Chapter 6
"You expect me to ride in that thing?" Hiei was affronted and mildly offended, like a cat surprised with a spray of water.
"It's just a car," Rin replied as she loaded her suitcase into the trunk. "And besides, I know you'd rather run all the way to the hotel, but it's miles from here. You can't run there and keep your suit nice."
The fire demon harrumphed, then handed his garment bag over to be hung up in the back seat. That was as much concession as she'd be getting, Rin suspected.
"It smells awful," he complained, pert nose wrinkling. "Like gas and chemicals. I don't know how you humans can stand to get near them."
"For one thing, human noses aren't as sensitive as yours," Rin said. She thought about going on a rant about how humans' dependence on cars was the fault of governments and corporations, but thought better of it. "Anyway, are you coming or not? We're already running late."
She half-expected the fire demon to wink away into the afternoon, leaving her to tote his outfit to the hotel, but he climbed into the car and sat still as a statue as they drove off.
After half an hour of silence except for the quiet background noise of the radio, Rin asked, "So what do you want me to tell people?"
Hiei's ruby gaze slid to her. "What are you talking about?" His tone was sardonic as always.
Rin kept her eyes on the road, but she wanted very badly to watch him, to gauge how he would react to what she said next. "About… you know. That I'm your date. People are going to ask. What do you want me to say?"
"They'll do well to stay out of my business," Hiei said in a flat, no-nonsense tone. "You'll say nothing."
Rin sat in stunned silence for a moment. "What, you want me to pretend I just showed up? Say, 'Ha ha no I don't have an invitation, I'm not here with Hiei, don't worry about it.' Besides, we're arriving together. You think no one will have questions about that?"
"Like I said, it's none of their concern," he said, crossing his arms over his chest. "Urameshi and the rest will keep out of it, if they know what's good for them." When she stole a glance to the side, his face was set stubbornly, clearly done with the conversation.
"Yep, I'm sure that will go just fine," Rin said under her breath. She was absolutely going to tell anyone who listened that she was there as Hiei's plus one.
That strategy only worked if the person you told believed you, Rin thought as she drove back to the hotel. Kurama sat in the passenger seat in a posture eerily similar to Hiei's the previous day: arms crossed and expression stony. Rin had nervously tried to make conversation about the wedding ceremony and the evening's coming festivities, but Kurama was taciturn. Probably waiting to see if she was who she said she was. No sense in giving her more information to work with if she turned out to be a traitor or a spy wearing a Rin skin-suit. And no use in making conversation if he was going to have to kill her later.
God, she hoped they'd find Hiei quickly.
A familiar tall, lithe form lounged next to the hotel's entrance, wreathed in a cloud of blue smoke.
"'Sup, Kurama? Botan was looking for you," Shizuru said, eyeing the two of them. "I see you picked up a stray. Don't tell me you're taking after my little bro."
Ignoring her question, Kurama said tightly, "Have you seen Hiei? I need to speak with him."
Rin was a little hurt that Shizuru didn't remember her, but then again, they had only met once or twice.
"I think he's in the lobby with the others. The newlyweds are taking pictures with the family right now."
Kurama nodded and went into the hotel, Rin trailing behind.
Shizuru fell into step with Rin as they passed and said, "Do I know you from somewhere, kid? You look familiar."
"I used to work with your brother and Yusuke," Rin said distractedly, keeping one eye on the fox demon in front of her.
"Oh yeah! I remember you. The substitute Spirit Detective."
They passed into the hotel lobby, which was decorated in a modern aesthetic, all clean lines and neutral block colors. A few people sat around talking near the reception desk.
A loud voice called, "Shizuru! And Kurama, just where have you been? We've been waiting on you."
The fox demon pulled up short; Rin almost ran straight into him.
"Apologies, Botan," Kurama said to the blue-haired ferry girl with a hint of his smooth charm. "It will have to wait. Where's Hiei?"
"He's around somewhere. I just - ." Botan stopped talking and her mouth dropped open as she saw who Kurama was dragging around. "Rin? Is it really you?"
Rin stood frozen, unable to answer. Seeing her old friends from afar was fine, but to be confronted like this… This was not anything like she had expected. She didn't know what to do. She didn't have a plan. And she hated not having a plan. Behind Botan, she saw Yusuke craning his neck to spy on the commotion. Great. The whole gang was back together.
Botan came towards her and Rin braced herself. Then the girl's arms were around her in a hug. She smelled of some musky perfume that Rin couldn't place. Shizuru watched, the cigarette in her mouth trailing blue smoke.
Kurama touched Botan's shoulder. "You should step back; it's not safe. She's why I need to speak with Hiei. She says she's his date."
"I don't understand," said Botan, releasing Rin in confusion, her pretty magenta eyes wide.
"His date? Give me a break. That's the funniest thing I ever heard," said Yusuke, cackling and drawing closer. He eyed Rin, who was starting to feel like a bug under a microscope.
"Hence why I am suspicious," Kurama said, giving Rin a sidelong glance. "Now, has anyone seen Hiei?"
"What do you want, Kurama?" The voice came from the fire demon himself, who had appeared across the lobby.
Seeing him from the front, Rin noted that he still wore the signature white headband covering his Jagan eye. She wondered why he hadn't gone with something nicer, but then again, how did one fancy up a headband? It seemed even Yukina could not sweet talk him into giving it up. But under his slick black suit jacket was the deep purple silk button-up that Rin had suggested at the men's formal wear store. She was gratified that he had taken her suggestion; she had half-expected him to exchange it for a black one when she wasn't looking.
Feeling her gaze, his fiery eyes met hers in surprise. For a long moment, they stared at each other. He looked her up and down, taking in her curled hair and midnight blue a-line dress, then shoved his hands in his pockets and looked away.
"I found her at the church. According to Rin," Kurama put extra emphasis on her name, "she is your date for the evening. Is that true?"
In a sing-song voice meant to aggravate the fire demon, Yusuke said, "Yeah, Hiei. Is she your date or not?"
Botan's hands flew to her mouth. "Oh no, does that mean that you and Mukuro…?"
Under the onslaught of questions, Hiei's posture stiffened, whole body tight like a drawn bow. He ducked his head so that his eyes were hidden by his unruly hair, but the questions kept coming rapid-fire. Even Shizuru was watching him carefully, half-finished cigarette hanging from her lips.
A spike of fear drove into Rin's stomach. Would Hiei lie, now that he didn't need her help anymore? After all, the most important parts of the wedding were already over. She had gotten him the clothes and helped him learn how to dance. Hiei could claim that he had no idea why she was here, and then she'd likely end up as a person-shaped mound of flowers in a secluded area. Kurama was nothing if not ruthless where his friends were concerned.
The tension stretched out, as taut as the lines of Hiei's body. The barrage of questions continued, and as Hiei remained silent, Rin's old friends gave her dark looks. Even Botan's deep pink eyes were shuttered as she took a few steps away. Rin stared at the fire demon, willing him to look at her.
"Enough." Hiei's voice cut through the cacophony. His ruby eyes met hers and though he addressed the others, he held her gaze throughout. "Not that it is any of your business - especially you, Urameshi - but Rin is…" he paused, looking for words. "With me for the evening."
Kurama started to say something, but Hiei cut him off. "She's not an imposter. She is who she says she is. If you have questions, ask her."
Rin let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding. She might survive this night after all.
Her old friends surrounded her, but as Botan gave her another hug, Rin found herself looking over the ferry girl's shoulder for Hiei. He was already gone.
Author's note: I am aware that most people in Japan do not own cars and use public transportation (and that they use the metric system). I am also aware that weddings in Japan do not typically feature a reception with drinking and dancing like we have in the U.S. and other parts of the world. Basically, please take my bending of reality and use of certain story conveniences with a grain of salt. This fanfic came about when I imagined how funny it would be to watch Hiei trying to navigate a Western-style wedding. And then I added the DRAMA. Because of course I did.
Thank you to Sammie42 and Criala for being my very first two reviewers! Much love to you both, and I'm so happy you like this silly little story of mine.
