As is the case in most families - human, demon, or otherwise - sibling rivalry will rear its ugly head at some point or another. The Kurama-Hiei family were not immune to such a natural occurrence and the two touchan had just about all they could handle with their demon brood of youngsters. The rivalry part wasn't quite as bad, however, as was the endless need to "tattle". The twins, Rami and Hi, who separately had been reporting every nuance of existence their older brothers were embarking upon, suddenly realized that four eyes could see and report back better than two, so they joined forces. And if one tattler was bad, "team tattling" became a nightmare, even by Makai standards.
Kurama had taken the twins on a berry-picking excursion in hopes of instructing them on why tattling wasn't such a good thing, in sort of a calm and quiet environment. The twins loved to go on "explores" with their youko touchan; he always found the coolest things while they were wandering the hills and valleys of the Makai forest. So as Kurama-touchan explained how nobody likes to be tattled on, and how would they feel if Yoji and Ryu were constantly telling this or telling that, the twins quietly glanced at each other, plotting.
They had traveled a little farther then expected and both twins, still being what humans would call the pre-school age, had gotten quite tired and needed a nap. Kurama, who loved nothing better to do than stretch out in the sunshine for a quick siesta, found a shady spot that was secure from curious demons and conjured up a little extra moss as a soft bedding for all of them to lie down on. Rami snuggled up near Kurama's chest while Hi rested his head against Kurama's hip, holding him firmly about the waist. The youko touchan wrapped his left arm around his musume's shoulders, her silver mane tumbling softly over his skin, and his right arm securely wrapped around his musuko's little shoulders. He smiled and sighed deeply as he closed his eyes. Yes, this fatherhood thing was a snap, he thought to himself proudly as he drifted off to sleep.
A gentle rustling of leaves brought Kurama out of his deep sleep, as he sensed Hiei's approach. The Koorime had wondered what happened to the more mischievous half of his offspring when he set out to look for them. He knew the general direction Kurama would be heading and followed his family's scent until he found the sleeping beauties peacefully snuggling under a large Makai oak. He squatted down and tilted his head to the side to gaze at the wonderful vision his family made. Children have a funny way of looking like angels when they sleep, Kurama once explained to Hiei. That way when they act like devils when they're awake you get an opportunity to forgive them. Hiei couldn't help but smile as he looked down at his sleeping youko and two devilettes. Even Kurama, if it was possible, looked more beautiful when he was sleeping. Hiei gently brushed a few silver strands away from the kitsune's brow as Kurama slowly opened his eyes. Kurama inhaled the delicious fragrance around him and began to stretch; he had added a few extra flowers while he was camouflaging their hiding place, simply because it looked and smelled nicer that way. Hiei leaned down and kissed his life-partner on the lips, eliciting a soft moan of pleasure in response from his fox. Rami began to wiggle and yawn, feeling Hiei's body brush against hers.
"Would you guys make-out later? I'm still tryin' to sleep," Rami yawned, snuggling tighter into Kurama's body. Hiei and Kurama looked at each other with rather wide eyes.
"Make Out?", Hiei asked, looking down at his miniature youko. "Where the heck did you learn that expression?" He looked back up at Kurama who was biting his lip in an effort not to crack up.
"I heard Yoji use it last week when we visited Aunt Yukina and Uncle Kuwabara's house," Rami sighed, rolling over onto her other side, taking Kurama's arm and wrapping it around her body.
"Why did Yoj...." Hiei began to ask when his fox interrupted.
"Hiei," Kurama whispered, "remember, we don't approve of tattle-tales. If Yoji used this expression I'm sure he had a good reason."
"Yeah," Hi said with his own yawn and stretch. "He asked Kori if she wanted to."
Both sets of demon parent's eyes popped open.
"Nani?" they chorused.
"Hi, we weren't 'sposed to tell!" Rami said as she turned and frowned at her twin. "Touchan's don't like tattle tellers."
Kurama sat up and stared at his lover, who was slowly beginning to fume. The twins each rubbed their little fists in their sleep-filled eyes but kept a tight hold on their youko touchan.
"I give you...permission...to tell me what happened at Aunt Yukina's house last week," Kurama said in his best parent voice, trying very hard not to laugh.
"Well," Rami began as she fiddled with the sash that held up her kitsune-father's pants, "we were all playing in Kori's room when Yoji wanted to know if she wanted to play a special game with him. He called it 'make out' and said it was what Aunt Yukina and Uncle Kuwabara do, and it's what you and Hiei-touchan do all the time."
"Yeah," Hi joined in, "and when me an' Rami asked if we could play, too, Yoji said we were too little, and if we told we'd get in trouble."
Kurama snorted a loud chuckle and put his hands to his mouth as he began to giggle uncontrollably.
"Shit," was all Hiei could think to say. Kurama began to laugh out loud.
"Well, we told them not to tattle!" Kurama laughed as he began to rise, brushing some of the moss from his pants. The kids mimicked him, all the while staring at each other with what one would think was a twinkle in their eyes.
"I think I better go have a talk with our young Romeo." Hiei grumbled, and he left quickly to search out his - at least for the moment - eldest child. "I'll meet you guys back home." And with a glance of disbelief to his lover, he was gone.
"We'd better get going ourselves," Kurama said, looking around for the baskets of berries. "Who needs a ride?" Kurama stretched out his arms for his innocent little darlings with a huge smile.
"I do! I do!" both twins squealed in delight as Kurama gathered them up into his arms, one child resting on each hip, each holding a basket full of berries.
"I hope you learned your lesson about how it's not nice to tattle," the youko said softly, kissing each twin on the nose. "But, remember, you can tell Hiei-touchan and me important things when you need to."
"Oh, we promise we will!" Rami said with a smile to her brother, snuggling into their touchan's shoulder as Kurama began the long walk back home.
"We will," Hi chimed in, and with their free hands behind their touchan's back gave each other a quiet high-five.
The End
Copyright 1998 Julie Farel
Standard YYH disclaimer! The kits belong to Julie.