Chapter Six

When I awoke, I found myself in a cold, damp, heavily warded cell. There was no window, the only light coming from a torch just outside the cell's door, filtering in through the small slits in the iron door. As I looked around the warded room, I wondered if it were possible for Kurama to feel my energy. "He deceives you," came a ghostly whisper. I quickly turned to the door and peered outside. There was no one out there. "He deceives you," the voice repeated. "Who deceives me?" I murmured aloud. "Your so called mate," the whispered voice answered. I snorted. "…and just what makes you think that?" I asked. "Surely you must wondered why he was so reluctant to declare his love for you," the voice answered. "He loves Kuronue. He seduced you in order to break Karasu's spell," "He seduced you once more, so you would bear him an heir," the voice continued. "Why else would he take you, the outcast of your race into his bed,"

I made no reply, trying my best to ignore the deceitful whispers. Before long they became a constant, irritating drone, unceasingly spouting lies about my mate. I soon regretted even speaking aloud to whatever it was that continued to whisper to me, for it was unceasing. Even as I tried to sleep the whispering continued. I don't know how long it continued to torture me, for without windows to see daylight I never knew when it was day or night. All I knew was I wanted to kill the source of the whispers and end my misery.

Footsteps echoed down the hall and I watched in expectation as the elongated shadows in the torchlight formed an elongated silhouette. The visitor that soon arrived at the door was not one I was expecting. Kurama, my handsome silver haired mate approached the door. "Where is Ryou?" he asked. "I don't know," I replied. "Leiko used some sort of incantation on him and he vanished," Kurama crossed his arms over his chest. His face clearly showing his irritation. "You're useless," he spat. "How could you let her murder our son?" " You were supposed to protect him,"

I was too shocked at his words to answer. In all the time I had known him, Kurama had never spoken to me like that. "No matter," he continued. "You have already served your purpose," "Just what is that supposed to mean?" I growled. Kurama snorted. "Really Hiei, I thought you were brighter than that," he responded. "Can't you guess? Or must I spell it out for you?" "You've given me a strong heir, not to mention warmed my bed when I wished," he said. "As much as I hate to loose such a delightful bed partner, you really aren't worth the effort of rescuing," He turned to walk away. "So your love for me was just a lie," Kurama turned his head to look at me, a cruel laugh falling from his lips. "Love you?" he echoed. "How could I possibly love you? Sure you're cute, and good in bed, but what could you possibly have to offer me?" He turned head and walked away, his cruel laughter echoing behind him as he vanished from sight.

I stared in disbelief at the door where he had just stood moments before. I couldn't believe that my loving and wonderful mate would be so cruel to me. Surely Kurama would never leave me here to die. I refused to believe what I had just seen. It had to be some sort of trick, some illusion. The whispering continued, taunting me. "You see," it said. "I was right," "He deceives you, he doesn't love you, never has," I screamed and shouted for the whispering to stop, but it continued, gloating and taunting. All I achieved was an aching throat and an overtaxed voice.

I hadn't realized that I had actually fallen asleep once more until my eyes began to open. I felt weak and exhausted. "Oh thank Inari," I heard a familiar voice sigh in relief. "Hiei, Love please say something," Slowly, I turned my head toward my mate's voice. The fox looked as though he hadn't slept in days. His usually immaculate silver hair was in disarray; his beautiful golden eyes were swollen and reddened. It took a moment for me to register that I was home, in our bed. I was confused, I was in a cell when last I awoke. "How did I get here?" I asked, my voice barely rising above a whisper. "One of Yusuke's friends carried you home," he said softly. "Ryou used his energy to guide me to him," "He flared it like a beacon, just the way I showed him," "Sata found him first and was staying with him to protect him when I arrived," he explained. "There was a deafening explosion," "I grabbed Ryou and ran after Sata. We found you inside an abandoned palace unconscious,"

After being deceived by illusions more than once I was no longer sure what to believe. Was this another illusion or was I really safe and sound at home, back with my family. He climbed onto the bed and gently took me into his arms. I was startled at this, not expecting such treatment after our last encounter. "So, you've had a change of heart?" I murmured. "Change of heart? "What do you mean?" he asked in confusion. "Am I still not worth the effort of rescuing?" I asked. Kurama turned me so that I could see his face. "Hiei, what in Inari's name are you talking about?" he questioned, confusion evident in his voice as well as on his handsome face.

I raised my arm to lift the bandanna covering my jagon. It surprised and frightened me that such a small motion felt so taxing. I managed to push the cloth up into my hair and let my arm fall back to my side. My eye slid open slowly, but nothing happened. Kurama suddenly gasped, his eyes were unfocused and I realized that he was seeing what I had seen before I had awoken to find myself back at home.

He blinked and looked down at me, his eyes welling with tears. "Hiei, I love you," he said, then dipped his head and captured my lips with his in loving kiss. "I would never say such things to you, unless I was not in my right mind," he said once he broke the kiss, then kissed my cheek. "Know that your heart was all you needed to offer me, nothing else would have mattered," he said and kissed my other cheek. "It was only a nightmare," he murmured as he planted kisses upon my face. "I would never forsake you like that," he said softly. I sighed with relief. It had just been another illusion, a bad dream and nothing more.

I softly pressed my lips to his cheek. "You worried me greatly you know," he murmured. "I nearly panicked when I couldn't feel your energy or communicate with you telepathically," "I can't be angry with you though," he continued. "After all you were going after Ryou's kidnappers," I just wish you would have said something," I let him feel my guilt and remorse. He gave me a soft smile. "I forgive you, just don't do something like that again,"

"Where is my baby?" I murmured. I could feel worry emanating from my mate. "He isn't well Darkfire," He said softly. "He nearly used up all his energy trying to guide me to him, as young as he is it's hard to control your energy, especially when frightened, so he simply used too much, too fast, and exhausted himself," "Will he be alright?" I asked. Kurama sighed. "I hope so, Yukina and Genkai don't know for certain," he replied.

"For a while they weren't sure you were going to make it either," he murmured softly. "Your energy was almost nonexistent," "What did you do to use up so much of your energy?" he asked. I told him the whole story, leaving nothing out. By the time I was through I was ready to sleep again. Kurama looked at me in awe for a moment. He quickly realized how tired I was and laid me down to rest. He laid beside me, putting his arms around me protectively. "Sleep now," he whispered. "I will still be here when you awake," Feeling safe and protected in my mate's arms I closed my eyes and surrendered myself to sleep.

When I awoke again, I felt much stronger. I looked around the room, searching for my mate. I sat up slowly and almost immediately spotted him asleep at his desk, using a pile of parchment as a makeshift pillow. I climbed out of bed and stretched my stiff muscles. I padded over to my mate, gently caressing his cheek to awaken him. His golden eyes slowly fluttered open. "How do you feel?" he asked softly as he sat up. "Better," I answered. "How long have I been out?" "Three days," he informed me. My eyes widened in surprise. He smiled softly. "I don't feel as though I've been lying abed that long," I said. "It feels as though I just had a very long nap," "That's because I took good care of you," Kurama responded as he stood and stretched. I could imagine how extensive my care must have been. It was no wonder he looked tired. My poor fox, he'd been so busy taking care of me, the kids and his kingdom he hadn't been able to care for himself very well.

I took his hand and headed toward the bathroom. He followed me without a word. I turned on the water in the bathtub. I was glad the water flowing into the large tub was warm. I doubted Kurama would have let me heat it my way. I turned to face him and undid the knot holding his tunic closed. He took the hint and shed the tunic. I slid his pants down over his hips and down his long well formed legs. He stepped out of them and quickly reached for my own garments to undress me. He shut off the water and climbed into the tub first. I climbed in after him, kneeling between his legs so that I could bathe him. He opened his mouth to protest, but the look I gave him silenced it. I didn't let him bathe me until he was clean from head to toe.

"Is Ryou any better?" I asked. "Yes, he's improved quite a bit," Kurama said. "As a matter of fact he's been asking for you," As soon as we've dried off and dressed we can go see if he's awake," He's been sleeping a lot lately, trying to regain his energy," he explained at my confused expression. I nodded and climbed out of the tub. Kurama followed suit and quickly wrapped a towel around my shoulders. Silently, he was telling me not to use my energy to dry myself. I complied, though I would have preferred the faster way. We dried and dressed quickly and headed down the hall to the nursery.

Two new female guards stood outside the nursery door. One was a yoko vixen with long silver hair like my mate's. Her tunic though was of a design I had not seen before. To tell you the truth, I could not adequately describe it. It seemed to wrap around one shoulder and down under the other. The second guard took me by surprised. She looked like a female version of Kuronue, almost as if she'd been his twin sister. Her hair was a very deep shade of red, nearly black in contrast the ruby earring dangling from her left ear. Her twin katanas were securely sheathed at her waist.

" BH and Youko Shi came to help us find Ryou at Yusuke's request, "They actually reached you before Sata and I did, and carried you back here," Kurama informed me quietly. He smiled softly. "They've only been here three days and already they're as protective of the kits as Jade and Sakuya," he said with amusement.

The ladies bowed as we approached and opened the doors for us. There were soft smiles upon their faces as though glad to see us. I made a mental note to reward them for their help later.

Kenshin and Kenji leapt to their feet the moment I stepped inside and in an instant their little arms were wrapped around my legs. I got them to let go so I could kneel and hug them properly. I kissed their faces and hugged them tight. We remained like that for quite a while, but I finally released them. Kurama beckoned to his sons and they quickly scampered to their father to greet him as well. I stood and made my way to Ryou's bed. The little kit was fast asleep. Yukina sat at his bedside, watching him quietly. She stood and embraced me as well. "How is he?" I asked softly. "He's awake for longer periods now, I'm taking it as a good sign," she replied. "What about you? Do you feel alright?" I nodded. I gently touched my shoulder where the deep gash once was. "You did a good job of healing my shoulder," I said. "I didn't heal you brother," she replied. "It was Sata,"

Ryou stirred and our attention immediately went to him. His little copper colored eyes fluttered open. They locked onto me and he smiled. "Papa, you'we awate," he murmured sleepily. I sat down upon his bed and gently brushed some of his long silver hair out of his face. "How do you feel?" I asked him. "Sheepy," he answered. "Sleep then," I murmured as I kissed his forehead. "Papa, is the mean wady gone?" he asked as his eyes began to close. "Yes Ryou," I answered. "She's gone," "Good," he whispered as he began to drift off to sleep.

I looked up to see that Genkai had joined us. "Will he live?" I asked. Genkai nodded. " He's been gaining strength steadily over the past three days," she answered. "It looks as through he's recovering well," I nodded. "Yukina and I have been keeping a close eye on him," she assured me. "Sakuya and Jade have all but flat out refused to leave the boys since we healed them. Kurama had to persuade them to rest for a while and let some of the other guards watch over them for a short time,"

The door opened and I turned my head to see who was entering the room. To my surprise it was Sata. For once she did not bow before Kurama, but dipped her head to him. He smiled and embraced her gently. My eyes widened when I spotted the crown upon her head. What had happened while I was asleep?

She approached me with a wide smile, one every bit as charming as Kurama's. She embraced me. I looked at her, completely stunned. "Thank you," she murmured. "For what?" I asked. She giggled as she released me from her embrace. "For helping my brother to find me of course," she replied. Kurama chuckled. "Surely you can't be that surprised Love," he said. "You know I suspected it all along," "Yes, but you had no proof," I countered. "Not until you gave it to me," he responded. "What do you mean?" I asked. "When you recounted what happened to you when you went to rescue Ryou, you told me that Sata had the ability to see through illusions," he answered. " That is an ability only those of my bloodline possess," "The council tested her claim and found it to be true, only I was able to fool her with an illusion, and not for very long I might add,"

At that moment, Kenji and Kenshin began tugging at the hem of her kimono wanting her to play with them. Sata smiled and took the eager toddlers by the hand to another area of the nursery where the boys' toys were kept. I smiled as I watched the boys play with their aunt. Kurama's arms were suddenly around me. We watched them together, both happy that we had regained the lost members of our family, and hopeful that the future held more good things for us.

Author's Note: No, this isn't the end of the story. There's still the epilouge to go. I'm still working on a sequel to "making of the band," I'll also start work on listing my stories in my bio by series since this one makes a second. See you all next week. A big thank you to all who reviewed, don't forget to check for your response in my live journal. If yours hasn't been responded to yet keep checking back.
Baka no Hanyou,

Hope the cameo was to your liking.