Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Mating ❯ Arrivals, Surprises and Ambushes ( Chapter 27 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Mithryl Darkstar 
The title pretty much sums it up, folks!
Anime/Manga: Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Hentai / Action | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 12.11.2004 | Pages: 6 | Words: 8.3K | Visits: 1.2K | Status: Completed
The title pretty much sums it up, folks!
Anime/Manga: Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Hentai / Action | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 12.11.2004 | Pages: 6 | Words: 8.3K | Visits: 1.2K | Status: Completed
"The Mating"
Disclaimer: didn't own it then, nor now.
AN: Beware, rabid plot bunnies ahead you have been warned.
Chapter 27- Arrivals, Surprises and Ambushes
Yusuke looked at Moya, "Guess you weren't kidding about him dropping you off."
Moya nodded. "Yeah, he was really very curious about who I hung out with. I've never been exactly what one might call social."
"And this group is not what one might assume as compatable as friends." Kurama said with a smile.
"And here I thought I worked for you." Touya told him with an almost grin.
Kurama replied, "You do, but does that prevent us from being friends?" Touya chuckled.
Shiori came out, bringing the other three boys with her. "See, here they are." She told the three nervous boys, all of whom relaxed at the sight of Kuwabara, though they were not used to seeing him sitting on the ground with Yukina in his lap.
Okubo said, "Hi, guys."
Kotama just added, "Hi."
Miyamoto nodded to the group. "Well, we're here."
Okubo said, "I really hope that you guys were serious about being able to help."
Yusuke nodded, "I know I was."
Kurama looked interested. "What is wrong?"
"I think a situation that might be of interest to you." Yusuke said. "Why don't you tell him, Okubo?"
"Well, okay." Okubo explained his family situation and the fact that he was supporting his entire family on his job.
Kurama bowed his head, "You are to be commended for still going to school. Yes, I will help."
Keiko embraced her mate, knowing what he was feeling. "I will never be in that situation. Nor will Shiori." She told him fiercely.
He turned in her arms and returned her embrace. "Thank you." As if they had been planning it, in their emotional minute, they both let their illusions drop. Kurama turned to their assembled friends, "I present to you my mate, Keiko."
Keiko looked embarrassed, but didn't blush as she bowed. She gave a shy smile.
Botan just looked, "I thought Yusuke had been exagerating. Keiko, you're gorgeous!"
"Botan!" Yusuke exclaimed.
"What? It's the truth!" Botan replied.
Touya smiled. "My lady. You do indeed suit my lord."
Yukina smiled at her, "You make a beautiful youko, Keiko."
Kuwabara just nodded. "I still prefer my Yukina, though."
Yukina snuggled deeper into her mate's arms.
Okubo, Miyamoto and Komata just stared in shock. "What's going on?" Komata asked.
"You always were the bravest." Kuwabara said. "None of us are truly human."
Miyamoto asked, "What do you mean, human?"
"You three are human, completely." Touya told them. "Keiko was human, Kuwabara is still mostly human. Moya is human as well. Kuwabara's sister is mostly youkai."
"As are we all." Hiei's rough voice came from behind them.
"How are you?" Kurama asked urgently.
"I'm better, thank you for asking." Hiei replied.
Yusuke raised his brows. "Are you thanking someone?"
"Detective, when you are in this situation, then we will see how you react." Hiei told him gruffly.
"Yeah, it's still Hiei, all right." Yusuke replied.
"Yukina, can you come up and check on Shizuru?" Hiei asked.
"I'll come with." Botan offered. "I can heal at the moment better than Yukina."
"Very well." Hiei replied. "I need to know how Shizuru is doing. She's still sleeping, but she is showing signs of starting to wake up from the medicine that Kurama gave her."
"I was just glad to help." Kurama replied.
Yukina gave Kuwabara a quick kiss, then realized that their bond wouldn't allow her to go that far from him this late in the day. "Come, my mate." Hiei left with Botan, Yukina and Kuwabara.
"That's still freaky." Yusuke said. "Seeing those two as in-laws." He shuddered.
"I did warn you back in Junior High." Kurama said.
"Yeah, but a lot could have changed during that time, ya know?" Yusuke said.
"Kuwabara's a rock." Miyamoto replied. "Once he sets his sights on something, he's in it for good."
"Yeah, I kinda noticed that." Yusuke added. "So's Hiei."
"Indeed." Kurama agreed.
"Okay, you guys can have your strategy session, explaining the whole situation that Kuwabara found himself in while I go and talk to Moya." Keiko told them. "Moya knows most of what you guys can tell Kuwabara's friends and what we don't know, we can be told later."
Kurama chuckled at the expressions of surprise on the faces of their assembled friends. None of them had been around any youkos, save for himself. Most youkos had very forceful personalities and Keiko hadn't started out really what one might call meek. He gave her a kiss on the temple. "Mate, don't worry. Touya and I will not let the two of you be caught out of the loop."
Keiko gave him one last hug and then walked with Moya a little ways over, to the same table that Shizuru and she had the fateful discussion almost a month ago.
Moya gave a small smile at Keiko. "What did you want to talk about?"
"I need to know about you, and Touya." Keiko said without preamble. "Kurama's worried about him because he is so old, and lonely. I feel Kurama's worry and in some strange way, yours."
Moya gave her a wide eyed gaze. "How-?"
"I don't know. But what are you worried about?" Keiko asked. "Touya is not playing with you. He may be unsure of his feelings, but he is not just playing with your emotions for amuzement. He's not cruel."
"I'm sorry, I guess it's me who's being wishy-washy." Moya said, hanging her head. "I've been afraid of letting others get close to me ever since my parents died. You know the term, 'scarred for life?'" When Keiko nodded, Moya went on, "That was me. I didn't carry physical wounds, but I did have deep emotional wounds. I feel comfortable with you guys, even though I know by rights I should have run screaming the first sign I got."
Keiko nodded again. "All of us carry the same type of baggage, Moya. Hiei and Kurama carry the most, though Touya has his fair share. I actually have the least, but I am at least able to lessen Kurama's burden even as Shizuru and Hiei are able to help the other through their problems."
Moya looked perplexed. "Maybe this would be easier if you explained what mating means? I've heard you all use the term, but I don't understand exactly what it means."
Keiko smiled at Moya. "I would be glad to explain to you. I kind of got the explanation after, but that's because of the kind of demon that Kurama is. The rest of the group does not have the same issues. Touya is an ice demon, Yukina is mostly a koorime, an ice apparition, which is slightly different. Hiei and Yukina are both a combonation of a fire demon and an ice maiden, which is why they are both referred to as forbidden children." She took a deep breath. "Mating entails joining the two demons, or demon and human's souls. The actual physical aspect vary slightly between demons, but the essence is the same. During sex, each partner must exchange blood and their ki."
Moya was bright red. "How do you talk about this so calmly?"
Keiko looked at Moya's face. "Truth? I'm as embarrassed as you, I am just unable to blush."
"So how did you go from being a human to being a demon?" Moya asked.
"At least your blush went down." Keiko said with a laugh. "The combonation of the demonic blood and the youki determine how demonic you become. The stronger the demon, the stronger the result. We explained the differences in power levels, correct?"
Moya nodded.
Keiko went on, "Well, then, Kurama, being an S-class demon, turned me completely demonic. Yukina, being only an A-class, Kuwabara will be a half-demon, a hanyou, with the demonic side dominant. Touya is also an A-class."
"So, if I," She blushed, "Mated with Touya, I would become a half-demon?"
"Yes, but over a much longer period of time than either Shizuru or I." Keiko told her. "Does this information help?"
Moya thought a moment. "So, if I mated I would never be alone again?"
"No, you could never be alone. At the same point, though, you would also die together." Keiko added.
"I understand." Moya replied thoughtfully.
"Well, then, we should head back to the guys. Yusuke will try to protect us from knowing things if I know him, and I do." Keiko got up, bringing Moya with her back into the circle of their friends.
"Why would Yusuke try to protect us from knowing what's going on?"
"Because he's a natural protector." Keiko replied dryly as she went back over to Kurama.
Touya looked at Moya. "That looked like an interesting conversation from where I sat. What did you discuss?"
"Girl talk for the most part." Moya replied.
"Did she help you understand what I am looking for?" Touya asked, breathing the question into her ear.
Moya nodded. "I think so. I'm thinking about it."
An unexpected voice came from behind them. "Don't think on it overly much, babydoll." Shizuru was a scant half foot taller than Hiei. Her voice had not changed at all and her hair had changed from her brunette to an almost translucent blue-white and her eyes were the same color as Yukina and Hiei's. She was wearing one of the same style of dresses that Keiko had, the blue one, that clearly showed the dragon-shaped black flame at the base of her neck. Hiei was without his cloak for once and his tank top showed Shizuru's mark, that of a blue-white flame. "I was so glad that your concoction had a beneficial effect on my transformation, Kurama. And Keiko, sorry about having to borrow this from you, for some reason, none of my stuff fit."
Keiko nodded. The shimmering blue dress did compliment Shizuru's new hair. "I don't mind. If Kurama hadn't of gotten me these, I don't know what I would have done."
"It completed it very quickly indeed." Yukina commented.
"I wish we had've known about the effects beforehand. That concoction that you gave her was a catalyst for her demonic blood to take over even quicker." Botan added.
Keiko gave a chuckle. "I never thought I'd see the day that I was taller than you!"
"Don't rub it it, kiddo." Shizuru replied. "Now what has been going on since Keiko and I, and hence, Kurama and Hiei have been incommunicado?"
"Just keeping the original low profile." Yusuke replied. "Nothing seems to be going on here."
Shuuichi came out to join them. "Okay, my homework is all done, as promised."
Yusuke stiffened, as did Touya, Hiei, Shizuru, Kurama and Keiko. Yusuke hissed, "Back in the house, now! " Shuuichi looked around and with one fell swoop, went in the house after opening up his own awareness. "Okubo, Komata, Miyamoto, if any of you guys fear death, into the house."
The three stubbornly shook their heads and went to stand with Kuwabara, who placed Yukina behind him.
"Your funeral." Yusuke shrugged. He looked at the two women who used to be human, but were now newly made apparitions. "Try not to get hurt, please?"
Keiko was already being handed a seed from Kurama and given a kiss. Hiei was whispering instructions to Shizuru, who nodded.
"Detective, I do not think you have to worry about our mates." Hiei told him.
Just then a part of the fence broke down and a wave of snakes came at them through the grass. Kurama and Keiko swiftly took control of the grass, stabbing as many of the snake youkai as possible. The blades of grass didn't kill any of them, but it did slow them down slightly. These were in snake form about six inches in diameter and about three feet long.
Hiei drew his sword. There were half a dozen snake demons, but these were tricky. Any animal demon had it's more dangerous side and these were more devious than most. ~Shizuru, can you do what I told you?~
~I should be able to. It didn't sound that difficult.~
Kurama already summoned his whip. ~Keiko, I gave you a rose seed. You should be able to turn it into a whip.~
Keiko only nodded. ~I will not allow harm to come to me, mate.~
Kurama turned to the attacking demons. Yusuke and Kuwabara were already at work. The biggest problems with these particular ones was where their brain and heart were located. There were two nobs on their backside that until those were destroyed, the youkai would still be alive. These were generally mercenaries or cannon fodder in the ranks. They also had a youkai form, but it was bigger and a little less agile then this one.
Keiko's rose seed quickly turned into a pale pink rose, which turned into a whip similar to Kurama's, but she could not get thorns to grow. She shrugged and worked with it. It was responsive to her direction, both physical and youki. She hit one nob with her whip, even as Kurama's was taking out the other one, being given this information through their bond.
Shizuru had a white-hot glowing sword in her hands, Hiei having handed her the sword while going barehanded, but using his Fist of the Mortal Flame. He was more experienced in battle than she, and he did not require that much in the way of weaponry. The two of them took down another in a similar fashion to Kurama and Keiko, each taking one nob, this snake youkai, though, burned to a smouldering pile of ashes between the white-hot flames Shizuru was producing and the Mortal Flame that Hiei was producing.
Touya gave a grim smile. Snake youkai had the same weaknesses that normal snakes did. He felt sorry for the others, but the best way to destroy these was with his speciality. He called out to the others mentally, ~Watch out!~
Moya never left Touya's side, though the grim look in his eyes made her a little nervous.
Touya froze the area, the two youkos keeping their plants alive. The snake youkai slowed as their blood froze. He then created a sword of ice, joining the fray, as his sword struck the snakes, they shattered.
This made things much easier for the three humans who fought with them. Botan having just took to the sky on her oar, bringing Yukina with her. They were not too far away, but with the two of them their only healers and Yukina's pregnancy, it was a vital point to keep them both out of danger.
The danger was quickly past for the team and Touya let his frozen barrier go away.
Moya was holding her arms and her teeth were chattering. "N-n-next t-t-time you do that, can you warn me?"
Touya wrapped his arms around her and held her close. "I'm sorry, Moya."
Yukina came back down with Botan and went over to her mate. "Botan, make sure no one got bitten. These are deadly."
Keiko made her whip shrink back into a seed and collapsed against Kurama. "Was that really me?"
Kurama nodded. "The instinct to protect our kits took over."
Shizuru just sat down on the ground, "Okay, I'm tired again."
Hiei put his hand on her shoulder. "You did well." He looked over at Keiko, "You both did well."
"Looks like my 'don't piss off if you want to live' list just grew." Yusuke said jokingly.
"Yusuke," Kurama said sharply. "We are being watched."
Hiei ripped the ward off of his forehead. "I would say that someone has put a bounty on our heads. Nothing high class, but I remember these all from my mercenary days. Fortunately, none of them will actually do anything that they are not paid to do."
Kuwabara grimaced, "But that means that anyone around us is in danger."
"I don't think the bounty would have extended to the Makai, these all carry the stench of the Ningenkai with them." Hiei replied. He glanced around. "What can I say? Yusuke, you know what I think about the winds of home. I no longer despise this place as I once did, but I don't volunteer to stay here forever. We do need to have a way for Shiori to contact us, though if we are needed."
Kurama thought about it. "I don't know. We can't leave her one of the communications mirrors, all of those transmissions are monitored by Reikai."
"Kurama?" Yusuke asked, "Didn't your cell phone work?"
Kurama only looked at him flatly.
Yusuke held up both hands. "No offense."
"Yusuke, you will remember that was just before we entered the Makai." Kurama told him.
Yusuke deflated, "You're right."
"Communication has never been the Makai's strongest interest." Hiei observed. "We'll have to think on it for a while."
"Who all was included in the bounty?" Yukina asked, looking at the still uncovered Jagan eye.
"All of us." Hiei told her flatly. "Any demon that had mated with, or was thinking about mating with a human." He gave a hard look at Touya, "She is in danger, too."
Touya was still warming up Moya. His expression brooked no discussion. "She will come to no harm." His arms tightened around her, holding her close.
"So the only one's that are here that are really safe are my three buddies?" Kuwabara asked.
Hiei only nodded.
"Okay, then, I'm telling you three to go home. Okubo, you have family that count on you. Miyamoto, you have to stay here and keep the group together. Komata, thanks for never making fun of the fact that I've always sensed spirits, but you're needed here. The rest of us are needed elsewhere at the moment and I'm not going to be responsible for getting you three killed." Kuwabara told his friends.
Kurama reached into his shirt. "Here, there is a jeweler who will give you yen for these." He told Okubo as he handed him several Makai coins. He quickly gave instructions to the boy. "Tell him that you were sent by Youko."
"I still have a small portion of my imp underlings left, too." Hiei volunteered. "They are known at that place." He then broke off in consternation.
Shizuru smiled up at her mate, "Remember something?"
Hiei nodded, "I can leave an imp here, similar to the way I was keeping track of my sister for all those years."
"Then our problem is solved." Kurama replied with a smile.
"Yeah, and my mom's already at my castle." Yusuke said.
Moya asked, "Is there any way that my uncle can be watched over as well?"
Hiei nodded. "I said small, I never said how many there were to begin with."
Yusuke dryly asked, "Let me guess, a small army?"
Hiei didn't even dignify that with a response. He did re-cover his Jagan eye and look at his friend. "You might want to go inform your mother of these developements, Fox."
Kurama nodded. He and Keiko went inside and stepped out with Shiori.
"What happened?" She looked at the still frozen peices of the snake youkai that as they unfroze, evaporated away.
"Mother, we were ambushed." Kurama quickly told her. "I do not know what exactly happened, or who set it, but there is now a bounty on our heads."
Keiko embraced Shiori as the older woman's eyes began to tear up. "We will be okay. It seems that someone doesn't want the bonds between humans and demons to get any deeper."
"Probably think they are too deep already." Kuwabara added.
"Undoubtedly." Hiei agreed with his brother-in-law, "However, we cannot tell from which side this is coming from, the Reikai, or the Makai. As we cannot access the one, we must either prove that it is or isn't the one that we can investigate."
"You know," Yusuke said, "I may not be good with premonitions or such, but I get the feeling this isn't coming from the Makai."
"None of us do, Yusuke, but it is like the saying goes, 'when all other possibilities have been eliminated, the result, no matter how improbable, is the answer', misquoted, I know, but it does sum up what we must do." Kurama told him.
"Gee, thanks, Sherlock Holmes." Yusuke replied.
Kuwabara just looked at his three friends. "I mean it. You three don't need to get caught up in this mess and it was bad enough that you ended up caught in the whole mess with Sensui. I'm not letting you get hurt. We're the fighters here. You guys are good in street brawls, but when it comes to fighing youkai, well, let's just say that you're more than a little inexperienced."
"Please listen to my mate." Yukina said in her soft voice. "He cares for all three of you and he is very protective of you. You three do not fit in my world, soon to be his. We wish it was otherwise, but you all have your place here."
Komata looked around. The snake youkai had finished evaporating, Keiko and Kurama were comforting Shiori. Hiei was standing behind his mate, the sword once more hidden beneath his cloak. Yusuke was obviously on the lookout for additional danger. "I don't know, guys. This situation is more than a little serious."
"Yeah, I can't afford to help you guys with this situation, though I feel bad about taking money from you and then disappearing again."
Kurama heard that with his youko hearing. "Okubo, I would give you that all over again, just to help you support your family."
"Hn." Hiei replied from where he was. "You three will never experience the trials that we end up facing. Nor will you ever have to. Money solves most of the problems in this ningen world of yours. In the Makai, money helps, but solves nothing."
"Hiei, I'm going to take Mother inside. I want to formally bind her to my clan." Kurama told his friend.
Hiei spun on his heels, eyes wide. "Are you sure about this?"
Yusuke looked over at them, "What? What's going on?"
Kurama just looked over, "I do believe you heard me, Yusuke. I may bind Shuuichi as well, if he wants it." He added thoughtfully.
Yukina just looked over, "Be sure. Once bound to your clan, so is all their offspring."
"I know, Yukina." Kurama replied. "And Hiei, I've never been more sure, save for when I Mated."
Hiei shook his head, turning back to his mate and muttered, "Baka kitsune."
Shizuru just asked, "What did he mean, anyway?"
"I do not know the details, nor do I want to know them. The clans cloak themselves in secrecy. There is some common knowledge to the kitsune clans, much as there is about demons, but other secrets, they guard to the death. Once observed, you are either bound to the same or your life is forfeit." Hiei told the group. "I only know as much as a good friend of a kitsune knows, no more, no less."
"Well, we always knew that him mom was important to him, guess this shouldn't surprise us." Kuwabara said.
"Why am I finding myself agreeing with you?" Hiei asked his brother in law.
"Looks like Mating had a beneficial effect on my baby bro, that or he just grew up." Shizuru commented.
**********Inside************
& nbsp; Kurama found his stepbrother playing video games in his bedroom. "Shuuichi, I need to talk with you, can you come down?"
"Sure, just let me pause the game." He said, pressing the start button and getting up off of the floor.
They walked into the kitchen just as Hatanaka came in from the garage, getting home from work. "How did things go today?"
"Very disturbing." Kurama replied and told his stepfather directly. "I will offer this once as a courtesy to you, it is up to you to either accept or reject my offer." He glanced around at his family, "It is actually up to all of you to choose. Once chosen, you may not change your mind."
Shiori looked up at her son. "What are you talking about?"
Kurama took a deep breath. "I would like to bind you to my clan. I am finally starting my own. Keiko is my mate and thus is the matriarch of my clan, I am the patriarch of it. I am asking if you, Shiori Hatanaka, Kazuya Hatanaka and Shuuichi Hatanaka, will become part of my clan as well."
Keiko just looked on, she would have helped him if she could have, but she was still learning these customs and it looked as if this was one of the most serious things he'd ever done. She slipped her hand into his own, giving him a silent comfort.
"What would happen?" Shiori asked.
"I cannot explain the mechanics of it, not without either performing the ceremony, or considering all of your lives forfeit, but I can tell you that you would constantly be under my protection, and it would bind any children. This would pertain mostly to Shuuichi, Mother. Though no one who is not a kitsune or the occaisonal rare demon has ever been bound before. I cannot say what all will happen. You will be bound to me and I will be bound to you. Most clans live together, though there are the cases where members have to go off for long missions, or some such. It will also provide some safety for you three. I have been playing with this idea ever since I had to tell you who and what I am."
Shiori shakily sat down, "So what would this mean for us?"
"I am legally part of your family here, this would make you part of my family in the Makai." Kurama told them. "Though a clan is more like an extended family, including adoptions, and for the most part, male kitsune have to be adopted as we are expected to create our own."
Kazuya looked at his stepson. "Why are you offering this to me? I understand Shiori and Shuuichi, but me?"
"Sir, you have tried to treat me fairly since you came in this house." Kurama said, "But these last weeks have shown a caliber beyond what I came to expect. This morning you proved your metal. This is my way of returning that."
Kazuya realized that Kurama was referring to his calling him son that morning. It was a shock, but he saw it and this was the return. "Thank you."
Kurama inclined his head. "Mother?"
"I, I don't know what to say." Shiori replied. "You've been my son for 19 years. I always assumed you would move out and form a family. But this essence of clan, seems to include me, as well."
"I already consider you part of my family, this will only make it official and more binding." Kurama told her. "I cannot be bound by human limitations and the meaning of a clan is that I am finally ready to be considered as an adult kitsune. We can mature, but until we start a clan, we are still adolescents." He paused, "That is semi-private information. Not to be shared with anyone."
"Why tell us?" Kazuya asked.
"Because if any of you accept, it will be common knowledge, at least within the house." Kurama took a deep breath. "Within the youkai society, the bond of clan is even more sacred than the bond of mating. Mating, you bring down the wrath of the mate, take on one clan member, though, and it is well known that you bring the whole clan down on you as well."
"Are any others in your clan yet?" Shuuichi asked.
"Not yet." Kurama replied. "If there were, then they would be here for the adoption. And this is widely known information."
Shiori looked up. "You are my son, and that will never change. It feels strange to be accepted into my son's family, but yes, I will join your clan."
"What would my status be within the clan, Kurama?" Kazuya asked.
"I am still the patriarch, but you are head of this household within the clan." Kurama replied. "I would no longer fall under either of your directives."
"You have not moved at our guidance now for some time, son." was the response. "This last month has only emphasized this. I shall also join your clan. I am proud of the way you have turned out, and only wish your father could be standing in my shoes instead of me."
Kurama smiled slightly. "Thank you for the kind words, Kazuya. My father was a dear man, who died too early. I do not know if I could have revealed myself to him, though, as I have to you all."
Keiko smiled, "And to think, you only did that because of me."
"Terrified of it, too." Kurama replied.
Kazuya added, "No, it seems that Shiori taught you much, and I'm sure that your father would have been proud of who you turned into."
"Very well, you and Mother have accepted my offer." He turned to his younger stepbrother. "Shuuichi?"
"I don't know what to say. You are my brother, but this almost sounds like when your mom adopted me legally."
"It is very similar, only this is not adopting you as my son, it is more like adopting you as a brother." Kurama explained. "Otherwise, I would not be accepting your father and my mother into my clan. It is more of a loose knit community, with common bonds as an extended family than it is a direct family."
"I'm still confused, but I understand the honor, kind of anyway." Shuuichi replied. "Will I be able to understand it?"
"I think so, with some time. I almost wish I dared to invite Hiei and Shizuru in, but Hiei follows no one's directions." Kurama said.
Shiori nodded. "But he is still a good friend, almost a brother to you."
Shuuichi looked at his stepbrother and said, "Sure, you can count me in."
Kurama looked down, "You must promise to keep all knowledge of the clan secret." He looked around, "People can know that it exists, and that is about it. I trust all those outside the door with my life, but none of them understand the clans."
The three nodded. Kazuya asked, "Where did you want to hold this ceremony?"
"I think we'll hold it in my room. It's small, cozy and there is less chance of an interruption." Kurama said, leading the way up the stairs.
They entered Kurama and Keiko's room, looking much neater than it had during her days as a fox. Keiko looked at Kurama. "What should I do?"
"Why don't you sit on the bed? This is mostly my show, I'll walk you through the part that you have to do." Kurama looked to make sure the window was closed and the curtains drawn.
"Okay." Keiko nodded as she sat down, facing them.
Kurama just looked at his family and began a series of questions, all formalized sounding. It was just a series of confirmation questions going through all the topics they had discussed. They finished with the questions and Kurama held his hand out to his mate, who stood and took it in her own. He looked at them, "Kneel." He told them.
The three looked a little surprised and slightly uncomfortable, but did what he told them.
~Keiko, love, we need to mark them with our youki. Bring it to the surface, and when we touch the tops of their heads, release a small portion of your youki into them.~
~Doesn't sound too difficult, not compared to some of the things you've taught me.~
~It isn't, but there is still more that you need to learn, but we have time.~
Kurama started at Shiori, his human mother. He gave her a tender smile, even as Keiko put one hand on her head and he put one of his own hands on her head. they both released a small portion of their own youki into her.
Shiori gasped as she felt the energy influx. It wasn't a bad sensation, but it was definately something that she could not miss.
"Welcome to my clan, Mother." Kurama raised her to her feet and embraced her, realeasing her so that Keiko could also embrace her and welcome her. They repeated to the process for Kazuya and Shuuichi. Shuuichi looked a little embarrassed at being hugged by his brother, but put up with it good naturedly.
Shiori looked at her husband, who stared at her neck. "What? What's wrong?"
Kazuya pointed at a small rose nestled in the hollow of her throat. "What is this?"
Kurama rested a finger against the small marking. It started a deep crimson and faded to a pale pink. "It is our clan marking. Shuuichi and yourself should have it as well, in the same place." He motioned to his mating mark, "If you will notice, these are a combonation of Keiko's and my own roses. Hers is the pale pink, mine is the crimson."
Shuuichi wrinkled his nose, "It's girly, Kurama."
Kurama laughed. "Ask my rose whip if it's girly sometime."
"Ah, no thanks, Kurama. I saw that thing in action. Sorry if I offended your favorite weapon." Shuuichi said hurriedly.
Kurama chuckled. "You didn't. Many think it is a girly sign, including Kuwabara. The only one to never doubt my weapon was Hiei, and that's because he had fought me when I was ten in this body. In the Makai, it is deadly to underestimate any weapon." He turned serious. "Come, we must say goodbye now for a while. Our clan bond will work somewhat as an alert, however, Hiei is planning on leaving one of his watchers behind to keep guard as well. Between the two, you are well protected."
"But when will we see each other again?" Shiori asked.
"No later than when Keiko delivers our kits, Mother. I want you, as well as her parents to know their grandchildren." Kurama told her as they left the room and headed downstairs and out the back. "Yusuke, we can leave now."
"Okay, Kurama. Got everything done?"
"Yes, we did." He looked around, noticing that Kuwabara's three friends had left. "Did they go home?"
"Yeah, reluctantly, but they did go. Okubo wanted to stop by that jeweler you told him about. Hope he gives him a fair exchange." Kuwabara said.
"He had better. I established him about 300 years back. He owes me a large debt." Kurama said.
"I always wondered about him." Hiei commented.
"Well, folks, we had best be off." Yusuke told them. "Shiori, thank you for taking care of them."
"It was no trouble at all, Yusuke. This is my family." Shiori told them fiercely. "Did that just come out of my mouth?"
Hiei nodded. "It did. Part of being in a kitsune clan, is that some of the attatudes become instilled in the recipient. I have been around the clans enough to tell you this. That is all."
Kurama smiled proudly. "It is a fine start to my clan. Take care and I shall see you when I can." And with that and a quick hug for the clan members, they left for the portal to the Makai.
To be continued . . .
Disclaimer: didn't own it then, nor now.
AN: Beware, rabid plot bunnies ahead you have been warned.
Chapter 27- Arrivals, Surprises and Ambushes
Yusuke looked at Moya, "Guess you weren't kidding about him dropping you off."
Moya nodded. "Yeah, he was really very curious about who I hung out with. I've never been exactly what one might call social."
"And this group is not what one might assume as compatable as friends." Kurama said with a smile.
"And here I thought I worked for you." Touya told him with an almost grin.
Kurama replied, "You do, but does that prevent us from being friends?" Touya chuckled.
Shiori came out, bringing the other three boys with her. "See, here they are." She told the three nervous boys, all of whom relaxed at the sight of Kuwabara, though they were not used to seeing him sitting on the ground with Yukina in his lap.
Okubo said, "Hi, guys."
Kotama just added, "Hi."
Miyamoto nodded to the group. "Well, we're here."
Okubo said, "I really hope that you guys were serious about being able to help."
Yusuke nodded, "I know I was."
Kurama looked interested. "What is wrong?"
"I think a situation that might be of interest to you." Yusuke said. "Why don't you tell him, Okubo?"
"Well, okay." Okubo explained his family situation and the fact that he was supporting his entire family on his job.
Kurama bowed his head, "You are to be commended for still going to school. Yes, I will help."
Keiko embraced her mate, knowing what he was feeling. "I will never be in that situation. Nor will Shiori." She told him fiercely.
He turned in her arms and returned her embrace. "Thank you." As if they had been planning it, in their emotional minute, they both let their illusions drop. Kurama turned to their assembled friends, "I present to you my mate, Keiko."
Keiko looked embarrassed, but didn't blush as she bowed. She gave a shy smile.
Botan just looked, "I thought Yusuke had been exagerating. Keiko, you're gorgeous!"
"Botan!" Yusuke exclaimed.
"What? It's the truth!" Botan replied.
Touya smiled. "My lady. You do indeed suit my lord."
Yukina smiled at her, "You make a beautiful youko, Keiko."
Kuwabara just nodded. "I still prefer my Yukina, though."
Yukina snuggled deeper into her mate's arms.
Okubo, Miyamoto and Komata just stared in shock. "What's going on?" Komata asked.
"You always were the bravest." Kuwabara said. "None of us are truly human."
Miyamoto asked, "What do you mean, human?"
"You three are human, completely." Touya told them. "Keiko was human, Kuwabara is still mostly human. Moya is human as well. Kuwabara's sister is mostly youkai."
"As are we all." Hiei's rough voice came from behind them.
"How are you?" Kurama asked urgently.
"I'm better, thank you for asking." Hiei replied.
Yusuke raised his brows. "Are you thanking someone?"
"Detective, when you are in this situation, then we will see how you react." Hiei told him gruffly.
"Yeah, it's still Hiei, all right." Yusuke replied.
"Yukina, can you come up and check on Shizuru?" Hiei asked.
"I'll come with." Botan offered. "I can heal at the moment better than Yukina."
"Very well." Hiei replied. "I need to know how Shizuru is doing. She's still sleeping, but she is showing signs of starting to wake up from the medicine that Kurama gave her."
"I was just glad to help." Kurama replied.
Yukina gave Kuwabara a quick kiss, then realized that their bond wouldn't allow her to go that far from him this late in the day. "Come, my mate." Hiei left with Botan, Yukina and Kuwabara.
"That's still freaky." Yusuke said. "Seeing those two as in-laws." He shuddered.
"I did warn you back in Junior High." Kurama said.
"Yeah, but a lot could have changed during that time, ya know?" Yusuke said.
"Kuwabara's a rock." Miyamoto replied. "Once he sets his sights on something, he's in it for good."
"Yeah, I kinda noticed that." Yusuke added. "So's Hiei."
"Indeed." Kurama agreed.
"Okay, you guys can have your strategy session, explaining the whole situation that Kuwabara found himself in while I go and talk to Moya." Keiko told them. "Moya knows most of what you guys can tell Kuwabara's friends and what we don't know, we can be told later."
Kurama chuckled at the expressions of surprise on the faces of their assembled friends. None of them had been around any youkos, save for himself. Most youkos had very forceful personalities and Keiko hadn't started out really what one might call meek. He gave her a kiss on the temple. "Mate, don't worry. Touya and I will not let the two of you be caught out of the loop."
Keiko gave him one last hug and then walked with Moya a little ways over, to the same table that Shizuru and she had the fateful discussion almost a month ago.
Moya gave a small smile at Keiko. "What did you want to talk about?"
"I need to know about you, and Touya." Keiko said without preamble. "Kurama's worried about him because he is so old, and lonely. I feel Kurama's worry and in some strange way, yours."
Moya gave her a wide eyed gaze. "How-?"
"I don't know. But what are you worried about?" Keiko asked. "Touya is not playing with you. He may be unsure of his feelings, but he is not just playing with your emotions for amuzement. He's not cruel."
"I'm sorry, I guess it's me who's being wishy-washy." Moya said, hanging her head. "I've been afraid of letting others get close to me ever since my parents died. You know the term, 'scarred for life?'" When Keiko nodded, Moya went on, "That was me. I didn't carry physical wounds, but I did have deep emotional wounds. I feel comfortable with you guys, even though I know by rights I should have run screaming the first sign I got."
Keiko nodded again. "All of us carry the same type of baggage, Moya. Hiei and Kurama carry the most, though Touya has his fair share. I actually have the least, but I am at least able to lessen Kurama's burden even as Shizuru and Hiei are able to help the other through their problems."
Moya looked perplexed. "Maybe this would be easier if you explained what mating means? I've heard you all use the term, but I don't understand exactly what it means."
Keiko smiled at Moya. "I would be glad to explain to you. I kind of got the explanation after, but that's because of the kind of demon that Kurama is. The rest of the group does not have the same issues. Touya is an ice demon, Yukina is mostly a koorime, an ice apparition, which is slightly different. Hiei and Yukina are both a combonation of a fire demon and an ice maiden, which is why they are both referred to as forbidden children." She took a deep breath. "Mating entails joining the two demons, or demon and human's souls. The actual physical aspect vary slightly between demons, but the essence is the same. During sex, each partner must exchange blood and their ki."
Moya was bright red. "How do you talk about this so calmly?"
Keiko looked at Moya's face. "Truth? I'm as embarrassed as you, I am just unable to blush."
"So how did you go from being a human to being a demon?" Moya asked.
"At least your blush went down." Keiko said with a laugh. "The combonation of the demonic blood and the youki determine how demonic you become. The stronger the demon, the stronger the result. We explained the differences in power levels, correct?"
Moya nodded.
Keiko went on, "Well, then, Kurama, being an S-class demon, turned me completely demonic. Yukina, being only an A-class, Kuwabara will be a half-demon, a hanyou, with the demonic side dominant. Touya is also an A-class."
"So, if I," She blushed, "Mated with Touya, I would become a half-demon?"
"Yes, but over a much longer period of time than either Shizuru or I." Keiko told her. "Does this information help?"
Moya thought a moment. "So, if I mated I would never be alone again?"
"No, you could never be alone. At the same point, though, you would also die together." Keiko added.
"I understand." Moya replied thoughtfully.
"Well, then, we should head back to the guys. Yusuke will try to protect us from knowing things if I know him, and I do." Keiko got up, bringing Moya with her back into the circle of their friends.
"Why would Yusuke try to protect us from knowing what's going on?"
"Because he's a natural protector." Keiko replied dryly as she went back over to Kurama.
Touya looked at Moya. "That looked like an interesting conversation from where I sat. What did you discuss?"
"Girl talk for the most part." Moya replied.
"Did she help you understand what I am looking for?" Touya asked, breathing the question into her ear.
Moya nodded. "I think so. I'm thinking about it."
An unexpected voice came from behind them. "Don't think on it overly much, babydoll." Shizuru was a scant half foot taller than Hiei. Her voice had not changed at all and her hair had changed from her brunette to an almost translucent blue-white and her eyes were the same color as Yukina and Hiei's. She was wearing one of the same style of dresses that Keiko had, the blue one, that clearly showed the dragon-shaped black flame at the base of her neck. Hiei was without his cloak for once and his tank top showed Shizuru's mark, that of a blue-white flame. "I was so glad that your concoction had a beneficial effect on my transformation, Kurama. And Keiko, sorry about having to borrow this from you, for some reason, none of my stuff fit."
Keiko nodded. The shimmering blue dress did compliment Shizuru's new hair. "I don't mind. If Kurama hadn't of gotten me these, I don't know what I would have done."
"It completed it very quickly indeed." Yukina commented.
"I wish we had've known about the effects beforehand. That concoction that you gave her was a catalyst for her demonic blood to take over even quicker." Botan added.
Keiko gave a chuckle. "I never thought I'd see the day that I was taller than you!"
"Don't rub it it, kiddo." Shizuru replied. "Now what has been going on since Keiko and I, and hence, Kurama and Hiei have been incommunicado?"
"Just keeping the original low profile." Yusuke replied. "Nothing seems to be going on here."
Shuuichi came out to join them. "Okay, my homework is all done, as promised."
Yusuke stiffened, as did Touya, Hiei, Shizuru, Kurama and Keiko. Yusuke hissed, "Back in the house, now! " Shuuichi looked around and with one fell swoop, went in the house after opening up his own awareness. "Okubo, Komata, Miyamoto, if any of you guys fear death, into the house."
The three stubbornly shook their heads and went to stand with Kuwabara, who placed Yukina behind him.
"Your funeral." Yusuke shrugged. He looked at the two women who used to be human, but were now newly made apparitions. "Try not to get hurt, please?"
Keiko was already being handed a seed from Kurama and given a kiss. Hiei was whispering instructions to Shizuru, who nodded.
"Detective, I do not think you have to worry about our mates." Hiei told him.
Just then a part of the fence broke down and a wave of snakes came at them through the grass. Kurama and Keiko swiftly took control of the grass, stabbing as many of the snake youkai as possible. The blades of grass didn't kill any of them, but it did slow them down slightly. These were in snake form about six inches in diameter and about three feet long.
Hiei drew his sword. There were half a dozen snake demons, but these were tricky. Any animal demon had it's more dangerous side and these were more devious than most. ~Shizuru, can you do what I told you?~
~I should be able to. It didn't sound that difficult.~
Kurama already summoned his whip. ~Keiko, I gave you a rose seed. You should be able to turn it into a whip.~
Keiko only nodded. ~I will not allow harm to come to me, mate.~
Kurama turned to the attacking demons. Yusuke and Kuwabara were already at work. The biggest problems with these particular ones was where their brain and heart were located. There were two nobs on their backside that until those were destroyed, the youkai would still be alive. These were generally mercenaries or cannon fodder in the ranks. They also had a youkai form, but it was bigger and a little less agile then this one.
Keiko's rose seed quickly turned into a pale pink rose, which turned into a whip similar to Kurama's, but she could not get thorns to grow. She shrugged and worked with it. It was responsive to her direction, both physical and youki. She hit one nob with her whip, even as Kurama's was taking out the other one, being given this information through their bond.
Shizuru had a white-hot glowing sword in her hands, Hiei having handed her the sword while going barehanded, but using his Fist of the Mortal Flame. He was more experienced in battle than she, and he did not require that much in the way of weaponry. The two of them took down another in a similar fashion to Kurama and Keiko, each taking one nob, this snake youkai, though, burned to a smouldering pile of ashes between the white-hot flames Shizuru was producing and the Mortal Flame that Hiei was producing.
Touya gave a grim smile. Snake youkai had the same weaknesses that normal snakes did. He felt sorry for the others, but the best way to destroy these was with his speciality. He called out to the others mentally, ~Watch out!~
Moya never left Touya's side, though the grim look in his eyes made her a little nervous.
Touya froze the area, the two youkos keeping their plants alive. The snake youkai slowed as their blood froze. He then created a sword of ice, joining the fray, as his sword struck the snakes, they shattered.
This made things much easier for the three humans who fought with them. Botan having just took to the sky on her oar, bringing Yukina with her. They were not too far away, but with the two of them their only healers and Yukina's pregnancy, it was a vital point to keep them both out of danger.
The danger was quickly past for the team and Touya let his frozen barrier go away.
Moya was holding her arms and her teeth were chattering. "N-n-next t-t-time you do that, can you warn me?"
Touya wrapped his arms around her and held her close. "I'm sorry, Moya."
Yukina came back down with Botan and went over to her mate. "Botan, make sure no one got bitten. These are deadly."
Keiko made her whip shrink back into a seed and collapsed against Kurama. "Was that really me?"
Kurama nodded. "The instinct to protect our kits took over."
Shizuru just sat down on the ground, "Okay, I'm tired again."
Hiei put his hand on her shoulder. "You did well." He looked over at Keiko, "You both did well."
"Looks like my 'don't piss off if you want to live' list just grew." Yusuke said jokingly.
"Yusuke," Kurama said sharply. "We are being watched."
Hiei ripped the ward off of his forehead. "I would say that someone has put a bounty on our heads. Nothing high class, but I remember these all from my mercenary days. Fortunately, none of them will actually do anything that they are not paid to do."
Kuwabara grimaced, "But that means that anyone around us is in danger."
"I don't think the bounty would have extended to the Makai, these all carry the stench of the Ningenkai with them." Hiei replied. He glanced around. "What can I say? Yusuke, you know what I think about the winds of home. I no longer despise this place as I once did, but I don't volunteer to stay here forever. We do need to have a way for Shiori to contact us, though if we are needed."
Kurama thought about it. "I don't know. We can't leave her one of the communications mirrors, all of those transmissions are monitored by Reikai."
"Kurama?" Yusuke asked, "Didn't your cell phone work?"
Kurama only looked at him flatly.
Yusuke held up both hands. "No offense."
"Yusuke, you will remember that was just before we entered the Makai." Kurama told him.
Yusuke deflated, "You're right."
"Communication has never been the Makai's strongest interest." Hiei observed. "We'll have to think on it for a while."
"Who all was included in the bounty?" Yukina asked, looking at the still uncovered Jagan eye.
"All of us." Hiei told her flatly. "Any demon that had mated with, or was thinking about mating with a human." He gave a hard look at Touya, "She is in danger, too."
Touya was still warming up Moya. His expression brooked no discussion. "She will come to no harm." His arms tightened around her, holding her close.
"So the only one's that are here that are really safe are my three buddies?" Kuwabara asked.
Hiei only nodded.
"Okay, then, I'm telling you three to go home. Okubo, you have family that count on you. Miyamoto, you have to stay here and keep the group together. Komata, thanks for never making fun of the fact that I've always sensed spirits, but you're needed here. The rest of us are needed elsewhere at the moment and I'm not going to be responsible for getting you three killed." Kuwabara told his friends.
Kurama reached into his shirt. "Here, there is a jeweler who will give you yen for these." He told Okubo as he handed him several Makai coins. He quickly gave instructions to the boy. "Tell him that you were sent by Youko."
"I still have a small portion of my imp underlings left, too." Hiei volunteered. "They are known at that place." He then broke off in consternation.
Shizuru smiled up at her mate, "Remember something?"
Hiei nodded, "I can leave an imp here, similar to the way I was keeping track of my sister for all those years."
"Then our problem is solved." Kurama replied with a smile.
"Yeah, and my mom's already at my castle." Yusuke said.
Moya asked, "Is there any way that my uncle can be watched over as well?"
Hiei nodded. "I said small, I never said how many there were to begin with."
Yusuke dryly asked, "Let me guess, a small army?"
Hiei didn't even dignify that with a response. He did re-cover his Jagan eye and look at his friend. "You might want to go inform your mother of these developements, Fox."
Kurama nodded. He and Keiko went inside and stepped out with Shiori.
"What happened?" She looked at the still frozen peices of the snake youkai that as they unfroze, evaporated away.
"Mother, we were ambushed." Kurama quickly told her. "I do not know what exactly happened, or who set it, but there is now a bounty on our heads."
Keiko embraced Shiori as the older woman's eyes began to tear up. "We will be okay. It seems that someone doesn't want the bonds between humans and demons to get any deeper."
"Probably think they are too deep already." Kuwabara added.
"Undoubtedly." Hiei agreed with his brother-in-law, "However, we cannot tell from which side this is coming from, the Reikai, or the Makai. As we cannot access the one, we must either prove that it is or isn't the one that we can investigate."
"You know," Yusuke said, "I may not be good with premonitions or such, but I get the feeling this isn't coming from the Makai."
"None of us do, Yusuke, but it is like the saying goes, 'when all other possibilities have been eliminated, the result, no matter how improbable, is the answer', misquoted, I know, but it does sum up what we must do." Kurama told him.
"Gee, thanks, Sherlock Holmes." Yusuke replied.
Kuwabara just looked at his three friends. "I mean it. You three don't need to get caught up in this mess and it was bad enough that you ended up caught in the whole mess with Sensui. I'm not letting you get hurt. We're the fighters here. You guys are good in street brawls, but when it comes to fighing youkai, well, let's just say that you're more than a little inexperienced."
"Please listen to my mate." Yukina said in her soft voice. "He cares for all three of you and he is very protective of you. You three do not fit in my world, soon to be his. We wish it was otherwise, but you all have your place here."
Komata looked around. The snake youkai had finished evaporating, Keiko and Kurama were comforting Shiori. Hiei was standing behind his mate, the sword once more hidden beneath his cloak. Yusuke was obviously on the lookout for additional danger. "I don't know, guys. This situation is more than a little serious."
"Yeah, I can't afford to help you guys with this situation, though I feel bad about taking money from you and then disappearing again."
Kurama heard that with his youko hearing. "Okubo, I would give you that all over again, just to help you support your family."
"Hn." Hiei replied from where he was. "You three will never experience the trials that we end up facing. Nor will you ever have to. Money solves most of the problems in this ningen world of yours. In the Makai, money helps, but solves nothing."
"Hiei, I'm going to take Mother inside. I want to formally bind her to my clan." Kurama told his friend.
Hiei spun on his heels, eyes wide. "Are you sure about this?"
Yusuke looked over at them, "What? What's going on?"
Kurama just looked over, "I do believe you heard me, Yusuke. I may bind Shuuichi as well, if he wants it." He added thoughtfully.
Yukina just looked over, "Be sure. Once bound to your clan, so is all their offspring."
"I know, Yukina." Kurama replied. "And Hiei, I've never been more sure, save for when I Mated."
Hiei shook his head, turning back to his mate and muttered, "Baka kitsune."
Shizuru just asked, "What did he mean, anyway?"
"I do not know the details, nor do I want to know them. The clans cloak themselves in secrecy. There is some common knowledge to the kitsune clans, much as there is about demons, but other secrets, they guard to the death. Once observed, you are either bound to the same or your life is forfeit." Hiei told the group. "I only know as much as a good friend of a kitsune knows, no more, no less."
"Well, we always knew that him mom was important to him, guess this shouldn't surprise us." Kuwabara said.
"Why am I finding myself agreeing with you?" Hiei asked his brother in law.
"Looks like Mating had a beneficial effect on my baby bro, that or he just grew up." Shizuru commented.
**********Inside************
& nbsp; Kurama found his stepbrother playing video games in his bedroom. "Shuuichi, I need to talk with you, can you come down?"
"Sure, just let me pause the game." He said, pressing the start button and getting up off of the floor.
They walked into the kitchen just as Hatanaka came in from the garage, getting home from work. "How did things go today?"
"Very disturbing." Kurama replied and told his stepfather directly. "I will offer this once as a courtesy to you, it is up to you to either accept or reject my offer." He glanced around at his family, "It is actually up to all of you to choose. Once chosen, you may not change your mind."
Shiori looked up at her son. "What are you talking about?"
Kurama took a deep breath. "I would like to bind you to my clan. I am finally starting my own. Keiko is my mate and thus is the matriarch of my clan, I am the patriarch of it. I am asking if you, Shiori Hatanaka, Kazuya Hatanaka and Shuuichi Hatanaka, will become part of my clan as well."
Keiko just looked on, she would have helped him if she could have, but she was still learning these customs and it looked as if this was one of the most serious things he'd ever done. She slipped her hand into his own, giving him a silent comfort.
"What would happen?" Shiori asked.
"I cannot explain the mechanics of it, not without either performing the ceremony, or considering all of your lives forfeit, but I can tell you that you would constantly be under my protection, and it would bind any children. This would pertain mostly to Shuuichi, Mother. Though no one who is not a kitsune or the occaisonal rare demon has ever been bound before. I cannot say what all will happen. You will be bound to me and I will be bound to you. Most clans live together, though there are the cases where members have to go off for long missions, or some such. It will also provide some safety for you three. I have been playing with this idea ever since I had to tell you who and what I am."
Shiori shakily sat down, "So what would this mean for us?"
"I am legally part of your family here, this would make you part of my family in the Makai." Kurama told them. "Though a clan is more like an extended family, including adoptions, and for the most part, male kitsune have to be adopted as we are expected to create our own."
Kazuya looked at his stepson. "Why are you offering this to me? I understand Shiori and Shuuichi, but me?"
"Sir, you have tried to treat me fairly since you came in this house." Kurama said, "But these last weeks have shown a caliber beyond what I came to expect. This morning you proved your metal. This is my way of returning that."
Kazuya realized that Kurama was referring to his calling him son that morning. It was a shock, but he saw it and this was the return. "Thank you."
Kurama inclined his head. "Mother?"
"I, I don't know what to say." Shiori replied. "You've been my son for 19 years. I always assumed you would move out and form a family. But this essence of clan, seems to include me, as well."
"I already consider you part of my family, this will only make it official and more binding." Kurama told her. "I cannot be bound by human limitations and the meaning of a clan is that I am finally ready to be considered as an adult kitsune. We can mature, but until we start a clan, we are still adolescents." He paused, "That is semi-private information. Not to be shared with anyone."
"Why tell us?" Kazuya asked.
"Because if any of you accept, it will be common knowledge, at least within the house." Kurama took a deep breath. "Within the youkai society, the bond of clan is even more sacred than the bond of mating. Mating, you bring down the wrath of the mate, take on one clan member, though, and it is well known that you bring the whole clan down on you as well."
"Are any others in your clan yet?" Shuuichi asked.
"Not yet." Kurama replied. "If there were, then they would be here for the adoption. And this is widely known information."
Shiori looked up. "You are my son, and that will never change. It feels strange to be accepted into my son's family, but yes, I will join your clan."
"What would my status be within the clan, Kurama?" Kazuya asked.
"I am still the patriarch, but you are head of this household within the clan." Kurama replied. "I would no longer fall under either of your directives."
"You have not moved at our guidance now for some time, son." was the response. "This last month has only emphasized this. I shall also join your clan. I am proud of the way you have turned out, and only wish your father could be standing in my shoes instead of me."
Kurama smiled slightly. "Thank you for the kind words, Kazuya. My father was a dear man, who died too early. I do not know if I could have revealed myself to him, though, as I have to you all."
Keiko smiled, "And to think, you only did that because of me."
"Terrified of it, too." Kurama replied.
Kazuya added, "No, it seems that Shiori taught you much, and I'm sure that your father would have been proud of who you turned into."
"Very well, you and Mother have accepted my offer." He turned to his younger stepbrother. "Shuuichi?"
"I don't know what to say. You are my brother, but this almost sounds like when your mom adopted me legally."
"It is very similar, only this is not adopting you as my son, it is more like adopting you as a brother." Kurama explained. "Otherwise, I would not be accepting your father and my mother into my clan. It is more of a loose knit community, with common bonds as an extended family than it is a direct family."
"I'm still confused, but I understand the honor, kind of anyway." Shuuichi replied. "Will I be able to understand it?"
"I think so, with some time. I almost wish I dared to invite Hiei and Shizuru in, but Hiei follows no one's directions." Kurama said.
Shiori nodded. "But he is still a good friend, almost a brother to you."
Shuuichi looked at his stepbrother and said, "Sure, you can count me in."
Kurama looked down, "You must promise to keep all knowledge of the clan secret." He looked around, "People can know that it exists, and that is about it. I trust all those outside the door with my life, but none of them understand the clans."
The three nodded. Kazuya asked, "Where did you want to hold this ceremony?"
"I think we'll hold it in my room. It's small, cozy and there is less chance of an interruption." Kurama said, leading the way up the stairs.
They entered Kurama and Keiko's room, looking much neater than it had during her days as a fox. Keiko looked at Kurama. "What should I do?"
"Why don't you sit on the bed? This is mostly my show, I'll walk you through the part that you have to do." Kurama looked to make sure the window was closed and the curtains drawn.
"Okay." Keiko nodded as she sat down, facing them.
Kurama just looked at his family and began a series of questions, all formalized sounding. It was just a series of confirmation questions going through all the topics they had discussed. They finished with the questions and Kurama held his hand out to his mate, who stood and took it in her own. He looked at them, "Kneel." He told them.
The three looked a little surprised and slightly uncomfortable, but did what he told them.
~Keiko, love, we need to mark them with our youki. Bring it to the surface, and when we touch the tops of their heads, release a small portion of your youki into them.~
~Doesn't sound too difficult, not compared to some of the things you've taught me.~
~It isn't, but there is still more that you need to learn, but we have time.~
Kurama started at Shiori, his human mother. He gave her a tender smile, even as Keiko put one hand on her head and he put one of his own hands on her head. they both released a small portion of their own youki into her.
Shiori gasped as she felt the energy influx. It wasn't a bad sensation, but it was definately something that she could not miss.
"Welcome to my clan, Mother." Kurama raised her to her feet and embraced her, realeasing her so that Keiko could also embrace her and welcome her. They repeated to the process for Kazuya and Shuuichi. Shuuichi looked a little embarrassed at being hugged by his brother, but put up with it good naturedly.
Shiori looked at her husband, who stared at her neck. "What? What's wrong?"
Kazuya pointed at a small rose nestled in the hollow of her throat. "What is this?"
Kurama rested a finger against the small marking. It started a deep crimson and faded to a pale pink. "It is our clan marking. Shuuichi and yourself should have it as well, in the same place." He motioned to his mating mark, "If you will notice, these are a combonation of Keiko's and my own roses. Hers is the pale pink, mine is the crimson."
Shuuichi wrinkled his nose, "It's girly, Kurama."
Kurama laughed. "Ask my rose whip if it's girly sometime."
"Ah, no thanks, Kurama. I saw that thing in action. Sorry if I offended your favorite weapon." Shuuichi said hurriedly.
Kurama chuckled. "You didn't. Many think it is a girly sign, including Kuwabara. The only one to never doubt my weapon was Hiei, and that's because he had fought me when I was ten in this body. In the Makai, it is deadly to underestimate any weapon." He turned serious. "Come, we must say goodbye now for a while. Our clan bond will work somewhat as an alert, however, Hiei is planning on leaving one of his watchers behind to keep guard as well. Between the two, you are well protected."
"But when will we see each other again?" Shiori asked.
"No later than when Keiko delivers our kits, Mother. I want you, as well as her parents to know their grandchildren." Kurama told her as they left the room and headed downstairs and out the back. "Yusuke, we can leave now."
"Okay, Kurama. Got everything done?"
"Yes, we did." He looked around, noticing that Kuwabara's three friends had left. "Did they go home?"
"Yeah, reluctantly, but they did go. Okubo wanted to stop by that jeweler you told him about. Hope he gives him a fair exchange." Kuwabara said.
"He had better. I established him about 300 years back. He owes me a large debt." Kurama said.
"I always wondered about him." Hiei commented.
"Well, folks, we had best be off." Yusuke told them. "Shiori, thank you for taking care of them."
"It was no trouble at all, Yusuke. This is my family." Shiori told them fiercely. "Did that just come out of my mouth?"
Hiei nodded. "It did. Part of being in a kitsune clan, is that some of the attatudes become instilled in the recipient. I have been around the clans enough to tell you this. That is all."
Kurama smiled proudly. "It is a fine start to my clan. Take care and I shall see you when I can." And with that and a quick hug for the clan members, they left for the portal to the Makai.
To be continued . . .