Crowama's party was going as smoothly as it could. There were just too many people in one spot. Chatter had gotten extremely chaotic, it was far too loud. Music wasn't even playing.

Oyuki managed to make acquaintance with Yukina, seeing as they were somewhat similar with their ice abilities. Shizuru was also next to Yukina as support. Yukina was rather shy and struggled to speak up over all the other voices. That was okay though, Oyuki was less shy but she didn't bother to raise her voice. They made a good pair.

Keiko and Shinobu were sitting at Crowama's kitchen counters talking about their respective love lives. "Yusuke just returned," Keiko had said, "and a few years back he promised me that he'd marry me."

Shinobu sighed in longing. "So romantic..."

Elsewhere, Crowama, Lum, and Ran were chatting as well.

"What are you thinking for your wedding, Kurama?" Lum asked. "Do you need any help planning it?" Lum had daydreamed about her own wedding to Ataru so many times, she could use the practice.

Crowama touched her hand to her chin. "Hum... I'm not sure. My dress should be—"

Ryuunuske overheard and snapped her attention towards the trio. "A d-dress?" The poor tomboy wanted to wear a dress so bad but her father wouldn't allow her to.

"Well... Yeah. You would get to wear a dress too if you come." Crowama was still getting over the fact that Ryuunuske was not a boy after mistaking her for one in the past.

Ryuunuske was practically shaking with joy. "Yes!"

"So," Ran places her hand on Crowama's shoulder to turn her attention to her. "Which one of us are you choosing to be your bridesmaids? You know I would love to." Ran gave her best sincere looking smile. In reality, she held a grudge for Crowama at trying to steal Rei from her. But it didn't stop her from wanting to look pretty and steal the show. Then... When Crowama would throw the bouquet, Ran would swoop in and take it for herself! That way Rei would have to marry her!

Just thinking about this scenario washed an odd expression over Ran's face. Her sincere grin turned into a sinister one.

"Uh..." Crowama had to remove Ran's hand from her shoulder. "I'm not sure yet."

"Well you have to choose at least three." Ran insisted.

Crowama thought about it for a moment. "I think I'll choose..."

"LUM!"

The front door was kicked open to reveal Ataru and Kurama.

"I don't think that was necessary, I had the spare key." Kurama remarked softly.

"No time!" Ataru pointed across the room to Lum. "Lum, we need your help! Rei has gone mad and we need you to calm him down!"

Lum clenched her teeth. "Help Rei, are you out of your mind?"

"But..."

Ran raised her hands, shouting in her normal gravely voice. "I'll do it! I'm coming Rei darling!" She ran out the door past Ataru and Kurama, her pink hair billowing out behind her.

"Ran baby, hold on a minute!" Quick as lightning, Ataru had gone after her. "You don't even know where he's at! Please, allow me to hold your hand and take you there."

The prospect of Ataru holding Ran's hand set Lum off. She flew into the air following them. "No you don't, Darling!"

The other girls had wide-eyed stares, wondering what was going on. Kurama's friends looked to him for some sort of answer. They had no idea who Rei was or what he was up to.

"Just... Stay here in case he comes back looking for Lum. Protect the other girls." Kurama instructed.

Crowama grabbed her leaf. "I'm coming."

Kurama blocked the way and prevented her from exiting. "I can't let you." He wasn't aware of how much of a fighter his fiance was and did not want to put her in harm's way.

Crowama was genuinely touched by this. However, she remained stubborn. "I can help." Her eyes hardened, showing her determination. "We're in this together."

While Crowama hardened, Kurama softened. "Alright."

Yusuke and the others had managed to chase Rei all the way back to the outskirts of the city. The tiger-cow beast was roaring for Lum.

But since they were forced to use force lightly, it had been rather difficult. Yusuke was just itching to shoot him down and get it over with. The big guy looked like he can take it. For now, they were working on how to get him away from the city.

"Kuwabara! I need you to distract him." Yusuke commanded. "I need to get behind him and drive him back with my Spirit Gun."

"Why do I have to be the distraction? You saw how he ate your Spirit Gun, what if he eats me?" Kuwabara complained. He wielded his energy sword, genuinely offended.

Yusuke groaned. "Just do it!"

"I'll do it!" Shuutaro interjected. He looked like he was having his moment, tightening his grip on the hilt of his katana. "Lum... If I survive this, perhaps you'll notice my heroism..." He jumped in the way of Rei's path. "Hey you big fat cow, come and get me! I'm going to take Lum from you!"

Rei growled incoherently. While he hardly could talk normally, he could speak even less in this form. His attention was now on Shuutaro, swiping his paws at him.

Shuutaro did his best to jump out of the way, but Rei had two paws and got the best of him. Rei's giant paw connected with Shuutaro's spine and the beast sent him spiraling.

"Alright Kuwabara, I guess you're next." Yusuke suggested.

Ran's dress shoes slapped the pavement as she ran, following her senses to find her beloved Rei. She believed that she herself can make him snap out of it. Not Lum, her. Then he would finally fall for her.

Ataru was still chasing after her, urging her to slow down while Lum was chasing after him, urging him to slow down. "Darling... Wait!"

They were followed by both Kuramas who decided to take a detour. "I know Rei loves food," Crowama said. She had long since put on her necklace to be in human form. "We should pick up some takoyaki."

"Good idea."

Then sheepishly Crowama asked if he had any money, making Kurama sigh.

Meanwhile Ran was practically sniffing out the air for her "lover." Surprisingly, she was able to catch on to where he was. She was able to lead the other two all the way there, the goal in mind powered her feet.

"Rei!" Ran skidded to a halt in the grass, waving her arms to get his attention. He was being shepareded by Yusuke to lead him away from the city but Ran getting his attention turned him around.

He associated Ran with food so he smiled at her and sniffed the air. "Ran!"

"Dammit!" Yusuke swore under his breath. He was so close.

Rei ran over to Ran, swatting Kuwabara out of the way (he landed right on top of Shuutaro's unconscious body.) The beast picked up the pink haired girl in his paw, wiggling his nose at her.

Ataru caught up yelping as he watched Ran get snatched up. He assumed Ran was in danger but he heard her giggling.

"Oh Rei..." She sighs delightfully. "I knew you loved me..."

However, Rei caught wind of Lum's scent. When he saw her flying in the sky, he dropped Ran and instead started grabbing for her.

Acting quickly, Yusuke dove to catch Ran. He shielded her with his body, rolling to slow down their momentum. Once they stopped, Yusuke stood over her and gently laid her down. "Are you okay? Nothing broken?"

"I... I—" Ran's face was flushed. "Let go of me!" She shoved Yusuke away and stood up. "What if Rei sees me in the arms of another man?"

Scowling, Yusuke points up at Rei who caught Lum in his paws. "Listen lady, I don't think he cares. And I don't either. A thank you would've been nice."

"Ooh... That Lum." Ran balled up her fists at the mere sight.

Lum was screaming and shouting for Rei to let go of her, waving her hands in the air. "I'm warning you Rei, I'll—"

"No!" Ran shouted. "Don't you dare shock him or I'll kill you myself!"

Sighing Lum rested her head in her hand as Rei tightened his grip around her body.

Ataru flipped like a switch. He wasn't quite too taken with Rei stealing his fiance like that. He ran towards Rei's feet and started pummeling of them with his fists. "Let her gooooo— whoooaaa!"

Rei delivered a swift kick that sent Ataru flying.

He landed on Kuwabara's semi-conscious body and Shuutaro's unconscious body, bouncing off.

Watching Ataru bounce right past him, Kurama had arrived at the scene with Crowama. "It's time. Open the takoyaki box."

Crowama stood next to him and revealed the takoyaki. The smell wafted upwards into Rei's nostrils.

"Give us Lum," Kurama instructed. "And you can have the whole box."

Rei considered it. His huge eyes farting between the box and Lum. He decided to keep Lum and hugged her to his chest.

"Well that didn't work." Crowama remarked flatly.

"Time for plan C." Kurama took out his rode whip from his hair. "I'll try to trip him over, you try to save Lum."

Crowama dipped her head in understanding and got to work. "Yoohoo, Rei..." She flew upwards with the wind summoned from her leaf. "Remember me?"

She circled around his head like an annoying fly.

Kurama ran over to Yusuke and shared a knowing look. Kurama lassos his whip and threw the end towards Rei's ankles. Rei looked down in surprise.

Before Rei could do anything about his ankles, he started shooting his Spirit Gun around him. He purposely misses so that Rei could get overwhelmed and trip. However, he still held on tightly to Lum.

Lum swung in the air where Rei's paws tried to keep himself balanced. Thinking quickly, Crowama sent bursts of wind into Rei's nose.

"Ah..." Rei sneezed a great big sneeze and in doing so, he unseized Lum. "CHOO!"

Crowama helped Lum float safely to the ground.

The sheer power of his sneeze propelled Rei backwards. Yusuke helped Kurama finished the job and pull on the whip.

Finally, the beast was down, but he was not done. He still had some fight in him left. "Lum—"

Somehow, Ataru crept up behind him with a mallet and conked him in the head. "And stay down!"

Rei knocked out and turned back into his regular oni form. Ran went to his side, doting over him. "Rei... Oh Rei..."

Finally, things has settled down as everyone got their bearings.

Crowama

sat down and began eating the takoyaki and everyone who was still conscious came to join her and snack on them.

"So," began Yusuke. "Best party ever you guys?"