New chapter, old warnings. Hope you enjoy. btw Cartograhpy: the study and pratice of making maps.

Kurama walked slowly along the dusty path that lead to the Ice Master, Touya's, cottage. In the satchel at his side there was a map that, upon request of his employer, Yomi, was hoping the ex-shinobi might be able to correct. Had Yomi known the pair of ex-shinobi better he probably would have requested that Kurama locate Jin instead. Jin flew over the lands of the Makai, Kurama knew personally that he was the eyes and ears for many of the Shinboi set when he was still among their masses by flying the land at night and surveying where their enemies were. Jin's whereabouts, however, were unknown to the fox since the wind tamer had left Yusuke's territory after the young demon went back to the Ningenkai months ago. He was hoping that Touya might be able to steer him in the right direction.

As he rounded the corner, Kurama released the ties on his ki to let his presence be known. To his slight surprise, when the clearing came into view, he was greeted by Touya himself.

"Kurama, welcome." Touya greeted.

The fox smiled, something in Touya's posture told him that something had the ice master tense.

"Hello, Touya." He bowed, keeping a short distance away. "Have I come at a bad time?"

"That depends." Touya answered slowly. "On the reason for your sudden visit."

"Yomi sent me." Kurama explained, taking the map out of his satchel and handing it over to the tense demon. "He was hoping that you would have some knowledge of the lands east of the Garjudiuanen swamps."

Touya raised an amused eyebrow and looked interestingly at the map. "How did he know that there is a Shinobi set there?"

"Yomi has a lot of recourses and is very intelligent. I'm also to extend to you that, if you so choose, you are welcome to the spot he previously offered you of his back up advisor." Kurama smiled a tad wistfully, "If only to let me be rid of the job."

"You don't enjoy the position." Touya asked, relaxing some.

"Its very . . . Taxing." the fox replied, with a tone that implied his impatience.

"Please accept my apologies." Touya sighed, his shoulders relaxing. "For my rude welcome. You see, Jin is recovering from a very taxing experience of his own, and I'm a bit on edge."

"Is he alright?" Kurama asked, rolling up the map and stuffing them back into his satchel. "Is there any way I could help?"

Touya shook his head. "Sleep will be the best remedy. Please, come inside and I will look over the map to get Yomi off your back."

"If you're sure I won't disturb Jin." Kurama answered.

Touya nodded and turned to lead the way to his front door.

The two demons were as silent as possible as they poured over the map and periodically making small talk.

"I have to admit," Touya murmured over a particular misty portion of the map. "Jin would be the better one to ask about this. He took up map making while he was staying with Yusuke. How is Yusuke, by the way?"

Kurama looked up from the map with a sigh. "He and his wife are at odds with each other most of the time. I believe their relationship was doomed before it started; they are simply too different. Yusuke's life isn't as glamorous as it once was but, he's striving to make it better."

"Why doesn't he come back?" Touya asked, getting up at the sound of the boiling tea kettle. "Jin told me he was doing rather well as lord of his territory when he wasn't striving to drive his monks into early graves."

"It's been Yusuke's dream for a very long time to settle down with Keiko and raise a family." Kurama eyed his friend when Touya's movements paused for just a fraction of a second. "I was very surprised that he took Jin as a lover. I admit, there were times when I thought he would rather not return to the Ningenkai. And although he hasn't said as much, I know there are times he regrets leaving."

"You know it all started at the Dark Tournament." He reveled, with the suspicion that the crafty fox already knew.

Kurama nodded, proving his suspicion true. "Only because Hiei didn't trust Jin and kept an eye on Yusuke with his Jagan when their energies met. Yusuke also admitted it later when I bid him farewell after his tournament ended. I must admit that when I learned of the problems Yusuke and his wife were having, I suggested that Yusuke take a vacation of sorts back here, to the Makai, in hopes that it would jump start his wish to return for good. Yusuke truly isn't a soul meant for the Ningenkai."

Touya remained mute, digesting what the fox had just told him. All the while Kurama read between the lines. The ex-shinobi didn't agree with Yusuke leaving the Makai. He also had the suspicion that it had something to do with Jin's injury. How. . . The fox wasn't sure just yet. He chose to remain silent and let Touya finish digesting what he had just been told.

Just as the ice demon turned with his next question or comment on his lips, they were both brought out of their thoughts by a piercing cry erupting from a room down the hall.

The cat certainly was out of the bag now. Touya mused. He kept his eyes on Kurama as the cry soon quieted and Jin could be heard softly talking to his newborn, calming him and soothing him until the cries ceased completely.

Kurama turned to Touya, his large emerald eyes alight with shock. "Last night. . ." he started, letting the question hang in the air. Touya nodded.

"Jin gave birth. A son; who greatly resembles his sire."

Kurama remained speechless, his mind quickly did the math. Yusuke had only returned to the Makai just over six months ago. This revaluation explained not only Touya's tenseness but also his sudden interest in Yusuke's affairs. Perhaps, Jin gave birth early, Kurama suddenly thought. Maybe it truly was Touya's child who may not be quite developed and strong enough to survive. . . no, that really seemed farfetched.

"A son." Kurama repeated, finding that he couldn't say anything else. He truly was speechless.

"Yes." Touya nodded. "Jin has decided to name him Oops."

Well, that clinched it. Kurama decided. "I can now understand your reluctance to my visit."

Touya shrugged, staring off through the wall in the direction in Jin's room. "In one way or another you would have found out. I don't know how Jin wants to handle the situation. Having you on the same page, I think, will prove valuable should Oops' father . . . Should Yusuke take offence to Jin keeping his pregnancy a secret."

"Offence?" Kurama murmured softly, his voice no higher than a whisper, hearing the door down the hall open and Jin's footsteps painfully shuffle down the hall. "Yusuke's going to be crushed."

Touya turned his ice blue gaze to the fox sitting at his table watching the play of emotions on his delicate features. He continued to watch when Jin rounded the corner and a serene mask fell over Kurama's entire being. The fox smiled at the surprised, tired grin Jin sent his way. The wind tamer's very ki emitted a gleeful contentment that only a new parent could achieve.

"Parenthood suites you." Kurama greeted, keeping his large emerald eyes trained on Jin's face and not trailing down to the tiny baby cradled in his arms.

"I've only been at it fer a few hours." Jin laughed, pulling out a kitchen chair and slowly easing himself down on the doughnut shaped cushion Touya had made sure to put there. "Ain't gotten none a'the brunt of it all yet."

"Congratulations." Finally Kurama let himself study the baby in Jin's arms. He smiled softly, "It would appear he has your nose."

Jin chuckled, not fooled for a moment. "Ya think? I be think'n 'is profile is more like 'ol Yusuke's. He definitely gots 'is eyes, 'at's fer sure."

"Yes." Kurama agreed after dutifully gazing into the baby's eyes. "There is no mistaking those eyes. A carbon copy of Yusuke's."

"Lucky eyes." Jin murmured with a nod. Frowning Jin eyed Kurama warily for a moment. "Does he.. . . He don't have another on the way yet? Does he?"

"No." Kurama answered. "He and his wife are at odds with each other's thoughts on starting a family."

"Has he talked any 'bout comin' back?"

"I admit, I have been trying to talk him into at least returning for a visit."

Jin looked down at the tiny life he had carried for the past eight and a half months. Perhaps it was the hormones that had been coloring his temperament for the duration of his pregnancy or perhaps he was just being paranoid now that his child had finally arrived, but suddenly, he was terrified about Yusuke's reaction. Jin remained silent with his thoughts over what Kurama had just told him, now that he knew about Oops, would he tell Yusuke and redouble his efforts to bring his fun loving Toushin back to claim his son?

"Are ya gonna tell 'im?"

Thinking over his options that he had been considering for the duration of the conversation he answered, "Its not my place to do so. This is a bit of a complicated situation and its your decision and yours alone as to when and how you will enlighten Yusuke about his son."

Jin flinched and Touya scowled. "Yusuke left Jin." He stated softly, removing his eyes from the rice he was preparing and turning his frozen blue gaze to his fellow ex-shinobi. "Until you feel safe in 'enlightening' the lover who left you, Jin, its none of his business."

"Yes." Jin answered just as softly. "But, its 'is choice to challenge me."

Kurama placed a comforting hand on Jin's shoulder. "Yusuke is anything but heartless."

" 'Ow is 'e?" the wind tamer asked.

Again Kurama paused. Should he tell Jin that Yusuke was staying at his apartment while the fox dealt with Yomi's business in the Makai? Should he enlighten the Toushin's former lover that Yusuke knew his marriage was failing yet he was fighting tooth and nail to keep his dream alive? Would it help Jin to know that Yusuke was miserable.

"Yusuke is not a soul meant for the Ningenkai." He repeated. "He and his wife are both finding the transition rather rough."

Sky blue eyes searched twin emerald orbs. Jin's face split into a knowing grin. " 'E just ain't ready ta call it quits."

Touya placed a plate of food in front of his friend. "Are you interested in a late lunch, Kurama?" He asked.

"No, thank you." all this talk of Yusuke had Touya on edge. Not surprising since he had been caring for Jin for the past few months and was clearly very protective. He was visibly forcing himself to relax as he sat on the other side of the table.

Jin looked at the chopsticks in front of him then to the baby slumbering in his arms. This was going to be tricky. Eyeing Kurama, who was still watching Touya feign interest in some scrolls that the fox must have brought, Jin decided to make use of the extra pair of hands.

" 'Ere." he extended his arms out to Kurama who's large eyes blinked in surprise. The fox took Jin's newborn and cradled him in the curve of his arms. Oops hardly stirred when transferred, he was snug and content with his full belly. He didn't care who held him. The fox never really had many encounters with babies. He was always mesmerized by the miniature hands and features.

"You an' Hiei thinking' bout poppin out any lil' ones?" Jin asked before digging into his meal, suddenly realizing how famished he was.

Kurama chuckled and Touya scowled.

"I think Hiei would sooner neuter me."

"Neuter?" Jin asked, not sure of the new term. "Waddus 'at mean?"

"it's a medical term for the castration of a male dog."

Jin's hand froze half way to his mouth. His ankles crossed as much as they could with his sore posterior. Kurama chuckled at the two astonished demons. He forgot sometimes that things so common as neutering a dog to control over population were foreign here in the Makai.

"To fight overpopulation in tamed pets." Kurama explained, Jin still made a face. "Also to stop any undesirable behavior brought by hormones."

This time Touya chuckled and gained a dark look from Jin.

"Yer bout to git a pepper shaker in yer forehead, Frosty."

The ice master continued to chuckle. He caught the pepper shaker half heartedly thrown at his head and used it as a paper weight for the map he unraveled. His wind taming friend grouched half heartedly as he tuned back to his food and gave Touya the silent treatment. That was until his curiosity took over and he glanced down to see what Touya was looking at. Instantly, his eyes widened with excitement, with the chopsticks still between his lips, he rounded the table to get a better look.

" 'Dis 'ere's Garjudiuanen swamps."

"Yes." Kurama answered, enjoying Jin's childlike enthusiasm. "Yomi asked that I have Touya go over it, as you can see, its not completed and in many areas wrong."

" Ow did the ol goat be know'n 'ere's a set 'ere?"

"I honestly can't say." Kurama replied with a gentle shrug, not wanting to waken the slumbering newborn in his arms. "Do you think you can correct it?"

Jin flashed the fox an elated grin. Rounding the table yet again he nabbed his plate of food before pouring into the map. He ate silently as he studied the map's every imperfection. As soon as his plate was empty, Jin picked up the tools and set to work.

For the next few hours Jin silently worked, hovered next to the table with crossed legs. Every so often he would ask Touya a question or send a glance over to Oops. Just as Touya rose to start dinner, Jin sat back with a soft groan and cracked his neck.

" "Ere ya are." Jin grinned, stretching his arms above his head. "Any idea what 'at ol goat want with 'ese's maps fer? Is a fairly shitty stretch."

"For now," Kurama answered, standing and rounding the table to look at the fresh maps. "I believe he simply wants the knowledge. Who knows if he will use it, but its there when he wants it. Thank you, Jin. I hope it wasn't too overly taxing after the eventful night you had."

"No. Thank you." Jin righted himself and stood. Not realizing how much his legs would feel like jelly, he leaned his hip heavily against the table. "I be tired, but I needed that. I 'aven't felt my ol self in a long time. An' thank you, too, fer lettin me git ta Yusuke on m'own time."

"I won't overstep my boundaries as your friend." Kurama promised. "However, I won't deter from my own quest of trying to convince Yusuke to return here."

"I'm glad." Jin's gaze returned to where Oops was starting to wake in Kurama's arms. The tips of his fingers brushed gently over his son's whispy red hair. "He ain't happy in the Human's World, not truly."

In response to the gentle stimuli, Oops woke up further. With an impossibly wide yawn Oops turned to the warm body he was cradled against and started rooting.

"Woah there, little one." Kurama laughed, turning the newborn away from his chest. "You aren't going to find anything of interest here, I promise."

Jin laughed. "Ain't nuthin' 'ere for you." He took his son from the fox and smiled when the baby continued to root, unfazed by being transferred to different hands. "You aren't shy none a'tall."

"Will you be staying for dinner?" Touya asked.

"Thank you for the offer," Kurama started gathering the maps and supplies then tidied up the table. "But, if I leave now I can back home at a decent hour."

"You are welcome here any time, my friend."

Kurama smiled and bowed goodbye.

Jin watched the door after the fox left, his mind clearly wandered back to conversation of Yusuke. Touya watched from the corner of his eye, giving Jin his space. When an annoyed whine from Oops jolted Jin out of his thoughts, the Wind Tamer turned to Touya.

"Make sure I donna be sleepin' through dinner." He said around a yawn. "I be starvin'."

"Sure."

.~*~.

Touya had taken his time with dinner mainly because he was distracted by the conversations they had had with Kurama earlier. Kurama had mentioned that Yusuke was unhappy in the Ningenkai and that he would be 'crushed' by Jin's actions of keeping his pregnancy a secret. Would Yusuke take Oops away from Jin? Touya simply couldn't say for sure. Yusuke was very possessive of his friends and of those he considers family, and takes great offence when somebody threatens what is his. However, how would Yusuke react when someone he trusts keeps something from him, especially of his magnitude?

Touya stood fast against his decision that Yusuke left Jin and it was Jin's decision to keep Oops a secret, and not just from Yusuke. Jin's past as a Shinobi left him extremely vulnerable to them, should they take offence to his further breaking the rules. Where both Jin's and his own trump card was their association with Yusuke and even Kurama, where would Jin stand if both Yusuke and the Shinobi were against him. Yusuke would never let that happen. Certainly not to Oops; Touya decided, but that doesn't mean that the young Toushin wouldn't take his son away.

Touya sighed and rubbed his temples, he was tried and couldn't wait to go to sleep. Speaking of, dinner was ready and Jin, last Touya had checked, had fallen asleep on the couch. And he was still there, curled in an upright fetal position around his baby. It appeared that both Jin and Oops had fallen asleep while the baby had been nursing. His head rested on Jin's peck, his tiny lips pursed as if he were still searching for the nipple.

Placing a hand on Jin's shoulder, Touya gently shook his friend awake. Large, groggy eyes blinked open and Jin stretched his neck down and gained his bearings. He blinked up at Touya and slowly stood on his extremely shaky legs.

"Why don't you let me take Oops to the bedroom for you, Jin."

Jin nodded. He may have enjoyed this afternoon immensely, but it really took its toll on him. Handing his newborn over to his friend, Jin limped off to the kitchen.

Touya tidied up Jin's bed before placing his friend's newborn son gently down on the soft comforter. He felt a surge of protectiveness over this child just as he had for Jin over the past six months. He sighed, rubbing at the back of his head. Kurama had said that 'Yusuke was anything but heartless' and all three of the demons, himself included, had put their trust in Yusuke numerous times. . . And Yusuke wasn't the type to let his friends down.

~!$%^&*()_++_)(*&^%$!~

It was dusk when Kurama neared the portal he was to take back to Genkai's temple. With any luck, he would be hone in only a few hours. His face broke into a smile when his lover's ki appeared around the bend.

Ruby red eyes scanned over the fox's body as they always did. Hiei never did approve of his lover's job as Yomi's advisor. At the first sign of injury or bruise and Hiei had it in his mind that he would kill Yomi.

"He certainly kept you busy." Hiei said after he was finished ensuring himself that his fox was no worse for wear.

"Yes." Kurama agreed, "He sent me to get a map completed."

Hiei's eyebrows scrunched. "That miserable ass just wanted to send you on a miniscule task just to flaunt his control over you."

"I thought so, too." Kurama nodded, "He asked me to find Touya since there was rumor of a Shinobi set there."

"Touya? Why not the wind tamer who actually flies over the area?"

"That was my thought as well. I was hoping Touya could direct me to where Jin was currently living. As it turns out, they have been staying together for the time being."

Hiei nodded, "About six months now." he commented offhandedly.

That made Kurama pause, his suspicion tweaked. "You've been keeping tabs on them?"

"Hardly." Hiei snorted. "I spend time in the village close to where Touya lives. Six months ago I saw Jin there as well. How did Touya take to your presence with Jin being pregnant?"

"He was on guard." Kurama answered, not quite recovering from the shock of his lover's knowledge of Jin and Touya. "Jin gave birth last night."

"So early?"

"Only a week or so. Its not uncommon for first time dams."

Hiei grew silent. Obviously he reasoned that Touya isn't the father as he previously assumed.

"Hn." Hiei shrugged. He truly didn't care.

"Yukina would like me to extend her request that you possible find some time to visit. I would also enjoy it if you stopped by."

"I already told Mukuro that I am taking leave when Yukina is in her final months of her pregnancy."

Now Kuama was truly impressed, not only with his lover's knowledge, but also with his ease of acceptance. "You already knew."

Hiei nodded.

"I'm surprised you're not upset about it. I know you weren't happy when she accepted Kazuma as her mate."

"Husband." Hiei corrected sharply. "Humans don't have the capability to mate with demons. I warned her of the heartbreak she is destined for when Kuwabara dies when she only just started living. Any children could be a god-send . . . If they are born demons."

"Most couplings between humans and demons produce human offspring." Kurama revealed. "Yusuke being the prime example. He is the first demon to be born in his entire family tree. Should he reproduce with Keiko his offspring will be human."

Hiei signed and shook his head. "She made her decision. She will only have herself to blame."

"I'll see you in a few months then?" Kurama asked, stepping close to his lover. Hiei grunted and complied to the fox's unspoken question by tipping his head upward to accept his lover's kiss.

"See you soon." Kurama murmured, placing one last, soft kiss on Hiei's lips. The Jaganshi watched as his fox disappeared through the pulsing portal that lead to the Human World the blinked away to return to his duties at the border control.

~!$%^&*()_++_)(*&^%$!~

With a deep sigh, Kurama dropped his satchel on the carpet and toed off his shoes. Although his apartment was spotless, there was evidence that Yusuke had remained the entire time he was on his trip to see Yomi. The young Toushin, however, was nowhere to be seen. Following the sound of the radio, Kurama arrived at his bedroom window, which was wide open with a pair of naked feet on the fire escape. A soft breeze drifted into the room, carrying with it a wiff of cigarette smoke.

Kurama knew that Yusuke had started smoking again. The young Toushin had quit cold turkey when Genkai had been killed by Toguro during the Dark Tounrament and had remained so until just recently. Going to his closet Kurama lifted a floorboard to reveal his stash of dried plants. The fox had many of his Makai plants and concoctions around the house, but his rarest and most precious he kept under the floorboard, just as a fox would bury its kill.

"My friend," Kurama said as he climbed up the window and onto the landing, "I'm going to introduce you to the wonders of the Makai." Situating himself in the corner, Kurama opened the small, wooden box and inhaled deeply.

Drawing his feet up to the step below his buttocks to rest his torso on his knees, Yusuke watched as Kurama took various treasures out of his tiny chest. Growing up with his mother and her sleazy friends, Yusuke was introduced to the wide world of narcotics at a young age. Nightmares of the side effects still haunted the young Toushin to this day. Needless to say, he learned his lesson about using drugs. Not that he didn't try some of the tamer recreational drugs, but with his demonic metabolism, they never lasted long in his system anyways.

"What naughty things are you stashing in there, Foxboy?"

"Something I've brought from the Makai. Demons use it for relaxation purposes. I'm sure your monks use it periodically. Its also better for your lungs, unlike that rat poison you've started re-inhaling back into your lungs."

Yusuke's sheepish smile didn't falter as he took another drag of his cigarette. The pair stayed silent as Kurama finished his task and bummed Yusuke lighter. The young Toushin took another tentative sniff before following Kurama's lead.

"I told you so." Kurama chuckled a few minutes later when Yusuke stretched and slid down the steps on his buttocks until he was sitting opposite the fox on the landing. "So," Yusuke said around a contented sigh as he leaned back against his folded arms to look at the night clouds. "What did that old goat have you up to all this time?"

"Politics mostly. Who's doing what? What could this rise in power or numbers mean? Finishing a map of wastelands; Buzy work."

"Rubbing it in your face that he's your boss now." Yusuke shook his head. "You should quit."

"Its not so bad." Kurama shrugged. "Just as he is gaining knowledge so am I. The more I have free reign of his stronghold the more I learn about him. I don't fully trust him, not him meb ut to be in the power he is and being a Makai Lord too boot, going against him could cost me."

"And you're enjoying that game just as much as he is, I'm sure."

Kurama gave his friend a sly smile. "I must admit that I enjoy raising past his expectations. Such as that pointless map. And that, my friend, is where connections come in handy."

Kurama always did like the sound of his own voice; as Hiei had complained about on numerous occasions. With the combination of a rough couple days added to his dirty little secret herb made the kitsune's lips positively loose.

"Connections to a swamp wasteland. Yea, Foxboy, I'm impressed."

"Yomi knew, how I don't know, that there was a Shinobi Set stationed there. He sent me to find Touya."

"Touya?" Yusuke asked, "An ice master in a swamp. Jin loves making maps, you should have found him instead."

"As a matter of fact, I did." Kurama replied. Suddenly where Yusuke had been relaxed and just about ready to fall asleep during their conversation, the young Toushin practically landed in his lap.

"How is he? Where is he?"

"He's living with Touya for the time being. Other than having a rough night of his own, he is doing well. He very much enjoyed fixing and completing that map for me."

"Rough night?" Yusuke stiffened. Kurama watched as emotions played over his friend's face. Suddenly his eyes fell to the ground. He leaned back against the steps and scrubbed at his face roughly with his hands. "He's not still puking is he? He told me that he would get that looked at."

"Don't worry." Kurama assured him, "He simply had a rough, eventful night. Jin will recover just fine in a few days."

Yusuke's mouth worked like a landed fish. Clearly he wanted to ask more, yet kept rethinking it. Kurama watched as Yusuke's face closed off and he muttered, "Its none of my business what he does at night."

"It is your business." Kurama insisted. "He is your friend and lover. Jin's well being should be important to you."

"I gave that up when I left him for Keiko."

"Its not too late." Kurama insisted. "Move back to the Makai."

"I'm not going to run out on Keiko just because things got rough. I'm not going to be a repeat of my father."

"I thought you considered Raizen your father. Aren't you running out on the territory he to you?"

"Keiko . . ." Yusuke started.

"Keiko is a human." Kurama interrupted. "She will live a human's life and produce human offspring. That alone should give you pause."

The two friends fell into a bit of a tense silence. Yusuke thinking over what he had been trying to avoid and Kurama not wanting to push his friend into not wanting to carry on the conversation. After a few minutes Kurama ventured softly.

"Do you regret coming back?"

"Yes and no." Yusuke shrugged. "Mostly I just hate myself for not being able to make her happy. Without Keiko I wouldn't be who I am today. Two days before I got hit by a car and started the whole spiral into the spirit detective gig Keiko talked me out of running away. If I would have left the city like I wanted to I wouldn't be Raizen's heir. I would be the piece of shit everybody thought I'd turn into."

"I'm not trying to make Keiko out to be a heartless bitch." Kurama said softly. "I simply don't think that the two of you are suited for each other. There are so many of us out there that owe you our lives and would follow you to the ends of the earth. Before you lower your self-worth, take a minute to think of all you accomplished on your own. I do also think that you owe it to Keiko to let her be happy. I doubt that having a husband who sleeps on the couch is what she always imagined having."

The noise of the night life of the neighborhood sounded loud in the two demons ears as their own silence grew around them. Kurama had given Yusuke a lot to think about and Yusuke had made it clear that he was through with the discussion. Kurama was content to remain silent, he was enjoying the body heat from Yusuke, who's legs were draped across his lap and the crisp fall air at this back. Lifting a foot as best he could with the extra weight across his lap, Kurama nudged Yusuke's side with his toe.

"Let's get to bed. We both have to be at work in the morning."

Yusuke nodded and slipped through the window. Kurama carefully repacked his chest, purposely taking his time and giving Yusuke time to change. By the time Yusuke reappeared in a clean pair of boxers and his stuffed duffel bag in hand Kurama was just replacing the floorboard in the closet. Next it was Kurama's turn in the washroom. His bedroom was dark when the fox finally crawled into bed. He had Yusuke pondering his words which is exactly what the fox had planned.

"Thanks a lot, Foxboy." Yusuke yawned from the other side of the bed. "For letting my bum-ass crash here for the past week. I owe you one."

"I may just take you up on that if your not careful."

"Oh yea?" Yusuke chuckled at the sultry purr in the fox's teasing tone. "And what service would you require of your willing, and owing, slave?"

"I'm like a lizard." Kurama replied with a curl of his finger. "I need something warm around me to sleep."

"Warm bodies have an effect on me, too." Yusuke chuckled sliding over and spooning against the kitsune's warm back. "Only sleeping is the last thing on my mind."

"Yes." Kurama agreed not even trying to conceal the smile in his teasing tones. "If would also appear that you have a redhead fetish. You've kissed Kazuma in a dream. You took Jin as a lover; and now you grace my bed,"

"Not to mention warm your hide." Yusuke interjected.

"Yes." Kurama laughed. "We can't forget that."

Yusuke's nose buried itself in the sweet smelling hair at Kurama's neck. "Maybe I should talk Keiko into dying her hair red." He murmured absently against Kurama's warm skin.

"Or perhaps, you should return to your redheaded lover."

Although he received no reply, Kurama could tell by his bed-mate's breathing that Yusuke remained awake long after his suggestion.

~!$%^&*()_+_)(*&^%$!~

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