______" I don’t understand why I have to participate in these stupid traditions," Mukuro grumbled as she rifled through her closet for something fitting to wear. " A dress?! They expect me to come in a dress?!! I don’t understand why I can’t come in what I’m wearing now! Stupid Ningen traditions! Just my luck to have a son who falls in love with a half-human half yuoko type!"

______Mukuro had been at it for hours, looking through her limited wardrobe, as well as her staff’s, for a decent white dress she could wear. Or any dress for that matter.

______Kurama and Hiei had decided to hold the wedding ceremony in Ningenkai and the invitation specifically mentioned she wear a dress to go with the entourage, because tradition insisted that the female members come in dresses.

______The things I do for that hot-headed heir of mine! Mukuro thought with a sigh as she threw down one other pair of robes and pants on to the floor. This was getting tiring, not to mention frustrating. Surely there had to be one dress somewhere in that vast palace stockroom!

______" Mukuro-sama, how about this one?" The green-haired servant aiding her asked, holding out a green robe and khaki trousers beneath it. Mukuro shook her head. " I need a real dress. Maybe if we cut that robe down to size...hmmmm." Mukuro turned away and began rummaging through another box.

______Suddenly a shriek was heard out in the hallway and a blue-haired demon servant came barging in excitedly. " Mukuro-sama! I found you the perfect dress!"

______Mukuro looked up from her position and raised a questioning brow. " Okay, let’s see it."

______The demon-girl grinned and produced from behind her a beautiful yet simple, elegant, long flowing white dress, a bit tattered from the long keep but still usable. Mukuro’s eyes widened as she saw what lay outstretched in the girl’s arms and before the girl could react, she had snatched it away from her and cuffed her servant by the neck. " Where did you get this?!" Mukuro demanded angrily, her eyes blazing with fire. The blue-haired girl looked at her with fright, gulping all the while. " I-in…in the North Wing, ma’am…"

______" Haven’t I warned you all never to go there?!" Mukuro demanded, shaking the girl violently. The rest of the servants present slinked back, afraid of their master’s blazing fury. It was rare to see Mukuro really lose her temper, in fact she never really did--- until that moment. The girl nodded, teeth chattering and Mukuro, eyes still blazing, threw her angrily against the ground. Taking deep breaths, she tried to compose herself.

______" Remember my initial rule," she said, her voice resonating quiet anger. " No one, and I mean no one is allowed to enter the North Wing without my permission! Do you understand me?!" Mukuro looked around at the rest of the gathered servants, indicating that it was a rule for all before dismissing them out of the room. All the demon servants hurried out as fast as their legs could carry them, not wanting to witness any more of their master’s wrath. When they were gone, Mukuro slowly turned her attention back to the package within her arms, her hands still shaking a bit.

______A long flowing white dress…

______With a single blood stain tainting its side.

______Mukuro closed her eyes, bringing the dress close to her cheek and inhaling the soft scent of a hundred or thousand years worth of careful keeping. It did smell lightly of preservation herbs but Mukuro could somehow still smell the fresh flowers that brushed upon it more than a thousand years ago.

______She opened her eyes, touching the fabric softly.

______A wedding dress…

______Her wedding dress.

______The dress that held a hundred thousand painful memories and more.

______Mukuro ran the smooth lace edgings through her fingers and she remembered--- the past coming back to her swiftly and painfully as if haunting her once more. A familiar vision filled her mind…

______" Raizen! You’re never going to catch me! You’re too slow!" Mukuro taunted as she skipped lithely beyond the mountains, Raizen leaping behind her, fast on her trail.

______" Mukuro, if you think you’re going to escape this time you’re mistaken, you little thief!!"

______Raizen zipped through the left, disappearing into thin air. Mukuro stopped, clutching the fish tightly to her chest and watching the air for movement. Silence.

______" Raizen," she called out quietly, " Raizen, don’t do that! I hate it when you disappear like that!" But the only thing that answered Mukuro was silence.

______Mukuro was beginning to worry now when she place the fish down carefully beside her and no gigantic clawed hand reached out to take it. " R-Raizen?" she asked, suddenly getting very scared. Her eyes widened as she turned took in the site of Raizen’s lithe body floating face down on the river.

______" RAIZEN!!" she screamed, running and half-stumbling towards the edge of the river where Raizen must’ve toppled into, losing his footage on the mountain ledge. Mukuro felt her heart go cold as she stared at his still body. Scrambling into the water, Mukuro dragged him out, pulling his muscular body along with her. She was almost to the shore when she felt something pull at her leg and before she knew it she was being flung face first into the water. Mukuro struggled but the grip on her body was strong and firm and she felt her lungs running out of air. Already half numb from the lack of oxygen, Mukuro was only half awake when Raizen finally pulled her head out from under the water and plopped her down on to the shore. She looked up to him with half-lidded eyes as he leaned over her, grinning triumphantly.

______" Lesson number one: Do not steal food from someone who’s stronger than you." he said before adding, " And Lesson number two: Do not fall for the oldest trick in the book!!" Raizen laughed, shaking his hair free from water. Mukuro sat up slowly and before Raizen could react, punched him straight in the gut. ______

______" Do not do that ever again, you oaf!!" she said shaking with anger, " I was soo worried!! I thought you were…you were…"

______" I was dead?" Raizen said grinning. He laughed and ruffled Mukuro’s hair playfully, his other hand clutching his stomach." Man, you pack a powerful punch there kiddo!"

______" I hate you Raizen!" Mukuro said glaring at him. Raizen grinned. " No you don’t. In fact, I know you’re going to miss me even before half the month is over ne?"

______Mukuro’s angry expression suddenly faded, being replaced by a frown. " So you really are going? It’s a stupid hunt, Raizen… what glory will you get out of it anyway?!"

______" I’ll earn my right as a Makai ruler and S-class demon and I get more human feasts! I have no idea why you protest to the trip so much!" Mukuro glared at him. " What do you think Raizen??!!"

______He grinned. " Cause you’re going to miss me?! " A half-smile twitched at the corners of Mukuro’s mouth but she turned away lightly, grabbing a rock and throwing it far into the river. "Maybe. Or maybe I’m just going to miss fighting you."

______Raizen laughed and, grabbing a larger rock beside him, threw it farther into the river. Mukuro glared at him. He just smiled. " Well, then while I’m gone I suggest you train hard and when I get back we’ll have another match, ne?"

______" You bet I’m going to train hard! And I’m going to wipe that sorry smile off your face on the next match!"

______" Hah! That’ll be the day!" Raizen said standing up and brushing himself off. " Do that and I promise to grant you anything that the three worlds can offer! "

______Mukuro eyed him steadily, with her one eye. " Is that a promise?"

______Raizen grinned. " You’re serious about this aren’t you? Yeah okay, fine…deal! What’s the wish?" Mukuro smiled. " Well, it’s not like you haven’t given me the world already with your friendship, you know Raizen. I…. I still am kind of grateful about how you took me in, trusted me and all even if…even if… well, you know."

______" Even if you tried to kill me once? Hey. It’s okay. That’s what makes us friends ne? We just can’t escape fighting each other!" Raizen said grinning. Mukuro looked down, fumbling with her hands. "But Raizen…I don’t always want to fight…" she whispered softly. " I was forced to kill you when I was still under the gypsies and I didn’t know how you were like then… if I did I wouldn’t have…"

______" Hey, hey, I said it’s okay," Raizen said softly, stroking Mukuro’s right cheek. " They hurt you and scarred you. No demon should have to take shit like that. It’s no wonder why you couldn’t seem to trust people… it’s okay, I understand completely…"

______" I…I trust you," Mukuro said looking up at him. I more than trust you, she thought silently to herself as she stared up in to Raizen’s eyes. I love you…

______But Raizen just smiled back and gave her a pat on the head. " You’re a sensible woman. It’s good to keep your mind open always, ne?" The sun slowly dipped in the horizon, casting shadows across Mukuro’s face that Raizen was not able to catch a glimpse of the depth and meaning written in her eyes. It was getting late and both knew Raizen had to leave soon. Mukuro just turned away.

______" Come back then for our fight, Raizen. I’ll be waiting for you. Then you can grant my wish."

______" Hey, hey," Raizen protested with a laugh," Who said you were going to win in the first place? I still have my dibs on you know!"

______" I’m going to win," Mukuro said firmly, turning back to him, "My honour depends on it. " And so does my heart, she silently thought. Walking away, she raised a hand as a gesture of farewell. Raizen just laughed and shook his head.

______" Oh and Raizen?"

______" Hai?"

______" Ki o tsukete kudasai, tomodachi ne."

______Mukuro touched the dress slowly and smiled. Yes, she remembered those good old days. Days spent with Raizen. How much she missed him! They had been constant companions. The best of friends. And it was Raizen who first taught her the meaning of friendship. And maybe even more than that…Mukuro clutched the fabric tightly as she remembered the events that came after…

______· two years later…

______" You know it’s bad to accept a challenge without knowing fully the capacity of your own opponent," the masked figure spat out, " I hope you’ve learned your lesson. Don’t ever steal from someone who could be stronger than you…"

______Raizen lay on the ground, clutching his side as the gash prevented him from moving and escaping the masked demon standing in front of him. " I…I was hungry! I…I didn’t…know…it was yours…Kill me now if you want to!" He groaned as a spasm of pain rocked him. It wasn’t such a big wound—it was quite minor really, but Raizen could feel his eyesight blurring immediately to the sight of green makai poison seeping from the stranger’s sword. It wasn’t a death poison but it was known to paralyze its victims only seconds after the initial cut. Raizen could feel his body slowly falling into unconsciousness. He tried to stay awake but the poison was working very strong in his veins.

______The stranger knelt down and leaned dangerously over Raizen. He gasped, looking up at the demon with squinted eyes, preparing for the death blow that he was sure was going to come after.

______But the stranger merely unwrapped its cloak and tied it around Raizen’s waist, stopping the bleeding.

______" Wh-what..what are you doing?" he rasped out, the world suddenly beginning to spin around him."Who …who are you?!"

______The stranger just stood up and reached into its pocket. Pulling out a small pink hibiscus, the demon dropped it at Raizen’s side as an answer. Raizen was only able to utter one word before falling into unconsciousness.

______" Why…?"

______Seeing her opponent fall into slumber, the stranger removed her mask, revealing half of her bionic face. Mukuro looked down at the peaceful figure at her feet and smiled softly before zipping back into the woods in a hurry. Once out of the clearing, she allowed a big smile to cross her face. She was pleased with her success. Raizen did not even know it was her! But she had beat him anyway, even if she had to use trickery as her last resort… she was still able to win the challenge.

______That meant only one thing.

______She was ready and would win easily when Raizen came back for the match. Then she would give him her wish… There was only one thing she really wanted in the world after all.

______And that was Raizen’s heart.

______And so Mukuro waited. Eager for the day she’d see Raizen’s figure tromping the Nothern Makai woods once more. And she waited…

______…and waited…

______But the day never came…

______The seasons came and gone…and Mukuro grew tired of the endless waits by the riverside hoping to see the familiar silhouette of his muscular figure. Spring, summer, fall and winter…all passed without any sign or trace of her old friend. And up to the time that the last of the autumn leaves had fallen to make way for winter, Raizen still had not returned. This was when Mukuro began to worry.

______" Where could he be?!" she said pacing up and down the mountain ledge. She couldn’t take it anymore. All this ceaseless, troubled waiting…not knowing where he was and what had happened. Heck, with the way things were going he could’ve easily been killed back in the middle realms.

______No, not Raizen, she thought, he’s too good for anything like that. He wouldn’t be captured or sidetracked…But Mukuro doubted even her own words. And it wasn’t a surprise that she found herself traveling the length of Makai, into the cold winter’s twilight and past the rough-edge terrain to get to the human realm. She knew Raizen was supposed to be there. At least sources gave her that much information.

______The wind lashed against her face and its icy hands covered her, almost to the brink of freezing to death. But Mukuro knew she could not stop…not until she found Raizen… not until she knew he was safe and sound. She could not tell how many days it was that she walked, the path seemingly endless, the roads empty and bleak. Many nights she passed up dinner, having trouble finding food around the place. By the seventy-fifth night, Mukuro could feel all the chill and fatigue seeping through her bones. If it was not for the village ahead of her, she was sure she would have fainted dead away into the snow.

______She raised her head wearily as she surveyed her surroundings. The snowflakes fell across her face like falling feathers, brushing smoothly across her cheek. Leaning against the wall, Mukuro listened quietly to the calm, peaceful silence of the night and she laughed, almost inwardly at the sight of so many human settlements around.

______If Raizen were here I’m sure he would have had a feast! Mukuro thought with a smile. They would share the catch, and then escape together in to the cold night. He would keep her warm. He wouldn’t leave her to freeze in the cold just like this. Mukuro looked up to see a bright pool of stars above her and a small thought crossed her mind. She still had no idea where to find him, but the thought that they were standing under the same starry sky was a warm consolation. That just maybe, he was somewhere out there too, looking up to the heavens and making his own wish…

______Pushing her body up from against the wall, Mukuro slowly walked across the newly fallen snow, her footsteps creating a single path behind her. Walking slowly, she looked around for some place where she could stay for the night, unseen, till the morning’s light came and she could continue on her search.

______In the midst of her walking, Mukuro noticed that it was an eerie silence enveloping the place and she wondered why the old stench of fish carcass seemed to be so strong in that side of the road. Bending down, she dipped her hand into the snow and pulled out bundles and bundles of fish entrails, animal guts and food spoils. Wrinkling her nose, she stood up and surveyed the scene again. Too quiet, she thought.

______Must have been some sort of raid, she thought to herself, ’ Must’ve been a strong creature to have made such a mess as this! She trudged and wallowed across the snow, trying as much to avoid all the scattered muck on the ground below her. She thought about camping inside one of the houses but the place felt so strange, so silent that she decided she’d have a better rest if she stayed up in one of the trees. Picking a big sequoia that stood a few meters from her, she swung up the branch that hung over one of the small shack roofs and shifted herself into a comfortable position for the night.

______And that was when she heard it.

______Soft moans coming from within the small house she overlooked. Mukuro opened her eyes once more and cranned her ears to listen for what seemed to be causing the sound. Listening carefully, Mukuro realized that there seemed to be not only one, but two living beings left inside. Creeping carefully to the very edge of the branch, Mukuro braced herself against the side of the house and listened once more, making sure it wasn’t just a figment of her imagination. She heard voices, whispers, talking to each other in soothing tones. Mukuro cranned further to listen.

______" Go ahead. I’m not afraid. But let me just warn you that once you kill me the very poison inhabiting my body could very well be the death of you too," a voice said on what seemed to be the female.

______" Hmm. You’re not afraid of me… are you?" Mukuro heard a deep, masculine voice whisper.

______" No. Kill me now if you dare…." The female replied once more.

______" I don’t think I can." was the gruff reply.

______" Why not? Because you’re scared?" the female said tauntingly from within the house. Mukuro raised an eyebrow, still listening to the deep conversation. For some reason she could not seem to pull herself away. Even if she tried to, just to give the lovers their privacy something held her back and forced her to listen.

______" No, because I… I think I’m falling in love with you…"

______Mukuro held her breath, goosebumps sliding up and down her arms. She blushed, embarrassed at having had listened to the couple’s intimate conversation. Maybe I should go now, she thought blushing, It’d be best to give them their privacy back…Slinking off the tree, Mukuro silently jumped down into the yard, intent on taking off the fastest way possible but for some weird reason she made the mistake of looking back to the side and from her view she saw the couple’s faces clearly in the moonlight.

______Mukuro’s heart suddenly stopped beating and she stood rooted to the ground in shock.

______For in that instant, Mukuro’s eyes fell upon the one thing that made her blood run cold. Raizen’s hand was intertwined with the woman’s and he had bent down to kiss her, a long., heated, passionate kiss.

______Mukuro felt as if someone had just sliced a knife down her heart and she gulped in air, blinking slowly, still in a state of shock. She didn’t know why she stayed there, letting her own heart and mind suffer as she watched Raizen take the woman in to his arms and begin to make love to her, drawing her kimono down and covering her body with numerous kisses. Every kiss was like a slice against Mukuro’s own soul but for the life of her, she couldn’t seem to move her own feet to do her command. It was impossible to run away. The scene before her was almost like a nightmare--- even much worse perhaps and all she could do was watch and bear it all. Raizen’s movements were slow and tender, passionate and searing--- but the expression on his face and the look in his eyes was the one thing that hurt her the most. She had never seen that expression on his face before and for some reason Mukuro felt betrayed of her own feelings. Raizen dipped into the woman again and again as the night wore on--- until Mukuro was sure she couldn’t take it anymore. With one swift move, she jerked her body back to reality and without once looking back, Mukuro ran with all her might away from the nightmare before her.

______If she had stayed until the night was over she would have seen Raizen’s hesitation and his own sad goodbye before he left. But Mukuro kept her quick pace straight on till her legs finally gave way, tumbling her into the cold grass. Looking up Mukuro found that she had run as far as the edge of the Ningenkai clearing, where one other passageway into the Makai lurked. Still half insane with shock and grief, Mukuro tumbled aimlessly into the black hole and on to the outskirts of Makai. She recognized the place as a clearing a few miles off from her own home and she ran with what remaining strength she had, into the river bed, splashing her way into the cold currents and lying there, with her eyes closed, breathing heavily, waiting for her heart to slow its wild pace. The picture of the scene in Ningenkai was firmly plastered inside her mind and as much as she tried she could not stop thinking about it.

______And each time she did, a small jolt of pain jabbed her mercilessly across her heart and she felt somewhat nauseous. Raizen, she thought painfully, Why…why did you do it…?! Weren’t you happy back here in Makai?!

______Mukuro raised her head up and bent down to look at her soaked reflection in the water. And what stared back at her was the ugliest monster she had ever seen!

______I am ugly, she thought miserably, watching her reflection shimmer darkly in the water, How could I have ever imagined…how could I have ever thought that he would ever find the heart to love a monster like me?! I’ve fooled myself all these years into believing… into dreaming….What a fool you are, Mukuro!!! Reaching a trembling hand towards her reflection, she bashed her fist against it, causing the image to deform and ripple in the water. Standing up, she dragged her waterlogged body out of the river and walked home, her body numb all over. Heading towards her cave she slowly walked towards the single cot positioned near the wall and buried her face into the sheets.

______" Why?!" She called out, banging her fists angrily on the bed, the tears coming swift and sudden. She cried, letting the tears soothe her pain, driving her fist in one after the other against the cold stone wall. " Why Raizen…why?!!"

______She raised her head up, glaring at the wall, almost as if Raizen himself was there. " You…you promised me…! hell, you told me you’d grant me any wish in the world…any wish at all…" her voice cracked and more tears began streaming down her face. "Why couldn’t you have granted me that?!!" She burrowed her face under the covers, her body trembling slightly, racked with painful sobs.

______" Curse you Raizen, for doing this to me!!!" she screamed angrily, breaking down completely, "Curse you for---for making me fall in love with you!!!"

______Mukuro closed her eyes as a fresh wave of pain seared through her heart. She was amazed that even after all the years that had past, Raizen’s memory could still affect her that much. She stood up, carrying the dress out with her. Well, she never really forgot about him anyway. Some part of him was still buried deep inside of her, although she tried her hardest to forget it.

______Mukuro pushed the door to the North Wing open, revealing a dimly lit room, dirty, dusty and quite old with age. The drapes were down and much of the furniture around the room were covered by huge blankets, as if even the mere sight of them was painful. Reaching a trembling hand towards the blankets, Mukuro slowly pulled down each and every one of the covers revealing some haunts of the past she had buried long ago.

______The largest blanket of all contained one of her most precious treasures. Pulling it down revealed a very old, ancient portrait of Raizen that Mukuro had painted in the years that she had spent waiting for him. She touched the picture softly, running the tips of her fingers across the coarse paint. Her eyes softened as she trailed her fingers across his face, imagining briefly how it would have felt if the painting was real. If Raizen was really there, before her, bestowing upon her that smile that always seemed to make everything better. It was then that Mukuro realized just how much she had missed her old friend, her old companion.

______Walking closer, Mukuro didn’t notice the scattered glass shards upon the floor until she accidentally stepped on them, creating a soft, crunching noise. Looking down, Mukuro suddenly remembered another distant memory of long ago…

______" Well, this is a very nice welcome for an old friend of yours! " Raizen said entering the dark cave cheerfully. Mukuro remained immobile, indifferent to his arrival. She continued to focus her attention out the window, as she carefully sipped a glass of wine. A white dress lay unheeded at her lap.

______" Welcome back." she said unaffected.

______Raizen cocked his head to one side and watched Mukuro carefully. " Well, someone here looks really excited!" he said ironically. When Mukuro didn’t answer, he grabbed a seat from the wall opposite and proceeded to sit beside her, watching her expression all the while. Mukuro didn’t even flinch, but just continued staring lifelessly out the window. Raizen frowned.

______" Mukuro, is something the matter? The minute I get home someone tells me that you’ve been locking yourself up in this cave of yours for weeks now, refusing to see anybody or to eat anything. What’s wrong?"

______Mukuro continued sipping her glass of wine, her gaze still focused far away from her friend. She chose not to answer him, instead, asking quite blankly, "How was the trip?"

______Raizen leaned back and shrugged. " It was okay, I guess. I learned new techniques, gained more power and stuff. I guess I’m pretty much ready for the Makai tournament of lands coming up. I stole some interesting treasures back in Ningenkai, met a few people---"

______" Really? Who?!" Mukuro said cutting him off.

______Raizen scratched his head. " A few Makai warriors who I befriended and fought with and against I guess. Pretty interesting set of people. Not so strong though but a few of them had quite some determination in them." He smiled.

______" Is that all?" Mukuro asked, taking another sip of the wine.

______Raizen bit his lip then after a minute of silence or two, he admitted, " Well, I did meet one special person… she was a healer in one of the villages. She helped me and cured me when some of the hunters had attacked. " Raizen shook his head, his eyes glazing over in remembrance. " I swear, Mukuro, she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. Lips so red and skin so pale. And her eyes…so unlike anyone’s that I’ve ever seen before. She didn’t fear anything… she’s the first human I’ve ever met who didn’t look at me in fear but…with something …more…"

______Mukuro gripped the glass tightly in her hand as she listened to his words. " Raizen, she asked slowly, trying to keep her hands from trembling, " Do…do you love this woman?"

______Raizen looked at his friend, a strange expression crossing his face. He frowned, keeping his gaze down for a minute or so before sighing. " Yeah, I do. With all my heart."

______The glass immediately broke in Mukuro’s hand and its shards scattered across the floor. Blood began oozing down the side of her palm, where the glass had cut her and a single drop fell on the edge of the immaculately white gown. Mukuro stood up, the dress falling to her feet as she stood up and hastily grabbed her cloak. " I’m glad to hear that Raizen," she said, surprised at her own self for sounding so calm, " If you’ll excuse me though, I have to clean this mess up and continue my training."

______Mukuro turned to leave but Raizen called her back. " Mukuro wait! You forgot this," he said, walking to her and depositing the dress in her arms. Mukuro blinked down at the dress and looked up at his face, her heart suddenly breaking into a million pieces as he carefully returned her mother’s old wedding dress back to her. The dress she had promised she’d wear herself on her own wedding day.

______And in that moment Mukuro knew that the day would never come.

______" Training, eh? So, you think you can beat me in a fighting match now?" Raizen asked, failing to notice his friend’s pain. Mukuro stiffened and her face grew cold. Throwing the cloak over her shoulder she walked out, pausing at the doorway long enough to tell him, " Join the Makai tournament then we’ll see…"

______And with that Mukuro left him, closing the door silently behind her.

______Two months had passed since the day of Raizen’s arrival and in that span of time, Mukuro avoided Raizen completely, giving the two less chance to talk and see each other before the Makai tournament. Both trained hard though and Mukuro put her whole heart and soul in to getting stronger in order to beat Raizen at the match. Day and night she trained. Her one main driving force was to win and gain the lands of the demon world for herself. Maybe power could fill the empty gap in her life just then.

______The day of the tournament came and all demons and creatures gathered round to have a fight till the finish. In the end, only three main contenders for the lands were left: Yomi, Raizen and Mukuro. The first battle had begun: Mukuro against Raizen.

______And in less than an hour, Mukuro had Raizen completely wiped out, panting painfully on the floor. Her ki was slowly draining him of his power and Raizen felt himself falling with every breath he took. "You’re strong Mukuro…I never… expected…this…" he rasped out trying to move his body and finding he was unable to even raise his hand up in his condition.

______Mukuro dropped her hand to the side, removing part of the rei-ch’en that held him. She approached him slowly and raised her sword to his throat. " Do you admit defeat?"

______Raizen looked up at her and shook his head defiantly. " No."

______Mukuro glared at him, edging the sword nearer to his flesh. " Then I’ll have to kill you and you’ll never be able to see that woman of yours ever again." Raizen narrowed his eyes at her.

______" You drive a hard bargain, Mukuro," he said coldly.

______" Do you admit defeat?" she said, repeating her question. Raizen closed his eyes and nodded as the announcer gave the verdict of the winner. Mukuro dropped her sword and removed the last of the bonds. Raizen dropped back, breathing hard and filling his lungs with as much oxygen as he could get. " That was a very good trick you pulled on me, Mukuro," he told her seriously. " Congratulations, you’re the second person who’s had the chance of beating me…"

______" Who was the first?" she asked sheathing her sword. Raizen tried sitting up as the rest of the referees prepared for the next fight. " This masked stranger I met in the woods. I challenged him and he beat me."

______Mukuro shook her head, cracking a smile; the first smile she had in months. " I want to challenge this person," she told him, fishing into her pocket. " Tell " him" that, when you see him again,ne? And give this to him for me, will you?" she said throwing something into Raizen’s lap before walking away.

______Raizen just stared in shock at the single pink hibiscus flower that lay on his lap.

______Looking up he saw Mukuro masking her face with the bandages before the speaker announced the next fight between her and Yomi. He stood up and limped to the side, watching her prepare for the next fight. She passed by him on the way and he grabbed her arm. " Mukuro," he said looking at her straight in the eye, " That was you all along, wasn’t it? Why… why didn’t you finish me off? "

______Mukuro pulled her arm away from him and walked off in silence to the middle of the field. She could sense Yomi’s ki. He was strong, not as strong as Raizen but enough to beat her with what remaining strength she had left. The fight with Raizen wiped her out completely. And Mukuro was tired. So tired. She felt as if she had been fighting for more than a hundred years already and she just wanted to stop. After all, she got what she wanted didn’t she? She beat Raizen. Twice. But then, after all that had happened, she wasn’t so sure if it really mattered anymore. All her life, she trained for the purpose of one thing. But that one thing seemed almost impossible now. The battle was long and hard and Mukuro was losing painfully step by step. At one point, Yomi had finally cornered her and too tired to go on, she slumped down to the ground in front of him. Yomi generated a gigantic ki blast, intent on using it before she had time to regain strength. Raizen saw this and leaned over the edge of the railing, gripping it hard till his knuckles turned white. He knew what was going to happen. He saw the force of the ki blast that Yomi was creating. And somehow he knew Mukuro wouldn’t try to stop it. Yomi gave the final blast, wiping out half of the field before him as it headed towards Mukuro who sat watching it listlessly, not moving at all.

______" Mukuro, run!!!" Raizen screamed before the gigantic blast made contact. The sound was deafening as the shot hit its target. Raizen felt the bars break within his hands.

______" Mukuro---NOOO!!!!"

______The force of the blast created a huge smokescreen and it took a few minutes for it to clear and the spectators to see what had happened. Yomi stood grinning triumphantly in the middle of the field and at the very edge of the clearing, Mukuro’s body lay battered, still against the roaring crowd. Raizen leaped out from behind the bleachers and ran quickly to his friend. He picked her up slowly, shaking her all the while. After a minute or two, Mukuro opened her eyes slowly.

______" Oh, Mukuro, thank god you’re okay!" Raizen said with relief. Part of her mask hung loose from her face and she lifted a hand up to fix it in place, turning her face away." Mukuro," Raizen said biting his lip, " I still owe you that wish remember. You beat me fair and square, what…what is it…that you wish?"

______" It doesn’t matter now, Raizen," Mukuro said hoarsely, " There’s isn’t anything I want from you." Raizen shook his head. " I promised you Mukuro…"

______" Forget about the promise…"

______" Mukuro…"

______" I said forget it, Raizen!" Mukuro said trying to pull herself away from him and stand herself up. She tottered back to the bleachers, part of her body bleeding heavily on to the ground. Raizen reached out a hand to help her but she pushed him away. " Mukuro..please…"

______" Your turn is up, Raizen," Mukuro said tonelessly as the speaker announced the last fight. Raizen looked at her then sighed, turning away. Before he got any further though Mukuro called him back. Raizen turned around quickly.

______"Oh and Raizen," Mukuro said quietly, " Beat the shit out of him for me, will you?"

______Raizen smiled. " Your wish is my command."

______Mukuro smiled behind the mask as Raizen strutted angrily out into the field, intent on making Yomi suffer. True to his word, he had, tying the three of them with each other once more. Because of the indecisive result, the judges were forced to accept only one conclusion. To divide the Makai lands into three equal parts.

______Mukuro got the west side, Yomi the south and Raizen the east and north. Thus, the circle of the three Makai lords was born…

______Mukuro sighed as she sat below Raizen’s picture, leaning against the wall and wiping the blood from her feet that the broken shards had caused. Ever since she had become a ruler she had very little time for anything much else than living up to the expectations of her people. And since Raizen was one also, it was rare that they saw each other around. Plus, Mukuro still felt it hard to be able to talk to her old friend like she used to, or even to think about him and what they shared. Sometimes, thinking about him just hurt too much and Mukuro did everything in her power to forget him or forget the fact that a friendship once existed between them. Raizen must have felt this for he left Mukuro alone after the tournament. His usual visits had ceased and he had stopped trying to figure out what was wrong.

______They just simply moved on with their lives.

______Mukuro had become indifferent in time and for a while she thought she had finally moved on and forgotten. But it wasn’t till that one cold day in September that she realized that would never happen. Realized what a big mistake she had made pushing him away…

______" News from the North realm, your Majesty," the yuoko said, bowing respectfully. Mukuro continued on with her practice, slashing the air all the while. " Oh? What is it again? Another one of Raizen’s thunderquakes?! What in heavens name is he doing there anyway?!"

______" I beg your pardon, your Majesty, but what you hear is not thunderquakes but his own stomach growling from lack of food. He hasn’t eaten a single human in the span of one thousand years…"

______Mukuro continued her slashing, trying to act nonchalant. " Typical of Raizen to do that! I cannot understand why he makes himself suffer like that! Tell him he’d better get himself well till the next highland tournament---"

______" That can’t be possible your Majesty," was the reply.

______" And why not?!"

______" Because ma’am, Raizen is dying… He’s only got a few more months to live. He probably won’t make it till the next tourname---"

______The demon’s words were suddenly cut off as the large sword clanged on to the floor, slipping from Mukuro’s hands and on to the cold marble…

______Mukuro remembered that day, so vividly, so clearly that sometimes, it only seemed like yesterday that everything happened and fell into place. She remembered the cold sleepless nights she tossed and turned wondering how Raizen was and deciding whether to go to him or not. It took her months but she finally made a decision in the end…

______…and headed for the northern boundaries as fast as she could go…

______Mukuro arrived as many of Raizen’s henchmen were discussing plans on a trip to the Ningenkai. She was able to slip past unnoticed, moving stealthily in the shadows. Reaching the royal high tower, Raizen’s chambers, Mukuro crossed the bridge slowly, cringing with every creak the rickety old bridge made. Reaching the large double doors, Mukuro looked behind her to see if anyone was watching. Seeing no one she slowly opened the door and slipped in.

______In a second, Mukuro wished that she hadn’t…

______At the very back of the room was the bent, crumpled figure of what used to be Makai’s most glorious warrior. Mukuro felt something stir at her heart as she noticed how old and tired he looked now, compared to the years that preceded them. She couldn’t believe her eyes. So much had changed, so much had evolved. The Raizen in front of her looked much different than the Raizen she used to know. The features were still the same, yes, but…

______Some how it all felt different.

______And Mukuro knew that his time was truly coming soon…

______Walking timidly, Mukuro approached him slowly, intent on having a closer look at him without disturbing him from his rest. Before she could emerge from the shadows and on to the light, a loud, raspy voice boomed out.

______" Mukuro, I was hoping you would come…"

______That voice.

______The same voice she heard in her dreams countless of times in the night. The voice that could soothe all worries from her soul; That voice which she loved so much…

______" Raizen, what did you do to yourself? What’s happening?" Mukuro asked in a whisper, edging towards him and kneeling down to be at head level with him. He raised his head up and looked deep into her eyes. Mukuro was surprised at the jolt of electricity she felt running through her veins as she took in, once more, the beautiful color of his eyes. Eyes like the sea, so peaceful and calm, yet still so mysterious and alluring.

______" Have you come to say goodbye, Mukuro?" Raizen asked bitterly. " The only time you would ever visit me… If its the lands you want I’m sure we can settle something…"

______Mukuro looked at him incredulously. " What in hell’s name are you talking about??!"

______" The Makai territories." Raizen said sarcastically, " Surely, you don’t mean to tell me you paid me a visit just for social call’s sake, you know, cause I’m not buying it. You know I won’t give my lands to Yomi so rest assured if I find no one else--- you shall get my land. I hope that eased your worries…you can go now! Leave this place!"

______Mukuro glared at him, anger building up within her. " Are---are you saying I only came for the profit…for some selfish need??!" Raizen looked at her, not needing words to explain his thoughts as he stared deeply into her, the cruel answer written in his eyes.

______Mukuro gritted her teeth and with one swift blow, she gave him a good hard slap on the cheek. Raizen looked at her in shock, his cheek beginning to swell. " You think I’m only here for your riches? For things I can get??! " Mukuro demanded, really angry now, " Hell, If there’s anyone selfish around here that has got to be you, Raizen!"

______" And what do you mean by that?!" he said, his eyes blazing dangerously in anger.

______But she returned his glare defiantly, feeling a very harsh heavy feeling settle at the bottom of her stomach. " Raizen," she said quietly, her voice resonating quiet anger, trying to hold her feelings back, " In all the years that I have known you, I thought we were friends… I thought you knew me well enough to be able to tell my feelings and me to tell yours. But I was wrong Raizen… you weren’t the person whom I thought you were… you changed. Or maybe it was me. But it wouldn’t have taken so much to have a little consideration on your part, you know!!"

______" What the hell are you talking about, Mukuro?!" Raizen growled, " You were the one pushing me away all these years! The person who showed a cold shoulder to each and everything in her path! I don’t know where you get your stupid, sarcastic, cynical outlook in life but face it Mukuro, people have gone through much worse…don’t think you’re all high and mighty up there, you hear me!" He stood up looking down at her, " People have gone through much worse!!! But you know what, you’re too selfish to admit that even to yoursel---"

______" Hey, I’m not the one who couldn’t care less about anything other than some stupid ningen slut I met thousands of years ago!" Mukuro cut in.

______" You shut up about her, you hear me!!!" Raizen roared, " You don’t know anything about her!!! Leave our relationship alone. You’re just jealous cause no one in their right mind would ever love you the same way! How could they?! You’re such a b*tch!"

______Mukuro stared wide-eyed at Raizen, mouth hanging open as she thought of a good comeback. " W-why…you…."

______" Yeah, come on, admit it Mukuro," Raizen taunted with a leer, " You’re just jealous cause---"

______" Oh, screw you Raizen!!" Mukuro screamed angrily, her feelings overflowing like a dam at bursting point, " You wanna hear something ‘selfish, huh?? You wanna hear something f*cking insensitive?? Yeah, well I’ll tell you what--- For those ten thousand damn long years, I had been in love with my best friend!!! Call it pathetic but I trained, suffered, fought—almost to the brink of death to be able to win his heart; to live up to his standards and to have him fall in love with me… Sometimes I actually thought he did and other times I was sure there was a deeper kind of connection to it than just mere friendship. Because I thought I knew him---thought I knew him so well that I made a decision that the only way to win his heart was to win over him too. So I trained, fought, bore it all just for him…to one day be able to receive his love back in return for mine. I believed so much in this, so much in the power of feelings…"

______" And one cold autumn day I come looking for him, out of grief, our of worry, wondering if something had happened to him--- why he hadn’t come back… only to find him in bed with someone he’s hardly known for more than an hour, fucking the silly shit out of her like he would a rabid dog!!! " Mukuro was ranting madly already, tears screaming down her cheeks, " Do you know how much that hurt Raizen?! Do you know how much it hurt me to see that?!! My heart died that day!!! I admit, some days I just couldn’t believe it…I’d assure myself it was only a hallucination of mine—too many days in the cold and snow and all. But when you came back and told it straight to my face that you loved her…" tears filled Mukuro’s eyes now, " Loved her with all your heart and soul…. I knew it was all true… knew I had fooled myself into believing someone such as you could love a monster like me. I hated you for it, Raizen. I’ll admit. I wanted to beat the hell out of you at the tournament so badly…. But I hated my own self more for not being that woman…for being…for being just me….this cold, ugly demon no one would ever grow to love…"

______Raizen was speechless. He just stared at Mukuro, not knowing what to say. " Mukuro, I…"

______" It’s okay, Raizen," she said closing her eyes and sighing, " I only came here now to set things straight, to apologize for the many wasted years. I guess I felt I owed you the truth once and for all. And I’m sorry I ever crossed your path. Things would’ve been better if we both had never met at all…"

______Mukuro turned away, one tear spilling down her cheek, right before a few others followed. She was about to head towards the door when she felt a hand on her arm. She kept her back too him, ashamed of the tears flowing down her face.

______" Mukuro," Raizen said, his voice all choked up, " Mukuro, don’t ever say that. Don’t ever think that! I guess I’m the one who owes you an apology…for not being there; for not understanding…for being the insensitive jerk that I am! I never meant to hurt you Mukuro… hell, that’s the last thing I ever wanted."

______" Mukuro," he said turning her around to face him. She looked away, down, anywhere but at his face. He softly placed a hand against her cheek, tilting her face so he could gaze deep into her eyes. " I may not love you the way you like..but hell, Mukuro I do love you still. With more than my heart and soul you know." Raizen smiled, wiping the tears away from her face with his finger. " You’ve been like a sister to me, a confidante, a companion. Mukuro, you mean the world to me, the best friend I’ve ever had and would ever have from then till who knows when. We both know my time here’s limited and for anything, I don’t want this to end in a sour note. I’ve thought about you, Mukuro, in the many years that have passed and I’ve always regretted how our relationship ended, or changed… and I think this is the last time I’m ever going to be able to redeem it. Mukuro….please forgive me…" Raizen said sincerely, kneeling before her, hand held in his and bowing his head down. " Or if not, kill me for all the hurt I’ve ever caused you…"

______" Raizen…" Mukuro said brokenly, drawing a shaky hand towards his head. She ran her fingers down his hair and with her legs giving way, she collapsed on to the floor before him. " You know I can never do that…!" she said, tears streaming down her face as she gathered him into her arms, burying her head on his shoulder and crying softly. Raizen closed his eyes, wrapping his arms around her also and moving a hand to caress her hair. " Mukuro…I’ve missed you so much!"

______Both held on to each other for as long as they could. For that brief, shining moment, time had ceased to exist for them and the only thing important was the renewing bond each of them had for the other. For Mukuro, it was a realization that even if Raizen had given his heart to another, he still saved a big part of it for her. And for Raizen, it was the fact that even though so many years had been wasted, his story with Mukuro was still destined to have a happy ending.

______Mukuro was the first to pull away. " I, um, guess I should be going, Raizen. There are still so much duties to fulfill. I only stayed to…well, to explain things…and to say my goodbyes, " she said looking away and standing up reluctantly. " And even if I don’t like the sacrifice you’re making, I… I think you’re following the right path. "

______" Thank you, Mukuro," Raizen said, standing up to face her. She looked up and nodded to him. "I…I guess this means goodbye then. "

______Raizen smiled softly. " I guess it does. Goodbye Mukuro… don’t …don’t ever forget me…" Mukuro smiled as she turned away.

______" I never will."

______She headed towards the door and halfway through she stopped and turned back. " And even if we’re just best friends, " she said shaking her head, her smile turned sad, " I’ll always love you more than that…no matter what…"

______And with that parting note, Mukuro left Raizen’s territory, shrouding her face in a mask she vowed to wear till she ever got over loving him…

______And she kept to that promise…

______Until Hiei came along…

______Knowing Hiei had taught her that it was possible to love someone fully but in a different way. She loved Hiei and would gladly die for him, but it wasn’t the same kind of love that she felt for Raizen. And maybe, even the love she had for Raizen wasn’t the kind of love that she was making it out to be.

______Maybe.

______But she didn’t think so…

______That was the last time she ever saw him again. A few years later he died, peacefully, his son there with him the whole time. Mukuro remembered not feeling a thing when it happened. Maybe that was because she was sure that even if his body was gone, his soul would still remain alive in each and every person who had gotten to know and love him. That he was still there with them all, deep in their hearts.

______And in hers, Mukuro knew he would forever stay…

______Mukuro picked the dress up again, ending the whole reminisce of past memories. She sighed as she folded the dress in her lap. The years had gone by so quickly, and her heir and what she considered almost to be her son soon had to leave her also. She would be alone again.

______But somehow, it really didn’t matter anymore.

______Life had taught her as much. That it didn’t matter whether people were far or near, divided or united, the love still remained. Time is irrelevant and would always be. Two people who love each other or who have loved each other would always have that link no matter what. Because they shared something valuable with each other, something that would never fade despite the seasons.

______A part of themselves.

______Owari! :-)

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Mukuro/ Tasukimi
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