Good morning, afternoon and evening beauties, Kuronue/Takeshi got his pendant back. But he isn't off the hook yet. Once again I do not own any YYH character, I just own Lady Shino, Madame Red and Aiko.

Aiko P.O.V:

My relationship with Takeshi hadn't changed since 3 nights ago. We didn't make sexual advances at each other and aside from his teasing nothing had changed aside from his demeanor. He seemed livelier and I felt it may have to do with his pendant. But it showed a different side of him. Maybe it was just brief from being reunited with it. He did say he locked his power in it to keep demons away while he recovered. He even clued me in that he had planned to leave when he had gained a decent amount of his power back. It didn't surprise me, he had said often as children he was going to leave us humans and not to get attached. I couldn't help but get lost in thought. It was late afternoon and I had promised Lady Shino to bring soup to Shiori who I had heard had finally fallen ill enough to require actual medical help. My gut sank recalling what Takeshi had said. 'He stole it to prevent Shiori's death at a price. Kurama plans to sacrifice his life for it. He wants us to take care of her in his absence.' What would that do for her? Come back to a dead son? I grit my teeth, demons knew nothing of true loss or how it felt. I walked in past the automatic doors greeting the nurse at the front desk asking for directions to Shiori Minamino's room. I shuddered, that feeling of dread washing over me. People were dying here, I felt it. And Shiori was amongst them.

"Aiko dear. I am so glad you came to visit." Called the soft voice which was Shiori. It was weak and my heart ached. I placed the bag of soup by her bed and sat by her bed. She made a motion to sit up and I attempted to stop her. "Now now dear, I get that enough from Shuichi." She teased and I blushed. "I hear you and Takeshi are on your way to the altar." She teased and I shook my head.

"No, it's not like that, we've only just got together." I stammered. Shiori laughed weakly and I realized she was teasing. She truly was Shuichi's mother. Her smile and docile nature made it hard to not cry. Her normally sun kissed skin was pale and I felt her still fading as I talked to her unable to hide the tremor in my hands as I gripped hers as she talked about him. What would I do when she got better and her son was dead? It would kill her in a different way and no fancy mirror would fix that. I watched her face struggle to maintain her smile, the pain from the illness appearing on her face from time to time.

"Why Takeshi over Shuichi?" she asked softly normally bright brown eyes holding a glint of sorrow. What?

"Huh?" I asked completely caught off guard. I laughed it off. "Oh Shiori, you know Shuichi isn't my type." I answered with a grin.

"I beg to differ. I thought you'd end up with Shuichi rather than Takeshi. You are witty, hardworking and respectful. Takeshi just seems a little too rough. Don't mind me, I just wanted Shuichi to have someone when it's my time so he won't feel alone." She continued still smiling at me though her eyes continued to show sorrow.

"I don't see him like that Shiori. He's a little too uppity for me. But I promise I'll- Shiori?" I stopped as she squeezed my hand and her other hand gripped her chest clutching the fabric of her hospital gown tightly. I stood up stool toppling over as I pressed the button for the nurse. "Hang on Shiori. NURSE! SOMEONE!" I screamed laying her down. I felt helpless as she tried to smile patting my hand still struggling to breath. As hands pulled me away I struggled to hold her hand.

"Aiko." A soft voice said as I sat hunched over face in my hands. Shuichi. Soft hands gripped my wrists lowering them. I stared at emerald eyes stared with open concern. He should be concerned about his poor mother who would be losing a son soon. I pulled away from him and gazed back at Shiori's room.

"What do I tell her when you die?" I asked blandly before scowling at him. He looked taken back from his kneeling position in front of me but put a hand on mine.

"You and Kuronue are smart, you'll figure it out." He said trying to be reassuring.

"You are a fool." I hissed causing his eyes to widen. I was furious with him, leaving not only his mother but Takeshi. His comrade, his brother in arms. "Your mother asked why Takeshi… why Takeshi over you? Takeshi and you are both foolish but Takeshi knows how to make things right. You think your deat-" I paused as a doctor walked by eyeing us curiously. "You aren't as smart as you think." I said standing up, he followed and looked down at me confused.

"You know?" he asked slightly bewildered before he smiled. I gasped as he yanked me close frozen in shock. I usually forced him into hugs but this. "Take care of them Aiko. My last request." he said breaking away and heading to the stairs and disappearing. Warm tears dripped from my face. How do I cheer them both up? One who was losing a child and the other his companion for the 2nd time in life. This was frustrating.

I had begun to pace nibbling my thumbs as I felt Shiori begin to fade to nothing and the monitors in her room go crazy. This didn't look good at all, she was fading quickly barely a blip on my senses. Gasping, I froze as a power washed over causing me to stumble as the hallway spun. Was this the Artifact's power? No wonder it required a life. A life... Shuichi. On unsteady legs I ran into Shiori's room pushing past the doctors and leaning over Shiori letting out a cry of happiness. A healthy flush returned to her cheeks as the monitors slowed down. Her prescence was groinw stronger with each breath and I held back a sob of joy as she looked up at me with beautiful eyes.

"Shuichi, it's a miracle." I heard a nurse say as she checked Shiori's vitals and I turned around to see a blurry Shuichi. But I thought he was going to sacrifice himself. "Not only is she out of the critical stage, it seems she'll make a full recovery. Her will to survive is an amazing thing. That's all I can say." The male doctor said. Shuichi looked at me and I nodded feeling a soft hand turn me back weakly.

"Shiori." I whispered clutching her hand and grinning at her, tears falling free. I didn't care how right now. I cared that they both wouldn't be alone. I cared that Takeshi wouldn't have to live with that. A hand rested on my shoulder but I didn't need to see who it was as Shiori's eyes lit up. She reached over to the hand's owner who gripped hers gently and lowered it.

"Shuichi… Aiko, you both look wonderful together." She said weakly but stronger than before. I caught myself and sighed removing Shuichi's hand from my shoulder. I was still unhappy with his naivety.

"He isn't my type Shiori." I said smiling. She chuckled lightly nodding.

"You are like me when I was your age into the tall, dark broody ones with the hint of dangerous…" she began and tension released from me even as I rolled my eyes innocently. She was back. I looked at Shuichi who grinned at her chuckling from time to time at her playful teasing. Dangerous, I think Takeshi and Shuichi were equal when it came to dangerous. Eerily so. I turned to the door when I felt a familiar tingle up my spine. Yusuke? I stiffened, would Kurama get the same deal as Takeshi, was Shiori still going to lose her son? I looked at him and he grinned at me shooting me a thumbs up showing me a small mirror before shoving it in his pocket. I looked away before giving him a grin and shooting him a thumbs up as well. Yusuke will make sure Shuichi would be okay. I believed it. Now, the final one. Hiei. I touched Yusuke's spirit energy again and frowned. Was he strong enough to tackled Hiei?