The Galactic Bride
Chapter 11: The Kal'mar

"Tomorrow they're sending the contestants to Musa Minor." Lani told Aki after a particularly long training session. "I think for the time being you should eat and rest."

It was the day before the ship had arrived at Musa Minor. They were just waiting on another ship to arrive before the Contest could officially begin. In all that time, General Anura had been busy, which Aki was secretly happy about. Lani had trained him in weaponry, like the General had suggested, but also was reminding him about all the previous lessons. It seemed redundant until he realized she was beating the most important bits into his head so he wouldn't forget.

"Would you join me for dinner?" Aki asked her.

"I don't want to intrude. This will be the last time you'll be able to spend with Hana-chan." Lani reminded him.

"Yes, but I don't want my last memory of you as screaming drill sergeant. It's just dinner…"

Lani thought about it for a moment then nodded. "Just allow me to wash up first. I'll meet you and Hana-chan at the mess in a turn (hour)."

So with that arranged, Aki and Lani left the cargo bay together, both heading for their cabins. When Aki arrived in his, the shower was already going, and a Hana was missing. Smirking a bit to himself, he quickly undressed, and surprised her in the shower. She wasn't in the greatest of moods, mostly because she knew that this was their last night, but he was trying to make light of the situation. After washing up, they headed to the officers mess.

"I wish I could understand the common tongue." Hana complained for the 30th time. "I won't be able to tell what you and Major Lani are talking about again."

"I'm sorry." Aki really was. He sometimes forgot about that little problem. "I just wanted to have a proper goodbye with Lani before everything happens."

A shadow went over Hana's eyes. He couldn't blame her. He didn't want to think about it either.

Despite everything, dinner was actually lively. There was a lot of translating going on on his end, but even Hana was enjoying herself. If they could speak to each other directly, Aki was sure that Hana and Lani would get along. Which was why when Hana got up to refill her juice, Aki had decided to ask Lani a huge favor.

"Hey, before she comes back, I want to ask you something."

"Okay?" Lani looked nervous. Perhaps she already worked out what he wanted from her.

"When I go down… would you watch over Hana-chan for me? She has no one… and I'm concerned about what might happen to her, especially if I die." Aki had taken to saying 'if I die' instead of 'when I die' which he fully believed. It helped the others cope he thought.

"Me? You want me to watch over her?" Lani was blushing. "I don't know…"

"I know it's a burden, but like I said before, you're the only Nimbonian I trust. I meant it then and I mean it now."

Lani looked away, her eyes focusing on Hana, who was trying to pantomime what she wanted from the mess-officer. She looked back at him. "She is precious to you. I don't think I'm up to the task?"

"And General Anura is?" Aki snorted.

"Well… no." Lani almost whispered as if the General would pop in at any moment.

"She's not a child, she can look after herself. She just needs someone to look after her. After all she's an alien and is completely out of her element. Just… you know, make sure no one kills her or something."

Lani gave a heavy sigh.

"I'm not asking you to do something that's against Nimbonian culture, am I?"

"No… not really." She had a small bit of pink to her cheeks. "Seed-sharers occasionally allocate concubines and servants to each other… it's just… we're not really an official couple, so there might be some questions. Legally, Hana-chan is a hostage for the Nimbonian Kingdom…well, when she's not your concubine that is."

"So you mean we have to be family or married." Aki asked.

"Legally yes. If she was Nimbonian, I don't think anyone would care if we just agreed I take her… but she's a Terran creature."

Aki leaned back in his seat shaking his head in exasperation. "You know nothing is simple with the Nimbonians. Why can't a friend just looked after another friend?"

Lani touched his arm lightly. "I will do my best, Aki (she had taken to calling him that after he told her he didn't like being called Kezri). But I can not guess what my superiors will do or say when I do. That is why I am worried. I'm in the military, I have to follow orders… as you well know."

"You called us seed-sharers, doesn't that account for something?" Aki was grasping for straws.

"It means… It… means…" This question brought more pink to her face. "Traditionally it means we are a couple… but an unconventional one. Usually seed-sharers perform the kal'mar ceremony." At the look of confusion on his face she explained. "It's more or less like… hmm, I guess an engagement."

Hana rejoined them at the table and must have read the mood. "What's up?"

Aki tried to explain the situation the best her could to her. Hana didn't seemed pleased with this conversation at all. He couldn't blame her. They were talking about his death for one thing, discussing her fate without her having say for another thing, and talking about how he had a space-girlfriend, sorta. For a new couple like them, he was sure it was horrible to hear.

"You shouldn't be thinking about me, you should just focus on winning." Hana quickly told him.

"I'll be able to win if I know you're okay." Aki tried to calm her down. Lani looked lost, but he knew she had a good idea what the issue was.

"Well pawning me off on her isn't okay." Hana pouted.

"Then what else am I supposed to do? Let the military keep you around as a hostage? Once I'm gone, what use will they have for you? Sure they can return you to Earth, but I doubt it. More than likely they'll just throw you into some nobles house and make you work as a servant."

"Don't talk like that!" Hana shouted at him. "You're not going to die!"

This was frustrating beyond belief. He was starting to relate to how General Anura was reacting to him when he wasn't following her script. The thought that he shared something in common with Anura was sickening.

Lani touched his hand lightly, and looked tentatively from Hana to him. "I can see she's not taking this well. Should I leave?"

"No." He told her. "She's just being a baby. I'm going to force her to go along with this… now how do we do this kal'mar thing?"

Lani looked taken a back. Perhaps he assumed to much. He was asking her for engagement so freely it must have been insulting. Immediately he regretted how he worded it. "I'm sorry. I was insensitive."Smiling nervously Lani composed herself. "I understand. This situation is just so troublesome."

"J-Just forget it. I'll figure out something else."

Hana snatched his other arm, clearly annoyed that she was left out of the loop again. "What are you talking about now?"

"She told me she won't undertake the engagement ceremony. She can tell it upsets you."

Hana's jaw shifted uncomfortably. "She doesn't love you, does she?"

That seemed to come from no where, though if he really thought about it really wasn't an obscure thought. Hana didn't want to be 'the other woman'. But what did she think she would be if he did win the competition and had to marry the Minister's daughter. Gently he reminded her of that.

"You won't love her and she won't love you, so… it won't be a big deal." Hana quickly said, though he could tell it did bother her.

"Then if Lani doesn't love me, it shouldn't matter, right?" Aki asked, feeling completely exhausted with all this fiancée / marriage business.

"I guess." Hana conceded, then added. "I hate being called a concubine."

Ignoring that last part, he turned to Lani. "Okay, she's calmed down now. Can you think of anything else we can do to keep Hana-chan safe."

Lani looked up, but shook her head. "I can't think of anything else. Someone has to… to put it bluntly, own her."

"Great. Perfect." Aki rubbed his forehead.

After a pause, Lani ventured. "I… I'll go along with it. I'll undertake the kal'mar, if you truly wish to be my fiancée. But only if this is not just for Hana-chan's sake."

There was something about the way she said that. Perhaps she didn't just want to be a fiancée in name only, that was insulting. He could understand that. But he wasn't sure if that meant Lani had feelings for him or not. She didn't out right say she did, but she didn't really imply that she didn't either.

"Y-You said before… that I'm the only Nimbonia you like." Lani reminded him. "Is that true?"

Before he could answer Hana was tugging his arm again. "What's she saying? She's acting all nervous."

Aki knew he couldn't get out of this by telling the truth. He'd have to lie to both of them. It wouldn't matter anyway. he'd be dead soon, but at least they would have each other. And if he somehow did manage to survive, well he'd just figure out something then. It wasn't like he was marrying Lani, he was just getting engaged. He could break the arrangement if it seemed troublesome.

"She said that she won't go along with it unless you agree." He finally said. Of course that was a lie. "She knows how much you like me and doesn't want to make you upset."

"So she doesn't like you like that?" Hana asked.

"She never said one way or another." Aki thought he'd put some truth in it. "I just think she's attached to me because we've had to work so close."

"I don't know. I-If it makes you happy that she's looking out for me… I don't like it but I'll do it."

One down.

He turned to Lani. "She doesn't seem very happy that I'm considering being your fiancée." That part was true at least. "But, sometimes I wonder if we're not already close like that, because of the seed-sharing."

Lani shrugged. "I understand that you want to protect her. Maybe you're just telling me what I want to hear. But there is a connection between us. I don't want to undergo the kal'mar just to undergo it. I want it to be real. My honor has already been… well you know."

"Yeah." His heart broke a little for her. But he was a dead man anyway. So for the time being he'd 'love' them both, they just wouldn't have to know about which he really was devoted too, was all. "If you can trust me… I say let's do it. I don't understand it all, but if this kal'mar business helps in anyway to lessening the insult that General Anura put us through, then let's do it."

"Then it's settled." Lani nodded, looking completely bashful.

Two down.

"What do we have to do?" Aki asked her.

"Well, first we must purify ourselves in a bath together. There must be a witness. Usually it's a family member or an official. So, an officer will have to do in our case." Lani spoke softly. "Then we go to bed together."

"You mean have sex?" Aki tried not to make his voice shake. He wasn't sure that he was entirely successful.

"No… I mean, it's allowed, but just sleeping together is what is required. Kal'mar isn't that complex of a ceremony. It just symbolizing the washing of past lives, and the togetherness of a new one. Hana-chan can actually undertake the ceremony with us… it's not as romantic."

"I have no idea how I'm going to explain all this to her." Aki felt lost now.

"Aki" Lani looked down. "I'm not a fool. I know you want to protect Hana-chan. I understand that I am not your true lover… but agreeing to do this means a lot to me. I will not lie. I hope that someday you and I will truly be in love." Lani smirked slightly. "I am not sure of my own feeling myself. But I know your heart is good and I'm willing to protect Hana-chan on your behalf if there is a chance that someday we can form a real relationship."

What she said was touching. So much so it made his heart ache for her yet again. But Hana pulled his arm again, once again, completely lost.

"Now what. You're talking about me."

So the only person he'd be lying to now was Hana. But he knew she wouldn't agree to such a thing unless he did. If he told her that Lani wanted for them to fall in love, that would end the whole thing right then and there. He didn't have time to consider Hana's her feelings now, her safety was in jeopardy. It crushed him to do it.

"She said okay… but wants you to take part in the ceremony so you don't think there's something fishy going on." Aki once again lied. "I guess it's okay if concubines share in the moment, I don't fully understand it."

Hana didn't looked pleased, and felt even less pleased about what was all involved with the ceremony. But she agreed to it.

So Lani pulled one of her doctor friends to be the witness, and they took the purifying bath. All three of them together. The water looked like it was milk, though it didn't smell like it. The experience would have been erotic if not for Hana's awkwardness and jealousy when Lani washed him, and of course the teary eyed doctor just staring at them.

When they got out of the bath they put on ceremonial gowns, and went to a bed chamber and slept. It wasn't in either of their cabins, it was a special cabin on the ship for such an occasion. This was also awkward, for all parties, except Lani. Aki could tell there was a small bit of happiness for her in this. He slept in the middle of the girls. Both of them hugged him. Guilt racked him as he felt Hana's chest press against his back, knowing she didn't understand the whole situation. But another part of him felt happiness for Lani as her own chest pressed against his. Her green eyes looked into his, and he could see her usual shyness start to fade.

One good thing that came out of this was that Lani had gotten a small portion of her dignity back. She was silently thanking him for it. It hurt him that he would have to disappoint both of them. After all of this, one fact still remained. He would die in the coliseum and while both of them wanted to be with him, they were stuck with each other instead.

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