Part II
~OoOoO~
Kenshiro walked around Prontera and looked for the special officer to get her ring removed. As she did, she heard whistling and comments from random knights.
"Ain't that a beaut?"
"T'bad she's married."
"I'll love me a lady like tha' 'round me when I'm killing."
Kenshiro tried to ignore the attention. She disliked it. She found some of her friends and ran towards them, but stopped. From behind them she thought she could see someone mouth a word at her. She strained her eyesight and looked closely... And the figure of one of her long lost friends seemed to stare back. He glared at Kenshiro and mouthed what she feared the most.
"Whore"
Kenshiro's eyes saddened. She shook her head and looked again, only to see that the figure was gone.
What am I thinking... Yru quit a long time ago, he wouldn't be around Prontera would he?
Shaking her head, she sat in Prontera. N e R o was next to her, and quickly a line formed, all her friends chatting and complimenting her. She smiled and blushed a bit.
I wonder where xtwilightx is... she pondered. Dirge of Cerberus appeared.
"Kenshiro! Meet my daughter, Yukihime!" he said, and smiled broadly, obviously proud of his new fatherhood. Kenshiro beamed.
"Wow! So Yuki has you as a daddy now?"
"Yeah! We're gonna go get her some wings!"
"Oh that's wonderful!"
"Not as wonderful as you though." he said teasingly.
"What?" Kenshiro frowned a bit, nervous.
"You and xtwilightx! Your marriage! Everyone knows about it!"
"Oh! Yeah!"
"By the way, you look wonderful. He'll love it."
Kenshiro blushed. "You really think so? Think it's not too fancy or something?"
"Nah, it looks perfect. You have a great sense of style. He's really lucky."
"More like Naoto. She was the one that dressed me up."
"Oh wow, she has some real talent then. Probably all that practice to dress up for Telecaster. On their honeymoon, I heard that she dyed her hair light blonde, and her dress a soft yellow and pink, along with that Mystic Rose. Everyone said she looked great."
Kenshiro smiled, proud of her best friend. "Yep. She's great."
Suddenly everyone started cheering. Coming from north of the Plaza was xtwilightx, wearing an elegant brown tuxedo with a soft green shirt underneath and a small white tie. He wore a brown hat, and looked very neat. All his wounds had disappeared and as he approached the group he put a Romantic Leaf into his mouth. Slowly they all made way, and Kenshiro stood at the end, smiling. He gaped at her as she ran up to him.
"I have to ask Aki or Pandora to take off the darned ring, but as soon as they do we can get married." she said, smiling.
"Uhuh..." was all xtwilightx could say. Kenshiro felt uncomfortable.
"Something wrong?" she asked. xtwilightx shook his head.
"No, you just look..."
"Erm, too much...?" she said and frowned.
"Beautiful..." he said, and gaped at her again. Everyone began to nudge him and pat his back, congratulating him. Kenshiro bowed her head slightly, and looked up at xtwilightx.
"Thank you. You look pretty good yourself." she said politely. He blushed a bit and sat next to her. John Galt slowly approached Kenshiro and snickered.
"Which wedding is this? Number... twenty?" he teased. Kenshiro was not amused.
"It's my second."
"Oh really? I think we can all doubt that." he said, and laughed. Kenshiro decided to laugh along, no matter how fake it was.
"I guess I'm just really lucky though."
"Make sure you don't divorce this one."
"I'll make sure if we do, he pays for it." They both laughed heartilly. John blessed Kenshiro and smiled.
"Good luck Kenshi. I hope he makes you happy." he said, and left. Kenshiro felt pleased.
They continued laughing and smiling with everyone, Kenshiro being teased and flirted with. It began to grow dark, and so each of them headed to bed, excited for the day to come...
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kenshiro ran back to the center of Prontera, clutching her dress. Guillermo had told her that Pandora was on. She had waited all night to remove the ring, and now was her chance. She patiently waited next to merchants whistling at her, but she ignored them. After a short wait, a small girl approached her. Kenshiro looked closely at her.
"Pandora?" she asked.
"Yes, what do you need?" she asked in an eager mood. Kenshiro showed her the ring on her finger.
"Oh, congratulations!" said Pandora, but then frowned when she saw Kenshiro's reaction.
"I'm getting married today, but I can't because I have this ring. I talked to the Deviruchi, I'm divorced, but I heard you need a special officer to take it off...? So I asked you. Is it okay? Can you remove it?"
Pandora smiled. "Watch." She grabbed Kenshiro's hand and a blue aura spread around her glove. She grabbed the ring gently with her index finger and thumb, and smoothly pulled it out. Kenshiro gaped.
"Amazing!!" she yelled out. Pandora grinned again, threw the ring in he air and snapped her fingers. The ring turned into glittering dust that slowly disappeared as it descended down to the floor of the plaza. Kenshiro's eyes were wide open.
"All done? Nothing more?" asked Pandora, smiling at the priestess's reaction.
"No, that was all, thanks!" she said, still amazed at the spectacle.
"I'll take a leave then, goodbye!" and as Pandora said this, she began walking away, another blueish aura spreading around her as she seemed to fade in the breeze...
Kenshiro rubbed her eyes. She looked at her hand. There wasn't a ring. The priestess quickly yelled accross Prontera.
"I'm getting married! I'm getting married!!" she yelled, hugging anyone in front of her. A booming voice echoed accross the city.
"The Trial of Heroes is still in progress!" it yelled out, and Kenshiro frowned. She looked at a clock in a nearby building and sat to wait. Patiently she waited for xtwilightx to finish with the Trial of Heroes...
She began to doze off....
Slowly...
She was back at Hugel. A soul linker was waiting at the altar. Kenshiro smiled, the soul linker had beautiful red hair flowing down to her chest. Suddenly behind her a stalker appeared, long red hair also. He frowned.
"What do you want?" she asked, a bit afraid.
"Don't you remember me?" the stalker said.
"I only know two stalkers... D-Dusk Stalker?" she stuttered, stepping
back. She noticed they were not in Hugel anymore.
"No. Shikari you dummy. What, are you afraid?"
"N-no..."
"You didn't come to my wedding."
"You... you were... I was.... didn't know..."
"Didn't Naoto tell you?"
"No..."
"Fine." he said. He slowly turned, and faded away just like Pandora had done...
Kenshiro looked around her. She was now in the Moscovia Forest, running from a Mantis. Someone had come between them and stabbed the Mantis swiftly. There was something wrong though. There were two Kenshiros now. One of them was an acolyte... and the other was a priestess. Priestess Kenshiro walked up closer to the scared acolyte, and saw a taekwon running up behind them. The acolyte Kenshiro thanked the person. They introduced themselves, and priestess Kenshiro decided to listen.
"I'm Sir Ryu."
"I'm Kenshiro-san." said the acolyte shyly.
"I'm the sexy Zymiriel." said the taekwon. Sir Ryu laughed.
"Ahaha, interesting. What are you two doing around here?" he asked.
"We're leveling. I'm going to be a sexy soul linker." blurted out Zymiriel. Kenshiro-san hid slowly behind the brave taekwon.
"Ah, daring. And you, little acolyte?" asked Sir Ryu.
"She's going to be a priestess." said the taekwon proudly. Kenshiro-san nodded.
"Ah. I'll leech you two if your little acolyte friend there buffs me." he looked curiously at her. "Can she even buff?"
Kenshiro-san took this as a dare. She stepped up proudly and puffed out her chest. "I can buff well! I'm going to be a priest, the best priest in the whole kingdom!"
Sir Ryu laughed and walked towards an unsuspecting Les. "We'll see about that. Keep me buffed." he said, and he raised his sword high in the air. He brang it down hard on the Les, and it howled in pain. It turned and with its sharp nails it cut a deep gash in Sir Ryu's cheek. He began to bleed rapidly, but this did not stop him. Kenshiro-san stared in awe at the sword's swiftness. Sir Ryu was angered. The Les kicked him onto the floor and was about to hit one last time...
BAM!
Zymiriel had kicked the Mavka straight in the face. It fell sideways and fixed its wings. Sir Ryu staggered to his feet and glared at Kenshiro-san. "HEAL!" he yelled, as he quickly ducked to avoid a flying Zymiriel who had attempted to kick the Les again. Kenshiro-san's legs trembled. She slowly raised her arms and pointed them at Sir Ryu. The Les, now rabid, neared them. Behind Kenshiro-san, a Mantis began to creep up, its pincers waving widly. Sir Ryu's eyes opened wide. He ran towards Kenshiro-san. The Priestess Kenshiro was now standing. She was casting heal at Sir Ryu, but it seemed to have no effect. She began to cast Kyrie Eleison wildly at the acolyte Kenshiro-san, but it was all in vain. She watched in horror as Sir Ryu pushed the acolyte Kenshiro-san onto the ground and jabbed is sword into the Mantis's pincers. The Mantis howled in pain, attracting nearby Leshijs. Kenshiro-san's eyes began to water, about to cry. She was terrified. Zymiriel weakly stood up, now in defense from the Les.
"K-Ken! Heal Ryu!" she yelled weakly. The Les gave a final hit and Zymiriel fell to the ground, bleeding and deeply wounded. Kenshiro-san looked around her. Tears flowed out her eyes, leaving wet traces in her now dirt filled face. She yelled out and began to heal Zymiriel wildly but in vain.
"Zymi! ZYMI! Sir Ryu, Zymi! No!!" she said, sobbing now. She heard a scream, one that crept into her very soul, so she felt it inside her bones, making her skin crawl. It was not a shriek, but a cry for help. She turned to look at Sir Ryu. He was on the floor, the Wood Goblin healing the Les and the Mantis. They all began to creep up to him, as he crawled away. Kenshiro-san ran over to him, she began to sob, leaving a trace of tears behind her...
"Kenshi? Kenshi? Kenshi you'll miss you're wedding!"
"RYU! NO!" Kenshiro awoke abruptly. She had lied down near the fountain in the Prontera Plaza, and apparently dozed off. Naoto pursed her lips.
"Him again? Kenshi, everyone's waiting for you at the church."
"Nao...?" Kenshiro looked up at Naoto, and saw that Naoto's eyes were swollen, and her nose was red. "Naoto what happened?" she asked her friend as she stood and wiped off the dust off her dress.
"N-nothing. Everyone is at the church now. xtwilightx is still getting the money, I sold a card for you and slipped the zeny into your pocket while you slept. I hope that's okay...?"
"Naoto, something's wrong..."
"Don't worry about it, alright Kenshi?"
"I have to... You were crying..."
Naoto stood again and frowned deeply. "Kenshiro Saitama. You are about to get married. You're late to your own wedding. What are you doing worrying about me?"
"You're my friend." Kenshiro held Naoto's hand and walked with her to the church. On the way, Naoto decided to explain what happened.
"Kenshi... what if he doesn't feel the same way?" Naoto asks, and Kenshiro could tell she was really worried about the matter.
"He will. I know it."
"But... what if.. what if he gets angry at me?"
"How can that ever happen?"
"I'm scared Kenshi..."
"You'll do fine. Just say what you feel."
"But... what if... just what if... he gets disgusted or disturbed by it..."
They were right outside the church. Kenshiro clutched her friend's shoulders tightly and looked in her eyes.
"Listen to me Naoto. And you listen good. Telecaster is a wonderful man. He's absolutely great. He knows you like him. He knows you could be in love with him. Just tell him you simply love him. Three words Nao, 'I love you'. Simple to say. And they mean the world. If he doesn't feel the same way by now, my name isn't Kenshiro Saitama, and Songpyun isn't a bitter super novice."
Naoto smiled a bit at the joke and blushed. She hugged her priest friend tightly and kissed her cheek, tears swelling in her eyes again. "I hope your wedding goes well, Kenshi. xtwilightx is really lucky."
"Thanks. And I'm the lucky one."
"Haha, whatever you say." Naoto smiled and ran off. "G'bye Kenshiro!"
Kenshiro waved at her friend as she ran off. "G'bye... you crazy wizard." she whispered to herself. The priestess looked up at the huge church and stared at it.
So... this is it. I'm getting married... She stepped into the building.
Inside she wandered down the long hall, and saw the altar. It was breath taking. Everyone sat there, in the rows, but when they saw her they ran up to her to greet her. She smiled. Behind her she heard heavy footsteps. A crusader with a brown hat walked up to Kenshiro. He smiled. "I heard. Naoto told me."
"S-Selrahc!" Kenshiro's smile widened. She ran up to him and hugged him tightly. He hugged back carefully, he was known for his huge crushing hugs.
"Kenshiro, I want to tell you, you've been like a daughter to me. So on this wedding day... would you allow me to act as your father?"
Kenshiro's eyes opened wide and shined in the candlelight around the church. "Yes..." she said, and smiled again. "Father." she murmured. It felt familiar and she liked it. Someone shouted.
"Kenshiro, Guillermo wants you to wait for him!" someone said.
"What? But the Trial of Heroes line is pretty long, no? What if-" Right then a small letter materialed itself into Kenshiro's hand. She opened it and began to read.
"Wait for me! The ToH line is long, but I want to see you married!!
- Guillermo"
Kenshiro pouted and wrote on the back of the paper.
"Hurry, I'm gonna marry as soon as xtwilightx gets here!" she wrote back and closed her grip, as she watched the letter disappear in her hand. She sat up near the altar and talked with everyone there. People came up and gave her presents. Anduin Lothar began to tease and argue with Selrahc over who was Kenshiro's real father. She sighed and look at the candles. I wonder how Naoto is doing with Telecaster... She then received another letter, from Guillermo again.
"I'm hurrying!! Please wait!!"
She replied again.
"Hurry! We're waiting for Dirge and you!" she watched the letter disappear again, and quickly kept receiving replies...
"I'm trying! Gah, it's a long line!"
"Dirge said he was almost done! Hurry Guil!"
"It's not like I can rush GMs, you picked the wedding at a bad time."
"True, how was I supposed to know that ToH would end so late??"
"No one knew, ah, if I'm not there get married. I wish you luck."
"Thanks..."
"Has Naoto told Telecaster?"
"She told you too? No. She said she was going to tell him after the wedding."
"Oh, she's there?"
"No, she's preparing for her moment. I hope it goes well..."
"Yeah, me too. AAAH this line won't move... Go get married. I'll go to one of your other weddings."
"Hey!"
"Kidding~"
"Fine, have fun waiting for your prize."
"Haha, thanks. And congratulations."
"Thanks to you too."
"Dirge is here!" someone yelled out. Kenshiro stood quickly and saw the gunslinger walk into the hall. He looked at Kenshiro and smiled, saying in spanish. "Te ves mejor que nunca." ((You look better than ever.)).
Kenshiro blushed. "Thank you! Zychan, come come, where were you?"
"ToH, couldn't get Yuki her wings..."
"No? Well, there's always the next ToH.."
"Yeah, at least she finished. Did I miss the wedding?"
"No, xtwilightx isn't here yet..." Dirge of Cerberus nudged her.
"You owe me that 800,000 zeny from his Vanilmirth hat."
Kenshiro facepalmed herself. "I'm sorry! Ah, I forgot... And he's paying for the wedding. I have everything... But he pays for the wedding perse."
Dirge of Cerberus smiled and patted her head, careul not to ruin her hair.
"No te preocupes, don't worry, you don't need to pay me back."
"I have to... Right after the wedding I'll go hunt some Firelocks or Evil Druids and sell some things."
"No worries, really." Dirge of Cerberus felt flattered that Kenshiro was so worried. She, however, could not pay much attention to the conversation. She was worried that xtwilightx wasn't going to marry her.
He's late... maybe he backed out...? She looked up at Dirge of Cerberus and he could see her sadness.
"He'll be here, don't worry." he told her and hugged her.
"But I'm a fail priestess... What if he doesn't want to marry me anymore?" she asked, worried.
"Now why on earth would I do that?" a voice said. Everyone's head turned to the entrance, where a clown was standing. He looked incredibely handsome as he removed his brownish hat and hung it on a wall. He walked forward and smiled. Everyone cheered and began shoving Kenshiro closer to him. She was blushing and staring at him.
"Er, too much?" he asked.
"No.. you look... wonderful..." she said, and blushed again. Kenshiro smiled as she felt his fingers around hers, holding her hand. The wedding lady happily accepted their money for the wedding, and sent them to the altar. There, the Father told xtwilightx to propose again. The clown kneeled and held Kenshiro's hand. He looked directly into her eyes and spoke in a gentle but clear voice.
"Kenshiro-san, my beautiful priestess, would you grant me the honor of marrying you here and now, in this church?"
Kenshiro blushed deeply and looked around. She saw Anduin Lothar blow his nose loudly on Selrahc's cape as the large crusader growled. Catching Kenshiro's eye, he smiled at her and nodded. Kenshiro's eyes moved to the last row, where Dirge of Cerberus was sitting. My dear best friend... He smiled at her and nodded. Kenshiro looked back down at xtwilightx and his hopeful face. The priestess, now aware of the long silence, choked out a "Yes.", and cheering was heard along the church, where a few nuns had gone out, shushing the crowd. Kenshiro heard shouts from the Prontera Plaza, and a booming voice was heard, announcing their wedding. She received a message from John Galt, congratulating her again. As they said their vows, she felt xtwilightx squeeze her hand gently. Finally the words were heard. "You may now kiss the bride."
Kenshiro and xtwilightx looked at each other, smiling. The priestess closed her eyes, and the clown pulled a lock of red hair away from her face, letting his hand rest gently on her cheek as their lips neared each other. His lips are so soft... Kenshiro thought. xtwilightx smiled at her and looked at Selrahc. The crusader sighed and gave a gesture suggesting that they may continue. As everyone cheered, he embraced her and kissed her deeply. Anduin Lothar yelled out in protest.
"My daughter! My daughter! You can't kiss him like that! HEY! SOMEONE DO SOMETHING!!" he yelled out, and Selrahc brought down his shield hard on the hunter's head.
Kenshiro held xtwilightx's hand again and ran out of the church, with the crowd of people following them. She laughed and smiled as she saw how the clown was stumbling along the stones, trying to keep up with her. As everyone ran off yelling the news around Prontera, they talked to the Kafra and warped to Izlude. Too poor to go to Jawaii, the honeymoon spot, they decided to stay there. xtwilightx carried her around Izlude and smiled. He set her down under a tree, and there he kissed her again. Kenshiro blushed and tears of joy were streaming down her cheeks.
"I can't believe this..." said the clown softly.
"What?"
He fixed her hair away from her face again and pulled her close to him. "I'm now officially married to the most beautiful priestess in Midgard."
Kenshiro blushed and kissed him again. "And I'm married to the handsomest clown in the kingdom."
And I love you so much...