Chapter 18: Life in the Stressful Fast Lane

Within a snap of the fingers the summer had escaped like that. Briar and Kurama arrived him from their "beached" honeymoon to find everyone passed out around the apartment. Jin was sleeping on the kitchen floor, for some reason, while Sakura was found half in a recliner, upside-down. Hiei was the only one awake when the two walked in.

"Morning, Hiei." Kurama greeted as he looked at the over-all clean apartment.

"Yeah. Morning." He grunted, searching the apartment for something.

Briar noticed this and brought it to attention. "Hiei? What are you looking for?"

"Kura's ring... I don't know where it is." He moved Sakura over a little without disturbing her.

".. Did you look in Kura-kins' room?" Kurama asked and then he walked into his own room.

Hiei sighed then traveld back into his lover's room. where he almost instantly found the necklace with the ring he had been searching for. He put it around his neck and made his way back into the living room.

"So," Briar grinned. "Where's Strawberry Shortcake?"

He shrugged, clearly lying. He sat down on the couch. I'm utterly worn out and tired, He thought. But, why?

"Maybe it's because you haven't slept in days." Kurama suggested as he walked out of his room and sat down beside of his friend.

"How would you know if I haven't slept in days?"

"All I had to do was call Kura. She told me you've been having trouble sleeping. She also said you wake up ever hour.- What's bothering you?" Kurama could sense something wrong within his frien even with out Kura alerting him.

Hiei sighed, slightyl annoyed. "I'm stressed. That's all."

"Aawww," Briar began offering her thoughts. "Hiei. What's there to be stressful about?"

"Everything." He closed his eyes to answer.

"okay... Why don't you find Kura and try to get some sleep?" Kurama was beginning to worry about hi freind, yet he knew Hiei wouldn't let him help; that was just how Hiei was. In truth, he was beginning to lighten up, slightly.

"I don't know where she is, in here." His voice was filled with annoyance as he pryed his eyes open to narrow them at Kurama.

"She was in my room for some reason, but I moved her into hers.- I'll grant you both a day off. Not a thing nor a person will disturb you. I swear."

"Fine. Whatever." Hiei quickly exited, and closed the door to Kura's room once he was inside.

"What do you think is bothering him so much?" Briar asked, still standing against the wall beside of the door.

"My guess is... it's probably the fact that he's starting ot realize his future and fate are set."

"Meaning?" She took curiosity with her husband's words.

"Meaning that he's going through a transition from fre and slightly 'wild', to responsible and tamed."

"Ah. Yes. Now, I know what you're speaking of." She nodded. "You're also saying that Kura acts as a calm for him, right?"

"Exactly, my love."

"But," She sat down beside of him. "I still don't understand why he's so stressed out, if he wasn't lying."
"It's just because hes making a number of huge changes and he thinks he can't handle them."

"You read people well, my Kurama-chan."

"Well, it's not only me."
"You mean... some of that advice and counseling was from your sister?- You sneaky demon, you!"

He put on one of his chamring smiles. "Thank you. And, yes. She did have soemthing to do with my short speech."

"So, she's growing smarter than you?"

"I hope not." He joked.

Finally, around two o'clock in the afternoon Sakura and Jin awoke from their odd sleeping states. "Oh You're back!" Sakura yawned, upon seeing her sister and brother-in-law.

"Yes. We've been home for some time now." Kurama added after he sipped some of his warm tea.

"How long?" Jin inquiered, sitting under the window after entering the living room.

".. about 4 or 5 hours." Briar called from the kitchen.

"Oh, and you didn't wake us?" Sakura yawned again.

"No. We assumed you'd be greatly upset if we disturbed you from your slumber."

"Yeah, yeah." She rolled her eyes. "Where's Kura and Hiei-kins?"

"Sleeping."
"Why?"

"I gave them the day off." He answered.

"Why?" She asked once more.

"Hiei hasn't been sleeping well, as Kura has told me."

Sakra contemplated within herself for a moent. That's odd... They always seem to go to sleep.- OH! I know what K-chan is talking about! She told me how Hiei wakes up every hour: no getting a decent amount of sleep! "Oh, yeah!"

"She told you, too?" His green eyes floated to his sister-in-law. She nodded, and he blinked once. "Tell, Sakura. What is your view on the situation? I mean, Kura is your sister-in-law and Hiei is soon-to-be related to you, distantly."

"Well.. I just think they wear themselves out, trying to take care of everyone else."

"I've noticed that, too! Like," Briar's ears perked up. "Whenever we all go places! They're usually the last ot get to sleep, for they're makign sure everyone else is where they're supposed to be! It's quite cute, and very responsible!"

"Responsibiliy.. Heh.." sakura gigglged at the throught of her own.

"Oh, Sakura!" Briar couldn't help but laugh.

"Well," Sakura rose to her feet, feeling a burst of energy. "I believe I'm going ot go... and have a fun jump or five!" Quickly, with out a person to stop her, she dashed out of sight.

"Oh, lordy." Jin yawned, stretching his arms out full span.

The thing they heard was Hiei yelling a loud stream of curses at Sakura, while then angrily following afer her- out of the room. He came out with nothing but his pants on; Kura was clinging to his neck with one arm and holding a blanket around her with her free hand. "Hiei! Stop! She was just playing around!" Sakura jumped into Jin's lap. "Save me!"

Hiei, half asleep and half pissed off, growled, "Everytime! EVERYTIME! Every damn time I try to get sleep someone has to piss me off, keeping me from sleeping!" He stood still, narrowing his eyes, with anger, towards Sakura- who was trying to hide form him in Jin's arms.

"Hiei!" Kura held onto the edges of her blanket. "Please! Just go back ot bed! I promise that there will be no more distractions! Okay, Hiei- chan?"

He looked at her, then to Sakura, and back to Kura gain. He nodded, placed a kiss on her lips, and then left the atmosphere to return to dormancy.

Kura sighed, "Sorry, Sa'!"

"Oh, it's okay!" She grinned, kissing Jin on the lips once. "I like pissing Hiei off, sometimes!"

Briar cleared her throat, giggled, then rolled her eyes. "Sakura, you're such a dork. One of these days, Hiei is going to end up nearly killing you for you persturing antics."

"Yeah, yeah. So you all tell me."

Kura tried to sneak away from her friends, but her brother instantly caught her with, "Are you comfortable in whatever you're wearing under your comfortable blanket, hm?"

She grinned. "Maybe…"

".. Just go and change."
"Thanks, bro'!" Quickly, Kura headed into her room, somehow not disturbing Hiei-chan, got dressed, and came back out in pants and a tank top: both black. "Sorry, guys! I was really comfortable in my 'sleep wear'."

Sakura and Briar giggled with each other. "Sleep wear? Don't you mean your underwear! HAHA!" They continued to laugh in unison.

Kura's cheeks turned red. "Sh-sh-shut up, you guys!- And, even Kurama's laughing! W-T-F?"

Jin had joined in, also.

"Very funny, guys." Kura's cheeks were still slightly pink. "So, what's on the agenda today?"

Briar and Kruama exchanged looks, then Kurama answered, "You're coming with me, and Sakura's going with Briar."

"To do what?" Sakura sat up, still in Jin's lap.

"Oh, dear sister. 'Tis time for another bonding outing for us." Briar grinned.

"That means," Kura and Sakura exchanged looks. "We've done something."

"No necessarily." Kurama commented.

"Kurama-kun!" Sakura rolled her eyes. "You guys only want to talk to us if we've done something wrong."
"Sometimes." Her sister giggled. Yet, the only one who might return unhappy is Kura. Kurama has some quite… 'bad' news for her. Briar said to herself, inside of her head.

Sakrua looked at her sister in attempt to figure out what she was thinking, but it was another failed attempt of hers. Oh, how I hate when sibling bonding time occurs. Oh, how Koenma must be laughing his ass of at me.

Kurama couldn't help but to laugh at the thought he heard: Sakura's thought. He received looks from everyone sitting around him. "Sorry. Just a random fit of laughter."
Kura 'whispered' to the other three, "Don't mind him. He has terretts!"

Briar looked back at her husband, but couldn't hold back her laughter. Sakura and Jin were laughing once more. Kura innocently smiled towards her big brother. "My b', m y b'."

"Yes, well…" He tried to remain reserved by taking another sip of his herbal tea. ".. you just remember how awful you treat me."

"OH, 'how awful I treat you'?" She laughed. "You're full of it."

He smirked, only joking. "Thank you."

Jin stood up. "I think I'm gonna go back ta Demon World, an' check up on everyone.. I'll see you-" He exchanged kisses with Sakura. "-lata- I'll pro-lly see you guys tomorrow. Bai!" Jin left, and then there were four.

"Mesa thinks mesa should be allowed tosa go with hesa." Sakura tried, attempting to escape the grasp of 'bonding time'.

"Well, mesa say no." Briar momentarily converted to "Jar-Jar-Sakura" language. "I think I just lost ten I.Q. points.

"Oh! Leave Sa' alone! Shesa bes special like that!" Kura threw the pillow from her chair at Briar.

"Shouldn't you be in your room with Hiei, or something?"
"Doing what, might I ask."

"Anything. Staring and oogling over him. Cuddling with him…"

"Okay, Briar. You can stop now." Kura knew Briar was right, but she decided to let Hiei have his rest.

Sakura giggled again. She felt as though she was in a great state of euphoria.

"Hyper much, Sa?" Briar asked even though she was getting a kick out of her sister's high-like actions.

"Oh, yes yes."

"Oh, that's not good." Kura could foresee her friend's hyper behavior ending up with some form of yelling or clean up.

"So, Sakura!" Kura began, in attempt to lead her friend's minds off of her normal, 'evil' plotting-ways. "--- When's the wedding gonna be? I mean, we've only a few weeks until school starts again."
"Good job." Sakrua sarcastically "thanked" Kura for bringing both subjects up. "Um.. I don't know!- Lordy, why do I have to think about this now?-- It's a G-R-E-A-T day! We-- as in Kura and I- should be out, doing something FUN!"

"Then go!" Briar shouted, still giggling.

Kura rolled her eyes. "Sakura… Are we going to do anything or not?-- If we're not, I'm----" She raised herself out of her seat and begun on her way back to her room, but her brother grabbed her wrist and pulled her onto the couch. "Hey! NOT FAIR!"

"Oh, dear sister. You're fully mistaken if you think you're going to be allowed to go back to bed." He ruffled her hair.

"I wasn't going back to bed! I was going to go and cuddle with Hiei!"

"Nope! You're not allowed!" She said, allowing her to get up.

"Pft. Fine! But can you and I do whatever we're going to do? I wanna be here when my Hiei-chan wakes up!"

"Oh," Briar and Sakura began together. "How kawaii!"

"Shoosh."
"Alright! Alright!" Kurama stood up. "We'll go."

'Woopee!" Kura jumped for joy. "I'll be outside!- See you two later! Call my cell if Hiei wakes up before I get back!" She put her shoes on, grabbed her hoodie, then stepped outside. She waited for her big brother on the front lawn.

"Don't upset her too much, Kurama-chan!" Briar kissed him on the lips.

"I'll try not to, Briar-chan." He returned the kiss.

"I'm so confused. What are you guys talking about?" Sakura asked, over-hearing what they had said.

"I'll tell you when we go out, or maybe when we're 'baby sitting' Hiei-kins!" Briar said, just after Kurama left.

"So, onii-san," Kura rested her hands in the pocket of her black hoodie as they strolled down the street. "What's up?'

Oh. This is going to yield tears. I can feel it. He cleared his throat, "Well, mei-mei… Briar and I were talking the other day."

"About?" Kura began to become suspicious of him.

"… About yourself and Hiei." He admitted.

"What about us?"

"…" His eyes shifted away from her. ".. about the living arrangements., at the apartment."

Kura was drawing a blank. "Wh-what about them?"

"Well," Finally, Kurama looked back to her. "Briar and I don't think it's appropriate that you two are sleeping in the same bed at night is--"

"Oh! But it's okay if you and Briar could before you guys were married?- Kurama! This isn't fair!" Krua was already over-reacting.

"Calm down! We just.. it's.. Kura! You two aren't anywhere near getting married, are you?"

".. Who cares!"

"I don't want anything to happen that might screw up your relationship!"

"And?" She crossed her arms at her chest. "What would that thing be?'

Before answering he looked into her eyes. "A child."

She couldn't believe what her brother had said. Her mouth dropped open. "What is wrong with you?"

"Look," He had had enough Mister Nice Guy. His voice went a little darker and his facial expression had grown more serious. "well all know that you two just don't sleep in that room, Kura."

Still speechless, her eyes began to burn with tears while listening to the truth he was spilling out.

"You know something's going to happen if you don't take more caution! I think it's best if--"

"Shut up! SHUT UP!" She yelled, then her voice went to a whisper. "If you want us out… We'll leave, Kurama. Spare me the BS!"

"We don't want you to-"

"'WE' don't, but you do!" Fed up, Kura began back to the apartment.

Kurama sighed, "I knew this would happen!" He quickly caught up with her, grabbed her arm and brought her to stop. He forced her around to face him. "Listen to me Kura!"

"Why should I?"

"Because! I'm your brother and I say you have to!"

"Those aren't good enough grounds for me to be listening to you!" She stared at him.

"Just listen! Either you and Hiei get married… or chill out on the same-bed sleeping arrangements. That's all." He let go of her in hopes that she'd listen to him.

She shook her head. "Just.. leave me alone for a while."

"Calm down now, and I will."

She gave up. "Fine!"

"But, you're not going home. We're going to finish our walk." Kurama and Kura began on their walk again. This time it was quiet, and Kura didn't look at Kurama once. When they passed the park, a few of their friends form school noticed them. Kurama had to force Kura over there. Among those friends were 2 boys who were friends of Kura's, and 4 girls who- of course- fancied Kurama.

After the meeting, Kura and her brother began heading back to the apartment.

"Why did you do that?" She glared angrily while she slowly walked up to the door.

"You didn't need to be rude." He warned.

"Well, I didn't want to talk to Tomi and Nao for a reason."

"And what was that reason?"

"… what do you think?" She pulled the door open and walked inside, discovering her best friend and her sister-in-law were sitting in the living room playing cards.

Kurama filed in after her. "We're back."

"Welcome back!" Briar smiled pacing her hand of cards on the coffee table.

Sakura put her cards down also. "Welcome back, Kura-chan!"

"Thanks, Sakura." She forced a smile.

"What's wrong?'

"My brother."

"Oh." Sakura knew what she was talking about now. "Hiei doesn't know, just to let you know."

"Oh great!" Kura removed her shoes. "Is he awake yet?"

"He woke up a few moments ago, then went back into your room." Briar informed her. She settled into her husband's arms as he joined her on the couch.

"Oh. Okay.- Does his majesty still prevent me from seeing my love? Still?" She asked sarcastically.

"Just go." He told her.

"Kurama…" Sakura began once Kura was gone into her room. "What exactly did you tell her?"

"Just that she shouldn't be sleeping in the same bed unless they were married." He said simply.

"Oh. THAT really would piss a girl off- I mean! Being told that--- about ANYONE. Not just Hiei- ew." Sakura shuddered.

Briar couldn't prevent laughter. "Sorry." She apologized after she received looks from her husband and her sister.

"Well," Kurama stood up. "I', going to take a shower."

"Where ya goin' tonight? Got a hot date?" Sakura joked, but Kurama didn't answer her.

"Well.. for Krua- hopefully- Hiei is the only one she would be upset about 'loosing' his company, I guess you could say." Briar pointed out.

"hey!" Sakura shot her older sister a glare. "You! Shoosh!" Then, she thought about something. What if Sakura and Kura had never fallen in love with Jin!

She had spaced out for a few moments, then her sister caught her attention. "You okay?"
"Oh.. um.. I as just thinking about how it would've been if Kura and I had never fallen in love with Hiei or Jin."

Briar thought for a moment. Her husband walked back into the room (already taken his shower, apparently) and said something like, "It would be normal around here! That's what it would be like." And she laughed along.

"You're so mean, Kurama!" Sakura narrowed her eyes. Then, she heard a noise coming form Kura's room. Not knowing what exactly the noise was, she stood up. She heard it again. It sounded like something breaking and a scream.

Kurama and Briar stood up as well. "what was that?" Briar asked.

"I don't know, but I'm going to find out." Kurama advanced toward Kura's room. He busted into the room and set his eyes on his baby sister who was sitting in the corner in a ball. Shards of glass lay at her feet as she cried softly into her own arms. Hiei had fallen weak in his knees and sat back on the edge of the bed. He kept his eyes on his lover. "What happened in here?" Kurama asked.

".. I.. she…" Hiei was unable to speak.
"It… it was me." Krua confessed through her sobs. "I just… can't, Kurama. I can't sleep without Hiei by me. I can barely live without him!"

Hiei barely had any clue of what she was going on about. He looked to Kurama who had shut his eyes. He was shaking his head. "I'm sorry, but… what I said goes."

She lifted her head. "No. NO. You aren't bossing me around anymore!" Tears stained her cheeks. She glanced up at the broken window. "I'm not going to listen to you, just because mom and dad aren't around anymore!" She started to get up, and Hiei quickly went to her aid. "Be careful." He whispered speaking about the glass.

Kurama looked at her, unbelieving of what she'd just said to him. By now, Briar and Sakura were at the door. "Whatever, dear sister." Kurama said, in a slightly unstable tone. "If you want to screw up something great that you have now-" His voice became louder, but Hiei cut him off.

"That's enough Kurama! Let her be!"

"Yeah Kurama! You're being really unfair!" Sakura broke out.

He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Alright," He sighed. "If that's the way you feel.- What about my wife? What does she feel?"

Briar gulped. "well.. it does seem quite unfair."

Upon hearing her thought, he pushed passed the two int eh door way and into his own room.

"Are you guys okay?" Sakura questioned Hiei and Kura as they sat on the bed.

"Yeah. Don't worry about us." Hiei answered for the two.

"Well..." Sakura sighed. "Take care of her! I'm going to go and hang out with Jin.- Make sure she gets a good night's sleep! And, you need to, too, Hiei!- See ya." She walked out of the room, put her shoes back on, and then left the Human World to go and reunite with Jin in the Demon World.

The next week was full of passing each other with hateful glares, silence in the apartment, and very little movement outside of the bedrooms. Sakura stayed with Jin at her house where Kuronue had no problem putting them to work. Kura and Hiei either stayed in Kura's room or on the roof with each other. Kurama and Briar moved slightly more freely around the apartment.

Kurama stood on the balcony thinking to himself. Briar joined him and asked, "How much long with this protest continue?"

Kurama shrugged. "It'll stop whenever she wants it to stop."

"Kurama-chan," Briar rested her hand on his shoulder reassuringly. "You have your life, and she has hers. You have your way of thinking, and she has hers.- She's grown up enough to make her own decisions."

He knew his wife was right. He should just give up. He can't boss his sister around forever, though he felt it was in her best interests. He sighed, "I know."

"You can't do this anymore." She kissed him once. "You know, I kind of miss her and Hiei... I know they're still here. It's just their actions and hilarious verbal arguments I miss." She giggled and then walked inside.

Sakura and Jin had told no one (save Kuronue) about the "surprise" they had for everyone.

That Saturday, everyone of their (good) friends gathered in the Spirit World. They had been instructed to wear "semi-formal" clothes, and meet in the Ball Room at 2:00 PM in the Imperial Palace.

Just as requested, everyone showed up looking nice. Kura and Hiei were the last ones to arrive. Kura wore a white, long-sleeved shirt, a black vest, a red neck tie, and some black jeans. Hiei was in his regular all-black attire. Briar was in a nice light blue shirt and a white skirt. Kurama wore a nice white shirt and black pants. Yukina and Touya were in their regular matching blue outfits. Everyone else looked nice, too.

Kura was growing quite impatient. "Where's Sakura? She told us to be here! She should be here, too!"

Hiei rubbed her back soothingly. "Just calm down. She'll be here."
She looked at him and pulled off a smile. She looked around the room and noticed her brother was there. Her smile disappeared. "Why is he here?"

"perhaps it's because he's her sister's husband..." Hiei commented.

She narrowed her eyes at him then stuck out her tongue.

"You'd better put that back." He threatened with a grin.

Before Kura could comment, the Ball Room doors opened and in walked Koenma in his teenage form. He cleared his throat to say, "Will everyone please be seated in the first three rows of chairs?" He snapped his fingers and an alter-like area appeared with three rows of chairs. Everyone slowly flocked to sit down. Kura sighed, knowing what her friends were up to. "Why couldn't she just have a normal wedding?"
Hiei chuckled. "She's special. She just didn't want everyone else to know." He allowed Kura to sit down first and then he did.

She giggled and whispered, "Yes. Well, we all knew that already!"

Next, everyone quieted down then Sakura and Jin entered. Sakura wore a long, black skirt and a black, button-up shirt. Jin was in a white long-sleeved button-up shirt along with black slacks.

The small "surprise" ceremony was cute. Thankfully, they got through the marriage ceremony without an disruptions.

"Yay! Now you guys are married!" Kura congratulated her best friend with a hug.

"'Tis wonderful!- Good way to get it done with out my sister's interference, eh?" Sakura smirked.

"I heard that!" Briar walked over. "Congrats, sis'."

"Thanks." She grumbled.

"Are you guys going on a honeymoon?" Kura asked.

Jin shrugged while Sakura answered her. "Probably not! We'll just have with you, here!"

"Yessss!" Kura smiled.

"No!" Hiei shook his head.

"Aw. It's okay, Hiei-kins! You can come, too!" Sakura pet his head, trying to mess up his hair.

He stepped away and fixed his hair.

An idea popped into Kura's head. "Hey! Why don't we go and visit some of our friends?"

"Like who?" Sakura was enjoying her friends' idea already.

"... Tyson?"

"Oh! We haven't seen those guys in FOREVER!"

"Oh, no, dear sister!" Briar jumped in. "We've only got a week and a half before school starts! I know you haven't done your assignment for class."

Sakura sighed. "Damn you!"

"have you done yours, smart ass?" She stuck her tongue out.

"Yeah! 'Cause I didn't have any! Ha!"

Briar laughed. She had also been freed from homework over the summer. It was funny to see her sister suffering.

"Oh, man! I get to spend the first week of marriage doing homework! Ugh!"

Jin messed up her short hair and kissed her. "You'll live."

As they continued to talk, Kura and Hiei started to sneak away. Kurama noticed this from his place near Briar, but kept to himself. At that moment, he decided to give up on controlling Kura anymore. It was her life. She can make her own decisions.
The two escaped the Imperial Palace and began heading back to the Human World. They held hands on their walk through the beautiful Spirit World. Their fingers were woven together. Kura had a smile on her face. She was happy like that: with Hiei. "I love you." Sweetly she said while she took her tie off and hung it around Hiei's neck. She giggled.

Hiei chuckled. He took her hand in his own again. "I love you, too."

"So... Do you want to go home now?" She smiled.

"Why? Your best friend just got married, and now you're going to just abscond her?" He raised his eyebrow.

"Not really the way I thought about it, but-- I just didn't think that you wanted to stay here. That's all." She kissed him on the cheek. She looked around them. The Gardens were just beautiful. "Fine... Let's go back. I don't want to hurt Sakura's feelings or anything."

"Alright. Come on." Hiei pulled her by her hand back to the Imperial Palace.

drop off! Kind of! Woo!