Careful
By Keo Siph; part two of Sun on Sword on Stone
All Yu Yu Hakusho characters are owned by Togashi Yoshihiro/Sheisha, Fuji TV, Pierrot, and FUNimation.
Keiko read the note carefully, then reread it, then again. The Reikai Tentei, Koenma, Botan, Shizuru, and Yukina stood before her house. Yukina had a hand on the youngest's head, and the oldest was leaning on Koenma, who had visited before. She said nothing.
"You're family expenses will be taken care of." Koenma found even as he spoke he knew this wasn't right.
She was silent.
"I doubt there's much else to worry about. He took care of the demons, that's for certain."
The pressure of the sound's lacking burnt his ears.
"I'm sure--!"
"Calm it," Hiei snarled breathlessly. He took a breath when everyone turned to him. "She knows. She knows…"
Koenma opened his mouth, then closed it.
Keiko let the papers droop after she had flipped them back to the front, then she stuffed them in a pocket.
"Names?" She asked. Everyone stared. "He was going to name them, when he got back. I was going to let him. They don't have names yet."
"Buu." Hinageshi noted softly as she floated down. "One can be Buu. He went with Yusuke to death." She floated to Koenma in a slow pace. "The Styx is overflowing again."
"I'll be… right there. We'll leave you in peace now."
"Make it plural and you'd be closer to correct." Shizuru snapped in anger. Koenma looked back for a moment of indecision before nodding.
"The Tentei are in your service. Any time. As a business men, that's the best I can offer." Koenma was quiet, as he knew better than to say otherwise.
"And I'll offer you all tea anytime you come by." Shizuru's slightly surprised face made Keiko smile after those words of hers. Again, she spoke, "I understand if you have to go."
"Kei… Right. I'll bring sugar by tomorrow." Shizuru turned to the street again. "Oh, and hey, for the other name? Hina." Kuwabara nodded, paused, then bowed deeply to the widow. He stood slowly and followed his sister. Yukina raced up as soon as Kuwabara had turned away, placed a stash of stones in Keiko's hand, bowed as deeply as her betrothed, and dashed away again. Keiko stared, then smiled at her full hand.
"If it makes you happy, Little One." Her daughters ran back to her. Kurama smiled at the scene, then turned away, noticing how Botan leaned on his shoulder even as Hiei dared not yet move. He seemed… undecided. Green eyes flashed up and caught a brown head bobbing to catch up with another. He could make out Shizuru inquiring if she could help with the Styx, and Koenma stifling a laugh.
"Just keep Ogre off my back, and we'll be in good shape."
"The blue guy? Sure."
Hiei's red eyes flared up at Urameshi's… or what was Urameshi's one-story, quaint house, just beginning it's daily shower during spring. Keiko had turned away a moment ago to look up at it. They had supervised the building together, and now… it seemed a waste. Hiei took one step forward, and two steps back. She needed some help, but a demon?… He owed Urameshi. He hated debts. Just long enough for the brat's brats to take the trash out themselves.
"Keiko."
She turned at the harsh voice, surprised to find Hiei the only one still on the property.
"You are human, so I'll stay here for tea." She stared. Hiei growled mental curses at human stupidity before realizing what use his last words were: none. "What I mean is… Well, I!… No--I… " He trailed into the concrete before taking a deep breath. "You're human, so I'll take care of a few things the house needs done by a demon and keep track of things until thebratscantakethetrashoutbythemselvesandI'dlikethattea." He took another breath to remind himself to keep living, but Keiko assumed he'd continue and she waved it off.
"Come in, it's still warm from this morning."
"Right." He followed a moment, and in a second flat the two infants had a pant leg of his. "Hm." He glared down, then up to where Urameshi would be. Now, who owes who? He dragged the little ones in the door, Keiko giggling at the sight.
A lone fox, after shooing Botan out of the rain, smiled wanly.