The Aftermath

Scene 16 ------------------------------------------- Spirit World

* When Koenma enters Yusuke's apartment, he finds the pair snuggling on the couch, eyes closed, enjoying a Spirit-Sharing session. Koenma fidgets, fingering a file, wondering if he should interrupt. Normally, he would just leave and return later, but today he has brought something that they need to see. Yusuke and Kurama feel the godling enter, but continue until they realize that he's not leaving. During these sessions, Kurama has utilized the time, and their mental connection, to teach Yusuke about many aspects of demon laws and nature. Today's 'lesson' is shortened, though, when Koenma doesn't leave as he usually would. Slowly, they detach themselves and turn their eyes toward the Teen godling. When they see the file in his hands Kurama sits up and watches Yusuke dash over to Koenma.

Koenma- I didn't mean to disturb...

* Yusuke snatches the file away from Koenma's nervous grasp. Kurama stands and goes over to join Ysuke as he opens the file.

Kurama- Birth records...

* Yusuke swallows, then looks up at Koenma.

Yusuke- Twin boys...
Koenma- Yes... Born in the southern part of Demon World... A region known as the Shikyo** Valley...
Kurama- I know of it.

* Yusuke looks up at Kurama quickly.

Yusuke- You've been there?

* Kurama sighs as his ears droop.

Kurama- I said I know of it... Even I avoided that region at all costs... It's the most inhospitable area of all Demon World.
Yusuke- Yeah... It figures that he'd be there, then.

* Yusuke looks into the folder again.

Yusuke- Twins... Two boys... That figures, too... Toushins usually always have males.
Kurama- What did he name them??

* Yusuke glances up at Kurama, then scans the file again.

Yusuke- It says here that... Sabaktu... named them...

* Yusuke looks up at Koenma as another memory crashes over him. The time when he'd seen into their small apartment in Satjiyu's fortress. This memory is now coupled with something Kurama had taught him. Yusuke scowls.

Yusuke- So... Hiei is still allowing his son to...?
Kurama- Yes. Perhaps it was a... mutual decision.

* Koenma watches Kurama bow his head, then move away hugging himself, his tail drooping sadly.

Yusuke- The boy named them... Ichiro and Jiro... One and two... Real creative, kid.
Kurama- (Quietly) Considering that it was Sabaktu... I'm amazed they are even named period.

* Yusuke gives the file back to Koenma with a curse. He then turns and moves away. When Yusuke glances toward Kurama he sees the tears on his overly-emotional mate's cheeks. The Toushin moves to sit on the couch beside Kurama and embraces him.

Koenma- Well, there is some good news, guys.

* Yusuke looks back up at Koenma.

Yusuke- Yeah, you know where to search now.
Koenma- That, plus the fact that no death papers have been issued, yet.

* Kurama nods and wipes his cheeks as he works loose from Yusuke.

Koenma- I've already contacted Touya and the others to direct them there.
Kurama- But it's a large region...
Yusuke- Whose territory?

* Kurama sighs, then shrugs.

Kurama- Well, half of it is in Yomi's... The other half is divided between yours and Mukuro's.

* Yusuke leaps up and hurries over to his jacket to dig out his communicator.

Yusuke- Great!

* Koenma and Kurama meet eyes as Yusuke summons uo Hokushin. The bald monk's head bows on the compact's mirror.

Hokushin- Greetings, M'Lord.
Yusuke- Hokushin, I need you to send some troops to assist in a search for Lord Hiei.
Hokushin- You have a location on him?
Yusuke- We just learned that he's in the Shikyo Valley region...

* When the monk's expression darkens Yusuke pauses.

Yusuke- What?
Hokushin- I regret that we cannot assist...
Yusuke- Why not?!
Hokushin- That is a forbidden area... Any Toushin that set foot there.. never returned. We do not go there anymore... Your Father made it a law...

* Hokushin pauses a moment.

Hokushin- Will you defy your Father's law?

* For several moments Yusuke considers the options. Finally he closes his eyes.

Yusuke- No, Hokushin... I won't.

* Kurama visibly relaxes. Koenma studies the kitsune's enlarging middle a moment when Kurama begins to rub his side slowly.

Yusuke- Can I ask you to station troops along that border as close as they can get?
Hokushin- Yes, sire. That we can do.
Yusuke- Okay. Make sure they know what Hiei looks like... His son that's with him is very similar.. except he has aqua blue spiky hair... He's only slightly shorter than Hiei. His name is Sabaktu.

* Hokushin nods.

Kurama- If they'll be traveling they'll have twin boys with them, newborns.
Koenma- And Sabaktu is still pregnant.
Yusuke- Did you get all that?

* Hokushin nods again.

Hokushin- Yes, M'Lord. Your orders will be carried out exactly. Best wishes to you and Lord Kurama.

* Yusuke closes the compact angrily.

Kurama- That was a good idea, Love.
Yusuke- Do you think Yomi will...?
Koenma- I've already contacted him, as well.
Kurama- Yusuke, only the most ruthless, cutthroat demons inhabit that area... Mostly rogue bands that only leave it to steal and kill...

* Yusuke bows his head and leans on the chair where his jacket is hanging.

Kurama- I should've guessed that Hiei would go there... I was so wrapped up in my own...
Yusuke- Should I know why?
Kurama- He grew up there... with a gang of rogues...

* Yusuke turns to look at Koenma.

Yusuke- You know most of Hiei's past... Can't you trace names or...?
Koenma- Unfortunately, Hiei had killed most of them himself before he left the region to terrorize the rest of Demon World... after he escaped from Satjiyu the first time, of course... The remainder were killed by other means...

* Yusuke sighs and raises a hand to his forehead.

Yusuke- S---... I need an aspirin.

* Kurama picks a seed out of his long, silver locks as Yusuke moves to sit beside him heavily.

Kurama- Here. Eat this, Love.

* Yusuke takes the seed without hesitation and thanks Kurama mentally.

Koenma- I will keep you informed of any more news, guys.
Yusuke- Yeah. Thanks. I guess we can hope that those five Shinobi will find them.

* Koenma nods and leaves. Yusuke continues chewing the seed thoughtfully.

Yusuke- Twins...
Kurama- Your first sons.

* Kurama lowers his eyes.

Kurama- At least we know they're still alive.

* Yusuke faces Kurama and lays a hand on his thigh affectionately.

Yusuke- Kurama, you know I'll love all my kids...
Kurama- You know the significance of his firstborn.
Yusuke- Yeah... I can't change that..

* Kurama shakes his head. He then smiles down at his belly.

Kurama- These will still be powerful Princes...
Yusuke- Or Princesses... Your genes could still work to give us daughters... You always say that you feel one of them is a little weaker spiritually...

* Kurama nods.

Kurama- We'll know as they get closer to their due date.

* Yusuke moves the hand up to lay on Kurama's swell.

Yusuke- Only one more month, Babe...
Kurama- Give or take.

* Kurama smiles at Yusuke as he raises his tail up between them to tickle Yusuke's chin in his usual, private sign of affection. Yusuke catches the tail and kisses it, taking in his mate's wonderful, 'maternal' scent.

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** Name means "Death" :o/