Kurama rolled over, reaching out to touch Hiei. He felt nothing. "Uhn…" he opened his eyes and looked about groggily. The side door to his room was open, filling his room with sunlight. Hiei wasn't there.

There was a knock, and someone entered the room. As promised, Kazuya had come. "Um, hello," his step-father said uncertainly. "How do you feel?"

"I'm fine," he said dazedly. He now noticed how silent it was. "Where are my children?"

"Genkai and Yukina are feeding them. They didn't want to wake you."

"What of Mother?"

Kazuya frowned. "She was gone when Suichi and I woke up. Don't worry, I'm sure she just went somewhere where she could be alone and think. I doubt she's happy with the way everything is turning out." Kurama sighed and allowed himself to fall back on the bed. Sitting up had been proving too much of an effort anyhow. "I'm sure she'll come out of it," his step-father said. "She just needs some time."

'Perhaps, time that I don't have,' Kurama thought sadly. "I fear that her affection for Rikou and Takashi may be tampered now," he said honestly.

"Don't be afraid of that. No matter how upset she is right now, she still loves them."

'I hope you're right,' he thought. It shamed him that he thought so little of his mother, but he couldn't shake off his fear.

"Yesterday you wanted to discuss, um, funeral arrangements?"

"Yes." Kurama afforded a small smile. Though his step-father was evidently uncomfortable with the subject, he wished to take it on himself so that Shiori needn't. For this Kurama was grateful.

"You want to be buried next to Hiei." He nodded his head. "His is the grave outside? By that tree?"

"Yes. That's where I want to be buried." Kurama positioned himself so that he lay slightly propped up against the pillows. "I wish to discuss something else also."

"Oh?"

"I knew I was going to die. That, hopefully, you and Mother would be the ones raising my children. They are demons, and I didn't want to leave you completely unprepared. So through the duration of the pregnancy I prepared some notes and other things I thought would prove useful. They're stored in both the bottom desk drawer and the top closet shelf in my room."

Kurama was using Kazuya as his executor. He supposed he should be flattered, but felt rather nauseated. "You were getting ready for this the entire time?"

The Fox nodded. "It sounds morose, I know. But I had to do it regardless. They're my children, I'm responsible." He shivered. Though it was Spring, the day was unseasonably chilly.

"Do you want me to close the door?" Kazuya asked.

"No. I'm fine." He pulled the covers around his frame and nestled into them. "I don't know if you ever saw them, but in my room are a katana and a Hiruseki stone. Those were Hiei's. Now they're the twins. Keep those in a safe place until they're old enough to appreciate them."

Kazuya nodded, and then looked thoughtful. "That girl, Yukina. Did you ever tell us she was Hiei's sister?"

"What?" Kurama raised his eyebrows. "Where did you hear that?"

"Yukina. A few minutes ago. That was all she was talking about." Kurama gave him a bewildered look. "Apparently, she and Hiei had a talk earlier. She asked me if I'd known."

"She knows," the Fox said softly to himself. Part of him really wasn't surprised. Given the traits Rikou displayed, Yukina would have eventually found out anyhow. Suddenly he smiled. "I felt guilty. Leaving you and Mother with two babies to feed, and I wouldn't be around to help pay the bill. But I feel better now. You and Mother can sell Rikou's tear gems." Then his expression turned solemn. "However, you must promise me that you'll never intentionally do something to make her cry."

"You know no one will hurt her."

"I want you to promise me."

Kurama sounded desperate. "I promise. Nothing will happen to her. Or Takashi."

He bit his lip and nodded. "Thank you," he managed in a thick voice. "I know they'll be well-cared for." A tear trickled down his face, then another….

"You wish it was you caring for them instead."

The redhead nodded. "I'm sorry. I really appreciate knowing they have people who will look out for them-"

"I know. You wish you were here to do it yourself."

"Yes." He sighed. "But then again, if I were here to do it myself, there'd be no twins to care for."

Movement on the bed, and Kazuya was sitting next to him. "Suichi- Kurama- I realize we've never been as close as you and Suichi, and certainly not as close as you and your mother. But I always knew you were a good kid, and I'm sorry you're leaving so soon. I always thought you would become the head of a company, or a doctor, or a scientist, or…" He gripped Kurama's shoulder, a sad smile on his face. "But I won't dwell on what could have been, and I won't talk down on your decision."

Kurama smiled appreciatively. Then he sobered. "I don't think I'll be here much longer," he said quietly. "I really want to talk to Mother before I go."

"She'll come. You know she will." He did a swift, visual examination of his step-son and frowned. His complexion had dulled- there was a sickly yellowish tint to it. The eyes had sunken in ever so slightly, their intriguing spark dimmed. Kazuya could see the blue of Kurama's veins fanning out under the waxy skin, like divisions of a river, or branches on a tree. It sickened him, but he knew the Fox was right. There wasn't much time left. "Do you want me to look for her?" he asked softly.

He nodded. "Please. I don't want last night to be the last thing we have. So many things were happening at once…"

"I understand." He rose and gave the redhead a good, long look. "Don't worry, I'll find her." Kurama nodded and tried to look a little less troubled.

"Tell Suichi I love him."

'So he realizes just how little time he still has.' "I will. I'm sorry, had I known… I should have brought him…"

"No. It's best he doesn't' see me this way. I'm sure he's still shaken up over everything that occurred last night as it is." He blinked back tears. "Take care of Mother," he said in a choked-up voice.

"I will," Kazuya reassured him.

"Of course you will," was the apologetic reply. "You love her. I don't have to worry about that."

Kazuya was at the door now. He looked back at the Fox. Such an enigma, and now there wasn't any time left to try and figure him out… He cleared his throat. "I will find her," he repeated firmly. Then that solid wall fell away. "I'll miss you," he said. He heaved a sigh. "Good-bye, Suichi. Kurama."

"Good-bye, Kazuya." A moment's hesitation. "I love you."

He swallowed. "I love you too." He forced himself to throw a smile in the other's direction before turning his back and leaving.

Though his mind tried reminding him that the psychic said Kurama may live a few days still, his gut told him there'd be a broken Shiori to comfort tonight.