Chapter 24 Wedding Day

Hiei sat slumped in the uncomfortable chair, hands stuffed in his pockets, waiting. He had tried to be happy for his sister but being excited for almost an entire week was driving him insane. He let Mîra, who exuberantly helped with anything that had yet to be done, cover his portion of enthusiasm. He was here, waiting for the event to begin while people scurried around him for last minute preparations. Yusuke had asked Hiei to help him and Kurama set up flowers earlier but one look from the fire demon was all it took to have his raven haired friend retreat. Hiei had paid for Yukina's dress, sewn by the Arachnae Queen who was the finest demon seamstress with the highest quality fabric, in addition to setting up the chairs because Mîra would have gone ballistic on him if he didn't. He wasn't lifting another finger.

His wife was in fine form as she waltzed over to him, her dress swaying with her movements and the breeze. She looked every bit the elvish queen in her emerald dress with her hair half up, pinned decoratively to the back of her head. Her sleeves were a solid fabric halfway down her forearm with gold trim where the sleeve gave way to long draping chiffon sleeves. The v neck of the bodice was outlined with overlapping gold circles and the sash tied around her waist was the same pattern. She sat down next to him, her arm draping over the top of the chair, her visage sparkling. She wore a simple gold circlet, the metal forming a heart around a small emerald placed perfectly in the center of her forehead. She wore emeralds and gold in her ears to match. His wife was stunning but also quite simple, not trying to overdo the bride. Apparently that was looked down upon.

"Herven, she looks so beautiful! I just finished fixing the flowers in her hair and Kuwabara is going to die when he sees her!" Mîra said excitedly. Hiei was interested to see how exactly his sisters hair looked. Mîra had gotten rid of everything the in the small box after Thalion left but she had kept the diamond looking flowers, to Hiei's distaste, intending to use them for Yukina's hair.

"Hn."

"Oh don't be so grumpy. You know that isn't a word and I can't understand why you look so sour. Is the day too happy for you to handle?" She teased playfully.

"Yes," he said frowning slightly. She laughed prettily and his visage softened towards her.

She brought her face close to his and said, "You do know that we are sitting in the front row, next to Genkai, right? That means you can't sulk." She eyed him humorously.

"Tch, I'll sulk if I want too, woman," He said smirking playfully. She kissed him sweetly for a moment before pulling away and flittering off. He knew he wasn't going to sulk during the wedding, the actual event would hopefully be pleasant. It was the waiting before and the party after that he wasn't looking forward too.

He turned to greet a familiar youki, who he figured probably felt the same way he did. Then he did a double take. Mukuro was standing quietly slightly far off from the ceremony area, staring at the altar. Hiei always found the woman to be striking on her own merit but now, in a dark blue kimono with silver cranes she was striking in a different way. He watched her as she slowly approached him, the way she walked was the same, upright and authoritative. Now however, it seemed softer, gentler. Did the switch to feminine clothing make that much of a difference of how he saw her? She had always been an attractive woman but he was usually indifferent to it. He couldn't place a finger on it but there was something about the fabric that changed her ever so slightly.

He was reminded of something Mîra had mentioned to him. They were in between villages and had been attacked by thieves. The result had been fairly bloody but they went down swiftly. The first thing his mate had asked him, standing in the silent carnage, was if there was any blood in her hair. He replied that there was and she began to complain about how long it would take to get out and how purple seemed to stain worse than red and that she was going to need to prepare dye again. Hiei had stared at her baffled, how could she claim to be a warrior when she was fussing over something as trivial as her hair? She glared at him with her hands on her hips and stated that she was a warrior and she was a woman. He wouldn't want to see her hair blood stained all the time, would he? What was so wrong about that?

Hiei decided, as Mukuro sat stiffly down next to him, there wasn't anything wrong with it at all. She wasn't looking at him and he could read the subtle traces of discomfort on her face, her hands twisted in her lap. He thought about playing their usual banter but, maybe this time, it might be better not to.

Hiei turned his attention to the empty seats in front of him as he spoke, "You look nice." He turned slightly and saw the surprised look on her face relax. She turned to him, her lips curved into a small smirk.

"You look ridiculous."

He scowled at her. It wasn't his idea to wear the damn tux. He had been planning on wearing the tunic Yukina made for him but Yusuke, of all people, had forced him into the tux claiming some brother of the bride bullshit. He had hoped his wife would save him but when he saw the intrigued look in her eyes he knew he wasn't getting out of this one. He had tried to fight it but she claimed he looked handsome in it and she wanted to see him dressed up for once. That and she had bribed him with sweet snow and other favors... Damn woman.

He sat patiently and quietly next to the former king as humans, demons, and a few spiritualists filtered into the seats. At one point he noticed Rui arrive, but he ignored her. He listened as Mîra greeted the Koorime and he could hear the shift in her voice as they became acquainted. His mate knew who that was, it had been a month since he had told her, but he knew she wouldn't ever forget his words. He knew she tossed them over in her head trying to make sense of them, trying to understand him.

Shana was greeting Shura now, evidently pleased about having someone close to her age in attendance. Yomi walked over to the two of them wearing luxurious robe. He nodded to them before finding a seat not far from them. The seats began to fill as the sun fell in the sky and eventually his wife came for him, the two women curtly greeting each other, and he was forced to the front. He didn't know why he needed to be in front. He was her brother but he never told her officially. At least he wasn't forced to walk her down the aisle.

The tradition was to allow fathers to give their daughters away because until that point, he was the man the bride relied on. Yukina had been on her own since the beginning and Hiei would have found to be more of an insult to her to imply that he had taken care of her for all of her years. He had tried to find her and watch over her after but she was stronger than many gave her credit for. She ventured off the Koorime all on her own and managed not to be killed, which was a feat in itself. She had looked out for herself and when she was in the human world, it was Genkai who showed her the ropes. Consequently, he wasn't surprised when Yukina announced Genkai would be walking her down the aisle.

"Wow! Everything is so pretty!" Shana exclaimed. "Can I have a human wedding when I become mated, Hiei-sama?" Hiei stared down at the young demon, frowning. He wasn't surprised she loved the setting, Shana always loved frills and decorations. For a human wedding, he had to agree with her. The wedding was in the grassy area next to the garden at Genkai's temple. At the entrance there were two white pillars wrapped in spiraling vines on the two outside edges of the chairs. On the edge of each row facing the center was a bundle of bright blue, purple, and pink flowers tired neatly with a white ribbon. The white walkway that ran down the middle of the chairs led up to a white platform, where Kuwabara was standing, with an arch of vines spouting the blue, purple, and pink flowers behind it. Kurama had done a good job with the floral decorations. That didn't mean he was okay with his demoness partaking in the human ritual.

"No," he growled and the shadow demon puffed her cheeks at him.

"Now, now, what have I told you about that habit of yours? It's very unbecoming of a lady. Here, your dress is messed up in the back," Mîra said, reaching to straighten the bright blue frill. She turned Shana's back towards her and smoothed the dress over the petticoat and retied the bow in the back. Mîra turned the shadow demon around and readjusted the blue mini top hat on her head.

"There, much better. Now sit still and hush. Don't worry about Hiei, he just doesn't understand. If you want a wedding, you will have one," Mîra stated soothingly. Shana lit up and sat down in the seat in between Hiei and his wife. Tch, it was just like her to undermine him.

"She is a demon, not some frivolous human who spends millions of yen on a stupid ceremony," he snapped irritably. Immediately he regretted the words as his wife stared stonily at him.

Shana looked back and forth between the two of them and huffed, "You two can't fight, not today! It's Yukina-hime's mating day!" When neither of them said anything the demoness threw her hands in the air. "I don't want to sit next to you two being dumb! I'm going to find Shura." With that, the shadow demon stormed off. Hiei's regard for the small demon was very small at the moment however.

Mîra was staring at him angrily but Hiei knew she understood that he hadn't meant to insult her. Shana wasn't a human, or elf, she was a demon and behaved as such. He didn't really like indulging her in that human Lolita fashion but it was her one guilty pleasure so he allowed it. Mîra knew that.

"Weddings are not stupid or frivolous. They are important and beautiful celebrations," his wife said quietly. He beckoned her to him and she moved over a seat. He took her hand and clasped it tightly. She smiled wistfully at him and he held her pensive gaze. He felt her squeeze his hand back and he knew he was forgiven. Hiei sat back in his chair, his mate's hand comfortably intertwined with his in his lap.

The music started and Hiei turned to see Yusuke escorting Boton down the aisle. Hiei was secretly thankful that Yukina and Kuwabara had only decided to have a maid of honor and a best man. If they had more in the bridal party, Hiei would have been asked to be a groomsman and he wouldn't have liked that. Hiei could definitely stand the oaf and didn't mind being friends with him but participating in a human ritual was whole different story. He still had his pride of a demon and he firmly believed they were a superior species to the flimsy, weak beings that ran amuck on the planet. He didn't want to rule them, but he didn't want to associate with them. He had human friends but participating in their traditions? That would be pathetic and sad.

All the humans stood, and the non-humans soon followed, as Genkai and Yukina appeared. Genkai looked formal for once wearing a full red kimono, the up do in her hair decorated with ornaments. The old woman walked slowly in her wooden sandals next to his sister. Mîra had been right, not that he doubted her, when she said Yukina looked beautiful. She wore a strapless satin dress and the bosom was decorated with beading and the chiffon underneath the beading was layered horizontally. The satin in the dress created wide elegant folds to beaded flowers at her right hip. The hem of the gown and the train was also embellished with bead work. Yukina had light but noticeable makeup and she wore simple but pretty diamond earrings. He didn't know how the flowers in her hair would look but Mîra had done a good job of arranging them in her teal up do and the hues of blue and pink matched tastefully.

Hiei glanced over at Kuwabara to see the man was staring at his sister in awe and wonder. He felt Mîra's hand shift slightly in his and he felt a twinge of jealousy. Hiei barley remembered what Mîra had looked like when she was walking towards him down the aisle. He wasn't sure he had even paid attention.

When Genkai and Yukina reached the platform, she bent down and hugged the old woman tightly. She pulled back and the two of them exchanged a silent look and Genkai walked over to the empty seat next to Hiei. His sister looked at him and he nodded at her. Yukina smiled brightly and then stepped onto the platform to meet her husband to be.

Hiei watched as Koenma's voice boomed out, "We are gathered here today…" After that, the whole thing seemed unreal. His precious sister was marrying his human friend, pledging to take care of each other in sickness and health, bad days and good days, until death parted them. He knew, and Yukina knew that death would come much sooner for Kuwabara than it would be for her, but she was strong. If these short years in her life would bring her more happiness than being with someone else for hundreds then it was worth it.

Hiei glanced over to his wife to see her sniffling, trying to keep tears from sliding down her face. Was the ceremony that touching? Or was she thinking about the wedding she should have gotten? Hiei mentally shook himself. Nothing good came out of thinking guilty thoughts, what's done is done. He tried to shove it to the back of his mind but he couldn't help but feel he owed his mate, especially now that he cared for her so deeply.

The couple was exchanging wedding rings when an idea hit him. He may not have given her the wedding she dreamed of but he still owed her something in exchange for the gem she had given him. That much, he could give her.

00000

Hiei thoroughly disliked human events. Mostly because human were noisy, chatty, and partook in ridiculous ceremonies. And they were stupidly happy. Even if something was wrong with one person individually or between two or more humans at the same event, they all pretended to be happy. Hiei didn't understand why. The stupid, fake optimism created juicy drama, as Mîra put it, and the party served as a more political matter for the he-said/she-said that was bound to come up the next day.

Then again, his sisters party was nice and Shizuru and Mîra weren't totally drunk which meant things were relatively tame, but he hated standing there thinking he should pretend to be enjoying himself for his sisters sake. But he couldn't. He was in the middle of a human ritual and he hated every minute of it. Fortunately, he wasn't the only one.

Mukuro was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, staring out into the joyous room at all the happy people. Happy, happy, happy. Normally Hiei wasn't upset by other people's happiness but at parties he couldn't help himself. Maybe he just felt uncomfortable in large social settings. He didn't really like talking to be people after all.

He noticed Shana and Shura dancing with each other and he grimaced. There was no way he was going to let Yomi's spawn get anywhere near his shadow demon. For all he knew, he had encouraged Shura to form a friendship with her so that he could potentially exploit the shadow demon later on. See, politics. That proved Hiei's point about parties right there.

His gaze traveled until he found his mate, laughing loudly at something Kurama said. Her cheeks were flushed slightly and she was smiling brightly, prettily, as she turned her attention to Yomi. Whatever he said must have been flattering to her because she put a hand delicately to her breast with a rather coy expression on her face. Hiei frowned. First his Shana and now his mate? Before he could move off the wall, she walked away from the small group and set her now empty wine glass down. Hiei tried to act as though he hadn't been watching her as she glided up to him.

"Herven," she said smiling, "come dance with me." She took his hand and tugged on it but he didn't move. He noted that she didn't acknowledge the woman next to him, but he wasn't surprised.

"I hate dancing. You know this," he said frowning.

Mîra sighed and stopped pulling on his arm, though she didn't let go of his hand. "I know but…" she frowned and stared at him questioningly. "Are you really that upset about being here?"

"I don't like these sorts of gatherings," he said quietly. "And it's a human ceremony."

His mate looked appalled. "It's your sister's wedding. You should at least pretend to be happy to be here."

"I danced with Yukina already and I probably could pretend if I wasn't this ridiculous outfit."

He could see the frustration in her visage for a moment before her features became placid. "Well then," she said quietly. She withdrew her hand from his and clasped them neatly in front of her. "Do I have your permission to dance with other men? I have had many adamant suitors throughout the night," she said politely. Her eyes flickered to Mukuro as the former king snickered quietly to herself.

"Do what you want," he shrugged. Mîra opened her mouth as though she was going to say something but she then shut it. His wife nodded to him before turning away. She usually wasn't polite with him. In fact, he only remembered her being polite and formal when she was putting on her poker face. Hiei's eyes narrowed as she waltzed around the room with Kurama. What did she really want to say?

He watched them, her dress swirling as they seemingly floated around the floor. He could never dance with her that way. He knew she missed the balls and the parties that she had attended as a princess but he hated dancing. More significantly, though he hated to admit it, he was significantly shorter than she was. Dancing with her was awkward and difficult and he couldn't do it justice for her, and he loathed not being able to provide her with what she needed.

Hiei's gaze never left her as she finished her dance with Kurama and then moved across the floor with Yusuke, then Kuwabara. She had just accepted Yomi's hand when Mukuro spoke, causing him to jump slightly at the sudden sound of her voice.

"You are mated with her. Does she mean that much to you?" Her voice was quiet and she stared out at the floor, her eyes on the elf.

"Yes," Hiei said solidly. Mukuro didn't say anything and Hiei didn't know what she was thinking. She pushed herself off the wall and turned to say something to him when Ryuji came waddling towards him.

"Frwee eyes! Hi, Hi!" the pudgy toddler exclaimed, his arms stretched up towards him. Due to Keiko not being behind him, Hiei assumed he slipped away from her. Begrudgingly he picked up the child and Ryuji instantly grabbed his bandana and tugged it off his forehead. Suddenly remembering he was in front of Mukuro, he started to set the child back down but he noticed Mukuro bent over at the child's eye level, staring at him curiously.

"So this is the spawn of Yusuke, the blood of Raizen flowing through him," she intrigued. She brought her face close to Ryuji who put a hand on the metal side of her face. Ryuji was staring at her curiously, he didn't know what to make of her. Hiei was surprised she allowed his fingers to roam across the metal, and even poke her fake eye, before venturing to the non-scarred part of her face.

Before Ryuji could make a proper assessment of Mukuro's face, Keiko appeared seemingly furious. She glared at Hiei, then Mukuro, before wordlessly taking her son and walking off.

"She doesn't like you much," the demoness said lightly.

"Tch, as if I care."

Hiei looked around for his wife but was distracted by Yomi approaching them. Mukuro didn't tense up, like she used to, around the third king. He knew however that she still didn't trust him. Centuries of plotting was difficult to undo. Yomi informed them he was leaving with Shura and Rui, who Hiei had made a point to avoid, and asked Mukuro if she wanted to join them. Wordlessly she nodded a farewell to Hiei. The two of them started to leave but Yomi stopped and turned to Hiei.

"You know, it is such a pity that you claimed the woman. I find her to be quite enchanting, for an elf. She would have made a good mother figure for Shura. Apparently his lack of one is preventing growth in some areas…" Yomi then left, musing about his son while Hiei stood in shock. Yomi… he wanted his mate. He found her to be attractive. His mate! Hiei was thankful he marked her when he did, otherwise he was sure Yomi would have found some way to be with her. Hiei's fingers curled into a fist at the thought. Where was she? He needed to see her, make sure nothing had happened to her. He should have never let Mîra dance with that bastard.

Hiei frowned, he didn't see her inside. He felt her close by and stepped outside. He didn't hear anything but he walked around some before he saw her figure sitting on the podium where Yukina and Kuwabara had stood hours before. Her arms were propped up on her knees and her head was bent over, leaning against her knees. She was upset?

He was instantly by her side, sitting down next to her. Mîra sniffled as she looked up, wiping her eyes. She had tears but wasn't crying too badly. Had he upset her that much?

"I'm not good at it," he said quietly. "Kurama matches your skill more."

"It's not the dancing, though I was a little disappointed," she responded just as quietly. He stared at her but she was looking down. "You hate big events, especially human ones. I forgot." She sighed and clicked her tongue, "But you know what? You look really good in a tux." She smiled humorously for a moment before it disappeared.

He contemplated on asking her what was wrong. She might tell him all on her own or maybe she didn't feel like sharing. Hiei was relieved she wasn't upset at him, but what was the cause of her distress? He didn't see anything that would cause this reaction within her.

"We don't match," she said quietly. He stared at her distant visage, stunned. What did she say?

"You and I, we don't go together. Everyone looks at us and sees us as this pitiful freakish anomaly," her voice was bitter. She sniffled again and wiped the tears as they trickled down her cheeks. Hiei wasn't sure how to interpret her words. He was definitely worried but he didn't want to say anything until she finished speaking. There had to be more.

"But when you stand next to her, it looks so natural," her voice wavered and she looked away from him. So that was it. Mîra was upset from seeing him next to Mukuro. He cared for his mate dearly and he knew that she thought the other woman was a threat but he was getting tired of reassuring her that their relationship was platonic. Before he could say anything, she spoke again.

"And then you were holding Ryuji and Yomi said how he was surprised that Yusuke's son was so amicable, for being of demon blood, but that he seemed so naturally attuned to demons regardless."

Hiei frowned, not sure what to say anymore. Her distress wasn't him standing next to Mukuro, it was the two of them interacting with the child. Mîra didn't have to say it, he understood her envy was from the three of them looking like a family. Damn Yomi, intentionally putting that seed in her.

"And you and I we are just…" His wife sighed and looked up at the dark sky. "I love to read and you hate it. I like socializing and you don't. I'm tall and you're short. I love dancing, you hate it. You're a demon and I'm an elf, which more or less aligns me with humans so for all intents and purposes, I'm a human and you're a demon. I don't… I mean what are we-"

"Stop," Hiei said quietly. She glanced over at him sadly but he wasn't going to let her words bother him. Kurama had warned him about this, that people potentially become insecure about their relationships and just need a reminder that what they have is special. Hiei never thought she would be the one to break down but after hearing her speak, it made sense. He calmed himself, blocked out his initial distressed reaction, and spoke quietly.

"I was told these sorts of things aren't supposed to make sense. That sometimes, it just happens."

He looked over at her to see Mîra staring at him unsure. She took his hand in hers and he curled his rough fingers around her cool slim ones.

"If we weren't who we are, if we were regular plain boring beings, and we passed each other just walking down the road, would I have made you stop and turn?"

Hiei studied his wife for a moment. Kurama had often reminded him that what-if questions were for the most part irrelevant. This time however, she wasn't asking him what would happen if they had different lives, she was asking him if he would have noticed her on his own. If he hadn't been forced to marry her, that he would still be interested in her. That he would still fall for her.

He had a sudden vision of walking down the street with Kurama to Matsuo's, he wouldn't find her in the Makai willingly, complaining about Kuwabara being enamored with Yukina. He envisioned her walking towards him, on a cellphone chatting away and walking briskly, with purpose. He would flicker his eyes to her, annoyed by her loud chatter and she would look down at him and for one moment their eyes would connect. They would continue walking but then, her voice would suddenly stop talking mid-sentence and he would feel compelled to turn around to see her staring at him curiously. He wouldn't say anything but after a moment of staring at each other, that hypnotizing lavender warming his red, she would snap at him, demanding to know why he was staring at her. Hiei smirked, knowing that he would point out she was staring too.

"Hiei?"

Mîra was staring at him curiously, her lavender eyes drawing him in. The color of her eyes was dulled in the darkness but, when he thought about it, the color never drew him in. It was the way she continued to stare at him with intrigue, the always present arrogant gleam in her eyes before they sparred, the way she rolled her eyes at him when others would falter, the unconditional gentleness of her gaze when he needed it most.

"Would you stop?" he asked.

It was her turn to stare off into the distance imagining. She closed her eyes and after a few moments, she smiled and he felt her squeeze his hand slightly.

"Yes, I would," she said softly. "We can do this, then, right? You and I? We make sense when we don't, right?"

Hiei wasn't sure what to say, not that he was lost at her words. He understood them clearly and, for the most part, he felt they were right. He didn't know what to say because… he had no words in response. He always preferred actions anyway. The action that best fit the situation was one he had been the one he was toying with since earlier that day. He felt now was the time to finally do right by her and removed one of the cords from his neck. He stared at the small gem in the dark before placing the necklace over her head. Shocked she stared down at the small gem around her neck and back up at him.

"Until death or whatever that line was," he grunted.

"Hiei, this necklace, I can't-"

"You gave me your essence. I am giving you mine. Stop complaining, woman."

He watched her as she reverently cradled his mother's hiruseki in her hands. She then tucked it in her bosom, the gem disappearing behind the fabric of her dress. Hiei could hear the party still going, the music tuning back in to where he was, a slower tune now filtering through softly. He stood and took her hand pulling her up, ignoring her questions. He placed his left hand on her waist and took her hand in his right. He didn't look up at her as she placed her free hand lightly on his shoulder, and she swayed with him.

"Hiei?" Her melodic voice drifted down to him, and he closed his eyes enjoying the sound. He didn't need to respond to her, he knew she would talk.

"The line is 'until death do us part.' The human line anyway. I find it to be rather morbid. I prefer, Ni selman oria cín."

I am eternally yours. Hiei looked up at his mate who was looking down at him expectantly. He glared at her. "I already said it," he snapped. Her eyes narrowed at him and he scowled at her. "I am eternally yours. Happy?"

Mîra rolled her eyes at him. "Can't I get you to say anything sweet without a sour look on your face?"

"Hn."

"Not a word, Herven."

They fell back into silence as Hiei tried not to step on her feet the entire time they danced. He had received a little more help from Kurama but it was hard with her being so damn tall.

"Hiei?"

When he didn't respond, she repeated his name again. He looked up at her and she was looking down at him with an odd expression. He detected she was a little nervous and unsure but only by what she was about to say.

"Hiei, I think everyone is a little fucked up."

This time, he honestly didn't know what to say. He had only told her his story once, back at that snowy day, but that was a month ago. He expected her to take his words to heart but he hadn't intended them to bother her.

"Hiei, I'm a little fucked up too," she said strongly. "Maybe not as much as you or Mukuro… but I am too. We all are."

Hiei felt something inside him lift, if only a little. Mîra wouldn't understand him, or his barbaric home, but she had issues of her own, issues that he wouldn't be able to understand stemming from the civilized home he wouldn't ever know. But somehow, just knowing that she understood that much was comforting to him, if only a little. So he responded honestly.

"Thank you."

She smiled softly down at him and he gazed back up at her. He continued to dance with her quietly and after some time, she spoke again.

"Hey, Hiei? You're such a romantic you know that?"

Mîra was grinning at him, as though she had discovered his secret identity. He glared at her.

"I am not."

"Oh please," she said rolling her eyes, "On our anniversary I woke to the pearl necklace around my neck, not to mention the beautiful dinner in the garden. Then there was the kiss on the beach, the surprise party for my birthday, and now you gave me this necklace on your sister's wedding under the stars on the alter. Definitely romantic."

He continued glaring at her. Those were instances of him trying to be nice, doing things he thought would make her happy. And the beach didn't count, that was Yusuke's idea. The party didn't either, that was all Shizuru. But, he did have to take a little credit for the anniversary. He thought of the dinner himself and Kurama had suggested ideas for giving her the gift and he picked the one he liked. He didn't have to tell her that though.

"Woman, you don't know what you're talking about," he said gruffly.

"Don't worry, Herven, I won't tell anyone," she laughed. He tried to glare at her but in her lovely laughter it was hard. So he did the next best thing as he rose on his toes and kissed her. He was annoyingly cut short from his mates sweet taste by Kurama, calling to them saying that Yukina and Kuwabara were leaving.

He held her hand as they walked closely together back to the reception. He paused before they reentered the room, staring to look at her. Mîra turned to him curiously, wondering why he had stopped.

Hiei gripped her hand tightly and said, "You and I."

Mîra smiled tenderly at him. "You and I," she repeated.

He could live with that for an eternity, he was sure. He was sure she could too.

I am very excited and proud of this chapter. This is such a huge mile marker in the story and I am really excited to have even made it this far. Initially I was considering ending the story here but then I realized it was too easy and not nearly as fun! So, with the conclusion of the first section, I would like to thank all my readers and reviewers. I really appreciate your support and comments! I am working on the next section now, which is considerably shorter than this one, and hopefully I will be able to begin posting chapters soon but there will probably be a gap. Don't worry too much though, I have an Extra surprise that is almost ready to help tide you over. =) Thanks again and don't forget to review!