Part Thirty: Reactions, and Admissions

Corben comes back into the cell at various times to torment Kuronue who he seems to have an absolute loathing for. Kurama is becoming very distressed and angry at being unable to protect his mate who is still recovering from being pregnant and giving birth. He knows that the fox-demon won't stop until he's killed Kuronue and that just makes him even angrier. The only thing good out of the whole situation is that Corben seems too preoccupied with harming Kuronue that he has yet to go after Ani. None of the demons held within the cells or Genkai wishes any harm to befall the smaller demon, not after all he's been through.

The seventh time Corben comes in, he uses a rosewhip and almost completely shreds Kuronue. It shocks everyone else to find that he's still alive after Corben is done with him. "He's not going to survive another beating," Yoko whispers after the deranged fox-demon leaves the cell.

"Well, fox, there isn't much we can do at the moment," Hiei responds. Yoko doesn't answer, he just wants to get out of there before he had to watch his mate die…again. There would be no way to get him back after this, and the silver-haired fox knows it. He looks at the battered form of his lover and wonders if he was only going to lose him after he had been reunited with him. 'Please…I don't care how, just don't let me lose Kuronue…not again.'

It is four hours later that Corben returns. He smirks at the still unconscious bat-demon before stalking towards him. "No," Yoko pleads, "Corben, please."

"I have to do this, Yoko. It's the only way. This filthy beast has seduced you and he needs to be punished."

"If anyone is a filthy beast, it's you," Bui retorts caustically. The fox-demon turns his attention onto him. "Well, you are, fox." The last words is spit at him hoping that the demon will come his way. The ax-wielder has finally had with him and his insane need for revenge.

Corben bristles at the demon's tone. "You don't know what you're saying, you poor excuse for a demon," he sneers back.

"Why don't you say that to my face?" Bui taunts though his voice is still choked with pain. Corben, not sensing the trap that has been laid walks right up top him.

"I said…"

That is as far as the fox-demon gets as Bui lets go of his spirit energy completely. Corben's eyes widen in shock before his body is incinerated. After he exhausts himself, Bui stops and looks around quickly. "We're fine, ax-wielder," Hiei says, "When he died, the wards disappeared allowing us to shield ourselves. Why didn't you do that sooner?"

"He didn't get close enough and I wasn't about to endanger any of you."

"I don't see why not," the fire-demon retorts.

"It was because Oto would kill me if anything happened to Genkai and I don't wish you any ill-will," he responds.

"Hn."

"You're welcome," Bui responds. He watches as Genkai hurries to begin healing Kuronue and remembers what he revealed to both him and his lover Kurama. 'Karasu is going to kill me,' he thinks, 'Karasu is absolutely going to kill me.'

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Kuwabara returns to the hospital to see Ani after washing the blood off of himself and calming down enough to revert back to his human form. He finds Ani awake and talking to Shizuru when he enters. "Well, that was fast. You were only gone forty-five minutes," his sister says, "Did something happen?"

"Yeah, Sakyo pissed me off," he answers, "I completed my demonic transformation, ripped his throat out, and threatened Koenma. Not bad for a days work, if I do say so myself."

"What about Ryan?" Ani asks.

"He's staying with you. I wasn't about to leave that room if Koenma didn't leave him in your custody."

"You actually threatened Koenma?"

"Yes, I told him to make his decision carefully because it would decide whether or not I killed him."

"What did Sakyo say about Ani to make you react that way?" Shizuru inquires.

"He called him a whore," the carrot-top answers, "I didn't take too well to it."

"No, I can guess that you didn't," she says though there is a hint of pride in her voice.

Ani gives him a slight smile. "Thank you," he murmurs.

"You're welcome. I wasn't about to let that bastard piece of shit have Ryan."

"At least now we know he's dead," Shizuru murmurs, "Oh, Kazuma, the doctors say that Ani can go home in two or so days."

"That's wonderful news," Kuwabara says before walking over and gently kissing Ani on the forehead. The smaller demon looks up at him.

"Can I talk to you…privately?" he asks.

"Of course," Kuwabara says before turning towards his sister but he doesn't have to ask her anything.

"I'll be down in the cafeteria," she says smiling before she leaves. After she closes the door, Kuwabara turns back to the smaller demon.

"What did you need to talk about?" Kuwabara asks sitting beside him on the bed.

"He raped me, Kazuma. That bastard raped me! I couldn't do anything because I was warded and he owned us," the smaller demon whispers. Kuwabara slowly wraps his arms around him and pulls him close to him.

"It changes nothing, Ani," he says softly, "It changes absolutely nothing…especially not the way I feel about you."

"How do you know that?"

"Because I know me. I hate that he hurt you but I don't regret Ryan…I'll never regret Ryan."

"Neither will I. He's precious."

"He's nothing like his father."

"No…no he isn't." Ani looks up at him. "I don't know if anyone is ready for what is coming."

"Probably not but they'll just have to deal with it," Kuwabara tells him.

"Are you sure you're ready to be a father? You're only sixteen."

"I don't care how old I am, Ani! I am going to raise not only the three you are going to have, but Ryan as well."

"Most sixteen-year-olds wouldn't be so willing to say that."

"Well, most sixteen-year-olds haven't seen what I have. I have fought countless battles deciding the fate of the world. I think I can handle fatherhood."

"Can you deal with the mother of the children, though?"

Kuwabara looks at him for a moment before smiling softly. "I love the mother of MY children," he tells him.