Two weeks after Nanashi gave birth, she was surprised to find out the king and queen were coming on official procession to Alaric. It felt like such a rush for them come here, now like that. She figured it might be to check on Hiei's status as Lord Mukuro's prospective heir.

When it came to taking care of the twins, Nanashi liked that Asa and Hiei were free to help her, as well as four nannies employed by Lord Mukuro. Hiei even mentioned that Lord Mukuro had been in there a few times with him when he was taking care of them. Nanashi felt slightly nervous about Lord Mukuro being in there, but at least Hiei was with her.

It took two additional weeks for the king and queen to arrive with their whole entourage that included Haruto, Yusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama, and Yasha. Haruto was rather ecstatic at the sight of the twins, cooing over them. Nanashi liked the sight of it, considering he had never gotten to be like that for her until recently. When the king and queen came to see them though, she felt like they looked at Hikari a little too oddly.

Once the king and queen had settled in the Alaric Castle the first day, the irritable Lord Mukuro called a feast for them in the evening, but she herself did not attend it. Hiei was late to the meal, making Nanashi wonder where he might be The king took the lead during the feast, while Nanashi sat with Yusuke and the others at the end of the king's table. She saved a seat for Hiei next to her, waiting for him to come and fill it. Yusuke was chattering away about gossip from the capital city. Yasha even added his own gossip about the possibility of a romance flaring up between Jiro and Ayane, but that he did not think it would last as Jiro thought Ayane beneath him.

Half way through the meal, Hiei appeared at Nanashi's side, making her jump. "Hiei, there you are," she said, turning to face him. She noticed he looked irritated. "What's wrong?" she asked, taking his hand in hers.

He slipped his hand from hers, settling himself down in the empty seat next to her. She noticed there was a circle burn or a rip in his shirt in the middle of it. She frowned at the sight of that, too. "Mukuro's not enjoying herself today of all days," Hiei told her quietly.

"Because of the king's presence?" Nanashi asked in a soft tone.

"He's not helping any," Hiei commented. "At least the gift I gave her has given her something to enjoy..." Hiei looked over at Kurama who was sitting across from him. Nanashi noticed their exchange, but let it pass. He turned back to Nanashi. "Mukuro is going to make an announcement tomorrow," he added.

Nanashi felt a stir of excitement. "She'll finally name you her heir?" she pressed. She did her best to keep her voice down.

"Either that, or she tell the king to go fuck himself," Hiei said with a smirk.

Kurama chuckled softly at that comment. Yasha had been listening in as well, as he laughed loudly at the statement. It shattered the semi privacy of the conversation.

The rest of the night passed without anything else exciting happening. The next morning after breakfast though, Lord Mukuro summoned Nanashi, Hiei, the king, the queen, Kirin, and the rest of her small council. They met in her presence chamber, with the king at least respectfully allowing her to take the head of the table as it was her castle and her meeting she called.

Once everyone was settled in and greeted, Lord Mukuro rose up, speaking loudly, addressing those in the room. She announced that she wished to name the heir to her territory. She cited that other lords in the past who had no children were allowed to name their own heirs, both related and not related to them.

Lord Mukuro "... I on the other hand, do not have a direct descendant, nor a mate..."

'A mate you wish anyone to know about,' the wind dragon thought within Nanashi's mind. She shushed it internally.

"... so if there were something to happen, I'd rather not die in the fear of this territory being torn apart and delve into conflict and war. So I in this vein, I've decided to name my heir," she paused, cruelly.

Nanashi held her breath, willing her to state Hiei's name.

"I name Hikari, the daughter of Nanashi and Hiei," Lord Mukuro named, standing straight back and looking smug.

The silence settled over the room for heavy seconds. Nanashi studied Lord Mukuro, wondering what she was thinking, naming an infant as her heir in place of Hiei. He had been the one fighting, he had been the one who connected with her... Nanashi thought over her odd midnight conversation with her. She said Hiei was weak in one way, and she herself weak in another way. Yet why name a child hardly a month old?

"Wait, it's that a baby?" Yasha said, shattering the silence in the room.

"There's nothing that say I can't," Mukruo replied. "No law, no research, no customs that would deny my choice of heir. And I want to name a female, be it of any race or all four, as my heir. With a female line of succession to be established after her."

A female line... Nanashi mulled that over in her mind. Yet in their country, it was the old child that inherited a title from a parent, be they male or female. Favoring one gender or another seemed wrong to her.

Nanashi sat next to Hiei, noticing the blank poker face her wore. He had to be raging internally, he had to be. After all he went through, just for it to be passed over in place of his daughter like that. She worried he might try to bolt, so she seized his hand under the table, holding it tightly in her lap. He could not run, she would not let him run this time.

Nanashi watched silently, listening intently. Over an hour of arguments occurred, but Lord Mukuro brushed them all aside. She named this lord or that lady in history who had named the heir they wished. She even cited the lady whom she had taken Alaric over from. Not even the queen could sway her. Even Yasha tried.

After the hour, Mukuro asked, "any more objections to my naming Hikari as my heir?"

Nanashi sat in stony silence as those in the room gave in one by one, conceding to Lord Mukuro's decision. When it was finally over and they were all dismissed, Kirin and Hiei were asked to stay with Lord Mukuro as the others left.

Nanashi waited outside the room by herself, pacing to and fro. That waiting was another hour. She heard raised voices a few times, but was only sure once that it was Hiei speaking.

Nanashi sat on the floor waiting tiredly. She stood up in a rush as she saw Hiei come out of the room. "Don't run," she requested in a rush.

His eyes got wide when she said that, and then narrowed. "Our rooms then," he said, hinting to her where she could find him later on before he flitted away.