Mikomi
It jumps, I'm aware of this. I might just take this down and start again from scratch.
Leave me a review anyway. Criticism is welcomed and expected.
Hiei and Botan had always been considered an odd couple.
Their startling differences in personality and opinions made them seem worlds apart. She was a cheerful, bubbly, somewhat clumsy ferry girl whose mere presence in a room seemed to dissolve any negative atmosphere and brighten the lowest spirits around her. The exact opposite of what the term 'Grim Reaper' brought to anyone's mind.
He was a cold, harsh, angry demon who thrived in the shadows and merely tolerated the light. The most emotion he allowed to slip through his hardened mask was anger, and anyone who had seen that small crack, target or not, prayed for the frozen stare to return. He let his sword ask his questions and admittedly took great pleasure in the kill. Moving as a shadow across the night, he fit the description that she did not.
Indeed their small mix-matched group had been shocked into heart-stopping stillness when the two had appeared together for a meeting, the cheerful ferry girl clinging loosely to the shorter demon's arm and sporting a very distinctive scar just above where her left shoulder met with her neck.
Even now, three years later, their union was still the main topic of discussion among their friends. But, while the rest of the group continued to analyze the couple from every possible angle in an attempt to find the logic that didn't exist, Kazuma Kuwabara had quietly accepted his friends' happiness as fact and let the matter close in his own mind.
But then, the others hadn't seen the cold apparition lying fitfully in the ferry girl's arms. Hadn't seen him trembling against her, eyes closed, breathing deeply, comforting himself with her scent. His fingers ran slowly though her light blue locks as if he was reassuring himself she was still there. Her arms tightened around him, letting him know that she had no intention of leaving him alone, before moving gently up and down his back in a soothing motion.
Yes, Hiei and Botan were drastically different, but those differences made them perfect, sliding them together like the missing pieces of a puzzle. Where Hiei could be strong for Botan physically, protecting her from danger as well as shielding her from the harshness of the world, Botan could be strong for him emotionally, helping him through something he couldn't relate to or understand.
Kuwabara had never mentioned the moment to anyone, not even his beloved Yukina. It had been personal, something he'd had no right to see. But, as he carefully lifted his tiny niece from his wife's arms, the scene came rushing back.
That was the man sitting in front of him now, garnet eyes watching full of pride and love as he gently cradled the baby against his chest. She was so tiny and fragile, Kuwabara almost didn't want to touch her, afraid she would break in his hands. But once he had her in his arms, he knew he'd be reluctant to give her back.
She was beautiful, skin the most amazing shade of soft pink, and on her head was a tiny tuft of sky blue. She giggled, a soft incredible sound, as she looked up at him with beautiful scarlet eyes a shade even lighter than Yukina's.
"What's her name?" he asked softly, wondering if he should even be allowed near something so perfect.
Hiei's crimson eyes closed as he smirked and turned away. "Hn. Mikomi." His voice remained emotionless as if he was speaking of nothing. But his smirk was steadily becoming a smile.
Kuwabara nodded as he returned his eyes to his niece, her tiny fingers reaching up to touch his face. Mikomi. Hope, yes, that summarized things.
Yes, Mikomi was perfect.
Mikomi means hope, at least that's what my sources tell me. Feel free to yell at me if I'm wrong.