The world's ending, Kuwabara thought, positive of the upcoming Armageddon. Read A) Hiei smiled. B) Hiei smiled at him. And C) Hiei called him by his first name.
"I think you broke him, little brother," Kuronue said, watching Kuwabara self combust.
A new voice spoke up from the door. "I hope not. Yukina and Yusuke would be rather upset, I imagine."
Turning to see the new arrival, the one human in the room couldn't help but to step back from the imposing silver figure. The youkai was familiar, but it took him a moment to place just where he'd seen him. When it finally clicked, he felt like hitting his head on something. "Kurama!"
"It's good to see you, old friend," the kitsune said, embracing him. It was odd to be shorter than the normally red-headed plant wielder. "Yusuke will be here shortly. I already sent someone to get him."
"Wait, this is your castle?" Kuwabara asked, eyes widening. Kurama had a castle? When had this happened?
Kurama shook his head, putting the psychic at ease. For a moment. "It's Hiei's. Mine's in Gondara." He sent his brother a concerned look, to which Kuronue shrugged. Something was off. He should already know these things.
"We might have to replace that door soon if it keeps getting slammed open like that," Kuronue mused when Yusuke made his grand entrance.
"I have two things to say," the hanyou said as a greeting. "one: Hiei, your staff is psychotic. Two," he grinned at this point. "Welcome back to the world of the living, Kuwabara."
"Good to be back," Kuwabara said, a bit numb as he stared at his rival turned best friend. Odd tattoos littered the visible areas on skin on the delinquent. His hair had grown long, a thing that boggled the mind. Someone, he suspected Keiko and Kurama, had forced him into nice clothes, a sleeveless version of what Kurama wore in battle. Hiei wore something similar, actually. But what really chilled Kuwabara's blood was the fact that Yusuke looked like he was in his twenties, not the sixteen that he remembered. Come to think of it, that's what had been off on Hiei as well. They were both older. "What's going on? How long have I been out? Who won the tournament?"
"The tournament?" Kurama asked, confused and worried. "Hiei..."
The fire demon's jagan flashed under his warding headband as he reached up to touch Kuwabara's forehead. "What's the last thing you remember before walking up here?"
"That girly man Shishiwakamoto throwing his veil at me," he said. It was a memorable thing after all. "Why's that important?"
His teammates didn't answer. Instead, Kurama sat down hard on the desk, Yusuke began pounding his head against the wall, and Hiei... well Hiei just didn't move, staring at Kuwabara with wide eyes.
"The dark tournament," Kurama said weakly. "His memory cuts off during the dark tournament."
"I take it that that's bad?" Kuronue guessed, speaking up.
"Yes, baka chimera, that's bad," Hiei said, stepping away from Kuwabara after lowering his head. "Call Koenma and tell him to turn around and get back here now."
"Bring your mate and meet us in the sitting room after that," Kurama said, palming his forehead while shaking his head in despair. "But snag one of the staff on your way. I have a feeling that we're all going to want something strong before long. And if you find Yomi, ask him to distract Yukina for a little while longer. We can't let her see him until this is sorted out."
The chimera bounced away in one direction while the human found himself led away in another. They went down several flights of stairs before going into a comfortable sitting room fully equipped with sofas and a fireplace. Kurama flopped down onto one, stretched out fully while Hiei took a seat on the armrest by his head, a hand running over silver hair even as it bled red. Soon, the familiar form of Minamino Shuuichi was stretched out in a suddenly exhausted slump.
Seeing Kurama change forms, Yusuke allowed his human blood to temporarily dominate, causing his markings to fade. If their theory was true, then it'd help to put Kuwabara at ease in the strange world he'd been suddenly thrust into.
"I say we let Heero or Kuronue handle the history lesson," Yusuke announced from his slouch in one of the easy chairs. "They were more involved anyway."
"Once we reach the AC era, yes, but not before," Kurama said with a sigh. "Hiei and I will take care of the Makai politics."
"Just tell me how long I've been out, guys," Kuwabara said, growing nervous from the way they'd been acting.
Yusuke sighed. "You weren't out, Kuwabara. You were dead."
He couldn't breath. "Dead? How- When- Was it during the tournament? Did I at least take the guy down with me? What-"
"You didn't die during the damned Dark Tournament, baka!" Hiei snapped. "You died of old age, with all the typical trappings of friends and family and sap!"
"Hiei!" Kurama scolded, sitting up abruptly. "That's no way to break the news to him!"
"I won't coddle him," the hiyoukai retorted. "Even if he is family."
"Family?" Kuwabara stuttered, eyes wide. "I- When did that happen? Did you marry Shizuru or something, or a cousin?"
Hiei snorted. "I didn't marry a member of your family, Kazuma. You married one of mine. My sister."
The human was still gaping when Kuronue and Heero walked into the room, a tray laden servant following them. Noticing his brother's form and guessing at the reason for it, the chimera took the cue to change into his human form as he and his mate took seats on the sofa left for them. Passing out the drinks, the servant bowed and left.
"You have a sister?" Kuwabara asked, dazed. "And I'm married to her?"
"Yes, I have a twin sister," Hiei said, taking a strong gulp from his drink. "Fortunately, you already knew her before your memory cut off. In fact, you'd already vowed to help her find her brother."
Kuwabara gulped. "You're Yukina's brother?" Then the dots connected and his face brightened. "I married Yukina?"
"At least he's happy about something," Yusuke said, laughing as he toasted toward the despairing kitsune. "Wait until he finds out about his descendents."
"I have descendents?"