This is just a random little note, to apologize to my loyal fans for the delay in getting the last chapter posted. I'm sorry it felt rough, unfinished. I just wrote myself into a corner with it.

So, with a bamph and a flash, I'm out of the corner. The next chapter will be better, I promise. Shippou has a Grandmother in Kaede. Maybe he needs a Jii-chan?

Taking votes: Who wants some Jii-chan/Kaede?

*giggling madly, not caring how undignified it looks for a man my size, and with my training, to giggle like a schoolgirl*

Closing the door behind himself, Kitsumori Hoono slid his coat off. As it left his form, his skin seemed to dance for a moment, then glow softly. In his place, in his clothes, stood a red-haired man with what could only be called a tail sticking out of his pants.

Slipping on a pair of house slippers, Hoono pulled a book from a shelf over a low desk, and sat. From within the desk, he pulled out an antique fountain pen. Opening it to a blank page, he ran the end of his pen over his lips for a moment, then started to write.

It's been a while since I wrote in you, journal. Sorry, just haven't had much going on. Kami, did that change tonight.

Tonight, I had the greatest challenge yet of my illusions. I'm just glad they came tonight. Without the full moon, I'm not sure if it could have worked. In the morning, I will be calling my uncle, tell him the spell works on her.

Yes, old friend. THEY came tonight! Obaachan will live! At least I think so- they will call me if there is any change. Oh, I want her to live, I want her to live. I cried so much when she died.

And I told otou-san the story we developed, to try to get him to think. They won't die like that, not now. He's thinking, he will reach the right conclusions. I just hope the story didn't scare him too much. I slipped- I let out that I knew about his feet. If anyone asks, I'll tell them that I could tell from how he was holding them.

He was just like I remembered. And I haven't seen Okaa-san in over a year, but she looks good. The Quest is helping her recover from her grief, and she's in better shape than she would be here. The only thing is that I seem to remember that they were taller. But I'm as tall as she is now. I never really thought of her as short.

Oh, how I wanted to hug them, and tell them. But I can't. They can't know. Uncle and I agreed on that years ago.

Jumping slightly, he looked at the delicate, taloned hand on his shoulder. Leaning back, Hoono looked up into the jade eyes of his mate. His wife. He twitched his tail to curl with her's as raised her knuckles to his lips. Without a thought, he switched to English, one of his many languages, and his mate's native tongue. "Hon, it was them."

"Where they everything you remembered?"

"For the most part. I just can't shake the thought that they were taller."

"You were a lot younger when they died." Chuckling, pulling him to his feet, she took his hands in her's. "Come on, let's go to bed."

"I'm too excited to sleep."

Smiling, the lady fox looked at her mate, shaking her head slightly. "Did I say anything about sleep? You accomplished a miracle tonight, you reached back five hundred years and saved a life, maybe even seven. I've never shared a night with a god before, Shippou, and I'm not going to waste the chance."

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Author's note:
Please do NOT comment on the second part. I want it to be a surprise for anyone who actually looks for it. Any comments can be made in private at ironshippo@softhome.net. Thank you, everyone who goes with my request. And a pox upon the house of the first person who makes a public review.

However, I do want your votes on Kaede and Jii-chan. I think they would make a great couple, but I'm also a little crazy.