Disclaimer: See chapter 1. There is a special guest appearance in this chapter. The disclaimer for her is at the bottom of the chapter. Reviews are welcomed, flames aren't. I'm sad to see Yukiko end but all good things must have an end. --GF

Epilogue

Molly came over to stand in front of Severus and the kit. Yukiko had finished his bottle, curling up in the man's arms. As he slowly drifted off to sleep, he lost his hold on his demon form and morphed back into a kit.

Severus looked up into the woman's face, raising an eyebrow. Molly closed her eyes and bowed her head. Turning she glared at Albus, "You manipulated old bastard! You knew! And you wanted us to do your dirty work for you! Tell me Albus, how long has it been since you fought your own battles? Come Arthur. It's time to go home."

Shuichi ducked his head, rubbing his forehead as Molly gathered up her brood. Hermione started muttering about research on kitsunes as Ron and Ginny rolled their eyes.

Albus let out a sigh of relief. Shuichi caught Severus' eye as he dropped a tiny seed. As both men stood to leave the tiny seed germinated.

0o0o0o0

Snow was melting and the Easter hols were fast approaching. Shuichi and Severus spent a lot of time together with Yukiko between classes and other duties. The Weasleys and Hermione tried many times to see Harry but were always rebuffed. Realizing that both guardians of the little kit were very protective and even appeals to Albus were ignored, they eventually gave up and accepted that Harry was no more.

Severus stood in the shadows as the last carriage pulled away from the castle. 'Two weeks with no students, whatever will we do?' He thought gleefully as he stroked the soft fur of the kit who was sleeping around his neck. Yukiko was spending more and more of the day awake with an occasional nap now and then.

Severus was well pleased that his kit was recovering his energy nicely. A hand came to rest on the potion master's shoulder, breaking into his thoughts. Turning, Severus raised an eyebrow at his lover and fellow instructor, Shuichi Minamino. "Yes?"

"Severus. There is someone I wish for you to meet. She is waiting for us in the DADA classroom," Shuichi said. Severus nodded as he turned to follow, dismissing the disappearing carriages from his thoughts.

Waiting for them was a petite young woman of Asian descent. She was dressed as a muggle in jeans and a silk blouse that matched her ageless sapphire eyes. Long sable hair was tied back in a loose pony tail that cascaded down her back. Severus placed a protective hand on the awaking kit at seeing this visitor.

"Lady Miko. Thank you for coming. I would like you to meet Severus Snape," Shiuchi introduced with a slight bow of reverence.

"Kurama. My name is Kagome. Ka. Go. May. Not miko," the woman named Kagome said in a slight Japanese accent. Her eyes sparkled with amusement. "I get enough of that with Sesshomaru."

Shuichi shuddered. "Yes Lady Kagome. There is no need to bring His name into this."

"Excuse me for a moment," Severus interrupted as Yukiko was now completely awake. He moved the curious kit from around his neck to his arms.

"Ohh he's adorable!" Kagome squealed. "I had forgotten how small kitsune kits were. Shippo was never this tiny when I adopted him."

"This is Yukiko, Kagome. He's older then he looks. P lease be careful as he's still not used to strangers," Shuichi explained as Severus coaxed the kit into his fox demon form.

"I'll do it!" Kagome said as if they all knew what she was here to do.

"Do what, Fatherrrr?" Yukiko asked looking from the strange woman to his father anxiously.

"I brought Lady Kagome here as she is a miko trained in the old ways. She can break the curse on the DADA position. I plan to stay as long as you and Yukiko are here. No curse will keep either me or Yuko away," Kurama said, a hard tone to his voice. This wasn't soft spoken vioce of the Shuichi Minamino but the firm, concise voice of Kurama, Spirit Dectective.

"Miko?" Yukiko asked, confused by the terms being used, peered at the lady curiously.

"A priestess of the Shinto faith. They are well known for their spiritual powers and their ability to purify anything evil. Lady Kagome is a very powerful miko. If anyone can purify the DADA curse, it is her."

Kagome smiled, "Stand Back." She moved to the center of the room and closed her eyes. A pink incandescence glow surrounded Kagome. As it grew brighter, strands of her hair started to dance on invisible currents of energy.

Severus' eyes widened. The hairs on his arms raised and a cold shiver ran down his spine. He could feel power radiating off of her slim body. He felt unworthy to be in the mere presence of such purity. Merlin, if she had been here when the Dark Lord had returned. . . He shuddered to think of the outcome.

After a few minutes of watching, Severus could feel a difference in the room. Something dark and inky seem to rise out of the door jambs. He watched with fear and wonderment as the inky presence hovered before them as a pulsating glob of evil energy that had no shape or form. It exploded a moment later in a shower of pink, purple and black sparkles. Yukiko whimpered in his arms, hiding his face in his father's robes as Severus' arms tightened protectively.

"There!" Kagome said, dusting her hands together as if brushing dirt off. "That's that! Nasty bit of work but not particularly powerful. I don't know what the fuss was about but you're all set Kurama."

"Thank you Lady Kagame," Kurama said with a bow. "I am in your debt."

"No problem Kurama. Anything for a friend. You and Yuko are very dear to me and Shippo."

"And Inu Yasha?" He asked with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Kagome laughed. "After the stunt you pulled last time you were at the shrine?"

"Fatherrrrrrrr?" Yukiko asked, peeking out. "Is it overrrrr?"

"It is alright, little one. We are done. How about something to eat?" Shuichi asked. "Do you have time before you leave, Kagome?"

0o0o0o0o0

Easter break was going by fast but Shuichi and Severus still managed to squeeze in a fast trip to Japan after seeing Kagome off. Surprisingly, Albus had been out of the castle that day so he didn't know that the curse had been lifted. Severus smirked, maybe not so surprising. Shuichi did have more than one way to get under the old coot's skin after all.

0o0o0o0

Father and Kurama were walking up a seemingly endless set of stairs. Yukiko was in his fox boy form, riding on his father's back. He still tired easily so Father hadn't wanted him to try the stairs. He shivered nervously. He could feel the spiritual as well as demon energy ahead. Will they like him? Kurama had reassured Father that his friends would welcome them.

At the top of the stairs squatted a quaint temple of sorts. A blue haired, red-eyed girl answered the door. "Kurama!" She greeted.

"Hello Yukina. Is the gang all here?"

"Yes. They are all out back. Yusuke and Kazuma are at it again. You know how they are. Hiei and Genkai are just watching."

Kurama shook his head with a slight smile. "Bored?"

"Just about." She lead the way to back courtyard. The noise of a brawl could be heard clearly as well as very loud cursing. Yukiko gasped as Kurama quickly covered his fox ears.

"What are they fighting about?" Yukiko asked as he hopped off his father's back, looking from his father to the fight to Yukina.

"Who knows," came a gravelly voice.

Yukiko looked up into the face of an elderly woman with greying pink hair who wasn't much taller than him. "Why aren't you stopping them?"

"Because they are dim wits, child. Always were and always will be," Genkai said with a smirk. "You must be Yukiko."

"You sound just like Fatherrrrr after a Potion lesson."

"He's so cute," said Yukina. "But why does he have a girl's name?"

"I'm NOT a girrrrrlll!"

"Blame Yuko's sense of humor," came Kurama's reply. "Personally, I would have named him Yukio."

"Yukio. I like that," Yukina said, mulling over the name.

"Yukio? Fatherrrr? Can I be Yukio? Would Grrrandfatherrrr be mad?" Yukiko asked, looking up at his father.

Severus nodded. "It is reasonable."

Hiei snorted as he hopped down out of a nearby tree. "Only you fox."

Kurama smiled and shrugged. "Seemed a good idea at the time. Hello Hiei."

"Fox."

Yukio leaned against his father. Hiei seemed a bit scary but he knew father and Kurama wouldn't let anything happen to him. He had a home and family. He went from the Boy Who Lived to Demon Fox Child. Sure he missed his old friends but he liked Kurama's friends, too. According to his grandfather, kitsunes lived very long lives and he would be a kit for a very long time. He might as well enjoy this second chance at childhood. Sure he remembered his life as Harry Potter, but that life is over. He was now Yukio, grandson of Yuko Kurama and son to Severus Snape.

Life was good.

0o0o0o0

Well, this ends this story. Sorry there will be no sequel. Too many other stories I want to write. Special thanks to Frau who help co write this.

I don't think anyone guess who the special guest was. What better way to nix a curse then to ring in everyone's favorite miko which is copyrighted and belongs to her creator. I don't own her or Sesshomaru, I just needed her to make a guest appearance.

Thanks everyone for the wonderful reviews, questions, comments and helpful tips. You were great.

Until next time --GF and The Frau

ps. I do have a yahoo group now, if you are interested you can find it on my profile. There isn't much traffic on it, though.