Nanashi woke up with a shaky start. She had dreamed she was falling from an icy mountain. She sat up quickly, felt a head rush, and laid back down. She closed her eyes until the dizziness passed. She opened her eyes again and saw she was in a hospital room, hooked up to machines that were monitoring her vitals and to a IV. She then noticed the heat; it was gone. She put a hand on her stomach and realized she was no longer pregnant. She felt as if her heart dropped into her stomach.

"He's dead," came a familiar voice over on her right. She looked over and saw Hiei standing by the window, staring out at a dark sky. The machine measure her heart made unnoticed noises as her heartbeat increased rapidly. She turned away from him as she felt the tears welling up in her eyes. "You almost died too."

She kept her mouth shut tight. She had a thousand and one choice words for him, but now was not the time. She had to steel herself up to keep from crying in front of him. She did not want his comfort.

"I sense you almost die and come back and find you continued a pregnancy you knew could kill you, almost did kill you. On top of that, you lied to me about your doctor's appointment, refused Kurama's advice, and let another man touch you." Nanashi did her best to ignore the sting in his words. She would cry when he left, she resolved. And not a moment sooner. "If it wasn't for Yasha, you'd be dead and the twins held hostage by those rogues who took over Hikari's castle when you all left. That's the only reasons I let him live." She ground teeth together to guarantee her mouth stayed shut. She could sense he was looking at her intensely. "Have you anything to say for yourself?" If she could cover her ears without moving, she would have done so. She resolved to stay still and silent. She heard him walking closer and closed her eyes tightly. "Still just like a child." She heard him leave the room, slamming the door behind himself. She let her resolve slip and she cried herself to sleep.

When she awoke next, it was daylight out. Yukina was sitting in a chair close by her bed. Nanashi noticed that a new IV was in place. Nanashi noticed that Yukina's eyes were red and puffy. Nanashi tentatively reached out a hand to her. Yukina took it and then half stood up and cried into Nanashi's shoulder. Nanashi patted her on the back while she felt the tear gems slide down her hospital gown. She noticed faintly that Izo and Yukina were both about the same cool temperature to the touch. Nanashi held her while she finished crying.

"I'm sorry. I am so sorry," Yukina mumbled into Nanashi shoulder after she had calmed down. "I made the call... I had to..." Yukina choked out.

"What call?" Nanashi asked, dreading the question. 'I'm the one who just lost a child,' Nanashi thought bitterly. 'Why should I comfort her?'

Yukina stiffened and pulled away from Nanashi's shoulder and hands. "Yasha insisted you go to the human hospital, so when Kurama and that doctor-student refused, he would not back down. He carried you here against their protests. He convinced the other two to bring the twins along. Kurama had called me and Yusuke, but Yusuke did not answer his phone. When I had arrived..." Yukina started to stifle again. "They said you were unconscious and they needed a family member to make the call on whether or not to... to terminate...and we couldn't get Yusuke or your aunt and I overheard Yasha and Kurama arguing..." She took a deep breath. "I made the call... as a... as a sister in law. I just didn't want to lose you..." Yukina was once again in Nanashi's arms. "Can you ever forgive me?"

Yukina was looking up at her, sad and hopeful at the same time. Nanashi nodded and meekly said yes. Yukina laid her head back down on Nanashi's shoulder and redoubled her crying. Nanashi allowed herself to cry with her.

When both were through, Yukina taking the longest, Nanashi asked her questions. "How do you know we are sisters in law?"

"Yasha said it. He and Kurama were arguing about what to do because they could not reach your aunt or cousin. Yasha said I could make the call as Hiei's sister."

Nanashi gritted her teeth. "That was not his place. I would have told you if if Hi- he would have allowed me. He commanded no one could tell you. I tried dozens of times to convince... but each time it was a no."

"I will talk to him later. When he calms down."

"He didn't hurt Mr. Fujimoto did he?"

Yukina paused for a moment. "He did... After he left you when you woke up. He gave him a black eye and some other bruises before Kurama and Yasha were able to pull him off... It was not easy to watch... He then turned around and attacked the two of them... Broke a few of Yasha's bones in particular... Kazuma managed to pull them apart. He was sent back to the demon world when he finally calmed down. He's not allowed back in this hospital."

Nanashi gave a quick gasp. "The twins. Where are they?"

"Down the hall in the waiting room. Kazuma has been looking after them. Hikari still does not seem to like him very much."

"Can you bring them to me please?"

"Of course."

As Yukina turned to go, Nanashi noticed she still had tear gems on her. "Wait. Take these back. These are yours." Nanashi scooped them up and passed them over to Yukina who quickly and quietly pocketed them into her kimono.

She was hardly gone an instant when Nanashi felt an overwhelming sadness creep up over her. Yukina came in with a dreamy looking Izo and Kuwabara with a squirming and grumpy looking Hikari.

Izo snapped up alert when Yukina came close to the bed. "Mama," he cried out, reaching for her.

Nanashi held her hands out. "Come here baby."

Yukina passed him over readily. Izo nuzzled against her chest, placing a hand in the center. Nanashi felt a shiver go through her, helping her to relax. "Mama." At that word, she felt peaceful, despite everything that had happened recently. While holding him, she felt like she had not a care in the world.

"Hey, calm down sweety. Ow!" Nanashi and Izo looked up at Kuwabara holding a now punching Hikari.

"NO!" Hikari screamed. She kept punching and now kicking. Izo reached out for her.

"Give her here too." Nanashi requested, understanding what Izo wanted. Kuwabara did so more than willingly. He laid her down at Nanashi's side. She stared angrily at him until Izo put a hand on her shoulder.

Hikari rounded on Izo and pushed Izo away. Izo whimpered and cuddled back against Nanashi's chest.

Hikari whimpered next. "Dada," she whined, giving Nanashi a piercing look. Nanashi recalled how much Hikari's eyes looked like Hiei; especially when he was furious. Nanashi shook her head, biting her lip. In response, Hikari screamed loudly and shrilly. Nanashi reached over to her and picked her up. Hikari quieted, but looked furious. Nanashi settled Hikari down on her stomach gently. Hikari narrowed her eyes and burned both of Nanashi's hands.

Nanashi let her go in surprise. The skin on her right hand had blistered. She brought her left hand under Hikari's chin. "Stop that right now," she scolded. Hikari pouted, but made no other move.

The one to move was Izo. He reached over for Nanashi's right hand and placed his cool hand on it. Nanashi gasped as she noticed the blisters and the red skin fading away. For a split second, Nanashi tried to come up with a lie to cover Izo's healing power up so Yukina would not be suspicious about Hiei. Then she remembered. "I think your... nephew has your gift."