Ryoko stood up from her chair and stretched.

I can't take this anymore.

She made her way to the balcony. The overhang of the floor above them blocked the rain from falling on the veranda, but it did nothing to soften the chilly wind. She leaned on the railing and rested her head on her arms, looking out to the forest. It was more of an overgrown park, really, but Ryoko called it a forest just the same. It reminded her of older times. She let out a sigh and felt Kurama's strong arms around her waist and his head on her shoulder.

"I don't know what to do, love." He said tiredly. "He hasn't woken in two days."

"My healing powers don't seem to help, either." Ryoko replied.

"I could use some of your healing powers . . ." Kurama said playfully.

"You jerk," Ryoko replied, smiling amusedly. "You need sleep, Mr. Minamina." She tapped his nose.

"Oh, harsh." He said, feigning a hurt expression.

"Go, you big baby." She turned and pushed him off her. He turned to go, and she smacked his backside to say: "Hurry up!"

"Okay I'm going."

No sooner had Kurama plopped down on the couch he heard Ryoko yell, "Shuuichi!"

Kurama jumped up from the cushioned escape to the balcony. Ryoko was crouching over a wet and unconscious Hiei. There were leaves and twigs in his unkempt hair, and he was pale. Kurama could tell Hiei hadn't been eating as he kneeled by his friend. He took Hiei up into his arms and carried Hiei's limp form inside.

Kurama glancedsadly at the corner of the apartment where Hiei was currently crouched. The fire demon hdn't moved from his spot in days, staring at nothing in particular with a pained look in his glazed eyes. He seemed so far away. Ryoko had tried once before to bring him to the present, but to no avail. Her poking and tugging did nothing at all. She soon got frustrated and Kurama had to hold her back from poking out Hiei's Jagan with a pair of very shiny scissors.

Kurama bent down next to Hiei and stared him square in the face. He was avoiding Kurama's eyes with precision. Hmmm . . . Kurama reached out ha hand to clasp Hiei's shoulder, but stopped short when cry was heard from the bedroom. Kurama gave his friend on last worried glance before getting to his feet. Koji's wails became louder as he made his way down the carpeted hall.

"Oh, now he decides to wake up . . ." he heard Ryoko gasp as she rushed passed him to the cradle, thrusting a half formed rice ball in his hands. She cradled Koji in her arms and cooed to him, but he continued screaming, tears flowing down his face. Kurama watched from the doorway munching the onigiri.

"You want your mother, don't you?" Ryoko said to Koji, running her fingers through the child's soft hair.

"And he's stubborn like Hiei; so he won't stop till he's in her arms. Speaking of Hiei–" Shuuichi stopped talking as Ryoko was no longer listening, having rushed out the door to the living room, muttering a small "hold on" as an apology. He sighed again. The whole situation was stressful on them all, and he could understand why they would never listen to him.

Of course, with all of Koji's screaming, she probably didn't hear me.

"Hiei!" he heard Ryoko say loudly. "Take him; he's crying!" She held the baby out to Hiei who merely stared at him. He didn't move.

SMACK!

"What was that for?" Hiei tseemed to have come out of his trance, and was now gingerly rubbing his face where Ryoko had slapped him.

"He's your son!" Ryoko said fiercely. "He needs you!"

"And Yami left him with you! She gave you two responsibility for him because she went back to Makai! She's proabably got another lucky bastard to love who's better than me–"

SMACK!

"How could you say that Hiei? You know she loves you! Koji's living proof of that!" Ryoko was crying with exasperation now.

"Hn. What do you know?"

"Hiei," Kurama spoke quietly, but both turned to look at him. "Yami didn't leave you for someone else. I know because I am a fox. She is a wolf. When our kind choose someone, we keep them. Yami chose you, and wolves mate for life." Kurama did not look away, staring deeply into his friend's eyes.

"Hmph." Hiei looked away once more, Koji continued crying. Ryoko gathered him up into her arms and stormed off. Kurama stayed where he was and Hiei had the impression was trying to bare holes in him with his eyes. After a few minutes, Koji's wails quieted and the apartment was filled with the sound of Ryoko's voice. She was singing a soft melody with a lilting tune, a song meant to soothe the heart. Then Hiei spoke:

"There's something wrong with him, Kurama." Kurama's eyes softened. Hiei continued. "I can feel his pain when I look at him." Shuuichi felt helpless. His friend's life was breaking apart and he could do nothing to slow or hinder it.

"Before you met her, you knew nothing of love." Shuuichi said quietly. "I too have felt it. As Youko, I had a cold heart. There was never any warmth, any light, the emotions that I felt were hollow and dark. But then Ryoko hit me on the head. She came into my life and filled the dark space. I became softer, but not vulnerable. When I came to Ningenkai and was loved by Shiori, I came to realize what it was that had been missing inside of me for centuries. And now you too have been shown that power. Do you still think me weak for being like them."

"Spineless and ready to be walked on? No, you're better than that, though someday your oversized heart will be the end of you." Hiei smirked. "At least I don't get carried away. You're sympathizing with me and I'm beginning to think you're a fool." Kurama laughed.

"Better a fool than a wretch, don't you think?"

"Heh. I wouldn't know."

"I guess you're done moping now?" Kurama flet that he had done something useful after all. "You should probably get up and do something or you'll get lazy."

"I've still got some things to think through so no thanks."

"As you wish," Kurama stood up and went to the bedroom where Ryoko was seated on the bed with Koji. His wailing was subdued, but he was still crying. Ryoko continued to sing, however, and though Koji didn't, Kurama felt his heart lighten at her voice. Ryoko stared at him lovingly as she sang, soft words in a forgotten language of her clan that resonated through the room. She looked upon Koji with soft eyes that belonged to a mother, and Shuuichi's heart soared as he remembered Shiori's warm embrace, and the mother's love for her son. He looked upon Koji and felt that he loved him too, as a father. Her expression was so caring and soft that it made him fall in love with her all over again. I can't wait till I have kids . . .