As we lay

TITLE: As we lay
AUTHOR: Lemonychocolate
EMAIL: dragonechilde@yahoo.com
WEB SITE: n/a
RATING: Mature-Adult
DISCLAIMER: I make no claim to, nor hold any license to the original characters to this story. These characters are used for the sake and sole purpose of entertainment only. No profit shall be, nor will be gained from the writing found hereafter; nor shall any personal credit be taken as to the character designs, personalities or concepts stemming from the original characters used. All situations in the story below, unless otherwise stated, should not, in any way, have any bearing on the creator’s original work.
FEEDBACK: Yes!
SPOILERS: none that I can think of.


Epilogue

10 years later…

A silver, plumy tail beat the air, at times fast, then slowing to leisurely pace before speeding up again. A certain silver-haired kitsune was thoroughly enjoying the delicious taste of his mate.

Kurama kissed his way down Yusuke’s neck, paying special attention to the area just under the ear.

The full body shudder this action caused, the excited squirming of the lean body beneath him, aroused him even further. The suppressed sound Yusuke made had him rocking slowly into the warm cradle formed between his lover’s parted thighs.

It was his second favorite place to be, Kurama decided lazily. Lying against Yusuke’s warm, honeyed nakedness he felt the growing hardness rising eagerly between their bodies. His second place to be was deep within his lover’s hot, silken walls, feeling the supple rippling around his flesh as he was milked of his seed.

He eased further down the slowly writhing body, his mouth coming to rest on the soft bulge of Yusuke’s stomach. There he lingered, layering a series of gentle kisses upon his bond-mate, passion giving way to reverence. He carefully stroked his fingers over the burgeoning swell of Yusuke’s stomach.

The warm nest where their kits rested, waiting to be born.

They had been trying for months to have more children. With the boys getting older, it was a joint decision to enlarge their family. He grinned a little guiltily. Actually it was his idea. Though it was certainly fun convincing Yusuke to go along with the idea. There was the added benefit of not worrying about protection. The feel of delicate tissues clenching around his naked flesh had been a growing obsession.

His breath husked out. He remembered the glorious fullness that Yusuke’s body had taken when pregnant with their twins. He couldn’t wait to experience the joy of watching Yusuke grow.

Beneath Kurama, Yusuke’s breath eased out slowly. Passion subsided, subdued slightly…just waiting for the spark to re-ignite it to a blazing inferno. He caressed Kurama’s head gently, understanding the emotion that moved his mate.

All in all, it hadn’t taken him long to come around to the idea of having more kids. Kurama could be pretty damn irresistible. He shivered, recalling how delightfully his mate worked to ‘persuade’ him. It was just the birthing pain that he would rather avoid; then again, he remembered being the sole focus of Kurama’s attention.

He shivered again. This time it had nothing to do with his mate’s teasing, feather-light touches and everything to do with the wickedly teasing fingers caressing him.

He gasped, his head pressing back against the pillows as a long, clever finger stroked between his legs, tickling his perineum. His breath escaping in hoarse pants, he labored to breath. Fisting his hands in the long silver locks, he desperately dragged the kitsune up to meet his hungry lips. Greed, pure and simple, exploded in hot prismatic wave at the touch of Kurama’s luscious mouth.

Christ! He could come just by the sight of Kurama licking those beautiful, dangerous lips. He fed ravenously, biting wildly at the lush, searing mouth. Writhing, moaning as hands never ceased to stroke, rouse his body to a fever-pitch. His right leg was tugged and pressed firmly against Kurama’s flank. His hips tilted at just the right angle to allow the wet, blunt head to glide across his clenching flesh. He groaned, arching as his body tightened in pleasurable response.

Willingly he gave himself over to the neverending explosive passion that existed between them. His hand grasped a sleek, rock hard shoulder, trying fitfully to pull his mate closer.

His clasped Kurama tighter in the vise-like grip of his legs, a thready moan escaping from his throat when the long, still willowy body wiggled, fitting itself firmly against him. Chest to chest, hip to hip, it felt so fucking good. He groaned, feeling Kurama rubbing erotically against his own naked, dripping cock.

In his more saner moments, he thought Kurama sat up all night, inventing new ways to torment him, arouse him. Stroking his need, keeping it to a simmering boil with teasing touches and thrusts of his cock where he most needed it.

He whimpered, a low whine of frustration rising in his throat.

Kurama, his need rising in conjunction with his lover, growled. His aching shaft glided sleekly against Yusuke’s spasming core. He shuddered, always getting caught in his own trap, especially at the way that circlet of flesh seemed to mouth tiny kisses against the anxious head of his organ.

He eased a hand downward, his fingers teasing the guardian ring to relax even further.

Red-gold fingers of sunlight played over damp flesh, dewed with the exertion of their loving. Rays of heat gilded the pale body of the kitsune, poured over his sleek, ivory body. A shower of gold subtly highlighted his striking silver coloration. For Yusuke, it deepened the color of his bronzed, sinewy arms and legs.

Brawny thighs flexed, muscles bunching, shifting fluidly under sun-kissed flesh as equally powerful arms pulled the silver-haired kitsune down for a thoroughly rough, sensuous kiss. There had been no waning of a passion that had endured for ten years. It was still as fierce and fervent as ever.

Dark eyes gleamed at him invitingly, echoing the desire expressed with every movement of the powerful body beneath him. Rich chocolate eyes spoke of love, deep and enduring. It never ceased to thrill him that he had won the heart of this wonderful, beautiful man. His fierce, compelling desire for his lover never faltered in their years of togetherness, nor did his lust and willingness flag.

Lying naked, hips pining Yusuke to the bed, it allowed his hands freedom and luxury to roam. And roam they did. He fondled, caressed the warm body with total impunity.

He rubbed the pebbled nipples, his fingers light and teasing, shaping them to hard rocklike nubs with the skill of a master in the art of eroticism. He smiled wickedly at the stifled cry Yusuke gave.

Each breathless cry Yusuke made…pleased him, encouraged him. He couldn’t imagine doing this with someone else. Pleasure rippled endlessly up and down his spine, his tail unconsciously moving with sharp, jerky movements. He shuddered in a fit of pure contentment.

He caressed Yusuke’s raised leg, his hand sliding between their bodies. Adroit fingers teased quivering flesh, spreading Yusuke open for his coming sensuous exploration. A look from those beautiful slumberous eyes had the power to stiffen him.

In ten years, they successfully managed to baptize every room, and almost all the furniture in the Keep. With the boys nearly constantly underfoot, they learned to seize every opportunity to connect in this most satisfying and elemental way.

A naked, horny Yusuke always produced many licentious thoughts that danced eagerly through his head. Usually by the time he found Yusuke, all he could think about was making his thoughts a reality…all with Yusuke’s enthusiastic cooperation.

It didn’t matter, top or bottom, seme or uke, mounting Yusuke or being mounted himself…all that mattered was the overriding pleasure, the ecstasy they felt each time they came together.

Dipping his head, a hand holding Yusuke’s thigh in place around his hips, he licked at a hard pebbled nipple then began to suckle upon the moist flesh with ruthless, rapacious greed.

“…oh, god…” Yusuke moaned, arching his aching flesh into Kurama.

He had wakened with the kitsune firmly entrenched between his legs, stroking him to an orgasm and apparently now was planning on reducing him to puddle of goo. His cock was tight, hot and hard against his stomach. He had felt slick fingers circling persuasively around his opening. As if he needed persuading to spread his legs for Kurama.

Kurama had his body trained exceedingly well. He squealed, muffling the shameful sound in the broad shoulder of his mate, when a finger slid slowly into him and began stimulating him from the inside.

His cheeks burned hotly, exhilaration strumming through him. It still embarrassed him, how sensitive he was down there. All Kurama had to do was touch him there, and he would be playing ‘Grab your ankles’. He was shaking, shuddering with excitement and need.

He felt more than heard the chuckle that shook Kurama, and for a second thought about getting mad, then the lazily invading fingers caressed his prostrate.

To his disappointment he felt Kurama’s fingers still. Making his displeasure known, he squeezed anterior muscles, nipping at the buried digits. He was pleased to feel the instinctive response as the stroking fingers slide back and forth a few times before stopping. He whined, humping his hips meaningfully.

“Yusuke…stop,” Kurama grated out, golden eyes burning hot with an unslaked desire. He fanned his tail over to the side. He stared intently down into the aroused eyes. “Did you lock the bedroom door?”

Yusuke blinked a couple of time, trying to get his passion fogged mind to wrap around the question. But it was so hard. “Door? Bedroom? ‘Course I did…” He tried to pull Kurama down, his lips parting for the expectant kiss.

Once the twins became old enough they had given the boys Kurama’s old room, figuring that with the living room between them, it would be far enough, yet close enough for them to monitor the boys.

“He certainly did, Father,” Morio said, nodding his head briskly to his kitsune father. Both he and Rei were sitting in an armchair, watching their fathers with a great deal of interest. Between them, they were sharing a box of dry cereal. It was a special favorite of theirs.

Yusuke stared up at Kurama. His body seized up in absolute horror. He wondered with distant amusement if it was possible for die from sheer embarrassment. He kinda figured he would be the first to find out.

“Whatcha doin’?” Rei asked curiously. His head tilted to the side, golden eyes blinking curiously at their fathers’ odd colors. “He’s red…” he commented, turning to his brother. “Why’s Father red, Mo? And look, daddy’s white,” he added, now referring to Yusuke’s color.

Morio tsked impatiently. “Don’t you know anything?” he sighed in an oddly adult manner. His green eyes held an exasperated look. “Sheesh! And you’re supposed to be the smart one,” he muttered beneath his breath.

“Am not,” Rei shot back, his hands clenching pugnaciously. He was always spoiling for a fight.

“What. Ever.”

Kurama and Yusuke were watching the boys with stunned looks. Kurama dared not move his tail. As discretely as possible he slid his fingers from Yusuke. The strangled sound Yusuke made, while it did wonders for his libido, really didn’t help matters.

“Well, if you know so much, what are they doing?” Rei asked snidely. “Ha, thought so!” he said snippily, triumph written on his face when his brother was silent for two seconds too long. “You don’t know anything!”

“I do so!” Morio yelled, jumping to his feet. Kurama and Yusuke exchanged looks of dread. The boy aggressively planted hands on his hips as he glared meanly at his mirror image. “Father is showing daddy mouth-to-mouth ‘suctation,” he said importantly, mangling the word. And by speaking so authoritatively and convincingly, he managed to effectively silence his hot-tempered brother.

“Oh.”

Kurama felt it was time to gain control over the situation. His toushin mate had his face averted, and from the way he was shaking, Yusuke would be no help with their children.

“Yes, exactly…” he said firmly. “Now, I believe your father and I warned you that if the door was locked, you are NOT supposed to come in….And how did you get in?” he broke off to ask, his brow furrowing in confusion.

Morio blinked, loosing his confident look. “Uhm, we…we…uhm…well, you see…we had this…paperclip…and so…so…we, uhm…” he looked helplessly at Rei, who also was looking uncomfortable.

“We…kinda…wanted, you know…to…to…uhm, seewhatwouldhappenifwestuckitinthe
lockandwiggledit,” Rei said in breathless rush.

The tremors shaking Yusuke increased. Valiantly Kurama controlled his impulse to sit down and howl. Ten years old and they were already picking locks, he thought, struggling with pride and dismay.

“Boys…no more sticking paperclips into locks,” he said sternly. At the innocent looks they assumed he hastily added, “Or anything else. If the door is locked, then it stays that way. You are NOT to try to unlock it. Is that clear?” He held their eyes, a clear warning in his.

Reluctantly they nodded. “How about if we hear a lot of strange sounds, can we investigate?” Morio asked. There was a cunning look in his eyes strongly reminiscent of the Yusuke.

“NO,” Kurama said quickly, his face paling at the thought of the twins investigating any odd sound they heard. “You are to find an adult and allow them to judge the situation.” He clutched Yusuke to him, smothering the squeaking into his shoulder. “Go back to your room. Why don’t you call your grandmother…or…or Koenma and see if you can spend the weekend with them?” he suggested desperately.

“Yea…!” Their eyes alight and excited they ran from the room. Thankfully shutting the door after them.

Yusuke fell back, his face red with suppressed laughter. Weakly he waved a chiding finger at the kitsune, who irritably brush his hand away. “Shut up…” Kurama growled, though his eyes were affectionate. “Ten years old and already picking locks,” he said with more than a hint of pride. However, certain feelings were being reawaken at the feel of his beautiful mate moving against him.

Yusuke’s eyes widened then narrowed. There was a certain gleam in the dark, velvety eyes as he moved more purposely against Kurama. Laughter forgotten as other feelings awoke. Biting his lip, knowing the reaction that always engineered, he rolled his hips, deliberately slow, against Kurama.

Hand sliding to his hair, Kurama withdrew a seed. He flung it in the direction of the door without looking. A touch of spirit energy and a thick clingy vine rapidly grew from the seed and wound over the door. Covering not only the door, but the ceiling and wall as well, forming a barrier against intrusive, nosy children.

“Now, where were we…” he mused huskily. A quick movement of his hips and he slid into moist, silky heat. His breath hitched at the slow ripple that sucked at his shaft. At the sharp cry of pleasure from his mate, he muttered, “Ahhhhh, now I remember….” He crushed Yusuke’s mouth beneath his, stroking purposely, deeply into his lover’s hungry core.

Undulating his hips, his mind swiftly became lost in the thickening mists of passion that swirled around them.

“Spread your legs…’ he gasped out. “Yes…like that.” A low growled erupted from his throat. Yusuke complied. He sank deeper into the lush, wicked tunnel that was doing an excellent job of milking his pleasure.

Bending his head—balls deep inside that wonderfully honeyed interior—he suckled and played with the hard pointed nipples. His mind splintered even as his hips began a liquid gliding rhythm uniquely designed to destroy every brain cell in Yusuke’s mind.

“Come with me…” he gasped brokenly, his body moving rapidly as he strained to delve deeper into his Yusuke’s beautiful body.

Where Kurama lead…Yusuke eagerly followed.

* * *

Breakfast was actually more of a mid-day meal, by the time they slid into their chairs. He looked curiously over at Yusuke, a brow rising at the letter his mate was reading.

He became alarmed at the color that drained from Yusuke face.

“Yusuke…?”

Yusuke looked up, his eyes wet and lost. “It’s…Keiko,” he managed to get out. “She’s asking for me.”

“I’ll get the kids and let the others know,” Kurama said instantly, already in motion. His golden eyes were shuttered, no emotion leaking through. He paused, coming back to press a hard kiss on Yusuke’s mouth. “I love you,” he murmured before leaving.


* * *

Carefully Yusuke pushed open the door. He held flowers, he didn’t know what else to bring. His nose wrinkling at the sharp, anesthetic smell, still he advanced towards the pale, thin woman looking out the window.

Hearing her door open, a quick flare of annoyance flicked in Keiko’s sunken, shadowed eyes before fading. “I told you, I’m not hungry,” Keiko said disinterestedly. Her shoulders stiffened slightly.

There was something about the waiting silence that sent a flutter of panic through her. After all this time, could it be…? Cautiously, not daring to hope, she turned her head. “You came…”

He smiled awkwardly. “Hey beautiful,” he replied quietly, approaching her guardedly.

Her eyes wandered greedily over his face, trying to store memories. “You…you haven’t changed,” Keiko said softly as he kneeled by her chair. He looked as young as the day he….She refused to complete that thought and simply focused on the here and now. That was all that mattered.

She touched his face with skeletal fingers, tears beginning to run unchecked down her thin face. “Oh, Yusuke…I’ve been a fool,” she said tearfully.

“None of that…” he chided her softly, brushing away the tears that ran down her face. “You’re gonna make yourself…” he faltered to a stop, a guilty expression on his face.

“Sick…?” she finished dryly, her wet eyes ironic. “You were always an idiot…” Her head came up as the door opened again. There was a minute tightening around her mouth as she stared into a pair of jade eyes. Kurama met her eyes evenly. “Still together I see.” It was a bittersweet look that filled her eyes.

Kurama silently inclined his head, his attention never straying from her illness ravaged face. He stepped aside, revealing their remarkably silent two boys. “Boys, this is Keiko…a very good friend of daddy,” he said in reply to their questioning looks.

Keiko’s mouth twisted wryly, but she held her tongue. “Friends...?” she stared challengingly at Kurama, who presented her with an empty smile. His eyes were cool, letting know that he had absolutely no problem being her enemy. She looked at Yusuke, her eyes softening. “Friends…”

Kuwabara bounded in, beaming at the sight of all his friends, together. “Keiko…!” he exclaimed.

He was still an overgrown puppy, Keiko thought mistily. “Kuwabara…!” All the walls she had built around her heart tumbled down in an instant. Wounded, tattered pride forgotten, all that mattered was she was among friends again.


* * *

For a while, it was a noisy joyous reunion.

A nurse stopped in, her eyes zeroing on the tall incredibly beautiful, red-headed youth leaning gracefully against the wall. While this particular patient didn’t receive a lot of well-wishers, she had heard that today, Mrs. Urameshi had visitors. She was glad she did pause to investigate.

Damn! She licked her lips as her feminine interest locked on to him. Though younger than the guys she usually dated, the boy was just too fucking gorgeous to resist. Besides, as young as he was, he probably was still a virgin. She smiled wickedly, smoothing her uniform over her hips.

“Friends of yours, Mrs. Urameshi?” she inquired, lowering her voice, feigning sympathetic interest. She didn’t bother looking at her patient. Her body had subtly shifted, softening in an effort to attract his attention. Her eyes lowered in a seductive manner, she glided towards him, hips moving suggestively. The younger the better, she thought with rising excitement. They had so much enthusiasm and could go all night. She shivered in anticipation.

“Actually, they’re all demons, except for the big, red-head one,” Keiko stated sardonically. “They’re here to ravage me,” she added dryly. Ten years and still stupid ass bitches fawn all over him, she thought idly.

“That’s nice,” replied the nurse absently. She wound her way closer to the red head, who was staring at her blandly. “I’m Saiyou, who are you?” she breathed. Taking a deep breath caused her enviable chest swell in the outfit she wore. Normally it wasn’t that low, however, by strategically unbuttoning several buttons, she created a definite décolleté in what would have otherwise been a quietly respectable garb.

With the doctors, it usually got her an hour in the back seat of their car and sometimes a nice piece of jewelry.

Later on that night, in the privacy of their bedroom, Yusuke sardonically said he recalled her in a movie…Nurse Saiyou Does Japan.

The twins looked between the human woman and their father. They were getting a bad feeling from the woman. “Father…!” Rei said sharply. He stood protectively in front of his father with clenched fists. Morio’s eyes were narrowed as he also stood in front of their kitsune father. They both wore hostile, embattled expressions.

Saiyou laughed softly at the startled look that came over the beautiful red-head’s face. “Children…they’re so sweet at this age, aren’t they?” she said confidingly to him. Her eyes laughed, encouraging him to share in the humor.

“Still attracting the girls I see,” Keiko whispered to Yusuke, her eyes curious as to his reaction. But there was no jealous or anger in the clear, amused eyes he turned to her.

“He’ll always attract more than his share of the attention,” he shrugged, comfortable with his mate’s appearance. It didn’t threaten him that Kurama was beautiful, because at the end of the day, it was his body that Kurama turned to, his lips that were sought.

He belonged to Kurama just as Kurama belonged to him.

Kurama heard their quiet conversation. Politely walking around the nurse, he crossed to the two friends. Kneeling he leaned over and kissed the lips offered to him, gently, tenderly. “The only attention I want or need is yours,” he said in a low, husky voice.

Yusuke blushed. Something Keiko watched in amazement. “Flattery will get you nothing,” he muttered.

Green eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “Wanna bet…?” he murmured, and licked a wet line up his mate’s neck to their children’s considerable disgust and mutters of ‘ewwws’.

Keiko laughed at Yusuke’s red face. “Well, it seems he’s got your number,” she said.

“I’ve always had his number,” Kurama replied with a slow smile.

“Who the fuck are you people?” A young girl stood framed in the entrance of the room. Dark hair and eyes, her attire was an eclectic mix of fabrics and styles. There was a brooding sullenness in her pale, gaunt face; a streetwise, angry look that melted to one of desperate love when she looked at Keiko.

“Biki…” Yusuke breathed, his eyes wide and startled. He rose to his feet, and stood there. Unable to go forward or backward…unsure of his welcome.

The room fell silent. Keiko’s hand moved jerkily. Amazingly enough it was clutched firmly in Kurama’s, his eyes meeting hers in sympathetic understanding.

Biki frowned, confusion darkening her eyes before a shield came over her face. A memory teased at her mind. A man…happiness and joy; laughter, safety, security and warm enveloping hugs. A kaleidoscope of bewildering images flickered through her mind.

“Daddy…?” she whispered, stepping further into the room. At last Yusuke was free to move.

“My little princess…” he replied simply, his arms outstretched to enfold her in his arms.

He stumbled from the powerhouse punch to his jaw.

“You fuckin’ bastard…” she growled, her eyes flashing with pure rage. Her gaze darted over the room, stopping on Kurama. Her lip lifted in a sneer. “And you brought your lover with you! What kind of man are you…to run out on your wife and daughter, then come visiting your sick dying wife with your…lover?”

The room stilled. Slowly everyone turned to look at Keiko. She flushed, lowering her eyes to her lap.

“Kuwabara, could you please take the boys to get something to eat?” Yusuke said flatly, his face emotionless as he looked down at his former wife.

“Good idea…” Kuwabara gently herded the protesting boys from the room. He was grateful that Hiei declined to come, citing business. No telling what would have happen if the fire demon had been in the room. Hiei took his responsibilities as godfather very seriously.

“You have other patients to see?” Kurama said, turning to the nurse. His cool voice made it a statement, not a question. Glancing at the dangerous, vicious look in his eyes, she stammered a reply and fled.

Biki watched them all go, her face holding on to its’ hard, angry expression. “Ah, you don’t want your precious friends to see what a fuckin’ asshole you are,” she said spat venomously.

Kurama merely watched, his face composed.

Yusuke ignored the fuming, explosive girl. “Keiko, what did you tell Biki about me?”

“You leave my mother alone, you piece of shit!” The girl launched herself furiously at him. She was easily caught by Kurama, who slammed her against the wall. Growling she struggled to get free. To her astonishment, none of her usual fighting methods were having any effect.

“Keiko…?” Kurama prompted, finally speaking. His eyes losing some of their hardness.

“I told you I was a fool,” she muttered at last. Tears began dropping from her eyes. Angrily she scrubbed at her face. “When…when you left…I was…I was so damn mad! Mad at you, mad at Kurama…mad at everyone!” she cried, looking up at them. “Everyone kept telling me to wait it out, to have patience….That you would come back to me. But all I could think about was you…you doing the things with him that you did with me!”

The two men exchanged glances, but did not speak that it was only after the children were born did a sexual relationship begin. “I…I just couldn’t stand it. Nobody understood, so…I drove them all away. The Kuwabaras…they were your friends, not mine. Or so I thought,” she admitted quietly. “The only person I had to talk to, that I felt was even remotely on my side was…Biki.” She looked at Yusuke with shame in her eyes.

“And by the time I realized what I had done, how my bitterness had twisted me, it was too late. Too many years had gone past…so…I just stopped talking about you. But by then the rot had already set in and the damage was done,” she said, looking at him steadily.

“That’s why I called…asked you to come, so I…so we can make things right. I have ovarian cancer and I’m dying, and she…she can’t go on believing you the devil incarnate…”

“Mom…! What are you saying?” Biki yelled, her face darkening with rage. To her surprise she managed to get free. Immediately she ran to her mother and knelt at her side.

“We don’t need these…asswipes.” She glared venomously at the two men. Denying the memories of a happier time with her father. Then she frowned, glancing curiously between her mother’s faintly lined face and her father’s still youthful face. Hell, he didn’t look that much older than her.

Keiko gently stroked her daughter’s face, drawing the girl’s attention. “It’s true Yusuke had an affair with Kurama,” she admitted with some difficulty. “However, one of the reasons why he left was because I insisted he abort the children he was carrying.”

The girl gaped at her mother then laughed. “Mom…in case you haven’t noticed, he’s a guy…guys usually don’t have babies. Now I know there’s been some advances in science, but they ain’t advanced that far!”

“Keiko, you didn’t tell her anything…?” Yusuke yelped, his eyes rounding in surprise.

“Look,” she shot an angry glance at him, “What part of ‘hurt and angry’ do you not comprehend!” she cried, then turned back to Biki. Taking a deep breath she continued. “Yusuke is a toushin, a yokai. Toushins males can become pregnant.”

Biki laughed coarsely, her eyes spiteful. “I bet you two,” she tossed a nasty sneer at both her father and the red head, “Were awfully surprised to have got caught…!”

She gasped at the sharp tap Keiko gave her. “Neither of them deserved that remark!”

Biki looked at the adults. “Look, you’re all actin’ like this shit is the tru…” her voice faltered as the air seemed to ripple, waver around the two men. When it stopped, standing before her were two very inhuman creatures.

“The fuck…?”

Silver ears twitched in her direction. She leaned to the side, the better to watch the plumy tail moving lazily. Slowly her eyes trailed up the tall, slender figure. Shivering as she gazed at the cruel, pitiless face and the golden eyes. Even more slowly, her eyes went to the tall, broad shouldered male standing next to him. The wild shock of black hair cascading to the floor, the tattoos that marched up and down his body spoke eloquently of unearthly origins.

“Whoa…” she said faintly. “I’m a demon…?” she squeaked. Then looked bewildered at the heavy silence that filled the room. “Mom…? Dad?”

Keiko closed her eyes, opening them with a gasp when strong sturdy hands took hers. Yusuke gave her an encouraging squeeze, and Kurama smiled faintly.

“Toushins can only produce male children,” Keiko said tightly. She trembled, leaning gratefully against Yusuke.

Biki frowned, not understanding. “But I’m a girl…” she pointed out. Her voice trembled as her mind struggled to understand what her mother was saying. A horrible certainty, a dread feeling of doom clutched at her heart.

“Yes….And you’ll always be my daughter,” Yusuke replied firmly.

Her brow was still furrowed. “But if toushins can only have boys, and you’re a toushin then that means…” She gasped, her eyes darting to her mother in disbelief.

“Your mother did what she thought was best…” Yusuke said quietly, his eyes forgiving of his former wife. “She loved me, and I loved her.” Absolute conviction rang in his voice.

“But she…cheated on you!” It was a cry from the heart, a childlike sense of betrayal at seeing a parent’s fallibility. No longer were things black and white. There were so many shades of grey she didn’t know what to think. “Is that why you cheated on her with him?”

Kurama stirred. “Apparently King Enma found my association with my old lover, Hiei, disturbing and decided that it would be best if we were… separated. He chose Yusuke as a method of distracting me.” This was said idly as if in passing comment. However, there was no mistaking the fury that momentarily lit his eyes.

“Son of a bitch…” Keiko breathed softly, her startled eyes darting to the kitsune.

“Indeed….” Kurama murmured, his eyes frosting over at the memory. “I confess, when I found out, I was most…displeased.”

“I’ll bet…”

Biki looked down, struggling for her tough-girl persona, distressingly aware of just how lost she felt. “I’m gonna be all alone…” She rallied herself, trying to look strong and self-assured. “There’s plenty of money…” She met Yusuke’s eyes, and understood. He had been providing for them all these years.

Her eyes swung to her mother, who nodded. “Yusuke, in every way but biologically, is your father. You’re sixteen years old, I don’t want you in the streets…and he’s your father. Look at it this way,” she smiled reassuringly into her daughter’s terrified eyes, “No matter where you go, you’ll never have any female competition.”

“Yeah, but it ain’t the females I gotta worry about…” Biki muttered.


* * *

In the weeks ahead, Keiko’s body slowly gave up its battle. A tenuous truce was declared between Biki and Yusuke, and between Keiko and Kurama.

Against her mother’s will and her memories of a better time, Biki fought to remain standoffish. Keiko could have told her that Yusuke had made being stubborn an art form but decided to let her daughter discover that fact for herself.

Her daughter would be protected and safe was all that mattered.

* * *

Keiko’s remaining weeks became a hard-fought, valiant effort. But she had made peace with her past; enjoyed her last days surrounded by friends that once more became part of her life. Though there were tears shed by more than one set of eyes, it was the laughter that filled the hospital room and spilled over to the corridors.

They all were virtually camped out at the hospital, seemingly to sense when she wanted to be alone and when she wanted company.

Even Hiei came, bringing his and Kuwabara adopted kitsune daughter. She was a delicate, graceful little thing that dominated the twins with a ruthless imperiousness. That is, until Biki put a swift halt to the tiny tyrant demands. And thereby winning slaves for life, as both boys began contemplating the possibility of taking the older girl as mate.


* * *


Keiko Urameshi died on a beautiful sunny day.

She was surrounded by the rough drawls as Yusuke, Biki and Shizuru taunted each other; the eternal bickering voices of Kuwabara and Hiei; and the quiet, desperate voice of Kurama chiding the twins.

Gazing out the window, a summer breeze caressed her face.

A figure outside her window caught her attention.

Botan.

She smiled and closed her eyes.