Well, school starts up again on Monday. I honestly don't know what my workload will be like this year, but I promise to try my utmost to update whenever possible. My high school mascot is a lambkin, that's a sheep fetus for all you who didn't know. Yup, that's right, an unborn sheep. That's my mascot. The most screwed up mascot in the country if you ask me. Well…it's almost kinda fitting for this story though, isn't it? lol This chapter's actually kind of weird in the sense that it's really kind of anti-abortion and I'm usually a pro-abortion kinda gal. :P Alright, that's enough from me. ON WITH THE FIC!

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A dark figure perched like a gargoyle on the roof of the five story building in the dying light. Raven spikes swayed in the soft breeze, already laced with night's coolness. Wine colored eyes burned brightly, reflecting the setting sun's glare.

It wasn't true…more importantly it wasn't allowed to be true. He was the forbidden; the imiko; the cursed; the tainted; the bastard child of the Koorime. His bloodline was supposed to end the very day of his birth, not continue through the birth of another, especially a birth from his very body. He was cruel, murderous, feared, hated, outcast, and shunned. He brought death, destruction, and pain wherever he went and was never supposed to be able to love, let alone a love strong enough to create life.

The love…that must be the deciding factor, it had to be. Surely if it was otherwise something of this nature would have happened before. Before Kurama, he had by no means been a virgin, though he still considered himself to be one. Those driven by lust and the need to dominate could never take something so precious from him. But it left the question: if something like this was possible, then why now? Why not then? The only explanation was that somehow there were mental requirements as well as physical ones.

If that was correct, then in truth he had brought this on himself. He had fallen in love with the fox. No one had forced him, he had done it himself, and now he was 'reaping what he had sown.'

One hand drifted to his midriff. All this speculation of 'how' and 'why' wasn't helping. Knowing what had caused this to happen wasn't his problem now. No, it was too late to do anything now. The only thing he needed to be concerned with at this point was what to do next. Should he keep the child…or not?

What was it Kurama had said…'abortion'? Yes, that was it. Kurama had said that if he didn't want it he could have an abortion. But…what was that? What would happen to the child? Did he care?

He thought about it for a long moment. What would he feel if he just…got rid of it? Anger bubbled in the depths of his heart. No! He couldn't do that! He would kill anyone who tried to do that to a child! No one had the right to throw away someone else's life…the way his had been.

'Ch,' a voice in the back of his head chided, 'If you feel that strongly about it, then what are you still doing here?'

As the last rays of the departing sun stained the horizon a strong wind pulled at black fabric and passersby on the street would swear on their lives that a stone gargoyle simply spread its wings and disappeared.

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Slowly the door creaked opened and the half-Koorime entered cautiously. He wasn't used to entering through the front door as opposed to the window, but wasn't entirely sure if he'd be welcomed and so chose this route instead. The way he had stormed out…he wouldn't blame the fox if he was angry.

Everything was dark. Quietly, he closed and locked the door behind him, toeing his boots and placing them next to Kurama's own polished shoes. He winced inwardly as crimson orbs caught sight of a dent in the wall made by the force with which he had flung the door opened upon his departure. He would surely be subject to one of Kurama's lectures about it later.

Slowly, he made his way through the apartment. The kitchen had been cleaned up and all the plates and candles put away. The entire house (if you could call a three room apartment with a kitchenette that) was silent. No lights were on save for the one beam of yellow glowing from beneath the bedroom door. Taking a deep breath, Hiei approached.

"Kurama?" he called softly, rapping lightly on the doorframe with his knuckles.

"Hiei?" the cry sounded almost surprised and in seconds the door was flung opened. Kurama stood framed in the light shining from behind him. On the surface he looked happy and relieved at the sight of the fire demon, but Hiei was more then capable of picking out the underlying of sorrow and fear beneath. For a long moment they said nothing, merely staring at each other as the awkward silence mounted around them.

"Come in, Hiei. Sit down," Kurama finally invited, pulling the half-Koorime into the room. Hiei obediently allowed himself to be lead to the bed and rested his back against the headboard as Kurama settled down facing him on the mattress. Again there was silence. Hiei sighed, looking down, trying to organize his thoughts.

"Did you…make a…decision?" Kurama struggled to ask, obviously fearing the answer. Hiei debated that for a moment.

"Yes and no," he finally answered. Kurama blinked.

"Yes and no?" he questioned. Hiei nodded.

"Yes. I have made my decision, but you have yet to make yours."

"Mine?" Kurama's eyes widened. "No, Hiei, you shouldn't let what I think—"

"What are you talking about?" Hiei interrupted, fixing the redhead with a mild glare. "Kurama…you weren't honestly going to follow my choice without even voicing your own opinions, were you?" When Kurama didn't answer Hiei's features took on a look of incredulousness. "Fox, not only is that unlike you, it's stupid." Kurama opened his mouth to defend himself, but Hiei silenced him and took the fox's hand in both of his.

"Kurama," he said much softer then many other's would have believed possible of the short tempered warrior. Gently, he placed the redhead's splayed fingers over his abdomen. "We created this life together, both of us. You have just as much say in what becomes of that life as I do. As I said, I've made my decision, but before I tell you I want to hear yours."

Kurama felt tears forming, stinging his eyes, but fought them. He had to tell Hiei the truth, but found he was ashamed of it. That his kitsune instincts were so strong was not something he could change, but he didn't want to acknowledge them either. Wasn't this what he had been trying to prevent? Hiei's garnet orbs burned into him and he had to answer. Lowering his head he stared at the sheets.

"I…I want…"

"Why do you have to make everything so difficult?" Hiei sighed, releasing the hand he was still clutching over his stomach. "Just say it already!" Kurama looked up, tears sliding down his cheeks, effectively silencing the half-Koorime.

"The truth is…Hiei…this child…I want it…I want it very badly. And…and if…if you…get rid of it…my instinct's…they'll…they'll," Kurama trailed off, unable to voice his deepest fear.

Hiei blinked. His instincts would what? Then he remembered something he had heard a long time ago about kitsune's. They were very family orientated creatures. His eyes widened in sudden understanding. If he didn't keep the child, Kurama's kitsune instincts would drive him mad. But Kurama had kept that quiet for his benefit, not wanting to force Hiei into anything. That was why he hadn't wanted to contribute his opinion. Hiei almost smiled at the fox's needless fears.

"Kurama," he cooed, yes actually cooed softly, wrapping the crying redhead in a strong embrace. For a moment even he was amazed by the tone of voice he had just used, but shrugged it off and continued in his attempt to console the fox. "Kurama, it's alright. Relax. It's—" He was cut short by a now familiar feeling of nausea.

Kurama fell forward into the headboard as Hiei suddenly bolted from the room. Rubbing his head, he blinked in surprise, until he heard a sound he recognized coming from the bathroom. Getting up and wiping his tearstained cheeks he padded to the bathroom door, not at all surprised to find Hiei vomiting into the toilet.

"What small minded bastard decided to call this 'morning' sickness?" Hiei grumbled as he sat up straight, flushing the bowl. Kurama chuckled as Hiei rinsed his mouth out, afterwards settling on the edge of the bathtub.

"So," Kurama said slowly after a moment. "You know my decision, now let's hear yours." Hiei looked up, then sighed, very nearly smiling.

"What choice do I have?" he lamented quietly, dropping his eyes and allowing one hand to rest on his stomach as he spoke. "Either have the brat, or don't and hate myself on top of dealing with your homicidal instincts." He snorted. "I wonder what those Koorime bitches would think if they knew about this," he added, looking up to meet sparkling emeralds. "Their bastard imiko and Youko Kurama, the biggest bastard of them all, procreating. It's almost frightening, don't you think?"

"Oh, Hiei!" Kurama cried in elated relief, tears of joy falling down his beaming face. Rushing forward, he enveloped Hiei in a tight hug, both of them tumbling into the tub. Hiei erupted in a torrent of swearwords, all directed at the fox lying on top of him, but Kurama didn't hear a word of it. Laughing in sheer delight, he buried his face in the half-Koorime's stomach, planting numerous kisses there until Hiei finally quieted and the two laid in comfortable silence.