Chapter 1: In Which Things Are Arranged and The Princess of The Mist Arrives

Chapter 1: In Which Things Are Arranged and The Princess of The Mist Arrives

Koenma twisted his pudgy hands together nervously. In an hour, the Tantai would know, his life would likely be cut short, and then the mist demons would wage war on Rekai. Nice, perfect way to end a day. The mini god felt like he was going to throw up, but managed not to. He kept looking at random things in his office, trying to calm his racing pulse.

Suddenly, Botan popped in with anxiety painting her usually cheerful face, "I got the response Koenma sir. You're going to have to do it. If not, the mist demons have an army ready to attack." She sighed sadly.

Koenma groaned, "Are you sure Botan? I really would like to stay alive. Are you sure there isn't another way? Have you tried--"

Botan grunted in exasperation, " Look Koenma sir, I've tried everything! Reasoning, threatening, and offering-- all of it! They just won't budge! They want her to marry one of them. Now, we have to decide which one."

Koenma rubbed his temples, "They aren't going to be happy about this."

Botan nodded and passed the toddler a file, "This is all the information I could find on their princess. Now it's up to you Koenma sir. You decide who she's going marry." Botan closed her eyes and pursed her lips, indicating she didn't agree with any of this.

Koenma sighed and opened the file to see a picture of the girl in question, "Well… alright. You sure they wouldn't agree to some of the royals in Rekai or Makai or something?" He asked hopefully.

The ferry girl shook her blue head, "No. They stated over and over that this is what they wanted."

Koenma groaned once more and turned his attention back to the file. The picture was of a young demon with long black hair and large misty white eyes. She wore a baggy deep blue and red kimono and that hid any curves that she might have had. Her hair was pulled back into a high ponytail as she played with her fingers shyly. He noticed how frail she looked; her hands and feet were tiny.

Koenma rubbed his chin and began brain storming. Who would be best for her to marry?

O.O.O.O

Maykuh sat in the small carriage as it bound through Makai. Their destination was Rekai, even as Maykuh wished other wise. Her snow white hands were folded neatly in her lap; her head hung low, threads of onyx hair interrupting her pale features. She sighed, ribbons of mist twisted around her in an effort to comfort their master.

"Be happier child." Her father's deep voice commanded from the other side of the carriage.

She jumped and looked at him sadly. King Tsuyoi, her father and ruler of all mist demons, had messy black hair and shared her misty white eyes. He had a thick beard and was approximately five feet two inches. All mist demons were small for some unknown reason, though the men, like her father, were very well built. The women were very skinny and frail looking, but they were generally more skilled in using mist. The women practiced healing techniques, while the men practiced the art of war.

Maykuh looked at her father with lifeless eyes, "… Yes father." She whispered and hung her head once more.

The older demon looked at his daughter's depressed form. His sharp eyes softened, "Child… come here." He held his arms out.

The young demoness slowly stood up and jerkily made her ay across the carriage, sitting on her father's lap. He put his arms around her and embraced her warmly, "Child… I know you don't want this--"

Maykuh shook her head, "No! Of course I want to be in arranged marriage… if that's what you want." She said unconvincingly.

King Tsuyoi shook his head, ignoring her words, "I know you don't want this, but it's necessary."

Maykuh snorted, "Necessary how? You're going to attack Rekai if this doesn't happen; I don't see how it's necessary for anyone but Koenma-- if he doesn't want a revolt to deal with anyway." She sighed.

He pet his daughter's ponytail, "This is necessary child, you have my promise on that."

She turned to him, "May I ask how?"

He chuckled, still petting her locks of ash, "Yes. You see, for the past eighteen thousand years, our royal family has been interbreeding with each other. We need new blood to come into the family, or the next generation will be even weaker than you."

Maykuh slumped at the mention of her weak body and frail bones. Her mother and father had been closer related than cousins, but not so close as siblings, as had her grand parents and great grandparents. Because of such interbreeding she was not very healthy. Her skin was paler than was normal for a mist demon (which is saying something), her bones were easily broken and did not mend quickly, she was notably smaller than the typical girl her age (again, that was saying something), and her skills were not as refined as others.

King Tsuyoi caressed his daughter's head, "And so, we decided to find new blood to mix with our own, but not just any. We want someone strong to become part of our family, to strengthen our royal household. We have heard many great things about the Rekai Tentai, and we have come to the decision that you will marry one of them. If not, then we shall revolt and take out all of Rekai."

Maykuh stood up and made her way back to her spot on the opposite side of the carriage. Silence stretched on between the two for quite some time, an uncomfortable one for the king, a thoughtful one for the princess.

"So…" Maykuh's quiet voice broke the silence, "…You can't even tell me whom I'm going to marry?"

The king of mist gasped quietly and looked up at his daughter. He had not that about that. He gazed at the princess to try and understand what she was feeling. Her eyes were closed and her head was bowed, as was her usual posture, but ribbons of mist swirled soothingly around her. That in itself was a sign that she was sad. Though Maykuh had no great skill with harnessing and using mist, it naturally helped her, as if it was a faithful dog tending to its master.

The king closed his eyes and let out a deep breath threw his nose, leaning his head back on the leather seats.

O.O.O.O

"Alright, Botan, I've decided!" Koenma announced.

Botan walked over to his desk, "Who will she be marrying then, sir?" She asked.

Koenma folded his arms confidently, "Hiei."

O.O.O.O

Yusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama, Hiei, Keiko, Yukina, and Shizuru, sat together in Genkai's temple. It had been three years since she died, and everybody was gathered together to celebrate Kurama's birthday. As you can imagine, this was the only reason our favorite fire demon came.

"Happy twentieth birthday Kurama!" Yu Yu gang sang, except for Hiei, who merely mumbled it.

Kurama smiled with joy at them all, "Thank you so much."

Yusuke punched him lightly on the shoulder, "Ah, don't mention it fox boy. What kind of friend would we be if we didn't celebrate with yah?"

They all grinned; even Hiei, but he hid it.

Happy birthday Kitsune. Hiei thought to his best friend.

Kurama's smile widened, Thank you Hiei. Coming from you that means a lot.

Hiei smirked and cut off the mental bridge.

"Hey…" Keiko suddenly began to speak, apparently searching for someone, "…Where's Botan? It's not like her to miss one of our birthdays."

Kurama and Yusuke suddenly realized that Keiko was right, Botan was nowhere in sight. Everyone was shocked to find that Botan was missing.

Kuwabara suddenly pulled out his communicating mirror, "Hey guys! We could just call her. She's probably got a good explanation for all of this."

"Hey, good idea Kuwabara." Yusuke patted his friend on the back.

"Since when can the fool come up with good ideas?" Hiei asked no one unparticular, but earned quite a few laughs from everyone in the room (except Yukina who didn't understand).

"Shut it shorty!" Kuwabara yelled and called up Botan.

O.O.O.O

Botan stood just out of Koenma's castle. She bit her bottom lip nervously as the cold Rekai wind blew her hair across her face like water.

Now Botan had already visited with King Tsuyoi, but she had not met his daughter. She had been informed that she was in the carriage and had not seen her all the time she was there. Botan had, of course, seen pictures of Princess Maykuh, but she didn't know anything about her personality. Would she be sharp and cold as her father had proven to be, or would she be snobby and look down her nose to people? She had no idea, but she silently prayed for the girl all the same. She was, after all, going to marry Hiei.

She heard the sound of hooves in the distance. The blue haired ferry girl felt her lungs constrict as she awaited the arrival of the princess.

Soon, the carriage came into sight. It was large and made of some of the oldest most expensive wood in all of Makai. It was drawn by six devil horses, large black creatures with red eyes and large leathery wings. Eventually, the carriage came to a stop a few feet from the deity.

The driver stepped off his seat and opened the door. King Tsuyoi stepped out regally, and air of a importance and power hung over him, unmistakably defining that he was a king of a great nation. He glanced at Botan and gave her a disapproving look. The ferry girl started and embarrassingly remembered to bow.

"Evening, Botan." The King said emotionlessly.

"H-Hello gracious King Tsuyoi. Welcome to Rekai."

He merely nodded and stepped to the side. Botan waited anxiously for the princess to step out.

Soon enough, what appeared to be a young child's foot stepped out of the carriage's interior. Then came the end of a blue dress, and then another foot. Finally, the princess stepped out fully.

Botan was shocked to say the least. The princess did not share the same regal, powerful air of importance as her father. No, she looked quite humble and deflated in spirit at the moment. By first impressions, the blue haired deity would have to say that the princess looked rather… lonesome. Yes, lonesome, that was the word.

Princess Maykuh held no air of power, but rather one of someone who is lost and desperately trying to get back home. Her eyes unmistakable held fear and anxiety. Botan immediately liked her. She reminded her of a kitten caught in the rain, someone who needs help.

"Hello!" Botan greeted the mist demon, all anxiety erased from her heart, "My name is Botan, the top ferry girl of Rekai!" She stretched out her hand to the shorter girl.

Maykuh stretched out her own hand. It was about half the size, "Hello. I'm Maykuh, Princess of The Mist." She smiled gently as they shook hands.

Botan grinned, "It's a pleasure to meet you. Let me show you inside--" She was cut off by a bleeping sound. She fumbled in her pocket and pulled out a pink compact. She flipped it open and walked to the side seething, "What is it Yusuke?" She said through her teeth, "I'm dealing with some very important issues!"

Yusuke was very angry himself, "Yah? Well it's good to know its more important than coming to Kurama's big two, zero!"

She gasped, "Oh my goodness! I totally forgot about that! I'm so sorry, but I'm greeting royalty right now! Tell Kurama I left his gift under the table."

Shizuru took the communicator, "Oh really Botan?" She asked, "Why exactly are you greeting royalty then?"

Botan sweat dropped and laughed nervously, "Um… for one, may I know if Hiei is there?"

Maykuh tilted her head from behind Botan. Who were Hiei, and Yusuke? Was one of them going to be her husband? She played with her fingers.

"Yah, Hiei's here." Came Shizuru's response.

Botan stomped her foot, "Koenma was supposed to ask him to come half an hour ago!"

"Oh, hold on Botan. Hiei's communicator is beeping." Shizuru said and looked behind her.

There was a pause in which Shizuru disappeared from the scene. There wasn't any sound for a few minutes, but suddenly, there was a loud crash. The crash was followed by a long string of unseemly words and more yells joining in. There were a few laughs but mostly furious outcries.

Suddenly, Hiei appeared on the screen, "Baka onna, when I get to Rekai, I'm going to kill you all over again, and the toddler too!" He hissed and the screen went blank.

Botan shakily put away the communicator as the vision of little, evil Hiei bats sprung into her mind.

Maykuh played with her fingers nervously as she watched Botan go into some fearful trance like state. She hesitantly followed her as she walked off to nowhere in particular. She gently tapped the taller woman and gained her attention.

"Um… Botan? Why did that man want to kill you?"

Botan stared at her and sweat dropped. This was certainly not the best situation to tell her Hiei was her fiancé. She laughed nervously and took her hand, "Let's just go inside the palace, okay? Koenma will explain everything to you."

Maykuh sighed softly and nodded, allowing Botan to drag her into Koenma's palace. The castle was, in her honest opinion, not as majestically beautiful as her father's. Tears were brought to her eyes when she realized her home would soon no longer be her home. It would be the home of her "childhood" and when she was married she would be give a new palace in which to live in with her husband.

Her mind drifted to the man that had threatened Botan. Though she was quite embarrassed at the thought-- he was really cute.