Part Sixteen: The Next Generation of Thieves Have Arrived

Kuronue sleeps for five hours before he finally comes to. His blue eyes blink open sleepily. "Hi again, feeling better?" Yoko inquires.

"A bit," Kuronue yawns before slowly sitting up. He looks down that the basket holding the three little ones and smiles softly. "They're beautiful."

"They're perfect, too. I also have a feeling they're going to be a handful as well."

Kuronue chuckles. "Well, just look at their parents. It is obvious that they are going to be trouble!"

"Well, the new generation of trouble makers need names don't they?"

"So they do. What shall we call them?"

The conversation takes almost a two more hours as they debate names for their children. In the end they finally come to an agreement. Their eldest, a girl, is christened Tiara, their middle child, a boy, Velaris, and their youngest daughter, Amarlie. "You can leave if you want to," the nurse remarks, "Oh, and Kuronue, you can…breast-feed them."

Kuronue stares at her for a moment before he realizes what she just said.

"Wh-what?" he asks. Yoko starts snickering.

"You can breast-feed," she repeats.

"I am MALE, that shouldn't be possible."

"Yes, well have you noticed unusual sensitivity in reference to your nipples?" Kuronue's blush answers that question. "Well, that would be why. Have a good day, both of you."

Kuronue is still crimson as they leave. "Oh come on, Kuro, it's not THAT bad," Yoko murmurs.

"Not that bad? Yoko, I can BREAST-FEED! This is absolutely humiliating!"

"You worry too much, lovely. Anyone who has a problem with it will face me, and I promise that it won't be pretty." That gets a small smile from his mate. "So do you want to meet my friends now or later?"

"Well, we need a place to stay that isn't near Koenma. I don't want him around the little ones."

"Okay, then first I am taking you to Genkai's because there is something that I have to tell you."

"Is it bad?"

"Well…that depends on your definition of bad."

"Umm…a hint would be nice."

"Theoretically, I have a human form."

"That's not exactly what I would call bad."

"Well, I also have a human family and none of them know I am a demon or gay."

"THAT could be a problem."

"Yes, yes it could."

"Well, I don't know if it would do you any good to tell them that you are also the father of three with another male demon."

"That would definitely make my grave deeper."

"So, if they decide to chuck you out on your ass, where do we go?"

"We might end up asking to move into the Makai home of the other pregnant male demon that is also expecting triplets and is consequently, three feet tall."

"I definitely pity him."

"Yes, well let's go so I can explain to my parents why I wasn't home all night."

"I knew it wasn't theoretical."

"You know me too well."

"So when can I see your human form?"

"In a few minutes. This is going to be rather difficult for me."

"I bet. Take your time. I'll hold the midgets."

"Why don't we go and get them necklaces as a way to distinguish them."

"All right, let's go."

It is only two hours before Yoko is standing near his home. With a sigh, he reverts back to his redhead human form. "Dear gods, you're something else," Kuronue breathes entranced by his mate.

"Well, here goes nothing," he murmurs as if he hasn't heard Kuronue, "If you hear yelling, move away from the building. I wouldn't want our children to wake up and throw a fit here."

"All right," Kuronue answers as he watches him walk towards the door and adds on quietly, "Good luck."

Kurama slowly opens the door and steps into the house. He finds his mother sitting in the living room. She looks up when he comes in and then almost jumps from her seat. "Shuichi!" she exclaims.

"Mother," he murmurs.

"Where have you been? I have been sick with worry! You never went to school yesterday and then you never came home!"

"I apologize for worrying you. Something came up that needed my attention."

"What could possibly have been more important then school?"

Kurama closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. "You might want to sit down for this, mother."

"I don't like the sound of this, Shuichi."

"You probably won't. There is something I need to tell you and I know that you are going to have a lot of questions. I just hope that once I reveal this to you, you can one day forgive me. I am not human. I am what is called a Kitsune or fox-demon." He waits for her response to his admission.

"A demon? You are a demon?"

"Yes, yes I am. My name is Yoko Kurama. I am a legendary thief and had been well known in the demon world."

"Why? How? I don't understand."

"I had been hurt by a demon-hunter and I took refuge in the fetus of your child. I was desperate…I felt I didn't have another choice."

For a few moments, Shiori is silent and Kurama watches her. He knows her well enough to recognize that she is not at all pleased with the situation.

"Get out of my house," she finally says in an angry whisper, "Leave and never come back…demon!"

"As you wish," Kurama says softly, "I am so sorry, mother."

"Don't call me that!" she yells at him. He takes that as his cue to leave before she broke down in hysterics. He had caused her enough trouble for one lifetime without being the reason she had an emotional breakdown. He quietly lets himself out, bitterly cursing his decision as he hears her crying in the living room.

Kuronue is waiting by the portal to the Makai and wisely says nothing. He just puts his hand on Kurama's shoulder and gives a gentle squeeze. "We should go to Genkai's temple. I'll call Kuwabara from there and see if there is anyway we can stay with Ani and Oto," Kurama says hollowly.

"You should rest before you call your friend. You're in no position to make that sort of call when you look like you're going to break down. I am sure it can wait awhile," Kuronue tells him. Kurama reluctantly nods and leads him away from the portal.

"There is a way to get there through the woods so that no one asks about you or the little ones," Kurama says absently as they walk. Kuronue just lets him talk about nothing because it helped him cope. He knows that in a little while the redhead will probably break down and he's hoping that doesn't happen until he has a place to set the children down.

They arrive at a temple in the middle of the woods. An elderly woman is standing in the doorway. Her eyebrow rises as she notices them but she doesn't look too surprised to see a winged, pointy-eared male walking around. "Kurama, who's your friend?" she asks.

"This is my mate Kuronue," he answers.

"Your mate?"

"Yes, my mate. May we stay here for a while until other plans can be made?" Kurama inquires.

"You told her didn't you?"

"Yes."

"Come on in, both of you. Would it be rude to ask about the basket?"

Kurama smiles softly. "We'll tell you once we get inside." The psychic nods with a slight smile and waves both of them in. Once he enters the doorway, he reverts back to his demon form.

"Hello, fox," Hiei says appearing in the doorway.

"Hi, Hiei," he responds. He watches as the fire-demon looks at Kuronue with interest. "Hiei, this is my mate, Kuronue. Kuronue, this is my good friend, Hiei."

"Hello," Kuronue says softly.

"Welcome," the fire-demon says to him.

"So, the basket?" Genkai asks. Yoko nods towards Kuronue to answer.

"The basket…umm…well, it kinda has…umm," Kuronue stammers not feeling too comfortable answering complete strangers.

"Take a deep breath, Kuronue, and calm down," Yoko murmurs.

Kuronue breathes deeply before starting over. "The basket contains Yoko and my three children," he finally admits. The look on Genkai's face is enough to make him smile.

"Ch-children?" she asks. Kuronue smiles before slowly walking over and holding the basket up so that she can see within. Her eyes widen in shock and she smiles softly. "They are beautiful."

"They are aren't they? Hiei would you like to see?" Yoko asks.

"Hn," Hiei says noncommittally. Yoko smiles in fond exasperation before gently taking the basket and showing his sleeping children to Hiei. The fire demon's eyes widen as he sees the sleeping demons curled up within. They were so tiny…and cute! "Well fox, it is sufficed to say that you've doomed all demon-kind."

"No, Hiei, Kuwabara has doomed all of demon-kind," Yoko answers smiling slightly.

"What do you mean?" Genkai asks looking confused. Yoko realizes that she hadn't been told of the situation and gives a weak smile.

"Kuwabara has gotten Ani pregnant with triplets," he answers. Genkai chokes.

"Ani…pregnant?"

"Yes, Ani is pregnant. He's about a month and a half along."

"He's pregnant with triplets?"

"Yes."

The elderly psychic sits down and looks at him. "I have never imagined…how…I don't think I want to know the how do I?"

"Well, Kuwabara and Ani ended up kidnapped by the same demon who, upon threat of death, demanded that Kuwabara take the Ani. It was a while after we rescued Kuwabara that he admitted to that happening and then it was awhile before even he was aware that Ani had gotten pregnant by that encounter."

"How are they both taking it?"

"Well, they are on speaking terms with each other and Ani seems to like having Kuwabara close. He's spent at least one night with him that I know of and seems to really care for Ani's well-being."

"It sounds like there might be some hope for him after all…I never fully stopped believing that he was human. He just doesn't like being reminded of that…oh, I'm sorry, my mind wandered."

"That's all right. You did know them best."

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It had taken awhile but they had finally discovered that Ani could eat fruits without having to make a direct beeline for the bathroom. Nothing else at the moment was working too well. "Well, it's definitely a start," Shizuru comments.

"Yeah, well, I didn't ask for my stomach to be this temperamental," Ani complains.

"We never said that, Ani," Shizuru tells him. The smaller demon sticks his tongue out at her which makes her chuckle. "Real mature, demon."

"I don't particularly like acting my age, Shizuru," he retorts.

"I can imagine. You're what, seventy?"

"Cheeky, brat. I was about forty when I became a demon."

Kuwabara watches them bicker back and forth and feels a tightening in his chest sort of like…jealousy? What the hell? He was NOT feeling jealous of his sister teasing Ani! He didn't even like the midget! Well, that wasn't exactly true. He did care for Ani but that was only because he had gotten him pregnant in the first place…wasn't it? While those two continue to tease each other, he slips outside for a moment. What the hell was wrong with him? He sits down near the door and stares into the distance. "Are you all right?" Karasu asks. He looks back towards the door at the violet-eyed demon.

"I don't know," he admits after a moment of quietly observing him, "I thought so…until I realized I was getting jealous of my sister and Ani getting along so well."

Karasu looks at him curiously. "Jealous?"

"Yes, jealous. I don't know why I would be, or maybe I don't want to think about why I would. I'm making no sense…I don't even know anymore. After Ani got kidnapped it's all been very difficult, but not in a bad way…not really. I'm just so confused and worried at the same time and you are NOT helping by seeming to be an actually decent person!"

Karasu chuckles, "Would you rather I act as I did in the tournament? I can do that if it makes you feel better."

"No, no that's all right. What happened afterwards? You have all changed so much."

"A lot of things happened. For me and Oto, Limbo straightens out people very well I would imagine. Bui is the same as he was at the Dark Tournament but even that wasn't anything to be frightened of. Of all of us, I do believe he's remained the most honorable…which is almost laughable considering that he's the most dense one of us. Ani, well, I think the pregnancy has changed Ani along with the fact that you are NOT rubbing it in that you got him pregnant. I think he feared you being cruel even though he'd never admit to it."

"Wow, you sure can speak for a long time."

"Don't be snide."

"Hey, I only have to be nice to Ani, not you."

Karasu chuckles again. "You have changed a lot since I last saw you. You seem more confident now."

"Maybe a little bit but I must admit to feeling rather strange sometimes. I have a habit of forgetting where I am and what I am doing."

"Oh, when did this start?"

"A few weeks before I ended up kidnapped. I would wake up in places I know I didn't fall asleep in. The day I got kidnapped, I wasn't knocked unconscious or actually captured. What happened was in the middle of fighting the idiot, I passed out unexpectantly."

"You have yet to tell your friends this?"

"I don't want them to worry. I don't think it's anything for them to be concerned with."

"Maybe you should get checked out…just in case. You wouldn't want to accidentally injure yourself more then you have, would you?"

"No, I wouldn't. I just have a strange hesitation to go and see someone. I don't know if I want to know the truth…I'm a coward to be completely honest."

"No, Kazuma, you are no coward. I have seen enough of you to know this. It would be easier for you to go before it threatens your life."

"You are really pushy, you know that? Are you sure you're feeling okay?"

"I am fine…I think."

"Boy if Kurama could see you now…I don't know what he would think."

"I try not to imagine that…or him," Karasu says softly. Kuwabara knows better then to pry.

"Ah so this is where you took off to," Shizuru remarks stepping outside.

"Sorry about that, I just needed a bit of air and you two seemed engrossed by your conversation," Kuwabara answers slowly standing up, "So who won the argument, by the way?"

"I did," Ani and Shizuru say at the same time.

"Figures," Kuwabara says chuckling as they glare at each other.

Inside the phone rings interrupting them. "I'll get it," Ani says disappearing into the living room. Shizuru, Kuwabara, and Karasu follow after him wondering who might be calling. Ani picks up the phone. "Hello?"

"Hi, Ani, it's Kurama."

"I could have figured from the voice it would be you, Kurama. Is something wrong?"

"Well, sort of. I told my mother that I am a demon and she threw me out so Kuronue and I were wondering if maybe we could move in there until we find a new home," Kurama answers.

"You could stay with Genkai."

"Yes, well I don't know about her tolerance for crying babies."

Ani's eyes widen. "Kuronue's given birth?" he asks and watches as Karasu, Kuwabara, and Shizuru all turn to look at him in shock.

"Yes, he gave birth yesterday to triplets; two girls and a boy."

"Congratulations, Kurama. Of course you can stay here. I want to meet the newest generation of thieves."

"Thank you, Ani."

"Of course, Kurama. Oh, Kuwabara and Shizuru are here so they'll probably want to see them as well." He hears Kurama chuckle.

"I could have guessed that he would be over there with you…all right, Kuronue and I will be over there in five minutes…okay?"

"That's fine. I'll see you then." Ani hears the click and hangs up the phone before facing the others. "Kurama admitted to his mother that he was a demon and she threw him out so Kuronue, he, and their three newborn children are coming here in about five minutes."

"Kuronue had triplets?" Kuwabara asks.

"Yes, two girls and a boy. He gave birth yesterday," Ani answers. He looks at Karasu who gives a weak smile and a slight nod indicating that he was fine with the situation though Ani knows him better then that. He had seen how difficult it was for Karasu to learn that Kurama had a mate and now, now he would be meeting that demon.

Five minutes later, the doorbell rings. "I'll get it," Ani tells them before walking out of the room. He heads to the door and opens it. He smiles at Kurama. "Hello, come on in," he greets. The redhead smiles back before walking in. Behind him walks a long black-haired blue-eyed winged demon. Ani realizes that this is Kuronue.

"Thank you again, Ani. I know this is such short notice," Kurama remarks.

"Don't worry about it. This house is big enough. So who's the quiet one?"

Ani answers.

"This is my mate, Kuronue. Kuronue, this is Ani. He's pregnant with triplets as well."

Ani sees the sapphire-eyed demon smile. "It's going to be a lot of fun, let me tell you," he murmurs.

"I can imagine," Ani responds, "Well, the others are waiting in the living room so why don't we go join them?"

"That sounds good. Who all is in there?" Kurama asks.

"Shizuru, Kuwabara, and Karasu. Bui is hiding and Oto is out meditating," Ani answers. He just sees Kurama nod and wonders why the redhead wondered. He decides that it is irrelevant and leads them into the living room.

"Hey, Kurama," Kuwabara greets.

"Hello, Kuwabara. How have you been?"

"I've been doing fairly well, and you?"

"Well, I've been formally thrown out of my house and now the father to three. Not bad for two day's work."

Kuwabara chuckles. "So can we seem them?"

"Sure," Kurama says before gently taking the basket from Kuronue. "They've been sleeping for awhile now. Kuronue's expecting them to wake up any moment demanding food."

"Ah, yes that is going to be fun. I can breast-feed," Kuronue murmurs stepping beside Kurama.

"Breast-feed?" Ani asks looking highly unsettled.

"Yep, though without the breast part more or less. It makes for extraordinary sensitive nipples and I am not looking forward to having to…"

"Waahhh!" A heart-wrenching cry interrupts him as the children decide at that moment to want food. The bat-demon groans softly.

"Why me? Oh, why me?" he mutters before slipping out of his shirt and picking up Tiara in one arm. She immediately latches onto his nipple and he whimpers. After waiting a few minutes, he then picks up Velaris and the boy does the same as his sister.

Ani watches as Kuronue breast-feeds them rather intrigued. He can tell by the looks on the other's faces that they are as well. It was a rather incredible sight and Kuronue; well he's blushing bright red as he observes his audience. Kurama chuckles. "Let's hope Ani doesn't have to go through this," Shizuru remarks, "I don't know if he'd be able to stand the embarrassment."

"I don't think I would be able to, either," Ani agrees.

After a half-hour, he's finished with the three of them who are soundly asleep

again. "That was embarrassing," he mutters placing the cradle down on the couch, "And it felt really, really awkward. Can't we just bottle feed them?"

"Kuronue, you know that breast-feeding is healthiest," Kurama says softly.

"You wouldn't be saying that if YOU were the one doing this!" he grumbles.

Kurama smiles before softly kissing him on the lips.

"Hush and stop complaining," the redhead tells him.

"Yes, it could be worse. You could actually have breasts," Ani teases. Kuronue scowls at him though it's obvious he's hiding a smile.

"Are you going to formally introduce your children or are we going to have to guess?" Shizuru asks finally.

"Oh, our apologizes. We were about to and then they decided to get hungry.

The eldest one is our first daughter Tiara, the middle our son Velaris, and the youngest our second daughter Amarlie," Kurama answers.

"They are precious," she murmurs looking down at them.

"Yes, for now they are. Imagine how they will be during their toddler years," Kuronue comments, "They will be holy terrors."

"Most young demons are but these…these will be a special brand of holy terror," Ani chortles, "It will make you two sorry you ever decided to become thieves in the first place."

"So we have guessed," Kuronue murmurs, "Though we wouldn't have it any other way."

Karasu watches from his spot near the door. He is about to leave the room before he can't bear to the watch the scene. He's already doing his best to hide the pain he's in. 'He's obviously happy,' he thinks watching Kurama smile adoringly at his mate, 'I need to get over my childish infatuation with him. He has a mate and children. He most certainly doesn't need a lovesick demon fawning on him.' Without a sound, he slips out of the room and out to the backyard. He heads into the woods and curls up at the base of a tree before he lets down the mask he had erected and the tears fall. He pulls his knees close to his chest and sobs quietly.