Life Goes On

Scene 27 ------------------------------------------- Hiei's Apartment

* When they enter Pehjo's eyes nearly bug out of his head as he looks around the luxorious living area. Ryuji, more used to such things, merely glances around.


Ryuji- Nice place.. Little bigger than your apartment at Alaric.

Hiei- I brought you here to meet your nephews.. Ichiri, Jiro, Chiisai!


* When three blurs materialize into children Pehjo hides behind Ryuji.


Hiei- Boys, this is your Uncle Ryuji.. These are my oldest twins Ichiro and Jiro.


* The miniature Yusuke and Hiei look-alikes bow politely.


Hiei- And this is my baby boy, Chiisai.


* Ryuji reaches out to stroke Jiro's ebony spikes until the boy shies behind Jiro some.


Hiei- It's okay, Jiro.. We can trust him


* Chiisai wills his wings to appear then he flaps up to look around Ryuji at Pehjo.


Chiisai- There's one back here, Papa.. What is he?

Hiei- Dinner.


* Ichiro and Jiro look up at Hiei smirking as Pehjo squawks and climbs up Ryuji's back to look over his shoulder.


Pehjo- What?!

Hiei- Relax, lizard.. They know I'm joking.

Ichiro- Then we can't eat him?

Pehjo- I told you, I'm a skink..

Hiei- What the h--- ever.. I hope your pet is housebroken, Ryu.

Ryuji- He's not my pet.


* Ryuji looks at Pehjo as he motions toward the couch.


Ryuji- Go sit and stay.


* Pehjo rolls his eyes, but goes over to the couch. Chiisai lets Ryuji turn him around to examine his wings.


Ryuji- So you must be the one that's part.. bat, is it?


* Chiisai whips back around with a hissing chirp.


Chiisai- No! My Mother is a Banshee!

Hiei- Mind your temper, Chi.


* Chiisai crosses his arms and settles back down on the floor.


Ryuji- Nice batch.. I can feel how strong their energy is.

Hiei- They get that from their Father.. and Mother.


* Ryuji looks at Hiei.


Ryuji- There's a good bit of you in there, too, Ani.. That's an especially good sign where the twins are..

Hiei- We're not going to discuss that in front of them right now, Ryuji!


* The taller demon smirks and wiggles his eyebrows.


Ryuji- Then we could go somewhere more..

Hiei- There's nothing to talk about!


* Hiei looks down at his boys.


Hiei- Go back to your playing, boys.


* Chiisai looks up at Hiei timidly.


Chiisai- I'm sorry, Papa.

Hiei- I'm not angry at you, Chi.

Ryuji- Yeah, your Papa is always this grouchy.


* Ichiro and Jiro set their eyes up on the tall stranger.


Ichiro- Are you picking on our Papa?

Hiei- Easy, boys. I told you, Ryuji is my brother.. Now go on.


* The twins step back.


Jiro- Come on, Chi.


* Just then a gonging chime sounds through the palace. Hiei looks around.


Hiei- What the..?

Ichiro- Oh, that's for us..

Jiro- It's time to go to class.

Hiei- When did he start that?

Ichiro- (Shrugs) Couple days ago.

Jiro- Uncle Koe says it'll help us remember to go.

Hiei- Hn.. You'd better get going then.


* Ichiro and Jiro blur to the door then look back to see that Chiisai is still staring up at Hiei. The koorime sighs and gathers the small boy up. Chiisai hugs his Papa's neck.


Chiisai- (Quietly) Will you be here when we come back?

Hiei- Hn. Of course I will.

Chiisai- Promise?

Hiei- Chi,..

Chiisai- You've been gone so much lately.. I'm scared that someday you'll go down there and never..

Hiei- Shh.. Listen to me, son..


* Hiei works Chiisai back to meet his eyes.


Hiei- I go down there because I have business to take care of. You know this.

Chiisai- Hai.

Hiei- But I will never abandon any of you.. When all of you are older I'll take you down with me.. Maybe we'll even move back down to Demon World..

Chiisai- With Unlce Yusuke and Uncle Kurama?!


* Hiei hesitates.


Chiisai- Uncle Yusuke is Ichi and Jiro's Father.. He's told us that someday we'll all move in with..

Ichiro- Chi!

Jiro- Father said that was a secret! remember?!

Hiei- It's okay, boys.. You three better get on to class.. We'll discuss that later.

Chiisai- Give Momma Shishi a kiss for me when you go up to see him, Papa.


* Chiisai sprouts his wings again. Hiei drops his arms to let him fly away. The twins continue to harass their younger brother as they leave. Ryuji looks at Hiei again.


Ryuji- How old did you say they were?


* Hiei half glances up at his brother then moves toward the kitchen.


Hiei- The twins are two years and three months.. Chi is a couple months younger..

Ryuji- They act more like a decade.


* Ryuji follows Hiei into the kitchen. He watches his brother retrieve the half empty can of beer to finish it. His nose catches the scent and wrinkles.


Ryuji- Alcohol and fire don't mix well..

Hiei- Koenma figures their development is partially due to their exposure to this place..

Ryuji- Not to mention the Mazoku's influence..


* Hiei moves to toss the empty can into the garbage.


Hiei- Hn.


* When he gets into the refrigerator and takes out another Ryuji shakes his head but just moves to sit down at the table. His jagan tells him, after a brief scan, that now isn't the time to preach at his 'little' brother.


Ryuji- Hiei,..

Hiei- Don't lecture me! I get enough preaching from that baby god!

Ryuji- Actually, I was going to ask if I could have one.


* Hiei hesitates, then gets the rest of the six pack out.


Hiei- Would your new pet like one, too?


* Pehjo hurries in to sit beside Ryuji at the table.


Pehjo- For Ningen booze I'll be anyone's pet.


* Ryuji glances at the skink as he breaks off one of the cans. Hiei opens his own as he makes his way back out into the livingroom. Ryuji sighs then pops open his own can. He slides the rest of them over in front of Pehjo.


Ryuji- Take 'em and go find yourself a bedroom for the night.


* Pehjo grins up at Ryuji suggestively.


Pehjo- An' you'll come.. join me?


* Ryuji snorts as he stands.


Ryuji- Maybe if you're drunk enough.


* Pehjo scowls as he stands with the extra beers.


Pehjo- You an' Shi are real pieces of work.. Couple of d--- teases, the both of ya.


* The skink leaves the kitchen grumbling. Hiei motions toward the wide hallway from the couch.


Hiei- Bedrooms are that way.. Stay out of the kids' rooms and outta my room.

Pehjo- How the h--- will I know which ones are..

Hiei- Just go to the end of the hall, idiot!


* Pehjo rolls his eyes.


Pehjo- I don't have to stay here at all, ya know!

Hiei- True.


* Ryuji chuckles. Hiei just looks away to continue nursing his beer. Pehjo shuffles off down the hallway. Ryuji stands, watching the skink go a moment, then looks back toward Hiei. After another quick scan of his brother's thoughts he sighs and goes over to sit down on the couch beside him. Hiei avoids his eyes to look out of his bay window toward the fluffy, pink clouds of Spirit World.


Hiei- (Mumbled) I hate pink.

Ryuji- (Quietly) You know you can talk to me, Ani.

Hiei- Nothing to tell, Oto.

Ryuji- You can't lie to me.

Hiei- Sometimes you're a pain in the a--.

Ryuji- That's not why I'm hanging around right now.


* Hiei stands and tosses the empty can toward the kitchen.


Hiei- Go spend time with your skink. I have a d--- mate to go check on.


* Ryuji watches Hiei flinch and hears him mentally berate himself as he heads for his door.


Hiei- Keep your f---in' eye out of my head or I'll open mine!


* Ryuji stays put on the couch as Hiei leaves, slamming the door shut behind him.