Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho or it's characters. I do own Angela.
AN-I think 'off the shoulder' is what you call a shirt or dress where the sleeves leave the shoulders bare. CrazyOtaku, sorry but I'm borrowing the chinese dress get up.
REVISED AN: I fixed the little detail where I had accidentally placed Genkai's shrin close to the city where they didn't have to use the train. Now the train is and that problem is fixed.
Legend:
Music
Noise
-Telepathy-
-Thought-
/Flashbacks/
/Visions/Dreams/
Chapter Thirteen
The next day, the girls gathered Yusuke, Hiei, Kurama, Kuwabara and Koenma, who Botan had to fly in, and took them shopping.
"Isn't the word 'shopping' another word for 'torture' to men?" Yusuke said as they walked into a tux store.
"Shut up, it's very important that you're properly attired for the ball. A tux is mandatory for men and women must dress in nice evening gowns," Shizuru said as tailors came over to measure the men.
"Hm...we might have something that might fit you after some tailoring," one of the women said, measuring Hiei.
Another looked at Shizuru. "Can there be other colors or is it just black?"
"Black only," Shizuru answered.
"That makes our job alot easier." She smiled at the men. "It's almost as if they have no choice in what they're going to wear."
"Not really," Shizuru agreed.
Angela saw Hiei's face as he was remeasured. She giggled. "Hiei, it looks as if your in pain," she said. Hiei just glared at her.
"Hey now! Don't get frisky!" Yusuke said as a seamstress measured his leg.
"How long will this take?" Kurama asked politely. "Because there's a science meeting at 4:00."
"Oh you'll be done be then," his tailor said.
Soon the guys were trying on their tuxidos. The girls clapped as they came out of the dressing rooms.
"Hey! Why is it okay for you to see us in our suits before the ball, but not for us to see you?" Yusuke asked.
"Because we need to make sure your suits fit," Shizuru said. "Besides, it's usually the way it is." Yusuke rolled his eyes.
"Well what do you think Yukina? Do I look handsom honey?" Kuwabara asked, posing.
Yukina laughed. "Yes you do dear."
"Alright, I guess you're good. Now how much will it be?" Shizuru asked the tailors.
When they got home the guys put there suits away and the girls readied the training room, turning it into a dance room. When the guys came in Yukina took Kuwabara, though he already knew how to dance thanks to their wedding, Shizuru took Koenma, Botan took Yusuke and Angela took Hiei.
"Well now, time for your dance lesson," Shizuru said.
Angela smirked and leaned towards Hiei. "It's also another term for 'torture' for men." Hiei just looked at her.
"Now, take the girl's hand like this and put your other hand on her hip..." Shizuru started.
For three hours the men were taught to dance to slow songs, to moderately fast songs and the waltz. Yukina had to stop early, saying that she had to make dinner. As they danced, the DT gang cheered and booed the learners. At one point Shizuru threatened to 'teach' them if they didn't quiet down.
For the next few days Angela trained with Touya. Touya was surprised to find that the phrase 'quick learner' was an understatement when it came to Angela. By the third day she had nearly mastered ice and water.
"My, your training with Kurama, Hiei, and Jin has prepared you for learning anything," he said at the end of the third day. "The only thing I had to teach you was how to control ice and water seperately and together."
Angela laughed. "Well, this was the trickiest element so far, since it came in two types. But you're a good teacher," she complimented him, smiling.
Touya looked at her. -Jin did warn me. She's a heart breaker. And I doubt she realizes it,- he thought.
"Hey, now that you and Jin have finished training me, are you all going to leave?" she asked.
Touya shook his head, quickly thinking about what to say to her. "Ah, nah. We're on vacation for now. We'll stay awhile longer." He couldn't say that they were here for added protection in case the shadow creatures came to attack her again.
"That's cool," she said as she stretched and yawned. "Well, I'm gonna eat then I'll tuck in early. Big day tomorrow."
She went into the kitchen to find Botan and Shizuru hugging Yukina. Yukina smiled at her. "I'm pregnant!"
"That's great!" Angela said as she too hugged Yukina. "When you gonna tell everyone?"
Yukina thought about it. "I think I'll make a big dinner next Saturday and announce it then," she said at last.
"Well, kidos, let's eat then hit the sack, big day tomorrow," Shizuru said.
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The next day the girls kicked the guys out while they got ready. Each girl took their turn in the shower, after three hours and one hour spent dying Angela's hair, they were done. Then they took their turns at the mirror, putting on their make up. Several times they washed their faces and put on different make up, after two hours they were happy. Then they helped style each other's hair. After an hour and a half of styling, each had their own unique style. Then they ran around gathering up jewelry and trinkets, trying on this and that until they had the jewelry that they wanted. Finally seven hours after they started getting ready, they were ready to get dressed. After they put on panty hoses and bras that would go under their dresses, they carefully put on the dresses. They each had their turn in the full length mirror. Then it was a rush to exchange jewelry. After another hour, they were finally ready to present themselves.
"Man, how long does it take to put on a dress?" Yusuke asked as he, Kuwabara, Kurama, Hiei, and Koenma waited in the training room.
Kuwabara laughed. "Man, they don't just put on a dress. They do all sorts of other stuff. This is normal. Shizuru's company has invited us to several occassions that required dressiness. They spend half the day getting ready. Though not this long. I guess it's because it's four girls instead of two."
"Jin!" They heard one of the girls yell.
In zipped Jin, smiling and ears wiggling. "Wowwee. Now that was a sight fer sore eyes, I'll tell ya that fer sure." He looked behind himself, then looked back, still smiling. "You boys are in for a nice treat. I think you're 'bout to get that show you were wantin' Yusuke."
In walked Yukina. She was dressed in a soft blue dress with spagetti straps, a princess cut neckline and a knee length hem line. Her hair was fashioned into three french braids, one in the middle of her hair and one on each side. The braids ended just before the back of her head, letting her hair fall in slightly curly waves down her back. Two pearl barrettes were placed at the start of the two braids on the side of her head. She wore two hanging pearl earings, a small silver choker with a pearl pendant and a silver pearl bracelet, a set that Kuwabara had giving her as an anniversary present one year. Her make up was done in soft shades of blue and pink around her eyes, light pink for her cheeks and lips, and white for her nails.
Kuwabara about cried as he took Yukina's hands in his own and kissed her lightly. "Beautiful!" he whispered. All the guys clapped loudly.
Next came Shizuru. She wore a black, off the shoulder dress that ended mid thigh. Most of her hair was in a bun at the back of her head, a hand full of bangs were curled over the left side of her face. The only jewelry she wore was a black necklace and black bracelet. Her make up was done in the neutral shades of soft brown and soft red and her nails were a burgundy red.
As the others clapped, mostly because of the glare Shizuru gave them, Kuwabara braved a comment. "Hey, sis, just 'cuz you aren't trying to impress one of us doesn't mean you shouldn't dress up."
That deserved him a slap against the head. "For your information, we girls have our own taste of style! And this is my taste!"
Botan came in next. She got several wide eyed stares. Like Yukina she went for light blue. But they're dresses were totaly different. Botan had on a chinese style dress that buttoned at her left shoulder, with a calf length hem line and a slit in the side starting at her upper thigh. It had light pink decoration and a light pink lining. Her only jewelry was a pair of pink earings. Her hair was in a bun on the left side of the back of her head with curly hair tumbling out of the middle of the bun. Her make up was done in varying shades of pink with light pink nails. The boys just gawked. They'd never seen Botan this way.
"Well..." Botan prompted.
Kurama was the first to recover. "Your outstanding..."
Botan blushed. "Thank you."
Finally Angela came in. She also got wide eyed stares, Hiei's eyes were the ones to widen the most, and slacked jaws. She wore a floor length dark green dress with three inch wide sleeves and a deep v-shaped neckline. It was form fitting until it reached her hip were it fell straight down to her ankles. For jewelry, she had a black steel chocker with a small rose pendent, matching rose earrings, along with a small stud Hear-Ring in her upper cartilage, and a matching black steel bracelet with small roses. Her hair, redyed midnight black, was pulled up into a large black clip with rose decorations, a few inches of hair that tufted out of the top of the clip were moussed to be spikey. Like Shizuru, she had a fall of straight hair flipping from the left side of her head to fall over the right side, the ends moussed spikey. Her make up was done in soft pink and dark green for her eyes, rose for her cheeks, deep pink for her lips and nails.
"Wow..." was all Yusuke could say.
Hiei just nodded, he was speechless as were the rest of the men. -She's beautiful...-
"What'd I tell ya?" Jin said, grinning.
Shizuru rolled her eyes. "C'mon girls, guys. Lets get our shoes, purses and jackets and leave."
Yukina's shoes were lowheeled light blue and she had a small light blue hand bag. Shizuru had black high heels and a black thin strapped purse. Botan's shoes were light pink high heels and her purse was short handled and light pink with light blue stitching. Angela's shoes were low heeled dark green and her small dark green purse had a long thin strap and an embroidered rose in the middle.
"Uh...girls..." Yusuke said as he stared at their feet. "Aren't you going to have a hard time going down the stairs?"
Kuawabara nodded. "And what about the jackets, your jackets won't look very good on your dresses."
"Baby brother, how man times have I invited you and Yukina to a dressy party?" Shizuru asked. She didn't let him answer. "You should know by now that we get matching dress coats." She walked over to the rack that usually held their jackets, but now held four black plastic bags. She carried them back and handed one to each girl, keeping one for herself.
In a few minutes they had their jackets on. Yukina was wearing a light blue coat that went a few inches lower than her dress. Shizuru was wearing a long black jacket with fur on the wide collar. Botan had a waist length light pink jacket with light blue decoration and lining styled like her chinese dress. Angela was wearing a knee length dark green coat with rose buttons.
"Well, at least three slightly frozen dates are better than none. Botan, why do you have a light jacket, I know it's almost spring, but it's still cold out there," Koenma said. Botan glared at him.
"Yeah, and you still haven't said anything about going down the stairs," Yusuke said again.
Angela laughed. "We thought that would be obvious. You guys are going to carry us down."
"What! Ah man, and I thought going to a ball was supposed to be fun." Yusuke scratched his head, "Well then, who's carrying who? I know Kuwabara will carry Yukina, but what about the rest of you?"
"Simple," Shizuru said. "We're going in pairs, though one man will be left out. Sorry Koenma."
"What? Why me?"
"Look at it this way, Yusuke, Kazuma, Kurama, and Hiei are the only men in this group that I can count on that won't drop one of us," Shizuru said. Koenma thought about it. Shizuru then went on to assign partners. "Now, Hiei you have Angela, since she'll be your date since you two are close to the same height, and Kurama you've got Botan. Yusuke would you be so kind to help me down the stairs?" Shizuru asked.
Yusuke nodded, looking resigned to his fate. Kurama and Hiei looked to each other, then to their dates. Botan was slightly turning pink while Angela was 'tickled pink' by the looks on the boys faces. She stuck out her arms as the others started to leave. "Well, date. Are you going to pick me up or just stare dumbfounded?"
Hiei picked her up. Carrying her bridal style he started walking down the long stair case, all the while thinking, -This was a set up, I could tell by the sly looks Yusuke, Koenma and Shizuru passed to each other. Conniving...- He bad mouthed the trio all the way down the steps, though it wasn't because he was going with Angela, it was because of the way he got paired up with her, like it wasn't even his choice.
As the others left Kurama stared at Botan. "Ahem. I think it's time for dinner." Suzuka said, half smiling. "Come on guys." The DT gang left for the kitchen, leaving Kurama and Botan by themselves.
Botan blushed a little more. -Why am I blushing so much? I mean this is Kurama we're talking about. It's not as if there's a handsom prince standing in front of me. Well...Kurama is handsom, but he's just a friend, right? But why is he looking at me that way?- Botan thought to herself, blushing even more.
Kurama watched Botan's face go redder. -This was unexpected. I was sure Shizuru would have paired Yusuke with Botan. Why did she pair me with Botan? It's not that I don't want to be with Botan. In fact, I'm pleased to be with her.- Kurama's eyes slightly widened. -What am I thinking? She's just a friend! Right?-
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As Yusuke carried Shizuru, she looked up the steps. Seeing that only Kuwabara, carrying Yukina, and Koenma were in sight, she laughed. "Great plan Yusuke, Koenma!" she said.
"Uh, what plan?" Kuwabara asked.
Yusuke smiled. "Let's just say that me, Koenma and Shizuru are playing match maker. We knew that Hiei and Angela would never have willingly paired up, she's too shy and he's too stubborn and prideful. And Kurama needs to start a relationship, he's been a bachelor too long."
Koenma nodded. "And I have a feeling that Botan has a thing for him," he said.
Kuwabara thought for a second. "But I thought you liked Angela?" Kuwabara asked Yusuke.
A sad look came into Yusuke's eyes. He was quiet for a moment. "Yeah, but I don't think we were really meant for each other. I think she and Hiei are meant to be together. He needs her and I think she needs him."
Koenma spoke up, "But what about Mukuro? I thought that she..." Koenma then stopped when he became aware that Hiei and Angela had caught up with them.
"Who's Mukuro?" Angela asked. Everyone paused, unsure of what to say.
-If were not careful, she may get the idea that Hiei's taken.- Yusuke worried.
Hiei glared at the others. -What do I tell her now? If I say the wrong thing she'll think Mukuro and I are an 'item' like everyone says...Wait, why do I care what she thinks?- Hiei thought for a moment, trying to decide what to say.
As he started to open his mouth, Kurama caught up with them, carrying a blushing Botan. "Why are we standing here?" Kurama asked. "I thought you wanted to get there early Shizuru?"
Shizuru looked at Yusuke's watch. "Holy shit! We need to move it!" Shizuru said. Hiei sighed inwardly as they started down the steps again.
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After they got off the train that they were forced to commute to get from the shrine to town they found a limo waiting for them.
"The company likes for it's employees to show up in style," Shizuru said as they piled into the limo.
Angela looked at Shizuru. "I've never asked but what do you do?"
"I'm an accountant for a company. Not the most exciting job but it pays good. Had to go back to school to land it, though," Shizuru said.
-School...- Angela thought. What Shizuru said about going back to school reminded Angela of how much school she had missed. -I've been here for about five months now, how long will I have to stay here? And has my double stayed in school, or has it dropped out? When I get back what will my life be like?- She was deep in thought as the others chatted around her.
The only one to notice her sad look was Hiei. -She acts like she's adjusted well to her new life. But I know she still mourns her old life. I've seen her many times crying in her garden. Will she ever be truly happy?- Hiei thought.
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"Wow..." Angela said as the door man took their coats and purses. "The last time I saw this many formal dresses and tux's was at my junior and senior prom." She looked around and whistled. "Look at all the jewelry their wearing. Man, I've only seen this much gold and diamonds on the TV for the music and movie awards." Yusuke laughed at her wide eyes.
Shizuru shrugged. "The employees think of these parties as a way to show off their money." She shrugged again. "Time to go make pleasantries."
After Shizuru introduced them to the 'important' people, she let them off on their own as she went to dance with a tall dark haired man.
"Well, I guess I'll get some punch. Maybe we'll dance later," Angela said to Hiei. He 'hn'd, watching her head to the refreshment table.
Yusuke nudged him, "Just some advice," he whispered. "It pleases the girl very much to be asked to dance, instead of the other way around." He laughed as Hiei gave him a glare. Yusuke looked to Kurama to find he'd already asked Botan to dance.
Koenma came up to Yusuke. "I can tell that she's absolutely thrilled," he said.
Yusuke nodded. "Yep, and Kurama looks very pleased. I'd say that's a good match."
Hiei glared at Yusuke. "So it was set up," he accused.
Yusuke put his hand behind his head. "Well...I knew you'd never ask Angela, and Angela's too shy. And as for Kurama, well I think it'll do him good."
"And just what gave you the idea to pair me with Angela?"
Yusuke laughed. "C'mon Hiei, your transparent. We all can tell that you like Angela. Why don't you admit it?"
Hiei glared at him, then went to help Angela with the drinks.
"Man, he's stubborn," Koenma said. Yusuke nodded.
As Hiei helped Angela he thought about what Yusuke said. -I'm transparent? I like Angela? Do I? Why do I ask myself these questions? How is it that everyone is so sure of how I feel for Angela?- He looked at Angela, remembering what he thought when she came into the training room. He had never thought about things like that before. He'd never been interested in women much, sure he'd had a few, but he'd never thought about them the way he thought about Angela. They were mostly one night stands, and he never really thought about their looks much. Yes, he was like any other man and was attracted to sexy women, but what he had just thought about Angela was more than a comment on her looks. He wasn't sure what all he meant when he thought about her being beautiful. As he had looked at her in the training room, he felt those confusing feelings rise in him again. As he looked at her now, those same feelings came back. He thought about what Yusuke said about asking the girl to dance. He looked at her eyes. The sadness he had seen in the limo was still there. He thought -Why do I want to make her happy?-
He cleared his voice as an energetic song started and asked "Do you want to dance?" He had seen her start to fidget when the song came on.
Angela looked closely at him. -Did he just ask what I think he did?- It didn't take her long to say 'yes'. As they twirled across the floor, Angela's eyes lit up with happiness. Hiei's heart oddly lifted as he heard her laugh as he spun her around. They continued to dance the next two songs, another fast one then a slow one.
As they danced close Angela said, "One of my favorite things is to dance. Thank you." Hiei looked into her happy eyes, and Angela looked right back. She felt her heart skip a beat. -Why do I feel like this for him? What if he doesn't feel the same? And what if he does? Why does he look at me that way? Does he know that my heart nearly melts when he looks at me this way? Am I brave enough to tell him? Am I brave enough to...- she thought, staring into his eyes.
Hiei thought about what he felt for this woman. -Is it love? Do I care for her? Is that what these feelings are? Why did my heart jump when she laughed happily? Is it possible...- As he stared into her emerald eyes he leaned close. As she stared into his eyes, Angela felt an intense emotion and followed her instinct and leaned towards him.