Heart of Melting Blood
Legend of the Moonlight
Written by: Lone Wolf NEO
Conceived by: Lone Wolf NEO

Author's note: Guilty Gear is copyrighted by Sammy Studios whereas TYPE-MOON holds the right over all products licensed under the company's label. Lone Wolf NEO does not own any or all real-life features or whatever facts featured in this story. He does, however, own the copyright to all his original ideas in this fiction. The author would really appreciate it if readers do not copycat everything inside this story without his knowledge.

Caution: this chapter contains even more Internet memes, groping action, massive cameo appearances, people-destroying acts, random glomping actions and uncanny use of flashbacks in ways people never possible think of. You have been forewarned.

Epilogue
Stick With You

The all-new Kuradoberi Restaurant was bustling in life. Since its corporate takeovers by Kokurabuji couples, business had been growing more prosperous than before. Despite missing its trademark howling chef, customers did not seem to care as they visited the restaurant in daily basis to commemorate their daily ramblings. Everywhere inside the premise, one could see the sight of people from universes of Guilty Gear, SNK and Soul Calibur, as well as other premises (most notably, Melty Blood and FATE/Stay Night) engaged in vibrant social activities. At one corners, the swordsmen of Last Blade and Last Blade 2 were playing domino, with the blond-headed Kaede in the winning streak. At another corner, Potemkin and Chipp Zanuff were discussing on plot to dominate the world ("same thing we do every night, Pinkie. To take over the world"), while Chii curiously looked around her. Fighting girls of all threes fighting games were seated in one corner, frolicking and giggling while talking on world and personal issues.

At this time, cue of Lonely in Gorgeous started playing in the background.

Wait a minute. Why is the first chapter so deviously familiar?

"Cheers to Lone Wolf!" In an instant glasses of sake were tossed to commemorate victory the HOMB league had attained during the Battle of Sardinia. Lone Wolf NEO was reluctant to be celebrated as a hero, insisting that it was not just his feat alone that made it possible.

"Come on, Lone Wolf!" Arcueid insisted. "Not all of use get this chance to gather and celebrate our life! Kampai!" She tossed a glassful of sake into the air and drank it in one big gulp. "Besides, we can't wait to see you proposing to Hibiki-chan right now. Tee-hee."

"What the--" Lone Wolf NEO screamed blasphemy and demanded Arcueid to stop teasing him. Arcueid ignored him and insisted him to do it quickly "before somebody else does."

Sitting beside him was an equally embarrassed Hibiki. She shyly fiddled with her fingers and nervously looked at the fellows. "Anou…"

Kira and Lacus laughed. "Perhaps Lone Wolf-san should never forget what he said over the PA two weeks ago," Lacus said, in which Hibiki blushed more furiously and Lone Wolf NEO snapped in anger at the pink-haired Coordinator. Link and Talim, as well as Saber and Rider, laughed at the author as he helplessly begged his fiancée for help.

"But don't we all feel relieved?" The calm intonation and facial expression of Caster as she put down the ceramic glass on her lap was as uncanny as her speech, despite her naughty reputation. "Things have gone from worse to better since the battle ended. Dragoon Regiment is disbanded, its global operations terminated, all its personnel apprehended, and its leaders awaiting trials at The Hague for numerous charges, including an assassination attempt on President Zanuff."

Chipp overheard his name said. "Holy Zen!" he cried aloud. "I'm assassinated!"

"Don't any of us think it's finally time to acquire peace?" Caster asked.

"It depends on which person the question is asked, Caster," Lone Wolf NEO replied. "Oh, yes. How's Lia doing? Yuuki Darren just sent me her message; she said Sheo wants to know whether Lia's fine or not."

Caster giggled. "Lia-chan is fine; don't worry. The doctor who treated her told me she survived the implant surgery to replace her damaged body parts with cybernetic limbs and organs. It will be another three weeks before she can leave the hospital."

"Cybernetic implants… is it?" Lone Wolf NEO uttered. "I think I know how it ends."

The excitement of the Chinese restaurant was disturbed when Ky wailed loudly and banged his fists and head against the table. Apparently, he was crying over his bad lucks that surged after him, wave after wave, and he was severely drunk. "Oh, God, what sins I committed that I have to be punished like this?" he whined, crying fountains and waterfalls. Sitting beside him, Dizzy helplessly trying to comfort him.

At the bustling corner of Kuradoberi Restaurant, waitresses dressed up in cheongsams in various colour schemes took orders from their customers. One of whom, Son Goku, was giving his Gensoumaden Saiyuki and Asahina Mikuru a serious headache.

"I want fried chicken, I want a king-size lamb chop, I want a jug of coke, I want triple-layer beef burger, I want grilled lobster, I want this, I want that," and the list went on and on as Son Goku placed his orders on the table. Mikuru frantically wrote down the list while Sanzo and Gojyo glowered at the monkey boy in utter disgust.

"Now, now, both of you, why don't you take your orders and eat together with Goku?" Hakkai said. "Ojouchan, one combo set of fried noodle and green tea for me, okay?"

"H-haii!" Mikuru replied.

Shirou called for service from his table, where he was seated with Lancer, Archer, Berserker and Shiki. Mikuru asked one of her colleagues to take their orders, whilst she was taking care of the Gensoumaden Saiyuki casts' orders.

Then, "Mi-ku-ru-CHAAAN!"

Suzumiya Haruhi hurled toward Mikuru. Haruhi happily started groping Mikuru. Mikuru gasped and cried for help. Haruhi laughed and continued the physical harassment. Sanzo and Gojyo nosebled. Goku stared at the two girls and asked his fellow what they were doing, in which Hakkai replied, "you're too young to understand, Goku." Shirou, Shiki, Lancer and Archer shouted, "what the hell!" and exploded their nose. Lone Wolf NEO nosebled as well and covered the injury; Hibiki frowned at the reaction her fiancé was showing.

Bridget glared in excitement at the sidetracked drama. May bopped him on the head with Iruka-san. "Pervert." Yagami Iori nosebled and gave a thumb's up in silent. "Hey! Not even Yagami-oniisan!"

Anji pretended he didn't see it coming. Baiken snorted at him, and he gave the female samurai a badgered look of "what?"

Fan boys materialized. They shouted "ZOMG! GROPING ACTION! WE DEMAND MOAR!" and cheered. Fan girls appeared and pointed at fan boys. "Perverts must die!" Fan boys died, revived and told fan girls to shut up. Fan girls cried sacrilege and tossed bowls and plates at fan boys. Fan boys counterattacked with stones and bricks. Thus, Fan Combat X: Skies of Craziness took place.

"IYAA!" Mikuru moaned. "MI-MI-MI-MI-MIKURU BIIIIIIIMU!" Mikuru disintegrated fan boys, fan girls and perverts with an overdose of Mikuru Beam. All, except for Gensoumaden Saiyuki casts who immediately took shelters under their table, leaving Goku in confusion, as well as Berserker who was not affected by the laser beam.

Announcer jumped in, declared "PERVERTS DESTROYED! MIKURU WINS!" and returned to his table.

Cue music of Koi no Mikuru Densetsu played in the background.

"What the fuck?" Sol Badguy cried out. He was about to unleash his fury on fan boys and fan girls when Mikuru interfered with Mikuru Beam. He looked at the remains of the fans at one sides and perverts at the other side. He shrugged and sat down, enjoying a sip of Marlboro.

"Sol-kun!" Kagura tackled him from behind and cutely seized his neck. "Where have you been, Sol-kun? I'm getting bored playing with the pirates already."

Sol snapped at the young girl. Kagura giggled and pressed herself against his back. Sol nosebled. Lone Wolf NEO booed at him. Sol replied with a middle finger. Kagura slapped the hand gesture and told him to behave. Sol grumbled at the demand.

"Sheesh. Give me a break."

"You know what, Dad?" Rock said. "I've always wanted to see all the hotties in fan fiction world dancing to the exotic rhythm of Button. Then we'd open a club exclusive for all Buttoners to enjoy their time."

"Son," Geese uttered. "Don't tell me you want Hotaru to fulfil your guilty pleasure."

Rock bashfully nodded. "That, and I want to see Dizzy, Mikuru, Athena, Justine, Millia and the rest of the girls doing the same."

Geese stared at Rock. "O RLY?"

"YA RLY," Rock replied.

"O RLY DESU?"

"YA RLY DESU."

"O RLY DESU-DESU-DESU?"

"YA RLY DESU-DESU-DESU."

A customer stood up, shouted "STICK GOES WHERE?" and sat down.

Geese and Rock stared at the customer. Then Ky jumped onto the table, leaving Dizzy startled and screamed: "O SHI- Rock, are you trying to open a pimp-house? Your sin is beyond the grace of God!" So saying Ky withdrew Thunderseal and pointed it to the air. "Thunder! Thunder! Thunder! Thundercat! OOOO!"

"Useless."

Misaki charged at Ky. She snatched him with a Rashomon and tossed him toward Geese. "Shimatta!" Geese charged up and tossed a super Reppuken at the Holy Knight. "OHNOES!" The projectile, and Ky was stunned in the midair for a very long time. Rock executed his Deadly Rave NEO and charged at the helpless French. "NO WAI!" He sent Ky out of Kuradoberi Restaurant, flying for hundreds of metres above sea level before falling into the Pacific.

"Ne, Sol-kun, why is Ky-chan bullied a lot?" Kagura asked.

"I have no idea what you're talking of," Sol said and handed over a strange creature to Kagura. "So here's a bunny with a pancake on its head."

Time for flashbacks! Or is it flashbacks?

Geese owned Shin Akuma during their SVC Chaos duel. Geese turned to the camera, grinned and said: "predictable."

Rock Instant Killed Alba while fighting through KOF Maximum Impact fights. He turned to Alba's colleagues, shrugged and said: "predictable."

Misaki PWNED Mishio in a disputed encounter at the warehouse. Misaki turned to the rest of the EFZ warriors, threw her hair over her shoulders and said: "predictable."

As for the present, Misaki, Geese and Rock stared at each other in three-way direction. Then they shrugged and made personal post-battle pose. Then they said in unison: "predictable."

"Lone Wolf-san, you should keep an eye over your Heart of Melting Blood's contents," Lacus reminded.

"Yes, I should. And as a matter of fact, I need my Prozac," Lone Wolf NEO sighed.

"Well? What's next?" Caster asked. Lacus and Kira, Saber and Rider, Link and Talim, and finally Arcueid, stared at Lone Wolf NEO. The author replied with a twisted look of "what?" and Hibiki elbowed him, telling him to answer the question.

"Hi, guys! What's going on?" They turned at the source of the voice. They could not help but saying "look, a master is out," as Hikki and Mai walked into the restaurant, the latter dressed up in gorgeous red cheongsam with high cuts. What havoc is this notorious cosplayer/cross-dresser going to ignite again this time?

"Some people will never learn," Caster spoke.

"I can't help but to agree, Caster-san," Hibiki replied.

"Oh, really?" Caster asked.

"Yes, really," Hibiki said, and the two women started deviously giggled. Lone Wolf NEO shuddered when he heard the sinister laughter.

Then Button took over.

x-x-x-x-x

Lia woke up. She found herself on a bed, surrounded by flowers and strange devices. She rose up from her lying position and looked around her. She was inside a garden, and she could see birds and butterflies fluttering around in harmony.

"Where… am I?" Then she looked at herself and found herself wrapped in bandages. "What happened… to me?"

"Hello, Lia."

She turned to the voice. She saw a woman wearing a priestess uniform walking toward her. The person had elaborate jewelries decorated around her, including a silver headress pinned on her hair. She looked more like a geisha than a priestess, and Lia could not help but to be curious. "Who are you?"

The woman smiled and bowed to her. "My name is Aurora, and I'm Handmaiden of Fate. You are now in the Garden of Midnight Blossom."

Lia was perplexed. "What do you mean? Am I… dead?"

Aurora smiled at the question. "If you are indeed dead, Lia, then I wouldn't be here greeting you." Then, she approached Lia and took a seat next to the girl. "Rest assured, Lia. This is a safe haven for everyone. For those who enter this place, their safety will be untouched."

Lia frowned. "Am I going to be alone?" She held her right arm when she felt a pulsating pain inside of her limb. "Why do I feel pain? What really happened to me?"

Aurora shook her head and took hold of Lia's hand. "You aren't going to be alone, Lia, because I'm here to keep you accompanied." Lia shivered at the delicate touch and seized the handmaiden's palm, squeezing it tightly. "What's the matter, Lia? What's wrong?"

"I want my brother…" Tears fell down her cheeks onto the blanket, with some dripping onto the bandages, as Lia silently wept. "I want to be with my brother…"

Slowly, and carefully, Aurora encircled her arms around Lia and pulled the helpless girl into a warm embrace. "I'm very sorry, Lia, but I was told that your brother can't be with you. He has to leave you because he has to redeem himself first. It may take years before he can return to you."

Lia cried. Burying her flushed face beneath the clothes, she cried in Aurora's arms and unconsciously clung onto the handmaiden. "How could he…" she sobbed. "How could he leave me like this…? Why can't I… just live with him?"

Aurora soothed her, affectinately holding her as close as she could. "Because she knows what is the best for you, Lia. He wouldn't leave you if he didn't have a strong reason to do it," she uttered. "He loves you, that's why…"

Lia clung onto Aurora even closer. "I'm going to hate you after this, Brother Alex…" she mumbled.

Aurora chuckled. Softly rubbing Lia's bandaged back, she gave her a light kiss upon her scalp. "Would you like me to stay with you, Lia?"

Lia said nothing. All she did was to snug up on the embrace, and rested firmly in Aurora's caring hold. "How I wish to have a mother holding me like this…" she whispered.

"Then let me be your mother, Lia," Aurora replied and held the girl like a mother holding her precious child. "I will try my best to keep you happy."

Lia smiled. Slowly she closed her eyes and began to doze off. "Thank you, mother…"

x-x-x-x-x

"Alex?"

Alexander was startled. He looked at his wife Sion, and was perplexed when she gave him a long, confused look. "What? What is it?"

"You look troubled," Sion said. "Did something happen?"

Alexander shrugged. He laughed and threw his sight to the sky. "No, nothing. I was just having a bit of remembrance."

Sion pouted at the answer. She took hold of his hand and squeezed it very tightly. Alexander yelped in pain and demanded her to stop hurting him. "That's because you've been like this for the past 3 hours. What's wrong with you really?"

Alexander stared at the purple-haired woman he loved very much. He chuckled and traced his finger down her face, and it came to a stop on her cheek. "Come on, is it really wrong?" he said and bent down, brushing his lips upon her neck.

Sion shivered at the seductive touch she felt. "Oh, Alex, please…" she begged and began holding him. "You naughty wolf…"

Alexander laughed at the respond. "So, my beautiful wife starts calling me a naughty wolf," he uttered as he claimed her moist lips. "Then I'll show how naughty this wolf really is." The kiss was delicate and long, and Sion took no hesitation in replying into it. Mindlessly she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself onto him, sighing in pleasure at the masculine touch she felt around her.

Alexander released her. He stared into her dreamy purple eyes, grinned and held her. He gazed into the evening sky, said nothing and let out a long sigh. "I should've return to the town already. I kind of missed the kindergarten and the kids."

"Going to train yourself to become a father, aren't you?"

"That, and I want to help the children with their studies," he told her. "I miss Ayu and Akiko. I just hope they won't beat me when I come back to them."

She laughed at the statement. "You silly." She turned on her feet and leaned against Alexander's lean figure. She, too, gazed into the sunset and took hold of his arms that were wrapped about her waist. "I love you, Alex…"

Alex nodded and held her even closer. "I love you even more, Sion… I love you even more…"

Nobody gonna love me better
I must stick with you forever
Nobody gonna take me higher
I must stick with you…

You know how I appreciate it, baby
I must stick with you, my baby
Nobody ever made me feel this way
I must stick with you…

FIN