3 9.

Reception

"It was a lovely ceremony," Shizuru spoke quietly to Haruka.

"I suppose so," Haruka gave a slight smile, "Even if, like yours, it's not actually official. Still, it's about the commitment, not the paperwork, right?"

Shizuru smiled, "You do understand."

"I was a bit surprised to find out that Ryuunosuke was a woman," Haruka admitted, "Especially when I saw her. I mean, when she came out in her dress, it was oblivious."

"Obvious."

"But before that, she looked very...manly."

"Thank you, by the way," Shizuru turned to meet Haruka's eyes.

"For what?"

"For being her friend, when all was said and done."

"Yeah, yeah," Haruka waved dismissively, "You should probably rejoin your own wife. Hang around me too long, and she might get jealous."

"Ara, ara, do you think Natsuki would believe that Haruka was hitting on a married woman?" Shizuru used her most honeyed voice.

"Kuga's right. You are an idiot," Haruka said, but she smiled when she said it, "You're supposed to go congratulate Yukino and Ryuu as a couple, so go grab your partner and make with the congrats."

"Hey, you two," Natsuki joined them, entwining her arm with Shizuru's, "I don't know what you're conspiring, but there's a bride and bride we have to congratulate, and…"

"RYUUNOSUKE!" There was a loud shout from the entrance to the hall that the couple had rented for the reception.

"Who's the ugly bastard?" Natsuki remarked.

"That," Shizuru frowned deeply, "Is Ryuunosuke Fujinami's father. I think it best if we intervene."

"Old man!" Ryuunosuke growled. Shizuru stepped in front of her and held up her hand.

"You allow us to handle this, Fujinami-san. It would be a shame to ruin that dress. You and Yukino should enjoy yourselves."

Ryuunosuke looked at Shizuru, then nodded and smiled.

"I will not permit this! I already chose a perfect fiance for you, Ryuunosuke, and I never gave you permission to…"

The elder Fujinami was a very strong individual. So when he encountered Natsuki barring his path, he thought nothing of it.

"Out of my way, woman," he said to her, "I have business with my son!"

"Y'know, Shizuru told me the whole story," Natsuki looked at him, folding her arms, "You weren't invited. Get lost."

"Let us discuss this outside," Shizuru said calmly, gesturing.

"I'm not going anywhere without my son," The elder Fujinami said.

"Ore wa onna da yo!" Ryuunosuke stepped forward, pointing at the glaring cleavage in her gown.

"Definitely a woman," Haruka nodded.

"Force is the only thing he understands," Ryuunosuke said firmly.

"Fine by me," Natsuki growled, "Leave now, old man, or I'll make you leave."

"A petite little girl like you is going to make me leave?" he scoffed.

Shizuru didn't envy him the beating that he had surly unleashed with his chauvinism. She'd seen Natsuki take on fully armed soldiers with nothing but hand to hand skills in the past.

So it came as a surprise to both women when Natsuki's kicks and punches seemed to have no effect. A kick to the head. Rabbit punches to the gut. Palm strike to the heart. A few of them elicited grunts, but he was otherwise unmoved.

"Crap," Natsuki rubbed her wrist, "It's like punching granite."

"You've got some skills, miss," he smirked, "But you're not up to my standards. Now, Ryuunosuke, come with me, or…"

"Oh, shut up," Haruka marched towards him, "This girl, your daughter, is the person who makes my best friend, Yukino, happy. And I'll be damned if anyone gets in the way of Yukino's happiness!"

Yukino blushed, "H-Haruka-chan!"

Haruka marched grumpily up to the elder Fujinami, grabbed his head in her hands, and slammed her forehead against his.

"That…that was nothiiiinnnnnnggggg," he slurred, and fell over.

"I've felt that," Shizuru remarked, touching her left cheek in memory, "If he weren't such an unpleasant fellow, I would pity him."

"It won't matter," Ryuunosuke said, sighing, "He swore he wouldn't stop unless it was I who beat him."

"I LOVE THE SEA!" he sat up.

"You're going to leave Ryuunosuke and Yukino alone," Haruka growled at him, seizing his collar, "Or I'll headbutt you into paste!"

"I'll only give up if Ryuu can beat me," He affirmed.

"You'll give up if I leave you a greasy smear!" Haruka shouted in his face, "And besides, she already beat you. She made friends who care about what happens to her. While you're all on your own. No one is here to support you. No one thinks you're in the right. You lost, old man, by virtue of having no virtues. So get out of here, and if I hear from Yukino that you bothered the person she loves, I will find you and I will knock some sense into you. As often as I have to. Now, go away!"

After the elder Fujinami walked out, nursing a serious headache and two more bumps on his head from attempts at arguing, Yukino ran over and hugged her old school friend, "Oh, thank you, Haruka!"

"And to think," Shizuru muttered to Natsuki so only her wife could hear, "she initially didn't want to invite her."

"Listen," Haruka turned to Ryuunosuke, "I meant it. If anyone tries to hurt Yukino, you guys call me. And I'll look out for you, too, 'cause Yukino cares about you."

Ryuunosuke stared for a moment, then started laughing, "I'll definitely keep that in mind."

A/N: For those not aware yet, Ryuunosuke Fujinami is a character from Urusei Yatsura, a girl who was raised as a boy by her father. Many see her as an early prototype for Rumiko Takahashi's later character, Ranma Saotome.