Chapter 4 The Arrangement
Hiei was never good at being a diplomat. That was the one thing Mukuro failed to effectively teach him when he first won the Makai Tournament, and it wasn't for a lack of trying. He just never saw the point. If he couldn't get what he wanted after threatening his subject then what was the point? There was always some else that was disposable that he could ask. Sitting in front of the elfin king however made him regret not listening to Mukuro.
Kurama was doing all the talking and Hiei had no idea what they were talking about. Provisions, arms, damages, they were all beyond him and dodging the main point. Hiei glanced over at Yusuke who was trying to look interested but judging by his droopy eyes, he was failing miserably. Behind him Yomi and Mukuro were silent. How long had they been sitting here for? Hiei took a quick glance out of the tent to look at the sun. They had been sitting here for too long.
"Enough," Hiei said coolly. Kurama looked at him surprised and the king was taken aback.
"Well finally! The Demon King speaks for himself!" The king boomed. He was old, judging by from the wrinkles on his face and his thinning hair. His armor was more elaborate but it was the same style as the others. He also had lavender eyes, like she did.
"Bring her in," Hiei demanded. Instantly, Shana began to appear from the shadows. The king's eyes widened as his daughter was pulled out of the shadows. Kurama relaxed vines previously immobilizing her so she could stand on her own. She stumbled at the sudden release of her muscles but managed to stand. The king's gaze traveled, grief stricken, up to his daughter, now standing beside Hiei.
"Ada," she said softly. "Im cost, Ada."
Hiei didn't know what they were saying but Yomi had created a translator and was currently looking at it now. If he didn't speak up then Hiei assumed it was harmless chatter.
"Mîrvana, Im sinte," the King replied sadly.
The King swiftly turned his gaze back to Hiei. "What do you want?" He said through gritted teeth.
Hiei stared at the King calmly. "I want you to leave and never return to our lands, or even think about crossing this border ever again."
Hiei let this part settle in before asking the one question he was waiting for, the one that would bring the elf King to his knees.
"You return my daughter to me and we have a deal," the King said sternly.
"No," Hiei said.
The King looked stunned and then he grew angry, but it only made Hiei smile snidely. The King's face was red and Hiei could tell it took all of his will power to contain his rage.
"What is your price, Demon King?" the King asked slowly.
"You will leave our lands, every single one of you elves... in exchange for giving me your daughter as a bride." This was for the Makai, for the Makai, for the Makai, Hiei kept telling himself. Kami, he didn't want anything to do with her but he had no choice. Hiei swallowed and continued.
"She will be my only wife. I have no lovers or concubines, and harems are for men who can't commit." Hiei was sure he heard Yomi sniggering behind him. "She will be my only woman. I," he paused for a breath. "Will take care of her, give her comforts, and I will allow correspondence between you and her." This was a lot harder than he thought it would be. Here he was, acting like actually wanted to marry her. Hiei cast a glance up at the woman next to him but he could not see her eyes.
Hiei turned his gaze back to the King who had his eyes closed, in deep thought. Without opening them he asked, "What happens if I say no to your offer?"
"I'm not sure. I can think of numerous things, she is my prisoner after all." Hiei tried to sound a menacing as possible. "A beautiful one at that," he added. Hiei could see the gears turning in the King's head. "Be warned, Elf King, my generous offer only stands here and now."
The King opened his eyes slowly and he looked tired and worn. Hiei smirked, he had won.
"I am an old man, Demon King. She is to inherit my kingdom. She is my only daughter. Can we not make some other arrangement?"
"You should have thought of that before you stepped foot in this land, and before you allowed her to go to battle in your name," Hiei said, acid dripping from his words. To see this man, pleading, begging, it made all the deaths and the sacrifices worth it.
The King turned his head to look at his daughter. "Mîrvana, Im gar nienor an tye," King said sadly.
"Ada," she said, her voice breaking, "Ilya na ma."
The King wearily turned back to Hiei. "I will accept your terms as long as I am present for the wedding. And I would request that she be allowed to wear a traditional wedding gown of our people, and that the vows be elvish vows. My daughter is a princess, I ask this out of respect for her."
Did demons have marriage rites? Hiei frowned. "I would like to consult with my council first." The King nodded and motioned for his guards to follow him outside.
Hiei turned so he could face his friends. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Mukuro smirking, she knew exactly what he was going to ask.
"The answer to your question, Hiei, is no. Demons do not have marriage rituals, unless they are clan based. I thought you would have known that by now," she said smoothly.
"Hn," Hiei said.
"I was wondering the same thing! How do demons get married then? If they do?" Yusuke asked.
"Like Mukuro said, if it's clan based there are usually rituals. But demons have what you could call a mating ritual rather than a wedding ritual," Yomi said.
Hiei knew what Yomi was talking about but he would have to be aroused for that to occur, and it was unlikely that was going to happen anytime soon.
"Okay so what are your clan rites or whatever? Did we really have to kick my father out for this?"
The woman's voice cut through the room sharply as everyone fell silent.
"Kurama, doesn't your plant shut her up?" Mukuro said, slightly irritated.
"Unfortunately that would require control of her brain and extraction of the plant after it's been connected there would kill her," Kurama responded.
"Sorry, looks like you lost this one, Mukuro, again," the elf said arrogantly.
"You should double check where you're standing and who you belong to now, bitch," Mukuro snapped.
"Silence," Hiei said. He did not need this now. His friends eyes fell on him and he knew they were wondering if he was going to respond or not.
Hiei turned to the woman and said slowly, "I do not belong to a clan and I was not raised with a clan. We will be married according to your rites."
She looked at him suspiciously but he turned away from her. He was not going to go down that road right now.
The elf King was brought in and arrangements were made for two weeks from the date. Hiei's generals would oversee the retreat back through the portal that they came through. On the day of the wedding, only the King and three others would be allowed to remain to attend the wedding. After the ceremony, they would also leave. Hiei agreed to allow for a small portion of the portal to remain open so correspondence could occur. Naturally it would be guarded on both sides at all times. During the two weeks, the princess was to remain in his custody under house arrest. With everything set, Hiei felt a large burden lifted off of his shoulders as he headed back to his fortress. Everything was going to be fine, the elves were leaving and the Makai would restore itself, with some help from him, but they would recover. The only thing different would be… her.
Hiei made sure she had a nice room with a large window overlooking what was supposed to be the gardens. She seemed content enough, so far. Any discomforts on her part he learned from Maria, Claudia, or Shana, he made a point to not talk to her if he could avoid it. What was he supposed to say? What would he say when they were married and he couldn't avoid her? This caused a lot of anxiety within him and he kept pushing it off until suddenly, it was the day of the wedding.
The wedding was near the portal so that the location of the fortress would be concealed from the elves. Once the ceremony was over and the elf King returned to his land, the reception and victory celebration was at the fortress.
Hiei sat in his tent quietly, not sure what to do. He had to go through with this union but what then? He could barely stand to talk to her now, how was he supposed to bed her? He didn't even want to bed her! He just wanted peace and Kurama was right, they had an alliance. A shaky alliance but it was there. If he kept her happy it would remain intact but how would he keep her happy when she was going to be miserable for the rest of her life?
"What the hell did I get myself into?" he muttered. He sighed deeply when he heard a voice at the entrance of his tent.
"Um, Hiei-kun? Is it okay if I come in?"
Hiei looked up to see Yukina at the entrance and inside he was filled with relief.
"Yukina! Ah, come in," Hiei said. He gave her a small smile, even on the worst days the sight of her made him content inside.
As she walked in, Hiei was surprised to see her wearing something other than her usual kimono. The kimono was bright red with purple flowers and, to Hiei's surprise, pearl colored dragons. She was wearing his symbol, his mark. Her hair was up and had traditional hair ornaments adorning her hair.
"Yukina, you look very pretty," He said politely.
She beamed at his compliment. "Thank you, Hiei-kun! I have been saving this for a special Makai event and I figured this would be prefect." She then cast her eyes downward and it was then that he noticed she had something in her hands.
"Um, I was going to save this for your birthday but I thought you might want it today instead. It's a little more formal but you don't seem to have anything other than, well your usual attire," She said giggling. Hiei looked down at himself, he was wearing what he always wore, black cloak, white scarf.
"Is this not good for a wedding?" he asked, frowning.
"No, you look fine! But this might be a little better," she said, holding out the parcel.
"Thank you," he said gently and she smiled at him. He loved that smile.
Hiei undid the wrappings to see a long sleeved Chinese style cloak similar to the ones Kurama usually wore. The cloak was predominantly black and the sides and tie were trimmed with gold. In the middle was a long pearl dragon, with purple flowers behind it exactly like the pattern in Yukina's kimono.
"I made it a while ago so I hope it still fits. Kurama helped me with it and Kazuma-kun helped a little as well… do you like it?" She looked up at him, worry etched in her face.
"I love it," Hiei said. He smiled at her and she grinned happily. He took off his cloak and scarf and pulled the cloak Yukina made for him on.
"Here let me help you tie it," she said as she grabbed the ties.
Hiei was content in knowing that no matter what happened, this day is okay because Yukina made him something. Him! And for his birthday no less! Wait, his birthday?
"Look in the mirror!" Yukina said and she dragged him over. She was talking but he didn't know what about, he was too focused on the fact she said his birthday. Hiei didn't know when his birthday was until Yukina celebrated it at Genkai's. Even after that, he never celebrated it. That day belonged to her and he was happy to give it to her.
Yukina had stopped talking and Hiei stared at their reflection in the mirror. Kami, they looked so much alike. With the eyes and the clothes… they looked related. The looked like… a clan. A clan of misfits, one rejected his whole life and the other an outcast for hers. Hiei had never felt more humbled in his life. His sister knew who he was, she had to. But she wasn't saying anything, maybe out of respect or fear but either way she was standing next to him, wearing his emblem. Her emblem. Their emblem.
"Hiei-kun," she said softly. He turned to face her and it looked like she was going to say something when she suddenly threw her arms around his neck. Hiei was shocked by her hug, but he was grateful for it and he wrapped his arms around her waist. He was hugging his sister, hugging her! This day very well may be the worst day of his life, but it was most assuredly the best.
"Hiei-kun I think it will be alright. I'm worried for you but I think it will be alright because she is with you. I know you can do it. I know you can make her feel okay," Yukina whispered in his ear.
Hiei didn't know how she could place so much faith within him. But if she felt that he could do it, then he could. Or at least try. He was still nervous and still unsure about he had to try. He got both of them into this mess and he would have to make it right, for his sake and hers.
Hiei withdrew from the hug and looked into Yukina's sweet red eyes and said, "Thank you, Yukina."
"Any time," she responded sweetly.
"Hiei, it's time. Are you ready?" Kurama's voice asked. Hiei turned to see him entering the tent.
"Good luck, my King," Yukina said bowing slightly before she left.
Kurama smiled at him. "You do look very regal in that Hiei. Do you like it?"
"Yes, I do," Hiei responded, looking at himself in the mirror.
"Are you ready?" Kurama asked quietly. Hiei could see the worry in his friends eyes.
"No," Hiei said, "But I will do my best."
Kurama smiled that damn pity smile at him before saying, "After you, my King."
Hiei took a deep breath and walked to the entrance of the tent. Kami, help me he thought as he stepped outside of the tent.
Translation Notes:
"Ada, Im cost, Ada." Father, I fought, Father
"Mîrvana, Im sinte," Mîrvana, I know.
"Mîrvana, Im gar nienor an tye." Mîrvana, I have sorrow for you.
"Ada, Ilya na ma." Father, all is well.