Ugh, sorry people, that I haven't updated as quickly as I thought I would. School's been tying me up more than I would have thought- it didn't do this to me last year. Eh, oh well. And now the festival's coming up and that'll tie me up even more for about two months, so updates may be irregular for a little bit, sorry.

Well then, it's finally time for Kurama to have the babies, yes? Well, read on then...

"Yusuke?" He looked up and locked eyes with Koenma. "Where is Kurama?"

The boy pointed behind him. "Right through that door."

"I was informed his time has come?"

"No Koenma, I had you come here for tea," Genkai answered sarcastically, emerging into the hallway. "He's in here."

The godling nodded. "Botan, the others are on their way?"

She nodded. Koenma had summoned her, telling her to find everyone and tell them to report to the Temple. He hadn't told her why; only when she'd arrived there herself had she discovered Kurama was in labor. The ferry girl supposed he thought everyone should be there, to support the Fox. Gods knew Kurama had suffered more than anyone that decent of a person should ever have to experience; he could use all the encouragement they could offer.

Koenma entered the room and observed the scene before him. Kurama was on the bed, lying on his side, clad in a garment similar to a hospital gown. His hair spilt over the crisp white material of the bedding like fresh blood on pure snow. Koenma shuddered at the comparison. He watched his friend: writhing, groaning, his body unusually pale and coated in a light sweat. On one side of the bed was his step-brother, rubbing the Fox's back while taking instructions from Yukina. To the other side were Kurama's mother and step-father, both sitting by the bed, the former holding her son's hand and smoothing the hair out of his face. Both appeared very worried. They looked up while he approached.

"Mrs. Hatanaka?" He extended his hand. "I'm Koenma."

Shiori took his hand and shook it. "Yes, I've heard of you. I'm glad we could finally meet."

Kurama shifted and met the godling's gaze. Solemn green eyes stared at brown ones for several moments, unblinking, until the Fox squeezed his shut and cried out as a contraction wracked his body in pain. "How much longer?" he asked hoarsely.

Genkai gently spread his legs and discreetly checked to see how far he'd dilated. "You're almost ready."

He whimpered and clawed feebly at the bed sheets. "It hurts."

"Hang in there, Suichi," Shiori said reassuringly. "It'll all be over soon."

Koenma heaved a sigh and took a seat, watching Kurama. Months before, he'd instructed Genkai to notify him immediately when the Kitsune's time came. When the psychic had alerted him that Kurama's water broke, he'd ordered Botan to gather their friends and bring them to the Temple. He had his reasons.

"Ohh!"His friend's yelps jerked the godling from his thoughts. Kurama had bolted upright, digging his fingers into his hands until blood was drawn, his entire body quivering. "Ahh!" he sobbed, "it hurts!" Though he'd vowed to himself that he wouldn't scream that resolution seemed childishly naïve now that he was met with the reality of the ordeal.

The occupants of the hallway listened to their friend's cries and shuddered. By now, the Kuwabaras had arrived, sitting down next to Yusuke, Keiko, and Botan. Yusuke cringed: being closest to the door, he could hear Kurama clearer than the others could. "We are not having kids anytime soon," he muttered to Keiko.

From his spot in the corner, Koenma watched the rest of the room bustle with activity. Genkai telling Kurama to push. Kurama obeying, screaming, and trying to breathe correctly at the same time. The redhead's family doing their best to comfort him. Yukina gathering towels and hot water and other miscellaneous items. "How far is he, Genkai?"

"The first baby is on its way," she answered before returning to coaching the Fox.

"Kurama." He groaned but moved his head to show he'd heard. "Do you want them to come in now?" Koenma received a nod.

Koenma went into the hallway and almost tripped over Yusuke. "What's going on?" he asked his employer.

"Kurama wants you in there," he said, tensing upon hearing an ear-splitting scream.

"Will he be alright?" Botan asked him. She knew it was only childbirth, but it sounded as though Kurama was being killed.

The godling didn't answer, just motioned for them to come inside.

By now Kurama was a sweaty mess, his face blotchy and red, and his hair in complete disarray. He was hunched over, huffing and puffing, while his mother helped prop him up. "Hey," Kuwabara said softly, startled by his friend's appearance. It was strange to see, as Kurama was normally a very neat person. "How're you holding up?"

He'd only half-heard Kuwabara's question. His brain was beginning to feel sluggish. Kurama was too tired to even force a smile. "I've had better days," he said weakly. Then his entire body went rigid, his face contorting in pain. "OH MY GODS!" he shrieked. It felt like he was being torn apart!

"It's almost out," Genkai murmured. "Yukina, be ready. Kurama, push!"

"I CAN'T!"

"Hang in there, Suichi," Shiori whispered soothingly. "You're almost there." Kurama whimpered, taking deep breaths, gripping her hand so tightly it was a wonder he didn't break it. His vision grew darker, blurrier; his head throbbed; he could feel his loins grow thick as the baby passed through. He clutched the sheets in his fists and screamed until he was sure his lungs would burst.

"OH GODS IT HURTS!" he bawled, tears streaming down his face. "GET IT OUT!"

"I see the head!" Genkai shouted. "Give one more good push and it'll be out!"

Yusuke and Kuwabara made the mistake of looking up as the baby crowned. Kuwabara grimaced but managed to control himself. Unlike Yusuke. The Detective turned green and had to look away. "Holy shit!" he muttered under his breath. "Oh man, Keiko, we are so not having kids anytime soon!"

Suichi stared at the thing emerging from between his brother's legs, completely horrified. That looked so painful, and Kurama looked so miserable… "Dad..?"

"He'll be fine," Kazuya reassured his son. He was only thankful he was by Kurama's head.

Kurama fell back on the bed and groaned as the baby slid out. He lay still, exhausted. To think, he was only half-way done, and already he was drowning in a sea of agony. He felt…strange. Cold. It was difficult to move, as though he lay under water. "What's happening?" he murmured dimly. "I don't hear any-"

He was cut off by a new cry, the squalling of an infant. Tears filled his eyes, but he was too weak to sit up and try to see. He felt someone squeeze his hand and a moment later saw his mother smiling down at him. "It's a girl," she said. "Good job, Suichi."

He found the strength to smile back. "I love you, Mother," he said for the umpteenth time that day. The smile, however, was replaced by a grimace while he thrashed about in the bed. There was still another baby to deliver. "Oh gods, make it stop," he muttered weakly, somewhat delirious.

Shiori frowned. Kurama had suddenly grown extremely pale and his eyes had become cloudy. She prayed the second child would arrive swiftly so her son could rest; he already looked exhausted as it was.

Yukina cleaned up the baby while the others crowded around. "She's beautiful!" The child looked up at her through large, lovely oval-shaped emerald eyes set in a heart-shaped face. She raised an eyebrow when she saw the baby's hair. "What's this?" She held up a few strands, black with aqua streaks. Yusuke and Botan paled when they saw. Had the child inherited ice maiden traits from Hiei's gene pool?

Kurama was strangely quiet while delivering the second child. He lay almost completely still, writhing when a contraction came, whimpering and crying out softly. Shiori bit her lip and bathed the Fox's face with a cool, damp cloth. This baby was obviously harder on his body than the previous.

Koenma watched Kurama struggle to birth his second child and heaved a sigh. He rose and approached the group huddled around the baby girl, frowning when he noticed her aqua streaks. "Ahem, Botan." The ferry girl turned around to face him. "May I have a word with you in the hall?"

The Fox uttered a high-pitched shriek as the second baby came out. "What is it?" he asked softly when he heard it cry.

"It's a boy," Shiori informed him. He nodded weakly and set to delivering the afterbirth. When he was finished Genkai told him to rest, then disappeared into the hall. Kurama lay back on the pillows his mother had propped up for him, feeling very dizzy. He tried to move his arm only to discover he couldn't. He was too weak to move anything.

'So, this is it,' he thought.

"Oh!" Yukina cried, startled. She'd given the little girl to Keiko while cleaning up the boy. The girl had begun to wail and they'd heard something clatter to the floor. She looked down and widened her eyes. A pile of small, round objects had spilt onto the ground.

"What are those?" Kuwabara asked, stooping down and picking up a handful.

"What!" the ice maiden exclaimed, taking one and examining it. "It's a tear gem" she said. She furrowed her brow. "What's going on?"

Yusuke stared, and then looked back at Kurama. "Shit!" he cursed. He approached the Fox's bedside. "Kurama."

"Yes, Yusuke?" Kurama said quietly, not moving, not even opening his eyes. Yusuke frowned; the Fox must be very tired.

"The girl's crying tear gems."

"W-What?" Kurama tried to get up but fell back on the bed. Yusuke noticed then just how weak his friend looked. His skin was so pale it was translucent; Yusuke could see the veins beneath. His eyes, intensified by the dark circles beneath them, had a glassy look to them. His breathing sounded harsh and labored.

"Hey, are you okay?"

He received an obviously forced, pained smile. "Of course, I'm just tired. What do you mean she's crying tear gems?"

"I mean that's exactly what she's doing. That's not important right now; are you sure you're okay?"

"Yusuke," he said in a very soft, very distant voice, "don't worry for me. I told you, I'm fi-"

Kurama broke off. He became silent, his eyes rolled back into his head, and his entire body went limp. "Kurama?" Yusuke said, trying to rouse the Fox. He met Shiori and Kazuya's worried eyes. "I-I think he fainted." He shook his friend, harder this time. "Kurama?" He fetched a glass of water and poured it over the redhead's face. "Kurama? Hey, Fox-boy! Wake up!" Kurama remained unconscious.

Kazuya bent over and held his fingers to his stepson's neck. Kurama's pulse was beating very rapidly.

"What's going on?" Shizuru asked, noticing the distressed three surrounding Kurama's bed.

"He fainted," Yusuke said. "And he's not waking up." Yukina ceased puzzling over the baby girl and rushed to the bed, examining him. She raised her eyebrows when she observed Kurama's appearance.

"Hey, should he look like that?" Kuwabara asked.

A choked sob drew their attention behind them. Koenma, Genkai, and Botan had returned from the hall. The ferry girl was crying, while the godling and the psychic looked grim. "What's wrong, Botan?" Keiko asked. But Botan merely hid her face and bawled harder.

"Genkai, Kurama fainted, and-" Yusuke broke off when he noticed her and Koenma's expressions. "What's going on?" he asked warily.

"You should probably tell them now," the psychic told Koenma.

"Tell us what?" Kuwabara asked, not liking the looks on their faces.

Koenma sighed. "Mrs. Hatanaka, first off, I'm not all-powerful. I may be the one who assigns people to their destinations, but I don't assign their fates. People control their own lives, though sometimes I wish-"

"Cut the crap," Yusuke interrupted. "What's wrong with Kurama?"

The godling heaved another sigh, looking very unhappy. Then, looking at the floor, he said:

"Kurama's dying. I'm very sorry, Mrs. Hatanaka."