Dona Nobis Pacem:
Author's Note::Sigh: translation time again…this chappie means grant me peace…okay…:SPOILER ALERT: I've never really seen a traditional Japanese wedding (all the weddings I went to there were all Western) and at the time…I actually paid more attention to the hot girl (shout out to Tomoko Suda if she's reading this!) who sat across from me when we covered Japanese Weddings in my culture class. And I have absolutely no idea how a Chinese wedding is done…so rather then offend anyone, I'm gonna get right to the good part! But first…I think it's time for a lil' shout outs! Oh, and advanced warning time: I am a boy…this is my first time ever writing a wedding scene in the whole five years I've been writing…unfortunately, I am not quite sure what colors and stuff "work" and which "don't"…being male, I cannot unfortunately, give you a blow by blow account of Xiao's wedding dress…other then the fact that it is white and pretty…I am not exactly sure what kind of "wedding hair" Xiao would wear (it's not pigtails don't worry!) and as such, this chapter may suck…but please realize that I am trying my best, and please keep an open mind and a sympathetic heart…
Element6: Hey! Y'know…I completely forgot that Raven was tricked out with his ninja skills…it never really occurred to me…hm…whenever I play Tekken 5, and it gets to my character usage, Raven's all the way in the back…I think Ganryu's ahead of him by half a point. If anyone cares, the top five for me are: Steve, Hwoarang, Christie, Julia, Xiaoyu.
Shadowsin: Hi! I'm waiting on pins and needles for the latest chappie, you said it would be around in a day or two, so it's gonna give me something to look forward too!
Thee Slushee: This latest chapter was really coolies and I'm glad that everyone is friends w/ Christie…and OMG I was soooo close to beating Evrae last night…he had like, 200 HP left, and at the last second he "stone gazed" Rikku, and poison breathed everyone else! That's when I simply put the controller down…turned off the PS2…and walked away (how can something with rainbow wings really be that difficult)…and now, I'm writing the latest chappie! Oh yeah, and sorry if I almost made you cry with the last chapter!
Asuka-Kazama-Mishima-Thanks for your advice on Evrae I tried it and I almost killed it last night so I'll try again later…hope you enjoy this chapter and thanks again for your advice!
Treasure Island Florida…
4:47 pm
June 23, 2005
A day that will live in infamy…
Jamie Parker shifted uncomfortably in his new tuxedo as he watched the proceedings…it was such a solemn occasion that he didn't know what else to do but clasp his hands firmly in front of him. He supposed his suit looked alright…it had been tailored to fit him perfectly (an experience that Jamie hoped to God he would never have to go through again) but the crisp white shirt felt starchy and scratchy against his bare chest.
The pants were fashionably loose, and his shoes were pointy and about three sizes too small for him…he wiggled his toes painfully in the shoes and realized that he had endured beatings…stabbings...being flung off a roof…and experienced (through the eyes of another) getting hit full on with a fireball of pure energy…
And still, none of it compared to the agony that his poor feet were feeling.
This must be what Hell feels like…
Jamie immediately reprimanded himself for not paying attention, and immediately focused on the now…here he was…and he couldn't believe it! Jin and Xiao's wedding! At last! It had been five weeks of Hell putting it together at the last minute, but everything pulled off great! He looked around the church…it looked very modern with it's white washed walls, and beautiful stained glass windows...the church was right on the water, so the crashing waves could be heard echoing through the house of worship.
He looked around and saw that the Church was filled with Jin's family and Xiaoyu's own…somewhere, on Jin's side sat the other Iron Fist fighters…his friends Robbie and Maureen, and his brother Justin. As he looked at the crowd, Robbie, Maureen, Justin waved at Jamie, and he smiled and waved back. Before focusing on the altar again.
Xiao never looked prettier today…her hair had grown a bit longer since they had left the Amene's fortress…it hung simply down in between her shoulder blades…it had been brushed so much that tints of blue could be seen. Her dress…well, she looked great in it…it was white, and strapless of course, with a long train…Jamie remembered how Mina told him how much of a hell it had been to find the perfect dress…
He had countered by telling her how hard it was to get fitted for tuxes…
Jin looked handsome as ever in a sleek black suit…he wore a nice tie and a blazer that accentuated his physique. His hair was down, and wisps of it brushed softly across his forehead. When the two looked each other in the eyes Jamie could literally see the sparks fly between them…
For the longest time, he had always thought that love had been bought off by Hallmark and sold piece by piece…but after meeting these two…
Well, his views on the subject changed a bit.
He glanced over at his lover now…
Mina…
Everytime he saw her, she always seemed to out do herself by the way she dressed…and this time wasn't any different. Xiao had wanted her brides-maids to wear a traditional Chinese dress…and they were more then happy to oblige…Mina, wore a crimson, cotton dress, with a pair of strappy, sandal heels…her hair was kept down and simple…a jade dragon snaked it's way intricately across the dress.
The other girls, were outfitted in the same fashion…Jin and Xiao wanted all their friends to be a part of the ceremony…and while Julia was the maid of honor…Christie, Asuka, Kyosuke's girlfriend Kaori, and Mina were their brides maids…on Jin's side, Kazuya was his son's best man, while Kyosuke, Billy, Steve, Dimitri, Jamie (and yes even) Hwoarang, were the groomsmen. Jin and Xiao held hands tightly, while emotionally stoic Kazuya beamed with pride. Jamie glanced one more time at the wedding party…Hwoarang smiled and winked at Jamie as if to say:
"Hey I can't believe we're all here too!"
Jamie felt a swelling of pride as he watched the two and he once again, felt like he had to pinch himself to make sure that it wasn't a dream…suddenly, he heard a discreet "pssst" no one would've heard it if they didn't possess Nephilim hearing. He glanced in Mina's direction, she smiled at him at shifted her head discreetly to the altar.
Jamie followed her nod and looked up.
It was time…
"Jin Kazama," The Priest began. "Do you take Ling Xiaoyu to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do."
"Ling Xiaoyu, do you take Jin Kazama to be your lawfully wedded husband."
"I do."
"Then I pronounce you husband and wife…you may kiss the bride."
The organ music kicked up and the two kissed, a passionate one that everyone seemed to get a little choked up (even Hwoarang).
Jamie and the others followed the procession out of the church and watched as the two drove off in a limo towards the reception. Others followed, but Jamie stayed behind.
He'd leave to go to the reception…but he'd leave a little later…instead, he walked around the church's grounds leisurely taking his time…he finally came to it's meditative garden nestled in a corner of the grounds…it was often overlooked because of it's size, and because it was a bit out of the way.
Truthfully, Jamie had only been here once or twice…but it had always seemed nice, and on a pretty day such as this…he wanted to savor every moment he could. Slowly, he sat on the stone bench and looked at the trickling fountain…in the middle of it, was a statue of a saint.
Jamie wasn't religious…and while he didn't care much about it, he did know who this saint was (three years as the official 'hand of god' made him privy to such knowledge).
It was Saint John…well…there were lots of Saint John's…but this one was special…he was one of Jesus' twelve apostles…one of the youngest, and often known as the "teenage apostle". He was Jesus' favorite, and as he died, Jesus had given John the important duty of watching over his mother.
What most people didn't know was the fact that John was indeed, a Nephilim, and given the lofty position of protecting Christ himself.
Looking at John's statue made Jamie wonder how it must have felt to have all the gifts and powers that a Nephilim has…and have to sit back and watch Jesus…his friend…his savior…his…Messiah die.
John's position was an unusual one…he was told of Christ's great sacrifice, and he had to protect Jesus until it was time for him to officially "die"…what must it have been like?
In some ways, the case with Toshio and Jinpachi was the same…here was Jinpachi Mishima…Toshio's client, mentor, and friend…sort of like a surrogate father…how must Toshio have felt to watch the Mishima man contort into such an evil…godless entity?
As Jamie closed his eyes, he felt a warm breeze ruffle through his hair…and once again, he felt connected to all those brave young men across time…
He may not have had much of a family in a traditional sense, but he had plenty of friends who cared about him…and a proud tradition and lineage that he had been blessed to be a part of.
"Hey."
The voice interrupted his thoughts, and he turned to see Mina standing over him.
"Hey…" Jamie replied with a smile
She walked around him and sat on the bench with him.
"Whatcha thinking about?" She asked.
"Oh y'know…this…that…feelings of being connected to the whole Nephilim thing…how happy I am for Jin and Xiao…how much I want to get out of this fucking tux!" He finished with a chuckle.
She laughed with him. "No. You look good in a suit."
"Don't get used to it…I only wore one once in my life for our prom remember?" Jamie asked.
"Yeah," Mina said wistfully. "Who knew your rental insurance covered everything but burns."
"I swear…who sends fire breathing Kraylok demons to a high school prom?"
The two began to laugh at the memory.
"Seriously though, you do look nice." Mina said as she tentatively, wrapped her hand around his.
"So do you."
He kissed her lightly, and she returned it.
"We've gotta get to the reception you know…they'll be wondering where we are."
"I know…" Jamie said.
"But," She said, a grin playing on her lips. "We can always be fashionably late…we can say we got caught in traffic."
Jamie returned her smile with a goofy, lop sided grin. "You've read my mind!"
"It's not that hard too," Mina said as Jamie helped her up. "You men are all the same…Kaori and I had a talk about that…seriously, you and Kyo only have one thing in mind!"
"What?" Jamie asked trying to play innocent. "How cool it is that I finally beat Evirae in Final Fantasy X!"
"You're such a nerd!" Mina said through peels of laughter.
"I know…and that's why you love me!" Jamie replied.
The two walked towards the car, and as they did they kissed again, and Jamie realized how perfect they were for each other…and how, even through all the tears…the bloodshed…the anguish and strife…the sun will always shine at the end…and with it, would be the Nephilim's friends…the people who loved him.
Not a family in the traditional sense…but Jamie Parker wouldn't have it any other way…
Author's Note: UPDATE! I finally beat Evirae…sigh…alright, now, there will be another epilogue, which will bring to light a whole new character…and I'm sorry if the wedding sucked…but I tried really hard…PLEAS READ AND REVIEW AND I HOPE EVERYONE ENJOYED IT!