He hurried on his way, slinking in and out of shadows, careful to remain unseen -- though he was not sure the Humans would notice him, were he careless. They were self-absorbed, turned in on themselves. So were most youkai, he reminded himself; but at least youkai were aware of their surroundings, well aware of the goings-on in their respective territories.

He found the place he was looking for, slithered up the side of the building, peered through the window. There it was, lying on the bed, unconscious -- Kurama's Human body.

Interesting.

Kurama had quite the reputation in the Makai. Yomi had asked him to become his heir, and Kurama had declined, citing as a reason his desire to remain with his Human family. The youkai wondered if the legends about Kurama's power and skills in thievery were justified; if he had refused to become Yomi's heir, he could have had one of two reasons. The first could have been that he simply knew he wasn't powerful enough to rule in Yomi's place. The second could have been that he felt the position beneath his notice, due to his overwhelming power. The youkai discarded that theory, however; who _wouldn't_ want to rule, because of incredible power? Of course, there was a third option -- that Kurama's excuse was a legitimate one, that he honestly wanted to remain among the Humans and live out his life in the Ningenkai.

The youkai shuddered, and slipped through the window. Careful, he moved to the bed, looked down at the Human body. It was definitely pretty, he mused; but apparently stronger than it appeared. He could sense no you-ki, and tensed; could it be a trap? Could Kurama be hiding somewhere in the room, lying in wait for an unsuspecting intruder? He had heard of the ways Kurama tended to kill his enemies -- very painful, and not necessarily quick.

He darted into a corner, looked frantically around the room, realised he was being foolish. If Kurama had been there, he would have made himself known immediately.

The youkai cast the Human one last glance, and left the room.

He could hear clicking and splashing downstairs. That was where he needed to be, he supposed. He melted down the staircase, rolled around a corner, slipped from one room into another, locating the source of the splashing.

He finally found it; a Human woman appeared to be washing something. He watched her a moment, curious; this was no doubt the one who had compelled Kurama to remain in the Ningenkai.

She was not young, he mused. But then, Humans didn't last very long in the overall span of existence, and they aged much faster than youkai, relatively. Her mouth and eyes were tight, her gaze unfocused on her task. Was she thinking about Kurama? Was she concerned for his life, inside the Human body lying so still upstairs?

The youkai moved closer, careful. She had no you-ki, either; she was not a youkai in disguise, which might have explained Kurama's tie to her. In fact, she seemed rather banal, exactly as the other Humans he'd seen on his way here. Disappointed, he sighed, and finally allowed himself to materialise in his natural form.

The woman tensed a little, paused her work, as though sensing him. Interesting; he couldn't be sure if she had felt his you-ki or merely heard him breathing.

She turned her head, slowly, and her eyes widened on seeing him.

He smiled, raised a hand in greeting.

She fainted.

Disconcerted, he was at a loss for what to do; he had been instructed to deliver the message personally. Finally, he grabbed her wrist and dragged her out of the room and into another room, where he had seen something soft on which to stretch her out. He lay her on it and waited for her to wake up.

She came to in only a minute or so and shrieked to see him watching her; she sat up and tucked her knees against her chest, terrified.

"I did not hurt you," he complained. "And I have no intention of doing so. So please calm down." She put trembling hands over her mouth, and tears welled in her eyes.

"W-what do you want?" she whispered.

"I have brought a message," he told her, relieved that she didn't seem to want to faint again. "It comes from Reikaze-sama, with whom I believe Kurama is acquainted. It is meant for Hiei, with whom I believe Kurama is also acquainted. If you would be so gracious as to give it to him the next time you see him," he said with another smile, "Reikaze-sama would be most pleased. Shall I tell her you will confer the message accordingly?" The Human woman swallowed.

"W-what is the message?" she asked.

"It is none of my concern," he assured her, and held out a small white sphere. "It is for Hiei's eyes and were I to learn its contents I am sure Reikaze-sama would have me executed."

"Another one of these," she noted. He handed it to her, gingerly, eyeing her trembling hands.

"Please take care that it is not broken before Hiei receives it," he adjured her. "If the message is lost, Reikaze-sama will be most displeased, and I have no desire to die so young." He smiled again, noted her wince. "Sayonara, Minamino-san." He vanished again, and headed outside, back toward the Makai.

This had definitely been a learning experience.

"Where do you want to go?" he whispered against her skin, drawing a blanket over them both.

"Doesn't matter," she mumbled. "'M just as happy to stay here."

"I want to take you somewhere you want to go," he said, mouthing her ear. She shivered again. He slid his arms around her slim waist, pressed his hands against her bottom. She stretched against him, still sleepy.

The telephone rang, startling them both. Yuusuke clenched his teeth, decided to ignore it, continued teasing Keiko. She lifted her head after a moment. "Shouldn't you get it?" she wondered.

"I'm paying attention to you," he told her. "This is our vacation. Whoever it is can call back." A smile brightened her eyes and Yuusuke congratulated himself silently.

He was learning the wicked ways of women, and how to please at least this one.

The phone rang a few more times, and then stopped.

Juei watched as their father slid slowly, in his sleep, to lie across Hiei's lap. Her brother cast her a pained look. Juei crawled across the cave floor, reached up and petted their father's hair. He moaned softly, rubbed his cheek along the fabric of Hiei's trousers -- his own spare pair.

"Otousama," Juei whispered. "Otousama." The red eyes opened slightly. "You're -- on Hiei." He reached up with one arm and wrapped it around her before Juei could move, and pulled her to lie next to him, holding her tightly to him, so she was lying on her brother's lap as well. With a wince, she rolled her eyes up.

Hiei had grown quite pale and had begun to sweat.

Juei apologised, and tried to assure her twin that their father did not sleep for long; if he could hold out just a little, he would be fine. He informed her he didn't think he could hold out at all. Juei sighed, and closed her eyes --

-- and she and Hiei were alone in a familiar arbour. He cast her a sour look, informed her that these tactics were unfair.

"Maybe so," she grinned, "but whatever helps -- ne?" She raced away through the trees, daring him to follow, and he did.

>>A youkai came,<< Kurama told him. >>It was here in search of your mother.<< He did not respond, confused, uneasy. >>It may kill her, you know. It may have already killed her. Her life means nothing to anyone but you, you understand.<<

"But she -- "

>>Oh, she has her husband, sure. But he's not home. He can't protect her. You could have, if you weren't hiding in here, feeling sorry for yourself. _We_ could have.<<

One -- two -- three --

"Why are you doing this?"

-- four -- five -- six --

>>Because you're cheating me out of life, Shuuichi. So I'm going to cheat you out of a quiet death, as long as I possibly can.<<

Yuume picked at her meal, choosing what she would eat and what she would not. She was obliged to eat a certain amount or forego dessert; still she was finicky, and ate only tiny portions of selected dishes.

Yukina pushed around her own food and let her mind wander. She had still not been able to contact Hiei directly; but the unease she had felt earlier had settled, and so she knew he was in no immediate danger. Still, she was concerned for him and painfully curious about his two children and how he had managed to keep from her so long that he'd had children -- twice.

Yuume slid down from her chair and climbed up into Kazuma's lap. Yukina watched and smiled as he scolded their daughter even as he shifted to make her more comfortable; Yuume was learning to be terribly manipulative, and Kazuma was a wonderful test subject.

As she was washing the dishes after dinner, the telephone rang. Kazuma picked it up and spoke quietly for a moment; he stuck his head into the kitchen. "Yukina-san," he said, troubled. She turned to see him, startled by his tone.

"Hai," she replied, wiping her hands.

"Kurama's mother has a -- message for Hiei."

"What sort of message?" she wondered.

"She says he has to have it personally," he told her. "You don't happen to know where he is, do you?" Yukina shook her head.

"He left here with the children," she told him, "and that's all I know. But I don't think he's gone _far_. He was hurt."

"He might still be in the Ningenkai?" he asked hopefully.

"He might," she agreed.

"I'll look for him, then, I suppose," he said. "It might be important. She's quite upset."

"Who gave her the message?"

"She didn't say," he shrugged, and ducked out of the kitchen.

Yukina returned to the dishes, frowning slightly.

No matter that Juei had pulled him into a dream, he could still feel his father's unconscious weight on him, could feel Juei pressed against him, and he began to tremble, to sweat. He opened his eyes, wrenching himself almost painfully from the dream; Juei cried out, waking.

His father leaped to his feet with a roar, throwing the blanket aside and snatching his sword from its sheath; he stood ready to defend before he was quite awake, teeth bared, head lowered -- a wonderfully intimidating sight.

"Otousama," Juei panted, wiping tears from her cheeks, "daijoubu. Hiei got scared, 'cos -- you fell asleep on him." He stared at her a moment, dropped the sword, sighed, resheathed it. He crouched beside them both, looked into Hiei's eyes. Hiei returned the look, sheepish, and apologised.

"It's all right," replied his father, softly. "I should have been more careful." He rubbed his eyes, adjusted the band over his Jagan. "Ja," he went on, "I'll get us something to eat. Don't leave this cave." He was gone in a flash, before they could reply. Juei grinned.

"He just _knew_ we were hungry," she said, turning to Hiei. He raised an eyebrow; that hadn't been it at all, but he didn't feel like explaining it to his twin.

They folded the blankets and sat on them, and waited for their father to return.

Kazuma scowled. He'd checked out all of Hiei's old haunts and a few places a sour-faced youkai might choose to haunt; but his brother-in-law was not to be found. He cast about one last time for Hiei's presence; then he whirled to head back home.

He found himself suddenly on his back, Hiei's weight on his chest, Hiei's sword at his throat.

"How," Hiei snarled, "did you find me?"

"I didn't," Kazuma pointed out. "You found me. Now let me up, Hiei, or -- " The blade broke his skin; he subsided, startled.

"Why are you looking for me?" hissed the youkai.

"Kurama's mother called," Kazuma swallowed. "She has -- a message for you."

"What is the message?"

"I don't know," he replied, scowling. "She said she has to _give_ it to you." He blinked; Hiei was gone. He sat up and put a hand to his throat, watching Hiei wipe and then resheath his sword. "What the hell is wrong with you?" he demanded.

"Tell her I'll be there," Hiei snapped, and flitted away.

Kazuma looked down at his bloodied fingers, and shook his head, puzzled; he had never been able to figure out Yukina's twin and he didn't particularly want to try. He stood, wiping the blood on his trousers, and headed back home, prepared for the scolding his wife would give him for his injury.

She had tried to call Yuusuke; when she realised she needed to contact Hiei, he was the first person she thought to ask. He had not answered the telephone; and so she had searched through the telephone directory to find Kazuma's number. He had assured her he would find Hiei and tell him she had a message.

That had been more than an hour ago.

She fidgeted her fingers, nervous. What if he didn't come? What if another one of those youkai came? For she had no doubt that the messenger had been a youkai, and a terrifyingly ugly one. What if -- ?

"Shiori." She yelped, jumping and turning at the sound of Hiei's voice. She blinked, focused, and realised she was not seeing double, that Hiei and his daughter were accompanied now by a boy who looked and dressed exactly like Hiei. "My son," Hiei said briefly. "You have a message?" She nodded, forcing herself to look away, turning to the table, and to the white sphere the youkai had given her. She handed it to Hiei, let her fingers brush his hand, met his eyes. He raised an eyebrow, startled by the contact, but did not recoil.

"I don't know if he's going to live," she told him softly. "He hasn't woken up since you were here last. But he did call your name, Hiei-kun. He needs you." Hiei looked down at their hands together, and took the sphere, breaking the contact.

Shiori looked at the children in turn. "Would you two like something to drink?" she asked them. "Or to eat?"

"We we're fine, thank you, obasama," Juei assured her. Shiori smiled, turned to the boy. He started, and moved toward Hiei. Juei stepped forward, pushing her silvery hair over her shoulder. "My brother doesn't speak," she explained, "and he's uncomfortable with strangers. Please forgive him."

"Hai," Shiori said, smiling again, turning her attention to Hiei again. "Hiei-kun -- " He had turned to the wall, and now tossed the sphere at it. The sphere shattered, as had the one that had been in Shuuichi's room earlier; and the same woman's face appeared on the wall.

"Konnichi wa, Hiei," she spoke mildly. "Hisashiburi."

Shiori was less surprised by this message than she was by the children's reaction to it. Juei moved to stand, pale, beside Hiei, pressing herself against his shoulder.

Her brother sank trembling to the floor, his hands over his ears and his forehead on his knees.