Knight in Dark Amour

I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho

Medieval Hakusho

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Chapter Eleven

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Waxing larger, Kurama was urged both by Hiei and Shiori to remain within the home while the duties were handled by them. It was two fortnights after the celebrated Lammas day when a messenger came to Hiei requesting his presence in the King's court.

"I will be hasty in my return." Hiei said and kissed his redhead before departing not aware that in a few days his children would be born.

A yell from the room beckon Shiori to hurry to her Shuichi.

"Shuichi." She called as she opened the door seeing the redhead on the bed panting while grabbing his stomach.

"What be this pain? What be this malady?" He asked in sore pain as he looked at her through his hair which cascaded above his eyes.

"It be labour." She said frantically. "What must be done?" She panicked.

"The woman, I must return to the woman of the forest." He seemed to calm for a moment.

"Ye art in no condition for a journey." Shiori said but Kurama shook his head and stood, only to buckle over in pain thereafter.

"We must not tarry." He said, grabbing his summer cloak.

"How would I know where to lead thee?" She asked and he handed her the map.

"What be this?" She asked as she opened the scroll, beholding naught but the paper of which the scroll was made from.

"This be the map I followed." He said and she frowned thinking him mad.

"I see nothing." She said and he frowned as he took it, looking at the clearly drawn map.

"I will navigate. Fetch Saya to keep the house." He said and she ran to do such before they took off.

With a solid staff, the redhead was aiding with his steps as he occasionally stood and bore the pain of labour as they travelled the way. When the pain passed, he ambled faster with aid of his mother and his staff but the pain incremented with greater frequency as time past. With the westering sun, it took them hours from the village to arrive at the house of the woman of the forest.

Shiori aided her son up the steps and stood tentatively before the decrepit wooden door. Knocking, Kurama cried out in pain as he leaned against his staff, gripping it greatly. The door flew open and Shiori saw a small wizened woman walking towards them.

"It be time." She cooed as if expecting them and gestured for them to enter.

Upon doing such, Shiori observed and saw that the old woman was prepared as if she knew of their visit.

"Where be the Knight who did this to thee?" She asked as she allowed Kurama to sit on a bed, his legs apart and hands on the side of his stomach.

"He be pressed into duty." The redhead grunted out as pain engulfed him.

"Drink this." She handed him a phial of clear liquid.

"I be his mother. Should I trust thee with the care of my son and grandchildren?" Shiori stood boldly and the woman finally turned to her, acknowledging her presence though phlegmatically.

"Ye, the source of his soul's turmoil, the one who caused him pain to choose and confused him on the path he should take. Thou art the one who drove him to be in a preternatural state as this. Ye almost took away his happiness." Her chagrin was prevalent as she bore no desire to conceal it.

"I be no saint but none is free from wrong." Shiori said as a rebuttal. "My son." She stressed as Kurama was stricken with another band of pain, for she was not there to be judged especially by a fellow mortal.

"Let us begin."

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Resting after the greatest labour ever done by him, Kurama smiled at the twain sleeping babies lying beside him.

"Tea?" The old woman approached and handed it to him.

"Thank you Genkai." He smiled and took it, thereafter he supped.

"Shuichi, we shall remain and depart to the village early in the morrow." Shiori said as she stood over her grandchildren smiling contently.

"I concur."

Truly exhausted, after tea Kurama was somnolence and even well into the following day.

Finally departing, he held one of the babies while Shiori held the other. At noontide, they arrived and Saya welcomed them home and was agog to see her new cousins. Sitting on the bed, Kurama watched them sleep as Saya smiled lovingly at them.

"They both look as Sir Knight." She chuckled.

"So it seems." He smiled and lie besides them.

He felt comforted having them with him. When Hiei return, they would be laid in the bed made for them.

"What will ye call them?"

"I shall wait for Hiei's return to do so. He will name the boy and I shall name the girl." He smiled and she beamed.

"Mother would love to see them." Saya sighed.

"We can visit her when they have awakened."

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"Shuichi, you must rest." Shiori called to her son who arose early the following morning.

"I am preparing breakfast."

"Genkai said you must rest, hearken to her precept. You were not built for such labour that you have been through and your twins need you." She said imperiously.

"I fed them and they be asleep." He smiled.

Taking away the earth ware from her son, she sternly beheld her son. "Shuichi, you are to be resting for at least a week, now go." She chased him.

Chuckling he entered his room. He did needed great rest but felt he would be a burden to his mother. Lying with his twins, he smiled and gently touched them.

He abided with his mother's request as he saw she was well with the things to be handled. Cleaning his chambers as the twins were asleep, he fixed and cleaned and stored things for the needs of the twins. Spotting the scroll that began all this, he smiled as he opened it revealing the map. Recalling that his mother failed to see the markings on the scroll, he smiled at the reason.

Flashback

"Was it ye who gave this to Shuichi?" Shiori asked Genkai.

"Aye, to him and his Knight." Genkai said concurred sipping on her tea.

"Why am I not able to see it? Shuichi speaks of it as a map though when it was given to me to navigate here, I saw nought." Shiori frowned perplexed.

"It was for the one who bore no selfish implore." She only said and Shiori frowned.

"Genkai, please explain."

"It was his destiny, of which cannot be seen by others but whom it is written for. He and his knight's destiny had entwined and this drew itself when they first were aware of the other's existence. The map showed the path for them, it belonged to no one. No one sees another's but only theirs."

"How were it ascribe to them when they knew not the other?"

"Ask the scroll its reasons." It was all Genkai said as she languidly sipped on her tea once more.

End of Flashback

Days were lived with Hiei away and Kurama, yet again, looked to his twins who bore no names.

"Shuichi, Saya and I will be gone fishing." Shiori said as she stepped into his bed chambers.

"Be safe." Kurama called to them and they waved before closing the door.

Observing, he noticed little to be done. Fixing the things, he prepared for the return with meat. Entering his chambers, he heard a little whimper followed by a loud cry. Running to his boy, he picked him up and tending to him, followed by the girl. He was rarely given rest with the two but luckily both were similar in their time of feeding and crying. A loud sigh escaped him when he was finished as they waxed content. Picking a few leaves from the plant growing therein, he prepared water for tea as he boiled the leaves. Placing the kettle on the table, Kurama sat to rest his legs but a knock on the door was heard. Standing, he tentatively ambled thither, but stopped when the door opened and Hiei stepped in.

"Hiei." Overcome with joy, Kurama smiled widely.

Closing the door, Hiei turned to his redhead but frowned.

"Kurama?" he asked while looking at his beloved small stomach.

Stepping towards his knight, Kurama hugged Hiei tightly. Thereafter he pulled away and led Hiei to the chamber where the twins slept.

"I wished to await thy return before naming them. Their father should be here and to give a name also." Kurama said as he brought Hiei where they both stood before their slumbering twins.

Hiei stood with no movements as he looked at his children. There was a tumescent feeling within that engulfed him. Pulling Kurama, he could only hold him close and kissed him ardently thereafter.

Parting, Kurama behold his beloved and ran a hand through his hair before resting it on his cheek.

"Bestow unto him a name." As it was said, the baby boy began to repine. Turning to them, Kurama picked up his son and then held him out to Hiei. Prudently, Hiei held him and the baby opened his eyes at the newcomer. Green eyes stared back at Hiei.

"He resembles me but with your eyes." Hiei said to Kurama who smiled as he picked up the baby girl.

"She appears as me, though with dark hair and your eyes." He smiled at the baby who grabbed his long hair.

"Kyoshiro, he is to be called Kyoshiro." Hiei said and smiling while cooing his daughter, Kurama called out her name.

"I wish to name her Hina." Kurama smiled to Hiei who eyes widen but for a moment.

"Are you opposed it?" Kurama asked quickly perusing the flash of ephemeral expression but Hiei shook his head.

"Why such a name?" He asked and Kurama smiled.

"It came to me in a dream wherein I beheld a beautiful woman in a light blue robe with almost the same coloured hair as her raiment. Her skin was pale as snow and eyes blue yet not cold. I remember her only from the dream and nothing else as I strongly felt our daughter is to be named Hina." He told. "Hina, she will be called Hina."

"Have I ever spoken of my mother?" Hiei asked with no caveat and Kurama turned to him with a smile.

"No." Kurama said as he laid Hina back to sleep as Hiei did so to Kyoshiro.

"How be it possible for you to dream of her? Her name was Hina."

Sharply, Kurama turned to his beloved after hearing such words. "Was? Your mother was called Hina?" he asked in great surprise.

"She died when I was in boyhood. Yukina and I were raised by our aunt." Hiei said and laid Kyoshiro to sleep.

"Will it be all right to have her as Hina?" Kurama turned to his beloved and Hiei nodded followed by a little tug to his lips, resorting in a brief smile.

With no verbal approbation, Kurama pulled his beloved and kissed him fervently for the time he was absent.

"I desire for you to return with me." He said but Kurama stepped away from his hold.

"I cannot." He said regrettably as he cast his gaze to the ground.

"Why?" Were him and their children not his family now?

"My life has always been here. How will I assimilate into your world?" He asked as he walked to the bed and sat.

"You belong with me now." He said and Kurama looked at him defiantly.

"If so, then you belong with me. Why not remain?" Kurama rebutted.

"Your country folk are not pleasant to you. Why stay? Return with me." Hiei insisted.

"This be the life I was born in and wish to remain. A life in a castle will cause me to be bored leading to premature death."

"That is beyond rationality." Hiei said and Kurama shook his head negatively.

Standing, he held both Hiei's hands and beheld him with a dour stare.

"I wish to have our children here, to learn the value of the field and to care for others regardless of social or political status. I know your heart. You wish for Kyoshiro to be in knighthood and he will follow his father's steps, but he can do such thing here. He can begin here." Kurama said but received no word from Hiei.

Pulling his hands away from Kurama's, Hiei turned to the twins.

"Come with me to see what it could be, only for a short time. We will return hither and then you can give me your answer."

A sigh was heard and Kurama said nothing. Hearing Shiori and Saya returning, he left the room to tend to their catch.

"Shuichi, there was a prodigious amount today." Shiori said as she gestured to the basket full.

"Good tidings, as Hiei has returned." He said as he prepared his tea yet again.

"I could imagine the pride he feels." She said.

"What befell Saya?" He asked suddenly.

"She returned to her mother with her catch. They will prepare it together. Ayumi is becoming very well." Shiori beamed at the thought of her recovering sister.

"Wonderful." Kurama smiled as he sat with his tea, sipping on it. It was then Hiei emerged and greeted Shiori well.

With no words, Kurama had his tea while Shiori spoke to Hiei as he aided her with things. At supper, Kurama rarely spoke a word but Shiori saw no fault with it as he tended to the twins as well as himself. Remaining with the twins, he smiled as he played with them and put them to bed. Hearing the door of the chambers creek open, he turned to his mother.

"I wish to bid them sweet dreams." She smiled and when standing before them, she kissed them both while whispering pleasant words to them. Kissing her son, she bid him goodnight and departed for her bed.

Pulling away the covers, Kurama slipped under and smiled while gazing towards his sleeping twins. The door opened and he was reminded of Hiei's presence as he then feigned sleep. The bed shifted when Hiei joined him but kept to himself.

Lying facing the roof, Hiei remained quiet and would only speak to Kurama when he perceived him to be angry no more. He felt no remorse concerning their talk earlier and would have done it regardless. He hated leaving Kurama and would want him at his side always. Why was it wrong? His new family need to be with him. No, he needed to be with his family. If they did leave the village for a life among nobles, he would still need to leave them. They would be alone in an unfamiliar place with men Hiei loathe and trusted not. Was the castle truly a fortress of refuge or will it bring harm to his kin? Hearing the calm breathing of his beloved, he turned to his redhead. He shifted away as Kurama turned facing him and relaxed still in sleep. Beholding the beauty, he gently touched the smooth cheek, brushing away some wayward strands of red hair. Kissing him gently as not to stir him, Hiei retreated and turned away giving his beloved space as they reposed.

The following day, no words were spoken and Shiori felt the grim atmosphere between the two, though she opted to them dealing with it. It was that knowledge which persuaded her to spend time with her sister, giving the couple their space.

It was evening when Hiei first spoke aloud.

"First time ever since you remain mute for such lengths of time." He said and Kurama glared but said nothing, only carried on with dinner preparation. Harking to the twins, he turned to his beloved.

"Tend to them." He said imperiously and waited not for a response as he continued with his task and Hiei did as he was told.

Returning, Hiei sat at the table and waited. Sitting adjacent to him, the redhead said nothing but gestured to dinner.

'Mother did this wilfully.' Kurama thought as he ate. 'Though why should I remain angry at him for wanting such a thing? Am I not asking the same thing of him? Why spend the little time we are granted together to be angry?' He lectured himself and the end was punctuated with a sigh.

"Hiei." Kurama called and turned to his Knight who looked at him knowingly. Frowning, he turned away but then glared at Hiei when he heard a snicker.

"What." Hiei said as he continued to eat. "You cook well." He added to mollify his redhead.

"I have decided to agree, but I shall return and remain in this village. My mind may change when our children are able to fend for themselves though it may not be so." Kurama noted grimly and Hiei nodded.

"Aye, when shall we depart?" Hiei asked.

"I have not truly fully recovered and it was suggested to get more rest. We shall depart after a week."His words were stern with no eye contact to Hiei.

"Still vexed?" He asked and forbore from holding his beloved's gaze who then turned to him.

"A foolish thing to be as you only return to me a few times." Kurama said as though to himself.

"Fool." Hiei said and Kurama threw his empty cup with hopes of hitting his target.

Smirking, Hiei caught it easily and returned it to him with a grin. "It slipped from your hand. Be careful." He chaffed.

With no words thereafter, Kurama stood and cleared the table, leaving Hiei to be with himself. The days passed well with them conversing about the twins and so forth. Kurama rested well for the trip he would soon take with Hiei, though it be him only. The twins will reside in Shiori's care until their return. The day grew nigh as Kurama prepared his raiment.

"What are you doing?" Hiei asked once entering the bed chamber.

"Preparing for the trip." He noted blatantly.

"I will have raiment prepared. No need to carry things."Hiei said and hugged his beloved from behind, caressing the now flat stomach.

"It will be my first time away from the village. I have never wandered afar." Kurama noted and turned within his knight's embrace.

"I will personally see to it that you be treated well." Hiei said and Kurama smirked.

"Will that be so?" He asked jocundly and as they were about to kiss, Kyoshiro and Hina cried. "It will also be good to have a break." He pulled away from his beloved as they both tended to each child.

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End of Chapter Eleven

Sorry for such a late update. I find it happening much too often but really I was busy, forgive my tardiness. I hope you liked it and please review. This story is coming to an end, whether it is god or bad is a subjective thought. Thank you all for reading.