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

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: FORSAKEN HEARTS

The week passed by slowly, with few words passed between the two lovers as they went through their weekly routine. Hiei worked long hours, spending as much time as he could away from the presence of his fox. Kurama busied himself with his children and with housework.

Friday came and Hiei came in the house, hanging his leather jacket and grabbing his cloak instead. "Kids, come give me a hug good-bye!" he called.

Kurama opened the back door and let the children pour in from their romp outside in the fair spring weather. Nevaeh threw herself in to Hiei's arms. "Bye daddy, I love you!"

Ayden looped one arm around Hiei's neck. "Why do you have to go?"

Hiei looked up in to Kurama's emerald eyes and then back down at his son. The lie slipped easily from his lips. "I have to leave because a whole kingdom depends on me to make sure they're safe."

With a pout, Ayden retreated to the couch.

Hiei held out a hand to Sage. "Come give me a hug."

Sage shook his head and hid behind Kurama's leg, clinging to the fabric of his mother's pants. "I don't want to."

Hiei frowned. "Why?"

"Because you make mom cry," Sage whispered.

Kurama placed a soft hand on the top of Sage's head. "Don't worry honey, you don't have to give your father a hug if you don't want to."

Hiei stood up, shooting a glare at Kurama for the comment. "He's my son too."

"Then maybe you should try acting like a father, a husband, and a mate," Kurama replied mildly before stroking the silky smooth strands of Sage's hair. Without another word, Hiei left the house.

"Mommy, is daddy ever coming back?" Nevaeh questioned.

"No," Kurama answered. "Kids, I want you to go clean your rooms. Yusuke will be here in an hour to pick up you younger two and Ian will be dropped off with him to spend the weekend here with you Sage."

The children scattered to their separate private areas with different concerns plaguing their minds. In the meantime, Kurama went to work. He began packing boxes, removing every reminder of his husband. He even took out a red velvet box and placed his ring in it with a small note. Give this to your mistress, you've already chosen her over me. Kurama folded the note and placed it in the box before adding it to the contents of their favorite photographs. Within that hour, most of the obvious traces of Hiei were gone.

Yusuke entered the house and sighed. "You found out?"

"I've known since the moment he crawled in to bed with her," Kurama answered. "Shortly after the twins were born, Ayden got this horrible ear infection that nearly ruined him for life. I took all three children to Alaric in a panic, hoping he could watch Sage and Nevaeh while I took Ayden to a doctor. It was then that I knew for sure."

"I'm sorry."

"So am I." Kurama stepped on the bottom stair. "Nevaeh and Ayden get your bags and come downstairs!"

"Who's getting custody of the kids?" Yusuke questioned. "Ian is grabbing his things from the trunk."

"I'm keeping all three children. Nikita, though an evil husband stealing bitch, wasn't smart enough to refuse to sign over custody to me. She has no rights to these children and is in no position to demand them. Besides, I've received signed doctrines from human authorities and Koenma that they are to remain in my care until a formal divorce is final and we have a meeting in Reiki regarding our children."

The children came downstairs, each with their bags and Yusuke laughed, ruffling their hair. "We'll be home before Hiei is and, if not, you know I won't let him take them away." As he raced the twins to the car, Ian came in with his own bag.

Ian dropped his bag and embraced Sage as the younger boy tackled him in a flying hug. The elder of the two stroked the silken silver strands and raised Sage's hand, placing a chaste kiss on his lips.

Kurama nearly choked on his tea when his son wrapped his arms around Ian's neck and held the elder closer. "May I speak to the two of you at the kitchen table please? I have brownies."

Sage and Ian walked in to the kitchen side by side and sat at the table. Kurama gave them each a brownie before sitting down with his tea.

Kurama gazed at the two of them with a sigh. "I don't think that the two of you understand what you're doing. Ian, do you know what it means to kiss someone?"

"It means you love them," Ian replied. "I love Sage."

"You love Sage as a friend."

Ian shook his head. "I want to spend my life with him. I want him by my side always so I can protect him and I don't want anyone else to ever make him feel the way I feel when I see him."

Kurama gave up on Yusuke's son with a sigh. He was too stubborn, beyond reason, just like his father at times. "Sage, do you feel the same?"

Sage nodded and inched his chair closer to Ian. "Yes mom, I love him… like you and dad used to love each other, like I can't breath until I know he's alright every morning and gets home safe every night."

Kurama gazed at the two of them. "Have the two of you ever done anything besides kiss?"

Sage's cheeks turned a deep crimson. "Mom!"

"The two of you are too young for sex education and definitely too young for a serious relationship." Kurama smiled softly as he saw Sage give up half of his brownie because Ian wanted it. "If I hear one whisper that more than anything more than innocent kisses happens, then you both will be in big trouble. Have I made myself clear?"

Sage and Ian both nodded, scurrying off to Sage's room to play, read, talk, enjoy one another's company. An hour later, Kurama took a break from packing away Hiei's clothes to peek in on the children. They were entwined on the bed, Sage resting his head on Ian's chest as the older of the two read to him.

Kurama smiled softly. "What are the two of you reading?"

"Of Pride and Prejudice," Ian answered.

"That's way above your reading level," Kurama leaned against the doorway. "That's very good Ian."

"Sage can read as well as I can, but he's not very good at reading out loud." Ian ran his fingers through the silver strands. Sage opened his eyes but refused to move. "Sage is so smart. The teachers keep telling him that he could skip grades, but he always refuses."

"They've asked you to jump ahead as well," Sage murmured. "You've refused too."

"Lunch will be ready in an hour boys, so don't fall asleep." Kurama moved out of the room and left them in peace. The weekend was uneventful, until Sunday morning. As was the plan, Yusuke came over to get Ian and Sage.

"Mom, where am I going?" Sage questioned.

"You're going with Yusuke to Reiki for the rest of the day. You'll be staying with your brother and sister in Koenma's office where it's safe until I come get you." He leaned down and kissed Sage's forehead. "Be good, and don't let your Nevaeh or Ayden out of that room."

Yusuke ushered them out of the door. "Who's going to help you take all that stuff to Hiei's place in Alaric?"

"Yomi sent several of his men to help," Kurama answered. "I'm afraid I use his feelings for me against him far too much, but in this case I had little choice. Kuwabara and Genkai will meet you in Koenma's office. There's no way Hiei will be able to take the kids from all of you."

Yusuke nodded. "This is going to get ugly."

"Yes," Kurama agreed and shut the door behind Yusuke.

He had the ten men sent by Yomi put the boxes and bags in the main hall and dismissed them to their own territory. Kurama made his way further in to the castle and in to the drawing room. One of the servants bowed to him.

"Lord Kurama, is there anything I can get for you?"

"A pot of tea with three glasses," Kurama answered. "Also, tell Hiei and Nikita that I wish to see them at once."

The woman bowed and scurried off. A moment later, Hiei walked in to the room with Nikita a few steps behind him. The woman looked rather flustered and confused, while Hiei just seemed angry. The pot of tea came before any words were exchanged. She set down the tray on the coffee table before hurrying out once again.

"Why are you here?" Hiei questioned.

Kurama poured the tea and indicated to the couch across the table from his chair. "Please sit down. This conversation may take a few minutes."

Hiei sat down and Nikita sat at the other end.

"I'm here to return your belongings," Kurama answered, blowing on the tea lightly to cool it down. "Seeming how I'm no longer allowing you to live with me, it was only right that you should take up residence here."

Hiei's eyes hardened. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm kicking you out."

"Then I'm taking the kids with me," Hiei snarled.

"Actually, you aren't," came Kurama's calm response. "I have orders from both Koenma and human authorities, orders that, if violated, make sure you will never see your children again. You are allowed to visit them on weekends and stay in the spare bedroom. However, you aren't permitted to take them from my home without me present. You aren't even allowed to see them unless I am present."

"That's bullshit!" Hiei hit the cup from Kurama's hands and splattered the liquid all over the chair. Not a drop hit the fox.

"From now on, you aren't allowed to train any of them at any point in time and they aren't to see you here in Alaric until they come of age according to demon law. If and when I choose to return to Makai with my children, it will be either in Raizen or Yomi's territory."

"You can't do that," Nikita hissed at him. "The twins belong to the two of us, not you."

"Wrong again," Kurama chided. "You have no claim to any of them and have been forbidden to see any of them as long as you live. If you interact with them, I retain the right to end your life at my hands as I see fit. You signed over all rights to me. The twins belong to me and Hiei, not you."

Nikita let out a low growl in her throat and moved closer to Hiei, fingering his hair as a way to show her claim to him in the presence of his mate. "Hiei, darling, I think that we should fight for custody of all the children."

Kurama was unaffected. "You could try, but Koenma hardly changes his mind once he's made a decision."

"That pacifier sucking child can barely make up his mind," Hiei snapped.

"That may be so, but I didn't say which Koenma I had spoken to. The elder Koenma rules all of Reiki and is responsible for the balance of the two other realms. He is the one who decided the children are best left in my care. You might try to convince him, but I don't think it would go well for you." Kurama stood up. "As for assets, you receive nothing that we have in the human world and I receive nothing of what you have here." Kurama turned his back on Hiei and walked from the room.

Hiei caught up with the fox in the front gardens and gripped his arm, spinning him around. "Why are you doing this?"

Kurama just gazed at him. "I'm not allowing you private quality time with our children because I don't trust you not to take them, and I don't trust the woman you've chosen to defile yourself with. I'm kicking you out because you and I have nothing left to fight for. There's no longer any love contained within your embrace for me."

"That's not true! Nikita… is more like a consort than anything, a woman of the shadows."

"Then marry her in the shadows," came the harsh answer. "I've given you my loyalty and I expected yours in return. I'm through with you." Kurama turned away and let out a breath he hadn't realized that he'd been holding. He'd expected Hiei to react much more violently.

Instead, Hiei just stood there and watched Kurama's retreating back as he walked out of his life. He stood, and found that no tears came; his chest felt hollow.