A/N: Dear lords, it's… done. That's right, gentle readers, this is the end of "Kitsune's Brother." There is to be no more, and most likely, no sequel. I must say that, of my own fanfiction, this had to of been my favorite, both in the writing and in the amount and quality of feedback I received from you. Thank you for being so supportive and patient through the writing of this. Suitably enough, the overture from Webber's "Aspects of Love" started playing on my walkman as I wrote this last note, very much an ending song. I hope you do read my other fics, at least until I start another. I also hope that you have enjoyed "Kitsune's Brother" as much as I have. Here's to you.

"Kitsune's Brother"

Chapter Eleven

Resolution

Shiori was grateful for Yukina's support when Shuuichi left them in the garden to speak with Kazuya. She sagged into the younger woman's arms, staring at the empty doorway.

"That's why we never saw them together, isn't it?" Shiori asked once she had found her voice once again. "And why he never introduced his guardian to us."

"For the same reasons as he told you before," Yukina said softly. "He was afraid. You mean the world to him."

The two sat down on the grass, the koorime sensing that the other woman needed to feel grounded at the moment. Shiori ran a hand through her hair, looking not only at the garden around them, but at the Makai sky as well. "Each time he came here, it wasn't with Kurama, it was as Kurama. I've raised him since he was in my womb. How could I have missed that he wasn't human?"

Yukina smiled gently, reaching out to take hold of Shiori's hand. "Then you understand that there has never been a Shuuichi separate from Kurama?"

"If Kurama had replaced my son, I think he would have become more closed off afterwards, but Shuuichi has been more open with me than he ever has in the past," the woman said with a shake of the head, still in a state of disbelief. "I'm still not completely certain that this hasn't all been a dream."

"Trust me, this is no dream," Yukina said with a giggle. "Kurama-san was in his human form the first time I met him, when his team rescued me from a man who wanted to use me for my tears. He wasn't on the mission itself, but I met him afterwards, at Genkai's temple."

Shiori looked at the girl in confusion. "Your tears?"

"Koorime tears turn into crystal gems known as hiruiseki," the koorime explained, glancing down at her folded hands. "They're considered priceless in all three of the worlds. They were forced out of me any way he could think of."

"That's awful," the human woman gasped, covering her mouth with a hand.

"It was nearly three years ago," Yukina assured her with a soft expression, guiding the topic back. "And I've known your son ever since. He's a good person."

Shiori nodded. "I know he is."

Flashing a brilliant smile, Yukina stood and pulled her companion to her feet, pulling her inside. "That's wonderful to hear. He'll be waiting for you in the kitchen."

"The four of you planned this, didn't you?" Shiori asked wryly.

Yukina's expression was pure innocence as they stepped into the kitchen. "Not the four of us, no."

"Shuuichi had no part in the planning."

There were two chairs pulled out at the small square table on the ends to either side of Kurama, who looked up at them with knowing eyes. Old eyes. Shiori wasn't sure how she had ever mistaken them for being so young.

"Yukina and I have been working on just how to let you know for ages," the kitsune admitted as they took their seats. "Hiei joined in a few days ago with some reluctance. He was, and I quote, 'sick of needing to be paranoid about the two of you plotting in secret all over the place.' Shuuichi decided to help out while you and Tou-san were changing once he had figured out what we were up to."

"The two of you were the ones to start this?" Shiori asked in mild disbelief, glancing between the two, focussing mostly on the ice maiden. "You're not as innocent as you look, are you, Yukina-san?"

The answer was straight and to the point. "Shiori-san, I am a youkai."

"So, Kaa-san, is there anything you want to know before Hiei and Shuuichi bring Tou-san in?" Kurama asked, setting his chin on folded hands. It was clear that the only illusion of a human he wore now was the form itself. Looking into his eyes, Shiori imagined that she could see traces of gold, and that his hair glimmered silver in the light of the torch plants and skylight.

"Why did you stay?" she asked. It was the one thing she needed to know that she somehow knew shouldn't be answered in front of her husband and stepson. "You're clearly powerful enough to return here and live permanently without the restrictions of being human."

Instead of answering, the fox spirit reached toward her to take a gentle hold on her wrists, turning them so that the undersides faces up. The ugly scares from over a decade ago were bared. Running his fingertips along the marks, he once again met her eyes directly and this time Shiori didn't need to imagine the gold. It had utterly pushed out his green. Her son did not release her arms as he transformed back into his silver youkai form, his expression of calm explanation unchanging.

Shiori understood. She remembered the day as well as he apparently did, remembered the fear of her only child being harmed, her heart in her throat as he fell from the stool, shock written over his normally impassive face. It had meant something to the ancient kitsune, and because of that he had remained. With those scars she had bound him to her.

Once let go, she cupped one pale cheek in her hand. "My son."

He leaned into the touch, closing golden eyes. "Kaa-san."

It was at that point when Shuuichi burst into the room leading an amused Hiei and one resigned Kazuya, and tackled the distracted kitsune, sending them both tumbling to the floor in a heap.

"One of the oldest of his species, and he gets caught unaware by the protuberant human brat," Hiei grumbled, shaking his head with a suspicious glint in red eyes.

Yukina giggled. "Look on the bright side. It's good training for when he has his own children."

Kazuya never forgot the day he saw the hiyoukai's eyes nearly triple in size and his mouth drop open in horror at the very suggestion. The expression was nearly as comical as the human's own when he found out, many years later, just why Hiei was so terrified at the thought. (1)

THE END

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1. Don't forget the coupling that, while minor, is present in this fic.