Chapter 0:

Sacrosanct First Kiss

Insurmountable Obstacles


Heiwano Mamori was facing a bit of a happy dilemma. Yuuko Hiro, the boy that she liked, was confessing to her. Now normally this wouldn't be a problem. But her family had a rule that put a limit on her romantic endeavors. "I'm happy but there are circumstances.... they're a little embarrassing but...."

Naturally Hiro was curious, "What are they?"

"Well in my family the only person you're allowed to kiss is the one you're going to spend the rest of your life with." Mamori explained delicately turning red.

"I see. That's not a no, I take it?" Hiro asked.

"Oh Yuuki-kun," Mamori said charmingly, "I like you too I love you. But.... that's different from knowing if I want to be with you forever."

Hiro nodded and thought a bit, "I see. Well we can take it slow. I do have a question. Are all kisses forbidden?"

"Just kisses on any pair of lips." Mamori had always thought that specific detail was odd.

Hiro smiled, "I see. Well that's no hardship at all." Hiro took Mamori's hand, "Once again, Heiwano-san. Would you do me the great honor of becoming my girlfriend?"

Mamori had no further reason to object. "Yes. Please treat me well. Yuuki-kun."

"Please. Call me by my given name, Heiwano-san. May I call you Mamori?

Mamori nodded. "I suppose that's alright Hiro-san..." That didn't feel right to Mamori. "Hiro-kun...?" No that felt even weirder. She peered into Hiro's eyes with her wide and bright brown eyes, "Hiro-chan?" That felt right, for some odd reason.

Hiro was in no position to disagree to that form of address, "Shall I Call you Mamori-chan in return? Would it be too forward to just call you Mamori?". Hiro's forest green eyes peered back into Mamori's enchanting milk chocolate ones.

Mamori's subsequent smile made Hiro's heart skip a beat, "Not at all. I'd like that very much."

They smiled at each other their expressions full of love.

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The next day after Mamori had told their parents of their relationship Mamori called Hiro to a park. She sat on swing holding a thick envelope. Her face was bright red as she waited for Hiro to arrive.

Hiro arrived five minutes later and immediately saw Mamori. "Hello Mamori, your face is red. Is everything alright?" he asked as he approached her.

"Oh Hiro-chan! It's...It's..." she struggled to articulate her dilemma so she just shoved the envelope at Hiro, "Just read this." Mamori insisted instead.

Hiro was puzzled but opened the envelope and removed it's contents. It was a thick handbook titled, "What's allowed in Heiwano Courtship." He sat down and read it. Within the first five pages of reading he had seen why Mamori was so red. When he had finished reading 25 minutes later, he himself was so red Mamori wouldn't have been surprised if steam were to come out of his ears. "Everything but those two things?" Hiro asked when he had found his voice again.

Mamori nodded, "It turns out our affections aren't quite as limited as I had thought."

Hiro's eyes lit up as he took Mamori's hand and kissed it. "So I can do this after all."

"Yes ..." Mamori blushed anew, "that's okay, Hiro-chan."

Hiro smiled, "Prepare yourself, Mamori, I'll woo you most Splendidly."

A switch clicked inside of Mamori. She grabbed Hiro's other hand and kissed his wrist, "You should prepare yourself, Hiro-chan. I'll woo you just as spectacularly."

Hiro and Mamori looked at each other for a full minute and burst into laughter.

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Well now wasn't that a sweet story about two kids in love with each other? We've neglected to detail quite a few things though. For now though let's jump ahead 6 years.

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For not the first time and certainly not the last Hiro lamented being born under Ras Algethi. He tucked his body as his new hover bike crashed through the stained glass window of the church he was headed to.

"Hey watch it! Are you trying to kill me?" Hiro thought he heard a voice. But it must have been his imagination. The imaginary voice seemed to exclaim something as he jumped off his bike "Hey! Are you Crazy?!"

'That voice sure is noisy,' he thought as he landed and rolled down the aisle. He ignored the imaginary screaming as the bike swerved to the ground and came to a sudden halt. He looked at his watch and was surprised to see he was five minutes early. He smoothed out his tux and went to the altar.

"Hoh~. You're too late. You might as well crawl back to your hole! It is I who shall take Mamori-san as my wife!" Some blonde and skinny guy said from Hiro's place on the altar. "I, the, pri-" Hiro had neither the time nor patience for this. He grabbed whoever it was by his white lapels and tossed him to the second floor's Balcony seats. "How dare yooooouu?!

Hiro took his place in the Altar and looked at his Best woman, Suzume. "I told you I'd be on time."

Suzume raised an eyebrow at him, "And how much trouble did you get in on the way here?"

"...." Hiro looked away from her. "Just the usual amount."

"So how long did it take to get here? the venue is only an hour from your family home." Mamori's Man of honor, Yuuji, asked.

"...." Hiro looked away from him as well "...6 hours."

Hiro was spared answering any more questions about how and why it took that long when the Bridal march started playing and everyone's attention was focused on Mamori. She was being led down the aisle by her Father. Hiro thought her enchanting peach wedding dress suited her perfectly. He also quite anticipated taking it off.

As Mamori was handed over to Hiro she asked him, "Were the problems you had to handle on the way here very terrible?"

"No." Hiro said without a second thought."Although I think I encountered one of the problems you told me about when I got here. Don't worry I threw him to his proper place."

Mamori's countenance darkened. "That idiot just refuses to see reason and accept no."

"Well let's not worry about those problems right now. You look.....I don't have the words for how beautiful you are right now. And I increasingly I find my words fail me in your beauty's presence, my love." Hiro put a golden band on Mamori's left ring finger.

"As do mine in yours, Darling." Mamori's smiled radiantly at Hiro. "Let's keep Ardently Enrapturing each other Eternally." Mamori slid a silver band onto Hiro's left ring finger.

With that they faced the priest, who had smiled as he waited for them to finish flirting. He began his recitation, "Dearly beloved. We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of Heiwano Mamori and Yuuki Hiro. This is a very special union for it not only unites two souls in love forever but it also ensures that their individual powers to save will be able to be able to cooperate with each other always. Do you Heiwano Mamori, the saint of the Goddess of Protection and Healing take Yuuki Hiro to be your lawful wedded husband? To love,cherish, and honor him? To both protect him and others for and where he cannot? So long as you both shall live?"

"I do." Mamori smiled as she replied even as she noticed a magic circle appearing. She stepped closer to Hiro as it started to glow and the glow faded.

"Do you Yuuki Hiro, the chosen of the God of Battle and Speed take Heiwano Mamori to be your lawfully wedded wife to love, cherish, and honor her? To fight fight for her and others where and as she cannot? For long as you both shall live?"

Hiro's eyes were a little misty as he replied resolutely, "I do."

"Well by the power vested in me. I pronounce you man and wife. Hero and Savior. Chosen and Saint. You May now kiss the Bride!" The priest declared.

Mamori pulled Hiro's head down and gave him their first kiss. It was long it was intense and it was deep. It was magical. The magic circle resurging underneath them had nothing to do with the experience. As they came up for air Hiro had disappeared.

Mamori was still a little out of it., "Mmm~" She moaned rather inappropriately in a church.

"Um... Mamori-san. Aren't you a little worried about Hiro disappearing?" Suzume asked.

It took Mamori a full minute to recover enough from the kiss she had delivered to answer the question. "I'm not at all worried. He'll be back in my arms tonight." Mamori was perfectly unconcerned.

Yuuji nodded, "I see. Well if you say so Mamori."

With that the wedding ended. Mamori headed off on her own to her honeymoon destination and a rather awkward reception was held without her and Hiro present.

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In another world.

Hiro was sprawled out on the circle that he had been summoned into. He had immediately crumpled without Mamori's support. His eyes were glazed over as he mumbled, "What a woman."

"Ehem." Hiro thought he heard a strange noise but he was still focusing on the sensations engendered by Mamori's kiss so he ignored it. "Great Hero! If I could have your attention please!"

Hiro wasn't happy that he hadn't imagined the interruption of his reverie so he cast a baleful glare at the person who had the nerve. It was a teenaged girl in an odd full coverage white robe, "Yeah. What did you call me here for? On my wedding day, no less." Hiro ground out.

"Your wedding?! I 'm terribly sorry but.... please save my world!" The girl exclaimed flustered.

Hiro groaned and relctantly raised himself to his feet. "Yeah Yeah. So who do you need me to fight?" Hiro asked all prickles and thorns. "Let's get this over with Hiro strode out of the circle and past the girl. He glanced at the stunned girl as he was in the doorframe. "Hurry up, girl. I could be on my Honeymoon by now." He exited the room.

The girl came back to her senses and ran after him. "My name is Anna! I shall be addressed as such."

"If you earn it, girl. Now tell me my mission." Hiro responded coldly.

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