Indeed, foxy old Kurama had been having an awful lot of fun when they got back to Kuwabara's place that night, explaining over tea about Yukina's secret proposal… The first three or four times. After that it was starting to get a little tedious.

"Kazuma, what exactly are you having trouble understanding…?" The crimson-haired beauty finally had to inquire, with barely concealed exasperation. He had expected the human to be excited about this turn of events, joyous even. But he was only confused and anxious, and now his tone was even growing a little angry.

Kuwabara huffed back, gesturing wildly with his hands. "Um – Everything? You're saying that Yukina giving us these tear gems of hers means she wants to marry us – BOTH of us? At the same time? Like how would that even work? It's not even legal!"

Kurama had to pause and let a smirk ghost over his face before addressing his boyfriend again with all due seriousness. "Kuwabara, so is the two of us getting married, and yet you're still with me despite that fact? Forgive me, my love, but if I may be so bold, I must admit that I can't help but think you're just focusing on the legality so as not to think about the fact that Yukina has confessed she has feelings for you…"

Kuwabara gave him a bit of a 'no duh' look for that. "Um. Yeah? That's kind of already pretty hard to believe too! I mean since when did that happen?"

Kurama took a deep breath, and then blew it out over the steam rising from his tea. "You have to remember things are much, much different in demon world. Triads and Quad relationships are actually almost as common as Couples. But then they're all much more fleeting affairs, as well. Planning to stay together for a long time isn't something most demons do. So I believe it's safe to say that Yukina does have deep feelings for you, or else she would never propose something like this in the first place. But at the same time, there are practical advantages that I'm sure she's realistically considered, and expects that we will too…"

The teen finally seemed to calm down a bit then, as things slowly started to make a bit more sense. "What kinds of advantages?" He didn't seem upset at the thought of Yukina desiring a relationship with him for less than selfless reasons. In fact, he would undoubtedly seek a way to help her that didn't involve her giving him anything in return, once he knew what it was she needed.

So Kurama simply laid out the facts for him as they were. "Yukina seems to want to live in the human world indefinitely. She's not the kind of demon that will flourish in most of demon world, and even in her own community, the emotions Yukina prefers to indulge in makes her an outcast. But by Spirit World Law, demons cannot simply go waltzing back and forth into human world and demon world. Of course it's different for every demon depending on their powers and abilities – I, for example, bent or outright broke a few of those laws myself... But! –Most- approved demons cannot live in the human world without a human representative, or chaperone. So far Yukina has been living here with Genkai. It would seem, however, that she is asking you to take over that role for her. After all, though Genkai is a tough old gal, she's not as long for this world as we'd hope, either…"

Kuwabara swallowed at a sudden lump in his throat, then nodded. "So, what, like a green card? Well I get that! If that's what Yukina needs I'll do it for her! No marriage required!" Of course he wouldn't let his friend be banished to a violent world where she could not defend herself, he had no need of reward for it!

Kurama smiled at his chivalrous boyfriend, and then promptly rolled his eyes at him. "I already told you, Kazuma – Yukina would NOT have proposed this arrangement if that was all she wanted. She has other reasons…"

The carrot-top was getting a little more than just huffy now. "Like what! Quit beating around the bush and spit it out already, will ya?!"

The fox stared back at him, calmly taking a long and leisurely sip of his tea before dropping the next sentence on his lover like a bucket of bricks. "Her sexual desire for both of us."

Indeed, Kuwabara promptly fell back and out of his chair, as if hit by a cannonball. "W-W-WHAT?! She TOLD you that?!"

The demon shushed him, "A bit, and a bit I put together for myself after she told me what she did. Apparently, from what I gather, Yukina has always enjoyed and appreciated your romantic attentions. But being what she is and what you are, of course there were some doubts about whether she could or should accept them at first. But your subsequent actions proved your honor and sincerity, and well… Ah…"

Kuwabara got back up and looked right at him, at full attention now. What was it that left the usually undaunted fox stumbling to explain?

Which only increased the pressure on him, the demon suddenly realized. "It's just… It's rather a more demon custom than most humans are familiar with, but well…" Kurama strained out, having trouble explaining it calmly indeed, when he was also fighting the urge to double over laughing, and also the strong urge to simple lie on the floor and groan at length. "…Okay, so! The thing is! Apparently Yukina told me she liked you all along, but um, well, I guess, basically, I mean apparently—" Damn damn damn, he was usually so cool, why was he losing it telling his lover this secret…

"KURAMA SPIT IT OUT MAN!" Kuwabara rightfully demanded.

So Kurama finally did, exploding, "YUKINA TOLD ME SHE HAD THE HOTS FOR ME!"

"…" Of course there was the pause, the moment of realization, the dumb stupefaction. Then the human suddenly smiled, cracked a grin even, and promptly fell over onto his back again. Kurama really hoped he didn't hit his head…

But the human was apparently coherent enough to moan out, "Oooooh… NOW it all makes SENSE…"

For a moment Kurama thought he had gotten the wrong idea, with his stupid explanation and all. But then Kuwabara suddenly got up again and exploded right back at him, even spraying a little spit in his great excitement, which Kurama politely forgave him for. "Oh my GODS, dude, of COURSE Yukina has the hots for you! A gorgeous girl like her and a gorgeous guy like you, of COURSE! You're like the coral to her turquoise, the yin to her yang, I WON'T GET IN THE WAY OF YOUR LOVE-!"

Kurama had to spring to action then, still alarmed even though he had anticipated this from the human, he banged his tea cup down on the table to silence the foolish tirade. "Kazuma, HUSH! And please, -listen-. There is NO me and her without YOU, and the demon custom I was trying to tell you about, it's that because she likes me, since we got together, she now finds YOU way more sexually attractive because you've been with me!"

"..."

Getting his nerve back after that horrid display earlier, the fox suddenly jumped over the table, and then pushed his lover up against the nearest wall. To save his head just in case Kazuma fell over again, and to reaffirm to the human who he most desired… "We could all make it work as we please, Kazuma. But the one who decides now whether we should or will is you. Yukina and I have already approved of it, so now we need to know if you do too. I'm sure you know we'd have to live our lives one way in the day and another in the night, but it could be a happy secret, instead of one with any shame…"

He could tell Kazuma's cogs were turning, that he was slowly getting the idea. But he played it out aloud anyways. "I'm sure you know, my human mother is one of my greatest joys. And if we were to tell her about us, I'm sure she'd eventually come to accept it… But I also know that she's always wished to see me grow up to marry a beautiful bride, and she'd be beside herself if I brought home Yukina to meet her. I'm sure she'd say she could die happy knowing I married such a kind and lovely girl. I wish my mother could understand us too and not worry about it as much, but I want her to feel that security, and I don't want to cause her undue anxiety. Then, once I've married Yukina, I'm sure my mother would have no cause for alarm about a young couple having a college-going roommate. We're just all good friends saving on rent. And then the three of us live happily ever after~!"

Kurama seemed pleased with how the second half of that went, and he could tell, his lover was tempted. His lips kept curling up and then frowning, wanting to accept so badly, even though his own sense of morality was reeling from the overwhelming oddness of the situation, not to mention his skepticism. After all, Kuwabara was the kind of guy who was used to getting the short end of every stick, and now, the best of both worlds was being offered to him on a silver platter...

"Seriously? That easy...?" He sounded doubtful, obviously.

So Kurama deadpanned back, "Of course not. My mother might not question it right away, but I'm sure in ten or fifteen years or so... But! We'll cross that bridge when we get to it!" Realistically, what else could they do that would cause less confusion or harm?

Kuwabara was reeling. "So... What, just, the three of us...?"

Kurama nodded.

The human gulped. "...Living together...? And, um..."

The demonic teen grinned. "Yes, my lover. She'd be our -other- lover, for BOTH of us. She would not have given you the gem if she didn't also want to be with you, Kazuma... And obviously, since you being with me has made you more attractive to her, you don't have to worry about her disapproving of the two of us anymore, either."

Kuwabara made an X with his arms, apparently not even thinking about the sexual aspect yet. That was still too much. "Wait, wait, hold on - Does that mean kids are a part of this equation now?"

Kurama blinked. This topic had briefly come up before as a gag, and they had both jokingly agreed that Kuwa's cat was their baby. But then this did change the prior situation at hand... "Um, well... I suppose that depends on whether Yukina desires them. It's possible, but... Then you have to realize, ice apparition reproduction is just as strange and alien to humans as the rest of their customs..."

"I mean." Kazuma interrupted suddenly, blushing just as bright a shade of red as his hair. "As long as no part of my body is being literally frozen I can probably work around any other weirdness she might bring... That is, if you both are really sure about this crazy idea..."

"I'm sure that we are. But of course you'll have time to speak to Yukina about personally, eventually..." The redhead gave a lazy shrug, exhausted after all the effort of finally getting something through to his beloved but dense boyfriend. "When you do, just remember how different her kind is from your own. As for personal tastes and desires I can't yet say, only guess at. All I know for sure is that it is extremely rare for one of her people to have hybrids when sex occurs with other species and the ice maidens. It's almost unheard of. Otherwise, sexual stimulation will result in another ice maiden, more or less a clone or near-clone of her mother..."

Kuwabara blinked owlishly for a moment, then suddenly went pink as a carnation, as a goofy grin spread across his face. "Oh my gosh... A little tiny baby Yukina, oh my goodness, it would be so CUTE...!"

At least there was no disappointment over that issue, even though he was still ignoring the part about how said adorable ice maiden clone would be made...

Oh well. Kurama had already planned to have to give both of the virginal new bed-mates a crash-course soon anyways.

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Naturally, one doesn't get married without first having a 'date'...

And Yukina still had some explaining to do.

So the next week, the boys came again to call on her, with Kuwabara looking much more anxious this time around, and Kurama clearly much more interested.

And this time, for the very first time, Yukina didn't play host to them out on the porch or in the garden. She ushered them very quietly into her private quarters...

They followed without comment or a single sound otherwise, until they finally reached her abode. It was very simple and sparsely decorated, with only a plain blue sleeping mat on the floor for a bed, and a wooden nightstand nearby with a white vase. Within it was a single sprig of lavender. Single, but not alone, it was full of blooms that made the small room smell sweet and clean and serene, much like her...

Kurama sat closest to the flower, since Kazuma occasionally had sinus issues. He was the first to speak, as soon as his lover had sat down next to him. "Salutations, Miss Yukina. I've spoken to Kuwabara at length about your proposal. He understands the gist of it, but he has a few questions for you first..."

Kuwabara cleared his throat, still clammed up until Kurama nudged him along. "W-Well, Miss Yukina, I... It's just, you know, kind of hard to believe for a guy like me, that a girl as beautiful and kind as you would really want to be with me... I just wanted to make sure, that it's not because you need help to stay in the human world? Because I'll help you with that, and you don't need to-"

"That's not why..." Yukina suddenly interrupted him. She was usually much too polite to do so, but she had to stop him there. "I do need to find someone to help me with that, but that's not why I offered you the gem. Kazuma, I would never have given you so precious a gift unless I truly loved you. And I DO love you. I've loved you all along. It's only just recently that I realized how much, and well... I'm sorry, Kazuma. I just didn't know how to go about saying it..."

"It makes sense..." Kurama quipped then. "After all, in her society, just feeling emotions is highly uncommon. Expressing them is usually seen as a nuisance at best, or shameful at worst..."

Yukina nodded, looking down at her lap. "And feeling and expressing emotions of love for a human... Is literally unheard of. So, I'm sorry if this comes as a shock to you, Kazuma. But it was quite the same for me, too..."

The young human gazed at her hidden eyes, slowly coming to understand, even though it was still hard to believe. His heart felt like it wanted to soar, and yet, something was still holding it down... "I suppose it's safe to say though, that you love Kurama more than you do me..."

Yukina glanced back up at him, confused and a bit alarmed. "...Actually, no." She informed him, a bit unsure if he'd believe her, but not unsure of her words. "I must admit, yes, I do find Kurama more physically attractive, because we are both demons... The first lust I've ever felt before was for him..." Her cheeks burned red, but she continued to look at him as she admitted. "But as for who I've spent more time with, who I know better personally, and whom I feel is a closer friend... In that sense, I would have to say that I love you more than Kurama, Kazuma..."

Kuwabara looked up in shock at that, his own skin growing red and hot. "W-Wha-? Really?"

She gave him the sweetest smile and answered with all sincerity, "Yes, Kazuma. I love you very much, and I want to make you as happy as possible. I may have a few selfish desires of my own, but I swear that's just as equally true..."

Kurama couldn't help but smile then too. He had worried about that himself, but after hearing Yukina speak, he no longer had any concern for either of them. If they both had Kazuma's happiness as their motives, then they would get along just fine.

Speaking of 'getting along', and knowing that Kazuma would be too gentlemanly to ask for them, Kurama spoke up then, "That was actually another thing we meant to ask you about, Miss Yukina. Your desires, selfish or otherwise, we'd like to hear them all. In particular, Kazuma and I were wondering if procreation was something you had given any thought?"

Kuwabara's blush somehow got redder, and he began to sputter. Yukina simply blinked cutely, a bit flushed herself, but not nearly as much so as the human boy. "Oh..." She made a little sound of surprise, before thinking more on the subject. "Ah, well... It's a bit difficult to say. I have a time or two wondered if my initial attraction to Kurama was perhaps just my body subtly informing me that it was mature enough to clone... It's why I never told you before either, Kurama. Just in case that was all it was..."

Of course. Any demon would suspect lust or biological urges before love. It was only humans that got that backwards. So Kurama nodded, "But now that you've seemingly sorted out all your feelings and emotions, do you believe they could both be equally distributed between the two of us? We are aware that your biology very rarely allows hybrids, and that the overwhelming likelihood is that any child you conceived would be a clone. However, I assume we would -both- be allowed to try for a progeny with you anyways? We were planning on having you marry me, you see," He went on to explain, to cover up his own slight embarrassment over his candor. "But Kuwabara would be living with us. If by some rare chance you were to conceive Kuwabara's child, I would claim it and raise it as my own. Just as I know he would do for me if the opposite happened. Just as we would both do for a clone. So is that all something you wanted too?"

She had to pause just a little longer to consider it all this time. But she soon nodded again, and affirmed for them, "Yes... I would be happy to bear a child by either of you, if possible. I would be very happy indeed to have a family with you both..."

Kazuma was now grinning almost as hard as he was blushing. Kurama added a bit of tooth to his own smile.

Now that all their emotions were settled, all they had to do was figure out how to get settled... Physically!

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