Every time it snowed in Ningenkai, Hiei was reminded of the ice world. True, he wasn't bothered by cold, just as he wasn't bothered by heat. That was the good thing about being half-ice demon, half-fire demon. But even though extreme temperatures couldn't hurt Hiei, he could still feel them.

Heat, he liked. Being a fire demon, it was in his nature. Most demons and humans alike would shriek with pain if they were burned alive, but to Hiei, being engulfed in flames was like taking a warm, relaxing bath. Cold, on the other hand, wasn't exactly uncomfortable, and he couldn't freeze to death, but it wasn't comforting, either. The cold wind on his skin felt unfriendly; rigid and unyielding, it was best avoided.

So it was lucky that Hiei had Kurama. Now, winter days for Hiei meant snuggling in front of the fire, warming Kurama's fragile human body. Sure, he wasn't as fragile as a regular human, and he certainly was bound to survive in situations where a normal human would be killed instantly, albeit with injuries, lasting ones or no. But he wasn't nearly as strong as he could be. Hiei couldn't fathom why anyone would willingly take on a form that was weaker when he had a much stronger one, but that was just the thing—he didn't have to understand. Hiei and Kurama would never understand each other completely, but that was part of what kept their relationship interesting and new. One of the things that endeared Kurama to Hiei was that the fox-demon was difficult to understand, a challenge per se, and both his complex mind and his past were full of mysteries.

Mystery Number One, of course, being the fact that Hiei was still alive.

Ever since Hiei's training with Shigure, he thought nobody would beat him in swordplay except, perhaps, Shigure himself. But with Kurama, it was over in less than two minutes. Hiei was struck by a fatal blow; but instead of ending his life, as he'd expected, Kurama had taken him all the way back home, healed him, warned him not to leave while he was still recovering, and even asked him for his name! As if he actually cared about the demon he could just as easily have left for dead. That was not the way a victor of a battle should act towards the one he'd defeated, and yet…

The look on Kurama's face as he cuddled his husband was so content, so peaceful, as if there was nowhere he would rather be, in all three worlds, than right here. His eyes were closed, and his mouth was turned slightly upwards in a soft smile. His touch could be so deadly, yet it was gentle as those soft hands idly stroked Hiei's hair. Kurama was always so calm, and that, in turn, was calming in itself; just by being near him, Hiei could almost believe that everything was going to be all right. Kurama was kind, Kurama was calming, and Kurama was safe.

"Tomorrow's Christmas Eve, you know," he said evenly, pulling Hiei a little closer. "You still want to have everyone over?"

"Well, it's a little late to cancel on them, isn't it?"

"True." Kurama snuggled Hiei a little closer. "I'm glad we're together this Christmas, Hiei. Our second Christmas as a couple, and our first as expectant parents."

"And our wedding anniversary is in April," Hiei reminded him. "I guess I'll really be fat then."

Hiei and Kurama hadn't been a couple for very long, that was a fact. Directly after the Makai Tournament, Hiei spent a year with Mukuro, but after realizing his true feelings, he left her for Kurama and returned to Ningenkai, this time for good. (The breakup had been amicable; Hiei was glad he could still call Mukuro a mentor and ally.) Hiei and Kurama dated for a year and a half before they finally got married. Six months as a happily married couple went by, and then Hiei got pregnant. That was when things really began to change…and one year from now, it would be Baby's First Christmas.

"I see it as our baby growing, not you," said Kurama. "Anyway, speaking of anniversaries, you'll never guess what Yomi told me when I called to give him his invitation. Apparently he and Mukuro are getting married."

"What?!" said Hiei in shock, remembering the two Kings' animosity during the first Makai Tournament. "To each other, you mean?"

"It seemed strange to me at first, too, but I suppose once King Enki took the throne, they were able to resolve their differences," said Kurama. "They're currently living in his old territory with Shura."

"Who?"

"Yomi's son, remember?"

"Right," said Hiei. "When's the big day?"

"The first of August, so our baby will be born," Kurama replied. "I'm sure they'd like it if we were to attend, you know. Of course, considering how important they both are, I'm sure all of Makai will turn up."

"I've never been to a wedding besides my own, but I've heard some Makaian ones can get pretty wild," said Hiei. "So much that Reikai has to step in and shut them down."

"Due to King Enki's relatively peaceful reign that the former Kings never quite seemed able to achieve," said Kurama, "Reikai seems to have cut down on their meddling in Makai for the most part."

"Then I guess we can go," said Hiei, leaning into Kurama's chest as the fire crackled on.

…

Christmas Eve was snowy and freezing, just like this year's winter had been so far. Some of their friends residing in Ningenkai came to help them get everything set for the Christmas party. They already had a tree, and everyone would be bringing gifts. Due to Hiei's sensitivities, Shizuru wasn't going to be lighting up anything but the Christmas candles, and nobody wore any scents except Keiko and Yukina, who wore flowery fragrances Kurama made for them. (Flowers were Hiei's favorite smell while pregnant.)

"So let me get this straight," Kuwabara was saying as he and the other three added popcorn strings to the Christmas tree. "No Christmas cake, no cookies, no chocolate, no nothing?"

"That's right," said Hiei. "Even those words make me nauseous."

"I see you nibbling the popcorn, Hiei," Kurama said with a grin. "Anyway, I know you've been craving Makaian meat, so I've asked our friends to bring some over. Jin says Touya's had a love for sweets lately, but luckily, he doesn't seem to have any particular aversions."

"Of course he doesn't," Hiei said, rather bitterly, Kurama thought.

"I still don't understand how a guy can be pregnant, though," said Kuwabara, obviously trying to keep his eyes off of Hiei's baby bump and, at all costs, his chest, which now fully resembled that of a pregnant female. "I mean…I always thought we weren't built that way."

"As a human, you aren't built that way," said Hiei. "Demon bodies are different."

"But due to Hiei and Touya being elemental demons, their pregnancies will be almost identical to that of a human woman's," Kurama told him. "Of all types of demons, elementals are the most similar to humans physiologically."

"Has it kicked yet?" Yusuke asked. "Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?"

"We won't find out the gender for another month or so," said Kurama. "And if it's kicked, Hiei hasn't told me."

"It hasn't," said Hiei.

Just then, Yukina emerged from the kitchen, grinning widely.

"You should see the Christmas feast we've got in here!" she said happily. "Oh, I love Christmas so much. It's like a day humans set aside to love each other."

"I borrowed some great Christmas movies subbed in Japanese from the library," added Keiko, who was right behind Yukina.

"That'll be the best, but I just hope you guys have enough tissues," said Kuwabara. "I know those movies are supposed to be really cheesy, but they always make me cry."

"Pathetic," muttered Hiei.

…

Later that evening, the guests started to arrive. The first ones there were Shizuru and Botan (Kurama's mom had arrived earlier, cooking with Yukina and Keiko). Kurama had been joking about dressing Hiei in a Santa Claus outfit, but Botan was actually wearing one, except with a skirt and knee-high black boots. Shizuru was dressed in her winter gear, like all the other humans there were.

"Merry Christmas, everyone!" Botan cried joyfully, stepping into the room. Being the cheerful, excitable one in the relationship, she usually balanced Shizuru out, but Shizuru looked happy, too. The next couple to arrive were Touya and Jin, all the way from Makai.

"I love this weather!" Touya declared when Kurama opened the door. "If this is what Ningenkai is like, it's too bad we Shinobi didn't get it."

"Oh, you wouldn't like it in the summer, Touya," said Hiei from his place on the couch. "You'd have to move someplace that's cold all the time."

"I don't like it much in the summer, either, to be honest," Yukina agreed, although Hiei knew that since their father had been a fire demon, she had inherited some amount of heat resistance, just as Hiei had inherited cold resistance.

"Merry Christmas, Hiei!" Touya said, bounding over to his fellow pregnant youkai. "Look at you! You're carrying so well! I'm only on my eleventh week, but do you think I look pregnant yet?"

"Not really," said Hiei truthfully, shrugging.

"I just love being pregnant, don't you?" Touya gushed. "I can't wait until I have a bump like yours! And it's crazy how much energy I have! And I don't know what all the fuss is about that morning sickness. I didn't throw up once, did you? And the cravings aren't even that bad, plus I didn't gain any weight anywhere except my belly. Pregnancy's a piece of Christmas cake! I think all those symptoms are just exaggeration, do you agree?"

Hiei breathed heavily out of his nostrils, feeling that he would quite like to shove his sword down the Ice Master's throat. For him, the symptoms were worse than he ever could have imagined. Not so much in the second trimester, since he was on his sixteenth week, but Hiei hadn't forgotten how miserable his first trimester had been. Touya's was positively easy, it seemed—and his personality was definitely different.

"And we can't forget the sex." Touya grinned mischievously and plopped down next to Hiei on the couch. "It's much, much better when pregnant, isn't it?"

"Well, you're right about that."

"It does make you horny, though, doesn't it?" Touya continued. "How do you satisfy yourself while Kurama's at work all day?"

"I have my ways," said Hiei, smiling blissfully.

"Like what?" Touya asked.

"It's none of your business, but since I understand your troubles, I'll tell you," said Hiei. "Kurama gave me a plant that can please me in any way imaginable. It pays to be married to a Plant Master."

"Plant Master…" Touya sighed. "Kurama would have been a good Shinobi, I'll bet. The only one I really liked was Jin. Gama was okay, but Risho and Bakken irritated me. Jin and I didn't feel close enough with them to come out of the closet. But just like I've mastered ice, Kurama has definitely mastered plants."

"Kurama was a bandit, not a Shinobi," Hiei reminded him, but his attention was diverted as he saw their next guests, Yomi and Mukuro, with Shura in tow. When he stood up to wave a casual hello, he figured Kurama had told the new couple about his pregnancy—but one look at Mukuro's face told him he figured wrong.

"Well, Hiei, you've been busy!" said Mukuro, grinning as she walked over to the couch.

"You know, I really wish that wasn't the first thing people think about when they see me," Hiei grouched. "What about the Miracle of Life?"

"I'm just joking," she said, coming around to sit by him. "You look great."

"Doesn't he?" Touya agreed. "And guess what? I'm pregnant, too! I'm due on July 14, and Hiei's due on June 11. Our precious babies will be born only a month apart! I'm so excited!"

"What's Touya on?" said Mukuro sardonically.

"Hormones," Hiei grumbled.

"Well, you both will have your babies by the time Yomi and I get married," said Mukuro. "You two are coming, aren't you?"

"Of course!" said Touya. "I'll bring Jin, too."

"We wouldn't miss it," Hiei agreed.

"Good," said Mukuro. "Because, Hiei, as my former second-in-command, I wondered if you would be my attendant."

"Wow, really?" An attendant was a little like a best man or maid-of-honor. "Yes, I'll do it."

"I hope you have someone to look after the baby during the ceremony, though," said Mukuro.

"Can't Kurama do that?"

"Well, actually, Yomi is insistent upon having Kurama be his attendant," Mukuro replied. "So maybe you could have your sister Yukina do it."

"She'd love to," said Hiei. "I'm sure we can get all our friends to go. Kurama says that since you two used to be Kings, everyone in Makai will probably turn up to your wedding."

"Do I hear someone talking about the approaching wedding?" came a smooth, radio-announcer-like voice from behind them. Hiei looked, and it was Yomi, with Kurama right next to him.

"Yes, I was just making sure they were coming," Mukuro told him. "What did Kurama say about being your attendant?"

"I told him I would be honored," Kurama told her politely.

"Hmm…" Yomi raised his eyebrows slightly. "I'm surprised, Kurama. You didn't tell me Hiei was pregnant."

"How would you know?" said Hiei. "You're blind."

"Then I suppose you've always had two heartbeats, Hiei?" Yomi quipped. "And you do smell like a pregnant youkai."

"And you smell a little like a wet cat," Hiei said back.

"I'll have you know it's the best-selling fragrance for men in Makai," Yomi said importantly.

"Fragrance for men?" Now it was Kurama's turn to raise his eyebrows. "Since when could you buy that sort of thing in Makai?"

"Since a young D-class started peddling prototypes on a street corner in our city," Mukuro replied. "They were an instant hit, and now he sells billions of bottles a day. Forget succeeding militarily and politically; if you want to live like a King, just invent something people will pay money for."

"How does he make enough to sell?" Hiei asked curiously.

"Now he has demons who do it for him," Yomi explained. "In exchange, he gives them lodging and has a more powerful friend give them food. Basically, in exchange for working for him, they no longer have to build homes or find their own food. Not so different from all the thieves that worked for you, Kurama. We had to work hard to pull our own weight, but in return, we knew you would never let us starve."

"Well, it sounds nice, but my life here is even better," Kurama told him with a smile.

"Shura!" Mukuro barked suddenly. "Put that down this instant!"

"Aw, Mukuro, you spoil everything!" Shura whined. Apparently, he had been trying to sneak a Christmas present.

"We're opening presents later, Shura, but when it's time, you can open the first one, okay?" Kurama promised.

"Kurama," said Mukuro, "don't reward Shura for his bad behavior."

"You have to pick your battles," Kurama argued. "At least this way it will be easier for him to wait."

"It would be easier for him to wait if he learned some patience," Mukuro insisted. "Maybe he shouldn't get to open a present at all."

"Don't you find that a bit harsh? He's only a child."

"That kind of thinking is how you raise a spoiled brat."

"Tell me, then, how has Shura improved since you have been living with Yomi?"

"Are you suggesting—"

"Yomi, what do you think?" Hiei interrupted loudly.

"I think they both have a point, Hiei," said Yomi, crossing his arms. "Shura, you can still open a present, but Mukuro is right that you need to learn patience. As punishment for your lack thereof, you get to open yours last."

Shura looked furious, but he must have known better than to protest, because he joined his father and soon-to-be stepmother on the couch and sulked. Touya smiled and put an arm around him.

"You must be excited to open gifts," he said kindly, giving Shura a snuggle. "This is your first Christmas, isn't it?"

"Yeah. We don't have Christmas back home."

"Christmas is more than just about opening gifts, though," Touya continued. "It's about love, and family, and happiness, and just spending time with the people who are important to you. And one year from now, we'll have two new babies to celebrate with us."

"I agree with how Yukina put it," said Kurama. "It's a day humans set aside to love each other."

After everyone arrived, Botan said it was time to watch the Christmas movies.

"Everyone gather in the living room," she said enthusiastically. "Keiko, you're the one who went to the trouble of getting them from the library, so I think you should get first pick."

"Good idea," said Keiko, who didn't leave the couch, since she already knew the titles. "How about It's a Wonderful Life?"

"Are you sure about that, Keiko?" said Kurama, grinning at Hiei. "That one's on the warning list of movies you shouldn't watch while pregnant."

"I won't shed a single tear," Hiei declared.

Of course, that was nonsense. By the end of the movie, Hiei was sobbing into Kurama's shoulder. Yomi couldn't read the subtitles, of course, so he had to have Mukuro explain.

"Teacher says, every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings," she interpreted. "No man is a failure who has friends."

This only brought on more tears. The truth was that the story reminded Hiei a little bit of himself. The main character was about to kill himself, until he got the chance to see what everyone's lives would be like without him—including his brother, who died without him. Due to the absence of magical angels, Hiei could only speculate on that, but it seemed that somehow, maybe other people's lives were better with him, too. Kurama said he needed Hiei, anyway. Hiei remembered how, when he first started training with Mukuro, he wanted Shigure to kill him. He had never told Kurama about that, and he wondered to this day how Kurama would have felt, receiving the news that Hiei had died during Mukuro's training. That would have been a pointless loss.

They watched some other "classics," like How the Grinch Stole Christmas and A Christmas Carol, plus a few that included talking domestic Ningenkai animals, for some reason.

"I didn't know Ningenkai animals could talk," said Hiei, broken out of his crying due to confusion.

"They can't," Kurama told him. "That's just the movie."

"But why?"

"Come to think of it, I'm not sure," said Kurama.

"If you like pet movies and Christmas movies, watching one of these is killing two birds with one stone," Shizuru suggested.

One of the movies involved incompetent thieves trying to break into a family's house while they were visiting on Christmas Day, and Hiei delighted in how Kurama pointed out everything they were doing wrong. Yomi looked like he was enjoying it, too, and somehow Hiei wondered if Yomi was a little more attached to Kurama than what could be considered normal—not that he could blame him, of course.

Everyone wants Kurama, but he chose me, Hiei thought proudly as he snuggled into his husband's side. Throughout the entire Makai Tournament, Kurama had almost always seemed upset or angry, and a smile rarely graced his features. Back then, Hiei thought it was because of the identity crisis he was having at the time. But now he knew that wasn't why.

…

Following the movies was a delicious Christmas dinner. There were so many guests, both human and demon, that they had to use two separate tables. Some of them didn't like Christmas food so much, while others dug in heartily. Yusuke sat by Jin, Chu, Touya, and their other friends from the Dark and Makai Tournaments. In the past, Kurama had enjoyed philosophical discussions with Touya while Yusuke fooled around with the others, but now Touya was just as giddy as the rest of them.

Was it selfish, Kurama wondered, to wish Hiei was having as easy a time as Touya was? Touya was on his eleventh week and blissful, while Hiei's eleventh week involved a miscarriage scare. Now the pregnancy was easier on Hiei, and the sex was great, but the first trimester had been awful, and come the third, Hiei probably wouldn't like having a baby weighing him down.

After dinner, it was time to open presents. Shura seemed upset that he had to wait until last to open one, although all hope was not lost; trading gifts was still an option. For example, Hiei got a six-pack of beer, and Chu got a fancy new sword sheath, so the two of them quickly traded. Shura ended up getting a coloring book and crayons. Kurama gifted his hand creams, tea leaves, fragrances, etc., so that each person who opened a present from Kurama got one of his famous plant concoctions. Shura traded his coloring book and crayons with Rinku, who got scented candles (they were flower-scented, so they didn't bother Hiei). Kurama got some shirts.

Finally, there were no more presents left…or so they thought.

"Listen, Yomi, I know you said Shura had to open his present last," said Shizuru, standing up, "but there's one more present I wanted to save for the end of the night."

"Has anyone opened it yet?" asked Yomi.

"No," said Shizuru. "But it's for a specific person."

"Probably for me, because I got ripped off," whispered Kuwabara. "I mean, who would bring socks as a gift? It better not have been you, Hiei."

"It wasn't," Hiei said angrily. "Kurama's stuff was a joint gift from both of us. Now why don't you shut up and see who the gift is for?"

"It's for Botan," said Shizuru, holding up the box. It was flat and medium-sized, the kind of box that would contain a shirt or dress. Botan had gotten some gloves, a rather unremarkable gift, so she looked happy she was getting something else.

"Let's see here," said Botan, getting up off the couch and taking the box from Shizuru. Botan opened up the box, looking confused. "There's nothing in here."

"Look a little closer," Shizuru told her, so Botan rummaged around in the flat box for a bit, and then…

"Oh, Shizuru!" cried Botan, holding up something small and shiny in her hand. Everyone gasped. It was an engagement ring. Shizuru held up her left hand, revealing that she was wearing one, too.

"What do you say?" asked Shizuru, grinning.

"What do I say!" Botan burst into happy tears and threw her arms around Shizuru's neck. "Yes! Yes! Of course I'll marry you!"

Kurama hadn't forgotten his own proposal to Hiei, not so long ago, in the airport, when he was planning on heading off to Hawaii, and Hiei had caught him just in time.

"Please don't get on that plane, Kurama." Hiei swallowed. "I-I love you. The only thing that makes this foul world worth inhabiting is the fact that you're in it."

"Aww," said everyone standing around them.

"Do you people mind?!" Hiei snarled, glowering at them with his rather unsettling red eyes, and they immediately backed off…

Kurama laughed, and took Hiei's hands, swinging them ever so slightly. "Listen, Hiei, you're right. Do you know how lucky I am, to fall in love with my best friend? You taught me that love comes in all shapes and forms—and sometimes from the most unlikely of places. You've got a good heart deep down, Hiei, and I love that. From the beginning, every time we separate, we always seem to find our way back to each other somehow, and I think it will always be that way, because we were made for each other. So now…"

Hiei was still trying to figure out what was going on, and why Kurama was giving a speech, when the fox-demon got down on one knee.

"I don't want us to ever be separated again," he said. "I don't care that it took years. I don't care what it takes. I just want us to be together."

"Kurama!" Hiei was so shocked, so unsure of what to say, that all he could do was keep repeating his name. "Kurama!"

"It's up to you, Hiei," Kurama told him gently… "Will you take my hand in marriage?"

Hiei was looking around, seeing everyone watching with rapt attention, looking down into Kurama's hopeful green eyes, his head spinning, wondering if this was really happening.

"Yes, Hiei," Kurama said, and Hiei saw that his eyes were filling with tears. "It's really happening."

"Kurama, I've said it before and I'll say it again: You're a pain who speaks the truth," Hiei told him. "But you're one pain I think I can live with…forever."

"Is that a yes?" Kurama stood upright. "Because my knee is really beginning to object to this airport floor."

"Of course," Hiei replied. "Now why don't you just shut up and kiss me already?"

"I thought you'd never ask!" said Kurama, and then they melted into the most wonderful kiss of either of their lives as everyone nearby them burst into applause, sobs, and cheers.

That had been one of the happiest moments of Kurama's life so far—and considering how long his life was, that was saying something. Now it was happening for Botan and Shizuru, and he was so happy for them. In fact…

"Look up," said Kurama. "What's that?"

"Mistletoe!" Botan giggled. "Oh, Kurama!"

"Merry Christmas, Botan," said Shizuru, giving her a kiss on the lips.

"Merry Christmas, Shizuru," Botan replied, and they kissed again. That was when Kurama heard a sniff next to him. Hiei's hands were over his mouth, and his eyes were filling with tears. He was probably thinking of Kurama's airport proposal, too. The memory was even more intense for him, since he was the one who had run at top speed all the way from Makai to see Kurama before it was too late.

"Do I see some Christmas tears, Hiei?" Kurama teased gently.

"No," said Hiei, his nose stuffy. Kurama gave a little laugh and squeezed him tight.

"Merry Christmas to you, Hiei," he whispered, "and to all a good night."

TO BE CONTINUED…