Thank you Soto Aikido for reviewing. If I keep your interest, sweet, but if I don't please let me know why.

~Yasha's Sis

Chapter 1

Mother of Two

Awareness came slowly.

I wasn't in the space again, I'd know that feeling anywhere, but that crushing presence was gone too. In its place, there was something else, something beside me. I had mastered myself in my purgatory so panic wouldn't grab me here, but unease at the unfamiliar was a new and frightening companion.

My soul fluctuated stretching out to feel the boundary of my container and unexpectedly flinched away when it reached the sides. This prison was far smaller than my previous one. Wary, I drifted away from it to accidentally nudge the fellow occupant.

Whatever I brushed against, it certainly didn't like being disturbed because, irritable and unwelcoming, it pushed me away.

The forceful contact startled me enough to shrink in on myself.

I shouldn't be scared. I should be stronger. And I was angry that the presence inside frightened me so much more than the all-encompassing one, but it was just so tiring to keep hold of my sanity.

Why couldn't I be safe to relax just once without the hanging fear of losing myself to the darkness?

~*ADMW*~

CRASH.

"Argh, you little brats!" A man yelled.

Eighteen year old Urameshi Atsuko growled at the retreating backs of her children from their apartment walkway.

"Yusuke! Get your ass back here!"

"No way! Izumi did it!"

"Did not!"

Four years ago, if you asked her what she'd be doing in five years' time, she would have laughed and shoved a bottle in your hands saying probably the same thing she was doing right now. To think the hellcat of Kaidan would be mother to two brats before the age of twenty.

No one would have guessed because although Atsuko had her fair share of fun, she picked her boyfriends with extreme prejudice. It just sucked her first venture into carnal bliss ended with a lifetime commitment and the end to her formerly endless freedoms. And, of course, her spawn would be as wild and headstrong as herself. The woman sighed, reluctantly closing the door with a snap.

Those two would be the death of her, she was sure of it.

"Atsuko, baby, they ruined my shirt!" Dark brown eyes blinked at the figure before her, belatedly remembering why she had chased the little devils in the first place. Atsuko had to bite back a grin at the grape jelly staining the silk shirt of her most recent fling.

"Ah, sorry Reiji. They got away from me. I'll handle it when they come back." The man's face twisted in a pout as he fingered the condiment splashed across his chest. The look was wholly inappropriate for a 25 year old man, let alone someone she usually associated with. Perhaps her devils were trying to prove a point.

"But, Atsuko, this shirt cost 8000 yen!" Ugh. A whiner. Why had she started dating him again?

Atsuko made a noise of sympathy, brushing past him to the kitchen. The jelly was gone but maybe they still had some marmalade in the cabinet. Izumi begged her to buy a jar last time they went to the market. Her search for sustenance was interrupted by large hands grasping her waist and pushing her flush against the counter. As Reiji pressed a kiss to her bare shoulder drawing goosebumps, Atsuko smiled.

She remembered now.

"Well since the brats are gone…" He trailed off meaningfully and Atsuko glanced at the clock. She had about another two hours before they ran back to grab some food.

Plenty of time.

Quite content, with 20 minutes to spare before the kids returned, Atsuko gave a careless wave as Reiji called farewell from the door. Whiner the guy may have been but he certainly made up for it in wonderfully creative ways. The woman grinned as she stretched luxuriously on her way to the bathroom. There was just enough time to shower and order take out.

"Ow! What the-?" Clutching her throbbing foot, Atsuko scowled at the lego pieces scattered outside her bedroom door. At time like this, she wondered if her kids planned these traps when she irritated them. Yusuke was probably the mastermind. Far too often had she heard her lovers yelp in pain from a devilishly sharp piece of plastic to the foot. Damn things were cheap, effective weapons for ages 5 and up. She stooped to grab the scattered pieces with a sigh, eyeing the trail leading to her children's room. I suppose that's one way of deterring unwanted visitors.

Snagging the corded phone as she made her way past the table, Atsuko called a quick order of miso, shrimp, and pork ramen from the Yukimura girl's parents while picking up the plastic nuisances. That handled, the young woman kicked the door open and dumped the small armful of toys on her son's dark red sheets. She grinned as she pulled the covers over the pile and smoothed the lump down. Two could play the game, kid. The shout of surprise when her boy jumped on the mattress would be sweet, sweet music.

Mischief accomplished, Atsuko smiled at the posters dotting the wall over Yusuke's bed. They ranged from MMA champions to action hero celebrities. The boy took a disturbing fascination with fighting to the degree that all he and his sister did- outside of terrorizing Atsuko's peace of mind- was wrestle and maul one another in the street. God forbid the day Yusuke started picking fights with other people. Although they clashed almost every day, the loyalty his sister showed to him was beyond comprehension. They wouldn't just be getting one Urameshi to brawl if anything started.

Maybe it's time to introduce them to Kashi- kun. She smiled fondly. He could certainly use a change of pace, old bastard.

Atsuko stepped back, ready to shower and savor the last 15 minutes of quiet, when something crinkled underfoot drawing her gaze.

A sketch of a fox peeked out from under Atsuko's small feet. "Wow, Izumi-chan. You're getting better." She gently peeled the paper from the sole and placed it on the nightstand on her daughter's side of the room. Where Yusuke enjoyed flashy bold colors, Izumi favored calmer greens and yellows on her bedding. Fantasy worlds of magic, demons and space decorated her wall and Atsuko wondered if that was what began Izumi's artistic efforts. The girl could draw and Atsuko's last fling couldn't help teasing Yusuke's stick figures to his sister's more advanced attempt. For only four, the girl was surprisingly capable when it came to anything with a pen or pencil. Not that Yusuke lacked his own talents. Aside from a rabid love of violence- I would probably be concerned if I didn't go through the same phase-Yusuke had a knack for math. Despite his abhorrence of all things academic, Atsuko had a feeling he'd be alright in school because Izumi would make it into a competition that, frankly, Atsuko would never have attempted. It seemed wrong to pit two kids against one another but the little girl knew her brother and competition was Yusuke's weakness. Sure it was only in things that interested him or he had a talent in, but it was more than the woman expected. She, after all, couldn't give a crap about school.

The fox sketch fluttered at the turn of the desk fan and Atsuko lifted the edge of a sketch book to weigh it down. Curious, she turned the cover page to see what else her little girl had drawn. Amateur sketches of plants and animals filled the pages and Atsuko smiled at a cat that looked remarkably like the one who clawed Yusuke's arm up when he rescued it from a stray dog. They were good kids, the both of them.

The phone rang from the living room, startling the woman from her thoughts. Atsuko closed the book and turned from the room to quickly catch the call before it went to voicemail. "Urameshi residence?"

"Am I speaking to Mrs. Urameshi?" A deep baritone asked.

Atsuko rolled her eyes. "It's Miss. I'm not married."

"Oh." The man cleared his throat awkwardly. "My apologies. Miss Urameshi, I am Officer Nakaoka Chikatsu of Kaidan Metro. We have your children here-"

"What?! Are they ok?" What could have possibly happened to them? They were just supposed to be gone for a few hours.

The man, if anything, grew disgruntled at the inquiry. "They're fine, ma'am."

Perfect brows furrowed together in confusion. "Then why are they there?"

"They're in custody, ma'am."

"They're FOUR." Atsuko snapped, already tugging on a pair of jeans. "What could four year olds do to warrant this?!"

"I'm afraid I can't say over the phone, ma'am." Was the clipped reply. Atsuko swore.

"I'll be there in 20 minutes." Those kids are going to be the death of me.

~*ADMW*~

Feedback is much appreciated.

~Yasha's Sis