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The Betrayal	By : vampmistress76 Category: Yuyu Hakusho > General Views: 10669 -:- 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
- 3
- 4
- 5
Author's Note: Beware, there is some shounen-ai in this chapter, though nothing graphic. Please don't read if this offends or disturbs you, please do not flame for this. Nothing major happens!

The Betrayal

- Chapter 4 -

Kurama looked at his two mates. "Are you sure about this? I've never wanted to hurt Shiori."
His mate shook her head and applied gentle pressure to Kurama's arm that she held. "No one is asking you to hurt her, Kurama. But she must know the truth eventually. Especially now." She spoke as assuringly as she could.
Hiei looked over at the fox that he was also now bonded with. "Our mate has a good point fox. You've put off telling her as long as possible, but don't you think it would be suspicious when she comes to visit you and Keiko and I are both at your apartment?"
Kurama sighed in defeat. "You both make excellent points, as always."
"Of course we do!" Keiko exclaimed brightly and hugged Kurama's arm tighter, loving the feel of the finely toned muscles that jumped flexed beneath her hands. She sighed happily when she felt Hiei's arm slip around her waist from the other side and cast her dark haired mate a loving look. They continued walking down the sidewalk, and just as Keiko was about to continue speaking, another voice--strong and gruff sounding--broke into the conversation.
"Shorty? Kurama?! What do you two think you're doing, hitting on Urameshi's girl?!"
Hiei whirled to face the one that he had disliked the most before Yusuke had betrayed Keiko. Glaring and biting out, "Who are you to judge? And just for your information, she no longer belongs to the Detective."
Kurama looked with kinder eyes on the befuddled young man when Kuwabara turned to him for confirmation. "It is true, Kuwabara."
Kazuma Kuwabara, still unable to believe their claim, turned his gaze upon the young woman, taking note of the way she seemed to be snuggled securely in between his two ex-Spirit Detective partners. "Are you sure about this, Keiko? Does Urameshi even know?" The orange haired youth asked.
Keiko nodded in assurance, having always liked Kuwabara and didn't want to worry him unduly. "Yes, I'm sure, Kuwabara. And there's no need to worry about Yusuke. He doesn't have a say in my life anymore, besides, he's with Botan now and they're quite happy, I can assure you."
Kuwabara just stared, stunned at the revelation about Yusuke and the blue haired ferry girl before shaking it off and nodding in acceptance. "Well, okay, if you say so. But hey, I never knew Urameshi felt that way for Botan. When did this happen?"
Kurama and Hiei, seeing their mate was well able to deal with this, just stood on either side of her to support her and step into the conversation if they needed to.
Keiko felt relieved that Kuwabara took the news so well. The last thing she wanted was for an argument to break out between Hiei and Kuwabara. "Well, neither did we, but apparently Yusuke and Botan have felt that way about each other for a while now. They actually only mated a couple of weeks ago." Keiko explained, "Of course, I didn't find out about that until yesterday. I'll admit, I was shocked, and hurt terribly, but then again, things have changed drastically since then."
Kuwabara grunted, gesturing to the two demons flanking his friend on either side. "You mean them, don'cha? How the hell'd that happen?"
Keiko heaved a deep sigh and glanced at Hiei for help, since she really didn't know where to begin to explain that occurance.
Hiei inwardly groaned, but Kuwabara seemed to be taking this much better than he would have ever expected the baka to. "This happened completely because Kurama and I have cared deeply for Keiko for a while now. It was complete accident that I happened to be here when Keiko found out about Botan and the Detective, in the worst way possible might I add."
Kurama saw how agitated Hiei was getting. "Please, Hiei, allow me to continue."
Hiei nodded, stepping back to hold Keiko's hand.
Kurama looked Kuwabara hard in the eye. "What Hiei is trying to say is that Yusuke betrayed Keiko's feelings and rather than break the relationship off honorably, allowed her to find out firsthand that he was in a different relationship. Hiei brought her over to my apartment for some aid and we are now bound together, in the demon way."
Kuwabara blinked in astonishment, his mouth falling open. "You mean... the three of you?!"
Keiko seemed somewhat amused by Kuwabara's reaction because she began to giggle, but stifled it in Kurama's side. Kurama's own eyes shone in amusement while Hiei gave his normal glare, not having anything more to say to the baka.
Keiko and Kurama's amusement only grew when Kuwabara said in a put out tone, "I don't know about you guys, but that just sounds kinky if you ask me."
Hiei just glared up at him, "Hn. Considering you are the one courting Yukina, you might want to think over some of the demon rituals. For instance, now Keiko wears a dragon on her arm, much like mine, and it is marked by a rose on the forehead. Be wary." When he saw that his words had the desired effect of rendering the baka wordless, he turned to his two mates, "Come, we have to see Kurama's mother."
Kuwabara just watched the three walk down the street, shaking his head and deciding to talk to Urameshi to try and figure out the other half of the story feeling sure that he wasn't getting the whole from them, though he had never known Keiko to lie, either.
Kurama silently nodded at Hiei and fell into step with his mates, pulling strength from the fact that he was no longer alone and could face anything with these two by his side. Suddenly he found himself facing the familiar front door that he had called home for the first eighteen years of his life. His mother's car was in the driveway so he knew that she was home. He gave an obligatory knock before opening the door, grateful to notice that his step-father's car was gone and it was early enough that he was still at work.

"Tadaima!"
"Shuichi, is that you?" Shiori called out gently from the kitchen. The three could plainly hear the surprised happiness in her voice.
"Yes, mother, it is. Could you join me in the den? I have a few things I'd like to tell you." Kurama said even as he led Keiko and Hiei from the front door and down the hallway to a room halfway down it.

"Of course, dear, I'm just about done in here anyway. I'll be there in a moment." Shiori's voice replied, the soft clanking of pots and pans accompanying her words.
Kurama continued fretting, Hiei sitting on one side of him and Keiko sitting on the other, both sensing that Kurama needed their support to do this. Kurama inwardly cursed his own weakness and normally he wouldn't need anyone's support to do anything, used to relying on himself, but his mother was a special case. He looked up as Shiori entered the den, taking strength just from his mates' presenses once again. This made him more nervous than he'd ever been, save for when he was being chased by the hunter.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Shuichi, I didn't realize you'd brought guests." Shiori said politely. Being the observant woman that she was, she immediately noticed the close proximity in which the two people sat by her son, almost as if they were guarding him or perhaps even something more than that. "If I'd known, I would have brought in some tea."
"Please, do not put yourself to any trouble." Hiei put in when he felt Kurama tripping over the situation. ~Fox, you are going to have to say something or she is going to get even more nervous than you are.~
~Thank you, Hiei.~ Kurama sent back, "Mother, this is Hiei Jaganshi and Keiko Yukimura. They are both friends of mine and have been for some time. However..." He hesitated, unsure of how to continue. His mother gave him an inquiring look and after heaving a sigh, pressed on. "However, recent developements have brought us... much closer."
Shiori's eyes widened slightly, a hint of what her son was saying slowly seeping in. Still not wanting to jump to conclusions, she asked, "What sort of developments, Shuichi? And just how close are we talking about?"
"Mother, it is all part and parcel of the entire situation, which you do not know about." Kurama told her with a sigh. ~This is going to be difficult to tell.~
~It is only going to get more difficult the longer you put it off, Fox.~ Hiei replied. "Just tell her. Don't beat around the bush any more than you must."
Sensing how uneasy her son was becoming, Shiori sought to reassure him herself. She crossed the room to kneel before her son and took his hands, which were clenched together in a visible display of the tension within him. "Shuichi, please, whatever it is you have to tell me... it's obviously bothering you. Don't be afraid to tell me. I love you and whatever it is, I'm sure we can work through it."
Kurama looked up into his mother's eyes, reading the love there. That reassured him as nothing else could do, the real question became where to start. In order to tell about the mating bond, he would have to tell her about demons, in order to tell her about demons, he would have to tell her about himself. He relaxed, briefly returning the clasp of his mothers before gently removing his hands and taking each of his mate's hands in his.
~Fox, I don't touch in public, just for future reference. I am making an exception in this case, but-~ Hiei growled, causing both his mates to smile, Kurama ever so slightly and Keiko grinned.
Kurama only looked down at the joined hands, which represented so much. "Mother, the three of us are a unit now, but to understand what my mates and I have to say, I need to tell you something else about me." He paused and took a deep breath. His mother's eyes looked a little uncertain, but accepting as she moved her hands to her son's knees. "I am not human."
Obviously, Shiori was taken aback by this. It was, after all, the last thing she'd ever expected her son to say to her. Would have never expected it either. "Excuse me," She said, uneasy and wanting to make sure she had heard her son correctly. "You're... not human? Shuichi, what on earth do you mean?"
"This body was human, but it was not a human soul that inhabited it from even before birth." He tightened his grip on his two mates hands, feeling the support coming from the two of them.
~You're beating around the bush again, Kurama.~ Hiei told him.
Kurama nodded slightly, his eyes never straying from his mother's face, whom he'd noticed had taken on a look of mixed shock, curiosity and disbelief. He noticed the way her eyes kept straying downward, first taking in the sight of his and Keiko's entwined hands before flicking to where he held Hiei's hand just as tightly. He could see the question forming in her eyes, a question every mother must wonder about a son who had never before shown an interest in having a relationship with anyone and then suddenly show up with someone of the same sex. Perhaps, Kurama thought briefly, this might have gone smoother if he would have just explained Keiko, but then pushed that idea aside completely. Their mating had been a three way bond, tying all of them together, not just one or the other. Focusing himself once more, Kurama caught his mother's eyes again before continuing his somewhat hesitant explanation.
Kurama sighed. This situation had gone beyond complex. "Calm down, mother. My problem is actually two-fold here. In order to understand this bond of ours, you need to understand what I am. What I truly am, not this body that you gave birth to and taught to love as well as so many other things. My soul is that of a youko, a kitsune. Do you know what that means?"
Shiori nodded her head, a bit uncertainly. "Yes, I believe so. A kitsune is a fox, is it not?"
Kurama nodded, "Yes, it is, and a youko is a spirit fox that has gained the powers of a demon. That is what my soul is. I was hunted down and my former body died, but I freed my soul before the life had completely left." Kurama hung his head, he was always slightly ashamed about what he had done there, not that there was any reason for it, the soul that was supposed to be for this body had simply been reassigned as it was already inhabited. "My soul chose this body, which had been barely formed at the time. Youkos are neither straight nor gay as most call it. Youkos are bisexual." He knew it was a round-about way of explaining his relationship with Keiko and Hiei, but he loved his mother and needed her to know everything.
Shiori blinked away her astonishment slowly, trying to let all of this information seep into her already stunned mind. She could hardly believe what her son was telling her... that he was a demon that had taken over her baby's body even as it lay in the womb? And he had held this secret back from her, for all these years, never saying a word. She was hesitant to say anything, not really sure what she should say, only knowing that this was something that she didn't think she could accept, at least, not right away.
Kurama could see the shock settling in, closely followed by a sting of rejection.
~Steady, Fox. It's just shock, give her some time.~ Hiei told him when he felt Kurama starting to lose his own control.
Keiko hugged Kurama's upper arm to her as she felt Kurama's control slipping. ~Don't panic, Kurama. Shiori will come around. I can just imagine what my parents will be like. Then I expect your full support!~
Hiei hmphed, ~Is this going to turn into an entire round of family members? If so, I do not volunteer.~ He felt Kurama regaining his poise at the slightly lighter banter between the two of them.
Kurama took a deep, shuddering breath. "Mother? I still love you. Think this over for as long as you need to. You have my phone number and know where I live." He gently disentangled his hand from Hiei's, threading it through his hair and produced a white rose, pressing it into his mother's limp fingers, making sure there were no thorns.
Shiori's hand held on limply to the rose as she bowed her head, unable to look her son in the eye at the moment. She rose to her feet and stepped back, nodding wordlessly as she did so, letting Kurama know that she had heard his words.
Kurama mentally weeped at his mother's silent rejection, holding his two mates words close to his heart. All he could do was hope they were right in that this was only temporary shock. ~Please, let us go.~
Hiei nodded. "Madame, your son will be waiting to hear from you."
Keiko hugged Kurama's arm still, never letting go even as the three stood to leave. "I know this is a lot to digest. If you need any help, call and ask for me."
Kurama couldn't talk, his throat was too tight. He had to rely on his two mates to do his talking for him. ~Thank you, both. Let's go home.~ As the three made their way to the door, Kurama couldn't help but wonder if this would be the last time that he would ever set foot within this house ever again.

~*~
"Well, that didn't go too well, did it," Keiko mumbled more to herself than to her two mates as they walked away from Kurama's house.

She could still feel the pain of rejection that was invading the red head's heart as he walked beside her, his hand clutching hers a bit too tightly. She didn't complain though, knowing that Kurama needed the silent support from both her and Hiei. She wondered, not for the first time, how she was going to approach her parents with this news. She doubted they would take it any easier than Shiori had, possibly worse. In some ways, she just wished she could avoid telling them at all...
"That's it!" She exclaimed suddenly as the thought hit her. Her two companions gave her looks that clearly asked 'What are you talking about?' Keiko blushed, but continued to tell them of the plan that had practically struck her out of the blue.
"I know this may sound like I'm chickening out, but just hear me out, okay?" When both nodded, she continued, "Well, we know that my parents are more than likely not going to take this any better than Kurama's mom, so I was thinking... what if we didn't tell them. Not the full details anyway."
Kurama felt his shocked mind start moving again as he considered the idea, but was still too depressed to work on it.
Hiei kicked his mind into full gear, turning the idea around. "Hn, so exactly what would you tell them?"
Kurama nodded. "Please tell us."
Keiko looked at her two mates, "Well, it's like this, my father's always been fond of Yusuke, as has my mother, now what if I tell them about Yusuke and Botan, leaving out the mating part, but definately finding them on the roof together. Then, seeing as how my parents have always been fond of Yusuke and letting him run around at all hours, every time I would turn around I'd see his face." She looked at Kurama and Hiei, "Not too far from the truth, either. Due to this, I want to move out, and I know these two great friends who were looking for a roommate and you know the whole situation." Keiko gave a questioning smile. "Think it'll work?"
Kurama thought it over. "It should, but do not forget to mention that the two roommates are guys."
"Hn." Hiei affirmed.
"Don't worry," Keiko added. "I'll describe you two as friends of Yusuke's, well, at least until this cropped up. Now you can't forgive him either. And just want to help me get back on my feet."
Hiei nodded. "I like the plan. Then you can add details later as you see fit."
"Right." Keiko replied. "Well, let's get Kurama home and then I'll go over to my parents and see them alone."
Kurama raised his eyes to meet Keiko's mahagony ones, "Are you sure? We should be there to support you as well."
"Hn, Fox, no offense, but you are not worth much support at the moment." Hiei told him bluntly, causing Kurama to hang his head again.
"I know, Hiei." Kurama whispered back.
Keiko growled low in her throat before bringing the three of them to a stop and reached up to bring Kurama's face down to hers. She gave him a quick kiss, just a brushing of the lips. "You are just fine." She pulled him into a deeper kiss, trying to reassure the shaken kitsune. She turned to Hiei. "I know my parents, and if I try to tell them anything else at this point, they'll just get more suspicious. If anything else, I can give them Kurama's phone number and they can call and confirm my story, telling them that the two of you wanted to be here, as you had also been my friends, not just Yusuke's. We can add bits and pieces as we need to later, as if we had a normal developing relationship."
Kurama nodded, at least pulled out of his shock, though some depression was setting in.
Keiko looked over at her red-headed mate. "Hiei, I think it would be best if you stayed with Kurama while I went over to talk to my parents."
Hiei caught the direction that Keiko's thoughts were going. He only nodded.
"I'm sorry that I need a keeper." Kurama said.
"Hn, Fox, you've always gone out of your way for her." Hiei dropped his voice to a whisper, "It's no more than I would do for my sister."
Kurama looked up, giving Hiei a gentle look filled with pure affection mixed with gratitude at the concern the fire demon was directing his way. It seemed that Hiei was becoming more at ease with his feelings toward him and Kurama hoped that he would eventually come to fully accept him as readily as Keiko had.

Hiei dropped his eyes to the pavement, embarassed to be caught worrying about the fox. He wondered if he would be this bad if he ever told Yukina and she rejected him. This was why he always refused to tell her anything. But Kurama had tried. Tried to tell his mother the truth, now all that remained to be seen was whether she could accept her son. Kurama had been one of the most selfish beings in the entirety of the Makai, and had changed because of his mother. He had always been friends with the fox, but the addition of Keiko also seemed to introduce new nuances to their relationship.
For her part, Keiko simply smiled at both of her mates, encouraged by Hiei's words and the relieved expression blooming on Kurama's face. 'He'll be fine.' She thought, before leaning in to give them both a kiss on the cheek. "Well, I'm going to go and get this over with. I should be home by this evening, so you two had better be waiting for me." She said, stepping back.
Hiei caught her chin before she pulled back completely. "If you need an escort, you call."
Kurama bent down and returned her kiss, "Thank you for making me feel better. I shall stand by Hiei's words, too." He took her lips, deepening the kiss, but careful not to bruise her lips. "If you need anything, please call."
Keiko nodded. "I will, and don't worry you guys, this'll work, you'll see." And with that, Keiko left them as she made her way down the sidewalk in the direction of her parent's Noodle Shop.

~*~
Kurama unlocked his apartment mechanically, having fallen into a depression after Keiko had departed for her parent's house. He didn't know how she would fare, but he hoped it would be better than he had.
Hiei made Kurama sit down on the couch, knowing how devastated the fox felt. Kitsunes thrived on positive emotions. Playfulness, even hidden such as he had observed in Kurama for as long as he had known him, was acceptable. This sorrow would slowly kill the fox if let go too long. He was unused to initiating any kind of interaction with Kurama, normally the fox initiated any contact or conversation. He felt uncomfortable and wished Keiko was here to ease things between them.
Kurama thought of his mother, and how much she had taught him over the years, after he had stopped closing himself off from her. It was so much safer to not care, but Shiori had taught him that not all emotions were bad, but in this same way, they were double sided. The resounding sorrow that he felt would never have occured had he not let Shiori in his heart. He needed something to ease the pain that he felt and wished Keiko was there. She wasn't, but Hiei was. I'm sorry, Hiei, but I need to hold and be held at the moment, if this makes you uncomfortable, please, just try to bear with it. He thought to himself as he clutched the small demon to his chest, giving dry sobs.
Hiei stiffened for a brief moment, caught offguard by the sudden closeness, before relaxing and putting his arms around the fox, returning the embrace. It was a little awkward without Keiko there, as if they were missing something within themselves, but they, too, were mates and Kurama needed him. Needed him almost more than he needed to breathe at the moment.
"Why, Hiei?" Kurama asked.
Hiei shook his head. "It was a shock for her, Kurama. She needs a little time to become accustomed to the idea. Not all ningens are as accepting of us as our Keiko."
Kurama gave a chuckle that was half crying, "I guess you're right, but that still doesn't make the pain any less."
Hiei nodded. "Now you know why I have steadfastly resisted the urge to tell Yukina."
Kurama nodded back. "I know. You were womb companions with her and I was in Shiori's womb."
Hiei smiled. "And now our children will be womb companions as well." He stated, trying to get the fox to think about something happy, if only for a moment.
Kurama tightened his arms around Hiei, feeling the pride that came with being a father. He couldn't talk for a moment, due to the pleasant feeling swelling within his chest. When he did open his mouth, he realized that he didn't have anything he could say to that. He recognized what Hiei had done with that statement and appreciated him more than he ever had. He pulled back and raised the demon's face from his chest and bent down, pressing his lips to Hiei's.
Hiei's eyes widened in shock. He had never expected Kurama to react like that, though the thoughts of their children running around together and getting into all kinds of mischief as Keiko vainly tried to keep up with them filled him with a surge of pride too. Children, Keiko, his feelings for Kurama... all of these combined to swell until he had to let them out. He closed his eyes as he returned the kiss, feeling the first stirring of true feelings for this complex being that was also mated to him through Keiko.
Kurama sighed softly as he felt Hiei sink into the kiss, thankful that he did not resist or ruin a moment that meant so much to him. It was something that he needed desperately and would have most likely taken from Keiko had she been there. But she wasn't, and Hiei was, and Kurama couldn't help but feel how soft the fire demon's skin was, how pliant the lips beneath his were and couldn't help but attempt to deepen it further as he allowed one of his hands to stroke the side of Hiei's face.
Hiei let Kurama deepen the kiss, only feeling slightly awkward without Keiko's presence. He reached up and cupped the base of Kurama's neck, feeling the softness of the kitsune's hair. He heard Kurama moan and knew that he felt much better. After they broke the kiss off, he murmured, "I wish Keiko was here."
"I know," Kurama smiled, nodding. "We cannot go too far without Keiko."
Hiei nodded. "I can finally admit that I do have feelings for you, but . . ."
Kurama bent his head, eyes shining. "Thank you, Hiei. I myself prefer women." He murmured, then kissed Hiei, ~This doesn't mean that I can't have feelings, though.~
Hiei returned the kiss wholeheartedly. ~I know, Kurama.~ He brought his other arm around Kurama's shoulders, holding the taller demon gently.
Kurama moved his hand from Hiei's cheek, trailing down to his shoulder. He marveled for a moment at how strong Hiei was. He knew that Hiei was stronger than himself physically and always had, not that he was weak, far from it. Just different kinds of strength. This was a chance for them to explore the differences between them, as well as the similarities. Their feelings, which ran strong and deep needed to be stated, in action, if not deed. He started removing Hiei's scarf, only to be halted by the fire demon's strong hand. He looked questioningly up at Hiei's eyes.
"Clothes may be removed, yes." Hiei stated gruffly, "But there shall be none of that going on."
Kurama smiled, "Agreed. We shall wait on our mate for that. Are touches acceptable, though?"
Hiei's eyes warmed slightly. "Only if I am allowed to touch you back."
Kurama's smile broadened until it was almost a grin. "I would be disappointed if you did not."
Hiei returned the smile with a shy one of his own and moved to Kurama's shirt to start unbuttoning it. He momentarily withdrew his arms so that he could remove his cloak, leaving his tank top on for the moment.
Kurama, in turn, stilled his own questing hands as Hiei finished unbuttoning his shirt to remove it. Both of them were trim, there was not an ounce of excess fat on either of them and their physique showed it. He let his hands travel down Hiei's arms, tracing muscles all the way down and hands that showed the effect of training with a sword as old, permanent callouses roughened Hiei's fingers. His own, he knew, were soft and delicate, almost feminine.
Hiei felt the delicate touches of Kurama's fingers against his own. He was not ashamed of his hands and knew they were strong enough to stand up to most challenges, strong and skilled. By comparison, Kurama's were soft and skilled with manipulation. Either of a seed, a trap, a woman's or man's body, as had been demonstrated earlier. He moved his own hands up Kurama's arms, feeling the slenderness of the wiry muscles. He knew that size was not everything and Kurama had never been bulky in the muscle area. His demonic form was more muscular, but still slender compared to his own compact form.
Kurama moved down Hiei's chest, plucking at the tank top that he still had on. He wanted bare skin under his hands, and if he couldn't have Keiko's, he needed his other mate's.
Hiei willingly cooperated by raising his arms so that Kurama could remove his shirt and moaned as he felt the cooler air hit his skin. He embraced Kurama, feeling skin pressing against skin. His arms moved over Kurama's back as he buried his face in the kitsune's neck, planting a soft kiss there.
In response, Kurama smoothed his own hands over the planes of Hiei's back as he threw his head back to allow for more access to his neck.
They were so encompassed in their actions of exploring one another that neither demon heard the door open, nor did they feel the presence of the woman who entered the room, only to freeze in her tracks as she stared transfixed at the startlingly erotic scene before her. As Keiko watched, Hiei began to tentatively trail light kisses along the column of Kurama's neck, making his way down to the kitsune's chest.
Unable to help herself, Keiko smirked. "Aww, no fair, you guys started without me!" She spoke in a teasing tone, waiting for their reactions.
Kurama looked over at their mate, strangely without any embarrassment and simply held his hand out to her, waiting to see what she would do. Hiei looked up as well, flushed, but also held one hand out to their mate, silently asking her to join them. Keiko's smirk broke out into a wide smile then, love she held for the both of them washing over her as she crossed the room, accepting each of their outstretched hands and allowing them to draw her into their arms.
Kurama pulled her to them, nestling her so that she was straddling Hiei's lap and her back rested against his chest. As the two demons wrapped their arms around each other, hugging her close, he asked, "How did it go?"
Keiko sighed, snuggling into her mates' arms. "As well as it could have gone. They agreed to let me move in with you guys, though they're most curious to meet the both of you. And of course, they weren't too happy about how the situation with Yusuke turned out, but other than that..." She trailed off, shrugging before applying a kiss to Hiei's chest.
Hiei shivered at the feel of Keiko's lips on his chest, but kept his mind focused. "Hn, so what did you tell them about us? And how we knew both you and the detective?"
Keiko looked at Hiei and sighed, "Well, I did kind of have to tell a fib or two. Kurama, my mother instantly recognized your human name and was astonished that I knew you. Hiei was a little more difficult to explain though. Back when Yusuke first took over this role as spirit detective, Botan told me this crazy cover story to avoid telling about all the kinds of things that I later learned when the Dark Tournament began. She told me that he was apprenticed to this detective who ran this program for delinquents, and that Yusuke was part of it. Well, I told my parents that you were that detective and had tried and failed to help Yusuke." She looked uncertainly up at Hiei, "I hope that's alright?"
Kurama pulled them all so that he was on bottom, even as Hiei smiled at Keiko. "That is fine, koi, however I think we are now interested in picking up where we left off." Hiei told her as his lips moved to Keiko's neck even as Kurama's hands moved to her shirt, seeking the treasures that were hid beneath her clothing...

~*~
Shiori watched the door close. She had heard the hurt in his voice as he left and knew that she would have one chance, if she wanted it. She looked down at the scars marking the backs of her hands and felt her throat tighten up as the tears threatened to well up. All these years, her Shuichi had been lying to her. The soul looking out of his eyes had never been the same as hers. She bent over where her son had sat, smelling the faint smell of roses that always seemed to cling to him, but never made him smell girly and wept, still clurching the white rose that he had given her. When she finally stopped crying, she started thinking about the pictures that she had taken as her son was growing up.
In the midst of her sorrow and desperately searching for something in which to anchor herself to the realm of sanity, she rose from where she knelt and made her way upstairs. She tread the length of the hallway, pausing only briefly at the door that had been her dear son's room before continuing on until finally reaching the door that lead to her own bedroom. She went inside, closing the door softly behind her before crossing the room to kneel before the large oak chest at the foot of her bed.

Tenderly, almost lovingly, she raised the lid. Reaching inside, she withdrew what she had come to get -- a stack of picture albums. Some were old and worn, the bindings coming loose and not holding the pages within quite right. But still, she picked them up, moving to sit on the side of her bed and placing the stack beside her. She picked up the top one, the one with the blue vinyl cover. She had bought it a few months before Shuichi had moved out and had made it her purpose to fill it with as many snapshots of her son as she could manage to take before the day he had left the roost, striking out on his own. Essentially leaving her.
How she'd dreaded that day, when her beloved son would become a man and leave the home she had raised him in, had made so many precious memories in. She opened to the first page, laughing lightly through her tears as she saw the first picture, one of her son as she'd caught him offguard, snapping the picture as he'd stood in the kitchen in a baggy shirt and sweatpants, not the most immaculate attire like he usually wore. He'd been preparing himself a sandwich to snack on and the look on his face had been priceless when he'd realized what she was doing.
She turned the page again to see a picture of his room before it had all been packed. Everything neat and tidy. She softly smiled as she remembered that he had always been that way too, even as a small child. She quickly rifled through this, the most recent of the albums, reminding herself of who he had been to her. He had always been the ideal son, perhaps a bit too quiet. She frowned as she tried to remember how many friends he had had over the years, which didn't seem as many as it could have been. Especially considering that they'd never moved.
She reached in and dug out one of the oldest, from elementary school. She opened the book, only to see her son's eyes staring out at her from his first grade picture. She never realized how old his eyes looked, the memory having faded over time. She quickly turned the pages, pausing every so often, reminding her of all too precious times when he was unguarded with his expressions. He had always been serious as a child, as if he was much older than she was, even from the child's body. She came across one that caused her to cry once again: The project that Shuichi had finished, her hands still bandaged. She knew this because one of her fingers was in the picture. There was Shuichi, looking up at her with an emotion other than the distant one that she had seen in the pictures up to now. This was the son that she knew, and knew that she still, even now, loved. This Shuichi was smiling, a softer, sadder smile, as if he remembered every time that he had pushed her away to either do it himself, or turn away from emotions that she felt. This was the turning point of their life together. She quickly flipped through the rest of the album, seeing the same expression on her son's face.
He had held that look, so rich and vibrant in the devotion he'd shown her, just a few moments ago, right up until she'd single handedly extinguished it with her silent denial of his revelation.

'What have I done...'
Tears welled up again in her eyes, though these were bitter ones as the realization of what she'd done finally dawned on her. Shiori stood up, placing the album she held on top of the stack on the bed, leaving them there as left the bedroom, making her way downstairs.
You have my phone number and know where I live.
Indeed, she did. She had made it a necessity, to memorize his phone number and the exact directions to his new apartment, in case she decided she wanted to stop by, or simply to hear his voice. She entered the foyer, going over to the closet to pull out a light jacket, glancing over her shoulder into the living room as she did so. For a moment, she gazed at the couch that her son and his two...friends...had sat in earlier. Giving a small smile, she quickly pulled on her coat and grabbed her car keys, knowing what it was she had to do.
~*~

TBC....

~*~
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The Betrayal