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"NDS: Book 14—: Chapter 102: Bouquet"

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Greed? You mention greed, and I do not know why. Anyway, I will have the next chapter ready for you tomorrow. That is the one where Gear's secret comes out. The truth of the matter is, we all have been asking the wrong questions about him.

Anyway, Let's see how many chapters I can get done before I leave Sunday for a week. I hope to finish Book 14 at least, but that seems to be impossible. In fact, if I had to choose a place to leave off at for the week I am gone, it would probably be the next chapter. Okay, I've decided, next chapter will be the last. I will post it Friday night, and then, we'll just have to wait out until August 21 to get new chapters. More on that next time.

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A piece of wood fell from the ceiling in the church's foyer. Across from it the doors that Jet had been flung through fell off it's hinges as the guests on each side of the building were quietly discussing what was going on. At the destroyed alter Virginia stood tall in a state of confusion. Clutching the bouquet in her statuesque manner. Her day was ruined, no matter what. Everything was going out of her control, and she didn't like it.

Around her, Sakura was throwing wooden chair chunks in her search for Adven who had been flung into them earlier on. Gallows was doing the same for Emilia whom Jet had overwhelmed and hit on the other side of the room where the chairs were set up.

Quietly, Carole placed her hand on the bride's shoulder. "I'm sorry…Virginia…that this had to be ruined," the older woman softly comforted the younger one, "But…at least the wedding is still a possibility." She remarked with a soft smile. "Sometimes things can go wrong, but can be reset as they were. They aren't always once in a lifetime things."

It was quiet for a moment before Virginia made her first movement after the past few minutes where she had seen her groom and his lookalike battle, as well as Jet fighting Emilia. "Thank you…but…I can't be concerned with a wedding when my husband-to-be is fighting for his life." She said with a strong voice that masked her worried and fragile one.

"Yes, and the question of what this…Gear, wants with us and who he is, are still in the air." Carole softly agreed.

Virginia flinched with a frown. "What hurts me the most…is that…if Adven hadn't spoken up when he did…I would have married Gear."

"I know, but lucky for you, he did speak up and then Jet showed to clear things up."

"Yes." Still, what would she have done if they were both too late? Sure, Gear wants her dead as well, but had Adven nor Jet showed, she would have been his wife for life. It was a scary thought that made her stomach uncomfortable. She guessed that Gear set out to ruin her wedding for revenge on Jet and her by ruining such a memorable day. A happy moment in her life. Then, had he also married her, he could use that against Jet forever.

Sakura moved a hunk of wood aside as she frantically looked for the man she loved. Suddenly a pile of wood moved and Adven stood up, brushing his tux off. She quickly came to his side and helped him be free of wood shards.

He looked to her eyes as she stood inches away, cleaning him off like she were his wife. His mind had no time to dawdle though. "Jet?"

"Fighting his copy." Sakura replied, finishing her movements. Finding Adven with no substantial damage.

"Emilia?" Adven wondered.

"She…Jet told her not to get involved in the fight with Gear, and she refused, so he…forcefully disabled her from attending the fight with him."

"Gear?"

"The lookalike's name."

"Oh."

It was silent for a moment now that Adven was caught up on the events. She knew what he would do next, so she firmly grabbed the sleeve of his tux jacket. "Adven…don't go to fight Gear." She pleaded. "He's too strong."

"You know that his being stronger won't stop me." Adven softly replied, lifting her hand from his coat gently. Holding the gloved hand in his own.

She shook her head with shut eyes. "No, you can't go!"

"Why can't I?" He wondered.

"I," She paused. Froze. She was going to tell him that he can't leave her here all alone and die. She would not be a single mother. She did not want him to die. Want him to have his life end right after she just lost Clive. So many things, but she didn't want him to know any of them. "I can't tell you…" She softly said, looking to her feet in defeat.

"If there's no reason…I have to go." He said, dropping her hand as it feel limply to her side. He backed away and quickly threw off his coat, bow-tie, and collar shirt. He had come prepared for later by wearing what he would wear later under his wedding apparel, so his green T-shirt that he normally wore was on. He quickly undid his belt and dropped his pants where he wore his long shorts as well.

With that done he began his walk out of the hall, leaving Sakura near to the alter. Five feet from the downed door into the foyer, the anger Sakura had at herself finally swelled up enough for her to be fed up with it. "Adven, wait!"

With hesitation he stopped and turned to her with question. "What is it?"

"I…I had hoped…to catch the bouquet today." She nervously spoke. "I had hoped…the next woman to be wed…would be me." She breathed in settling her nerves and the butterflies in her stomach. She could not say what she wanted, none of the things she wanted to tell him. Not even that she loved him. She couldn't say the word love, followed by "you" and preceded by "I". "There is…a groom, that I need to be the bride to."

"Sakura?" Adven bent a brow in confusion.

"Good luck, Adven." Sakura said with a smile. "Please…do return, so I can have that groom."

Adven stood there in a pause. His mind was already made up. It was true that he was a man set in his ways, and he always followed his heart, especially when it did come to his love for Sakura. But this time his heart was telling him to go after his friend. "I always do return, when you want me to." He simply said with a smile. "Sakura, please, take care of everyone here. I think you're who they need to get themselves together."

She nodded with a blush. "I will do that. I will do as you say."

"I will be back with Jet, and the wedding will happen again. I'll make sure you get that chance to catch the bouquet." Taking a step back, and then reversing the way he was facing, Adven walked to the foyer. Stopping when he got to the mess Gear left behind. With a Surging Blitz he cleared a way for him to exit, and made his way outside.

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I was just thinking…but…Adven and Sakura really have grown from back when they first came along. I mean, Adven knows what she said, and instead of what you would expect of him he does something else. I mean, just how he handled her saying it. While it wasn't direct at all. And Sakura who is a tough person, but also very weak, took it all rather well too. Still, Adven knows where he has to be, so it's not like he can actually listen to her now and stay behind, and she knows it would be wrong of her to keep him there, and that's why she stopped.

And then we have Virginia, who I can sort of feel for. I mean, she almost married the wrong guy. That just sort of…makes you feel odd. Like you aren't sure reality is really real anymore. Like maybe it was a joke on you.

And we have Emilia, who is now unsure if she should follow what Jet said for her to do, or to be like Adven and totally neglect the fact Jet doesn't want them there.

And Gallows…hmm…well, he really isn't put in any position other than the same one everyone else is. Still, he has a part in the following events, and as always, he is the focal point of morale of the group, so if everyone is feeling crappy, it really is his job to change that.

Though it was not said, and I can't tell where I was supposed to say it, but Pike ran from the wedding. He had other ideas in mind, and in fact, ran out before Jet and Gear did. He is at the SAND now. Oh, I was supposed to say that Pike left to the SAND when Sakura was catching Adven up. But, I won't add it, because looking back on it now, it would ruin the pace of the story. Pike's main purpose in this story is to fill in the spots where I need that extra character that is in the original, but not in this story. The cast of the original NDS was one cast member more than our current cast, and while I was able to write him out by giving his part to Clive or Emilia, it is no longer that easy now that I need characters being elsewhere. So Pike is just a writing device. A minor character who has no subplot or background info aside from the game.

Anyway, next time: Jet against Gear in a showdown to the death. Not only that, but we learn basically everything there is to know about Gear as well. It is guaranteed to end in a shocker, but aside from that, we get bloody fighting that will be some of the best I've done (this is based upon my impression of what I did write for it in the original).