Disclaimer: You know the routine.
Chapter 30: Pizza Anyone?
He chuckled softly, "No Mother. I will tell you that Yoko had fun shaping me inside your womb. Where he got the red hair and green eyes from I'm not even sure. He said that he did have to fix the problem you were having bearing children. He had no wish of losing his new home. He only had so much energy left."
/Damn right! Get on with it/
"Mother? Do you hate me. . . us?"
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Shiori paused for a moment, as a slow genuine smile played on her lips, "No, dear. I don't hate you. Right now, I feel many things but not that." She leaned closer and pressed her lips on his forehead. "Can I see Yoko again? Please?"
Shuichi gave her a look. He wasn't sure it was a good idea but she was his mother. Slowly, his beautiful red hair melted away to silver. His human ears disappeared to reappear at the top of his head. His body grew longer, taller. A bushy fox tail wrapped around his thigh to rest on his lap.
Shiori blinked. He's not as frightening as before. He was also very hurt when he transformed. She looked up into his amber eyes and smiled. "Hello, dear. What do I or rather what should I call you?"
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Yoko smiled down at their mother. She was very brave asking for him to come out, but then, he would never hurt her. He loved her too much besides owing her his existence.
"Yoko would be alright, Mother. My full name was Yoko Kurama, but Red uses Kurama when he has to fight."
"Red?" She looked a bit puzzled, "Oh you mean Shuichi. That's your name for him?"
"Normally. Why did you want to see me? My time out is very limited. It takes a lot of energy," he said softly as he moved back to the floor so she didn't have to look up at him.
She reached up and started to smooth back his hair, brushing against his ears. "You know, I knew that he was called Kurama by his friends. I just never understood where he got the nickname.
Yoko purred softly as he leaned into her hand, "Careful Mother. My ears are very sensitive to the touch."
"But I'm not your true mother, am I? Shuichi said youare very old," she paused in her petting.
"I've lost count on how old I truly am. Between 800 and a thousand years, I think. However, you are my mother now in every way that counts."
Shiori chuckled and asked, "Will my grandchildren have your ears and tail?"
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Barbara came back to the apartment with pizza and Chinese take out. She carefully stepped out of the elevator only to be greeted by Shiori sitting calmly on the sofa with a very tamed and purring Yoko sitting at her feet.
"Pizza anyone?" she called out, breaking the mood. She had been worried about revealing her presence. Knowing that something Yoko can be dark and secretative, she wasn't sure how Shiori would react to.
Yoko chuckled, "Trust you to shift the mood to food. Red hasn't been eating properly since we got back." The fox stood and stretched lazily. "I must return, Mother. It drains him too much for me to be out." Leaning over and giving his mother a kiss on the cheek, he purred softly, "Thank you."
Barbara watched in awe as the silver of Yoko changed to the colors of Shuichi. He shorten in size as well. "That has to be the most disturbing sight I've ever seen. How do you do that?" she asked coming over to sit with Shiori as a tired, drooping red haired Shuichi stood in front of them.
Shuichi gave her a shy smile. "Practice. It wasn't until recently that I could let Yoko out. The merger was so complete that he was resigned to stay in the back of my mind forever without his freedom, just being thankful he was still alive."
"What happened?" Barbara asked.
Shuichi gave his mother a look of 'Do I dare tell her?', then sighed. "Someone gave me a potion that showed how it was possible. I took it from there. Now I can do it at will. Yoko is very pleased but I have no control over him once he's out."
Shiori stood and hugged her son, "We need to talk more, dear but I must get back to your step-father. He's been very worried about you as well. Kokota worships the ground you walk on."
A stricken look crossed his face. "What are you going to tell them?" he asked, almost afraid of her answer.
"As little as possible, dear. They don't need to know."
Barbara came up to stand by Shiori, "Alfred is waiting downstairs, Shiori. We thought you might want to use him to get home instead of taking a cab."
"Thank you dear."
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After seeing his mother off, Shuichi turned tiredly back to Barbara. "Now you want an explanation too?" He was so exhausted, mentally and physically. Between all the worry and now letting Yoko out, he had no reserves left.
Barbara smiled, hugging him from behind, resting her chin on his shoulder. "Eat first. My curiosity can wait."
Relieved, he allowed her to be push him to the kitchen. Yoko yawned in the back of his mind. /Don't let her get away, Red. She's a keeper. Now maybe I can get some sleep. /
After pizza and clean up, Barbara steered him back to the sofa. "Alright. What did you tell your mother? And can you tell me as well?"
He chuckled softly, "And how much are you going to tell Bruce?"
She shrugged, "As much as you'll let me. I know he's figured most of it out. He won't tell me what. You know how closed mouth he can be."
Curling up on the couch, he pulled her to him, resting her back against his chest, wrapping his legs around her thighs. Resting his chin on her shoulder, he nuzzled her ear before starting to explain once more how he and Yoko came into being.
"Am I boring you?" he asked, after he had finished and she hadn't asked a single question.
"Hmm? Not really. I'm thinking. So it's like you said, it's like a lover's bond and as close as a father and son. I know what Yoko got out of the deal. What did you get?"
He chuckled. "Knowledge. A longer life span then a normal human. I'm stronger physically and my intelligence is a lot higher then most humans. You've seen my test scores."
Barbara started to lightly trace a pattern on his arm that was wrapped around her. "Do you remember that road trip and dirt race where you got so upset with me?"
Shuichi nodded. "I remember."
"Dick calls you a sex magnet," she paused for a moment, "Why do you make everyone around you . . .?"
She was interrupted by a soft purring like chuckle. "Kitsunes are very sexual creatures especially spirit foxes. We can't help it. I wish I could turn it off but I can't. We are also very private creatures, preferring to do the chasing and not being chased."
She turned slightly to look up at him over her shoulder. "So who caught whom?"
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I think I'll stop right there. This story is coming to a close, but not to worry. There is one more chapter left. Also, this arc maybe closing, but I'm not done with this world. I have two more arcs playing out in the back of my mind, so stay tune for Kung Fu Roses.
Silver Fox: You'll see Hiei in the third arc: "Kurama Comes Home" which is still in the mapping out stage and I won't start writing that until after August. As for Wonder Woman, I doubt it. Sorry.
Thanks all for reading and reviewing. You guys rock!
Until next time -- GF