Summary:

Yukina and Kuwabara get married, much to Hiei's displeasure. Rui and Shizuru have their first time. Yarika figures out the real reason Hiei is so against the marriage and helps him to feel better about it.

Notes:

Warning: Contains sexual content

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

The day Hiei dreaded finally came: Yukina and Kuwabara's wedding day. The wedding happened on a beautiful fall day in early November. Yukina disliked the hot and humid summers in Japan so instead of the traditional June, she chose November. Hiei was not at all happy but he tried to shelve his hostility for Yukina's sake. He wasn't entirely successful.

On the morning of the ceremony, Hiei let himself into the Fujimiya house as usual and stepped into minor chaos. Yona was running around in pajamas munching some toast while Yarika had the iron and sewing kit out. She had a dressing gown on over a slip and hair in rollers. Hiei stopped dead in his tracks, getting the feeling that he was seeing her in a state she didn't want to be seen in.

She didn't notice him right away, she was busy scolding her father. "How the hell did you not notice the hole in your suit, Dad? I have to dress myself and Yona and get along to help Yukina get ready. I barely have time to fix your suit."

Kenji looked like a chastised pup. "I'm sorry, I've been far too busy to notice."

Yona padded over to Hiei. "Mommy's in a mood. Don't bug her 'til she gets stuff done." Hiei understood moods, Mukuro had thrashed him during hers. He was lucky he healed fast.

"Is that you, Hiei?" asked Yarika, fixing a split in her father's suit.

"Who else?" said Hiei. His bad habit of being cocky in a tense situation had reared its head.

"Don't give me that attitude or I'll put you to work." She meant it.

Hiei tempted fate. "I'd like to see you try."

Five minutes later he cursed under his breath, scrubbing the breakfast dishes while Yarika pressed their wedding clothes. He would have preferred a beating.

"It's not wise to anger her in one of her moods," said Kenji. He was also put to work folding towels. "My wife was the same way. What I wouldn't give to have her still here scolding me."

"Hn," said Hiei. Yarika had again bested him without a single blow. He liked it a lot more than he let on.

"Your suits are pressed. Go get dressed as soon as you are done," said Yarika.

The two men obeyed, not wanting to be drafted into more housework. Yarika went into her room to dress herself and Yona. The two emerged, Yona adorably arrayed in a frilly white dress with pink bows, Yarika in an apricot affair. She tied Hiei's tie as she had promised.

Kenji was all compliments, Hiei merely nodded approval. He'd never put much importance on looks. Mukuro's true appearance did not bother him at all, he still considered her attractive despite half of her body being a mass of scar tissue. He liked Yarika more for her personality, though most would consider her attractive. Dressed up like this, she was stunning. Yona would likely be similarly attractive as an adult, which worried Hiei and added to the urgency of training her. In Demon World, trafficking was as common as banditry although things were slowly changing. It was one of the reasons that he was content to let Yarika raise her in the human world.

He left with the Fujimiya family to the wedding chapel, after a stern warning from Yarika. Kuwabara's human friends and some from the law office would be in attendance and they were unaware of demons roaming the country. He was to blend in as much as possible. Hiei grumped on the entire ride there, but said nothing.

In the dressing room in the chapel Rui helped Yukina with the dress, Shizuru did her hair, and Yarika did her makeup. Yukina was the first ice maiden in over a thousand years to wed and live with a man, the first since the ice maidens decided to live separatist lives on the glacier. The rest who had fallen in love with men had either been forcibly retrieved or had come back voluntarily. Her hard won freedom to love as she wanted demanded an appropriate appearance for her special day.

She got it. When the women had done their work, Yukina was a vision of perfection, even better looking than themselves. Rui had a bittersweet smile for a moment, Yukina looked so much like Hina that the old pain came back before she pushed it back down. Yukina was free and she was happy. She could freely love a man and bear a son without worry that he would be ripped from her arms. She had her twin brother back as well as the woman who raised her like a daughter. Her happiness would be complete if Hiei and Kazuma would stop squabbling and get along.

Shizuru affixed the veil to Yukina's coiffure. "My best work, if I do say so myself."

"Your mother would have been so happy to see this," said Rui.

"You're even prettier than me," said Yarika. "Just as it should be, this is your day to shine." She helped Yukina up and into the heels she was wearing for the dress. "Don't forget how to walk in them, it won't do to have the bride fall flat on her face."

Yukina giggled through the jitters typical of brides. "I won't."

Outside the others waited. Koenma and Botan were in attendance along with Keiko, Yusuke, and Kurama. All eyes were on Hiei who they did not expect to see there, Yukina or no Yukina.

"Nice suit, Hiei," whispered Kurama.

"It looks expensive. Did you steal it?" asked Yusuke. Keiko shushed him, then rocked Keisuke who had on his own little suit.

Hiei grumped, resenting this whole affair. He especially resented those two at the moment. "Shut up or I will kill you the moment this wedding is over," he hissed under his breath.

The wedding began in due time. Yukina walked down the aisle, turning everyone's head. Kuwabara was so struck by her that he barely noticed what the officiant was saying. He didn't even notice Hiei glaring from the front row. Yarika did. She gave him an equally piercing glare from her spot in the wedding party. He looked away. It was worth one last shot. Hiei didn't look when the couple kissed as husband and wife, but he caught their happy expression outside as they got in the car to take them to the reception.

Hiei barely remembered getting to the reception. He hated parties, but as the brother of the bride he could hardly disappear without being noticed. The newlyweds were too wrapped up in each other for his sour mood to bring them down. Kuwabara's happiness was almost sickening, he was no doubt thinking about pawing Yukina and worse.

Yusuke and Keiko served the reception meal, Yusuke wearing the baby on his back in a sling.

Koenma and Botan were just as embarrassing as they had been at Yusuke's wedding. The human guests goggled at the two as much as they had the newlyweds and the entertainment.

"This is a great party," said Koenma, sucking down his drink with a silly straw.

"I'll say," said Kuwabara Senior.

"They're such a cute couple," gushed Botan. "It's been a long time coming."

Hiei was not usually a drinking man, but he needed something in his hands to keep from putting said hands around Kuwabara's neck or the necks of their friends. He resisted the urge as he nursed it throughout the reception. Yarika was too busy to babysit him, so Kenji and Yona had to. She had hired the band and was currently doing a number with them. She'd secretly rehearsed for several weeks so that she'd be able to sing with the band as a gift to the newlyweds. Hiei was not happy to find out that she had conspired to plan the reception as well as make a spectacle of herself at it.

Yona patted his arm in sympathy, although she didn't see what the fuss was about. She loved her Uncle Kazuma. The men making eyes at her mother were the enemy, not him. Doing the entertainment had the side effect of Kuwabara's school friends getting too interested for Hiei's liking, so he left off his glaring at Kuwabara and turned his attention toward the foolish humans. Yona also gave Kuwabara's friends dirty looks. Hiei had to smile a little, she had his glare and used it well.

Kuwabara and Yukina had a grand time, the wedding their friends had helped plan was better than anything they could have planned for themselves. They had the first dance at the reception, several joining for the second, Shizuru and Rui included. Yusuke tried to egg Hiei into dancing with the bride, earning himself a sharp poke with a cake fork in a tender place. Thankfully Keiko had the baby. Yarika, still onstage, saw Yusuke rocket upward but didn't see the fork.

Yarika took a break, letting the band take over while she had her cake. "What did I miss?"

Hiei played it cool, wiping cake off Yona's face. "Yusuke sat on a fork."

Kenji didn't rat him out. Yusuke's pride was more injured than his tuchus. "Such an unfortunate accident."

Hiei smirked, deciding that he really liked Kenji. "Quite."

From the next table they heard this gem: "What are you whining about, Yusuke? Do you want me to kiss it better or something?"

Hiei chuckled evilly and Yona giggled.

Eventually the reception ended with the happy couple going off to their honeymoon, a nice quiet traditional inn in a quaint little town to putz around in. Hiei tried not to think about the inevitable. They were now married, there was nothing left that he could do to stop Yukina and his new brother-in-law from getting busy.

They weren't the only ones with couples only fun in mind. Rui and Shizuru, aided by the wedding wine, went off to find a love hotel. They were far enough away from home that they declined a ride home and decided to stay for the night. Rui was excited and a little apprehensive, since she and Shizuru had taken things slowly and they hadn't done anything but kiss and cuddle, with a feel copped here and there.

Rui ran a bath at a temperature that both she and Shizuru could stand while the latter had a smoke. As she was used to a cold climate and temperate bath and beverage temperatures, it had been a bit of a struggle to adapt to life outside in this respect.

Shizuru stubbed out her cigarette as Rui emerged from the bathroom. She rose and padded over to Rui, wrapping her arms around her as she planted a chaste kiss. Shizuru tugged at the fastenings of her rented kimono, each piece falling to the floor as it was removed. The heavy obi hit the floor with a thump, and Shizuru's fingers tugged at the remaining sash holding her kimono closed. The kimono kit the floor with an even bigger thump. Rui blushed, standing in her under-robe.

"Too many layers for my liking," mused Shizuru. "But it does make an interesting present to unwrap." Off went the rest of the accessories and the under-robe, leaving her in the two-piece undergarment worn under it. With a final flourish, Shizuru removed the remaining garments.

"You're beautiful," said Shizuru, shedding her own garments and leading Rui to the bathroom. Shizuru's eyes closed in pleasure as Rui washed her hair for her. Shizuru often did Rui's hair in the morning, and Rui was glad for the opportunity to get her hands in Shizuru's hair to return some of the favor. She took extreme care not to get any product in Shizuru's eyes. She tied up Shizuru's hair as well as her own before entering the tub to soak. Shizuru got in behind her, pulling Rui to rest against her front as they soaked. Their tub at home was only big enough for a single person, so a tub big enough for both was a luxury. Rui had to concentrate so that she wouldn't freeze the water by accident out of nerves.

After their bath the two lay in bed, cuddling as they kissed. Their hands, Shizuru's confidently and Rui's shyly wandered, exploring curves and crevices. Shizuru's mouth followed when Rui relaxed and grew more confident. Rui gasped, holding Shizuru's hair and making a concentrated effort to keep her powers under control while her legs trembled. This was so strange, but it felt so good.

"You can be as loud as you want here," said Shizuru. Rui didn't need to be told twice. She cried out with pleasure, the glass of water on the nightstand freeing solid. That poor glass of water would start to thaw and refreeze several times that night, but it was a worthy sacrifice as the two women had their first night together.

After Yona had been put to bed, Hiei let out his frustration with Yarika in private. "I know, it's disgusting to think about," said Yarika, petting Hiei, who was muttering angrily from her lap. He was being such a baby about Yukina, but she declined to tell him off. The fact that he didn't race after the newlyweds and attempt to harm Kuwabara was a hopeful sign that he would get over it soon. Instead of following his impulse to kill he turned to her for comfort, which she gave to him in spades. Since he had no inclination to be violent toward her and could trust her never to speak of what they did in private, he dropped his guard and became clingy instead, muttering about his poor sister at the perverted oaf's mercy.

As all three eyes were closed, Yarika allowed herself an eye roll at Hiei's drama queen side, then resumed petting. "I'm not surprised you're taking this so hard. She is your twin after all."

He grunted. "What does being a twin have to do with it?"

"There have been a lot of studies about twins. They're closer than other siblings."

"How so?" he muttered, not disinterestedly.

"Some speculate the bond is not only genetic, but psychic. A lot of twins raised apart end up doing things like going into the same kind of work and naming their kids the same names. Twins can often sense when the other is in pain or has died. It's a bond even deeper than blood."

Hiei frowned in thought. "Is that how she suspected me of being her brother?" He thought back to when he searched for her. He often had nightmares, nightmares of pain that was not his. On those occasions he woke up crying her name.

"Probably. She told me she knew you were alive somewhere, she would have felt it if you were dead. Shortly after you went to Demon World she called me crying, saying something terrible must have happened to you."

Hiei knew what she was talking about, he had never told anyone what had happened. It was when Mukuro had pitted him against Shigure in a final bid to break him out of his plateau and ascend into S-class power. He had lost body parts and very nearly died, only being restored to full health by technology humans lacked. "Something did happen."

"See? It's not all bunk. Right now you're afraid she's going to be hurt again."

Hiei didn't deny it. "She won't even know what he's doing, he'll hurt her. Same for when the oaf dies, she'll hurt so much."

Yarika scoffed. "Really, Hiei? Yukina is not naïve. I made it my business to teach her about the birds and the bees and consent after I found out she came from a place with no men. I didn't want my friend to be a sitting duck for anyone with impure intentions. And she decided she wants time with him no matter what. We talked about that."

Hiei lay there in stunned silence. "You did that for her?" He hadn't thought that Yukina would be that knowledgeable, he had imagined Kuwabara taking advantage of her naiveté. Same for assuming her ignorant about a human's lifespan.

"Of course, I helped her a lot to acclimate to living here. Genkai got a real kick out of some of it, but she understood why I was doing it." She removed her hand and smiled fondly. "I miss the old bat, she was pretty funny. She had some real zingers while kicking my butt at video games while Yukina was doing chores every time I visited. I always beat Dad at them so getting trounced by a tiny old lady was a bit humiliating."

"I'm grateful for her for looking after Yukina for so long. It's a pity she died." He didn't say it was because Yukina went to live with the Kuwabaras after. Genkai was one of the few humans he really respected and trusted to look out for Yukina's wellbeing.

"It was her time. She told Yukina shortly before she died that her last few years of looking after the dimwit and his friends were the most amusing she'd ever had."

He asked her a question that had been on his mind for a while. "What are you doing to do when your father dies?"

"I don't know, probably go to Demon World and see what I can do there. It might be difficult to work in the human entertainment industry when they realize that I'm not aging at all. How about you? Have you put any thought into what you're going to do when you quit working for Mukuro?"

"I'll probably be ruling Demon World by then."

"Oh? What do you plan to do when that day comes?"

"I'm not going to allow human hunting if that's what you mean. A few of them are worth keeping around."

"Like Dad?"

"I tolerate him." That was Hiei's way of saying that he was fond of Kenji. The man treated him like a son and had covered for his assault on Yusuke's backside with the fork.

"And Kuwabara?"

Hiei gritted his teeth. "I'll try to tolerate him. No promises."

"That's all I'm asking. Now come here and give me some sugar."

Hiei obliged, feeling a bit better. It made all the difference that she understood what really bothered him and knew how to soothe him. He wasn't going to give her up anytime soon.

Kuwabara and Yukina came back from their honeymoon a few days later. Yukina was a bit bashful, Kuwabara on cloud nine. He'd had a wonderful time alone with his Yukina, even if she'd gotten a bit flustered after seeing him in the buff and given him minor frostbite. It only dampened the mood for as long as it took for an apologetic Yukina to rush him to the bath to warm him up. Going by his attitude, there were no further interruptions and he got to seal the deal.

Yarika thanked heaven that Hiei was safely back at Mukuro's fortress.

Yusuke served them, Keisuke on his back.

"Keisuke gets fussy if he's not being carried," explained Yusuke. "Keiko doesn't mind me taking him for the day as long as I'm careful and dress him for the weather."

Kuwabara grinned. "I can't wait to have some of our own."

Yukina smiled sweetly. "I love children."

"And you both love making them," said Yusuke, grinning lewdly.

Yukina went a very deep pink.

"If you don't shut up, I'm going to call Hiei and sic him on you," threatened Yarika. "Mukuro just got hooked up into the interdimensional communications grid, don't think I can't." While Mukuro was still reclusive, she had consented to do so for Hiei's sake. She approved of Hiei helping to raise his own child.

Yusuke winced, remembering the fork. "I'll behave."

Yarika smirked. Having a temperamental fire demon as a boyfriend came in handy sometimes. Now all she had to do was get Hiei and Kuwabara to play nice and everything would be golden. Yukina would certainly agree.

Kurama just shook his head at them all.

Notes:

Just to clarify, Yarika has worked in the entertainment industry for years and has had lessons in acting, voice, and dance, so she is able to branch out as need be. She's not automatically good at it, she's put in a lot of work.

I headcanon that koorime have some trouble with hot baths and are prone to freezing things when they get flustered. Rui is far older than Yukina and more experienced using her ice powers so she didn't give Shizuru frostbite. Poor Kuwabara.

There have been studies on twins like that. Even though Hiei and Yukina are fraternal twins they're still very close despite being raised apart.

It's obvious that Hiei doesn't really hate Kuwabara, he's just protective of Yukina and doesn't want to see her suffer any more than she already has.