Nanashi slipped in and out of consciousness over the next two days. Hiei hardly left her side. When he did, he was never more than a minute away. He refused to let himself sleep.

A knock came at the door. Nanashi woke up at the sound, mumbling incoherently. Hiei, standing by the window, sniffed the air. "Come in," he called.

Mukuro walked in and shut the door. Nanashi saw her out of the corner of her eye and drew the covers up to her chin. She did not want to see Mukuro. She did not like the woman. Without meaning to, Nanashi showed her teeth to Mukuro.

"She's a wild one alright. No wonder you couldn't let her go," Mukuro said as she approached Nanashi's bed. Nanashi scrambled to sit up. She glared at her.

"What do you want Mukuro? She needs to rest," Hiei called over.

"Do you recall telling me once that you would kill her if I commanded it?" Nanashi gave a sharp intake of breath.

"That was lie."

"Didn't sound like one at the time."

Hiei did not respond. "What do you want?" Nanashi asked quietly.

Mukuro looked down at her. Nanashi's skin crawled. If she was strong enough for it, she would have brought the wind dragon up to her neck. Instead, the wind dragon was working with her body and using her spirit energy to help replenish her blood.

"Oh, nothing. Just came to offer my services to watch you while he sleeps. After what I put him through, I'm surprised he's still awake and coherent."

Nanashi scowled at Mukuro. She did not want to spend more time with this woman, Hiei or no Hiei.

Hiei walked over to Nanashi's bed and climbed in. "That's fine," he said. He laid down, threw his arm over Nanashi's legs, and closed his eyes.

Nanashi looked over at him. "What? Hiei..." she said feebly. He did not respond. "I don't want her here," Nanashi said through her teeth.

"What's wrong with me?" Mukuro asked gruffly. Nanashi refused to answer. She was tired, but she did not want to sleep with Mukuro there, too close for comfort. "Are you scared I'll hurt you?" Nanashi turned her head away and looked down at Hiei. He was breathing heavily. She could not wake him up. Who knows how long he was awake.

"Let's see, he took you as his mate four days ago," Mukuro responded, reading her mind. "So, over four days. In that time he fought in the demon tournament, advancing past the preliminaries, and then gave you his blood when you were about to die. Oh yes, he's been awake for quite awhile."

Nanashi gritted her teeth. She wished Muruko would move away a few feet at least. Mukuro did not. Instead, she spun a monologue that Nanashi could not ignore.

"So you'll be a human in the demon world now huh? You'll be with him for the rest of your life. That's a tall order. While you asleep yesterday, he told me how you asked for it. Very brave of you. Or foolish. You were a bit foolish in our fight. I thought about killing you, but in spite of him constantly lying to me for months about you, that you meant nothing to him, I couldn't do it. I asked him once if he would kill you if he had the chance. He yes, but that's another lie obviously. He's had loads of chances in the past four days. And yet, here you are. He kept me from reading his mind, but I could tell. When watching the video feeds from Yomi's compound, with you and the red haired wind demon, flirting and kissing when no one else was looking, we saw the whole thing... Seemed to be a some sexual tension between you two as well... I assume you slept with that one at the very least. He seemed eager to get back into a bed with you. Does he love you?"

Nanashi hissed, "shut up."

"He does, doesn't he? Must be nice, hmm. To be loved by someone. Or is it better to love someone else? Do you love him back or were you just leading him on?"

Nanashi wanted to hit Mukuro to make her shut up. She was too weak to try, and she did not want to wake Hiei. "What do you care?" she growled.

"I don't. I was just curious. Seems interesting you would pick Hiei over him... More interesting that Hiei would agree to the matehood with you, knowing all that with you and the other demon. Maybe it was out of jealousy. Wasn't it out of jealousy you asked him anyway? From what I can tell from your mind, you were jealous of me, so you offered yourself to him like a trophy and he just took it."

Nanashi curled her upper lip in disgust. "Stop talking," she commanded.

"Why? Are you getting upset? I'm only trying your patience on purpose Nishi." At the sound of Hiei's nickname for her, Nanashi reached up to strike Mukuro. Mukuro caught her hand easily and put it back down on the bed. "Testy little human aren't you? You're the one who wanted to stay here. Compared with what other demons could be saying to you, I'm being nice. It's not everyday a human falls in love with a demon and convinces him to take her into matehood. You should be honored he even considered. Or the other two demons for that matter. When Yomi found out, he was beyond angry. You'd think Hiei stole you from him like the bandit he used to be. I guess your a popular item..."

Nanashi listened in grim silence to Mukuro ramble on, insulting her. She tried not to think about what Mukuro said, but she could not avoid it. After an hour, she noticed Hiei was still asleep, now with his head in her lap. He twitched and murmured occasionally, but did not thrash or scream.

"...Oh, good. No more nightmares about you. He's had them frequently ever sense the tournament was announced. Him killing you, you dying, the works. Better than the ones about his abandonment as a child-"

Nanashi snapped back to full attention at what Mukuro was saying. "What?" she asked abruptly. She knew Hiei had issues in his past, but she did not know much. Hiei hardly told her anything and Kurama only said he was orphaned and raised by bandits. She also knew he was Yukina's twin, but not the background to that story either.

"You don't know the whole story? Interesting. I'd share it with you, but he wouldn't like that very much...Oh, are you going to the banquet for the surviving members tonight? That foolish king winner is hosting it. You probably aren't strong enough for it though. You'd embarrass Hiei."

Nanashi scowled. "Yes, I'm going," she had no idea about it until now. "What time is at again?"

"7. You have a two hours yet. Shouldn't you sleep?" Nanashi felt like she had slept forever. While tired, she did not want to sleep with Mukuro in the room. A knock came from the door. "Well, who could that be?"

Nanashi called as loud as she dared with Hiei asleep in her lap. "Come in." Yusuke peaked his head in the door. "Yusuke!" Nanashi exclaimed, and then clapped her hands over her mouth. Hiei shifted in his sleep.

"Will he let me see you know. He's been such a pain. Almost kills you, and then hides you away in a different room on a different floor."

"Of course you can come in," Nanashi replied.

"Don't touch her," Mukuro warned. To Nanashi she said, "He won't be happy with you if you smell like another man."

Nanashi frowned. She wanted to hug her cousin. Yusuke came in quietly and stood by the foot of the bed on Nanashi's side. "Can we talk in private?" he rudely asked Mukuro.

Mukuro got up and walked to the door. She stood by the door, and watched them. "I said I'd look after her. This is the best your going to get."

Yusuke took the chair, but maintained some distance from Nanashi. He looked down at Hiei's head in Nanashi's lap. "I don't think I've seen him so peaceful before. So what exactly is the story behind you two? Kurama told me some things, but I want it from you. Did you two really get married?"

Nanashi sighed inwardly and explained. She did not leave anything out, but did not go into graphic details. She included her history with Jin as well. At the end she also explained, "we're not married. Not in the human way anyway. I guess in the demon way we are."

Yusuke shook his head. "I'm not comfortable with this. Had I known, I would have put a stop to it. Jin would have been a way better pick. I've never seen him overly nice to you, or any woman for that matter. It's just so unbelievable..."

Nanashi did not know what to say, so she responded with, "I love him..."

"He nearly killed you. I know it's a normal demon thing, but still. From what I've heard, that room was awful. The sheets were burned afterward. And then, no one could find either of you for hours. I'm just glad your okay. So there hasn't been some secret wedding?"

Nanashi shook her head. "It's not like that here, for him."

Yusuke crossed his arms across his chest. "Yeah, well, then I'm expecting a wedding. You're human, so if your stuck with him for the rest of your life, there should be a wedding. I'll tell him that myself when he wakes up."

Nanashi had not thought of actually marrying Hiei in the human sense. She did not think it was something he could go for. She liked the idea, and would go for it. "You won't convince him of that," Nanashi commented.

"I'll convince him. I about punched him in the face yesterday when he refused to let me see you."

"Why wouldn't he let you see me?"

"He was wild and angry. He killed three male healers who tried to check on you. With the exception of Kurama, no man was allowed to come near you."

Mukuro spoke up. "His reaction is normal. Males can get over protective when they first claim a mate. He saw all straight males as a threat. Her blood's about out of his system, so he'll be back to normal soon."

Nanashi was annoyed that Mukuro entered the conversation. She was also annoyed she was still in the room. Nanashi turned to Yusuke. "There's a banquet tonight?"

"Yea, you going?"

"I'd like to..." Nanashi yawned. "I've been sleeping forever. I am feeling better... So tell me about what happened with you since you left the human world?"

Yusuke told her about Raizen and his time in the demon world. He was so excited to share with her. And way animated about it. When Nanashi laughed, she tried very hard not bother Hiei. Nanashi felt so relaxed being in his presence again. She almost forgot Mukuro was there, ease dropping. Yusuke stayed for over ninety minutes. Absentmindedly, she stroked Hiei's hair.

"So what's your plan now that you two are getting married?" Yusuke asked.

"Uh... I'm not actually sure..." Nanashi admitted.

Mukuro interrupted again. "Hiei had already plan to stay with me as my right hand man. I'm in charge of the new king's army with my castle as my HQ. Where ever Hiei goes, she has to go. You may not like me very much girl, but I'll find you a job worthy of your skills and talents."

Nanashi pursed her lips. "I'm staying with Hiei where ever he goes," Nanashi replied with a snobby tone. "And don't count on a wedding," she added longingly.

Yusuke stood up. "If you're going to the banquet, you should wake up sleep beauty." Nanashi went to shake Hiei. "Woah, wait 'til I'm out of the room first!" Nanashi stopped and watched her cousin head out the door.

Once the door was shut, she shook Hiei gently. He snapped awake almost immediately and sniffed the air. He growled out, "who else was here?!" He gave Mukuro an angry look.

Nanashi pulled his face to hers. "My cousin," she told him. "I was happy to see him."

Hiei growled again and mumbled incoherently.

"Since your awake, I'm going to leave. See you at the banquet," Mukuro said as she slipped out the door.

Once the door closed, Nanashi kissed him swiftly on the mouth. "We should get ready for the banquet." She climbed out of the bed shakily. Hiei grabbed her and pulled her back onto the bed, onto her back. He straddled her.

"You're not strong enough for that," he hissed.

"I'm going," Nanashi said. She still felt weak, so she did not push him off. "Are you going to stop me?" She figured if he let Kurama stay because she wanted him to, then she could get away with what she wanted.

Hiei climbed off of her and gave her a dirty look. "Put your hair up. I want people to see my mate bite on your neck. Don't you dare pass out tonight."

Nanashi smiled to herself, knowing she got her way.