Part Two

Hiei stood outside the castle doors with Mukuro, awaiting the arrival of his betrothed and his father. Hiei couldn't help wondering what Yusuke was like as he had never met a werewolf before. He usually drained his victim and left before anyone else showed up. I wonder if Yusuke's met or seen a vampire before.

Two distant figures appeared and drew closer. At first, it looked like two humans, a boy and a man but as they came closer, the smell of wolf was detectable. Hiei found he actually liked the smell. It was a combination of fresh meat and pine. The pair finally reached them and Hiei regarded his first werewolves. Both were taller than him but one was quite tall. He was lean and muscular with impossibly long white hair and pointed ears. The other was also lean and muscular with brown eyes, short black hair, and pointed ears. That has to be Yusuke. Hn, not bad-looking. Maybe this marriage won't be so bad.

Yusuke subtly sniffed the air as he and Raizen approached the vampires. He caught the smell of blood and knew he could live with it. The pair before him looked human save for the pale skin and the tips of fangs visible under the upper lip. He focused on the shorter vampire. He had intense red eyes he found attractive and spiked black hair with blue highlights and a white starburst. Hey, he's cute. This may really not be so bad.

Raizen bowed. "Mukuro, my dear friend. By the terms of our agreement, I give my son, Yusuke, to your care and his hand in marriage to your heir, Hiei."

Hiei, with a nod from Mukuro, went to Yusuke, took a hand, and held it up while looking the werewolf in the eye. "Yusuke, as a symbol of our betrothal, I present this ring." He held up a gold ring with the vampire crest etched on it and slid it onto Yusuke's left ring finger. The smile Yusuke gave him made him feel like his dead heart was melting. Oh, now I'm glad I'm marrying him. That smile is charming. He couldn't help smiling back.

The adults exchanged knowing smiles before Raizen pulled Yusuke to him and embraced him. "Goodbye, son. You behave yourself and make me proud."

"Bye, Dad. I will make you proud. I promise." They released and Raizen walked away with a sense of loss. It hurt to give away his only child, but he entered this agreement willingly and knew Yusuke would eventually be happy with his mate and husband.

Once Raizen was out of sight, Mukuro said, "Well, let's head inside and I can show you around, Yusuke." The lady vampire led the way in and Yusuke looked around at the opulent trappings. It was a fancy and plush place to live and he found it hard to believe that he would live here.

"Over there is the throne room where you'll spend most of your time once married and where tonight's celebration will take place," she pointed at a set of double doors and then to an open balcony. "And over there is the garden which has no Wolfsbane and where the ceremony will take place." She gave Yusuke a smile at mentioning no Wolfsbane. "You and Hiei will share a room and bed starting tonight and speaking of night." She put a hand on a panel next to a pair of heavy steel doors which slid open silently. "Here is where you will spend your moons."

Yusuke stepped in to see a forest environment that appealed to his wolf side. He breathed in the fresh forest scent and his ears heard the sound of water. He turned to Mukuro. "All this for me?" he asked, stunned.

"Yes, for you. A drained human will be provided for you every moon. The hand scanners will open the doors for only you, me, and Hiei." She pointed at a scanner inside the room that had a Plexiglas cover over it. She gently pulled Yusuke to it, lifted the cover, and put the werewolf's hand on the scanner before programming it to recognize the hand on it. It beeped twice and she smiled. "Now, you'll be able to open it from either side."

The rest of the tour showed Yusuke the library, dining hall, bathrooms, sitting areas, and bedrooms. "I trust I've made you feel at home?" she asked as they sat at the dining table and waited for two more dining companions.

"A little," he said. "I mean, I'm the only werewolf here and I feel uneasy."

Mukuro nodded. "I can see how that would make one nervous but rest assure, no one will harm you. If any mistreat you, they will have to answer to me or Hiei."

"And no one wishes to tempt the queen's wrath," a new voice spoke up and Yusuke looked to see a guy with long red hair and a girl with aqua-colored hair and eyes the same color as Hiei's.

"Yusuke, these are Hiei's close friend Kurama and his twin sister, Yukina."

The teen wolf nodded to both and said, "You don't look like twins, Hiei."

"True, but we are."

Yusuke smiled. "I don't have any siblings."

"An only child?" Hiei asked, stunned. "I thought werewolves had more than one at once."

"We're no different from humans in terms of children."

"The same goes for us," Mukuro said as lunch was brought out.

Yusuke nodded as everyone settled into their food. Vampires eat and drink like humans in daylight just as werewolves do. Heh, Dad and Mukuro probably met up at night over the years to share things about their races. That being the case, there'll be flesh and organs for me to eat at the party. Yusuke swallowed hard at the thought. He would stick out like a sore thumb tonight what with his food choice and his wolf form. The only beating heart in the room, like right now.

"Yusuke?" came a soft voice. "Are you all right? You seem…flushed?"

Yusuke looked up to see that it was Yukina who had spoken and her question had caught everyone's attention. He cleared his throat. "I was thinking about tonight and how I'm going to stick out."

"You're going to stick out anyway as you're my intended and that's why you're here," Hiei pointed out.

"And everyone in the castle knows of your betrothal to Hiei and are happy that vampires and werewolves will be joined in this manner. You will need to wear clothes and jewelry appropriate to your future title."

Yusuke didn't bother to point out that his clothes melded with his skin, certain that she knew this.

Yusuke and Hiei were soon alone in their bedroom where Yusuke was putting away his things in his own wardrobe. The short vampire was admiring Yusuke behind his back. He's cute in his human form. I wonder what his wolf form looks like. Speaking of which…

"Yusuke, could you tell me about werewolves? I never met one until today."

Yusuke turned around, surprise in his eyes. "Really? I would have thought you'd see at least one every night."

"I leave my kill before anyone sees me. I'm the fastest vampire in our territory."

Yusuke grinned at hearing that. "Oh, that's funny, 'cause I'm the fastest werewolf."

Hiei laughed at that. "I'm guessing you have the same sharp senses I do."

"Yeah and increased strength too. I'm allergic to silver and my senses, speed, and strength are dulled or weakened in the presence of Wolfsbane."

"Tell me about the full moon. I know you're vicious, but what else?"

"I lose all sense of self. I don't know my name or being a werewolf. I am simply a wolf who desires human flesh to rip and tear as I please. Occasionally, we fight each other for territory. It is not until morning do we recall the night before."

"Damn," Hiei said in soft amazement. "What of your clothes when you change every night?"

"They meld with my skin, but not any jewelry I wear."

Hiei looked down at the ring he gave Yusuke before digging through a jewelry box and unearthing a delicate, gold chain. He unhooked it and said, "Put your ring on this so it won't hurt you when you change."

Yusuke removed the ring and slid it onto the chain before putting it around his neck. "Thanks, Hiei."

"Hn, no problem. Now, let's get changed for the celebration." Hiei went to his wardrobe and opened it to select an outfit for the evening and jewelry to go with it. He'd rather just spend the night alone with his wolf fiancée, but Mukuro had set up this party and, as her heir, he was expected to attend.