Standard disclaimer: I do not own YuYu Hakusho.

Chapter 12

Hiei was sitting in a tree in Kurama's garden watching his mate and daughter train. He smiled as he noticed the subtle swell of their stomachs. Now that they were about three months along in their pregnancies the babies were beginning to show.

As a female, Kurama was almost the same height and weight as Shina. When he realized Kurama's stomach was distinctly larger than Shina's he wondered if Kurama were eating too much or Shina wasn't eating enough. Either way he was concerned. After his mate, his daughter was one of the most important people in his life.

Their training session appeared to be over and they were sitting in the grass huddled together talking. Flitting down to join them Hiei overheard their conversation.

"…with pepperoni, sausage, bacon…"

"Don't forget the olives and mushrooms Mama."

Hiei shook his head and smirked. "I should have known you two would be talking about food, but does it have to be ningen food?"

Kurama leaned up for the kiss her mate offered before responding. "Yes, Hiei-Koi it has to be ningen food, pizza to be exact. There isn't anything left in Makai that we really want to eat."

Hiei chuckled as he caressed her hair, smiling as she leaned into his touch. "Alright Baby, we'll get your pizza when I get back. I have a problem to take care of for Koenma first. When will Yokuro and Hiro be back from the fortress?"

"They'll be back in time for dinner. Be careful Beloved and hurry back to me." Kurama grabbed him by the scarf and pulled him down for a passionate kiss before he flitted away.

Shina rubbed her tummy. "Mama, Daddy could be hours and I'm hungry now. What should we eat?"

"Me too and nothing sounds as good as that pizza. You know, if we go now, we could be back in time to have pizza for dinner with our family." There was a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.

Shina looked shocked. "Mama! We can't do that. Even if we covered our ears, our tails would give it away that we aren't human. Besides, Daddy and Yokuro would freak."

Kurama's grin was growing. "Come on Little Fox, let's live a little. You have some old ningen dresses the girls gave you, we could wearthem andno one will see our tails. As for Hiei and Yokuro, they'll just have to deal with it. I am tired of being mollycoddled.I'm still Yoko Kurama, one of the most powerful demons in Makai and more than capable of protecting us."

Giggling, Shina grinned. "It does sound fun. Alright let's go."

Two hours later Hiei returned home. A frown crossed his brow when he didn't find his mate or daughter. He reached up and removed the ward over the jagon. Quickly his frown turned to a look of pure anger. /Kuro, those two stupid females went to the Ningenkai! For a damn pizza! If she lives through this I just might kill her myself./

/You know you don't mean that Hiei, you're just worried. You know where they went, let's go get them./ Kuronue's words spurred him into action and Hiei flitted off after his missing mate and daughter.

Kurama and Shina were laughing as they exited the pizza parlor with three large boxes. They hadn't taken two steps when the sight before them brought them to a sudden stop. Hiei was leaning against a light post, arms crossed, glaring at them. Shina's eyes widened and she took a step back and slightly behind Kurama.

Kurama lifted her chin and met his gaze. "Hiei-Koi…"

She stopped when she heard him growl and saw his right arm smoke. She didn't say another word. Quickly, she took Shina by the hand and pulled her toward the portal they had used.

Shina only turned once to glance at Hiei. She had only seen her father this mad at her once before and had hoped never to see it again. Even knowing that Kurama would be the one to deal with Hiei, shehopped she wouldn't seethat same look on her mate's face.

When Shina snuck a glance at Kurama she knew the older Youko was just as reluctant to face her mate as Shina was to face Yokuro. With a sigh, both Youko walked a little faster. Their little lark was quickly turning into a nightmare.

Kurama and Shina were at the low table in the tree house watching Hiei who was sitting on the window ledge staring out into the sunset. No one spoke, the pizza sat uneaten on the table.

"Yokuro!" Sensing her mate's return Shina would have risen but a growl and glare from Hiei kept her in her seat.

One glance around the tree house gave Yokuro a good idea what had happened in his absence.His Dadwas in the window, arms crossed, glaring at hisMom and mate. Shina and Kurama nervously looked back and forth between Hiei and Yokuro. On the table were three flat boxes with strange ningen writing on them.

Looking at his mate Yokuro held out his arms. Shina didn't even glance at Hiei before jumping up and running into them. Using his hands to confirm what his eyes had seen, Yokuro made sure Shina and the baby were unharmed. "Are you and Mom alright? No one got hurt?"

"No Dragon-Fly, we're both fine." Sighing she leaned into his embrace.

Shina gasped as he grabbed her by the scruff. "First, I'd like to know what the hell you think you were doing going to the Ningenkai. Second what in the three worlds are you wearing? You look ridiculous."

With a quick look at Hiei, Kurama answered. "Don't be too mad at her Son. It was my idea, I talked her into it."

"Mom, you have always said that females are more vulnerable to predators. It is also one of your rules that Shina not be allowed to go anywhere but Yukina's or the fortress without protection and never to the Ningenkai. I guess it was negligent of us to assume that as a female, those rules wouldalso apply to you." This was the closest Yokuro had ever come to addressing one of his parents in anger.

Kurama had to admit, her son had a legitimate argument. "Truthfully Yokuro, I hadn't thought of it that way. I've been female for only three months. I've been male for centuries. Regardless of my outside appearance, in my heart and soul I am a male and perfectly capable of protecting my daughter."

When Kurama looked at Hiei she saw that his glare had softened to a slight scowl. When he held a hand out to her, she willingly went to him. "Kurama, I understand that in your mind you thought Shina had the great Yoko Kurama for protection today. You however have to accept that as a pregnant female, you will not instill fear in the hearts of your enemies. In your current condition you are just as vulnerable as Shina."

Kurama bit her lip and nodded before Hiei continued. "To avoid another incident like today I will make this perfectly clear. The rules you and I made for Shina and my Kitten will apply to you until you can take your Youko form as a male again. I will not allow you to endanger your life, Shina's or that of the babies you both carry. Is that understood Kurama?"

Kurama didn't hesitate, she knew her mate and son were right. "Yes Hiei-Koi, I understand. You're both right of course. I haven't accepted that I'll be more susceptible like this and I was beginning to resent how overprotective you and Kuro have been. I promise I'll be more careful in the future. Fire-Fly, will you forgive me for making you worry today? I don't like it when you're mad at me."

Her answer was being drawn into his strong arms for a passionate kiss. Smiling at their parents, Shina and Yokuro were about to copy them when Shina suddenly realized her son was missing. "Yokuro, where's Hiro?"

"Relax Sweetheart, he stayed at the fortress. Kenji and Yuki let the kids have a sleepover." When she calmed down Yokuro got his kiss.

When the makeup kissing was done Kurama and Shina grinned at each other then looked suggestively at Hiei. Kurama slipped her arm around him to guide him to the table. "Fire-Fly, your mate and daughter are still hungry but the pizza's cold now."

Shina was rubbing her tummy. "Daddy, you won't make your pregnant foxes eat cold pizza will you?"

Hiei shook his head and nodded toward the boxes. "Hn. I'll think about it if one of those is the way I like it."

Kurama's smile grew. "Koibito, would I get pizza and not make one a veggie for you?"

Hiei looked at Yokuro. "What do you think Son? It would serve them right to have to eat cold pizza."

Yokuro suspiciously looked into one of the boxes then at the hungry Youko's watching him. "That depends, what's a pizza?"

Yokuro only looked slightly offended when his mate and parents laughed at his ignorance. "Sissy, Mom, I wouldn't laugh if I were you. Have you looked in a mirror today? What the hell are you wearing?"

Laughter filled the tree house as they educated him on ningen food and the way ningen females dressed.