Disclaimer:

Kiyoshi: Wow, working on another chapter?

Stormie: Yup, I'm trying to get this story completed.

Kiyoshi: Why, to put us through more hell? -_-

Stormie: Nope, honestly, I'll probably wait before I start the next story. I want to complete a few so that I'm not overworked.

Kiyoshi: I approve of this. *good, I get a break*

Stormie: Anyways, I don't own YYH or the characters, only my OCs


Kiysohi was outside his hotel room on the balcony. They day after graduation, the day the ice maidens had crashed the ceremony, his dad and their friends had planned a huge trip to celebrate him and his sister graduating and also their moral victory over the ice maidens. The fire demon still felt numb about the whole thing. It was hard to believe that the mess that had been their lives for a long time was over. His family could finally be a real family without worrying about the stupid trial or what the elders wanted. Kiyoshi was free to be his own person.

Hintai woke up and watched her mate as he stood on the balcony. They were at a mountain resort, so the cold wind was blowing. Kiyoshi didn't seem bothered by it. In fact, the cold air and snow only seemed to relax the boy as he sighed in contentment. His mate smiled knowing that was his ice side. Despite how cold she'd be, she decided to join him.

"Hey there," she said wrapping her arms around his waist.

"Hey yourself," Kiyoshi replied in the most relaxed voice she had ever heard him use. He took her arm and pulled her in front of him, wrapping his arms around her upper body, using his abilities to heat her up. "How is my beautiful mate this morning?"

Hintai giggled slightly. The two of them acted like newlyweds, which wasn't too far from the truth. Her parents took a little while to accept it, like a few hours after the graduation ceremony, but it didn't matter. They liked Kiyoshi and realized that his feelings for their daughter were pure. They also felt like the boy had been through enough. Besides, it's not like they would have been able to erase he fact that they were mates. It was permanently binding.

"What do you want to do today?" Hintai asked him. "I mean, I'm sure we have to meet up with everyone, but I'd like some time alone with my husband."

Kiyoshi chuckled and shook his head. "We aren't married yet, Tai."

"Technically we are," she said with a smile. "We're both mated and engaged, so it doesn't matter."

"Yeah, I'm really glad you accepted my proposal," he told her. "Though, we'll have to wait on the wedding for a short while."

"Hm, why?"

Kiyoshi smirked as he thought about something his dad told him. "You'll see, love."

Hintai knew her mate was a cryptic soul, but she felt the joy he did when he said those words. Whatever it was, she accepted it, as long as it put a smile on his face.


Makoto stayed glued to Emiko's side after everything happened with the ice maidens. She had been so scared and hurt by their appearance and Makoto could feel every second of it. It angered him. He could only imagine the rage Kiyoshi or Hiei felt when they felt their mates' fear and anxiety. It was so overbearing that he hadn't wanted to leave her alone. His father didn't mind. He understood that Makoto was pretty much "married" to Emiko and he had no problems with him spending the night with her. His dad seemed surprised that Hiei would be so calm with it, though.

"Koto, you okay?" Emiko asked him as she started to wake up in his arms. She looked around the room with sleepy eyes before looking up at her mate. "It's light out. Why didn't you wake me?"

Makoto didn't want to worry her with the fact that he was thinking about their graduation day again. Instead he decided to go another route and make a remark that would make her blush. "After the night we had?" he teased. "Nah, I think I wore you out too much, Emi."

Emiko did in fact blush before giggling and playfully smacking him on the shoulder. "Don't say things like that around the others," she warned him. "My dad and Kiyo might approve, but I don't think they'd want to hear that."

"I'm not stupid, Emi," he said blandly. Then he smiled again. "I reserve moments like these for between the two of us."

Emiko beamed up at her mate before pulling him into an innocent kiss. He replied immediately, conveying his desire for her, deepening her innocent kiss into one of passion. Emiko pulled away for a moment to see the questioning gaze of her mate. She blushed once more as she nervously said, "I-If we do that again, my parents are going to wonder where we are."

Makoto chuckled at Emiko. He loved how innocently nervous she could be despite how full of confidence she was in other moments. "I understand," he remarked. "We better get ready. I feel like something big is going to happen today."

Emiko couldn't help but feel the same way. She felt a certain excitement that she couldn't explain. Something that day was going to change, and it would be something for the better.


"I can't believe it," Kuwabara said with a chuckle. "After all that crap you gave me about your sister, now you want to do the same thing."

"Shut up, fool," Hiei joked making his brother-in-law narrow his eyes at him. It made him chuckle, especially when the twins started dancing around their father calling him a fool again.

"So, when are you going to ask her?" Kuwabara asked effectively changing the subject.

"Kurama and I went to check out rings earlier," Hiei stated. "He and the detective went to pick it up. I'm supposed to meet Yoshe when she and Yukina get back from the spa or wherever they went, so if I went with them she'd be suspicious."

"Yeah, I get it," Kuwabara stated. "But I have to admit, I am happy for you. You and those kids, Yoshe too, after everything you four have been through, you need to be happy."

"Don't get sentimental on me," Hiei ordered playfully. "Where's the oaf who I used to loathe so much who hated me in return?"

"Hiei, I never hated you," Kuwabara told him. "Your attitude maybe, but never you. And as for you, I don't think you hated me either. You were just the overprotective big brother, at a distance. It's normal."

"I know; believe me," Hiei scoffed. "You should see how protective Kiyoshi is of Emiko, though now the two of us have help."

"Yeah, who would have thought Hagiri's kid would mate your daughter?" The two of them nervously chuckled and shook their head. "Things have definitely changed since way back."

"It's a welcomed change," Hiei remarked. "Anyways, I'll be back. Kiyoshi knows, but I haven't told Emiko yet."

"She'll be thrilled," Kuwabara said softly, smiling at the fire demon. "Good luck, man. See you later."

Hiei gave his a nod and small, two-finger wave. There were some more people he needed to tell before he met up with Yoshezame.


Yoshezame felt anxious over something, though she couldn't put her finger on it. Yukina had taken her to the spa to relax, but she felt this excited energy and had no idea why. Maybe it was anticipation for something big, but the biggest thing she had been anticipating was over. There was no trial; the ice maidens were out of hers and her children's lives for good. Now, their family was a go between for any other "forbidden child." Yoshezame mentally scoffed when she thought of that horrible phrase.

"Yoshe," Yukina called, accusation in her tone, "what's wrong?"

"Nothing," Yoshezame replied with a smile. "Just thinking."

"Thinking is not allowed in here," Yukina told her, "or at least that's what Keiko and Botan usually tell me and Julia."

Yoshezame's smile remained on her face as she nodded. She felt so blessed that she was out of the frozen lands she and Yukina had been born in. The two of them had families and friends that would do anything for them. The older ice maiden had no idea what she did to deserve such happiness. It was the last thing she had ever expected when she first arrived in the human realm.

She sighed in contentment, lying back in her chair. Well, Yukina did say it was time to relax. It was time to take advantage of the quiet. The excitement would have to remain inside of her until later.


Hiei left his children as they went off with their mates to go out to some restaurant. Emiko had been very happy to hear his news. Now, both Makoto and Hintai were aware too, and Hintai now understood why Kiyoshi told her their nuptials would have to wait.

The fire demon was waiting outside of the spa for his mate and sister to get out. He was lucky that Kurama and Yusuke had returned earlier. He wouldn't have to wait until later to talk to Yoshezame. Patience was never his strong suit, though, which was making the waiting seem prolonged.

Eventually, Yoshezame and Yukina came out of the spa and both spotted Hiei and smiled at him. "Hey," Yoshezame greeted softly.

Hiei crossed his arms and smirked. "Hello," he said smoothly.

Yoshezame couldn't understand why his voice sounded so deep and appealing in that moment, but she couldn't help but want to go off somewhere with him. He exuded confidence, so she knew something was going on. "Yukina, we will catch you later," Yoshezame told her. "At dinner, maybe."

Yukina nodded and waved to the two of them. Hiei waved back at his sister before taking Yoshezame's arm and leading her outside into the cold. The ice maiden was curious as to why Hiei was taking her out into the snow. She know he hated the snow and ice as it reminded him of the horrible village, but she was even more shocked when he sat her down on a bench and settled beside her.

"Yoshe," he said softly while looking at the sky. He had her full attention. "I am not good with words, as you know." She chuckled slightly and nodded. "I don't really need words when I am around you, but I was able to express them freely with you. My past, my emotions, the children, a bond…I have been able to share everything with you, my mate…my onna."

Yoshezame could hardly form a response when she heard Hiei's sincere words. When she opened her mouth to speak, Hiei held his hand out to stop her and she effectively clamped her mouth shut. Hiei held out a small, black, velvet box, and Yoshezame's eyes widened. She didn't know about human customs, but she had remembered seeing Kiyoshi with a box like it before he proposed to Hintai. Before she could linger on her unasked question, namely if Hiei was doing the same thing, Hiei said, "I won't be getting down on one knee like the humans do, but I would still like to make our mating official in their world. We do reside here now, after all."

"Hiei," Yoshezame nearly choked out. Her eyes filled with tears, but she managed to rein them in. "Of course," she replied nodded, a few drops hitting the ground forming crystals, "of course I will marry you. I would be honored."

Hiei grinned at her and pulled her in for a long and lingering kiss. The two of them closed their eyes, Yoshezame's hands entangling in Hiei's hair. He pulled away from her slightly, them both breathing a little heavier. "The honor is mine," he said against her lips before they resumed their activities.


Meanwhile, Yusuke, Kurama, Kuwabara, Kenta, and Pyrius were off in Kurama's room. "Pay up," Yusuke said. "You know we were right."

"Yeah, yeah," Kenta replied, him and Pyrius both paying some money over to Yusuke and Kurama.

"Hey, why wasn't I part of this bet?" Kuwabara said in an accusatory voice.

"Sorry, demons only," Kurama told him. He pointed over to Pyrius and Kenta. "They expected Hiei to forego human customs completely after mating. Yusuke and I said otherwise."

"Yeah, well good for them," Pyrius said with a smile. "They deserve the happiness Hina and I never got."

Kuwabara flashed Pyrius a sympathetic glance. "I think she'd be happy for them, too," he said. Pyrius nodded before getting up to look outside. He couldn't help but feel joy and pride when he saw his son rolling around and laughing in the snow with his mate.

Yes, she would be.