Story Title: Consumed by Hellfire
Disclaimer: Still don't own YYH.
Author's Notes: On this day, three years ago, I posted the first chapter of "Consumed by Hellfire as a challenge to myself to write Hiei and Kurama as a couple after I had hated the pairing since I first fell in love with YYH. I saw it only fitting to post the epilogue on the same day I began it. But I must admit for all my cringing at what I now consider crappy writing, I still have fondness for my baby, and I will miss it when it's finished. It's hard to say goodbye, but this is it.
So, once and for all, to all the reviewers and readers, thank you.
And so, the short epilogue…
-o-
One Month Later…-o-
Hiei scowled and paced impatiently about the private drawing room designated as where he was to wait before he could get this whole blasted ordeal over with. And how he wanted this over… Hiei stopped abruptly in his step and started fidgeting in and pulling at his formal deep purple robes. He wanted to claw out of these stupid robes just as badly as he wanted to leave Demon World and never be bothered by the Fire Country ever again.
"Do I have to wear these?" Hiei growled, looking over at Kurama in his own lavender-blue robes tailored for the occasion as the fox walked into the room carrying an odd box in his hands.
"Yes," Kurama simply replied, and set the onyx box on a Demon World interpretation of a Victorian table, and smiled amusedly at Hiei.
"I look foolish," Hiei turned away and grumbled. They were supposed to express his strength, power and great will, but Hiei just felt ridiculous. Being dressed up didn't suit the young fire demon's taste or manners at all. This finery was more Kurama's match, not his. Hiei was a warrior—he didn't do full-length velvet robes.
"You look great," Kurama said as he approached Hiei, laid his hands on the fire demon's shoulders, and rubbed the soft robes. "Remove the dirt and sweat, and you clean up well. And I rather like these robes on you. My compliments to the tailor."
'Least one of us does, Hiei griped.
"Be honest. You wouldn't want me dressed like this all the time," Hiei managed to flash a small smirk, "And you like me sweaty."
"Yes…" Kurama dipped his head to the side and considered his lover's words playfully, "But on this occasion, I do not think just sweat is the appropriate attire. Besides, you and I have to walk into the room together, and I do not want everyone's eyes just on me."
"Your vanity is showing, fox," Hiei teased.
"Well, given that we are at a ceremony, a bit of vanity is called for." Kurama walked back and picked up the onyx box. "I must admit I am enjoying the prospect of walking out with you looking so exceptionally handsome and seeing all those jealous faces."
"Jealous for me or of me?" Hiei asked, quirking a brow curiously.
"Hm," Kurama shrugged his shoulders amiably, wore a closed smile, and refused to answer.
Hiei's eyes were drawn to the box in his lover's hands as Kurama drew both halves of its split top open. Inside on a bed of blood red silk was a small, slightly charred gold coronet emblazoned with red-gold crests of the Land of Fire and adorned with small flame rubies.
Hiei looked up at Kurama confused, "What's that?"
"A crown," Kurama lightly laughed, "You have to wear it."
"I'm not wearing that!" Hiei spat and smacked the coronet out of Kurama's hands and let it clang across the cobblestone floor.
Hiei's rather violent reaction to wearing the crown did not surprise or offend Kurama. The fox would have been more shocked if Hiei hadn't vehemently refused. Truthfully, Kurama wasn't pleased the ceremony called for Hiei to wear the crown either. Both Hiei and Kurama had worked hard to put the Land of Fire behind them, to erect a wall on those memories the crown so effortlessly reminded them, especially Hiei, about.
"Hiei…" Kurama gently coaxed as he rationalized the situation for Hiei, "It is only for a few moments and then it won't matter. I am sure Enki will let you melt it in public as a more visual declaration that the Land of Fire is no more."
Hiei grumbled some words underneath his breath, but still crossed his arms over his chest. He refused to look at the coronet lying on the ground.
Softening his gaze and expression, Kurama stood in front of Hiei and laid one hand on his shoulder. He gently stroked Hiei's cheek with his other. "I know it's difficult…and I know what that crown signifies to you, but you are not the King and never will be. You have already rejected taking the King's place and soon that burden will not exist for you to bear."
Hiei stepped away from Kurama's touch and canted his eyes, "I know all this. You've said this all before, but it still…disturbs me. That I and that monster share blood. That I owe my being to him. It makes me angry, but what can I do about it, Kurama?" Hiei drew both his hands at his sides into tight fists, "There's nothing I can do… And knowing that just makes me angrier. I hate him."
"It will not be now or any time soon," Kurama said, balancing a fine line between tact and tenderness, "But you will deal with the anger and you will move on. And I will be with you. It is something we have to work on, but we will succeed. You are stronger than the King."
Before Hiei could respond if he wanted to, or even decide whether or not to embrace his understanding fox, the heavy, ornate metal doors of the drawing room opened wide. In the door and stepping into the room was General Honoo in new royal armor, all hidden under a flowing white cloak bearing crests of the Land of Fire.
Hiei did not expect Honoo to be here. Turning to the elderly fire demon warrior, Hiei scowled fiercely. "Come to stop me? If you want the crown, it's yours."
To Hiei's surprise, the old demon laughed. "I have neither the life left nor the proper heart to take up kingship. I was born a warrior and chose to remain so. I know my place in this world…" General Honoo rasped and stared contemplatingly at Hiei and then looked at Kurama, "…as do you, my lord."
The flames of his mohawk seemed to dim as the General lost his friendly smile and became serious, "Have I heard the message clearly that the Land of Fire will be no more?"
Hiei simply nodded sharply in reply.
The old general was not surprised or was disappointed by Hiei's decision. Honoo merely stared at the floor and wistfully smiled. "As it should be then."
"What will you do?" Kurama asked.
"It is too late for me to find another king to serve. I will return to my territory and govern it until my successor is ready. After that…I am not certain, Master Kurama. I am a warrior, and by nature, I do not do well in peacetime. But I suspect by then my bones will match my age. …Perhaps I'll write a book, a tome of my military knowledge as a final parting to this world, then…end my life traveling and fighting what come may." General Honoo nodded and meditated over his words, and then smiled, "Yes, that sounds fine…" Though the last bit sounded as if Honoo was speaking to himself.
"You said you and I have a score to settle… For Sunaryu Daioh," Hiei said, breaking the old demon from his reverie of thoughts.
Honoo readopted a genial smile, "Yes, yes, we do. When the time comes to end my score, I will seek you."
They heard the giant general's metal footsteps before he even entered the room, but when General Kayaku arrived inside the drawing room, he busted through the shut doors, nearly ripping them from their hinges and blasting the metal into shrapnel. Despite the charge through the doors, Kayaku didn't even seem winded. His metal body and endless power supplies accounted for his lack of fatigue or damages. The mechanisms on his helmet activated and freed his mouth to speak.
Dropping most formality, which only served to his plan, General Kayaku fired his questions immediately, "Prince, what is the truth? What is it to these rumors that you are dissolving the Fire Country?"
"I am," Hiei said, bridling at Kayaku's referral to him as 'Prince'.
Kayaku, according to his plan, forfeited his skills of observation and did not pick up on Hiei's anger toward being call a prince, "But, Prince…"
And with another referral, Hiei snapped. He narrowed his red eyes and scowled fiercely, "Look! I was not raised your prince or as his son. I have no intention of furthering my father's legacy. I do what I want to do and I won't live in the shadow of another."
Honoo turned toward the big, metal general and smiled. "Fear not, Kayaku. The Fire Country will be annexed into the rest of Demon World. You can serve the King of Demon World."
Kayaku shook his head no. "I will not serve such a king whose reign is so mercurial… I serve only the constant will of the King of the Land of Fire. I serve Prince Hiei," he said stubbornly.
Blood boiling, Hiei raised his voice louder since he figured that Kayaku was obviously hard of hearing, "I am not your prince nor will I ever be! Don't ask me what to do anymore! I don't care what you end up doing. This country is dead! Your king is dead! And I am releasing you all, then I want nothing to do with anything from this infernal land, understood?"
"You are…freeing me?" Kayaku asked uncertainly but all to his plan.
"Did you not listen?" Hiei growled. "Yes, I am freeing you."
And in that moment, every occupant in that room sensed a strange weight of energy lift and vanish. Like a rock over their shoulders they never knew was there but noticed when it went missing. Funny how the oppressive feeling had arrived in the room the instant General Kayaku had entered.
"I hear well enough." Kayaku gruffly replied and began to leave. However, he paused mid-turn and peered over his shoulder at Hiei. "Thank you," he added softly and left the room.
Hiei was thoroughly confused and looked so.
"Kayaku is no fool and only pretended to be so. He needed you to phrase his dismissal as such," Honoo explained, "Such are the rules to which the King's curse of servitude upon him required. You have done a great service to him. No doubt you have made an ally in Kayaku, should he chose to aid you."
"Hn," Hiei shrugged. He hadn't intended to help Kayaku, so why should he feel good that he had? Hiei saw it was nothing more than an unforeseen, pleasant occurrence for the general, and for what so-called benefit of aid Hiei could receive from accidentally freeing Kayaku, Hiei had no intention of using.
Honoo saw the coronet lying on the floor and looked amused as he picked it up, "I see Master Kurama has brought you the King's coronet our men recovered at the crater's edge."
"Yes, but Hiei will not wear it," the fox playfully chided.
Honoo bobbed his head as he chuckled throatily. "That, Master Kurama, is your task to complete, " he said and set the crown in Kurama's hands. "Hopefully, it is not too dangerous a duty," Honoo flashed a look over at Hiei's defiant, scowling face and then back at Kurama, "…I bid you good luck in any case."
General Honoo bowed to Hiei first, and then Kurama and offered his well-wishes to their long and loving joined futures. He then said his last goodbyes, and exited the room.
In which all that was left to do was get Hiei to wear the crown…
-o-
The fox was enjoying all this pomp and circumstance way too much. But, Hiei had to admit, it was cute. He didn't really mind Kurama's bits of playful teasing (and he could even bear wearing these ridiculous robes and the damnable crown) as long as Kurama was there, happy and smiling. And Hiei did enjoy the gleam in the fox's eyes whenever he looked at him. That swelling mix of pride, love, desire, and joy on his lover's face, well, made all this frivolity worth it, Hiei supposed.
And Hiei couldn't lie that, peering over at Kurama standing beside him as they stood in the long dark hall before the grand doors to be opened for them and prepared to make their entrance together, Kurama was stunning. Hiei knew his robes were tailored for him, just as Hiei's robes had been, but whoever made Kurama's robes captured his features perfectly. His robes were not overtly feminine but a male's robes with delicate touches and flowing yet commanded the fox's strength and fit body and highlighted his elegance well. While Hiei thought lavender-blue was an odd choice of color, he couldn't deny it made Kurama more so beautiful.
And with a lover so wonderful and alluring, why wouldn't Hiei want to parade him around, if even for a little bit? As Hiei waited and glanced at Kurama, he found himself falling in love and lust with the fox all over again.
"Sirs, we are about to open the doors," an armored guard informed them, breaking Hiei from his reverie, and saluted.
Kurama gazed at Hiei, smiled brightly, and offered his arm. Hiei took his arm, making sure to hold it in such a way as per tradition to indicate Kurama was his mate, and breathed deeply. Was he nervous? Yes, but Hiei would never admit that. No matter the jumpy state of his nerves, in any case, he felt Kurama's loving press of his hand and knew all would go well. There was still Enma's order on Hiei's life active and the uncertainly of Hiei's future with the order's existence, but with Enki's security and Koenma's security drawn together for this signing, Hiei was more than protected for this select but still too public ceremony. Besides, he repeated to himself, if anything truly horrendous happened, they still had Koenma's scrolls on their persons. And Hiei had Kurama, the fiercest protection of all.
They would get this treaty signed and over with and be done with the Fire Country and the King altogether, Hiei reminded himself. He could go home soon with his beloved fox and be happy. And in the future, instead of dwelling on his father and the circumstances of his birth and life, Hiei could come to dwell on kisses and sweet touches with his mate, on celebrating birthdays and new arrivals with his friends and sister, on rediscovering the power he thought he lost but this turn finding it on his own merits, and perhaps even…on learning how to be an uncle and the godfather of two. Whatever may come to pass, Hiei would be there with Kurama at his side, and he at his.
Yes, Hiei realized and faintly smiled, there was much to be happy for the future.
As the grand doors pushed open and the ceremony began, a soft white light poured through the gap and illuminated the dark hall. And Hiei and Kurama raised their heads high and proudly marched arm-in-arm together into the sights of demons and spirits alike.