Chapter 12– 6 months later.

Rexi sat reading a book as her children played on the jungle gym. Piper, still without a left hand, was playing with them. Rexi had been amazed at the acceptance that Piper had gotten from her children when she'd returned home injured this way. They seemed to understand that things beyond their understanding had happened when their mother was gone and they were with Aunt Botan the Grim Weeper (as they had affectionately begun calling her). She was so involved with her book that she didn't hear the young red haired man come and sit next to her until her children came running up.

"Uncle Kurama! Uncle Kurama!" they called happily as they launched themselves up to stand next to him and give him a hug.

Kurama laughed and gave them each a hug in return as Rexi jerked to look up, instantly alert for problems. He ushered them off to rejoin Piper that waved from him from the slide where she waited for the children to return to playing. Rexi smiled as she watched them go as she put her bookmark in her book and put it away. It was a full moon night with the moon the only lamination for them. Rexi had wanted the children to see the beauty of the world since she had returned and this was one of the perks of living in Human world. She had invited Kurama to join them.

Since they had returned to human world she had started to incorporate Kurama into their lives whenever she could. In truth, she was lonely. While she had Piper and was on a regular communication with her brother and family, she had no one here except for her children. His question about what she would do when she got back had irked her since he asked it.

"I'm glad you could make it." She told him as she put the book down and turned to look at him, resting her head on her arm that was supported by the back of the bench.

"Sorry it took so long. I had to work a bit late at father's office." He told her as he looked from the children to her. He was captivated however by the beauty of her sitting there under the moonlight. Her blond hair turned into a halo as her brown eyes darkened in the shadows that were cast.

"This late? Wow, he must be working you hard." She said with a grin.

"Not really. It was more I'm getting stuff ready for when I leave." He said, looking away, frowning at the children as they played. Rexi blinked and lifted her head.

"What do you mean leave?" she asked. Her heart constricted. She remembered him telling her about his plans. He wanted to go back to demon world after he was sure his parents were good and would not need his protection any longer. She thought it was a good idea, but still, she'd be back to being alone except for her family.

"I'm going to go back to demon world. It's a small trip really. Go back, get my castle back. Maybe do some recruiting." He said dismissively, as if it was the smallest thing in the world to do.

"Oh." She said softly, and looked at her children to keep from letting her emotions show him what she was thinking. They turned to each other at the same moment and opened their mouth to say something.

"You know—"

"I was wondering—"

They smiled at the incident. Kurama motioned for her to go on.

"I was wondering if that offer you made was still open." She said softly. "Where I could come with you, with the kids. I don't think that I can have them grow up here. I'd feel safer if we were in demon world and they got to know how demons acted."

Kurama looked at her seriously. "There would be more danger though. You'd always be on the alert." He said, remembering the offer well. She had gone and asked him to share an alcoholic drink.

"You said we could find a place where the children would be safe. And I can't think of anywhere safer than that old castle of yours. You never were attacked there and if you recruit enough demons you'd be safer than one of King Yama's treasures." Rexi pointed out, hoping she wasn't pushing it. She was distinctly aware that she had said we several times. "I mean, if you'd let us join you and all."

She had almost read his mind. He had been about to ask her a similar question. He looked away from her as she rambled on. Just as he looked up a butterfly flew into view, highlighted by the moon. Then another joined it and they flew off together. It was rare for butterflies to go out at night. He had his answer. He stood, making Rexi stop her talking, and walked towards the kids and Piper.

"Hello Koji, Kanna." He said as he knelt, the children coming to him as he said their name. "I have a question for the both of you. How would you feel, if you came to live with me and your mother? We wouldn't live here but in demon world. Would you feel safe living with me?"

Koji and Kanna looked over at Piper and grinned mischievously. Piper was trying hard to hide her emotions, but glee filled her. She had talked to Kurama before this evening when Rexi had been asleep. She knew what this question to the kids would mean in the long run. "It's about time you asked the woman you stupid fox." She said as the kids nodded enthusiastically.

Kurama couldn't help but smile in return and rose from his crouch. Before he returned to Rexi he fished under his shirt and pulled a chain off of his neck and looked at the object on it. He took it off and turned, clutching the chain in one hand and the hidden object in the other. He advanced on Rexi who had rose when he had left.

She stared at him with curiosity, trying to get over the mental block that Piper had thrown up. She didn't like it when she did that. It meant something a bit too exciting was about to happen and she wasn't sure she wanted excitement when it was obvious that Kurama was going to turn her down. "You'd rather us not join you." She stated when he stopped in front of her.

"Rexi, nothing could keep you from joining me. We both know that. I just have one condition for you to join me in my castle in demon world." He said, looking seriously down at her.

"What? I'll do anything Kurama. I can't live here anymore. There are too many ways for the kids to be hurt." She said. Then her heart leapt. He was kneeling down in front of her and taking her left hand. He slipped the ring that had long ago stood for their love upon her ring finger once more.

"I made a horrible mistake that day when I asked to see other people. I was angry that you wouldn't trust me and I wanted to push you into something you were obviously not ready to be. Now I ask you one more time, in person. Would you, Rexi of the Hikalsi Ysandi tribe, mother of the beautiful children Koji and Kanna and Bond to Piper of the same tribe, honor me by being my wife and join me in my castle?" Kurama asked, looking up at her with a look of love he hadn't allowed to show in over ten years.

Rexi didn't think she had gravity any more. She was soaring. She pulled Kurama up and kissed him in reply. She heard her children whoop and cheer and knew that everything would be okay finally.

Four months later

"And that children is why we are gathered here to honor the marriage of Yoko Kurama and Rexi, my Bond." Said the young woman Piper. She had changed her appearance to be a young woman of late teens with long flowing hair and kind eyes. Around her sat the entire village's children population. They had been bugging her since a week ago to tell them why everyone was in such a bustle to get a clearing ready. She had finally broken down the evening before and told them about the years before Yoko transformed into Kurama. This morning she had concluded the story.

"Piper! The ceremony is about to start!" Keiko called from the doorway of the room they were in. Koji and Kanna walked through the sea of children and helped Piper up. Even with looking and being older, she still needed help getting up sometimes. She left the room and the children followed, mouths hanging agape.

Once Piper got out of the house, she ran to the alter where Yoko Kurama stood in all his glory, waiting for the one woman that was made for him. To anyone that knew him well enough he would have looked nervous. Piper took her spot and smiled at him.

"She's feeling better than last night. Do not worry. You'll do fine. Relax. This was meant to happen." She advised.

And then Rexi appeared almost by magic. One moment she wasn't there and the next she was. Kanna held her hand which explained the magical appearance. The young child joined her brother sitting in the front row with the rest of the family and friends.

The ceremony came and went and they were soon joining festivities. After five hours of well wishing and dances with family members she drew Yoko away to a small secluded clearing—the same one where she had hidden on her wedding day to Ethan and Kurama had found her in. She pulled him into another long heartfelt kiss and then jerked away and turned. She was on her knees and throwing up the cake and the wine that she had had during the reception although that had been light. Yoko knelt and helped her keep her hair out of her way.

"Are you okay? Piper said you were feeling better!" Yoko said softly, as he fished in his hair for an herb that would settle her stomach.

"I am." She said as she wiped sweat from her forehead and took the herb that was offered. She took shallow breaths and then with his help rose from her knees. "This isn't something that is going to go away for another couple of months."

"What do you mean?" Yoko asked with a furrowed brow. "You haven't gotten poisoned or anything have you?"

"Oh no. You should be glad about this." She said, smiling up at him. She radiated with happiness despite having just lost all the wonderful cake her brother had made for their wedding.

"I don't—"

"Say, another six… maybe seven months?" she said, wondering how many clues she'd have to give before it clicked in his oversized fox brain. This man had pulled off some of the most tangled but beautiful thefts in all the years he had been a Bandit. Yet, he couldn't seem to understand what she was saying when it came to this particular subject.

"Six months?" He muttered, and then it became clear on his face. He looked at her questioningly to see if she was joking and when she only beamed at him he laughed and pulled her close. "OH, my butterfly, how you manage to keep surprising me I have no clue."

She couldn't help but laugh and allow him to swing her around before pulling her into another hug. "Because I'm just that surprising." She said with a giggle. She rested gently against him, her eyes closing as they became content to stand there in the beautiful clearing.

"If it is a boy, would you mind terribly if we named him Maze?" She asked after a few moments.

"Of course not." He whispered softly into her ear and then picked her up. She cried out in surprise and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Now, let's get back before they decide we've up and decided to leave them all so early. You will need to eat something else. Cake probably isn't good for the child."

"Oh, the cake my brother makes? You must be nuts to try and keep me from having more of that." She said with a laugh and snuggled against him. "Yoko?"

"Hm?"

"I love you. I always have and always will."

"I love you too, Butterfly."

15 years later

"Maze get back here!" a young woman called as he raced down the hallways of the garden portion of the large castle his father owned.

"Never!" he called. He had silver hair with ears to match and brown eyes. His white tail flashed as he rounded another corner. He stumbled out of the maze first, for the first time in his life. His older sister Kanna exited the maze moments later. She looked up at as a shadow covered them. Yoko stood with his wife Rexi, assessing the two.

"Where is Koji?" Yoko asked.

"That's what I need to tell you. Some demons attacked in the middle of the maze. We split up. He took the long way and we took the short cut. We thought you should know. They aren't any of yours!" Maze said as he tried to catch his breath. He saw the look that his parents shared as they took off. Rexi took the short cut while Yoko took the long way.

"NO!" a scream came moments later. That was their mother. They straightened, ready to go to her rescue. Only the maze closed them out. It had the feeling of Maze's father. He reached out and touched the maze's garden exterior. He jerked his hand away as it bit at him. Plants never did that to him. He frowned at looked at the garden as the top started to grow and cover formed. What was going on?

NOTE FROM AUTHOR: Welcome to the END of the Butterfly Chronicles. I have enjoyed writing this story far more than I think I've ever have when writing a story. Now. This last part was sort of a teaser for another story I'm thinking of doing. I need your guys' opinion though. Would a story about Maze (who you just met) and his siblings trying to save their parents interest ANY of you? If so, leave me a message in pm form OR say so in a review. I hope you all have enjoyed this as much as I've enjoyed writing it. Thank you All, ROSEY