Once again, thank you for the reviews; but, in light of some certain reviews (don't worry Mea you're fine ) I would like to request that if you're going to review, please leave something worth saying. I don't mind if you request that I update soon (I would be a hypocrite if I said you couldn't), but please, leave something else in there too, if you can. And leaving a bunch of reviews, one right after the other practically, that are basically the same thing will NOT motivate me; if anything, it kind of annoys me. So I'm just informing you, and hope you guys may take that into consideration.

Ahem, yes, well, back to the story now... Yes, Kurama is sad right now (it is more than the common grief, if you have not realized what I mean, you will find out later on). But I visualize Kurama as one who wouldn't want to burden others with his own issues, as one who would try to keep them to himself and deal with them on his own- which is why he's currently acting the way he is. I thank you, those who complimented me on the way I wrote the previous chapter; and I must admit, that though Kurama's going through a painful time right now, that conversation with Genkai is kind of funny, in a sadistic sort of way .

"May I help you, Sir?" the saleslady asked.

Yusuke blinked and looked at her. "No, I'm just looking."

"Oh." She immediately lost interest and let him be. He resumed looking through the glass countertop, at the rings below.

He didn't know why he'd come into the store. Keiko and him were just barely making it financially, he had no business being in this store. But what harm could come of it? All he was doing was looking.

One ring in particular caught his eye. Ten small sapphires outlining a heart-shaped diamond. 'Keiko would like that one,' he thought. But it was too expensive. Yusuke sighed and walked outside.

Suddenly he became aware of someone walking next to him. "What were you doing in the jewellery store?" Kuwabara asked.

He shrugged. "I needed to use the bathroom," he lied. "Hey, I went to you house yesterday, and your sister said you took Yukina to a movie."

"Uh, yeah. You know she'd never been to a movie before?"

"No kidding? So, you gonna take her out again or did she realize you're a total loser?"

"HEY!" Kuwabara took a swing at him but missed and ended up punching the brick wall of a grocery store. He clenched his teeth and let off a string of words that caused a passerby woman to give them a sharp, disapproving glare.

"Hey man, watch your language," Yusuke snickered. "She had a little kid with her. You're not gonna cuss like that when Kurama has his kid, are you?"

"Kids, and I don't swear nearly as much as you do. Are you gonna keep acting like a total ass?"

"I am not an ass," he said indignantly. "Wait, kids?"

"Oh yeah, you haven't heard. Kurama's having twins. Have you seen him lately."

"No, been working. How fat is he?"

"He's not fat yet. Course, it's kind of hard to tell with all the layers he's been wearing."

"Layers?"

"Clothes. Remember how he said he was cold? It's hot as a nursing home over there, and he's still wearing at least two if not more layers."

"Damn, feel sorry for his parents. I'd hate to be the one paying the bill. He still blowing chunks?"

"Don't know. He's eating though. So what were you really doing in that jewellery store?"

"Nothing," he said defensively. "Well, just looking. That's all."

"Uh-huh. I didn't think you had any money for a ring."

"That's why I was just looking," Yusuke replied dryly. "'Sides, Keiko and I don't need a ring-" Then he broke off, and stared. Something in the store window they were passing caught his eye.

"Hey, what's with you?" Kuwabara asked.

There it was. There, in the window of the drugstore. This could be the answer to his problems.

Help Wanted.

He sat at the table, happily depleting a jar of pickles. He'd never cared much for pickles before, only eating them on occasion. Not that he was pregnant however, he couldn't get enough of them. Or olives. He liked to eat the green olives with ice cream, much to his brother's disgust. Shiori and Kazuya were more understanding of his current strange tastes and aside from making sure the pantry was kept stocked turned a blind eye.

Kurama was munching on the last pickle when the doorbell rang. Reluctant to leave his pickle-induced bliss, he remained seated and hoped someone else answered the door. Then he remembered he was the only one home. 'Damn it,' he thought- now he'd have to get up. "Coming!" he yelled, running to the door.

He found Genkai patiently waiting on his porch. "Oh!" he exclaimed, startled. "Hello. Uhm, how are you?"

"Well enough. Are you going to invite me in or shall we conduct business out here?" She held up the bag she was carrying. He recalled what they had exchanged at the Temple and flushed slightly.

"Come in," he said hastily. He led her to the living room and excused himself to the kitchen. Several minutes passed and he returned with his daily cup of the catnip tea and asked Genkai if he could get her anything.

"I'm fine, thank you. I've been researching your situation and managed to turn up some very useful information." As she said this she withdrew from the bag a rather large packet of papers and handed them to the Kitsune.

Kurama skimmed through the packet. Genkai was right. The packet contained everything he could possibly need to know: eating habits, weight gain, mood swings, morning sickness, hormonal imbalances, child development, child birth (he was relieved to discover that upon the breaking of the water or shortly before a birth opening would form for the child to pass through--he'd no longer fear the possibility of anal delivery), the list went on and on. He dropped the packet onto the table and took a deep breath. "It- it's a little overwhelming," he admitted.

The psychic didn't attempt to mask her amusement. "Did you see the section about lactation?"

He paled. "W-What?" he squeaked. "You mean I'm going to- do that?" He unconsciously brought a hand to his flat chest.

"And why not? I believe that is how most mammals feed their young. Fox or human, you're a mammal either way." She knew it was evil, but couldn't help finding the redhead's distress humorous.

"It's not funny Genkai!" he exclaimed shrilly when she began to laugh. "I realize I'm acting vain, but I view this as an insult to my masculinity." When all he recived was a snort he rethought what he'd just said. A threat to his masculinity. He, who in the past had been confused as female on many occasions, had once been mistaken as Kuwabara's girlfriend, and was now carrying twins in a womb he'd never known he had- fearing something posed insult to his masculinity? 'You're allowing your mind to slip,' he scolded himself. "Uhm, Genkai?" he said quietly. "I'd like to revoke that last comment."

She smirked and reached into the bag again. "As promised, I obtained a- device- for you."

The redhead blushed. "Genkai, unless you're rather fond of it, I'll just take the bag." The psychic bit her tongue to avoid laughing at the poor Fox and handed it over. "Ah, thank you. I appreciate it." A thought struck him and he furrowed his brow. "You didn't feel strange at all, going into a store and buying this?" He received a wry smile and a reply that made him sorely regret asking. "Oh... uhm… that's interesting," he managed, trying to remain polite.

Genkai observed his reaction, looking thoughtful. If that information could make Kurama squirm, perhaps she should try it on the Dimwit… "Ahem, moving on, I need to discuss something with you." He gave her a wary look. "After your visit it occurred to me that I didn't detect any youki coming from you. Even now I don't sense any. That concerns me."

Kurama shifted in his seat. "Uhm, I believe that's a side effect…"

"Really," she said sceptically. "Because while I researched I found that the youki of a pregnant yoko is prone to fluctuate and be lower than normal, but I don't recall seeing anything stating that all traces of youki completely disappear."

"I'm sure it varies case to case," he replied casually. Genkai noticed he was wringing his hands in a nervous fashion. She quirked an eyebrow but decided not to further press the issue for the time being.

He and Genkai looked through the packet and for awhile discussed various subjects it contained. She left late in the afternoon and he went upstairs. Kurama set the packet on his desk and looked at the bag. He sighed and put it in the closet. The thought of replacing Hiei's affectionate touch with a manufactured appliance made him feel queasy.

Then he realized that wasn't the sole cause of the queasiness and made a mad dash for the toilet.

Pickles don't taste as good the second time around.