Chapter Seventy-Six: Unbridled Bride

Chapter 76

Unbridled Bride

That night, in a three-story mansion in Neo-Kobe, Shin-Yamato, sat a tall, solid, muscular Asian man in his forties to fifties. He wore his silver hair parted to the right, round glasses hung over his large nose, and he had an inspector mustache. He wore a blue kimono tied with a black obi. He was Nobuyuki Nakamura. He was smoking a cigar while on the phone with someone in America.

Nobuyuki: “I see. Thank you for your business. You’ve been most helpful Miss Parsons. Goodbye.”

He cradled the receiver and glared with burning rage at the pictures of Jaxon with Celeste that came out of his fax machine.

Nobuyuki: “So, Jiro has an American girlfriend now?! How could he do this to my princess?!”

He bared his teeth and shook with fury.

~

Going down the corridor of the mansion was an older Asian man in a butler’s uniform. He knocked on the door with a wooden cut-out of Varg the Viking holding a sign that read, “菜里子.” A high-pitched female voice called out. “It’s open.” The butler smiled as he entered the room. He saw a young petite Asian woman sit on her computer desk. She had a queen-size canopy bed with Varg the Viking on the bedspread, Varg the Viking plush dolls, and a Varg the Viking clock on her nightstand. It was a plastic sculpture of Varg with the clock between his giant feet. Beside it was a picture of her and Jaxon with the Varg the Viking mascot. She had pictures on her dresser of her and Jaxon’s pre-wedding photos when he wore his hair in a short shaggy cut and other pictures of her and Jaxon when they were engaged. One of them was her and Jaxon in their high school uniforms.

On the wall, was a grand mural of Varg the Viking riding on his cow to Pizza Hutch.

She had an oak desk with an attached shelf with various memorabilia of Varg the Viking. She stood at four feet and ten inches. She wore her orange hair in braided twin tails and had a red headband with horns on her head. She was dressed in a vermillion red dress with a chunky belt around her tiny waist and wore fluffy brown leg warmers on her legs. He smiled and brought a parcel to her.

Butler: “Ojou-san, here is your parcel from America.”

He bowed and left her. Her chocolate brown eyes lit up and sparkled.

Yvette: “OOH! Is it from Jiro-kun?!”

She beamed. He nodded and smiled at her.

She tore the package open and inside were Jaxon’s stinky socks in a Ziploc bag. Yvette squealed and sniffed his socks.

Yvette: “IT STINKS JUST LIKE JIRO-KUN!”

She beamed, placing his socks onto her pillow.

Yvette: “Now I can think of him lying beside me in bed at night!”

She grinned, stroking his socks on her pillow. She pointed to a pile of socks in the corner of the room.

Yvette: “Those ones lost their Jiro-Kun stink!”

The butler nodded and went over to dispose of them.

Butler: “By the way, Ojou-san, your father hired a private investigator to investigate Jiro. He has an American girlfriend now.”

He handed her a photo of him with Celeste. Yvette screamed in horror.

Yvette: “WHAT?! NOO! NOOOO! NOOOOOO!”

She wailed, sinking to her knees and pounding the floor in tears.

Yvette: “NOT MY JIRO-KUN!”

She wailed with tears.

Yvette: “I will FIGHT that American girlfriend for his love!”

She said with a glint of determination in her eyes, grabbing a large silver sword in a jewel-encrusted scabbard.

Nobuyuki appeared in Yvette’s room. He held her tight and sobbed.

Nobuyuki: “Oh, I’m sorry, Nariko-chan! How dare he pick someone over you when you two were in love?!”

He sighed.

Nobuyuki: “Shall I prepare the jet for your journey?”

He shed a tear.

Yvette: “Yes! I shall go stay with my friend!”

She chirped, flicking her gaze over to a Polaroid photo of her and Ashley at Edgy Veggie together. She was dressed in her horned helmet in a white ivory dress with shorter braids. Ashley was dressed in their father’s faux fur coat and had shorter hair down past their shoulders and looked slimmer.

~

Back in Pink Top City, it was morning and Ashley was in the kitchen having breakfast with Blair, Demetrio, Blake, and Sylvia. Ashley was dressed in a white paisley shirt and bell-bottom jeans given to them by Lazaros.

Demetrio: “As usual, Ashley, your breakfasts are amazing!”

He made a chef’s kiss.

Ashley: “Grazie, Demetrio.”

They smiled sincerely. Not as amazing as Lazaros’ they thought of him.

Shauna came in.

Shauna: “Ashley, there is a telephone call for you from Shin-Yamato!”

Blair raised an eyebrow.

Blair: “Why all the way there?”

He asked. Ashley gasped.

Ashley: “Yvette?!”

They beamed, rushing over to the phone.

Yvette: “Hello, Ashley! I’m coming to see you in Pink Top!”

She announced. Ashley’s eyes widened.

Ashley: “R-Really?! Oh my stars!”

They jumped elatedly. Blair came in and smiled when he saw them so happy.

Yvette: “Hehe, yes! It will be good to see you. I want to help you with your Cat Cafe dream!”

She beamed. Ashley cupped their mouth.

Ashley: “Oh wow! REALLY?! That would be amazing! I’m so excited!”

They squealed with excitement. After a few minutes, Ashley said they would pick her up at the airport and see her then.

Demetrio smiled.

Demetrio: “Shall I have Shauna prepare the guest bedroom?”

Blair: “I guess so!”

He nodded.

Ashley: “THANK YOU!”

The beamed.

Ashley: “I’m SO happy! I can’t wait to see her again!”

Lazaros showed up with a smile.

Lazaros: “See who again?”

He asked as his right eye twitched. Blair rolled his eyes. It HAD to be him, he thought. I would take Tristan over this pompous dick, he thought and folded his arms over his chest.

Ashley: “LAZAROS!”

They beamed and gasped, rushing over to Lazaros, and pulling him into a tight hug. Lazaros hugged them back quickly.

Ashley: “My friend is coming over from Shin-Yamato to see me! She wants to help me with my Cat Cafe dream!”

They explained. Lazaros forced a smile.

Lazaros: “Oh? I thought I was doing that and I thought we had plans. I spent two hundred dollars on a mega sundae just for you.”

He said through a strained smile. Blair threw his hands up. I don’t know WHAT Ashley sees in this loser, he thought. Ashley knit their eyebrows.

Ashley: “Y-You were?! Ooh, mega sundae?! Donut worry, Laz, you can join us! I want you to meet each other!”

They exclaimed. Lazaros stomped his feet.

Lazaros: “Ashley, I spent all that money on twenty scoops of ice cream, twelve bananas, and a cherry on top JUST FOR YOU!”

He cried and jumped up and down flapping his hands.

Ashley: “...Th-That sounds amazing… we can still eat ice cream together, Laz! But it’ll just be with my friend!”

They assured him. Lazaros bawled and marched away.

Lazaros: “NO ONE THINKS OF ME THE WAY I THINK OF THEM!”

He wailed as he walked out of the house and back to his own. Blair rolled his eyes.

Blair: “And you don’t think you can do better?”

He asked sharply. Ashley knit their eyebrows and embraced themself.

Ashley: “NO! LAZAROS IS AMAZING!”

They cried. Blair sighed and hugged them close.

Blair: “I’m sorry, Ash.”

Ashley: “He got me ICE CREAM, Blair! He’s perfect! I wanted to eat it together with him and Yvette!”

They cried.

Blair: “Look, we’ll pick up your friend. Lazaros will cry to Deimos and Deimos will tell him he’s stupid for it and Lazaros will be back like nothing happened.”

He rolled his eyes.

Ashley: “R-Really?!”

They gasped and beamed. Blair smiled a bit. He didn’t want to see his friend upset.

Blair: “Yeah.”

~

At the Katsaros hacienda, Celeste relayed the events of Dr. Ellis Hoffman with Dr. Duerr and Maxx. Tristan cupped his mouth and Deimos looked away.

Deimos: “I am not happy you and Jaxon went to a hotel but…”

Tristan gazed at Deimos.

Deimos: “I can’t control it.”

He said with strain. Tristan smiled. And this will be good for my research, he thought.

Deimos: “However.”

He leaned forward.

Deimos: “This thing with Maxx is… concerning. Lazaros said he ‘killed’ him and Maxx resurrected himself. Arnold told me his grandfather, Wolfgang, tried for years to turn a Reonan human into a Xupran of some sort.”

Celeste: “He doesn’t look like a Xupran, though.”

Deimos sighed.

Deimos: “I don’t know how it works and didn’t know if it was possible or didn’t want to think it was but he wanted a human to have Xupran genetics and it seems this is now Maxx.”

He explained.

Tristan: “Was he born this way or made?”

Deimos shrugged.

Deimos: “Blake said he found a dead Xupran in Maxx’s bedroom and noticed Maxx changed. That’s interesting but neither he nor Ashley knew what a Xupran was and don’t believe Xuprans exist. No one is that shut off from the world.”

Tristan looked away.

Tristan: “Are you insinuating Ashley and Blake come from another planet?”

Deimos shrugged.

Deimos: “It’s possible. There are other star systems besides the Peleus Star System but how would they get here?”

He cupped his chin.

Lazaros came in with a huge bowl of ice cream with twenty scoops of ice cream, twelve bananas, chocolate sauce, and a cherry on top. He slammed the sundae on the table. Celeste’s eyes lit up.

Celeste: “OOOOOH!”

Lazaros: “Since Ashley is meeting with a friend and doesn’t want to eat this, I guess you guys can!”

He cried. Deimos and Tristan gaped at him.

Tristan: “What is the issue of Ashley wanting to meet with a friend and not indulge in your fetishes?”

He asked. Lazaros pounded his fist on the table.

Lazaros: “GODDAMN YOU, TRISTAN! THIS IS NOT A FETISH! It’s an act of LOVE! Not everything is a fetish, you depraved cretin!”

He snapped at him. Tristan narrowed his eyes at him. Deimos flared.

Deimos: “I don’t fucking care! You NEVER speak to him that way, Lazaros!”

He snapped at his brother and Lazaros recoiled.

Tristan: “Ashley needs to have others outside of you, Lazaros. They live with Blair and are friends with him and Yoshi. Why is that not an issue?”

He challenged.

Lazaros: “Because Ashley doesn’t ditch me for them and this new friend wants to help them open a cat café! I thought I was going to do that!”

He cried. Tristan raised an eyebrow.

Tristan: “...Why do they want to help them open a cat café? Are they close? Is that what this is?”

Lazaros cried into his hands.

Deimos: “Jesus fucking Christ!”

He removed his glasses to pinch the bridge of his nose and sighed.

Tristan: “What if this is an empty promise?”

He finally asked. Lazaros stopped crying and raised his hands from his face.

Tristan: “Opening a cat café is not easy. I know the Salty Dog Saloon is always shut down for health issues. Yes, I love cats but people don’t want cat fur or cat litter near their food. Is it a good idea?”

He asked him. Lazaros looked away and sighed.

Lazaros: “This is why I didn’t open it for them. I love seeing them happy and don’t want to discourage their dreams.”

He admitted slowly.

Tristan: “You’re not. They can still sell their baked goods and help cats in other ways.”

He said gently.

Tristan: “Look, Ashley will not listen to me. They’re going to listen to you. Let Ashley have their friends outside of you. It doesn’t mean they think less of you or will stop eating these copious amounts of food.”

He nodded to the sundae, which Celeste was eating. Lazaros heaved a deep sigh.

Deimos: “Ashley is a people pleaser and wants to make everyone happy. You should know this. Let them be around their friend, Lazaros. Don’t control everything around you.”

He huffed. Tristan glanced at Deimos and thought how Deimos tried to control Celeste. He said nothing. The argument isn’t worth it, he thought.

Lazaros: “I just don’t want Ashley to get hurt.”

Tristan: “Yes, don’t we all but getting hurt is essential for growth. That’s a hard fact of life.”

He said as his voice trailed off. Maybe we shouldn’t inform him of Maxx becoming a Xupran… not now anyway, he thought.

Lazaros wistfully looked at the decorations Ashley put on his lawn and heaved a deep sigh.

~

Celeste was in her basement apartment, lying on her bed deep in thought about what happened last night. Maxx is probably an alien now, Percy killed the doctor who told Maxx to get me pregnant, and… Jaxon.

She bit her bottom lip thinking of the night they shared. She reddened and slid her hand up her skirt and between her legs, removing her panty barrier to insert her fingers in herself. She felt something vibrating on her feet. She laughed and sat up. She noticed her pager buzzed with Jaxon’s signature message “80085.” She rolled over to get her cell phone and dialed Jaxon’s number.

Jaxon: “Hey, I wanna eat out with you… at a restaurant this time.”

He laughed. She laughed.

Celeste: “Really now? What’s the special occasion?”

She purred.

Jaxon: “You are the special occasion.”

He purred back to her. She giggled.

Celeste: “Okay, pick me up at Deimos’ place in an hour?”

She asked.

Jaxon: “See you then.”

He grinned.

She hung up the phone, pulled her panties down, and went into the bathroom to take a shower.

~

About an hour later, Celeste was on Deimos’ lawn waiting for Jaxon. She wore a skin-tight black dress with mesh shoulders and an abstract, angular cut resembling a lightning bolt over her chest, black lightning bolt earrings, and black heels, and she carried her black cat purse.

Jaxon pulled up by the curb with the hood down in his convertible, whistling at her. He was dressed in a black jacket with flames along the hem, a red button-up shirt with the buttons undone to expose his dragon tattoo, and wore his red and black gradient pants, and chelsea boots.

Jaxon: “Get in for the ride of your lifetime.”

He grinned at her. Celeste got into the car with him and kissed him. He could smell a waft of her perfume as she drew closer.

Celeste: “I bet.”

She smirked. Jaxon greeted her with a kiss and he shifted his gear and sped off down the street with her.

~

They arrived at a large white Art Nouveau building on the waterfront. “The Painted Ambience” was inscribed in gold cursive letters above the large black wooden doors.

They entered a spacious dining room decorated with antique mirrors, dazzling crystal chandeliers, and ornate bronze, marble, and fresco accents. Several tables were dressed with fine white linen cloths, silverware, and cloth napkins folded neatly into wine glasses. Through the expansive windows, they could see Pink Top City Beach and its skyline. Jaxon led them over to their table by the window with the full view of the city at their feet. He spread his arms out.

Jaxon: “Ta-da! What do you think?!”

He grinned. Celeste smiled widely showing her razor-sharp teeth.

Celeste: “I love it, Jaxon!”

She said breathlessly and wrapped her arms around him showering him with kisses. Jaxon shivered and chuckled at her smearing his cheeks with her lipstick. He kissed her back and sat down at the table. She sat across from him.

Jaxon: “Y’know. I’ve never done this before.”

He began.

Celeste: “What’s that?”

She smiled. Jaxon flicked his gaze to her.

Jaxon: “This.”

He spread his arms out, gesturing to them at dinner together.

Jaxon: “I’m a fancy restaurant dinner date virgin.”

He quipped. Celeste laughed.

Celeste: “That makes the two of us then!”

She smirked. Jaxons’ eyebrows rose surprisingly.

Jaxon: “Really? No one ever took you out to dinner somewhere nice before?”

He asked, looking through the drinks menu.

Celeste: “Nah. Deimos takes Tristan out to nice restaurants and Lazaros cooks food for Ashley to eat it all but I have never been to one before.”

She explained and gazed at him. Jaxon chuckled.

Jaxon: “Well, I don’t cook and I’ve never taken anyone to a nice restaurant before.”

He explained. Celeste looked at the drinks menu and smiled at him.

Celeste: “Thanks for taking me, Jaxon.”

She said softly and reached out to grasp his larger hand. Jaxon smiled at her, placing his hand on hers.

Jaxon: “No prob. I wanted to discuss some stuff with you.”

He declared.

Celeste: “Yeah, what is it?”

She asked him. Jaxon paused and scrambled in his brain trying to find the right words.

Jaxon: “So… I want to fuck you, but I don’t just want to fuck you, that’s why I didn’t fuck you… if that makes sense.”

He explained, reddening and shifting in his seat. Celeste paused. She pursed her lips and tousled with her hair.

Celeste: “I think so… What do you want to do to me?”

She asked as her heart thundered in her chest. Jaxon pursed his lips and shifted his eyes.

Jaxon: “I want to… hang out with you. Y’know? Like this right now? Like what your friends, Tristan and Deimos do.”

He blushed and cleared his throat. Celeste bit her bottom lip.

Celeste: “You’re blushing.”

She reddened and giggled.

Jaxon: “Speak for yourself.”

He teased and chuckled. She folded her hands under her chin and gazed intently at him.

Jaxon: “I guess what I’m trying to say is I want you to be by my side and not like a groupie, but permanently and not just about sex… I have fun with you even when it’s not about that.”

He pressed his fingers together over the table. Celeste bit her bottom lip, finding his gestures and how he was asking her out so hot.

Celeste: “Yeah, I feel the same, too… I always loved being with you and you make boring things fun. You are fun and interesting.”

Jaxon’s face lit up with a big smile spread across his face.

Jaxon: “Haha, you make boring things fun, too. You’re the thrill ride that lasts forever! The thrill ride I never want to get off… but also want to get you off. Wink.”

He grinned at her. Celeste bit her bottom lip, loving this.

Celeste: “And you’re sexy, too.”

She purred.

Jaxon: “And so are you.”

He purred back.

Celeste: “So are you asking me to be your partner?”

She reddened.

Jaxon: “Yeah… my partner in sexy crime.”

He reddened and chuckled.

Celeste: “Do you want to date me?”

She pinned him with a half-lidded stare.

Jaxon: “...Yeah. But the fun and sexy kind of dating, not the boring kind! But, you aren’t the boring kind.”

He explained and thought bitterly of Nariko. He then smiled at her. She smiled back and kissed him deeply. He kissed her deeply back. He never thought he’d be happy to date ever again.

Celeste: “I’d love that, Jaxon.”

She said earnestly and traced her thumb over his lips. Jaxon kissed her back.

Celeste: “I wanna ask you somethin’ now.”

She said softly.

Jaxon: “Oh? Shoot!”

He grinned at her.

Celeste: “Are you in love with me?”

She asked in a whisper. Jaxon paused to her question.

Jaxon: “I didn’t think I was able to feel love…”

He began.

Jaxon: “I’ve been with a lot of people and I never loved any of them. I grew bored of them after a couple of weeks and forgot about them, but… I never grew bored of you, so maybe it is love?”

He said earnestly.

Celeste: “I’m the reverse. I haven’t been with anyone romantically since Felipa so… eight years ago, I think? No one really held my interest. I have my friends but I meant… romantically.”

She reddened. Jaxon chuckled and listened.

Celeste: “Or sexually. I find it hard to relate to most people, you know? I didn’t with you.”

She stammered and her breathing hitched.

Celeste: “Are you giving up that casanova lifestyle you had then?”

She asked him.

Jaxon: “Yeah, well, I couldn’t relate to any of the people I had sex with, but I can relate to you, but haven’t had sex with you. Funny, ey?”

He explained. She nodded and smiled.

Jaxon: “Pfft, since I met you, it wasn’t the same anymore… so, I stopped doing it…”

He admitted. She rested her hands on the nape of his neck.

Celeste: “Once you get something awesome, you can’t go back.”

She trailed her fingernails over his neck. Jaxon shivered to her touch.

Jaxon: “That’s right.”

Celeste: “So… wanna go to a horror movie after this or whenever?”

She asked him.

Jaxon: “You read my mind!”

He grinned at her.

~

After they ate, the two exited the restaurant, and someone approached them from the shadows. It was Celeste’s grandfather, Alfonso García. He wore a Hawaiian shirt, white shorts, and flip-flops and carried a paper bag in his hand.

Alfonso: “ ‘eyyyyy, Celeste! Nice seein’ ya here, niña! Who’s the hottie?”

He drawled and let out a loud belch. Celeste groaned. Jaxon huffed.

Jaxon: “Great, it’s you again.”

Celeste: “What are you doin’ here, Grandpa?”

Alfonso: “I came here to meet your boyfriend and check out his assets before I die!”

He slapped Jaxon’s butt.

Jaxon: “HEY!”

He growled at him, yanking away. Celeste folded her arms.

Celeste: “Hey, gramps, can you NOT?!

She snapped.

Jaxon: “Yeah, can you NOT?!”

Alfonso: “Not what, Missy?! I could be a dead man tomorrow because you can’t help your grandfather! Just let me enjoy my last minutes on this planet and cry on your boyfriend!”

He grabbed Jaxon’s ass and rubbed his face on his groin. Jaxon winced and then shoved him off him.

Jaxon: “Get OFF me, you old lil pervert!”

He huffed. Celeste grabbed the old man by his shirt and threw him into the ocean.

Celeste: “Tired of him. The mafia can take him if he’s telling the truth.”

She muttered. Jaxon grinned widely.

Jaxon: “My kind of woman!”

He kissed her. She smiled and kissed him back.

~

After Yvette got settled in the guest room of the Donati manor, the chauffeur took Ashley, Yvette, and Blair out in the limousine to tour Pink Top City and do some shopping. They finally settled at The Video and Card Shop where there was a wide variety of Varg the Viking memorabilia. They had Varg the Viking bath sets, slippers, plush dolls, cups, and more. Blair carried all of their purchases for them.

Blair: “So nice to sit down! I never got a chance to talk to you, Yvette! So you want to help Ashley open up their cat café?”

He smiled. Yvette nodded eagerly. Ashley smiled, glad that their friends were hanging out together. They just wish Lazaros could be here to join them.

Yvette: “Yes! I miss Ashley so much and want to help them open a café for the kitties they always wanted!”

She explained, hugging Ashley. Ashley smiled and laughed.

Ashley: “I missed you, too Yvette… and that’s nice of you!”

Blair: “That’s great! Ashley always wanted a cat café! I wanted to help them but didn’t know how to start and thought Lazaros would have been the one to do that.”

He said with a sigh. Ashley bowed their head and sighed, wondering why Lazaros didn’t help them with that.

Yvette: “Ohhh, looks like Lazaros has been too busy cooking lots of food for Ashley instead!”

She teased, poking Ashley’s tummy. Ashley reddened and shifted their eyes. They then laughed when they thought of how Lazaros would get really flustered right now. They adored it when Lazaros got flustered over them and made them feel desirable.

Blair: “Yes, he’s a professional chef and wrote some cookbooks.”

He smiled and rubbed the back of his neck, feeling awkward.

Blair: “So why Varg the Viking?”

He asked her. He couldn’t understand her fascination with a baby show and wanted to. And he didn’t want to discuss Lazaros’ fetishes. Yvette gasped out loud.

Yvette: “VARG THE VIKING IS THE HOTTEST AND SEXIEST MAN ALIVE!”

She squealed, shoving her Varg plush doll in their faces. Ashley laughed. Blair forced a smile and remained polite.

Ashley: “Why are his feet so big?”

They tilted their head and laughed.

Blair: “I guess it’s a design aspect. It’s like how Iron Man’s suit is red and gold.”

He replied.

Ashley: “I know, but it looks really funny!”

They giggled with amusement. Yvette frowned.

Yvette: “It’s NOT funny. It’s sexy!”

She huffed. Okay, another one with weird fetishes, Blair thought. Why do I even ask? He wondered.

Ashley: “Oh, uh, okay!”

They forced a smile.

Blair: “Uh, wanna pick up a pizza to take home?”

He asked to change the subject and not have to endure awkward silence. Ashley nodded eagerly.

Ashley: “Ooh, pizza! Can we get woodfired?”

They beamed.

Blair: “Yeah, Ash! There’s a great place by the Galaxy Theatre! I’ll tell Lino to take us there.”

He smiled and nodded.

~

The chauffeur, Lino, dropped them off at a ghetto woodfired pizza shop near The Galaxy Theater. People were getting out. Not many people. Blair inhaled to be brave for Ashley. He opened the door for Ashley and Yvette to go to the pizza shop. I hope nothing awkward happens, he thought. Ashley smiled at Blair, patting his back. Blair nodded at Ashley.

Then he saw Celeste and Jaxon getting out of the theater, their arms interlocked. He froze like a deer in the headlights.

Celeste: “Wanna go back to my place and spend the night?”

She asked Jaxon and leaned on his shoulder.

Jaxon: “Oh yes!”

He purred.

Ashley awkwardly froze when he saw them, thinking of how Lazaros wanted them to stay away from Jaxon and Blair’s feud with Celeste.

Ashley: “...This is awkward.”

They turned to where Yvette stood before and she was now gone.

They watched as Yvette rushed up to Celeste and Jaxon with her sword.

Yvette: “JIRO-KUN!”

She rasped, blocking their path. Jaxon went pale as a sheet and froze up like he had just seen a ghost. Ashley’s eyes widened and their jaw dropped.

Ashley: “...Wait… JAXON IS JIRO?!”

They cupped their mouth.

Jaxon: “...N-Nariko?!”

Yvette pulled out her sword from its scabbard, revealing a long silver feather, and pointing it up to Celeste’s neck. Celeste flicked her gaze on the feather sword and at her,

Yvette: “HANDS OFF HIM, AMERICAN GIRLFRIEND! HE’S MINE!”

She snapped and glared at Celeste. Celeste gaped at her and Jaxon.

Celeste: “Ah, it’s another one of your fans, Jaxon.”

She laughed a bit.

Yvette: “FANS?! I’M HIS BRIDE!”

She snapped at Celeste, holding her feather sword in her face. Celeste gaped at her and laughed. She brushed the sword off her face.

Celeste: “Cute.”

Jaxon: “What are you doing here, Nariko?!”

He hissed between clenched teeth.

Yvette: “I’m here to fight your American girlfriend and marry you, Jiro-Kun!”

She grinned, holding up her feather sword. Ashley turned to Yvette and their heart sank.

Ashley: “...I thought you were here to see me and help me with my Cat Cafe…”

They knit their eyebrows. Jaxon turned to her and scoffed, shaking his head at her.

Yvette: “Sorry, Ashley, it’s nothing personal!”

Ashley pursed their lips.

Celeste: “How are you gonna get him back with that feather sword?”

She asked wryly.

Yvette: “Like THIS!”

She gripped her feather sword and swung it across Celeste’s neck as if she were about to decapitate her head. Celeste drew back laughing.

Celeste: “Stahahahp thahahahat!”

She scratched her own neck. Yvette slashed at her neck repeatedly with the feather sword.

Yvette: “Take THAT!”

She exclaimed. Celeste laughed and drew back embracing herself.

Celeste: “Hahahahahahaha!”

Jaxon groaned and rubbed his temples out of humiliation and annoyance.

Jaxon: “STOP IT, Nariko! I don’t want to marry you!”

He snapped at her.

Jaxon: “I want to be with her now!”

He added, putting his arm around Celeste. Celeste panted and looked up at him smiling. Yvette knit her eyebrows and her bottom lip trembled.

Yvette: “NO! We were destined to be together, Jiro-Kun… We grew up together and we were to be married together!”

She cried.

Celeste: “Oh well, he’s with me now. And your parents arranged that marriage anyway.”

She looked up at Jaxon.

Jaxon: “It wasn’t my destiny to be with you. I was forced to be with you. Now, go run off with your friend and fuck off to Shin-Yamato.”

He waved his hand at her as if he were batting away flies. Yvette’s bottom lip trembled.

Yvette: “NO!”

She cried, charging after him with her feather sword, she slashed his neck with the feather bristles and he laughed.

Jaxon: “Nohohoh, FUCK OFF!”

She slashed at him repeatedly, causing him to fall to his knees. She then got on top of him, removing his chelsea boots.

Yvette: “Ohhh, Peeee-yeeww, Jiro-Kun!”

She teased, pulling out a tiny fan and fanning her face.

Jaxon: “GET OFF ME!”

He rasped.

Yvette: “Time to murder your stinky feet!”

She announced, slashing at his feet with her feather sword.

Jaxon: “HAHHAHAH AH HA STOP IT! GET HER OFF MEEEEEE!”

He rasped and pleaded as she swung her feather sword across his feet. As much as Celeste loved seeing him tickled, it was Nariko doing it that made it weird. She pulled Jaxon from that and hoisted him over her shoulder, slapping his ass.

Celeste: “No, the only one punishing him is me, and believe me, I will!”

She drummed her fingers on his ass. Jaxon panted, catching his breath, and grinned at her. Yvette’s eyes watered and she bawled.

Yvette: “NO! GIVE HIM BACK TO ME! HE’S MINE!”

She cried.

Celeste: “No, he wants me. I’ll punish him nice and good tonight.”

She grinned showing her sharp teeth. Jaxon smirked at Celeste and kissed her to pour salt into Yvette’s wound. Yvette’s bottom lip trembled and she bawled.

She ran over to Ashely.

Yvette: “H-Help me Ashley! She’s stealing my J-Jiro-Kun away from me!”

Ashley pouted and pulled away from her.

Ashley: “As Maxx would say… what’s this got to do with me?”

They pouted.

Ashley: “You used me like Maxx did for a guy like him who doesn’t even want to be with you!”

They snapped. Yvette knit her eyebrows.

Yvette: “WHAT?! He’s destined to be with me! His American girlfriend is lying to him!”

She cried. Ashley drew a breath.

Ashley: “I thought I knew Maxx… but I didn’t. I thought I knew you… but I didn’t. You should find a hotel! It’s nothing personal!”

They huffed with hurt in their tone and turned on their heel to leave. Yvette gaped at Ashley and sobbed harder. Blair stood there frozen. Why is everyone so weird? He wondered.

Ashley: “I’m going to someone who actually wants to be with me! I’m going to Lazaros!”

They cried and stormed off. They stumbled into someone.

Lazaros stood there when Ashley announced that.

Lazaros: “Ashley! I was following you!”

Ashley gasped.

Ashley: “L-LAZAROS! Y-You were following us?!”

They beamed, wrapping their arms around him. Lazaros hugged them back.

Lazaros: “I knew something was off from the beginning. I’m always right.”

He said gently.

Ashley: “How did you know?! I’m sorry I didn’t eat your ice cream!”

They cried.

Lazaros: “The reason is why was she coming from Shin-Yamato for you and your cat café? It was Jaxon’s birthday and this is why she’s here.”

He declared. Ashley embraced themself.

Ashley: “I feel so stupid…”

They buried their head in their hands. Lazaros patted their back.

Lazaros: “No, you’re not. You need me to guide you and that is why I am here!”

She spread his arms out. Ashley smiled at him and embraced him.

Ashley: “I’m so glad you’re here! I’m always glad when you’re around!”

They chirped, kissing his cheek.

Lazaros: “I think it’s time you move in with me. You clearly need more guidance from the best!”

He smirked. Ashley’s eyes brightened.

Ashley: “R-REALLY?! You want me to move in with you?!”

They squealed and beamed with tears of joy, wrapping their arms around him. Lazaros beamed and held them close.

Lazaros: “Yes, of course! I wouldn’t have it any other way!”

Ashley kissed his cheek.

Ashley: “Me too!”

~

Hours earlier…

Tristan was in his bedroom lying on his sofa smoking and reading a book. Someone knocked on his door.

Tristan: “Come in, please.”

Lazaros came in and stood before him.

Lazaros: “I don’t want this to leave this room… but… I need your help.”

Tristan flicked his gaze up to him.

Tristan: “Is this about Ashley’s friend visiting them?”

Lazaros nodded.

Lazaros: “I need you to find dirt on them so I can expose her to get her away from Ashley. I overheard them call her ‘Yvette’.”

He said with strain.

Tristan: “What’s in it for me?”

He smiled and inhaled a drag.

Lazaros: “I will never antagonize you again. Getting Ashley is more important. I wouldn’t go to you if I weren’t in dire straits.”

He said with strain. Tristan cupped his mouth and gazed at him intently.

Tristan: “Okay, Lazaros, I’ll find that out for you, and hold you to your word.”

~

An hour after he asked for Tristan’s help, Tristan read him off what he found.

Tristan: “I checked out Ashley’s blog to find out what I could about this ‘Yvette’. Her real name is Nariko Nakamura. She was engaged to Jaxon or Jiro and Jaxon’s birthday was yesterday. I daresay the cat café and wanting to see Ashley is a front for actually wanting to see Jaxon again.”

He handed him the papers. Lazaros had a smirk across his face and left.