Full Metal Mutants: A Wedding and a Funeral

[x-sanfuaiyaa.livejournal.com]

Backdated to Sunday evening in Tokyo.

A brief scene in which Mariko explains to Shiro why she wanted him to come to her wedding.


The only sounds in the room were the regular beep of the EKG and Mariko's shallow, labored breathing. Harada stood next to her, their hands still clasped. Shiro and Clarice stood on the opposite side. He still wore his kimono, hakama, and haori, though Harada had long since abandoned the jacket.

"Nee-san," he started, his voice hoarse for sheer exhaustion, "I'm sorry . . ."

"For what?" she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper. "You defended me even when you had no obligation. You and Clarice."

A kind nurse had taken pity on Clarice and her nearly destroyed yukata and had found her a set of scrubs to wear. They were almost too small, but it was better than nothing. A doctor had also cleaned and taped her forehead, although he had warned that there would most likely be a scar. It was really just icing on an already shitty cake.

"You're Shiro's cousin." she shrugged, smiling grimly, "That's the only only obligation needed. More than that, you needed help. I would do it for a total stranger if I needed to....because it is the right thing."

"I told you I liked this girl," Mariko said to Shiro in between violent fits of coughing. Harada offered her a tissue to wipe the blood off her lips. "The doctors say that nothing can be done. Whatever Hideki gave me is mystical in nature and they cannot cure it."

"We know people who do magic!" Shiro protested. He refused to accept the doctors' prognosis. He turned to Clarice. "Sefton! She is back in New York, I hear. We can get her." He seemed to conveniently forget his distaste for the witch now.

He also seemed to forget that Clarice was exhausted and standing up was the extent of her energy at the moment. Teleporting anyone or anything anywhere was just not an option for a while. "Shiro," she said quietly shaking her head and holding his arm for support. There was no way she could do it.

"I can fly . . ." However many thousands of miles from Tokyo to Salem Center? Unlikely. "Nee-san . . ."

"Stop it," Mariko ordered, her voice firm and commanding even in her state. She closed her eyes and sighed peacefully. "Look at the good that has come of this. You and Onii-san are standing in the same room peacefully. Do you know why I accepted this proposal in the first place? I knew Tsurayaba would try something. I doubted I might live through today. But I knew that this would be the opportunity to bring you back."

Shiro shook his head. "It is not worth the price."