As I walked down the hall to my mother's hospital room, I wondered...

Do I have the right to be here?

Do I have the right to call her my mother?

I stole her son's life. The life of an unborn child.

I had reached the door. It was open.

A horrible thing.

Why did I do it?

My own life was in danger.

I stood there, watching her sleep. She looked so calm.

Is that truly justification?

I am a demon. We are selfish beings.

Since when have I even cared?

No! I am human!

I am Kurama.

I am Suuichi.

My Youko instincts were telling me to leave. To abandon her.

She is weak.

What do I owe her?

What has she done for me?

...Taught me to care.

Walking into the room, I sat down beside her bed.

A demon is beholden to no one and nothing.

I am no longer a demon.

I am human.

I glanced around the room. It was so sparse...only one vase of flowers. From me.

I am all she has.

Why should I stay? Remorse, guilt, pain...I have known these. I have conquered these.

What binds me to her?

I looked at the figure resting on the bed. Really looked.

Love.

A human emotion?

I am human.

I am a demon.

She stirred. "Suuichi?" she whispered.

Suuichi...is that my name?

Or Kurama?

I took her hand.

Does it truly matter?

"I am here."

No...

All that matters is...

"Mother."

I am her son.

A/N: Short, I know. Gah. Sorry if it looks a little funky, the HTML coding wasn't working right. Oh well, thanks for reading. Please Review!

Asteria