Summary:

Rui adjusts to life in the human world and falls in love with Shizuru. Hiei takes a more active role in raising his daughter.

Notes:

Warning: mention of a past abortion and the ice maidens' infanticide practices. Also contains mentions of depression and suicide.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

As promised, Yarika and Hiei did not let any harm come to Rui, at least from other demons. Rui still hoped that they would kill her for what she had done to Hina and her children, but first she would do as they wished. Rui's fear ebbed a little during the journey to the portal that would take them to Sarayashiki. She mustered enough courage to ask a few questions. Her timidity and rigidly formal upbringing had prevented her from asking personal questions. She wanted to know a little more about the child, now a man, she had been forced to throw over the edge of the glacier.

"Forgive me for asking, Hiei… will you tell me what happened to you after you fell to the world below?"

Hiei paused, hating personal questions. Reluctantly he told her an abridged version of his personal history. "I was found floating in a river by bandits who then took me in and raised me for a while. Then they abandoned me. I went off on my own, got my Jagan eye, then went to look for Yukina. I found her after a year of looking. Now I work for Mukuro." This was all he offered.

Rui asked Yarika how she and Hiei met. Yarika took a swig of her canteen and gave Yona some. "I met him while he was searching for Yukina in the human world all those years ago. He mistook me for her somehow. Not going to lie, I didn't like him one bit back then but I helped him out anyways. I met him again a few times, but I didn't start to get to know him until he fought in the Dark Tournament. I liked him much better after he dialed back the attitude a bit."

"You talk too much," grumbled Hiei, albeit not in his usual threatening way. He recalled how he had instantly disliked her as well. He could not deny that he was a complete jerk back then, she was right to dislike him. She had earned his grudging respect at the Dark Tournament, and later he'd developed a crush as she continued to stand up to him and his gremlin like traits and treated him as a friend regardless of how he had acted.

"Dark Tournament?" asked Rui.

"It was run by some rich, greedy humans who put together teams of demon fighters to bet on," explained Yarika. "Hiei got drafted into the invited human team with some of our mutual friends. All of the rich guys ended up dead so it hasn't been held since. The team leader Yusuke Urameshi was the guy who founded the Demon World Tournament. Turns out he is Raizen's many-great grandson, he's part demon part human like I am."

Rui had heard of the Demon World Tournament. "I've heard of that. The elders were worried that a new king would affect our separatist ways."

"Hiei fights in the Demon World tournaments. He hasn't won yet but he's always been a finalist. I'm not a fighter myself, though I am strong enough to take down average demons."

"Doesn't it bother you that he's always fighting?" whispered Rui, thinking that the tournaments sounded barbaric.

"No. Fighting is part of who he is, it doesn't bother me. He's never harmed me, Yukina, or Yona. Some people just need an outlet like that. The tournaments help let out demon aggression and things have been fairly peaceful in recent years." She leaned into whisper to Rui. "If he was perfectly tame, he'd probably bore me. It's fun to boss him around knowing he's a little dangerous."

Rui had to admire her nerves of steel.

After the fall of the barrier, there were strategically placed staffed portals for visitors to take to Living World, aka the realm of live humans. There were also some random ones that occasionally popped up, which is how humans accidentally got into Demon World. In emergencies one could be created to a specific location. The staffed portals had apparitions with clipboards taking names, checking for contraband that would ruin the ecosystem of the human world, and reminding the visitors of the rules.

"As per orders of the King, visitors are reminded that harm to humans is forbidden with the exception of self defense when running away is not possible," said the customs demon in a dry voice. "Enjoy your visit to the human world." He waved them all through.

The sights, the sounds, and the smells of the realm of humans was dizzying to Rui. Hiei had taken them to the portal via the path of least resistance, the only demons they met on the way were weaklings that steered clear. They passed through the way they came, coming out on the outskirts of Sarayashiki. This was the portal Hiei used most often.

Rui trembled at her first sight of the city. This was even more alien than anything she had seen yet, there were crowds of humans with their noisy vehicles and signs for various shops and advertisements for goods everywhere. Yarika made a phone call while Rui took everything in. Yona held onto her hand and smiled, calming the timid woman down a little.

"I called Yukina and told her we have a special guest with us to visit her," said Yarika. "I know she will be very happy to see you, Rui. She always spoke fondly of you."

Yarika was right. When Yukina let them in, she stood there in the entryway with her eyes as big as they could possibly go. Then she flew at Rui and hugged her, politeness be damned. "Rui! It's been so long, I never thought you'd leave the glacier." Gems clattered to the floor as both cried with happiness. Rui held the daughter of her beloved Hina tight. "You've grown up, Yukina."

"What's all this boo-hooing about?" said a cool female voice. Shizuru poked her head into the entry, the rest of her following. She looked over the visitors, including a strange woman that looked a little like Yukina.

"Hello, miss. I am Rui," said Rui with a polite bow. This tall human woman with a cigarette hanging from her lips was nothing like Hina but something about her made Rui blush.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Shizuru Kuwabara, Yukina's soon to be sister-in-law."

Rui allowed herself to be seated at the living room table with the others, Shizuru disappearing to holler up the stairs to Kazuma that there were guests and to get his butt down and greet them. She had to threaten him to get him to come down. Kuwabara was in a bit of a bad mood, he'd been studying the details of the case he was going to cut his lawyer teeth on. Even with Kenji's help, it was still a lot of tedious work. He assumed it was just Hiei coming to glare at him again and he wasn't in the mood.

That bad mood lifted when he saw that it wasn't just Hiei, it was Yarika, Yona and a mystery lady who looked a little like Yukina and how she used to dress: blue hair tied with an icicle shaped bow and a prim blue kimono. Instead of the red Yukina's accessories had been the lady's collar, obi, and hair tie were green.

"Hello there," grinned Kuwabara good-naturedly. "I'm Kazuma Kuwabara. Please make yourself at home."

Rui gave a timid bow. "I am Rui. I am from the glacier Yukina was born on. I am a friend of the family. You are the man who she is to marry?"

"That's right!" grinned Kuwabara, wrapping an arm around Yukina's shoulders. Yukina blushed. "Are you coming to the wedding? The more the merrier!"

Hiei slapped his hand away from Yukina. "As you are not yet married you will refrain from pawing at my sister," he hissed. There would not be a wedding if he had his say.

"Oh please," said Kuwabara. "Like you can talk. You're not married and you have a kid."

Hiei's eyes narrowed, furious. "That's none of your business! I have every right to object to men pawing at a blood relative."

"Both of you, cut it out," ordered Yukina and Yarika in unison. Both men went silent, glaring daggers at each other. Rui noticed the way both of them immediately obeyed their respective women.

"It's safe to say that my baby brother and his friends are all whipped," said Shizuru.

Rui met said friends in due time. She was still shy, but after meeting the kind and hammy Kuwabara and his fascinating sister she was emboldened to meet the rest of their friends. She was less inclined to run back to the glacier already. She was staying with the Fujimiya family as the Kuwabaras didn't have a room for guests and it would have been too crowded to sleep in Shizuru and Yukina's room. As Yarika and Yona co-slept as was common with Japanese mothers and their small children, Yarika let Rui have her bedroom. Rui was thankful when Hiei left to go back to Mukuro's fortress, as she still found him scary. She was much less frightened of Kenji who was courteous as he always was.

Rui helped with the household chores and went out with Yarika and Yona to see Yukina and their mutual friends. Yarika had mentioned Rui finding a job and perhaps her own apartment when she once Rui was acclimated a bit. Yarika had offered Rui a job working for her.

"I could use a personal assistant," Yarika had said. "Most of it is on the telephone, so you could do much of it from home or an office. Sometimes I need someone else to look after Yona when I'm busy. My old personal assistant got married and quit to be a housewife after she had her baby. You will need to be able to use public transport by yourself first, though."

Easier said than done. Rui was overwhelmed by the trains, and fearful of the train molesters Yarika had warned her about. Yarika assured her that if she decided to freeze an errant hand, she'd personally vouch to Koenma or whoever that it was self defense. They rode the trains with Yukina, an old pro at this by now.

They all met at the Yukimura diner, minus Hiei. Keiko, sporting the baby bump announcing their mini-me, served them all a meal. Yusuke had decided to take the day off as it was raining hard and business was dead on days like this. Kurama had taken off early from his job at his stepfather's company. As the boss's stepson he could get away with taking time off whenever he wanted as long as his work was done. Even Botan had shown up as she was taking a vacation from ferrying souls to Spirit World. They were all curious about the ice maiden newcomer they had heard about.

Rui greeted them all, her rigid formality a mask for her timidity. She had been assured that these men were friends and would not harm her at all but she had a hard time speaking to them. She had an easier time speaking to the women, except Shizuru. She always blushed and sometimes stuttered when speaking to the elder Kuwabara sibling. The others noticed this, but said nothing. They were used to Yarika and her open preference for both men and women, so a shy woman blushing over Shizuru was no big thing.

"Is it me or do Kuwabaras and ice maidens go together like tsukemen noodles and dipping sauce?" asked Yusuke.

"Except that Rui doesn't have Kuwabara getting into a pissing match with her every time she bats her eyelashes at Shizuru," said Yarika. "Hiei has been trying to scare Kuwabara into calling off the wedding but he's failed so far. I'm doing my part by distracting him. This whole trip to the glacier was part of that although it worked out better than I had hoped. I am glad we convinced Rui to leave that awful place."

Botan had been listening in. "Distracting him, you say? Does that mean you're officially an item now?" asked the bubbly ferry girl, showing her mischievous catlike expression.

Yarika blushed but did not deny it. "We're going to see if it works out. You know what he's like, although he is a little warmer with me and Yona when no one else is watching. If you know what to look for, he does show he cares about us."

Kurama was also listening. "Is he going to be around for Yona now?"

Yarika nodded. "He and Dad had a talk, Dad convinced him to give it a shot. He did express interest in training her to fight, which will be easier for him than tea parties with stuffed animals."

Yusuke busted a gut picturing Hiei playing tea party with Yona and a bevy of stuffed toys. "If she gets him to do that, take a picture," laughed Yusuke.

Kurama also chuckled. "I'd like to see that too."

Rui relaxed just enough to give a small smile at the jokes being told. Yusuke had been warned to be on his best behavior for Rui's benefit but he ended up in an argument with Kuwabara, giving noogies to the tall man at one point. "I'm still the top punk in Sarayashiki, don't make me give you a wedgie too" smirked Yusuke.

"Put your money where your mouth is, Urameshi! I may be a lawyer but I can still whoop you!"

Rui giggled softly behind her hand when Shizuru pulled them apart, an ear in each hand.

As promised, Hiei did show up to visit Yona when he was not busy. He even brought a present for her, a gift only Hiei would have thought of for a three year old.

Yona unwrapped the long, thin present. "It's a sword, like mine," he said.

"What did I tell you about getting her weapons?" asked Yarika. She thought that three was too young for a real sword, demon or no demon.

"I remember what you said. It's not a metal blade, it's a bokken," huffed Hiei. He had been using real weapons since he was strong enough to hold them aloft, but he understood why Yarika would prefer that Yona only use practice weapons until she was older. He would provide the best in metal weaponry later. His usual swordsmith would be glad for the extra business.

Yona couldn't have been happier than if it had been made of metal. This was a present from her daddy, the first she'd ever gotten. "It's pretty," she said, admiring the polished wooden blade and lacquered sheath with flowers on it. He had had it specially made for her. "Thank you, Daddy," she said, throwing her arms around him.

"Hn," said Hiei, uncomfortable but allowing it. "I'll teach you how to use it." Yona beamed, as this meant she would have plenty of undivided attention from him. Yarika smiled too, as this meant he would have less time to harass Kuwabara. Hiei felt rewarded by that smile, even though training her would distract from Operation Wedding Sabotage. No matter, training his child would help keep her safe when he was not around and that was more important than stalking Kuwabara.

Rui hung up the phone. She had learned to use the telephone, even with men on the line. She was still working on taking the train and the bus by herself but was a little more confident. She had taken Yarika's suggestion to either take the women only car or freeze her own backside to dry ice temperatures like Yukina did to give any potential gropers a nasty surprise. She was looking forward to being able to visit Yukina and Shizuru by herself.

"Is she still living here?" asked Hiei.

"I've hired her as my personal assistant," said Yarika. "She's not ready to live by herself yet. Remember how Yukina felt more comfortable with Genkai for a while? We have room, and she's useful for watching Yona when Yukina can't."

"I won't allow harm to Hina's grandchild," said Rui softly. She meant it. Hina had died, but her blood lived on through Yukina, Hiei, and Yona. She would not repeat her mistake.

"See that you don't," said Hiei with a cold tone. "because if you do, I will make sure you live through centuries of torment." Rui cringed, but she could not blame him for being protective of his child after what she did to him. He was not as soft hearted as Yukina or even Yarika. It would take time for him to trust her. Yarika gestured to Yona, and Hiei ceased his threats. He had almost upset the child, and that wouldn't do. "You will do your utmost to ensure her health and safety," he said. Rui nodded.

In time, Rui was able to complete errands on her own. Yarika was a fair boss, paying her well and ensuring she was not overworked, though Yarika was strict in the way she wanted things done. As long as Rui followed instructions to the letter there was no friction. It was much harder than life on the glacier but much more rewarding.

There were other compensations to this world than the opportunity to work and be independent. In this world one was free to love, even if society wasn't exactly approving. While relationships with other women were tolerated on the glacier, emotions were expected to be repressed. Relationships with men were forbidden. She loved Hina in a way Hina did not reciprocate, as she had fallen for a man. A man who had promised to take her away from the glacier, but had never shown up. Either he had reneged on his promise or he had been killed. Either option was plausible. Hina gave birth alone and afraid, her fears justified when her baby boy was stolen from her and tossed out like rubbish. The depth of her pain was too much to bear and Hina had taken her own life. Rui blamed herself and the elders.

Rui made her way to Yukina's, Yona in hand. She hoped to talk to Shizuru, but first she had to make sure Yona safely was put into Yukina's custody. She watched the little girl like a hawk, she knew Hiei meant what he had said about the centuries of torment. She also did not want to fail the woman who had shown her kindness after luring her from the glacier and wanted to do right by Hina's grandchild to make up for her crime.

Yarika had told her about Yona's abduction by the Spirit World cultist. How it had been the most terrifying thing she had ever experienced and that if Yona had been killed the pain would have never ended. A mother's pain, a kind Rui had never experienced. Rui had refused compulsory motherhood when her centennial came up as she was still mourning Hina when her time came. She took the same infusion the elders used on errant women to terminate male embryos. She could not bring up a daughter in her grief, she had had her hands full with little Yukina. In penance she brought up Yukina in place of the daughter she would have borne naturally. The elders wished her to take advantage of the sooner than normal chance to have another, as an ice maiden could produce another viable immaculately conceived embryo in as soon as a quarter century when the last pregnancy had not resulted in a live birth. Rui was not sure if she wanted a daughter this time, even with her lessened grief. She hoped Hiei would decide to kill her before she had to decide whether or not to carry it to term.

Yukina welcomed her warmly as usual. The two women chatted for a while before Rui asked about Shizuru's whereabouts.

"Shizuru is working at the beauty parlor," said Yukina. "She cuts hair for a living."

Rui was disappointed. She thought for a moment. Perhaps she would seek out this beauty parlor and see for herself what the place was like, perhaps she would be able to have a few words with Shizuru. She made up her mind to do so, leaving Yona with Yukina after finding out where it was. She had a few hours to kill before she needed to check in with Yarika.

Rui ignored the men on the way, no longer frightened by them. She was determined to find her destination. Eventually she found it, it was a narrow building with a neon sign written in roman letters which Rui could not yet read. She still could see that it was the right place, as Shizuru was visible from the window in the midst of a roomful of women. If she had had a human heart, it would have jumped in her chest.

It took her the better part of an hour to work up the courage to go inside. As there were only women, this sort of place felt nostalgic.

"Miss Rui!" called Shizuru. "Nice to see you. Are you here for a haircut?"

Rui flushed. "I-I don't know," she said. "I think shorter hair would look strange on me."

"How about a trim, then?" asked Shizuru. Rui nodded helplessly. A shampoo girl took her back to the sink. After she was done with Rui, she sent her to Shizuru's chair. Rui felt odd, this was so different from the trimming she had gotten on the glacier when her hair got too long. Odd, but nice. She had to concentrate when Shizuru asked her questions as she was so nervous she was still prone to the occasional stammer under direct questioning.

"How do you like it here so far?" asked Shizuru as she snipped.

"It's different," said Rui. "But it's better than I imagined. I was told it was not at all safe for women on the outside, but that's not the truth."

"Now you can see for yourself and decide what to believe," said Shizuru. "Yukina had some odd beliefs when she first came here too, like that cameras will steal your soul."

"They don't?" asked Rui, as old superstitions abounded on the glacier.

"Yarika still has her soul, doesn't she? She's been photographed and filmed thousands of times."

"R-right…" Rui had not considered that.

"I heard you work for her now. Yarika is harsh sometimes, but she is a kind person at heart," said Shizuru. "I suppose it's for the best that she ended up with Hiei because that guy needs someone strong willed to keep him in line. I hear they're finally a proper couple after all these years. She's been telling him off for his gremlin behavior since they met, he seems to like anyone brave enough to call him out for it and believes he can do better. The sexual tension between them was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Yukina will be thrilled if Yarika becomes her sister in law someday."

Rui went pink when Shizuru swiveled the chair to trim her bangs. Shizuru had seen that look on Yarika's face when they first met. She had considered Yarika a cute kid, but Rui was not a kid. She was likely quite a bit older than herself, although she had the apparent age of a woman in her mid to late twenties. It was hard to tell with demons. Rui fiddled with her hands under the cape.

"Yukina is so much like her mother," she said. "I'm glad she is marrying a kind person, even if he is a human and a man. "

"Kazuma has always been a softy," said Shizuru. "He's got the face of a thug and talks a big game, but he is all mush inside. Now that he has a good career he's got a bright future ahead of him." Shizuru puffed with pride. It had been worth all the pressure she had put on him to study once he decided to apply himself. She finished up with Rui's bangs and blow dried her hair on low, careful not to scald her. From experience with Yukina she knew that heat was uncomfortable to ice apparitions. With a flourish she removed the cape. "All done. I'm going on break. Would you like to get lunch with me?"

Rui liked that idea that very much. She was starting to want to live again, thanks in no small part to this fascinating human woman. "I would," she said with a demure smile.

Notes:

In Japan a mother usually co-sleeps with a very young child.

Only Hiei would think weapons to be a good gift for a three year old.

As Rui does not seem to have a child and is hinted to have raised Yukina herself, I figured something may have interrupted her reproductive cycle. Ice maidens asexually reproduce once a century in canon but they can also reproduce sexually. (Which is how Hiei came to be) her abortion is not a political statement, just what I feel may have happened.