What Price Love?

It had taken Kurama until late afternoon to pry his son loose from his mother. Not that the kitsune had minded in the least. After all, it had been three years since she’d last seen her grandson, why not indulge Shiori and allow her to lavish as much attention (read: spoil) as she wanted upon the boy.

A soft chuckle escaped the fox’s lips as he recalled how adroitly his mother had managed to relieve him of his son.

One moment he had been returning Shiori’s hug at the airport as she stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek, and the next, she had released him to kneel in front of Ryuushin who was clinging with one hand to his father’s pant leg and with the other, clasping Hiko to his chest. Neither of them had spoken. Shiori merely smiled at the boy and held out her arms. With only the slightest hesitation, and a brief glance up at the fox, Ryuushin had returned her smile and rushed into his grandmother’s arms, snuggling into her warm embrace.

Since that moment, the two had been inseparable, until Kurama reminded his mother that he had promised to meet his friends at Genkai’s temple that afternoon.

An impatient tug at his hand broke Kurama from his thoughts, and the fox looked down to find large jade eyes studying him.

“What’s funny, Papa?” the boy asked.

Going down on one knee, Kurama wrapped an arm about his son, drawing Ryuushin into his warm embrace as he shook his head, smiling fondly at the small boy. “Nothing, little one,” he replied, “I was just thinking about how quickly you and Grandma became so close.”

The little boy smiled at the mention of his grandmother. “I love Grandma,” he stated proudly, as if that were explanation enough, and to Kurama, it was.

Still smiling, the fox reached up to ruffle his son’s dark hair. “I know you do,” he responded softly. “Grandma loves you, too… and so do I.” Green eyes twinkling, Kurama stood and in one swift movement, swung Ryuushin up into his arms. “Now, what would you say to a ride up these stairs?” the fox asked as he turned and eyed the towering stone staircase in front of them.

Ryuushin nodded, a wide grin splitting the tiny face, his eyes alight. “Your shouldas, Papa?”

A matching grin lit the fox’s face. “Up you go, little Dragon,” he said.

Shifting his hands to his son’s tiny waist, Kurama hoisted the small figure onto his shoulders. Ryuushin shifted until he was comfortable on his perch as his father gently, but firmly, grasped the tiny legs and began the long, slow climb up to the temple above.

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“You look good, man,” Yusuke commented, playfully clapping Kurama on the back before taking a seat on the wide porch next to the kitsune. “America must’ve really agreed with ya’.”

The ‘welcome homes’ and the introductions of their assorted offspring were over. Five year old Akihiko Urameshi had stared with unabashed curiosity at the newcomers for several seconds before grinning widely and then, in a gesture so characteristic of his father, slung his arm across Ryuushin’s shoulder and announced that he was bored and would, therefore, take ‘the kid’ out to the garden to play with the Frisbee Aunt Shizuru had gotten him for his birthday. Mischievous honey-colored eyes had looked up into the soft ones of his mother in silent entreaty while Kurama’s smiling green eyes met the equally bright ones of his son. Seeing Ryuushin’s enthusiasm, the fox readily acquiesced, and the two boys raced outside.

The adults followed, though they remained on the porch that fronted the temple proper – near enough to sense and respond accordingly to any danger that might befall their children, yet far enough away that they would not inhibit their play.

“It wasn’t America,” Kurama responded with a graceful shake of his red head as he glanced briefly over at the toushin then, hearing his son’s laughter, turned his head in the direction of the garden. The tender smile that graced his lips, and the softness in his eyes as he listened to that laughter, spoke far more eloquently than any words of his could.

“I hear ya’, buddy!” Kuwabara grinned as the tall carrot-topped human came outside and took his own seat next to the fox. He had just finished helping Yukina get Isamu and Emi, their year old twins, settled down for their afternoon nap. “I mean, I love Yukina with all my heart, but… bein’ a dad… there’s nothing like that feelin’, is there?”

At his best friend’s remark, Yusuke smirked good-naturedly. “Well, maybe for us, Kuwa,” he remarked, leaning over slightly and slyly elbowing the fox. “But for Fox-boy here, it’s being a MOM! Right, Kurama?”

“Yusuke, stop teasing Kurama!” Keiko admonished her spouse as she and Yukina came out of the temple and onto the porch, trays of refreshments in their hands.

“It’s all right, Keiko,” Kurama demurred, adopting his best ‘poor, poor, pitiful me’ face. He let out a rather dramatic sigh. “Yusuke’s remarks are simply the cross single parents such as myself must bear as we endeavor to raise our children alone.” The fox lowered his head, hiding the smile that threatened as Yusuke sputtered.

“He… hey, Fox-boy, ya’ know I didn’t mean anything!” Yusuke placed his hand on Kurama’s shoulder, shaking it slightly. “I was just messin’ around with ya’. You know that, right?”

Kurama raised his head, smiling; his gem-like eyes alight with mischief. At that moment Yusuke realized he’d been completely taken in.

“Ah shit,” he groused, though there was a matching grin on his own face, “I’ve just been royally had, haven’t I?”

Kuwabara’s booming laugh reverberated throughout the temple grounds. “Oh man, Urameshi… yeah, I’d say Kurama got you good!”

Even Keiko couldn’t stop her laughter, and Yukina had a hand over her mouth, trying vainly to stifle her own giggles as well.

It was at that moment that Akihiko came running up to his father.

“Daaad!” The near panic in the boy’s voice turned all eyes to him. “Ryuu… he went into the woods to get the Frisbee and he hasn’t come back yet!”

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While their parents conversed – teasing, catching up and reminiscing, Ryuushin and Akihiko were not only enjoying being out-of-doors, but each other’s company as well. In the short time they’d been playing with the Frisbee, they had become fast friends.

It was during a spirited game of Frisbee tag that Ryuushin had felt the first inklings of the new aura. Now, as they idly tossed the disk back and forth, the presence was stronger, more defined. Had he been younger, he would have been frightened at this feeling; but Papa had long ago (when he’d felt another’s aura for the first time) explained that he was unique, and as such, had special abilities. He’d even taught the boy to recognize the difference between an aura that felt dangerous and one that did not.

This one did not. In fact, it felt strangely familiar, as if Ryuushin should know it but did not. That fact was comforting in, and of, itself and served merely to pique the boy’s curiosity. Resolving to satisfy that curiosity, the next time Akihiko tossed the Frisbee to him, Ryuushin let it sail over his head and into the woods where he’d felt the strange, yet familiar, energy.

“Sorry, Ryuu,” Akihiko said as he trotted up to the smaller boy. “My fault, I’ll get it.” He started to walk toward the woods, but a small hand on his arm stopped him. He looked down to see Ryuushin shaking his head.

“No, Aki,” the little boy replied, “I let it go. I’ll get it. You stay here… I’ll be wight back, okay?”

“You sure?” The older boy asked. Ryuushin nodded before running off and into the woods.

Quickly he found the Frisbee then made his way deeper into the trees, the masked energy leading him at last to a tall pine. Looking up, he barely discerned the black-cloaked figure crouched upon one of the branches.

The two figures studied each other for a long moment before Ryuushin spoke, breaking the silence between them.

“You shouldn’t be twyin’ to hide, ya’ know.” Emerald eyes, so like his fox’s, stared directly into Hiei’s own ruby orbs. When the man in the tree above didn’t reply, Ryuushin continued. “See, ‘cause I can sense you even though you don’t want me to.”

Hiei contemplated the small figure below a moment longer before effortlessly jumping from his perch to land in front of the boy. Ryuushin took a step back as Hiei landed, but otherwise maintained his ground. His green eyes still fixed on the black clad demon, he gave Hiei a tentative smile.

“I was not trying to hide,” the fire demon finally replied, fixing the boy with his trademark scowl. “To do so would be a cowardly act, and I assure you, I am NO coward. I merely wished not to be seen.”

“But… but that’s hidin’!” The small boy retorted.

“Hn,” was the only response Hiei gave as he continued to glare at the boy. In truth, though he would never admit to doing so, he was studying the small creature before him; impressed with the fact that Ryuushin seemed unafraid of the scowling jaganshi.

Mild jade eyes merely returned Hiei’s stare. ‘Much like the fox,’ Hiei mused, seeing the calm appraisal in the boy’s eyes. ‘He studies me just as Kurama would.’ So intent was he in his scrutiny that he almost jumped when Ryuushin spoke.

“You look like me,” the child stated conversationally, not at all afraid of the dark man. “Well, ‘cept your eyes awe wed.” He thought a moment then asked. “Who awe you, anyway?”

A slender black eyebrow rose at the matter-of-factness in the child’s statement and query. “Hn,” the fire demon said again. “Did your parents not warn you to be wary of strangers, young one?”

“‘Course Papa did!” There was indignance in the tiny voice. “Papa’s weally smawt! But he says that when two people who don’t know each other meet, one of them should hold out his hand and inta… into… intwo…” The small brow furrowed in concentration. “Anyway, Papa says one should hold out his hand and tell his name. Then,” he finished brightly, “they awen’t stwangers no more.”

With those words, a tiny hand was raised. “Hi, “ the small boy smiled again, “my name is Wyuushin… pleased to meet ya’… Mistah… Mistah… what’s your name?”

Hiei was fascinated with this tiny creature. Not only was the boy unafraid of him, his spirit awareness had been strong enough to detect the hiyoukai’s ki, even though he’d masked it. Then, too, the aura radiating from the boy was extraordinarily strong for one so young. Hiei reckoned he had to be at least an upper-B class, even though it was all too obvious he was part human.

Despite himself, Hiei felt a small grin tug at his lips at the boy’s openness and courage. Bending slightly, he reached out, taking the tiny hand in his own and giving it a firm shake.

Though before he could reply, a soft voice intruded, “Hello, Hiei.”