Chapter 2: Newly Weds

The newly wed couple, continued making their way back home. Elias was still carrying Chise in his arms. The two were in no hurry to return home as they wanted to enjoy their moments walking through the woods as a newly married couple.

"Isn't the dusk sky so pretty?" Elias asked as he carried his bride.

"Yeah, it's so beautiful." Chise agreed.

"And yet, you are more beautiful in every way." Elias said as he look into Chise's eyes.

"Elias... Thank you." Chise said as she rubbed her face against his.

"Chise, if I may, I don't believe we shared our wedding kiss." Elias said.

"O-Our, wedding kiss?" Chise asked.

"Yes, I heard that a man and woman conclude the marriage ceremony by exchanging a wedding kiss." Elias said.

"That is true." Chise said.

"I was wondering... may we exchange our wedding kiss?" Elias asked.

"(Giggle) Of course." Chise said.

"Very well." Elias said as he gently put Chise down and kneeled down on one knee in front of her.

"What are you doing?" Chise asked.

"Getting in a more comfortable position to kiss my bride." Elias said as he held Chise's face in his hands.

"Elias..." Chise said as she brought her lips closer to Elias's skull.

The two closed their eyes as they exchanged their first kiss. Chise admitted, yes it was odd to kiss the mouth of a wolf's skull but it still felt very wonderful. Elias had never felt such a sensation before in his life. They both shared this moment for a few seconds before their lips parted and they simply smiled at each other.

"That was... nice." Elias said.

"Yeah... it was. Thank you." Chise said.

Elias picked Chise up again so he could continue to carry her back home.

"Come, we don't want to keep Silver and Ruth waiting now do we?" Elias asked.

"(Giggle) I guess not." Chise said.

As Elias and Chise made their way home, Chise remembered something she had always been wanting to ask Elias but never did. Now seemed like the perfect opportunity.

"Um, Elias?" Chise said.

"Hmm? Is something wrong my dear?" Elias asked.

"Oh, no not at all. I just wanted to ask you something." Chise said.

"You may ask me anything you wish, Chise. Do not worry." Elias said.

"Thanks. So, you remember how last year, you told me that you bought me to be your apprentice, but shortly afterwards, you told me that you hoped to make me your bride." Chise said.

"That is correct, what about it?" Elias asked.

"Well, Which did you want more? Like did you want me more as your apprentice or as your bride?" Chise asked.

Elias stopped walking and looked at Chise.

"To tell you the truth... I really am not sure. I intended to have you as my apprentice yes, but when I bought you, I thought, maybe it would be nice if I could have the one thing I have always lacked." Elias said.

"What was that?" Chise asked.

"Someone to love. Someone to love me in return. Someone to be happy with for the rest of my life. So, to answer your question, I needed you as my apprentice but I wanted you to be my bride more than anything." Elias said as he nudged her cheek with his face.

"Thank you, Elias." Chise said.

"You're absolutely welcome my lovely bride." Elias said.

After the two smiled at each other, they continued their way home. Once the couple made it back home, they found Silver happily waiting for them and Ruth in his human form waiting to be granted permission to start eating. The four had a wonderful feast and enjoyed each other's company.

"Chise, now that we have married, I think now is a good time for me to ask you this; shall we begin planning our honeymoon?" Elias asked.

Before Chise could even respond, Ruth spit out the tea he had just took a sip of and yelled at Elias.

"WOAH! WOAH! WOAH! NOT COOL MAN!" Ruth cried.

This sudden outburst caused a lot of things to happen at once. Elias almost fell out of his chair in shock, Chise accidently spilled her tea on the table, and Silky dropped the plates she was going to wash.

"Oh... I am so sorry. I did not mean for all of THAT to happen." Ruth said as he bowed.

"Ruth, before you explain what you wanted to tell me, why don't you-." Elias started.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. I'll clean it up." Ruth said as he went to get a broom and dust pan for the broken pieces of plates. Ruth couldn't help but notice that Silky was giving him a death glare.

"Stare... Stare..." Silky just stared at Ruth with a face of pure disapproval.

"I said I'd clean it up don't worry." Ruth said.

"Well, while Ruth is cleaning up, shall we plan our honeymoon?" Elias asked again.

"I mean, I guess we could." Chise said.

"Wait! Hold on a minute!" Ruth said as me walked back to the table.

"Have you finished cleaning?" Elias asked.

"No, but this is really important. I need to talk to you right now, Elias. Please, come with me." Ruth said as he pointed to the front door.

"(Sigh) Very well. Chise, I will only be a minute." Elias said as he got up from his seat.

"Sure, no problem." Chise said as she gave him a smile.

As soon as Elias shut the front door, he went straight to the point with Ruth.

"Okay, what is it you wish to discuss with me, Ruth?" Elias asked.

"It's this whole honeymoon thing." Ruth said.

"What? Am I not allowed to discuss that with my own wife?" Elias asked.

"Elias, do you even know what a honeymoon is?" Ruth asked.

"Yes, a honeymoon is when a husband and wife spend a vacation together." Elias replied.

"Okay, that is true, but do you know what newly married couples usually do on the night of their honeymoon?" Ruth asked.

"Yes, they go to sleep." Elias said.

"What!? No! They usually have se-augh! I can't say it!" Ruth cried.

"What are you talking about?" Elias asked.

"Damn it! Elias, I'm just going to be straight forward with you; do you know what sex is?" Ruth asked.

In response to hearing this, Elias jumped back in shock and hit his head against the wall.

"OW! Yes, I know what that is Ruth! Why do you bring that up now?" Elias asked as he rubbed the back of his head in pain.

"Well, because that's usually what newly wed couples do on either their honeymoon or the night of their wedding." Ruth explained.

"Are you trying to tell me that, that is required to happen?" Elias asked.

"No, I'm saying that you shouldn't do that now! No honeymoons! The reason being very simple. Chise is 16, so technically she is still a kid!" Ruth cried.

"I am aware of that, Ruth. Did you think I was even considering doing that to Chise when she is this young?" Elias asked.

"Well, considering the fact that you BOUGHT her when she was 15 and now you MARRIED her while she is 16, yeah I assumed you had that in mind." Ruth said.

"I assure you, I don't intend to do anything like that until Chise is at the proper age." Elias said.

"Good. Look, you're my best friend Elias, but I am also in a way Chise's big brother, its my job to protect her and to worry for her." Ruth said.

"I understand. I appreciate you showing concern for Chise. She is safe. Also, that action, isn't required to be done. It is something that is done with consent if I remember correctly." Elias said.

"You know what? I never thought about that. Sorry Elias." Ruth said as he lowered his head.

"No need to apologize. Shall we head back inside?" Elias asked.

"Yeah, sounds good to me." Ruth said.

"Oh, there is something I should inform you about." Elias said.

"What's that?" Ruth asked.

"You will have Chise's room all to yourself tonight." Elias said.

"Oh, that's cool-HEY! WAIT A MINUTE!" Ruth exclaimed.

"Now hold on, Ruth. I understand your confusion. But nothing of that sort will happen. Am I not allowed to simply hold my wife close to me?" Elias asked.

"Well, I guess that's fine, but I swear, if you try anything I will kill you." Ruth said.

"Ha, ha. I'm sure you will try. But don't worry, nothing will happen. I promise." Elias said as he held out his hand to Ruth.

"I trust you will keep your word my friend." Ruth said as he shook Elias's hand.

"Besides, I'm not going to force Chise to join me. It is her choice. Come, you still need to finish cleaning." Elias said as he held the door open for Ruth.

"I know." Ruth said as he went back inside.

Later that night...

After Chise had changed into her sleeping clothes, she called to Ruth, notifying him it was safe to enter her room. As soon as Ruth entered Chise's room in his dog form, he plopped himself down in the middle of Chise's bed.

"Um, Ruth did you forget that this is my bed?" Chise asked as she crossed her arms.

"Hmm? Oh, no I didn't forget. You're not going to be sleeping here tonight." Ruth said as he licked his fur.

"What are you talking about?" Chise asked.

"Oh, well you will be sleeping in Elias's room." Ruth said.

"Huh? WHAT!?" Chise asked as she immediately blushed.

"Well, Elias said that that is what newly wed couples usually do. Don't worry I already spoke with him and he has no intention of doing, 'the thing'. If you know what I'm talking about." Ruth said.

"What?" Chise asked as she was still blushing.

"(Laughs) I'm just pulling your leg. You don't have to if you don't want to. Elias said it was a suggestion." Ruth explained.

"Well, I wouldn't mind sleeping next to him. I mean, I've done it before. When he was going through that phase of turning into his monster form." Chise said.

"Cool. Well, I'll see you in the morning." Ruth said.

"Yeah... same to you." Chise said.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I am going to shed my fur on your bed and then sleep." Ruth said.

"Do you really need to do THAT?" Chise asked.

"I'm a dog Chise, I have no other choice and you know how I feel about sleeping in my human form; very uncomfortable." Ruth said.

Chise just shook her head and smiled as she began to walk out of the room.

"Hey, Chise," Ruth called. Chise turned to look at Ruth. "I'm very proud of you. I'm happy for you and I hope you are happy with the life you have now." Ruth said.

"I am, thank you Ruth." Chise said as she smiled at him and closed the door behind her.

Chise calmly made her way to Elias's room, which was left open. Chise quietly entered the room and shut the door behind her.

"Good evening, Chise." Elias said.

"Eep! Oh, good evening Elias. Sorry you scared me." Chise said as Elias emerged from the shadows.

"Forgive me my dear." Elias said as he patted her on the head. "Chise, you don't have to sleep in here with me you know. If you are uncomfortable, that is okay." Elias said.

"I know, but it's fine. I'm okay with it." Chise reassured him.

"Very well. You may make yourself comfortable in the bed. I have to do something." Elias said sadly.

"Oh, you do?" Chise asked.

"Yes, I just got a letter from Simon, he said it was an emergency and he needed my help right away. Do not fret, I won't be too long my bride." Elias said as he knelt down in front of Chise.

"Okay, then. Be safe Elias." Chise said as she hugged him.

"Of course. Sleep well my beloved." Elias said as he hugged her back.

After a few minutes, Elias stood up and made his way downstairs.

"I will return in a little bit." Elias said to Silky who simply nodded in response.

As Elias exited the house, Silky looked to her right and out of the corner of her eye, swore she saw something or someone outside the kitchen window. Silky turned to fully face the window but she saw nothing. Silky shrugged but deep down she felt like something wasn't right. She was right, because as Elias was walking towards the village where Simon told him to meet, he had no idea someone was following close behind him...