Brides

Yuusuke and Hiei stepped through a portal and landed inside Mukuro’s territory, not far from her palace.

"Do you want me to come with you?" asked Yuusuke.

"No," said Hiei, moving Tatsue to perch on her shoulder. "I’ll be fine."

Yuusuke frowned. "All right, I’m heading to my territory now. Let me know if you need any help."

"Hn," snorted Hiei, and walked off with out a word of thanks or a good bye.

"Good luck," said Yuusuke, watching her until she was no more then a dot in the distance. With a sigh, she turned and walked towards her own land.



Hiei absent-mindedly stroked Tatsue’s clawed foot as she walked towards the palace that housed Mukuro and her troops. She wondered how her employer would take the news.

"Hold it right there!" shouted a guard moving over to her. Hiei cursed under her breath; she’d made it pretty far without being spotted using skills learned long ago, but it looked like her luck had run out.

"Don’t you know who I am!" demanded Hiei, glaring at the guard who was staring at her bare legs. Damn, I should have changed out of this ridiculous outfit first before coming here, she thought. "I’m Hiei, Mukuro’s heir. Now stand aside."

"Mukuro’s heir was male, I heard," said the guard with a cold gleam in his eyes. "And a very powerful fire demon; not a pretty human girl." The guard moved closer to Hiei, lust lighting up his eyes. He reached out a hand for the ex-demon.

Hiei sighed, and in a flash, held a katana up to the demon’s throat. She’d either somehow retrieved the weapon, had a spare kept god knows where, or had picked up a new one somewhere along the line. She glared at the guard with hard ruby-red eyes. "I’m not in a good mood, so don’t fuck with me. I’m here to see Mukuro, now!" she poked the demon with the end of her katana for emphasis.

"Y-yes, of course. Right away," said the demon, allowing her to lead him to the palace, sword at throat. As Hiei expected, she didn’t get too far before she was surround by several other guards. This just wasn’t her day. On her shoulder, Tatsue growled and bared sharp teeth.

"What’s the meaning of this?" demanded a voice. Some of the guards were pushed aside and Mukuro stepped through the ring of warriors. Her good eye widened as she looked at Hiei. "Hiei…"

The ex-demon snorted and drew back her blade from the guard’s throat. She kicked him in the rump, sending him falling to the ground.

Mukuro smirked and walked over to her. She made one complete circle around the Koorime. "Well, you’ve certainly have changed since the last time I saw you," she said in amusement. She looked at little Tatsue with shock.

"Oh, my…." Her voice trailed off as she looked closer at the dragon boy. "How cute!" shouted Mukuro, clasping her hands together. The guards around her face-faulted.

"I didn’t know you had a son!" said Mukuro, moving over and scooping up the little dragon boy. "You’re so cute! Yes, you are," she said, cuddling the dragon cub. Tatsue laughed and licked her good cheek. Mukuro turned her gaze back on Hiei. "So who’s the mother? Or should I say father?" she asked, looking at Hiei’s more curvy build.

Hiei frowned. "Must we talk out here?" she asked, looking around at the guards that where all staring at her with lust-filled eyes. Mukuro didn’t keep many female servants around the palace, and seeing Hiei in her little sexy number wasn’t helping much.

"Of course," said Mukuro, smiling against Tatsue. She ordered the guards to let them pass. She led Hiei to her private chambers and offered the Koorime some sweets. Hiei declined, but Tatsue willingly chomped them down.

"Such a cutie," smiled Mukuro, patting the dragon boy’s head as he munched happily away on the plate of cookies. She turned back to Hiei and ran her eyes up her form. "Really, Hiei, I like the new look, but it’ll get you into lots of trouble with my guards if you keep walking around with those nice legs and breasts showing."

"Hn," snorted Hiei. "I didn’t exactly choose this look," growled the Koorime.

"Oh?" said Mukuro. "Sounds like a long story. Care to tell it?"

Hiei sighed and told Mukuro everything. Once she’d finished, Mukuro was trying very hard to school her features, but was failing miserably. Soon the woman was laughing quite loudly. Hiei just glared at her until she calmed down some.

"I feel sorry for you," she giggled, "really, I do." She managed to pull herself together. "So you’ve lost all your youki and unless you agree to marry Koenma, you’ll remain a girl?" Her mouth twitched and she clasped a hand over it to keep from laughing again. "I never would have thought you and Koenma were dating," she laughed. She walked over to Tatsue who was licking the plate for cookie crumbs. "So is he yours and Koenma’s then? He doesn’t look anything like him."

"No, that one is mine and the black dragon’s," said Hiei in an emotionless voice.

"That one?" asked Mukuro, raising an eyebrow. "So you’re saying there’s more then one?"

Hiei looked uncomfortable.

"How many?" smiled Mukuro. "How may adorable Hiei clones are there out there? From what I know, Koorime usually have one to three."

"…" Hiei was silent.

"Oh, come on, are you hiding something from me?" asked Mukuro.

"Nine," whispered Hiei.

"What?" asked Mukuro. "I didn’t hear you; what did you say?"

"I said I had nine!"

Mukuro fell backwards in shock. "You’re kidding, right?!"

Hiei shook her head.

"You had nine kids with the black dragon?!"

"No, just one with the dragon," said Hiei blushing.

"Oh?" said Mukuro, getting up and moving towards Hiei. "Lovers, or did they absorb ki from others?" she asked.

"Is this really any of your business?" asked Hiei, glaring up at her.

"If Yuusuke or Kurama are one of your lovers, then yes," said Mukuro.

Hiei’s eyes grew wider.

"Oh, my god! Which one?!" she shouted. "You’re having a love triangle with Koenma and one of those two?! Why didn’t you tell me?!"

"It’s none of your business!" shouted Hiei.

"Yes, it is. If you’re dating Yuusuke, a lord of a third of the Makai, or Kurama, a would-be lord, then it is my business. It’s makes dealing with that part of the Makai a hell of a lot easier. Tell me which one it is: Kurama or Yuusuke?"

Hiei blushed. "Both," she muttered under her breath.

"Both!" shouted Mukuro. "Do they know that you’re sleeping around so much? Koenma, Yuusuke, and Kurama! That must be a hard relationship to juggle."

"Actually, Koenma asked Yuusuke and Kurama to marry him too," said Hiei.

"No!" said Mukuro. "You mean that spoiled brat's got all three of you?! Wow, you three must have some intense love sessions together."

Hiei coughed into her hand, face turning red.

"So then, you had nine cubs with the three of them." She picked up Tatsue. "And, one by the Kokuryuu. Any one else you’re not telling me?"

Hiei frowned. Mukuro grinned and poked her in the side. "Tell me, Hiei."

"Botan was with one of the eggs before it hatched so it’s part hers; Yukina and Kuwabara hatched two; Koenma one; Yuusuke two; Kurama two; and the black dragon’s is right over there," said Hiei, pointing at the dragon cub.

Mukuro blinked her good eye at the Koorime. "Gee, Hiei, it’s good that you’ve started your own family; especially since it used to only be you and Yukina; but don’t you think you kind of over did it?"

"I never planned it this way!" protested the Koorime.

"Nine kids, three lovers, two ki donating parents, and one sister," smiled Mukuro. "From two to fifteen; that’s quite a jump in numbers for a Koorime clan. I guess I should be happy for you," she said with a real smile on her face.

Hiei allowed a small smile to grace her lips.

"Say, Hiei, next time you go into heat, can I have one of the eggs?" grinned Mukuro.

Hiei face-faulted.

* * * * * * * * *



Kurama folded the Chinese style dress with the gold butterflies on it and put it away. She wondered briefly if she’d ever wear it again. Not that she wanted to remain a female for very long, but still, the Youko in her was telling her it would be a great chance to experience things from a different perspective.

She glanced at the bed and gasped in shock as a laughing Flora pulled out all the stuff she’d carefully packed in a backpack and tossed them all over the place. Little Ryu was completely buried somewhere in the mess.

"No, sweetie," said Kurama, going over to the black and white Youko baby and picking her up. She put her down on the floor and with a sigh, went back to folding her stuff and putting it back in the pack. She smiled warmly as she uncovered a sleeping Youko Ryu curled up among the tossed clothes.

Shaking her head, she lifted him up and settled him on an empty corner of the bed. Ryu lifted his head to look at her briefly before curling back up and returning to sleep.

Kurama finished her packing and glanced at the two-Youko kits. It wasn’t going to be easy taking both of them to the Makai, but someday that would most likely be their home; he might as well show it to them at an early age. You never know, they may end up living in the Reikai, whispered a part of his mind.

Kurama closed her bag and sat down on the bed. Was she, Youko Kurama; Shuuichi Minamino, really ready to get married?! What would her old companions think of that?! The most feared, most dangerous, and most sexy, silver Youko Kurama totting around rug rats and sporting a wedding bang on her finger? Of course, they’d probably drop dead in shock if she told them he was a she now. Not to mention that she was going to marry not one; not two; but three gorgeous men–er, man and women. That she had kits born from a half Koorime, half fire demon; that also had human, youkai, Youko, and god’s blood in them. That she was the father of not just two, but really, in a way, nine kids all the same age. Kurama grinned to herself, well, at least they couldn’t say she was settling down and loosing her touch. No, life was only getting more exciting and stranger by the minute.

She couldn’t wait to tell Yomi just what she’d been doing lately. Kurama giggled into her hand, trying to picture the look on the horned demon’s face.

Kurama called up his mother and told her that she’d be out for a week, maybe longer. When Shiori commented that Kurama’s voice sounded different, Kurama just laughed and said she was starting to lose it from yelling at Hiei and the kids all day long. Shiori had laughed merrily at that.

Kurama hung up the phone and glanced down at the two kits, who were now curled up together on the bed. "Waky, waky," sang Kurama, tickling them in the side. Ryu woke up with a yawn and blinked jungle-green eyes at him; Flora, on the other hand, grumbled in her sleep and curled up tighter. Kurama only tickled her harder. The redheaded kit woke up laughing and kicking at the bed sheets. She got up and glared at her with ruby-red eyes.

"So much like your mom," smiled Kurama, patting the kit’s black and white tipped ears. "Change into your fox forms you two so I can carry you easier; then you can go back to sleep."

Little Ryu obeyed right away and shifted into a tiny silver pup with one tail. The silver pup wagged its tail happily and looked up at his redheaded papa with crisp, green eyes.

Flora pouted and crossed her arms. She shook her head and frowned cutely at him.

"Come on now," said Kurama with a smile. "I’m taking you some place really exciting. You’ll like it, Flora, I promise."

The black and white Youko raised an eyebrow at him, but relented, changing into a red-eyed black pup with white-tipped ears and tail.

Kurama scooped them up and stuffed them carefully in her coat. She tried not to laugh as they squirmed around in the coat, getting comfortable and revenge for the earlier tickling. Once they’d settled down, Kurama picked up her bag, locked up, and opened a portal to the Makai.

Kurama stepped out into the crisp air of the Makai; no pollution existed in the Makai, unlike the Ningenkai, which gave the whole land a fresh scent. Kurama loved it here; so many plants and so much open space. The Youko trapped inside the human body sang with joy at returning to its home: the Makai. She wanted to shift to her fox form and roll in the grass, run wild through the trees, lay in the sun, and just sleep.

Kurama sighed; that would have to wait for another day. She took the shortest route to Gandara through the forest; she didn’t fear anything there, she could easily defend herself and her two kits if need be.

It wasn’t long before she was walking the streets of the magnificent city, watching as the merchants and customers bargained over goods, both trying to con the other. She could smell many different herbs and spices being sold as well as the many different fragrances of perfume. Her eyes caught the shine of coins and gems as they traded hands, some being slipped from the pockets of unsuspecting victims by skilled pickpockets. Ah, Yomi’s city was indeed a grand place.

Many turned to look at the beautiful redhead as she walked past them, picking up the scent of a human. Kurama was very aware of their looks, but she wasn’t concerned. Gandara was well patrolled by Yomi’s guards and her ki was powerful enough to serve as a warning to most demons. She walked up to the front of Yomi’s castle, a truly beautiful building. All made out of carved stone, the sides were so smooth it would have made it difficult for even an expert thief to scale it. Of course, she’d have no problems with the task; her skills were above that of even an expert. She walked up the front steps and was stopped by the two guards crossing their spears in front of her path.

"Yomi’s palace is off limits to visitors," growled one of the guards, obviously looking down on Kurama because she was human.

"Well then, will you please inform Yomi that I wish to speak with him?" asked Kurama politely.

"Get out of here, you human scum," sneered the guard. "Yomi-sama is too busy to deal with your kind."

Kurama narrowed her green eyes at him. "I think Yomi might disagree with you."

"Why you-" growled the guard, swinging his spear at the redhead. Kurama easily ducked under its high swing. "Little punk!" shouted the guard, reversing his hold and bringing the weapon down aimed at Kurama’s head. Kurama turned to the side and the sharp end passed harmlessly, biting into the stone of the steps.

"What is the meaning of this," demanded a voice from above the two guards. Yomi leaned over the railing of one of the many windows on the building’s front. "Kurama?" asked the lord, his ears twitching slightly.

"Good evening, Yomi," said Kurama, smiling up at the blind Makai lord. "I was wondering if I might have a word with you concerning a little problem of mine. I’d also like to see you again; it’s been awhile."

The Makai lord smiled. "Show him in," he said before turning to go back into the building.

The dumbfounded guards stared at the redhead before them. Kurama smiled charmingly at them. "Shall we?"

With a snort, the guards lead her inside to a large, comfortable room to wait for Yomi alone. Flora stirred inside her coat and transformed back into her Youko form in a puff of smoke that drifted out of the neck and sleeves of Kurama’s coat. Coughing, Kurama waved his hand around his face and unzipped the front of her coat. Flora hopped out to look around with curious red eyes. Kurama heard a small sneeze and looked down to see Ryu still as a silver fox pup inside his coat. Smiling, Kurama picked up the little pup and put him on her lap where Ryu transformed into his more human shape. The boy yawned, tired, and curled up on the redhead’s lap, going back to sleep.

Kurama looked up from the silver kit to watch as Flora ran around the room, looking at all the neat stuff in it.

"Flora, sweetie, don’t touch that please," said Kurama as the black and white kit tried to climb on top of a large vase. The she-fox left the vase to run across the room; she knocked over a small table on her way. "Flora!" cried Kurama, putting Ryu aside and running after the redheaded kit. "Honey, don’t break anything; this isn’t our place," pleaded Kurama as the redheaded kit jumped up on a large table and ran across it to jump down and hide under a chair.

"Flora!" said Kurama, bending over to look under the chair at the kit. "Now be a good girl and come out," said Kurama. The redheaded kit stuck her tongue out at her and shook her head. "Flora!" snapped Kurama, reaching under the chair to grab the kit by the leg and pull her out.

Kurama heard gentle laughter behind her as she turned with Flora hanging upside down by her foot. Behind her was Yomi with a slight smile on his pale face. Standing beside him was Shura looking on with curious pink eyes.

"Kurama, I didn’t know you’d started babysitting," said the lord in amusement.

"Yomi," said Kurama, getting up and holding Flora with both arms right side up.

"Are those two the little problem you spoke of?" asked the horned demon, jerking his head in the direction of Ryu who was curled up like a cat on the sofa.

Kurama smiled. "No, Yomi, this is Flora, and that’s Ryu: my children," said the redhead, moving over to sit next to Ryu on the sofa.

"Children," repeated the lord, obvious shock in his voice.

"Yes, my children," said Kurama. "What? Something wrong with that? You’ve got a kid of your own," said Kurama, looking at the little demon by Yomi’s side: Shura. How old was the boy now; four, five? Not that old; he was a cute little boy. On her lap Flora was looking at him curiously, her little fluffy tail thumping against Kurama’s thigh.

"When did you have children?" asked Yomi, reaching down a hand to touch Flora’s red tresses. The little kit frowned cutely and shook off the offensive hand. "And with who did you have them with?" asked Yomi, turning his head in Kurama’s direction.

"What’s the matter Yomi? Jealous?" asked the redhead.

"Iie," said the lord. "Just curious as to who your lover is?"

Kurama laughed. "I wasn’t talking about my lovers; I was speaking about the fact that I’ve got two cute kids and you only have one."

Yomi smiled and shook his head, long black hair shaking around his neck and shoulders. "Silly fox," he muttered under his breath. "You always have to do everything two times as much as me, don’t you?"

Kurama smiled brightly at him. "You know I do."

Flora jumped down from Kurama's lap and landed in front of Shura, who stared at the red-eyed kit. She grinned widely at him, then grabbed his hand and pulled him, running out of the room with him before the boy could utter a word in protest.

"F-Flora!" said Kurama, standing up too late.

"It’ll be alright," said Yomi. "Shura won’t let anything happen to her; they can play while we talk."

"I’m more concerned for Shura than Flora," said Kurama, sitting down. She smiled in the direction her daughter had run off with Yomi’s son. Hm, this could be the start of a beautiful friendship. That is, if they both survive the first meeting, grinned the fox. Ah, her daughter worked so fast and at such a young age; she was so proud.

"So tell me, Kurama. What do you want? I have many questions regarding what you’ve been up to lately," said the Makai lord, sitting down next to Ryu. He raised a hand to stroke the boy’s silky silver hair. "So soft… just like when you were a Youko; the shape is different though."

"Ryu has Hiei’s gravity defying hair," said Kurama, patting Ryu’s back as the boy curled up along Yomi’s side; enjoying the extra body heat.

"Hiei?" asked the blind lord, lifting his head to look in Kurama’s direction.

"Yes, believe it or not, Yomi, but Flora and Ryu have mine, Hiei, Yuusuke, and Koenma’s blood in their veins."

"You really never do anything normally do you?" asked the Makai lord, picking up the boy and putting him on his lap. "I guessed that you were sleeping with at least some of them, but I never thought you’d bed them all." The corner of his mouth quirked up. "So, which one of you is the bear for them? Was it you?"

Kurama laughed. "Human men aren’t built for that, I’m afraid it was poor Hiei who did all the hard work. He had a litter of nine," said Kurama, leaning his chin on his hand.

"Nine…." Said Yomi. "He’s too small for that."

Kurama laughed again. "It was Hiei’s egg laying cycle, he didn’t conceive and carry them. I’m not sure if he’s inherited that particular Koorime feature; he might have, I’m sure I’ll find out some day."

"Mukuro’s heir, I should have known. That boy is anything but normal. So are you going to take Koenma’s offer of marriage, then?"

"What?" said Kurama in shock. "You know about that?"

The Makai lord smiled and got up holding Ryu. "I received a messaged from the Reikai shortly before you appeared. It said you’d come to see me soon and that you’ve changed your mind about being my heir." The lord turned to face Kurama. "Should I take the word of the Lord of the Dead, Enma?" asked Yomi with a grin.

Kurama sighed. "That god had this carefully planned out from the start," said Kurama. "Enma wants me, Hiei, and Yuusuke to marry his son, creating tighter ties between our two worlds, and fixing a little embarrassment that has occurred between us and his son."

"I suppose one of the embarrassments you speak of would be this boy here," said Yomi shifting the sleepy Youko baby in his arms. "I have heard that only approved members of the Reikai royal family are allowed to have relationships with other members. Inbreeding or outside blood bought in to serve as concubines are the only ones allowed to have children with the royal family of the Reikai."

Kurama sighed again. "Yes, you could say that. We’re kind of in a tight pinch. We’ve been with Koenma for over five years now; there is little doubt to our ‘crime,’ so to speak," said Kurama. "Enma has made a proposal: marriage to his son or death." Kurama smiled. "I could let him kill me and maybe slip into another body as I did before, but I kind of like my life as it is now."

"Did you come here looking for protection?" asked Yomi. "There is little I can do against the Lord of Death to prevent him from killing you."

"Iie," said Kurama, standing up. "I came here for another reason."

"Oh? What might that be?"

"Enma is indeed a tricky opponent to face in a test of brains; he’s ahead of me a few steps."

Yomi smirk. "Ahead of you? I’ll believe it when it’s proven."

Kurama smirked back. "You want proof?" Kurama reached up and took Yomi’s hand, placing it on her chest. The Makai lord drew back in shock. "As you can see, he did manage to get ahead of me one step."

"You’re female!" said the Makai lord.

"Yup, so are Hiei and Yuusuke. Enma promised he’d change us back after we marry Koenma. I’m here looking for a cure; Hiei and Yuusuke are doing the same in their territories."

"I see, so that’s why you’re here," Yomi laughed softly to himself. "What a predicament you’ve gotten yourself in. It’s really quite amusing."

"Glad someone sees it that way," snorted Kurama, going over and taking little Ryu from him.

"Ah, don’t go," said the Makai lord, voice still full of amusement. "I’ll help you as best I can, but even if you do change back that still won’t prevent Enma from signing your death warrant," said Yomi.

Kurama turned to look at him with a smile on her face. "I know, but I’m not one to just sit back and let others make all the choices for me. I may agree to marry Koenma even if I do find a cure; perhaps I just want to be the one on top our wedding night," said the fox with a wink.

Laughing low to himself, Yomi shook his head. "You would go through all this trouble just to be the man in the relationship, wouldn't you. Very well, I’ll send out word tonight. If any one knows a way to change you back I’ll tell you as soon as I can."

"Thank you, Yomi," said Kurama, bowing his head slightly at the blind Makai lord.

"You will, of course, stay here while you’re in the Makai, won’t you?"

"You’ve very kind," said Kurama. "I’ll stay; it’s more comfortable here, and safer for the kids. Speaking of kids, where are Flora and Shura?"

The blind Lord frowned and his ears twitched on the sides of his head. Wordlessly, Yomi left the room and Kurama followed him with Ryu in his arms.

They walked until they came to the kitchen. As they reached the door, a cook came running out of it with his pants on fire, hollering bloody murder. Yomi calmly pushed the door open, and Kurama gasped at what she saw. Shura and Flora were covered in flower, laughing happily; the kitchen was a mess! Everything was thrown about and destroyed. One poor cook was backed in a corner, red fire holding him there in a tight circle. Shura had turned another cook into his trusty steed, making the cook walk on all fours while he rode on his back. The young kid was all grins as Flora hugged him from behind, laughing happily and beating the poor cook’s bottom with a large wooden spoon. Both kids froze as they spotted their fathers standing in the doorway.

"Papa…" said Shura looking around; the little demon gulped loudly.

Flora also looked around; her ears flattened on her head a little.

"Kurama, I leave my son alone with your daughter for two minutes and she’s already got him doing the craziest things..." said Yomi.

"Just like you and me," said Kurama behind him with a humorous smile. "They’re just kids, Yomi, they’re suppose to have fun."

"Are they suppose to terrorize the kitchen staff?"

"If it’s fun," said Kurama, nodding her head.

Yomi shook his head again. "Shura, go get cleaned up," said Yomi.

"Hai," said the boy, jumping off the cook and running past them.

"Flora," said Kurama. The kit’s ears and tail dropped. "Come here." Slowly the redhead climbed off the cook and walked over to stand in front of her, looking quite messy.

With a sigh Kurama reached down and rubbed the corner of her shirt on her cheek, trying to get some of the white powder off. "What am I going to do with you?" she asked.

"Why don’t you go clean her off; I’ll have a servant show you to your room," said Yomi.

"Yes, I think that would be a good idea," said Kurama, taking Flora’s hand and standing up.

* * * * * * * * *



"What are you all staring at?" demanded Yuusuke as she held Sake on one hip. Little Raiko clung to one leg while looking curiously at the line of demons that served and took care of Yuusuke’s part of the Makai while she was in the Ningenkai.

"Yuusuke-sama?" asked one bald-headed demon taking a step forward. "Are you Yuusuke? Or someone that looks like him; a sister maybe?"

Yuusuke sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "It’s me; I had a little problem in the Ningenkai."

"You’re female," stated another demon.

"Glad you figured that out," said Yuusuke mockingly. "All right, listen up. I’ve got one week to find a way to change back into a guy. So I’m going to need you to send out some scouts and see if you can find something to do the trick. Got it?"

The demons nodded.

"The kids?" asked one demon.

"They’re mine," said Yuusuke, patting Sake's wild hair. "It’s a long story that can what for a day when I’m not in a hurry."

"Hai," said the demons, looking at the two kids. "We’ll do our best, Yuusuke-sama. If there’s a way to reverse the spell, you can bet we’ll find it."

"Good," smiled Yuusuke. "Let me know if you find anything. I’m going to get settle in."

The demon’s bowed and watched as their lord left with the two kids; it was truly one of the oddest things they’d ever seen.

TBC