Previously in Heart of the Melting Blood RELOADED…
"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."
x-x
"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."
x-x-x-x-x
Guilty Gear
Heart of the Melting Blood RELOADED
Written by: Lone Wolf NEO
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. Lone Wolf would really appreciate it if readers do not plagiarise 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.
Dedication: to Sheo Darren, whose dedication has always inspired Lone Wolf to keep up with his work. To the Swordswoman Kawasumi Mai-san, this is for you.
Featured song: canta per me (Noir);
Chapter 32
Swordswoman, Timekeeper and a Bond
Marriage. The bond that unites two loving souls. It is said that marriage that results from two hearts loving and trusting each other will be guaranteed to last forever, as long as the united hearts keep their trust and believe. It has proven to be true throughout the ages, no matter how odd the situation it might be. And today, two hearts fused together would prove it true again.
The wedding ceremony between Kawasumi Mai and Kokurabuji Hikki was due to take place at Zepp's Presidential Castle. It was an honour given by the Zeppian government to Lone Wolf NEO for his heroic act during the Second Battle of Kiev. Not only President Gabriel himself granted the author to use his residence for the event, the leader even offered his Elite Guards to serve as special security unit during the marriage. For the author, it would become his opportunity to form alliance with the technology-dependant government.
Preparations had been made at the main hall. Lone Wolf NEO decided to entrust the marriage preparation to Yuuki since he had very little knowledge of wedding ceremonies, especially those held by his trustworthy friend Sheo. He did, however, suggest the ceremony to be handled by the people of Guilty Gear. He had known how twisted and messed up wedding ceremonies would turn out if it was to involve outsiders (and he meant outsiders); the marriage of Ky Kiske and Dizzy were interrupted by the invasion of Filipino native warriors led by the late Testament, and later by Kuradoberi Jam. The trio of storm warriors –Higashi Joe of Fatal Fury, Haohmaru of Samurai Showdown, and Leopold Goenitz of The King of Fighters- had come and disrupt the peaceful wedding ceremony between Mito Anji and Seishino Baiken, before Geese Howard and Misaki Howard showed up and turned the bad into worse. The most recent "Sheo Darren Effect" occurred during the marriage of Millia Rage and Venom, when a group of assassins, led by Odine Akari, attacked the married couples due to so-called betrayal to Zato-One the ex-assassins had done. He knew very well that the effect would happen anytime during the wedding ceremony, so he had made an early preparation in case anything worse was to happen.
There is one problem, however.
Considering that both Mai and Hikki were Oriental people (Japanese and Korean to be exact), it was originally planned that the wedding would have to take place according to the appropriate Eastern culture. Arcueid Brunestud, the leading heroine of Shingetsusan Tsukihime, had suggested the consul to hold the marriage in a blend of Western and Eastern culture.
"Arc-chan, you've been playing too much Final Fantasies lately, I know it," Lone Wolf commented.
"Aw, Kiba-chan doesn't like my suggestion," Arcueid squealed, followed by the infamous Bambi eyes. Ren imitated the cutely stare of death, and soon both of them were displeasing Lone Wolf to the max.
"I give…"
x-x-x-x-x
Kawasumi Mai was nervous.
She had never been nervous before. She had experienced many challenges and even cheated death along her life as the warrior of Eternal Fighter Zero and now Wanderer, yet she was never nervous. Her godly swordsmanship skill (some say she learned Musou Maden Ryuu iaijitsu art from the Wanderer Elde Talonn, who ultimately learnt it from the scion of Takane clan Hibiki, and adapted it to suit her usage of Western sword) was enough to put fear upon people's heart and thought. She never wanted to make people afraid of her; as cold and silent as she might be, she still possesses a friendly and warm heart inside.
But there is always a first time for everything.
Some say that by repeatedly speaking with oneself, the person can gain confidence whenever he or she is caught in problem. And now she was trying on the advice.
"Mai-san, you're having butterfly sensation," calmly advised Hibiki. "Please open your mouth."
"Eh?" But Mai did as she was told. Hibiki thwacked her back a bit firmly. A yellow butterfly exactly like the ones that frequented Millia's GG stage flopped out of the blonde's mouth. "Oh. I see."
The lovely and possessive girlfriend of Lone Wolf NEO was not only helping Mai deal with bad cases of sake; she was practically standing in as the young woman's mother. Some say that this might be a pun, but the Wanderer resembled the scion of the Takane clan in most of aspects, and one might have mistaken the twos as mother and daughter. Even the lone wolf of author's universe admitted that Mai reminded him of Hibiki for the most of the time.
"There. Feeling better now, dear?"
"I still feel a bit nervous," the female wanderer admitted. Hibiki considered that, and then repeated the thwack. This time, a blue butterfly came out. As in, the one Anji Mito's Shitsu attack, the one that turns into the Aerosmith logo.
"Much better." Mai sighed to herself and regarded herself in the mirror, admiring herself in the wedding gown. "I'd never thought I'd ever get myself married."
"Hikki must be very lucky to have you, Mai-san," Hibiki spoke while she and Yuuki helped the young woman correcting the milk white wedding gown she was wearing. "You see, he's found the woman he's been searching for to fill the emptiness he has to carry along ever since… that day. I think he really wants to have you by his side the moment he met you."
Mai blushed when she heard the humble statement the iaijitsu woman spoke. "But after all the lies I had committed, and all the promises I had broken…"
"Mai-san silly," Hibiki replied and giggled. "You haven't seen his true side yet. Hikki-san isn't the type of person would easily dump his girlfriend just because of a little lie. Didn't he tell you that he wouldn't let you go no matter what happens between the two of you?"
"He… yes, he does. But then," Mai spoke and slowly wept. "I still feel guilty for everything I had done to him… will he still forgive me?"
"Don't cry, Mai-san," Hibiki spoke and wiped the flowing tears off her cheeks. "You shouldn't cry on this blessed day. Hikki doesn't want to see you in tears."
"Iie," Mai replied. "I didn't cry because I was sad. I… I cried because I was very happy on this day…"
Hibiki merely sighed and reached her flushed cheek, gently caressing it. "Usotsuki."
Mai was startled by the comment. She frowned and buried herself in the woman's warm embrace. "Gomennasai… I'm not very good at lying…" she sobbed, crying on her red kimono.
"Hush. Don't cry, Mai-san," Hibiki spoke, softly rubbing her back. "This isn't the day to shed tears. You should be happy, instead."
"If you think you're having problems," Yuuki added while correcting her eyeglasses, "then you should see your soon-to-be-husband."
Mai pulled away from Hibiki's arms a bit. "Eh? Hikki?" Mai couldn't believe that. "He's always with his ignorance, you see."
Yuuki smiled. "You might be surprised."
x-x
At the male half, both Lone Wolf NEO and Venom were amusedly watching Hikki addressing his reflection in the mirror. "You can do it, you can do it, you can do it," the teen with emerald eyes was repeatedly telling himself. "You can do it! For Mai! Go for it!" he declared.
"He reminds me a lot of what I was during our wedding day," Venom commented.
Lone Wolf snickered. "They're young couples, of course they must have this anxiety inside of them. But they'll learn from experience, you know." He looked back at Hikki who was pointing at his mirror reflection in amusement. "Well, at least he's becoming a man today. As his best man, I know everything about him."
"Maybe."
x-x-x-x-x
"Well, it seems that everyone's here," Alex spoke as he browsed through the guests' list. "Nobody's missing, and nobody whose name isn't here. Perfect. Are the choir singers in position, Father Remington?"
Father Remington –exclusively invited from Chrno Crusade to lead the ceremony- gave the black knight his nod. "As soon as the bride and groom are coming in, we'll be taking our place," he assured.
"Haii, we're ready at your signal, Alexander-san," Azmaria told him. She looked lovely in her songstress uniform –a fact nobody should and could deny, especially on the special day.
Alex give them a nod and watched at the guests who already took place on the benches. Some of the people he saw were the familiar faces of Guilty Gear and author's universe, including several fellow authors Lone Wolf NEO invited to the ceremony. He could not tell who they were, though, yet from his observation they were people important to the lone wolf himself.
Then he looked at the other side of the hall. The casts of Guilty Gear and other games, as well as animes, were present as well, including the Wanderers Reia Namie and Elde Talonn and the self-acclaimed Full Metal Rurouni Robo-san who were arguing with Ky for reason only the two of them knew. He could also see the casts of Melty Blood having conversations among themselves, albeit Shiki had to deal with the female characters' nosiness on whichever of them he should date.
Alex received a cue. "Alright. The couple is here." He signalled at the choir singers who immediately started singing Latin chores. The people who were busy chattering silenced and watched in awe, as the bride and the groom entered the hall. Mai was lovely and graceful in the wedding gown she wore, a gift from Elde who acting in the role of the father brought the blonde over to her awaiting groom. For once, Hikki's bishi-ness, added with the dangerously hypnotic gaze of his emerald eyes, reminded the female population that he still had the killing charm despite becoming a married man.
The twos met Father Remington, who gave them his nod and began his sermon. All were listening to the speech with a relieved feeling; no longer they had to face flying knives tossed at them by the former priest whenever they were not paying attention.
Now come the very critical moment of the wedding:
"And if anyone has just cause to object to the union of these two people, do so now or forever withhold your words in peace." Father Remington paused, the better to give such objectors time to speak up.
Ky, Dizzy, Rock, Hotaru and several other married couples stood up and looked around. No one among the guests were answering to Father Remington, and they sat back.
If one was thinking that the marriage in Lone Wolf's story would go smoothly, the thought would be proven wrong. As a group of girls suddenly stormed in the hall, running past the Zeppian guards who demanded them to stop and headed toward the sermon. The guests jumped off their seat and watched at the newcomers who angrily tramped, all the way toward Mai.
They were familiar toward Mai
Way too familiar.
Oh, did I forget to mention that they were originally in the same league as Mai's?
"Mai! You dare betray Plaplaman-sama and chose to leave us! We cannot forgive you for this act!"
"Mai-san! You chose the man over us! How could you leave us?"
Alright, Alex thought and checked the list again, are those girls invited or what?
Mai stepped in front of Hikki, and stared at the girls. "What are you doing here, minna?"
"You have betrayed us!" Shiori declared and pointed at the Swordswoman's face. "You have disgraced us and Plaplaman-sama by becoming a Wanderer. And you chose to marry this man, on top of that. You… you…"
"What's the meaning of all this, Ikumi?" Mai demanded.
"Plaplaman-sama has issued us with his order to exterminate you. He was furious when the news of your marriage reached his ears, and he had sworn to get rid of you for good," Makoto answered and withdrew her Desert Eagle handguns. "Prepare yourself, Kawasumi Mai!"
Hikki stepped in front of Mai, a shield that would not bulge. "What the hell do you want from us? Why are you interfering with this wedding?" he shouted.
"Oniisan, have you ever heard of Sheo Darren Effect?" As Misuzu spoke the word, the hall was filled with cries and exclamations from the audience. That was a sign that the wedding was bound to be doomed with insanity.
"Shoot," Lone Wolf grumbled and slapped his forehead. "I totally forgot about that."
Hikki was not intimidated. "I don't care of whatever effects, but leave this place! You girls have no respects toward other people's marriage, and you have disgraced us in front of these people! Are you not ashamed of yourselves?"
A digitized laughter echoed inside the hall, alerting the guests, the interrupters and the guards. "FOOL! IT IS I WHO SHOULD INTERRUPT THIS CEREMONY!" the voice declared.
Robo-san immediately stood up and withdrew Thunderseal. "That voice… masaka!"
The laughter became louder, as a sound of descending rocket filled in, followed by the sounds of detaching gears. The neo rurouni watched at the newcomer in dark crimson garb who stood below an opening on the ceiling and yielded two broad swords.
"MARK 2?!"
"WE MEET AGAIN, ROBO-SAN. SURPRISED TO SEE ME?" Mark 2 teased and plunged the twin Thunderseal onto the floor. "AND YOU SHOULD CALL ME MARK 3 INSTEAD."
"What do you want this time, Mark 3?" Robo-san demanded.
"THE THING HUMAN CALLS REVENGE," Mark 3 answered. "THE DEFEAT AT KIEV WAS HUMMILIATING, AND AS A PWAB SOLDIER WITH PRIDE AND GLORY, SUCH CONDITION ARE UNACCEPTABLE. OF COURSE, THIS SO-CALLED VENGEANCE WOULDN'T WORK IF I HAVE NOTHING TO AIM FOR. THUS, THIS WEDDING."
"Oh, great. Now we have to face two interferences at once," Lone Wolf grumbled.
"BUT ENOUGH TALKING, FOOLS!" Mark 3 shouted and pulled back the twin blades. "COME FORWARD, HUMAN! I CHALLENGE THEE!"
Hikki grimaced. This has gotten far out of control, and to meddle with somebody's wedding, how can he ever tolerate with it? "There are several things in this world I cannot tolerate with," coldly he spoke and clenched his fists. "Those who intentionally mess with other people's marriage…"
He glared at the EFZ girls and Mark 3. "And idiots like YOU."
"US?!" both the newcomers answered.
"I've had this enough already," Hikki growled and summoned dark gales from his palms. "To disrespect Mai's choice and call her a traitor is annoying enough, BUT TO RUIN THIS DAY PRECIOUS TO HER IS A NO-NO! She's about to start a new life as a married woman, and all of the sudden, people like you appear and object her decision? WHAT KIND OF SICKENED CORRUPT YOU ARE!? WNY CAN'T YOU EVER TRY TO APPRECIATE HER FEELING FOR ONCE?!" He opened his arms and intensified the intensity of the elemental orb, whilst he himself was powering up in Chrono Install. "Right… I should have eradicated each and everyone you for good…"
Lone Wolf approached him and tapped his shoulder. "That's enough, Hikki. You've had this kind of thing so much; take a break, okay?"
The Child of Chrono calmed down. "Gomen, Lone Wolf. I just can't take it any longer."
The author chuckled. "Leave this to us. A soon-to-be-married couple shouldn't be exposed to minor problems like this." He signalled Father Remington to guide the non-fighting guests to safety, and asked Hikki and Mai to take cover.
"Do you really think you can escape us unharmed? You traitor!" There was real feeling to the way that the EFZ girls spat their anger in verbal terms. Mai halted and stared at them, saying nothing at what they had spoken out. "Plaplaman-sama gave everything to you! He trusted you! He even loved you! And yet you turned away from him and took another! You threw his love away!"
"I'm sorry, but this is the path I have chosen," calmly Mai answered.
The tears in the EFZ girls' eyes were frighteningly real. So was the hatred:
"And for that, we shall kill you in for the sake of Plaplaman-sama!"
"ALLOW ME TO JOIN YOU, GIRLS," Mark 3 said and joined in. "I'VE BEEN LONGING TO MASSACRE THOSE WHO OPPOSE ME. HEAVEN OR HELL!!"
That was the signal call for a general melee, as out of nowhere a band of Robo-Ky Mark II charged forward in a controlled berserk frenzy, aiming their modified Ride the Lightning ODs at the couples. Ky, Rock, Aoshi and Iori went to head with the robots, sword of lightning, dark gale, dancing kaiten and purple flames their weapons, the four warriors actually stopping their opponents' momentum by the ferocity of their defense. The AEGIS Squad assisted the fighters, and were engaged in the most intense duel since the Battle of Kiev. Father Remington, assisted by Azmaria, ordered everyone else to leave the auditorium. Reia, Elde and Hibiki stayed behind as barricade for the escapees, whilst the Melty Blood fighters joined in and fought the robots.
The girls seized the chance from the mad gangbang and charged forward, screaming in lust and anger and determination to eradicate the girl who had betrayed them. Lone Wolf glanced at the female warriors, grinned and pushed Bridget to the front. "You know what to do, Mister Quatre."
"Hey! Stop calling me with that name!"
"At least, you're the only one who knows the technique."
Bridget shrugged. He took a deep breath, crossed his palms and shouted "KAGEBUNSHIN NO JUTSU!" Instantly, the empty hall was full of the Brit's replicated shadows, causing the EFZ girls to stop in their way. The bounty hunter made several hand gestures and stomped on the floor. "REVERSE HAREM NO JUTSU!"
"Girls, take cover!" Lone Wolf shouted, as the shadows transformed in various bishounen and lined up in behind Bridget. "Oh, shoot. Too late."
"KYAAAAA!" the originally murder-driven girls squealed. Before they realized what had happened, they pounced toward the pretty men, hugging them fan girls-style and subduing into the shounen charm. They were defeated in less than a minute, in a perfect victory.
"Hah, hah! How do you like that, girls!" Bridget asked as he discarded the jutsu. "Fear the patented Bishounen no Jutsu, the technique I have mastered and perfected for years. No girl can escape its deadly charm!"
May bopped him on the head with her anchor. "Lecherous."
"Okay, that was downright easy," Lone Wolf spoke and watched at the blessed girls. He shrugged and turned to Mark 3. "And I believe you came here on your own, isn't it?"
"AS I SAID EARLIER, IT WAS REVENGE THAT BROUGHT ME HERE," the newly-constructed Mark II unit uttered. "AND TO HAVE IT ACCOMPLISHED, I MUST DEFEAT YOU AND ERASE YOUR EXISTENCE. EN GARDE!"
"If you say so," Lone Wolf answered and reached for NEO Dagger. "LET'S ROCK!"
Mark 3 hastened and dashed toward Lone Wolf in his Ita-Ky-Geki charging tackle. Lone Wolf jumped over the tackle and counterattacked with Napalm Trigger. The PWAB unit blocked the projectile with the twin Thunderseal and fired anti-air missiles in response. Lone Wolf dodged the rockets, somersaulted and aimed for the robot's head.
"YOU CANNOT HARM ME WITH THE ATTACK!" and Mark 3 cancelled the overhead attack with Starship. It knocked Lone Wolf away, and the robot chased the author across the hall. "TAKE THIS! DOUBLE AEGIS HIGH!"
x-x-x-x-x
Awasawa Ikumi, the girl whose blood is part of her weapons, passed through the barricading Mark II's and jumped over the gangbang. The only one who escaped the Bishounen no Jutsu, she scanned the area for any signs of Mai. The deadliest fighter in the EFZ tier list, her fighting style was second to Mai and she was respected for that, yet she was more dangerous due to the Genocide mode she possessed after spilling certain amount of blood. Of course, she didn't want to harm people for nothing with the technique but today the thought would change. She, as well as her EFZ fellows were ordered by Plaplaman to exterminate Mai from existence, and she complied to it without questions.
She grinned. "I found you." She landed in front of Mai and opened her palm. "So, Mai, your day has come. Prepare for your execution."
Mai resisted herself from withdrawing Traveller and kept the sword in its sheath. "I'd rather not fight with you, Ikumi. Onegai."
"That's too bad, 'cause I want to kill you!" Ikumi shouted back in lust, tossing numerous blood projectiles at Mai. These she hurled at her rival, a cloud that could vaporise anything in contact. Mai stepped back, avoiding the vertical projectiles, but was forced to block when Ikumi suddenly swung a claw attack at her. The Wanderer was blown several steps backward by the massive blow, but caught herself and counterattacked with Silence Moon. The airborne uppercut caught Ikumi across her chest, but succeeded only in tearing the front of her school uniform.
"That was my favourite dress! Plaplaman-sama himself gave it to me!"
Mai wasn't exactly listening as she was launching a series of slashes and stabs with Traveller. Ikumi deflected all attacks with blood shield, but her anger screamed at her to retaliate quickly, and she suddenly tossed a projectile at Millia. Nimbly she dodged it, but the projectile attack was a set-up; aiming her palm carefully, Ikumi pounced toward Mai and seized her neck. Subsequent to the grapple, a geyser of blood burst out from beneath her and engulfed the less-fortunate swordswoman inside it. Mai cried in pain as the blood gush shredded every inch of her body, and was tossed to the ground.
Ikumi discarded the blood and entered her Genocide mode. "Time to die…" She closed in.
"OVERHEAD HELIX!"
She was grabbed from the above, and was suddenly brought into an abrupt spin before sent flying toward the ceiling. Hikki landed and attended the injured Mai. "Mai! Mai! Keep yourself together! Mai!" he cried.
Mai glanced at him in weakened eyesight. "Hikki… I don't want… to fight…" she whispered in tremble voice.
He put his palm on her chest and channelled a tiny portion of Chrono power to heal her injury. "I'm right here, Mai. I'm right here…" he called as she tried to reach for his hand.
"Ikumi… everyone…" Mai whispered and tightly gripped his hand, "please tell them this is wrong… onegai…"
Hikki nodded and left her to Ruriko's attendance. He stood up and walked toward Ikumi who recovered on her feet. "All Mai want is to have a peaceful life," he spoke and summoned dark gales again, "why are you refusing to accept it? You have to understand, Missy, this is for her own good."
"You don't understand the price for defecting Plaplaman-sama!" Ikumi answered and glared at him.
"And yet you don't understand what it takes to overcome the betrayal and lead a new life," he calmly spoke, though the gales in hands grew in size. "Mai… she had been dealing with this kind of thing many times, yet she isn't taken back and keeps moving forward. That, Missy, has shaped her to become what she is now."
"Baaka! You don't know anything about her!" she cried and pounced toward him.
Hikki closed his eyes. "Forgive me, Missy…"
The claw attacked made contact. He suddenly opened his eyes, revealing a pair of glowing emerald eyes.
"…but I must defend her! TIME HALT!"
A bright flash filled the auditorium, blinding everything on sight. Time was, once again, put on a hold, as the Child of Chrono pulled back, crossed his gale-enveloped arms, and charged forward.
"CHRONO CROSS!"
The white light discarded. There he was, behind the azure cross that stood erect on the floor. On it, the crucified Ikumi was immobile on the translucent cross, arms and legs pierced with sapphire nails in the way the devoted followers of God were executed in the dark ages. He slowly discarded the dark gales and swung his palm in the air; the cross disappeared, and the girl fell on the floor unconscious. Silent as he was, he cupped his face and shrugged.
"You're lucky; this Chrono Cross has its power reduced to mere one-hundredth," he uttered. "Had I used more than that, you would've been history." He turned around and glanced at the fallen Ikumi, as well as the revived EFZ girls who fled from the scene.
"We shall return for our vengeance!!!" the girls shouted and teleported.
Hikki just watched at the teleporting girls before he fell on his knees. "I'm worn out."
x-x-x-x-x
"Lone Wolf-san!" both Elde and Hibiki cried when Lone Wolf crashed on the wall after receiving direct hit from the Double Aegis High. They immediately pounced toward Mark 3 in retaliation when Robo-san told them to stop.
"Let the author deal with Mark 3," Robo-san insisted.
"But Robo-san…!" Hibiki protested.
Robo-san grinned and pointed at Lone Wolf who re-emerged from the piles. "No one's going to stop him from seeing his disciple married to the swordswoman. Their happiness is his happiness. Isn't that right, Lone Wolf?"
"Heh, I wonder how a Full Metal Rurouni learn to speak like a philosopher," the author uttered.
"Save that for another day, Lone Wolf," the metal rurouni uttered.
"ENOUGH WITH THESE EMPTY TALKS, FOOL!" Mark 3 demanded and activated Gen-Ky Lover overdrive. "PREPARE TO BE OWNED! ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US!"
Again, the two fighters clashed while the people watched at the duel. "That's right! We should cheer for Lone Wolfie-chan!" Justine exclaimed and transformed into cheerleader mode. Athena followed on as well as the female guests (save for Reia and Hibiki who declined to join them).
"AIIIII! We should cheer for Lone Wolf!" Sumomo shouted from above Robo-san's head and blew the whistle. "Minna, let us show our support to the lone wolf of author's world! AIIII!"
Athena shouted: "Give me an L!"
Justine shouted: "Give me an O!"
Dizzy shouted: "Give me an N!"
Hotaru shouted: "Give me an E!"
Arcueid shouted: "Give me a W!"
Tessa shouted: "Give me an O!"
Millia shouted: "Give me an L!"
Misao shouted: "Give me an F!"
Chii shouted: "Give me an N!"
Dark Chii shouted: "Give me an E!"
Malin shouted: "Give me an O!"
"Alright, girls! Who is it?" Sumomo asked aloud.
The cheerleaders leaped to the air. "It's Lone Wolf NEO! Banzai! Banzai!"
"I must say, Takane-sensei," Elde remarked, "Lone Wolf-san is as popular among women as Sheo-san is. Don't you always get jealous with it?"
"Stop mentioning it, mou!" Hibiki squealed while suppressing her embarrassment. Beside her, Reia showed no sign of disagreement, although she did give Hibiki her teasing glance.
Both Alex and the revived Bridget watched at the cheerleaders and nodded when Sion and May bopped their head. "Hey! What was that for?" they demanded.
"Ecchi," the girls answered and stuck out their tongue at them. "PIIDAH!"
The casts of TYPE-MOON jaw-dropped at the change of Arcueid. Only Hisui showed a little reaction, though she could be seen raising her eyebrow in amazement. "This is more of Lone Wolf's Law than Sheo Darren Effect," Shiki commented.
"Aw, shucks. I thought I'm the one leading them," Anji remarked, before Baiken smacked him with tatami.
"I think I forgot something," Robo-san spoke and approached Azmaria. "Missy, do me a favour and sing this with your fellow," he spoke and handed out pamphlets to her.
"We're going to sing this, Robo-san?" Azmaria asked and stared at the Full Metal Rurouni. "Are you sure?"
"Just do it, or Lone Wolf won't be able to defeat Mark 3," Robo-san insisted. "I know. Let me lead the singing, Missy. Is that alright with you?"
"Haii. Yorokonde," the songstress answered.
In an instant, the hall was filled with echoes of choirs as the choir singers hummed and chanted the verses of canta per me, whilst Robo-san acted as the choir leader, guiding the singers to bring the song to its fullest spirit. Subsequently, the tide turned against Mark 3 and the robot was losing strength.
"I MUST WIN THIS BATTLE AT ALL COST!" the robot screamed as he pushed Lone Wolf across the hall. "MY WILL IS ABSOLUTE! NO ONE SHALL DEFY ME!"
"Forget it. You're losing it already, Mark 3," Lone Wolf spoke and kicked Mark 3 on the shin. "Besides, do you listen to the song? Do you notice the chant of victory you try to grab and fail? Sorry, Mark 3, but you're owned."
"ENOUGH! INSTANT KILL!" The twin Thunderseal swords merged into a single blade, overcharged with electric energy. Mark 3 screamed a final battle cry and charged toward Lone Wolf. "TAKE THIS!!!"
Mark 3 halted. A slipstream of air passed through his body, putting him to a permanent halt. He heard a murderous chuckle behind him and glanced over his shoulder. What he had seen was the last thing he would remember, as the lone wolf raised NEO Dagger.
"I will send you."
Seventeen light blades appeared around Mark 3.
"Down with sickness."
The hand dropped. The light blades combined, formed a giant cross and cut mark 3's body into pieces. No scream, no pain, nothing; just a dead silence that followed after.
"Kohaku-chan," Lone Wolf called out, "please clean out this mess. The ceremony must continue."
"Haii, haii!" the amber-eyed housemaid answered and swept the charred remains of Mark 3 out of the hall. The author thanked the woman for the help and glanced at the guests.
"So, can we continue?"
x-x-x-x-x
"With this ring," Father Remington spoke as he passed the ring to Hikki, "I pronounce you, husband and wife. May God forever bless you and your life."
Hikki and Mai gazed into each other's emerald eyes, speaking the words that bound their hearts softly, in low, intimate tones. Hikki slipped the ring on Mai's finger, kissed it, then turned her hand and kissed its palm, and as he did so, he read in her eyes the promise: This band of gold will stay where you have placed in this day… forever.
"You may now kiss the bride."
Hikki parted Mai's veil and gazed into her eyes. "Hey, you're crying," he whispered and cupped her flushed cheeks.
"I'm not," she replied.
"Heh, silly Mai. You can cry for as long as you want to today," he spoke and brought her face close to his, calling out her name in soft murmur. She whispered his name in return, leaned forward…
"Chrono, you're forgetting something!"
A pair of lithe arms seized him as Hikki abruptly pushed Mai away. The disgraced audience and the partially surprised Mai watched, as Mriya childishly cried and tightly glomped him. "Aw, Chrono, you forgot about me! Bad boy, oneesan must punish you for that," she announced and tightened her arms about his neck.
"O-oneesan, I'm choking!" Hikki pulled himself away from the possessive embrace and gasped. "What the hell was that for? You're embarrassing me in front of these people!"
Mriya chuckled and bent forward to see his face. "I'm here to ask something. Are you mad at me, Chrono? Aw, don't be like that."
"Shoot, you could've asked me before the wedding," Hikki answered.
"Gomen, gomen. I'm such a ditz," she uttered and chuckled. "Anyway, as your older sister, can I…"
Hikki noticed that she was blushing and fiddling with her fingers. "What are you blushing of, oneesan?"
"Can I…" she uttered and shyly stared at him, "can I ask for one final kiss from you?"
That, at first, didn't sound right. Hikki's face turned redder than ripe tomato, and his ears were burning brightly. The audience were in ad lib, demanding for what was going on. And of course, in situation like this, someone has to stand up and protest.
"I OBJECT!" Ky screamed, wildly swinging his fists in the air. "Falken, you're disgracing yourself! Are you not ashamed of yourself?!"
Mriya stared at the ever-scandalized knight. "It's only a kiss, Ky-kun."
"You… you… BAH! You can do whatever you want to, but only for today," he answered and sat back, cussing in French.
Mriya giggled and glanced back at Hikki. "Just a kiss, Chrono. I won't ask for more than that, I promise."
"I… well…" He stared back and forth between his sister, Mai and the audience. He gulped when all of them were waiting for his answer. "Alright, alright. I'll kiss you on the cheek. Is that okay, oneesan?" The woman leaned forward, waiting for him to give her a final kiss. He took a deep breath and slowly approached her face.
"Heh."
She seized his face and roughly pulled him toward her. "This is for the only man I have truly loved…" Murmuring his name, Mriya bent down and kissed him –on the mouth. Ky immediately jumped off his seat and cried out in anger, demanding the woman to stop the immoral act. the female audiences squealed at the scene, while the male guests roared. The kiss deepened and entwined, as if refusing to let go off him. Hikki was subdued and stunned, unable to response to his sense.
Fan girls cry in dismay at the scene. Fan boys rejoice. Fan girls tell fan boys to drop dead. Fan boys revive and demand fan girls to shut up. Sol appears and blasts them a good hundred miles away with Tyrant Rave Gamma. Kagura glomps Sol. Sol grumbles and walks away.
"Baaka," Hoshino Ruri ends the side the drama.
Mriya broke off the kiss and giggled. "Omedetou, Chrono. Gomennasai."
"Onee… san…?" Hikki asked, staring at the woman in shock.
"Haii, Chrono?" softly she asked
"Falken, you kissed him! OH MY GOD! YOU KISSED HIM! You have breached the teachings of God!" Ky cried and pointed Thunderseal at her. "I must punish you by the name of Holy Orders! Your sin is beyond the grace of God!"
"God? I don't want to have anything with it," Sol answered after appearing from nowhere, with Kagura still hugging his neck. "I told you many times to stop quoting that, holy boy, but you didn't even listen. Sheesh, when will you ever learn?"
"Shut up, Sol!" Ky demanded.
Before long, the whole hall ruptured in frenzy as Ky chased Mriya around, while Sol lazily watched at the scandalized knight and took a sip of Marlboro. Mai and Father Remington watched at the paralyzed Hikki when he suddenly cried out and fainted. They got panicked and immediately attended the unconscious groom, while Robo-san continued leading the choir group to sing more songs.
"This has to be the craziest wedding day I ever attend," Lone Wolf commented as Hibiki, Elde and Yuuki approached him. "Well, at least they're finally married. Ne, Hibiki?"
Hibiki didn't answer. She was staring at the main door. Something, or someone caught her eyes. She could swear she saw…
"Hibiki? What is it?"
The iaijitsu quickly shook her head. "Iie. Just now I thought I saw him at the door."
"What are you talking of, Hibiki? It must be those who are going home," he insisted.
"Err… umm. Maybe you're right."
"Well, then, Mr. and Mrs. Kiba," Yuuki called them, as her eyeglasses turned opaque, "when is your turn to get married?"
"That's none of your business, That Girl!" the dismayed couple answered.
Yuuki grumbled and corrected her eyeglasses. "At least, your created character is. Me? I have to wait for my own to take place. Anou baaka Loki-kun."
x-x-x-x-x
The newly married Kokurabuji Hikki and Kokurabuji Mai returned to the Falken mansion after a day and night long celebration party at the Zeppian Palace of President. It was decided by Lone Wolf NEO that they would have to spend a night or two at Kiev before deciding for which place to go for their honeymoon. It didn't matter to them, anyway; tonight would be the night they would share forever.
Carrying his bride in his arms, the Child of Chrono walked upstairs, walked down the alley and on to his room. He put her down on the ancestral bed where he had himself been conceived, as well as every other child of Falken and stared down at her.
"Mai…" he muttered her name.
She gazed up, staring into the emerald eyes she had once admired and tried to avert. "Hikki…"
He sat beside her, drew her closer and touched her face with his free hand, smoothed her hair, touched her forehead with his warm lips. "You're so beautiful. I wish I could admire this beauty everyday…"
"Baaka," she replied and playfully slapped his chest. "We're already married, aren't we? Between you and I, there is no boundary anymore."
"I can't believe to hear my lovely wife speaking like a philosopher," he whispered and kissed her supple cheek. "Who taught you that? Let me guess; it's Dizzy-chan and Hibiki-san, right?"
"Say those names again, and I'm gonna punish you, bad boy," she purred in a surprisingly seductive tone. Hikki grinned and brought her face to his, reaching for her tender lips. Mai gave in, surrendering herself to him finally…
"Unh… is that you, Chrono?"
They halted and glanced at the bed. Something was moving beneath the blanket, and it was sleep-talking. Roughly Hikki pulled the blanket and jumped off the bed and what he saw.
"Oh… okaeri, Chrono," Mriya greeted and pulled the blanket back to her. "You're so noisy. Go and find somewhere else to talk, okay?"
"Oneesan, what the hell?!" he cried and pulled the blanket off her body. "What are you doing here in my room? We're supposed to…"
"Mou, you're making too much noise…" the woman moaned and tightly hugged the oversized killer whale plush doll. "Oyasumi, Chrono…"
Hikki shivered and almost burst out in anger when Mai softly whispered to his ear. "Tonight can wait, anata," she spoke and chuckled.
"There goes my chance," he grumbled and frowned in defeat. "I surrender…"
x-x-x-x-x
The night passed without anything. The young married couple decided to wait for another night to share their passion, and slept under the possessive arms of Mriya. Although disturbed by the constant sleep talk and mumblings of Hikki's older sister, the night was enough for them to start their new life. Their fate had been written down, and together they will walk down the path of life to the future that lies ahead.
Two apparitions appeared from the air and stood beside the bed, watching at the sleeping couples. One was Kurata Sayuri, the young woman who chose to become the Eternal Sword for the Wanderer. The other one was Yuu, the cheerful Korean girl who ultimately sacrificed herself for her beloved Hikki. They returned from the afterlife to visit the ones they loved dearly and to settle their unfinished business.
"Mai," Sayuri whispered and softly brushed her lips against Mai's cheek. She stood back and giggled as she saw her friend stirring in her sleep. "Be happy, Mai. Be happy."
Yuu touched Hikki's cheek, smiling to see his sleeping face. "Gomen ne, Hikki. I couldn't meet you at the wedding to say congratulation," she spoke. "But I'm very happy to see you finally achieving your true love. Yokatta."
"Omedetou, Mai."
"Omedetou, Hikki."
The girls bad farewell and disappeared in the open air. Yet it was not before they spoke a verse, together, and smiled at the couples.
"I will always be with you, zutto…"