Once again, I'm very sorry for the delay. I have no time! Anyway, I want to thank all of you who assured me so kindly that my grammar mistakes are not that bad. In truth, I don't think they are either, but I am somewhat of a perfectionist and feel I should fix them eventually. Not that I'm going to lose sleep over it or anything, but still. Things are winding down now and I hope to finish this before the month is over. Like I said, there will be a sequel and more after that if my muse decides to cooperate that long (the pesky thing never has before). And now, without further ado, ON WITH THE FIC!
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A constant stream of profanities flowed from the half-Koorime's mouth as they struggled up the stone steps leading to Genkai's temple. Kurama watched his mate closely, both concerned for Hiei and finding humor in his dilemma. At eight months pregnant climbing even just a few stairs was proving difficult for Hiei. The massive steps before Genkai's temple were a nightmare. Kurama had offered more than once to help, but Hiei roughly brushed him off each time.
Kurama had finally begun to enjoy the pattern daily life had finally settled into when it was uprooted and turned upside down once more. Though he was trying to hide it, Hiei hadn't been sleeping well. He wouldn't tell Kurama why and always fell into a moody silence when asked. Hiei was already low on energy, the child taking most of it. Not sleeping was only making his energy levels drop even more and Kurama was growing more worried by the day.
Besides that, his mother had taken it upon herself to help them in their house hunting. In fact, she had found just the perfect place. Moderately priced, a good size, submerged in the outskirts of town without neighbors for miles. But with everything that was going on with Hiei, the added stress of moving was just not something that either demon felt ready to tackle. Also, as they neared the last stages of the pregnancy Hiei was growing more and more territorial. Suddenly changing surroundings so late would likely send him into a panic.
In the end, it had been decided that Shiori would decorate and keep the house tidy until after the child was born and then the move would be made. She had insisted, saying she felt useless amidst all that had happened. Both Hiei and Kurama assured her that she had been anything but useless in the past months, but still had allowed her to do as she pleased.
Finally they neared the end of the stairs. Kurama took a deep breath of the clear mountain air. He only hoped that this visit would shed some light on what was bothering Hiei.
(xxx)
"Everything looks fine," Genkai announced. Both demons breathed easier at that news.
"It appears a cesarean may not be necessary after all," she added as Hiei drew the white kimono he had once again been given around himself.
"Why is that?" Kurama asked curiously. Hiei looked away slightly and Kurama had the suspicious feeling that the fire demon already knew why.
"A temporary birth canal is already beginning to open," the old psychic answered.
Kurama turned to Hiei. "Why didn't you tell me?" 'What else are you hiding?' he added mentally.
"He probably didn't want to worry you," Genkai interjected. "The sensation is most likely slightly uncomfortable."
"That's an understatement," Hiei grumbled darkly. Kurama narrowed his eyes at his mate but remained silent. Arguments could wait until they were in private. There was no need to create a scene in front of Genkai.
"Have you not been sleeping well?" Genkai asked the half-Koorime, noting the bags beneath his eyes. Hiei didn't answer but concentrated on burning a whole in the wall with his glare.
"No, he hasn't," Kurama replied, perhaps a bit more sharply than intended.
"Nightmares?" Genkai continued to stare at Hiei. Hiei didn't answer at first. He shot a side glance at the old woman before inclining his head a fraction of an inch. Kurama leaned down to speak to Hiei directly, but Genkai wisely intervened.
"Have you begun lactating yet?" Hiei was so taken off guard by this question that he whipped around to stare at the old woman, very nearly missing giving the redhead a concussion.
"I'll take that as a 'no'," Genkai smiled impishly. "It should begin soon though."
"Thanks for the warning," Hiei muttered. The corner of his left eye was twitching and his stare promised death on swift wings. Genkai retrieved her tea from the corner of the room and headed for the door.
"I'll leave you two alone now," she said as she opened the door. "Try not to break anything," she added as she left. Hiei continued to glare after her, grumbling to himself. He was about to reach for his clothes when a firm hand griped his shoulder tightly. Turning he came face to face with a very enraged kitsune.
"Why didn't you tell me about the birth canal, Hiei? Or that you were in pain? Or that you were having nightmares? Why didn't you tell me anything!" Hiei winced at the words, but mostly at the look in his lover's emerald eyes. There was anger, oh yes plenty of that, but much more besides that: hurt and betrayal. His garnet gaze fell on the floor.
"Well, Hiei? Tell me!" Kurama was beside himself with anger. After all they had been through, the trust they had worked so hard to build and strengthen, how could Hiei keep this from him? Hiei continued to stare at the floor. Kurama was quickly loosing his patients.
"When a Koorime gives birth," Hiei's voice was so soft Kurama almost didn't hear it, "she sheds a tear for the child." He reached up and clasped both the teargems around his neck, both from his mother. "Do you know why?" Now he turned to Kurama, an unreadable expression in his eyes. Kurama sighed, the last of his anger dissipating with the exhaled breath.
"No, I don't know why," he admitted. Hiei dropped his gaze to stare at the teargems in the palm of his hand.
"Koorime…" he trailed off, thought for a moment, and then began again. "Koorime drain all their energy when giving birth. Because of this, not many of them live through it." He fell silent again, still staring at the gems. "A teargem is solidified energy. A teargem cried for a child is different from the ones normally shed because…"
"Because it's made with life energy," Kurama's eyes widened as he suddenly understood. Hiei was…scared. Hiei nodded, never taking his eyes from the teargems.
"It is the final sacrifice, so that the child may have something to remember their mother by." Hiei sighed and dropped his hand, the teargems coming to rest against his chest. He lowered his head, bangs shielding his eyes from view. "I've done many reckless things in my life without once worrying about death. So why…?"
All anger gone, Kurama wrapped Hiei in a tight hug. The fire demon laid his head on the redhead's chest and Kurama rested his chin in ebony spikes. Holding back tears, the fox squeezed his eyes shut and tightened his hold.
"It's perfectly natural to be scared, Hiei," he whispered after a moment. He felt Hiei shake his head, fine raven hair tickling his nose.
"Iie, this is different. It's never hurt like this before," Hiei replied, his voice muffled by Kurama's shirt.
"You want to be a part of this child's life," Kurama choked out an explanation, trying to keep his voice from cracking. Fear was slowly setting in on the fox and he suddenly felt trapped. What Hiei had said…it was a taboo thought, one that Kurama had been avoiding for months. He wouldn't except it, wouldn't entertain the notion that at the end of all this Hiei could…die.
"Kurama…" Hiei pulled back slightly, looking up with crimson orbs that simmered with unshed tears. "I'm sorry. I should have—" Kurama laid a finger to the half-Koorime's lips, shaking his head slightly.
"No, don't be sorry. I understand. You didn't want to admit you were afraid." Kurama smiled kindly through his tears, his hand moving to cup the side of Hiei's face. "But Hiei, you don't have to be ashamed of being scared, especially not around me." Hiei nodded slowly.
"I know," he said, the barest of smiles gracing his lips. "But old habits die hard, ne?" Kurama's smile widened and he embraced his mate tightly once more.
"Don't worry, Quickfire," he whispered, kissing the fire demon's ear. "Genkai will be there and so will Yukina and so will I. Nothing will happen to you, either of you." His hand dropped to the half-Koorime's bulging stomach. "I won't allow it."
Hiei nodded and rubbed his cheek over his lover's heart, listening to the steady beats. 'I hope you're right, fox,' he thought, closing his eyes. 'I hope you're right.'
(xxx)
Anei paused outside the small shack, watching smoke curl into the sky from the high chimney. It was a bitch to find a good surgeon these days. The best had been Shigure, but he was dead now, killed himself in that half-demon brat descendent of Raizen's tournament. He looked back at the shack. This guy was good enough, he would do.
Some might say this was a lot to go through for a simple revenge. After all, when the surgery was through it would still probably take years to properly master it. But then, he loved drawn out revenge. Striking an enemy long after they had forgotten his face or what wrong they had done him and slowly making them remember. Besides, the time spent was necessary to execute this perfectly, and he would accept nothing less than perfection.
He smiled to himself. Oh how sweet this requital was going to be.