KINTSUkuroi
[Chapter XXIV] - Healing

About a week passed since Siule's decision to desist from stealing Nicolas from Ciel. The male's wound had now healed for the most part, meaning the trial again the Human female, charged with the intellectual authorship for the crime of Savan Surelle and the material authorship for the murder of Setsuna Kuroyami, was set to start. Furthermore, Zeniel Exandra was also taken to court, charged with the material authorship for the assassination of the former Regent of the Giants. The 'Blind Titania', who suffered an irreversible mental trauma as a result of Siule's tampering with her brain, didn't attempt to resist the arrest.

Ciel glared at the two females with clear disgust in her eyes. It was evident that she did not wish to provide the criminals with a lawyer, yet she was not willing to violate the rules her mother had set up during her management for the creation of the new age of the Giants' world. She was surprised to learn that Siule herself refused to undergo the trial with the aid of an attorney to defend her. "I am a criminal, I do not deserve nor want to be defended for my wrongdoings." she declared when she informed Ciel of her decision.

As per her boyfriend's request, Ciel begrudgingly determined a merciful dictum for the tawny-haired woman: all Macrosia genes were removed from her body in a very painful, albeit not life-threatening, unprecedented process. Additionally, she was sentenced to four life terms, one for each crime she had actively or passively participated in. She was allowed to be visited by Nicolas once a week, which was all that mattered to her, though she was not permitted to have any contact with him.

As for Zeniel, she was sentenced for life, but her imprisonment was not to take place on a regular jail but rather on a maximum-security mental institution.

Damien and Lena Jies, Siule's parents, were arrested in the Human world and, with Ciel's approval, they were judged by a Human-world court. They were sentenced to 50 years, which was more time than they had left, most likely. With its CEOs gone, InnoTech suffered a power vacuum, which was swiftly brought to an end when Aria Jies, Siule's older sister, took control of the business. The new CEO declared that she would devote all of InnoTech's resources to aiding the Giant world as a gesture of goodwill after the damage her family had caused and encouraged Giants and Humans to work together for the sake of creating an everlasting bond between both species.

With the whole Siule issue settled for good, the world was ready to move forward towards a brighter future. Humans and Giants no longer felt the need to see each other as enemies, in no small part thanks to Ciel's and Nicolas' feelings for each other. They both served as spokespersons for cementing the foundation of an unbreakable bond between both races. Perhaps the best proof of this was Driode Lins. Earlier that day, she had approached the Human male, who rested peacefully on Ciel's open palm.

"U-Ummm... N-Nicolas... C-Could I possibly speak to you...?" the blonde Giantess requested, her attitude far less vehement than usual.

"S-Sure, Driode... What is it...?" the man asked.

"I-I just wanted to say... s-sorry for doubting your intentions... a-and thank you for protecting Ciel... You fighting the B-Blind Titania on your own showed me that I was wrong... Not all Humans are evil creatures, and you in particular are very brave and noble. If there are Humans who are half as amazing as you are, then I can see coexistence being a thing..." the female admitted, a small smile escaping her lips as she finished her statement.

"Thank you, Driode. It means a lot to me to hear that coming from you." the male showed her his appreciation for her kind words.

The sand-gold-haired Giant's smile grew wider. It was the first time in a long time Ciel had seen her face reflect genuine happiness. Before now, Driode had not wanted to admit it because of her past experiences, but she cared greatly about Ciel since she saw in the black-haired female the same traits she admired in Savan.

"Well, I'll be on my way. I just wanted to thank you for all you've done for us." Driode beamed before turning around and leaving the lovers to their own devices.

"You've done it again." Ciel commented, looking down at the timid male.

"W-What do you mean...?"

"You, my little darling, have the wonderful ability to make those around you truly happy. When we first met, I instinctively felt the need to protect you from those bullies, and when I did, I felt happy. I felt the need to continue to protect you so that I could continue to experience that happiness. Of course, I didn't want anyone to hurt you, but I must admit I was happy to know that no one would hurt you because I was there to defend you. I also felt happy each time you trusted me a little more and eased into me a bit more. Before I knew it, I found myself drawing happiness just from hugging you and seeing that beautiful face of yours make all those adorable flustered expressions. That's what made me fall for you. Needless to say, you reciprocating my feelings was the biggest happiness I could ever experience, and those times when you reassured me or remained by my side when I was in doubt only helped me feel happier and happier about having you in my life. Naturally, I don't think I'm the only one who's happy to have you in their life, but knowing that you're my little man is the most absolute bliss I could ever wish to experience." Ciel confessed.

"Ciel... Remember what you told me back then about 'kintsukuroi'...?" Nicolas asked, earning a nod from the bodacious female.

"I must admit that at that time I didn't really know how you'd be able to fix me. I thought it was just a metaphor that could not apply to a person. But now I see that you were right. You truly fixed me, made me better than I was before, and if I can be proud of who I am today, it's to a great extent thanks to you. That's why... That's why I want to be your little man forever. I want to be yours for the rest of my life..." the male knelt down on her palm as he poured out his feelings.

Ciel's eyes widened in realisation as she imagined where this was going. Tears of joy flowed unrestricted down her reddened cheeks and a wide smile formed on her beautiful face.

"D-Don't joke with me, Nic!" the Giantess exclaimed, unable to contain her bliss. Her heart pounded violently against her chest and her cheeks became even redder somehow.

'No way... This is really happening...! It's really happening...! Nic... You are...!' she thought as she became more and more eager to hear the actual words come out of his mouth.

"I-I... I'm sorry... I-I really want to do this b-but I can't..." the male backed down.

"What...? Why? Nic, what's wrong?" Ciel asked dejectedly.

"I... I don't have..." Nicolas shyly tried to explain.

"Don't worry, son, I got you covered." a masculine voice spoke as Salvius approached the two lovebirds.

"Dad!" Ciel smiled as he revealed a small (from a Giant's perspective) navy-blue, velvet box.

"Ciel, dear, I hope you won't be offended if this old man rudely barges his way in to help a little fella." Salvius humbly apologised for his intrusion.

"By all means, Dad! I really appreciate it!" the Regent of the Giants giggled softly.

"I've kept this with me ever since I realised what your feelings for each other are." Ciel's father opened the box to reveal a beautiful golden ring with a small, pristine white gem on top of it.

"This is the ring I gifted Savan when I married her. A good friend of mine who happens to be into the philosophical meaning of stuff told me that gold is meant to represent wealth and fortune. Naturally, I felt fortunate to marry a woman such as Savan, which is why I chose gold for the ring. As for the gemstone, I admit I chose moonstone because I found it very pretty. Later on I discovered this is considered to be the gem of protection. I think both of you embody the truest sense of that word." Salvius explained.

"M-Mr. Surelle..." Nicolas tried to thank him but the words failed to come out of his mouth.

"Please, call me Salvius. Actually, I wouldn't want to ask you to call me 'Dad', but in all honesty I'd be very happy if you did." the Giant admitted, causing Nicolas and Ciel to blush at the implications of his confession.

"Now, Nicolas, we need to do this the right way. Of course, you won't be able to give Ciel the ring for obvious reasons, but I do have an idea. May I?" Salvius asked for permission for him to pick up the diminutive male.

Nicolas nodded in response, trusting Ciel's father, who gently scooped him from Ciel's palm and carefully placed him on the box, delicately setting him on top of the ring in a way that he'd be able to hang onto the gemstone for safety. The ruler of the Giants couldn't help letting a small giggle out, replaceing the sight to be absolutely adorable.

Ciel picked the ring up, making sure her movements weren't too sudden so as not to scare her tiny lover, and glanced at him with enamoured eyes.

"S-So... a-as I was s-saying before... C-Ciel Surelle... W-Would you d-do me the h-honour of being my wife...?" the black-haired man finally proposed to the Giantess.

Ciel squealed with delight. Without thinking she brought the ring (and Nicolas with it) to her ample chest, treating the male to quite the experience. No matter how many times he got close and personal with her bosom, he could never get used to it.

"Yes, yes, a million times yes!!! Of course I'll be your wife, Nic!!!" Ciel answered without the slightest hint of hesitation, earning a round of applause from the spectators who had gathered around to witness the momentous occasion unfold.

"Ciel Surelle, happily married to Nicolas Mach. I so love the sound of that!" the female nuzzled her husband-to-be against her smooth-skinned cheek.

A few months later...

The band played the wedding march as Ciel walked down the red velvet pathway that led to the elegant altar in a stunningly-beautiful, unpolluted, white dreess. She carried a bouquet of matching white roses in her hands. Traditionally, the roses would have been red, but the Giant woman wanted them to be white to represent how pure her future husband was in her eyes.

Nicolas was overwhelmed by the barrage of emotions he was experiencing. Happiness, nervousness, eagerness, anxiousness... his mind raced with so many questions and 'what-ifs', but his resolution remained steadfast. He was going to become a married man, married to the woman who had become his reason to exist. He was certain of one thing: he wasn't going to escape.

Ciel slowly but surely approached the altar, her advance regal and dignified. Her pristine white dress seemed to shine in the sunlight, making her appearance even more radiant than it already was.

Siule had been granted permission to assist to the wedding under extremely strict surveillance. Ciel had reluctantly agreed to it thanks to Nicolas' intervention. The Human female couldn't contain her tears as she glanced at her adoptive brother. She had mixed feelings; on the one hand she wished it was her and not Ciel that was wearing the wedding dress, but also there was something about the male's aura that immediately caught her attention.

'Nicky... your aura is... golden...! What a fool I've been... Ciel... Thank you... Thank you for healing Nicky...' she thought as she continued to cry her heart out.

Salvius handed Nicolas to the bride so that she could hold him in her loving grasp.

"Look at you! You look drop-dead gorgeous in that white tuxedo!" she complimented.

"I-I feel q-quite inappropriate hearing that from you..." the groom replied shyly. It was no doubt that Ciel looked very sightly, but in his eyes this was even truer.

"Oh, shush you! You're selling yourself short as usual —Ciel giggled—! Are you sure you don't want me to shrink to Human size for the ceremony? I don't really mind, and I think it'll be more comfortable for you."

"Thanks, love, but that's okay. This is the real 'you', the 'you' I've helplessly fallen for. Nothing would make me happier than to marry you like this." Nicolas replied assertively.

"My goodness! When did you become such a smooth talker?" the Giant female joked.

"Heh. For the most part you can expect me to continue to be your shy, little man, but I might surprise you every now and then." the male countered.

"And I wouldn't have it any other way." Ciel showed her acceptance.

"Now —the Priestess spoke, ready to get the main event underway—, Nicolas Mach, do you accept Ciel Surelle as your beloved wife? Do you swear to protect her, love her, and devote yourself in full to her, until death do you part?"

"Yes, I do."

"And you, Ciel Surelle, do you accept Nicolas Mach as your beloved husband? Do you swear to protect him, love him and devote yourself in full to him, until death do you part?"

"Yes, I do."

Then, by the power invested in me by our former Regent Savan Surelle, I hereby declare you husband and wife. I'd say "you may now kiss the wife" but I think that'd be a bit difficult so... would the wife like to do the honours, instead?" the Priestess proposed.

"It'll be my pleasure." Ciel smiled as she cupped her hands and brought them, together with her husband, close to her lips, engulfing his whole body in a passionate kiss with the cheers and applauses of the invitees in the background.

The marriage between Nicolas and Ciel set an unprecedented record, one that the new world greatly needed. It was the first time a union between a Human and a Giant took place. This event had a great symbolic meaning for both species. It was the ultimate proof that they were able to leave their bloody past behind and ready to create a brighter future together. This was a future to be created from the sacrifice of many, the desires of a few crazy fellas who deemed themselves insane enough to change the world, to persevere through the pain, endure the hardships and plow forward driven by their dream. The division between 'Human World' and 'Giant World' ceased to exist. Though most Humans and Giants continued to inhabit their respective parts of the world for the safety of the small ones, they were both free to settle down wherever they preferred. The world adapted quickly, developing housing for both species within the same city. Some buildings were revolutionary in the sense that they offered accomodations for Humans and Giants alike.

"We've done it, love... Your mother's dream... Your dream... We're making it happen... You and I..." Nicolas hugged his wife's little finger.

"Indeed we are, darling. After all, there's nothing we can't do when you and I are together. The world will face many challenges moving forward, I'm sure, but we'll overcome them, the two of us. As long as you're by my side, I feel nothing can bring me down. Look at this world, love. It was once a broken world, but the two of us and many others are starting to fix it, and once we're done I'm sure it'll be even more beautiful than it was before." Ciel declared, affectionately kissing his little body.

Nicolas nodded and smiled, closing his eyes and kissing her back with surprising confidence. There was no doubt in his kind that she'd be able to heal the world, just like she had healed him.

And he would be by her side, supporting her all the way.

-------------------------------------------------The End