Last Time on The Courtship
Botan proves she is as fast a learner as Koenma in the art of sexual pleasure. Koenma promises disciplinary action for her naughtiness. Hiei is reunited with an 'old friend' who questions his choice of a mate. Mukuro orders Hiei to suppress the rebellion. Yusuke Urameshi, Doctor of Psychiatry diagnosed Hiei as having a secret loyalty to the humans but torn over his allegiance to the demon race. Kuwabara decides to travel to the makai.
Hiei had his Katana at the demon's throat in half a heartbeat. "What was that?"
"You heard me, traitor. Where's your lover boy? I'll bet he would make a tasty-" His sentence was cut off by his own decapitation.
"Aw c'mon Hiei," Yusuke complained. "At least wait until we find the Headhunter guy first."
His fellow rebels involuntarily gave him away with their body language. "Looks like we have a winner," Yusuke said, walking towards a tall, red demon with six inch sharp claws and needle-like teeth.
"Congratulations," Yusuke said with a smile. "You've just won a private audience with Mukuro herself."
The look on the demon's face was one of sheer terror. It would have been comical if the situation weren't so serious.
"Something troubling you fool? Did you think that Mukuro would allow this defiance to go unpunished?" Hiei spoke up at last.
Gizel glared at Hiei. "I can't wait to get my hands on you little pet human. I think I'll start by ripping his limbs off, one at a time and save his head for last-"
Before he could finish Hiei had delivered a chop to his neck, rendering the demon unconscious. "Bind him," Hiei ordered to some guards.
"So how do you want to handle this?" Yusuke asked. "Powering up will probably kill half of 'em."
"No," Hiei said while reaching for the bandages that bound his dragon in place; which was sizzling and ready to be released. "Let me give them a reason not to challenge us again."
The camp erupted in chaos.
"HOLY SHIT! HE'S RELEASING THE DRAGON!"
"I'M GETTING THE FUCK OUTTA HERE!"
"RUN!"
"FOOLS! DO YOU THINK YOU CAN ESCAPE?" Hiei bellowed, stretching out his arm. The dragon sprang from its resting place and encircled the frantic crowd before it rose up and dived in the center, engulfing every rebellious spirit among them in a sea of black flames.
"Hope you're happy, Kazuma…" he muttered before collapsing. Yusuke managed to catch him before he fell.
Kuwabara stood nervously before Mukuro, as he did on his two previous visits to the Makai. Mukuro chuckled to herself. "You seem to be discomforted, Kuwabara. Is there something the matter?"
"Uh, no-no ma'am."
"Ma'am?" she inquired, never having heard this term.
"It's a term of respect for a woman."
"Well, don't call me that. It makes me feel old."
"Oh, sorry."
"Aren't you going to ask how old I am?"
"I was taught that it was not polite to ask a woman's age."
"I see. Your manners are impeccable, by the way. Hiei could use a few lessons."
Kuwabara finally relaxed enough to chuckle. "He's better than he used to be. Still has a long way to go. But my sister told me that people with manners that were too good were up to no good."
"Interesting…" Mukuro thought on this for a moment. "Do you believe this is true?"
Kuwabara nodded. "Yeah. Sensui, this guy we were fighting had really good manners, but he was evil as they get."
"Sensui…that was the human that opened the gate to the makai, was it not?"
"Well, kind of…" Kuwabara trailed off.
"Kind of?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, actually it was me."
"Oh yes, now I remember. You possess the Jigen To."
"Yes ma- yes I do."
"Impressive, especially for a human. Hiei tells me that you are the strongest human alive. Is that true?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know? Did Koenma not confirm?"
"Yeah, but he doesn't really know either. There could be a human out there stronger than me that they don't know about."
"Interesting. You are very humble, Kuwabara; a rare trait indeed for a human or demon for that matter."
"Thank you…ow," Kuwabara grunted, rubbing his left side.
"What is it?" Mukuro asked.
"Tattoo's burning. Hiei must be using his dragon."
Mukuro nodded, but remained silent. After an awkward silence, she spoke. "Well Kuwabara, Hiei and Yusuke should be returning soon. You are welcome to wait in Hiei's quarters…unless you desire quarters of your own."
Kuwabara didn't know how much of their situation that she knew, and didn't want to cause suspicion. "Hiei's quarters are fine."
When he got to Hiei's quarters, he suddenly remembered a message that Koenma asked him to deliver to Mukuro. He walked down the long corridor to her throne room. However, before he reached his destination he was confronted by a stoic, vaguely familiar voice.
"Well, well, well. It's a pleasure to see you again. Kuwabara, is it?"
Kuwabara turned to see a shorter demon with ice blue eyes staring at him.
"Yeah? Who's askin'?"
Touya narrowed his eyes. "I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't remember me."
Kuwabara studied him closely. "Oh yeah. You were one of the ninjas from the tournament."
"The correct term is Shinobi."
Kuwabara shrugged. "If you say so. Anyway, nice seeing ya'." Kuwabara turned to walk down the hall.
"Excuse me."
"Yeah, what is it now?" Kuwabara answered with a touch of annoyance in his voice.
"Have you seen Hiei? We were talking in his quarters and didn't get to finish our conversation," Touya said casually.
Now it was Kuwabara's turn to narrow his eyes. "He's gone to take care of the rebellion. I will tell him you asked to see him when he gets back."
"Please do. We are old friends and have much catching up to do."
Kuwabara stepped a little closer to the small ice demon. "You got something to say, frosty?"
"Not really." Touya let out a dramatic sigh. "I was just telling Hiei that I was surprised he took a human mate is all. I guess he was on the rebound after I ended our relationship and grabbed the first available person he could find."
Kuwabara crossed his arms. "Is that so?"
"Why the look of surprise? Did he not tell you of our relationship? What a shame. You know what they say: 'communication is key'."
"True enough. But I don't care who he was with before me. He's got me now…" Kuwabara paused for emphasis, and lifted his shirt to show Touya the dragon tattoo on his left side."…for life. Now if you'll 'scuse me I have wasted enough time with ya'."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. I wonder how he can stand to be in the presence of such an idiot."
"He likes it jus' fine. Already told ya' I'm done here. Now go find some snow to play in or sumthin'."
A chilly aura formed around the master of ice. "I should freeze you solid for that comment."
"Go on, why don't ya'," Kuwabara dared. "Hot aroun' here anyway. Can't get used to the demon heat."
Touya powered up. "You're an even bigger idiot than I thought."
"I see you've made a friend in my absence, Kazuma."
The both turned to see Hiei walking down the corridor.
"Yeah, me and ice boy here were jus' exchangin' pleasant greetings."
"I see."
"How's that rebellion going? Such a shame that humans can't defend themselves," Touya remarked, his voice dripping with contempt.
"The rebellion is done," Hiei replied levelly. "And if you'll excuse us, Kazuma and I will be retiring to our suite now."
With a smirk and a wink, Kuwabara placed his arm possessively around his mate and they walked down the hall together.
Touya stalked off in the opposite direction.
When they reached their suite, Kuwabara started in immediately. "Hiei, I'm sorry. I know you wouldn't let anyone hurt us humans. And you have given up so much to keep me happy. I haven't been fair, and haven't given demons a chance-"
Hiei placed a finger to his lover's lips to stay his outburst. "I know you didn't come up with all this on your own. Who have you been talking to?"
"Shizuru."
"I see. Well perhaps I should have tried to explain how I felt," Hiei said, admitting his role in the recent argument. "Let's just forget about it. The rebellion is done. Let Mukuro and Yomi figure out how to keep it from happening again."
"Fair enough. Well, now that we got that outta the way," Kuwabara said, pushing his mate down on the large bed and climbing on top of him. "I think we should make up. But I will let you rest first 'cause you're gonna need it."
Koenma sat in his office, shirking work and thinking to himself. He had a few creative ideas on how to discipline his fiancée for her naughty behavior and was anxious to try them out. However, he didn't want it to seem that he was only interested in physical gratification. He could wait a little while. He closed his eyes and allowed himself to get lost in the memory of the previous evening. Recalling the pleasure that he received sent pleasant sensations straight to his groin. He also had thoroughly enjoyed pleasuring Botan; listening to her cry out his name and feeling her squirm with pleasure was almost as satisfying as having her sweet lips wrapped around his…
"Lord Koenma?" he was startled out of his thoughts to see one of his father's personal servants.
"What is it?"
"Your father, King Enma requires you presence at once."
At once? What was this about? Botan? The rebellion?
"For what?" he asked, already knowing what the servant would say.
"Sir, I am not at liberty to say."
"Very well. Jorje?"
His blue ogre appeared almost instantly. "Yes, sir?"
"When Botan arrives please tell her that I have an important meeting and that I will reschedule our briefing."
"Yes, sir."
On his way to see his father, he puzzled what the issue was. Could it be the rebellion? He asked himself. No, he wouldn't get involved in something like this unless it escalated. It must be Botan. But what could he want? He had sent his father a message informing him that Botan had officially accepted his bracelet and that they would be setting a date for their union in the near future. His father had sent a message back offering his congratulations.
He didn't have time to puzzle it any longer. He was ushered towards his father's private study. The King sat at his desk, tapping his finger on the mahogany wood.
He stepped towards his father and bowed.
"Son," the king acknowledged.
"Father, you wished to see me?"
"Yes. Have you decided on a date for your union with Botan?"
Koenma could feel a fluttering in his stomach. So this is about Botan! What could he want? He already approved the union. What could be the…
"Son, did you not hear my question?"
"Yes father, my apologies. No, we have not set a date for our union. There is much business to take care of. Botan is adjusting to her position as superintendent and there is a rebellion in the makai."
"I am aware. However, there has been a development and it concerns your betrothal. I am afraid you cannot be wed to Botan until this current issue is resolved."
Development? WTF? Is king Enma playing games again, or is there some deeper issue? Worst of all, how will Botan take the news? Find out as The Courtship progresses!
A/N: A special acknowledgment to Time on My Hands, who came up with the Touya bit. Love all my reviewers! Keep 'em comin!
NG714