YPOV

"What is she doing here, Rin?" I came to a stop in front of my sister.

She sighed. "Her name is Toharu."

"See, I told you I had a name." Her voice came from behind me. Hatsuharu chuckled.

"And I don't remember asking for it." I retorted without turning around. "I repeat, what is she doing here?"

Rin placed the ladle on the counter and turned to face me, "Yuki, this is my best friend Toharu. Toharu, this is my brother Yuki. There, now you two have been properly introduced. She's here for the same reason you are, she's in the wedding."

"Wait a minute." Toharu said from behind me. I heard the clicking of heels and suddenly she was standing next to me. "What do you mean Yuke here is in the wedding? Just what position is he filling exactly?" She crossed her arms under her chest and looked knowingly at my sister. I was too distracted by the way that simple movement had pushed her cleavage up slightly to fully comprehend the weight of that question or that she had called me Yuke.

"Well, about that…" Rin trailed off only to be saved by the doorbell. "Toharu, could you get the door please?" my sister asked sweetly. The two girls stared at each other, a silent conversation passing between them.

Finally Toharu turned away muttering something about "not being a maid." I grabbed her arm before she passed.

"And don't call me Yuke." I whispered, ignoring the fire that burned straight to my groin when I touched her.

She looked up at me, a smirk playing on her lips, "Sure thing, Yuke." She whispered back before pulling out of my grasp and walking out of the kitchen.

I stared at my hand still suspended in mid air. She was here and she was Rin's friend. Did she know who I was when I entered the bookstore? Well if she hadn't when I walked in, she certainly did when I gave her Rin's name. She chose to toy with me. And now she was here, I thought again, for Rin's wedding party dinner. Wedding party? I closed my hand into a fist bringing it down to my side as I rounded on my sister.

"Where's my food?" she asked just as I opened my mouth to speak. Without waiting for a reply she snatched the bag out of my hand and starting pulling things out.

I could hear voices floating in from the living room. A moment later Toharu turned the corner chatting with a woman. This newcomer was pretty, tall, a little thin for my taste but she would do. I walked over to them, my eyes appraising the new girl from bottom to top. I let my approval show with my eyes as I gave her my winning smile. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Toharu roll hers while setting down a new platter.

Eat it up, babe. This could have been you.

"And who may I ask might you be?" I asked.

The new girl shot a confusing look at Toharu, "I'm…uh…my name…Angela." She finally breathed out as she held out her hand.

I wrapped my fingers around hers softly and leaned down to lightly brush my lips against the back of her hand.

"Angela, it's my pleasure to meet you." I purred releasing her hand.

"You've already met her idiot." Rin shoved me aside and gave Angela a hug. "She was on yearbook committee with me in high school."

Toharu coughed out a laugh and I shot her a glare before turning my attention back to Angela.

"You'll have to forgive me, high school was somewhat of a blur for me." I stepped closer to her. "Maybe you could help me remember?"

Her eyes widened slightly as a hint of red colored her cheeks. Oh yes, this one was going home with me tonight. Well, actually I would be going home with her tonight. No way was I bringing a woman to my parents' house. Or maybe I should, I briefly thought. That would piss Haru off to no end.

Hatsuharu walked up and clapped his hand on my shoulder, "Angela, good to see you." He greeted giving her a kiss on her cheek. "Where's Ben?"

Ben?

She flushed, looking away from me. "He's hanging our jackets in the closet."

"Ben?" I asked.

Brother?

"Her husband." Toharu answered leaning against the island, her arms crossed under her chest, eyes alight with amusement.

Fuck.

I took a step back as, what I'm assuming was Ben, walked in the kitchen. He came to a stop next to Angela and I couldn't help but notice the difference between them. Where she was tall, he was short, his head reaching barely above her shoulders. Angela's clothing looked put together while Ben's had the 'I just woke up in these clothes' look. These two were married?

"Ben, good to see you, man." Hatsuharu greeted, shaking hands with the newcomer.

"You, too." He answered in a quiet voice. "Thank you for having us over." He glanced at me and nervously shuffled his feet looking at his wife. "What did I miss?"

"Yuke here was just getting to know your wife." Toharu answered grinning at me.

"Yuki." I growled.

"Grrrr." She teased pushing herself off the island and stalking towards me. My eyes moved of their own accord raking down the curves of her body. I closed my eyes, forcing myself not to watch her. I breathed in through my nose and was immediately assaulted by the smell of strawberries and something else that I couldn't place. I felt Toharu lightly place her hand on my chest and I froze not trusting myself to move. I wasn't prepared for when I felt her warm breath in my ear.

"Down tiger." She whispered. The combination of everything and the fact that I was denied release earlier had my cock responding almost at full alert. My eyes popped open to find her face dangerously close to mine. Eyes so close that I was drowning in chocolate. Her lips were slightly parted and I watched as they turned formed a sly grin. She patted my chest and walked over to Rin.

I stared after her. What the fuck was it with this girl?

"Yuki? Yuki?"

I blinked to find Hatsuharu standing at the fridge trying to get my attention. I noticed that everyone was looking at me. Toharu still had that cocky ass grin on her face. Bitch.

"Yuki?" Hatsuharu called again. I looked at him. He held out a beer. "Do you want a one?"

I nodded. He handed me the bottle looking confused. I grabbed it and drank half before he even handed a bottle to Ben. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Toharu do the same. I watched as she tilted her head back, elongating her neck. I saw her throat convulse as she swallowed the liquid and I had to shift positions thanks to my now raging hard on. But like a car wreck, I couldn't look away. My eyes traveled up to where her lips were wrapped around the neck of the bottle and I immediately wondered how good it would feel to have those lips wrapped around—

"Excuse me." I pushed my way past Ben and Hatshuaru, plopping down on the sofa in the living room. I leaned forward putting my head in my hands. I felt the sofa sag and then heard Hatshuaru voice.

"You okay there, Yuki?"

I took a deep breath and pushed myself back up, "Good. It just was getting too crowded in there." I took another drink of beer. I noticed Ben sitting across from Hatshuaru. "Hey, you look familiar? Do I know you?"

Ben nodded, clearing his throat before speaking, "We had some classes together in school." I cocked my head to the side, he didn't appear to be older than me. "Advanced chem and bio."

I raised my bottle in a mock salute, "Another genius."

He smiled, "Yeah, but I didn't have the luxury of graduating early."

Luxury? I wasn't sure that was the word I would choose. The doorbell chimed again followed by a succession of knocks. Hatshuaru was half way to the door when it burst open. Bree ran in jumping directly into Jaspers arms.

"Uncle Hat." She screeched as Hatshuaru swung her around. I cringed as her giggles pierced my ear drums.

Kisa walked in holding David by the hand, "I tried to stop her from barging in, but you know her."

Hatshuaru tossed the little girl in the air eliciting more shrieks. "It's ok, this little one must know there's presents somewhere close."

At the mention of presents David ran over to Hatshuaru who leaned down and ruffled the boys head. I noticed that David held a flower in his hand. Weird kid.

"Presents? Where where where?" Bree yelled looking around the room.

Hatshuaru laughed, "This way." He turned still holding Bree and motioned for David to follow him. He walked past Kisa giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. "The girls are in the kitchen."

She smiled at him as they walked past. Wow, I didn't know the Ice Queen could smile. However, the smile didn't last long as her gaze found me, her features turning to that lovely scowl that I was so familiar with. I matched hers with my own. I heard muffled greetings coming from the hall and a few moments later Kisa was joined by Shigure and my mother. The air on the room stilled as no one said anything. I took this time to drain my bottle.

Ben fidgeted in his seat before walking over to my mother, "Mrs. Shoma, so nice to see you again."

My mother smiled, "You too, Ben. Is that beautiful wife of yours here?"

"She is. She's in the kitchen with the other girls. Hey Shigure." Ben greeted.

Shigure reached out and shook Ben's hand practically ripping the frail limb from the mans body. "Ben, buddy! You still down for a round of golf. Now that my little bro is back we can get a nice game going."

Ben flexed his hand as Shigure let go, "Sounds good. Just let me know when."

My mother walked timidly over to me stopping at the edge of the sofa. She slowly leaned down and kissed my cheek.

"Yuki."

"Mother." I made no movements, my body as still as stone. I heard a small sigh escape her lips and her expression saddened. I hadn't spoken more than five words to my mother since my first day home. She turned without another word and walked into the kitchen.

"Nice." Kisa hissed as she followed Kagura.

Ben returned to the chair while Shigure took up in Hatshuaru old seat next to me. He nodded towards me in acknowledgement but didn't bother trying to include me in their small talk. I sat there completely shut off from the world around me. I could hear Ben and Shigure discussing baseball right next to me, but I felt no desire to join in. Trickles of laughter floated in from the kitchen as I continued my stare down of the coffee table. My stomach growled and the realization that I hadn't eaten anything since about four am hit me. When the hell were we going to eat around here? It's a fucking dinner party, shouldn't there at least be some appetizers or some shit?

"Cheese?" a sugary voice asked me as a tray filled with cheese and crackers was shoved under my nose. Turning to my left I saw Toharu smirking down at me. Figures.

I picked up one of the crackers, "Is it poisoned?"

"Only one way to find out." She grabbed the cracker from my hand and took a bite before placing it back in my outstretched hand. She wiped off some stray crumbs that were lingering at the corner of her mouth.

"Mmhmm…delicious. And look at that, I'm still alive." She winked at me, fucking winked, before turning away and leaving me with a half eaten cracker.

"Toharu!"

A blur of a figure ran past me and Toharu had just enough time to set down the tray before Bree crashed into her.

"Hey there princess." Toharu lifted the child up into her arms and smothered her face in kisses. Bree started shrieking again. I was going to fucking need some aspirin if this shit kept up.

"You look pretty." Bree said playing with a lock of Toharu's hair.

"Not as pretty as you." Gag me. "Where did you get that crown?"

Bree's hands flew to the gold crown that was on her head, "From Uncle Haru. He says 'cause I a princess I gets a crown."

I rolled my eyes as I shoved the half eaten cracker in my mouth. Because this kid needs more people telling her how perfect she is.

"And how right he was." Toharu responded lowering the child back to the floor.

I noticed that David had attached himself to Shigure's leg and was watching Toharu and his sister. He was holding some sort of plush car tight in his grasp, the flower still in the other. Toahru turned towards David and knelt down, her dress rising slightly. I tilted my head trying to get a better view.

"Hey there Davidy, what did Uncle Hat give you?" Was I the only one who noticed that Rin and Hatshuaru weren't fucking married yet?

David looked down at the ground and held the car out in front of him.

"Is that Lightning McQueen?" Toharu asked. David nodded still not looking up. "Awesome. Although, I have to say I'm partial to Sally."

I had no fucking clue what they were talking about.

"David." Kisa's voice came from behind me. "Don't you have something for Toharu?" She came up behind Shigure, handing him a beer and placed her hands on his shoulders. She smiled down at her son. David nodded again burying his head in Shigure's lap.

"Something for me?" Toharu asked. "Can I see it?"

David slowly pushed himself off of Shigure and shuffled over to where Toharu was kneeling down. Without looking up he thrust the flower at her. I watched as Toharu's expression softened, a smile spreading across her face. Could this get any cheesier?

I excused myself and walked into the kitchen passing Angela and my mother on my way in carrying wine glasses. I saw my sister arranging slices of bread on a tray. I grabbed another beer out of the fridge and took a drink as I leaned on the counter next to her.

"When do we eat?" I asked.

"We're waiting for Dad to get here. Damn it Yuki, wait until I'm done." She smacked my hand away as I reached for a slice.

"I'm fucking starving, Rin." I grumbled.

She picked up the tray, "Then come learn to socialize like a human and you can share the appetizers."

I watched her walk out with a scowl. I contemplated staying in the kitchen until my father arrived but that idea was shot to hell when Rin shouted at me to bring out the bottle of wine. Grabbing the bottle of wine off the counter, I shoved a piece of shrimp in my mouth before walking back out to the living room.

My mother had taken residence in my spot on the sofa with Shigure on the other end, Kisa still standing behind him. Rin had seated herself between the two of them with Bree on her lap and Hatshuaru was sitting on the floor in front leaning against her legs. Ben and Angela were sitting in the two arm chairs across from the sofa. I briefly scanned over them, my eyes coming to rest on Toharu. She was sitting on the floor in front of the fire, her legs curled to the side, playing with David and his car. A glass of wine in her hand instead of the beer from earlier. Did she finish it already?

"Yuki, sweetie?" my mother's voice was full of concern.

I placed the bottle on the coffee table, "The wine."

The only empty seat was next to Toharu. I helped myself to more cheese and crackers as I walked past Toharu, stepping over her legs and settling myself in the chair.

She leaned towards me, "Decided they were safe?"

"Well, you're still here…unfortunately." I muttered. I saw her shoulders shake slightly as she turned back to the conversation.

I stared into the fire casually taking drinks from my beer. Conversations floated around me ranging from jobs to fashion to movies and finally settling on sports.

"So what do you say, Toharu?" I heard my brother ask. "You still in for that Giants/Mariners game?"

"The 28th, right?" she asked as Shigure nodded. She spread her arms wide, a playful smile on her face. "Bring it, baby."

A chorus of "Oohhh" sounded in the room as Shigure rubbed his hands together, that mischievous glint in his eyes. Was she challenging my brother? On something dealing with baseball? Well, she obviously wasn't that bright. No one bets against Shigure.

I let out a laugh before taking another drink. Toharu's head jerked in my direction.

"Something funny there, Yuke?"

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees, "Just little girls who think they know shit about sports."

"Oohhhh." Bree shrieked. "Uncle Yuki said bad word."

I sighed and pushed myself back up, rubbing my brow with my hand. "No, I didn't."

Bree nodded her head wildly, her crown flopping on her head. "Uh-huh, he said shit."

"And damn." Toharu chimed in.

I dropped my hand to my knee and looked at her, "I did not say damn."

A sly grin spread across her face, "Now you did."

"You little-"

"Enough you two." Kisa snapped. "Bree, sweetie, please don't repeat anything that comes out of your Uncle's mouth, or Toharu's for that matter." She cast a scathing look at Toharu who mouthed 'Sorry'. Kisa just shook her head.

"Hello?" a voice called as the front door opened.

"We're in here, Dad." Rin called back. My father walked in the living room with a smile. He glanced around the room his eyes settling on me last. I noticed the shine in his eyes dim before he blinked and looked away.

He walked over and gave my mother a kiss while sitting on the arm of the sofa, "So, what did I miss?"

Bree crawled over my mother to climb up Hatori. "Uncle Yuki said bad word and I not to say it."

Just great. Fucking little brat.

My father looked like he wanted to say something but thought against it. Instead he turned his attention back to his grandchildren as David had wandered over to him also. My father exchanged pleasantries with everyone and talked work for awhile before Rin jumped up.

"Ok everyone. I'm just going to make sure everything is ready and then we'll eat."

"About fucking time." I muttered under my breath.

Rin flitted out of the room with Hatshuaru at her heels. Moments later she bounced out of the kitchen and clapped her hands together.

"Dinner's ready. If you will all join me in the dining room."

I drained the last of my beer and set the bottle down next to the fireplace. I was about to push myself up when a small hand was placed on my thigh. I followed the arm up to find Toharu, she was still wearing that sly grin. My thigh burned under the heat of her touch sending electrical pulses up my leg and straight to my cock. I really needed to get this shit under control. I glared down at her.

"Aren't you going to help a lady up?" she asked sweetly.

I leaned down placing my lips next to her ear duplicating what she had done earlier. I heard her sharp intake of breath.

"When I see a lady, I'll let you know."

I pushed myself up, her hand falling away and left her sitting in front of the fire with a look of shock on her face. As I turned the corner to head into the dining room I briefly glanced back and saw Toharu still sitting there, the look of shock having faded away to amusement as Ben lowered a hand to help her up.

Kisa was sitting at the far head of the table situating Bree in her booster seat; Shigure was doing the same on the other side with David. My father was sitting at the opposite end of the table, even when not in his own house he still had to sit at the head. Control issues much.

I took the empty seat next to Shigure figuring it was the lesser of evils. Shigure smiled at me once the kids were all settled. I returned his smile with a half-smile of my own. I felt the chair next to me move and I looked up to see Ben. He gave me a questioning look and I nodded once. He sat down with Angela on the other side of him, putting her next to my father. Hatshuaru was sitting on the other side of my father and they were deep in conversation. Toharu walked in and surveyed the room.

There were two empty chairs left.

One guess on the one she chose.

Toharu gave my mother a kiss on her cheek as she sat next to her. My mother beamed, fucking beamed at her. Everyone in my family seemed to love this woman. I wondered if she had gotten to my father yet.

"So Doctor H, I'm loving the scruff you got going on there. Rugged."

"You are too kind to this old man, Toharu." My father ran a hand over his chin and chuckled.

My father fucking chuckled.

I stared at Toharu.. Who the hell was this girl?

During my gaping Hatshuaru and Rin set out the food. My stomach grumbled at the sight. The next few minutes were filled with the sounds of clanking china as the food was dished out and wine glasses were refilled. I finally settled back, my plate piled high with shrimp pasta and salad. I hastily grabbed a roll out of the basket Shigure was holding.

"Whoa, slow down there, bro. You could have asked. I wasn't hoarding the rolls."

"You were taking too long." I grumbled shoving the roll in my mouth and grabbing another one.

The chatter had died down to random spurts while everyone ate. I made the mistake of looking up at Toharu while she was lazily sucking up a noodle from her fork. Her eyes met mine and I watched as she flicked her tongue out and lazily drew circles around her fork making sure to clean up all the sauce. I gulped not realizing there was still food in my mouth and I ended up choking on a shrimp. Shigure pounded on my back with his massive fists causing me to bump the table.

"Yuki, are you okay?" my mother asked setting down her fork and beginning to rise.

I held out my hand and took a sip of wine before answering, "I'm fine."

"You do know you're supposed to chew the food before swallowing, right?" Shigure asked.

"Gee thanks, Shigure. I'll keep that in mind."

I looked back at Toharu. Her shoulders hunched forward in silent laughter and I did the first thing came to mind. I kicked her under the table.

Yes, like a 5 year old child. I kicked her.

She jumped slightly as my foot made contact with her shin. When she realized it was me and that it wasn't an accident she started laughing harder, bouncing in her seat as she tried to stay silent. I contemplated kicking her again.

Her shaking drew the attention of Rin who asked her what was so funny. Toharu just looked at me and laughter burst out of her. Rin looked back and forth between me and Toharu, her face scrunched up as she tried to figure out what was going on. I returned my focus to my plate, pushing around the remnants of my pasta.

Rin cleared her throat, "Well, it's a good thing you both are getting along so well since you'll be spending a lot of time together in the upcoming months."

I dropped my fork and opened my mouth, but Toharu beat me to it.

"What?" she asked, turning to look at my sister.

"You both are in the wedding, obviously. I mean, that's why you are here, that's why we're all here."

Toharu started shaking her head. "Oh, Rin, no."

I was confused. I looked at RIn. "What exactly do you mean by 'you'll be spending a lot of time together'?"

Hatshuaru pushed his plate back, "Yuki, you know how I asked you to be my best man?" I nodded getting a sinking feeling in my stomach. I had a feeling where this was going and Toharu swallowing her entire glass of wine in one gulp did nothing to soothe me.

"Yuki, best man meet Toharu, maid of honor." Rin smiled brightly. "Now who wants dessert?"