Somewhere on Autumn Woods Drive

By Rikku Minouke

Disclaimer: I don't own YYH

AN: I think this is the longest story I have ever written in my life!

Chapter forty three

The internet was my best friend for a while. It would give me ideas of what to expect and how to deal with things. So when I'd feel those nasty kicks to the ribs or see the foot coming up from my belly, I'd know how to deal with that. Although I have to admit, when I saw the whole outline of a foot coming through my stomach, it really freaked me out. Like something from Rosemary's Baby.

"This sunshine is so nice!" Keiko giggled as we sat on a couple of mesh camping chairs on our balcony. "I've missed it all winter. So happy the snow is gone, right now."

"Careful," I laughed. "It's still April. Don't get too excited because the snow will be back in no time. I wouldn't be surprised if the weatherman said we have a blizzard next week."

"Shhh," Keiko scolded. "Don't talk like that." We both laughed as we watched the couple of clouds float over the blue sky. It was almost seventy degrees in the middle of April and I knew this weather wouldn't last and I was sure deep down, Keiko did too. "I heard you saw Hiei the other day."

"How did you know that?" I really shouldn't have been shocked that she had found out.

She glanced at me momentarily with a soft smile on her face. "I have my ways."

"Oh come on, Keiko."

Laughing, Keiko nodded in defeat. I knew it wouldn't last long. We'd never been able to keep much from each other. I think the baby was the longest I'd ever kept anything from her. Well besides the events in St Cloud. "Hiei came into the restaurant looking for Yusuke, but he was out on a delivery. And I know he only comes to town for certain people."

"What did he want from Yusuke?" my curiosity spiking. I hope he didn't blab what we had discussed at lunch.

"He was looking to waste time until Yukina was done with work," Keiko shrugged. "I made a point to find out who he came to see though." I sighed at her unspoken question.

"It's weird for me," I admitted and I noticed her turn to look at me out of the corner of my eye. "It's weird to imagine Kurama with another woman before me. I know its jealousy and curiousity, but you know me. I can't stop it. He's so amazing with me, so gentle and sweet. But I can't help but wonder if he was like that with her too."

"This was all because of her?" Keiko laughed. "Oh Botan. She's way out of the picture. Seriously. That girl is not coming back. And we are all happy about that."

"But no one wants to talk about it," I told her. "If you are all so over it than why can't anyone fill me in?"

"Because she really messed up the group and no one wants to relive that pain," Keiko had this sad smile on her face when I looked at her straight on.

A string of curses escaped my lips as I stood up from my chair. Her coffee eyes followed my movements. Raising arms above my head, I attempted to stretch the muscles over my ribcage. "Stop kicking me there little boy." Lowering one hand, I tenderly rubbed the affected area.

"You alright?" Keiko asked as she watched.

Nodding I took several breaths waiting for my baby calm down. Once I felt secure enough, I sat back down in the chair. "I think he may be a soccer player someday," I joked with her.

"How do you know she won't come back?" I asked after a moment of silence.

"Because Kurama and I are still friends," she scoffed and I looked over at her with my eyebrows scrunching over my forehead. "She had issues with our friendship."

"But you've always been with Yusuke," I couldn't stop the shock that threaded through my words. "It's not like you were ever a threat."

"Not that it would matter," she laughed. "She made him choose between the group or her. All because I was friends with everyone."

"He chose the group?" I was surprised actually. This was the girl he followed from college and gave up on her.

"No he didn't," Keiko admitted and I felt like that shocked expression was going to permanently stay on my face. "But the crazy side never really went away. And he got lonely. After a while Kurama would order from the restaurant just to talk to Yusuke for a few minutes. Or he'd swing by the school to 'see her' and then talk to Yukina in the office for a half an hour. Eventually she caught him talking to me at the grocery store. We'd made a silent agreement to 'accidently' do our shopping together."

"It would be hard to live in a small town and not be able to talk to anyone," I admitted.

"After a while she broke up with him because he apparently didn't love her like she loved him," Keiko rolled her eyes. "That's not love. That's control."

"What's her name, Keiko?"

"I know you know her," Keiko said quietly. "I'm nervous to tell you because I don't want you to say anything or do something to her."

"I will remain neutral," I smiled to myself.

"Please Botan," Keiko urged. "Kurama has moved on. Don't stir the pot with this girl."

"Just give me a name," I told her.

"It's Maya."

I was silent as her face popped into my mind. The round cheeks and short brown hair. She was indeed a teacher, an English teacher in fact. Shaking my head, I couldn't count the number of times she'd been into ground to get a big box of coffee for teachers meetings or after school activities. I could even tell you her preferred beverage. A large hazelnut mocha.

"Do you think she knows that Kurama and I are…." I trailed off thinking about my question.

"I don't know, Botan," she shook her head. "But please leave this alone."