Nanashi fell into a half dozing state, center hurting so good. She got Hiei to sleep with here, not once but twice. The pain was worth it. The pain was also less so the second time around. She would get used to him, she knew she would. She also would not let him get taken away from her, nor would she run away with him. There was need for that. She had no desire to leave the King Hayate's castle until after she relayed the Great Hawk Spirit's message to him.

Add in the fact that her father was here now, revealed to her. She had gone to him, in Asa's rooms, forgiving him, even as her throat constricted to do it. It was hard to dwell on that emotional re-connection with him. And to also why he and Asa seemed so close all of sudden. That was odd...

Her mind went from dwelling about that to dwelling on Jin. It was probably late enough in the morning by now that he realized she was not coming.

She shifted to thinking about how Hiei had known about her run in with him, had seen enough to know he asked her to run off with him. How Hiei had seen enough to know about that. She thought about what she did with Jin in compared with Hiei, half making her stomach twist in knots.

She did not open her eyes, but felt Hiei's arm wrapped around her as she lay on her side. He wanted her more... He made it clear last night, giving into her. She wondered if put in the same situation if Jin would give into her like that. Part of her doubted it.

She stayed still, even as she felt Hiei shift and mumble in his sleep. He sighed, nuzzling her bare shoulder. She was tempted to fall back asleep, but then a loud knock rapped on her door. She felt Hiei jump awake. She pretended to just wake up as well.

"Miss Nanashi," Midori's voice called from behind the door. She heard Midori try to open the door, but the knob just rattled. She could not remember if she locked her door or not last night.

"Just one of your maids," Hiei sighed softly, relaxing. "Send her away." He shifted on the bed.

"I'm fine Midori," she called out to her.

She saw the towel lay crumpled on the floor. She planned to sit up, go to the door in it, and crack the door just enough to let Midori see she was alright. However, she did not even manage to sit up in the bed. Hiei pushed her onto the bed on her back. She blinked up at him, seeing a predatory smirk etch across his face. He put a finger to his lips right before bringing his hand down between her legs. She gasped, then bit her lower lip and held her breath. She griped his wrist, annoyed yet aroused with him.

Midori rapped on the door once more. "My lady, you need to get up and dressed." Hiei kept at her, making her want to whimper at how sensitive she was. "The king wants to see you an hour after breakfast. He says it's urgent."

Hiei brought his mouth down on her exposed breast, sucking on the center. She clasped her hands over her mouth.

"My lady, did you hear me? Are you up?" Midori pressed. "Why's the door locked? I brought you breakfast."

Hiei paused briefly, whispering, "answer her." He kept touching her.

"Hiei," she breathed, not sure how or if she wanted to stop him. "I am up," she called out, trying not to let her voice squeak. "Leave it... the breakfast... I be there..." She felt a moan want to slip out, but she clamped her hands back down on her mouth.

"Yes, my lady," Midori answered. Nanashi sighed, thankful that it sounded like Midori was leaving. She felt so close, afraid Midori might hear her with Hiei. "Oh, my lady, do you know where Hiei is? The king was asking after him."

Hiei looked up at her, giving her an inquisitive look. He shifted his mouth to her untouched breast. She could not keep this up for much longer. "No," she called out to Midori. Hiei bit her, making her want to wince vocally. "Please go," she called out, trying not to let her voice sound strained.

"Yes, my lady," Midori replied.

Nanashi sighed, thankful that Midori left them. She felt Hiei's touch send her over the edge. She covered her mouth and refused to breath as she did so. He looked her over. "She's gone," he informed her. "One hour, huh?" He gripped her upper arms, rolling her on top of him. He then settled her down over top of him, hands resting on her hips. His cock was hard beneath her. "Once more?" he purred up at her.

She hesitated, feeling sore from last night and earlier in the morning. Yet here he was, wanting her without her having to ask him first. She brought her hand down between them, pushing him inside of her. She winced, but noticed it hurt less than last time. She felt so sore still, but felt less stretched out than last time, less pressure. She froze above him, unsure what to do.

"Move your hips," he instructed her, hands clutching her hips. "Only as deep as you can take." She moved her hips, slowly at first, feeling clumsy in her movements. She knew she should move faster for him though. She made an effort to do, panting hard, ignoring the ache it gave her. "That's it, girl, that's it," he moaned. His hands tightened on her hips with bruising force. She pushed herself to take more of him inside of her, in spite of how it hurt. "Oh fuck... Nishi..." he breathed.

He halted her, shoving her onto her back abruptly. She cried out, wincing as he took her at his own bruising pace. She almost felt like it hurt less and was possibly growing pleasurable. Possibly it could have just been she was so exhausted by him that she did not care anymore how it felt. She closed her eyes, laying beneath him submissively.

She jumped awake, feeling a rough tap on her thigh. "Wake up," he told her. "You managed to fall asleep," he smirked down at her. He grabbed her by the hands, pulling her up. He said one word, "shower."

Mercifully showering was all they did, with him more assisting her than anything else. After that, she went herself to fetch the breakfast Midori had brought her, feeling a bit taken aback with how much food was laden on the tray. Did she or someone else somehow know Hiei was with her or was the amount of meant to make up for the lack of food she missed in the past two weeks? She brought the tray in with her, sharing it with him anyway. She was surprised at how much she herself ate, feeling famished.

After they ate fast, Nanashi dressed in a fresh set of clothes and readied herself to see the king, making sure she braided her hair back in two braids this time. She noticed Hiei only put on his partially rumbled clothes from the night before. When she asked him if he wanted to go back to his room to change, he commented that the king would not mind.

They left the room together, leaving the tray of dirty dishes on her table, having no time left to take them to the kitchen. Hiei led her through the hallway towards the king's private meeting room since he had insisted he go with her to meet the king at breakfast. Nanashi stumbled up next to him, taking his hand in hers. They walked on a while, but then he stopped abruptly.

"What's wrong?" she asked, stopping with him even though she was now late to seeing the king. She could not sense anyone near them in the hallway, figuring that was what he was doing as well.

"If we decide now to run away, what would we do?" he asked, not looking up at her.

She gave an awkward laugh. "What do you mean?"

He took a steadying breath. "Would you wed me if we did? Or even if we didn't?"

She laughed at him, chuckling softly. She whirled herself around him, taking him by both hands. She stopped laughing when she saw his somber face. "Of course I would. Will," she murmured. "Delightedly." She bent down, kissing him softly. "Come on," she preempted, leading him now down the hallway.

She had not wanted to drop hands when they reached the king's private meeting room, but Hiei had slipped his hand out of hers at the door. "Let me tell the king," he brokered with her. She nodded her head, smiling softly.

He let her into the room first, following right after her. The king sat at his council table next to the queen. Kurama, much to Nanashi's surprise stood over them, showing them a series of different papers. He was speaking softly to them. All three of them looked up when the two of them walked in the room. King Hayate was quick to shove the papers to Kurama, who looked flustered by that. Hiei shut the door behind them, leaning against it confidently. He crossed his arms across his chest cockily.

Nanashi stepped forward towards the king, bowing her head to him as she moved to stand next to Kurama. "You wanted to see me, your grace?"

King Hayate looked up at her. He turned in his chair, shoving it away from the table. He gave Hiei a short look, but did not address him. He stood up, coming to stand towering over her. Kurama side stepped away from her, much to her dismay. "Where you all day yesterday?" he asked.

She held tight to what confidence she had. "I was with my cousin," she answered. "You sent Hiei to spy on me, didn't you?" She glanced back at Hiei before looking back at King Hayate. "He told you I was alright, didn't he?"

King Hayate looked over at Hiei once more leaning against the door. "I never got much of a report," he answered. Nanashi looked back at Hiei as well, seeing him shrug. "I will say I only meant to meet with her right now."

"He stays with me," she rushed out. She saw out of the corner of her eye Kurama looking over at Hiei inquisitively.

King Hayate narrowed his eyes down at her. "He stays with you, fine, but the three of us of do need to chat." He gestured towards to the table where Queen Minha sat.

Nanashi slid her way into the chair across the table from Queen Minha. "How are you feeling?" she asked, voice dripping with concern.

"Better," she answered. She looked over at King Hayate as he sat down at the head of the table.

The queen gave her an inquisitive look. "You still look rather tired."

Nanashi tried not to blush as she nodded. "I am yet."

"Still recovering," the queen determined. "When you've recovered, we can formalize your wedding."

Nanashi dared not risk looking back Hiei. "What wedding?" she asked.

"Your wedding to Jiro, of course," the queen answered confidently.

Nanashi blinked at her. "I called that off. I gave him his ring back."

The queen shook her head slowly. "You were exhausted and emotional. You weren't thinking straight. You can't call it off based on that."

"Well I am still feeling better, and I still don't want to marry him anymore," she replied.

"You need to marry," the queen pressed. "The prophecy over your mother states her descendants will start a dynasty. You will need to have a least one child to do that. It's best that you marry and best that you marry an elf."

Nanashi refused to let herself turn and look at Hiei, a half demon, half elf in his own right. "I will marry an elf, I can agree to that." The queen looked slightly relieved. "But not Jiro," she insisted, shaking her head. She thought about bringing up what she and Hiei had spoken about in the hallway, but kept her mouth shut. Hiei said he would broach the king about it. Better to leave it to him since he was in better favor right now with the king.

Queen Minha cast a look at King Hayate. "I think we can agree to that. You can give us a list of names in a bit."

King Hayate hissed under his breath. "That I can agree to." He turned to Nanashi, attracting her attention now. "My turn. Now, is high tell me you tell me the message from the Great Hawk Spirit for me."

Nanashi stared up at him, shaking her head. "No," she stated stubbornly.

"Angel," the king growled.

"No," she repeated. "I told you I would relay that message only if you saved him in the fighting pit-"

"Which I did," King Hayate retorted.

"Not when I asked you to," she responded. "You only waited until the queen and prince were at risk." She took a second to glance at Kurama standing near them. Maybe he had fallen into the king's favor now because he saved the prince...

King Hayate looked ready to come down on her, but Kurama stepped in. With a gentle hand, he turned her to look over at him. "The Great Hawk Spirit gave you this message for the king correct?"

"Yes," she said, blinking up at him.

"You serve her, do you not?" he asked.

"Yes, I mean, technically yes. Being that I am half angel from her realm," she replied.

"You served her in helping destroy the cape," he continued. She nodded. "She entrusted you with your own task this time: to relay her message to the king. How would she react if you set limits on what you will or will not share with the message's recipient?"

Nanashi stood there, mouth slightly open, agape. She wanted to swear at him, call him a traitor. Instead she turned back to King Hayate, thinking aloud, "since you've gotten to know Hiei, you've suspected something about him. Your suspicion is correct."

King Hayate sat up straighter in his chair, going pale. He looked over Queen Minha. "His suspicion is correct?" the queen pressed. Nanashi nodded. "Get Jiro," she said, looking back over at King Hayate.

King Hayate looked from Hiei to Kurama. "Kurama, could you please go find Jiro and bring him here immediately? Tell him it is urgent."

"Yes, your grace," Kurama answered.

Nanashi frowned, watching Kurama go immediately. She had not expected him to follow a king's order like that so obediently. She watched Hiei side step away from the door to let him go through it.

Suspiciously, she turned to back to the king and queen. "I don't want to speak with Jiro. I already called off the engagement."

Queen Minha gave her a curt smile. "It's not about you this time."

Kurama came back with Jiro behind him in such a surprising speed. The second Jiro saw Nanashi, he was quick to rush over to her. "Oh, my angel, I am so sorry." She rose up from her chair, backing away from him. "Your wings, your father, everything." He stopped right in front of her. He took one of her hands in his. She pulled away, not wanting to give the shorter man false hope.

"Back away Jiro," King Hayate said soothingly. "She still states the engagement is off." Jiro gave her a forlorn look, not unlike one Nanashi could have sworn she had seen before. "Please come over here. Stand where the queen and I can see you clearly."

Jiro gave Nanashi one more glance and then obeyed. Nanashi saw him from profile, long black hair braided back into one thick braid. He had a narrow, almost flat looking face. He was slim build, like most elves tended to be. He was a bit pale, too. Likely that was due to his propensity to be inside reading instead of out in the training yard.

"Hiei," King Hayate called over the him standing by the door still. "Come over here too, please. Next to Jiro."

Hiei gave him a confused frowned, but did as he was bid. "What is the suspicion you had? You've never actually bothered to share it with me."

Hiei came and stood next to Jiro, under the king and queen's studying gaze. "Same build," the king commented.

Nanashi frowned, thinking they did not as Hiei was stockier, more muscular. They were the same height though. She was unsure if they ever stood together or spent anytime together bar the destruction of the cape before. It was not like Jiro ever kept his contempt demons closeted.

"Exact same hair color," the queen commented. "You have to be correct in assumption. The angel does confirm it."

"Hiei, I know you don't know who your father was, but do you know anything about him?" King Hayate asked him.

Hiei crossed his arms over his chest, legs in a wide stance. "Hn," he grunted. "You know I don't know anything." He cast a glance at Nanashi. "And my mother was an in ice demoness who died soon after I was born."

"Ichiro," the king muttered over to the queen.

"He didn't like women," the queen responded.

"Hmm, more he much preferred men," he countered.

"You would know better. You did grow up together," she pointed out.

"Don't remind me," the king said, shuddering.

Hiei snapped his fingers, drawing the king and queen's attention back to him and Jiro. "Who's Ichiro? What's your suspicion?"

Jiro spoke up next. "My older brother. He's been gone for decades. Attacked... someone else important to him... ran off before King Hayate, his father," he nodded over at the king, "could bring him to justice. After he was missing for a year, he was declared dead and I was named my mother's heir in his place."

"You think I'm his son?" Hiei asked incredulously.

"You look like him, you're built like him, you even fight with the same intensity as him. The first time I saw you in the fighting pits, it gave me chills with how eerily similar you two were," King Hayate responded. "Your age fits into the time after he ran off. I didn't voice my suspicion though because I thought there was no way to prove it." He nodded over at Nanashi. "Until the Great Hawk Spirit's angel confirmed it."

Queen Minha commented, "half demon, half elf, royal blooded."

Nanashi watched Hiei, seeing him look dumbstruck, mouth slightly agape. "No," he shook his head. Without another word, he fled the room.

Nanashi watched him leave, worried. He had not even bothered to shut the door in his haste. She took a few steps to follow after him, but was halted with a hand on her upper arm. "No," Kurama said above her. "Leave him be for now. He'll return in his own time." She turned back to Kurama, leaning against him. "You two, I know," he scarcely breathed in her ear so only she could hear him.

"He can't be Ichiro's son," Jiro said, shattering the tension in the room. "He didn't- my brother found men more appealing than anything else. Fighting them, fu- being with them. Until he beat the shit out of that knight and- and ran off before he could face justice." Nanashi watched him, not sure if she had ever seen him so flustered, vocal, or angry.

"That's not unlike Hiei did," Queen Minha commented. "Only in Hiei's case he accidentally killed the man rather than forcing him upon him."

Nanashi felt her stomach turn, realizing what Jiro was dancing around when it came to discussing his lost brother.

"You have no proof," Jiro insisted. "Any elf in the city with black hair and short stature could make that claim just as well. Are you going to declare all of them his bastards as well just in case?"

King Hayate countered, "we do have proof. I suspected it and the angel confirmed it."

"Suspicion is not confirmation," Jiro growled. He looked over at Nanashi and then back to the king. "For all you know, she could be lying. You weren't able to get the message out of her mind while she slept-"

"What?" Nanashi cut in.

Jiro turned back to her. "While you were unconscious from your wing infection, we feared you would die. The king tried to read your memories to find out the message the Great Hawk Spirit gave you in case you died."

Nanashi scowled at the king disbelievingly. Kurama put a steadying hand on her shoulder, non-verbally warning her to stand down.

King Hayate responded, "it's true, and I'm sorry my angel. I wanted my message. I fear the rumors are true that anyone who speaks with the Great Hawk Spirit cannot just simply have their mind or memories read to see what was spoken about. Only those whom she speaks to can reveal what she told them." He turned back to Jiro. "She did. I suspected Hiei was Ichiro's child and the angel confirmed it. Demons age faster than we do, which is why he seems older than a full elf would be his age."

"She could be lying," Jiro insisted. "Out of spite against you, spite against me-"

"What do I have against you?" Nanashi asked him, trying to keep the pity out of her voice.

"Just that you prefer women and demons to actual elvish men," Jiro countered venomously.

Nanashi gasped, shocked at his words. King Hayate rose up, chastising, "keep your insults to yourself. What is is your really worried about?"

Jiro breathed deeply and swiftly. "If you decide he's really Ichiro's son, he would still be a bastard. A bastard cannot inherit any family claims nor titles."

King Hayate let loose a low chuckle. "You're worried about losing your title? You were named your mother's heir after your brother was declared dead. Be Hiei a bastard or not, which I highly suspect he is, he won't be allowed to usurp your lands or title, that I swear to you."

Nanashi studied Jiro, watching him in his irked state. "What else are you worried about?" she asked him softly.

She saw him dig into his pocket, pulling out the ring she had thrown at him. "What good's a title with no heir?" he grumbled.

Queen Minha spoke up, soothingly saying, "you're not that old yet. My angel, are you sure-"

The look on Nanashi's face must have silenced her. Nanashi puzzled through her mind while studying Jiro. "Ayane," she said aloud. "Ayane likes you." Jiro looked over at her, scowling in disbelief. "I think."

Jiro clicked his teeth at that, saying, "a low born... May I have your leave, your grace," he asked, not looking at anyone else.

"You may," King Hayate replied. "You may leave as well, Kurama. You may advise me later."

"Yes, your grace," Kurama answered. He gave Nanashi's hand an odd brush before leaving her side, almost pinching her. She took it as a warning to stay alert.

When the two men had left, the king sat back down. "Sit, my angel," he beckoned to Nanashi. Nanashi took a steadying breath, settling herself back down at the table across from the queen. "If you won't have the spare to the throne for your husband, then who will you have?" The queen pushed a piece of paper and a quill with ink in it towards her.

"Write the names and we will broach them for you," the queen explained. "Your father has said just as well as your uncle that you may make the choice."

Nanashi picked up the quill, holding it poised over the paper. Hiei had said he would go to the king first, so then she should not. Yet she was sitting before the king and queen, expecting names from her immediately. She suddenly wished Kurama was still in the room, or that Hiei was in her mind to advise her what to write.

'The circumstances have changed, write Hiei's name and be done with it,' the wind dragon advised her. 'He'll understand and when the king tells him you chose him when he cornered you for a name, he'll be glad for it.'

Nanashi put the quill to the paper, writing only Hiei's name. She pushed the paper back over to the queen. The queen pushed it back. "Two names, at the very least."

Nanashi paled, not sure what other name she should write. She could not imagine Hiei refusing her. She felt a shred of doubt creep up in her mind. What if he did refuse though, now he found out he was a high born bastard? What if he would refuse because she told the king she wanted to marry him first? What if the king would prefer someone else for Hiei now that his suspicion was confirmed?

She thought over and over in her mind. She had to write another name. It had to be a name that would make the king and queen prefer Hiei, but a name that if she was stuck with him, she would never be in total regret for it. She put pen to the paper, writing the second name that came to her mind. She pushed the paper back over to the queen.

The queen's eyes went wide and she frowned. The king took the paper, looking at it for himself. "No," he stated. "Put a third name." He pushed the paper and quill back to her.

She tucked her hands under the table and into her lap. "No," she resisted. "You said two, I gave you two. Two elvish men even."

"Jin is not an elf," the king stated.

She scowled up at him. "He is too. Half elf. Just as much an elf as Hiei is. You just don't favor him as you do Hiei."

"My angel," the king's voice warned.

"You said at least two names, and I gave you two names," she pointed out. "Do I have your leave to go as well, your grace?"

The queen spoke next, "if both men refuse you, then we chose for you."

She turned that over in her mind. Hiei would not refuse, he could not. Not after last night and the hallway... On the odd chance that he did though, Jin would not... It would end up being Jiro after all... That would be a bitter pill to swallow, but she would swallow it if it came to her. She looked up at the queen, nodding her assent.

"You may go, angel," the queen excused.

"Thank you, your grace," she said before she left.