Several days after Christmas, Hiei arranged to have his stuff packed and shipped to Kosetsu. He sold his apartment in Tokyo and became a resident of Kosetsu, cohabitating happily with Kurama in the cozy apartment above the store. It wasn't huge, but it was bigger than Hiei's old apartment, and it was wonderful to have someone to share his pillow at night.

Concerning Yomi, the investigation was handled quite well. Not only was Yomi convicted of sexual assault (and Hiei let off scot-free on self-defense), but when the police were going through bank records, they found that not only had Yomi been illegally increasing the interest on Kurama's loans, but he had even been pocketing some for himself. Yomi was upgraded from county jail to federal prison to pay for his crimes.

The bank said that Yomi's behavior was "not in line with company values" and they settled out of court with Kurama, extending his deadline as long as he wanted. This wasn't necessary, however; not only did Kurama owe less than he previously thought, but the settlement was generous enough that he was able to pay off his legitimate loans easily, and have a lot left over to use for the store and the Christmas tree farm. Kurama and Hiei also used some of the money left over from the settlement to take out a mortgage on a nice little starter home, right across the street from Yukina and Kuwabara. Now that his old apartment was vacant, Kurama became a landlord and started renting it out. Hiei joined the Christmas Festival committee the next year, and became one of its most important members.

On the first of the New Year, Mukuro and her lawyers met virtually with Hiei and Kurama to discuss Kurama's terms. The contract Kurama signed was the one he wanted—four million yen for a 30-70 share in his favor. With Hiei's excellent business sense and Kurama's green thumb, both the shop and the Christmas tree farm did fabulously, and never struggled again. The following Christmas, when Yukina's twins were exactly one year old, Kurama proposed to Hiei. Needless to say, Hiei enthusiastically accepted.

Yukina's ankle healed, and she and Kuwabara went on to have two more sets of twins, a large but happy brood. Kurama and Hiei adopted a six-month-old baby girl out of an institution, along with her four-year-old brother. They had been taken to the orphanage just weeks ago after their single mother died of a drug overdose. With their new parents, they found a joyful forever home, growing up with their many cousins. Like any family, they had their ups and downs, but the one thing Hiei and Kurama always made sure to do was remind them that they were always loved, always wanted, and would always have a safe home waiting for them.

One Christmas evening, as the twenty-sixth was approaching, Hiei and Kurama were sitting on the couch together in their little house, watching their eight-year-old and four-year-old daughter playing with their new toys. Hiei couldn't believe how much one winter could change his life.

"I know we got each other material gifts, just like every year," said Kurama, putting an arm around Hiei. "But I think the greatest gift of all is having you and the kids here with me, as my family."

"I'm thinking the exact same thing," Hiei replied peacefully, leaning his head against Kurama's chest, pleased with how content the children seemed to be. It was another miracle, he knew, that he and Kurama had found them—and, of course, that they had found each other. Hiei didn't realize it until it had already happened, but he had been looking for someone like Kurama his whole life.

And he had finally found him.

-the end-