Chapter 22 The Proposal

"Hiei," her voice purred. "Why are you teasing me? Come out so we can play."

Hiei swallowed, resisting the urge to pounce on her right there and then. But he had to wait, he had to time it right.

"You know I'm going to find you. Why delay the inevitable? Things will only get worse the longer you wait. Why resist?"

The demon struggled to block out the seductive tones as he peered down at her figure. She shouldn't have looked so damn tempting in her designated 'hunting' outfit, forest green pants and long sleeved shirt with brown leather boots. But the pants outlined her round, firm backside and the shirt allowed his eyes to watch beads of perspiration slide down into the crevasse of her breasts. Images of her lying on the forest floor seductively, a sultry smirk on her lips, flew through his head. The adrenaline in his veins was dissipating as his desire for her heated. But that was what she wanted, she knew he easily fell prey to his lustful desires and was playing on that weakness.

"Fine." Her voice had gone cold. "You're no fun. Sûl!" Her voice thundered.

Hiei struggled to cling to the tree as a large gust of wind whirled around him. He tightened the grip on his sword as he felt his futile grasp on the tree slip. He cried out as he was thrown into another tree, breaking it in half. Then she was upon him, her eyes glowing with a terrible glee. Hiei kicked himself up just in time to avoid Víreserce's crushing blow. He darted away as she swung at him again and he took a momentary refuge in the cover of the trees. He watched her look around quickly and he charged at her, in her blind spot.

"Shit!" He swore as she sharply turned to him.

"Nen!" She shrieked and the blast of water knocked him backwards in the air. He felt his katana slip out of his hand and he did a back flip, landing neatly on his feet. He scowled, his hair dripping with water. He rushed at her, darting between trees to confuse her. She was throwing blasts of water at him but he was too quick. He ran out from the last tree and she turned as he tacked her to the ground. She struggled to throw him off and just as he grabbed her throat, her palm was in his face, the magic practically cackling from her fingertips.

Hiei breathed heavily as he assessed the situation and realized they were in a stalemate. He had her throat and she could utter any spell that taking at this close of a range would do some serious damage. His eyes moved past her palm and into her raging lavender eyes. He was instantly drawn to them, the burning ferocity that her gaze held. The tempestuous adrenaline in him was thumping in his fiery blood as he went in for the kill. He could feel the magic in her fingertips dig into the skin on his back, trying to press his body harder on her. Her legs intertwined with his as he yanked her shirt out from the belts hold and shoved his hand under, savagely gripping her breast. She moaned underneath his crushing lips as they moved quickly, desperately.

Her hands were pulling at his shirt and he gasped for air as it quickly went over his head. Hiei gravitated back down towards her, staring into her frenzied eyes. As his hungry lips met hers, a thought struck through his mind: had she ever looked at Thalion that way? With the screaming desire, mingled with the mind numbing, burning pleasure? Hiei immediately broke the kiss and his mind was swirling. He panted heavily, flopping over on his back next to her and stared up at the sky.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Mîra sit up, breathing heavily next to him. "Well, I think that one was a draw," she managed to say between breaths. Hiei didn't respond. He didn't look at her. He couldn't.

He heard the rustling of fabric and he figured she was smoothing out her clothes and fixing her hair. There was a small silence and Hiei could feel her gaze on him. He closed his eyes.

"I am going to head back, and get cleaned up. If I stay out here too long I will freeze, unlike some demons I know" Her chuckle was weak and he could hear her voice wavering slightly.

He opened his eyes to see as she grabbed her sword and darted off towards the fortress. Hiei sighed and sat up, a chilly breeze cooling him. It wasn't that he didn't want to slide into home base with Mîra, he really did want to make her his. But every time he came close something always reminded him that Thalion had also kissed her, and she had kissed him back. He hadn't been able to kiss her without thinking of the other elf since that day that Mîra had divulged the information about her past with Thalion. He had taken the exhausted woman to bed to rest and ended up making out with her instead. Without thinking, both of their clothes had come off in the passionate frenzy and Hiei's mind cleared before he went the extra step. At the time he told her that it probably wasn't the best time. Both of them were still hurting and he didn't want to do anything that would further jeopardize their relationship. At least, that was what he told her.

He was trying to get the scene out of his mind, push it away. He tried to tell himself over and over again that she had thrown him out, she didn't want the elf, she was manipulated by the bastard and couldn't really be held accountable. But she was. She had kissed Thalion fervently back. For all Hiei knew, she might still love him but finally found the strength to cast him aside when she realized he was using her to get to the throne. After all, for a while she had almost given into him. Only a slip of the tongue caused her to come to her senses.

So what if Mîra didn't really want him at all? What if she had wanted to go back but her pride would not allow her to leave with Thalion? What if she didn't want to be here with him anymore at all and she was just biding her time until she could return without her tail between her legs?

"Damnit," he muttered to himself. He wasn't even if Kurama could help him on this one…

Pushing the thoughts aside, he stood. Brooding about the subject wasn't helping him and he was hungry for dinner. He pulled on his cloak, swiftly made his way back to the fortress and was making his way to the small room he and Mîra usually ate in when he was intercepted by a familiar and welcome youki. Immediately he changed directions, following her radiating power. He opened the door and found her sitting loftily in his office chair. He wasn't surprised. She always liked to remind him that if she chose, she could be king. At first, her obnoxious reminders bothered Hiei but he had eventually come to see it as a way of her keeping a hold on him. She didn't want him to stray from her, not because she felt he would turn against her but because, in his opinion, she would miss his company and loyalty. He was someone she trusted more than anyone.

She was sitting as she normally did, her elbow propped up on the armrest and her head leaning against her hand. Her blue eye stared at him as he pulled up a chair and sat down, kicking his legs up on the desk. He had not seen her in a while, and the even stare was comforting. Neither of them spoke and Hiei enjoyed the silence. Sitting here in her presence made things simpler and straight forward. There were no confusing emotions or arguments. Here he wasn't the King, he was her 2nd in command, her right hand man. He did her bidding no matter what she asked or when, even if he verbally said otherwise. Hiei felt it was a hold on him she would always have, he owed her after reuniting him with his mother's hiruseki stone and keeping him alive.

Of course, and more importantly, she was the only one who actually understood his pain and agony caused from his past. While she had been rather intrusive about it, they had become kindred spirits and Hiei liked to think that they fought their personal demons together. Most of them were settled at this point and so now it was the other's soothing presence that reminded them they weren't alone. Hiei never managed to understand what the woman was to him, she was much more than a sister or friend. The only way he could describe it was that the woman was a lover minus the romance. He would fight for her and die for her in a heartbeat, no questions asked. He frowned, wondering once again why he chose the elf over the kindred demon in front of him. He found no answer.

"You're in my chair, woman," He said, breaking the comfortable silence.

Mukuro smirked slowly at him. "I don't see you trying to take it back."

Hiei didn't answer at first. "Tch, I don't feel like dealing with your insufferable temper."

Mukuro didn't say anything but she held the smirk on her face as they stared at each other again. He always wondered what she was thinking behind that cool blue eye. He could always get an idea but he never really knew what was on her mind until she spoke it. He liked that about her.

"I received an invitation to a mating ceremony two months from now," she said smoothly. Hiei frowned and Mukuro continued, "It's in the human realm." Hiei's frown deepened. Yukina invited Mukuro to her wedding? How did the invitation get there?

"I received it from Kurama. He also asked me to pass on an invitation to an ice apparition named Rui." Mukuro paused to study his reaction but Hiei looked away from her. He knew what she was going to ask.

"You deliver it. I'm not your messenger boy anymore," he snapped irritably.

She chuckled and said, "Yomi and Shura also received invitations. It will be interesting if they show up."

Hiei was grateful she was going to take Rui's invitation but appreciated that she asked him out of respect. He was curious as to why Yukina would invite Mukuro and Yomi but she had been getting more and more acquainted with them as the tournaments went on. Perhaps she wanted representation from her home that everyone knew, she was a demon after all. She may enjoy the human world but in the end, there was a settling feeling in the Makai that Hiei never got in the human world. The Makai just felt like home, no matter how terrible of a place it could be. Hiei understood, if for that purpose, why she wanted demons present at her wedding.

"I have never been to the human world. I was always curious but I have never felt the desire to venture there. By the time I even thought about it, I was too strong to pass through the barrier."

Hiei understood what she was really asking. "It's full of obnoxious, noisy, and cluttered with humans but it has its charms." Hiei paused briefly before adding, "Like sweet snow."

Mukuro smiled at the mention of his favorite treat. "I am still infinitely curious as to how a human creation ensnared you." That translated to, I-want-to-try-it-too. Hiei wasn't sure if she was going to show up to the wedding, but if she did he would make sure to take her by Matsuo's.

Suddenly Shana popped out of the shadows on the wall and practically fell out of the air and into Mukuro's lap.

"Mukuro-sama!" Mukuro smiled softly as the small demon wrapped her arms around the former king's neck. "I've missed you!"

"How is your training?" Mukuro asked. Shana let go from her hug and grinned at Mukuro. "I'm a B class demon now thanks to Hiei-sama and Mîra-hime!" Mukuro nodded approvingly. Shana beamed at the approval and then she grinned toothily, her small fangs bearing. "Mukuro-sama, want to know something funny?"

Hiei frowned. Shana only wanted asked if Mukuro if she wanted to know 'something funny' when there was something concerning Hiei. Usually, it was not funny. The shadow demon whispered in the woman's ear and Mukuro looked thoroughly amused.

"Oh? You say Hiei is in trouble?"

At that moment there was a knock on the door. Hiei granted entry and the door opened to reveal a rather cross looking Mîra with Maria and Claudia following her with some food. His wife had changed into the emerald green dress he always thought was pretty on her and her wet hair was in a braid over her shoulder. Any attractiveness she had about her though was diminished from her stony visage and her piercing eyes. Maria and Claudia set the food down on the desk and Mîra stood stiffly at the edge of the desk in between Hiei and Mukuro. She stared down at the woman in his chair.

Hiei could tell she was displeased that Mukuro was in his chair and that it was taking all her will power not to be out right rude to the woman. Mukuro stared loathingly back and it was she that cut the tension.

"Elf," she said coolly.

"Demon," Mîra responded. Hiei noticed her ears twitch in irritation.

Hiei wondered if they would ever get along. Hiei noticed out of the corner of his eyes Shana edging her way towards him, staring at the women nervously. Probably not.

Mîra cleared her throat. "I apologize for the," Mîra turned her piercing gaze onto Hiei as she paused, "lack of consideration and communication on the part of my husband." Her voice was icy and Hiei suddenly felt like leaving the room. It had been awhile since he forgot to tell her about a guest. He did not want to go through that lecture again. She turned back to Mukuro. "Though inexcusable, he isn't one for manners."

Hiei scowled at her as Mukuro smirked. "No, he isn't."

That's right he- wait what? Did Mukuro just agree with Mîra? The two women were staring at him and Hiei suddenly felt ganged up on. He never imagined this happening.

"Hn," he said smugly.

Mukuro smirked as Mîra snapped, "That isn't a word! How many times do I have to go over that with you?" Hiei scowled as Mukuro looked at him highly amused. He did not find being yelled at amusing at all.

"What do you want, woman?" He growled. If he had known sparring with her was going to put her in a bad mood he wouldn't have followed her out to the forest. Of course she had taunted him out there which led to sparring, which led to almost having sex, and with him having reservations put her in the bad mood, and not telling her Mukuro was here put her in a worse mood since it was Mukuro and she wasn't informed they had a guest. Essentially, Hiei was in the dog house no matter how he looked at it. Damn women…

"I was wondering if you would like anything to drink or eat?" she said gesturing to Maria and Claudia who looked happy to see their former mistress.

"Tea."

"Also, will you be staying the night?" Mîra asked stiffly.

Hiei watched her eye look away for a moment in thought. Before Mîra, Mukuro would have stayed for weeks at a time, vacationing at the fortress while her guards took care of the border. Hiei had always liked it when she stayed, it had given him company. The fortress was hers anyway, it lied on the border of her old territory and when Hiei won the tournament, she gave it to him since he couldn't be on the traveling centipede.

"I think I will. Just one night," she said, surprising Hiei. Mîra's displeasure filtered through her visage for a second before she recomposed herself.

"I will have Maria and Claudia prepare your room." She turned to Hiei and gave him a curt nod before stalking out the room, Shana excitedly chattering on her heels. Well at least Shana and his maids were pleased to see Mukuro. Shana would probably want to show Mukuro how much she had grown fighting wise the next day.

The door closed and Hiei glared at Mukuro as she stared at him amused. Maria came in and brought Mukuro and Hiei tea and left, mentioning that Mîra had demanded to see him before she turned into bed. Hiei sighed, this woman was troubling.

"Hiei." His attention snapped back in focus to see Mukuro looking disapprovingly at him. "Quit brooding, it's annoying."

Hiei didn't say anything as he averted his eyes from her gaze, lost in thought. While she was annoyed, Mukuro was also opening an invitation to talk about what was going through his mind.

"Trouble in paradise?" Mukuro said smartly. He glared at her.

"I heard all the rumors. A former lover, a power unheard of before…" she let her words trail off.

Hiei didn't know what to say. He didn't want to explain every detail of his inability to get over the fact that she had betrayed him. Did he ever really have to? He supposed he did if he wanted their relationship to continue growing… but how could he just forget?

There was a silence before he heard Mukuro speak softly. "We all have things we aren't proud of, things that we feel we can never forgive ourselves for. But we move on. We have to. Even if we can't forgive ourselves, someone will. You should know that better than anyone, Hiei." Hiei was surprised to see her visage so vulnerable. Mukuro rarely looked at him like that. Then again, she was rarely this straight forward with him too. Hiei held her soft gaze and he felt she was trying to tell him I forgave you, you forgave me and we both were able to move on with our lives because of it.

Mukuro stood abruptly and walked silently out of the room. Hiei sighed, and forced himself to leave the office and head to his room. He knew Mukuro was right but it wasn't as simple, not this time. He opened the door quietly to see Mîra reading in bed. He pulled off his cloak and draped it over the chair at her vanity.

"What does that bitch want?" Mîra asked coolly. He ignored her and kicked off his boots. Hiei didn't feel like entertaining her jealousy tonight.

"Well why was she in your chair?" she asked again, irritated.

"It's her chair," Hiei snapped.

"No, it's your chair," she said hotly.

He turned to look at her, intending to express his desire to not argue but he softened when he saw the upset look on her face. She was frustrated that Mukuro was asserting dominance over him when he was supposed to be in charge. He finished stripping and climbed into bed.

"Look at me," he commanded and she turned her head towards him but she didn't look at him. The words were on the tip of his tongue; he knew he needed to say them. It was the only way he could deprive the guilt inside her, and fear inside him. After a sitting in the silence for some time, Mîra wordlessly set the book down on the nightstand next to her and laid down with her back to him. Maybe things would be better the next day. At least, he hoped.

00000

Hiei should have known that whenever Mukuro was around, there was no chance that either woman was going to be in a good moon. They had spent the entire morning glaring at each other and Hiei was surprised that they hadn't just given up and started throwing punches. As far as he knew, the two women had never actually fought each other one on one. Instead, the thickening tension was wearing on his patience. He was sure, after he and Shana sparred, the two women would go at it but Mîra stood rigidly still, her hands folded neatly in in front of her as Mukuro stood with her arms crossed, tense but more relaxed. To Hiei's relief, after Shana had proved her worth to the former King, she decided to leave.

Mîra consequently, finally relaxed and went about her usual business in a much better mood. She eventually settled in the library and he had spent the afternoon and early evening with her, just watching. Hiei felt he was out of trouble with his wife for the time being which left him some time to think to himself. Mukuro's words from the previous night were turning in his head. She was right, of course. How was it that everyone seemed to have the answers but him? Was he that oblivious to the world? Or was the world he had grown up in that much darker?

"Hiei?"

Mîra was peering at where he was lying out on the couch from where she was standing at one of the bookshelves in the library. She walked over to him worriedly and sat down next to him.

"Hiei?" She asked again and he looked into her eyes. He wasn't sure what she was seeing in him, worry, fear, dread? Whatever it was, she was deeply bothered by it.

"What?" He asked quietly.

"Well…" Hiei could see she was deliberating on what to say. "I wanted to apologize for getting mad at you yesterday. I was overreacting and Mukuro is a dear friend of yours, I should treat her with more respect." Hiei was sure that wasn't what she really wanted to say at the particular moment.

"But you won't," he said, smirking playful.

"Oh, of course not," she said, a small twinkle in her eye. She eyed him for a moment and then the small smirk on her face fell and the twinkle died.

She forced a smile on her face before she stood, quickly returning to the bookshelf. He stared over at his wife contemplating their strange silence. She had chosen to wear simple warm human clothing over her handmade dresses. He supposed humans had good clothing for keeping warm. The clothes weren't particularly flattering but he could see her poise as she stood and flipped through books. She was graceful and lady-like, he supposed, but that never made her charming in his eyes. He doubted she had ever truly known heart wrenching pain and betrayal beyond Thalion and leaving her home, if she had ever killed to survive or struggled to survive at all. He doubted it. These aspects didn't make her any less formidable but she wasn't the same as he was. He liked that about her. That she had seen many more brighter days than darker ones, that even she could smile at him genuinely and tenderly. In some ways it still blew his mind that they were together and actually getting along at all.

He didn't think he would ever find a mate, someone he would actually want to hold hands with or curl up next to at night. Really he never went looking for her, she was sort of dropped on him in a weird way. Nothing in Hiei's life however seemed to happen in a normal way, which would have prompted Kurama to ask what normal was defined as. Now he knew he had been around the fox for way too long.

He watched her stacking the books in her arms slowly and meticulously, as he thought about Mukuro's words. Forgiveness. Had he ever forgiven anyone? Kurama, he supposed, after he helped Yusuke take him down. That fight seemed like ages ago… still, he wasn't sure if he had forgiven anyone of a transgression against him. Most who had angered him were dead.

Mîra looked ridiculous, standing there putting one book after another in her arms to bring back to their room. He had gotten her a bookcase for the room as a much needed birthday present, more for Hiei's sanity than anything. Their room had slowly became cluttered with more and more books and Hiei was tired of looking at the stacks of books on the floor and on the nightstand. She had claimed that going back and forth was troublesome and she just wanted a place to put them so he had given her one. Still, he had no idea why she was carrying so many books at one time. Her face was covered and he didn't know how she could see. Well she made it down on small step, now two. But sooner or later she was probably-

Mîra cried out in utter dismay as the tower of books slowly and uncontrollably fell out of her arms and onto the floor. "No, no, no! Ancestors, is it so hard to bring a few books back to my room?" She complained.

Hiei responded in a way he never thought he would. He started laughing. The scene really wasn't that funny, ironic, or any other justifiable means of why he should find it humorous. But he was laughing. Maybe it was because she was with him to begin with or maybe because he was so tired of problems. Either way he was laughing almost hysterically now, and she sat down on the couch next to him in amazement. He breathed deeply, caught her eye and they busted out laughing together.

Hiei could practically feel the tears forming he was laughing so hard with his wife and it dawned on him that Mukuro would never laugh like this with him. Not that she didn't have it in her, but that he could never draw it out of her and she was never able to draw it out of him. Maybe that was the difference, Mukuro could never genuinely smile or laugh with him but Mîra was able to easily. Mîra hadn't lost her heart. Hiei felt for the first time since he had kissed Mîra on the beach things were clearer than they had ever been.

"Mîrvana, I want you to be mine."

His serious words cut her laughter and she looked at him surprised. She then frowned and cocked her head to the side.

"You say that possessively."

Leave it to this woman to take a serious, heartfelt sentiment and make an argument out of it. "I do," he said steadily.

"Well I'm not anyone's possession or property and I don't like being addressed as such," she said proudly. This woman and her damn pride, Kami she was worse than he was!

"Tch, woman…" He let his words trail off as he struggled for the right words. "I want you to be mine, only mine. I want to make you my mate."

She pursed those pretty pink lips of hers and puffed her rosy cheeks as she thought. Then, she looked at him in awe. "Are you… are you proposing to me?"

"What?" Hiei asked almost defensively.

"Proposing! Are you proposing to me?" She asked, looking at him intently.

"I'm a demon, we don't propose," he said, now growing irritated.

"So demons don't ask other demons to spend the rest of their lives with each other? I think that's proposing, Hiei," she stated pointedly.

Hiei felt his cheeks flush out of embarrassment. He could not believe he was having this conversation. He hadn't thought out what would happen after he openly declared his desire for her but thinking about it now, the after part should have included kissing and clothes flying off. Not an argument.

"Hn," he said. He really didn't want to answer the question.

She bonked him on the head with her fist as she glared at him. "That isn't a word! Don't use it to hide what you really want to say!"

He scrunched his face as he shot her a glare back. "Fine. Yes, I am," he growled.

Mîra looked away in thought for a moment and shifted so her shoulder was leaning against the back of the couch. A curious look came over her face and her lips pulled into a sly smile, her eyes devious.

"And what would happen supposing I agree to become your property?"

All it took was one look in her eyes for Hiei to become lost in her. He didn't feel the frenzy he had before but there was a different kind of uncontrollable yearning within him as he kissed her slowly. Her hands shed his clothes smoothly, not as fumbled as it had been like before, and he relished in each layer he shed on her, as though he was shedding her armor until he found her core, the center of her being. He broke the kiss, pausing to look into her wonderful eyes. He soon realized that was a mistake, the voice in the back of his head beginning to speak. What if- no he was done with that! His wife was beneath him and he was going to finally be with her as a husband and wife should!

Suddenly he was yanked out of his thoughts by a sniffling sound. He realized that he had zoned out, staring at her and now she was covering her face with her hand.

"Hiei, just get up. Let me at least have my dignity." Her voice sounded so small.

He tried to move her hand from her face. "What are you taking about?"

"I'm sorry. I will say it over and over again, as many times as you need it but please, you being on top of me when we are about to- it hurts too much." She moved her hand and he stared down into her watery, tender eyes. "Because this feeling, this amazing wonderful feeling that I have right now is something I never had with him. This feeling is what I'm supposed to lose myself in, to have the world suddenly disappear and all that matters and you and I. This feeling is right, I know it."

Hiei stared down at her wide eyed for a moment before gazing down at her, his visage softened. He felt the pure emotion well up inside of him as he said tenderly, "Vesse, I forgive you."

Her eyes widened and she threw her arms around his neck, pulling herself to him as she kissed him passionately. This emotion inside of him… whatever it was he wanted to be lost in it too. He laid her down gently and broke the kiss, gazing down at her. He smirked lightly at her.

"You never answered my… proposal, Mîrvana."

"Oh, Hiei," she sighed, "You say this as if I actually had the will power to refuse."

Then, he was lost to her scent, her taste, her body, her voice. He had never known being with a woman could feel so incredible and honest. He felt he was completely exposed as he moved with her, his gasps and grunts conveying what he openly felt right then and there. He bit her neck giving her some of his youki and she cried out his name. He kissed her everywhere he could until he could no longer hold himself back. He was shaken at how powerful the release within this wondrous woman was and how he had been a fool to waste it on anyone else.

He kissed her neck where he marked her, and settled his head in her bosom. Her fingers played with his hair, her other hand resting on his back. Hiei closed his eyes happily listening to the pounding of her heart.

"Ancestors, that was… wow," she breathed in her native tongue.

"Ah," he agreed softly. Hiei made a mental note to tell Yusuke he hit the baseball clear out of the park for a nice, solid, satisfying homerun.

"And we're married. It's official now," she said astounded.

"Ah."

"I'm glad."

"Me too."

There was a comfortable silence and Hiei had begun to doze off, lulled by the rise and fall of her chest and the cackling of the fireplace, when she suddenly exclaimed.

"Oh no!"

"What?"

"We did it on the couch! Our first time and on the couch!" she cried. He propped himself up and looked down on her, frowning. She was pouting cutely as she tried looking upset. After a moment she sighed, defeated.

"Oh well. I guess the library is off the checklist then."

"Checklist?"

His mate grinned at him. "Sure, don't you want to have bragging rights about where we've done it?"

He blinked at her before smirking. Yes, yes he did. He kissed her for a moment and she broke it pushing him up.

"I think we should shower." She added laughing, "Otherwise we'll get funny looks at dinner."

"Hn."

"Not a word," she chastised, reaching for her panties. She stood, intending to slip them on but he growled and pulled her to him. She was straddling him and he admired her nakedness.

"You don't need those."

"I think I do. Unlike you, I actually get cold in the fortress. Not to mention I cannot go from here to the room naked without anyone seeing me," she said, giving him a pointed look, a playful smile on her face.

Hiei stared at her curiously before smirking. "That sounds like a challenge to me."

"What? Hiei don't you dare-"

Hiei enjoyed the feeling of the cool stone underneath his feet as his mate clung to him, laughing, as he darted to their room. He entered successfully and threw her down on the bed and kissed her again, but not before she playfully reprimanded him. Hiei had never felt more at ease and relaxed with his woman as he did now. When she was able and willing to leave his touch, he watched her as she chatted away about what the maids will think when they find their clothes on the floor. He watched his mate, he liked thinking that- his mate, enter the bathroom and start the shower as she just kept talking. He was sure she knew he wasn't listening but she was too happy to stop talking and he was too happy to take his gaze off her.

"You coming?" Her giddy voice asked him, her beautiful body filling the doorway.

Yes, he was. He always would. As he stepped in the shower behind his mate, he made a mental note to thank Kurama the next time he saw him. After all, he was the one he suggested marriage to this crazy, powerful, amazing woman to begin with. Who knew this woman, of all women, would end up his mate? Hiei didn't really believe in fate or destiny, but if it was that prophecy that fated them together and gave him this unimaginable joy, then he supposed he could accept his fate. Just this once.

Sorry for the delay everyone! The postings on here are catching up to where I am in the writing so I am trying to maintain some distance so I have a chance to go back and edit things. Speaking of editing, I pretty much have the end figured out but it changed from the original idea where there was an epic fight between Mîra and Mukuro and I'm sad because I don't get to have the fight anymore. It works out though because the new ending makes a lot more sense and there will still be an epic battle =) Thank you to all my faithful reviewers and if you haven't left a review, you should! I love hearing people's thoughts and predictions and as an aspiring writer they really mean a lot. =)