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

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: FOREVER YOURS

Six years after Kurama and Hiei break up…

Kurama sighed as he sat at the table with his usual cup of steaming tea and gazed at his children. The years had gone by in a blur, many of the moments difficult without the support of Hiei. Raising three children was difficult, especially when your daughter resented you for making their father leave. If only they understood the truth. While Hiei had consistently visited them every weekend for the past six years, there was always an unspoken tension between Kurama and his former husband. Kurama turned his mind from the past to the present.

Nevaeh had tromped to her room shortly after they'd arrived home, as was her usual behavior. She'd stay in her self-imposed isolation until dinner. Ayden was at the temple training with Genkai, as he did every day until dinner. Sage was sitting on the couch, straddling Ian's lap and cuddling close to him.

Kurama finished his tea and began to unpack the groceries. He took two items and went in to the living room, handing them to Sage.

Sage blushed crimson as he took the condoms and lubricant. "Thanks mom, we were out," he muttered.

Ian leaned down and nipped Sage's earlobe. "Not my fault."

"I'd rather the two of you asked and were safe rather than to be too embarrassed to ask for the proper protection." Kurama smiled softly before wandering back to the kitchen once again to tidy things up. It was a Friday and Hiei was due over in the matter of a few minutes.

As expected, at four in the afternoon sharp, Hiei opened the door and walked in. Kurama handed him a cup of tea.

"Where is everyone?" Hiei asked.

"Nevaeh is upstairs doing her homework. Ayden is with Genkai until dinner. Sage and Ian have retired to their room for the moment, to watch a movie." Kurama strode back in to the kitchen and sank down in to a chair, pouring himself more tea.

Hiei sat opposite of him. "They've outgrown us."

"Yes," Kurama agreed. "Are you and Nikita still dating?"

"I told you four years ago, Kurama, I forced her to leave when I discovered that she'd purposely broken the two of us up in order to gain your position."

"She didn't have to try that hard," commented Kurama. "It's just as well that the children no longer need us as much. I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to keep up with them otherwise."

Hiei examined his ex over his cup of tea. "How much do you weigh?"

"Ninety-three pounds," answered the fox with a bit of a sigh.

Hiei wanted to jump over the chair and strangle Kurama for that answer. The fox didn't give a damn about his own health, that much was obvious. He was paler than Hiei would have liked to see, much too thin, and seemed exhausted. "Kurama," Hiei sighed as reached over the table and grabbed on of Kurama's bony hands. It broke his heart all over again to see Kurama flinch away from his touch. "You need to take better care of yourself."

"My health isn't an issue you need to worry yourself over," Kurama answered. "I asked you to come over a few hours early because I needed to speak to you in private."

"Speak then," Hiei snapped, his patience at its end. He regretted snapping the moment he saw all emotion shut down inside the fox's eyes.

"I need you to take the children during their spring break. I'll be busy during those two weeks and won't be able to keep an eye on them." Kurama got up and wandered through the kitchen.

Hiei watched him and his eyes widened when Kurama placed a bowl of his favorite ice cream in front of him with a spoon. "Where will you be?"

"Again, none of your concern," Kurama answered and sank back down in to the chair opposite of his ex-husband.

"Damn it Kurama! It is my concern! We may not be together anymore, but we're not legally divorced and I'll never undo our mating."

At that, Kurama gazed down at Hiei's hand and smiled softly as he saw the ring decorating it. "You're hopeless Hiei," he murmured. "I've told you a hundred times that I can't forgive your betrayal."

Hiei left the ice cream forgotten as he moved around the table and gripped Kurama's chin, forcing those emerald eyes to look in to his. "I think you already have." He lowered his lips to the soft satin of the fox's, relishing the moment of victory when those lips parted for him. Hiei delved his tongue in to the taste of Kurama, the taste of spiced apples in the fall and entwined his fingers in red.

Kurama's eyes slipped closed and he fisted the fabric of Hiei's shirt, trying (and failing) to summon the strength to push Hiei away.

Hiei pulled back and brushed a tear that streamed down Kurama's cheek away. "Baby… I never stopped loving you. We all make mistakes and I was a blind fool to forget that you're everything I ever prayed for. I was an even bigger fool to throw this all away."

"You're a hopeless idiot."

"And you're going to forgive me."

"I forgave you the moment that you broke all our vows." Kurama gazed down. "But it doesn't change anything. I can't do this again."

"Do what? Love me?"

"I'll always love you Hiei," Kurama said with a bitter laugh. "That's never going to change. I can't be hurt by you again, I can't keep shedding tears over you, I can't keep dreaming about you. I can't allow you to love me again when I know your heart isn't with me."

"But it is fox!" Hiei made Kurama gaze up at him. "You've always had it. I was just the idiot who didn't know it."

"What do you want from me?" Kurama let the tears slip down as he closed his eyes.

Hiei lowered his head and kissed away the tears. "I want you to give me another chance. I want things between us to be the way they were, before the affair."

Kurama just nodded mutely, unable to find a reason to protest further. "This is your last chance Hiei."

"I'll make everything up to you, starting with dinner." Hiei placed one kiss on Kurama's forehead before moving to the refrigerator and gazing at the ingredients. He had absolutely no cooking skills unless burnt eggs counted for something.

Kurama went to the fridge with a small smile and began pulling out ingredients. "We'll make dinner together."

He let Hiei chop the fruits and vegetables while he began trimming the chicken. In an hour, dinner was ready and the kids all came wandering downstairs. Nevaeh set the table as Ayden came home from training. Sage filled the glasses with juice for the kids and put wine in a cup for Kurama.

"Dad, do you want wine as well?"

Hiei looked from the wine to Kurama with a quizzical look. "You drink now?"

Kurama swatted at him. "Hardly. One glass of wine per day helps maintain cardiovascular health." He turned to his son. "Please pour your father a glass too."

Sage nodded and did as told. They settled at the table. Hiei gazed around at his children, who jabbered amongst themselves about school, their activities, and their lives in general. Kurama stayed silent, just listening. Hiei's eyes swept to Ian and Sage. Ian took a piece of fruit and popped it in his lover's mouth, smiling when Sage's tongue brushed his fingers. Sage blushed.

"Why are you here?" Hiei asked.

Ian gazed up at Hiei with a small smile. "I moved in six months ago."

Hiei turned his gaze to Kurama.

The fox shrugged. "They decided that they were moving in together, with mine and Yusuke's blessing or without. I'd rather know that both of them are safe, warm, and fed. Yusuke agreed with me and Ian has been living there ever since."

"Are you sexually active?" Hiei questioned.

Sage blushed crimson. "Dad!"

"Very," Ian answered, running a finger down the curve of Sage's neck. "I can hardly keep my hands off this sexy little fox."

"Ian!" Kurama and Sage chided at the same time.

Kurama cleared his throat. "I'll say one last thing and then this subject is hereby forbidden from the dinner table. They may be sexually active and living together, Hiei, but they're also smart. They aren't mated and they use proper protection. Now, let's change the topic to something more appropriate, shall we?"

"I've got a tournament match in Yomi's territory," Sage said. "Yomi said he needed to talk to you about the arrangements still, but he rescheduled it for the first week of my spring break. Can I go mom?"

"Yomi's tournaments are done by teams. Who else were you thinking about taking?" Kurama said. Hiei just stayed silent. He was too confused to even think about participating in the conversation.

"Well, Ian is on the team, of course. The teams are required to have five members, so I was thinking of Nevaeh, Ayden, and Shiori."

"Why not Hanna?" Nevaeh questioned, her eyes brightening.

"Hanna has a technique too similar to mine," Ian answered.

All four gazed at Kurama with pleading eyes. Kurama held up four fingers. "There are four conditions. Condition number one: Hiei will accompany you and be an adult presence. Condition number two: no building or destroying demon alliances while you're there. Number three: the second week of your spring vacation is to be spent in Alaric with your father. Number four…" All eyes took on a look of horror as Kurama trailed off. Kurama just smiled. "Number four is to kick some ass."

As Kurama's words hung in the air, all four tackled Kurama, giving him hugs and kisses before retiring back to their seats with grins of happiness. The four worked as a team to clean the kitchen and put away the leftovers before they gazed at Kurama again.

"Alright," Kurama said. "Sparring time!"

Squeals of happiness ensued and they rushed outside.

"Not one strike until I'm outside to mediate," Kurama yelled after them. He turned to Hiei. "We all have sparring matches outside before bed. It keeps up their skills and they have fun with it. It also builds a respect for each other. Do you want to watch?"

Hiei nodded. "I want to see how well they fight."

"You'll be surprised," Kurama laughed as he headed outside. Hiei settled in a chair beside Kurama.

Sage and Ian stood facing each other and the other two children sat behind Hiei and Kurama in the grass.

"This match is to fifth blood. Begin," came Kurama's voice.

"Rose whip," Sage summoned. The rose in his hand turned in to the whip, an exact imitation of Kurama's own abilities. He flicked his wrist and cut open Ian's cheek with one skilled strike.

Ian focused his energy and created a sword of spirit energy. He lunged and Sage dodged. Hiei was once again reminded of a young Kurama. Ian held out his other hand and several small daggers of spirit energy flew through the air. Two hit their mark and Sage quickly recovered. As Hiei watched, the match was close, with each taking the fifth blood at the same moment.

"Draw," Kurama called. "Next pairing, center face."

Ian and Sage retreated as Nevaeh and Ayden moved to where they'd started off. Hiei watched with interest as the two used swords that Kurama had designed in an imitation of Hiei's own. It was obvious that he'd taught the twins his techniques. Hiei took a sharp intake of breath as Nevaeh held out her left arm. A crimson dragon sprang forth, the shadow of its actual form. Ayden reacted in a fraction of a second, summoning his own blue one from his right arm. Kurama was up before Hiei could speak, between the two. He held out one arm towards each and pulled his arms towards his chest as the two dragons hit his arms. The flames stopped at once and Kurama crossed his arms above his chest, breathing heavily as he sank to the ground.

AUTHOR'S CORNER:

How's that for an interesting little cliffhanger? I think I'm getting good at leaving you all off at the worst possible times. Anyways, review and lots of huggles for all my beloved readers! Remember, no killing me for leaving you like this! You all want to know what happens too much to kill me (yet). I wuvs you?