Bio-Booster Armor Guyver is Copyrighted to Yoshiki Takaya and Tokuma Shoten Publishing Co in Japan and is trade marked to VIZ Communications Inc.. I am using the characters and ideas without permission but am not making any money from this. This fictional work does belong to me.

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Bet most of you thought you'd never see this did you? :P

For... Zero-chan, who hasn't said a word but who nagged enough that I remembered.

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The Conquered
By Jade Tatsu
Chapter XXII - Tranquility

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Our early time with the Kyheenan's was a chance for us to learn about the universe. I don't know that they think of it the same but that is how we thought about it. I am thankful for it, as it gave us the time to learn, and accustom ourselves to the power that was ours merely by our being.

In some ways, though we may strive to be better, I guess we never leave behind the insecurities of youth. And when you are dealing with the potential survival of your species, you feel insecure, no matter how well you try to hide it. It reminded me of the first time I was allowed to practice medicine, without my teachers chaperoning but a thousand times worse. One life hung in the balance that time, millions... billions were at stake this time. But one cannot worry about such things all the time, or one would go mad and for the education the Kyheenan's gave us and the distraction is caused, I am thankful.

But it was not all worry then. There were times of joy then and times of happiness so profound that I often wish I could return, just to experience those near perfect moments again. It is almost as if, in times of worry or stress or in times where destruction seems imminent, the universe can give us beauty, love and serenity to balance, and a fleeting moment of happiness is payment for the hours and days of concern.

It hardly seems fair but one must take what one may find in this universe and one learns never to look back.

---

Sho stood looking at the stars through the portal. They were beautiful and he always felt calmer when he could just gaze upon them. You could look at the night sky from a planet but the stars from space were something that was truly unique. There was beauty everywhere in the universe, you simply had to look for it.

With a sigh he turned back to the conversation. He was discussing with Tarnsi and Uryal'ng what each race was likely to do when confronted by the Advents as well as trying to determine if they could be approached now with thoughts of joining an alliance to fight. Basoid op Kyheen, the Officer for Interstellar Relations and Paos'ya xa Kyheen, their Tactical Officer were also present but they had been relatively quiet. Sho hoped that they became accustomed to his presence soon. They were discussing the other races because no one was sure, on either side, how to phrase an alliance so they were taking it one day at a time until they worked out a more permanent arrangement.

At the moment though, given the information he was receiving it might be easier to discuss the Kyheenan situation. Through his Guyver Unit he knew the strengths and weaknesses of many races but what he really knew was the individual and the Guyver Units, even those linked to an alien of the species in question, usually did not know much about the politics of situations.

Guyver politics were easy, especially for a warrior; I am stronger, I win, I am right. The Kyheenans though, knew the politics on the more complex scale and could speculate some reasons behind the expected actions of some races. It was all guesswork since in reality they might do something different but it was better than nothing and it was helping him become familiar with the particulars of each species. So far though, they didn't seem to be having much luck in finding anyone suitable for an alliance and a different tact might be in order.

Sho held up one hand. "So the Findu won't fight," he concluded tiredly, receiving nods from all present. "Let's try something else then. Of the more advanced races, who will fight?"

Paos'ya frowned. "Advanced?" He questioned.

"Ah, sorry," Sho apologised in reflex as he searched through his knowledge of Kyheenan for a more appropriate word. He forgot that words and concepts weren't the same for each species. "The Older races," he added, trying to clarify. "The races that are respected or looked up to by others."

"Their reactions would be varied although..." Uryal'ng looked towards Basoid for his opinion.

"I think if provoked enough they would fight," the other Kyheenan concluded. "ib Kyheen in his wisdom has already decided that we will fight and I think most of the others would at least try... Although they might wait until they are directly attacked."

"Who are these races?" Fukamachi asked curiously.

"Advanced races," Tarnsi started, using Sho's term for the status. "That's always been an argument between all races, since no one wants to be considered weaker. The Tekki and Advents are obviously two advanced races. Anyone the Advents considered an enemy would normally be considered advanced but they are usually dead so I guess you'd have to classify them as historically advanced..."

"The Tekki isn't a race," Sho finally broke in.

"They aren't?" Basoid questioned with Paos'ya nodding his agreement. "What are they then?"

"Heh," Sho snorted lightly. "Those leaf like troops you see are an extension of Guyver Armor created by a very powerful Warrior Guyver Lord. He does have some races helping him of course but he is, by himself, almost the complete force that is facing the Advents."

Uryal'ng whistled in disbelief and awe, the gesture strangely human while his subordinates looked scared.

"How do you know this?" the Tactical Officer whispered.

Fukamachi shrugged. "I met him," he said off handedly. "He's actually very friendly if you aren't a threat. Go on," he gave the encouragement.

Tarnsi nodded, filing away the information Sho had just given them. The humans hadn't been in space that long but it appeared they knew the powers very well. "Apart from the obvious," she began again. "There is the Wesodin Corang Alliance. They haven't had to fight anyone for a while but the last time they did it was outright victory for them. They are an alliance of two species and it is a symbiotic arrangement. I'm not sure how necessary it is but it benefits them all greatly. The Wesodin are generally considered to serve the Corang but the relationship is more equal than that. They are probably considered equal with us Kyheenans."

"Next off you'd probably have the Mangoran or the Psunadas," Basoid took up the explanation. "The Mangorans are warriors, they will fight but they will be very individualistic. Their ability to work as a whole or in a large scale battle might be compromised."

"I think they will adapt," Paos'ya said. "The Mangorans haven't had to fight in many large scale battles because of their fearsome nature but they have been called upon to fight in one or two and I believe once they made an assault on an Advent that was a disaster but a well planned disaster. They will adapt, especially if they can get a strong leader."

"The Psunadas are the natives of Xardan. They are known for their teamwork though. That's the main reason they still exist as an individual race. Although most of their neighbours are non aggressive they would like the resources of Xardan," Uryal'ng said. "I saw a Psunadas battle fleet once," he shook his head, closing his inner eyelids as he remembered. "Their formation work was flawless," he added softly, a note of remembrance in his tone.

Paos'ya stroked his chin... "I guess the only other two races of comparable level would be the Lyusan and Jyt'nr. They are both native to Dunrossil but they're too busy fighting each other to worry about the rest of the universe. What we've seen of their technologies though... they are advanced. Assuming they don't kill each other off... But if one can gain dominance, or if they can come to a peace deal, that will make for some interesting power shifts."

"A civil war?" Sho questioned with an odd smile. "If necessary we can do something about that," he said easily.

Tarnsi waved the others to silence as they were about to object. If it was one thing she had learnt through observing the Terrans and from what her Unit had told her, it was that the humans would and could do what ever it took to achieve their goals. The norms and politics of the universe would not overly hinder them.

"Where do the Jraewy, Oranmeir and Usgai rank then?" Sho asked. Those three races had seemed advanced to him.

"They'd probably fall into the next tier of races," Uryal'ng said. "Although the Usgai would like to be higher. Despite their telepathic abilities and various attempts to steal other knowledge, their technology is not yet advanced enough. The Oranmeir are progressing and at the moment..." He frowned. "I don't know."

"They might go either way," Basoid said. As the Officer for Interstellar Relations it was his job to know about the politics affecting other species. "They might go the Mangoran path of the warrior or something a little more sociable. It's hard to say at the moment."

"And the Jraewy?"

Paos'ya laughed. "They're a socialist military but they are pure technologists and they just don't keep up with the rest of us."

"But that's what I'm interested in," Sho said. "There is a lot you can do with technology," he added in a gently admonishing tone. Biotechnology was well and good but the Advents were masters of that. Pure technology should not be underestimated. He'd seen what some of the human engineers had come up with since X-day to fight Zoanoids with. When you knew what you were up against, materials and designs could be reliably created. He sighed. "That gives us a bit to work with. If we can get some of these races into an alliance then hopefully the others will follow and we will see what we will see. I think the Advents will be surprised, although..." Sho frowned as he remembered. "There was a race that attacked Milne... one of our settlements. They seemed very advanced. They had some sort of device which blocked Guyver Units. We defeated them but we never found out where they came from."

The three Kyheenans turned to Tarnsi. "There is a lot we are not told about the Guyver Units," Uryal'ng said by way of explanation.

The Kyheenan Princess shook her head. "I don't know about anything like that but I'm not a combat type so maybe one of the others will know. I'll ask around," she said to Sho.

"Thank you," Fukamachi replied. Despite the fact that they were now effectively boarding on a Kyheenan vessel, to make things easier for most of the crew and to avoid misunderstandings the Terrans were keeping to themselves as much as possible. "Thank you," Sho said again, sighing. "You've given me much to think about although I can tell already, this isn't going to be easy. However there is one thing I can assure you of and that is we are here for the long haul. So long as there are free humans, we will always fight the Advents."

"I know," Uryal'ng said as he rose. "I know..." he repeated. "I hope... no, I know we can work together on this," he added as the others filed out, knowing that for the moment there was nothing left to discuss.

"Uryal'ng wait," Sho said suddenly once the others had gone. He had a lot to discuss with Tetsuro and everyone but there was also something else which had been put off for too long. "I have a favour to ask."

"What is it?" The Kyheenan asked. "If it's within my power it is yours Fukamachi. I already owe you so much."

"You owe me nothing," Sho said, tired of that argument. "But I was wondering if you could perform a ceremony for me?"

"A ceremony?"

"Yes," he said with a smile. "On our world, it's traditional that a Captain may marry a couple."

"Marry?"

"Bond," Sho explained. "There are two stages for a couple who wish to be together. The first is engagement. Mizuki and I are currently engaged, which means we are promised to each other. I want us to take the next step, which is marriage where we promise to forsake all others and bond ourselves to the other. It's a simple ceremony. We just make the promise to each other and exchange a token of agreement." He pulled out a small box. "See, I'll give her this," he said, holding the box open to show a simple wedding band. "It would mean a lot to me if you could do this."

Uryal'ng gulped. He understood now and was honoured that Sho felt confident enough to ask this of him. "Nothing would please me more," he said happily. "I'll need some more details but when would you like this done?"

Sho grinned. "I'll have to tell Mizuki first but soon. Thank you," he said bowing. "It... it will mean a lot."

"Fukamachi, I am honoured that you would ask of me. I will speak to you later," he said as he left, nodding pleasantly at Sho who appeared to now be deep in thought. It was going to be a long battle but it would be good to start it with a ceremony that was about the future.

---

Tsuyosa stood outside, listening to the waves. He'd chosen this planet because parts of it reminded him of Earth. The sky for example, was usually that perfect shade of blue that seemed to go on forever. Right now though, he couldn't see it for the fog. Everything was washed in yellow and he could see the white ball of the sun through the mist. It was beautiful in its own way and soon enough the sun would burn off the fog and he'd watch the last of the mists roll down the cliffs into the ocean.

It was the small things, the little things that didn't change from planet to planet that reassured him about eternity and he was careful, or rather 'Nyatarin was careful to make him, every now and then, take the time to appreciate these little things. The Artamon had chosen this morning well.

"IWhy wasn't I told?/I"

Tsuyosa cringed slightly at the noise before turning to watch Xeo'm stalk through the mist towards him. The Uij'm Healer was angry. He could see that and he was slightly surprised to see 'Nyatarin appear beside her although it was obvious that the marron Guyver was trying to calm her down.

"Why wasn't I told?" the GuyLord Healer snapped again, brandishing some papers.

"Told what?" the Tekki Leader asked mildly, keeping his tone reasonable, despite his mounting annoyance. He had been enjoying the tranquility.

"Why wasn't I told you had a Terran here?" she demanded hissing.

"Fukamachi?" Tsuyosa questioned before his tone became hard. "Because Fukamachi was not your experimental toy. He was my guest."

"Yet he appears to have been your Artamon's toy."

"That was for healing purposes," Tsuyosa spat back. "Do not presume you know everything, Xeo'm. If you did not recognise Fukamachi as a Terran when you saw him, that is not my fault so do not dare to presume to know everything."

"Do not presume to betray me," she returned, unperturbed.

The Tekki Leader's eyes flashed dangerously. "Betray?" he questioned in a voice devoid of any of his usual amusement. "I guarentee you will betray me before I betray you."

"Yet you did not give me this human."

"Fukamachi was my guest, and I have no desire to see the damage he would have caused at your treatment."

"He's not that strong."

"He is that strong," Tsuyosa said softly, not raising his voice. "No danger to me, true but perhaps it would have been amusing to watch him rip into you. More to the point, you are not ready for what a human would mean. You look at that page and see only numbers you think are impossible. You don't understand and you simply want to see, to poke, to prod, to experiment because you can, not because you have purpose. You do not yet understand enough to even contemplate a human. I will keep my word, Xeo'm. I always keep my word but I will do so only when you are ready and even then, as I do now, I would bid you remember."

"Remember?"

"Remember that not everyone is indifferent and not everyone needs you and so is willing to overlook your experiments."

"And I would bid you remember that sooner or later, everyone comes to us Healers."

"But not everyone comes to you," Tsuyosa countered and he thought for an instant he saw understanding in the Vad'm's eyes but it was quickly swallowed by here arrogance. Understanding it seemed was something that would come too late to save her haunty self.

"I will wait for your gift," she said, turning away after throwing the papers to the ground. "But do not let this happen again and remember, I will not wait forever."

The Tekki Leader nodded, not trusting himself to speak as he turned back to the scenery, trying to regain the sense of tranquility the Uij'm had shattered. He really wished he could do without her but he needed them all and in the end it came down to that.

"Master, forgive me," 'Nyatarin said softly, as he began to gather up the scattered papers.

"Forgive you?"

"This is my fault. She found some of my notes on Fukamachi."

"Just the papers, I trust?"

"Just the papers," the Artamon confirmed. "Although she has tried hacking my computer systems."

The Tekki's Leaders eyes narrowed and he was silent, once more not trusting himself not to say something stupid.

"My defence systems are better though," the marron Guyver Healer continued. "And Yisuvac shares my dislike. He is helping to keep the entire system secure."

"Good," Tsuyosa finally spoke. "Tell me if she tries again though and I will take action against our GuyLord Healer. There is information I will not let her have."

"Yes Master. I think she knows Yisuvac is helping so she won't try again."

"I'll have a word with him anyway." The black GuyLord sighed heavily. "Are Dinshika and Rasulmin integrating?"

"Yes, they are doing well."

"That's something," he said almost serenely before snarling. "Darn it! I was enjoying the quiet." Tsuyosa gestured into the fog.

'Nyatarin stepped forward, trying to let his presence calm his master. Thanks to Xeo'm he would have to arranged another quiet time sooner than he thought. Maybe he should find Fukamachi again since the GuyLord Warrior had enjoyed the time the Terran had spent recuperating. "It will not be for much longer. By your own estimation we are nearly at the end."

"I know... I know," the Tekki leader said quietly, squinting as the fog cleared enough for him to look down at the breakers. There was something calming about the sheer power of the ocean and he closed his eyes, focusing on the sound and smell of the sea.

"Master?"

"Hmm," he responded to the question he could hear in the Artarmon's voice.

"Is Fukamachi really that strong?"

"Ah, I was wondering when you'd question that... Not yet. He's not that strong yet, although he'd get passed Xeo'm in with enough motivation, he'd run then. It's Aptom who'd rip into you, she doesn't know that though,' Tsuyosa said with a small laugh. "Fukamachi forgives easily. Aptom... well, I remember he carries the grudge, and is not squeamish about their execution... It's probably hard to be squeamish when you're like that."

Nyataran nodded but he didn't understand, not really. Fukamachi was human, he knew that. Aptom was Zoanoid. He knew that as well, that the Tekki Leader seem to be indicating something special... something unique.

"It's alright, 'Nyatarin. I wouldn't give either of them to her, amusing as it would be perhaps to see them destroy her. It would be educational, but not serviceable to my purpose."

"I'm sorry, Master."

"It will be okay, 'Nyataran," Tsuyosa responded, still watching the waves. "I always knew it would come to this." He turned back towards the Artarmon Healer and sighed. He could still see that 'Nyataran and was feeling guilty and probably would so for a while. "Did you get Fukamachi's DNA on record?" he asked pointedly.

"Yes, it's one of the things she is trying to get."

Tsuyosa nodded. "I want you to do something for me then, something that must be kept secret at all costs. Use a stand-alone system for this or confine it to yourself."

"Master?" 'Nyataran questioned, looking up. Whatever this was, it was hugely important.

"I want to know if there is a link between Fukamachi and myself beyond our name. I had children on earth, so I know, my line continued. If there is a link, it will be tenuous, I know, but if he has my genetic markings that would answer many questions. Of course, it will raise many more."

The Artarmon gulped, feeling a burst of gratitude towards his master. This was a huge task, and he had never had been trusted with his Master's genetics. "There will be nothing for anyone to find," he said softly. "I will keep it internally, so that there is no security issue."

Tsuyosa nodded. "I will capture you are few Zoanoids, so that you can compare, for cover. No one will question that."

"Yes, Master."

"Now go, I'd like to at least try to recapture the sense of peace before I head towards Nedama."

'Nyataran nodded bowing before he backed away as his master refocused his attention fully on the panorama before them. The Artarmon almost felt a stab of pity for the Advents on Nedama. With his Masters current mood, there would be no escape.

---

Yisuvac lay on his back looking up at his creation. It was nearly complete and he couldn't help but feel a certain amount of pride. It had been a large task and the time line for it had continually had been moved closer.

Most would have told the Tekki Leader that they simply could not complete the work if he continually shorted the time and many of Yisuvac's helpers, other Guvver Engineers loyal to the cause had implored him to beg the Tekki Leader for more time. But the dark green Guyver Lord Engineer had done nothing of the sort but had instead rallied his helpers and had risen to face each challenge so that now he could look up at the nearly complete room.

It was shaped like a pyramid with everything leading towards the apex. Below that there was three spaces forming a triangle. Each little alcove at that level was connected to the other as well as being connected to the apex. Below two of the positions were another three alcoves with the final one only having two below it. None of these were interlinked but before he was done Yisuvac anticipated that he would either need to link some or else increase the capacity of the conduits between the top three alcoves. That would probably be the simpliest way of equalising everything.

Below the eight alcoves there were eighteen positions. This was where the imbalance of earlier was corrected. The top triangle position with only two below it had each of those two feed by three while the others were only feed by two. All eighteen positions were interlinked and between each link there were other lines extending downwards. Each one of them was evenly spaced and the Guyver Lord Engineer could easily add more or remove them as was necessary.

The whole thing was nearly complete and he was certain that it would be done by the time his Master called for it.

They were beginning the initial conduit tests now, using regular Guyvers before they moved to the power of Gigas. Once he was satisfied the structure could handle the energy of a GigaGuyver he would test each position with his full power. Then, if he had the time he would ask the Tekki Leader to test all of them because he knew that the power his fellow Guyver Lord could generate was far in excess of his own.

Yisuvac hadn't really appreciated the extent of the of the difference between hosts until he met his Master. He did now, which was why, looking up at the structure he was not insulted that he would most likely be placed in the eight alcove tier.

He didn't know all the placings the Tekki Leader had worked out but he guessed that was where he would be placed. It was fine for him but he wondered how Xeo'm would take it. Yisuvac grinned as he got up, looking down at the place he had been lying in. He'd find out about Xeo'm in time he supposed, probably from her shrieks of outrage. She was not as good a healer as she thought she was.

The position he'd been lying in was the null. It was the only null position in the room and was directly beneath the Apex.

It was the overflow position, the feed back and whoever was there would have to be able to take all the overflow energy. They would need to be powerful enough to do this. Yisuvac didn't know who could do it, or even if anyone could do it, but the Tekki Leader had insisted.

It wasn't a position he expected to be filled but it was one the Tekki Leader had insisted be created. The GuyLord's sense of symmetry and sense of dignity was sometimes excessive for a warrior but Yisuvac respected it, especially when his master was as insistent as he had been on this. The Null position whether it was filled or not, was important and even if, when the time came there was no one filling it both Yisuvac and the Tekki Leader would know that spiritually at least one did lie there, though Yisuvac suspected they would be thinking of different people.

He was brought out of his reverie by Dinshika. The Dunrossil GigaGuyver Engineer was one of his newest helpers but was eager to serve and had almost timidly suggested a few refinements int he design which had been gratefully applied, much to his delight.

"Not yet, my friend. Not yet, we need to test it at base level energy before we move to something more powerful, but we will get there. I promise you, we will get there."

Dinshika nodded, looking around, his eyes lingering on the one spot he thought of as his. This was the device that would allow the Tekki Leader to triumph once and for all and in exchange for the power he had been given, power he would use to crush the Jyt'nr, he was grateful to be able to help. It was the least he could do.

---

Sho felt his heart beat pound through his body. It seemed abnormally loud and he wondered why no one had slapped him to tell him to keep it quiet. Even if they had though, he wasn't sure he could have. His palms were sweaty but they had been like that all day and his mouth was dry, another thing that had persisted all day, despite the litres of water he had ingested. Aptom hadn't allowed him anything heavier, although the chameleonic lost number had told Tetsuro that he would allow his charge sake when this was all over...

Over...

No... This would not end with this being over, this would end with the beginning. For some reason that brought a smile to his face and it calmed his heart beat slightly.

This was just the beginning.

There was a hush from the entrance and he turned and couldn't help a stunned gasp. He'd always loved Mizuki but this instant merely highlighted how much.

She was a vision of perfection. He didn't know where or how they had found her garments but she could have been wearing riggers over alls and he still would have thought her the most beautiful person he had ever seen.

A soft smile graced her features, one that was genuinely happy and content and she seemed to glow. Her hair shone in the soft light, and had been pinned with polished clips, that picked up the light and seemed to sparkle. Just for today the cares that unusually troubles her were put aside for herself. Just for today.

Tetsuro walked beside her and looked fit to burst with his own happiness. In many ways, this was a final act of redemption. All those years ago, he had innocently suggested that they take a walk so that he could tell Sho not to give up on Mizuki and while that walk had perhaps lead to here, it had also lead to the Guyver and the pain that had caused.

She had spoken with him many times, told him that it was never his fault but the lingering guilt the other man, who was almost a brother to Sho felt, was something no amount of words could shift. Perhaps though, this would.

Aptom murmured something to him and Sho nodded, never taking his eyes from Mizuki. He wasn't even sure what this Best Man had said but given the grin the scarred man gave him he was rather thankful for that. The Zoanoid had become his best man simply because he was the most appropriate given the choices available. Agito could hardly be considered suitable and Alkard was too much involved with Mizuki. Tetsuro would have been acceptable but he was tied up with Mizuki and as her only living blood relative, he was giving her away, symbolic of her leaving the Segawa Clan.

It didn't matter, Sho knew the Lost Number Zoanoid well enough and despite Aptom's continued threats they had been comfortable with each other for a long time. Besides Aptom had rather snidely said that making sure he Fukamachi Sho was happy now would increase the Zoanoids pleasure when he took that all away. But Sho understood the concern.

Agito and Tarsi stood behind Aptom while Iythra, Alkard and Shizu stood to the side where Mizuki would stand. The Oranmeiran Guyver was grateful to Sho for the rescue and the understanding but she had taken to Mizuki in much the same way Alkard had. It was almost as if Iythra had been looking for a mistress and she was now comfortable with the Terran. Sho wasn't sure if Iythra had sworn her allegiance to Mizuki but if she hadn't, it would only be a matter of time. He only hoped that when he met his Guyver Lord, they would understand he was bonded to Mizuki. If not, well, he'd find out exactly how much of a wild card he could be, and Tsuyosa had assured him he could be very much that player.

He almost wished he could have invited the Tekki Leader since he did consider the man a friend and this was meant to be a celebration of life and Sho wanted to share it with as many as he could. Even so, in the final analysis, as much as he might have been comfortable with Tsuyosa, the others probably wouldn't have been. Besides there was no guarantee that the jet GuyLord Warrior could have attended anyway, given his current activities, Sho knew how busy he was.

Uryal'ng stood in front of him, still looking awed that he had been requested to do this and there were red clothed imperial Guards lining the walls. There were several Kyheenans who were watching quietly.

As Tetsuro gave away his sister to Sho, he reach out to take her hand, squeezing it gently as she looked over softly at him before they both turned towards Uryal'ng.

The Kyheenan Commander had a small slip of paper upon which he'd written the words he'd speak today since he didn't want to get it wrong, even though both Sho and Mizuki had assured him that it was the intent, not the words that were important. It was almost laughable given how they had talked almost endlessly about the specifics of the promise they would make to the other. They had the words but it was still the intent which was important.

Sho smiled at Mizuki, resisting the urge to stroke her hair. He'd have time for that in private. Mizuki turned towards him, taking his other hand and Sho breathed deep, trying to calm his now racing nerves.

"My beloved," her voice was soft and gentle, the voice of an angel, his angel. "For now and until the day I die, I will be faithful to you, I will listen to you and trust you. I will heal you and fight for you. I will stay by your side and help you for you are my partner, through victory and defeat, though sickness and health, though rich and poor, you are my partner. And everything that I am I will share with you. Now and forever I will love you. This do I, Mizuki Segawa promise you, Fukamachi Sho, for you are the man I will spend my life with and so with this promise I do willingly become your wife."

Sho suppressed a shudder at the words as a wave of pure happiness passed through him but he couldn't stop the tear that escaped. He didn't mind though, and at Uryal'ng's prompting he gave Mizuki's hand a small squeeze before he began his own vow.

"My beloved, from this day, until the day I die, I will be faithful to you, I will listen to you and trust you. I will fight for you and I will heal you. I will wait for you and I will protect you, I will stay by your side and I will help you, for you are my partner through victory and defeat, through sickness and health, through rich and poor, you are my partner. And everything that I am I will share with you. Now and forever I will love you. This do I, Fukamachi Sho promise you, Mizuki Segawa for you are the woman I will spend my life with and so with this promise I do willingly become your husband."

Mizuki smiled at him again and Sho grinned somewhat foolishly as he felt a band of gold slip on to his finger as he pushed the ring he had gotten for Mizuki on to her slender finger. The ring was only a symbol but it was the reminder of a vow at least in part Sho had made himself many years ago. But it was good to say it aloud.

Suddenly he didn't care about what was meant to come next and her reach ed out and pulled Mizuki close, wrapping his arms around her and burying his face in her hair. It smelt soft, like spring and he closed his eyes as he hugged her tighter. "I will never let you go," he murmured, "and I will always protect you. I love you so much Mizuki."

"All right, all right, break it up, break it up!" Tetsuro broke in laughingly. "Besides old friend, it's time to kiss the bride!"

Mizuki blushed and Sho pushed her older brother away with a playful gesture as he turned back to his wife, cupping her face gently. He felt self conscious but at the same time he was relaxed and confident. This was tradition and would formally begin his married life.

Married... he let the word roll through his mind happily for a moment before he moved forward to kiss the bride.

Quite surprisingly, he wasn't nervous, he was trying for something with a degree of dignity but it appeared Mizuki had other ideas and twisted her arms around him, pulling him close, deepening their kiss as first Aptom and then Tetsuro clapped politely. Agito and Shizu clapped a little and the Kyheenans eventually joined in. When Sho and Mizuki drew apart they were both blushing but were met with the smiling faces of their friends.

"Took you long enough boy," Aptom jested, patting his charge on the back softly.

Sho just grinned as Mizuki took his arm. Now things between them were truly as they were meant to be and for an instant Sho felt as if the universe shared his joy. There were dark clouds on the horizon, they still had to face the Advents, and even though Tsuyosa was his friend, Sho did not think everything was finished there but for the moment he forgot all of that, smiling at his beloved with the knowledge that they would face it together.

---

That was an almost perfect day and while I know Sho has some regrets, on the whole we were both very happy. I had waited years and in the time of waiting I had come to know that Sho was the only man for me, I had come to know many truths and many pains which were canceled when he said the words.

It was a day of celebration for me, a day that I remember even now softly, happily for it was the last day that would be like this for many years. It may be egotistical for me to record my wedding in this history but it was for me something that was important though I can honestly say that married or not, nothing in the future would have changed with that act. Both Sho and I knew the promise was a formality, a nice formality but one that didn't change our love, merely defined it for the universe.

Uryal'ng and the other Kyheenan's enjoyed the ceremony. It allowed them to see humans in a light similar to themselves and with the proposal for alliance that we were about to spring on them, having them see us like the was important. Saying that may seem like our marriage was merely political expediency, it was not. But the benefit from it cannot be ignored, though I believe the Kyheenan's were pragmatic enough to accept our alliance putting a friendly face on it always helps.

They, or at least the Kyheenan's we were dealing with knew what the stakes were and knew that it would be the survival of their species that they now had to make allegiances for. They knew that an incorrect choice, would see them die just as it would us. And that helped to tie us together all the stronger.

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Err... fluffy I know. And while I know I don't deserve it, please review.