Kuwabara and Yukina are still figuring each other out, but things are going good. Or so Kuwabara thought!

Sometimes Kuwabara felt he could kill Yusuke. Or maim him at the very least. The sonaofbitch made life so hard with his disregard for most social ques. He still didn't understand he can't steal what he wanted or give up his own life so someone else's mother wouldn't breakdown in earth shattering sorrow. Kuwabara knew his friend. And he knew Yusuke largely did what he thought was amusing. He also knew he and Keiko were his buffers; they made sure he never crossed the line that was so apparent to everyone else but nonexistent for him.

For all the times Kuwabara's hands twitched with the need to strangle the life outta Yusuke, he couldn't help but bask in the pleasant outcome of one of Yusuke's more beneficial interferences.

The brutal heat of the summer was stolen away by the chilling breezes of autumn. Before Yukina come along, Kuwabara thought autumn was the most captivating season outta the four. Warms colors of red, orange, and yellow clashed with the dropping temperatures. The fall had a unique way of bringing life back into him when he was on the verge of deadening out to the world. Death was so prominent in that season, yet he was revived by the decay of the world around him.

Yukina made him see the gentle way of winter. Each snowflake was like a kiss from her frozen lips and it caused fire to bloom all over his exposed face and hands. She also showed Kuwabara the harshness of the cold. The weather was freezing and unforgiving sometimes; frost trying to bite off his fingers and toes.

Months had passed since the sex tea party, the change of season showing the passage of time. Kuwabara had spent the first few weeks on alert for any surprising changes in Yukina to indicate a talk with Yusuke. He wasn't disappointed, but he was sure as Hell surprised.

Kuwabara lounged on the couch, back nestled into the corner of the armrest and the back of the couch. Having sat in the same position for the last hour snuggled up and talking with Yukina, Kuwabara was pleasantly comfortable on the inside. On the outside he was struggling between the shivers and a cool comfort. The heat from his body was soaked into and reflected from the couch cushions which only marginally help keep him warmed from the chill seeping in from outside.

Trying to make Yukina as content as possible, Kuwabara'd turned off his heater and opened all the windows. The invited cool air had no qualms numbing the tip of his nose and fingers. Even through the thick sweater he wore cold chills would sweep over his body periodically. Only the look of pure relaxation and happiness on Yukina's face could stop Kuwabara from jumping up, slamming shut every window, and nailing the fuckers shut.

Kuwabara was distracted from his mindless wonderings by Yukina's reappearance from the kitchen. In her hands she held two cups of tea, one steaming and the other ice cold. Blood warmly rushed through his body as Yukina's approach sped up his heart.

"Here you are, Kazuma," Yukina said sweetly, handing him the hot tea and keeping the cold for herself. "Hopefully this will warm you up."

Yukina settled onto the couch in between Kuwabara's spread legs, reclining against his broad chest before taking a small sip of her drink. Already Kuwabara felt heat warming him and he hadn't even tried his tea yet.

"I know you must be frozen. And I know humans don't take well to a frozen state like the Ice Maiden do, so please drink your tea. I mixed it specially to promote higher body temperatures," reprimanded Yukina softly.

Kuwabara grinned devilishly down at his woman. Pride swelled in his chest for her thoughtfulness and her ability to constantly help others. At his lack of response, Yukina craned her head back against his solid pecs. She looked curiously up into Kuwabara's strong, rugged face while he looked lovingly into her own soft, sweet face.

Leaning down, Kuwabara placed a light ghost of a kiss atop the tip of her nose. Her face fell into a crinkle, nose scrunched up and eyes squinted as Kuwabara obliged her request and gulped down a mouthful for scalding hot tea. Immediately his mouth and throat shouted out in searing pain. He nearly choked on what he had left in his mouth and if it weren't for Yukina's presence nestled against him he would have spewed the beverage all over the living room floor. As it was, he managed to force the torturous shit down his esophagus. Even the jarring coughing fit trying to worm its way into a full blown episode was held at bay. Anything to avoid jostling Yukina when she was so relaxed against him.

Careful not to overdo it, Kuwabara took several more smaller sips to clear his clogged up throat. Before long his cup was completely drained, only the dredges of the leaves remained. As per usual, Yukina was right. Kuwabara could already feel warmth creeping slowly from the pit of his stomach to his extremities much the same way passion would. The difference being passion didn't leave behind a sense of comfort so great that sleep tugged at his mind.

One minute he was fully aware for Yukina's small form nestled against him and the biting cold, the next his head was lolling on a swivel as warmth cocooned him from all other sensation. In a blink of an eye he went from staring drowsily at the various figures he could make out in the textured ceiling to Yukina's mischievous blood-red eyes and trailing aqua hair looming over him.

"Oh, good! It's finally taking affect," Yukina said chirpily.

Kuwabara blinked. Her words floated around his head emptily for a while, not really connecting other than just being present. Confusion scrunched up his rugged face when her meaning finally hit home.

"Wha'a fuck 'oo pah in ma tea," Kuwabara slurred. His mouth felt dry as a desert and he could barely form the few words he was sweating furiously to think up. Now darkness was slinking into the corner of vision, clouding up and distorting Yukina's brilliantly smiling face coming close to his.

"Just something to warm you up," she whispered in his ear seductively.

At that moment, Kuwabara was painfully aware that Yukina was demon. A demon who could easily crush a defenseless human like she's made him. Adrenaline shot through him at the mere idea that his sweet, innocent, incredibly deceptive Yukina could dare to harm him, but darkness still stole over him and he was gone.