The Aftermath

I want to take this time to thank all of my wonderful reviewers!! Although it seems my follow is only a scant 3 or 4, the words that you've given me have been fantastic!! I would love for everyone who reads this to at least drop me one line if you're enjoying it. But as I said before, I'm not going to be a "hound". I would just like to see some new names to let me know that this isn't becoming boring. %oS

thoth_moon, think back to the series. Hiei was just born, wrapped up in that warding shell. Remember? Man, did he have a grip on that Tear Gem necklace. (I'll explain later, I believe, about why Ichi & Jiro don't have theirs). So, yeah, I'm going to go by the theory that demon babies develop.. a lot of things.. quicker than us humans. ;o)

###########################

Scene 29 ------------------------------------------- Spirit World

* After a rough night spent pacing and waiting, Yusuke does his best to try to honor his mate's wishes and not charge into the den. Finally, as the first rays of Spirit World's sun begin to creep into the apartment, Koenma comes out of the kitchen where Botan and Yukina are making breakfast for their Toushin friend. The Teen finds Yusuke over by the large bay window in the livingroom, staring out over the early morning's pink and purple fluffy clouds. Although the awakening morning is beautiful, Koenma feels that Yusuke's mood is not. The godling sighs deeply and the takes a cup of coffee over to give the detective. Yusuke takes it as politely as he can, considering his mood. Koenma clears his throat.

Koenma- I know who you're thinking about...
Yusuke- No kidding...? Do you know how many channels are flipping through my skull?
Koenma- Yes. But can we flip to channel Hiei?

* Yusuke scowls darkly at his friend, then looks back out the window.

Koenma- If you would relax, you might see that this is a good thing...
Yusuke- Good?! They're... whoever in the h---, they might be... They're using my.. Hiei like a... dog... I should go to this Shikyo place and blow the whole...
Koenma- Yusuke,... This new baby...

* Yusuke rolls his eyes and raises a hand to mock a yapping mouth.

Yusuke- Yeah, yeah, innocent life, yaada yaada yaada...

* Koenma half glances toward the now-quiet den.

Koenma- (Quietly) As innocent as your own.. or Kuwabara's... Which is still on the way... In that Shikyo place...

* After a moment, Yusuke glances toward the Prince, then he sighs despairingly as he moves to sit on the couch once more. Koenma follows to sit beside him. Yusuke rubs his neck.

Yusuke- I know, Junior... I'm just so tired of this roller coaster...
Koenma- I know. But listen to me... When this new baby is born in three months... Three months, Yusuke...

* The Toushin glares at the godling seated beside him.

Toushin- I'm worried about Kurama, I'm not deaf.
Koenma- The baby will be born in three months. Calm down and think about what I just said.

* Yusuke looks away. The folders for his own babies are still on the coffee table. Then it dawns on him and he nods slowly.

Yusuke- Yeah.. I get it... But... three months down there.. in that region... Well,
h---, you seen what can happen down there in just one week...

* Koenma touches Yusuke's shoulder supportively.

Koenma- If they're.. using.. Hiei as a stud... They won't be harming him in any way... This only means that, whoever they are, they're smart.
Yusuke- Then you think they know who they got...?
Koenma- They know enough to have put him to Shishi.

* Yusuke scowls distastefully.

Yusuke- Geesh, do you know what a pansy that guy is??
Koenma- Yusuke, that "pansy" is a male Banshee.
Yusuke- (Nods) Yeah. Boy, does he sure rant like...

* When Koenma sighs heavily Yusuke looks at him.

Yusuke- Okay, Diaper Jockey. Tell me what I don't know.
Koenma- Shishiwakamaru is a Banshee demon, a male Banshee...
Yusuke- Yeah, I'm with you so far.
Koenma- Male Banshees are so rare that there's only one born every four hundred years... Shishi was the last one born two hundred and fifty years ago...
Yusuke- That's about how old Hiei is.
Koenma- Yes. There's so many similarities between these two, now that I think about it... Both were born B-Class.. Both are the first sons of a Clan leader, Shishi's clan leader being his mother, of course... And now, both are S-Class...
Yusuke- I would prefer the condensed version. My babies will be walking soon.

* Again Koenma glances toward the den, then smiles softly, before returning to Yusuke.

Koenma- There's a very well-guarded secret concerning the offspring of male Banshees. If the male mates.. or, in this case, procreates with an equally-ranked demon... The baby is said to possess great power.

* Yusuke looks away.

Yusuke- Another power-hungry b------... D---, is that the goal of every demon down there?
Koenma- For most, yes.

* Yusuke shakes his head, then raises a hand to rub his forehead.

Yusuke- (Quietly) I can't... imagine... what they must be doing to... control Hiei... (Moans) Oh d---, my babies... Sabaktu...
Koenma- I've told you before, Yusuke. We will find Hiei... But for now, I've decided to pull the last three Shinobi out of there... I can't risk their lives, no more lives to whoever this powerful jagan-wielder is...
Yusuke- And you think they're going to just leave Shishi there?
Koenma- Well, I... kinda told them that I knew where he was...

* Yusuke stares at Koenma, then shakes his head.

Yusuke- You do know that you are so dead. Right?
Koenma- They can't harm me.

* Yusuke hesitates, then looks back at the folders.

Yusuke- D---, how much longer, Kurama?

* The mental answer that he gets startles him nearly off the couch, 'We are all.. fine,.. Love... We have.. four... healthy new babies... I am just... tired'. Koenma smiles again when he sees the expression of relief on Yusuke's face as he looks toward the den.

Koenma- You may open the folders now, Yusuke.

* Yusuke quickly gathers them up and opens them one at a time, just reading the gender of each of the first three.

Yusuke- Boy... Boy... Boy...

* Yusuke pauses to close his eyes.

Yusuke- (Quietly) D--- it... He wanted at least one...
Koenma- Open the last one, Yusuke.

* Yusuke glances at the Prince, then does so. When he sees that it's a girl he actually tears up. Then he hears Kurama's weary voice again, 'We have our... little... Rosebud, Love'. Yusuke swallows and wipes his eyes.

Yusuke- Yeah... We'll name them together after you've rested, Babe.

* Koenma squeezes Yusuke's shoulder again.

Koenma- Okay, let's go eat.

* Yusuke puts the folders down and follows Koenma into the kitchen to let the ladies know the good news.