I sighed, glowering at my forearms and holding them together for comparison.
I heard an exaggerated sigh, and a dark cloth obscured my vision. "You're arms are fine." I heard Kouen groaned, feeling him pull the coat off my head, catching my like in a small kiss.
"But," I whined, "I swear one is larger than the other- see!" I held up my arms in exasperation, discretely admiring his suit that hugged his muscular figure lovingly. Damn that lucky suit.
He pointedly held my suit up with a quirked eyebrow, shaking it a little for emphasis. Hurry up and get dressed, I could heard him snap.
I dragged my feet as I groaned, obediently dressing myself. I checked my reflection in the mirror, satisfied by the slightly larger width of my shoulders. I smirked triumphantly.
"Gets a growth spurt and suddenly thinks he can top." I heard him grumbled, the black loafers that were supposed to go on my feet (that were in my hands)somehow magically landed on the red heads shoulder.
"You liked it! Don't lie!" I snapped, ignoring the heat in my cheeks.
He tilted his head thoughtfully, a small appreciative smile on his lips. How endearing, he seemed to think.
"Come on, we'll be late to Kougyoku's wedding." I took his hand, entwining our fingers, feeling the lightness in my chest already.
"We could just stay home." He snorted, probably thinking about sex.
"And passionately make love to each other like teenagers?" I joked, stepping out the door of our shared apartment.
He gave me an amused glance, holding open the passenger door to his car.
"No, it's not meowing, it's my many cry of war." I laughed, sliding into the seat and giving him a small kiss.
"It's meowing."
"It's my victory screech."
"Meowing."
"Mating call?" I tried, wiggling many eyebrows a little. He only snorted, but I knew he was laughing on the inside, right next to whatever else he had in that thicvk skull of his. It was mostly in the hands.
"Are you..." He paused, glancing at me out of the corner of his eye.
"Awe! Big Brother Kouen doesn't want his little sister to leave to coop! You're just a big softie aren't you?" I cooed, leaning over to give him another kiss. "Don't worry, she'll still call you when she accidentally turns all of Judal's whites pink again." I smiled reassuringly. "Isn't Muu's sister getting married too?"
"Fanalis guy with the big-"
"Okay!" I slapped my cheeks in an attempt to stop myself from blushing.
I was met with a crushing grip and the sound of wailing when I stepped out of the car. "Big brother Alibaba!" I looked down at Hakuryuu who was staring up at me teary eyed with his arms around my waist. "She'slooksospreetty!" He exclaimed in a rush.
"Who?"
"Morgiana!" He hiccupped again. "Can I marry her?"
"When Sinbad stops drinking, yes, then you can marry her." I watched in bemusement as those blue eyes became filled with determination and he stormed off howling the purple haired man's name.
When I stepped through the door I was greeted by an oddly satisfied Jafar. "I think he may actually do it." He chuckled.
I glanced to where the purple haired man held up his hands in an attempt to calm the raven haired man. "That'll be the day when the Ren's grow up," I looked to Kouen, "well one did."
He rolled his eyes in response, but I could tell he was content with the praise.
"Alibaba." Morgiana smiled, the pink spring dress she wore complimenting her nicely.
"So, you're getting married; how's it feel." I teased, chuckling as a blush slowly formed on her cheeks.
"I wasn't aware that you already gave your blessings." She bowed he head a little with a shy smile.
"Well it's about time he did- I was worried you two would have sex before marriage." Damn you Kouen, no wonder your vulgar vocabulary is gone- you gave it to me!
"Don't tell me Kouen is already rubbing off on you Alibaba," Koumei teased. "It's hard enough trying to get him to work without you around."
"What are you complaining about!? You sleep like an old man!" I quipped, playfully flicking his forehead. Judging buy how well dressed he was I vcould assume that Kouha was taking care of him.
"Alibaba!" The two oldest Ren brothers waved, walking over to us with broad smiles. "When are you two getting married? I need to see Kouen in white one day!" Hakuren laughed, clapping Kouen on the shoulder.
"I'm emo. I'm incapable of wearing bright colors." He argued with his usual deadpan expression.
"Right, so the speedo was for shits and giggles." I muttered to myself (a nearby Masrur snorted in the middle of his conversation with Drakon), recalling the mortification when I saw the neon pink leopard spotted, offensive swimwear- to which he replied it was a gag gift from Hakuei who had a rather disturbing grin when I had asked about it. "Actually I'm scared to see what Hakuei's wedding present would be." I shuddered, the others doing the same.
"What do you guys think the gift will be?" Sharrkan chimed in, his arm wrapped around Yamraiha who frowned at the memory of her wedding gift.
"Twenty if it's lingerie." Hakuyuu grinned.
"Ten. Fuzzy handcuffs." Kouen mused thoughtfully.
"A neon pink leopard spotted speedo." I grinned watching Kouen's expression morph into mild horror, the Ren brother's exploding into laughter.
"Who told you?" He snarled, his eyes already sercfhing for Kouha.
"Found it." I smirked triumphantly, feigning an innocent expression. "Fifty if it's a Genie in the lamp cosplay." The others howled in laughter at the thought of Judal and Kougyoku glowering at the skimpy clothes.
"No, its probably worse than that with how happy she was this morning." Kouha grinned mischeviously. "But I peaked at a few."
Kouen pulled on Kouha's ears scoldingly, ignoring the younger's cry of pskimpy.
"Oh Alibaba!" Said subject of our conversation called. "I got you a small gift- as an apology for missing your birthday." She handed me a small silver bag, and I pulled out the skimpy top and loose, puffy pants. "Oh no! I mixed up yours and Judal's gifts! Should I switch them?"
I was about to nod when I stopped, not holding back the grin that broke free and smiled mischievously. "Nope, this is perfect. Be sure to take pictures."
"You're a demon." Sinbad laughed as Hakuei smiled knowingly and left to go talk to Pisti and Spartos. "I can't drink for a year now because of you."
"Good." Jafar took Sinbad's hand with a smile.
"Now kids, careful or else Hakuei might feel the needneed to get you two lovebirds a gift." Hakuyuu teased.
Jafar rolled his eyes with a slight blush, kissing Sinbad on his mumbled something into the white haired man's ear.
Eventually I watched happily, watching Kougyoku walk down the isle with her father; the two had reconnected instantly, leading to the eventual lunch with Kouen and himself- sometimes I was invited to join and I felt so happy watching Kouen talk about his day and his father tell stories of them when he and his brothers were children.
Sometimes I wondered what that felt like.
I stood next to Kouen, applauding as Judal looked down at Kougyoku lovingly and they finished their vows together.
Zynab and Hassan shushed their baby when it let out a loud brup, and a Lo'lo gave a terrifying (yet somehow gentle) grin at the infant, drawing a laugh from the newborn, and Myron quickly scolded him quietly.
Maybe I should go see Kassim and Mina.
"What's on your mind?" I felt a strong arm around my waist, and I looked up at Kouen happily.
"Thinking about my mom and dad, Kassim, Mina, Toto, Olba, and all them." I sighed, standing on my toes to kiss him on the lips. "About us too."
"Did you come to any outstanding conclusions, world wide best seller?" He teased, coaxing me into a dance.
"Yeah," I laughed as he spun me, ignoring the wink Aladdin gave me as he danced with a shy pink haired girl in his class. "We met six years ago- danced just like this in a dingy old diner to some oldie from the nineteenth century."
"It ain't dingy." I heard Mara grumble.
"We did." Kouen smiled fondly leaning in for a small kiss.
"I wrote my book three years ago, and a year before that you finally hugged your father- and no hugs won't make you any less manly, you barbarian- I actually talked to my brothers a year before that, and then I discovered that you've been taking the parts out of Amon again-"
"Alibaba." He cut me off with another gentle kiss. "You're nervous."
"I am." I laughed, stepping into hishis warm arms. "I guess...that I was thinking if...we got married..."
I felt Kouen exhale. "For crying out loud." He took me unto his arms and I yelped in protest as he carried me to the balcony bridal style.
I watched curiously as he took out his phone, a sweaty Kassim raising an eyebrow questioningly at us."You both realize that I'm in the middle of a match, right?"
"Look, I fucking want to break your neck sometimes, but I love Alibaba- so I'm marrying him cause he's being a dunce again." He snapped.
Kassim's eyebrows raised in amusement. "Okay, when's the wedding?"
"Two months."
The wrestler glanced away in thought. "Alright, I'll be there. I'll tell the others." And the call ended.
Kouen set me down, taking my head into his hands and kissing me fiercely. "Alibaba Saluja; I love you with all my heart- I don't need a ring or some shitty papers to prove it." He took my hand, guiding it over his fast beating heart. See what you do to me?
"Kouen." I smiled, knocking my forehead into his affectionately.
"Screw your mom for drilling those traditions into you." He grumbled. "Imagine the gifts Hakuei will bring."
I shuddered. "Imagine what Toto will bring."
He stepped back, eyes wide with horror. "Can't we not invite her?"
"That's manslaughter." I winced at the memory of one of our recent spars. "Come on, they'll start opening the gifts soon." I took his hand, leading him back inside to the after party.
"What the hell is this!" Judal howled as a cluster of thongs dangled helplessly in his hands.
I exploded into laughter, holding my sides in pain when they started to hurt- well until Kouen stormed over to Judal, shoved his actual gift into his hands and shoved the thongs into their bag and shoving it into my hands. "No refunds." He grinned.
Oh, beloved deities of love, you gave me a demon.
Defeated, I sighed, wrapping my arms around his neck and resting my hands on his chest. "Thanks love."
"You're welcome." He whispered. A hand running through my hair adoringly.
This was nice- I could stay like this forever.
"Get a room!" Muu laughed teasingly.
Kouen's grin grew as he once again swept me off my feet, and strode towards the door.
"I hate you all!"
I spotted Aladdin Jr tiptoeing closer to the cake and couldn't help but laugh as it devoured the icing hungrily.
This; its my life, and I couldn't have asked for a better one.