Side Story: The wedding day

"Why are you all back here?" Inuko grumbles as she sees the ORC barging into her house early in the morning of her day off. Doubt to look at her kid videos and photos. "Please spare me…."

"So this is the life of a former Great Devil King?" Xenovia comments as she saw Inuko going through a pizza contest in the screen, eating pie after pie. Inuko was by now in corner muttering how could this happened.

WHACK

Xenovia was hit by Nina with a wooden spoon. She was pouting.

"My Nii-chan is no devil king. Nii-chan is Nii-chan, get it?"

"Yes, ma'am." Xenovia agrees immediately, more like she didn't like the way the spoon was looking right now.

"If you girls are so bent to looking at my photos, don't I at least have the right to look at yours?" Then she sees Rias gushing over her albums. "…." She takes out her cellphone. "Sirzech, it's me." Everyone's eyes were on Inuko. She was calling the Maou! "Forget the written apology. Just send me every copy of Buchou's child photos."

"?!"

"And I'll forgive you." No sooner did she close her phone, a magic circled appeared with Grayfia holding a stack of books. "This all of them?"

"Every copy." Inuko takes them and Grayfia leaves.

"W-Wait Inuko!" Rias tries to get to Inuko. Inuko's eyes flashed.

"Hide them!" She throws the books. Seika catches them.

"Yes, Inuko-sama." And runs off somewhere.

"Where'd she go, Inuko?"

"I have rights to see those photos."

"Where?" Rias aura shot forth at her defiance, but Inuko wasn't fazed.

"I'm not telling." Inuko smiles. "It's not in my room for certain." Rias slumped defeated. "Don't worry, they're for my eyes only."

"Inuko-sama, this came for you today in the mail." Seika came minutes later with an envelope. Rias was disappointed that the books weren't with her.

"Is it important?" Inuko takes the letter.

"The RSPV states that it must be in an hour."

"An hour? Mails can't be that fast!" Inuko opens the envelope and frowns at the card, then see another paper and her eyes widen. "Okay, I'm sold. Seika-nee, get my tux ready."

"Inuko, are you going somewhere?" Rias asks as she sees Inuko hurrying to her room.

"Yes, I'm going to a wedding." In she goes into her room.

"…..?!" Rias and Asia, as well as Koneko and Akeno rushed into her room. Inuko was not at all fazed (she would've killed Yuuto if he came, and he knew that so he stayed behind.), and was already in mid attire.

"Excuse, Inuko. Could you repeat that?" Rias voiced out.

"Like I said." Perfecting the bowtie. "I'm going to a wedding."

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"Wha wha wha wha!" Asia was panicking.

"Ara….Ara…" Akeno was speechless.

"….."

"…." Xenovia and Koneko were silent.

"I-Inuko!" Rias had grabbed her shoulders. "I gave you no permission to marry anyone! Is this an arranged marriage?!"

"Buchou, minna-san, calm down?!"

"H-H-How can I be calm?! My cute servant is going to be married without my knowledge!"

"I'm not getting married!"

"Eh?"

"I'm not even eligible to be married. Sheesh!" She straightens her suit. "All I said was that I was going to a wedding, not going to be in a wedding." She pulls out the invitation that she got from the mail. "I've been invited." The others looked at it.

'You have been cordially invited to blah blah blah…..' It was a wedding invitation alright. The name of the bride though was familiar.

"Inuko, do you know the bride? I've seen the name but where?"

"Yeah." Inuko puts on the jacket, and leaves the room. "She's the older sister of one of my ex-girlfriends."

"?!" Today is just full of surprises.

"Hold on, Inuko!" Rias walks to catch up. "You don't have to go to such an event. Devils can't enter churches as well. You'll be killed."

"I'll be fine. If I can drink holy water or touch a rosary, I can enter a church." Inuko reassures. "It's not like I'm going into Great King mode. And besides," She pulls out the other paper in the envelope: a blank check with signature. "I'm already getting paid off by the parents."

"The parents?" Akeno sees the check.

"Look at the back of the invitation." They did so. There was writing at the corner.

'Please come to this event. It would mean so much to us.'

"Her family liked me." She explains. "So I have no reason not to go. Especially when there is money." When she puts on her shoes, she opens her door. Sona was there already in a black dress.

"Ready to go?" Inuko looks at her exasperated.

"Do you really not have my house bugged? And how did you know? The invitation just came today." Sona ignored her questions.

"You don't think I will let you go to the den of wolves without an escort, would you?"

"I'm usually the escort….." Inuko mumbles while Sona grabs her arm.

"Sona, what is the meaning of this?" Rias asks with an aura.

"Hello, Rias, as you can see, I'm going with her." Sona says triumphantly as she links arms with Inuko.

"Please don't start a fight." Inuko almost cries.

"Did you know, Rias?" Sona suddenly turned serious, clutching onto Inuko's torso. "This girl is one of those bitches who dared to mock Inuko's body."

"….." Suddenly auras were aflare.

"Hold a minute, Inuko. I'm coming with you." Rias runs off. Akeno follows.

"Ara, ara, it's not fair if Buchou are the only ones going."

"Hau! I want to go with Inu-san as well." Asia claims.

"Um!" Koneko nods. Xenovia looks like she wants to go too.

"Girls. I only have one invitation!"

Regardless of the earlier fight, Sona managed to win by dragging Inuko into the waiting limousine, while Rias and the others were changing. Now they were on their way to the cathedral in the address. Inuko knew Sona would wait for her to participate at the reception.

"You didn't have to…" Sona silences her by hugging her tightly.

"I won't forgive those who dare to hurt family."

The wedding was nice in Inuko's standards. More flowers would have been nice in her opinion. It was quite a big wedding with family and friends. Inuko had just made it to their vows and kiss part, and the parents saw and waved at her. Inuko waved back, but she mostly stayed at the back part of the cathedral. She really didn't want to interrupt the ceremony and didn't really want to see a certain someone there. After the ceremony, Inuko ran back to Sona's limo to drive to the reception. Now she knew the challenge would begin.

"Where could they have gone?!" Rias was upset. "If only I had enough time to peer into that invitation."

"I can tell you where they are."

"?!" All eyes were on Seika, who was busy looking at the album of young Inuko.

"I always keep a GPS tracker, a wiretap, and a small camera on Inuko-sama in case I need her." Seika states as she goes through another. All the while the ORC were staring at her.

"""….""" This was a stalker. No doubt about it.

The reception was nice. Plenty of food and wine, even Inuko was making a point to miggle with the crowd the minute her arrival with Sona was announced.

'Ah, I want to eat….' Inuko thought as she was getting hungry. Sona saved her.

"Here." She got her a plate.

"I love you very much." She starts to eat. Sona blushed. One person who heard that didn't like it, but wasn't going to act yet. The parents of the bride came to see her.

"Ah, Kusanagi-kun. It's good to see you again."

"Sir, Ma'am." Inuko acknowledges. "Congratualtions for your daughter."

"She would be very happy to see you here."

"I'll greet her after the food." She looks to the distance. The bride and groom were shaking hands with people. "Besides the happy couple look preoccupied. Don't worry, I'll make sure to greet her later."

"Alright, we'll hold you to that." And the parents walk off to greet other guests. Inuko excused herself to get some air in the balcony.

'So far, so good…..'

"Ah, is that you, Inuko?"

'I spoke to soon…'

'Where could she be? She's been gone for a while.' Even though Sona gave Inuko a minute, that was all it was. A minute. Now she was looking for her partner and wanting to get out of these boring people's converstations. Then she came to the balcony and heard voices.

"Who was that bitch?"

"It's not nice to call Sona that." It was Inuko, and the voice of girl who dare to insult her. Peeking she saw it was the one person she wanted to kill in the room.

"Oh, Sona? First name basis already?"

"Well I call her a petname frankly, but I believe that is none of your concern."

SPLASH

The woman splashed her juice on Inuko and her suit.

"How dare you come here?!"

"Your family invited me."

"Oh, did you pay them to do that? Are you deperate to get back to me?" The woman taunts.

"No. My policy is to never concern myself with women of my past relations. I'm just here to see and congratulate your sister. I got paid by them after all."

SLAP

The woman slapped Inuko.

"It's always the money with you. Get out!" The woman shouts. "You ugly dyke." Inuko eyes flashed for a moment, but not of anger, but of hurt. The woman didn't even notice as she was bragging about hwo she got herself a new boyfriend who really loves her. Sona was about to let that woman have it. But she was stopped by a hand.

"So this was where you were Inuko."

'Oh boy.' Inuko sweats as she sees Rias, in a stunning beautiful red dress that really accentuates her curves. 'How did she, no THEY, get here?' She could see at a distance. Akeno was there chatting with a few boys who got struck by her in her sexy black number. Koneko was there is a cute white dress eating some of the food. Kiba was in a tux sitting next to her. Asia and Xenovia were admiring the wedding decorations. Both were wearing wonderfully cute dresses as well. 'There's only one person who could have known my location. And she not here….' Indeed, a certain maid was not there, nor could she feel her presence.

"Inuko." Inuko was snapped out of her thoughts when Rias grabbed her arm. "What are you doing out here? The party's inside." She pulls the tomboy in, much to the anger of the woman who was there.

"Who's this, Inuko? Another one of your conquests?"

"Don't speak in such a tone to her." Inuko says sternly. "She is-"

"I'm her lover. Do you have a problem?" Rias says suddenly. Inuko looked at her with surprised but for a moment.

'Since when, Buchou?' The other girl just sneers.

"Oh, cheating on that other bitch you come with?"

"Actually, we share her quite evenly." Sona states as she gets out of her hiding place taking Inuko's other arm. "When she's such a catch, you can let her get away with a few things."

'Wow….What a lie…..' Inuko knew they would be arguing right about now, but the girl before them seemed to have sparked something else to cause this turn of events. The girl in question is now seething mad at this display.

"This is…." She points an accusing finger at her. "You backstabbing cheating bitch! It was always like this! Girls always flock to you and they don't even know your true colors." Inuko looks at her warily, tired of this.

"For your information, I've never cheated on you when we were on a relationship. I kept myself in check all the time."

"Hhmp! Like I'd believe the words of a disgusting-"

SLAP

Rias finally had enough and slapped that bitch!

"I know who you are, and just because you had a flame for her and broke if off does not give you the right to insult her in front of us."

"Open you eyes!" The woman exclaimed. "That girl is broken all throughout. She looks good but that only the clothes. And what gives her the right to dress like a man?!"

"She's perfect the way she is." Sona states as she hugs Inuko possessively. Rias joins in that embrace. "You're the one who eyes are closed."

"That's-"

"That's enough!" The group looked back to see the parents. "That is enough out of you, young lady. You are being very rude to our guest."

"Mama, Papa. How could you? Inviting this scum-"

"I said that's enough, young lady." The man bellows. It was a little miracle that no one was checking on them with all the shouting going on. "This person is a guest of this celebration."

"Why her?! Why couldn't I bring boyfriend but you invited her?!" Inuko was getting tired. Really tired. Sona and Rais could see it and tugged on her arms. Inuko looked at them and saw that they were trying to get her to leave. She smiles at their kindness, then turns serious.

"Sir, Ma'am." Inuko addresses. "As you can see, my girls are not in the mood for this, and so they came to pick me up along with my new friends." She gestures to the other new arrivals. "I will give my congratulations to the bride and groom and I will be off." She looks back to the woman. "You may not believe me. But it is good to see that you are well." And she walks off with Sona and Rias on her arms.

"Congratulations to you, lovely bride."

"Kusanagi-san…." The bride looked to see Inuko. The bride smiles while looking past her to see Rias and Sona staring at them from a distance. "They are…"

"My girls." Inuko says simply. "It seems that I have to go now."

"I see….." The bride saw the stain on her tux. "Is that….?"

"Nothing to worry about. I was just clumsy."

"It was her wasn't it? I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It's your day."

"But-"

"I came to see you and congratule you. That's all." Inuko nods and turns to leave. "Well, goodbye."

"Wait." Inuko stops when the bride offers her bouquet. "For you."

"Don't you have a bouquet toss to do?"

"My husband and I already talked about it. This was meant to be for you."

"…." Inuko takes the flowers. "…..thank you."

"No, thank you for coming, Kusanagi-kun."

"It was my sincerest pleasure."

The limo ride was full of angry voices.

"How dare that girl?!" Rias was fuming. "Saying such things to Inuko. The price would be death."

"Calm down, Rias." Sona was not practiving her preaches. She was fuming as well. "It's not worth it. If we take her life now while we havne't married Inuko, Mizuki-neechan won't ever let us."

"Ara Ara. I wonder if a thunderstorm in her direction would affect our standing." Akeno comments while charging electricity on her hands.

"Minna-san." Inuko says. "It's alright. You can't change these kinds of things. Realtionships are like that."

"But Inuko-"

"A wedding is a happy occasion." Her hands play with the bouquet. "Such negative emotions should not impact such an event." She smiles wistfully. "Thank you though." Her words surprised them. "For picking me up. Thank you." They would never know the full impact of those words until later.

"Ara…" Akeno decided to tease. "Then how about sleeping with me for gratitude, Inuko-kun?"

"Sure." Inuko was suddenly pulled by an angry Rias.

"No! Akeno, Inuko is sleeping with me!" Back to fun times.

The day finally ended. After saying their goodbyes to Sona in the limo, the ORC also went their separate ways. Upon returning home, Inuko made an inquisition to Seika about those trackers, to which then latter stated her rights. She got a karate chop afterwards and full wardrobe inspection was done. Dinner was enjoyed, and Inuko had another quite night of smoking and drinking by the veranda, with all her familiars by her side. This time she wasn't gazing at the sky, but at the bouquet of flowers she had put in a vase, more specifically at the order. The pink flowers were more to the edges, and yellow and white flowers were scattered about. She called them out of whim.

"Eglatine roses, rue, and lily of the valley." Inuko smiles, getting it. "I see…."

"Inuko….."

"Inu-san….." Inuko looked from the flowers to see Asia and Rias approaching her. She gestures for them to take a seat. Hitohime took the time to rest on Rias' lap.

"Checking up on me? You don't have to, you know."

"It's just…" Rias couldn't find the words. Asia grabs her sleeve.

"Let me finish my drink and I'll go to bed." Inuko sips it slowly. Asia saw the flowers.

"You kept it."

"I figured the meaning."

"?" Asia and Rias were confused.

"Eglatine roses mean a wound to heal. Rue symbolizes repentance. And lily of the valley is returning happiness." She explains. "In short, she is apologizing for the wound in my heart, at the same wishing me happiness." A puff of smoke. "No wonder she was so adamant in giving me this."

"Inuko…." Rias grabs her hand. She gets a squeeze back.

"I set her and her husband long ago before I left." Inuko starts her story. "I guess for wishing her family happiness, I ended up losing mine. Oh well. It's not like I'm unhappy right now." Finshing her smoke and drink, she gets up. She looks back to see the girls are still looking at her. She smiles. "Why don't we sleep together?"

"H-Honto?" Asia asks with hope.

"Sure." Rias and Asia walks to her and she takes them to her arms, surprising them.

"?!"

"Thank you. Truly." She deepened the hug. Rias and Asia hug her back. "I'm a really lucky girl."

"I hope she got the message." The bride, now a wife, was setting up a new bakery with her husband.

"I'm sure she did. She seemed happy though." The man comments as he stacked new bread on the shelves.

"Really, what was my little sister thinking breaking up with such a sweet person?" She looks to an envelope, a familiar check was in it with a high sum number. "I didn't she would be giving back the check my parents gave her." She smiles. "Oh well, that's so like her." And she tucks it away to greet new customers. In that envelope was also a letter.

'Think of this as a large allowance from your parents. Set up that new bakery and plan of your honeymoon already. I'll be by soon to taste those fluffy croissants again.'

Author's Note: Ok, side stories are done for now. Book 4 will now be in progress... Stay tuned...