I look down at the rose in my hands. It is absolutely beautiful, even after thirteen years. It has hardly changed at all, despite the batterings of pockets, book bag, hair, and time. I never let it go.

The blood red of its inner petals reminds me of the love between my fathers. I'm not born of a woman, you see. I'm . . . special. Unique. Like this rose.

Papa has told me many times how I was born from a blossom of pure fire, how he almost died bringing me into this world. How Yukina-obasan and Koenma-sama gave him the rei he needed. How awed he and 'Touchan were.

When I was young, other children used to make fun of me for having two fathers and no mother. I never cared. They love me; isn't that what is most important? After a while, the teasing stopped--there was no fun in it when I just smiled at them.

Yes, they love me. I know they love me. But they don't understand me. 'Touchan is afraid of my rose. Papa just wonders how it stays alive--and worries that I'm using too much ki on it.

They don't understand at all. It's not just a rose. It's a promise. I don't use any of my ki on this rose. I don't need to. As long as the promise is between us, the rose will live.

I twirl the rose between my fingers and raise it to my face to sniff its delicate aroma. While the blood red of its center reminds me of my parents, the pure, snowy white of the outer petals reminds me of . . . her.

She has been in my dreams since I was just four years old. I knew even then that I was going to marry her when I grew up. She is beautiful--very beautiful. She has long, silken hair the color of rich soil, skin a shade of golden beyond perfection, eyes the color of a summer forest. She is tall, taller than Papa, taller than me, and she is more graceful even than 'Touchan, who moves like a cat. She has filled my heart and my soul--I love her.

I am seventeen years old today. I've been patient, but I can wait no longer. As soon as my fathers go to bed, I slip out of the house. I take on my third form--I can become a youko, a fox demon, or a kitsune, a fox, just like Papa can. I'm almost as fast as 'Touchan in all my forms, too. I use this speed tonight, in case anyone saw me. Sometimes Botan-san will appear to watch the house or to deliver a message from Koenma- sama.

It seems I am safe tonight. I am deep in the woods, and I can sense nothing following me. I pause to appreciate the beauty around me. My ears twitch as the music of the night reaches them. I let my tongue hang out in a smile.

Something draws me towards the clearing. How I know there is a clearing there, I don't know. I slip towards it slowly, taking my time. There is no urgency.

Before I enter the clearing, I resume my human form. I toss my red-streaked black hair out of my eyes and absently consider, once again, having it cut. As usual, I dismiss the idea. I automatically check to see that my rose is in its place above my ear; it is.

The moonlight plays across the clearing. It is beautiful. Moss dapples across the rocks at the head of the tiny stream, and a few deer nibble blades of grass at the far end. I take only a quick look before my eyes rivet on . . . her.

Can this be true? Is this a dream? I cannot speak. I'm afraid I will wake if I do. I walk towards her with soft, hesitant steps. She turns.

"Kiyoshi . . . " she breathes, her thrilling smile lighting her face and her glorious eyes. "Finally, our waiting is at an end."

I still cannot speak as she comes into my arms. I'm amazed to see that I am actually an inch or so taller than she is. I can only stare down at her in wonder and joy. My dreams have finally come true.

"Kurama, Kiyoshi's gone," Hiei snapped out, appearing in the doorway to his and Kurama's room. Kurama looked up sharply.

"Na . . . ? Gone!? What do you mean, 'gone'!?" he cried.

"He's missing--not in his room, not in the house! I can't find his ki anywhere in the area!"

"We have to find him--maybe he went into the forest!" Kurama responded, yanking on a pair of pants and a shirt. He was frantic; it wasn't like Kiyoshi to sneak out. Hiei waited impatiently for him.

Kurama went kitsune at the edge of the forest, searching for Kiyoshi's scent. He spotted it and gave a sharp yip; Hiei was there in an instant. Kurama dashed off, following his son's trail, with Hiei almost stepping on his tail.

"Kurama, change back!" Hiei hissed suddenly. "No, go youko! There's something ahead with a lot of rei!" Kurama did as he was asked, and the pair raced for the clearing the could see ahead of them.

Kiyoshi walked slowly towards the center of the clearing. The woman there turned. Kurama looked down sharply at Hiei's gasp. "What's wrong!?" he whispered. Hiei was very pale.

"Kiyoshi . . . " the woman breathed. "Finally, our waiting as at an end."

Hiei shook his head, his color returning. "Kurama, let's go back," he said abruptly, his voice pitched for Kurama's ears only.

"Go back?" Kurama responded, beyond confused. Hiei nodded.

"There's nothing to worry about," he said certainly. Kurama blinked as Hiei blurred out of sight towards the house. He looked back at the clearing.

"Gaea . . . " Kiyoshi breathed. Kurama looked away discretely when the two kissed. He loped back through the forest to the house, thinking about wedding arrangements for his son and smiling.