Character(s): Nasutei, Shuten

Warning(s): Cultural Difference, Culture Shock, Light-hearted humor, Awkwardness

Rule of Three

There was something going on with Shuten.

Do not get Nasutei wrong; she was grateful to see that the man… former Masho… was still alive and well and had seen the errors of his way, turned a new leaf and was now on their side, ready to help her boys fight down the legions of Arago and save Earth.

But!

It would be hard to deny that the two of them didn't have the best history, given Shuten had directly tried to kill her and Jun at least twice. Nasutei thought of herself as a very forgiving, mature young woman, but it was hard not to grimace and break into a cold sweat when one remembers flying tarmac pieces or being thrown in a volcano as bait.

Still, Nasutei WAS more than willing to give Shuten the benefit of the doubt and show herself a proper hostess, inviting him under her roof to rest as long as was needed. Surely, the man could do with a proper night of sleep or two in a good bed, with clean, fresh bedsheets and pillows? She wasn't sure where he had hidden himself during those long weeks between the Youjakai's first defeat and their reappearance, but she rather doubted it was in a five stars palace.

Her house was too silent anyway with the boys… away… and while she wanted to pretend everything was fine, Nasutei knew that she and Jun still had targets on their back by association. A guard inside wouldn't be amiss.

And Shuten…

Well, he had been surprised, certainly, but he had looked very grateful for the offer, following Nasutei home with heartfelt words of thank and praises for her kindness.

So why, Nasutei thought with growing frustration, was the man refusing to come back inside to sleep, damnit?!

He had been happy enough the first two days, Nasutei was sure of it. She had heard him snore through the wall, and that little tidbit of humanity had done more to sooth her nerves and convince her Shuten really was sincere than any word he had uttered before then.

It was hard to picture a Demon General doing something as human and mundane as snoring, after all.

But now… Now Shuten wouldn't step a foot inside for the night again, and Nasutei just didn't understand.

What was so wrong about her house Shuten acted like staying one more night was beyond him?

And finally, she cracked.

"I don't get it; is it the electricity that makes you uncomfortable? I know the thermostat surprised you and I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been so snappy when you passed so much time adjusting the controls or when you started to open and close the fridge all the time to see if the light inside was still working, but surely my house isn't that scary?" she rambled at him.

"It's… it's not the house, Nasutei-san," Shuten coughed awkwardly, shuffling from one foot to the other, the shakujo's rings clanging.

The red-haired man looked uncomfortable, and just as puzzled by her outburst than Nasutei herself felt by his behavior.

"Then what is it? Because I seriously do not understand," Nasutei breathed, looking at the man in the eyes.

"It is… It would be bad form for me to spend three nights under your roof, Nasutei-san. If the Troopers were there as your chaperones and could confirm my intentions were honorable, it wouldn't be so much of an issue, but with just the child…" he trailed off, uncertain, and Nasutei blinked.

Three nights? Nasutei frowned in thought. Why did that sound vaguely familiar? Three nights, three nights, three ni…

Nasutei's mouth in a small 'o' as it came back to her in a rush.

Three nights!

How could she have forgotten?!

Though, for her defense, Nasutei would point out that she had spent a large chunk of her childhood in France and that, while she had gotten well-versed in the Japanese language and had learned a lot under her Grandfather's tutelage, both in history and legends of the Ancient Japan, she rarely thought about the old customs.

Customs like, oh, say,… Japanese marriage process prior to the Edo period or the Restoration of Meiji!

By his own admission, Shuten Douji had been born and raised in the Warring Stares Era. Meaning, he had been raised traditional. Very traditional. Traditional as in, spent three consecutive nights with an unrelated woman, and you're married Traditional! Granted, it was only if the man spent the night in the woman's bedroom, if she remembered right, but without serious witnesses around, who could prove anything?

"Oh my god!" Nasutei blurted out. "Mon Dieu, mon Dieu, oh nom de Dieu…" she slipped into French, because she always found it easier to swear in her mother's language, and groaned, hiding her face in her hands, embarrassed to have missed something THAT obvious. That actually explained so much about Shuten's behavior…

Shuten 's cheeks were about as red as his hair and kept avoiding looking at her, just as embarrassed. "I take that… such customs have evolved a lot since my time in the Ningenkai?"

"Yes, yes they did," Nasutei groaned again, feeling like crying. "It doesn't… work like that anymore. You have to fill paperwork and get it registered and… Oh please, tell me you never thought me and one of the boys…?" she half-asked, half-begged.

Shuten became even redder. "No! Of course not! It was obvious you weren't… They're… They're not quite the proper age for courtship yet, for one," he fumbled over the words, "and it wasn't… they were never alone with you, were they?" He coughed. "I'm… I'm sorry, I shouldn't have accepted the invitation, or presumed…"

"No, no, that's on me," Nasutei waved it off, though she still wouldn't meet Shuten's eyes. "I hadn't thought… A LOT has changed since you last were on Earth, hasn't it?" she said weakly. "And it's not exactly a light conversation subject…"

"Indeed," Shuten approved. "So, you understand why I cannot…"

NOW, Nasutei looked up at him, this time frowning. "Stop, please. I do get you have a sense of… propriety going on," she said carefully, "but as I said, customs have changed now. Three nights doesn't mean…" she blushed. "I certainly wouldn't consider us married if you spent more than three nights in one of the spare bedrooms, Shuten."

"But still, Nasutei-san…" the former Oni Masho protested.

"Not. Married," she insisted forcefully. "Not unless you feel ready to update your status in your koseki…" she trailed off. "Which you certainly do not have. And you have no idea what I'm talking about, right?"

"Is it that obvious?" he asked ruefully, making Nasutei's lips twitch in an aborted smile.

"Sounds like you and I need to have a conversation, and that you need a crash course on modern customs before we accidentally hit another cultural roadblock," she carefully announced.

"It… may be prudent, yes," Shuten nodded slowly. "But I wouldn't want to abuse…"

Nasutei waved him off with a hand as she headed toward the kitchen. "Trust me, you're not. I'm going to make us tea and then, the two of us are going to talk. I think it's going to be… informative."

She just hoped they'd both be able to survive the conversation without too much, permanent awkwardness between the two of them.

End