The Trials and Tribulations of Parenthood

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho. They are owned by their respective authors. I only claim ownership of the plot.

Chapter 11

Shiori looked at her watch and gave a small gasp at the amount of time that had passed since her arrival. “My word, it’s gotten far later then I had realized. I really must be going as my husband will be expecting me by now.” A smile crossed her face as she thought about him. “He promised me a dinner out tonight and I can’t wait to share all this news with him also. I’m sure he is going to be so excited and proud.”

She turned to Yukina. “I hope you don’t mind my giving you a hug? I always wanted a daughter but was never blessed with a sister for my Shuichi. I’d like very much to consider you that daughter and welcome you to our family. These will be the first grandchildren in the family. And I am so looking forward to the wedding.” She turned and gave Kurama one of those disapproving mother looks. “Even if Shuichi was a naughty boy and didn’t tell me about all of these amazing events.”

“Oh yes, Shuichi was a naughty boy.” Yusuke couldn’t help mimicking Shiori’s words as he watched Kurama’s face flush with embarrassment at the censure in her voice. “I’m so happy we happened to run into each other Shiori, that I could bring you here and find out such wonderful news.

Kurama’s face, once Shiori turned her back was one that was full of promise of retribution for Yusuke. While Shiori was unknowingly protecting him with her presence for the moment Kurama knew that he would meet up with Yusuke soon enough without her hovering presence.

“Yusuke, would you be such a good boy as to escort me back to the train station?” Shiori knew her way back perfectly well but she wanted someone to share her excitement with along the walk back

“Oh yes, I would be delighted. It’s no problem at all.” While Yusuke didn’t mind having fun at Kurama’s expense, he wanted him to have some time alone to cool off in case Youko was annoyed with him also. Annoying Kurama was one thing but annoying Youko was another matter entirely. “Come on Kuwabara, let’s let our soon to be newlyweds have some time alone together.”

“Awww, there’s more good shows on the tv. And you know that Shizuru takes the remote cause she says I channel surf too much.” Kuwabara couldn’t keep the pout out of his voice at the thought of the loss of control over a television, but the look on Kurama’s face and the look he was getting from Shiori changed his mind. “Yeah, I guess it is getting kinda late. Besides these are all reruns I guess. Ok, I gotta get going too. Bye Yukina, bye Shuichi.” He almost slipped on Kurama’s human name but caught himself at the last minute when Yusuke and Kurama gave him a rather pointed look.

Kurama breathed a sigh of relief as he flopped back into his lazy chair having finally rid the apartment of all his unexpected guests, promising his mother that she would be involved in planning the wedding. He looked over at Yukina, giving her one of his most charming grins and running his tongue over his lips suggestively . “Wanna go to bed now? I’ll even let you be on top this time.”

“Not on your life. You have some explaining to do to me Kurama. Why didn’t you tell me that you had a human mother? And here she showed up at the door. With Yusuke no less. And why didn’t you tell me you had a human name too?” Yukina was honestly confused and it showed in her eyes making Kurama squirm under the look. “And you know my mother is dead, it would have been nice to know you still had one.”

“I honestly didn’t think about it. Sometimes it feels like we’ve been together so long that I forget there’s things that you don’t know about me.” Kurama sighed again, knowing that he owed her more then that as an explanation and getting no help from Youko at the moment who had chosen to remain strangely silent.

“As you’ve already found out today I do have a human name. Shuichi Minamino is the name Shiori gave me. And I was raised as a human, even going through human schools. Shiori doesn’t know that I’m a demon or anything about Youko. Hell, until today she hadn’t even met Hiei or Kagome. Which reminds me, I’m gonna to have a long talk with Yusuke over this.”

“But why haven’t you told her? You’re not ashamed of being a demon are you?” That thought made her eyes start to water suspiciously. “And you aren’t ashamed of what I am are you? And our poor children, if you’re going to be ashamed of them too….”

“No! Don’t ever think any of that! I’m not ashamed of being a demon, or you, or our children!” Kurama ran his hands through his hair trying to figure out the right way to explain all this to her. “As far as having a human mother goes, it was safer this way. No one was looking for her as a way to get at me As far as telling you my human name, well, it just never seemed important.

“Never seemed important? Kurama, what else haven’t you told me that just doesn’t seem important at the moment?” She dreaded asking this question, not sure she wanted to hear the answer but knowing that it was important to be answered anyway.

“Ummm.” Kurama was at a loss for words at the question, not sure of exactly what it was she wanted to know. “I’m not sure exactly what it is you want to know Yukina. Maybe this would be easier if you asked the questions.”

There were a thousand questions running through her mind and she didn’t know which one to ask first. Finally she settled on one that would effect her and the children the most. “Do you have any other children out there?”

He breathed a small sigh of relief at being able to answer that question honestly. “I can assure you that I have not fathered any other children, human or otherwise.”

She gave him a slanted look. “Your answer doesn’t say anything about Youko though. I meant the question to cover both of you. Or is that something you’d rather I didn’t know about?” A suspicion was growing in her mind at the way Kurama had answered her, at what he hadn’t said.

Youko started pacing around in his corner fuming. ‘I just know you’re gonna make a muck of this. Why did she have to ask that question? And how in the nine hells could I explain that Shishiwakamaru is probably my son without losing part of my tails? Or my head after what he just did to Hiei? Although he did do me proud with that little stunt he pulled. I wish I could have seen Hiei’s face.’ Youko’s voice was gloating at the thoughts of the new taunts he had at his disposal.

‘Shishiwakamaru is possibly your son?? Did you proud?? Wish you could have seen...?’ Kurama was speechless with shock, not knowing what to say to that. ‘But why wouldn’t you have told me before this? And the bigger question is does he even know?’

‘Oh hells, I knew I should have kept my mouth shut. Now you’re gonna try to make a big deal out of it aren’t you, pansy priss that you are. But think about this Kurama, where do you think he got his good looks from? “ Youko puffed his chest out proudly. “It wasn’t his mother, I promise you. And why do you think he can find us so easily. I have no idea what his mother told him, so I don’t know if he knows for sure or not. And I said probably, not possibly.’

‘Is that why you both feel the same yet different? Don’t think I never noticed it Youko, I did. I don’t know why Hiei didn’t notice, or maybe he did and was just being polite by not asking about it. Ah hell, with my luck he’ll show up at the wedding just to say hi dad. That would beat all and just prove he inherited your perverseness.’

‘That’s our perverseness thank you very much. And he feels different because of that damn imp side he got from his mother. Besides no ears or tails to speak of. After all, we can’t all be perfect as pure kitsunes.’ Youko’s voice was smug as he pictured the scene that Kurama had just described happening.

Kurama looked at Yukina again and saw that she was still waiting for an answer. “Youko says he’s not sure if he has any children out there or not but there could be a possibility. You have to remember he is over a thousand years old and hasn’t been celibate all those years What I can tell you is that he never marked anyone as his formal mate. ”

Yukina looked up at him with a troubled face. “But, I was a virgin when we met. I don’t want you or Youko comparing me to another female while we’re in bed together. I don’t think I could stand that.” And with that comment she did burst into tears, gems slowly hitting the floor.

Kurama took her in his arms, mentally praying to any gods he could think of that she wouldn’t pay attention to his exact wording. “Yukina, please don’t cry. Youko may have all this experience but that’s not me. I’ve never come close to fathering any other children, I promise you.”

‘Just because you’ve never fathered children on your own doesn’t mean you’re inexperienced’ Youko pointed out happily, now that the attention was off of his sexual exploits and trying to be helpful.

‘Shut up Youko, I can do without your help right about now. And I’ve had about as much shocking news as I can handle for one day.’

‘Hmph! Next time you want to rut I’ll make sure you can’t get it up and blame it on you!”

‘You wouldn’t!’ Kurama was horrified at Youko’s threat knowing the kitsune could do it if he really wanted to.

‘Try me. And then I’ll make sure you get a big old boner next time you see Kuwabara.’ Youko’s imagination started working overtime, imagining all the enjoyment he could get from Kurama’s embarrassment.

Both of their attention was diverted from their internal sparring when the phone rang, jarring Kurama’s already worn nerves. He picked it up and heard Kuwabara’s happy voice on the other end. “Since I get to be your best man, when do we start planning the wedding?” His voice continued to ramble in spite of the low growl starting in Kurama’s throat. “Oh and Shizuru says if there’s gonna be a wedding she wants to be part of it too. That’s ok isn’t it? I told her it was already.”

“I’m not worried about planning any damn wedding right at the moment. Tell you what Kuwabara, you plan my part of the wedding. Pretend you’re getting married and I’ll just show up to take my place. Have fun and plan your heart out.” The phone went dead and Kurama laid it on the cradle while he glared at the man made contraption with something close to hate. “I swear that’s one of the worse inventions they ever came up with. And the most inconvenient.”

“What was that all about?” Yukina looked him curiously, her tears and questions forgotten for the moment. “And what exactly is this wedding that everyone seems to planning now? I know somehow it involves me.”

“If you’re asking for a human male’s explanation then all I can say it’s a ceremony he has to endure to claim ownership over the female and free rights to sex.” Kurama rolled his eyes at that but it was the best he could come up with on the spur of the moment.. “If you want a better explanation ask Kagome or Shizuru. I prefer simply having marked you, I think it’s much more dignified. Not to mention not involved in silly human customs.”

“Marking is a private thing. This sounds very public. People won’t be watching us mate will they Kurama?” Yukina’s eyes had grown very large and even a little horrified at the thought of an audience. “I don’t want a priest watching me rut! I’d never get over the embarrassment.”

~*~*~*~*~

Kuwabara looked at the phone in his hand in amazement. He had simply wanted to help with the wedding plans and had never expected this reaction. Shizuru noticed the look on his face. “What happened Kazuma?”

“He hung up on me. At least I think he did. One minute I was talking to him and the next minute the phone went dead.” Kuwabara’s feelings were hurt at the idea of Yukina’s mate hanging up the phone on him.

“Well, what did you say to him?” Hanging up deliberately didn’t sound like something that the Kurama she knew would do without a good reason.

“Only that I was ready to start helping to plan the wedding and that you’re gonna be in it too. I didn’t say anything wrong.” He replied stubbornly, folding his arms across his chest and looking at his sister crossly.

She laughed at him obviously acting like a small child that had his toy taken. “Are you sure it isn’t because you lost control of the remote again? You did say you took control of it as soon as you got there.”

“It isn’t the tv, it’s the wedding. I’m sure of it.” His scowl was deepening at the kidding from his sister when he found nothing funny about it.

“And this wedding was decided on when Kazuma? A couple of hours ago? Good grief, let them have some time to get used to the idea. I’m still not even sure how they all got roped into participating in our mere human customs. Although I’ll admit, I wouldn’t miss this for the world. Who’s gonna be prettier I wonder, Kurama, Yukina, or Kagome.” The rare look of amusement on her face was one that Kuwabara would treasure for a long time and Kurama would have died if he’d seen.

“Well Kurama said for me to do all his planning and he’ll just show up at the right time. I’m supposed to pretend to be him. How are I supposed to pretend to be him?”

“You can’t. What he’s saying is he doesn’t want to be part of the planning. At the moment he’s acting more human then demon. I wonder what he’d say if someone pointed that out to him. I’ll have to remember that for the next time I see him.” She giggled at the thought of his reaction.

“I think I’m gonna call him back. If he won’t talk to me then maybe Yukina will.” His fingers were already pushing buttons on the phone when Shizuru firmly took it from his hands and hung it up again.

“Leave them be for now Kazuma. Even they need their privacy on occasion.”

Thank you for the reviews. I’ve had a lot of fun writing this chapter, especially the part about Youko and Shishi. Who knows, lol, it’s possible and I enjoyed the idea. I hope you have as much fun reading it as I had writing it. Please be sweet and leave a review if you did enjoy it.