Aishiteru Means I Love You

Miss Robyn Fiona Canmore
and
Mr. Harry Elvis Monmouth
cordially invite you and a guest to their wedding
on Friday the nineteenth of June
Nineteen hundred and ninety-eight
at half after 8 o'clock in the evening
The Old Temple
Ishimura, Japan
Reception will follow.

Goliath read the invitation aloud. "Do we...know these people?" he asked.

"I did some research." said Elisa. "Harry...." She bit her lips to keep from giggling. "Elvis Monmouth is Dingo's real name."

Fox couldn't contain her chuckles. "He never told me his middle name was 'Elvis'!"

"And why should he," asked Xanatos. "Janine Peaseblossom?" Fox frowned.

"I told you never to call me that!" she grumbled.

"And Robyn Fiona Canmore," said Elisa. "Is the real name of one of the Hunters."

"So, basically," said Lex. "We've just been invited to a wedding by two of our worst enemies. Don't make me quote Admiral Ackbar." Everyone looked at Lex in confusion.

"He means 'It's a trap.'" Staghart translated.

"I met Dingo in Australia." said Angela. "He said he was looking to turn his life around. He teamed up with the Matrix to pursue law and order."

"Chung-chung!" said Broadway, imitating the musical sting from /Law And Order/. "What? Someone had to do it."

"Yeah," Lex ignored Broadway's attempt at humor. "Angela, remember the last time we met with the Hunters? They tried to kill us, remember? Damn near succeeded with you."

"By the way," said Xanatos. "Lexington and Angela received some packages along with their invitations." He produced a couple of small, cardboard boxes with Japanese postmarks. "Angela, here's yours." He gave a box to Angela. "And Lexington, here's yours. I took the liberty of checking. No bombs, no poisonous gasses, not even a banana cream pie."

Goliath gave Hudson a stern look. "Eh," the old gargoyle shrugged. "The two of us both had a wee bit too much to drink last New Year's."

Angela opened her box and took out a white silk flower attached to a comb, decorated with spiraling silver and indigo ribbons. "Well, it's pretty." she said. "But, what is it?"

"It's a hair ornament." said Katana, cradling Tachi in her arms. "In Japan, ladies would do up their hair and stick combs decorated with flowers and ribbons in it." Angela started to put the comb in her hair when Lex grabbed her arm.

"Don't put it in!" he said. "Haven't you read 'Snow White'?"

"Um...I saw the movie." Angela said sheepishly. "Why don't you open your box, Lex?"

He opened it and took out a white silk flower like the one on Angela's comb. This one was affixed to a pin and was decorated with greenery that looked like olive branches. "Looks like a boutonniere." Fox observed. "Men pin them on their lapels at weddings."

"Too bad I don't have a lapel to pin it on." said Lex.

"There's a note in my box." Angela observed. "Did you get one, Lex?"

Lex found a folded bit of paper in his box. "If you guys don't mind," said Lex. "I'd like to read mine alone." He left. Staghart looked like he wanted to follow, but decided against it.

"Well, I'll read mine here." said Angela. She read. "Dear Angela, It was very hard for me to write this note. I must have thrown away dozens of rough drafts. What exactly can I say to you other than 'I'm sorry.'? I know it's a pretty pathetic thing to say to someone you tried to kill, but for now, it's about all I have. I have learned many things, Angela. I have learned that it is wrong to blame you for the sins of your mother, just as it is wrong to blame me for the sins of my family. You have my sacred word that no more will I harm a gargoyle unprovoked. I took your advice from our last encounter and learned to respect the name.

"If you can find it in your heart to forgive me, I would be honored if you would accept a place in my upcoming wedding party as one of my bridesmaids. You will be provided a gown to match the enclosed hair ornament. It is a white chrysanthemum, in hopes of future peace and friendship.

"Your Friend, parentheses, hopefully, Robyn."

"She sounds sincere." said Katana.

"You'd make a really pretty bridesmaid." Broadway pointed out. He looked at the RSVP card that came with the invitation. "Hey, they got matsusaka beef on the menu! I hear that stuff is good!"

"It is." said Brooklyn. "They feed the cows beer and give them daily massages."

"I...think I'll have the fish." said Angela.

Lex re-read the note as he sat on the parapet.

/Dear Lexington,/

/I know your probably still sore at me after what happened and I don't blame you. There's no way I could excuse what I did. I hurt you and believe me when I say I'm sorry. If it makes you feel better, I recently found out someone I trusted lied to me and hurt me in ways far greater than ever I did to you. Lady Karma can be a bitch, can't she?/

/Anyways, I was hoping that we could put the whole sodding mess in the past where it belongs. I'm getting married soon and would like you to be one of my groomsmen. I'm sending you a white krys (crossed out) criz (crossed out) flower to wear as a boot (crossed out) butte (crossed out) lapel pin. We'll get you a tux or something to wear with it./

/Take care,/
/Dingo/

"So..." said Amp as he approached his lover. "What was that about Snow White back there? I don't recall her getting a hair comb."

"For Alex's last birthday," said Lex. "One of Xanatos' associates sent him a book of Grimm's Fairy Tales. He must've seen the words 'Fairy Tales' on the cover and assumed it would make a good gift for a toddler. I read a few of the stories and told Fox she should put it away until Alex is older. Turns out the original tales were kinda gruesome. Like, 'Snow White' ends with the Wicked Queen being forced to wear a pair of red-hot iron shoes and dance herself to death."

"Well, it's not like she didn't deserve it." Amp said with a shrug. "But where did the comb come in?"

"In the original tale, the Wicked Queen disguises herself as a peddler lady and sells Snow White some bodice laces that nearly strangle her. Fortunately, the dwarves come in just in time to save her. The Wicked Queen tries again to kill Snow White with a poisoned comb."

"Well," said Amp. "Snow White has just gone from being cutely naive to just plain stupid."

"Tell me about it." said Lex. "Well, after the dwarves remove the poisoned comb from Snow White's hair, the Wicked Queen tries again with the poisoned apple. To Snow's credit, she doesn't take it right away. So, the Queen cuts the apple in half and eats part of it before giving the other half to Snow. Turned out that half was poisoned. Dwarves find her, can't revive her, yadda-yadda glass coffin, yadda-yadda necrophiliac prince, yadda-yadda iron dancing shoes, yadda-yadda happily ever after."

"Care to talk about it?" Amp pointed at the white chrysanthemum Lex was holding in his hand.

"He's getting married and wants me to be a groomsman." Lex gave Amp the note.

"He used the wrong form of 'you're'." Amp observed.

"Yeah. And his handwriting is almost as bad as Broadway's!" Lex had to laugh.

"Dingo's the bloke getting married?" asked Amp. "Is his middle name really 'Elvis'?"

"I never knew till just now." Lex smiled. "Calls himself Dingo, but he ain't nothin' but a hound dog."

"So...are you going?"

Lex shrugged. "Maybe. It's in Ishimura. Angela, Goliath and Elisa say the gargoyles there are trustworthy. I'd like to know how people like Dingo and that Hunter got acquainted with them. And if Angela wants to be a bridesmaid, I guess she'll need an escort."

"You don't sound too enthused."

"You read the note, Amp. I trusted him, he betrayed me and he used me."

"Not that it's important," said Amp. "But, I thought you were a virgin when we...."

"It wasn't like that!" Lexington blushed furiously. "I mean, yeah I thought he was good-looking, but...no! We- we weren't together or anything!"

Amp had to chuckle at his flustered lover and ran a finger over his scalp. "I'm teasing you, love."

"I'll do it." Lex decided. "I should try to put it behind me. But, if this turns out to be a trick, someone's gonna get hurt, and it won't be me."

"The invitation said you could bring a guest." Amp pointed out. "Do you...have anyone in mind?"

"Well, sort of." Lex said coquettishly. "I'd like to bring a date who's tall, handsome, gentlemanly...a sexy British accent would be nice. And I'd like my date to have white fur because that goes with everything."

"Oh, wherever will you find someone like that?" Amp asked with a smile.

Lex took Amp's hand. "Will you be my date?"

"Of course." Amp stroked Lex's hand, then giggled.

"What's so funny?" asked Lex.

"Oh, I'm just thinking about how cute you'll look in a tuxedo!"

"I'd have to pull my wings in." Lex groaned.

"But you'd look adorable!" said Amp.

"I'd look like a penguin!"

"So? Penguins are cute."

"Do you plan on getting laid at any point for the rest of the year?"

"Ah. Hint taken." Amp put an arm around Lex and pulled him close. "What do you say we pay our dues to the Mile High Club?"

"I don't know." Lex said coquettishly. "It's not that late. There's quite a few humans about. Someone might see us."

"This is a city that never sleeps." Amp reminded him. "And we're on top of one of the highest towers right now, so getting some good altitude won't be a problem." He teasingly licked a talon and lifted it up. "Wind's blowing just right."

Lex smiled and lay down the note and the flower. "You talked me into it." he said, removing his loincloth. They had been lovers for more than a year, causing Lex to lose much of his shyness. Amp quickly stripped down himself and took Lex into his arms before spreading his wings and leaping off the parapet.

Being filled by his beloved Amp was sweet ecstasy, as always. Making love to him several thousand feet in the air while the wind rushed over them just added another layer to the exquisite pleasure. His heart was pounding. He knew Amp could feel how hard his heart was beating as his strong, solid hand was splayed across his chest. The other hand was pulling and squeezing lovingly on his throbbing erection. Lex moaned and gasped as he wrapped his tail tighter around Amp's waist. He kicked, thrashed and thrusted in an effort to bring Amp deeper into him. "Easy, love." Amp whispered to him. "I wouldn't want to drop you."

"You'll never drop me." Lex sighed. "Oh, Amp, it's so good! Harder!"

Amp's silk soft fur was buffing Lex's back. He made the softest breathy moans as he nuzzled Lex's neck and pressed their bodies closer. Lex cried out as Amp found that spot deep inside him that made him shiver with pleasure. The squeezing on Lex's cock was getting more rapid, causing delicious sensations to fill all of Lex's being. Slick precum leaked out, lubricating Amp's hand.

"Ah, yes, lover!" Amp moaned. "Cum for me! Let me hear you say my name!"

Lex whispered the name he and he alone used for his lover. The whisper became a moan, the moan became a chant that worked its way to a shout. Lex's being exploded with pleasure as he screamed Amp's name.

"So, I said to Chavez," Margo said to Brendan as they walked down the street. "That if she thought for one damn minute I was going to just let those monsters walk all over us, she could just...."

"Margo, did you hear something?" Brendan thought he heard a scream, coming from the sky. Sounded like someone shouting the word "Amp" for some reason.

"Don't interrupt me, Brendan!" Margo scolded. "Like I was saying, I told her that if we let those monsters walk all over us...." Margo was interrupted when something white and gooey landed on her shoulder. "Eeeeww! Fucking pigeons!" She gingerly took off her blazer, plainly disgusted by what just happened.

The sound of Lex's voice calling out his name in ecstasy was enough to make Amp climax inside his lover's body. He called out to Lex and embraced him as he thrust harder and deeper until he was sated. The immediate afterglow caused their altitude to dip. Amp quickly recovered and spread his wings to let them gently land on the roof of a nearby skyscraper. He sat with his back to the ledge and Lex in his lap as they both tried to catch their breath. Amp gently removed his softening member from Lex's body. "So, was it good for you?" he whispered in Lex's ear. Lex responded by turning around and throwing his arms around Amp's neck. Amp hugged him and wrapped his wings around him. After a time, he stood and stretched. "Mmmm...." he hummed appreciatively. "Is there anything nicer than a cool wind against your bare body?"

Lex admired the form of Amp's bare body, fur ruffling in the wind as the moon shone on him. Every dip and curve of that alabaster body was as familiar to Lex as his own. Even unaroused as he was at the moment, he was still breathtaking. "Nothing looks nicer." he sighed.

Amp smiled at his lover. "Come on, Lex. Let's go home."

Meanwhile, Angela was sitting on a bench in the atrium, admiring her new comb when Broadway came and sat next to her.

"You gonna take her up on that offer?" asked Broadway.

"She has a point." said Angela. "It's wrong to blame her for things her family did. I'm not to blame for anything Demona did, after all."

"Of course not." said Broadway. "But, Angela, this Hunter personally tried to kill you and nearly succeeded."

"So did Xanatos." Angela shrugged. "And I'm willing to overlook the whole tying me down and threatening to pour acid on me thing. Water under the bridge."

"Angela...I was really afraid I was going to lose you that night."

Angela smiled sheepishly. "I'm still really sorry about barfing on you."

"Angela, I was happy to be barfed on! It meant you were alive."

"Of course, it had to be on the night I had tuna salad for lunch."

"Angela." Broadway took her hand. "I was so afraid that you were going to die, and I'd never get a chance to tell you I love you." He stroked her hair as he spoke. "I decided that as soon as you were better, I'd tell you everything. But..." Broadway sighed. "After a good day of stone sleep healed you, you were right back on your feet and ready to jump into the fray. I called after you, but I realized that it just wasn't the right time. Remember after the clock tower blew up and Elisa wanted to go after Goliath?"

"How could I forget?" Angela shuddered. "We all thought Elisa was dead! We all listened in, helpless to do anything."

"Yeah, well, remember how you had offered to give Elisa a lift and I insisted on doing it instead? I didn't want to risk your life again."

"You realize, of course, that if you had died out there, you never would've had the chance to tell me you love me."

"Yeah. Silly me forgets things like that!" Broadway laughed as he knocked on the side of his head.

Angela giggled and turned the ornament over in her talons. "I was a bridesmaid once." she said. "My sister Ophelia was marrying Gabriel. Katherine found this closet full of beautiful dresses in the castle and altered a couple for us. They must have belonged to Titania. We also had to have our hair washed, curled and pinned up. Bit of a bother, but Ophelia looked so beautiful."

"I bet you were beautiful too." Broadway stroked her hair. "Your hair's been growing out a bit. Almost waist length."

"I've been meaning to get Pavel to fix it, but we've both been busy."

"I thought it looked good really long."

"It was impractical. Even tied up. Trouble is," Angela sighed. "When I have it just past shoulder length, I look too much like Demona."

"No you don't." said Broadway. "You're much prettier. You smile more than she ever did, for one thing." Angela couldn't help smiling. "See? But, let's see how you would look with your hair up." Broadway grabbed her hair in his hands and arranged it into a rather sloppy resemblance of a beehive, using the comb to keep it in place. "There, beautiful!"

Angela looked at her reflection in the nearby pool and had to laugh. She also saw something in the moon's reflection and looked up to see a shadowy figure gliding in the moon's glow. "Is that...Staghart?" She could just make out his antlers in the silhouette.

"I think so." said Broadway. "Looks like he's carrying Lex. Is he hurt or...Angela, tell me they're not doing what I think they're doing!" Broadway clapped his hands over his eyes.

"Broadway," Angela laughed. "They're in love, even as we are."

"I've gone hysterically blind!"

"Take your hand off your eyes." she recommended. "Broadway, it's actually something quite beautiful." She put her arms around his neck and kissed him. "When two people love each other very much," She ran her hands up and down his back, teasing with her talons. "They want to be close."

"Angela? You're starting to sound like one of my rookery mothers when she explained sex to me. And it's creeping me out."

"Then, why don't we just stop talking for a while?" She put her hands on his face and locked her mouth over his in a passionate kiss. Broadway wrapped his arms around his lover and pulled her close. Angela's tongue found that sensitive spot on the roof of Broadway's mouth. He shivered and squeezed her tighter. He worked a hand between their pressed bodies and found the lacings that kept Angela's top together. With a pull, the lacings became undone and her breasts were free for him to feel and squeeze, causing her to moan. Broadway left a trail of kisses down Angela's neck and over her shoulder down to her breasts were he gave a brief nuzzle before taking a nipple into his mouth and sucking. Angela gave out a sharp cry and squeezed his shoulders.

After alternately kneading and sucking each breast, Broadway kissed his way down Angela's bare midriff until he got to her belt buckle. "Yes, Broadway! Please!" she yelled. Broadway undid the belt and pulled away the rest of her garments. He kissed her thighs until her knees were trembling. He gently parted her labia, pleased at how wet she was for him. Broadway gave her swollen clitoris a lick, causing Angela to cry out in pleasure, a noise that was nearly feral. A few more licks had her trembling violently. He paused to help her lie down on the cool grass. Broadway licked and sucked at Angela's folds and clit, enjoying both her impassioned cries and the sweet taste of her juices. When he couldn't stand it anymore, he plunged himself inside her, causing her to give a scream like a jungle cat. Broadway started out with a few gentle thrusts until Angela wrapped her arms around him and pulled him down. One hand was at the base of his tail, pushing, urging him to go deeper, faster. The other hand was digging talons into his back just between his wings. Broadway was sure he was going to have claw marks on his back, but the sun would heal him.

"Yes, Broadway, yes!" Angela shouted as she thrust her hips. "Oh...oh...just like that! Yes! I love you, Broadway!" The heated rod was filling her with flaming desire. The pleasure filled her from head to toe. She gave a moan as the pleasure increased. She quivered as the pleasure deepened more. What started out as mere tremors soon built into a mighty quake that caused Angela to scream incoherently as she grabbed for her lover. Wave after wave of pleasure lapped over her body. In her passion, she bit him on the neck. As soon as Broadway felt the fangs nip his flesh, he let out a bellowing moan as his own orgasm was torn from him.

Broadway panted as he just barely held himself up on his arms. He felt like collapsing with pleasure, but didn't want to crush Angela. He managed to fall just to her side, pulling out of her warmth as he did so. Angela stretched her legs and hummed in pleasure. "I love having multiples." she said.

"You don't have to brag about it." Broadway said, pulling her close for a kiss. "I love you, Angela. Never let me forget how lucky I am to have you in my life."

"I'm the lucky one." Angela said, snuggling close to him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: My husband suggested I give Dingo an embarrassing middle name. Since Elvis Presley was making his come back in March 1960, I gave him Elvis as a middle name. His mother was probably rather young when she had him. At the last minute, I decided to give Fox an embarrassing middle name. Shakespeare fans will get it.
Next chapter: We see the Redemption Squad in Ishimura. Yama will get some!