Disclaimer: I don't own YuYuHakusho

Chapter Two

Seiji sat at the table swinging his legs back and forth, flipping through a book. Kioko stood in a chair helping their grandmother decorate the cookies.

"Seiji want to help with the decorations?" Shiori turned toward him, still holding Kioko.

"No."

"Sei, come on." Kioko gave him her best pouty face.

He avoided eye contact. "I said no. I'm not interested."

Shiori sighed. They were almost six now. She remembered when Suichi went through a defiant stage at that age. Like father like son, she giggled to herself.

Hana moved about the kitchen making preparations for dinner. For most of the day she wondered whether to wake Kurama or not; even now she wondered.

There wasn't much for her to do after Hiei left. She took a jog around the neighborhood then came back home and cleaned. Then up until a few moments ago she had rested on the couch. "But I guess it's all right."

"What's all right?" Kurama asked sleepily.

Hana smiled. "Oh well look who decided to finally wake up."

"Was I out for that long?"

"Most of the day. Reminded of when Sei and Kio slept all day for their first time." She wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Speaking of Sei and Kio, they aren't back from mom's yet?"

"As of half an hour ago they were decorating cookies. So Makoto will pick them up after he gets off." She let go of him and went back to the counter. "So I thought I fix dinner a little later than usual, as you can see."

Kurama rose a brow. "So we're still alone?"

Hana's head perked a little. She cut her eyes down to the side. "Yes for a few more hours." She swallowed and her breath caught as Kurama stepped close behind her.

"Thanks again for taking them this weekend Mrs. Minamino." Makoto said as they walked to the door. The twins were packing their things.

"Of course Makoto. I love my grandkids. I'd watch them any day, any time."

"I'm ready." Kioko hurried to the hall. "Bye grandma." She hugged Shiori and sprinted to the car.

Seiji was further behind, walking. "Bye grandma." He gave her a hug and kiss on the cheek.

Makoto watched them both get situated in his car. "Is Seiji okay?"

"He hasn't really talked about anything bothering him." Shiori smiled. "Suichi was like that at Seiji's age; a family trait." She giggled a little. "Well you better be off." She gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Do let me know when you've dropped the children home and when you get home."

"Of course." He bowed. "Good night."

"Rose...Rose. Why such is your name, Rose?"

A bat demon walked into the room. "Are you still going on about that girl?"

The fox demon glared up at him. "She is my precious Rose, my Roslyn."

"Roslyn eh? Haven't heard that name in decades. I don't see the connection between the two but whatever makes you happy." The bat demon shrugged. "By the way, seeing as you are so gung-ho about Rose, must mean that you've found her." The bat smile. "My long lost buttercup."

Kurama opened the door when the bell rang. Kioko hurried in passed him, cookies in her arms. "No hug?" He questioned with a smile. Seiji lagged behind, walking slowly passed him. Kurama watched with a tad of concern.

"Hey, home safe and sound." Makoto said, coming up the walk.

"Is that so?" Kurama eyed him. "One kid is hyper and the other is desolate?"

Makoto nodded. "I know. Your mother didn't know what was wrong with him either. She said he didn't want to talk about it no matter how many times she asked him about it." He laid a hand on Kurama's shoulder. "He wouldn't talk to me either so perhaps you can get through to him." Makoto yawned. "Well I have an early day tomorrow. Good night."

"Yeah good night. And thanks for picking them up."

Makoto glanced up the stairs and back to Kurama with an odd smile on his face. "Oh no problem." He snickered as he went down the walk to his car.

Kurama shook his head as he closed the door. He went to the kitchen where Kioko had cookies and milk out. "Kio don't eat too many before bed."

"Okay daddy." She said, one cookie half eaten and another in her hand.

He smiled before looking up the stairs. "Did Sei go upstairs?"

"Umhm."

Sighing Kurama went up to Seiji's room. "Sei?" Kurama knocked on the door before opening it.

Seiji was sitting at his computer desk, staring out the window.

"Seiji is everything okay?"

He cut his eyes toward Kurama. "I don't want to talk about it."

Kurama stood in the room for several minutes. "All right. I'm gonna get Kioko ready for bed. I'll be in to tuck you in afterwards."