Disclaimer: I do not own any of the main characters used in this story. This story is rated M for violence, bad language, and graphic boy on boy action.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: UNDER THE NOONDAY SUN

The next day, Hiei's acquaintance that Kurama had never seen before came in armed with brushes. She leaned forward and kissed Hiei on each cheek as Kurama examined her. She had bright pink hair pulled back in two braids that flowed down to her waist. Her eyes were a wild violet, reminding Kurama at once of a wild animal. Her grin had two sharp canines. Any human who saw that preditorial smile might think her a vampire gone pink. She wore a mini-skirt of red and black plaid and a black spaghetti strap. Her hands were covered with elbow length black silk gloves.

Hiei turned to his husband. "Kurama, this is Raven."

The woman was shorter than Hiei and thin, but beautiful. Her skin was naturally creamy white and her eyes large, almost innocent. Her eyelashes brushed her cheek when she blinked and her full lips were an eternal pout due to their fullness. Her cheekbones were high and regal. She was beautiful. She smiled softly. "Hey, nice to meet the man Hiei's been obsessed with for over a decade."

"If you don't mind me asking… What are you?" Kurama questioned.

"Of course Hiei hasn't mentioned me. I mean, I am only the woman who did the greatest renovation on his castle in history. No more gloom." She rolled her eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm a siren."

Kurama raised an eyebrow. "I'm afraid I'm not familiar with the term."

"My song destroys men and women alike. I lure people or demons to me and have complete control of them. They're a food source." She shrugged as if it were perfectly normal. "Like a cross between a mermaid and a vampire. We can survive underwater, but there's no fins here. Nor will you ever see me in a shell bra. Fuck that." She turned away from the fox to Hiei. "The bedroom is upstairs?"

Hiei nodded. "I'll show you."

Kurama sat on the couch, stunned for a moment before decided to make a snack for his guest later. She was, after all, doing them a favor. Hiei joined him in the kitchen in a few moments. "She's really quite harmless."

"I don't think of her as a threat," Kurama answered. "I suppose I just don't understand what she is really. Siren doesn't tell me anything."

"Her people are originally water born rather than land. Their voices in song are enchanting, luring anyone within hearing range to them, sometimes to their death. Sailors were often the most common victims. When Raven said she was like a vampire, she wasn't kidding. Most sirens feed off emotion, lust or fear depending on the tribe. Her family is a rare exception."

"They feed off blood?" Kurama blanched.

"No, they feed off death." Hiei wrapped his arms around his lover. "You must understand that the laws regarding demons do not flow to them. They are neither demon nor human. Koenma has no power over their kind. Raven is their princess, I suppose. Her family is the most powerful of their kind and rules over them all. Raven herself is next in line to take over. In their culture, it is women who rule, not men."

"Strange," Kurama murmured. "Is that her primary form?"

"No, her human form. Her other form is… perfection." Hiei's eyes glazed over. "I only saw it once, when the two of us where fighting against a group of bandits. She changed before my eyes and sung. Even I was drawn to her despite my sexual preference for men."

"Have you slept with her?"

"Her girlfriend would have my head."

Kurama smiled softly. "Ah."

"Besides, why would I want to ever sleep with anyone besides the sexiest fox that ever roamed the planet?" Hiei took the opportunity to molest his lover. "Are you ready to go shopping?"

"In a few minutes," Kurama answered. "I'm just going to set up a snack and drink station for our guest. I'm afraid I wasn't the most gracious host." He turned and planted a lingering kiss on his husband. "I'm going to go upstairs and tell her to help herself."

He made his way up to the room that was to serve as a nursery and gazed around, amazed at how much she'd completely in the entirety of five minutes. Half of one wall was already painted. She set down her brushes and turned to him when he entered the room. "Yes?"

"I just wanted to tell you that Hiei and I are going shopping for baby essentials. There are several snacks on the counter downstairs as well as coffee brewing. Feel free to help yourself to what you wish."

"Thanks." Raven smiled and pushed a piece of hair from her face. "Anything else?"

"Forgive me if I seem too curious. Could I perhaps see you in your second form?"

"This is my second form." She sighed. "It's really no problem. Just don't be shocked by what you see. I may look like a punk in this form at my will, but my first one is… different." She closed her eyes.

Kurama could feel the energy charge the room and saw the woman change before his eyes. Her body filled out in certain places, becoming more curvy. Her hair became black babydoll curls that flowed down to her waist in utter perfection. Her eyes were a light purple but as she looked at him, he could see them change colors from purple to green and all colors in between. Her skin was still fair, still flawless.

"Will you sing for me?"

She opened her mouth and sang a song that both chilled and captivated Kurama.

"Love claims us, a soothing melody

Beyond control, beyond you and me.

Hear my voice, hear it rise to the heavens beyond

Hear the angels sing a song

Love and lust united to forge and everlasting bond

I sing as I beg for absolution of my sin

Love unconditional, a stain on my heart

I will never give in

But love claims us, a soothing melody

Beyond control, beyond you and me.

Hear the angels in their glory

Singing for your love and mine

Overtaking our hearts

Claiming our minds."

Her voice rose and fell with the song. When the last syllable was uttered from her lips, Kurama blinked and frowned to find his lips less than an inch from hers. She smiled slightly. "I think your husband would be mad if you tried to kiss me."

"Damn it Raven!" Hiei snapped from the stairs. "I told you not to sing. Now I'm going to fight off demons to keep them away from the house."

"Your husband requested a performance." Raven turned away from Kurama, shifting back in to her form with bright pink hair. "Besides, the only demons I'm worried about are the ones that have an immunity to my song and my scream."

"What happens when you scream?" Kurama questioned.

"Glass shatters, children wail, and anyone with any sensitivity beyond human ears gets their ear drums shattered. It's supposed to be a defense. However, there is a certain race of demons immune to it." She began painting again with a hum. "Bats."

"Like Kuronue."

"You knew him?"

"I was mated to him once."

Raven turned her eyes on to Kurama while her hand continued to paint. "My people are considered treasures fox. Bats capture our kind and make us sing for them. They make my kind in to slaves. Kuronue… knew the selling price on one of us. With proper surgery and precautions, a siren's scream can be controlled. It no longer becomes harmful. Kuronue knew this. He is in our history books as the one who opened the market for the sale of my kind."

"I had no idea of his exploits."

"He was smart." She turned her eyes back to the mural.

"Kurama, shopping!" Hiei called. "I'm going to start the car."

Kurama ran off to join his lover. When they came, the snacks were gone, the dishes washed, and the room was already dry. The mural told a story. One wall was dark and menacing, showing a shadowed enemy. The second wall showed the hero of the story, a brave youth. The third panel showed the fight between them in vivid detail and the last showed the land at peace. Kurama loved it.

The clothes, crib, blankets, changing station, diapers, and several other essential items made the room home for Sage. Kurama kissed Hiei lightly on the lips. "I'm going to pick up the baby. You put the car seat in the back, right?"

"Right." Hiei kissed his husband. "It's too bad you didn't get to meet Amy."

"Raven's lover?" Kurama smiled. "I'll consider offending one siren bad enough for one day."

The next morning, Kurama kissed Hiei and said that he wanted to take Sage for a walk while Hiei made breakfast for once. So, Kurama gave the child a bath, dressed him, put a diaper bag over his shoulder and planted Sage firmly in his stroller.

The duo made their way to the park where Kurama was happy to talk to his child about his own personal history in the park, the romantic memories shared between Sage's parents. He sighed when he heard Sage begin to cry. "Okay honey, Mommy just has to go get something from the car. I forgot the diaper bag in the trunk." He rolled the stroller back over to the car and left it on the sidewalk while he opened the trunk.

The bulky metal blocked his view of his baby, but Kurama remained within arm's reach. He thought nothing when Sage could no longer be heard crying. He'd learned that the child would often only cry for minutes before calming himself and quieting. He shut the trunk… And dropped everything when he realized his son was gone from the stroller.

AUTHOR'S CORNER:

How's that for evil cliffhangers, hm? I was nice and updated for you all today, but I only got one review… No cookies for you. But, this chapter was added today despite the lack of reviews because of the one person who DID review!