The Makai Market had been particularly crowded that morning. So many demons coming and going; every possible size, shape, and color imaginable. Many were in heated discussions over the fairness of prices, loan disagreements, and general commodities talk (the price of seaweed had taken an enormous jump after the last typhoon and the sellers of seaweed cigarettes were taking quite a hit, both in the pocket book and in the face).
The Kurama/Hiei family had gone to the market to trade for something a little more feminine for Rami to wear. She had fallen in love with one of cousin Kori's dresses and wanted one of her own, and she didn't want to wait for Kori to outgrow it. The "boys", being the little demon gentlemen that they were, decided to help their sister out, so they gathered as many rare mushrooms as they could carry to use as barter for a pretty dress. Besides, if they didn't help out, the touchan had promised to make life somewhat unpleasant for a while. Kurama spoke to them about the chivalrous aspects of assisting a damsel in distress, and Hiei spoke to them about how they wouldn't be able to sit down for a week if they didn't do what they were told. Ah, the differences in parenting!
After finding just the right outfit, a kawaii little number in pale blue that set off Rami's silver mane and tail, the family decided to have a light lunch while sitting under some large Makai oaks that had survived the storm. The testosterone-driven younger members of the family were off dismembering some poor, helpless demon-critter with their flame-throwing touchan while the softer members of the family were quietly bonding. The hustle and bustle of the market seemed to have upset Rami. She listened intently to all the different noises and conversations going on around her. Once in a while a group of demons would put their heads together, figuratively - not literally, and whisper to each other and point at the K&H family. Being adults, K&H could ignore unnecessary sounds and just concentrate on who they were talking to. But little Rami took in everything, and some conversations disturbed her. She'd grasp a little tighter to Hiei's hand or Kurama's tail as they walked through the musty stalls and booths that made up the Market. Yes, she noticed everything.
A few months before this excursion, Kurama had begun teaching his musume-kit some of her first botany lessons and her favorite classes were those that included daisies. Kurama had taught Rami how to make daisy-chains and her plump little fingers actually were quite good at it. She just couldn't end the darn things so her chains tended to be acres long. Kurama was sitting with his little youko in the shade with his arms wrapped around his knees as his miniature youko was standing behind him making daisy-chain braids intertwined into his hair. He had a crown of flowers on the top of his head, but he didn't care. The feeling of someone playing with his hair was very relaxing and he made the mistake of closing his eyes. He was getting sleepy in the sun and didn't hear the soft giggling going on behind his back. He almost fell asleep when he detected a familiar ki approach.
"Hn," the silhouetted figure, with it's hands on it's hips, chuckled. Kurama shielded his eyes from the sun and squinted up at the speaker.
"You look like that Medusa-creature you told about in one of your school stories," Hiei snorted as he sat down next to his life-partner, staring at him with an eyebrow raised. "'Cept I don't remember it having that many flowers growin' out of it's head." Rami covered her mouth as she giggled.
"Shush, Hiei", Kurama smiled, closing his eyes and leaning his head back again. "Don't you know style? This is how all the demons will be wearing their hair next season."
"Well, you look a little odd with all those braids, kitsune."
"I think touchan looks nice," Rami scolded her Koorime touchan. "I don't care what other demons say." And she pouted as she began to slowly remove some of the flowers.
Kurama opened his eyes and looked over his shoulder. Hiei had laid back onto the grass and put his hands behind his head as a pillow, crossing his ankles, ready for a snooze.
"What's the matter, sweetie," Kurama asked his daughter. "You can play with my hair if want to..."
"It's nothin'," Rami replied, rather uncharacteristically quiet. "It's just that....well...nothin'."
Kurama turned around to face Rami as Hiei opened his eyes and looked, too. Rami was twirling some of the daisies in her fingers as she chewed on her lower lip. She wanted to say something but was having difficulty figuring out how to say it.
"Did someone say something to you in the Market today, Rami-chan?" Kurama touched her on her hip as he looked up into her little frowning face, his own face full of concern.
"Well...it's just that....well, I heard these two demons talking and they were saying some mean stuff about you and Hiei-touchan."
"What kinda' mean stuff?" Hiei asked, sitting up.
"They said you two looked weird together and they shook their heads and said that it wasn't natural."
Kurama raised his eyebrows and looked at his husband. Hiei frowned and then looked away. He saw Rami's twin brother Hi chasing something into the brush while Yoji and Ryu attempted to incinerate it with their underdeveloped ki. He inhaled deeply through his nostril, letting the air leave his body slowly. He looked back at Kurama. Kurama rubbed him on the knee then looked back at his offspring.
"These demons who said this...they were pointing at us?"
"Hai."
"Did this make you feel bad?"
"Hai." Rami's finger went to her mouth and she leaned her body into Kurama's. He reached around and gently rubbed her tail.
"What do you think, Rami-chan? About touchan and me?" Kurama asked his child but looked at his lover. Hiei seemed to be holding his breath, waiting for the reply.
"They said they couldn't figure out how such a tall silver Youko could be mates with such a runty dark Koorime and that they would never have married either of you guys 'coz you both look so different and that you must be weird.
Hiei snorted.
Kurama bit his lip in an effort not to smile.
"But I just stuck my tongue out at them and made a face like this **Rami demonstrated this fierce expression that included fingers coming out the ears and crossed eyes** and they turned and left really, really mad. I think they also said something about bein' rotten parents 'coz I made such a mean face at them."
Hiei closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead as he began to chuckle softly. Kurama stared at his mate, trying to suppress his own laughter. He then took Rami's hands into his and smiled up at her.
"I think you did the right thing, kawaii-hito. It's not nice to hear mean things about people, especially those we love. Arigatou for being so nice and brave." *Yeah, considering demons separate your head from your body if you just look at them funny* Hiei thought. Kurama affectionately patted Rami on the bottom.
"Well, I'd marry you guys 'coz I love you both and I don't care what you look like." Rami gave her two touchan each a tight hug and kiss, and then ran off to join her niisan.
Kurama sighed as he re-hugged his legs, resting his chin on his knees. Hiei crawled over and sat down next to his strangely tressed youko and began to remove daisies from his mane. Kurama turned his head so his cheek rested on his knees and smiled at his partner.
"They're growing up so fast, Hiei," Kurama sighed wistfully, his eyes twinkling. "Soon they'll be killing demons all on their own."
"I'm not runty. I'm just not tall."
"Did I say anything?"
"Well, I just wanted to make that clear."
Hiei took the last of the flowers out of Kurama's hair and gently stroked over the tangled silver. He leaned back and looked at the mass of braids.
"It's gonna' take you hours to get them out, ya' know."
"That's ok. I have a certain little hairdresser I like to use who'll help me," Kurama winked. "Let's get the litter together, Hiei. Rami-chan'll want to try on her dress about a hundred times." The two demons got up and headed towards where the kittens were. Kurama started to run on ahead and looked back over his shoulder, braids flying in every direction.
"Race ya' home, ya' little runt!"
With Hiei's mouth hanging open in an attempt to growl a response, Kurama had gathered up a squealing set of demon twins and raced on ahead. Hiei shook his head, and together with his older sons, raced after them.
The End
Copyright 1998 Julie Farel
Standard YYH disclaimer.