Day 21: Union

"Ow," As soon as Ryan woke up, the pain of his entire body being sore hit him like a truck.

"You're finally awake," Ryan turned his head to see Suisei, sharpening her axe.

"No, I wasn't trying to cross the border," Ryan replied as he sat up, wincing in pain. "I guess I have some explaining to do."

"That you do," Suisei said. "I decided not to hack you into pieces for lying to me and for potentially being a threat. Please don't make me change my mind."

"Yeah, yeah," Ryan said. "I'll try to make it quick. We have a wedding to get to after all."

-

"That's…" Suisei looked at Ryan with an unreadable expression as she dispelled her axe.

"Yeah, this is kind of the third time I've been in this time," Ryan rubbed the back of his head. "I think you can understand why I'm doing what I'm doing. Or at least I hope."

"I'm sorry," Suisei shook her head. She stood up giving Ryan a hug.

"S-Suisei…!" Ryan stiffened. Even after all this time and after all of the friends he made, he was still unfamiliar with intimacy. Frankly, he was scared of the concept.

"Jeez, just shut up and hug me back," Suisei giggled softly. "I'm trying to comfort you here."

"If you insist," Ryan sighed, hugging her back. 'Edhas would be having a field day if he were here.'

-

Amelia heaved a sigh as she sat down on the bed, rubbing her temples. "Are you okay?" Gura asked, giving Amelia a concerned look.

"Yeah…" Amelia forced a smile as she met Gura's eyes. "I'm just thinking about yesterday."

"What did you do yesterday?" Gura sat down, leaning on her fiancée and wrapping an arm around her. "You said you had something important to do."

"Kiara was kidnapped by MILF," Amelia explained.

"What?!" Gura gasped in response. "Why didn't you tell me?!"

"I didn't want you to get hurt," Amelia smiled at Gura. "I know you're stronger than me, but I wanted to do a covert operation."

"What happened?" Gura looked hurt, but she understood why Amelia did what she did.

"I called up Ryan to tell him what happened," Amelia started. "He said he was already on his way to the base. When I got there, Suisei was there as well."

"How did he know? Isn't he supposed to be human?" Gura asked, tilting her head.

"About that," Amelia rubbed the back of her head. "When we found Kiara, she was being attacked by this weird guy with a dark energy… it makes me shudder just thinking about him."

Gura pulled Amelia closer as he heard her breath shake. "I'm here. Nothing's going to happen."

"I know," Amelia squeezed her hands together, steadying herself. "Apparently Ryan knew him… or at least knew what that energy was. Out of nowhere, a bunch of magical energy exerted from him and he killed the guy."

"He has magic?!" Gura exclaimed. Magical beings always exert magic energy, even when they're hiding their presence. The fact Ryan wasn't exerting any magical energy should mean that he was one hundred percent human.

"Yeah," Amelia said. "If I could compare him to someone, I would probably compare him to Ina."

"He's that strong?" Gura's eyes widened in shock.

"Yeah," Amelia sighed. "Well, let's not worry about that right now. We have a wedding to get to, after all."

-

Grimm was sitting on a couch in a wooden cottage, sipping on some coffee as he looked at blueprints for the first KFP in the Phoenix Dimension. "This actually looks pretty good," he said to himself as he set the mug down. "I'm sure a lot of people would like this."

He looked up as a white and blue flame appeared before him. Suddenly, Nux appeared with Dorris, Rosalyn, Spade Echo, and Artia as he carried Civia and Yogiri who were both heavily beaten. "Can you lend me a hand here?"

"Of course," Grimm shot up, gently grabbing Civia, who was the more bloodied from the two. He laid her down on the couch and started to heal her wounds, orange flames burning over them.

"Where are we?" Rosalyn asked, looking at Nux. "Better yet, who are you?"

"Name's Nux," Nux introduced himself as he started to heal Yogiri, although he was going a slower than Grimm was. "This is a place where we can get Civia and Yogiri over here healed before I take you to Japan."

"Not that we're not thankful, but why are you helping us?" Nux turned as Dorris spoke.

"A friend of mine wanted me to save your asses," Nux replied.

"Give her here," Grimm gestured towards Yogiri as he was finished healing Civia's wounds. Nux gently picked her up, handing her to Grimm.

"You can't stay here long," Grimm said. "At most you can stay here a few hours, but I can't have non-phoenixes here for too long."

"Thanks, Grimm," Nux smirked before turning to the other girls. "Now kick your feet up. You mist have had a hard time the past couple of years."

-

"Hey Ina," Ryan said, walking up to Ina who was wearing a lavender dress. "Do you know where Tenchou is?"

"Kiara will actually be the one singing, so she's preparing for that," Ina said. "I guess you can say it's going to be fire."

"That's a reach, even for you," Ryan rubbed the back of his.

"Anyways, since when did you have magic?" Ina asked. Since Ryan already revealed he had magic to Suisei, Kiara, Amelia, Calli, and YAGOO, he reasoned that he didn't need to hide it anymore.

"I'll probably end up explaining tomorrow," Ryan replied. "I already told Suisei since she was at my place this morning, but I don't want to make Gura and Ame's day about me, ya know?"

"Humu-humu," Ina nodded. "Anyways, shall we find a seat."

-

"Fancy seeing you here," Suisei said as she sat next to Ryan.

"Yeah, yeah," Ryan sighed, waving his hand dismissively as she sat down. "The wedding is about to start."

As he said that, Kiara walked onto the stage off on the side, wearing what seemed to be an orange maid costume. She then started to sing a song called "Heart Challenger". Huh, maybe she really is an idol, Ryan thought to himself, but perished the thought as the mental image of her trying to drink Calli's "milk" popped into his head. Nevermind. That would never happen.

One by one, couples walked down the aisle. Fubuki and Mio, Noel and Flare, Moona and Iofi, Okayu and Korone, and Marine and Rushia walked down the aisle, taking their respective sides on the altar. Enma was the one to walk down with the rings and Uto was the flower girl.

Ryan's smile widened as Gura and Amelia walked down the aisle together. Amelia opted for wearing a yellow dress instead of a suit and Gura wore the blue gown that she wore the first time around. Ryan's eyes followed the couple as the stepped up. YAGOO then walked up from the side, walking towards the microphone on the altar. "Today we gather to wed two people that are very near and dear to all of our hearts. A tale through time between two people who have now found themselves here."

Ryan turned to look at Suisei as the readings started. He thought about the past few weeks. Suisei had always been there for him. Well, physically at least. He wasn't sure if she was there for him as a friend all the time, but she was there for him, nonetheless.

I can think about stuff like this later, Ryan thought to himself. He looked up to see Amelia and Gura facing each other, YAGOO in between them. Looks like it's time for the vows.

"Gura, I've known you ever since I got my magic," Amelia started. "I met you while Jack was taking me through time, training me to become a competent mage. When I first saw you, I knew I didn't want to leave. I was wounded and stranded on a rock and you came up from the sea and tended to my wounds. We spent a few months together, just chatting and hunting and living together. When Jack picked me up, I had a huge argument with him. One of my greatest regrets was leaving you without saying goodbye. When I saw you in the room when YAGOO introduced us to our gen mates, I couldn't be happier. From there, it's history. Honestly, I think I used up all my luck in seeing you again. I love you, Gura and I don't ever want to take this back."

"Eh, I wouldn't lie if I said I wasn't nervous, but I know I won't regret this either," Gura looked down, closing her eyes before opening them again to meet Amelia's. "When I was a baby shark, I was just swimming along when I saw a human beaten and starving. It was the first human I've ever met. I admit that I first met you out of curiosity, but as I got to know you, I slowly started to fall in love. When you vanished, I was so lost without you. I spent a whole 4000 years searching for you. When YAGOO recruited me, you were the last person I thought I would find you. When I saw your face, I was so happy, I couldn't think. Even if you weren't the person who I thought you were, I was still happy. Words can't describe how happy I am to be here right now. I love you, Ame."

At that point, YAGOO motioned to Enma, who walked up to the two. "Heh, I never thought you two would grow a pair," Enma smirked as she put the rings on each of their fingers. "I'm so proud of you two."

"With the power invested in me as the CEO of an entertainment company, I pronounce you two wife and wife," YAGOO said, his smile widening. "You may now kiss the bride."

"Ame!" Gura tackled Amelia to the floor, planting her lips on her.

I guess I can enjoy this happy ending for now, Ryan thought to himself. At least they can be happy.

-

"Alona~!" Ryan turned around to see Aki and Mel walking towards him. "Fubuki was talking about you, so we figured we would see what the big deal is."

"I see," Ryan smiled, offering his hand to shake. "My name is Ryan Shade. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"My name is Aki Rosenthal," Aki introduced himself. "The pleasure is all mine."

"Konkapu~!" Mel bounded over to Ryan, an excited expression on her face. "My name is Yozora Mel! It's nice to meet you!"

"It's nice to meet you too," Ryan said, his smile only widening.

"Ryan!" Ryan turned to see Gura bounding over him, tackling him into a hug as Amelia walked up to him.

"Thanks for saving my wife," Gura said.

"It's no problem," Ryan rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

"You know, it's a shame you don't have a mom," Amelia sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I would have loved to-,"

"Ame, you have a wife," Ryan reminded her.

"Speaking of wives, you better run," Amelia winked at Ryan.

"What do you mean wi-," Ryan was cut off when he felt a malicious aura from behind him. He turned around to see Suisei looking at Ryan with a scary look on her face.

"Ryan, I believe we need to have a talk," Suisei smiled.

"You know, I don't know how this correlates with wives," Ryan turned to Amelia.

"What was that?" Ryan stiffened when Suisei summoned her giant golden battle axe.

"Ah shit."

-

"You know, the axe was unnecessary," Ryan grumbled, healing a large cut on his arm as he walked home, Suisei following not far behind with a sweet smile on her face.

"I believe it was perfectly necessary," Suisei said as Ryan opened the door to the building, Suisei walking through first.

"Whatever you say," Ryan grumbled. As he opened the door, he saw the embers of a blue and white fading away as Nux stood there with Nux holding an unconscious Civia and Yogiri, Spade Echo, Artia, Dorris, and Rosalyn looking at him, slightly shocked.

"I can explain," Nux said.

"Ryan, what's this?" Suisei asked, a rusty axe to the back of his neck.

"Time and place, Nux," Ryan grumbled.

"What?" Nux tried to shrug but failed because of the two people on his shoulders. "It's not like a had a choice."

"Waiting on you, Ryan~," Suisei said, pushing the axe into his skin.

"Shit."