Adult-FanFiction.org : YuYu Hakusho

Vixen!	By : VixenzxMasqueradex Category: Yuyu Hakusho > General Views: 4499 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own YuYu Hakusho, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 23
- 24
- 25
�� Im glad everyone is still enjoying this fic even after all this time.� I�m hoping to have this all finished up in
about 4 chapters or so! So the end is in sight!�
Also we have some big surprises coming your or should I say Kurama�s way so keep an eye out for those!� This chapter is going to be mostly about Shura so everyone let me know what you think! Reviews are
me crack!� PS if you see things that just
seem to be filler or that don�t seem to be at all relevant pay attention
because there is a method to my madness and it all means something!!!

This chapter turned
out to be really long so I decided to break it into two chapters so this is
part one.� Part two will be just a tad
shorter but hopefully you will love it just as much! Keep those reviews coming and
I promise to work as fast as I can!!

�� Kurama was different.� Shura decided
as he walked down the path to his adoptive father�s cliffside
clearing.� It have only been five days,
not even a full week, since the fox had woken from his gender swapped coma yet
it felt like it had been a full month.� Jiyu wouldn�t tolerate being held neither by anyone other
than Kurama nor would the kit let his father out of his sight.� Kidori had taken to
crying, for no reason, for hours almost every night.
�� Both Kurama and Hiei could count on
one hand how many times they were able to grab a couple of alone minutes over
the span of the week.� Hiei seemed okay with these demands as anything was better
than the weekend from hell that he had previously gone through.� Kurama, on the
other hand, who was usually the patient one, had seemed to be having a short
temper.� This became apparent on Monday
after most of the people went back to their homes and jobs.

~!@#$%^&*()_++_)(*&^%$#@!~

�� After a
quick breakfast for everyone on their way back to their homes, Kurama joined Jiyu and Arianbi in the playpen for some early morning play.� Trying to tire out his kits in hopes of a
midmorning nap Kurama bounced around the playpen in a
continuous game of wrestling tag until his bumbling kits lay in a contented,
exhausted heap together in the middle of their pen.
�� Seeing his chance to quickly relieve
himself while Jiyu was distracted, the fox darted off
for the bathroom.� Since the moment he
awoke from his coma Kurama had not had one moment
with out either Jiyu or Kidori
screaming for his attention.� Not that Kurama minded taking care of his precious babies, but
answering the call of nature was insanely hard to achieve one handed or with a
wailing baby in or outside of the room.� Just
as he reached the hallway, Kurama heard his son�s
distressed whimpers.� When his calls
weren�t answered Jiyu�s whimpers turned to cries, as
close to howl as a fox kit could achieve.
�� Aww Jiyu-chan.�� Yusuke
leaned over the playpen calling to his kitling nephew,
�Your daddy will be right back, baby.� I
promise.�� The young toushin
tried to stroke Jiyu�s head but the kit would have
none of it.� He dodged his Uncle�s hand,
running to the soft mesh walls of the playpen trying his hardest to push
through or climb out.� Yusuke persisted
trying to get the tiny kit to settle and give both his fathers a bit of a
break.� Jiyu
stood in the middle of the pen crying and calling while Arianbi
watched with what could be a look of disgust at her brother�s
caterwauling.� She approached and nuzzled
his ear with her blunt nose.� Jiyu ignored his sister until she gave up and curled up at
his side.
�� Yusuke stroked the kit�s silky ears
gently, cooing a bit.� Since Kurama saw that his son was somewhat calmed he turned to
rush off to the bathroom.� It all
happened so fast that he almost missed it.
�� Jiyu
snarled at Yusuke�s hand, faster than the fox had ever seen his son move, the
kit sank his tiny, needle sharp teeth into Yusuke�s thumb.� Before either of them had ever realized what Jiyu had actually done, Kurama
was on his son in a flash.� Bowling over
the tiny kit Kurama held his nose in between his
slender jaws.� Tucking his fluffy tail
between his legs, Jiyu whimpered.� The fox held still for a long moment, a soft
growl further announcing his displeasure at his son�s actions.
�� Shura
watched on from across the room, his face paling.� Kurama had never
been so vicious with any of his kits.�
When the fox finally let his kit back up, Jiyu
cowered and tucked his tail between his legs.�
Kurama must have said something to Yusuke for
the young toushin put his hand back in the pen
letting Jiyu come up and lick at his knuckles.� Yusuke accepted the apology by scratching the
silver kit behind his ear, Jiyu�s tail started
wagging furiously and licking at his uncle�s hand as if the young toushin were a member of his pack.� Kurama gave a
gently �woof� calling his son back to his side.�
Jiyu obediently returned to his father with
his ears lowered and tail tucked.� His
father gave him a warning nip on the back of his neck.� Jiyu obediently
nestled down on the floor of his pen while Kurama
leapt lightly out of the playpen and walked slowing down the hall.

~!@#$%^&*()_++_)(*&^%$#@!~

�� The trees
whispered to the lounging fox softly as the breeze played with their emerald
leaves.� Somebody was with him in the
forest and not making any effort to hide their presence.� It didn�t take more than a moment for the fox
to realize that it was his eldest son coming up the path.� Not expecting to be interrupted so quickly, Kurama sighed and removed his arm from where it was slung
across his eyes.�
�� Yes
dear.�� He said when Shura
paused a few feet away.
�� Taken a bit
a back by the fox�s tone, Shura thought fast and then
lied through his teeth.� His adopted
father hadn�t had much time for him at all lately and now it seemed that he
didn�t want to be bothered.� Trying to
hide the hurt in his eyes and voice he asked,
�Can I go out with Puu?�
Kurama
looked up at the sky judging the time.�
�I�d rather you not go just now.�
It�s almost dinner time and I could really use your help with the kits.�
Shura
nodded mutely and received a tired smile.�
�Thank you, darling.�� He signed
and slung his arm back over his eyes to try and get a few more quiet moments
where he could.
Clearly dismissed, Shura turned and left.

~!@#$%^&*(later that night)_++_)(*&^%$#@!

�� Kurama couldn�t help feeling a tad guilty as he finally was
able to relax and try to fall asleep.�
Over the past week he hadn�t been able to spend any time with Shura.� After taking
care of his three demanding kits, this week was certainly taking its toll on
everyone.� Shura,
the fox noted, had stopped hanging around him.�
At first he had thought that Shura was trying
to get out of chores that always seemed to be thrown at him.� Yet, whenever Kurama
went in search of one of his daughters to make sure that they were okay, most
often Shura would have one of them.� When he was with Arianbi
he would either be outside on the lawn or in the cool shade of the dojo playing
some sort of game.� Kruama
was amused that Shura seemed to enjoy playing with
his baby sister and brother like ningen children
enjoyed their puppies.� If it was Kidori in Shura�s care he would
either be on his own bed playing with her and her brightly colored toy or he
would be in the recliner rocking her to sleep while he watched something on
television.
�� Lately
though, the young goat had seemed to be avoiding everybody including his
siblings.� His chores would be done by
midmorning then Shura would disappear until dinner.� Then the one time Shura
was able to catch his adoptive father by himself, while Kidori
and Jiyu were napping, the fox had been so physically
exhausted from being up with Kidori all night then up
early with Jiyu that he had actually discouraged Shura from leaving the temple so he could take on some of
the baby duty.
�� Looking at
the clock, Kurama noted it wasn�t quite midnight.�
Maybe there was a chance Shura was still up . . .� As gently as possible the fox climbed out of
his bed.� Hiei
cracked a tired, ruby eye in his direction for only a moment before he turned
away toward the window.� He was used to
his mate�s nightly strolls through the temple.
�� As the fox
pulled a shirt over his head, his sharp ears heard rustling coming from Shura�s room.�
Thinking his son needed to use the bathroom; Kurama
silently opened his door and peered into the dark hall.� To his surprise, Shura
was heading in the opposite direction.�
Unsure of his son�s motives, Kurama silently
followed.� The young goat was very
obviously trying to make as little noise as possible as he made his way through
the living room and out the main door.
�� Kurama was surprised.�
He wasn�t sure wither Shura was too nervous to
sleep with out checking over the area or if the young goat just couldn�t sleep
and was going to his new best friend, Puu.� Watching from the door, he saw Shura pat Puu on the head as he
passed the giant bird nestled in the middle of the lawn.� He then walked past and disappeared into the
tree line; after a minute Kurama followed his son�s
footsteps toward the forest.� Puu seemed surprised at the fox�s sudden appearance.
�� Shura hasn�t been acting like himself
lately, has he, Puu-chan?�
�� The Spirit
Beast�s head dropped, his large eyes conveying the sadness he felt.� He keened softly and nuzzled Kurama�s chest softly.�
The fox scratched his neck lightly in response.�
�� Don�t
worry.� I�ll find out what�s the
matter.�� Kurama
promised before shifting to his fox form and trotting after his son�s scent
trail.� The trail led straight to the fox�s
now seldom used vine hammock in his cliffside
clearing.� Sticking to the shadows of the
bushes and trees, Kurama watched his adopted son sit
on the ground leaning against a large boulder.�
After a few minutes he decided to approach.
�� The instant
Kurama unshielded his ki Shura noted his presence and tensed.� Turning slightly to acknowledge the fox but
not meet his concerned, golden gaze.�
Kneeling down next to his son, Kurama
questioned him softly.
�� Couldn�t
sleep?�� Shura
shook his head, remaining silent.� �Are
you feeling alright?�
�� The
happiness Kurama had felt at this brief chance to
bond with his oldest child started draining as concern for his odd behavior set
in.
�� Yes,�
Shura answered.� �I�m fine.�
�� Do you do
this often?�
�� Have I done
something wrong?�� The young goat
demanded suddenly, finally turning to meet Kurama�s
started gaze.
�� Caught off
guard but the not quite outburst Kurama was silent
for a moment.� �Of
course not, Shura.�� He finally replied.� �I�m merely concerned.� You don�t seem the same lately.�
�� I�m
fine.�� Shura
answered again as he turned back around.�
Kurama was baffled.� Shura was never
this short with him.� He wanted to stay
and spend time with his eldest son but it was painfully obvious that Shura wanted to be alone.
�� Conceding
with a hidden sigh the fox stood to leave.�
Reaching out a hand to stroke his son�s silky hair Kurama
froze when Shrua�s shoulders stiffened.� After a brief, soft contact with his
fingertips Kurama left.� At the edge of the clearing he called back
softly, �If you need me you know you can always come and get me.�
�� Even though
the fox didn�t wait for an acknowledgement he knew that he didn�t receive one
anyway.

~!@#$%^&*()_++_)(*&^%$#@!~
��
�� Slipping
silently back in to the temple, Kurama heard that Jiyu had noted his absence.�� In an effort not to wake any of the other
kits, Hiei had left the bedroom when his son started
fussing.� He actually praised Kidori�s night time crankiness as once she finally got to
sleep she would be exhausted and sleep through most of the night, even after
she was put down on the bed so she was one less noise maker to worry about in
case Jiyu threw a total fit.� Arianbi, on the
other hand, enjoyed her sleep.� She was
never hard to get back to sleep.
�� When his
mate slipped in the front door the Jaganshi heaved a
silent sigh of relief.� He tuned the kit
around in his arms and said �You can quit this now.�
�� As usual,
their kit only cried harder as he reached for his father.� Kurama sighed
softly accepting his wailing son into his arms and peppering kisses on his
round head.� Tucking Jiyu
against his neck, Kurama tried to console and shush
his son by rubbing his back and churring softly as he
followed the shadow that was his mate back to their room.
�� Where were
you?�� Hiei
asked once Kurama closed their door with a soft
click.
�� I was
following Shura.�
He�s been acting odd lately and I wanted to make sure he was okay.�
�� And?��
�� He�s
starting to act like you.�� Kurama replied.
�� Intentionally?�� Hiei snorted somewhat amused.
�� Damned if
I know.�� Kurama
growled disgustedly.� �He won�t say a
word to me.�
�� Are you
sure he�s not acting like his father?�
�� I am his
father!�� Kurama
snarled.� This was naturally a touchy
subject just as it would have been if anyone had referred to Yomi as the kit�s father.�
�Besides, Yomi loves the sound of his
voice.� It takes a miracle to shut him
up, especially when angered.�
�� Hiei snorted softly.�
�The only other people in this temple who know how to shut their mouths
are the hag and the buffoon�s sister.�
One more is a blessing, enjoy it while it lasts.�
�� The short
demon dodged just in time to miss being hit by the brightly colored, stuffing
filled noise maker his mate threw at the back of his head.� Smirking to himself, he climbed back into his
warm bed to try and salvage the rest of his night�s sleep. ��

~!@#$%^&*()_+ Friday evening+_)(*&^%$#@!~

�� Seated next
to Kurama as usual, Shura
picked at his dinner with little interest.�
His adoptive father�s attention was completely taken by Jiyu who had been cranky since he had woken up from his nap
and hadn�t noticed his oldest child�s lack of appetite.�
�� Yukina, however, had noticed.� �Would you like some more, Shura-kun?�
�� I�m not
hungry, thank you.�
�� Are you
sure?�� She persisted.� �You�ve hardly touched your dinner.�
�� I�m fine,
thank you.�
�� Yukina gave him a doubtful look but left him alone.� Every time something was passed her way she
would make it a point to offer Shura some of it.� When the rice came her way she again offered
it to Shura who declined yet again.
�� Are you
sure?�� She pressed, concerned, �You
really haven�t had much at all. . .�
�� Shura patience had reached its limit; he felt lousy, had no
appetite and really just wanted to be left alone.� He simply couldn�t find the energy to move.� His voice lowered an octave and gained an icy
tone that announced the end of his patience.
�� How many
times would you like me to repeat to you that I am not hungry?�� He snapped.
�� The room
fell into an astonished silence.� Shura dropped his gaze but remained mute.� Beside him, Kurama�s
hand and tightly fisted the fabric of Hiei�s pants,
silent wiling his seething mate to not to react.
�� It�s
alright if your not hungry, Shura.� But, perhaps it would be better if you spent
some time by yourself until you feel you can be civil.�
�� Shura didn�t acknowledge his father�s reprimand.� He stiffly stood and gathered his plate and
cup.� After he put the dishes in the sink
he decided to go outside rather than in his room.� He groused a bit as he left the temple, as
most children do, but ignored all the eyes that were curious and a tad stunned
as they watched him leave.
�� Even after
the door clicked closed the uncomfortable silence remained.� Hiei scowled at his
mate while Kidori in his arms squirmed unhappy of the
tense atmosphere.� Across the table, Yukina looked stunned and close to tears.
�� I�m sorry,
Yukina.�� Kurama said softly.�
�I don�t think he�s feeling well.�
I will have him apologize when he calms down a bit.�
�� Oh no, Kurama.�� Yukina shook her
head furiously.� �Shura�s
right, he did tell me many times that he wasn�t hungry.� I shouldn�t have pushed.�
�� Be that as
it may he had no right to be rude.�
�� Yukina looked as though she wanted to disagree yet Kurama�s tone warned her against doing so.� Blinking down at her plate the Koormie seemed to have lost her appetite as well.

~~!@##@!~~

�� It was two
hours later when Kurama went to hunt Shura down.� It
didn�t take him very long for Shura hadn�t gone very
far at all.� He was in the dojo.� The fox had expected to find his son working
off some of his frustrations.� He was
surprised to see the young goat sitting crossed legged in the middle of the
hardwood floor.� His eyes were closed,
his features completely serene.� For a
moment Kurama was taken aback by how much Shura looked like Yomi in that
instance.� By that time Shura had sensed his adoptive father�s presence and opened
his solemn royal purple eyes to watch the fox warily breaking the illusion that
it was actually his sire sitting in the dojo.
�� Would you
care to tell me what has been upsetting you so much lately?�� Kurama asked his
voice although kept low still echoed through the empty room.� Finally meeting the fox�s gaze, Shura�s bright eyes conveyed to Kurama
that he was more nervous than he was letting on.� Sighing softly, Kurama
approached his son and sat down next to him as so not to appear so
intimidating.
�� Tell me
what�s on your mind.�� He coxed gently.
�� You�ve
changed.�� Shura
answered his voice thick against the lump in his throat.� �You�re who he said you�d be.�
�� Do you
mean Yomi?�
�� Shura nodded; when he found his voice again it was
punctuated with sharp breaths as he fought crying.� �He said you weren�t the same.� As a human you were soft.� That�s why he decided to change you to
female.� And now your back and you�ve
been acting so different.� The way you
were, the way he always remembered.� Like he always wanted you to be.�
�� Kurama was caught off guard by Shura�s
revelation and it was very hard for him to hide his shock.� He loved Shura with
all his heart and thought he had made that very clear to the young goat on
multiple occasions.�
�� Shura,��
Kurama reached out a hand, aiming for
his son�s trembling shoulder.� The young
got flinched and lunged forward out of his father�s reach.� �I�m sorry, Shura,
that you felt my gender could change my feeling toward you.� So let me rectify that.� I love you, Shura.� You are my son as much as Jiyu
is; you are as much my child as any of the kits.� I�m sorry that your father saw you more as a
soldier than a son.� And I�m sorry that
he was obsessed with me or more importantly, the person I was.� But, let me make something perfectly clear
that part of my life is over!� The Youko Kurama of legend is gone;
he died over twenty years ago.
�� Please
believe me Shura.��
Kurama pleaded his voice soft and a tad
sad.� It was partly his own fault that Shura was feeling lost and pushed aside and it was time to
rectify that.
�� Shura looked over at his adoptive father, instantly the fox
knew that Shura believed him, his large royal purple
eyes were not as guarded and the stiffness started leaving his body causing the
trembling in his legs to return ten fold.
�� I believe
you.�� He whispered.� Kurama gave him a
tender smile and patted a spot beside him. Shura
complied and practically crumbled to the hardwood floor.
�� I know
you�re not feeling well and you�re stressed out.� We all are darling.�� One large hand stroked Shura�s
silky hair gently.� �That still doesn�t
give you permission to get snappish with Yukina or
anyone else for that matter.�
�� I was nice
for the first twenty times.�� Shura defended.
�� I
understand that, dear, she was worried and looking out for you.� Trust me on this; it wasn�t just Yukina badgering me the same way while I was pregnant with
the kits.� That still doesn�t give you
permission to be rude.�
�� I
suppose,� Shura mumbled, gaining a proud smile from his adoptive father.
�� Inside the house, Jiyu
must have realized that Kurama has left because his
shrill cries echoed through the temple lawn.�
Sighing, the fox stood and placed a gentle kiss on the top of his son�s
head before standing.
�� You don�t
have to come inside until you�re ready.�
Buy you do need to apologize to Yukina when
you do.� She will most likely apologize
just as much, she feels bad for upsetting you.�
�� Shura nodded again and watched the fox walk toward the
doors.� Just as he got there, a deep
rumble of thunder echoed from a long distance off.� Kurama gave a sigh
that was just a tad bit disgusted.� He
was already imagining trying to put Jiyu to bed tonight.� The silver kit still couldn�t sleep through
storms and tonight�s was promising to be fierce.� Kurama found
himself praying that this storm didn�t end up keeping all three of his kits up
for the entire night.� With one last look
back at his son, the fox left.

~~!@##@!~~

�� The storm
hit an hour and a half later.� As
everyone expected, Jiyu awoke wailing his tiny head
off when the clap of thunder exploded across the mountain side.� Kidori was also
woken by the thunder.� Hiei, however, was able to calm her down by sitting in the
hallway, away from windows and all the doors closed.� It only took the Jaganshi
half an hour to get his non-tailed daughter back to sleep.� After that, Kurama
created a simple leaf cradle for the girls to sleep in.� That way they could both be kept in the
darkened hallway keeping all the storms sounds muffled.
�� Just as the
kits had fallen asleep the lights flickered and went out completely, leaving
the entire temple in total darkness.� Yukina and Genkai produced a
batch of candles and placed them around the livingroom
where everyone had settled.� ��To pass time they all talked, told stories
and tired to think of anything they could do in the dark.� Kurama, who was
rocking a fussy Jiyu in the recliner, kept stealing
glances toward the window.� Even though
it was pitch black and he couldn�t see anything until a helpful flash of
lightning told him that Shura had remained in the
dojo.� Hoping that Shura
wasn�t asleep in the drafty dojo or afraid to come back inside Kurama was debating facing Jiyu�s
wrath by handing the kit over to Hiei and going out
to get his son.�
�� His
thoughts were interrupted when the door slid open and a very wet Shura stepped inside.�
The young goat took off his shoes and placed them to dry.� He then noted the large towel that had been
left by the door for him.� Wrapping
himself tightly in the dry towel, Shura went to his
bedroom.
�� Expecting
him to be gone for the night, Kurama returned his
attention to Jiyu who had started rooting against his
father�s chest.� This was a good sign Jiyu had stopped nursing like crazy during storms very
suddenly.� When he calmed enough to be
nursed that usually meant that he would go to sleep shortly there after.� Opening his shirt, the fox guided his son to
his nipple, very happy that Jiyu didn�t suck harshly
as he used to.
�� You�re
getting better.�� Kurama
murmured, Jiyu flipped his
tail once against his father�s arm.� Out
in the hallway Shura�s door opening causing Kurama�s fuzzy ear to turn toward the hall.� He wasn�t the only one, Yukina
turned to watch the almost pitch black hallway as Shura
carried a large bundle of wet laundry to the bathroom to hang dry.� The Koormie stood
and picked up a candle.� Sending a quick
glance over to Hiei, who was sitting on the floor
next to his mate, and then she glanced hesitantly at Kurama.� The fox gave her a small and nodded.� Shura could use the
light and some privacy to apologize.
�� Hiei scowled slightly.�
He was still miffed at the goat but he obeyed his mate�s wishes to let
him handle it.� Shura
was lucky that Kurama had intervened no one talks to Yukina like that with out
getting his throat slit.
�� Five minutes later Yukina
and Shura left the bathroom just in time to catch Arianbi starting to fuss.�
Shura leaned over the cradle and rubbing his
baby sister�s back soothingly, quickly settling her back to sleep.� Together they moved back into the living
room, Yukina curling up against her lover�s side
while Shura went to stand in front of his father�s
recliner with a bowed head hoping his punishment was over.
�� You
weren�t being punished, Darling.�� Kurama told him, opening his free arm letting Shura climb into his lap.�
Cuddling his son on the opposite side to where Jiyu
was still awake and nursing.� Earlier in
the day, it had been humid in anticipation of the current storm, however, now
it was cool and comfortable within the temple walls.� Kurama was
surprised to find his son dressed in a sweater that swamped his young form and
loose, fleece pajama pants.� Beneath the
clothes and his father�s warm body the young goat shivered.
�� You�re
cold.�� Kurama
murmured, hugging Shura tighter and rubbing his
shoulder and arm gently.� His son nodded
slightly, already half asleep against the fox�s shoulder.� At his side, Hiei
retrieve a blanket that was folded next to the couch, usually it was on the
back of the couch but in the recent heat it was more annoying than useful.� Nabbing it, Hiei
handed it up to his fox, keeping his eyes averted not wanting to admit he was
doing something nice for Shura�s sake.
�� Thank
you.�� His mate thanked anyway.
�� You�re
going to sweat your ass off under that.��
Hiei smirked, still trying to hide his good
deed.
�� I never
sweat unless I participate in strenuous activities.�� Kruama sniffed
indignantly as he smoothed the blanket around Shura�s
small body. He paused, giving the short fire demon a look daring him to retort
before continuing, gaining himself a couple snickers from Yusuke, Kuwabara and Shizuru. �And
rocking my sons to sleep is certainly not strenuous.�
�� Shura, snuggling
deeper beneath the blanket and into the fox�s warm embrace, yawned.� �Don�t think I didn�t catch that.�� He said drowsily without opening his heavy
eyelids.
�� Kurama chuckled and gave his son a kiss on his clammy
nose.� He could have sworn that it took only
half a heart bead for the young goat to fall asleep.
�� No one was
really paying attention to the time. When the storm tapered off and all the
kits, including Shura, were still sleeping they all
decided to call it a night.� Jiyu would be good until morning and the girls would
probably be up only once, if at all, for the rest of the night.� Hiei stood and
sized up his options, taking Shura or Jiyu from his mate to settle in bed.� When the fox held out their youngest kit, Hiei raised an eyebrow.
�� What if he
wakes up screaming?�
�� He�s
exhausted.�� Kurama
answered.� �So he probably won�t wake
up.� Plus, Shura
is drenched and needs to be changed out of his wet clothing before being put to
bed.� I�m sure both of you will be more
comfortable if I assist him.�
�� Then why
the hell did you keep him under a blanket in all those clothes?�
�� Feel his
forehead.�� Hiei
complied, laying the underside of his wrist on Shura�s
scared forehead.� The damp skin was
burning hot, much higher than Hiei ever would have
guessed the goatling�s temperature could be.
�� That
explains the temper tantrums.�� He said,
removing his hand.� Kurama
smiled at his mate; at least Hiei was making an
effort in accepting Shura as a member of their family
and had, for the most part, forgiven the earlier outburst at Yukina.� �What are
you going to do?�
�� I�m not
sure.�� The silver fox stood with the
fluid grace that only he could possess, the sleeping boy in his arms barely
stirring as they made their way to their shared room.� �I�ll call Narumi in the morning and ask him
about the possibility of a human drug commonly used to battle colds, flu and
fevers.� Maybe a higher dose would work
for him.�
�� Hiei shrugged and entered their room.� He laid his son in the middle of the bed,
holding his breath as he expected the kit to wake up and start wailing.� After a few moments it was clear that Jiyu was out for the night, Hiei
then returned to the hall to help collect his daughters.� With Kurama
maneuvering Shura to be cradled in one long arm, they
moved the leaf cradle into their room and put it beside the bed.
�� Do you
think you can handle the girls tonight?��
Kurama whispered.� �I want to stay with Shura
but I also want to make sure the kits don�t catch whatever he has.�
�� Hiei gave his daughters a thoughtful look.� Arianbi was going
to be up first since she�s been asleep the longer than anybody in the
temple.� She was easy to get to sleep,
though.� Kidori,
on the other hand, would probably need held and rocked back to sleep.� She had been growing out of her need to be
held every second of every day, something her parents are extremely glad of.
�� If Jiyu does the unexpected and won�t accept me putting him
back to sleep then I�ll come and get you.�
Otherwise I�ll be fine.� If I
could deal with all of them for those three days of hell then one night won�t
kill me.�
�� The short
demon climbed on the bed to give his mate a kiss so the fox wouldn�t have to
bend so far over with Shura making a cumbersome,
unconscious bundle in his arms.� Kurama gave him a grateful smile before leaving for Shura�s room.� Hiei, left on his own with three
wonderfully silent kits, stripped down and crawled into bed.� If felt odd to have the bed practically to
himself.� Even when his mate was
unconscious Hiei found himself
surrounded by three babies, when he could actually get them all asleep . . .
and that was not often.� Almost alone in
the glorious stillness, Hiei was finding it oddly
hard to fall asleep.

�� Kurama took his eldest son into his room. �Settling the young goat gently on the bed, the
fox started to undress him just the way he would his kits.� Half way through peeling off the sweat soaked
pajama pants Shura shivered violently and startled
awake.� Dazed and frightened, Shura shoved himself up on shaky arms.
�� Shh. . .�� Kurama soothed, softly stroking his son�s cheeks and
hair.� �It�s okay, baby.� It�s just me.�
Help me get these wet pants of, ne?�
�� Shura blinked, his large royal purple eyes were gleaming
fever bight in the moonlight.� He nodded
with a jerk and fumbled to help his father remove his pants, then the equally
drenched boxers.� Clumsy hands tried to
assist the much larger, gentle hand that worked to put a fresh pair of boxers
over his slim hips.� By the time Shura was redressed he was half asleep.� The fox situated his son in the middle of the
bed and tucked him under a warm blanket before crawling in to curl around
him.� Running his long fingers gently
through Shura�s silky, black hair Kurama
murmured softly, �I love you, my little goatling.�
�� Love you,
too, tou-chan.��
Shura whispered back drowsily snuggling deeper
under the blanket and the security of his father�s embrace.� Together they fell into a content sleep.
�� For Kurama it felt as if only minutes had passed before
something tugged him back into consciousness.�
Unsure of why he was suddenly so uneasy, the fox was instantly on guard.
�Unable to locate the source of the
disturbance, he stood and went to the window.�
There was a click as the door opened behind him.� Kurama spun around
as Hiei entered the room, equally on edge.
�� You feel
it, too?�� Kurama
murmured not wanting to disturb Shura unless it was
necessary.� Hiei�s
eyebrows scrunched together and looked around confused.
�� No.�� He replied, equally as quiet.� �You woke me up.�
�� Kurama didn�t realize that their bonded link was that
powerful.� He always thought that Hiei awoke at the same time because he was a light sleeping
and any moving set off warning bells.
�� What�s
wrong?�
�� Kurama shrugged, his silky tail flicking around his thighs
was the only outward sign that the fox was nervous.
�� I haven�t
the slightest . . .�
�� When the
fox�s words trailed off, Hiei followed his sharp gaze
over to their adopted son.� Instantly
seeing what set his mate off, Hiei approached the bed
as Kurama sat down on it.� Shura had been sleeping
with his face buried in Kurama�s chest, when he
realized in his sleepy, fever muddled mind that his father�s warmth the young
goat shifted into another position causing Kurama to
notice something was wrong.
�� Shura�s eyelids were glowing pink!
�� What the
fuck?�� Kurama
breathed tilting Shura�s head gently to get a better
look.� �He�s not powering up.� Why would his youki
need to flood his eyes like this?��
Gently the fox peeled back one of his eyelids, careful not to wake the
young goat.� Shura�s
youki glowed through the tiny slit sending a red glow
through the room; turning the fox�s silver locks pink.
�� Do you
think it�s a side effect of the fever?�� Hiei asked when his mate removed his hands from Shura, who started showing annoyed signs of waking up.
�� I�ve never
seen a fever do that.�� Kurama answered stroking Shura�s
hair softly.� �Maybe he caught a human
strain of something and this is his body�s way of battling it.�
�� Could be.�� Hiei agreed.� �What
do you want to do about it?�
�� Kurama was silent for a moment, weighing his options.
�� If this
persists then I�ll speak to Genkai and possibly Koenma.� He lets me
poke around in library sometimes.� Maybe
I can find answers there.� I�d like for
him to see a doctor or a healer, but I don�t know just who we can trust right
now.� No0 one here in the Ningenkai can diagnose this.� If it were one of the kits I�d already have
Narumi on the phone.�
�� I�m
sure.�� Hiei
replied gaining a peeved look from his mate.�
The annoyed look faded as a thought occurred to him.
�� You don�t
think that this could be Yomi�s doing, do you?�
�� What do
you mean?�
�� Could he
be doing something to cause this?�
�� Hiei took his cue to take off the ward on his
forehead.� A new purple glow filled the
room as the physic eye opened.� After a
moment of probing he looked at his mate.
�� If it�s
him, it�s a brilliant new move.� There is
nothing but his own youki,
it�s unstable but it�s his.�
�� Kuwabara said the same thing when those physics were
attacking me . . .�
�� Hiei gave the fox a slightly exasperated look.� �And who chased them away?� Don�t you think that�s the first thing I
looked for?� I�d know their faint traces anywhere;
you can�t hide shit like that.�
�� He
probably wouldn�t use them again anyway.��
Kurama agreed.
�� Don�t get
yourself worked up just yet.�� Hiei murmured, hoping to soothe his mate�s fears.� �Look,� he nodded back to the young goat,
�It�s already stopped.�
�� To Kurama immense relief, Hiei was
right.� The creepy red glow had creased
illuminating Shura�s eyelids.� The young goat was still sleeping, albeit a
bit more fitfully.� He scrunched his
already shut eyes and rolled away from his father�s conversation.
�� Kurama sighed.� He
wanted to tell his mate that he was not working himself up, but the truth was
he was becoming jumpy and nothing he could do could make him any less
jumpy.� Now that the kits were here they
are his whole world.� His precious babies
were helpless and completely dependent on him and his mate.� It was nearly impossible to keep his
legendary calm when his precious kits were at stake.
�� Hiei,� the fox signed a deep silent sigh.� �How can we raise our children like this?�
�� Taken aback
by the sudden question all Hiei could muster was a
confused, �What?�
�� How can we
expect to raise our kits with Yomi hanging over our
heads?� Every time something happens are
we going to be paranoid that he�s going to invade our lives?� We can�t raise our children in seclusion,
that�s not fair to them.�
�� Kurama,� Hiei interrupted softly yet firmly.� �Go to sleep.�
You�re babbling nonsense.�� When
his mate started to object Hiei continued, �Mukuro is itching for a war against that damn goat and at
my word she�ll start one.� You also have
Yusuke on your side and that hotheaded fool would send his monks over a cliff
for you.� The sad part is they are so
enamored with their lord that they�d do it with out a second thought.�
�� I must be
babbling.�� Kurama
admitted.� �Because
you�re trying to make a joke.�
�� The Jaganshi rolled his large ruby eyes and pivoted, growling
obscenities at his stupid mate and returned to their bedroom in hopes of
salvaging some of the night for sleep.
�� Kurama yawned as he climbed back into bed and spooned his
son from behind.� The rest of the night
he spent in a light doze.� Every slight
twitch, moan or sigh from Shura would have the fox
awake in a second.� Thankfully the crazy
eye this never showed back up.� His
eldest son was still out cold when Kurama heard Hiei moving about in the other room, his deep voice could
be heard talking to which ever kit had woken.�
Decided that Shura waking up without him would
be easier to deal with than Jiyu waking up with him,
the fox decided to go help his mate with their triplets.
�� By the time
Kurama returned to Shura�s
room with a freshly changed Jiyu, the fox had
expected to find him awake.� Surely he
was hungry after hardly eating last night.�
Humming softly, he settled against the headrest with a pillow in his lap
to nurse Jiyu.�
With one arm he gently stroked his fingers through the young goat�s
short hair.� Although it was very true
that nursing was very calming for a baby, Kurama was
surprised that Jiyu went right back to sleep.
�� Just as he
started debating catching an early morning nap himself, the young goat at his
side started stirring.� Churring deep in his throat as if Shura
really was a kit and not a goat kid, Kurama surprised
himself at his instant reaction.� Shura�s fears of being unwanted should be crushed in that
very second; Shura was Kurama�s
child in every way except blood.� The
fox�s entire being accepted Shura as his own and
responded as if he were a kit.�
�� Dad?�� Shura rasped, his voice roughened by an extremely sore
throat.
�� Kurama quivered with surprise and pleasure at being called
�Dad�.
�� Yes, Shura, I�m here.�
�� Shura blinked his large, fever bright eyes a few times.
�� Good
morning, love.�� Kurama
greeted when his son�s eyes finally focused on his own.� �Are you feeling any better?�
�� Shura shook his head instead of talking.� He inched closer and threw his arm around his
father�s thigh and buried his face in the fabric of Kurama�s
pants.
�� That bad, huh?�� Shura nodded against Kurama�s
hip.� �Would you like something to eat,
darling?�� Again Shura
shook his head.� �Are you sure?�
�� Shura gave his father a baleful, one-eyed glare.� Kurama returned the
glare with a soft smile.
�� How about a bath instead?�
�� Shura turned against his father�s thigh, a hopeful look on
his fever flushed face.� He nodded
jerkily and started scooting to the other side of the bed.
�� It�s okay;
you don�t have to move just yet.� I�ll go
settle Jiyu down and start your bath running.�
�� Shura nodded, sighing softly, he snuggled back into the
warmth of his nest of blankets Kurama had made for
him last night.� Even though he felt
lousier than ever, he found him smiling a bit.�
When he had gotten sick back in his old life a very impersonal nurse
would be taking care of him.� His sire
would only come in to tell him to get better.�
It was nice to actually have someone caring for him.
�� Even though
his father was only gone for about five minutes, Shura
was started awake when Kurama gently shook his
shoulder.� Shura�s
mind was a drowsy haze and he didn�t fully wake up as he was taken into the
bathroom and stripped of his sweaty clothes.�
His mind only fully clicked awake when his father lowered him slowly
into the tub filled with wonderfully hot water.
�� Would you
like me to stay with you?�
�� Shura nodded gently, his head felt heavy but the water felt
glorious and his body was becoming extremely relaxed.
�� Don�t fall
asleep, love.�� Kurama
murmured, running his claws gently through his son�s damp hair.� �You�ve been sweating like crazy and really
need a good wash.�
�� Again Shura nodded.� He supposed
he did fall asleep for a bit because the next thing he knew, Kurama was helping him sit up.� As instructed, he tilted his head back so the
fox could pour water over his hair.� By
the time Kurama had finished scrubbing his hair and
helping him wash, Shura was completely limp and
relaxed.
�� I�m good
at this, aren�t I?�� Kurama
chucked.
�� Very.�� Shura agreed with a
soft nod.
�� Do you
think you�re ready to get out?�
�� I would
say yes,� Shura replied, opening his eyes for the first time and giving his
father a tired smile.� �But, I can�t
move.�
�� Here I�ll
help.�� Kurama
chuckled.� Holding the young goat�s
elbows steady, he held his son up as two very shaky knees fought to steady and
hold his slight weight.� Once wrapped in
a towel, Shura was able to walk, albeit slowly and
unsteadily, back to his bedroom.� As soon
as he got there his father sat him down on the bed and gently started towel
drying his fever flushed body.� Once he
was dressed in a fresh pair of pajamas Kurama climbed
in the bed behind him and gently started towel drying Shura�s
silky black hair.� In his lap, Shura was all but purring as the towel gently rubbed dry
his groggy head.�
By the time his father had gotten his hair mostly dry, Shura was slumped against the fox�s chest fast asleep.� Before tucking his son back into bed Kurama ran his fingers through the damp hair to make sure
there wouldn�t be any hellish knots to deal with when Shura
woke back up.
�� Leaving the
room as quietly as he could, Kurama went to check on
the rest of his kits.� He found Kidori again with her favorite babysitter, Kuwabara;
together they were keeping Yukina company
in the kitchen and helping cook breakfast.�
Kazuma had found out, the hard way, that if
you have a baby strapped to your chest in a carry pouch you do NOT give her a woddenspoon to play with.�
Hiei would no doubt be elated that, at the
tender age of three months old, Kidori had given Kuwabara a black eye.�
The young physic was in for the long haul for Kidori
was delighted with her toy and was having the time of her life banging if off
of whatever was close enough for her to hit.
�� In the
living room, Yusuke was entertaining just about everyone by playing with the
kits.� Toys were scattered everywhere as
the three gamers went from one to the next, Yusuke playing tug-of-war or keep
away with which ever toy was within reach at the second.� Every time he let the kits catch him they
would bite at his hands, thrilling high pitched growls and snarls until Yusuke
bowled them over to tickle their round bellies before the kits would scramble
away and start the whole chase again.
�� Seeing that
all of his children were taken care of, the fox snuck out the front door.� He thought to join his mate, if he were on
the roof taking in his own quiet moment.�
However, when he sought his mate�s ki, it
showed that Hiei was off in the woods working
out.� Kurama
was slightly tempted to join him, it had been a very long time since the fox
had been able to work out, spar, or even just go for a run.� Even though he would like nothing better than
to spend the morning sweating and sparing with his mate, with all the kits wide
awake and Shura sick, Kurama
didn�t want to stray too far away just in case.
�� Decided to
indulge in his own sinful moment, Kurama stretched
his hind legs out behind him, extending and stretching his spine.� Shaking out his silky fur, he tilted his
slender head to the side, tucked it to the ground and flipped over onto his
back.� With his chest and belly turned up
to catch the sun�s heat and his many fluffy tails flipping idly with the fox�s
contentment, Kurama looked more like a cat than a fox.� Too content to care if he were caught in such
a position, Kurama decided to finally enjoy a
midmorning nap.

~!@#$%^&*()_++_)(*&^%$#@!~

�� Shura�s illness remained through out the rest of the week
and into the next.� After Kurama, Genkai and Yukina had exhausted all the remedies they could think of, Kurama decided that perhaps Narumi would be their best
bet.� When the doctor first was
consulted, he was unsure on how to advise his former patient as it sounded like
a demonic strain that wouldn�t respond to human meds.� The more he checked in on Shura,
however, the more the doctor started considering that this could be a human
virus and Shura�s demon body was having a hard time
battling it.� Moving around his
appointments, Narumi was able to go to the temple for a check up on
Friday.� That would mean Shura had been showing little to no improvement for a full
week and that was not good.� The doctor
knew that Kurama was very worried for his son and
Narumi was also starting to become concerned for the young goat.� Packing up just about every med he could
think of that could battle a fever, the flu or a cold, the doctor rushed out of
his office.

~!@#$%^&*()_++_)(*&^%$#@!~

okay that�s where I�m going to leave it for
now.� The rest of the chapter will be up
within in a week as I said this chapter was turning out to be very long so I
cut it in half.� Please review and let me
know that people are still interested in my little (little right�) fic!!!
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