Peeka-chan: Yes, it does. And I'm enjoying this immensely.
LeneKetsuekihi: Well, you reply in good time! Glad you finally worked up enough energy to review! Please do so again, yes?
DevilDucky1304: Because I'm evil and because it amuses me, that's why. It also provides incentive to review to encourage me to post faster. Mwuahaha!
Silverwing013: Dear gods, no, no more bouncier-than-Aislin. And I don't know how a pixie would affect a human, but I'd advise against it. They're fast little buggers and, as Aislin has mentioned, they bite. Yes, the wedding is happening, and no, nothing's going to interrupt the ceremony. Someone showing up after the wedding, however, is a strong possibility. I'm glad you and D-chan liked my parody, now go run off your sugar-high before Hiei takes it upon himself to make you.
Rikka Chishio: Mwuahaha! As long as my laptop works, I can forego my homework and satisfy my fans! Yes, you can pet his ears.
Obsidian: —happy purr—
Raeneflovescandy: Heyla! Welcome back, and merry Christmas!
EarthHeartIdiot: —laughs— Yes, you count! And you only have to read up to manga five (I think) or whenever Ukyo Kuonji pops in. Everything else doesn't really need…oh, wait, Herb, right, forgot about him. Um…sketi, when does he make an appearance? Oh, well, just look him up online or something, save yourself some time. But you should get the manga, it's a marvelous series.
Kitsune Kit: Gods, Rei drunk. There's a frightening thought. I don't think you want someone who controls people's destinies getting tipsy.
————
Okay, you've met my 'price' for the next chapter! (six more gets the you the next by Christmas!) Onward!
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Warning: There's going to be some confusing suffixes later on after the wedding takes place. Just remember, the lack of them indicates how familiar or how much emotional distance the speaker feels with the person named. Example: Aislin, unless she's feeling particularly affectionate, is not going to call Yukina –chan or the like, because the two have been best friends since day one.
—————————————————————————————.
Kohaku perches in one of the trees wearing her regular street clothes, but her hair and makeup—surprisingly non-flashy considering her usual décor and color schemes—already done, watching the guests file into their seats in the large grassy field. She's looking for a particular set of people…and her eyes light up when she spots them, dropping out of her watch-tree and running over to the members of the Nerima Wrecking Crew that had been invited. Namely, the Hibikis, the Kenobishis, and the Tendos.
"Ranma-kun! Akane-chan! Rei-chan!" the wolf-girl greets enthusiastically. "I haven't seen you since our last concert! Enjoying the school break?"
"Hey, Kohaku-chan," the pig-tailed boy replies with equal cheer, echoed by his fiancée Akane and Kurama's adoptive cousin. The adult Hibikis have already been led by a smiling Kasumi and the other Tendos to their chairs, where the directionally-challenged couple will remain until someone leads them to the reception—to be held via portal at Genkai's temple, but that's being kept hush-hush at the moment.
Ryoga gives the wolf girl a fanged grin, looking particularly dashing in his tuxedo. "Hey, glitter-Goth."
"Hi, Random!" she chirps back. "Hey, I'll bet you guys are looking forward to graduation in March, ne?"
"Ne!" the others agree in fervent voices. "I'll be able to get away from the last few fiancées who haven't gotten the idea that I've finally decided who I'm marrying," adds Ranma, reminding Kohaku that her Wild Horse of a friend has been accepted into a university in America. Akane is going with him to the same university after the two had spent a year applying for the same places, and with a subtle tweaking from Rei (shh!) had managed to get into one of their top choices.
"Yeah, good luck with that," Kohaku sighs, before a sharp whistle from the direction of the church catches her attention. Peridot eyes look around to find her band-mate and American friend Ally waving to her from the Abbey door. The room had been temporarily converted into a dressing room for the day, and Aislin as well as a number of the other girls are still holed up in there, waiting for the ceremony. "Yikes! That's my cue! Snag your seats I'll find you again later!" And Kohaku dashes off to get changed.
Luke and Craig wander over in tuxedos as well; for once their group won't be supplying the music. Some of the youkai in the Thieves' Lair are expert players at the kind of songs Pocky doesn't usually play—ballads—and the quintuplet are busy tuning up just left of the cloth-and-flower-draped pulpit.
A good fifth of the groom's side for guests has been taken over by tall, graceful people who either sport silver, ebony, or deep crimson colorings, and who smile at everyone with a very secretive but joyful air. These are Yoko's relatives, the kitsune clan the Gemsongs. In the same section reserved for family sits a combination of Kurama's human families—'birth' and by-marriage, numbering somewhere around fifty people. Shiori, Kazuya, and Suichi gaze around them with smiles nearly as secretive, knowing that a majority of the guests here are by no means human. Behind them is half of the Lair, and behind them are sitting the representatives of Blood Moon.
On the other side, the front rows are taken up by Aislin's human—well, mostly human, considering—family, bringing a mix of brassy auburns, deep mahogany, and red-tined ebony to the ceremony, as well as a mix between tartans and modern dress. A good dozen rows behind them (occupied by the Blade-arms and several of Aislin's more distant relatives) sit the non-security members of the Pride-claws and the other half of the Lair, all of them sharing mischievous glances with each other and wondering how much fun it would be to get a sparring free-for-all started. However, they know better, and so remain relatively quiet in their seats. Behind all of these people sit the 'assorted friends' that Aislin had mentioned, meaning those who aren't in the actual ceremony. A lot of those are allies or folk from Spirit World, the latter under a number of oaths to keep them from trying to arrest practically everyone else present. In almost everyone's ears, the earrings for translation and disguise glitter tastefully as small diamonds.
For those who aren't sitting within the first twenty rows a set of video cameras and screens have been set up so everyone in the back can see what's happening up front, and there are fragrant flowers everywhere!
Most of them are the deep sapphire blooms called Waterwinds, deep-throated members of the lily family that 'sing' in any breeze because of the tiny holes that line their 'tongues' and stems. Complementing those are Bells of Ireland, white roses, and lots and lots of Angelwing.
Finally, though, everyone is either dressed or seated, and the band begins to play the youkai version of the wedding march. Similar, but more flowing and sweet, less martial. As one, the guests turn to the back, where the wedding party begins the measured walk up the aisle. Things have been altered a bit due to complications of reincarnation and lack of specific people, so while the elegantly-clad bridesmaids and their male counterparts do walk up the aisle in pairs, as well as Best Man (Hiei) and Maid of Honor (Botan, surprise, surprise), Kurama comes walking in at the end, alone. Kohaku, just behind the blue-haired ferry-girl, can't help but giggle at her fiancée's stiff back, the fire apparition mildly outraged at getting stuck with the breathless Botan.
Kurama has chosen to be in his human form for the occasion, though he had seriously considered going in his half-transformed state. He'd decided against it, remembering that his human relatives would not likely understand or be comfortable if they realized what most of the other guests are. Genkai acts as Matron of Honor, with Gambit as her counterpart. The aged fighters had sized each other up upon meeting, and each had decided that the other would do. They take their places on either side of the pulpit, where a beaming Koenma waits for his own part to begin.
The Wedding Waltz (as the youkai call it) takes on a more triumphant note, and everyone turns again to see some of Kurama and Aislin's youngest girl cousins walking up the white-carpeted aisle, scattering rose petals and mint leaves as they go, dressed in the pale violet, slightly frillier versions of the bridesmaids' gowns, somehow appearing out of nowhere. Huzzah for illusion spells! Walking after them are Zephyr and Obsidian in his Haru personae, joint ringbearers because the vixen is a little too old to be a flower-girl, but deemed deserving of something a little more special than bridesmaid. None of the other girls are offended by the wording Aislin had used, understanding that the silver-haired girl shares a unique link to the ice-fox.
Kurama gulps when Aislin steps onto the carpet, arm in arm with her father, the Celt towering over his daughter in one hell of a stylish tuxedo, his dark mane brushed back into a tight ponytail and his beard trimmed. He'd thought about wearing his armor, but Aislin had gently reminded him that this is a peaceful occasion and convinced him to wear something of the modern age. He looks incredibly handsome, and his daughter understands why her mother had been attracted to him all those centuries ago.
She herself is enough to take her mate's breath away, dressed in her replica of her faerie gown, with silk slippers on her feet and dark blue ribbons twining up her legs. Her hair sets off the color and her eyes, the storm-cloud tresses caught up and back in a deceptively simple style with jeweled pins, the pale pink strands woven with crystal beads and left to curl past her ears, hung with a pair of diamond drops. A single white rose is tucked over each ear in her hair, matching those in the bouquet she carries.
Yusuke and Kuwabara, men-of-the-groom, grin and elbow each other slightly at the dazzled expression Kurama wears at the approach of his mate, the sun sparkling off her pale-pink lipgloss and the glitter dusted across her cheeks. (Kohaku's touch.)
Brian and Aislin stop a step or two away from the slightly-raised dais upon which the pulpit is set, the Celt giving his daughter a kiss on her forehead and her mate a stern glare of warning. 'Do right by her' is the clear message the ancient warrior sends to the emerald-eyed changeling. Kurama accepts the warning with a slight nod, then his attention is all for the delicate creature now standing beside him with a satisfied smile.
/Don't forget to breathe, Kurama/ is the telepathic advice of Hiei. Kurama gives his best man a quick grin, and then everyone starts paying attention to Koenma as he goes into his prepared speech. In the back sit the monks, and all they can hear or see is the brown-haired man wearing a blue tunic, khakis, and a red scarf and his voice—everything else is silent, the rest of the guests practically holding their breaths to catch every word.
Koenma concludes the main portion with, "And now the vows the couple have prepared for each other." He skips the part about objections, because anyone who does is—ahem!—catmeat.
Kurama goes first, turning and catching his beloved's hand in his own. Aislin gazes up into a face overflowing with love, her own eyes softening into a pale green color in return. "You are the one I have searched for all my life, the only one I've vowed to live for until the end of time and beyond. No matter what I've done, no matter how many times your heart broke because of me, you've stayed beside me with your head held high. I can't ask for anything more than you continuing to do so, through the best of life and the worst, because without you there is no world for me. Will you stay with me, beloved, no matter what?"
Aislin's smile is beatific as she nods and half-whispers, "I will."
Most of the Lair leans forward in their chairs, expectant as Aislin starts her own vows. "Just as some flowers need Luna's silver light to reveal all of their glory, so too do I need you. I will wait for you even if death parts us, because even she is not enough to keep you away. Your love, your laughter, even your pranks and your troubles, all of these things are part of who you are, and I cherish them above all else. We've hurt each other, and still we remain together, and I pray that we do so until we are gone from this world and any other. For there is no life without love, and no love without you. Do you promise me that this is forever?"
"I do." Zephyr and Obsidian step forward, and the rings, simple gold creations modeled after the Irish 'puzzle-rings' that form the petals of a rose, are slipped on the third finger of both left hands, the pair turning to face the audience, beaming with joy.
Koenma raises his arms, a similar smile curving his own lips up, and cries, "Then by the many powers vested in me, I hereby declare you husband and wife! Now let's see some kissing!"
The silence erupts into wild cheering as the couple melts into each other, until it seems they've forgotten that somewhere near a thousand people are standing around them, waiting for the real party to begin. Finally, though, Yusuke and Kuwabara pull the newlyweds apart and push them towards the waiting portal about thirty feet beyond the end of the white carpet. But Aislin stops in her tracks at the sight of a slender woman almost her height, with deep blue hair and turquoise eyes standing beside a tall man with jet black hair and eyes so dark a blue they're almost black. The woman is someone she never thought she'd see again in this life, and the man is someone she never thought to see with a demon's pointed ears and a set of claws.
Silence ripples outwards as Anthony Barbarac scratches the back of his head sheepishly, grinning at the open-mouthed Aislin with every sign of glee. "Sorry we're late. Traffic was a pain in the ass. Did we miss everything?"
——
An hour later, after all the guests have been shooed onto Genkai's temple grounds, the memories of the monks mildly altered so that Anthony appeared normal and everyone left by conventional methods; the cake cut and the first dance enjoyed, a quietly seething Aislin sits with her close circle of friends to grill the reincarnated Spirit Detective.
Her mother is beyond any form of blame, and is sitting off to one side in happy contemplation of her smitten-all-over-again mate's eyes. Mindful of the makeup she's still wearing, the ice-fox carefully rubs the corners of her eyes in circles. "Okay, you unconscionable prick, explain to me again how in the names of the gods you showed up at my wedding."
"Huh?" Anthony's attention is brought back from amused observation of the mini soap-opera still being played out between Suzume and Obsidian. "Oh. Well, I actually got myself a new body about two or three centuries ago and figured out how to grow up pretty quick. One of the perks of being Detective apparently is you get to keep what memories you want. So as far as I know, I remember about as much as I did when I died."
Yusuke is sitting across from his predecessor, staring at him with a surprisingly level gaze. What Aislin had told him about the man seems to be true; if Anthony Barbarac looks and acts about the same as he used to, he's so much like the teenaged punk it's uncanny. Although the guy's grammar is better by a longshot.
"Like I was saying, I got myself my adult body pretty quick and learned to enjoy the life of a traveling brawler. It's much more interesting and less stressful than the life of a nobleman, I'll tell you, Whiteout." A faint growl from the petite female brings him back to topic. "Anyway, I got to traveling and guess I got decently strong, nowhere like I was when I was human, though, and about three months ago I got word that you were getting wed to the…hey, I thought you were promised to that Yoko fellow. Who's this young dandy?"
Kohaku, a fan of older languages, understands the term and starts laughing, leaning against Hiei to keep from falling over. Kurama merely indulges in an amused expression and the smirk of his that remains utterly Yoko, which Anthony has no problem recognizing. "Well, I'll be damned. You shrunk."
"Actually, Yuuki, he got a new body after a man named Kendrik of the Axe killed his original one." Aislin corrects her old adversary with admirable calm. "Now finish before I break your neck."
"Oh, sorry." Anthony takes a swallow from his wineglass and rests his chin on the back of his free hand. "After that, I started looking for some way to cross to Ningenkai or even Reikai, but the damned net had gotten too tight for me to sneak through. I spent, oh, a good two months trying to find someone who could get me here, and I finally ended up on the edge of a floating island covered in snow. That was after some smart-ass eagle demon thought I'd make a good meal for its chicks and tried carrying me off. It's missing a leg now."
"Details," the ice-fox dismisses with a wave of one elegant hand. "Continue."
"Right. Well, I wandered the outskirts for a bit, getting ignored or glared at by a lot of pretty women and some little girls, until I'd managed to circle, I think, about half-way around the island's periphery. That's when I bumped into that lovely lady over there," a thumb jerked in the direction of Shimohana, "and when she asked me very nicely what I was doing on the Isle of Koorime, I explained to her just as nicely that I was looking for someone who could get me to Human World in time for the Whiteout's wedding."
"Knowing my mother, she likely pointed some weapon at you and demanded to know what the hell you were thinking," Aislin snickers.
"Yeah, that might be what she did," agrees the ex-Detective. "But after I mentioned your old thief-name, she thawed considerably, even taking that wicked little naginata away from my throat. Then she offered to get me here if I'd escort her. So I said yes, and we managed to arrive just in time to see your interlude with your colorized fox."
"Which I am most certainly glad I did not miss," says a sweet alto voice from by Aislin's ear. The ice-fox turns, beaming, to hug her mother again. "It was a heartwarming sight, even if your father appeared to wish the strangulation of your paramour."
"Overbearing bully," Brian's daughter mutters in his direction. Said Celt merely grins wolfishly back and replies with, "Stubborn chit."
"Now, children," chides the near-translucent female garbed in a plain kimono the color of a spring sky. "No fighting at the reception. After the…the…" The sensual mouth turns down in a mild frown of annoyance. "Oh, what is that word that is used nowadays?"
"Honeymoon?" guesses Kuwabara, rewarded with a brightening of the lovely apparition.
"Ah! Yes, that is the word. Honeymoon. When that is over, you may contemplate argument. Until then, please behave yourselves as befitting two adults."
Sigh. "As you wish, mother."
"Yes, dear," says the chastised Celt while his daughter kisses the other woman on the cheek. Pleased that her 'mother' attitude has not diminished over the centuries despite not having a daughter to raise, Shimohana turns turquoise eyes to Hiei with sharp interest.
"And this, if I am not mistaken, is poor Hina's young son."
Hiei bristles against Kohaku, his crimson eyes narrowing. He gets a discreet elbow in his ribs from Kohaku, discouraging him about violence. "What of it?"
"So rude," sighs the koorime woman. "I suppose it could not be helped, what with you growing up amongst the uncivilized folk of our world. Poor Hina did so want to keep you, and I simply could not understand why they banished you. You were such a sweet little baby." And she pats him on the head as if he's still just a young child. Hiei looks about ready to explode from temper—Yusuke and Kuwabara appear to be preventing death by asphyxiation, though Kohaku would say they look about ready to laugh themselves to death. "Now, where is your darling sister? I haven't seen her for quite a long time, too, Hiei-kun, and it would be nice to have all three of you together."
"The prick's got a sister?" Kuwabara asks blankly into the ensuing silence. Hiei withdraws into himself and stony silence, while Aislin gets up, taking her mother off to the side, well out of earshot of the human members of the small group.
"Mother, Yukina doesn't remember Hiei. She knows that she has a brother, but as far as he knows, she isn't aware that Hiei is the one she's been looking for."
"As far as he knows?" comes the intelligent query. Aislin flashes her mother a quick smile.
"They've been intriguing each other. Each knows who the other is, but they aren't telling that they know. Yukina's been mostly pretending to be a sweet, naïve country-cousin, of sorts, instead of showing how smart she is."
"Clever girl," Shimohana sighs, "but highly unnecessary. Go fetch her, my wise daughter, and we shall put this particular deceit to an end."
"All right, but that means we'll have a very grumpy fire apparition on our hands," warns the bride as she strolls off in the direction of the garden, where Pocky America is beginning to set up.
"Child," comes the ready reply, "I helped midwife the boy. He knows quite well to behave himself."
Aislin's throaty laugh rises above the chatter just as she disappears into the crowd. A few moments later she returns to the circle, arm in arm with Yukina. Hiei, getting an inkling of what is about to happen, attempts to get up and leave. Kurama and Yusuke's hands locked on his arms, however, persuade him to remain in his seat on the blanket. Shimohana stands halfway between them on the edge of the circle, amused at the fire apparition's discomfiture.
"Oh, Auntie Hana!" exclaims Yukina in delight, rushing over to the woman and giving her a warm hug. "It's been decades!"
"Hello, Yukina," purrs the older koorime. "But I didn't have my Aislin fetch you just to see you, dear. There's a particular deception here that needs to be taken care of."
The crimson-eyed girl has the grace to blush, a faint shading of pink across her cheeks, as she shyly glances over at Hiei. "Caught, am I?"
"We've been outvoted on it," sighs Aislin with a nod to her mother. "Hiei, the Game's up. You both know."
Aghast, Hiei stares at his sister, now wearing a tiny, pleased little smile. "You knew?"
"Don't be silly, Hiei-kun, of course I did. Why do you think I insisted staying in the Human World?"
Kuwabara, however, has been looking at the smiles on his friends' faces with growing confusion. "Guys, what's going on? Since when has Hiei had a sister, and why is my sweet Yukina-chan looking at him like that?" Aislin's mother regards him with her own measure of surprise, then looks over at her daughter, who mouths the word 'besotted' in answer. The mirrored aqua eyes clear.
"Hm, how to explain this without you having a conniption?" muses Kurama, mischief dancing behind emerald orbs. "Let's try this: Yukina-chan's long-lost brother has always been far closer than you were led to suspect, Kuwabara. He's been in this city for the last three years."
"Dude, I still don't get it."
Yusuke claps his friend on the shoulder with a pained sigh. "Kuwabara, you remember when we had to go save Yukina-san from that gem dealer, and Koenma had Hiei bring that tape?"
"Yeah, what about it?"
"Well, if you'd stayed to watch the end of it instead of racing off with stars in your eyes, you would've found out then that Yukina's brother is Hiei."
"Urameshi, that is seriously not funny."
"No," Hiei snaps, "it's not, which is one reason why I wanted to keep it a secret! Especially from you two!"
"Buut!" Yusuke can't help but grin at the pissed-off fire apparition. "That has to be one of the worst kept secrets I've ever heard of."
Kuwabara, looking pale, looks around their circle. "Who else didn't know?" The only people to raise their hands are Zephyr, Kohaku, Brian, and Anthony. Zephyr because she's never seen the two together, Kohaku because she'd never bothered confirming her guess about the similar scents of the pair, and the last two for obvious reasons. The carrot-top starts getting angry until a pale hand settles on his shoulder.
"Kazuma Kuwabara," Rei soothes, gently pushing him back down again, "Hiei-san did try his best to keep it a secret from everyone, you know. Like with the situation with Genkai-san, all but Yusuke-kun were left to figure it out on their own. And you," she adds with a cheery wrinkling of her nose, "were too busy courting Yukina-chan to pay any attention to what you perceived as chance similarities." Looking over at an Aislin still bemused at the thought of a female Kurama, the ersatz Fate concludes with, "Hello, Aislin-san. Congratulations."
"Thank you."
Giving Kuwabara's shoulder a brief squeeze of reassurance, Rei goes to stand before Hiei with her hips slung at an angle, one fist resting on the higher hip. "Well, porcupine head? Do I get to say I told you so now?"
The upset crimson eyes turn accusatory. "You! You had your hand in this, didn't you?"
An evasive smirk. "Maaaaybe."
Hiei surges onto his feet, Rei taking off with a merry laugh with Hiei in hot pursuit, shouting imprecations at her too dire to repeat in print. The guests from Makai start whistling and cheering, a number of them placing bets on the outcome. Yukina chooses this opportunity to console a depressed Kuwabara, giving him one of her angelic smiles and an apology.
"I'm sorry, Kazuma-kun. I didn't tell anyone that I knew Hiei-kun was my brother. I hope you're not angry with me."
"Nah," the gangly psychic says in a sad voice, "just feelin' pretty outta the loop. That's twice almost everyone but me's known some big secret about our group. If I'm a member of this team, people should tell me what the hell's goin' on so I don't look like such an…an…"
"Oaf?" supplies Hiei, as he and Rei dart past the group. Kuwabara glares at the vanishing back of the kajihenge, but nods.
"Kazuma-kun, you're not an oaf," Yukina chides. "You've got one of the biggest hearts of anyone I've ever met. No one as sweet as you can be considered an oaf, except by maybe someone as grumpy as Hiei-kun."
"He's really your brother, huh?"
"He really is."
Wearing a sheepish expression, Kuwabara gets to his feet, rubbing the back of his neck as a number of odd situations over the past three years are explained. "No wonder he was always glarin' at me when I was around you. He's one of those bullying, protective brothers."
"Yeah, that's about the right way to put it," agrees Aislin. "Since he's going to be occupied with chasing Rei-chan around, Kohaku, why don't you go and finish with the sound-check? I can see…Craig-san, I think you said his name was, waving at you from around the dojo. Kuwabara-kun, Yukina, why don't you go with her? You two might be able to sneak in a dance or two before Hiei gets to play protective beastly brother in public."
Sharing conspiratorial smiles, the trio named link arms and head off to the performance stage, blond human Craig ducking back around the dojo when he sees that Pocky's lead singer is finally coming, and after a moment Kurama gives his wife that Yoko smile of his.
"Another dance sounds like a wonderful idea, koibito. Why don't we introduce your folks to mine and get in a few more dances of our own?"
"Sounds good," chirrups both Aislin and Shimohana, the daughter and mother just looking over at each other and laughing. "It looks like Shiori-san's beaten us to it already, though," the ice-fox adds, pointing off to the left where the human woman is already chatting with a handsome older couple with identical sheets of silver hair—though the male has eyes the color of oxidized copper, and the woman has bright amber ringing her elongated pupils. Like parents need any help finding other parents.
"Better go introduce ourselves, then," Shimohana says gaily, grabbing her own muscular beloved at the wrist and tugging him off to join the conversation. Aislin leans into her mate, a wicked grin blooming.
"Think they'll get along?"
"One would hope," is all Kurama replies, as he leads her off towards the dancing area.
——
The night is in deep swing by the time most of the human guests have gone home, thanks to portals and a few handy memory alterations. The Moors clan didn't bother with going home, yet. They're still chatting with the group of actual Elves that appeared not long after the last of the blissfully-unaware humans left. Most of said Sylvan dwellers are gathered in a loose group with the adults of Aislin's Irish family: the children of both sets are playing the universal game of Tag.
Shiori and Yoko's mother Agate are sharing embarrassing stories about their mutual son's childhoods, the Silver Thief wisely keeping clear of said conversation, and dangerous gold-flecked glares inform his team-members to do the same.
The wolf clans had gotten together and had started a sing-along—an actual sing-along, not howling—at one end of the temple compound, and almost the entire youkai guest list has since shed their illusion charms. Tails, various styles of wings, horns, scales, skins in a rainbow of colors, fangs and claws are everywhere that the fascinated Suiichi looks, and most of them are amused at the human boy's interest. He's gotten a headful of information from the plethora of questions he's asked.
Most of it is even true.
Obsidian is even free to wander around in his real form since not only is Koenma gone, presumably back to Spirit World and stacks of paperwork, but any attempt to arrest him here would bring an outcry from a majority of the remaining guests and a call to arms. Several of the younger vixens have set their caps at winning the handsome renard with sin-dark hair and eyes of molten sunlight, but are either avoided with practiced grace or rebuffed by a possessive she-wolf of fawn hue, amber orbs sparking.
It amuses the adults of his circle to no end, watching Obsidian trail after Suzume like a mortal puppy, a silly grin on his red face when she catches his hand and eventually pulls him to join the sing-along. Zephyr in her form of Ivory laughs too, though her own face heats quickly enough when a dashing, glossy brown renard offers her his own company for the evening.
"Ah, young love," Aislin sighs wistfully, her fingers entwined with Kurama's, the pair watching their kits in their first steps of romance. "Such a wonderful thing, even for those on the business end of it."
"Indeed," a familiar, cultured voice says from not very far away. Both of the youkai gape to see a tall man walking towards them, straight curtain of ebony hair swept back behind a matched pair of horns and tucked behind a set of six willow-leaf ears. "I can remember back when Yoko here discovered the pleasures of the Red Lantern district."
"YOMI?" gasps Aislin in shock, but Kurama recovers quickly enough to counter, "That was lust, not love, and I was a fool back then even as much as you."
"How in the names of the gods did you get through that damned portal?" Aislin demands, walking up to the ruler of a third of Demon World, jabbing him in the chest hard enough to bruise. "I don't recall welcoming you to ruin the celebration."
"I have my ways," is Yomi's evasive, laughing reply. He turns blind eyelids to Kurama, that self-satisfied smirk that makes Aislin want to smash his face curling regal lips. "Besides, do you truly think I'd allow myself to be left out of this kind of party? Don't worry, Winter Rose," the youkai King adds smoothly, sensing the checked anger making jewel eyes shimmer in the threat of violence, "I'm only here to deliver my gift and congratulations, and I'll be on my way back to Makai."
"You'd better be," Kurama grits between clenched teeth. "We bear no love for you anymore, Yomi. Your presence is unwelcome."
"Oh, very well." Pouting, the elegant demon conjures a long, rectangular box from beneath his militarian coat, handing the brightly-wrapped package to a wary Kurama. "Congratulations on your wedding, and whatever blessings I have left to give on you both. Pleasant evening." And he stalks off, gathered punctured dignity around him just as Hiei would in the same situation.
As though the fleeting comparison is a summons, the fire apparition appears at his soul-sister's elbow, cherry orbs wary at the scent of anger hinting on the air. Making a visible effort not to follow her own request, Aislin points in the direction Yomi went. "That four-horned prick from the Stone City was just here. Please go and make sure he gets back where he bloody well belongs."
"My pleasure," growls Hiei, disappearing in a blink. The storm-haired apparition turns back to her beloved, resignation icing over the vibrant color of her eyes.
"Best see what's in it quick so we can be rid of it all the faster."
Nodding in agreement, Kurama suspiciously undoes the silk bow and slits open the paper, revealing a cherry-wood box stamped with a winged horse in gold. A single careful claw pops the simple catch and opens the lid on a real treasure.
In spite of herself, Aislin sucks in her breath at the sight of the crystal blades lying on black velvet, matched dirks with the glassine hilts wrapped in fine blue leather and titanium wire. Both long daggers are carved out of unflawed Dragonice, their own substance the blades, hilts, and pommel stones. But still leery of Yomi's tricks, both pass hands over the entire box, probing for any spells, traps, or charms. Nothing. The crystal is as clean as the day it formed under Makai's mountains.
Reverent, Kurama slips out one blade and angles it to catch the gleam of the paper lanterns strung all over. "This one has your name on it, koishii," he breathes, tilting it so that his beloved can see the delicate runes of her name etched along the blade. "The other has mine."
"His and hers Dragonice daggers," Aislin replies, the bite of her words lessened by faint amusement. "Yomi always did know just what to get us."
Hiei mutters behind her, "Very nice. He left the sheaths with me, the bastard, but he went through the portal." Solid leather sheaths to match the hilts are handed to the fire-apparition's soul sister, accompanied by a ferocious scowl. "Good riddance."
The box, its contents, and the sheaths are quickly tucked away into Kurama's pocket space, old thieves' habits—like guarding any truly valuable loot—dying hard. Sighing as merriment once more returns to his frame, the emerald-eyed fox turns to Aislin and offers her his hand.
"Not much longer until we depart on our honeymoon, my love," he purrs. "Shall we bid good night to the masses and retire?"
A tanned hand on his shoulder distracts him from the willing seduction of his mate. "With all due respect, Yoko-san, perhaps you wish to apply our gift to your purpose, first?" Inazuma points out in diffidence. His mate Nadeshiko stands beside him in her festival finery, a silk-wrapped bundle in her hands whose contents are easily guessed.
The foxes' eyes light up, literally, glowing softly in the dimness. "Wonderful idea, Inazuma-san," Aislin tells him before turning. "I'll go find the children."
"Stay with your besotted fox, snowflake," Hiei advises. "I'll go hunt them down. They're probably over at the sing-along."
A thought occurs to the ice-fox, and she stops him with a gesture. "Take your time. If my beloved and I are to go tramping through the forest, as we shall if we want any kind of seclusion at all, then I for one am getting out of my finery."
"And the foxlings?"
Kurama is the one who answers as he and Aislin head for the living area of the temple. "They changed back into street clothes a few hours ago. No worries about them."
"Oh, no, of course not," mutters Hiei savagely under his breath, heading for the source of such cheery noise. "Just a power-mad fool with deep pockets, extensive connections, and a grudge. That's not mentioning the entire damned Spirit World hunting for them. Oh, no, no worries at all."
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Dragonice: A particularly rare kind of crystal that grows only in a restricted area of the sixth-level Makai's Draco Illuminous mountains. Take a hiruiseki and multiply its worth by about a thousand. That's for a single-ounce piece, unflawed.