The Last Cross Offs (Part 1 of The Eternal Partners Series)

Chapter 8

Rimuru's Ni-san? Ciel took a long look at this person who would be her brother-in-law.

He had a similar build to Satoru if not an inch or two shorter with broader shoulders. He also had a similar facial structure but where Satoru had rounder and softer edges, this person had a sharper bone structure.

The funny thing was, the longer she studied this person, the more Ciel thought he reminded her of Benimaru as opposed to Satoru. Perhaps they have similar personalities?

Ciel felt a pang of sadness resonate from Rimuru and brought her attention back to him. His expression was clouded as if lost in a daydream.

"Rimuru," she squeezed his hand in comfort.

Rimuru blinked to attention, "Ah sorry Ciel. I'm fine. I was just thinking. It's been so long since I've seen him. I almost forgot what he looked like."

Ciel, "Do you want to go say hi?"

Rimuru, "I don't know. As siblings, we care about each other but we were never that close. I have seen him maybe twice a year since I left our parents. We live in different cities so I'm surprised he's here at all. He's always been extremely busy with work or taking care of his own little family. Besides, he wouldn't recognize me like this."

Ciel considered what to do.

She couldn't remember her Master ever saying he missed his blood family. Ciel wondered what could've happened to make Rimuru so seemingly estranged with them.

Back when she was first conscious as the Great Sage, Rimuru had only acquired her because in his heart he lamented that he was still a virgin and wished for a partner who would stay with him forever. That spoke of the loneliness he must have felt when he was still human. It made Ciel want to hug him and never let go.

Ciel would do anything to make him happy. Perhaps there was a way for Rimuru to reconnect with his blood family.

Originally, their human selves were going to have a small and private ceremony with only Tamura and Miho as their witnesses since it wouldn't be a good idea to bring the whole of Tempest to Earth when they were going to have a proper wedding ceremony in Rimuru City anyway.

"Do you want to invite your family to our wedding?" she asked.

To be honest, Rimuru felt that it would be too awkward to see the family he hasn't been close to in years suddenly attend his wedding and he wouldn't know what to say to them. But he also felt that if he didn't at least invite his parents he would be too much of an unfilial son. Thinking about it now, it would be even more troublesome to explain why he didn't invite them to his own wedding if his other self ever ran into them in the future.

Rimuru sighed, in any case aside from enduring the awkwardness, it wouldn't hurt to invite them. Besides, Rimuru thinks he may find satisfaction in showing off his beautiful bride to the older brother who used to tease him for not being able to get a girlfriend and the parents who judged his overall life choices.

Rimuru, "Okay. Let's invite them."

Time flew by under the maple tree until it was midday. Other than a few glances, Rimuru chose to ignore his brother's presence. There was no need to talk to him yet. Satoru could handle that for him. Instead, Rimuru and Ciel took this time to focus on each other. Cuddled up against each other, they spoke in quiet voices and mostly sat in companionable silence preferring to communicate abstractly through their bond.

"Rimuru?"

"Mn?"

"How many children do you want?"