I notice my fox husband's eyes welling with tears and watch him try to swallow a lump in his throat. We find a rock in the midde of the wooded plains. He sits on the rock and I kneel to the ground in front of him. Shizuru: What's the matter, dear? Kurama: Yesterday, a woman in my care died on me. Shizuru: Sorry to hear that. How did it happen? Kurama: She was just old. She was 93 years old. Shizuru: When I saw you and Saito sparring with Hiei and his son, Hiro, today, you didn't seem at all like yourself. I wondered why that was. Hiei told me he didn't feel you were putting up much effort. He said if you feel down like this, maybe you should postpone the match. Kurama: But I didn't want to let our son and his down, just because one of my patients died. Shizuru: You wouldn't let them down. You're always thinking of other people above yourself. You need time to think things through. I know how much you love your patients and when anyone dies, you need to deal with their loss. Kurama: (sniff) It's not just that. This woman left her husband behind after being together for 60 years. Tomorrow was their anniversary. I just... I invisioned her as you. Shizuru: You did. How so? Kurama: Well I saw what it will be like when we've lived together that long. You're human, you only have so long to live. When your time comes, I don't...(sniff) know what I... I don't want to live without you. I love you too much. He embraces me, burying his face into my shoulder. I place my hand on the back of his head and run my fingers through his silky hair. A warm wet sensation grows across my shoulder and spreads down my back, soaking my shirt in the process. Shizuru: I'm not going to leave you. I still am the angel, Kiyoko. She resides inside my body. I'll be with you always, long after my human body dies. I feel my own heart break, as I hold him tight. I look up at the sky, watching the rain pour down like the clouds themselves are crying for us as much as he is.