"Did you call her yet?" asked Kurama, talking to Yusuke on his cell phone. "Genkai you mean? Yes I did. She knew we were coming out there. Told me it came to her in a vision. To tell you the truth, she called us." A half surprised look came across the redhead's face as he loaded two duffel bags into the bed of his black truck. "She did? That is curious." "She called the house as we got home. She said she feared for the safety of both Megumi and Saito. She too saw the image of Ani coming for us later on tonight." "Meet you at the temple, Yusuke. Later." Kurama clicked his phone to off and placed it on the charger in the ridge on the floor of the truck. "Hey Shiz, I think we got what we need," he noted, watching her coming off the stairs with Saito in her arms. "Hey, Champ," he said, turning to his son, "are you ready to see Great Aunt Gen?" Saito looked his father in the eyes and laughed, his mouth opened wide showing his bare gums.

The Minaminos piled themselves into his truck. The baby in his car seat quickly fell asleep to the vibrations of the motor. "Will you do something for me, Shiz? When we get there, you and Keiko need to keep still in the temple. I hate to try to sound controlling, but it's for your safety." "What will you do, Kurama?" "I have no clue, but I have a bad feeling Ani means war. He is seeking revenge over his brother's death." "But that was in the Dark Tournament nine years ago. Otouto died because Yusuke defeated him. It was a bloody tournament." "Ani won't see it that way, he sees it as a slaughter of his brother, and he is willing to take down anyone associated with Otouto's killer. He will no doubt slay you and Keiko, and the babies he will not spare, they are linked to Yusuke." "Aren't you linked to him? He will kill you. Are you prepared for death yourself? I sure am not. I would hate to know you were killed by him." The truck came upon a red light and stopped. He reached his left arm around her shoulders and gave her a side hug. He looked at her in the eyes and gave her a warm smile. "I will be careful. Thank you for worrying about me." He gave her a quick kiss, just as the light turned green. Arriving at the temple grounds, the Minaminos met up with her brother. "Hey, Kurama, I think some of your buddies are here." "Some of mine? What do you mean?" "Two of them from your wedding, I know. The masked lady and the guy that looks like a goat." "Mukuro and Yomi are here? That is strange. They hardly ever cross over to Nengenkai. I guess they must be thinking this will be a huge fight. Ani must have an army with him." As they were making their way to the staircase, Kurama saw Mukuro brush by him. "What's the rush Mukuro?" She said no words, instead quickly found the closest bush at the base of the stairs. She glanced up at Kurama, with his son in his arms, as she slid her pants off and rested her bare underside on the frozen ground. Kurama turned his head away from her out of respect for her. "I'm sorry darlin', didn't mean to ignore you. Don't you think I was going to miss fighting Ani and his goons," she smarted to him, as urine trickled onto the grass and snow from underneath her, "I didn't want to delight Ani any further by peeing on myself." "Understand, madam." She gazed at the child in his arms. "Who is that little guy?" "He is my son, Saito," responded Kurama. Mukuro's eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you serious, darlin'? You are a daddy?" Kurama nodded his head. "You know Shizuru?" "That girl you married." "We had this one last year, and we have one on the way." She smiled up at him and Saito. Mukuro finished urinating and stumbled back onto her feet, sliding her pants back over her hips. "Hey, darlin', are you going to change?" Kurama looked at his yellow tunic. "I am already...oh you mean." "Yeah, I want to see you as Yoko." "Just for you and for Yomi. Ani doesn't get a vote."

At the top of the staircase was the temple. Stationed at the arena before the temple itself were Yomi, Toushin in his full form, Genkai in her younger version, Hiei was there practicing his sword techniques with Kuwabara, and making their way to the arena were Mukuro and Kurama, still in his human form with Saito in his arms. Spotting Shizuru and Keiko in the temple doorway, with Megumi in Keiko's arm, Kurama called out Shizuru's name. "Are you sure about this?" wondered Shizuru, as her husband handed off the baby to her. "I have no idea what kind of a fight Ani is planning, or how many demons are being dragged into this, but it is best Shiz that we have as many fighters on our side as possible." "All this over a grudge Ani has with Yusuke?" "Ani is a ruthless fiend. You have to remember he is nothing like his younger brother. While Otouto played by the rules, he was a man who would play fair; his brother Ani is a different matter. Ani plays by his own rules. He is more ruthless, more cunning. What makes this even more of a challenge is Ani can't die. That is why after the tournament I had him sealed in a tree. Somehow, I guess, he conned someone into cutting him out."

Shizuru sighed deeply, while still looking into his jade eyes. Her own coffee brown eyes wore a worried sad expression. "I just don't want you to die. I need you in my life." She freed up her right arm, placing Saito in her left. With her right arm, she embraced him, with her body pressing against his lightly. Kurama placed his left arm around her waist, and cupped the underside of her head with his right hand. Looking into her eyes once again, he smiled mouthing 'I love you' to her. With that he caressed his lips with hers. "Stand back, Shiz," he requested. She did as he asked and watched as pillar of clouds enveloped his body. "Watch Daddy," she chimed, arousing Saito in her arms. Saito looked up, watching his father grow to seven feet; sprouting his fox ears from his head and tails of silver fur out his back. His hair grew out to silver. On his body, he donned a white tunic; his legs wore white pants with black elastic trim at the ankles, and on his feet were a pair of tan slip-ons. "If it isn't Yoko about to join the fun. I thought I was going to fight this one myself," smarted Yomi from across the field. "I can feel your presence from all the way over here." He trotted over to where Yoko was standing. "Who have you brought today with you?" "You know Shizuru, right?" asked Yoko. "Why yes, I believe I met her at your wedding. Out of all the vixens you could have had, you went ahead and found yourself a human woman instead." "Yomi you are pushing it. I am not his possession," Shizuru pretended to scold, "We fell in love after he got back from your world, Makai." "Yeah so who is this in your arms?" asked Yomi, touching the baby's arms with his hands, allowing the baby to play with his fingers. "This is our son, Saito," smiled Shizuru. "Well isn't that something? Yoko Kurama, I didn't know that was part of your deal. I have known you for 200..." "300, you mean," corrected Yoko. "Yeah 300 years. In all that time, you could have had any vixen that was there. There were so many gorgeous females, you could have had impregnated any of them. But you didn't until now." Yomi stood next to Shizuru, beside himself in disbelief. "Well he's a half-demon, at least," shrugged the youko, "and there is more." "How so?" Yomi wondered. "We are going to have another, a little girl." "You do keep yourself busy, Yoko. When is there enough with you?" Suddenly Shizuru felt a cold chill rush through her body. "Think Saito and I better get inside. He's coming." She jaunted towards the temple calling Keiko, who was over with her husband, chatting with him and Kazuma. "Hurry, Keiko, I feel an ominous force drawing near. Ani is on his way." As Yoko and Yomi stood ready, the girls with their young kids raced to the safety of the temple.