
Roughly, he snatched the bottle and threw it to the lake. "You and your perverted plan are annoying enough, BUT INVOLVING A GIRL IN YOUR MEDDLE IS A NO-NO! And since you had disgraced Dizzy and tried to use Mai for your dirty works, I CANNOT ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN!"
"Oh, mister, come on," the Virass Mall director insisted.
"LOVE IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN FORCE AND PLAY LIKE A TOY! TIME HALT!!"
Instantly the Filipino director and his crews were brought into the frightening time halt. The scion of the Falken Clan sent them out of his sight and suspended them in the air. "You guys are nothing but a bunch of perverted maniacs! CHRONO STORM!!!!" A Chrono-generated storm was summoned from the sky, zapping and tormenting the Virass Mall people, almost levelling the whole lake garden to nothing. Hikki screamed a final battle cry and sent them away from the theme park with the godly overdrive. He growled in anger and looked around him, noticing that he was watched by the couples.
"It seems that I had been under observation by you guys, right? I noticed that you people were watching at us, starting at the haunted mansion and at the merry-go-round and even here," he spoke, pointing his finger at the couples. "Why are you doing this? You could've just left us alone."
"Hikki, we can explain all of these to you," Hibiki told him. "It's not that we want to bother you, but…"
"This has to be the most degrading day I ever have, especially when Mai is involved," Hikki spoke in a murderous tone. He proceeded to summon a dark gale from his palm and deeply glowered at them. "You guys are totally playing with my patience. TOTALLY."
Lone Wolf gulped. "Uh-oh… guys, he's pissed of at us. We better run before…"
"TOO LATE! CHRONO…"
"Hikki, yamete!"
Hikki cancelled the Chrono Storm stance and stared at Mai. "Mai…"
"Hikki, please let me explain! Onegai," she begged after she approached him. "Hikki, actually…" She was silent. She dared not to speak toward Hikki, knowing that the plan she and the rest of the people had carefully lined out was ruined by the Virass Mall people. The incident at the Ferris wheel had ruined the blind date as he realized that the appointment he had with her had been planned earlier by third party.
"Alright, Mai," Hikki spoke and folded his arms. "Answer me this question: were you planning all these? Were you the one who's behind this date? Were you?"
She was speechless. She could not lie at him. She could not tell him the truth, afraid of being yelled of by him. Even when she wanted to explain, she felt as if her tongue was pressed by heavy objects. And she remembered the very time she tried to win Hikki's love when she was under influence of the Sukebe Shinken's after-effects. "It's… it's still the same as always… lying to Hikki… do I still have the right to love him?" she whispered and frowned.
"I should just calm down a bit and tell him." She took a deep breath and lifted her face, staring at him with a made-up smile. "Hikki… gomen ne… it was my idea behind all these. I… I had asked your friends and Lone Wolf-san to help me in this date since I was so afraid of asking you to take me for date… please forgive me…" She looked at him and noticed that his face remained still, as if the explanation was not enough. She surrendered; he would not listen to her.
"Hikki," she called him, "I… I don't think we can keep this kind of relationship any longer. I mean, we can still go out together for dates and such, but we can't be lovers. It's just… impossible for me. Anyway, we can still be friends, ne?"
There was no answer from him. She stared at him and noticed that he was not responding. She lost. She had lost the battle she had fought to win the heart of the man she loved. She frowned for the second time, clenching her shirt. "And… thank you for everything…"
She gasped. She could feel hot streams of tears flowing down her flushed cheeks. "Ya… yada… why am I crying at time like this? I-" She was brought into an abrupt silence when she was suddenly brought into an embrace. For a moment, she did not resist the warmth seeping from the arms enveloping her before she shrugged in dismay. "Hikki-san, what… what are you doing? I-I've told you we're…"
"Mai, you idiot."
The comment took her completely by surprise. Was it her, or had Hikki spoken things he should never speak out? "I don't give any damned care of whatever happened to us this day. In fact, I was so glad to be with you along this day that I could just have forgiven everything you had done."
"Hi-Hikki …?"
"I've been longing to tell this you for a long time…" he spoke and tightened the embrace, pulling her as close to his body as he could. "I've been waiting for this very precise time just to tell you this…"
What does he want to tell me? Kami-sama, please, don't make me upset…
"I love you."
She gasped. She could have sworn to her inner self, he was telling confession. She could tell herself that it was a confession from the bottommost region of the heart. She was asking herself whether she was experiencing a dream or a reality she could not believe at first place. She could feel the warmth of his body interacted with hers. She could feel his heart thumping against hers, as if wanting to be synchronized with hers. She could feel the radiant kindness seeping from his heart deep into her weak soul.
This is too real to be a dream. Hikki is now close to me… he's very close to me…
Unable to restrain her emotion, Mai buried her face in his shirt. "Why… why are you telling me this? Why?" she whimpered, her lithe arms automatically encircled his firm body.
"Gomen ne, Mai," Hikki apologized and softly kissed her scalp. "Actually, I wanted to confess my feeling toward you at the theme park, but I was too busy enjoying myself to even think of it. Yeah, I was an ignorant brat who thinks of nobody else but me." He tightened his embrace once again and soothed her. "Honto ni, gomen."
"Baaka…" she sobbed. "You could've told me earlier… why it took you so long… just for this? You're plain idiot…"
"Yes, I know I'm idiot. I must admit that I'm idiot for taking a very long time just for this…" he spoke and lifted her face, "but because of that idiocy I have, I gained the strength I needed to tell you how deep my love toward you is. It's been crying to be freed from inside of me just because of it." He bent forward, reached her tender lips and pressed his lips against hers. Mai was brought into a momentary shock, and could do nothing but to submit to the kiss, letting her tears flowing down her cheeks. Heart pounding wildly against her chest, it was if she wanted the kiss to last longer when she returned the kiss with the same passion as his. Subsequent to that, the rain poured down lightly on the earth, dampening and soaking everything standing on its way.
Hikki pulled himself off the kiss and stared at her watery eyes. "I know this is kind of too early, but…" he spoke and took her left hand, inserting a ring into her finger.
She stared at the ring in surprise. "This ring… Hikki…?"
He kissed the hand and firmly clasped it. "This is what I had bought at the city, and it's for you. I'm sorry for not telling this to you, but I had promised with Hibiki and Dizzy to keep it secret from you, or anybody else," he spoke and clenched her hand. "With this ring inserted in your finger, I'd like to ask you this question: Kawasumi Mai, will you marry me?"
At that time, she could feel as if the Heavens had blessed her. She never thought that the man she deeply loved and tried to run away from would eventually propose her into a marriage. She stared at his emerald eyes, and realized that there was the sight of truth beaming out of them.
She took the hand that was holding hers and brought them close to her chest. "Haii…"
Hikki lifted her face and reached her lips, kissing her for the second time. The girl did not resist; she wholeheartedly accepted the kiss. Again, the rain poured with its intensity doubled from the last time. The couple ignored the rain dance, as both of them were already lost in their own world of joy and bliss. Their kiss deepened, locking and entwining their soul into one, unbreakable string of faith. Mai cried again, this time the tears were filled with happiness. She realized that her wish to live together with her beloved one had been fulfilled. She realized that both of them were united at last, against all odds.
"Kami-sama, I beg of you… please, don't stop this rain… just a bit longer… please; keep it just a bit longer…"
x-x
"Aw, that was so sweet…" Mriya spoke dreamily and wiped off her tears. "Chrono and Mai-chan are getting married at last. Yokatta, na…"
"Aw, I wish Rock would do the same thing to me when he proposed me…" Hotaru complained and made her cute pouting face.
"A happy ending for a happy couple," Alex commented while trying to shrug off Sion's possessive cling. "This is what all of us want to see, isn't it Lone Wolf?"
"I agree," Lone Wolf answered and eyed at Hibiki. "Now if only Hibiki-chan and I were…"
"Iie…!" Hibiki squealed in embarrassment and pushed him away. "You're embarrassing me…!"
Not far from the faithful scene, under the black umbrella, Ciel just watched at the young couple. "Aw, that was so sweet… sigh, if only Shiki did the same thing to me…" She giggled and turned around, leaving the couple alone under the rain. A few paces later, she stopped and glanced at them. "Yokatta na, Mai-chan. Omedetou."
At another place, two eternal beings were watching down at the couple. "It is my pleasure to see the child attaining the happiness he's been longing to dream of," said the guardian dragon. "However, from now on he will have to rely on his own strength to face the future he and his beloved are to live in."
"But then he's still under your responsibility, isn't that right Nagalintar?" the Goddess of Present asked.
The dragon breathed out and stared at Hikki. "I will always be the loyal guardian of the Child of Chrono, Belldandy. But I am not responsible for his destiny. He will decide which path he will take."
The eternal woman merely smiled and gazed at the swordswoman she was entrusted to guide and assist. "I cannot help myself but to agree with you. Sometimes, it's better for people to decide their destiny on their own. Many people forget this and rely on someone else to decide everything for them."
"Human is and always be dependant to each other. That is the fact us guardians cannot deny," the dragon spoke.
x-x
"Objective reached. Charlie Zero and Eagle Nest, mission accomplished. Requesting immediate airlift."
"Eagle Nest to Charlie Zero, we read you. Rendezvous at Point Fugu, a helicopter will pick you right away."
"Roger that. Charlie Zero out."
Tessa leaned on the chair and watched at the wall-mounted screen where the video of Hikki and Mai embracing in the rain was projected from the installed cameras. " Mission accomplished… isn't it?" the young woman asked and smiled. She closed her eyes and drifted in her thoughts. "Lone Wolf-san… you're always full of surprises. I kind of like you for that," she whispered and giggled. "Maybe."
Beauty queen of only eighteen
She had some trouble with herself
He was always there to help her
She always belonged to someone else
I drove for miles and miles
And wound up at your door
I've had you so many times but somehow
I want more
I don't mind spending everyday
Out on your corner in the pouring rain
Look for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay awhile
And she will be loved
She will be loved
Tap on my window knock on my door
I want to make you feel beautiful
I know I tend to get insecure
It doesn't matter anymore
It's not always rainbows and butterflies
It's compromise that moves us along
My heart is full and my door's always open
You can come anytime you want
I don't mind spending everyday
Out on your corner in the pouring rain
Look for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay awhile
And she will be loved
She will be loved
I know where you hide
Alone in your car
Know all of the things that make you who you are
I know that goodbye means nothing at all
Comes back and begs me to catch her every time she falls