Disclaimer: I don't own anything having to do with Yu Yu Hakusho, nor do I profit anything from writing this…except for some self-gratification…making these characters do what I want, etc.

Please Help: Okay, I'm not certain what Kurama's mother's name is. I've seen it as Shori, Shiori, and Shoiri. Which is it? If anyone knows for certain please pass on the knowledge to me. For now I'm going with Shiori…I'll change it later if I'm wrong. Also, I don't remember Kurama's little brother name, so I have taken the liberty in naming him after Kurama's ningen name (Shuiichi). If this is wrong, yell at me if you want. I take intelligent and experienced criticism very well.

Chapter 3

"We're here," Hiei said unnecessarily; mostly just trying to fill the silence his mate had fallen into since their shower. Kurama didn't budge. He only stood staring at the front door looking like he would retreat if the knob so much as twitched. Hiei couldn't quite understand the kitsune's fear, having never known the love of a parent, let alone needing their approval. However, he knew that he loved the fox and knew this was very important to him so he waited patiently at his side in the shadows of the surrounding trees.

When Kurama began to shake, though, Hiei became worried. He gripped Kurama's arm just above the elbow and led him deeper into the shadows. The fox went silently and slightly confused. Hiei looked up at him sincerely.

"Kurama, she is your mother. You know my distrust for ningens, but your mother's an exception." He paused for a moment feeling a little awkward. "She's the only one I like."

Kurama half-smiled. "What about Yusuke and Kuwabara?"

Without a flinch of hesitation Hiei repeated, "She's the only one I like." Kurama laughed and with that soft musical sound his body relaxed and his shaking ceased. But he couldn't get over the gnawing sensation that something would go wrong.

"Hiei," he began.

"Yes, fox?"

"It's going to be too much, you know? First finding out that I'm a demon and now finding out I mated with another male demon and am bearing his children. This sort of thing doesn't happen, it just--"

"You can't say there are no such relationships like this."

"No, there are. But it's still something that…It's not something openly accepted. Most think it belongs in the shadows--"

"Where do we belong if not in the shadows, koi?" Kurama looked down. Then he smiled at his mate. A smile so brilliant it chased away the last of his remaining anxiety.

"You're right. You're absolutely right," he laughed.

Hiei kissed his fox deeply before holding out his hand. "Whatever happens."

Kurama nodded with one last shaky breath and clasped Hiei's hand tightly. "Whatever happens." Then the two set off across the street and up the little walk to the door.

After ringing the doorbell, Kurama began fidgeting. When he heard light footsteps running to the door he stiffened and almost winced as the door clicked open.

"Kurama!" a young voice almost yelled as the fox demon's little half-brother latched onto his neck. Hiei held back a low growl as he watched the over-excited youth cling to his mate. Attention was fine, but the moment he felt his mate or unborn children were exerted he would have no problem drop-kicking the brat from here to the makai.

"Shu-chan," Kurama beamed at his beloved brother's excitement to see him. "Where is mother?"

"Oh, she's in the kitchen with dad. Isn't it great?"

Hiei noticed that Kurama looked completely crest-fallen at the mention of his step-father. He knew that Shiori and Kazuya were going through a rough time in their marriage--something Kurama often blamed himself for. The kitsune couldn't help it considering that Kazuya-san didn't take the news of Kurama being a demon very well and moved out. It was obvious now that Kurama was hoping to only have to tell his mother and Shuichi.

"Shu-chan, what is he doing here?" Kurama whispered.

"Uncertain about the whispering, Shuichi lowered his voice. "He's been trying to work things out with mom?"

Kurama gave his brother a half smile. "That's good. It's really great that they're trying." Then he turned to his mate desperation in his eyes. "I can't do this now, not with him here. I haven't seen him since he walked out."

Hiei didn't have the heart to refuse his fox. "All right, fox, we do not have to do this now. After all, you deserve some time to cope before anyone else finds out."

Shuichi listened carefully to the exchange. "Kurama, what's wrong? Are you in trouble?"

"Not exactly," he looked into the face he loved and knew he couldn't hide it from his brother. Shuichi had always been on Kurama's side--always a great support. Mind made up he grabbed his brother's arm and together they ran back to the cover of the trees.

"You're beginning to scare me," Shuichi said, looking from Hiei's smirk to the pacing fox. Suddenly Kurama whirled on him, a beaming smile on his face.

"Shu-chan, Hiei and I have mated." Shuichi smiled then frowned.

"What, that's like getting married, right?" Hiei scoffed, but Kurama laughed beautifully.

"Yes, it's kind of like getting married."

Shuichi's smile returned. "This is great! Mom'll be thrilled."

"Are you so sure of that?" Kurama grimaced.

"Yeah, she's known since, like, forever that you two were--" he waved his hands between the two demons-- "you know. That you liked each other." He laughed. "Long before you guys even knew."

"What? How?" Kurama asked surprised.

"She said it was a maternal thing--that mom's know when their children are in love." At this Kurama blushed profusely and Hiei didn't bother to hide his smile. "Like with me and Mia from school. I haven't heard the end of it."

"Shu-chan," Kurama interrupted.

"Yes?"

"That's not all, though." The mighty Youko Kurama was suddenly very nervous again as Shuichi looked at him expectantly. "Um, I'm--I'm pregnant, Shu-chan." The boy's eyes widened. "I'm going to have twins."

The silence lasted but a moment. "That's possible?"

"Apparently," Kurama said sheepishly.

"Sometimes there are special circumstances," Hiei spoke up for the first time. Kurama gave him a questioning look, but was immediately distracted when Shuichi jumped him and Hiei growled a warning. Once the fierce demon managed to wrest his mate from the grip of the foolish ningen, the teenager began jumping up and down. In maniacal joy.

Then he suddenly froze and Hiei's fingers inched toward his katana. Shuichi looked his brother in the eye and placed a calm, gentle hand on his stomach. "I'm going to be an uncle," he whispered, and the bewildering normalcy of the statement brought an unexpected peace to the kitsune's high-strung nerves. He smiled; for the first time believing that maybe it would all be okay.