Part One
 
 

He shifted in his armchair, stretching up not to lose a single bit of the scene.

It was winter in the Ningen World. A stormy, snowy night. The haze mixed to frost and the darkness formed a thick curtain, impairing visibility. Down there, a tortuous road cut up that mountainous region near Tokyo.

The weather was too bad that night. No one would risk a trip under such conditions. Nevertheless, Fate made human people do the stupidest things once in a while.

It was written, marked, determined, unchangeable.

Koenma chewed the pacifier, and propped himself up on his elbows, leaning on his desk to be gifted a full view.

A car came up along the road. A black BMW, running a little faster than would be considered safe under such hazardous weather. Lord Koenma knew exactly what was going to happen then, right by the next curve.

The pavement was too slippery, and the car could not be kept on the road. A little slip caused the car to skid, right on that abrupt curve. The vehicle slipped till the edge of the road, and then fell into the night down the deep precipice below.

Creaking and crashing sounds were heard, as the car rolled violently down the steep rocky hill. A potent orange explosion lit up the darkness of the night for a while, filling the moonless night with long, violent flames, and the heavy odor of burning gasoline and oil.

The Reikai Lord knew there should be no survivors.

He diligently checked the files, before placing them on the "Out" form tray. They were three persons; a small family - father, mother and a boy-child.

Koenma sighed out, relieved, when he read the name on the headline on the form. Now no Reikai officer or detective would need to worry about that 12 year old boy any longer.

That was close...
 
 

Hiei enjoyed patrolling the  frontiers. It was a moment he could keep for himself. Having lived alone for so long before, now he still needed some moments of solitude, to recharge, to think, to be at peace with himself. But the best part of it all was to be so happily welcomed as he went back home at the end of the day.

By the time he arrived home, the youko was climbing up the walls... Or better, the trees. It was interesting to see how their roles changed. Now Hiei was the one to go out to work and Kurama stayed home, horny and bored, waiting for his lover's return.

The youkai loved such an amusing change.

The Fire Demon had just started the patrol. He had already darted all around the area he had assigned to himself that day. He saw no big riots, no serious disturbances. The inhabitant youkai races at that side of the Makai were not troublemakers. There were neither frontier trespassers nor gangs causing problems. By then he was just taking a stroll, investigating a dense area at the bottom of a steep cliff.

There was a confused mass of vegetation here. Hiei walked along a natural hedge, totally relaxed. Life in the Demonic World was too peaceful now. If it were not for Kurama and that fussy bunch of kids, he would even find it boring. Hiei had just imagined how interesting it would be if something really different happened, when he saw the body lying a little way away, partially hidden by the vegetation.
 
He approached the retreat slowly, puzzled about it. The ningen was lucky he was the one to find him. There was a decree that no youkai should harm any human, but in practice, things were a bit different. The watch was to prevent dangerous youkai from invading the human world. It was very rare that a human made the way into the Demon world, either by their own will, by effect of drugs, or by an intense shock. The boundary between the worlds was thin and subtle. Some other ningen visitors just fell in through the many portals, sneaking in, unaware that they had reached a new, alien world.

Hiei observed the blond hair, the pale skin, his small size... He was not even an adult! It was a child! Hiei believed it was the first time a human child ever ventured into the Makai.

He hurried to examine the kid. He kneeled down next to him, and carefully rolled him to his side. Hiei took a long glance at his face then.

The boy was wounded. Hiei could not really tell how bad it was, but at least the kid was still alive. His clothes were torn and singed. The boy would need to be taken somewhere to be healed. Gandara had care units which served exactly like Mukuro's facilities, in which stray humans could be treated before being sent back to their world. But it was just a boy... And Hiei imagined Kurama might want to take care of that young human. The fox knew very well how to tend that kid into perfect shape again; his herbs, roots and medicine would do the job. Besides, his fox would love to shelter the boy, even for a short time. The kids also; they were always so very curious about the Ningenkai...

Smiling, Hiei bent over the boy and brought him up, making him lie across his shoulder.

"Ok, boy, whoever you are... I'm taking you to meet my loony family..."
 
 
 

The kids sat below the trees in a row. They were all eyes to the strange boy while their father Kurama took care of him.

They watched the scene, eating their breakfast quietly. The place was devoid of the giggling, the play, the high pitched voices. They were in a deep silence, focused on the little unconscious boy before their eyes.

They were all fascinated with the alien boy.

Kurama kneeled down next to the Ningen, tenderly bandaging his wounds. His skin was scorched here and there, with some deep scratches, but he had no bones broken. There were no severe cuts or bumps on his head. All in all, he seemed fine. It looked like most of his illness was due to the Makai air. Humans usually could not stand it very well.

Hiei sat among the children, in silence like them. Hyoko sat right by his side, and both the youkai and the small youko had their red eyes fixed towards Kurama and the Ningen boy.

Kinno played with his braids, fidgeting his fingers around them, nervously. He was the one who sat closer to Kurama, apparently too eager to help. He could barely remain still in place.

Eiko feigned disinterest, but even though she tried to disguise it, her green elfin eyes stared at the boy deeply, as if she were studying him in all his details.

Ikki sat by Hiei's other side, quiet and shy like always, resting his head on his adopted father's shoulder.

"He looks too much like us, Dad Hiei," Eiko announced, as she had apparently finished her observation of the boy.

Hiei turned his attention to his daughter. She was suspicious of something.

"Do you feel there's something wrong with him, Eiko?"

She took one deep respiration, and huddled. Her black hair cascaded down her face. She embraced herself tight into a small figure dressed in deep black.

"There's something weird, yes... He's trouble; that's why he's here..."

Kurama heard that; he turned his eyes towards that small elf-girl. She had never failed to be correct in any of her impressions, but...

"He's such a young boy. He can't be trouble to anyone, especially in this bad shape," Kurama decreed. "You're wrong this time, Eiko."

"Yes, Dad Kurama," she acquiesced, unwilling to discuss any of that.

Kinno crawled closer to the where the human was laid down, intrigued by his looks.

"Is he staying with us, Ji-chan?"

Before Hiei could reply, Ikki took the initiative.

"He's human. He can't stay."

"Why? Is he going to die?"

Kurama smiled softly as he heard Hyoko's doubt.

"No baby. He's gonna be alright, and then Hiei is taking him back to his world."

"Can we play with him before he goes?" The albino youko insisted.

Ikki agreed happily.

"I also want him to stay, daddy Kurama."

"We are all different but we are a family. He can be our brother too," Kinno added, with his usual bright beautiful smile. He enjoyed having brothers and a sister. He loved that big family his uncle and his daddy had put together.

The children stared at Kurama with big, expectant eyes. Then their glances shifted from the youko to Hiei.

"Ningen don't belong to our world. He has to return," Hiei declared, short and dry in his deep voice.

"I want him to stay. I want to listen to stories about the Ningenkai. Daddy Kurama never tells us anything." Kinno made an annoyed expression then. "I never saw a human, I want to talk to him when he wakes up," he announced, with a childish determination.

"He must be confused and scared, Kinno. Go easy with him," Kurama explained.

The youko caressed the long blond bangs which covered part of the human boy's face. Then he saw a very light tremor run along his body. His closed eyes fluttered, and his lips moved lightly.

The boy called for his mother...

Kurama looked at Hiei, and he could not help but feel a little concerned.

"He's awaking..."

Everyone crawled closer, with prying eyes.
 
 

He touched the place he was lying on, and to his surprise his hands clutched a bunch of grass leaves and small herbs. A purple but bright sky shone ahead. How could he be in the open like that? And why was it not cold?

It was then he saw the smiling fair haired woman.

He looked down her front while she crouched next to him, and grasped where he must be when he saw her white clothing. It must be a kind of hospital...

"Hey, nurse, where are mom and daddy?"

He moaned then, as he tried to sat up; his back hurt. But a large hand with very long nails pressed him back against the soil, very gently.

"You need to rest. Don't move."

Kurama's comment had just the opposite effect. The boy sprang up, and looked at the youko with wide, very surprised eyes.

"Hey, you're a man?" he exclaimed, shocked by the unexpected manliness of the pretense nurse's voice. Kurama's response was an indulgent little smile, which disturbed him. But what really amazed him it's when he saw the ears. There were real twitching, furry ears on the top of his head. "What's going on? What the hell are you? Or Is it Halloween?"

"I'm Youko Kurama. You're our guest till you recover."

The kid stared in deep shock at all those who surrounded him. There were more of those long-haired things with pointed ears. The adult ones seemed normal but for those cat-like ears. They looked like something out of a weird rock band like Gwar or Cinderella, for example. But... How could they possess tails? Nothing could explain that... He faced the black haired boy and girl. Both of them had elf-like long, pointed ears...  And the short one? What was that on his brow? An eye? Was he a miniature cyclops or what?

"What is this place? Are you aliens? I was abducted, right? It all looks like something out of Dungeons and Dragons, with elves and everything!"

"Please, lie back, and try not to worry..." Kurama insisted very gently, as he tried to make the boy lie down again. "This is the Makai. It's in a different dimension from your human world. You fell here by accident but soon we'll take you back home. "

The human boy heard it, but did not pay much attention to Kurama's explanation. His eyes flitted from Kinno to Hyoko, to Hiei and then staring Ikki, and then he observed the somber Eiko. He looked around at the beautiful woods under the leaden, purplish sky, and found himself much more confused.

"Where's the snow? Why is the weather so different here?"

Hyoko pulled his father's tail with insistence, till he attracted the youko's attention.

"What's snow, daddy?"

Kurama patted his head with kindeness.

"It's a different type of rain. It's rain made of ice flakes, baby."

"Don't worry. There's no snow in this part of the Makai," Hiei added.

"How did I fall here? I was inside the car! Where's my father? Where's my mother? Did you kidnap me? I want to go home!" He shoved Kurama's hand off him brusquely, and glared at the youko. "Stop that! I'm fine! Get your hands off me!"

The youko did as the boy asked him, pulling himself backwards. But he could not conceal his disappointment with that boy's attitude towards him.

"Calm down, boy." It was Hiei who interfered. kneeling down between the young ningen and the youko. "I found you in the middle of the Makai forest, hurt and unconscious. You were alone."

"Don't be afraid. We want to help. What's your name?" Kurama asked him then, trying to make his voice sound as sweet and non-menacing as he could.

Kurama managed to come near enough to stroke the boy's head. He was eager  to hear that boy's story. He was just as intrigued as Hiei. Something really weird must have happened in order for the kid to be spat out of the Ningenkai into the Makai.

"I'm Michael Takeshi." The kid breathed deeply then, and stared very proudly at the other kids. "My dad's very rich, he will pay you a lot to have me back. Now, take me home!" He ordered then.

"We will take you back. But only after you're feeling better," Kurama announced. "It is a long trip back; you need to be stronger to cover the distance."

The boy turned his eyes down. He embraced himself tightly, easing down a little bit.

"I was with my mom and dad in the car. We were returning to Tokyo after the weekend. It was dark and snow was starting to fall... " Takeshi raised his eyes then to the youko. His blue eyes were gleaming with tears. A pale sorrowfulness struck his semblance then. "Where are my parents? I don't remember anything..."

Hiei and Kurama exchanged a short but very significant glance. Both demons realized then the kid's parents must have shared a sad ending...

"Is there anyone else we can call, son? Do you have an aunt, a grandmother, anyone else in the family?"

Takeshi shook his head in a slow negative.

"No. Here in Japan just Mom and Dad. I must have some relatives in the States, but I know nothing about them." The boy stared at the youko then, very suspicious about the way that talk was leading. "Why? Did anything happen with my parents?"

Kurama did not know what to say. He aimed a worried stare at his partner, in  a mute request for intervention.

"We don't know, kid. But we're going to investigate."

"Meanwhile, you're safe and sound with us," Kurama continued.

Hiei slowly caressed the curve of his partner's shoulder, calling him with a tilt of his head.

"Youko. We need to talk," The Fire Demon proposed.

Kurama acquiesced silently. He stood up then, very aware of Takeshi's shocked eyes as he followed his movement. The boy was very confused; he could not unlock his eyes from the sight of his silvery tail.

Kurama smiled to himself. He could not blame the poor boy.

His own children remained calm. Hyoko was a bit excited with the idea of getting a new brother, but apart from that, they were very tolerant towards Takeshi. Even Kinno kept himself shut up, though it was very visible he was itching to massacre the human boy with all kinds of questions about the human world.

"These are our children. They're gonna take care of you till Hiei and I come back." Kurama announced then.

The silver youko walked around the kids then, patting their heads one by one, while presenting them to the astonished human boy. "Kinno is the oldest. And don't let him convince you to visit Gandara. He's grounded back here for the whole week." Kinno tried to protest, but one annoyed stare from his father kept him quiet.

The youko continued, calmly. He bent over to caress Eiko's shiny straight black hair.

"This is Eiko. I guess she's the most responsible of us all. She's grumpy but she's a very good girl." Eiko made a face at her father's comment, shrugging at it.

The black haired boy with one long white lock covering one eye waved at Takeshi, as Kurama approached his side.

"This is Ikki. He's a very nice boy. I'm sure you're gonna get along pretty well." The youko smiled then, and reached out to bring the youngest one up to his lap. He lifted the baby and kissed his cheeks, with two noisy smacks. Then he put him back on the ground, very slowly. "And this small fluffy thing is Hyoko. Our youngest child."

The fox took one long glance at all of them, with a smiling affection. "He's only human, kids. Be good to him."

Kurama reached Hiei who had been silently and tenderly observing his lover. Then they left the kids on their own, walking slowly down the hill.

Takeshi looked around at each of the weird kids. The baby he had learned to be called Hyoko, smiled happily at him. Takeshi turned his face to the other side, aggressively. He was already getting fed up with that place...

As he looked down the hill, he beheld the affectionate way the tall guy's arm circled the short one's shoulder. He arched one suspicious eyebrow. He thought to himself that indeed there was something weird going on - Or better: something queer...

However, Takeshi kept his mouth shut about his impressions... He turned back to stare at the kids. It would be hard to get used to their odd looks.

Kinno gently pushed his brothers aside to sit on his heels right before Takeshi. He blinked his golden eyes and waved his tail behind him elegantly. Then he asked the human boy, with a curious, tender smile:

"Takeshi, can you tell us about the Shopping Centers?"
 

They walked far enough away not to have to listen to the kids' usual loud fuss, but close enough to observe them. Kurama caressed Hiei's shoulder with a warm affection as they walked slow, matched steps.

The couple stopped under the cherry tree cabin which was their love's den. Kurama took one look up the hill, to check on the children. Takeshi was in the middle of the circle the kids had formed around him, apparently answering their many questions.

"Do you think he'll be fine there with our children, baby?"

"Don't worry."

"He seemed to be so nervous... But I would be the same in his place. I guess Makai air doesn't affect that kid -Apart from some bruises and scratches he's in such good shape!"

Hiei shrugged.

"Maybe he's a little stronger than average."

"Are you sure there was no one else around where you found him?"

"No one."

Kurama kissed Hiei's head then. His arms clinched around his lover's chest, and his fingers played with one of his nipples over his black trunk top.

"He's too nervous. We can't keep him here much longer. I suspect that's gonna be very sad to the boy, but there's nothing we can do..."

"What?"

"He must have suffered an accident. Didn't he mention a car?"

Hiei nodded very slowly. He kissed the palm of the youko's hand which cupped his face.

"Don't you think something happened to his parents?" Kurama continued, mindful.

Hiei turned over his shoulder to give his fox a very serious sidelong glance. He could recognize that craving the youko developed to keep every stray child he found with them... Yeah, he was following his youko child-stealing impulses, but there should be a limit!

"Youko, there's no way we can keep a human child here."

Kurama nodded. But inside he felt impatient and annoyed with Hiei's reaction to his yet unsaid  proposal.

"He's cute," The silver youko insisted, trying to touch his partner's sympathy towards the case.

"Hn..."

"He was in shock, Hiei... Poor kid... We must keep him longer to be sure he's O.K."

Hiei cut the youko bluntly.

"Do you think he can make it to the other side now?" The youkai asked.

"I'm not sure he can, but..."

Hiei stared at his lover, with a peremptory expression. That youko was trying to dodge the question and offer vague responses. He knew Kurama; he knew enough of his tricks to tell. He was already itching to steal that boy from the Ningenkai.

"I'm gonna go there now and wipe that boy's memory clean before you start growing these ideas about keeping him here! I don't want trouble with those stupid Reikai assholes!" Hiei stretched up to peek at the reunion taking place atop the elevation. Their children surrounded the human boy very interestedly, completely at ease with his presence. It was easy to see how very happy they were with Takeshi's arrival. But he needed to put an end to it.

"It's better to take him back now before our kids become fond of him."

Kurama tried to detain the little demon, but Hiei was too fast to be caught. The youko called his partner with a loud cry, but Hiei did not even look back at him.

"K'so! Do you need to be that radical, Hiei?" He exclaimed to himself, peeved with his lover's attitude. But Hiei could not hear his complaints. The nimble youkai was already up the slope, among the kids.

Kurama ran to reach his mate.

When the youko reached his family, Hiei was already kneeling down on the ground to stare at the kid with his Demonic eye. He had already shooed the kids a bit away. Hyoko for being too young, or Kinno for his natural short-mindedness could be affected; both should remain away from the Jagan's power.

Kinno aimed a hopeless plea at Kurama as he reached the group. The golden youko knew quite well what his Ji-chan was to do with the human boy.

"Daddy! Let him stay a little more! He was starting to tell us about the human cities!"

Hyoko stood up, hurrying to clinch around Kurama's knee. The youko bent over to pick up the albino baby in his arms. He nested him cosily against his chest, and Hyoko stared deeply at him.

"I want a human brother, daddy!"

Kurama shushed Hyoko delicately, making him rest his head on the curve of his neck. Then he felt one small arm closing around his waist.

"Dad, he could stay over the night..." Ikki proposed, sad with the departure of the human boy.

Eiko just shook her head, with a helpless expression.

"Isn't he too weak to make the passage?" She asked, her green cat-like eyes darting from her father youko, to her father Hiei.

Hiei faced the human boy, gravely. The kid was still puzzled with all the fuss going on around him. It was then the Fire youkai gazed at each of them with determination.

"The sooner the better," he announced, in a dry, peremptory voice.

"No, Ji-chan Hiei! Please!" Kinno begged. The other kids also protested, making Takeshi give a startled look at all of them. Then he faced Hiei with somber eyes and a growing suspicion.

"Hey, what are you gonna to do?"

Hiei tried to calm the kid. He offered him a slight smile.

"It's nothing Takeshi. Soon you'll be home." Hiei focused his Jagan's energy then, aiming at the blond ningen with his purple demonic eye. "Look at me, boy..."
 
Kurama held Hyoko against him tighter, protecting him. Kinno sheltered himself squatting behind Eiko and Ikki. His elfin sister smiled softly, nudging Ikki. They were the only ones strong enough to resist the energy which involved their adopted father. A blackish haze of you-ki surrounded Hiei while he channeled his Jagan's power to alter the human boy's memories.

"You won't remember this place. I want you to forget all that you saw here today, and all the people that you..."

"Hey, guy, cut that!"

Hiei blinked his red eyes. He was so shocked the pulled himself back, disconnecting the link between his Jagan and the boy.

"Nani?"

Kurama stared at that scene in a shocked disbelief. Hyoko squirmed in his arms, kicking for more space. But the silver youko did not relent. Hiei's business with that human kid was far from over.

"What happened, dad Hiei?" Ikki asked.

Kinno looked over Eiko's shoulder, wide-eyed. His Ji-chan's power had failed? How come?

"I don't like anyone staring at me! You said you were taking me home! I want to leave now! I'm tired of all this stupid wilderness!" Takeshi stood up then. He must have been feeling a bit dizzy, because he staggered in the beginning. But soon he stood very erect facing the demonic family with decisive looks.

Hiei exchanged a brief glance with his youko. Neither one could grasp what had happened.

"Are you alright, Takeshi? Aren't you feeling dizzy, or sick?" Hiei asked him, eager to be given any sign his power was not totally useless.

"No! I'm just fed up of you! I wanna go home now!" he shouted, glaring at them all.

Kinno smiled at the boy, murmuring him to be calm. Takeshi reacted hastily.

"Shut up you overgrown Barbie! If you don't take me home now, I'm gonna find the way on my own!"

Kinno's smile vanished. He hid himself behind Eiko again, with his ears low, and a dejected look in his eyes.

"Don't call my brother names, you brat! I'm gonna turn you into a snail if you do it again!" Eiko reacted, already reaching for her Spell book in her pockets...

Hyoko pulled a lock of Kurama's hair, calling his attention.

"What's Barbie, daddy?" he asked, with a sweet voice.

Kurama did not have the chance to answer. He just nestled Hyoko against his chest, keeping him tight. He had seen Hiei re-approach the blond kid. The youkai had placed a hand on his shoulder, keeping him in place.

Kurama noticed Hiei had increased the energy level he was using. He hurried forward, to place himself between Hiei and Eiko and Ikki. The kids might not take that higher level.

"Go easy, Hiei! He's just human!" Kurama warned his partner, at the same time summoning his you-ki around his children, to help protecting them.

"Look at me, boy!" Hiei demanded, drawing Takeshi's attention. The human lad was once more the target of the Jagan's energy.

This time Hiei tried it with more intensity. He concentrated deeper. His voice was gravely commanding. While the youkai stared at the boy with his normal red eyes he also focused the Jagan directly, aiming at Takeshi's mind, trying to bend his frail human will.

"You will forget everything and everyone you saw here. You will have no memory of..."

"Fuck it man! Are you nuts?"

The boy dodged Hiei. He spat out a very loud curse as he started to walk down the hill.

"I don't need ya, pricks! I'm gonna find my own way home!" he claimed, waving them a careless goodbye.

In a chain reaction, the children looked at Hiei, astonished with their Jaganshi dad's flop. Hiei faced the youko, more shocked than anyone, open-mouthed with amazement, as he tried to comprehend what must have happened with his powers.

Kurama shook his head, giving his partner a compassionate smile.

"Inari... That boy's immune to the Jagan!"

Hyoko twisted in his arms, and Kurama finally allowed the baby to leave his embrace.

Being back to the ground, Hyoko ran after Takeshi. Ikki followed; then Eiko went after her brothers. Kinno gazed at the concerned looks on Hiei and Kurama's faces, and decided he'd better leave them alone. With a smile, Kinno ran animatedly after the others. They were already a bit far from there, and Takeshi led the troop, with a sullen mood, but very authoritative manners. The human boy pointed the way while he quarreled with Eiko making large gestures in the air.

Kurama took one long glance towards Takeshi as he pulled himself away. That boy was a real pest - spoiled, big-headed, showing off, bossy...

Yet, he was yet adorable in his very special way...

Kurama smiled to Hiei. Then he gave the youkai a sign, tilting his head, calling to cuddle together.

Hiei walked slowly towards his youko. His pale face showed a distressed confusion. After all, Takeshi was nothing but a boy; a human boy...

"You'll have to use your plants to erase the kid's memory," Hiei proposed, with an urgent need to solve that uncommon situation. "He must have a very strong spirit in order to resist my Jagan..."

"Like Yusuke or Kuwabara..." Kurama added, with a foxy look, as his ears twitched nervously atop his head.

"Or Sensui..." Hiei added, suspiciously.

Kurama frowned at that name. There seemed to be too much behind Takeshi's story he would never imagine... Perhaps that kid fell into the makai by other reasons rather than mere chance... Could he be running away from persecutors?

"I won't use any of my plants. That boy left me curious... I want to find out what's the truth behind him..."

Hiei looked up at the youko, in awe. It was clear Kurama itched for adventure... Moreover, the youkai knew it was just impossible to convince that gorgeous but stubborn fox to forget that keen interest burning inside him...

Well, but Hiei had to confess he was curious too. He had never found any ordinary human able to resist his Jagan. That boy had prevailed over his demonic eye's strength with such an astounding ease...

"I want to know what's wrong with him, Hiei..." Kurama continued, eyeing his short partner with a very determined expression.

Hiei acquiesced, softly.

"Hn. I see..." He murmured after giving out a deep, low sigh. "What do you intend to do?"

Kurama embraced Hiei, pressing him tenderly against his body. He shuffled his fingers through the fire demon's spiky hair, and then bent over to kiss his brow. Hiei closed the Jagan, and Kurama's lips fell softly in a wet caress over it.

"We can't find out much on this side of the border... What do you say?"

"Well..."

"Round Trip to the Ningenkai on the redeye express. Possible stop at the Reikai."

"You better make it two tickets. I won't let you go alone, fox."

Kurama agreed, hugging his lover tighter, happy with his consent.

"Kinno can look after the little ones. It won't take us long anyway."

Hiei acceded in silence. He brought his hands up, caressing the youko's slender waist, bringing the touch down the warm contour of his hips. He smiled against Kurama's body, and patted his buttock in a naughty play.

Kurama snickered while he rubbed his partner's back with a vigorous stroking hand.

"Let's pack up and tell the kids about it, sweetie..."
 
 

As they stepped into the city's limits, they always walked in the shadows, by the corners, through alleyways and less traversed streets. The demons did all and more yet, not to be spotted.

Hiei had no difficulty blending in. Nevertheless Kurama had a long tail and two pointed ears that made a huge difference, so they needed to act in stealth and with lots of care.

They passed unheeded, like two shadows. Hiei held very tenderly Kurama's hand. He could feel the silent emotion growing inside his big youko. He held his larger hand very tightly. Then he guided him, whenever he noticed the fox hesitate to continue. Kurama could not help stopping here or there to enjoy the view and the lights of the city. He could not let go of the memories of world he had lived so long in; his remembrances were slowing him down.

The city was beautifully lit in some places, decorated for what Hiei had learned to be Christmas and New Year celebrations. Lanterns, blinking lights and tinsel hung from trees, balconies and windows. Hiei observed it all with a youkai's indifference, but he could feel how much touched Kurama was.

His youko still missed that human reality.

The Fire Demon could not reproach his partner for such feelings. He could understand perfectly the mute pain which filled the human heart inside his breathtaking youko. That's why Hiei would not stop caressing Kurama's hand, assuring him of his presence and his affection, as they walked through the city.

After a long walk, the neighborhood became unsettlingly familiar to both demons.  Kurama stopped, and this time Hiei did not insist. The demons contemplated the cold winter scenery of bare trees, dark cloudy skies and chilly winds howling around the houses and buildings in silence. Then they looked at each other with a loving intensity.

Kurama placed his hand over Hiei's shoulder, sliding his fingers down his back in a long stroke. They were heading to Yusuke's house. Their spiritual detective friend could help in either finding the truth about Takeshi or contacting the Reikai. Nevertheless, there was a first thing Kurama craved to do...

"Can I see my mother, Hiei? From afar? I just want to peek at her and see if she is fine..."

Hiei looked at the silvery tall silhouette and acquiesced tenderly. He guided the youko then, knowing very well which was the best point of observation . Years of practice, he could say...

They merged into the shadows, invading the back yards, climbing walls and trees to reach the back of the Hatanaka residence. Kurama had to be careful; his tall figure was not as easily concealed as Hiei's small, nimble presence. The trees' crowns were bare and slippery under the cold drizzle that had started to fall; they did not make good camouflage. But at least it was dark enough for them not to be too apparent.

Both demons climbed the large Maple tree next to the house. As they kept their balance on a bough, Kurama could not avoid peeking at the window on the second floor; his former bedroom.

He'd had so many good moments there...  But then it was in another time; in another life...

"Hiei... Be near me..." the youko asked his partner, placing one hand around his shoulder, and slowly pulling him towards his embrace. "I want to feel your warmth, my sweetie."

Hiei circled the youko's waist with a tight hug, calling forth a bit of his fiery you-ki to soothe his partner. Kurama must really be feeling cold, wearing only that white, gauze under that cold weather. Not to mention the chill in his heart as he watched the scene which filtered through the windowpane.

The dinner table was right before the window, offering the two demons a privileged view of the family. They held tight one to the other, both looking at that rectangle of light sided by curtains, which framed the reality Kurama had left behind.

Hiei could feel his lover's pain inside him also. The sorrow grew so much in his youko's heart that as he cuddled to the silvery demon, he could feel it throbbing, growing, hurting...

Together, the lovers gazed at the scene inside, as the small human family talked over dinner, and the woman served her husband and son the meal. Her movements were slow and calm. Her smile carried all the sweetness there was, and her eyes showed a bright contentment.

Kurama just looked down. His fingers clasped around Hiei's shoulder so tight that it hurt the little demon. But Hiei said nothing. What was that little sting compared to the despairing pain Kurama was experiencing inside?

The beautiful youko was downcast and hurt. However he managed to attempt a little smile as he watched the familiar scene.

"My mother seems very happy..."

Hiei nuzzled Kurama's belly, assuring him of his presence. The youko did not make any comment on his stepfather or his stepbrother. It seemed his missing feelings were intended solely for Shiori.

"I'd like to tell her I'm happy too. I wanted to tell her about our children but..." Kurama added, with a very faint voice. He could barely whisper. The urge to cry seemed to suffocate him. "I don't think she would understand..."

Hiei stroked his lover, trying to comfort him a little. He knew It was very sad that Kurama had to resign himself to spy on his family like a pariah. Hiei was used to the feeling; he could take it, but not Kurama. That exile was too hard for his loved youko.

"Kurama. Go to her," Hiei proposed, with a low whisper. "Shift aspects and go talk to her."

Kurama shook his head in a slow, calm gesture. He could do it, but somehow, it was not fair to Hiei. He stroked Hiei's head, bringing his hand down to place a sliding caress along his neck and shoulders.

"I live a different life now. I don't wanna shift back; not even for an instant. It would be like betraying all that I had promised you. "

Hiei insisted. He saw a teary glow on his youko's eyes. The tall, beautiful demon tried to hide it, covering his eyes with his hand and wiping the cry away. That situation hurt him too much... It hurt them both...

"I don't wanna see you in pain."

"I can stand the pain if you stay with me, love..."

Hiei could not avoid a brilliant, pleased smile, which he concealed by pressing his face against his youko's body.

"I'm always with you, Kurama..." The youkai added then. The emotion made his deep voice tremble. "I love you..."

Kurama stopped observing the window. He stared at Hiei with the most beautiful of his smiles.

"Baby... I love you too..."

The youko inclined over Hiei, bringing him close for a kiss. A long, wet kiss, with all the tender hunger that their deep love impressed on both demons.

As they parted the kiss, Kurama looked for one last time to the light coming from inside the house. Then he smiled at Hiei.

"Let's leave baby. We have our own family waiting for us; we can't stay long in this world."

"Good." Hiei agreed, content to see the youko had apparently overcome his  sorrowfulness.

The demons jumped off the tree into the street. It was a short way on now...
 
 

Takeshi had walked a lot up and down that area. He had found nothing but woods, trees, and open plains. By the end of the afternoon he was fed up with all that wilderness. The worst was that he had found no path, no road, no indication whatsoever of his way home.

Desolate, Takeshi just let the kids guide him back to the flowering field where they sat around a low stone table below a tall cluster of cherry trees grown together in a row.

The tall blond one with twitching fox ears had made a fire. He was chopping and peeling some vegetables with a small knife, probably preparing some kind of dinner.

"I want to eat at Mac Donalds," Takeshi declared. All the time he had kept his mouth shut, refusing to interact more than absolutely necessary with those strange creatures. "I don't like vegetables."

The blonde male bimbo smiled back at him, with an airheaded expression. Takeshi was in shock with his affected manners; Gods, that guy was really a sissy...

"You're just like my fiancee! He used to hate vegetables too, but now he eats everything I feed him with..."  Kinno murmured, in a mischievous tone.

Ikki sighed out, looking at his sister. He stretched out in the grass, watching the darkening sky.

"There it goes again; Shura, Shura Shura, that's all we hear from Kinno...."

"Ah, but he's lovely, Ikki-chan! I love him so much... I think on him all the time..."

Hyoko chuckled, crawling to steal a carrot from Kinno's pile of raw ingredients. He started to nibble it then, like a fluffy white bunny.

"Shura-san is a pain!" The little one complained, chewing loudly..

Takeshi called the kids' attention with a shocked gesture.

"Hey, do you mean he's engaged to another guy? That's weird, man!"

Kinno stared at Takeshi very directly. He offered him a soft indulgent smile.

"Why is it weird? We love each other..."

"But you're two guys..."

"Huh? And what's the problem?"

Takeshi shook his head and turned to the other side, in a dejected manner. He gave up. That world was too odd for him to try to understand it. He hoped to be able to go back home soon.

"Damn... I don't give a shit if  I'm in Queer-polis of Fag-Land! You and your fiancee and those two weird guys you call parents can fuck each other's asses to death! I just wanna go home!"

Kinno furrowed his brow at Takeshi's words, he did not enjoy his manners. Not even Hiei Ji-chan had such a dirty mouth.

"Please, watch your language. Mind the little ones... "he asked, pointing to Ikki,  Hyoko and Eiko.

Takeshi snorted. Then he just huddled to himself, hugging his own knees and  hiding his face in between his arms. He shut his eyes and a sudden shiver cut through him, making his heart ache. What if he were locked in that Hell, and he could never see his father and mother again?

"You don't like our home?"

Takeshi didn't reply. Ikki needed to repeat his question for the human boy to care about it.

"I live in Tokyo. I want to go back." It was Takeshi's plain, dry answer.

"Don't you wanna stay here with us? We play a lot here!" Hyoko insisted, with a large smile.

"No. I don't want play with you in these stupid woods! I want my computer and my Mom and Dad..."

"What's a computer?" Hyoko asked. But Takeshi did not care to answer him, and his youkai brothers just could not help. The little albino youko cast his eyes down then, sad that his new human brother did not like them at all.

"You're too mean to us. We just want to be your friends," Eiko interfered, staring deeply at Takeshi.

"Daddy Kurama and daddy Hiei are excellent parents. You're gonna love them too, just like us."

Takeshi lifted his eyes to look back at each of them, observing them carefully.

"Were you kidnapped by those two perverts like me?" he asked, totally sure by then the four brats were not siblings. In fact they did not even seem to be related in any manner. "They are not your real parents, are they?"

Kinno interfered.

"Mom died when I was very small, but Daddy Kurama is my real father. And Hiei Ji-chan is so nice, that he's like an actual loving uncle to me."

Takeshi gazed at the other three, really interested on what they might tell him.

"I don't remember my mom or dad. But I love daddy Kurama and daddy Hiei. They are very funny!" Hyoko burst out, lively.

Eiko's voice was very low. It was as if  recalling the past brought her pain.

"My parents died during a war on the frontiers. My older brothers tried to sell me. Hiei tou-san rescued me, and brought me in. We adopted each other as father and daughter. I am very thankful to him." She fidgeted in place then, apparently uncomfortable about touching the matter. "Kurama is a bit crazy, but he's a wonderful father as well."

Ikki shifted closer to Eiko. He stroked his sister's shoulder lightly, assuring her.

"I have a family but I don't know where they are. I was left behind by accident, and now I can't find anyone." He smiled then. "But I have a new family and new siblings here. And I love all of them."

All the others smiled back at Ikki, agreeing with him. Takeshi mumbled something.

"Very touching, but I am neither abandoned nor orphaned. All I want is to go home!"

"Daddy Kurama and Ji-chan Hiei left to try to find news about your parents. Try to be calm and wait, ok?" Kinno suggested, turning his attention to his cooking. He dropped handfuls of vegetables into his cooking pot hanging over the fire, and started stirring the thing with one wooden spoon, singing a song about a Summer of Love...

"What are your powers?" Hyoko asked Takeshi, blinking curious glinting red eyes.

"Powers? What do you mean?"

Ikki joined the talk.

"What does your you-ki do?"

Eiko cut her brother, nudging his side to get his attention.

"Hey, only youkai have got you-ki! He's a human! He's useless!"

Takeshi looked up at her with anger.

"Whoa! I'm not useless!" His loud voice seemed to impress them. All stopped to stare back at him, expectantly." There are lots of things I do! I can rollerskate! I bet you don't!"

Hyoko looked helplessly at his older brother Kinno. He was going crazy with all those weird things Takeshi talked about.

"O-ni-chan? What's rollerskate?"

Kinno shook his head in a slow negative. Maybe Shura could answer that if he were there. His sugar knew so much about all things...

"Rollers' kit? I don't now, baby... It sounds like some kind of hair fashion..."

Takeshi opened his eyes very wide, indignant at Kinno's comment.

"What are you? Some kind of idiot?" It's rollerskate, not rollers' kit! You moron!"

Kinno didn't seem to care. He just smiled, finding Takeshi's sudden anger very funny. That boy seemed to get easily irritated with things...

"You'll have the chance to tell us all there is about the Ningenkai, Takeshi. We're eager to listen to you!"' The blond youko continued, winking one eye to the human boy.

"Hey, I pass the chance! You can't keep me here forever! I'm gonna run away as soon as the morning breaks! You will never see me again!"

Kinno's smile vanished then. He offered Takeshi a deep, stern stare, which made him look too much like Kurama.

'The Makai is dangerous, Takeshi. Please, don't do that..."

"Why is it dangerous? It's just stupid woodlands!"

"There are many big bad demons around..."

"Yeah, the boogie-youkai!" Hyoko shouted out.

"And child-eating demons!" Kinno added.

"And perverts..." Ikki continued.

"Child-molesters..." Eiko contributed, giving Takeshi a somber sideways glance.

"One-eyed witches!

Ikki interrupted Hyoko when he heard it.

"No, baby brother! Dad Hiei already finished the one-eyed witch!"

"But there's evil seven horned youkai!" The albino baby continued, trying to scare his new human brother.

"Hey, sweetie! This is my future father in law! Yomi Ji-chan is not evil!" Kinno protested, with a smile.

Hyoko giggled, amused with Kinno's quick protest. He had said it on purpose

Takeshi snorted, crossing his arms at his chest. He kept his chin up and gave them a contemptuous smile.

"Hn... I ain't afraid! I can take care of myself!"

"If you don't have powers, you're too weak to walk around on your own," Eiko explained, calmly. "This is Demon Land. It is very dangerous for a human child like you."

Takeshi would continue his protest, if Hyoko had not interrupted him, poking at his side with a childish insistence.

"Hey Takeshi, Is this your real form?"

Takeshi eyed him, surprised with the absurd question.

"Of course it is! What do you think?"

The young youko smiled at Takeshi mischievously. Instead of answering him with words, he just quickly shifted his aspect. His energy rose in a small cloud of pinkish you-ki, and his small, whitish fox form showed, with blinking red eyes, and a wet, twitching small snout.

The whelp fox wriggle his long fluffy tail behind him in a quick, friendly manner. He tried to step closer to Takeshi, but the human boy jumped back, pale as dead.

"Shit! What kind of fucking trick is this? The baby turns into a white dog?" he shouted, pointing at Hyoko and loudly demanding an explanation.

Kinno put his hands on his hips, shocked with such outrage.

"Dog? You think we're Dogs?" he squawked, deeply disgusted. "We're no dogs, human brother! We're foxes!" Saying that, Kinno pulled himself away from the fire. Then with a superior half-smile, he turned around exhibiting himself. He swung one of his beaded locks of hair in the air and changed into his beautiful, brilliant fox form.

The soft-furred golden fox moved next to his albino brother. Both foxes looked up at Takeshi, with uncommonly bright golden eyes.

Hyoko twitched his snout and showed his small teeth, as if in a foxy type of smile.

"Damn!" Takeshi burst out. His wide astounded eyes accompanied the way that golden animal started to circle him, elegantly walking around him, waggling his tail slowly and insinuatingly.

He noticed something nudging his back, and turned over his shoulder.

It was the smaller fox, poking at him, as a puppy who wanted to play...

Eiko and Ikki hid their smiles with their hands over their lips, very politely. They were both amused with Takeshi's surprise over what was so natural for them.

"Don't be afraid... They won't harm you," Eiko explained, delicately, extending one arm to fondle her baby youko brother.

"You should see our dad Kurama. He's a fox too, but he's got six tails! It makes him very powerful!"

"Our brothers have got only one tail because Hyoko is too young, and Kinno's still too weak." Eiko continued, adding to Ikki's explanation.

Kinno turned back into his youko form when he heard that. He quickly moulded his animal form into the youko. And he could not help a comment.

"But Shura says I'm much more beautiful than daddy..." The golden youko added, proud of himself.

Eiko and Ikki showed a scowl. Eiko snorted, like a perfect female personification of Hiei.

"Shura's blind just like his father!" The elf girl retorted.

"No! My honey's not blind at all!" Kinno protested, thumping his foot hard against the soil.

Meanwhile Hyoko rubbed his back on Takeshi's hand, bending down to nibble his hand in a foxy play. The boy shooed him away categorically.

The albino fox stepped away from the Ningen, lying down a little way off. The whelp curled his tail around him and gave the human boy a long, sad gaze, sniffing the grassy soil. He was almost giving up making friends with Takeshi...

Ikki crawled towards his small youko brother, and patted his head, letting him rest his head on his thigh.

"Hyoko's sad because you don't like us."

Takeshi gave the black haired boy a squint, annoyed look.

"And I am sad and angry because I am away from home! Do you get it?"

Ikki nodded, playing with the albino fox's ears. That human boy was very mean.

"Do you transform yourself into something weird too?" Takeshi examined her somber looks, her black clothes, her stern manners... That black haired girl must be dark, gothic, or whatever. In fact, she seemed a twin sister to Wednesday Adams, except for the pointed ears. "Do you shift aspects into a bat? A black cat? A raven?"

She gave him an anthipathetic sidelongs glance.

"No. But I can turn you into an earthworm, so you better behave..."

Ikki laughed aloud.

"Eiko's studying magic'! Don't mess with her, human brother!"

Takeshi twisted his nose; he did not appreciate at all those odd kids calling him their brother.

"And you?" Takeshi asked then, pointing at Ikki. "You look a lot like that short spiky-haired guy that hangs around with the tall one. Are you sure you're not his real son?"

Ikki shook his head, giving the human boy a shy, and yet sly smile.

"You've even got a white lock of hair like him." Takeshi insisted.

"This is not my real aspect. I'm not like this..."

"Huh? Now you're gonna make me believe you're some kind of  10 foot tall, horned greenish monster with fangs..."

They all laughed together, very entertained with Takeshi's comment. The human boy became infuriated at them. He punched the ground hard, and shouted at them, complaining furiously.

He hated when other kids mocked him like that!

"Say it! Say what you're laughing at, or I'm gonna smash your noses! Idiots!"

Kinno tried to calm the boy down. He came to him with a soft smile and appeasing gestures while at the same time asked the others to be quiet.

"You're so smart, Takeshi! You almost got it right!" Kinno exclaimed, placing his slender, light fingers before his mouth to cover his coquettish smile.

The human kid looked around, puzzled.

"It's just that I'm not greenish..." Ikki revealed, with an impish sidelong glance.

Takeshi shook his head and huddled to himself again, refusing to talk to that bunch of demented kids any more. He wanted to go home. He was not orphan... He was not a freak like those ones... He just wanted his mom and  his dad...
 
 

TO BE CONTINUED