Hiei's food was gone in a matter of minutes and he sat back surreptitiously observing the flow of humanity in the small restaurant. He was pleased that they hadn't drawn too much attention, other than the flirtatious waitress. Even with the display of affection no one had given them more than a lingering glance, and Kurama always got those simply because he was a strikingly beautiful individual. It did surprise the self-conscious fire demon how many of those looks were directed his way. He had never considered himself attractive and didn't see how others could find him so.

He pushed the thought away as unproductive and shifted his attention to other matters. 'What do you want to do next?' The shift back into telepathic communication came easily. He might have been more relaxed now that they had driven off his unwanted suitor, but he still wasn't comfortable talking freely with so many humans around them.

It took Kurama a few minutes longer to finish his kabobs than it did the speedy demon next to him. After lowering the final wooden spike to his plate, the redhead took up his chopsticks and polished off the side of rice. Hiei seemed content to watch the slowly growing crowd in the restaurant as the early dinner customers arrived. With his stomach content at last, Kurama set down his chopsticks and began contemplating their next action. It was almost as if Hiei was reading his mind when a voice in his head asked what they might do next. The only things they had left on their agenda was to visit Yusuke and make a quick stop at the store for soap and pajamas for Hiei. 'When do you want to drop by Yusuke's?' he inquired, deciding it would be a good idea to synchronize their plans though he wasn't sure he wanted to end their "date" to go to the restaurant just yet.

Remembering the crowded restaurant from the evening before, Hiei frowned. 'Later.' He said decisively. 'Let's do something else first.'


OOC: Sorry it is so short. Class starts in five minutes and I couldn't think of much else for Hiei to do there. ^_^' I also thought Kurama would be likely to have better ideas about date activities than Hiei. lol.

Hiei's response wasn't surprising but Kurama was pleased just the same. He didn't have anywhere particular in mind but didn't want to visit the restaurant just yet for multiple reasons. Deciding that Hiei had already had his fill of social interaction with humans for the day, Kurama considered a more open and relaxed atmosphere for the next destination. "Let's go to the park," he said aloud after a moment of reflection. Though Hiei had initiated the line of telepathic communication the redhead's question only required a simple shake of the head in response and he doubted the raven haired demon would be bothered by this.

Keiko sighed somewhere between wakefulness and sleep. She felt warm but was too comfortable to get up just yet. Eventually she opened her eyes only to close them again as the bright sunlight filtering in from the bedroom window made her head ache. Rolling over she glanced at the alarm clock. It took a moment for the time to register: it was well after noon. The brunette frowned deeply, she had slept poorly the previous night which likely explained why she had slept in so late after eventually falling asleep sometime in the early hours of the morning.

Thankful that the restaurant opened later on the weekends, Keiko extracted herself from the bed and made for the bathroom. She was surprised to find that she wasn't bleeding and slipped into the kitchen when she was finished dressing to check the calendar. Her cycle wasn't due for another week and a half. This induced a twisting sensation in her gut as her dream from the previous evening came to mind. Was it really possible? 'Of course it is!' she told herself crossly, unsure of how she felt about her sneaking suspicion.

Though they had been married for a few years already she hadn't really spoken with Yusuke about having children. He had joked about it from time to time but she wasn't certain what his serious thoughts on the matter were. It would be more than a week before she would know for sure however and with some amount of trepidation decided not to talk to Yusuke about it just yet. She didn't like the idea of holding things back from him but decided it would be for the best until she could get her own thoughts in order.

Deciding a hot meal wasn't worth the effort, Keiko popped two slices of toast in the toaster and poured herself a glass of juice as she waited. Her stomach still felt jittery and just a bit nauseous so when the toast popped up she decided against using a spread and ate it plain. Sitting at the table, she worried that her nervousness might give her away and focused on composing herself as she picked at the simple brunch she had prepared for herself.

Hiei took only a moment to consider Kurama's suggested destination before nodding his head once to convey his agreement. The park was one of his favorite places in the human realm, at least in the city. Having grown up in the wilderness of Makai, Hiei was most at home when surrounded by nature. It was one characteristic that he thought he and Kurama shared. Though the carefully manicured recreation areas surrounded by noisy streets and skyscrapers hardly measured up to the enormous tangled jungles and forests of his home (or even the massive woods surrounding Genkai's temple), the trees still brought him a measure of peace that the wood and glass and stone buildings could not provide.

'And, on the plus side, the trees here don't try to eat me.' He told himself, the thought bringing a hint of a wry smile to his face.

Yusuke was surprised to wake naturally for a change. Keiko was usually up early and pestering him to join her in the land of the waking long before he was ready. Curious, he rolled over and found his wife still fast asleep, even though it was ten o'clock. He smoothed some stray hairs back out of her face and carefully extracted himself from the bed. If Keiko was tired enough to still be asleep well after her usual wake up time, he was going to let her rest. Finding a note from his inlaws stating they had taken the train to visit relatives in Osaka for the weekend, he ate a quick breakfast of leftover rice and pickled vegetables before heading out for a run.

Keiko was still asleep when he returned, so he showered and went downstairs to prepare the restaurant for the lunch crowd that would surely roll in when he unlocked the doors shortly after noon.

Kurama downed the rest of his glass of water as he waited for their waitress to return with the bill. When it arrived he lay a single bill over the paper addition, enough to cover the expense of their meal with some left over for a slightly less than average tip. Leaving both elements on the counter of the bar for the waitress to collect when she was ready, the redhead stood and lead the way to the door. The food had been good but he was happy to be leaving.

Outside he picked out the nearest parks from the natural energy radiating from them but instead of heading for the nearest one, he honed in on a particular one that was a bit further than the rest but familiar for sentimental reasons. He set a slow pace at first but with a sudden burst of energy stealthily scaled a nearby building when he was certain no one was looking. It would do them both some good to stretch their legs. The redhead sometimes went jogging in the evenings he felt restless but the motion oftentimes didn't satisfy him. Before Hiei had come back, the fox really only let himself go at Genkai's and he was beginning to notice how the increased physical activity helped to improve his mood though Hiei's presence made the largest difference.


When she finally managed to down her toast, Keiko carried her plate and glass over to the sink. On her past the table she spotted a piece of paper lying there that she had been too preoccupied to notice earlier. Brown eyes quickly skimmed her mother's handwriting to learn that her parents had left for the weekend. Keiko sighed, in some ways that made things easier but in other ways more difficult. She wouldn't have to worry about her father yelling at her for not being up in time to prepare her husband breakfast or her mother realizing any telltale signs but on the other hand that would make it harder to hide things from Yusuke.

There was no use worrying over it now so Keiko crumpled the note and threw it in the trash on her way downstairs. The restaurant was already open but there weren't many customers at the moment so it was easy to spot her husband. Doing her best to act normal she approached him and offered a quick kiss on the cheek, "Sorry for sleeping so late..." she apologized with a weak smile, "Have things been busy?" she asked, changing the subject before he could say anything about her sleeping in.

Hiei followed the redhead out of the restaurant and matched his sedate pace with ease. His hands were shoved into his pockets and his coat was tucked under his arm. When the fox mischievously scaled a nearby building, the fire demon was right behind him, vanishing from the street like a shadow and hastily putting on his coat to free his hands. By the time he reached the rooftop, his coat was buttoned and his sword was concealed beneath it. He looked almost like his usual self, though the coat was styled differently and the dress shoes were a far cry from his boots.

Yusuke smiled as he spotted his lovely wife, leaning down to accept her kiss and looking her over appraisingly. She looked a bit pale but much better than she had the night before, so he just grinned and shrugged off her apology. "Nah, these are the first customers. In fact you can have a seat until things pick up if you like." He surreptitiously squeezed her rear end, his features unrepentant in preparation for the glare that action usually got. "I have everything under control and you look like you could use the rest."

Once on the rooftop Kurama paused to take in the result of his date's transformation. The similarity to the fire demon's usual outfit made the redhead grin and he leaned in for a kiss. His tongue playfully touched Hiei's briefly before the mischievous fox was off again, leaping to the next rooftop in the direction of the park he had in mind.

Keiko merely nodded in response to her husband's offer to sit until things got busy. She didn't feel as physically tired as the day before but thoughts of pregnancy weighed heavily on her mind. When she felt his hand on her backside, she merely used one of her own to push it away rather than giving him the customary dirty look and took a seat behind the counter. Yusuke seemed more attentive than usual, much to Keiko's dismay. Did he already suspect something? Or was he just worried that she might be coming down with something?

((Posted on my iPod, hopefully there aren't too many typeos.))

Hiei waited patiently for the fox to lead the way but the redhead seemed intent on something else. Thus, he was only slightly surprised when Kurama leaned in for a kiss that quickly began to grow heated before the playful fox darted away. Hiei was left blinking owlishly for a moment before he gave chase. The fox had been teasing him, and Hiei found himself left wanting more. 'I will have my revenge for that, Fox.' He shot out, his mental voice dripping with threat...and promise.

Yusuke was immediately on alert as Keiko offered a subdued reaction to his improper behavior and he became even more concerned when the dedicated woman didn't argue with his advice that she rest. 'She must be coming down with something.' He thought, brow furrowing in concern. Hoping to find out what was ailing his usually energetic bride, he turned his rarely used sensory skills on her while she wasn't looking. He scanned her form for energy fluctuations that might indicate she was sick, weak spots in her spirit energy.

Instead he found a bright spot near her middle that had his eyes widening in confusion. 'That's not just reiki...' His mind stumbled over the idea that was forming and he let some noodles overcook as he stood there trying to work it out. 'That's youki...' The half demon dropped his spatula to the floor with a clatter, focusing all his attention on the tiny spark of energy growing inside Keiko. For a moment he was worried that she had been infected with some sort of demon parasite but then he noticed how the energy inside her resembled his own.

'I'm gonna be a father!' The knowledge finally clicked in his mind with the certainty of his rarely noticed demon instincts. In a moment he had swooped his love up in his arms and spun her around, grinning like a madman. "Why didn't you tell me?" He asked once he had managed to tone down his enthusiasm a little bit.


OOC: lol, the only typo I found was in the word typo. Made me giggle. ^_^'

Kurama's heartbeat quickened at the mental threat he received for his teasing, 'I'm looking forward to it,' he purred back. He would enjoy whatever Hiei sent his way. A tall building loomed before him and rather than skirt around it, the fox bounded up the side, his breath coming more heavily than usual not from exertion but rather excitement. He again paused at the top though Hiei was only a second behind him. Wind from the high altitude sent red streaks of hair flying across his face but he paid them no mind. His attention was intently focused on only one thing at the moment.

Keiko stared off into the distance, too preoccupied with her own tumult of questions to notice Yusuke's intent on her body. Even if she had she would have assumed it was merely for something he would wish to take care of after closing that night. That was one of the worries on her mind at least. With her parents gone she was sure he would want to make the most of their absence and the brunette wasn't sure she would have the energy or be able to relax enough to give him what he wanted.

The young woman's ears perked at the noise of water boiling over and looked back to see what had distracted her husband from his cooking duties. As she turned she saw the spatula slip from his grasp and fall to the floor. "Yusuke?" she called with worry in her voice. He didn't seem to have heard her however and she half rose from her chair to call his name again when she found herself wrapped up in his arms, and spinning in a very nauseating manner.

The poor girl had no idea what was going on until her partner managed to calm down enough for words. Keiko reeled at the question. How did he know? She hadn't said or done anything to clue him in and she was hardly certain herself. "I... I didn't want to say anything until I knew for sure..." she managed to sputter quietly, aware that there were customers within earshot. At least one question had been answered though, Yusuke seemed delighted at the prospect of being a father.

((LOL! I don't know why but I always spell it like that. >.<))

OOC: I hope you don't mind I had to take a small liberty with your character in order for this to work. O_o'

Hiei spotted Kurama on the rooftop and decided that some revenge didn't have to be served cold. He pushed himself to his top speed, one he knew the fox couldn't outrun. He stopped in front of the redhead and reached out to grab a handful of crimson locks. Pulling the taller demon down to eye level, the fire demon kissed him passionately. It wasn't overly gentle, nor was it painful and if the fox wanted to, Hiei was sure Kurama could have slipped away, but he doubted his prey really wanted to escape. After a long minute in which Hiei did his best to take Kurama's breath away, the fire demon let go and left the roof so fast he seemed to almost vanish. Having lifted their destination from the redhead's surface thoughts he set course for the park Kurama had in mind, setting a pace the fox could follow but not wishing to be caught. 'Told you.' He shot back, smirking as he ran.

Yusuke's grin didn't diminish as he looked at his beloved wife and laid a hand on her stomach, even though he knew there was no way he'd be able to feel the baby yet. "We're gonna be parents!" He crowed, only just managing to keep from shouting the news. A few of the restaurant patrons smiled fondly at the young couple, amused by the outburst and perhaps reminded of times when they had received similar news. Yusuke paid them no heed. The half demon had always loved kids, but he had never imagined having his own. Heck, there were a number of times he hadn't been able to imagine living to turn twenty. "You are going to be the most beautiful, wonderful mother, Keiko!" He said seriously, rubbing her cheek with his thumb before leaning in to give his love a quick, joyful kiss.

((I think it was worth the result. ^///^))

Kurama grunted as the unexpected tension on his hair dragged him down to Hiei's level. The fox wasn't bothered by the rough handling but rather enjoyed it and allowed the shorter demon to part his lips with an eager tongue without offering resistance. Just as the redhead reached an arm out to draw Hiei closer, the speedy demon blurred out of sight to leave Kurama behind panting like an animal in heat. It hadn't been difficult for Hiei to accomplish his goal as decades without intimate contact made the fox hyper sensitive to his love's actions. What was originally intended as a relaxing visit to the park was quickly turning into something else and Kurama was both excited and concerned by this prospect as he gave chase.

Yusuke's hand felt warm against her stomach and Keiko managed her first smile as she imagined what it would be like to feel a baby squirm within her womb. Keiko didn't really appreciate her husband nearly shouting the news for all to hear; though she knew she wouldn't be able to hide it forever, the mother to be wasn't sure she wanted to make the announcement to everyone just yet. Yusuke was just excited and Keiko was relieved that it was the case.

"Oh Yusuke..." she sighed happily, wrapping her arms tightly around her husband. The stress she felt previously lifted knowing that Yusuke was glad and that he would support her. Her husband was the strongest man she knew. Keiko used to fret that he might not come back in one piece but she had learned at the conclusion of the Dark Tournament that Yusuke was nearly indestructible and later on that this was due to his partial demon heritage. This thought however brought a new worry to mind: what if their child inherited some of Yusuke's unique abilities?

Hiei darted across the rooftops and over tall buildings. As he ran, he found himself becoming slightly nervous. He was beginning to reconsider his actions. The fire demon wasn't ready to escalate the physical side of their relationship and he was afraid he may have done just that by toying with Kurama the way he had. 'What if I have given the fox the wrong impression? I don't want to disappoint him but...I can't...What should I do?'

The thoughts racing through his mind finally brought him to a halt on the summit of a particularly high building. His face betrayed his nervousness as he waited for his love to catch up. He needed to stop the game, before the situation got out of hand. He shoved his hands in his pockets to keep from fidgeting and stood his ground.

Yusuke grinned and squeezed Keiko back gently, before the sound of noodles boiling over finally drew the half demon's attention and he scrambled to salvage what he could of the meals he had been cooking. Unfortunately the over done noodles went into the trash and he had to start a new batch. Smiling sheepishly, he bowed to the customers in apology. "Sorry about the wait folks. I'm gonna be a father!" He told the mostly amused patrons excitedly. The half demon then hurried to prepare the neglected meals, periodically taking a second to grin over at his pregnant wife.

Catching sight of Hiei's still form atop the nearest building, Yoko darted for his prey. Their game was one of cat and mouse and he was ready to take his turn. Cresting the skyscraper, Yoko made straight for Hiei with purpose. His redhead half told was telling him to slow down but the fox would not be easily reined in. Hiei after all, seemed more than willing to return his gestures at the moment. Kurama had already promised to himself that he would allow Hiei to take the lead with no more than gentle nudges in any one direction. It was his kiss that had started the encounter but the fire demon had been the one to return it with more.

With only a few yards between himself and his partner, Kurama caught Hiei's expression. His uneasiness was apparent in both his features and his stance. The redhead reigned in his momentum and stopped a few feet short of the fire demon still panting but doing his best to quickly bring himself back under control. It had been so long since his Yoko half had truly surfaced. When Hiei left, the fox had vowed to put his emphasis on the present and focus on his human persona. It had been difficult at first but his other half slowly quieted with less to stimulate it. Something about Hiei made him lose control and that scared him.

Knowing Hiei's scars made Kurama even more worried about this loss of control. Though he was certain that he would never take the fire demon without clear consent, Kurama still feared what he was capable of. At the university he had thought a time or two of bringing a human girl back to his room following the parties he would occasionally attend but feared how his animal instincts might take over after years of need and had always refrained from doing so. The redhead didn't think he would have to worry about letting himself go with his new found partner when they were ready but Kurama realized that his thinking had been wrong. If anything he would have to be even more careful not to hurt the one he truly cared about.

((Um... There's a situation here I guess so I'll have to leave Keiko's post out for now. I can put it in the next one if you don't mind the wait.))

OOC: That's fine. Everything okay?

Hiei tensed as the fox approached, reading the intent in Kurama's green eyes and catching glimpses of the wild fox spirit housed inside the innocuous human form. It set his teeth on edge to be looked at that way, as if he were prey to be devoured. It was all he could do not to bolt, to have faith that Kurama would never try to hurt him. He remembered how to breathe as he found his faith to be well founded; as soon as the redhead noticed the fire demon's change in demeanor he visibly altered his stance, coming to a stop just feet away. Hiei forced himself to relax a little before he tried to explain.

"I should not have done that." He said slowly. "Kurama...I just...I can't..." Ashamed of his weakness, the proud fire demon turned his face away from his love with a frown. "Not yet." He finally managed, hoping the fox would understand. Hoping even more fervently that Kurama would be willing to wait for him.

Keiko blinked as Yusuke tore himself from her grasp to take care of the food left forgotten on the stove in light of their big news. In a bout of optimism she decided that whether it be burnt noodles or a child with unfathomable powers, together they would somehow pull through just like Yusuke always came out on top no matter the odds.

Keiko sat back down as Yusuke returned to cooking. A moment later when Yusuke announced the news to their patrons, she felt herself blush and was glad that her sitting position mostly hid her from their line of sight. She would have to talk to him later about making the announcement to their friends. Though she currently felt optimistic, the truth was that she hadn't been tested yet and didn't want to break the news to anyone else until they knew for sure and made a mental note to call the doctor first thing Monday to make an appointment.

Feeling Yusuke's gaze upon her, Keiko smiled back at her husband. He was always full of the unexpected. Who would have thought the young man who was always getting into fights and skipping school would make a good father? Still, Keiko was sure he would be. He was a hard worker and a loving husband and where he lacked experience his enthusiasm would make up for it. She was certain her parents would be a great help and knew they would be proud when they heard the news, especially her father who had no qualms about telling his daughter and son-in-law that he wanted grandchildren.

Kurama was silent during Hiei's confession. It was clear that he was ashamed and Kurama was too, ashamed by his own loss of control. It wasn't always easy keeping his wilder self in check but the redhead knew that wasn't an acceptable excuse. "You aren't the only one at fault Hiei," he said softly, admitting his part in their short escapade after a moment of silence. "I've waited decades; I can wait a while longer," he added, reassuring the fire demon that he would wait until they both were ready. With that he set out again at a subdued pace, it wasn't far now.

((Yeah, it's been taken care of.))

Hiei was reassured by Kurama's words but at the same time it made him feel even worse for toying with the redhead and then making him continue to wait. True, the fox had started it, but Hiei had pushed it into dangerous territory. Still, he couldn't take it back now. He'd just have to push himself harder, for Kurama's sake. Mind made up, he quickly caught up to the redhead, running alongside him to their destination. Once they were back on ground level in the park he reached out for Kurama's hand, trying to apologize for pulling back from more intimate contact with the small gesture of trust and affection.

Yusuke soon had all the customers taken care of and he took a moment to check on his beloved. He hugged her close, grinning happily. "You doing okay, honey?" He asked. "Are you hungry? I can make you something."

OOC: Okay. ^_^ I'm off for the night! Later!

Kurama felt sobered as he slowly leapt from building to building. When he caught up, Hiei's presence beside him rather than ahead was a welcome contrast to their frenzied chase only minutes ago. Kurama dismounted in the space between the last two buildings before the wide expanse of green and took to the nearest path leading into the center of the park. Hiei's warm hand against his was unexpected but not unwanted and he squeezed it gently in thanks. Other couples, families, and individuals seeking refuge from the harsh concrete of the city were scattered over the kept green lawn but none had claimed the space beneath the large oak tree. It was there that Kurama lead them and though he hadn't been planning it, the memories of more innocent times help to sooth his conflicted soul as he approached. The fox gently slipped his hand from Hiei's grasp as they arrived at the trunk of the colossal tree and seated himself on the ground beneath its large boughs.

Keiko watched Yusuke serve the few customers in the room gracefully. She was relieved to see that none of them seemed too put out by the short wait. When he was finished, her husband approached and wrapped her up in his strong arms. Keiko melted into him, feeling suddenly very clingy, "I'm alright," she said softly, happiness showing in her face. "A little hungry though," she confessed in response to his second question. It hadn't been very long since she'd finished her slice of toast but now that both her nerves and her stomach had calmed she decided something a bit more filling might be in order. She would need to be more conscious of what she ate to provide her own body with enough nutrients to spare for the developing life within her.

Hiei hesitated at the base of the tree, a thoughtful expression on his features. It wasn't like he had any problems with sitting on the ground, but he felt too exposed with all the humans milling around. "There are better places to sit." He said dryly. Glancing around to make sure no one was paying attention, he released the redhead's hand and vanished up into the concealing branches. "Come on up." He called down, smirking as he settled himself comfortably on a wide branch that would easily hold them both.

Yusuke smiled. "Sure thing. What would my two favorite people like?" He laughed cheerfully and winked at Keiko, then he turned to greet a customer, giving her time to think about what she might like to eat.

Kurama looked at Hiei trying to discern his thoughts from the expression on his face. It only took a moment longer for the fire demon to speak his mind about the fox's choice in seats before disappearing up into the tree's thick folliage. Kurama made a face about getting up that Hiei might not have been able to see from his haughty position but it was really only for show. The fox rose to his feet and after doing a scan of the area, joined Hiei in the tree and installed himself on in the space that was left for him.

Kieko hesitated though she knew their menu front to back but finally decided on the Miso Nikomi Udon. She chose this dish for its high protein and vitamin content, and because she wanted the egg. It would be by far more nutritious than the plain toast she had eaten earlier and if Yuske cooked it, it would have a much better flavor. Keiko's father always liked to tease her about how her husband was a better chef than her but Yusuke didn't seem to mind her cooking. When Yusuke had finished taking the newcomer's order, she approached to give him her request.

Hiei leaned back against the tree's trunk and closed his eyes, tucking his hands behind his head comfortably. Thinking back over the events of the day, he was surprised to realize it actually hadn't been too bad passing for human. It wasn't like he had to make friends with all of them, there were plenty of antisocial humans. For the first time since he had begun to consider the idea of staying in the human realm with his fox, the idea didn't seem quite so far fetched. Fifty years, or even a hundred, was nothing to him and though Kurama might not want to consider it, his mother would not live forever.

Hiei was not ready to speak of his plans however. He still had responsibilities to consider. He would have to appoint a replacement to lead the border patrols in his absence. He'd need to come up with a way to support himself as well; Kurama might have more money than he knew what to do with but charity was unacceptable to the independent fire demon. Unfortunately, it would have to be legal as well. Reikai had not left him to his own devices in the years since his theft of the Reikai artifacts. He could avoid the toddler's scrutiny in Makai if he wanted to put forth the effort but in the human realm it would be more trouble than it was worth.

Yusuke set the new customer's order to cooking before he focused his attention back to his wife.

With nothing better to do, Kurama found himself watching Hiei. The fire demon had made himself comfortable and sat with his eyes closed, giving the fox the perfect opportunity to survey his features without being noticed. The soft yet stiff hair with streaks of white, the strip of white fabric tied around his forehead, the angle of his jaw, the peaceful expression of his face; the redhead took it all in with awe and wondered again why he didn't notice that beauty sooner.

"I'll have a bowl of miso nikomi udon when you get a chance," Keiko said, relaying the message with a smile and a kiss. She didn't need it right away, whenever he finished with the other orders would be fine. In the meantime the working woman tried to think of something to do until things got busy. It felt odd to just sit and watch.

Hiei felt the redhead's eyes on him and lazily open one of his own. "Enjoying the view, Fox?" He asked dryly. He wasn't sure why Kurama was staring at him so intently but he found he didn't actually mind. That was strange to him, he normally hated to be watched but for some reason when it was the fox it didn't bother him. In fact, the sense of Kurama's attention focused on him made shivers of pleasant sensation travel up his spine and he found himself hard pressed to keep his countenance placid.

Yusuke nodded and set the udon noodles cooking alongside the other orders. In a few minutes he had served four bowl of ramen, two of udon, and had one very special bowl prepared. This he presented with a flourish to Keiko. "A fine and nutritious meal for my lovely lady and our precious little spark." He bowed comically and kissed her cheek before going back to his other orders. He knew he was being a little silly, but he just couldn't help himself. He was going to be a father! He found himself already making plans for things he'd do with the kid once it arrived; things he'd wished he had a father for when he was a child. 'I'll play games with the kid, and teach him to fight...or teach her to fight, it could be a girl...' He grinned at the mental image of a little girl with Keiko's spirit and intelligence but his fighting skills. The half demon continued to let his mind wander in happy daydreams as he cooked and served orders on autopilot.

Kurama didn't bat an eye when Hiei caught him staring. Instead he just smiled knowingly and playfully blew a falling leaf in Hiei's direction. The redhead shifted his weight slightly in an attempt to make himself more comfortable. Though Hiei seemed at home in the large oak, Kurama couldn't say the same about himself. Climbing trees for the purpose of surveying was one thing but sleeping in one wasn't something foxes did. He would have been more at home in the lush green grass below or at least slightly more comfortable with the trunk to his back, but Hiei had already claimed that spot. Still, Kurama wasn't one to let his discomfort show and if Hiei was happy he could endure it for a while. His partner no doubt found some aspects of his living arrangements uncomfortable as well.

Keiko sighed, unsatisfied with the menial chores she had thought of to do. They would only last her a few minutes at best; there was even less for her to do than usual because she had missed the opening preparations. She was happily distracted when Yusuke broke her from her musing by presenting the requested bowl of noodles with a dramatic flourish. Keiko stifled a laugh but couldn't hold back a smile, "Thanks honey." She watched him walk away before turning her attention to the delicious-smelling noddles before her. Tendrils of steam rose from the bowl and Keiko gave the meal a few moments to cool before taking her first bite. It tasted wonderful and though she hadn't been feeling particularly hungry, she ate nearly all of it.

Hiei closed his eyes again, letting his thoughts drift back to his idea for making their relationship work. Finding a source of income wasn't the problem. He smirked, he already had a job offer and he hadn't even been trying. No, the problem was the fact that legally he didn't exist in the human realm. Humans had papers, identification cards, background checks, citizenship requirements and he didn't know what else. He considered asking Kurama but he didn't want to let the redhead in on his plan just yet. That left him with few options; he could go to a forger and possibly get ripped off with incomplete papers, he could request Yusuke's help in ensure the honesty of said forger, or he could petition Reikai for temporary citizenship in the human realm.

The last option was the most distasteful, partly because it would most likely require payment in the form of some life threatening favor for the pacifier sucking brat, but it was also the most secure and thorough way for a demon to relocate to Ningenkai. Plus, it would have the added benefit of keeping the toddler from getting curious and interfering in his plans. Koenma was not stupid, the brat would approve the identity papers if Hiei apprised him of the situation from the start. If he went around through illegal channels and it appeared he was trying to hide something, he could possibly end up back in prison for conspiracy to commit a crime that didn't exist. Reikai wasn't big on proof when it came to arresting demons.

'It's settled then.' He wasn't happy about it but it was the best way to ensure success. 'I'll take care of it first thing tomorrow.' He opened his eyes and sat up. "I won't be around tomorrow. I have some business to take care of." He told the fox. "I'm not sure if I'll be gone overnight or not."