It was a horrible, and yet memorable day. It was a day to gauge all others on. It was rainy, and dark, thunder warped across the sky like branches on a tree, and yet there was a mystical smell of Spring in the air. Like the smell of Grass growing, and of freshly fallen rain, the smell you smell only a few times in your life, and yet you can smell it any day of the week if you really want to.
It was that kind of day when we joined our heroes, on a herculean task. Raising children. Kurama laid on the couch leisurely, Yusuke standing around looking for something to do, Shizuru upstairs reading a book that had Fabio on the cover, and Hiei looking for some black mail under furniture.
Everyone looked as Kuwabara entered the house. He had his coat off, and wrapped around what he was holding. He was soaking wet, and looked adorably unhappy about it. Kuwabara kicked Kurama off the couch, in the literal sense, and lay the bundle on the blue plaid couch softly. Kuwabara couldn't care less that he made Kurama hit his head on the coffee table, or that he was getting the couch wet, but hey, this IS Kuwabara.
Kuwabara knelt and unwrapped the bundle with a soft loving hand, revealing a small, and adorable Neko-jin. She looked about five years old, with blond hair, and white fur. Her ears perked, the kittenish charm of her overly big ears awwing them all, her white tail twitched in a rhythim with her furry cute cat-feet, and she shivered. She had the Feet, the ears, and the tail of a cat, and the fur was somewhat matted and wet.
She wore blue sweatpants, and a green t-shirt, both were wet. She sniffled in her sleep, and tried to nuzzle into the warmth of Kuwabara's loving hands.
"I found her in the city. Some jerk just left her in a box on the side of the road. I heard her mewin', and rather than letting the other jerks from Yashima take her and make profit off her, I took her." Kuwabara explained. "Yusuke, get some dry clothes, maybe a t-shirt. Kurama, could you make something warm to eat, soup maybe? Hiei... don't kill her." Kuwabara picked up one of Shizuru's brushes that she left around, and began to unmat, and untangle the mess of funn and hair that he was holding.
"This has been happening on and off for quite a while now." Kurama sighed, and said from the kitchen. "Too often. Worst time of year..." He mumbled on and on.
"Every now and then someone finds a human-animal on the side of the road. They normally kill it. It happens every year. Damned Demons who don't want the responsibility of what they themselves produced." Hiei sighed, and pet her now untangled hair gently. She nuzzled into his hand, holding it sweetly, and licking it in her sleep.
"That's horrible. I'm not going to let that happen. I'm going to raise her." Kuwabara vowed. "I won't let an innocent child die."
"I'm not going to let you raise a demon the human way." Hiei growled. "I'll raise her."
"I think she should be raised by someone who has raised a demon before." Kurama said "I'll take her in."
"I don't think she should have to live with a cat-eater, you fox." Yusuke said, tossing a large t-shirt to Kuwabara. "My mom can take care of her."
"Shut up. She's staying." Shizuru said, coming downstairs, hearing the ruckus. "She's adorable."
"How old do you think she is?" Yusuke asked.
"5 or so." Kuwabara answered.
"Newborn." Kurama corrected. "They grow rapidly for the first few months, and if they survive, they start aging like we do, like a teen does."
"Since you guys know about the raising of a demon part, and I know what little girls like, I say we can raise her together. It's going to need to be a group effort." Shizuru sighed. "Raising a child is not like raising a cat."
Eikechi, however, thought otherwise, and jumped on the couch, and began to lick the fur clean, unmatting it, not letting Kuwabara brush her anymore.
"Well, it seems with the 6 of us, she'll turn out just fine." Yusuke chuckled.
Kurama came back with the oup, and put it down. He picked the girl up, and cuddled, and nuzzled her sweetly, cooing and changing her sleeping form.
"She's waking up." Kurama said, while cradling her in his arms.
Her eyes opened to show absolutely beautiful, but too large for her face, eyes, that seemed to stare straight into their souls.
"Hello, little one." Kurama cooed gently.
She giggled happily, and bat at Kurama's hair playfully, bringing it to her mouth, using both her hands and feet to do so, and chew. She laughed, and played for minutes on end, when she suddenly stopped, and looked around the room, sniffing. Her brown-yellow eyes searching each of them out.
"What is she doing?" Kuwabara asked.
"Normally there is a father, and mother. She must think Kurama's the mother." Hiei chuckled.
The girl wiggled, and tilted her head to the side, asking who was who.
"I'll play father." Hiei said sternly.
Hiei knelt next to the small girl, and nuzzled her slightly. The girl cooed, though she looked like she was 5, she was not capable of words quite yet. The girl held onto Hiei's shirt, and pulled herself into Hiei's arms. She nuzzled, and rubbed the sides of her face against his chest.
"What is she doing?" Yusuke asked.
"She thinks I'm daddy, so she's marking me, like she will Kurama. It means she accepts us as her parents." Hiei chuckled.
"Aww..." Yusuke ran a hand over her now poofy and dry tail.
She purred loudly.
"What's her name, Kuwabara?" Kurama asked.
"The box said Hajori." The girl looked as he said her name. "She already responds to it, so we can't change it."
"Hajori." Kurama said, and held some soup in his arms.
Hajori jumped to Kurama's lap, and Kurama spoon fed her, often having to bop her nose to make her let go of the spoon. She understood, but their would forever be indents of fangs on that spoon.
Hajori then proceeded to make Hiei snuggle Kurama.
"What is she doing now?" Yusuke asked.
"She obviously just wants her parents to love eachother, as we love her. When the parental mates are happy, it means that they love eachother more, and love her more as well. She wants a happy family." Kurama laughed hysterically.
"I'm REALLY glad I don't go that way, Kurama." Yusuke said flatly. "I love you like a brother, but dude, I'll never screw another dude."
"I'd be seme." Kurama chided.
"Who's the mom in the relationship?" Hiei teased.
Hajori began to bawl at the sight of her 'parents' fighting.
"Back off." Kuwabara growled, and picked Hajori up, and rocked her gently in his arms, humming softly.
Hajori cooed, and held on to Kuwabara tightly. She looked up at him innocently, and bit his finger roughly. Kuwabara bopped her nose and said "No." She looked confused, but licked the now bleeding finger sofly.
"She bit you." Hiei said, kind of shockedly. "She just bit you."
"Kittens bite, they also scratch, but if I can train Eikechi to use the toilet, I can teach pretty little Hajori some manners." Kuwabara tried to pull the finger away, but it was no use, she was latched onto his arm.
"It's been a long day. I say we all get some sleep." Shizuru ordered more than gave permission. "Who ever decides to sleep over, which I know you all will, because we have a baby, there are blankets in the closet."
"Kurama, Hiei, take Hajori, and go sleep in my bed. She'll thrive from being with you." Kuwabara said, and handed Hajori to Kurama, who nodded, and jogged up the stairs.
"What will Koenma say about this?" Kurama wondered.
"Well, first he'll ask how the heck a Kitsune, and a Hanyou made a Neko-jin then"
"Okay, nevermind!" Kuwabara sighed.
Half the night passed, when there was mewling coming from between Kurama and Hiei. It must've been atleast 3 AM. It was hysterical, almost like a death cry. Hiei instanly awoke, and picked the girl up in his arms. He cradled the girl for about a minute before realizing she must've been hungry. He smiled at her tearful eyes, and she calmed slowly.
He got out of bed, and carried her to the kitchen. He took a little soup, and set her on the floor a moment. He turned and put it in the microwave, when he turned back, Hajori had eaten all the bacon from the fridge they had saved for the next morning. He shook his head, and was about to pick her up, when a seperate pair of arms grabbed her, and held her, burping her. Hajori let out a large belch, and snuggled into the person.
"Go back to bed." Kuwabara said. "I'm up anyway, I'll be up for a while, and so will she. Go get some sleep."
"Hn."
"Go. I'll take care of her." Kuwabara walked into the living room, and sat in the lazy chair, putting the feet up, and leaning it back, and then pulling a blanket over them both.
Hiei sighed, and went back to bed. He would like the night of rest. He wouldn't get a good nights sleep for a good long time. He slipped back in bed, and Kurama spooned to him. He had a feeling this wasn't the last of it all. Kuwabara made a big mistake by bringing Hajori here. He should've just left her. In the recesses of his mind he could hear baleful crying of a baby kitsune that would come into their future soon.
When the gang woke up, and went to the living room they saw the sweetest thing, Hajori snuggled up with blankets surrounding her, like a nest, on Kuwabara's stomach. She was purring loudly, and Kuwabara, who had just fallen asleep, was holding her tight. Kurama and Yusuke 'Awwed', and Shizuru just shook her head.
"How fast do they grow?" Shizuru asked.
"In a month she'll be able to talk fluently, in 6 months she'll be equal to us in age, and mental capabilities." Kurama sighed. "They grow up so fast!"
"You're such a mother." Yusuke shook his head.
"Where did Hiei go?" Shizuru asked, looking around.
The storm raged outside, and the wind blew the rain sideways, and there was hardly escape from the burning rain. Hiei opened the front door, shirtless, and holding a bundle.
"I heard howling. It seems to be that time of year. I couldn't see the last kitsune die off." Hiei sat ont the stairs, cradling a bundle of blankets. He held a sopping wet kitsune girl, looking as old as Hajori.
"Kitsunes always raise their young..." Kurama stood in awe.
"That means they died." Hiei nodded.
"I'll raise her." Kurama demanded.
"No. You two are the very last Kitsunes, I won't let you destroy the hopes for offspring." Hiei said, rubbing the girls nose, as she seemed to like it.
"I can raise her, then!" Botan popped in through the open front door, reasonably adorable in a pink parka. "I've always wanted a puppy!"
"She's a fox." Kurama growled. "They are closer to Felines." Which has been proven by the scientists in Canada.
"Close enough to a puppy for me! My, isn't she just gorgeous?" Botan held the little girl up.
She had black fox ears, tail, and feet, with her ears and tail tipped with a grayish white, and she had the most gorgeous amber eyes. She whimpered slightly, as Botan stopped petting her. She was very attention-to-me-oreiented. She was the center. Well, no wonder, the parenting Kitsunes normally starved themselves just to make sure they gave their children enough attention. Botan picked her up, and cradled her gently. Botan began to change her into clean clothes Shizuru brought down earlier.
"What's this little one's name?" Botan asked.
Hiei couldn't read. He never cared to learn, so instead he had ripped the label off of the box, and handed it to Shizuru, looking away embarrassedly.
"Office Depo?" Shizuru read confusedly.
"Other side." Hiei blushed.
"Hello, my name is Bingo, my parents were killed after my birth, and I am the last Kitsune alive, as far as I know. Who ever finds this, please take care of me, and you will eventually be rewarded, for having a Kitsune around pays off. I am forever in your debt." Shizuru read. "Raise me knowing who I am."
"Well, since three is a lucky number, anyone care to go and look for another?" Yusuke joked.
"That may actually be a good idea." Shizuru said. "If they grow as fast as you say they do, Kuwabara stands a chance of finding a girlfriend. Even if they just help him find a girl, he has to get out of the house. He needs to date like all normal people."
"Uh... Okay..."
"We don't have to go far." Kurama just opened the door, and there was a punked out new-born dog-thing sitting on the steps, trying to get out of the rain.
The girl looked back at him, and scowled. She bared her fangs, and howled out to the city. She was Wolf. With gray Wolf-ears, feet, and tail. She wore all black, and a necklace that said: Riko. It looked forged, and in a hurry. She was wet, and looked like she'd been alone for a few days maybe.
"Riko, you're welcome here." Kurama smiled.
She snarled at him. He tried to touch her, but she snapped at him, almost biting his hand.
"Hiei, go make sense out of this girl." Kurama gave up.
"Hn." Hiei went out the door, and Riko snarled at him. Kurama shut the door to let Hiei work the magic he had over small children.
Hiei went closer, and she growled deep within her chest. Hiei wore a blank face. She yipped at him, and bit his arm. He just stared at her oddly.
"I like pain." He said plainly.
Riko's eyes lit up, and she licked the bleeding wound clean. Hiei sat down, and began to get ready for this long wait. He had expirience with working with girls this way. They just needed to be broken down a little. Riko looked at him questioningly. Hiei raised an eyebrow, and shifted to sitting with his legs crossed.
Riko didn't wait a moment before leaping into Hiei's lap. Hiei suddely got the gist that this Riko girl was atleast three weeks older than the other two. Her advanced motor skills, her general understanding of what and why she is. The way she understood what he had said.
"Tiko is it?" Hiei asked, petting behind the girls ears.
"I am Riko." She had to be atleast a month or two.
"How old are you?" Hiei asked
"Almost Four Months."
"Come inside. These people want you here. They like people." Hiei assured.
"They have Kitsunes." Riko shook her head. "I don't like them."
"Neither do I." Hiei chuckled. "C'mon in. We'll get you some clothes, some food, and a warm place to sleep. If you want to leave after that, you're old enough for decisions like that." Hiei nodded.
"You'll let me leave if I want to?" Riko asked. "No questions asked?
"No quesitons. You have enough sense to know what's best for you." Hiei nodded.
"What'cha got for food?" Riko asked.
That was Hiei's answer. Hiei opened the door, and entered, Riko following him surlishly. She was soaked, dirty, and smelled like a wet dog.
"Her name's Riko. She doesn't need anyone to take care of her too much, she just needs a place to stay." Hiei said blandly.
"You're welcome to stay." Shizuru said. "If you want some clean clothes, I have some that'll suit your style, you want food, we have all the junk food you could ever want, if you want to sleep, we got pillows ad blankets glarore."
Hiei looked at Riko for a second, and she nodded. Hiei sniffed her quickly, and cringed. "She'd like a shower, some clothes, food, and a place to sleep. In that order, preferably."
Riko forced a bland smile on her face, in her way of trying to say 'thanks Jerkface'. She followed Shizuru to the upstairs, and into the bathroom. Shizuru set up a nice bath for the girl, laid out some clothes for her, and left to give her her privacy. Shizuru returned downstairs.
"What is she exactly?" Shizuru asked.
"Some sort of Inu-jin half breed with a damed immortal." Hiei sulked.
"What's that mean for her future?" Kurama asked curiosly. "Cross breeding is dangerous."
" She'll be normal, she'll also be quite the looker." Hiei rolled his eyes. "We seemed to get the good-looking bunch of kids. Last time I raised an orphan he was just so funny looking... and he is so awkward looking still!" Hiei shuddered. "God! It's always so weird looking!"
"I'm not even going to ask." Botan chuckled
Kurama cooed at Hajori, who had taken a nap, and was just waking up. "Hello, Little one." Kurama smiled.
"Would it be smart to let them all near eachother?" Botan asked.
"Cats and dogs don't like eachother, maybe if we introduce them early enough, they'll learn to be friends." Shizuru suggested.
"I'm not sure I'm willing to share! She's just so cute!" Botan shrilled lightly.
"Put her on the floor with Hajori." Kuwabara took Bingo out of Botan's arms, and put her on the floor, waking her up completely. Kurama put Hajori next to her.
Hajori cocked her head, and mewed at Bingo a little. Bingo sniffed her, and yipped. It was quiet for a minute, they just stared indifferently. Bingo yipped nervously, and Hajori blinked at her confusedly. Bingo yipped again. Hajori mewed in return.
"Too... Cute!" Botan squealed.
"They don't understand eachother." Yusuke chuckled, bellowingly, making Hajori jump, and Bingo yip at Yusuke.
Bingo softly pushed her head into Hajori's and yipped real quiet-like.
"They understand eachother perfectly. You scared Hajori, and Bingo is calmng her down." Kuwabara pointed out. "It's like some sort of something known by everybody. Like a universal sign."
"Like the Batman sign?" Yusuke asked.
"No. Like a hug, or holding someone's hand." Botan rolled her eyes.
"Oh..."
Bingo yipped loudly, and excitedly, jumping around a little. Hajori was confused, but began to understand. Bingo wanted to Play!
'Catch you." Hajori said in a language only their own.
'Try me.' Bingo began to run, and Hajori gave chase around the living room.
"Maybe I prefer them when they sleep." Yusuke sighed.
K-wings: I must leave you here so I can update right now. Hugs and... hugs...