The divine goddess glanced at the rarity that she had just given birth too. At the time the task had seemed simple enough as it always was. Take the essence around her, air-water-ground, shape it to her liking, molding it into perfection as she saw fit and breathed her own life force into it. Now as the newly formed being glanced up at her with innocent orbs sparkling a brazen gold she lowered herself to her knee's astounded at her own miraculous creation.

The being was male, a spirit fox but of the kind she had never created before. Her children were many and thrived mostly in nature, forests, oceans, even volcano's, but never had she seen a being so close to her own perfection. She extended a hand out towards the young kitsune along with a warm smile that any mother would most certainly give upon the birth of a child relishing in the moment.

"You shall be called Kurama no Youko." She spoke as softly as the ancient winds that she herself had created many centuries before hand carrying with it the warmth and promise of spring. The spring had in fact arrived for her. She could feel the warmth of a fresh sunshine build and rise from deep with in her as her newborn son stood shakily walking closer to her with the confidence any child would give to their mother. He knew who she was. She was creator, giver of new life. Not just to him however but to all things of nature.

The grassy fields were the quilts she quilted with such painstaking care. The oceans and sea's were the remnants of tears she had cried over the loss of her love Lord Enma. Volcano's erupted from the anger she had felt when her tears had finally ceased and dried. The seasons were of her accord as she saw fit to change them but most often she followed a pattern so as to give her children time to adjust to weather changes. There were times however she simply had to scold one or two and the entire lot had to suffer. Such were the difficulties of being a mother to so many. She was all of these things yet as Kurama nestled into her arms and was held close to her he knew she was but one thing to him.

'Mother.'

Kurama sat in his class staring straight ahead in a vain attempt to block out the story that was being read aloud. He feared if he glanced in any direction tears may spring to his eyes at the very thought of his, in all intents and purposes, birth mother. The very fact that stories of his birth had reached human text unsettled him to no end but knew that was thanks to one of his many brothers or sisters whom had told the story through the ages perhaps out of spite or jealousy.

The heavy chimes of the school bell rang lifting some of the crushing weight from the kitsune's chest and shoulders. The students all stood, Kurama included, to bow to their teacher before book bags were grabbed as the children hurried out the door. After a long work week, extra homework, exams and such, Sunday was welcomed gratefully. Kurama slung his bag over his shoulder after the other students had left as he normally did. It was an attempt to evade any stragglers who may follow after him. Mostly girls but boys were no exception either. Had he still been the youko he had been many of those girls wouldn't have their virtue any longer in tact nor would the boys have any breath in their lungs. Such was the price of being Shuichi. As much as he may have wanted to act out he had to behave. There was many an instance he had to stand off to the side by himself to take deep breaths or excuse himself quickly to a restroom to splash cold water onto his face and stare at the green eyed red haired boy that stared back at him.

"Be good. Be good. Good, good, good." He'd repeat to himself as water would drip from his chin to fall on the sink that he clutched so tightly, his arms trembled as his knuckles turned white.

"For mother." He would conclude before closing his eyes and reaching for a towel to dry his face with. Today however he was uncertain if he would be able to control his temper. Minimal contact was the best solution, solitude the best method.

The warm breeze enveloped him wrapping its arms around him as he stepped out into the open air. It felt as if arms had encircled his body, safe, secure.

'Mother.' He thought remotely in some part of his mind. He dismissed the thought quickly knowing that she at this point in time had little to nothing to do with him. She had abandoned him long ago after his whims became too much for her to handle. The shame when he had taken on the mortal shell of a demon. The fear and eventual impending capture as he plundered all three worlds to his liking. Ever y gift she had bestowed upon so many creatures he tainted. The way he had sullied her good name to make his own fancies and selfish wants a reality, it was now too much for him to bare. The very thought of how she must have reacted when she found out her child had in fact, in a last ditch effort of supreme selfishness, stolen a human body and deceived the mother to whom the child was to be born too, Kurama hung his head in shame, the burden of too many regrets for one lifetime weighing him down heavily.

"Hey buddy!" The loud voice that yelled to him from across the street forced his train of thought to a screeching halt. Kurama stopped dead in his tracks.

"Please, not today." He said softly to himself bringing a hand to rub at his eyes tiredly.

"Hey! Kurama! I'm talking to you man!" The voice boomed closer this time as a car horn honked and curses were exchanged.

"Please not him." Kurama shut his eyes tightly taking a deep breath as his body trembled. He would have to reprimand Kuwabara for using his demon name in public…again.

The thought to simply walk away or turn on the teenage boy savagely briefly crossed his mind but clashed against what he knew he had to do.

"Good, good, be good. Be Shuichi." He whispered fiercely out through gritted teeth his hands clenching into fists. "For… Shiori, my mother."

"Hey man what's up?"

Kurama turned to face the orange haired boy.

"Nothing really. Just walking home from school. How have you been Kuwabara? It's been a while since I've seen you around." Kurama stated his usual calm, composed and kind self. The two began to walk forward.

"I'm good you know. Nothing new really, just hanging out is all." He said. Kurama smirked at his friend and nodded his head once in agreement.

The sun faded behind an ominous cloud as the winds around them picked up laced with an icy breeze that chilled the two to the bone.

"Damn how did it get so cold all of a sudden?" Kuwabara wondered aloud crossing his arms in front of him over his chest. Kurama stopped dead in his tracks extending his arm out in front of his friend to stop him as well. "What's up man?"

"We have a visitor." Kurama stated turning around quickly on his heels. Kuwabara turned around as well to stare down the intruder. Time slowed to a halt as Kurama took in the being before him. Its long blue hair swayed in the breeze it had undoubtedly created. His breath hitched in his chest as it smiled up at him.

"What's the deal? It's just a kid." Kuwabara whispered loudly to him. Kurama shook his head once.

"No. Do not let its appearance fool you. This thing is not a child." He stated. The beings mouth turned down into a frown.

"Now, now is that any way to talk to your younger sister?" It asked meekly. Its voice laced with ice holding no malice behind it however. Frosty air escaped from its lips as it spoke softly.

"What do you want from me?" Kurama asked deciding the direct approach was the best at this particular moment in time.

"Mother wishes your company." She said. Kurama felt his body tense of its own accord as the words entered his ears to sink into his mind. His mother…wanted to…see…him.

Kuwabara watched his comrade carefully from out of the corner of his eye and raised an eyebrow before a horrifying thought crossed his mind.

"You kidnapped his mom? Why you dirty little…" He stated pushing the sleeves of his school uniform up to his forearms as if readying himself for a fight.

"Huh?" The ice girl asked cocking her head to the side and knitting her brows together in confusion.

"No Kuwabara. Not my human mother. My…spiritual mother, the one whom created Youko." Kurama corrected softly his voice coming off as a mere whisper lodged in the back of his throat.

"Come now brother. Let us leave the simple human behind so we can hurry on the wind to mother." She said ignoring the grunt, glare and insult that was thrown her way by the now quite angry 'simple' human. Kurama nodded his head once in agreement knowing there was no other way around it. He took a step forward before stopping to turn to his friend.

"You're really going all by yourself with that thing?" He asked. Kurama gave a small nod of his head once.

"I fear the choice is not really mine to make. If I do not the consequences could be grave. Please inform my mother that I will be gone for a few days if you would be so kind." He said turning back around to follow the girl. He watched as it gleefully took his hand in hers and smiled up at him broadly.

"Well alright…as long as you'll be okay with it by yourself Kurama." Kuwabara stated. The breeze picked up again sweeping frosty mist across the path in front of Kuwabara's line of view. The mist swirled around the two ahead of him and consumed them. The trees around him settled as the breeze ceased and the mist dissipated leaving nothing but empty space in its wake.