I'm really sorry for the wait. This story has me stuck more than the other ones yet again. I'll try updating earlied next time, I promise... but it may be short. In the mean time stop by and read Losing Our Head, I'll be posting that soon xD. Again, sorry for the long wait and I hope that this chapter makes up for that...

I posted this chapter right away, I didn't even send it to my great beta-reader phoenixfirekitsune so please excuse any mistakes. I'll just give a quick thanks again to my beta-reader, phoenixfirekitsune and my loyal reviewers: KyoHana, Hieilover2004, Alexisminamino, Crystal Moonlight Shadow, Demonic War Goddess, Ryuuie Mizishi, Freaky Person O.o, and zekesbabe.

Chapter 11: Words Once Spoken

Hiei tugged harder on the hair causing the redhead to face him, "Tell me now!"

Green eyes were squeezed shut and teeth were clenched, both done out of pain, "He looks... just like her! I saw a picture of her and his hair and smile–"

A heel was pressed into the other's stomach, "Don't bullshit me, how did you know Ami loved attention!–"

The infant started crying but was, for the moment, ignored, "If you must know, I met her in America, okay? Now please let go of my–"

"No! How do you know her? How did you know to track her down here?"

"I didn't do it on purpose! I simply mentioned to her where I grew up and I guess she thought it was a nice place to live and–"

Hiei froze for a moment, eyes glazed over as if recalling a memory, "S-she got the idea to live here from... an old friend and partner... Jesus Christ! You're a fucking spy!"

Emerald eyes widened a touch but scarcely nodded, "Kind of retired... I'm sorry, but can you please let go now..."

In a flash he backed off and picked up his son, "It all makes sense now... Someone fucking knows you're living here now and that's why Mukuro put up that little test..."

The man stayed in his knelt over position, avoiding eye contact, "I've figured that part out... It is why I was so reluctant to come here to live. If you wish, I can find somewhere else–"

The other moved backwards to sit on the sofa, the infant still being rocked in his arms, "Start talking, I want to know from the beginning to the end about how the fuck you got involved in this line of work."

Kurama gave a defeated sigh, there was no way out of this, "First, I wish you to promise not to reveal any of what I'm about to tell you to anyone, alright? My... old boss would kill me if he were to find out that I've been discovered by a city cop–"

"I'm no longer a city cop... are you implying that..."

"Not at all... it's just that I was the best youngster there was, it would be a bit embarrassing if I were discovered by a regular officer..."

"Whatever, go on," Hiei grunted, his eyes never moving from the still bent over man, "and sit up so I know you're not bull shitting me."

His eyes rose to met with his red, all emotion held back, "A promise is all I require from you before I continue my story..."

"Tff, I promise, happy?"

"Quite, for I trust that you will actually keep that promise," he sighed before starting his tale, "I was offered the job in my junior year of high school... Yomi, the leader of my sector, told Kuronue to offer me the training for he had been watching me and liked my style and smarts. It wasn't until the middle of senior year that I had accepted it..."

I waited outside of school, as instructed, it was a moment later a sleek black sports car pulled up. My heart was racing at the idea of doing such activities that could cause my life's end. Yet it was an experience that was often possible... for all I needed was for another tumor to grow or even if just some freak accident came about.

A tinted window drew down and I hesitantly peered down to see the driver. I was soon taken back by the sight of my old friend and his all too common cocky smirk, "Get in Youko, the boss wants to meet you before anything else goes down."

"Must you continue with that sad nickname– I'm not at all like the demon in the tale," I had chuckled as I climbed into the teen's car.

"The meeting was a regular test of knowledge, respect, and devotion. Afterwards training began and within four months time I had completed the task– Which is quite an achievement considering it was a one year course..."

Hiei now was laying on his side with Kitshu slowly drifting to sleep in his arms, "Okay, but what about the Forlorn Hope?"

A small smirk lightened the otherwise solemn mood of the redhead, "The Forlorn Hope was not really an artifact... It was a dangerous device that, if held, could send a bolt of electricity into your system, shocking the heart and causing immediate death. Though told a myriad of times by outside forces the owner, Enma, refused to take the object off display so, in order to insure no one was killed, we stole it."

"How the hell is that possible? I've seen that thing and it's nothing but a damn mirror on a cord."

Kurama chuckled sheepishly, "You're just going to have to trust me that it indeed works..."

Hiei quirked an eyebrow, "And why do you say that?"

"Well... I have a curious nature and let's just say... this person tempted me a little too much to try it out..." he smiled slightly to himself before adding, "You'd probably know him from those martial arts competitions you fought in, Karasu..."

The red eyes narrowed drastically, "You killed someone?"

"No..." he sighed out, his eyes clenching shut, "I.. paralyzed him... and he can't remember anything."

"Hn. I've heard of this kid in the past but what gave you the right to do that to him?"

"If you must know, that kid threatened my life on more than one occasion... He also had me in the recovery center for a month and a half because of one of his bomb mishaps... Anyway, this is the event that eventually had me retiring from his field because a few of his friends tired to take me out..."

My ears were stretching out and beyond for a sound, any small pin drop. I had a feeling that I was being watched, my instincts told me to move, to get out of my room. Though, to do so would mean I was afraid and I was anything but that. I looked around for a place to hide for the moment, just to wait things out and see if my suspicions were correct.

Just as I had I taken my position the door was thrown open and closed in the same matter. A few other things were tossed around and jerked open. The sounds didn't cease and it became apparent that this person wasn't about to stop his search.

"Well, I managed to knock the man out and bring about a cover story for my roommates... but I knew more were to come and I had to get out of there..." he ran a slender hand through his thick hair, "It was years later, five to be exact, that I resigned and started to rebuild my true name... I had to reconstruct the file for the most part and than get rid of the name I adapted as my own while in America... It took two long years to get everything in order and–"

Hiei held out a hand, stopping the man from continuing his explanation, "Hn, just tell me one more thing, how did you know Ami?"

"I worked with her–"

"I know that, but how do you know her! You seem like... like..."

"Like I actually knew her?... Hiei, she was like the sister I never had... That was why, after a year of being her partner, I made her retire. I edited her file, made a few changes, made up some tales and thus her old life was reconstructed and reborn..."

The frown deepened on the father's face as he gazed down at his son, "So, she was lying to me?"

The redhead shook his head, "It's very unlikely... If she trusted you enough with the information of her past occupation, then she trusted you enough with her life."

There was an uncomfortable amount of silence in the room after that. Neither one wished to break it though because anything said might either sound too emotional or seem like they were just looking for a way out of the topic.

Relief flooded the room however when the phone decided to ring. Stealthily the dark haired man placed Kitshu in his pin before going into the kitchen.

"Hello, Hiei Jaganishi speaking."

"Yo, what's up?"

"Hn. Why did you call Detective?"

"Damn it Fire brat! Your know why I called–" Yusuke yelled into the phone only to be cut off by his wife in the background.

Hiei listened to the pair bicker at each other for a moment before speaking, "If you want to know, talk to the redhead yourself."

"Keiko, shut up a moment. Now what did ya say?"

"Are you speaking to me?" the man inquired while he rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, yeah, now what did ya say?" he grounded out, trying to listen to the phone over his fiancee's bout of anger.

"If you wish to find out–" he was cut off by the other man again.

"God damn it Keiko, what was that for?"

Hiei glared at the phone as he tapped his foot impatiently, "I'm going to hang up on you again if you don't stop cutting me off–"

The phone dropped on the other side. All that was made out was a few shouts of, "Are you okay?" and rushing before he hung up.

"What a fool," he sighed out as he shook his head knowingly, "It's a good thing they're getting married next month."

"Hiei?..."

He sighed and turned towards the other in the doorway, "Yes Shuichi?"

Kurama's lip twitched slowly into a smile, "Thanks for doing that... it means a lot–"

Turning away and to the fridge Hiei grumbled out, "Ami explained to me it was to protect and not to really deceive..."

The green eyed man leaned against the door's frame, "You didn't believe her until it was too late, did you?"

A small, strong hand gripped the refrigerator's handle before he grounded out, "No, I didn't... I was a selfish, paranoid bastard who thought the whole fucking world was out to get him."

The white door flew open and the hand reached in, moving things around before finding what it was looking for and grabbing it, "I need a drink... Can you put Kitshu down for his nap? Thanks."

The taller of the two looked down sadly at the other, "Alright... but do realize that Ami loved you, a lot... She always talked about settling down with the man of her dreams, starting a family, and–"

"Shut up," he chugged down a good portion of the newly opened brown bottle, "She made a mistake with seeing me as her perfect man... Tfff... I was just a god damn mistake and a spawn of the devil."

Shuichi sighed lightly before going to take care of Kitshu, after all, it would do no good to try reasoning with a man with alcohol in his system.

An hour later the man went to see how his boss was fairing. The sight that welcomed him almost made him smile as he remembered Ami doing the same thing many times before.

Hiei's black head of hair lay cushioned on his right arm as his left hand curled loosely around the partially empty bottle. A tiny, gentle snore left his slightly agape mouth as his cheek rubbed softly against his arm.

"An overtaxed mind's antidote– a touch of beer..." he pushed himself away from his watching spot and slowly helped the man up. He grumbled lightly but complied with following.

It had to be hours later that the red eyed man finally woke from his slumber. The day's light was far gone and the red letters on the alarm clock read six.

"What...?" he mumbled to himself, blinking away the sleep even more, "Alarm clock?..."

He quietly gazed around before finding those bright, elvish eyes of his son, "Shuichi's room..." was what he then sighed out as he pulled himself from the covers and remade the bed.

Again Hiei looked down at Kitshu, "What are you up to mister? You have that same mischievous sparkle in your eye that your mother did when she was sneaking around..."

The infant in question seemed to pout as if he actually understood what was being said and in response was objecting with a how-could-you-accuse-me-of-that look.

It was after picking his child up that he pondered aloud, "Why is it you can't act like normal babies, huh? Sure, screaming among other things are annoying but you've got me worried when you rarely show any signs of even needing my help aside from a feeding and a changing..."

"Perhaps he sees no point in wailing when you always know what he needs just by his body language and eyes... He is pretty smart after all," Hiei looked over his shoulder at the talking figure, "How are you feeling? Any better?"

"Hn. I need aspirin before I get a headache..." he grumbled, moving past the other into the hallway.

"A hangover from one beer?" Kurama questioned, slightly amused.

"A beer? No baka that was... I don't know, some strong alcohol Yusuke gave me awhile back."

"Mhm... Then I think I should take," he stopped to remove the small bundle from Hiei's arms, "him and you should go take your aspirin."

He glared up at the other only to later stop when a throb of pain warned him, "Hn."

"So... Do you drink often?"

Once placing the yawning baby into the highchair he turned towards the other, waiting for a response.

Hiei popped the pills in his mouth and swallowed, not wasting time on pouring water, "I have a kid, baka! Of course I don't– Rarely touch the stuff even at parties..."

"So... why now?"

Red eyes stared blankly at him, "Oh, I can't think of any fucking plausible reason, can you?"

Kurama thought better of telling him to watch his language in front of Kitshu and instead mentioned, "You seemed very capable of handling the information... I mean, from what I can tell you have a marvelous handle on your emotions."

The tanned cheeks redden the smallest amount, "Appearances are always misleading, now aren't they?... Up until the beginning of this weekend I thought you to be a completely different person than you actually are..."

"I take it that you don't trust me than?..." he mumbled as he set his sights on the small curious infant.

His mouth opened to object but stopped. Why did he feel the need to tell him he was wrong?... With a shake of his head he sighed, "If that were the case I would take back my offer, promised or not... The way I see things though, if Ami once trusted you I suppose I can too... She always was good at judging people– well most."

"Thank you, that really means a lot..." he chuckled lightly, "You know, you're nicer than your cold exterior implies although with your haughtiness I'd also think you would have more confidence in yourself."

Teeth clenched and held back the need to grind, "Excuse me? You're the one with the fucking haughty attitude–"

Kurama's smiled twitched until he could hold back no more and stared outright laughing.

"What the hell is wrong with you!" he growled, his hand slamming into the table, trying to startle the man out of his outburst of laughter.

"I'm sorry– b-but you–" he breathed out a bit, knowing by laughing he would never get out what he was trying to say, "Alright, well I found it humorous that you would oppose being haughty before going after my neck after saying you were nicer than what you try to show everyone."

Scarlet spread on his cheeks, "O-oh... Well... either way you're wrong on both accounts–"

"No, I believe I'm wrong on only one accusation... You're not haughty you're just overly stubborn," after that being said, he rose his left arm automatically in defense when a fist decided it's owner had had enough. His left hand curled up, fisting, in hopes of decreasing some of the sharp strings of pain that coursed through him.

Like a fish, Hiei's mouth opened and closed as he pulled back his hand and backed away.

With a composure that even the royal could not muster, Shuichi stood and smiled, "It quite alright, I provoked you, I apologize... Excuse me, I'm just going to tend to it before–"

"Sorry... Um, more bandages are in the hallway closet..."

"If you don't mind me asking, why do you have so many bandages?"

"Surplus is cheaper in the long run... I use to teach swordsmanship classes up until last year. To say the least, most kids can't withstand the weight of the sword and if they do they're reckless with it."

"You taught with actual swords?" he was shocked.

"How else?... Uh, your wound?" Hiei pointed out as blood was starting to go through the other's sleeve.

"Right..." With that he went off to do his aforementioned task.

Red eyes locked with red eyes after Kurama left, "Okay Kitshu, ready for some..." he paused to recall the fridge's inventory, "Bananas?"

The small one giggled and reached out two pudgy arms, "Oh, so you want to be picked up, do you?" he grinned and twirled a finger just out of reach of the small hands.

Reaching out as far as he could Kitshu soon grabbed hold of his father's hand and gurgled with content causing a gentle smile to spread on usually scowling lips. He then picked up the baby and, after spinning him around once, held him against his chest as he made his way to the refrigerator.

He removed the jar, a previously made bottle and the doggy bag from a few nights ago, still a bit off after his little drinking episode.

A pot with a bottle was warming on the stove, the microwave dish was rotating as the timer ticked down from a minute and a half, and Hiei was seen feeding Kitshu but mostly feeding his shirt as the redhead walked back into the kitchen.

"I believe the one that should be wearing the bib is the one who is getting messy," he joked. However, the distracting sound is just what Kitshu needed to accidentally knock over the jar right into his father's lap.

Immediately the man stood, a string of curses flying from his mouth. Shuichi couldn't hold back his chuckles, he decided to point out to Hiei that it was done on purpose.

"Baka, he may be smart but that was nothing but an accident," he grunted out angrily before taking a kitchen towel and getting as much off his pants as he could.

Biting his lip to hold back more chuckles at the scene in front of him caused his face to turn red before again letting them loose.

"I'm- I'm sorry!" he gasped out when his chuckles became laughs and he was glared at, "But you- you look like you're- you're–" Kurama couldn't finish his sentence as a now red faced man through the towel right at his face.

"Deviant, save your pervert nature for work, not here!"

By now the laughing had ceased and both were flushed with embarrassment, neither knowing what to say to change that.

Green eyes, though still showing signs of laughter, implied none as their owner cleared his throat and decided to act as if nothing had happened, "Alright then... Well, I'm sorry, but I'll be out for the night, Kuro wanted to catch up on old times..."

It was only then that Hiei caught sight of a black backpack, though he chose not to question it, "Whatever, I'm not your keeper. The set of keys with the rose..." he paused, a frown marring his face before going on, "You can keep as your own, if you lose them then you'll be locked out. Don't expect me to let you in if you decide to come home at ungodly hours."

"Okay, well good night," with a departing wave he left.

After a few times of blinking and staring off his ears caught the sound of water boiling, "Shit!"

Alongside of the walking man, a garnet colored sports car stopped, the passenger side window mechanically opening to show a grinning black-haired driver, "Oh, you've gotten a new car?"

"Oh yeah," he smirked, watching his friend get in, "trashed the other one years ago. I like this color better anyway, don't you?" He gave a wink with his violet eyes before driving off.

Shuichi quickly buckled himself in before sighing out, "Haven't you gotten out of that need-to-speed phase?"

"Phase? Tff. Don't know what you're talking about Youko. So how's it been? What are you up to?" he chanced a look over to his friend's tense form.

"I'm sorry Leather Wings, but we can't talk long, can you drop me off somewhere?"

Kuronue pouted, "And here I thought you wanted to spend some time with an old friend..."

Kurama unzipped his bag and began searching for something, "If you've done your research as you've said, then you know very well what I do on Saturdays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays at seven."

"You're no fun, always getting right down to the point–"

"Would you rather I crawl on your lap and make you forget you even wanted a point?" he mumbled as he finally found what he was looking for, a hair tie, and put his hair up.

"You know, I wouldn't mind that old Youko charm... Mhm, I'll have to have you do that some other time–"

"Shut up, Kuro!" he blushed somewhat, "You should have known better than to let me drink five shots of vodka when I've never had alcohol prior!"

His rich chuckle only made the other blush further, "Yeah, but I thought I'd let you drink to your heart's content... Plus, it's not like I actually let you do any too much– I kept you away from all the old men after all, didn't I?"

"Asshole, you know very well I looked like some cheap whore!"

"You're right... you wanted to look like an expensive one, right? Should have put some leather pants on you..." he mocked.

"I hate you..."

"Ah, just like a woman, always meaning the opposite... Like, Ah! Ah! Harder! Translates to If you're going to attempt to fuck hard, do it better," he laughed, stopping in front of their destination, "See ya in three hours– You called to hang out, we're going to!"

Kurama laughed at his friend's antics before pulling himself out of the car, "Yes, of course, I just can't stay out too late... Kitshu will probable wake me up early."

Kuronue raised an eyebrow, "Why's that? Hiei has you being his nanny or something?"

He closed the door but bent down to the window, "No, it's just Hiei doesn't want his son in the den area and so Kitshu is staying in my room while the window is broken. Well good bye, I'm going to be late if I keep on chatting."

"Oh my! You're going to be late Shuichi, how horrible!" he comically yelled after the redhead who seemed to run from him.

"Man is he in for it. Having Hiei as a boss and roommate is going to kill him," he chuckled to himself before winking at some passing women and pulling out of the parking lot, "Kitshu already has him wrapped around his tiny little finger."

He stumbled through the door, trying to be as quite as he could be but having some trouble. His hands shook lightly as they tried to stabilize them to lock the door back up with the lack of light.

A burst of white blinded him for a moment, causing him to fall against the wall to remain standing.

"Hn," Hiei grumbled while rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He lazily looked up with a knowing smirk.

"Aspirins..." he yawned, "Second cabinet to the left, bottom self."

"Not drunk, sore," he groaned, forcing his legs to hold and drag him into the kitchen.

The shorter man watched with curiosity before reminding himself it was none of his business and trying to fall back to sleep once he turned the lights back off.

He huffed and leaned against the counter, trying to force the ache out of his body. It was fruitless, he knew, so he stiffly rose his hand grabbing at the bottle of aspirins.

A shuffle and stop, a sigh and a grunt, all a part of his mission to his bedroom which was being unknowingly monitored.

"You sure you're not drunk?"

The man turned his head back down the darkened hallway after getting over being startled, "I thought you went back to sleep... Um, yes, I'm quite sure, I didn't even touch a flute of red wine."

"Hn. Care to share why you're in so much discomfort then?" he murmured, casting aside his early thought of this not being his business.

It took effort to remain upright, though, he had to admitted, there were worse moments in his past, "Kuro insisted on testing my skills... I'm afraid we both were a bit too rough–"

"I don't even want to know," he interjected with a tone of disgust that sent the other blushing.

"Fighting!" he flushed further at his outburst before starting again in a whisper, "He wanted to fight."

"Does that mean you're going to have to check for broken bones, bruised ribs?–"

Shuichi slipped down the wall, his will power no longer in option to keep him upright, "The latter is a possibility... However broken bones is going a tad too far... I don't think either of us hit each other that hard."

By this time Hiei was sitting up on the couch, his mind fully awake as he sighed, "Get over here, I'll check you out."

"I can–"

"I said get over here, don't make me repeat myself," he growled as he shifted over to produce some room as well as to switch on a lamp, "Sit."

He was a bit unsure as he carefully stood and moved to the directed place, "Honest Hiei, I'm no child I can–"

A small finger poked at his side causing a large hiss to escape his lips, "Take care of yourself? Tff not likely seeing as I was correct about that broken bone. Shirt off, I'll get so more wraps and alcohol seeing as you probably reopened your arm wound too, right?"

Again the redhead went to protest but was stopped by a fierce glare from his boss. Slowly, once he was gone from the den, the long fingers unbuttoned his shirt before he gazed down at himself and winced, "I know I had a broken rib... but I've dealt with much worse..."

"You're a fool for not going to the hospital to get this mended. Sit up straight."

His green eyes sought out the red, "Hiei... I–"

The compact form plopped beside him, placing the acquired objects on the floor, "Shut up. The last thing you need is puncturing your lung with the rib while trying to fix it yourself. Spy or not you're not experienced in all matters."

His skin shivered as the cold hands pressed against the quickly bruising area, "And how do you know how to mend a broken rib?"

Hiei remained set on his task before impassively saying, "I quickly learned how to in highschool... I had no insurance and I wasn't very well liked."

A tense silence would have occurred had Kurama not had hissed as the pieces were moved back into place while he was distracted. The pain gradually lessened giving way to the awareness of still being touched, "Thank you... I promise, there's no more–"

He didn't know why he gave two shits about this man, but again he growled at him to remain sitting up straight...

"Hiei, I promise I'm fine... Please go to bed, you have work tomorrow morning..."

His red looking eyes gazed up into hazel, "No... You're hurt, what happened?"

Brown hair shielded the eyes as the head bowed shamefully, "I... Hiei, don't do this... What about your promise?"

He latched onto her hands, drawing her attention as well as making her remain in place, "Sue me for breaking it..."

A small smile bent her once firm frown, "Nuh uh, my privacy is my business as your privacy is yours."

A twitch of a smile was on his own lips before he shook his head, "N-not anymore, I swear.. Ami I know... I know I've only known you for half a year but... I–"

Her brilliant hazel eyes shimmered as during his stammering he managed to lift her chin with his shaking hand, "Please... Hiei... Don't force yourself to–"

"But... Ami... I care about you a-and I..." he hesitated as the crystals fell from her eyes, "I... think I love you."

"Hiei..."

Slowly he was drawn back to reality, though his eyes still refused to focus.

"Hiei," came another soft, somewhat frightened whisper.

His sights were blurry as he looked up to find himself close to the younger man, "S-sorry..."

He backed off, rubbing fiercely at his eyes when he realized how much his heart ached and thus the reason why is eyes where quite cloudy.

Kurama cleared his throat as he shrugged his shirt back on, "Are... Are you alright Hiei?"

"Hn. Why wouldn't I be?" he barked, an attempt to cover up his mask's slip.

"I think...– Hiei, if you ever need to talk things over... nonsense even, I don't mind, I'll be there, alright?" he whispered, though his concern was easily portrayed in it.

"Tff. Go to bed, you're losing your mind, baka," was his reply as he tugged at the blanket they were sitting on.

"Perhaps we both are Hiei... perhaps we both are," he sighed before squeezing the blanket between his fingers and standing, "Good night Hiei, I'll see you tomorrow."

Careful fingers wound the medical cloth neatly around his torso before tearing it and tying the ends together, "That should do it..."

Slowly he stripped himself of his clothing and pulled out a night shirt and a pair of boxers, "I would have never have guessed that Hiei would say those words to anyone..."

He laid himself down after taking a quick glance at the still slumbering babe, "Then again... Ami definitely wasn't your everyday woman..."

A shiver racked his body as he recalled the terms on which they had parted...

"Youko, you can't do this–" she begged only to be cut off.

"Go away Tangia. You wanted this for so long–"

A young woman spun the swivel chair towards her, "It was a dream! I-I never expected it to happen, it's too dangerous..."

He grinned and shook his head, "I've been working on it for quite awhile... Your name will be the same... your life before all this will remain the same... The only thing different will be that your life from the begin of your service to this end will be altered, made to be similar enough so you can easily adjust but not so much so that you will be found out–"

"You've always been too kind to me Kurama... but," she paused to gain some control over herself, "How will Yomi react? I'm positive he didn't issue this– Once a spy always a spy..."

Kurama sighed and ran a hand through the silky brown hair of the woman who was now crying in his lap, "You're like family... As for Yomi, leave that to me, alright? I've got my ways of dealing with him."

She sniffed and wipped away her tears, "What about you? What about your dreams? Why didn't you–"

"Enough. Get packing Ami, a car will come to pick you up and drop you at a friend of mine's house in which then, in the morning, another car will drop you off at whatever place you choose..." he frowned and cast his eyes over his shoulder at his laptop, "From there on you'll be on your own... I'll give you a file so you can read up on your life's story, but destroy it as soon as your done."

A soft, slightly chilly hand reached up and stroked his cheek, "You're not telling me something... Kurama, what aren't you telling me? Is what your doing for me going to–"

The man steeled himself many times beforehand but nevertheless it was hard to tell her this, "Ami... I'm afraid that this is going to be the last time we ever see each other."

She smiled watery but managed a chuckle, "Of course silly, but we can still talk to each other."

"That's... what I meant as well... E-even if I get out of the business too... I can't come in contact with you. I really don't know why but," he huffed heavily in exhaustion, "it's in the rule books and the penalty is... Well it's death. There was a brief explanation about it preventing federal information from getting out to other spy agencies but... it's rather ridiculous."

"W-what?..." she stared unbelievingly up at him from her knelt position, "B-but who can I trust? I-I'll be all alone–"

"You alone?..." he smirked, trying to lighten up the mood, "Don't be foolish, you're the sweetest thing and soon enough you're going to make a man very happy... Promise me that, please? Just promise me you'll raise a family and forget about this whole spying business... So then you'll never have to worry about ever being alone again, got that?"

Her hazel eyes threatened to spill over again, "No... I'll get married, I'll have children... but Kurama, I'll never forget about this... I'll never forget my brother, I'll name my first child after you, I promise... But you, you have to promise me that you'll get out of this too no matter what."

He smiled, "No matter what..."

Tears spilled from his own eyes as he remembered, "I didn't mean have a family and kill yourself while doing it... but then again, how is Kitshu named after me?..."

For awhile he did nothing but lay on his back and stare at the ceiling before sleep lazily swept him away.

That's it for now! Please review after these teasers:

"Just stop it... I... I can't handle this anymore..."

"Y-Yukina, I'm sorry to wake you up so early but... I feel like I'm going to crack,"

"Relax? It's alright! No, I can't and- and it's not! I-I was getting over this! I was accepting the fact that I was never going to see her again and that I would be fine with having that fucking bleeding hole in my heart!"