King and Queen Kurama of the Tengu people had prepared for this celebration a week in advance. Their first year of marriage had lent towards solitude, away from their friends and family. There was much to do after all and they were very busy. Kurama had to do a lot of acclimating to the new culture. But now they were ready to see everyone once again.
As they waited for their guests on the front steps of the palace, no one wanted to be the first to arrive it would seem.
Crowama had personally arranged transportation for the non-space farers, meaning Karma's friends. However, she was surprised that none of her friends came yet. They all had their own UFO.
Crowama sighed and glanced at her husband who gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry," he said. "They'll be here."They wouldn't miss a chance to see you again. I know I wouldn't."
"Of course you wouldn't," Crowama scoffed. "You're married to me."
"I wouldn't even if I wasn't," Kurama replied gently. After all this time, Kurama was still the calmest one in their relationship.
A few moments later, the sound of whirring engines could be heard overhead. The first of their guests had finally arrived. The couple lifted their heads towards the sky and recognized the tiger-striped ship that belonged to Lum. It parked itself in the sky and Lum came down, holding Ataru in tow.
"I hope we're not late!" Lum called down. On their way there she and Ataru would not stop arguing.
Ataru had his arms crossed as Lum held on firmly to the hem of his shirt. He rolled his eyes at her words.
"It would appear that you two are the first ones here," Kurama observed.
"Oh?" Lum landed gently on her feet in front of the two, placing Ataru down. "Well, that's good!"
Crowama smiled. "You look well, Lum."
"See Darling?" Lum boasted. "I look well."
Ataru mumbled something incorrigible beneath his breath.
The Kuramas shared a glance, equally wondering what the deal with that was. Never a dull moment with Lum and Ataru around.
One by one, more guests would arrive. Yusuke and Keiko arrived together as well as Botan who came alone in Koenma's stead, and Benten who also came alone. Although, two of Crowama's escorts she sent had returned with no one. "Two of your friends did not come," Crowama informed Kurama quietly.
Kurama frowned slightly. Of all people he expected Hiei not to come, but Kuwabara?
It wasn't long for Oyuki's ship to touch down. The hatch opened and the stairs descended. A cool mist permeated from the inside. Oyuki soon appeared, elegantly descending the stairs with a figure behind her.
Kurama could almost make out the familiar silhouette of spiky hair in the mist. "Is that..."
Crowama cut him off. "Oyuki! You've brought someone!"
Oyuki stepped aside and gestured. "You're all familiar with him. I've come with Mister Hiei."
Hiei glared at her. "I've told you," he said. "It's just Hiei."
Oyuki let out a single giggle. "So informal."
"I did not know you two were close," Kurama observed. Everyone remembered how Oyuki caught the bouquet at their wedding, and in turn, everyone remembered how she gave it to Hiei. But no one expected the gesture to escalate this far.
Hiei averted his gaze. "Whatever you're thinking, it's not true."
"I'm so proud of you, Oyuki!" Crowama sobbed, crying tears of appreciation. "You've managed to bag a husband!"
"No!" Hiei snapped at her, but Kurama was quick to step in and deliver his special grade of glaring at Hiei. No one would ever speak to his wife in such a way, not even his best friend. Hiei sensed this and eased up. "We're not married."
"Yet," Oyuki amended.
So Hiei did come after all. Now where did that leave Kuwabara?
"Perhaps we should just wait a little longer," Crowama suggested. "I know Ran is going to come. She wouldn't pass this up. I'm sure she's coming to show off Rei."
Kurama raised a brow. "The one who almost ruined our bachelor party?" Crowama had such strange friends. But they weren't that much stranger than his own, he supposed.
Crowama dipped her head. "Yes. That's the one."
Almost like the mere mention of her name had summoned Ran as her UFO appeared overhead.
"That must be them now." Crowama mused.
This made Lum a little worried. Despite herself and Ran remaining close there was still a little animosity between them. Especially since she hasn't heard from the pink-haired alien in a few days.
Ran's UFO found a free spot and landed. Her friends waited with baited breaths until she appeared.
"Hello everybody!" Ran waved from the hatch, clutching an arm in her other hand. However, the person next to her was much taller than Rei when Rei was out of his Kaiju form. "C'mon!" Ran did a large grin, baring out her teeth for all to see. She tugged on the arm with such ferocity that he almost took a tumble.
Nearly everyone was in shock.
Yusuke was the first the break the silence. "Kuwabara you sly dog!"
Kuwabara nearly sank onto his knees. "No-no! It's not what it looks like..."
Ran tugged on him again to shut him up. "That's right everybody, we're... Dating!"
"Hm." Oyuki barely lifted her gaze to look at the two. "It would appear that someone stole my idea."
Ice-cold fear flooded Ran's veins. "Ack!" The pink-haired alien yelped and hid behind Kuwabara for protection. Not like he could do anymore to the ice maiden than Ran could. Besides, he'd never lay a finger on women in such a way. He was more useful as a meat shield. Ran began pushing against Kuwabara as they descended. "A-as if!" Ran sniffed. "How dare you accuse me of stealing your idea... Mean Oyuki! I'm surprised that you of all people could love something other than money."
Oyuki remained unfazed by Ran's harsh accusation.
However, this statement piqued Hiei's interest. From the corner of his eye, he looked at Oyuki. So that was it, she loved money. Hiei lacked anything of value so her interest in him was something to behold and it didn't bode well.
"You don't know anything, Ran." Oyuki simply stated in response.
Ran cowered, puppeteering Kuwabara to raise a fist at her. "Eep!"
Kuwabara forcibly put his arm down. "Hey! Stop that!"
"You tell her to stop!" Ran hissed.
Kuwabara sighed and turned, sweeping up Ran in his arms. He then placed her over his shoulder and walked away from Oyuki and Hiei. "You let everything bother you..."
"Put me down!" Ran protested as she swung her appendages.
"I'll put you down once you calm down!"
The two continued to argue, saying anything and nothing at all. Kuwabara had long since put her down but she was still arguing just to argue.
"My," Crowama clicked her tongue. "It's hard to believe that those two are a couple."
Kurama looked at her. "Is it really?"
"Hm. You're right. They're definitely together."