Nine months later...

Little Zuki walked (1) around Sakura's new house. It was one story with 8 rooms, enough for when her friends come over. The house was Japanese style and located only a mile from Genkai's temple where the old psychic lived with Yukina. The child was wandering around the family room while Sakura sat on the futon couch reading.

"Zuki?" she called to the child in a baby voice.

The little one walked over to her aunt and crawled into her lap right away.

"Ra-ra!" she giggled, smiling ear to ear.

"What would you like to do today?"

They sat in silence, thinking, even the little one. Hiei chose this moment to enter the family room.

"Where is my katana?" he asked his housemate and friend.

"Hm? Oh...I put it on the top bracket in the weapons room because little Zuki here got a hold of it. I don't want her playing with weapons until she is at least 3!"

"Yeah, yeah, alright."

He began to walk away but stopped when Zuki stood up on the couch and called to him.

"What want do today 'iei?"

"I don't know. Isn't today...?"

He was silenced by Sakura leaping at him and firmly placing her hand over his mounth.

"Shush. It's a suprise."

Zuki looked at the two adults with curious eyes.

"It is nothing to worry about, dear. Why don't you go up to your room and see how your bear is doing?"

The small child gasped.

"I forgot Aoi(2) was sick!"

She crawled off the couch in a hurry and ran, kind of, up the stairs. Sakura relased Hiei and sat on the couch. The stubborn kajihenge sitting next to her.

"So...a suprise party?"

"Yes. For her first birthday, we are going to have a party on the beach. It was Botan's idea and I knew Zuki would have a blast. The others will be over in 20 minutes or so. We are going to walk down to the shore and Genkai, despite her age, is coming as well. You best start getting ready."

"Do we have to swim?"

"Hiei..." she placed a hand on his knee. "It would mean a lot to both Zuki and me if you were to come. You are like a father to her Hiei-kun. Please?"

He laid back and placed his hands behind his head.

"Alright. For her."

She smiled at him and got up, going to the kitchen to get together the food she had prepared earlier.

'And you, Sakura.'


"Food's ready!" Yusuke yelled, removing burgers, steak, and chicken from the grill.

Kazuma was playing frizbee with Taihen and Zuki while the girls laid down sunbathing. Koenma, Shuichi, Kurama, Genkai, and Hiei sat at one of the picnic tables. Everyone gathered food from the buffet set up on one of the other tables. Zuki sat inbetween Hiei and Sakura.

"Having fun Zuki-chan?" Yukina asked the loveable child in front of her.

"Lots Auntie Kina. Thank you evrybody!"

The others replied with your welcomes and began eating. The sun was falling towards the horizon as everyone finished.

"Who's up for swimming?" Kazuma asked.

"Me, me, me!" Taihen ane Zuki yelled in unison, jabbing their hands in the air.

Zuki grabbed Puu (3) who was perched on top of Yusuke's head and followed after her friend. Yusuke, now relieved of the fuzzy blue ball, grabbed his wife and dragged her into the water with him. Both came up laughing and hugging. Taihen swam over and threw himself onto his father's shoulders. Sakura (4) sat on her towel in her black bikini top and flowing prarie skirt, watching the family play. She sighed and turned around to find Hiei sitting on a rock a few feet behind her. He was shirtless and wore black swim trunks with red and orange flames on them. Standing up, she walked over and sat down beside him.

"Hey there Baka-kun."

"Don't call me that."

"I like it. It fits you for some reason. I mean, you can be such an idiot at times and...ahhh!" she screeched, landing hard on the sand.

A triumphant smirk decorated Hiei's face. Sakura glared up at him, gaining a smirk of her own. He looked at her curiously and was immediatly pounced. They rolled around in the sand until he finally picked her up and dragged her down to the shore.

"HIEI JAGANSHI! PUT ME DOWN THIS INSTANT OR SO HELP ME I WILL MAKE SURE YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO MATE EVER AGAIN!"

Just as he threw her in, she latched onto his arm and they both wound up going in. Staring at each other, they broke down completly and started laughing. The others watched in amusement and confusion.

"Baka-kun, I am soaking wet."

"I am wet too so be quiet, onna"

She looked at him and noticed seaweed in his hair. Swimming behind him, she started picking it out. Her body rubbed against his as the waves pushed against her back.

'She's so close to me. How does she do this? My body heat is rising and I know it's not my energy. My abilities don't work in the water.'

"Ra-ra!"

Sakura looked up from where she stood behind Hiei and saw Zuki swimming towards them. Upon reaching the two, she threw herself into Hiei's arms. Botan chose this moment to take a picture of the 'happy family'. Boy is Hiei going to kill her for that.

"Yay! 'iei- san has come to swim."

The said kajihenge looked into the brilliant red of eyes of the child in his arms who was smiling so big.

"Ohh...'iei?" the child said.

"Yes?"

"I want to show you a trick."

She turned around while still in his arms and raised her hand. A whirlpool began to form and she pulled the water towards her. A long snake made of the salty water came up and started dancing in the air. Sakura watched in amusement.

"Good girl Zuki. You have done very well."

The snake fell and the child looked at her aunt with a large smile.

"Tank you Ra-ra."

Hiei looked at the kitsune behind him.

"You can control water?"

"Among other things. I will explain it to you later. It is starting to get dark and Zuki has not yet had her cake."

"I get cake?"

"Yes, ice cream cake."

Hiei's ears perked up at this.

"Come along now."

Zuki hopped onto Hiei's back and they swam to shore. The gang watched as they emerged from the water. Grabbing towels, Sakura handed them to the two to dry off with. Wrapping her own towel around her, she walked over to blue cooler and took out a blue, white, and pink ice cream cake. She placed 1 large candle on it and lit it. Everyone gathered around, Zuki making herself comfortable in Hiei's lap.

"Happy birthday to you

Our chibi Youkai

You're one year now

Happy birthday Zuki."

Sakura cut the cake and handed everyone a piece. Zuki smiled wider as her aunt gave her one of the larger pieces. Flashes were going off left and right as the others snapped pictures of the birthday girl. Botan was camera happy once again and saw the perfect picture. Sakura was sitting next to Hiei who had Zuki in his lap and she was leaning on him with her eyes closed, he gazed at her with a small but noticeable smile. Happiness was in the air for everyone. Life felt perfect for the time, but evil lingered in the shadows.

Sakura opened the door to her house as her and Hiei, with Zuki asleep in tow, entered. They walked up the stairs to the child's room. Hiei laided her in bed and turned around so Sakura could change her into a long shirt and underware. Placing a kiss on her niece's forehead, she placed the covers over her and left the room with Hiei.

"I am going to go wash up. Feel free to use your shower as well."

She waved at him as she walked down the hall towards her bedroom and awaiting shower. Stripping off her bikini, she stepped into the shower. The hot water cascaded down her body and washed away the salty water and sand. After cleaning up, she reached for her towel, turned off the water and stepped out of the shower, her towel wrapped tightly around her.

"Ahhhh!" she yelped when she saw Hiei standing there with a towel around his waist. "What are you doing here?"

"Shampoo."

Sighing to herself, she took the shampoo out of her shower and handed it over to him. He watched her with increasing intensity. The towel wrapped her pused her chest together and went to her upper thighs. Wet hair clung to her bare shoulders and stuck to the backs of her legs. He could feel his body heat rising as he stepped towards her. She gazed at him with a hungry look in her eyes. His hands slitthered around her waist and he pulled her body against his. They moved their faces closer together and were about to kiss when a scream resonated through the house.

"Zuki." they both said, running to the child's room.

She sat up in bed, hugging her knees and tears rolled down her face. The two of them ran into the room and to Zuki's side.

"What happened?" Sakura asked, holding the child to her.

"It was bad. A man with white hair and grey eyes was standing in front of me. 'e 'ad a sword in 'is 'and and blood was on it. 'iei was lying down next to me and 'ad a wound in 'is stomach. I was 'olding 'is 'and, telling 'im to 'ang on. You were standing in front of us with cuts all over your body. You and the man fought but 'e whispered a spell and pain was in my body. I'm so scared. Who was that man?"

"That was Zyjion. It seems as if he is trying to hurt you in your dreams."

Zuki's shoulders shook as a new wave of sobs racked her body. Sakura smoothed down her hair.

"It will be fine. That will not happen. Would you feel better sleeping in my room tonight?"

She nodded her head vigorously and crawled out of bed, took her aunt and Hiei by the hand, and headed towards Sakura's room. Hiei let go of Zuki's hand halfway down the hall.

"I have to change. I'll come back though, Zuki."

"Alwight, 'iei."

The two continued towards Sakura's room. Said demon plopped Zuki on her bed and changed into her Pj's consisiting of long, baggy, black sweats and a white shirt. Pulling up the covers, Zuki crawled under and so did Sakura. The child nuzzled up to her aunt and fell asleep. Hiei knocked on the door lightly, sensing that Zuki was asleep.

'Come in.' Sakura whispered telepathicly.

He complied and walked over to the bed, sitting on it and leaning against the headboard. Sakura observed him for a while until he adverted his gaze to her.

"What?"

"Nothing." She laided down and closed her eyes.

'Did he almost kiss me earlier? I know I love him. I love him with all my heart, but he would never return my feelings. Would he?'

Slowly, sleep consumed her as Hiei watched over both of them.

Note:

1. Zuki is one year old but has the verbal, mental, and physical capacity of a 3 year old.

2. Aoiblue

3. Puu changes into his phoenix form when Yusuke changes into his demon form

4. Sakura converted to a human form so she doesn't have her ears and tail, but still the white-silver hair and amethyst eyes

Only 4 more chapters to go. Stay tuned!

-UtsukushiiCho