A Demon's Love pt. 11
They wandered the streets browsing the shops with their suits hanging over their shoulders in the late afternoon light. Yusuke and Kuwabara gazed into the passing windows looking for a gift that could catch their eye as they lagged behind the others. Yusuke thought of a gag gift consisting of condoms and revealing underwear but decided against it, for he could already feel the burning and stinging wrath of Keiko's hand upon his face as soon as Kurama would open it. 'Definitely a bad idea,' he thought shaking his head to clear his mind of the thought. He figured he couldn't buy them human necessities figuring that they would stay in the Makai as soon as the wedding was over.
"Hmm," he sighed to himself.
"Something wrong Urameshi?" Kuwabara asked as he turned to face his friend.
"Yea what wedding present do you give a demon and a fairy?" he asked sarcastically.
"Good question," Kuwabara replied scratching his head. "Yo shrimp!"
Hiei turned around glaring at Kuwabara at the sound of the dread nickname the human had dubbed him with. Kurama turned curious of what was going on.
"What do you want you stupid human?" he sneered as he stalked towards Yusuke and Kuwabara.
"What are you giving to Kurama and Kizna?" replied Kuwabara ignoring Hiei's aggravated tone.
"None of your business," he answered still glaring and scowling.
"Just admit it, you don't even have a present!" cried Kuwabara challenging Hiei.
"Stupid human, you're not even worth my time," Hiei muttered as he walked away.
"Well that got us nowhere," muttered Yusuke as he began his walk.
"He started it," said Kuwabara walking next to Yusuke.
Yusuke sighed and sweat dropped before something in a store window caught his eye. He turned towards the window as Kuwabara and the others walked on. In the window sat a small white, pink, and gold music box. The box stood on gracefully curled gold legs that trimmed the edges and lid of the box. Painted on the white music box were small pink roses. Against the pink lining of the box, two small figures of a fairy and a young man with a long tail and small fox-like ears danced eternally accompanied by a waltz. A grin spread across Yusuke's face. He watched as the others walked around the corner without him. Quickly, he rushed into the store.
"May I help you?" a young woman in a business suit asked.
"Yea how much is that?" Yusuke asked as he pointed to the music box in the window.
"Not much," said the woman. "Only about 2,000 yen. No one seems to want it so we've been cutting the price for quite sometime."
Yusuke's eyes brightened at the price, thrilled and happy he could find an affordable, yet elegant gift for Kurama and his bride.
"I'll take it," he hastily replied.
"All right," said the woman happily as she reached for the music box.
He watched as the woman wrapped the box in bubble wrap and placed in a box. Yusuke paid and ran out of the store before anyone could notice him missing.
Kurama and the others looked around wondering where Yusuke had gone of to. They looked and browsed in different shops finding nothing.
"You saw him last Kuwabara, do you know where he went?" asked Kurama as they met on the corner.
"I don't know. The last time I saw him he walking with me, then he just disappeared," said Kuwabara shrugging.
"Hm, stupid human," muttered Hiei turning away.
Yusuke ran towards the corner hearing the voices of the others quietly asking where he had gone. He hid the box in his suit's dress bag and quickly tied the ends to keep it from falling hoping no one would notice. He began to casually walk around the corner.
"There you are," said Kuwabara turning as he heard footsteps behind him. "Where did you go?"
"Nowhere," he replied casually lying.
"Hm," Hiei muttered not caring much as usual.
Kurama shrugged as they began to browse the shops again.
"Where did you really go?" Kuwabara whispered to Yusuke.
"To get a present," he replied casually.
"What did you get?" Kuwabara asked again.
"Oh, nothing," answered Yusuke as he went ahead leaving a confused Kuwabara behind.
The girls wandered in and out of the shops and streets looking for more items needed for the wedding. They had finished ordering the catering and making arrangements for the celebration at the temple making sure it was all right with Genkai. Walking ahead of the others, Keiko stopped in front of a lingerie store and stared into the display. The manakin in the display wore a short red nightgown with a red robe and a lace and red ribbon garter around one of her legs.
"Shiori- San do we still need to get Kizna a garter?" Keiko asked as she turned to the others.
"I think you're right," replied Shiori as she looked into the window.
"A what?" Kizna asked curiously.
"It's another human tradition for a bride," said Botan as she also looked into the store. "The bride wears a garter around he leg and at the reception the groom takes it off her leg to throw to the groomsmen and the male guests to predict who will be the next to marry."
"Does that mean..." Kizna began to ask blushing not being able to finish.
"If you're thinking he has to reach up your skirt then yes," Botan said nodding as Kizna blushed darker.
"Don't worry," reassured Shiori. "It's not that embarrassing."
They walked into the store and to where other garters sat on a table. Kizna looked in shock at how many sat atop the small table. They were all made of lace and elastic with many ribbons and colors.
"What color do you want?" asked Keiko as she examined one of the garters.
"Honestly I don't know," Kizna replied sheepishly.
She stared down at garter-littered table and looked curiously at all they lace and ribbons as she wondered about the tradition. Her hood fell around her face hiding her from sight. '..To predict who will be the next to marry,' she thought as the ferry girl's words ran through her mind. 'How sweet.' She picked up a small and simple garter that caught her eye. It was made of white lace with a thick pink ribbon thread through it ending in a simple bow with a small rose charm that hanging from the bow. Outside, four young men walked by and looked in.
Hiei walked ahead of the others as Kurama walked slightly behind him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the girls leaning over a table filled with strange bands. Hiei stopped and curiously looked in.
"What are they doing?" he asked as he looked deep into the store where Kizna and the others stood.
"I don't know," said Kurama as he stopped along side him.
"Maybe Kizna is finding something to wear for the wedding night," teased Yusuke making Kurama blush.
"Quit it Urameshi!" cried Kuwabara as he slapped Yusuke in the back of his head.
"OUCH! I was just kidding," he replied as he massaged the forming lump on his head.
"I think they're looking for the garter," said Kuwabara as he peered in the window.
"What does that have to do with a wedding?" Hiei asked looking over to the others.
"The bride wears the garter and at the reception I'll have to take it off her and throw it to one of you," explained Kurama lightly blushing. "To predict who will be married next."
"And how you go about getting it off her?" asked Hiei still curious of the custom.
"He has to reach up her dress," said Yusuke as Kurama blushed darker.
"Hm," Hiei muttered not wishing to know anymore details. "Aren't you suppose to be avoiding the bride?"
"Hey the shrimp's right!" cried Kuwabara as he and Yusuke dragged Kurama away before he could protest.
"Hm," Hiei growled as he slowly followed.
"That one's adorable!" cried Keiko as she looked at the garter Kizna held.
"You think so?" Kizna asked unsure before receiving a nod.
"May I help you?" a young woman casually dressed said as she walked up to them.
"Yes, I would like to pay for the garter she's holding," said Shiori as she pointed to Kizna.
"All right. Wedding?" the woman asked.
Kizna nodded as she blushed under her hood. Gently, Kizna handed it to young woman as Shiori walked to the register to pay. 'She's doing so much for me,' Kizna thought. 'I wish there's something I could do for her. But I have no money.'
"Kizna have you decide who your maid of honor would be?" asked Keiko curiously.
"Huh?" Kizna answered. "What's a maid of honor?"
"She helps and runs the brides wedding," answered Botan. (Author's note: what does a real maid of honor do?!)
"Then there's the flower girl," said Keiko. "And she walks down the aisle sprinkling flower petals for the bride to walk on."
"I think I know who my maid of honor would be, but call it a hunch, I think Kurama will be taking care of the flowers that I walk on," replied Kizna smiling as an idea popped in her mind.
"Who is it?" asked Botan curiously.
Kizna motioned for them to come closer afraid Shiori would hear. She silently whispered something into their ears. They eagerly nodded in approval.
"She'd be perfect," said Keiko sincerely.
"She's done so much for me," Kizna said as she looked towards Shiori.
"Go for it!" Botan encouraged. "Ask her when she gets here."
Kizna smiled as she turned to find Shiori slowly walking their way with a soft smile on her face and with a small bag in her hand. Shiori looked around the small group of all smiling girls.
"What?" she asked.
"Shiori- San, I... wanted to ask you... if," stuttered Kizna nervously.
"Yes?" she asked wondering what the small fairy would say.
"Be my maid of honor?" she said as she finished her sentence nervously.
Her eyes lit up and a larger smile spread across her face. She pulled Kizna into a tight embrace as her hood fell back.
"No, I can't," Shiori replied as the others looked in shock. "If this is a plan just to thank me you don't need to. I want to do this out of my own will."
"Are you sure?" Kizna asked as she pulled out of the embrace.
Shiori nodded. Kizna smiled up at her. Her silver eyes told of a deep gratitude for the human mother. The human mother's eyes told of a love for her future daughter. Kizna threw her arms around her one more time as small tears welled behind closed lids.
"Thank you," she whispered as a tear ran down her face.
"You're welcome," Shiori replied as she dried Kizna's tears. "Now stop crying. I don't think my son would want to see you cry before the wedding day."
She dried her tears as they walked into the setting light. The sky was streaked with red oranges, dark blues, and purples as they browsed the shops planning to finish the last of the preparations. Botan looked into the flower shop as the bright colors of various blossoms flaunted themselves in the window.
"That's right, how could I forget," said Shiori walking behind Botan. "We need to order you a bouquet."
"All right," Kizna said as she walked to the store window. "Ku... eh... Suuichi told me I would need one."
"Tell me what's your favorite flower," said Shiori as she and Kizna walked into the shop.
"Roses," Kizna said dreamily. "Especially the white and red ones."
"Oh, my son likes them too," Shiori replied happily.
The small store was alive with blooming colors. All the flowers seemed to be more alive as they sensed a soon to be blushing bride walk in. The air was filled with their sweet perfumes mixing together to tickle the nose. They watched as a disguised fairy made her way to the roses. The roses sat in the refrigerator as a white light shined down on them. Their petals were dotted with dew drops and water making them have an ethereal shine around them. She had never seen some many types of roses before. Some were lavender, creams, bright pinks, and pure yellows. But the ones that caught her attention were her forever favorites, the blood red roses and the snow white roses that looked up to her with out a flaw or imperfection. She smiled.
"Which ones?" a soft voice called behind her as she turned around surprised to find Shiori.
"White," she whispered to Shiori as she turned back to the roses.
Shiori silently nodded as she turned to walk back to the others. Botan and Keiko smiled. She smiled in return. Keiko and Botan ran to her side imagining what her bouquet would like. Their eyes shined in awe and amazement as they saw her chosen flowers.
"How romantic," sighed Botan as Kizna and Keiko turned and smiled.
They walked back towards Shiori as she looked through a bouquet catalog. She smiled. They smiled happily in return.
"Which one do you like?" Shiori asked smiling as she gave the catalog to Kizna.
The soft rustle of turning pages quietly echoed through the small shop. Bouquets of every size and color looked up at them through the small catalog. They came to a page with a small cascading bouquet of pure white roses. The small bouquet was wrapped in lace with long thin vines that fell to the floor decorated with small white rose buds. Kizna smiled. Keiko and Botan nodded in agreement. Kizna held out the picture for Shiori to see like a small child showing a mother a new toy or flower. Shiori nodded in agreement.
"Have you decided?" asked a graying man with small reading glasses behind the counter smiling.
"This one," said Shiori as she pointed to the picture. "With the white roses."
"When do you need them?" the man asked as he walked towards the back of the store.
"By next weekend," she replied a smile never leaving her face.
The man nodded and smiled. Shiori paid another clerk at the counter before she and the others left the small shop. They left as the last rays of the sun kissed the sky goodbye to find itself walking into a new part of the world.
Kurama daydreamed. He dreamed of their wedding day. He dreamed of her walking down the aisle in her white dress with a canopy of pink and whites roses above her, growing on the high temple ceiling wherever their celebration was to be held. As her bridesmaids and his groomsmen walked in front of her, he pictured the rose petals lightly falling in a small rainstorm in front of them, laying a thin carpet of rose petals for them to walk on. Topiaries would line the aisle in shades of yellow and creams with white ribbon strung around each one connecting them together. Red roses would cover the shelter at the end of the aisle, whose long green vines would curl and entangle themselves around the marble columns. They would lightly sag and watch them as they say their vows of undying love and exchange their rings of an endless love that had no beginning or end. Unbeknownst to Kizna, he would hide her present within the red roses, and when the time would come the vines would present it to her at his silent command. 'She would love that,' he thought to himself lightly chuckling in his mind. 'Yet she always loved roses.' He snapped out of his daydreams as he felt a tap on his shoulder.
"Huh?" he asked dazed.
"Are you all right?" Yusuke asked receiving a nod from the red haired demon. "There anywhere else we need to go?"
"Uh... no," Kurama replied still faltering.
"Well then I've got to go," said Yusuke as he began to walk away. "Bye."
"Bye," Kurama replied as Kuwabara waved.
"Hm," Hiei grunted as he turned his back to the others. "I have to go as well."
"Bye shrimp," said Kuwabara receiving a glare from the fire demon as he leaped into the nighttime sky. "I have to be going as well. Congratulations."
"Thank you," he replied as Kuwabara walked away.
Kurama walked towards his mother's apartment listening to the silent starlight's hum wishing she were with him. The streetlights flickered on one by one as the first stars were born into the sky. He walked to his mother's apartment building admiring the distant heavens.
"I gotta go," said Keiko as she pulled Kizna into a hug. "I can't wait till the wedding. Where will you stay?"
"Thank you, but I don't know," Kizna replied as she pulled out of the hug. "Do you have to go as well Botan?"
"Yea, I have lots of work to do," she replied. "I'm surprised I've been out this late."
"Make sure you tell Koenma," Kizna said softly so Shiori wouldn't hear receiving a nod from the ferry girl. "Next weekend then?"
"Next weekend," she replied as she began to walk away. "Bye!"
"Why don't you stay with me?" offered Keiko happily.
"But I wouldn't want to bother you," Kizna replied before receiving a look that told her not to worry.
"Don't worry," said Keiko happily. "My parents aren't home so they won't find out your little secret."
"All right I suppose. Shiori- San should I accompany you home?" Kizna asked.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine," she replied as she began to walk away. "Goodbye."
"Bye!" they chorused together.
Shiori walked home as she admired the stars. A swell of pure joy filled her heart. Joy for her son, joy for her future daughter, and what seemed like joy for everything around her. She prayed that her late husband had been able to see, from wherever he was what had happened for the past few days. Small tears welled in her eyes as she remembered her former husband. She was as much in love as her son and Kizna were now and wished he were here to see it. There was no doubt in her mind that she still loved her husband. She hoped that her husband still loved her and was waiting for her in the distance between the stars and moons of the evening heavens. The stars shined down on her seemingly whispering "I love you."
Kurama walked still looking at the stars. He wondered. He wondered what it would be like to a husband. He wondered what it would be like to be a father. He smiled at the thought. He would devote his life to her, and he was willing to do it. Then, he wondered about his human father. 'What was he like?' he thought and wondered about a person he never really met. 'I wonder if he was very much in love with mother like I am with Kizna.' The stars in the heavens seemed to shine brighter as if confirming his thought. 'I wonder if he would have liked Kizna,' he thought again. Above him, the stars twinkled again. He smiled.
"Had you met her father," he said to the heavens. "You probably would have liked her."
He spotted his mother's apartment building in the distance. He quickly walked in eager to get out of the cold night air.
Shiori spotted her home in the distance and her son not far out in front of her. She smiled.
"Did you and the others find your suits?" she asked as she caught up to him.
"Yes mother," Kurama replied happily as he turned towards her showing her his tuxedo. "Tell me, do you think father would have liked Kizna?"
"Why do you ask?" she asked smiling and wondering why her son suddenly brought up her husband.
"Just wondering," he replied as he began to carry the suit over his shoulder once more.
"Well, he probably would have," she said dreamily. "And he would have liked to see you happy with her."
"I hope so," Kurama said chuckling.
'He looks so much like his father,' she thought sadly as she felt the warm tears forming in her eyes. 'You should have met Kizna. You would have loved her very much.' (Author's note: I have no idea whatsoever what Kurama's human father even looked like! I just needed something sad.) They walked in a comfortable silence as they reached the apartment building. They watched silently as the elevator made a slow ascension to their floor. Shiori unlocked her door and let the both of them inside the warm apartment. Shiori walked to her room and came out with a small black box holding it out to her son.
"What's that mother?" Kurama asked curiously as he laid his suit on a nearby chair.
"Your father had hoped you would be able to use this when you would be married," she replied as tears began to form once more. "And well since you are getting married, I thought it would be a good time to give this to you."
He gingerly took the box from her and opened it. Inside, two small gold rings glistened in the dim light of the living room. One was of a distinct male design and a smaller female version. There was nothing fancy and expensive about them just two small bands of gold that told of many tales of love and devotion. Kurama noticed a small inscription on the inside of the rings saying the famous words of a wedding: "To love, honor, and cherish till death do us part." One half of the quote was carved in one ring and the other half in the other making it incomplete without the other always needing it to feel complete and whole like the emptiness he felt without her around. He smiled softly as he thought of her. He looked up at his mother's eyes watering tears of joy and sadness as she watched her son.
She felt a rush of memories reawakening as she held out the box to her son.
~Flashback~
A young handsome man with red hair and green eyes smiled down on her holding her close as she held a small red haired child. The looks were unmistakable as he and the small child made eye contact. The small child was an exact duplicate of the father. In the father's hands, he held a small black box.
"What are you doing with that?" asked a younger Shiori as she studied the box.
"It will be for our son," replied the father as he opened the box revealing the rings. "When he gets married, he and his bride will use our rings so the quote will never be complete without the other half. Just as our son and his bride won't be complete without each other."
Shiori smiled. The young man pulled her closer and locked her lips in a deep kiss. In her arms a young Suuichi cooed.
~End Flashback~
They locked eyes as Kurama remembered the distant memory of being in his mother's arms when his late father said those words. He didn't understand the human emotions back then, but now he understood them fully. He slowly walked to his mother and pulled her into an embrace. Shiori let her tears of joy and sadness flow on to her son's shoulder as he held her close. He held her close and said comforting words to her.
"You'll use them?" she whimpered through her tears.
"Yes," he replied softly.
"Thank you," she whimpered again as she pulled away from her son.
Kurama smiled.
Kizna watched the stars through her window as a sudden wave of sadness and curiosity came over her. Her cloak lay limply on the bed beside her, her wedding dress hung in a spare closet as she stared through the glass. She wondered what the stars in the heavens could be thinking and wondering. A flash of two small rings with an undying inscription suddenly crossed her mind. She studied the stars further wondering what she thought she had seen. She analyzed her vision carefully. Two small rings that seemed to have one half of the inscription in one and the other half in the other only making them complete and whole when the other was near. 'Now what did they say?' she asked herself. A sudden monologue of words ran through her mind. 'To love, honor, and cherish till death do us part,' her mind echoed. 'What does that mean?' Her absorption in the mysterious topic vanished as she heard her door creak open revealing Keiko. She smiled at her visitor.
"Is everything all right?" Keiko asked.
"Of course!" Kizna happily replied. "May I ask a question?"
"Sure go right ahead," Keiko replied as she said in a nearby chair.
"What does it mean 'To love, honor, and cherish till death do us part'?" she asked as she restated the quote.
"Where did you learn that?" Keiko asked curiously wondering how a young girl who nothing of a human wedding custom somehow learn this famous line.
"I don't know," she replied. "It just popped into my head."
"It's a wedding vow," said Keiko bewildered. "The bride and groom state their vows promising themselves to one another and that's one of the lines."
"Really?" Kizna asked slightly confused as Keiko nodded. "Well, thank you."
"You're welcome, but how could learn that? I know I or the others didn't tell you about it," said Keiko. "Was it Kurama?"
"No," replied Kizna as the sadness and curiosity began to sink in again.
Kizna felt like she could feel someone's sadness and curiosity. Sadness for that strange someone remembering a distant memory and curiosity as that person examined something to bring out the distant memory. Then, she noticed the void in her heart that could only be filled by that one person making her incomplete without him. 'Like the quote,' she realized. 'Half on one ring the other half on the other making them complete and whole when one is with the other.' She smiled softly as she thought of him.
"Thank you Keiko," said Kizna yawning. "I think I need to get to bed."
"Goodnight," Keiko said as she left the room.
"Goodnight," Kizna replied.
She crawled into the bed and pulled the blankets and her cloak around her. Her eyes dropped in fatigue and fell to sleep as she watched the twinkling starlight. Her cloak smelled lightly of him as she held it tightly to her chest.
He stifled a tired yawn, but to no avail. Shiori looked up and smiled.
"Go to bed," she said drying her tears. "You've had a tiring day."
"Goodnight mother," her sleepy son replied as he walked to his room with his suit.
"Goodnight," she said as she walked to her own room carrying the small box in her hands.
Kurama tiredly hung his suit in his closet and changed into pajamas. He walked to the bathroom and quickly brushed his teeth hurrying to bed afterwards. He stared out into the starlit night through his window as he fell to sleep under their twinkling watch. His bed still smelled of her as his sleeping form pulled the pillows tightly to his body as he deeply inhaled her scent.
Kuwabara thought of what to give Kurama and Kizna for their wedding, but he had come to several dead ends and mental blocks. He scrambled through his house trying to find any pieces of money he could find, but only found mere change. 'What am I going to do now?' he thought to himself. He heard the soft sound of footsteps in the hall and looked up to find his sister coming down the stairs. She carried a large box as she clumsily made her way down to where her brother sat in the living room.
"What are you looking at?!" she snapped grumpily.
"What's all that?" he asked referring to the large box.
"Old junk, take it if you want," Shizuru snapped as she threw the box down onto the floor with a loud crash. (Author's note: please forgive me if I get her personality wrong, I only of her from reading one too many profiles of Yu Yu Hakusho characters.)
Kuwabara walked curiously to the box and opened it. He spied old and tattered books that smelled of dust and rotten attic musk. He cringed his nose at their rotten smell. He dug deeper into the box venturing to know what else his sister was planning to throw away. He came across torn and tattered shirts that smelled of garbage and oil. He grimaced at the sight. In the dim light of the living room, something shined silver and caught his eye. He dug through the garbage and found a small picture frame. Silver rose vines curled around the glass making a silver border. Intertwined in the rose vines, small fairies and butterflies danced and flew throughout the roses. It was tarnished and black with age. As he pulled it out of the box, he raised a curious eyebrow. Looking back into the box, he found a Polaroid camera. He was sure it wasn't there before but took it out of the box not caring where it had come from. He set the picture frame down and examined the camera finding it fully loaded. He accidently snapped a picture of his glaring sister as she walked through the living room planning to go back to her room.
"Sorry," he apologized sheepishly.
She glared as she stormed up the stairs leading to her room. The picture slid out of the camera revealing his sister with a threatening look on her face. Kuwabara sweat dropped. He slid the picture into the frame wondering if it would fit. A smile spread across his face as the picture fit perfectly in the frame. Quickly, he disposed of the picture of his sister and went into the kitchen exhaustively searching for the silver cleaner. Throughout the night, he worked cleaning off the small picture frame planning to have it ready, by the day of the wedding.
Shiori peered into her son's room watching him as he silently slept. She smiled. She looked down at the small black box in her hands as new tears of joy formed in her eyes. 'He going to use the rings just like we hoped,' she thought happily. 'If you could only be here.' She crept away from his door and walked to the kitchen. Out of a drawer, she pulled out a set of stationary and invitations.
They wandered the streets browsing the shops with their suits hanging over their shoulders in the late afternoon light. Yusuke and Kuwabara gazed into the passing windows looking for a gift that could catch their eye as they lagged behind the others. Yusuke thought of a gag gift consisting of condoms and revealing underwear but decided against it, for he could already feel the burning and stinging wrath of Keiko's hand upon his face as soon as Kurama would open it. 'Definitely a bad idea,' he thought shaking his head to clear his mind of the thought. He figured he couldn't buy them human necessities figuring that they would stay in the Makai as soon as the wedding was over.
"Hmm," he sighed to himself.
"Something wrong Urameshi?" Kuwabara asked as he turned to face his friend.
"Yea what wedding present do you give a demon and a fairy?" he asked sarcastically.
"Good question," Kuwabara replied scratching his head. "Yo shrimp!"
Hiei turned around glaring at Kuwabara at the sound of the dread nickname the human had dubbed him with. Kurama turned curious of what was going on.
"What do you want you stupid human?" he sneered as he stalked towards Yusuke and Kuwabara.
"What are you giving to Kurama and Kizna?" replied Kuwabara ignoring Hiei's aggravated tone.
"None of your business," he answered still glaring and scowling.
"Just admit it, you don't even have a present!" cried Kuwabara challenging Hiei.
"Stupid human, you're not even worth my time," Hiei muttered as he walked away.
"Well that got us nowhere," muttered Yusuke as he began his walk.
"He started it," said Kuwabara walking next to Yusuke.
Yusuke sighed and sweat dropped before something in a store window caught his eye. He turned towards the window as Kuwabara and the others walked on. In the window sat a small white, pink, and gold music box. The box stood on gracefully curled gold legs that trimmed the edges and lid of the box. Painted on the white music box were small pink roses. Against the pink lining of the box, two small figures of a fairy and a young man with a long tail and small fox-like ears danced eternally accompanied by a waltz. A grin spread across Yusuke's face. He watched as the others walked around the corner without him. Quickly, he rushed into the store.
"May I help you?" a young woman in a business suit asked.
"Yea how much is that?" Yusuke asked as he pointed to the music box in the window.
"Not much," said the woman. "Only about 2,000 yen. No one seems to want it so we've been cutting the price for quite sometime."
Yusuke's eyes brightened at the price, thrilled and happy he could find an affordable, yet elegant gift for Kurama and his bride.
"I'll take it," he hastily replied.
"All right," said the woman happily as she reached for the music box.
He watched as the woman wrapped the box in bubble wrap and placed in a box. Yusuke paid and ran out of the store before anyone could notice him missing.
Kurama and the others looked around wondering where Yusuke had gone of to. They looked and browsed in different shops finding nothing.
"You saw him last Kuwabara, do you know where he went?" asked Kurama as they met on the corner.
"I don't know. The last time I saw him he walking with me, then he just disappeared," said Kuwabara shrugging.
"Hm, stupid human," muttered Hiei turning away.
Yusuke ran towards the corner hearing the voices of the others quietly asking where he had gone. He hid the box in his suit's dress bag and quickly tied the ends to keep it from falling hoping no one would notice. He began to casually walk around the corner.
"There you are," said Kuwabara turning as he heard footsteps behind him. "Where did you go?"
"Nowhere," he replied casually lying.
"Hm," Hiei muttered not caring much as usual.
Kurama shrugged as they began to browse the shops again.
"Where did you really go?" Kuwabara whispered to Yusuke.
"To get a present," he replied casually.
"What did you get?" Kuwabara asked again.
"Oh, nothing," answered Yusuke as he went ahead leaving a confused Kuwabara behind.
The girls wandered in and out of the shops and streets looking for more items needed for the wedding. They had finished ordering the catering and making arrangements for the celebration at the temple making sure it was all right with Genkai. Walking ahead of the others, Keiko stopped in front of a lingerie store and stared into the display. The manakin in the display wore a short red nightgown with a red robe and a lace and red ribbon garter around one of her legs.
"Shiori- San do we still need to get Kizna a garter?" Keiko asked as she turned to the others.
"I think you're right," replied Shiori as she looked into the window.
"A what?" Kizna asked curiously.
"It's another human tradition for a bride," said Botan as she also looked into the store. "The bride wears a garter around he leg and at the reception the groom takes it off her leg to throw to the groomsmen and the male guests to predict who will be the next to marry."
"Does that mean..." Kizna began to ask blushing not being able to finish.
"If you're thinking he has to reach up your skirt then yes," Botan said nodding as Kizna blushed darker.
"Don't worry," reassured Shiori. "It's not that embarrassing."
They walked into the store and to where other garters sat on a table. Kizna looked in shock at how many sat atop the small table. They were all made of lace and elastic with many ribbons and colors.
"What color do you want?" asked Keiko as she examined one of the garters.
"Honestly I don't know," Kizna replied sheepishly.
She stared down at garter-littered table and looked curiously at all they lace and ribbons as she wondered about the tradition. Her hood fell around her face hiding her from sight. '..To predict who will be the next to marry,' she thought as the ferry girl's words ran through her mind. 'How sweet.' She picked up a small and simple garter that caught her eye. It was made of white lace with a thick pink ribbon thread through it ending in a simple bow with a small rose charm that hanging from the bow. Outside, four young men walked by and looked in.
Hiei walked ahead of the others as Kurama walked slightly behind him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the girls leaning over a table filled with strange bands. Hiei stopped and curiously looked in.
"What are they doing?" he asked as he looked deep into the store where Kizna and the others stood.
"I don't know," said Kurama as he stopped along side him.
"Maybe Kizna is finding something to wear for the wedding night," teased Yusuke making Kurama blush.
"Quit it Urameshi!" cried Kuwabara as he slapped Yusuke in the back of his head.
"OUCH! I was just kidding," he replied as he massaged the forming lump on his head.
"I think they're looking for the garter," said Kuwabara as he peered in the window.
"What does that have to do with a wedding?" Hiei asked looking over to the others.
"The bride wears the garter and at the reception I'll have to take it off her and throw it to one of you," explained Kurama lightly blushing. "To predict who will be married next."
"And how you go about getting it off her?" asked Hiei still curious of the custom.
"He has to reach up her dress," said Yusuke as Kurama blushed darker.
"Hm," Hiei muttered not wishing to know anymore details. "Aren't you suppose to be avoiding the bride?"
"Hey the shrimp's right!" cried Kuwabara as he and Yusuke dragged Kurama away before he could protest.
"Hm," Hiei growled as he slowly followed.
"That one's adorable!" cried Keiko as she looked at the garter Kizna held.
"You think so?" Kizna asked unsure before receiving a nod.
"May I help you?" a young woman casually dressed said as she walked up to them.
"Yes, I would like to pay for the garter she's holding," said Shiori as she pointed to Kizna.
"All right. Wedding?" the woman asked.
Kizna nodded as she blushed under her hood. Gently, Kizna handed it to young woman as Shiori walked to the register to pay. 'She's doing so much for me,' Kizna thought. 'I wish there's something I could do for her. But I have no money.'
"Kizna have you decide who your maid of honor would be?" asked Keiko curiously.
"Huh?" Kizna answered. "What's a maid of honor?"
"She helps and runs the brides wedding," answered Botan. (Author's note: what does a real maid of honor do?!)
"Then there's the flower girl," said Keiko. "And she walks down the aisle sprinkling flower petals for the bride to walk on."
"I think I know who my maid of honor would be, but call it a hunch, I think Kurama will be taking care of the flowers that I walk on," replied Kizna smiling as an idea popped in her mind.
"Who is it?" asked Botan curiously.
Kizna motioned for them to come closer afraid Shiori would hear. She silently whispered something into their ears. They eagerly nodded in approval.
"She'd be perfect," said Keiko sincerely.
"She's done so much for me," Kizna said as she looked towards Shiori.
"Go for it!" Botan encouraged. "Ask her when she gets here."
Kizna smiled as she turned to find Shiori slowly walking their way with a soft smile on her face and with a small bag in her hand. Shiori looked around the small group of all smiling girls.
"What?" she asked.
"Shiori- San, I... wanted to ask you... if," stuttered Kizna nervously.
"Yes?" she asked wondering what the small fairy would say.
"Be my maid of honor?" she said as she finished her sentence nervously.
Her eyes lit up and a larger smile spread across her face. She pulled Kizna into a tight embrace as her hood fell back.
"No, I can't," Shiori replied as the others looked in shock. "If this is a plan just to thank me you don't need to. I want to do this out of my own will."
"Are you sure?" Kizna asked as she pulled out of the embrace.
Shiori nodded. Kizna smiled up at her. Her silver eyes told of a deep gratitude for the human mother. The human mother's eyes told of a love for her future daughter. Kizna threw her arms around her one more time as small tears welled behind closed lids.
"Thank you," she whispered as a tear ran down her face.
"You're welcome," Shiori replied as she dried Kizna's tears. "Now stop crying. I don't think my son would want to see you cry before the wedding day."
She dried her tears as they walked into the setting light. The sky was streaked with red oranges, dark blues, and purples as they browsed the shops planning to finish the last of the preparations. Botan looked into the flower shop as the bright colors of various blossoms flaunted themselves in the window.
"That's right, how could I forget," said Shiori walking behind Botan. "We need to order you a bouquet."
"All right," Kizna said as she walked to the store window. "Ku... eh... Suuichi told me I would need one."
"Tell me what's your favorite flower," said Shiori as she and Kizna walked into the shop.
"Roses," Kizna said dreamily. "Especially the white and red ones."
"Oh, my son likes them too," Shiori replied happily.
The small store was alive with blooming colors. All the flowers seemed to be more alive as they sensed a soon to be blushing bride walk in. The air was filled with their sweet perfumes mixing together to tickle the nose. They watched as a disguised fairy made her way to the roses. The roses sat in the refrigerator as a white light shined down on them. Their petals were dotted with dew drops and water making them have an ethereal shine around them. She had never seen some many types of roses before. Some were lavender, creams, bright pinks, and pure yellows. But the ones that caught her attention were her forever favorites, the blood red roses and the snow white roses that looked up to her with out a flaw or imperfection. She smiled.
"Which ones?" a soft voice called behind her as she turned around surprised to find Shiori.
"White," she whispered to Shiori as she turned back to the roses.
Shiori silently nodded as she turned to walk back to the others. Botan and Keiko smiled. She smiled in return. Keiko and Botan ran to her side imagining what her bouquet would like. Their eyes shined in awe and amazement as they saw her chosen flowers.
"How romantic," sighed Botan as Kizna and Keiko turned and smiled.
They walked back towards Shiori as she looked through a bouquet catalog. She smiled. They smiled happily in return.
"Which one do you like?" Shiori asked smiling as she gave the catalog to Kizna.
The soft rustle of turning pages quietly echoed through the small shop. Bouquets of every size and color looked up at them through the small catalog. They came to a page with a small cascading bouquet of pure white roses. The small bouquet was wrapped in lace with long thin vines that fell to the floor decorated with small white rose buds. Kizna smiled. Keiko and Botan nodded in agreement. Kizna held out the picture for Shiori to see like a small child showing a mother a new toy or flower. Shiori nodded in agreement.
"Have you decided?" asked a graying man with small reading glasses behind the counter smiling.
"This one," said Shiori as she pointed to the picture. "With the white roses."
"When do you need them?" the man asked as he walked towards the back of the store.
"By next weekend," she replied a smile never leaving her face.
The man nodded and smiled. Shiori paid another clerk at the counter before she and the others left the small shop. They left as the last rays of the sun kissed the sky goodbye to find itself walking into a new part of the world.
Kurama daydreamed. He dreamed of their wedding day. He dreamed of her walking down the aisle in her white dress with a canopy of pink and whites roses above her, growing on the high temple ceiling wherever their celebration was to be held. As her bridesmaids and his groomsmen walked in front of her, he pictured the rose petals lightly falling in a small rainstorm in front of them, laying a thin carpet of rose petals for them to walk on. Topiaries would line the aisle in shades of yellow and creams with white ribbon strung around each one connecting them together. Red roses would cover the shelter at the end of the aisle, whose long green vines would curl and entangle themselves around the marble columns. They would lightly sag and watch them as they say their vows of undying love and exchange their rings of an endless love that had no beginning or end. Unbeknownst to Kizna, he would hide her present within the red roses, and when the time would come the vines would present it to her at his silent command. 'She would love that,' he thought to himself lightly chuckling in his mind. 'Yet she always loved roses.' He snapped out of his daydreams as he felt a tap on his shoulder.
"Huh?" he asked dazed.
"Are you all right?" Yusuke asked receiving a nod from the red haired demon. "There anywhere else we need to go?"
"Uh... no," Kurama replied still faltering.
"Well then I've got to go," said Yusuke as he began to walk away. "Bye."
"Bye," Kurama replied as Kuwabara waved.
"Hm," Hiei grunted as he turned his back to the others. "I have to go as well."
"Bye shrimp," said Kuwabara receiving a glare from the fire demon as he leaped into the nighttime sky. "I have to be going as well. Congratulations."
"Thank you," he replied as Kuwabara walked away.
Kurama walked towards his mother's apartment listening to the silent starlight's hum wishing she were with him. The streetlights flickered on one by one as the first stars were born into the sky. He walked to his mother's apartment building admiring the distant heavens.
"I gotta go," said Keiko as she pulled Kizna into a hug. "I can't wait till the wedding. Where will you stay?"
"Thank you, but I don't know," Kizna replied as she pulled out of the hug. "Do you have to go as well Botan?"
"Yea, I have lots of work to do," she replied. "I'm surprised I've been out this late."
"Make sure you tell Koenma," Kizna said softly so Shiori wouldn't hear receiving a nod from the ferry girl. "Next weekend then?"
"Next weekend," she replied as she began to walk away. "Bye!"
"Why don't you stay with me?" offered Keiko happily.
"But I wouldn't want to bother you," Kizna replied before receiving a look that told her not to worry.
"Don't worry," said Keiko happily. "My parents aren't home so they won't find out your little secret."
"All right I suppose. Shiori- San should I accompany you home?" Kizna asked.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine," she replied as she began to walk away. "Goodbye."
"Bye!" they chorused together.
Shiori walked home as she admired the stars. A swell of pure joy filled her heart. Joy for her son, joy for her future daughter, and what seemed like joy for everything around her. She prayed that her late husband had been able to see, from wherever he was what had happened for the past few days. Small tears welled in her eyes as she remembered her former husband. She was as much in love as her son and Kizna were now and wished he were here to see it. There was no doubt in her mind that she still loved her husband. She hoped that her husband still loved her and was waiting for her in the distance between the stars and moons of the evening heavens. The stars shined down on her seemingly whispering "I love you."
Kurama walked still looking at the stars. He wondered. He wondered what it would be like to a husband. He wondered what it would be like to be a father. He smiled at the thought. He would devote his life to her, and he was willing to do it. Then, he wondered about his human father. 'What was he like?' he thought and wondered about a person he never really met. 'I wonder if he was very much in love with mother like I am with Kizna.' The stars in the heavens seemed to shine brighter as if confirming his thought. 'I wonder if he would have liked Kizna,' he thought again. Above him, the stars twinkled again. He smiled.
"Had you met her father," he said to the heavens. "You probably would have liked her."
He spotted his mother's apartment building in the distance. He quickly walked in eager to get out of the cold night air.
Shiori spotted her home in the distance and her son not far out in front of her. She smiled.
"Did you and the others find your suits?" she asked as she caught up to him.
"Yes mother," Kurama replied happily as he turned towards her showing her his tuxedo. "Tell me, do you think father would have liked Kizna?"
"Why do you ask?" she asked smiling and wondering why her son suddenly brought up her husband.
"Just wondering," he replied as he began to carry the suit over his shoulder once more.
"Well, he probably would have," she said dreamily. "And he would have liked to see you happy with her."
"I hope so," Kurama said chuckling.
'He looks so much like his father,' she thought sadly as she felt the warm tears forming in her eyes. 'You should have met Kizna. You would have loved her very much.' (Author's note: I have no idea whatsoever what Kurama's human father even looked like! I just needed something sad.) They walked in a comfortable silence as they reached the apartment building. They watched silently as the elevator made a slow ascension to their floor. Shiori unlocked her door and let the both of them inside the warm apartment. Shiori walked to her room and came out with a small black box holding it out to her son.
"What's that mother?" Kurama asked curiously as he laid his suit on a nearby chair.
"Your father had hoped you would be able to use this when you would be married," she replied as tears began to form once more. "And well since you are getting married, I thought it would be a good time to give this to you."
He gingerly took the box from her and opened it. Inside, two small gold rings glistened in the dim light of the living room. One was of a distinct male design and a smaller female version. There was nothing fancy and expensive about them just two small bands of gold that told of many tales of love and devotion. Kurama noticed a small inscription on the inside of the rings saying the famous words of a wedding: "To love, honor, and cherish till death do us part." One half of the quote was carved in one ring and the other half in the other making it incomplete without the other always needing it to feel complete and whole like the emptiness he felt without her around. He smiled softly as he thought of her. He looked up at his mother's eyes watering tears of joy and sadness as she watched her son.
She felt a rush of memories reawakening as she held out the box to her son.
~Flashback~
A young handsome man with red hair and green eyes smiled down on her holding her close as she held a small red haired child. The looks were unmistakable as he and the small child made eye contact. The small child was an exact duplicate of the father. In the father's hands, he held a small black box.
"What are you doing with that?" asked a younger Shiori as she studied the box.
"It will be for our son," replied the father as he opened the box revealing the rings. "When he gets married, he and his bride will use our rings so the quote will never be complete without the other half. Just as our son and his bride won't be complete without each other."
Shiori smiled. The young man pulled her closer and locked her lips in a deep kiss. In her arms a young Suuichi cooed.
~End Flashback~
They locked eyes as Kurama remembered the distant memory of being in his mother's arms when his late father said those words. He didn't understand the human emotions back then, but now he understood them fully. He slowly walked to his mother and pulled her into an embrace. Shiori let her tears of joy and sadness flow on to her son's shoulder as he held her close. He held her close and said comforting words to her.
"You'll use them?" she whimpered through her tears.
"Yes," he replied softly.
"Thank you," she whimpered again as she pulled away from her son.
Kurama smiled.
Kizna watched the stars through her window as a sudden wave of sadness and curiosity came over her. Her cloak lay limply on the bed beside her, her wedding dress hung in a spare closet as she stared through the glass. She wondered what the stars in the heavens could be thinking and wondering. A flash of two small rings with an undying inscription suddenly crossed her mind. She studied the stars further wondering what she thought she had seen. She analyzed her vision carefully. Two small rings that seemed to have one half of the inscription in one and the other half in the other only making them complete and whole when the other was near. 'Now what did they say?' she asked herself. A sudden monologue of words ran through her mind. 'To love, honor, and cherish till death do us part,' her mind echoed. 'What does that mean?' Her absorption in the mysterious topic vanished as she heard her door creak open revealing Keiko. She smiled at her visitor.
"Is everything all right?" Keiko asked.
"Of course!" Kizna happily replied. "May I ask a question?"
"Sure go right ahead," Keiko replied as she said in a nearby chair.
"What does it mean 'To love, honor, and cherish till death do us part'?" she asked as she restated the quote.
"Where did you learn that?" Keiko asked curiously wondering how a young girl who nothing of a human wedding custom somehow learn this famous line.
"I don't know," she replied. "It just popped into my head."
"It's a wedding vow," said Keiko bewildered. "The bride and groom state their vows promising themselves to one another and that's one of the lines."
"Really?" Kizna asked slightly confused as Keiko nodded. "Well, thank you."
"You're welcome, but how could learn that? I know I or the others didn't tell you about it," said Keiko. "Was it Kurama?"
"No," replied Kizna as the sadness and curiosity began to sink in again.
Kizna felt like she could feel someone's sadness and curiosity. Sadness for that strange someone remembering a distant memory and curiosity as that person examined something to bring out the distant memory. Then, she noticed the void in her heart that could only be filled by that one person making her incomplete without him. 'Like the quote,' she realized. 'Half on one ring the other half on the other making them complete and whole when one is with the other.' She smiled softly as she thought of him.
"Thank you Keiko," said Kizna yawning. "I think I need to get to bed."
"Goodnight," Keiko said as she left the room.
"Goodnight," Kizna replied.
She crawled into the bed and pulled the blankets and her cloak around her. Her eyes dropped in fatigue and fell to sleep as she watched the twinkling starlight. Her cloak smelled lightly of him as she held it tightly to her chest.
He stifled a tired yawn, but to no avail. Shiori looked up and smiled.
"Go to bed," she said drying her tears. "You've had a tiring day."
"Goodnight mother," her sleepy son replied as he walked to his room with his suit.
"Goodnight," she said as she walked to her own room carrying the small box in her hands.
Kurama tiredly hung his suit in his closet and changed into pajamas. He walked to the bathroom and quickly brushed his teeth hurrying to bed afterwards. He stared out into the starlit night through his window as he fell to sleep under their twinkling watch. His bed still smelled of her as his sleeping form pulled the pillows tightly to his body as he deeply inhaled her scent.
Kuwabara thought of what to give Kurama and Kizna for their wedding, but he had come to several dead ends and mental blocks. He scrambled through his house trying to find any pieces of money he could find, but only found mere change. 'What am I going to do now?' he thought to himself. He heard the soft sound of footsteps in the hall and looked up to find his sister coming down the stairs. She carried a large box as she clumsily made her way down to where her brother sat in the living room.
"What are you looking at?!" she snapped grumpily.
"What's all that?" he asked referring to the large box.
"Old junk, take it if you want," Shizuru snapped as she threw the box down onto the floor with a loud crash. (Author's note: please forgive me if I get her personality wrong, I only of her from reading one too many profiles of Yu Yu Hakusho characters.)
Kuwabara walked curiously to the box and opened it. He spied old and tattered books that smelled of dust and rotten attic musk. He cringed his nose at their rotten smell. He dug deeper into the box venturing to know what else his sister was planning to throw away. He came across torn and tattered shirts that smelled of garbage and oil. He grimaced at the sight. In the dim light of the living room, something shined silver and caught his eye. He dug through the garbage and found a small picture frame. Silver rose vines curled around the glass making a silver border. Intertwined in the rose vines, small fairies and butterflies danced and flew throughout the roses. It was tarnished and black with age. As he pulled it out of the box, he raised a curious eyebrow. Looking back into the box, he found a Polaroid camera. He was sure it wasn't there before but took it out of the box not caring where it had come from. He set the picture frame down and examined the camera finding it fully loaded. He accidently snapped a picture of his glaring sister as she walked through the living room planning to go back to her room.
"Sorry," he apologized sheepishly.
She glared as she stormed up the stairs leading to her room. The picture slid out of the camera revealing his sister with a threatening look on her face. Kuwabara sweat dropped. He slid the picture into the frame wondering if it would fit. A smile spread across his face as the picture fit perfectly in the frame. Quickly, he disposed of the picture of his sister and went into the kitchen exhaustively searching for the silver cleaner. Throughout the night, he worked cleaning off the small picture frame planning to have it ready, by the day of the wedding.
Shiori peered into her son's room watching him as he silently slept. She smiled. She looked down at the small black box in her hands as new tears of joy formed in her eyes. 'He going to use the rings just like we hoped,' she thought happily. 'If you could only be here.' She crept away from his door and walked to the kitchen. Out of a drawer, she pulled out a set of stationary and invitations.