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It is now 1:25 a.m. I finally finished this chapter, so that I can go to bed…Yawn. As usual, tell me anything you want, even if simply "it’s cheesy.’

Surprisingly, when Kurama and Hiei arrived at Genkai’s temple, they were among the last guests to arrive. Everyone else was already in small circles on the front porch, youkais and humans mixing freely to chat and catch up the latest gossips. Genkai’s temple was perfect for a social meeting between humans and youkais, for it was the only neutral area in three worlds, and none dared to violet the peace imposed on by its heirs. Everyone who was anyone was there. For the humans, such a meeting might occur again only in another lifetime, and for the youkais, in another hundred or so years. The desire to keep in touch must often bow to the demands of real life. Among the circles of guests, Hiei wandered alone.

Soon, he arrived at his favorite perch, an ancient oak tree of 700years old, looming over other trees in dignified majesty. From where he sat, Hiei could hear the sounds of laughter and chatter. The ceremony would not begin for some time yet, he decided. The Ningen custom demanded that the groom had to be accompanied by good friends called best men in the ceremony. As one of Kuwabara’s best friends, Hiei had an obligation to be present. The thought brought Hiei’s mind back the question at hand: Yukina’s wedding. Kurama had pestered him for a long time to reveal his identity to his twin, ever since he defeated Shigure in one of the tournaments. He changed the subject every time it came up. Last night, for the nth time, Kurama asked him why he would not recognize Yukina. As usual, he did not have an answer for him. Shameful of his past? Definitely not. Hiei was not ashamed of any part in his past, because anything he did was to survive. Once, Kurama quoted for him, ’The noblest virtue of all is the determination to survive.’ The quoted author was not known to him, but he agreed with the stranger completely. Besides, Yukina was not as fragile as her appearance suggested. Remembering her expression when she said a heartless race like the Snow Maidens was better off extinct, Hiei smiled. Behind the guileless seeming gaze hid a soul as cold as eternal snow. Yet she was able to love with gentle warmth despite her frosty race, just as Hiei was able to impose an icy calm despite his fiery nature. Yes, they were more alike than their appearance suggested. It was uncanny, though, how she was able to understand him as well as she did, even if they barely see each other. Hiei was sure that Yukina would comprehend why her brother chose to conceal himself, although he did not perceive the reason.

Barely before the beginning of the ceremony, Hiei finally admitted that he was not all that against her marrying Kuwabara, and his presence here was the best proof. If he were actively opposing the marriage, Kuwabara would have been dead for a long time. No one, not even Kurama could force Hiei to do anything he did not wish to. Actually, his only worry was that Kuwabara’s huge stature would hurt his bird-like sister. Envisioning her carrying his child was even more fearsome than the end of the world. Kurama, however, assured him that she would be fine, and Hiei trusted Kurama to know these things. After all, he was never hurt by Kurama’s attentions, and Kuwabara would only be gentler toward Yukina. Frankly, he doubted Kuwabara’s ability to impregnate Yukina. It might take some extreme patient work on her part before Kuwabara could kiss her without blushing. Well, he would be perfectly happy if that big oaf never touched his sister. As to other marital problems, Hiei was not worried at all. If Kuwabara made Yukina unhappy, he would just kill him. Sometimes, Hiei believed, the best solution was the simplest solution.

Recognizing the ki as Kurama’s, Hiei slid down the tree, and headed back towards the temple.

"Where were you, Hiei? Hurry up!" In the doorway, Yusuke beckoned nervously. For today’s special occasion, he wore a suit and a bow tie, looking very chic and preppy.

"Where’s Kuwabara?" If he chickened out at the last minute…

"Inside with Kurama. He’s very skittish now." Yusuke snickered, conveniently forgotten how jumpy he was during his own engagement ceremony.

Without a word, Hiei went inside the brightly illuminated temple. Garlands decorated every window, and a thousand champagne roses built the altar. Doubtless, this was the handiwork of Kurama. On the left of the altar, Kurama stood with Kuwabara in low conversation, seemingly coaching him over something again and again. Koenma stood behind the altar in his adolescent guise, and for one time left his pacifier in the pocket. Restlessly, Kuwabara kept tugging the collar of his tuxedo until Kurama whispered something that made him laugh in embarrassment and lowered his hand. With light steps, Hiei reached Kurama’s side. Unseen by anyone, Kurama gave him a light pinch on his bottom as welcome. Hiei feigned annoyance to mask his thrill at the contact, which brought an amused chuckle from Kurama. Gradually, the guests settled down, yet the bride did not make her appearance. For seemingly a long time, they waited. Finally, just as when Kuwabara was ready to rush out to look for Yukina, a fanfare played.

Stepping gracefully in time with Handel’s Wedding March, Yukina was a vision to behold. Her long blue hair was curled to pile loosely on the top of her head, then cascade down in ripples to frame her heart-shaped face and over her back. A gossamer veil delicate as a cow web covered the beautiful features in creamy mist, then drifted back to settle on the pristine train. Tiny seed pearls and white rose blossoms adorned the satin wedding dress of a simple princess cut style, with long sleeves trailing to the ground, tassels of crystal and gold beads tinkled in rhyme to Yukina’s steps. Around her throat, she wore simply her Tear Gem that Hiei ‘lent’ to her for this special occasion, dangling from a matching silk ribbon with fine crystal beadwork. A crown of snowy roses rested on the top of her head, while she carried a bouquet of white iris. Before her went Keiko in a dress of lavender brocade, strewing royal purple rose petals for her to walk on. Behind her, holding the train of her dress were Botan, dressed in a frosty pink kimono with exquisite sakura embroidery, and Shizuru in a diaphanous gown of apple green gauze that showed her figure to good advantage.

His heart in his eyes, Kuwabara almost burst into tears of happiness when the person he loved in the world favored him with a smile that promised thousands of such happy days to come. With an adoration that verged on reverence, he held out a hand to Yukina, and she in turn laid a dainty hand in his. Holding the fragile hand in his huge palms, Kuwabara swore in his heart that for the rest of his life, his would use his hands to build a future where nothing could harm the tiny woman beside him. Their hands joined, so did their love, their souls. Therefore, when it was time to exchange their vows, all the rehearsed words came alive in Kuwabara’s mind, and transformed into vows that he would defend with his very own life.

A teasing smile appeared on Koenma’s face. "Kuwabara, you may now kiss the bride."

Hands trembling, Kuwabara lifted the flimsy veil. Looking deeply into Yukina’s eyes, he remembered the first moment he saw her sorrow in the Reikai tape.

In Yukina’s mind, she recalled the moment when Kuwabara asked her forgiveness for all humankind. Lifting up her face, she greeted Kuwabara’s lips in love, their memories unfolding together to relive the moments that led up to this instant before the altar. In one kiss, they promised each other endless happiness to come.

Hiei watched with mixed emotions. If he had any doubts about Yukina and Kuwabara’s love for each other, they were absolved by this kiss. On one hand he was infinitely happy for his sister, on the other hand, he experienced a second of…envy. To promise to another in complete sincerity and trust, to received the same emotions in return, and joined together for eternity. Seemed like a faraway dream to him. Unconsciously, he leaned slightly towards Kurama’s direction. Immediately, a green ki warm and sweet enveloped him, warming up all the cold nooks and crannies that he did not know that he had. In spite of himself, the corners of Hiei’s mouth twitched. Perhaps the dream was not so faraway after all.