"This is taking an awfully long time," Mukuro fretted, lying back on the couch in her lounge room with Aiko sleeping in her arms. Hiei was sitting at the desk, and a servant had brought in an extra chair for Kurama. Yomi, of course, would be sitting right next to Mukuro.
"It hasn't been that long," said Hiei. "Remember, Kurama said the healing pod is mostly for serious injuries that won't heal on their own, so a case like Yomi's should be over soon."
"I just want him to be okay, I suppose," Mukuro said. "I can't believe I hurt him like that."
"Well, you didn't become a King for nothing," Hiei replied, and Mukuro had the feeling Hiei had enjoyed the opportunity to see her in action.
Just then, there were footsteps in the hallway, and Kurama appeared in the doorway of the lounge room, supporting Yomi, who looked tired, but all his wounds were gone. He was wearing pajamas, and his skin still looked a little wet from the fluid in the healing pod. Mukuro had never seen Yomi wearing pajamas before, and she was surprised at how much she loved it.
"Try not to startle him," said Kurama, setting Yomi down next to Mukuro on the couch. "He's still a little disoriented, especially without his sight."
"Don't worry, Lord Yomi, I'll be your eyes," said Mukuro, rubbing one of his horns.
"Thank you, Lord Mukuro," he muttered, his head leaning against her shoulder. "Where am I?"
"You're in my fortress, silly," she said. "Kurama had Hiei run back to get some pajamas for you, so you can be nice and comfortable."
"Oh really," said Yomi, drawing out the word. "Which ones?"
"They're pink with bunnies on them," Mukuro replied, somehow managing to keep a straight face while Kurama and Hiei tried to contain their laughter.
"They are not," said Yomi.
"Don't worry, they're just your plain blue ones," said Kurama. "I'd never actually let your girlfriend see you in your pink bunny pajamas."
"Wait, he actually has pink bunny pajamas?" Mukuro shrieked.
"I can neither confirm nor deny," said Kurama, and then everyone in the room was laughing, even Yomi. When the laughter died down, Mukuro lifted Yomi's arm up and snuggled onto his chest. He didn't even need to completely awake for that, because they had done it so many times. She'd almost forgotten how perfectly she fit into the little crevice, with the baby cradled in her arms, and his strong arms cradling her.
"Hiei, I could use some help cleaning up in the healing tank room," Kurama said abruptly.
"Why?" said Hiei. "What'd he do, piss himself? Have a servant do it."
"I really think we should do it ourselves," said Kurama, glaring at him and making a cutting motion across his throat. Mukuro felt the corners of her lips twitching into a grin as Hiei put it together.
"Right!" he said, jumping up. "Yeah, I'll help you clean up in there. The, uh…the servants could use a break."
Mukuro had to stick her fingers in her mouth to keep from laughing. But when they were gone, she snuggled back into Yomi and held his chin in her hand.
"Oh, honey," she whispered. "I'm so sorry."
"No, I had it coming," said Yomi. Mukuro could feel the soft rumble of his voice underneath her when he spoke. "I'm the one who should be sorry. I was just so bitter over our breakup…"
"Well, if you'll take me back, we can forget that ever happened," she told him. "I didn't leave you for the war, like I said. I left you…because I was starting to get feelings for you, and that scared me. It was only until after we were apart that I realized I'd made a mistake, and especially after our daughter was born."
"I didn't mean what I said about not wanting to be a part of her life, or what I said about regretting our relationship," said Yomi. "What did you call the baby, now?"
"Her name's Aiko," said Mukuro. "Do you like it?"
"I love it," said Yomi, giving her a kiss on the top of the head. "But not as much as I love you."
"You're going to be smooth now, are you?" Mukuro ran her fingers along Yomi's jaw. "Just kidding. I love you too. And I'm happy you want to help me raise Aiko, too. Do you want to hold her?"
"Of course." Yomi held out his arms, and Mukuro carefully gave him the baby. "I only wish I could see her."
"She looks just like you, in almost every way," said Mukuro. "But she does have my eyes."
"And I'm sure her eyes are the most beautiful part of her," said Yomi, his thumb caressing the little horns. Mukuro could have sworn the baby smiled, and she wished with every fiber of her being that her father could have seen it.
"Look, honey, let's stop fighting," she said, rubbing her finger against the baby's cheek. "I still think I can't be at war with someone I'm banging. But instead of ending our relationship…maybe we could end this war instead. We can rule Makai together."
"Ningenkai and Reikai too?" Yomi said hopefully.
"Yomi, you and I both know that your 'three worlds at peace under me' campaign was just an excuse to expand your empire," Mukuro told him. "And I don't know why you want to go lording over those meaningless humans when everything we need is right here. Besides, we have all of Makai to rule, not to mention a baby. Could you at least put it on the backburner?"
There was silence. Yomi sighed.
"Oh…all right," he said. "If that's what you truly desire. All I desire is you. And in the spirit of desire—"
"Yomi, I just gave birth three days ago," Mukuro reminded him. "It's not going to happen."
"That's not what I meant," said Yomi, and she was surprised to see a slight blush in his cheeks. "I meant…ruling together would certainly be nice. But it could be even better." He squeezed her hand. "If it so pleases you, Mukuro…I would like you to be my wife."
"Yomi!" This time it was Mukuro's turn to blush. "What was in those leaves Kurama gave you?"
"You'd have to ask him, but I doubt he'd give me anything that would impair my judgment," Yomi told her. "Either way, I mean it. Would you marry me, Lord Mukuro?"
"Of course I will, Lord Yomi," said Mukuro, squeezing his hand back. "The war ends today. And tomorrow, we'll begin a new reign all our own."
-the end-