Chapter 14: Nagasaki vs. Homura

As they both agreed to their vows, Nagasaki and Keiko shared their first kiss as husband and wife. Tatsuki started to cry and even Takeshi's eyes were a little wet. The crowd cheered to see the newly weds happy together. They walked down and were greeted by many proud clan leaders who were waiting to meet and congratulate them.

Among them was Hotsuma's mother, his father could not attend for medical reasons. Another was Ageha, a highly respected kunoichi. Lastly, other than the other clan politicians, was Homura.

As soon as Keiko saw him, her heart almost stopped, he did not take bad news well and had many anger issues; not to mention he was a bit of an arsonist. His eyes were all ready lit up with fire, but the sight of her made him even angrier.

Nagasaki was a few feet away talking to Hotsuma's mother as she was congratulating him on his marriage. Homura got closer and closer, pushing every body out of his way until Hotsuma himself stood in his way. Homura stopped; he didn't dare push the leader out of the way.

"P-please move," was all he managed to work up through his anger.

"No," was all he got in response.

Homura grunted and tried to walk around him, but Hotsuma just grabbed his shirt and stopped him from going closer from the fear struck Keiko.

"Let go!" Homura said rather loudly. Apparently his fear was over come by rage now.

"If you even touch her, I'll banish you from the clan. Or maybe just kill you myself. You know I can do that, right?" Hotsuma finished with and let go.

Homura jerked his arm away from his grip and continued his stride to Keiko. She looked like a cat that had broken something and was waiting to be hit. He enjoyed her terror, he knew just how to mess with her head, he wouldn't have to touch her.

"Congratulations Keiko, I hope your marriage goes well," he said innocently, trying to mess with her head.

"Why did you come here?" she asked trembling, thousands of memories flooded back to her. Memories of him hitting her, sticking needles into her arms while she was asleep, smashing her head in the wall for a good laugh. She was desperate for some one who really loved her and cared about her, that's what had attracted her to Nagasaki, he made her feel cared about and safe from Homura's rage and torture.

"What, can't I go to my x-lovers wedding to see her happy?" he said still playing innocent.

"I was never your lover; I was just your victim. I'm Nagasaki's lover now though, through better or worse" she quoted.

This seemed to dig into him a little bit. "I can bring on the worse if that's what you want," he said agitated.

Keiko's bravery melted away, and she resumed the screwed-cat look.

"Let's get off this sore subject, shall we?" apparently playing innocent wasn't wearing out for him. "Let's talk about the good old days, when you were with me, and I was with you."

"What good old days? We didn't have any, you just had fun torturing me and screwing me, sometimes at the same time. Think that's what you enjoyed most." She said bitterly to him.

"It's true, we had some passionate nights."

"Passion! That wasn't passion that was torture! I still have the scars!" she yelled starting to draw attention.

"Calm down Keiko, there's no need to get upset," he said as he moved in a circle around her, looking her up and down. "Maybe we do some bondage some time again, eh Keiko?" Homura said as he blew into her ear.

She winced and grimaced. The thought of going to bed with him again made her heart skip a beat in fear. She felt nauseous and held her stomach. She felt him grab her rear and she cried out in fear of her memories.

Suddenly Homura was knocked away, when she opened her eyes she saw Nagasaki standing over him.

"I'm going to kill you," said Nagasaki calmly.

Homura growled and pushed of him. Once he was on his feet he began to walk away when he was knocked over again. Nagasaki had hit him with a flying kick. Homura got up again, this time drawing a knife.

"Ok, if that's the way you want things than come at me!" Homura challenged.

"Gladly!" Nagasaki responded and ran at him.

"Prepare to die!" Homura shouted.

"Fuck you!" Nagasaki screamed out while charging at him.

Homura slashed at Nagasaki but missed and got a punch planted firmly in his jaw. Homura fell to the ground. Another sharp blow to his rib cage sent him flying towards the door, and he ran from the chapel hoping he wasn't going to be followed.

Homura checked his wounds, a fractured jaw and a broken rib. He would have to go to the infirmary.

-back at the chapel-

Keiko ran to Nagasaki while watching Homura flee like a coward. She buried herself in his chest as his arms wrapped around here. She cried a little, not sobbing, just tears falling from her face.

All the women at the chapel began to huddle around them trying to comfort her, while the men made jokes about Homura's pitiful defeat.

"We'll talk her young man," one of the women said, "When you see her again she'll be fine."

"I can't come?" Nagasaki asked warily.

"I don't think it would be for either of your best interests, besides, you'd be bored out of your mind." She answered back kindly.

"All right, how long will it take?"

"About half-hour," the women said.

"Ok, I'll be drowning my sorrow for her while I wait. Could I send her some sake?"

"Of course you can, just don't get your self too drunk now, we don't want babies before the honeymoon," she teased. The woman walked back to the crowd, and disappeared in to the swarm of pale blue dresses.

-an hour later-

The woman came back with Keiko looking much better.

"Here she is, good as new!" the women said happily.

Nagasaki looked away from his drink and took a good look at his bride.

"She looks like c-chick I saw in a magazine once," Nagasaki stumbled with his words.

"I Guess u skipped the pleasantries and went straight to the reception drinks," the woman said.

"Don't worry, I know what will fix him," Keiko said strangely.

"Y-you know what? I wish I was a woman, you women always stick together. I love you guys," he said as he fell to the ground.

"Young man, you're drunk, you love everything that doesn't try to take your booze away," the woman said slightly strict but at the same time amused.

Keiko kneeled down and said to Nagasaki, "But sake, if you're a girl then I can't…." she whispered into his ear.

His eyes popped open wide and he jumped up and shouted, "Let's celebrate! After all it's a wedding!" he hic-upped and began to walk out of the chapel with his arm around his new bride.