My apologies, lovelies, it seems I have yet again forgotten to explain a starred item. Tympani drums are the great big drums in an orchestra that they do the DUN dun DUN dun sound effects with. They are large and loud and most orchestras only use one, MAYBE two if its a larger orchestra, so 100 would be damn near deafening.
wolvesrain17: I know, I know. But all stories must end at some point. (besides, the sequel is in third person semi-omniscient, I really can't shift POV like that in the middle.)
Kagome141414: thank you! I'm so glad you've stuck around this long!
LostCause6661: squealing because of updates is a BAD way to wake the fam. And yes, dear, there is a sequel. (spoiler alert: there will be firekittens... and a lovely little vixen...) I just don't know what to call the next story, titles were NEVER my strong point... I may just steal a lyric or something.
The usual disclaimer, I own naught but the characters I added in to make things interesting. Yes, I made hiei emotionally aware, yusuke a bigger idiot than before, and kurama into a jealous turd of a kitsune. I promise to reset them when I've done with them.
After dinner, Hiei led me directly to our rooms, claiming travel fatigue. I knew better, of course, but I also knew better than to call bull shit on Hiei when he's stressed. And the pending funeral had him stressed.
I expected to have to put some things away, or fuss with the room somehow. I was pleasantly surprised, much to Hiei's amusement, when I got in and found everything put away and in their proper places. Even my altar was set up in perfect directional alignment*.
"Wow, just wow. And stop smirking at me jerk." I glared at my mate. It was a half-assed glare, shush.
"I told you they would know how to set up the room." He smirked again, then got his serious face on. "I'd ask you to be absent tomorrow if I could."
I walked across the black and red carpet to sit in the windowsill with him. "You couldn't stop me. I said I'd stay beside you, and I frikken will."
He looked out the window. "Block me out completely. Don't watch. I do not want you to hurt as well."
I made him look me in the eye. "There is no way in hell I will do that."
He suddenly hugged me tight.
"I'm going to feel it anyway. I need to see what happens, Hiei. I need to be there with you." I spoke softly, and wrapped my arms around him as well.
He gave me a curious look. "Are you about to kiss my nose?"
I kissed his nose.
"You are strange, onna."
I grinned at him and stood. "I do believe we've had this discussion before."
"Yes. You are strange, and I love you anyway." He smirked, and followed my backwards path across the room.
I stopped and gasped. "You said it."
He shrugged. "Not really. But I will."
"You don't have to if you're not comf..."
He flitted to stand directly in front of me and put his finger on my lips. "I love you. You deserve to hear it, not just infer it from my actions."
I moved his finger and kissed his lips. Hard. 'Gods I love you.'
I could feel his smirk grow against my lips. 'And this would be why I will tell you often.'
I pulled away from him and lightly slapped his arm. "You don't have to be a dick about it."
"I'm not." He pulled me close again. "I want to tell you because when you're happy, you always share it. Not like Lotus, and forcing it, but just a nudge."
"Happy needs to be shared. If its too much, I'll stop." I grinned at his blush at admitting to liking softer emotions.
"No, its fine. I've spent my whole life being pissed off." He made sure to lock eyes with me and not let me look away.
"So, you like being happy now?" That's it, my firebug's a pod person. "Who are you and what have you done to my surly firebug?"
He rolled his eyes at me. "Only you would say something like that now, onna."
"Because I loves me my surly firebug. I fought hard to get my surly firebug, and keep him. And if I have to, I will fight off females every day."
He decided it was time to make me shut up and kissed me hard. We tumbled into bed, kissing like it was about to be illegal.
The next afternoon, we were almost late to report to the servants. I preferred to dress myself, but for demon ceremonies, I figured it would be better to submit to the indignity of being dressed by people who know what I'm supposed to wear. I was very confused when they dressed me in fighting clothes, a tank top and pants similar to what Hiei wore at the temple.
My confusion grew when they led me past the women's section to stand beside Hiei at the main door to the arena. I gave my mate a confused and questioning look.
"Were my orders about her not clear enough?" Hiei growled at the general.
"My lord, the mazoku told the elders of the true story of your fight with Lord Mukuro, and it was their decision to make Lady Feochadan your co-ruler." the general explained.
"Shit fuck damn hell." I muttered. I knew telling Hiei I'd fight for him every day was going to bite my ass.
The general put a hand on my shoulder. "It is only a token fight, my lady."
"Remove your hand or I will remove it for you." I growled. What the idiot had thought to be a comforting gesture had hit my mating mark, and it hurt.
The demon in question backed up several paces. "My apologies."
Hiei kissed the mark. "Do not maim our general, Pyro, it would be difficult to replace him this close to the ceremony."
I sighed. "Oh fine. How long will it take this bite to heal anyway?"
Hiei chuckled. "A couple of days at the longest."
"CHOOSE YOUR WEAPON." a voice boomed from somewhere in the stands.
The weapons rack we were given held a katana, a naginata, and a bo. Hiei, predictably, selected the katana. I picked up the naginata. Symbolic fight or no, I wanted to look like I knew what I was doing at the very least.
"Hn, good choice." Hiei smirked at me as we moved to the line in the middle of the Roman-style arena.
"Shut up." I grinned back at him, not completely annoyed at his condescending remark.
The general I had threatened and the top two commanders under him, I think they were lieutenants, stepped into the arena opposite us. All three held katanas.
The voice boomed out again. "Lord Hiei and his mate, Lady Feochadan, did recently best Lord Mukuro in combat, therefore it is the will of the elders that they be tested and rule together, as is the custom of our people."
I could feel the mental headslap Hiei gave himself this time. I'd suspected he'd mentally slapped himself the first time it was explained. I couldn't hold back the giggle.
"ATTACK!" the voice boomed, spurring the weakest of the demons to charge at us.
'Let him draw first blood, that is the custom. Then we will make him surrender.' Hiei's voice reminded me it was fake.
The commander's sword flashed. A line of pain bloomed up my left arm. The ghost of a pain in my right arm let me know Hiei had been hit. My power flared before I could calm it.
Together my blade flashed up and around with Hiei's, and they crossed at the demon's throat. He dropped his sword, and we let him go.
The next two fights went the same, complete with me getting mildly pissed at them cutting my oni-san. The cuts were stacked, each higher than the one previous. And the unspoken demand to surrender was always our blades crossed at the offender's throat.
"The Lord and Lady have proven themselves worthy to rule, long may they reign." the voice boomed over the sounds of hundreds of demons stomping.
The pink demon who had led the team of maids that had dressed me for this thing walked out. She knelt at my feet and held up a very large ring of keys. "The doors of the castle are open to you my lady."
A soldier walked out and knelt before Hiei. He held up a cat-o-nine-tails. "The armies are yours to command my lord."
I grumbled my displeasure at my mate as a very large red demon strode toward us.
'That is the king, Enki.' Hiei said in my head. He was a little too free with the mind-to-mind since we'd mated.
"Lord Hiei, may I offer condolences or congratulations?" Enki's voice was almost as loud as the voice that had yelled out directions.
"Congratulations. The condolences would be wasted." Hiei grumbled.
I elbowed his side. "Thank you for both, my liege."
"Please, just call me Enki."
I nodded.
He stepped aside, revealing Yusuke and a bald demon.
"Nice ceremony. Kitty needs to keep a lid on it." Yusuke grinned.
"Zombie needs to know when to ess-tee-eff-u." I rolled my eyes at him.
"Anyway, this is our official renewing of the peace treaty between our territories, as witnessed by the king. I hope we stay in your good graces, because Hokushin here said you might beat him." Yusuke gave us a wry grin. The demon behind him nodded.
"I accept the treaty, detective." Hiei chuckled.
"What he said." I grinned.
Yusuke and his friend stepped aside to reveal Kurama and an odd looking demon.
'That is Yomi. The goat is blind, so he added things to enhance his senses.' Hiei explained in my head.
The demon bowed to me. "Lady Feochadan, if your energy spike is any indication of your power, I wish to request the privilege to spar you."
"Um, I thought that was against demon law?" I stuttered a little.
"The previous king decided that females should be allowed to spar, mated or not." Kurama explained.
"And I also wish to extend the treaty between our territories." Yomi added.
"Treaty accepted. Sparring, not so much." I replied.
"Treaty accepted, goat." Hiei growled.
I placed my hand on my mate's arm.
He put his hand over mine, then said, "Come, let us feast and remember the life of the lord who has died." It sounded silly as hell, but it was the ceremonial way to tell the dignitaries to shut up, because the officious crap was over.
*witches' altars are set up facing a certain direction depending on the energies they want to harness.
Next chapter: the feast.
I lied, there's one chapter, and an epilogue. And so you know, I passed my exams for bar school, and I am now a fully certified mixologist.