Kaigo had been to hell and back. It sucked. He had struggled for so long in the depths of ichor. He'd rather die than relive the previous months. No sleep, walking with double his body weight in ichor, the hazy burning that covered everything. He could not even visit his dog Fiesta for fear of suddenly nodding off and hurting her. Speaking of which full offense to everyone but Balm and Fiesta because fuck all the effort of acting like a cool hero when he gets nothing back but dead fish stares and orders. No phone calls, no one just sitting down and listening to him. Sure it would all have been fine if he had just gone after the Knave and they could both have died in a glorious battle, but this little Guide decided otherwise. Belaphorde had made the worst choice each step of the way and now there's a Kaiju on the loose with more to come, and the part where Kaigo now has to lie in bed feeling weaker than he has been all his life. So rude. Ask for consent before you bring someone back to life!

Kaigo was sick, tired, and had a bitter stain on his heart. Perhaps in this life, he'd cause problems on purpose. Yell at his parents, burn all his money, drink tequila, dance the macarena, and make bad decisions. He'd have fun with people. Cause maximum drama. The first item on the agenda was to bind Belaphorde to him so he'd have a way to get rid of all the disgusting magic blie. He smiled a devilish grin, the black of his gums framing his teeth, as he made ridiculous plans for maximum jaw-drop efficiency.

The door flew open as Belaphorde marched into the room. Belaphorde had returned willingly with the statment that he would not speak until he saw Kaigo. He had agreed to help Bel and it was the best option Bel had to negotiate. The air was tense. People in riot gear and suits made their way from the villa atop the wall. Vigo furrowed his brows in worry as he watched from a distance.

“Look who it is! The princess returns to the castle.”

“Do not call me that,” Belaphorde snapped. He was dirty and bruised with a wild edge to his eyes.

“Alright. I’m beginning to see a pattern but I’m not putting the pieces together.”

Belaphorde dragged out a chair and sat down with an annoyed sigh. Tina and Jenny followed with a clipboard and tablet in hand.

“Anyone care to explain just what the hell you two idiots have done? Any idea about how much an emergency alarm costs the company?”

“Relax Applepie. No harm done.”

“Why you -”

“It's alright.” Belaphorde cut in, his voice flat. “I can pay back the fine my actions have made me guilty of. I will however require paperwork and a bank account to begin the legal process.”

The room went silent. Everyone looked at the young Guide. He rubbed his throbbing arm, too tired to be smug or make any expression.

“Do not try and make yourself funny. We told you that the process will take a while. Did you pull this stunt because you could not wait a few months for the legal documents? These things take time if they are to be done correctly.” Jenny was pissed. The entire situation was incomprehensible to her. Nothing would fundamentally change about their situation. Belaphorde and his father would still live in Kaigo’s house and have their expenses paid for by the company. Besides that, for all she knew Belaphorde was a dangerous man with too many unknowns.

Kaigo thought to himself ‘This guy is a psycho’ and burst out laughing. “Don't talk like that to my beloved savior. I'm sure Blue here has only the best intentions. Actually, I would like to make a proposal that could make everyone happy.”

Jenny facepalmed preemptively for the stupidity that was coming.

“Before you all start judging I'd like to discuss things with bad boy, mano a mano.”

“What am I supposed to tell everyone outside?”

“Just say I was playing a little prank. A celebration that I'm alive. That should cover it up.”

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Tina raised her hand tentatively. “I'd like to do some tests as soon as possible. The latest readings make no sense. I need to figure out what's happening or Belaphorde might be in danger.”

“No thank you. I'm fine, professor.”

Bel was sick and tired of all the tests. He didn't know what the crystal inside him was but it had given him strength, no one was going to take that away from him.

“You heard him. Everyone out. We have boy-talk to discuss. And no listening through the door.” Kaigo shooed them out of the room to deal with the mess outside.

After a bit of bickering the women left the room to continue with their respective work. Kaigo leaned back into the stack of pillows holding him up. He closed his eyes and snickered like a schoolboy.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing. I’m just lightheaded and losing my eyesight. Typical ichor-poisoning stuff. Could you grab that water bottle for me?”

Belaphorde grabbed the bottle and held it for Kaigo.

“I’m not so feeble that I can’t hold it myself. Though this side of you is unexpected and cute.”

Kaigo gulped down the entire bottle in one go while Belaphorde held it. Neither man could tell what the other was thinking.

“That hit the spot, thank you.”

“What did you wish to speak about?”

“Ah yes, business. Serious matters. You are a serious guy and I will take you seriously.”

“Indeed?”

“Yeah. So, I’ve heard that you have been facing some trouble. You want papers, money, freedom; and I owe you my life. As the only Guide that can handle my case, I’ll continue to be indebted to you. Even if my life has been a hase these past months I still find you incredibly interesting.”

Kaigo folded his hands in his lap, his face softened with sincerity.

“Jenny is trying to do things the official way, I do not care much for it. I understand it might be difficult with your country blasted from the map, but it should not matter to us. Money is not an issue. I know people who know people to get things done. I’ve also watched enough dramas to know the easiest way to give a person all the legality sorted out.”

“What are you offering?”

“Let’s get married. You can divorce me when we survive all the Kaiju nonsense. You get rights to half of what I own. It’s the best option I could think of to give you what you want.”

It was like someone cracked an egg and now all the thoughts were coming out of Belaphorde’s mind. Marriage? Never once in his life had he sat down and thought about marriage. Kaigo was right in that it would mean that he would give up massive amounts of his fortune. If he dies Belaphorde would inherit all of it. The marriage would mean money, power, security; a perfect alibi for entering Kaleido. It was only a marriage in the legal sense. Belaphorde was trying his best to find drawbacks. There must be a hidden agenda.

“I want my own separate bank account.”

“Of course. I’ll make sure you get a contract with the Guild with a fair salary. Maybe even a few stocks and start-up cash.”

“I want for Vigo to also gain full citizenship and his own apartment and a plan to fully cover a comfortable retirement.”

“Done.”

“I- “ Belaphorde was struggling to think of anything.

“I’ll make sure to ask they make you a driver's license. You and your old-man seem to have a thing for motors. If you think of anything else I’m happy to serve my knight.”

“How long will the process take?”

“I’m sure we can get everything done within the week. Yeah. I’ll make sure of it. I can start making calls and send you to get your picture and fingerprints or whatever else is needed pronto.”

Belaphorde felt defeated. In his life, he had taken horrible gambles for the sake of money. He’d lead people to their deaths. What was a bit of his pride for a price? Kaigo seemed happy enough to offer up everything he got on a silver platter.

“Alright.” Belaphorde reached out his hand. “I accept.”

Kaigo shook his hand firmly, the ichor sending chills down Belaphorde’s arm.

“Thank you. You won’t regret this. Though, I have a few itty-bitty requests. You need to get a haircut and get some clothes that fit you. You also need to eat more you look like a skeleton. Have the others just agreed to let you look like all hobo-chic while you have been staying here? Can’t believe I found this half-starved zombie attractive. Ichor, booze, and caffeine in a combo do things to you. Speaking of which can you call in the others and get some champagne in here? I think a moment like this should have champagne.”

“I’ll get things if I want to. As for the celebrations I want to keep this between us until we got a few things settled?”

“Why wait? Our marriage is the perfect cover-up for whatever shenanigans you have been up to today. Jenny would want to know since it would make great pr. You kinda have already been caught on camera and I’m kinda a mega-celebrity, so the press is already super involved. I want to brag about my superknight on a white horse! Besides, isn’t it more fun to surprise Vigo with a big party right now than taking it slow, blah, blah. You feel? Bombastic, telefantastic.”

“You are out of your god damned mind.” Belaphorde chuckled. “Do as you’d like but remember that this is a legal marriage. I will not put up any act”

“Not a problem at all. I just want to help out.”

Kaigo was beaming. Belaphorde had agreed even though he could have just as easily refused and only asked for parts of the agreement. Now they were here. Kaigo could proudly shatter any hope his parents had for him after the transition; he was going to get into a gay marriage and it would piss so many people off. He’d shower this third-world nobody with so much cash. The only drawback by putting so much on the plate now is that he’d not get to as easily buy Belaphorde in the future. For now, he did not care.

Belaphorde opened the door. The living room was filled with people. Vigo was arguing with a guard standing right by the door. Balm was waiting patiently with a tray of Kaigo’s dinner. Belaphorde suddenly felt a little self-aware with everyone staring.

Kaigo managed to wait for a total of two seconds before he shouted with everything his ichor-filled lungs could muster.

“Hey everyone! We are getting married!”