~Chapter 21~
~What's That Scent?~

A/N: Ok Flame Fox, I'm sorry if I didn't use Sapphire exactly correctly according to your friend. I did the best I could with what you gave me so if she tries to yell at me I'll just blame it on you k? ;) lol. I'm just kiddin...Anyways, well on with the fic. The posts will get fewer and further between. Sorry you people who are waiting avidly for my next installment. (Yeah like any of you actually like this crap...ya'll just bein nice right? Lol) I'm just trying to tie up the loose ends here so I can get on with the sequel. This will not be an overly romantic chapter...actually it may seem strange to a few people...and I have to increase the rating now. Sorry if you can't read anything above PG 13.

Eventually everyone had to move on with their lives. Illeio and Darktydes departed for Neko's castle shortly after Jin had left. When Botan was called back to Koenma's side and Kurama had to get back to his human life, Arctic Fox and Neko also departed for his castle. They had decided to open a training school, where for some form of payment, mixed demons could learn to control their combined heritage.

Corana returned to her apartment in the city and took up a directionless existence working at a convenience store full time and heading out to the temple on weekends to meet with the gang for sparring matches and picnics and the like.

It was on one such visit that Corana's life took a dramatic turn.

Kuwabara, Yusuke, Kurama, Hiei, Yukina, Keiko, and Corana had all gathered for another picnic. An unexpected thunderstorm however, had them quarantined inside. They made a picnic on the floor and chatted amiably for some time.

Kurama's nose started twitching and Corana looked curiously at the kitsune. When it continued to twitch, Corana sniffed the air as well. There was a peculiar scent lingering in the air. Corana was having difficulty placing it, as was Kurama it appeared. The Kuwabara, Yusuke, and Keiko were oblivious and Yukina was being kept busy by Kuwabara's continued attention, so they had no one to confirm the suspicion but Hiei.

"Hiei?" Corana spoke softly. "Do you smell something?"

"Hn." He replied and opening the door, exited into the rain.

Corana looked questioningly at Kurama. The scent had faded upon Hiei's exit, but the lingering smell was starting to stir Corana's hormones. Hiei was in heat. She suddenly felt herself needing to get out of the room. The smell was driving her crazy now that she knew its source. She got up and swiftly exited the building, running out into the driving rain. She breathed deeply of what she hoped would be clean air. She hoped the rain would have washed it away. Apparently, exiting the same way as Hiei had not been an intelligent idea. She sniffed the air and went in the direction where the scent was weakest and soon the rain and the fresh air had driven it from her lungs. Of course, now she was soaked to the bone and had no choice but to stand out in the rain until the scent in the temple had dissipated. The wind had picked up and her wet hair was plastered to her face, getting in her eyes and blurring her vision. Thoughts of Hiei's scent were driven from her mind as she started trying a semi dry place to wait out the storm.

Corana remembered a gazebo not far from the swamps and she headed in that direction, hoping the small wooden structure would offer sufficient protection from the storm. She got there and remembered why she'd been avoiding traveling in that direction. Hiei had chosen that spot as a place to wait out the storm as well, and he was pacing restlessly back and forth in the gazebo. The scent of his heat was strong now and Corana was losing her ability to think straight.

Hiei spotted her and blinked in surprise, his agitated pacing stopped.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to come here." Corana shouted through the rain and turned to walk away again.

"No." Hiei shook his head and sighed weakly. "You don't have to go." Corana stepped warily into the gazebo. His scent seemed to be captured by the rain to fill the building. It radiated with heat. "I can control myself." He muttered. "I just didn't want Yukina to see me like this."

"I'm sure you can Hiei." Corana swallowed convulsively. "I'm just not so sure I can control MYself." She turned to leave when he grabbed her arm and pulled her to him.

Hiei sniffed deeply. "You are too." He said simply.

"If I am it's your fault." She grumbled. "I wasn't due for another week or so."

"Why shouldn't we?" Hiei shrugged. Corana just blinked at him in shock. "I mean I'm sterile...You're sterile...it wouldn't have any repercussions." His breath had quickened at the thought.

"Children aren't the only repercussions Hiei." Corana shook her head.

"Why not?" Hiei pressed. "You don't get attached easily. I've never been attached. We can continue as we always have. Exchanging the occasional insult." He smirked at her.

Corana knew he was right so when lips pressed to hers, she didn't resist, but gave herself up willingly to their mutual need. ~After all, he's not bad looking.~ she decided. ~I won't have to gouge my eyes out later.~ Indeed she'd had much worse lovers, of course, that could be the hormones talking as well. Flames seemed to sprout from every place their skin made contact.

Their need finally satiated, Corana and Hiei dressed swiftly. The storm had ended and soon someone would think to come looking for them. Corana was leaving the gazebo when Hiei spoke. "Umm...Thanks." He was a bit embarrassed.

Corana shrugged. "Last I checked I enjoyed that as much as you seemed to." She gave him a lopsided grin and headed back to the temple, stopping at the now swelling creek to rinse off the last traces of the scent of their lust. Kurama would probably still smell it, but at least the others wouldn't notice.

"Where'd you go?" Yusuke asked.

"I like the rain." Corana replied cryptically.

Kurama smiled politely at her with a wicked gleam in his eyes. Corana just stuck out her tongue at him and sat down with the others to join their card game.

Three days later, Corana woke up to hug the toilet bowl for a good hour before going to work. ~Hmm...must've eaten some bad sushi.~ She decided and ate some crackers and continued on with her day. The same occurrence happened all week long. Corana was a little confused and a little nervous. She decided to talk to Yukina when she got to the temple on Saturday morning. She knew about healing, maybe she'd gotten a stomach bug.

"Umm... Yukina. Can I talk to you?" Corana asked quietly.

"Of course. What's wrong?" Yukina asked as they stepped into a separate room.

"Well I've been throwing up a lot recently and I was wondering if you could help me figure out what's wrong." Corana mumbled nervously.

Yukina nodded and then set to work examining Corana. She gasped in surprise after a few moments.

"I think I've found the problem." She said with a small smile.

"What?" Corana demanded.

"You're pregnant." Yukina stated simply.

"I'm what?" Corana blinked. "That's not possible."

"But you are. You have two spirit energies radiating from your body right now. One is very weak however. That's the baby." Yukina grinned.

"I've never been able to get pregnant." Corana blinked. "I thought I was sterile."

"Well, with your ridiculously mixed breeding, it's no surprise." Yukina nodded. "However, you must have mated with someone recently that had the right combination himself that allowed you to conceive." Yukina explained.

~Hiei.~ Corana sighed a little sadly. ~What will he do?~ She immediately thought of the best course of action. "Yukina. I have to go home. Don't tell anyone about this. Just tell them I'm not feeling well. Whatever. Just don't tell them about the baby." Corana told her urgently. She would go home, pack her things and return to the Makai. Hiei couldn't know. They'd only done that because they thought there would be no repercussions. He couldn't feel obligated to her and she didn't want to feel obligated to him.

"Bye guys." She waved hurriedly as she rushed out the door and took flight.

Hiei stopped her before she could leave the temple grounds. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"Hn." Corana replied with a small smirk.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, irritated.

"Whatever the hell I want it to mean." Corana replied and she sped off towards her apartment. "And if you try to read my mind, I'll beat you severely!" She yelled as she flew away, hurriedly erecting a barrier against his Jagan.

She packed her bags and flew to the nearest entrance into the Makai. The others burst into her apartment hours later only to find it empty. "She's gone back." Kurama stated simply.

Nine months later, Corana gave birth to a healthy girl with spiky black hair and large blue eyes and a Jagan that she somehow inherited from her father. Corana named her Hikina.

~The End~

A/N: Ok that's it for this Fic! Keep your eyes peeled for a sequel occurring about 14 years later with the chilluns. Hope you enjoyed it. And Flame Fox...I WILL get to Arctic I promise...but I think 21 chapters is enough for one fic. We'll find out more about them in the sequel. Winds and Shadows 2...the search for more treasure. Sorry..that was a Mel Brooks moment. Thanks for all of your help people! I will start the sequel soon!