Chapter 9: Wedding Rehearsal
6/12 9:20 AM
At Fairy Tail's rental apartment
Gajeel was talking to Akise on his cell phone. "What is this, you want help with an investigation, if it's about the Dog murder case, didn't you get a report from the others?"
On Akise's side, there was silence. "It's not about that, Keigo was able to cover that story. However, it's about Yuno's household." Gajeel's eyes twitched in confusion. "Huh, what do you mean by that?"
"I can't say much, but, in time, I'll tell you," Akise replied softly. "Also, I'd like you to have a few of your friends at the station to keep an eye on Tsubaki." This was getting weird for Gajeel, but he had no choice. "Very well, is anything else?"
"Yes, I do, is your friend Akame and Green available for an important assignment?"
Later at 9:25 AM
Yuki got a call from Akise. "Yukiteru, how's about a movie? Gajeel, Levy, Green, and Akame will be joining us too."
Yuki was excited. "Sounds like fun, what time we should meet the others, and where?"
10:32 Just outside Sakurami City
Yuki was at a bus pick-up spot. "Where is Akise and the others, they said they'd be here." He began to think about Hinata.
F
Yuki's POV
"Hinata was an emotional wreck after hearing the last words of her father. She fainted and was taken to the hospital with Mao."
Later, Yuki had a word with Keigo in the waiting area. "Is Hinata and Mao going to be okay?"
"First off, Mao's injury wasn't as bad as we thought but she'll need to rest here for a while. As Hinata, she's quite the wreck, but, with a little rest and therapy. She might pull through."
"Sting and Rogue volunteered to talk to her about her loss understanding the loss of a father." Yuki continued. "I admit, Sting and Rogue were amazing. They are willing to share their loss to help Hinata through the pain. Even Ace did too."
"One thing still bugs me, the person that killed Hinata's father. Who was he and this Fairy Tail, was he referring to Gajeel and the others?"
F
"Either way, I'm sure we'll catch Hinata's father's killer," Yuki thought as he looked at his cell phone.
6/1 20:20 At the forest's hut
Minene was packing some bombs. "Damn, can't believe that bastard is having to do recon crap for his mess." She complained stretching out her shoulders then her attention turned to the dress she was wearing during the attack on the school. "..."
4/25 19:24 Shut Down College Campus
Minene was being pursued by Third. "Son of bitch..." She cursed seeing the Holder come out of smoke from an explosion.
Muru Muru was narrating Ninth's showdown. "Ninth was so sure she would be able to use her Escape Diary for a showdown with Third. However, what she didn't expect was the Third's ability to withstand bullets and bombs put a hole in her skills and..."
Minene jumped out the window and landed on a pile of garbage bags softening her fall. Until she tried to get up. "Crap, my leg..." She felt her left leg numb then she looked to see a young man holding an umbrella and looked at her Diary, realizing the man was a detective from the Sakurami Police Station.
The detective quickly recognized. "Hey, you're Minene Uyruu the Terrorist!" Moving quickly, she threw a garbage bag at the detective throwing him off balance and using that to escape but her leg didn't get her far away. Nishijima pinned her to the ground handcuffing her. "Screw you! There's no time for this right now!"
"Don't lie! I know you'd forgotten about me!" Muru Muru's voice said.
"I'm not moving!"
"I'm not lying!"
"What? Someone else came down, too?"
"I'm sorry, but, I'm not giving you to him again."
Hiyama came from the alleyway, and Nishijima pointed his gun at the killer. "Freeze!"
"Don't bother, guns won't work on him!"
"Don't fight because of me."
Minene dragged Nishijima while being handcuffed to him.
"Take the handcuffs off. Or else we'll both die!"
"Please! I don't want to go through that pain again."
"I finally caught you, Minene Uyruu!"
"I finally found you!"
Muru Muru was watching the chase from the screen in the Holy Hall. "What do you think?"
DEUS was curious about what she getting all those words she was just spitting out. "What exactly are you reading?"
"Duh, it's called Manga, the book I'm reading is about boy meets girl," Muru Muru said with a cheery smile. "How dare that guy...he took my Minene.." She narrated.
The two eventually hide in an art college. Minene tried to persuade the detective to take off her handcuffs by playing cute until she to reveal she had to use the bathroom. Nishijima gave her permission but he had to keep the cuffs off and that was the hard part. Eventually, Nishijima suggested she wear a dress for some new clothes that aren't wet. He had her try on a dress much to her embarrassment. "I" 'm not wearing it because you asked me to, it's better than getting sick."
Nishijima gave her an astonished stare which she noticed. "Why are you looking at me like that?" The detective gave her a straight face. "Well, that dress suits you well." Minene's face went beet red. "Dumbass..." She tried to hide her blush. "Anyway, do you have any other weapons besides guns?"
"Well...I do...but...it's only a Flash grenade..." Minene replied as she looked bashful. Nishijima was a little intrigued by her behavior. "Well, you can act cute too." Minene began to move backward feeling awkward until she stepped on a can causing her to fall along with the detective. "What exactly are you touching?" She asked feeling the man's hand on her breast.
"I just found a girl side to you," Nishijima replied as the terrorist's parents flashed in her mind. "Either way, I need to take you to the station, but, what we have isn't very reassuring against Third."
Minene had one idea. "Well, I think we can use it still." Telling the detective about her plan and the killer's ability. They lured him into a radio room with big speaker boxes using the flashbang grenade to make it more effective. Nishijima was knocked out cold by a bullet.
Muru Muru was a bit disappointed. "It's not what I expected, but whatever-"
"I don't do girly stuff...if you're smart then you find someone else. I ain't no trophy for a douche on a horse...right, Muru Muru?" Ninth appeared behind the small munchkin creature surprising her. "Listen, when most girls were playing with stuffed animals I was scurrying through rumble. Romance isn't in my life and never will be." She walked past the detective little did she know that he had a bulletproof vest on.
Present
"I might've arrived a little earlier but, it's good," He thought. "Aru, Akame, Green, Gajeel, Levy, and I are going to see a movie!"
"Hello, my love," Yuno's voice was heard.
"Yukiteru...what's up?" Green was there with Akame.
"Yuno...why are you here and where are Gajeel and Levy?" Yuki asked a little surprised.
"They had to take care of something, so, it's just the four of us," Akame answered.
Yuno took hold of Yuki's hand. "Come on, we'll miss the bus if we keep chit-chatting."
They got on the bus. "Do you know where the others are then?" Yuki asked.
"Yeah, Aru sent me this message," Yuno showed a text from Aru.
Aru's pov(text). "Hello, Amano. Sorry for the late notice, but, Gajeel and Levy along with myself have some tasks to take care of. So, instead, I'll be sending you, Yuno, Akame, and Green to the wedding trial that's for free today. I would imagine you'd say no, so, I sent the message about seeing a movie together in her place."
"That son of bitch..." Yukiteru muttered as he heard the bus doors close. He then looked at Akame and Green. "Did you two know about this?"
"Sort of..." Green chuckled nervously rubbing his head.
"What do you mean by "Sort of"?" Yukiteru whined comically.
A little later, they took their seats.
"Man, I thought texting after ten minutes was bad but she sends me twice as many and walks to me at every class." Yuno took out a sandwich. "Here..."
"I don't think there's a word to describe how crazy this is getting,"
F
"I would like to introduce you all to someone special...this is Yuno Gasai...my...uhh...girlfriend."
F
Yuki takes a bit of the sandwich. "Sure, my back was against the wall plus I had to make sure Hinata didn't lose her life. I have to tell her the truth, but, that might get me on her bad side." He glanced at the seats from across seeing Akame feeding Green. He couldn't help but feel a little jealous of how they felt toward each other. "Crap, what do I feel so jealous?"
11:25 AM Sakurami Police Station
Hibiki, Ace, Carla, Jenny, Yukino were hanging out the station checking out some stuff.
Wendy went to visit Tsubaki. "Hello, there." She brought the girl a bag of frosted cookies. "Here, these are cookies."
Tsubaki took the box. "Much obliged. " She opened the box and began two cookies. "So sweet." She felt so utterly happy.
"By the way, what is Yuki and Yuno doing today?" Tsubaki asked.
"I heard they went to a movie with Akise, Gajeel, Levy, Lily, Akame, and Green." Wendy replied as she noticed a concerned look on Sixth Holder's face. "Not sure if you know, my Diary told me that something might happen. Someone that is planning to frame someone."
Wendy gasped. "Who is plan on framing who and do you know that, I thought your Diary only worked with followers from your cult and 12th."
"That's true, but, he promised to help keep me from going to prison so he formed an alliance with me. So, technically I got taps on him and what he's doing." Tsubaki replied. "Listen, you might want to give Akise a call later tonight for a heads up."
"What about you?" Wendy asked worriedly. Tsubaki gave the other young girl a smile. "I'll be fine, just get Akise to help out." The sky dragon slayer nodded and left. She went went to talk with her Hibiki and the others in secret. Realizing the danger they left without drawing attention.
The four arrived at the church.
Akame and Green were impressed. "Whoa, this place is bigger than I thought."
"I wonder what food they'll offer."
"Amazing, it's just like in my dreams!" Yuno started amazingly.
"How awful...that's like a nightmare," Yuki groaned. "Yuno, do you think we can leave, Akame and Green can stay here."
"The terms for the preparation are...couples with plans to get married," A woman in her 30s arrived with a smile on her face. "Welcome our four newlyweds."
Akame and Green were speechless as their faces went red.
Yukiteru looked at her name tag. "Kuusu Naoko...that's the last of Keigo."
Yuno placed her hand on Yuki's shoulder. "We're fine here, so, let's check out the banquet."
They soon arrived at the banquet room. The four were astonished at the food that was placed on the table.
"Wow, looks like something with royalty would have," Yuno commented.
Akame was practically drooling over the food. "Meat..." Green chuckled a bit. "Her appetite doesn't surprise me."
Yuno and Yuki ate a piece of their steak. "Wow..."
"It's pretty good. Is it a hamburger?"
"It's Foie Gras." The guide lady answered.
"What is this black and tiny stuff?" Yuno asked.
"That's caviar..." Two waiters gave them a pour of their drink.
"Aha, Yuno. We're so bourgeois!" Yuki sighed.
"We're like a prince and princess!"
"Green, this is quite the feast." Akame was chowing on the food.
"Easy, no need to get so fast," Green advised, though he couldn't blame his girlfriend for eating so fast.
A few couples giggled while some were gagging at Akame's eating habits.
In the fitting room.
"Who told me that I was babysitting four brats!?" An old woman asked a little sternly.
"Uhh...nobody, we were told that we can try on some clothes here," Yuno replied.
The old woman scoffed. "Ha! Coming here without experience, you shouldn't be here putting on clothes!" She began to measure Yuno and Akame with a measuring tape. "Today's young couples...don't face problems until they're older...only care about appearances."
"She seems like a serious type," Green thought awkwardly.
"Anyway, would the two Grooms like to try on something too?" The guide lady asked with a smile.
Yukiteru was taken off guard. "Uhh...sure..." He got changed into a white suit while Green wore a black suit.
"Oh my, you look like the lord of a manner." The lady said to Yukiteru. "Green, you look like a black knight saving the girl in distress."
"I guess..."
"Behold, two women!" The fitness lady announced as she came out of the dressing room. "Step out you two, show it off."
Yuno was wearing a white wedding dress with a gown on her head. Akame was wearing a black wedding dress.
"Yuki, this isn't my style, but, what do you think?"
"Green, what do you of this dress?"
Yuki was the first to speak as his cheeks had a pink hue. "You look beautiful..."
"Green was red, she was so beautiful in her clothes even when she slept but this was new. "Same here...black suits you and matches your hair...Akame."
Yuno had a bashful yet flattered look on her face. "You think so...you're not so bad yourself."
"Same to you Green, you look more handsome than ever."
The four took turns taking a photo together.
Yukiteru looks at the photo. "Wow, we're smoking..." He quickly realized what he just said. "Whoa, whoa, we're not even close to being lovers. I'm up a creek, if this gets to my head, Yuno will think this is our life forever." He looked at Yuno who was sitting on a couch, looking so happy that tears were in her eyes. "Please don't look at me right now."
Akame and Green noticed this. "Are those tears?"
"Wow, I didn't expect Yuno to look so happy like that let alone smile."
Yuno wiped her tears. "Honestly, I can't control myself." She stood up kissed Yuki on the cheek and smiled sweetly at him before she went to talk to a fit lady.
Yuki placed his hand on his left cheek. "Perhaps I don't have to drop the bombshell right now. I think we are a couple and I've just ceased to admit it." He recalled what he saw in Yuno's hidden room. "But, she's crazy...not sure what I saw in that room...but, if I didn't look inside what would I feel then?"
"Time for the main event..." The guide lady returned. "I'd say, you four are ready for a practice ceremony."
Akame and Green's face went beet red.
Yukiteru felt like this would be too much. "Wait, we're not exactly-"
"Don't worry, nobody is going to force you to do this. Today was a lot of fun, Akame, and Green, you two can do this without us." Yuno interrupted with a sad smile.
Akame could tell Yuno wanted to do this but this time she was being generous. Green didn't see a problem with this, but he did feel a bit bad for Yuno.
Yukiteru saw how much this would mean to Yuno. "The rehearsal, let's do it."
The four went to the alter room.
Yukiteru stood by Green.
Down the aisle came Akame and Yuno.
The four got in their places with the priest.
"Akame, will you take this man to be your wedded husband through sick, health, poor, and rich till death do you part as long as you live?"
"I do..." Akame replied with a smile tears forming in her eyes.
"Green, will you take Akame to be your wedded wife through sick, healthy, poor, and rich till death do you part as long as you live?"
"I do."
"Do you Yuno Gasai take Yukiteru Amano to be your wedded husband through sick, healthy, poor, and rich till death do you part as long as you live?"
"I do..." Yuno replied her blush not leaving her face.
Yukiteru was looking at Yuno. "I hate what I saw by the door...but..."
"Yukiteru Amano, do you take Yuno Gasai to your lawful wedded wife through sick, health, poor, and rich till death do you part as long as you live?"
"Yes..." Yuki replied nervously.
A short time later.
Akame and Green were getting ready to leave. "Akame, Green, I need to ask you for some advice?" The two assassins turned their heads. "What is it?"
"I'm sure you know of Yuno's unstable condition. Well, in your opinion, what do you guys think of her?"
Green was unsure how to answer this. Akame then cleared her throat. "Honestly, I can tell she has a problem. Though, I can see loneliness in her eyes. In other words, she has probably been all alone for who knows how long and it must've distorted her mind."
Yuki was stunned to hear that answer. "I never thought that way before."
Green had his thoughts to share. "As for me, Yuno seems out nervous and distrustful toward others. For what reason, something in her childhood must've made her act like that."
This gave Yuki some more intel. "I see...I guess that explains a little. Though, it doesn't explain of what I saw back at Yuno's house." He then looked at the sleeping Yuno. "Perhaps I could forget what I saw, I might be able to do that."
"You four had quite a day," The guide lady approached them.
Yukiteru smiled. "Heh...you people here know how to do things here." The guide lady smiled at the comment. "So, we do, I'm so jealous of you four. My husband should take a page from you guys but he's so wrapped up in work I hardly ever see him. But, what can I do?"
Akame was curious. "So, what does your husband do?"
"He's a homicide detective," The guide lady replied.
This caused the four to realize their suspicions of the woman's name on her tag.
Akame and Green took a cab to their rental apartment.
Once they arrived. Sting and the others were outside looking distressed. "What's going on here you guys?" Green asked noticing their odd stares.
Yuki carried Yuno back to her house. "What a coincidence...running to her. So that chief has a family. He never mentioned that." He approached the front door. "Wake up, we're here, I need your key." He attempted to see if it was locked or not. To his surprise, it was unlocked. "What, it's open..." He walked inside the house and tried to turn on the lights.
"The power is out," Akise's voice was heard down the dark hallway.
"It's about time you returned," Gajeel added.
"Wait, how did you get here and..." Realization hit Yuki in the mind. "Hold on, did you guys see what's inside that room?"
Gajeel's eyes turned. "I admit I smelled something foul like something died in here."
"Hold on, where is Levy and Lily?" Yuki asked.
"They went left already to join their other friends in their rental apartment," Akise answered. "As for the question you might have coming at me, I put you and Yuno along with Akame and Green in that wedding center so I searched the house."
"Gajeel, were you on this too?" Yuki asked almost demandingly.
"Hey, don't give that look," Gajeel grumbled. "To be fair, Akise called me this morning asking me and some of the others to investigate this house."
Yuki turned to the door that he once looked inside before. "Wait, did you see what was inside that room?" Akise pulled back the sliding door and inside was a large hole in the wall that went outside the backyard.
That wasn't the only thing that was there, there was a giant hole in the ground. "Such a big hole."
"Yes, I dropped a small rock down there and I couldn't hear it hit the bottomless pit," Akisa said observing the size of the hole.
Gajeel's nose caught a whiff of something. "That scent...smells like death..." His eyes widened in disbelief. "There a faint scent...why does it seem like Yu-"
"Yuno, what happened to the stuff inside the room?" Yuki's question interrupted Gajeel's thought.
"I don't follow, what's this about?" Yuno asked with a puzzled look.
"There was stuff inside this room last time I was here," Yuki replied.
Yuno still gives him a puzzled look. "You were here last time." This made Yuki more confused.
"Why are we hanging out here giving the chance for bugs to get inside," Yuno said with an innocent smile. "I was waiting for a long time, but, there's no rush because this is the first time Yuki has come to my house."
Yuki didn't understand what was going on with her.
Gajeel narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Chelsea said she saw Yuki running out and Yuno was chasing. Now, she doesn't remember him being here, that doesn't make any sense."
Yuki, Gajeel, and Akise were walking down the street taking what Yuno said to them.
"I don't understand..."
"There is a term that she probably falsified her memories so she wouldn't go mad. Mentally speaking, she has erased her memories using her mind to gain a stable condition."
"Seriously, that's new to me," Gajeel commented a little surprised. "Guess people in these worlds have different mental health issues. I wonder if that includes those in other worlds."
"Anyway, I can say this," Akise looked at Yuki. "Without you, Yukiteru, she would break. Simply put, you're a stable influence on her."
Gajeel put his hand to his chin. "Guess that makes sense at least to him." He then noticed Yuki's hesitant look. "However, something seems to be bothering him. I wonder if has something to do with whatever made him run out as Chelsea described." Yuki looked at the photo he had of him and Yuno. "Yuno..."
18:22 Sakurami City Police Station
Keigo and his men were having a meeting in a conference room. "Listen up guys, about the killer of the culprit from the serial dog murder case...these are the suspects covered in the black liquid that is most likely a type of acid," He pointed a stick at two photos of Yuki and Yuno. "First is Yukiteru Amano and the second is Yuno Gasai. Both are 14 years old."
Nishijima was in the meeting too. "Kusuru..."
"Capture these two within 24 hours!" The officers saluted and left the room leaving Keigo alone.
"What about Gajeel and his team, shall they be part of this capture?" Nishijima asked.
"No, I'm giving them the time off for now," Keigo replied. "The last thing I want is to get innocent people involved. So, call Gajeel in the morning and tell him along with his friends are off the day until my next investigation is over."
In an unknown realm
The six demons and Machias were having a discussion.
"So, the old geezer and his home are in nothing but a rotting old wasteland." There was a demon that reptilian-snake-like skin. He was also muscular with black hair styled in a triangular bob-cut and small, green-colored eyes. "Honestly, I was hoping to see some fun and blood. Mostly, a little fun with women."
Draco
Lamia Demon(Etherious)/King of the Reptilians
Curse: Unknown
"Hahahahaha...I'd prefer to bomb the old bastard's home including his little puppies..."
Jackal(reincarnated)
Former member of Tartaros/Nine Demon Gates of Tartaros
Demon(Etherious)
Curse: Bomb
"Yeah, that old buzzard's body will rot in hell. I wish Master Ezel would've seen my work."
Rugoro
Demon
Curse: Rotting
"I think it's time to add some more fun to this world." A strange puppet-humanoid figure wearing a circus clown-like jester outfit was seen sitting on a chair with purple hair.
Puppetina
Demon Puppet(Etherious)/Puppet Queen
Curse: Puppet Control
"Fun, death, kill," There was the demon reaper standing in the shadows.
Sklade
Demon Reaper(Etherious)
Curse: Madness
"Aw, why can't I get some of the fun? I'm dying to get the chance to meet that cutie Yuno Gasai." A young teenage boy with long blond hair was seen looking eager and licking his lips pervertedly.
Andrew
Android Machais
Power: Unknown
"Enough, this isn't time for your perverted desires, Andrew" There stood a former Demon of Tartaros, one that was one of the Nine Demon Gates.
Torafuzar(reincarnated)
The Dark
Former member of the Tartaros/Nine Demon Gates of Tartaros
Curse: Tenchi Kaimei
"Yes, to think the Holders would go this far just to win the Survival Game. Humans are such lowly creatures, not surprising they would betray one of their own when someone has them backed into a corner. Nothing we the Seven Devils of Tartaros can't handle. My plan is going slowly but right into our plans."
Brron/King of the Mad World
Demon(Etherious)
Curse: Unknown
"Puppeteer...you're on."
The puppet queen smirked evilly.
Akise set up the wedding rehearsal to see what Yuno's house is hiding. For some reason, the three corpses are missing but there is a giant hole that Yuno dug up. Gajeel caught a whiff of a familiar scent in the hole. Minene's backstory is revealed a little that she and Detective Nishijima met a while ago. Hibiki and his group learn of Keigo's family and find out some troubling news. Now, Keigo and his men are ordered to bring in Yuno and Yuki who are suspects in Hinata's father's death. What are his reasons for doing something and what will happen to the others, find out next time.
End of chapter.
