Disclaimer: I do not own any of the main characters used in this story. I do own Sage (don't you just want to pinch his cheeks). This story is rated M for graphic boy on boy action, violence, and bad language

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: MY BABY'S MAMA

Kurama sighed as they approached Alaric, butterflies fluttering in the pit of his stomach as the idea of interviewing potential mothers kept entering his head. He strode beside Hiei, keeping his pace. His red ears stuck up from his hair and twitched at the slightest noise, showing the extent of his worry. Hiei squeezed his hand for the hundredth time since they had left Jamaica, trying to reassure his worrywart of a mate.

Kurama breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the two familiar figures standing in the throne room with their backs to them. Zane turned first and a smile spread across his face. "Kurama, love!" he crooned and danced over, planting a kiss on Kurama's cheek happily and clinging to him. Cian followed his exuberant lover at a slower pace.

Hiei glared at the intruder, a low growl rumbling through his chest as his mate was touched. What surprised him was the way the smaller, and much weaker, thunder demon responded. He bared his teeth and growled back.

"Zane, behave yourself," Cian ordered, pulling his lover away from Kurama. "Our little fox has grown up and no longer needs our protection."

Zane brushed his lover's hand from his shoulder and glared up at Hiei, who was a good head taller than him. "I'm not afraid of this punk just because he's the lord of a territory. I'll still kill him myself if he hurts Kurama." He turned to the fox with a pleasant smile and looped his arm around one of the fox's. "Come love, you look fatigued. Let's sit down and have a little girl talk." He glanced over his shoulder. "Boys, some hot tea would be nice."

Zane led the way from the throne room towards the kitchen. "Hiei," he greeted.

"What are you doing here?" Hiei demanded as he made his way towards the kitchen to get tea. He wasn't one to follow orders, but a good cup of tea would do wonders to Kurama's frayed nerves.

"Kurama invited us, mostly for Zane's particular expertise in this area." Cian leaned against the counter and looked at Hiei with a blank expression. "Zane is a fertility specialist. We were also asked to come because Kurama wished to speak to the two of us before the move."

"Oh, are you moving further away?" Hiei grumbled, not paying attention in the least.

"No, we're moving next door to you," Cian answered and couldn't help the small smile that came when Hiei nearly dropped the tea. "It was Kurama's suggestion."

"Really? He didn't mention anything to me."

"I suppose he also hasn't been mentioning his weekly visits?"

Hiei turned to the ice demon, now fully attentive to his guest. "What day?"

"He stops by every Friday for a few hours," Cian shrugged.

"Friday is his day to visit the temple and the idiot," Hiei murmured to himself. "My mate and I are not going to watch your little brats just because you live next door."

"Actually, Zane will be watching your little brats," Cian chuckled. "He's opening a daycare center once we move. He's already got Kurama and Yusuke enrolled. Yukina also promised business when Kuwabara and her conceive. Zane is offering his assistance with their fertility problem as well as your unique situation."

Hiei's anger rolled over him. "Go get this to them and tell Kurama I need to speak to him here for a minute."

Cian did as told, unwilling to cross the fire demon. He set the tray down upon a small foldout table in front of the boys and then put his hands on his hips. "Kurama, your mate wants to see you in the kitchen. I think he's angry."

Kurama stood with a sigh. "This is foolish. He can't go changing his mind every ten minutes about this." He smiled softly at Cian. "Save some tea for Hiei and I when we return." He made his way to the kitchen slowly and entered, shutting the door behind him quietly. "Are you having second thoughts already?"

"No," Hiei answered between clenched teeth. "I was wondering… when you intended to tell me that you're going to trust our children's safety to a demon who can't top a grasshopper."

Kurama bristled. "You underestimate Zane greatly. He can protect those left in his charge."

"And then there's your weekly visits to America that I didn't know about. You must have been portal hopping again." Hiei gripped the edge of the counter until his knuckles were white. "You also left out their new location."

"You wouldn't have listened even if I had mentioned it," Kurama sighed. "I'd rather have our children's safety in the hands of a demon than that of a clueless human. As for visiting them… Would you have allowed it if I'd told you the truth?"

"No!" Hiei roared, striking a pot from the counter and watching it clatter to the floor. "I wouldn't have let you go because he's tried to steal you away before Kurama! I almost lost you because of that ice demon!"

"He's mated now," Kurama said. "End of subject."

"Mates can cheat."

Kurama's eyes were filled with hurt. "And you think I would, even if given the chance?"

"Isn't that why you're the one having second thoughts?" Hiei hissed.

Kurama turned away. "When you come back in to your right mind, you can join us in the throne room. Zane, Cian, and I are nothing more than good friends. You should be thanking them. If it weren't for them, I never would have survived through the six months we were apart and I sure as hell wouldn't have gone back to you. I'm not going to defend the accusation that I'm cheating. If anything, I should be the one accusing you. I'm not the one who's gone every weekend."

Kurama stormed out of the room and back to the throne room. He threw himself in a chair with a sigh and took the cup of tea offered him. Zane gave him a sympathetic look and reached out to smooth a red strand from Kurama's face. "You shouldn't react like that," he chided. "Fire demons are always temperamental and jealous. You must exercise patience with them."

"He's impossible sometimes," Kurama growled.

"They all are," Zane smiled softly. "Cian snores horribly. Sometimes, I just want to strangle him just so I can sleep peacefully."

Kurama cracked a smile. "We should start without him."

Zane shook his head. "Wait for him to calm down and join us."

Ten minutes later, Hiei plopped down next to Kurama and pulled his fox in to a soft kiss. "Are you ready to get started?"

Kurama nodded. "I have a feeling this part isn't going to be fun."

Zane elbowed the fox. "Be optimistic."

Five hours later, even Zane was admitting that the search was hopeless. The thunder demon stood, muttering an excuse of getting tea. Cian pleaded for the sake of his bladder and followed Zane out of the room. Kurama rested his head against Hiei's shoulder as the next ten women shuffled in to the room and lined up in front of them.

"How many have we seen?" Kurama questioned in a whisper.

"One hundred seventy three," Hiei answered and he scanned the faces of the ten standing before him.

Kurama and Hiei both saw her at once, the very last one. Her hair was the color of cinnamon and her eyes were a deep blue the colors of sapphires. None of the other women dared to gaze at the ruler of Alaric but she gazed at them without fear. She was small and lithe and very striking. Her skin was perfect alabaster.

Hiei sent all the other women from the room besides her and then stood up, circling around her once. She didn't flinch when he reached her back. Hiei sat down beside Kurama again. "What's your name?"

"Nikita," she answered simply. Her voice was smooth and soft, but exuded quiet strength and intelligence at the same time.

"I like her," Kurama whispered. "She's not afraid of us like the others."

"Nikita, what type of demon are you?" Hiei questioned.

"A fire demon," she answered, meeting Hiei's gaze.

"How strong are you?" Kurama asked.

The warmth of her eyes shifted from Hiei to Kurama, a fact that surprised the fox. Most of the women had addressed only Hiei during the day. "I'm an upper A-class," she replied.

"Would you like to join us for dinner?" Kurama asked, with hope shining in his eyes.

"Before I accept your invitation, I would like to know how many others you've extended the same courtesy to."

Kurama gave Hiei an amused smile. Hiei, too, couldn't help smiling slightly. "Are you afraid of a little competition?"

"Not at all," Nikita answered smoothly. "I merely want to know how many I'm expected to compete against. After all, I don't want to be stabbed while trying to enjoy my dinner."

"I'm sure you won't have to worry about that, unless you try to take food from Hiei's plate," Kurama smiled.

"Then I accept."

Kurama beamed. "Wonderful. Dinner will be in an hour, if you want to go change, though it's really not necessary. Our meals are strictly a jeans and tee-shirt affair." It was then that Kurama's eyes moved from her face to the rest of her body. She wore a deep brown shirt that scooped down, leaving all to the imagination, and a champagne colored skirt that reached her knees and showed enough leg to show the lithe muscle that decorated her body.

Dinner was served at the table, a wonderful meal of roasted lamb and several other dishes. The table was round, so that everyone could sit around it and talk, more intimate than the large square table contained within the formal dining hall. Nikita sat between Hiei and Zane. On the other side of Zane was Cian and Kurama sat beside Hiei.

Zane beamed at the woman. "Are you mated?"

"No," she answered with a friendly smile that immediately won the finicky thunder demon over. "Before you ask, I'm not in love either."

Zane smiled. "Any children?"

"Not yet," she answered, stealing a glance at Hiei and Kurama. Kurama was eating his dinner quietly and Hiei had eyes only for the woman who amazed him already. She was the type of woman he'd once decided to marry, when he was younger and before Kurama had captured his heart.

"How old are you?" Zane crooned.

"I'm twenty-three," she answered and then swatted his hand as he tried to steal food from her plate. "Don't try it, or I'll have Hiei stab your hand for me."

"I believe it," Zane laughed. "Kurama, she's perfect. And sassy!"

Kurama's eyes were serious as he gazed at her. "I don't think you realize how hard this process is going to be."

"I've thought about that, how much it must pain a mother to give up a child," Nikita said slowly, thoughtfully. "However, I don't think of it the same way you do." She set her fork down. "You're giving a child a better life than I could imagine and while letting go after birth will be difficult, I realize it's for the best. That baby will be given opportunities and a life that I can't even imagine."

"What do you expect to get out of this?" Hiei asked.

"Nothing," Nikita answered. "After giving birth, the only way I will ever have contact with my child will be through the two of you or if the child comes looking for me someday. I don't want my name in history, I don't want riches and I most certainly don't want to trick the two of you. I want to provide a future for two mates who otherwise may not be able to have one."

"You came from a union like theirs," Zane observed.

"Yes, it's why I decided to come," Nikita smiled at them. "I do hope traveling across Yomi's territory to come here counts in my favor." She rested her head on her hand with a small smile. "I want to do this."

Hiei and Kurama looked at each other. "Then I'd like for you to be the mother of my child," Hiei stated.

AUTHOR'S CORNER:

Yay! Two chapters in one day. And that's about all I have to say. Um… review?