Summary:

Rui and Shizuru move in together. The gang plans Kuwabara and Yukina's wedding. Hiei goes a little too far with his pranking Kuwabara and upsets Yarika. Yarika makes Hiei get a suit for the wedding.

Notes:

Warning: Implied sexual content. Implied racism (not wanting to rent to foreigners) and implied homophobia (same for same sex couples)

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Rui's domestic fantasies grew over the following weeks in which she and Shizuru toured various apartments for rent around the city. The agents giving the tours looked a little askance at the two women but Rui's perfect formal manners won them over. Her odd blue hair stood out but she must have dyed it, thought the agents. Some didn't want to rent to foreigners, but this woman was the archetypical perfect Japanese lady. There was also the other matter they were concerned about.

"What did you say your relationship was?" asked an agent showing them a unit within their budget.

Shizuru answered before Rui could. "She's a relative of my soon to be sister-in-law. We want to give the newlyweds privacy."

"Y-yes, that's right," said Rui. "I'm new here and would like a place of my own. The single occupancy apartments I can afford are too cramped for my liking."

"Ditto," said, Shizuru. "I need a place I can stretch out in. This place seems spacious for the required rent."

"I agree, It is adequate for our space requirements and budget."

Shizuru told the agent that they would take it. The agent presented the forms, which they both signed and stamped with their personal seals. Along with her newly created identity documents, Rui now had the little seal used in place of a signature in Japan.

"All set!" said the agent, tucking the papers back into his briefcase and presenting them with keys.

Rui bowed and thanked him, taking the key.

Yarika did not tell Hiei that Shizuru was moving with Rui to her new apartment. That might tempt him too much to hurt Kuwabara to prevent him from putting moves on Yukina now that the two would be alone. She was even careful not to think it, knowing that he had some psychic ability with that jagan of his, she had also warned Kuwabara to pretend Shizuru was remaining at home. Kuwabara had plenty on his plate; he was having the oddest streak of bad luck which Yarika highly suspected Hiei to be behind. True to his word, Hiei had not harmed him. Yet. Until the wedding was over, she was not taking chances. She was well aware that his evil tendencies were still there, tempting him, despite his decision to live a more or less straight life.

Thankfully he was far too busy training Yona to do much. Yona was glad to take up as much of his time as possible, she was very attached to Hiei and stuck to him like glue whenever he came by. Today was a day that Hiei was off training Yona, so Yarika had ample time to meet up with their mutual friends. She told them when asked where Yona was and said that Hiei had her for the afternoon. Yusuke, Kurama, Kuwabara, Yarika, and Botan all gathered as they did every so often to touch base at Yusuke's cart on any spiritual matters that may concern Sarayashiki and surrounding areas. The resident battle trained demon, part demons, and human psychic worked together to ensure the area's safety with the aid of Botan and her eyes in the sky, although incidents were usually nothing more than mischief from spirits or playful demons.

"So Hiei is turning into a doting dad?" asked Botan. "It's so not like him." It was a matter of concern in Spirit World that Hiei would raise the child to take after his criminal tendencies. Hiei was technically on their side but he had his own agenda.

"You'd be surprised," Yarika said, smiling. "It was all getting him to see it as his duty at first, but he's gotten genuinely fond of her. He even got some weapons made for her and is training her to use them. Not real ones, I put my foot down on that. It certainly is taking up so much of his time that he has far less of it to bother Kuwabara and Yukina before the wedding. I've been doing my part, I make sure to keep him with me after he's spent time with Yona. He gets along with Dad so he stays for supper."

"I can't believe Yukina invited him to the wedding, even if he is her brother." groused Kuwabara. "He makes it real hard to get the preparations done. He's been distracting us." He frowned. "I'm not sure how we are gonna afford it. Weddings are expensive. Yukina deserves a nice wedding, not just filling out the documents at the registry office." As Yukina had no maternal family save Rui, her adoptive parent, and Hiei, who opposed the union, the Kuwabaras were on the hook if they wanted a ceremony.

"Don't worry. We will pull it off even if Hiei is having a hissy fit," said Botan.

"Don't worry too much about the cost of the reception, it's mine and Dad's present to provide the venue and entertainment," said Yarika. "I am an entertainer by trade. You'll get major cred having me headline the reception."

"Of course I will provide the floral arrangements," said Kurama.

"Don't forget the catering!" said Yusuke. "You'll still need to pay for the groceries but me and Keiko will cook it up and sling it for free. It's not five star but it's tasty. "

"You guys…" cried Kuwabara, his eyes filling with tears. A man couldn't ask for better friends.

"It's going to be a wonderful wedding!" cried Botan, her hands clasped and her eyes shining.

"Shorty isn't gonna ruin me and Yukina's dream wedding!" yelled Kuwabara, pumping his fist.

"He needs to get over it," nodded Yarika.

"He's gonna look so funny in a suit and tie," snickered Yusuke. "Be sure to stuff him in one, Yarika."

"I will," said Yarika, also liking the mental image. "He cannot refuse me or Yukina."

Kurama smiled in smug satisfaction that Hiei was doing right by his family, even if it was partly out of coercion. Being a good father and brother was now Hiei's duty, like it or not. Being a good boyfriend wasn't something Kurama intended to force upon him, Yarika had that handled herself. Yarika was one of the few beings capable of getting Hiei to act somewhat civilized. She was quite capable of convincing him to wear a suit and behave himself at the wedding.

"Absolutely not! Why should I wear something so ridiculous, isn't it enough that I agreed to come?" said Hiei when the subject of getting him a suit for the wedding came up. Not only was he certain that there was not going to be a wedding, he refused to wear anything that he couldn't fight in. She couldn't bodily force him the way Yusuke and Kurama could. He hoped she would not recruit them.

She preferred the subtle approach. "You don't understand, Hiei. A suit would make you look far more intimidating than usual, since no one expects it. Don't you want to want to look intimidating? There is a reason that I wear suits and heels when I have business to attend to. It's like armor, weaknesses are covered by wearing them."

Hiei furrowed his brow and considered this. She had a point. The most powerful people in the human world always were dressed to the nines. He could not appear weak in front of anyone either.

Yarika saw him beginning to waver. Going right for his ego and need to dominate any situation was an effective approach. "We will get you the very best, you'll be even better dressed than Kuwabara and steal all his thunder. He couldn't hope to be that impressive." That was a slight lie as Kuwabara would be wearing a tuxedo, but it would likely be a cheaper affair.

Hiei liked that idea. Even if the wedding never happened it might prove advantageous to have a set of clothing like that, if only to intimidate people unimpressed by his fighting prowess.

"Fine," he said.

She took him to the place that made her father's suits. Hiei gave the shop assistant that took his measurements dirty looks, but he bore through the tedious process. The details he left up to Yarika, as she had a good idea of what would suit him. He trusted her to pick something suitable and intimidating. She had assured him that getting a custom made suit was more comfortable and he would be able to fight in said suit in an emergency if it was well fitted. He felt a little better about it after hearing that.

"I'm thinking something like this," Yarika said, pointing to a display. "The color and cut would suit him."

"We can do that," said the salesperson. The assistants began cutting and pinning the pieces of suit jacket around him. He would have to come back to the final fitting, but as the well known actress was paying, they would put a rush on it. As they did the basting, Yarika picked out a dress shirt to go under it and a silk tie and pocket square that would go well with the suit and his coloring.

"I don't know how to tie one of these things," hissed Hiei under his breath. He hated this and hoped he never had to get fitted for another suit again.

"I do, I'll do it up for you," said Yarika.

Finally he was extracted from the suit pieces and left the shop. The shoe shop was easier, since the sales person brought him several sizes of the style Yarika picked out to go with the suit upon request, leaving him to find the best fitting pair.

"Now you'll have the whole getup," Yarika said approvingly.

"What will I do about my sword?" asked Hiei. He could not conceal a sword in a suit like he could his usual long coat.

"Carry a tanto under the suit jacket. You know that real swords are illegal to openly carry here."

Hiei would have to do a bit more shopping in that case.

The suit was ready the next time he came to Sarayashiki. He pulled it on in front of the shop mirror with the accessories Yarika picked out for him. He had to admit it gave him a certain air of impenetrable authority and looked good, too. Hiei was not particularly vain about his looks but he knew that he was considered handsome by human and humanoid demon standards, even if his height was below average. Yarika certainly thought so, and going by the thirsty look she had on her face as she did up the tie for him, he looked damn fine in a suit.

That look alone made the tedious fitting worth it.

Rui's days were so busy, it was hard to find time to work on her new domain. In between tasks set by Yarika, Rui took classes to fill the gaps in her knowledge. She still found time for domestic matters like she was doing right then. She happily cleaned the new apartment top to bottom, making the place shine as she sang a song from the glacier, one she had sung to Yukina as a child. It was as of yet sparsely furnished, but the two were on the hunt for items at flea markets and second hand shops. Rui had found the most adorable set of dishes, towels and curtains for the place already. They had futons, floor cushions and a table, the rest would be found in due time. Rui didn't mind, the place already had more character than the small house she had occupied on the glacier.

"Well aren't you just a happy little housewife," said Shizuru, who had just come through the door.

Rui squeaked and dropped the duster she was using, her cheeks pink. "You're home early, Shizuru."

Shizuru plopped down at the small table and patted her pockets for her cigarettes. "Utility work, they shut off the water to the salon."

"I see," said Rui. "I don't have classes today, and Yarika doesn't have anything for me to do. She's shopping for clothes for the wedding. I need to find something myself." Rui had become accustomed to wearing western clothes when she was working or in class: conservative long skirts and long sleeves with a modest neckline, or modest skirt suits. She always changed back into her usual kimono afterward. Perhaps she would wear a different style of kimono to the wedding, since this was a special occasion.

Shizuru chuckled as she watched Rui. The ice maiden was so transparent, like an ice sculpture after it was blasted with a blowtorch to reveal its translucency. It was cute to see such a reserved woman get all flustered. "You can always rent a kimono if that's your preference. The formal ones are expensive to buy."

"This world has just about everything for rent or sale," said Rui in awe.

"The best stuff can be free though," said Shizuru, winking.

Rui went crimson.

Yukina and Kuwabara had been living alone for a short time and Hiei was beginning to catch on. At the present time, Kuwabara was reading at the table, so focused that for once he wasn't flirting with his bride to be. Yukina had just gotten the laundry from the washer and was about to hang it up on the line.

"Um, Kazuma?"

"What is it, my sweet snowflake?"

Yukina held up his drawers, which had the rear cut out. "Is this some kind of new fashion?"

Kuwabara Senior was home for once and chimed in with his opinion. "Son, the lingerie with holes is supposed to be the bride's."

"DAD!" cried Kuwabara, going red.

Yukina wasn't entirely sure why anyone would want lingerie with holes, but going by the tone, it was something perverted. "Oh… Oh my." She blushed delicately. "Um, it's on yours too, Mr. Kuwabara."

The elder Kuwabara's jaw dropped. "What the hell?"

Yukina held up the proof.

"Vandals!" cried Mr. Kuwabara. "Those were a gift and my lucky drawers to boot! I'll kill em!"

"File that under things I never needed to know, Pops," said Kuwabara, disgusted.

"If I can find the pieces I can try to fix them," said Yukina.

"You're such a sweet girl," said Mr. Kuwabara, teary eyed. "Treat this one well, Kazuma, she's a keeper."

"It's on the pants too…"

"WHAT!?" yelled both Kuwabaras.

Hiei had done his work thoroughly. Not a pair remained unscathed.

"I wonder who could have done it?" mused Yukina. She had some idea, but did not voice it.

"REALLY, Hiei?" Yarika scolded him when he came for Yona next. "Yukina told me about that stunt you pulled. She doesn't know for sure that it's you but she's starting to suspect something, so I suggest you tone down the middle school pranks."

Hiei looked like a petulant child. "You said you wouldn't interfere."

"Did Daddy do something bad?" asked Yona, wide eyed.

"He's just annoying Uncle Kuwabara and Aunt Yukina a bit and went a tad too far." Yarika gave her a quick kiss goodbye. "Train hard, Sunshine."

"Okay!"

She went to Keiko for advice on dealing with this. This return to chuunibyou behavior was wearing on her nerves.

Keiko was taking it easy at home, her pregnancy was proving troublesome. Just like Yusuke's kid to give her trouble before its birth. She let in Yarika, who was in a mood she understood well. It was the same mood she had when Yusuke was being immature.

Yarika huffed, helping herself to the kitchen to get some lemonade. She brought Keiko a glass as well and plopped down.

"Relationship trouble?"

Yarika groaned. "Yup. Hiei is getting on my nerves in his little rivalry with Kuwabara. Tell me, how do you usually deal with Yusuke's immaturity?"

"I sometimes have to slap him. When Yusuke is on a roll he won't knock it off otherwise."

"Not an option here. I'm not really one to slap my boyfriend and in this case I'm not quick or strong enough to put the hurt on him even if I wanted to. I won't use my powers on him since that's low and it would break his trust. Mukuro will take chunks out when he annoys her, but I'm not her."

She drained her glass and slammed it on the table. "I usually don't mind his snarky comments and their stupid arguments, I think a lot of them are funny. But now he's taking things a bit too far and Yukina is starting to get upset. He's too thickheaded to see it. He needs to accept that Yukina is going to marry Kuwabara and that is that."

"He is kind of a jerk," said Keiko.

"He's really not as much of a jerk at heart. He has a lot of good points he doesn't show others, but he's far too protective of Yukina and he's driving us nuts."

"I see," said Keiko. She rubbed her belly. "Settle down in there. I swear, this kid is going to be just like Yusuke."

"Heaven help us all," chuckled Yarika.

"You're so lucky, having a sweet little girl."

"Said sweet little girl already has a body count to her name. She's like Hiei in the oddest ways. I'm sure yours will have plenty of you to balance out the parts of Yusuke."

Keiko furrowed her brow at her belly. "This one is going to Todai if I have any say."

"Yusuke would want it to be the top punk," giggled Yarika.

Keiko cracked a smile and started laughing too. "You're absolutely right. This is going to be some kid, whatever it's like."

Hiei felt the chill all through supper that night. He could deal with Mukuro and her violent moods, but this was something outside his understanding. It dawned on him that he had truly upset her, like he had that one time he had carelessly shot his mouth off about his opinion of demons and humans in relationships. He hadn't known then that she was the offspring of such a relationship and had a rare moment of remorse, she could not help being born like that. She had forgiven him when she realized his prejudiced past and then befriended him. Now he was hurting his sister, her best friend, by his childish rivalry with Kuwabara and she was angry about it. As much as it hurt his pride to admit, she was right that he'd gone a bit too far.

He waited until Yona had fallen asleep and Kenji went to his room to talk to her. She scrubbed the dishes with a vengeance, a vein in her forehead pulsing. If she had been Mukuro, he might have had a hole in his gut already.

"I'm not in the mood, so feel free to leave," she said frostily.

Hiei frowned. She must be in a seriously bad mood if it had dampened her libido. He decided to try something straight out of the Yusuke Urameshi playbook. He'd observed Keiko and Yusuke occasionally, to get an idea about how other couples acted. Yusuke was a pro at apologizing to Keiko when she was incensed: either he did something really perverted, or he went all sweet and harmless. Both worked like a charm.

Yarika sensed him behind her and pointedly ignored him, until a pair of arms circled around her.

"H-hey!" she dropped the dish into the water. He pulled her to his chest, resting his chin on her shoulder. "I'll tone it down. You're right, I'll upset Yukina if I keep on doing that." He was not one to say 'sorry' so that was as close as he could muster.

She understood the part he left unsaid and relaxed. "All right, I forgive you."

"Hn," he said, burying his face into her neck. Tonight he would be the one to initiate, and he wouldn't let her go until dawn.

Notes:

Weddings in Japan are expensive, but Shinto weddings are far more expensive than western Christian style weddings. There is a saying in Japan: "Born Shinto, marry Christian, die Buddhist."
One doesn't strictly need to have a wedding ceremony in Japan, many just go to the registry office and file the forms.
At Japanese weddings guests are supposed to give a minimum 30k yen ($280 USD) cash gift to help the couple set up a household, IIRC. The gang is foregoing a cash gift, going out of their way to make the wedding nice as a favor to Kuwabara and Yukina since Yukina's maternal family is dead or unwilling and unable to pay for the wedding and the financial burden is on her and the Kuwabaras.

A tanto is a very short sword. Swords (the metal kind not the wooden kind used for kendo) are illegal to openly carry in Japan, so Hiei needs a weapon he can conceal on his person while wearing a suit. Not that he cares, he just doesn't want to attract unwanted attention.

Chuunibyou is basically that over the top middle school behavior everyone hates. It's roughly equivalent to eighth grader syndrome.

Todai: Tokyo University, best university in Japan