Chapter 7
Rin sipped at her cocktail while Botan and Shizuru chatted, watching the crowd of wedding guests mill about the rooftop bar. The two of them had taken Rin under their wing after Hiei's announcement, though Rin suspected it was not just out of the kindness of their hearts. Botan, notorious gossip hound, surely wanted all the details of Rin's deal with Hiei. And surely Shizuru was more than a little curious herself about her new brother-in-law.
Keiko Yukimura had also joined their little circle. She wore a deep green cocktail dress that brought out the hazel in her soft brown eyes.
When Rin hinted obliquely at Keiko's relationship with the Spirit Detective, Keiko said, "Oh, it's been off and on since we were teenagers. We decided to see other people when I was in college, but somehow we just keep coming back to each other." She gave a rueful smile, but her eyes shone with a gentle warmth when she picked Yusuke out in the crowd. He was talking animatedly to Kurama, a drink in one hand. The fox turned every so often to watch Rin, giving her a sly smile if their eyes met.
The hotel's top floor was entirely given over to a banquet hall and outdoor bar with a dance floor. A glass railing around the edge was the only barrier before a twenty storey drop, giving the illusion that one could just step right off into space. Small gas fire pits surrounded by plush seating were scattered throughout the patio, and romantic fairy lights were strung overhead. One side of the patio was given over to appetizer stations, which featured canapes and other hors d'oeuvres.
A cheer rose up from the people nearest the doors to the banquet hall. Kuwabara and Yukina had returned from their family pictures, both glowing with happiness, and drinks were immediately pressed into their hands. The newlyweds began to make the rounds of their guests.
A familiar black figure sat on the patio railing apart from everyone else. Hiei, suit jacket unbuttoned and billowing in the slight breeze, tracked Yukina like a cat watching a small bird. As Rin watched, he disappeared, then reappeared next to his sister a few moments later bearing a plate of food. She smiled radiantly and thanked him before he disappeared again.
"I can't believe Hiei of all people actually asked for help," Botan said, after Rin had told the girls her story. "I expected him to show up in his cloak and those same old raggedy clothes."
"It's Yukina," Shizuru said lazily, her face wreathed in smoke. "He'd do anything for my new sister-in-law." She nodded at the fire demon, who had again handed Yukina something or other, then darted away.
"It's really very sweet," Keiko put in, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. "He's always been so standoffish; it's nice to see him care about someone."
"Speaking of caring about someone," Botan said, looking at Rin and obscenely waggling her eyebrows, "It seems our dear Hiei may care about you."
Rin spluttered, coughing out her mouthful of cocktail. When she got her breath back, she rolled her eyes. "He just wanted me to help him." She glanced at Hiei, again at his station on the railing.
"I daresay it means something that he asked for your help," Botan said. Shizuru arched an eyebrow and Keiko nodded in agreement. "I think you should go talk to him. Weddings are very romantic, you know. Who knows what might happen?"
Rin's heart skipped a beat. "No way. Besides, he's not interested."
"Sounds to me like you might be." Shizuru said, eyes sharp on Rin's face.
Rin felt the heat of a blush beginning on her cheeks. "Absolutely not. And there's Mukuro. Besides, what is this, high school?"
"Go talk to him," Botan said decisively. "We're kicking you out. It's for your own good, baby bird!" She took Rin's empty glass and pushed her in Hiei's direction; the girls closed ranks against her. Botan stuck out her tongue over her shoulder, Keiko gave her an apologetic smile, and Shizuru raised her cigarette in salute.
Rin stumbled into the middle of the dance floor, alone. As she looked up, she and Hiei locked eyes. No way to retreat now.
Straightening her posture and trying to walk with purpose, like she had not just been pushed at him, like she meant to head over all along, Rin joined him at the railing. Not on the railing - that would be crazy, they weren't all demons who could practically fly - but leaning against it next to him, watching the sun set over the trees.
It was actually quite restful, here away from the bustle of the crowd. A warm breeze played over her face and lifted her hair, and she basked in the setting sun's gentle heat. Behind her, she could hear wedding guests congratulating the bride and groom, the snap of photos being taken, and the general hubbub of a crowd of happy people.
"Thank you for earlier," she said without looking at him. "I know you didn't want anyone knowing but I was afraid Kurama might…" She trailed off. Nothing good was at the end of that sentence.
Silence. She was afraid to look at him.
Then: "That fox always was too nosey for his own good."
She glanced at him sidelong. Hiei sat on the narrow railing with one knee up, the other leg dangling over the drop, staring moodily out into space. The warm orange light gave color to his pale face and turned his blue-black hair almost purple, while his red irises flickered like living flame.
"Well, thank you anyway," Rin said.
Silence again. Not that she had expected an answer. Rin looked over her shoulder and saw Botan and the girls watching them. She turned away, face red, hoping that Hiei hadn't noticed their audience. She could just walk away and rejoin them. But that would be humiliating; returning without having said more than a sentence or two to him was defeat. And besides, Rin wanted to get him to talk. Starting the conversation was the problem. His interests as she knew them, in order, were: getting stronger, his sister Yukina, and committing various crimes. And that was knowledge from ten years ago. Who was the fire demon when he wasn't reluctantly saving the world and/or his sister from disaster?
"You look nice in that suit," Rin blurted. Of course. The worst possible thing she could have said. Scrambling to save her dignity, she said, "I mean, the suit looks nice on you. No wrinkles or anything."
It was almost comical how big Hiei's eyes got as he turned to look at her. He opened his mouth, but the only thing that came out was, "What?"
"Rin! It's been so long!"
Rin was swept into a bear hug by none other than the groom himself. Kuwabara almost lifted her off the ground in his excitement. When he set her down, Rin watched Yukina immediately grab his hand, and it made her smile.
"It's so lovely to see you two together," said Yukina, looking between Rin and Hiei. "After Mukuro, I was worried my brother might come alone," she said to Rin, her ruby eyes shining. Kuwabara nodded excitedly, though he seemed hesitant when he looked at Hiei.
Rin shot a glance at her date. Should she explain the practical - not romantic - nature of their appearance here at the wedding together? Of the pact between them that would cancel out her life debt to Hiei? His eyes were dark, face set carefully blank. Though she noticed that the tips of his ears had turned pink. In the end, she decided to deflect and not make it about her. After all, this was their wedding day.
"It kind of happened by chance, but I'm so glad I got to come," Rin said. Then, changing gears: "Anyway, congratulations! You both look so happy, and the ceremony was beautiful. I loved the flowers and the arch."
"Thank you so much," Yukina said, giving her new husband a fond glance. "Kazuma worked so hard on the planning. Everything came together so well because of him."
Kuwabara blushed, his face turning almost the same shade as his hair. "Yukina likes to give me all the credit, but she helped too." His whole face shone with adoration for his new bride.
"Kazuma! Yukina!" Another wedding guest had appeared behind them. "The samosas are delicious! I must know who you used for catering."
The newlyweds turned to answer the newcomer and were swiftly drawn towards the appetizer table.
Kuwabara called over his shoulder to Rin, "Talk later! Good to see you," before he was swept into the crowd of party-goers.
That left Rin and Hiei alone, again. A long silence. It was beginning to get dark, the sky turning to purples and blues rather than radiant reds and oranges.
"I don't always sleep in trees," Hiei said, out of absolutely nowhere. "I'm not an animal."
Rin jumped. It was so unlike Hiei to volunteer information or speak without reason that it had startled her.
"What?"
"I slept in Kurama's room last night," Hiei said without looking at her.
Rin's mouth dropped open. She didn't know how to process that information. Instead, she said, "Oh, um, good for you?"
Her mind ran in overdrive. If she really thought about it, Hiei and Kurama had always been close. Kurama had seemed to be the only person that Hiei could stand back in the day. The only person that he associated with because he wanted to. She had always thought it was because they were both demons and Hiei thought all humans were idiots, but maybe it was something more.
At her quizzical reply, Hiei's gaze met hers in confusion and irritation.
A loud voice came over the patio's PA system. "Welcome to the wedding of Kazuma and Yukina Kuwabara! Dinner will be served in fifteen minutes. Please find your table on the seating chart and make your way to the banquet hall."
Kurama appeared and clapped Hiei on the shoulder. "Looks like it's time for dinner," the fox said. "Shall we go?" His eyes twinkled as he looked at Rin.
Botan crossed the dance floor and grabbed Rin's arm. "Come on Rin," she said. "You're both at our table; I already checked." Leaning down, she whispered in Rin's ear. "So tell me everything. How did it go?"
Looking back at Hiei's drawn brows and ducking away from his gaze, she said, "Honestly, I have no idea."
Author's note: Thank you again to Sammie42 for your very kind review!