Title: Meetings at the Park

Author: KaL KeY

Summery: Kurama, a single mother. Yomi, a father with limited visitation rights. A chance meeting. GenderBender. AU. YomixFemKurama. 1st time trying this pairing. YusxKei, KuwaxYuk, HixMu.

Rating: T and will most likely stay as such. (Rated such for bad language in future chapters, thanks to Yusuke.)

Warning: Modern AU. Gender Bender. Het. Yaoi (if you want to consider it that – the yaoi pairing is the gender bender pairing). Original Character's (OC). May also be Out Of Characters (OOC).

Pairing: YomixFemKurama, KuwabaraxYukina, YusukexKeiko, HieixMukuro.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Yu Yu Hakusho gang, but I do own all of the OC's. (so please don't steal!).

OC's: Yuriko, Tori, Nyoko, Akeno, Maemi, Kei, Tamae, Machiko, Teiljo, Kain Tachibana, and Mr. Kita.

Beta: Rei-chan again! THANKS!

Take Four

Kurama was at Yomi's, dropping Yuriko off for the evening. Shura had let her in a few minutes before, his father being in the shower. Shura and Yuriko had decided to watch some TV, the two sitting on the couch together. She had taken a seat at the table, planning to wait till Yomi got out before she left. She had only been sitting for a moment when someone had knocked on the door. Kurama stood up from the kitchen table, moving towards the front door.

She opened the door, finding a man slightly taller than her, with amber brown hair and green eyes. She blinked, watching him size her up as well. "You must be Kurama." He stated.

She nodded. "And you are?" She asked. He had to know Yomi in some way.

"Kain Tachibana." He answered. "I'm Yomi's boss."

"Oh. Come in." Kurama stepped to the side, letting him enter the apartment. "Yomi's in the shower right now. Does he have work to do?"

"Na. Just came to see Shura." Kain grinned at the red head. She was even prettier in person. "I'm Shura's Godfather." He explained.

"Oh." Kurama turned, looking over to the couch. "Shura." She called, the boy turned to look at her.

His eyes went big, a large smile forming on his face. He hopped off the couch, ran across the room, and threw his arms around Kain. "Uncle Kain!"

Kain returned the hug, ruffling Shura's hair in the process. "You behaven?" He asked the boy.

"Ya hm." Shura answered right away. "Come meet Yuri."

Kain nodded, letting Shura drag him over the couch. On it set the little girl from the picture, Kurama's daughter. She had been watching them from her spot with large green eyes. He smiled at her, which she returned. "Hi."

"Hi." She brought her Sippy-cup up, taking a drink.

"Yuri, tis Uncle Kain." Shura sat back on the couch, next to Yuriko.

"Tay." She slipped off the couch then, Sippy-cup hitting the floor, going to her mom. Kurama picked her up, letting Yuriko sit in the cradle of her crossed arms, Yuriko's legs spread around her stomach.

"What's wrong sweetie?" She asked her daughter. Yuri had never been one to be shy, not with anyone that she had ever met.

"Whe'e Yomi?" Yuri asked.

"Right here." Yomi grinned at them, coming into the room. "How'd you get in?" He asked, he could have sworn he locked the door before going to the shower.

"Shura let me in." She answered, giving said boy a disapproving look. "I would say using a chair."

Yomi sighed, shaking his head, wondering when Shura became big enough to do that. He took Yuriko from Kurama, the little girl having been reaching for him since he walked into the room, holding her against his chest. "And you?" he asked Kain.

"She let me in." He responded, nodding towards Kurama. The two did look good standing next to each other. "Thought I would visit Shura for a bit. Didn't realize you had company."

"I actually have to leave." Kurama turned to look at Yomi. "She's usually goes to bed at 8, but you don't have to worry about that. I won't be done till around 9:30, so I should be back before 10."

Yomi nodded. "Alright."

"Thanks again. I didn't know who else to turn to." She told him. "Bye sweetie, listen to Yomi." Kurama kissed Yuriko on the forehead.

"Bye bye." Yuriko started to wiggle, wanting down.

"Don't worry about it. I don't mind." He put Yuriko down, pushing her towards the couch, where Shura sat, eyes glued to the TV. "You're taking the bus?" He knew that Kurama didn't own a car.

"Yeah. It will drop me off just down the street from the YMCA." She turned, gathering her art supplies.

"Be careful."

"I always am."

Yomi opened the door for her, letting her out of the apartment. He closed the door behind her, then turned to Kain. "Normally I'd let you take Shura out somewhere, but I need him to stay here."

Kain shrugged, sitting at the table, having already figured that. Yomi joined him, leaving the kids to watch TV. "YMCA?"

"She does an art class there every Saturday." Yomi answered.

"You always watch the girl?"

"I believe she usually goes to her grandparents place." Yomi answered. "Kurama said that her Stepdads work was having some kind of party, which was why she didn't have a babysitter for Yuriko tonight."

"Stepdad?"

"You are not getting anything else out of me." Yomi told him, standing. "Drink?"

"Sure."

Kurama stepped out of the YMCA, breathing in the late night air. She waved to a group of high school kids that had been in her class that night, reminding them to go straight home. They nodded, but she knew better. She could remember being that age. They would not be going home at ten on a Saturday night. She smiled to herself, shaking her head. She moved her bag's strap farther up onto her shoulder, turning towards the bus stop. She hoped she hadn't missed the last bus of the night, it was a long walk back to her apartment from the YMCA, something she didn't want to do tonight.

"Need a lift?"

Kurama turned, eyes easily finding Yomi. He was leaning back against the hood of his car, which was parked just a little ways down from the bus stop. "Yomi."

"Figured that you might like a ride back. The last bus ran a good thirty minutes ago." He explained, standing up straight.

"Where's the kids?" She asked, moving over to him. He smiled at her, taking her bag from her, leaving her with her art case.

"I left them with Kain. Both are already asleep in Shura's bed, so I figured that he could handle it." He opened the back door on the passenger side, placing her bag on the back seat. He stepped out of the way, letting her place the rest of her things on the floorboard.

"Are you sure about that? Those two can be a handful for someone who is used to them." She reminded him, getting into the passengers seat while he walked around the car.

"He's three times their size, he can sit on them if he needs to." He started the car, pulling away from the bus stop.

"That's true, but there are two of them."

"Yuriko can be held down with a feather, no real problem there."

Kurama laughed lightly, nodding her head. "That's true, she is tiny."

"She'll grow."

"I don't know about that. Her father is only 4 foot 9."

"Your kidding." He laughed lightly, trying to image Kurama, all 5'7" of her, standing next to a 4'9" man.

"No. What he lacks in height, he makes up for in attitude." She smiled, knowing quite well where that laugh had come from.

Yusuke had often commented that he could not believe that the two of them had been sexual in High School, even a few times in their post High School years, all the way up till Hiei was married just over four years ago. The two had never officially dated, since it was not their cup of tea. They knew that they cared for each other, but they also knew that that care was not the kind of love you would build a relationship off of, defiantly not one for the rest of their lives.

Neither had ever wanted a serious relationship, not just with each other, but with anyone. That had changed when Hiei met Mukuro, it had just seemed meant to be. Hiei and Mukuro, having met in their last year of High School, hadn't started dating till a full year after graduation. Kurama had let herself try to fine someone as well in that time, and she had thought she succeeded like Hiei had, her relationship starting the same time as Hiei's and Mukuro's. That one hadn't ended well, though she would rather not think about it. She preferred to think about Hiei and Mukuro's successful relationship.

Their successful relationship did not change the fact that since High School, Kurama and Hiei had been sexual, and not just when Yuriko was conceived. Kurama and Hiei had not slept together from the moment that Heie ask Mukuro out, though they had slept together twice in the year before said relationship, and it stayed that way till that night that they ended up in bed after drinking to much, leading to their daughter. Neither of them regretted what had happened, they did not regret Yuriko in any way, and they sure didn't regret the 'relationship' they had in High School. To them, it was just another part of their friendship, the strongest and deepest friendship within their group of friends.

"I'm sure. Only way he would get any."

"Yomi!" She laughed.

"Respected." He clarified. "But then again, that too."

She laughed, shaking her head. "I wonder what will happen when you two meet."

"When?"

"Well, it's bound to happen. Shura is Yuriko's best friend after all."

"True. She's his as well."

"I know."

Yomi pulled into his assigned parking place, their apartments buildings were only a ten minute drive from the YMCA. He cut the engine, getting out of the car. He walked around, gathering her bag out of the back seat, letting her get the rest of her things before locking it.

"It was bound to happen though." She commented as they made their way to his apartment. "When two children play together, especially when it's like a treat because they don't get to see each other very often, they are going to build a stronger relationship."

"Not just with kids." Yomi smiled at her. She smiled back, cheeks flushing briefly. He opened his door, letting her enter his apartment.

Kain looked up from where he was lounging on the couch, remote in hand. "Welcome back."

"Thank you." Kurama told him, sitting her stuff on the table.

"Your welcome. It was no problem." Kain grinned at her, then turned back to the TV long enough to turn it off, placing the remote on the side table. He stood, stretching. "I'd love to stay and chat, but I've got an early mornin'. I'm heading out."

"Alright." Yomi nodded. "Thanks for stopping by. Maybe sometime this week you can come pick Shura up for dinner or a movie."

"Sounds fine." Kain slipped his shoes on at the door. "See ya Yomi. Nice to meet ya Kurama."

"Like wise."

"Bye."

Kain smiled at both of them, then headed out. Yomi and Kurama both turned to each other, smiling.

"He's right though, it is late. I should probably head on home as well. Let me just go get Yuriko up." Kurama started for Shura's bedroom.

"Its late, let her sleep. You can sleep in my room and I'll help you take your things home tomorrow." Yomi told her, causing her to stop in the mouth of the hall way.

"Yomi." She turned slightly, looking at him. "This isn't appropriate."

"I don't mean it in anyway other than what I said. You'll have your hands full with just your art supplies, let alone trying to carry a sleeping Yuriko. On top of that, it's late. I don't want anything to happen to you or to her, or God forbid, both of you. Just stay here."

"Yomi."

He smiled at her, his eyes holding hers. "Please."

She signed, nodding, looking away. "Fine, but I'll sleep on the couch."

"That's going to make it a bit cramped, since that's where I was planning on sleeping tonight."

"Yomi." She smiled at him, shaking her head.

"Where else was I going to sleep if you were in my bed." He asked her, an eyebrow rising.

She laughed, head shaking again. "You are terrible you know that. A terribly wonderful man."

"Perhaps." He headed down the hall, moving towards his room. "I'll get you something to where."

"That's alright." She fallowed him.

"I insist. I also need to grab a pillow." He pulled out two pairs of sleeping pants, offering one to her. She took it, then the shirt he offered her.

"I really don't want to impose. Let me take the couch. It's your bed."

Yomi shook his head, getting a pillow off the bed. "Hush. That's enough of this. The bed is yours tonight. What kind of a man would I be if I let a lady sleep on my couch?"

"Not very gentlemanly." She answered, smiling.

"Good." He turned, walking to the door. "Good night, pleasant dreams."

"Pleasant dreams." She responded. He nodded at her, closing the door behind him. A second later she heard the bathroom door close as well. She smiled, bringing the clothes up to her chest. He really was a wonderful man. To bad that she had already decided that the only other person going to be in her life was Yuriko. She had to protect what was left of her shattered heart.

She closed her eyes for a moment, and that was all it took. A man with waist length black hair, kind blue eyes, a large smile, kind heart, a future. The image of that man lying in blood flashed across her mind next. She snapped her eyes open, shaking her head, clearing it of both the thoughts and images. It wasn't a good time for that, then again, there never was a good time to think about him.

She turned away from the door, moving over to the double bed. She quickly changed her clothes, slipping into Yomi's bed. She breathed deep; his cologne seemed to be infused to the bed. Her eyes closed again, knowing that the images would stay away. It was one of the things she had always been good at, she could suppress just about anything she didn't want to deal with. Hide it into the back of her mind where not even she could find it.

She slipped off to sleep, her breaths still pulling in that scent.

A squeal was what woke Kurama up the next morning, just second before a small body was on top of her. She opened her eyes, finding a set of matching green ones just inches from her fact. "Good morning Sweetie."

"Mornin Mommy." Yuriko leaned down, rubbing noses with her mom. Kurama smiled, returning the gesture. Kurama had started giving Yuriko Eskimo kisses when Yuriko was just days old, and it was still Yuriko's favorite way to greet her mother in the morning.

Kurama pulled back, letting her eyes move to the side, towards the door. Sure enough, there stood Shura, watching them. She smiled at him, getting a small one in response. Shura always became quite and shy when she and Yuriko would share a mother-daughter moment. "Come here." She waved him over. Shura slowly approached the bed, crawling up onto it when Kurama summoned him closer. She was now sitting up, Yuriko in her lap. Without a second thought, she leaned forward, rubbing her nose against Shura's. "Good morning Shura." The five year old gave her the biggest smile she had ever seen.

"Good morning 'Rama." He told her back.

Kurama gently pushed on Yuriko then, getting the little girl off of her lap, though she still had her attention trained on Shura. "Let's go see if your father's up yet."

Shura nodded, while Yuriko jumped off the bed, running out of the room. Before Shura and Kurama were even to the doorway of the bedroom, they heard Yuriko squealing. Kurama smiled, shaking her head. Yuriko had found him alright. She led Shura down the hall, entering the living room.

Yomi was laying on his back, eyes only half open. Yuriko was sitting on his chest, smiling at him. Kurama laughed lightly, going over to them. She picked Yuriko up, placing the three year old on her hip, smiling down at Yomi. "Never did need an alarm clock with her."

"I imagine." Yomi yawned, sitting up. The blanket fell around his waist, bare chest now visible. Kurama glanced at it briefly, then away, turning her attention to the squirming three year old.

"Essci kiss." Yuriko wined, reaching for Yomi.

"Yuriko." Kurama kissed the side of her daughters head, heart skipping a beat.

"Essci kiss. Essci kiss. Essci kiss." She continued to reach for Yomi.

"Essci kiss?" Yomi repeated, looking towards Kurama for clarification as he pulled Shura into his lap, ruffling his sons hair.

"Eskimo kiss." Kurama explained, blushing slightly.

"Eskimo kiss huh?" Yomi smiled at the mother and daughter. "One Eskimo kiss it is then." Kurama smiled at him. She shifted Yuriko around, placing Yuriko's back against her front, arms around Yuriko's belly. This allowed her to lower Yuriko enough so that he could give her daughter an Eskimo kiss. He pulled back from it, then kissed her right on her button nose, making her squeal again, feet kicking. He pulled completely back from the little girl, looking down at Shura, making sure that he wasn't upset. "What do you want for breakfast kiddo?"

"Pancakes."

"Pancakes it is." Yomi picked Shura up, placing him on the couch, then stood, moving towards the kitchen. Kurama sat Yuriko next to the five year old, turning the TV on for the two children, then moved to join Yomi in the kitchen.

"Thank you. Most men don't like things like that."

Yomi turned slightly, looking over at Kurama. "It was nothing. I didn't mind."

"I'm glad."

"It's important to her, am I right? I'd say by your reaction that it means something." Yomi turned back to the counter, mixing pancake mix.

"She's never done that before."

"What?"

"Asked for them from-" She stopped, looking down. "She's only ever wanted them from me and, believe it or not, Hiei. She's never even asked my mom for them." Kurama looked over to the couch, eyes taking in her daughter. Though Yuriko did not know that Hiei was her father, the two shared a special bond. One that often brought a smile to Kurama's face.

Yomi turned back around, looking at Kurama. "What does it mean?"

"I'm not sure." She turned back to him, smiling. "Do you need some help?"

"I'll manage." He told her, going back to the pancakes.

"Alright." Kurama turned, walking over to the table. She moved her art supplies off of it, then removed a sketch book and colored pencils from her bag. She moved a chair closer to the kitchen, sitting on it facing the two children. She then began to sketch them, creating a colored pencil portrait of the two.

When she left a few hours later, she left the completed picture on Yomi's table, which he found upon returning from dropping Kurama and Yuriko off at home. He was unable to stop the large smile he had on his face the rest of the day.

Well, I think that will be it for Take Four. I'll start working on Take Five. Hopefully it won't take to long for me to get the next chapter down, atleast not as long as it took me to get this one done right?

Now here's a question for you all: Who was Kurama thinking about in this chapter?

Let's see who can get it right, and if anyone has any guesses as to why Kurama was thinking about him. Cookies for those who can …Or maybe even scene/story requests (Which I'm always open for if anyone has a request. Those are good motivators.)