Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Mating ❯ Departing Again ( Chapter 20 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

"The Mating"

AN: Okay, folks, just a heads up, from here on out, there will be fewer lemons. I'm sorry if that disappoints some of you, but if I EVER want to get this plot actually done, well, I have a ton going on behind the scenes here and my plot is slowly sinking to a crawl. As is, I know where this is going to end, but I'm not sure how I'm going to get from point A to point Z or how long this will take. The only thing I can promise is a happy ending.

Chapter 20- Departing Again

Botan woke at first light, like she had forever it seemed. Ferry girls didn't get much sleep as a rule and for the most part, she got less then the rest. She wondered what was going on in Reikai, but decided she didn't want to know. She decided to peek in on Yusuke instead.

Yusuke was sleeping on his side. This was easily the cleanest room in the entire house, and that still wasn't saying much.

Oh, why must he be so cute! Botan thougtht to herself, seeing him roll over now facing her. She sat on the bed. She was surprised when an arm went around her midsection, lightly securing her against Yusuke. She briefly struggled, but when she could not budge the arm around her she shrugged and laid down. She silently cursed the fact that she hadn't put her hair up before coming in here when she couldn't see Yusuke's face for the cloud that her hair made. She just rolled so that they were lying spoon fashion before she closed her eyes again.

Yusuke was woken up by a ruckus coming from the main room. He opened his eyes and all he could see was a cloud of blue in front of his face. He could now feel that his arm was around something soft. He levered himself up to view this peice of heaven that had been sleeping next to him. He knew just how little sleep she probably got, considering that she worked for one of the biggest work-a-holics in what had to be the universe. He didn't want to frighten her off and so resisted his impulses for the moment and shook her awake gently. "Botan."

Botan had been having the most wonderful dream. It had consisted of Yusuke, herself and some of the others that she knew were her friends. She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder, shaking her and the unmistakable voice of Yusuke, calling her name. She rolled onto her back, looked up at Yusuke and siad, "You just interrupted a very nice dream I was having."

"I would apologize, Botan, but at the moment, I think we'd better get moving. Never make the accident of being late around Hiei." Yusuke asked quietly, "Why did you move in here?"

Botan blushed. "At first, I just wanted to check on you. Then when I sat down, you grabbed me and wouldn't let go."

Yusuke looked abashed. "Sorry about that." He got out of bed, still wearing his pants. He stretched, looking out his window. "Are you going to let me get dressed, Botan?"

Botan turned bright red and ran out of the room. She bumped into Touya and blushed even brighter.

Touya laughed and righted her. "Botan, it's nothing to be embarrassed of. Did you have fun with Yusuke?"

Botan was struck completely speachless. She hadn't even thought of doing something like that!

"Touya," Yusuke said from the door, "If Jin wants a partner to stay alive, you two might want to head to the Makai now."

Touya bowed. "How is it, my lord, that I constantly manage to verbally mistep?"

Yusuke grinned, "I don't know, Touya, but you do it quite well. You are mild mannered, calm and generally likeable. I don't know how you manage to constantly put your foot in your mouth."

Jin came out of the bathroom, towel drying his hair. "Is 'e gettin' in trouble again, Urameshi?" He wasn't quite as wound up as last night and he was almost understandable.

"Yeah. Not majorly. Now shoo, you two! I'll get in touch with both of you later." Yusuke told them.

"Oh, yer no fun!" Jin pouted. "Well, come on, partner! We have us a Toguro t' b' watchin'."

Botan watched the two shinobi leave. She had gotten a pleasent flutter at the thought of what Touya had implied. "Is taking a lover so commonplace in the Makai?"

"Pretty much, Botan. I just ignore it. In fact one meaning of the word partner means lover. I don't ask and they don't tell. They know that I'm not entirely comfortable with Makai customs." Yusuke said, "I keep hoping that the two will both settle down one of these days with a nice female. Touya's actually talked to me a time or two, thinking of asking to stay here in the Ningenkai for a bit. I think he's been getting a little lonely. Kurama and him have so much in common that it's really scary."

"And you've always liked Jin. He's so much like you!" Botan started looking for her ponytail holder.

Yusuke asked, "Botan?" Then went on when she looked at him. "How about you leave your hair down today?" He reached up and tucked a few strands behind her ear.

Botan trembled under that tender touch. She looked up into the eyes that could be a fierce defender or the tender looks that he sometimes sent towards his friends and at the moment seemed to have a softer look. She gave a small, shy nod, then said with some humor, "I still need a brush, Yusuke."

He laughed. "I know. Come, there should be something here in the bathroom." He brought out a brush that had some of his morther's hair in it. He handed it to her while he went in to fix his own hair.

Botan brushed through the thick masses of her hair. She didn't even remember the last time she left it down. "Yusuke? Can I borrow your communication mirror? I need to ask Koenma if I can stay here as a human for a while. I think that would be good for me."

Yusuke stepped out of the bathroom and reached into his pocket, wordlessly tossing the mirror at her.

She flipped it open. Koenma's face appeared in the mirror.

"Botan! Are you okay?"

"Yes, Koenma-sama. Is it all right if you give me a period of leave, sir? I would like to request a human body for a period of a couple of months." Botan asked, crossing her fingers under the mirror.

Koenma frowned. "I don't know, Botan, I'm seriously considering ordering you back to Reikai."

"Koenma-sama! I can't." Her face fell forward, her hair hiding her expression from him. "I can't face Ayame, or you." Her voice dropped to a whisper for the last.

Koenma studied the picture of the dejected ferry girl who was normally so lively and sighed. "Very well, Botan. Take as long as you need to."

Botan lifted her head. There were tears standing in her eyes, "Thank you, Koenma-sama."

"You take care of yourself, you hear? If you need anything, please call me." Koenma hadn't realized just how fragile Botan had been. She was always so cheerful and bubbly. It was one of the reasons why it had been such a debate. Ayame gave him what he needed, though, some stability. He had thought to keep Botan as his mistress after his marriage, but he saw that Botan deserved more than that.

"Yes, sir. Over and out." Botan flipped the mirror closed and collapsed onto the floor, all her strength used at the moment just holding her composure together. Her shoulders shook.

Yusuke came out of the bathroom, done with his hair, he had left the door open so that he could hear what was said. He saw Botan's position and knelt down on the floor in front of Botan. "You gonna be okay, there?" He cupped her chin so that she looked at him. Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears.

Botan nodded and answered, her voice only slightly shaky. "I think so. But Yusuke, I don't think he realizes, I can't go back. I can't ever go back and no ferry girl has ever left Reikai permanently."

"Well, there's always a first, our group is good at dealing with them, so come on, let's head out to Genkai's. I can't wait to see Kuwabara and tease him about mating with Yukina." Yusuke said, earning a giggle from Botan with the last.

**************At Genkai's**************

Genkai shook her head. Yukina and Kuwabara had come in sometime during the night. She smiled slightly as she observed the two new mates who were still sleeping, curled onto their sides and covered by a light blanket.

The front door was opened and Kurama and Keiko walked in. "Greetings, Master Genkai." Kurama greeted.

Keiko added, "Hello, Genkai."

"Greetings. You are the first two to actually arrive, unless you consider the sleeping duo in there." Genkai replied, motioning through an open doorway.

Keiko looked in and smiled at them. "They look so sweet together."

"Reminds me of the Dark Tournament. I always said the two could be in-laws someday." Kurama said with a smile. "He will be up before she will. Her youki is running really low right now. May I make breakfast?"

Genkai raised a brow, "Go right ahead."

Kurama nodded at her, bending down to kiss Keiko quickly and then hurried off to the kitchen. He removed several seeds from his hair, quickly growing the appropriate plants when he heard a tentative question.

"Can I try?" Keiko asked.

Kurama turned to look at his mate. "Sure. As I said, neither Hiei nor myself were entirely certain when you would be able to do this." He handed her a few seeds. "Take one in your palm and then concentrate. Try to feel the seed's energy."

Keiko closed her eyes and did as he told her. It had a low pulse to it.

"Can you feel the energy there?" He asked. He smiled when she nodded. "Okay, now reach out to the seed, feed it briefly with your energy, the pulse should quicken."

Keiko reached out with it and almost got a flare of energy from the seed. "Ah!" She opened her eyes. "What did I do wrong?"

Kurama tamped down the seed that was now a very large plant. "Gave it too much, too quickly." He brought the seed back under control. "That's the kind of burst that I give plants when I am in combat. Quick and sudden, when what you want in this situation is actually a slow trickle." He handed her the seed again. "Try again."

Keiko tried that. It was harder than it sounded. She heard a distant, "Stop." She held her energy in. She realized that she was sweating with the effort. She opened her eyes, seeing a smallish plant resting in her hand.

Kurama gave her a proud smile. "Very well done, Keiko." He took the plant from her and picked the leaves that he needed. "Did you want to try taking it back to the seed?"

"Can I?" Keiko asked.

"Sure." He told her. "The seed is still present, you now have to take away the energy that you just gave it."

Keiko looked at him questioningly. She tried to feel the foreign energy within the seed/plant, which felt a bit familiar to her, though she didn't know where she would have felt energy quite like that. It felt similar to Kurama's, same type, but it felt subtly different. Feminine, she realized. It had a feminine stamp to it. Her eyes popped open. "That's my energy?"

Kurama smiled at her. "You recognize it. That is a good thing. Now, can you take your energy away from the seed?"

"I can try." She replied. She reached into the seed, trying to pull her energy back to her.

Kurama told her, "Don't try so hard, let like call to like. The pushing should be harder than the pulling. A lite tug should suffice."

Keiko stopped trying to pull it, Instead letting her energy rest and reached out with her energy, giving the 'lite tug' that her mate had suggested. She was shocked when her energy came rushing back to her. She gasped.

"Congratulations." Kurama kissed her proudly. "We'll have to train that more so that it is not so much of an effort."

Keiko just smiled at him after returning the kiss. She was happy that she was able to do this, but could feel the effort that had needed. "Now I need to rest."

Kurama finished growing the vegetables that he needed for Yukina's breakfast and the fact that all of them could use a good meal before they ended up facing anyone. He was just finishing up cooking breakfast, for Yukina and for the rest of them as well and came out of the kitchen, hearing Kuwabara stirring. Kurama went into the room where the two were laying down and saw a rather panicked Kuwabara sitting up, alarmed at Yukina's condition. "Easy, Kuwabara, Yukina's condition is perfectly normal." Kurama told him. He gave her a brief surge of his ki.

She opened her eyes, looking at the two men. She smiled at Kazuma.

Kuwabara just looked at her worried. "Are you okay?"

Yukina nodded. "My energy is just very low at the moment." She answered her mate, then turned to Kurama, "Thank you, Kurama-san."

"Then, you should get up and have some breakfast. I made a dish specially for you." Kurama told her. "I shall leave you for now to get dressed." He looked at Kuwabara, "You will need to help her to get dressed. She is not exactly the strongest, and the mating drained her considerably." He then left the two new mates alone.

Kuwabara colored, but nodded at Kurama as he left the room. He then turned to Yukina, "I'm sorry that doing what we did drained you so much."

"I shall recover and quickly, if Kurama-san fixed what I think he made me, Kazuma. My youki will return." Yukina told him. Kuwabara gently helped her out of bed. She insisted on still wearing her full kimono, so Kuwabara helped her into that, letting her tie the obi herself. She leaned on him as they made their way to the breakfast table.

Kurama put a bowl of the same stuff that Hiei had fixed him in front of Yukina, with a more normal breakfast for the rest of them, but still seasoned with herbs from the Makai.

Keiko sat down next to her mate as they heard someone else running in.

"Oh, Master Genkai! Kurama!" It was Shizuru, closely followed by Yusuke, carrying a Hiei who looked in much the same condition as his sister and they were followed by Botan.

Kurama went over to Yusuke and the unconscious Hiei. "Looks like both of them mated last night." He thought carefully. "Yusuke, can you transform and give him a burst of pure youki? Or is it possible for you to give him a burst of youki as you are? I already gave Yukina a bit of mine. I can give a little to Hiei, but he is more drained."

"Is this normal?" Yusuke asked, "I mean I know what mating is, but is this really how it affects us?"

"Yes, Yusuke. The more the difference in the power level between mates, the more the higher one is drained. This is also another reason why situations like family units or clans in the Makai have a higher degree of mates than free roamers. It leaves the demon highly vulnerable for a period of up to a week, if not helped. Fortunately, I have an extra helping of what I made for Yukina's breakfast, which will help them both considerably."

Yusuke focused on his youki, rather than his reiki. He was used to using a combonation of them anyway, but bringing just one up was not too terribly hard. He could feel the transformation beginning, but before he actually did transform, he gave the excess to Hiei, who promptly opened his eyes.

"Hn, thank you, Yusuke." Hiei said as he was put down on the floor.

Shizuru went over to her mate. "Don't you ever worry me like that again!" She told him fiercely.

Hiei smiled at her, a soft tender smile that shocked Yusuke, Botan, Kuwabara and Genkai. "I'll try, mate."

"Oookay, can I be officially freaked out now?" Yusuke asked.

"Fine by me, but only if I can join you." Genkai replied.

Hiei sat down next to his sister, with Shizuru sitting on the other side of him. He quietly told his sister and her mate, "Congratulations on your recent mating."

Kuwabara colored, but Yukina beamed at him and said, "Thank you! You as well, my brother."

Hiei blinked as a plate was plunked down in front of him. He grimaced. "I hate this stuff, you realize."

Yukina took a bite. "It's not that bad."

Hiei took a bite. "What did you do to it? It almost tastes good."

Kurama smiled. "Special recipe. I added the same herbs to our eggs. If you don't add some seasonings, it can get a bit bitter, especially if you don't use fresh."

"Sounds like I may have to learn how to make it, too." Yusuke said. "What is it, just a blend of things all designed to restore youki?"

All three of them knodded. Kurama said, "It's usually made especially for this occaision. If any of us had actually been thinking, we would have eaten this before hand which would have ensured that, while low, we would not have been quite that vulnerable."

"Fox, how many of us actually think before mating?"

"Good point." Kurama said, thinking back to his own situation.

Yukina spoke up, "That's why it's a custom within some circles to have a feast for the soon to be mates."

As Kuwabara colored yet again, Shizuru spoke up, "Think of it as marriage, baby brother. You wouldn't be embarrassed if you married Yukina, would you?"

He thought that over and said, "I guess you're right, sis."

Hiei was getting some color back. "Hn, of course she's right. Mating is the demon's marriage custom. You should both be going through a period of change at any time. Shizuru, you should be on a similar time scale to Keiko. Kuwabara, you and Yukina will have to talk to Kurama to find out what'll be going on there."

"Shizuru," Kurama asked, "Do you feel any different? Keiko noticed changes the next morning."

"I'll say." Shizuru said. "I'll have to actually inventory."

"How about we put the whole mates and abilities thing on hold for the moment. Hiei and Yukina look like they're almost back to normal," Yusuke said, "And Genkai really needs to hear this latest news."

"What happened now?" She asked.

The three guys all looked at each other, wondering how to break it.

Shizuru sighed, "Men. Never know how to deal with women sometimes. Genkai, an old friend of yours was spotted in the Makai. We all saw him die."

Genkai paled as only one person came to mind, she slumped over as she whispered, "Toguro."

Keiko hurried over to her and put her arms around the older woman. "Are you alright, Master Genkai?"

Genkai nodded, slowly getting up and reassured Keiko, "I'll be fine, child. It's just that he chose limbo, and the only one who could have brought him back is King Enma himself."

"Not to mention that he still has your heart, doesn't he?" Kurama quietly asked.

"How long have you known that?" Genkai asked, getting up.

"It's kind of obvious, if you know what to look for." Hiei added.

"Never try to hide feelings from old demons, they see through emotional masks easier than they can put one up." Genkai added dryly.

"Touche." Kurama retorted, catching her reference to Hiei's and his own about caring for Shizuru and Keiko. "We do not intend to get into any battles. Indeed, Jin and Touya are watching over Toguro as we speak, and we are planning on talking to him. Would you like to come? We could be gone for a few days on this one."

Genkai looked at the assembled mates, as well as Yusuke and Botan. She saw the determination, but she also saw the compassion. "I guess it couldn't hurt." And maybe I can finally get him to see some sense. "I'm going too."

"Good." Yusuke said, then added, "I'm starving!"

************A few days later, in the Makai*****************

It had been a very quiet few days. Yusuke's territory was very large and had a lot of very open space. They had all welcomed the peaceful days as they suspected that it was only the calm before the storm.

Genkai walked along with the others. It had been a long time since she had visited the Makai. It hadn't changed much. They were deep within Yusuke's territory. He seemed fairly well liked, even if his subjects were definately non-human looking. She wondered what she would do if and apparently when she would see him again. She kind of wished she still had her younger appearance to pull out. He had only been a B-class then, she wondered if he still was and what new danger this would bring to their lives.

Botan and Yusuke were both flying, her on her oar and he was riding Puu. For this he had transformed into his demon form.

Kurama and Keiko rode a flying leaf, both perched easily. Kurama was in his full demon form. This was a stable area they were passing through and so could travel without some of the precautions that they had taken through Gandistra.

Hiei was training Shizuru as they went as her speed had come in first, closely followed by strength.

Genkai walked along with Yukina and Kuwabara, who was more and more just getting called Kazuma, as demons didn't have last names.

Kazuma hadn't noticed any differences yet, but then Kurama, who had brought the journal with him, told them that it could be up to a month before he really noticed any changes. His would occur much more slowly than the two women's. Kurama was also their official recorder for the changes. Now that they knew the code, they could all laugh at how the demons had cheated Reikai out of the true information.

Botan was gradually getting back to her bubbly self being she hadn't heard from Reikai since she left Yusuke's house. She had never spent a lot of time around Yusuke when he was transformed, learning that his personality was pretty much the same, but that his senses were sharper and he was a lot more dangerous to his enemies.

Yusuke had left a note for his mother, telling her that something came up back in the Makai, and not to worry about him.

Kurama had explained the whole situation to his mother, stepfather and stepbrother just as the family had been sitting down to eat breakfast. They could all see the gold liberally sprinkling through Keiko's chocolate brown eyes. Shuuichi had been told that this was a purely internal Makai issue and that the future Sprirt Detective of the Ningenkai was not needed, however the future rulers of the Makai were. They would take up training him as soon as they got back.

Shizuru had been so busy with Hiei that she hadn't had time to call work except for a very brief phone call where she had to ask for a period of leave. She had sounded so frantic on the phone, that her boss told her to take as much time as she would need, but would she be gone longer than a week? She told them that she didn't think so, but had to go out of town on an emergency. The last time she had told them that was when she had gone to the Dark Tournament with Keiko and Botan.

Hiei was pleased with the progress Shizuru was making. He had been lucky, he hadn't had to inform anyone of where he would be, Kurama had taken care of that with Shiori. Shizuru could now flit, not quite as fast as he, but it was rapidly getting there. She had cursed him a time or two, but had seen the insecurity in his eyes. He didn't want to fail her.

Shizuru just marvelled at the abilities that she was getting. These were like a whole other set of reflexes. In the evenings, she and Keiko had sparred, with their mates watching like hawks, making sure that neither one would injure the other, even weaponless.

As the sun was starting to sink, they came down from the skies or trees, whichever was appropriate. After they had made their campsite and eaten supper, they sat around the campfire, discussing the situation.

"Man, this stinks!" Kazuma said, "Where is that Toguro? I mean we've only been looking now for three days."

"Indeed. This is unusual, Jin and Touya's information is usually impeccable." Kurama replied.

"More than unusual, this has all the unpleasant aroma of a plot." Hiei said.

"So then you think this is part of the trap we were discussing back at Kurama's house?" Shizuru asked.

"It's a possibility." Her mate told her.

"Well, then, at least we're walking into this one with our eyes open." Yusuke said with a yawn.

"Well, some of us are, at least." Botan said pointedly in Yusuke's direction.

"And I've never known the Shinobi's information to be wrong." Genkai added. "Maybe misleading at times, but not wrong."

"Who's going to take the first watch?" Yukina asked.

"Shizuru," Keiko said, "You've been training all day, why don't Kurama and I take the first watch?" Hiei and Shizuru had usually taken the first watch the last couple of nights.

"It's a sweet offer, kiddo, but you should be just as tired as I am. I know who was controlling that leaf up there, and it wasn't Kurama." She smiled, "Good job, though."

Keiko colored. "Thanks. It's getting easier, but it's still a little difficult to control them once I have them. That's what we were working on today."

Kurama nodded. "I gave her a little help a few times, but most of the effort was done by Keiko today."

"Well, then, children," Genkai told them. "It sounds as if your mates have well and truly earned their rest today. No sparring tonight. Kazuma and I will take the first watch. Yukina, you just rest."

Yukina just nodded. She knew she was there on sufferance only. If there was anyone this group could get along without, it was Kazuma and herself. She went over and layed down on the ground and faced the fire, remembering Kazuma's reaction when he found out that she was pregnant.

*****Flashback**********

Kazuma's face was a solid sheet of shock. "Preg-pregnant!?! Already?"

"Get used to it, baby bro." Shizuru told him.

Yukina just nodded, blushing furiously.

Hiei looked at his brother in law, "You'd better get used to it, because she is mostly Koorime, it will be interesting to see what your body will become when the time comes. I am mostly a fire apparition, with just enough Koorime in my system to keep me from being a full fire demon."

"You must stay home then." Kazuma put his foot down.

"But I can't!" Yukina cried out, "I have to be near you at all times! If I can't go, then you can't either!"

Kazuma looked around at Hiei, Kurama, Keiko and Shizuru, all of whom nodded.

"Okay, but then the first sign of major trouble, we'll both come back home." Was the verdict.

***********End Flashback***************

Yukina closed her eyes as she pillowed her head on her arm, just watching the flames dance behind her eyelids, letting the soothing pattern lull her to sleep, knowing that Kazuma was near.

Kurama and Keiko went off just a little ways into the woods nearby, with Kurama erecting a bower for them so they could have their privacy.

Keiko was beginning to wonder just how long this would take. She seemed to be hitting a period of stability, but Kurama told her it just meant that her body was starting to prepare for some more major changes.

Kurama had been in his demon form for this whole trip, it had been the longest he had held it since his wounding and having to take refuge in the human body. He smiled at Keiko, "I had forgotten just how much freer this body truly is, Keiko."

"How do you mean?" Keiko asked. They were both wearing the loose fitting clothing of pants and the wraparound shirts that were favored by most youkos.

He thought for a moment. "I'm not really sure I can explain it. It's easier to use some of my abilities because while the human body does still generate my youki due to my soul, it doesn't generate it nearly as quickly. My senses are sharper and I just don't know. Maybe I just mean lifestyle. Even when we rule Gandistra, it still won't be quite as strenuous as our schoolwork, which sometimes even drove me to distraction, or boredom occaisionally." He thought of his mythology class. "Though I have to admit, some of the misconceptions out there about us 'mythical' beings I found quite humorous."

She curled up against his side. "I'll bet." She frowned as she asked the next question. "Do you have any idea when I can see the next big change?"

Kurama pulled her closer to him. "Not as of yet. You've gained admirable control of your plant abilities, which means we'll have to start on trying to teach you illusion, though I really hate to hide your youko eyes."

Keiko looked up at him with a gasp. "You mean they're all gold?"

Kurama just smiled at her with a nod. "And they are just as beautiful as when they were chocolate colored." With that he bent his head down, giving her a deep kiss which she eagerly returned.

Later, Kurama was looking up at the sky. There were no stars in the Makai, just dark sky. He was glad that he'd had a few days to just train Keiko without worrying about anything else. It was this lifestyle that he missed. His mother had been the only thing keeping him from being completely homesick, and even then, it hadn't completely helped, not until he had met Hiei. Even though he had wanted totally different things at the time, Hiei had that potential for greatness buried within him, it was the same thing that many saw within him, though he never acknowledged that. Excelling at things in the Ningenkai just meant you were one up on the other students. Excelling in the Makai meant you lived longer. He had to admit there was so little to challenge him in the Ningenkai, save for things Makai related, that he probably would have ended up moving back once his mother died, hopefully of old age. He could give her a human lifespan. He had hoped that Keiko would turn to him, but had never known whether someone else held her heart, though he hadn't suspected it had been him.

Keiko gave a small wimper in her sleep, shifting uncomfortably.

Kurama wondered what was changing now and immediately started going through all of the anethetics that he could easily get a hold of as he held her tighter and she seemed to quiet in his embrace. He decided that tomorrow the two would travel on the ground and he would start giving her some lessons in telling from the energy of the seed what type of plant it would grow to be. He would also start to gather some pain killing herbs. The nicest thing was he could start from either a cutting/leaf, or a seed and he could get a seed from the sample of the plant. Seeds lasted longer and didn't take up nearly as much room.

**************Hiei and Shizuru***************

Shizuru thought to herself that this was a little more like the children's rhyme than she would have thought possible. Hiei was sitting up against the tree while she was laying down on the branch itself, pillowing her head on Hiei's shoulder. While she was getting more comfortable with the confines of a tree branch, she was still afraid that she'd fall occaisionally. "Why can't we sleep on the ground?"

Hiei smiled at her. "This affords more privacy, and it makes it harder for an enemy to gage how many we have with a casual inspection, and anything more than that will alert my Jagan eye."

Shizuru just shrugged. "Okay, if that's the way you want to play it." She turned within his arms. "Do you have to be so harsh training me?" She frowned at him. "I know why, you don't want me ending up injured the way Keiko was, but you know, all the training in the world will not save me sometimes. I've seen you and you get some very bad injuries."

Hiei nodded, "I do, I can't deny it. But my healing ability compensates for it. Soon I shall try to determine just which weapon would be more effective for you. I do not want you to be unarmed." He looked down into the hard look on her face. He knew that he had never answered her question. "I'm sorry, mate. I will try to be less harsh on you when training. I keep seeing Keiko getting injured and you in her place."

"Believe it or not, I can usually take care of myself." Shizuru told him. "Of course that's with avoiding getting hit by not being there."

Hiei bent down and gave her a soft kiss, "I know, but if you ever need to rely on training that I gave you, I will not have failed you. Ambush situations are not always the easiest to avoid and this is one big trap, I just cannot determine what the trap is."

She reached up and touched the warding cloth over his eye, "Why don't you use your Jagan to find Toguro?"

"I thought of it," He admitted, "But when I mentioned it to Yusuke, he just told me that might give away our position. Implanted Jagan's give off their own energy feel to them and would alert every bandit within miles of this place. We really don't want a fight on our hands, especially with Yukina in the condition she's in."

"How vulnerable is Yukina right now?"

"Very. Koorime are extremely limited in what they can do when they are carrying young. At this point, Yukina's limited to one, maybe two healings a day and in a couple of months, one at the most, after that, none untill after the children are born." Hiei looked down at Shizuru, "I'm afraid that youkai end up very strange indeed when carrying young."

"That brings me to my next question." Shizuru took a deep breath and then asked, "How soon will it be until I am carrying?"

Hiei gave her a soft kiss and answered, "Not until you are fully transformed at the very least. I kept control when I mated with you. It's something all male youkai can do, control their potentcy when they release their seed. The higher the class, the easier it is for the demon to control that."

"I never knew that. No need for birth control." Shizuru joked.

Hiei just gave her a quizzical look.

Shizuru shook her head, "Never mind, don't worry about it. Seems like you have that built in."

"Just let me know when you want children, Shizuru. I will be more than happy to give them to you." Hiei told her heatedly and bending down to kiss her. He rolled them in place so that she was secure against him, their heads both pillowed on his arm, his other arm around her waist. He could feel the heat radiating through her clothing. "Tomorrow I'm going to start teaching you how to regulate your body temperature."

"Why is this coming up now?" Shizuru asked.

"Because, you are radiating heat, much the same way that I am doing, however mine is controlled." Hiei told her.

"And mine isn't." Shizuru finished the thought.

Hiei only nodded and hugged her tighter to him in spoon fashion. "Sleep now, tomorrow will be more training."

***************Yusuke and Botan**************

Yusuke curled up next to his spirit beast. Botan had sat down next to him, absently stroking Puu's feathers.

He said, "Y'know, I would have never expected this of Puu when he first hatched, but now, thinking back on it, I should have. Unconsciously I held myself back so much."

Botan startled. "Oh, I didn't know you were still awake."

"Yeah. I don't need quite as much sleep, depending on what I've been doing during the day. This hasn't been too stressful. I've done patrols like this before. Also introducing myself to my subjects. Even though most of them think I'm young, they still respect me, and I don't put up with bullshit."

Botan chuckled. "Yusuke, the day you actually put up with it, let me know, I'll write it on the calendar!"

Yusuke sat up, leaning against Puu. "It'd be a first." He agreed with a chuckle of his own.

"I still remember when you very first took the job as spirit detective. I didn't realize then that I would be your assistant, nor that I would gain such a wonderful group of friends." Botan added softly. "It's so rare for anyone outside of Reikai to get friendly with the ferry girls."

Yusuke pulled her against his chest, enveloping her in a gentle hug. "You are no mere ferry girl, Botan. Anymore than Kurama is a mere youko or Hiei is a mere youkai or Yukina is a mere Koorime. You are special and you have the potential to be so much more. Kind of like Puu. Easy to underestimate, until the crunch time occurs."

Botan stiffened at first but then relaxed into the embrace that the Toushin held her in. "Thank you, Yusuke. I've always worn the cheerful mask before because I didn't want anyone to really try to see below it. When shown something pleasent, most don't try to look deeper."

Yusuke shrugged, "Yeah, well, I've never been what most would consider normal. And when unhappiness is much more common, I question anything that looks too happy."

Botan turned and looked into the reddish eyes of the Toushin. "Yusuke, are you unhappy?"

"I don't know. I've never been truly happy, so I'm still kinda confused about what unhappiness entails. I know that I was never happy in school, or with Keiko riding my ass getting me to go, though it's become much better now that everyone knows we're not going out. She has her lifemate now, and they are completely perfect for each other. It seems that all of my closest friends all found their perfect mate around them." He glanced over at the tree that he knew Hiei and Shizuru shared. "Truth to tell, it completely shocked me, seeing Hiei being so caring around Shizuru. Yes, he's harsh in training, but he's trying to ensure his mate's and thus his own survival."

"Is that it?" Botan asked, glancing up at Yusuke.

He nodded. "When Keiko had gotten wounded on the way back from Gandistra, it shook all of us up. Kurama was first, of course. Hiei went ballistic and I just took my anger out on the leader of the group. I keep forgetting just how much more intense these feelings of mine are now that I'm a demon."

Botan just looked at him curiously. "How so?"

Yusuke chuckled. "You know, for how much you deal with demons, Reikai really hasn't given you much practical working knowledge of demons. Let me see if I can explain." He sat back, trying to compose his thoughts.

Botan shifted so that she could look at him while she idly fought with some tangles that seemed stubbornly stuck in her thick hair.

Yusuke opened his eyes and smiled. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a comb. "Need some help?"

Botan just looked at the comb as if it was a life saver. She held out her hand. "Can I please use it?"

Yusuke just shook his head. "Remove the ponytail holder and come sit here." He spread his legs and patted the ground between them. He liked to think he was not as much of a pervert as he had been in his younger years, but he still thought Botan was hot and he was still attracted to her. He wasn't sure yet if he cared for her as a mate or just a partner, but after feeling this way he was coming to see her more as a partner even than she had been when he was full time spirit detective.

Botan looked up at him with narrowed eyes. "Alright, but you make one move and I'll hit you into next week!" She moved into the indicated location, sitting with her back to him. The first touch of the comb was so soft that she had to wonder if she even felt the gentle tug.

Yusuke savored this feeling. She still wasn't entirely sure that she trusted him, as witnessed by the threat. He honestly had no purpose in mind beyond combing her hair for her. It was so thick that he had to take it a section at a time. He was careful to be gentle and after a while Botan was relaxing against him. He continued to comb her hair and her head slowly sank down to rest on his shoulder. He glanced down at her sleeping face. He carefully put down the comb as he bent down and gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead, whispering, "Good night, Botan, Puu." He gently rested his head on top of Botan's, wrapping his arms around her, mindful of Yukina just on the other side of the fire along with Genkai and Kuwabara patrolling.

Puu gave a quiet chirp and lowered one of his wings to keep the two warm against his side with just their heads peeking out from above the wing. He tucked his own head below the wing, resting his head across Yusuke and Botan's legs and went to sleep with them.

To be continued . . .