Kurama's visit to Genkai's went smoothly. Yusuke even showed up after being MIA after all this time. Kurama watched his friend reunite with Keiko in a bittersweet meeting on the beach shore. It was nice.

Now that everyone was playing at the beach, Kurama decided that it was a good time to bring up his fiance.

"Everyone," he said. "I have an announcement."

All of his friends paused their activities to look at him. Either looks of interest or concern on their faces. Regardless of what he was going to say, it was going to be earth shattering. "I'm..." Eyebrows are being raised. "Getting married."

Rather than being happy for him, everyone was extremely confused.

"I'm going to be honest," Yusuke remarks, "I thought I was going to marry Keiko before anyone else gets married." His lack of tact causes his childhood friend's face to flush.

Attempting to understand the situation, Botan being the voice of reason spoke up. "How long ago did you meet this girl?"

"About a month ago." Kurama answers promptly.

Botan's jaw dropped. It was... Quite soon to marry someone but then again, bo stranger than Kuwabara's love at first sight with Yukina. Botan stuttered. "Um... Uh— what's her name?"

Embarrassed, Kurama tilts his head downwards. "... Kurama."

"You my friend, got a lot of explaining to do." Yusuke stood up from splashing water on Keiko and crossed his arms. "Now how did that happen?"

Kurama took a deep breath and explained his situation from the beginning. From meeting the crows to meeting their princess and kissing her awake. It was somehow even more bizarre coming out of him mouth. Not to mention that she's a tengu demon that's actually an alien. A match made in hell.

"And now I'm helping her singlehandedly restore her race." the fox demon concludes.

Scratching his head, it was now Kuwabara's turn to add his 2 cents. "So... Basically what you're saying is that... Eh—" the redheaded boy glanced at Yukina and blushed, wanting to preserve her innocence. And his for that matter. "There's going to be a planet of little Kurama's running around?"

"Fox and bird babies," Yukina cooed. "How cute!"

Or how horrific. Kurama thought to himself. He hadn't considered what his spawn would look like until now. He tried to imagine a child with Crowama's wings for hair and fox ears. His gene pool might change what Crowama's race might look like for a while. Oh the predicament he found himself in.

Genkai, after assessing the situation nodded in thought. "No one is asking the real question." She looked up at Kurama from where she stood. "From what you told us, do you really love her? Or are you doing this out of duty?"

"Eee! You're getting married?!" Lum flew up from sitting on the floor and circled above. Ataru and Crowama herself sitting below her.

Like Shuutaro, Ataru was heartbroken. He sobbed, though no tears actually came out. "Kurama, baby... How could you move on so soon!" He earned himself a zap from Lum causing him to keel over.

"Darling! Be happy for her!" Lum landed on her feet, glowering down at her fiance.

Ataru twitched from where he laid on the floor. "Kurama..." he mumbled. "Give me... One more chance—"

Crowama huffed and upturned her nose. "I'm going to be a married woman now. My soon-to-be husband is way more behaved than you, not to mention way more handsome."

Those words shot through Ataru's heart, leaving him wounded. Lum went on her knees to his side. "Don't worry Darling, you're very handsome to me."

"Yay..."

Crowama cleared her throat and slightly changed the subject. "You're both invited to the wedding as my friends." Then more shyly, she added. "You can invite your friends as well..."

Considering she didn't have any.

Lum immediately understood and nodded. "Benten, Oyuki, and I can be your bridesmaids! Then when Darling and I have our wedding, you can be mine."

"We're never having a wedding!" Ataru protested, earning him another shock.

As if that little scene didn't happen, Crowama continued. "I'll be honored to have you as my bridesmaids and one day be yours."

She knew Benten and Oyuki well, so she didn't mind it at all. It was comforting.

"When's the wedding?" Lum asked, tilting her head curiously.

Crowama frowns slightly. "We haven't decided yet."

Hopefully soon.

Crowama could hardly wait any longer. She was waiting on Kurama but he wanted to take things slow. She could respect that but her tradition took marriage seriously. After a few failed tries, she wanted to do this right.

Kurama wasn't lecherous and revolting like Ataru. Or even cowardly like Shuutaro.

He was... Perfect for her. Crowama wondered if he actually felt the same about her.

Lum pulled the princess out of her thoughts. "Well, whenever you set a date let me know."

At least Lum was being supportive. The green haired alien understood as marriage was also extremely important to her culture.

Crowama nodded. "Thank you... Lum. Much appreciated." She smiled slightly. "I best be on my way then."

By the time the couple returned home it was dark. Kurama found himself arriving first, much to his surprise. But he was glad that Crowama found an excuse to stay out longer.

He found himself boiling water for tea while he waited for her to return. He couldn't help but feel worried about her. Genkai's question was echoing in his ears.

Do you really love her? Or are you doing this out of duty?

This all began because of duty. Kurama felt chivalrous enough to swoop in as her Prince Charming and wake her up with a kiss. To anyone else, sticking around to essentially have sex with her out of 'duty' would make him seem like a horndog. Which he wasn't.

But what did this make him? Was he really being a hero by marrying her?

Kurama gripped the handle of the tea kettle a little too tightly. His knuckles were turning white.

Did... Did Crowama love him or was she using him for her convenience?

His thoughts went to earlier that day when he met with Kuwabara at the train station. A couple of girls had mistaken him for a girl but once they learned that he was a male, they began hitting on him.

No doubt that Kurama was beautiful. But was Crowama like one of those girls?

He could hear the sound of his bedroom window opening. It must be her. She opted for not using the front door as to not be seen by ordinary humans. He quelled his thoughts. He didn't want them to haunt him while she was around.

Crowama opened the bedroom door and stepped out, joining him in the kitchen.

"How was your day?" Kurama asked out of courtesy.

Not answering him, Crowama stood behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. She rested her cheek against his back.

The gesture was surprising but welcome. However she remained silence.

"Shall I repeat myself?" Kurama craned his neck to look behind him. "How was your day? Are you unwell—"

"When will you sleep with me?" she asked suddenly.

Kurama was stunned to say the least. "Pardon? I told you, after we get married..." He could feel Crowama shake her head against his back. Even if he couldn't feel the skin of her cheek through his clothes, he could feel his own skin tingling at the touch.

"No," Crowama clarified. "I mean actually sleep with me. Rest with me in the your bed. We can do that at least, right?"

Kurama wanted to hug her, his arms ached to do so. But being hugged from behind, he was restricted. He didn't want to turn around and make her let go of him. "We can," he confirmed.

Both of their hearts quickened. Crowama could s

swear that Kurama could feel her heart beating against him as well.

Hesitantly, she pulled away. "I'll go wash up then."