Epilogue

Many months later…

I trudged my way home, pulled along by my desire to finally see Cera again.

My lead had turned into a dead end. I had found out that the only clan that could lift Cera's curse, was the pixies. And wouldn't you know? The last known pixie, and she was only half pixie, had died just days before I'd left to search for her.

Almost an entire year wasted.

Before I'd even opened the front door, I could smell blood. I burst through the door and a breeze from the back of the house brought to my nose the stench of decay.

I ran through the house to the back door and froze.

The lawn was covered in blood and in the middle of it all… was Cera.

I ran to her and lifted her into my arms and started sobbing.

Never before had I cried in my life, but seeing the only woman I'd ever loved brutally murdered like this had quite an effect on me. I couldn't tell if my tears were liquid or solid. I almost didn't care.

I grasped her hands and kissed them. As I was about to let them go, I felt something in her cold grasp.

A letter.

I opened the folded piece of paper quickly. It was both blood and tear stained.

My beloved Hiei,

You must promise that when you return and I am gone, that you will not grieve for me, but remember and celebrate my life.

I know, even though you never said it, that you love me. Don't beat yourself up over it because, in truth, you never needed to say it.

I should have told you that I was not a human, but rather a member of an ice maiden tribe related to the Koorime, but not closely. There are some major differences.

My only regret in this life is that I never got to hold the beautiful baby resting in my womb. I know it will be beautiful because it is your child, Hiei. I know you will do what you think is best for it.

Love forever,

Cera

I closed my eyes and more tears slid from beneath my eyelids.

I'd known that she wasn't human, but now that I knew what she was, I knew our baby would be a boy.

Our baby.

I opened my eyes and, sure enough, her belly was swollen with child.

I placed my bloodied hand on her belly and was amazed to find a pulse there.

I drew my sword and braced myself for what I was about to do. Tears streamed down my face again as I slit her belly vertically.

"Forgive me." I whispered.

I pulled the child from the womb and cut away the placenta and umbilical chord.

I choked back a sob as I realized that our child was not a son as I'd thought, but a daughter.

She was every bit as beautiful as her mother.

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General POV

The doorbell rang as Kurama ate dinner with his human mother.

Kurama frowned, "I'll get it, mother."

"Are you sure? Your dinner will get cold." Shiori asked.

Kurama smiled at her, "I'm sure."

He reached the front door just as the doorbell rang again.

Kurama yanked the door open and was shocked to see Hiei there with a small bundle held tightly, yet oddly very carefully, to his chest.

"Kurama," Hiei said, "I need your help."

Kurama gaped at Hiei before finally coming to his senses. He stepped outside and shut the door. The wind whipped sharply across his face.

"What do you need, Hiei? You know I'll do my best to help you." Kurama eyed Hiei's bundle carefully as Hiei reluctantly held it out.

"I need you to take her. Her mother's dead and her origins are unknown."

Kurama's eyes widened as he realized that Hiei's bundle was a baby.

"Hiei… you stole a human baby… right from the mother's womb?!" Kurama assumed, stunned.

Hiei very nearly growled, "I told you, her mother's dead! And she's not human. Her mother was an ice maiden."

Kurama caught that Hiei said nothing about a father, "Koorime?"

Hiei shook his head, "No. Her tribe was distantly related, but there are similarities. Eye color was certainly the same."

Kurama gazed into the baby's watching ruby eyes.

"Hiei, why…" Kurama started as he took the girl in his arms.

Hiei chuckled darkly, "I have absolutely no means to raise a child. Besides, didn't you say Shiori always wanted a daughter?"

Kurama frowned, "That's not what I meant."

Hiei looked down and turned away without a word.

Kurama watched Hiei's back for a while as they both stood there silently.

Kurama sighed finally, "Alright. I understand. I'll convince mother to take her in."

Hiei visibly relaxed, "Thanks, Kurama."

"Don't worry about it." He reassured as Hiei retreated down the path.

Kurama examined the baby girl carefully as a thought occurred to him. His head snapped up.

"Hiei! Wait!" he called.

Hiei froze halfway down the path.

"What's her name?"

Hiei turned around, a strange sad longing in his eyes.

"Cera."

End