Hikaru, Madoka, and Sophie all held hands as they stood in front of Ryo's office. Today was the day they were married whether they wanted to be or not. The WBBA was trying to foster friendship and rebuild the WBBA after the whole incident with Rago and to do that a new marriage law had been put into place. They had just got done watching a video about it and Hikaru had received a huge packet in the mail but she had been too angry to get past the first few pages.
She knew it was out of Ryo's hands but it didn't make her feel any better. She was about to marry a complete stranger and would have to move in with him effective immediately. But as she looked over at her two friends she saw the same fear in their eyes. She just hoped Madoka got Ginga. After all these years of pining after him if she got anyone else Hikaru knew it would kill the brown haired girl.
"I still don't see how we are old enough to get married like this,"Sophie said as she bit her lip. It was a nervous habit of hers and Hikaru knew it very rarely came out since her friend was normally worried about smearing her lipstick. All three of them sucked in a breath as Ryo came out.
"Madoka come in"he said. Madoka nodded before looking at the other two girls obviously on the verge of tears.
"Good luck"Hikaru said and Sophie wiped a tear from the edge of Madoka's eye.
"Hey don't cry if you do your eyes will be all puffy when Ginga first sees you"Sophie said making Madoka smile before she walked inside. Once she was gone Sophie and Hikaru shared a worried look both obviously more worried about their friend than themselves since both of them were happily single. Neither would voice the what if's of Ginga not being Madoka's betrothed or talk about their own betrothal.
"You know this may be the only way you ever get married"Hikaru said smiling at Sophie who looked confused but not offended.
"And why is that"she asked, cocking her head to the side.
"Because you're so damn dramatic, this way the poor sap won't know until it's too late"Hikaru said and Sophie playfully swatted her arm.
"At least i'm not a workaholic"the older woman countered but started laughing as well. When they saw the door open though they both became serious again turning to Madoka who was crying.
"Oh sweetie i'm sorry"Sophie said, hugging the young girl while Hikaru did the same.
"Why are you sorry, i'm marrying Ginga"Madoka said, smiling at the two women who shook their heads. "I'm just so relieved,"Madoka continued as she wiped her eyes.
"Crybaby"Hikaru teased as the three girls laughed briefly. Ryo watched hating to ruin the moment but he had over 20 other bladers to talk to today including his own son later on.
"Sophie"Ryo called and both of the other girls looked at her. Madoka wished her luck while Hikaru just nodded knowing there was nothing she could say to make Sophie feel better. Hikaru watched the clock tick away as she counted the minutes Sophie was in there. After what must have been the longest five minutes of her life Sophie came out and Hikaru was called in.
As she walked she looked at her boss and tried to read his expression. His usual happy and carefree personality obviously hadn't come with him to work today which made Hikaru's heart wrench. He obviously didn't like this any better than anyone else but she still hated him when the name left his lips. Of all the people how could it be him. She wouldn't be signing marriage papers if she agreed to this she would be signing her death warrant. This had to be some kind of cruel joke.
"Hikaru i'm so sorry if it were me I would put you with anyone else but it wasn't my decision"he said again and Hikaru couldn't look up at him instead keeping her hands and eyes in her lap. She didn't need to look at him to know his voice was laced with pity. Probably the one thing she hated more than this whole arrangement was the pity and she knew he wouldn't be the only one to look at her like that. When she walked outside and told Madoka and Sophie they would look at her the same way. As if she were a fragile doll who would shatter at any moment and honestly maybe she was, after her accident she didn't know anymore.
One thing she did know though was that once she started crying she wouldn't be able to stop and she refused to break down in Ryo's office. He was her boss and she needed to be able to come back to work tomorrow with her head held high. So she mustered all the strength she could manage and straightened up signing the paperwork before walking out the door.
When she did Sophie and Madoka bombarded her with questions but quickly stopped when they realized she had ignored them instead walking straight past them. It took everything Hikaru had to stay walking and not break out into a run.
"Maybe we should go out for a drink or two"Sophie suggested and Madoka nodded. Normally Hikaru would protest especially on a work night but she needed to have some liquid courage and loosen up before she went home to that man. No scratch that, that monster.
When they got to the bar the three girls found a booth where Kyoya and Benkei were already waiting with their drinks at the table.
"I'll go get the table some drinks"Madoka called and Sophie followed. Once they were gone Kyoya scooted over so Hikaru could sit next to him.
"Benkei will you go get me another"Kyoya asked and Benkei obviously wanted to refuse but thought better of it. Once he was gone Hikaru sighed laying her head on the table.
"Bad news"he asked and she just groaned and nodded. Kyoya had originally seemed like a terrible person to confide in but over time he had become Hikaru's best friend besides Madoka and Sophie. He always listened without interrupting and as much as she hated to admit it sometimes he gave her the cold hard truth. "With the marriage law"he asked and again Hikaru nodded. She only put her head up when she felt the cold glass of his drink nudging her hand.
"You need it more than I do"he said and she looked at the scotch knowing it would burn going down but before she could back out she threw it back.
"Need me to kill him"Kyoya asked with a glint in his eye that made Hikaru laugh. He was smiling but she was sure if she asked the man would take a mysterious fall off a cliff, knocked off by a sudden breeze.
"I can take care of myself but thanks,"she said and Kyoya nodded before the rest of the gang came back with drinks. She was glad for his concern and even more relieved he didn't press the matter of who her mystery beau was.
As the night went on Hikaru had more than her fair share of drinks and was feeling quite tipsy when she let Madoka and Sophie drag her out onto the dance floor.
"So are you ever gonna tell us who the lucky guy is"Madoka asked, clearly too drunk to tread on eggshells around the topic anymore. Hikaru just pretended not to hear her and continued dancing. After the third time asking, Sophie whispered in Madoka's ear.
"She doesn't want to talk about it"the older girl said and Madoka finally nodded letting out a loud "O" making Hikaru roll her eyes. She needed another shot and Kyoya and Beneki had just gotten two.
"Hey why not dance with us"Hikaru asked, plopping down in the booth as she took Kyoya's shot, having not felt the burning sensation for the last three. Now she just had a warmth in the pit of her stomach.
"Why don't we take you home"Kyoya said after Hikaru nearly fell out of the booth.
"I am kinda tired"she admitted as Kyoya put her arm around his shoulders and started to practically carry her out.
"Don't you need to get home to you're own wife"she asked and Kyoya didn't say anything obviously it was a touchy subject for him as well.
"I need to make sure my friend gets home first,"he said, taking her key from her and finding the correct address.
"Thank but I got it from here"Hikaru said trying and failing 3 times before finally managing to jab her key in the lock.
"Remember if you need anything call"he said giving her the same smirk from earlier and Hikaru just laughed before stumbling inside. She was relieved when she noticed there was a couch near the door and she collapsed and was snoring in a matter of minutes not even noticing the shocked man sitting on the couch next to her.