One Wish

AN: Inspired by the Deadliest Sin's January 2010 prompts and madmiko's suggestion for a longer piece about "Snowball Fight" in the December drabbles chapter. These are chronological, just broken up for time skips by the prompts.

1. if I could have one wish

There were many nights when Kagome didn't see Hiei. Sometimes patrols of the unseparated human and youkai worlds would keep him from her for weeks at a time. But she didn't mind too much. Hiei thought it dishonorable to make a living by hocking his hidden hoard for money, and she really preferred a man—a youkai—who did an honest day's work. Besides, patrollers were paid well and between both their jobs and the treasures from Hiei's past, they had a nice bit of money set aside for their future family.

But tonight was for just them: he had arrived home only a few hours ago, and she had found out only yesterday that she was pregnant. And so there they were, sitting on the roof, her leaning against him as her mate stroked her belly which, in just a few short weeks, would be very noticeable.

She remembered many wonderful nights just like this in the feudal era, with Inuyasha. Not that they were ever as close as she and Hiei were at that moment. But there were many nights when they would get away from the rest of the group, find a nice clearing and lay there, side by side, looking up at the night sky, so much clearer than in the modern era. She remembered looking for shooting stars so she could wish for Inuyasha to love her.

"What are you sighing about, mate?"

"Nothing, really," she replied, threading her fingers through his. "Shooting stars."

"Hn. You know very well," he said, the hot breath against her ear sending wonderful shivers down her spine, "that any wish you have, I will grant. The star is unnecessary."

She smiled. What did she do to deserve him? "I know." And they were silent for a while before she turned in his arms to look him straight in the eyes. "Anything?" He held her gaze and that was confirmation enough.

"Hiei, if I could have one wish, it would be that you tell Yukina the truth. I want her to be part of our new family, not just someone close but still looking in. She deserves to know, to be a real aunt."

The wheels were turning in his mind, she could tell. He had kept this secret from Yukina for so long, not wanting the sweet apparition to know that her brother had grown into a murderer and a thief. But Kagome knew that he was so much more than that; that he had developed into a man who she was proud of and loved, and knew her children would take pride in calling him "daddy."

It was a difficult decision, and so she let him think. But in the end, she took his kiss as assent.

2. the first step

She had given him the push, but it was up to him to make the first step. How many years had it been that he had debated this very issue with himself? He had decided she would be safer and happier not knowing who he really was. And yet, Hiei smirked ruefully to himself, his mate makes a simple request, and he could not deny her.

It was Tuesday, and slightly overcast, and he wasn't in the best of moods, but he knew from spying on his former teammates that telling Yukina today would give him the most privacy at Genkai's shrine. Of course, he hadn't counted on the dimwit's classes being cancelled. Apparently, the death of some old professor was a good enough reason for the college to cease teaching for a day for mourning. What foolishness.

He would gladly have taken to his normal spot, ideal for protecting Yukina, and let Kagome chat with her, pretend it was a normal visit, except for the fact that his mate was pushing him forward, a death grip on his hand, toward his sister.

And so, wanting to get this over with as soon as possible, he simply looked at Yukina and bluntly said, "I'm your brother," while at the same time trying to avoid The Look Kagome was dealing to him. The raised eyebrow he saw from his peripheral vision was enough. The pit-pat of Hiroseki stones on the floor brought Hiei back to himself just before Yukina launched herself toward him in a hug.

Eyes open wide in shock—an emotion he couldn't remember ever feeling—he turned to his mate, who simply shrugged and smiled. Then he saw the foolish human who thought to court Yukina, his face an expression of horror.

His face relaxing into an evil smirk, Hiei embraced his sister.

3. no holding back

Hiei made sure that both Kagome and Yukina were distracted with each other before leveling a white-hot glare at the tall oaf. Now that, as her brother, he had a say in Yukina's relationship, he was in a position to ensure that the unworthy creature would cease his suit. And he didn't believe in holding back.

4. until the very end

A month later, Kagome was indeed showing, and, thankfully, getting over her morning sickness, which occurred only in the morning, and not all day like her mother had complained about. She thanked the kami every day for the blessing. Yukina was still overjoyed that her brother had revealed himself, and even moreso that she had a little niece or nephew on the way, and now tended to busy herself even more in the kitchen to make sure she was getting proper nutrients for the baby. And although Kagome felt she was taking advantage of the woman, she never could turn down any of the delicious food Yukina made. Honestly, with the two siblings worrying after her so much, she had very little to worry about herself.

Although that wasn't to say that everything was running smoothly. The voices in the courtyard were proof enough.

"What, you think I'm not man enough for my Yukina?!"

"She's not yours. As her brother, I rejected your suit for her."

"You have no right!"

"Hn."

"I'll show you. I'll defeat you and prove I'm worthy of her."

"You're welcome to try, dimwit."

"Shizuru?" Kagome questioned, cautious, not really wanting an answer to her question.

"Yeah, hon?" The older woman was equally enthused.

"They're not gonna stop this any time soon, are they?"

"Nope. They're gonna keep going til the bitter end."

Kagome sighed and sipped her tea, wishing sake was an option. "I thought so."