Oh I just couldn't…I could not. I just really couldn't fully start one of my new stories without tying this little darling up into a bow. I just love Ruri and Hiei so much, and I love all the support you've given me.

Do you want it?

Do you need it to happen?

Like is it driving you nuts not to see it?

Do you want to know what it is?!

Lets read:

Epilogue: Little Feet

It had been only a month since Yukina announced her second pregnancy and the entire group had been in knots of joy. Keiko and Botan began to bet on gender and names, Shizuru already planned the shower, Kurama even offered his home for it. The only ones who were not as thrilled had to be the residences of the Mara household, considering that they were already having trouble balancing the two most tyrannical twins in the three worlds.

"Kazue, put it down! Where's Rima…Rima! No do not touch that! Fireplaces are not a place to hide in!"

Yusuke and Ruri were both running around the great room in a fooled attempt to catch the duo who were already quick moving on their small feet. Though they were only two, they were highly advanced for their age. Kazue had a strong grip on anything he could get his hands on and Rima, well the word 'No' was now her favorite and Ruri was convinced she could shatter glass with her screams.

"Yusuke!" Ruri called out in a gasp. Currently the young woman's hands were grasping at a sword that Kazue refused to let go, "A little help please."

"I'm a little busy over here!" He snarled while attempting to fish the scampering Rima out from the large fireplace, "Rima, its time to get out now."

"No!" The girl whaled causing Yusuke to nearly tumble backwards.

"Okay," The ex detective paused while trying to level with the rowdy child, "I get that this is some sort of karma for being mean to you father all these years but I need you to come out of the fireplace before you get stuck up there."

"No!"

"AUGH!"

"Kazue. Rima. Enough."

A wave of silence filled the large room. Four sets of eyes turned towards the staircase of the home revealing Hiei who stood perched at the bottom of the steps. Both Rima and Kazue responded swiftly to Hiei's commanding voice; both of them stopped their motions, giving both Yusuke and Ruri a well deserved break.

Hiei had watch the chaotic scene unfold for a few minutes before he decided to intervene. For some twisted reason he found it humorous that his next of kin were acting so rebellious to his loved ones. Perhaps his genes did outweigh Kuwabara's.

But for the sake of said loved ones family he motioned for the twins to come towards him, which they did of course and crouched down to meet their level. The twins had grown in the years of their birth. Rima still mirrored her mother as a young child and Kazue was the mixture of genes from both Yukina and Kuwabara. He had a wide smile like his oaf of a father He also sported curly orange hair a slight wave of freckles and round blood red eyes.

Hiei placed a bandaged hand on to Rima's face, delicately wiping the loose soot from her face, "You two are going to drive those two," He pointed to Ruri and Yusuke, "absolutely insane."The two siblings giggled slightly.

"We were only playing." Kazue mumbled with a smile.

Hiei responded with a smirk, "I'm leaving to the Makai for a week. And I need you two to behave. Or at least, don't get caught. Do we have a deal?"

"Deal!" Both said in unison.

"Good." Hiei finished while standing. The twins both hugged at his legs before running off into the kitchen leaving the trio to themselves.

"What the hell was that?!" Yusuke sneered, "What are you, the toddler whisperer?"

"Yeah," Ruri added, "I don't know why they listen to you and only you."

The ex decretive nodded, "Must be a family thing."

"Hn. You have battled demon lords but you cant seem to overpower two children who can't even spell their names." Hiei countered with a coy smile.

"Well…well-whatever! Just go to the Makai already!"

Apparently this was news to Ruri, "You're leaving?"

"Mukuro summons me." was Hiei's typical response.

Ruri attempted her most placid smile, "As she always does." Turning her head towards Yusuke she gave him a 'beat it' look. The dark haired boy nodded and headed towards the kitchen, leaving the pair alone.

Ruri took their moment of solidarity to wrap her mate up in a amorous hug. surprisingly Hiei returned the gesture with one bandaged hand around her waist, pulling her closer, "You're going to stop those riots aren't you?" Sensing her mates tensions she sighed, "You're not the only one with informants in Alaric you know."

"Hn." Hiei responded, "It's mostly recovery. Apparently there are still members of Oulifimi who refuse to relinquish what was not theirs to take."

"Hmm," Ruri smiled while nuzzling her face into his thick hair, "make them pay. And come back alive please. I can't deal with your offspring without you."

"And to think you wanted one of your own." Immediately Hiei regretted his words as Ruri's body tensed up. It was only a brief moment before she relaxed again and a false sense of calmness began to envelope over her.

"Yeah," She added, "I guess I wouldn't have been cut out for it."

There was a minuscule moment of awkward silence between the two. To the fire demon it felt like an hour. Slowly he unwrapped his arms from Ruri, kissing her wrist delicately, "one week."

Ruri smiled genuinely, "One week."

And in that moment Hiei was gone.

Xxx

There was a best kept secret in all of the Makai. And no it wasn't a treasure or scripture, it was the fact that Hiei hated to talk. Well, not much of a complete surprise but the reasoning would be so. Though he carried a sword, a Jagan, and a ferrel best in his core Hiei knew the most powerful weapon one could ever posses in the three worlds was your words. From the moment he was born he had been assaulted with the daggers of 'worthless', 'beast' , 'monster'. These words still linger in the deep parts of his consciousness to this day. He had learned eventually to fight back against those words with violence and hatred. I mean, if you could slice the tongue or the head off the assaulter, they wouldn't be able to use those damaging words. Eventually he learned to cut daggers with daggers; throwing out those same insults through his own tongue. It could be just as damaging as his most powerful attack. Kuwabara was the prime example. Never had Hiei caused severe physical harm to the human, but still was able to bruise his mind and ego with his words.

Now many years later Hiei had found himself a man with many friends. Something he had not expected his life to take course to. And with all of these people in his most inner circle, he was starting to retract his words and stay silent. Hiei, naturally is a very perceptive demon. And though he hated to admit it, he did not like to throw daggers at his loved ones feelings. Especially Ruri.

Ruri was a perhaps one of the most fragile souls that had graced his inner circle. Kurama and Yusuke could easily read through Hiei's words and often time would fight back playfully with an insult or quip of their own. Ruri was different. Hiei held her closest to his own still-beating heart and when Ruri was happy, he was. When sad, Hiei was melancholy. When aroused…well-you get the point they were emotionally linked like clockwork. Now Ruri was feeling empty…and Hiei was the cause of it. Sometimes he wished was mute.

Taking a moment to step out of his mind Hiei thrust his sword forward, effectively slicing a tree in half. He watched the branches fall onto the already scorched earth as his mind began to wander again.

'To think that you wanted one of your own.'

He was still hung up on his words to Ruri days earlier. And he could tell Ruri was still lingering on his words as well. This was why Hiei preferred to stay silent most of the time, he couldn't hurt anyone with his mouth shut.

"My Lord Hiei." A voice was heard from behind. Hiei turned to meet with one of the 77 from Mukuro's army.

Hiei blinked several times in hopes to flutter his mind back to the topic at hand, "What is it?"

"We are less than a mile from the village. But as you can see," His hand pointed towards the smoke rising in the distance, "It appears rebel forces have arrived before us."

"And so they have." Hiei commented, "Take your men and find them. Anyone dressed in Oulfimi's colors will be executed on the spot. No question asked. Am I clear?"

"Yes sir." The soldier bowed politely before relaying the message to the other comrades. Hiei watched them break into groups and begin to scour the forest. He took this opportunity break on his own and head towards the smoldering village.

Upon his arrival it confirmed his suspicions that the rebel forces were in Mukuro's territory, but have moved on, leaving no survivors. The village was an array of charred ash, smoldering buildings and eerie silence. Still Hiei withdrew his sword and walked along the dusty path, examining the damage further. Luckily the rebel forces dwindling in numbers, and they had chosen a smaller village in Mukuro's territory to raid where few, rather than many innocents were killed. The village had only been a population to about 50, yet Hiei knew Mukuro would be enraged regardless. Meaning that the rebels had to be found, and killed.

Taking a few steps further his body halted as he felt a light, and very faint sound of movement from one of the still standing houses. Tilting his body and sword Hiei carefully moved towards the building before breaking down the front door. The inside was dark and quiet, and a small wave of light was puncturing through the hole in the ceiling of the room. Hiei assumed this was someones home as clothing and pots were strewn about the floor in an attempt to flee. Yet there were traces of blood splashed among the walls. They did not get out on time.

Again, another light sound of life and movement was heard. The fire demon became alert again and moved slowly about the space. Taking a turn on his feet his boots hit a floorboard that squeaked slightly against the pressure. In a swift move he hitched his sword in the board and thrust it upwards, revealing small crawlspace in-between the ground and the floorboards. And of course, he found the source of movement in the home. As to what it was, Hiei…well he was no longer fearful.

He stared down at the creature who was surpassingly not fearful of him or his intrusion on its hiding space. Wrapped loosely in a tattered cloth it kicked its nimble legs forward, perhaps enjoying the extra space it had to move about. Hiei laid down his sword at sat on the ground near the little one. Slowly he took a hand forward, touching the creature on its rosy cheeks. It was colder than he expected it to be.

Ruri's voice filled his mind once again,

'Yeah..I guess I wouldn't have been cut out for it.'

"You're wrong." Hiei responded aloud. Pulling back his bandaged hand he tore off his black cape, wrapped his now claimed possession and tucked it away in his arms. With his free hand he grabbed at his sword and took off towards Mukuro's fortress.

Xxx

Ruri was happy. It was a strange thing she had to tell herself from time to time. But she truly was. She had a home, a strong group of friends. A live-in roommate who cleaned up after himself, and a mate who loved her dearly. Yet on evenings like this she had to remind herself of everything she had versus everything she wanted.

"You may not have what you want, but you have what you need." She said to herself, almost laughing at it after it left her lips.

"Talking to yourself again?" Yusuke called from behind the bathroom door.

"Intruding my personal space again?" Ruri shot back playfully.

"Hey I'm just trying to enjoy a moment to myself here and I forgot a magazine so If you want to talk it out I'm happy to be of service."

"I'd rather not!" She laughed while walking away from the bathroom door and taking a seat on the sofa in the great room. Her eyes took a few slow blinks before they settled closed for a brief nap. It may have been a few moments or minutes but they reopened to the sound of footsteps behind her.

"Well I'm glad you didn't fall in-Oh!" She spoke while turning around. Immediately she jumped to her feet, "Hiei."

"Hn." He responded softly

"Sorry I thought you were Yusuke. You're back early." Ruri gushed. Taking a few steps forward she stretched out her arms for a hug but paused abruptly as something was already clutched in Hiei's arms and apparently twitching, "Um…what is that?"

Hiei took the bundle from the crook of his arms and held it out towards his mate as a silent gesture to take it. Ruri gave Hiei a strange look. She had a faint idea of what it could be, but had banished the thought from her mind. It would have been entirely to strange for Hiei to bring something like…like that into their home. But, she obliged to his advances. Delicately she took the rather heavy object into her arms. It was wrapped in Hiei's black cloak, so it couldn't have been dangerous.

It almost startled the young woman when it moved again, and Ruri was becoming slightly more curious and impatient to Hiei's lack of description of what was in her arms. With her free hand she pulled the cloth away from the bundle revealing,

"Oh," Ruri choked out, "Hiei it's-"

"A girl." the demon responded.

Ruri had about seven different emotions cross her mind yet all were put at ease when she stared down and became lost in the big eyes of the child. Almost immediately her arms began to tighten around her into a more cradling gesture. Ruri's eyes were practically gleaming and a confused yet happy smile crossed over her face. The little girl had an almost perfectly round face, wide amber eyes and fuzz of black hair.

"I don't get it," Ruri spoke in an almost whisper, "why is she here? Why am I holding her?"

"We were both wrong." Hiei said, causing Ruri to look up towards him, "You were wrong to think you weren't cut out for it. Clearly you seem to be handling yourself well. And I was wrong to think you didn't want this anymore."

Ruri still gave him a confused look. After a moment the memory clicked in her head, "Hiei you didn't have to bring someones child in here to prove to me that I'd make a good parent."

"She's ours."

"…excuse me."

Hiei took a step closer to his mate. Glancing down at the small child and up towards Ruri he repeated. "She, is ours."

"Ours," Ruri began, her voice cracking slightly, "forever?"

"I'm sure eventually she would want her own independence from us but yes. Why does your face look like that?"

Ruri chocked out a laugh, a stream of tears washing down her cheeks, "I'm sorry. I'm just really confused but so happy right now. I'm guessing you have some sort of logical and legal explanation for all of this, right?"

"If you are asking if anyone will come for her one day the answer is no. They will be dead before they reach the front door. just enjoy the moment Ruri, you're a mother now."

"And you're a father. Hiei you're someones father now!" She had to repeat it again for it to sound real. Ruri turned down towards her now claimed child, "She is so lucky to have found you."

"Us."The fire demon corrected .

"Umm," Yusuke voice drew both of their attentions as he poked his head from the bathroom, "What is that?"

It took an hour for Yusuke, just like Ruri to be convinced of what had transpired. The boy in a surprising way took it well, only asking if he was going to be kicked out due to the baby's presence. Ruri proposed he look for places with Keiko when she graduated, and Hiei stoically announced Yusuke would be moving into the smaller guest room in the meantime.

Yusuke agreed, and decided to make some calls on behalf of the happy couple, which left Ruri and Hiei to be alone in their room upstairs with their child who was resting on one of their pillows. Ruri lay next to the child, still fawning over her. Lucky with the Rima and Kazue over as much there was a supply of baby related items like food and oversized clothing. At least she was now fed and dressed in real infant clothes, even if they were a few years too big.

"We have to give a name." Hiei stated while undressing. "Mukuro wanted to know."

"Oh," Ruri responded, "Is she like her godmother now?"

"You would be stroking her ego too highly to call her a God." Hiei responded.

Ruri chuckled, "No a godmother is a human term meaning Mukuro would watch over our child if anything were to happen to us. I think she would make a good fit."

"Hn."

"But back to a name…hmmm," her eyes still focused on the now sleeping child, "Well…how did you get your name?"

Hiei bristled, "I'd rather not." Hoping the conversation would end their he removed his tunic from his head only to pause as his mates soft hands began to trace up his bare back. "It was for my mother."

"Go on," Ruri mused, her hands now at his shoulders, delicately kneading at his tense joints.

"I heard them call her name before they threw me. Apparently she tried to throw herself off as well. I took it as a gesture of kindness. So when I survived I named myself in honor of her."

"Hiei…Hina. I get it." Ruri said those two names back and fourth for a moment.. "Your mother really loved you."

"She's dead now." Hiei calmly stated, "There is no reason to toil in what she could have been to me."

"Hinari." Ruri smiled. Hiei turned towards her as she continued. "I want to call her Hinari. Hinari Jaganshi-Mara. Well its a mouthful but I like it. What do you think?"

"Hn…the next will be Cassandra."

Ruri gave him a wide eye, "I'm flattered, but the next?! We've only had her for a day and you're thinking about the next?"

Hiei gave her a lustful look. Wrapping his arms around her waist he pulled her close into a delicate kiss. Parting his lips he spoke softly, "Yes. And the next, and the next after that,

We have to have more than Kuwabara."

xxxx

Kurama had entered his home later than he expected. Plopping down his bag of groceries and loose items he strolled over to his telephone, which beamed brightly with a blinking green light. Pressing the button the voicemail read:

'You have one, unheard message:'

'Hey fox-boy Its Yusuke. Hiei had a baby…well he didn't have have a baby but he had one with him when he came back from Makai so I guess its ours now. Well I mean not mine but Ruri's and Hiei's….you get the point. Well I'm calling to let everyone know so…now you know. Okay bye."

Kurama stared blankly at the voice recorder while a smile creeped over his face. Tomorrow he would have have to greet the little one and direct Yusuke on how to properly leave a voicemail.

END…maybe idk!

So there you have it…little baby for Hiei and Ruri. Incase you were wondering Ruri's mother was named Cassandra. I think she was mentioned briefly in the 5th chapter of the series, but its only fair that Hiei's mother gets some love in this chapter. Also I have NO idea how Hiei got his name, and I tried to find an 'official source' but i decided to make it up! ( I am a rebel).

I have NO idea what will happen to this story in the future. Clearly I cannot let it go. I may do a couple of one-shots. I'm curious now to think of what would happen if Hiei and Ruri did have a lot of children (at least 4, because Kuwabara would have 3 and Hiei apparently wants to best Kuwabara at everything) . What would their names be and how would they act. Would Hinari take after her father or mother. Maybe I'll have to add more…. aaaaaaa!

Till then!

xoxox