NOTE: Naoko is technically NOT my character. She belongs to a good friend of mine, Kayko Lily. I have been allowed to use her character to be Kurama's mate. Kudos to her!! Love you K!!!!

Enter Twins

…..Kurama…..

I have noticed Hiei acting a bit peculiar lately. Nothing drastic of course, but there seems to be something occupying his mind. As long as I have known Hiei, I still can't entirely figure him out. He's one of life's most difficult puzzles to solve.

However, I have noticed his slight turn in behavior a month or two ago, but I can't quite place the origin. I just know it happened when he came back from one of his assignments that Mukuro sent him on. The one where he went missing for a week. It's not that I'm complaining, please do not mistake it for that. I'm actually very satisfied with his small change. He seems calmer, less angry at the world, and dare I say, happier. I was even able to see a genuine smile from him. It's not much cause for concern, it's just… different than what we are all used to from the fire apparition.

I actually hope he stays this way. He's so much more tolerant and even… friendlier around the children. He's more willing to watch after them and be with them. Before, he had always went out of his way to keep away from the children, but now. Now is a different picture. The others haven't noticed it, but I can plainly see that whatever change has befallen Hiei, it is for the better.

Naoko came back from the kitchen into our bedroom, her black cat ears and tail now displayed since we were out of the gaze of human eyes. She sat herself in my lap, purring as she snuggled into my embrace. I wrapped my arms around her, resting against the top of her head, smell of her hair filled my nostrils with the sweet scent of her shampoo. I inhaled her scent, already thinking very dirty thoughts.

"Hey, Kurama." She purred my name at the end. My arms tightened around her.

"What is it, pussy cat?" I nuzzled her neck.

"Do you love me?" She asked in a sweet and innocent voice. I stopped.

I grabbed her shoulders and made her look at me. "What do you want, how much is it gonna cost me, who'd you piss off?" I looked straight into her eyes.

She smiled sheepishly at me. "A rocking chair, $335, and Hiei once he finds out that I ate the last of hisice-cream."

…..Hiei…..

I was back in demon world. I returned a few nights ago. I had to pick up the Fubuki Sisters and bring them back to the human world to help us find the missing Aoitsuki. The little incident surprisingly didn't hold me up, even though I stayed with her for another ten minutes. I would've stayed longer, but duty called. So here I am at the crack of dawn, waiting for the final papers to allow them entry into the human world.

I'd rather be with the girl.

I've never kissed a human before. I've never embraced one, touched one, felt one so intimately. I liked it. I liked the feeling of being dominant, her frail human body being overpowered by mine. I could've crushed her in her my grasp. I could've taken advantage of her weakness. I'm inebriated with that feeling of control, but I knew I would never forgive myself if I ever harmed her in any way. Such an act is beneath me.

I'm infatuated with a human. The most lowly of vile beings ever to be spawned. With every second I spend with her, I go against everything that I had ever believed about humans. Their impending greed, their selfishness, their weak minds and bodies. So easily corrupted, beaten down, killed. Even fairies have more strength than they do. But this girl seems so different from the rest.

Her weakness enthralls me. Her eyes captivate me. Her skin, her scent, her taste, her very essence intoxicates me. She is so highly addictive, and all I want is more. Because of this addiction, I bend more and more to her will. I allow myself to be commanded at her every request. If it weren't for her little wish, I'd have never even thought about touching her in such a way. Yet, I'm so glad I did it. I'd do it a thousand times over if I could hear the hitch in her breath, feel the quiver in her voice, see the glaze in her dark blue eyes.

I would've stayed longer if I didn't have to baby-sit the four annoying brats. The twins came to Mukuro's strong hold a few days ago, but weren't permitted to go to the human world until all their paper work was finished. It just so happens that they went to the human world a few years before Yusuke became a spirit detective and one of them got into trouble. Enough to have one of the former spirit detectives to kick them out. Whatever she did, it's causing a delay in the processing. Since she has a "criminal record", the higher ups don't want to allow her to cross the border.

I sat in my chair, filling out the stack of files Mukuro left me. She thought I was skipping out on my duties because I've been in the human world too much. She asked what I've been doing and I gave her my usual answer.

"It's no concern of yours, woman."

Perhaps it was my tone of voice or that I actually called her "woman", but a few minutes later, I found a giant stack of papers on my desk waiting to be taken care of.

This is her way of saying to me, "Piss off smart ass".

I set the pen down and rubbed my temples. It's been three hours and I still have a fourth of the original amount left. I swear I'll kill her one of these days. I leaned back in my chair more, resting my cramping hand and weary eyes. When I started to relax, I opened my eyes to see a pair of golden orbs look into my eyes.

"HAIYA, Sparky!!!"

I jumped up to try and grab her, but missed by several centimeters.

She blew raspberries at me as she hung upside-down from the ceiling lamp. "Too slow, Sparky."

Dozens of temple throbs formed as I glared angrily at the girl. I haven't met anyone, not even the oaf, who gets on my nerves more than that little troublemaker.

Emmina Fubuki Tanadachi. The cretin from hell. She's one of the twins that the bookworm and tomboy brought with them. She was very short for her age. Puny to say the least and scrawny. Black hair with lightning streaks of blonde, eyes like the sun, and a big mouth to top it off. The trouble this girl gets into is astonishing. In just six days, she's become public enemy number one amongst the guards. She's flooded their sleeping quarters, sabotaged their sparring gear, tied their shoelaces together during drills (thus making them fall like dominoes at their drill sergeant's next command), and has even led three stampedes throughout the castle. Where or when she gets the animals is beyond me.

I hate my job, almost as much as I hate that girl.

To make her more of an annoyance, she's even a thunder demon, one with the ability to move as fast as lightning. She can actually outrun me by a few meters, which makes it hard for me to keep her settled down. Her metabolism makes her have to eat at least six times a day. And guess where all that energy goes? Into making my life in this castle a living hell.

She got down from the lamp and jumped onto the edge of my desk, kicking her feet against the wood. "Watcha doooooin?" She asked "innocently".

A vein throbbed on my temple. "Working." I spat through clenched teeth.

"You seem tense. Too much stress at work? Mukuro being bitchy? Or is it that you just can't get laid?"

I glared at her and my eye started to twitch.

"I'm sure Mukuro's available."

My eyes widened at the very idea. As far as I'm concerned, Mukuro and I will never share the same bed ever again.

"You were pretty dazed when I came in, Sparky. What were you thinkn about?"

"None of your business, child."

"It was a girl, wasn't it?" Her smile was accusatory and delighted.

My eyes narrowed. This child can't be that intuitive. No one knows about Sitsumi, and as long as I breath, no one will ever know. "Be silent, you irritating little imp."

She crossed her arms, smiling mischievously. "It is, isn't it?!! Who is she?!!" She leaned closer. "Is she pretty? Nice? Smart? Taller than you?!!!" More veins appeared around my head as I glared at the child. So aggravating. "Then again, now that I think about it. What girl in her right mind would want to be with you?" She pointed at me, poking me in the chest.

"EMMIE!!" The bookworm came in through the doors. She grabbed the younger girl by the collar and dragged her out. Emmie went kicking and screaming. "You're in big trouble now!! Look what you did to the…" Her voice faded as she went down the hall.

Once the doors were closed., I sat in solitude again, replaying the child's words in my mind. I know she was only trying to rile me, but I knew that even if she didn't know the truth, I did.

There is no woman in the world who would want a killer for a lover. Just as with the rest of my glacial home, my heart is as cold and frozen as the snow. There is no capacity for affection for another. No compassion to feel the pain of others. So why do I want what I can't have? Why do I torment myself with such a desire to be desired when I could never return such a feeling to another?

Why is everything so God damn difficult to understand?

….. Human world .….

When I arrived at the cafe at closing time, I wondered if I had the right place. It looked darker and absolutely sinister, like something from one of Sitsumi's horror movies. I looked at the sign. Instead of it's usual cerulean blue moon and dark hued clouds, the moon was an ominous midnight blue and black. The clouds were black and a blood red.

I went inside to see the decor to be much different than when I was last here. The tables had black and red tablecloths, red roses in cream vases, and lanterns above them for light. Many of the booths had black and red veil canopies. When I looked to the counter where the register was placed, a giant crystal chandelier hung over it, reflecting the light from the other tables.

"Hiei!" Sitsumi ran up to me and jumped into my arms. "I'm so glad you're here. I need you to do me a little favor." She smiled brightly at me.

I noticed her attire. She looked like what the humans perceive to be a witch. Her pointy black witch hat sat crooked on her head. Black mascara marked her eyes and there was also a deep purple coloring on her lips. Purple vest, black dress that seemed much too small even for her. The ends of the dress and the sleeves were torn. Her socks were interchangeable black and purple horizontal stripes that wound more than half way up her calf. Heeled witch shoes completed the out fit.

"What is it that you need me to do?" I asked her, my hands still on her waist.

"Ya see, Mei and I can't lift this box out of the attic. I'm too small and Mei's belly's too big. So would you mind getting it down for me, please?" She batted her thick black eyelashes at me. I nodded my head, unable to refuse.

It didn't take that much effort to get the box down. It had more decorations for her theme downstairs. She explained that since Halloween was coming up, she wanted to decorate the shop as such.

Hn, Halloween. I remember when the detective and the rest of them had me come along to watch their children "trick or treat", I think they called it. This holiday the humans have created never made any sense to me. The children dress up as monsters and ghouls to go to other people's houses and demand some sort of store bought sweet. And if there is no candy to be given, they play a prank. Yusuke said they "egged" and "teepeed" houses for the hell of it. Whatever that meant.

"Thanks, Hiei." She hugged me around the waist. "I'll be able to do the rest of the decorating tomorrow with Mei. She'll be thrilled."

I thought of something to say to make conversation. "How… is the baby?"

"He's coming along just fine. He'll probably be here in another few weeks." She smiled at the thought. She looked at me, grinned, then went up the stairs. I followed her, knowing that that's what she wanted.

Her apartment is still the same as before. No decorations or new fixtures were placed.

She put her hat on a coat rack, being greeted by her cat. "Hey, Milkshakes. Look who came for a visit."

"Meow." She ran over to me and rubbed her face against my legs, marking her territory. The very thought nearly made me smile.

"You want something to eat , Hiei? I've got smores and hot chocolate if you want any."

"I'm fine." I told her, giving her my usual short comments. I sat down on her new love seat. The recliner, she said, had to be thrown away. She never explained why. I grabbed the television remote and turned to a random channel, which happened to be the news.

She came out from the bathroom, now wearing a night shirt and shorts. She grabbed the remote from my hand, plopped next to me on the couch, and switched to another station. The theme song for Naruto came on.

"Hell, no." There was no way I'm watching this crap. I already get enough of my fair share of it back at the temple. Curse you Naoko.

"And why not?" She put her hands on her hips, a direct challenge.

"I'm not watching some cartoon show about ninjas. It's stupid and completely unrealistic."

"It is not a cartoon, it is an Anime!! And it is NOT stupid." She stuck her tongue out at me.

"Why you…" I got on top of her as I tried to grab the remote. She shrieked and hid it behind her and tried to push me off. It didn't do much good as I swiped it from under her. I stood up, the victor of our little squabble.

She grabbed my arm and the next thing I knew, I was flipped over her shoulder and thrown to the floor. She grabbed the remote out of my hands and sat back down on the couch with a , "Ha!!"

I was stunned. I merely rolled over onto my stomach and looked at her in surprise. She ignored me and continued to watch the crappy cartoon on the television. I stood up and dusted myself off. "Where did you learn how to do that?"

Her smile widened. "Impressed? I've been studying martial arts ever since I was a kid. Mom put me in there mostly for self-defense. Then, since I liked it so much, I studied more and more. Right now I have a black belt in Tai Kwan Do, Hapkido, Aikido, Kung Fu, Kendo, Karate, Juijustu, and Tai Chi Chuan."

I snorted. "Tai Chi?"

She pointed a finger at me. "HEY!! Don't go insulting a perfectly usable martial art. Just because people use it as a form of exercise and relaxation DOESN'T mean it isn't deadly!"

My smirk grew wider. I turned away from her, trying to hide my amusement. Tai Chi was invented by the humans for medical purposes. I don't see how such a gentle technique could be used in combat. I sat next to her, still avoiding eye contact. I wouldn't want to insult a "perfectly usable martial art" in front of her.

After the four hour long marathon of Naruto was over, another Anime came on. Something called Death Note. I sighed and leaned on my hand resting on the armrest of the love seat. Throughout the show, Sitsumi had an aura of apprehension around her. Her eyes were glued to the screen, wide and unblinking. I wondered what was the matter until I found the answer at the end of the episode.

When something called a death god wrote the name of some human in a notebook and killed him with a heart attack. I smirked, then frowned when I saw the oncoming tears in the girl's eyes. I looked to the screen, seeing the treachery in the protagonist's , Light, eyes. When the credits came on, the girl busted into a fountain of tears, wailing for the lost… L I think it was.

"That bastard!! He killed him, Hiei!!! Of all the dirty rotten!!!!" She continued on and on for about an hour. The cat rolled her eyes and went out the window to do.. Whatever it is she does when she's not here. Sitsumi reminded me a bit of Naoko. Whenever one of her favorite characters die, she goes into a frenzy of curses and rants. If I had known Sitsumi was one of those Anime fanatics, I probably wouldn't have bothered being with her at all.

Then again, who the hell am I kidding?

She sat down on the loveseat, pouting, still having tears brimming at the corner of her eyes. I sighed. She's all bent out of shape about some cartoon human male that doesn't even exist. I realized what I just thought. She's crying over another male. I glared at the television, then turned my attention to her still pouting form, her eyes starring angrily at the screen.

I pulled her into my lap, immediately getting her attention. She looked at me curiously. I quelled her inquiry as I sealed my mouth over hers. She gasped at my forwardness, allowing me full access. She was again shy and hesitant to comply with my actions. I didn't want any more doubt from her. I put her underneath me without breaking the kiss. She grabbed the collar of my shirt and kissed back, more fervently this time. I smirked and regained control.

I wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her head more into the kiss with my other hand. She shivered in my grasp. Putting a knee in-between her legs, I separated them easily. I made my way down to the spot underneath her ear, biting her lightly. She gave a quiet squeak then giggled. I bit harder extracting a small moan. I traveled lower to the junction of her neck and shoulders but was hindered by that stupid necklace she always wears. I was about to rip it off when something started ringing.

I groaned and got off of her, answering the communication device Kurama gave me a few years ago.

"What?" I barked into the phone. I wasn't at all happy about the interruption.

"Hiei, it's Kurama. Where are you? Mukuro says you came to the human world hours ago."

"Hn. It's none of your business of where I am fox. I'm busy right now."

"It isn't like you to just come to the human world for no apparent reason, Hiei. What are you up to?"

"I have some personal business to deal with, fox. I'll be at the temple within an hour." I hung up, furious. I looked towards Sitsumi. Her cheeks flushed and her eyes filled with an embarrassed innocence.

"Umm… You have to go soon?" She rubbed her arm, nervous reflex.

"Yeah. I'll be back tomorrow at noon." I got up to get my shoes by the door.

"Kay." She followed me to the door downstairs. I was about to walk out when she handed me my cloak. "It's cold without a jacket, Hiei." She smiled warmly.

I took it and put it on. "Thank you." I said.

"Mhm." She nodded.

I pulled her into my arms once again and stole another kiss for myself. She wrapped her arms around my back, staying there, allowing me to do as I pleased. I broke the kiss and held her tightly in my arms. I inhaled her scent of rain and tea leaves deeply into my lungs, wanting to imprint it into my memory. I let go and left without another word. After walking down the sidewalk for a distance, I flitted to the temple remembering each little note that came from her mouth.

…..3 days later…..

The twins, Emmie and Nina, were finally able to arrive in the human world. They were immediately put to work in finding the Aoitsuki. The twins had an artifact that once belonged to Ametari the Healer's mother, Tsume the Wise. (Where they get these titles I'll never know.) They'll be able to locate where the Aoitsuki is, but only through a medium, which is where mine and Yusuke's trackers come in.

Each of them will be linked to one of the four girls participating, including Genkai. Once a psychic connection has been made, the four separate teams will scan throughout the city, the countryside, and the whole island if they have to. Genkai and the Fubuki Sisters will stay at the temple keeping the mental connection between them. If one of the ground teams comes close to the Aoitsuki, they say the artifact will glow a bright blue.

In order to do this, it requires an immense level of concentration for the psychics involved. They locked themselves in one of Genkai's smaller dojos around the temple. They'll be there until they've exhausted their energy. The book worm said the reason why they have the five of them is that the more psychics involved, the less energy needed to keep the mental link. It also helps if the medium is close by. However, since the ground teams are to be moving farther and farther from the temple the more they scavenge the city, the harder it will be for the psychics to keep a solid connection.

It made sense to me.

The rest of us had to simply wait until they get a lead. As infuriating as it is, I kept my short fuse of patience in check. I try to occupy my mind with other problems. Running Alaric, baby-sitting the children, and the one most on my mind is the girl.

I question myself on why I continue to see her. Why do I torture myself with her presence? The only gain would be a woman to warm my bed for a period of… time.

That's it.

That's why I've stayed with her for so long.

My body merely wants a good lay. It's been a while since I've taken a lover. Whores became a short-lived pleasure, and were never fun to begin with, and slaves were out of the question. I refuse to use one against their will for such a purpose. It is beneath me. And Mukuro? Mukuro was merely for entertainment. It was enjoyable at first, spending night after night with someone who actually had a brain, but the relationship soon disintegrated. If there is one thing I won't stand for in a woman is a dominatrix. If she succeeded in being on top, she would see me more as a subordinate than her equal. So I stopped coming to her bed. I stopped acknowledging her as anything but a business partner. Nothing more, nothing less.

After a few years of having nothing to pour my frustrations into, I've gone and found the easiest prey. A little human girl. That has to be the reason why I humor her. So I now know what I want from her. Once I get it, I can leave her like all the other whores I've invited to my bed.

But, what makes this so complicated is that… Sitsumi isn't a whore.

TBC…