Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Night Shaded Dream ❯ Night Shaded Dream Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

Hello Dearest,

Due to some…………"gentle requests" from Lyn, I am obligated to continue adding humor in this story (but only in the parts where it is acceptable or appropriate). I didn't really want to, but since the `ever helping Lyn' is well, helping me, I have no choice. I should never have told her that these were my fics. *Sigh* I won't be writing humor for a little while now. I am in mourning over the loss of my Tay Trefenwyd, an elfin Duid from the First King of Shannara. He died. I am saddened. Anyway, enjoy the fic.

Hiten (who is in mourning)

PS: Thank you Bbsempai for correcting me on the `nee-san' `nii-san' thing. I appreciate it!

~~~~………Paragraph/Words………~~ ~~ <-dreams

*** Scene Change (usually different time with same people, or same time, different people)

* Time Change (five minutes-hours, same people)

Oh, just a warning; The first part where Kuronue is back is REALLY tacky. Please for give the dullness of it. As soon as I get some help, I'm going to rewrite it.

.

Chapter Three

***

"Kuronue! I can't believe that you're here!" Kurama said. He stared at his old partner in shock. "How is this possible?"

"I will elucidate later. Now that I am back from the dead, you and I can return to Makai to fulfil our destines Kurama!" Kuronue said as he smiled eagerly.

"Our destinies?" Kurama asked him.

"Our destinies to become the strongest demons and best thieves in Makai!" Kuronue gestured his arm to Kurama in excitement. "To live out our lives and die together," he added in a softer tone.

"But you already died," Kurama said and looked down. A single tear streaked down his face before he rose his head, no evident signs of sadness on his face. "Kuronue, I can't do as you are asking."

Kuronue stared at him, befuddled. "Why not?"

"I am no longer a thief. In fact, I am now a Rekai Tantei."

Kuronue's eyes widened for a moment, but he smiled and shook his head. "We can do other things! Tantei or not, you can still pursue power!"

"No, I………I can't." Kurama looked up at him. "I have a new life; a mother, friends………a lover."

"A what?" Kuronue asked in shock. "What do you mean `lover'?"

"He means ME," Hiei said and stepped in front of Kurama. Rage was shown distinctly on his face, his eyes blazing with hatred. "I am Kurama's steady. You aren't his boyfriend, and haven't been since you died." Kuronue's eyes blazed darkly at Hiei, but the fire-devil pain no heed. "He grieves for you still, though he has tried to detach himself from the past. Now you show up, twenty years after your apparent demise, asking him to give up his new, nobler life?" Hiei regarded the much taller man with distaste. "Who do you think you are, that you would be worth it?"

Kuronue glowered at Hiei before looking to Kurama. "Much has changed," he said and backed away slightly, "I can accept you as a human, and as a Rekai Tantei. And I can accept the fact that you no longer wish to go to the Makai. But I will NEVER accept your new lover!!"

Kuronue swiftly pulled out a scythe and threw it at Hiei, who barely dodged. Hiei drew his katana and lunged at the bat demon. Kuronue blocked Hiei's assault with one of his scythes, and the two began to battle each other fiercely.

"Kuronue! Hiei!" Kurama yelled. "Please, stop this folly!"

The two paid no heed and continued to fight. Their weapons rammed against each other, creating the sound of clashing metals to resonate through the park.

Kuronue pulled out an additional scythe from concealment under his wings and thrust it as Hiei, jabbing it into his shoulder. Blood seeped through the koorime's black attire, but the koorime paid no consideration to the laceration.

"I'm sorry, but was that an attack?" he asked the bat demon. "It was barely more than a scratch!" He raised his katana and prepared to assail Kuronue again.

"Foolish Jaganshi," Kuronue said and readied his scythes.

"Hiei, Kuronue, stop it!" Kurama cried, his voice unheard to the fighters, who were lost in the intensity of the battle.

As Hiei started to run at Kuronue, Kurama grabbed a rose from his somewhere in his hair. He used his powers to create a thorn-less whip and laced it around the two combatants. He wrapped it around their hands and torso's, and tightened the whip on them so that they dropped their weapons, and were immobile.

"Stop this now!" he shouted at them.

"Feh! Why?" Hiei said. He used his firepower to burn the opposing vine, setting him loose. The fire spread along the other side of the vine, nearing Kuronue.

"Sop it Hiei, or you'll burn him!" Kurama said. He withdrew his ki from the vine, turning it into a flaming red rose before hastily dropping it to the ground.

"Why have you interrupted our fight, koi?" Kuronue demanded of him.

"He is NOT your koi!" Hiei shouted. His ki raised dramatically and fire blazed about him.

"I will get him back from you, Hiei!" Kuronue shouted in rage. "I will have my fox, and leave you with nothing! Then I shall tear your heart out with my bare hands!!"

With that said, Kuronue spread his great wings and flew out of the park.

"Kuronue, wait!" Kurama called in vain. He watched sadly as his former lover disappeared from view. To turned to Hiei, who was bestowing him a piercing stare; a mixture of melancholy, torment, and wrath.

"Why did you save him?" he spat irefully.

"Hiei, that was my beau some twenty years ago. You can't possibly anticipate me to let you harm him!!" Kurama said, his voice rankled. "I understand if you are irked-"

"IRKED? Is that what you would say? `Irked'?" Hiei sheathed his weapon and strode up to Kurama. "I can't stand it!! I am irked!! Pissed!! Peeved!! Corybantic!! Just last night you were sobbing because of his death! He has left you in pain for twenty years, Kurama! How can you be as simple-minded as to accepting him back like this? Especially now that you have me?"

"I am not going to replace you, Hiei!" Kurama said to him.

"Whatever kitsune!" Hiei said and turned his back to him. "I'll see you at home." He left without another word.

*

Kurama made his way to their apartment twenty minutes posterior to Hiei's own arrival. The koorime was sitting on the window ledge, glaring at the sky. He ignored the kistune's entrance, passing it off as if he were merely Kazuma, or a trifling demon.

"Hiei, I am at a loss here," Kurama said after a moment's silence. Hiei gave no foretoken that he had heard, but Kurama continued heedlessly. "I don't know why or how Kuronue has transcended death, and I would like you to know that I had nothing to do with its occurrence."

"Nonetheless, you are not remorseful about the situation," Hiei said.

"I am blithe to see him again, yet sadly, his presence has brought about some inept predicaments, to say the least," Kurama said -referring to earlier that night. "It doesn't help that the both of you have a hapless reaction when it comes to possessiveness."

"I'm not possessive," Hiei muttered.

"Hiei, you should withdraw, and get some rest," Kurama suggested. "I'll sleep out here, on the divan."

"Suits me just fine," Hiei said, his words filled with spite, as he walked to the bedroom. He slammed the door, which in turn caused Kurama to let out a melancholic sigh.

"Goodnight, my Hiei," he said as he curled up on the sofa.

*

The next morning Kurama had to attend school. He quickly prepared himself a small breakfast compiled of toast and juice, and readied his bag for his classes.

"Good morn, Kurama," Hiei said as he walked into the living room. His glare had lessened during the night, yet it still portrayed the four riders; Death, Pestilence, War, Famine, and other formidable things such as pain, destruction, and pandemonium.

"Good morn, Hiei," Kurama answered, trying his best not to show the sadness he felt at Hiei's anger.

"You're going to the teenage, Ningen, torture chamber?" Hiei asked as he eyed Kurama's knapsack.

"Hai, I have school to attend," Kurama answered, smiling slightly and the quip.

"Hn."

A moment of uneasy silence passed between the two of them before Kurama checked his watch.

"I must leave now," he said.

"Fine."

"Goodbye, Hiei."

"Hn."

Feeling a deep pain at Hiei's lack of a formal or at least sincere goodbye, Kurama stepped out of the tenement.

*

School that day had been uneventful for the kitsune. He had several tests to take, and tutoring services to give. His horde of worshipers -mostly females and queer males- followed him and swooned over his every movement. Some went as far as to grope at his private areas.

He decided to take a short cut home through the park to avoid his stalkers. They were unfamiliar with his diverse route, so they slowly strayed back to their normal itinerary.

"Shuiichi!" a boy called.

Sighing, Kurama turned to address the boy. "Yes, Shinta?"

Shinta ran up to him and grinned contritely. "I'm sorry if I'm disturbing you,"

Kurama flashed him one of his prestigious `ningen counterfeit smiles' that he reserved for moments such as this. "You're not, really."

"Arima Hideaki [1] asked me to issue this message to you; a voracious, brunette tiger is on the prowl," Shinta said with a wink.

"So Arika is pillaging for her `delicious, bishounen, fish' again?" Kurama asked, begrudgingly.

"Yeah. She was last seen walking in the general direction of your house, so I'd be careful," said with a derisive grin. "Methinks you had best take the long way home."

With an exasperated sigh, Kurama sat down on the grass.

Shinta's grin turned to a look of concern and he sat down next to him. "Are you alright?" he asked.

"Yes, fine," Kurama said and waved the question off with his hand.

"This isn't solely about Arika, is it?" Shinta asked. Kurama was silent, which only gave truth to Shinta's comment. "It's hard being smart, popular and dead-sexy isn't it?"

"Yes, yes, it is," Kurama said. He laid back into the grass and listened to the voices of the plants.

Plants spoke to him in silent whispers; their voices more of a feeling or thought. Today they were happy, joyful of the rain that had given them life, and for Kurama's magic touch, which gave them health. They were blessed to have him, and were regaled in each of his visits, they said. He sighed. It was good to be appreciated, if only by his plants.

"Hellooooo-oo," Shinta said and waved a hand in front of Kurama's eyes. "Earth to Shuiichi!"

"Huh?" Kurama looked up at the boy, who was looking at him curiously.

"You spaced out for a moment there. I couldn't get a reaction out of you for nearly five minutes!" Shinta said. "What were you thinking about?"

`I was talking to plants,' Kurama said in his mind. "I was simply daydreaming," he said instead of his initial thought.

"You do that," Shinta said, noting Kurama's elusiveness. He glanced at his watch and said, "I need to leave now, or I'll be late getting home. I'll talk to you later, tomorrow. Maybe I can help you escape from Arika and her gang of boy pursuers. Ja!" Shinta waved and dashed out of the park.

"Goodbye!" Kurama called after him. `That was a pleasant visit,' Kurama thought as he made his way to his apartment. He knew that Arika would never find him; none of the girls would. They did not know that he had moved out of his mother's home nearly a year ago.

A light wind blew his hair around as he enjoyed the pleasantness of the walk home.

***

Hiei glared out the window. `Damn. Kurama should have been home an hour ago.'

The Jaganshi stood from his perch and was about to leave to search for Kurama when he heard the front doorknob rattle. He eyed the door suspiciously until it dawned on his that a key was being used, meaning Kurama was finally home.

"What took you so long?" Hiei asked when Kurama stepped through the door into the living room.

"I stopped at the park for a while and spoke with a friend," Kurama answered and dropped his book-bag on the couch.

"Hn. And?" Hiei asked.

"`And' what" Kurama asked. He pulled a hair-band from out of his pocket and put his hair into a ponytail.

"What else?"

"Nothing. We talked, and then we left."

"Right."

"You don't believe me?" Kurama asked, feeling a little hurt.

"Should I?"

"Hiei, I'm not some prostitute that sleeps with every guy I know!" Kurama proclaimed to Hiei.

"Of course not," Hiei said, a little sarcastically.

Kurama glared at Hiei. "Why don't you believe me? Is it because you weren't the first person I fell in love with?"

"How do I know you're really in love with me?" Hiei asked. "After all, Kurama is a sex freak as well as a thief. You've slept with more people than you've stolen artifacts! So tell me; how do I know you're not just using me like everyone else?" He gave Kurama a look that dared him to say he was wrong. "I bet you didn't even love Kuronue. He was just a toy to you, as well as I am. Am I right?"

Kurama starred at Hiei in horror. He gritted his teeth and hung his head. `How………could he? How could he? HOW _COULD_ HE?!'

"Well?"

"Shut up," Kurama said darkly.

"What?" Hiei asked, a little surprised.

"I said, `shut up'." Kurama looked up at him, glaring fiercely through the tears that were streaming down his face. "How dare you?"

Hiei starred as Kurama turned around and ran from the apartment, slamming the door closed.

For a moment, he did nothing. Surprised by his outburst and by the pain he had seen on his fox's face.

"You're right………How dare I?" he asked himself.

Hiei looked out the window, knowing that Kurama was probably still running. He saw a figure with red hair run around the street corner, then was gone.

Hiei sighed and strode slowly into the kitchen.

"I should never gave said such things," he berated himself and touched the tile of the counter. `Why _did_ I say that?' he asked himself. There was no reason why he should have. He felt angry with Kuronue, but he knew that Kurama had loved Kuronue, as he had loved Hiei. `How would I feel if….if Kurama had died, and come back to life? I'd be happy.' Hiei thought. `I would be ecstatic. But what if I had found someone else?'

"But there IS no one else," Hiei said aloud. He sighed, thinking that was what Kurama must've said at one point. "How can I make this up to him?" Hiei wondered in dismay.

After a moment's deliberation, he came to a conclusion.

"It's the best I can o for him at the moment," Hiei said and got to work.

***

`How could he? Why did he? Why did HE have to say that?' Kurama asked himself as he ran.

Running. He was running. Running from what? From Hiei? No, from the truth.

Something deep inside him knew that there was truth to what Hiei was saying. Not that he didn't love Hiei or Kuronue, but from the fact that he _had_ slept with nearly half of Makai. He _had_ had too many lovers to count. He had used them, killed them, raped or tortured them!

But that as it, wasn't it? Had. He HAD done all of those things. He wasn't doing it now. Still, had he truly changed? Was he a better person? How did he know that he would not do the same to Hiei?

`I don't know,' he thought as he breathing grew turned into a hard labored task and came in gasps. `I simply don't know.'

He stopped and rested in a genuflect position. After he had rested enough for his breathing to even out, he continued.

He gazed now, at the landscape that he was passing. Trees and houses flashed by him as he ran, nearly as fast as Hiei. The houses thinned out until there was none to be found.

He let his thought ponder his questionable personality, and he soon lost himself in his thoughts.

Kurama stopped when he reached the forest. He realized that he must have been running at too hastily, for he was on the verge of collapsing. His knees were weak so he walked slowly to find a nice spot to lie down.

He found one spot suitable; a clearing in the fruitful trees where his favorite flowers were growing. He lied in the center of the clearing and listened to the whispers of the forest.

`Kurama, what is troubling you?' the flowers seemed to ask him in concern.

`Love,' he answered.

The flowers ushered words of sympathy and listened to his story. They danced for him in the wind and the cherry trees released blossoms to comfort him. Kurama listened as water dripped from the trees, remnants of the recent rain, and fell onto the leaves with a soft patter. It was a comforting place to be, and he soon fell asleep in solace.

***

Hiei looked at the clock solemnly. It read 7:54 PM. Kurama had run away at 4:48 PM.

"Damn it," Hiei said, his voice cracking. Kurama had run away nearly three hours ago. Where could he have gone? A tear slid down Hiei's cheek as he once again recalled the argument.

`Why the hell did I have to say that?' he asked himself. `What kind of shallow bastard am I? I know he loves me, so why did I say that? What the hell was going through my mind?'

A knock came from the front door and interrupted his thoughts. He opened the door and found Yusuke, grinning at him.

"What's up, Hiei?"

"What do you want?" Hiei asked quietly.

Yusuke noted his tone and facial expressions and said, "I just thought I'd come see my two favorite demons that's all. What's wrong?"

Hiei glared at him before his glare turned into a whimper.

"Kurama left," he whimpered.

"He left? Why? Where?" Yusuke asked.

"He left because I'm an asshole!" Hiei shouted.

Yusuke was paralyzed as Hiei burst into tears in front of him.

"Hiei………you're seriously scaring me here," Yusuke said. "I know you're a brat, but you're NOT an asshole. Let me inside, and tell me what happened. Ok?"

Hiei tried to glare at him, but instead he nodded.

*

Yusuke made two cups of tea and sat with Hiei on the living room couch where the Jaganshi continued to cry quietly.

"So," he said and handed Hiei a cup, "What happened?"

"A consequential incident caused us to argue," Hiei said, "and I…..."

"Keep going," Yusuke pressed gently.

"I brought up his past and used it against him. You know how sensitive he is about the youko. Anyway, he……...he ran out the door………..And hasn't come back yet." Hiei's sobs increased dramatically in volume. "It's been hours, Yusuke!!"

Yusuke pulled his friend into a soft hug. "When did he leave?"

"Just before 4:45," Hiei said. He pulled himself -rather quickly- out of Yusuke's embrace and blushed slightly.

Yusuke's eyes widened. Surely, Kurama would have returned sooner that this? It had been over three hours now.

"His you-ki is low, which can mean one of two things; one; he is VERY far away, or two…. Two that he's hurt," Hiei said softly.

"I don't know what to tell you, Hiei," Yusuke said. "Let's just wait here and see if he comes back, alright?"

Hiei nodded and drank some of his tea.

***

~~~~ Kurama found himself in a lush, green field. His appearance was strange; one eye golden, the other green. His hair was long and had silver streaks flowing through red locks. He had the kitsune's ears and tail, yet was his normal height.

"What's going on?" he asked aloud. He gasped when he heard the sound of his voice; it was warped. It was as though two voices were speaking at once! Both his own, and the youko's!

He glanced over to his right when he sensed movement. The silhouettes of a short boy came into view. Kurama smiled and waved when he saw who it was.

"Hiei!" Kurama/Shuiichi called.

Hiei didn't answer him, nor give and indication that he even knew Kurama was there. He turned, and it seemed that he was waiting for someone so that he could leave.

As Kurama was about to approach him, to his left, another figure appeared. This time it was Kuronue.

"Kuronue!" Kurama called happily.

Kuronue also turned, and waited.

Kurama looked back and forth between the two of them,

`What was happening?'

A warm breeze blew suddenly through the grassland, blowing the grass and his hair in wild movements.

Choooose the wind seemed to whisper to him.

Chooose

Choose what?

Then it occurred to him. He was supposed to choose between Kuronue and Hiei; from the past and the present.

"How am I supposed to do that?" he questioned, hoping that he was wrong.

Kuronue and Hiei finally turned their backs on him and began to walk away.

"Kuronue! Hiei! Wait!" Kurama called. He turned his head frantically back and forth, trying to decide whom to go after. Each time he took a step towards one of them, the other would begin to fade away.

Kurama sank to his knees and his lovers stopped.

CHOOOSE!!

"I can't!!" Kurama screamed.

The wind died down, and when it ceased Kuronue and Hiei vanished. ~~~~~

Kurama's conscience blanked out, and he dreamed no more.

***

Yusuke glanced up at the clock. It had been hours since he had arrived, and Kurama still wasn't home.

Hiei had taken control of his emotions and gone to cook an apology dinner, then took a nap.

Feeling that it was time to find Kurama, he roused the sleeping koorime.

"Yo! Wake up, Hiei."

Hiei grumbled a foreign curse -probably one from Makai- and opened his eyes.

"It's almost 11:30pm Hiei."

Hiei's eyes widened. "Is Kurama home yet?"

"No, he's not," Yusuke answered, feeling guilty as the hopefulness left Hiei's eyes; replaced by pensiveness. "Go and looks for him. I'll stay here and wait for you, in case you need me."

Hiei nodded and headed for the window. ~~* A/N: Hiei doesn't use doors, remember? *~~

"Oh, Hiei," Yusuke called.

"Yes?" Hiei asked and turned.

"Be that as it may, Hiei, I'm glad you finally opened up to me," Yusuke said and crossed his arms behind his head as he sat on the couch.

"What do you mean?" Hiei asked, his eyes narrowing.

"You cried right in front of me. That's progress from `stupid ningen boy, see if I give a damn'," Yusuke said.

"Shut up," Hiei said as he jumped out the window, `If he went anywhere, it would have to be the park or the woods,' he thought. He ran through the city to where Kurama's ki was emanating from.

*

Hiei followed Kurama's ki fifteen miles out of the city, to the outskirts of Genkai's forest.

"How the hell did he make it this far?" he asked himself. "It's nearly twenty miles away from our house. Figures he would go to a forest though. Hn. Stupid, predictable fox."

Hiei silently thanked Kurama for his predictability.

He walked through the forest and calmed considerably. The forest was peaceful and beautiful; lovelier than it was portrayed in what was physical existence or the Hiyao Miyazaki films. It was beauty that could only be found in the imagination, yet it sill had come to be. There was no doubt that Kurama had chosen the perfect place to retreat to.

Purple and white flowers grew in the dark green grass. There were grand oak trees and berry bushes bordering a large clearing. Inside the clearing was a lake; it's waters dark blue in the night save for one spot where the moon beamed down light. The water sparkled like diamonds.

[2] Hiei starred in fascination at the enchanting view. Nowhere in all three worlds would compare to this place.

"Kurama!" Hiei called softly, for fear of disturbing the peacefulness of the clearing. He received no answer, so he continued to search. He strode to the clearing where he caught sight of the fox immediately.

His red hair was a beacon; prominent as it was sprawled about on the dark green grass. He was lying down on the cool shrubs, leaned up against a tree, his hair fanned out like a halo around his face. His eyes were closed and he seemed to be at complete inner peace; like a baby when near its mother.

`I guess plants have that effect on him,' Hiei thought.

Hiei walked silently to the fox and sat next to him. He gazed down at the fox in wonder and relief.

*

After nearly an hour, Kurama stirred and came awake. He opened his eyes slowly and looked at his surroundings.

"Holy-!" he cried and bolted up. "Dark already?!"

"It's past midnight, Kurama," Hiei said from next to him.

Kurama yelped and jumped nearly three yards in the air.

"Hiei!" he said after he caught sight of the Jaganshi. He averted his gaze quickly and took a particular interest in his shoes. They were brown? Since when did he have brown shoes? Maybe he should look at his shoes more often.

"Kurama, I'm sorry," Hiei said softly.

His shoes were---WHAT?!?! Did Hiei just apologize? Screw the shoes, this was WEIRD!

"What?" Kurama asked and studied Hiei's eyes for any sign of misinterpretation or deception.

"I'm sorry." Hiei walked slowly up to his until they were nearly touching. "I shouldn't have said those things."

"Well, you know Hiei, you were right," Kurama said. "I cannot be trusted; especially not with love."

Hiei looked at him confusedly.

"Well, you said it yourself, Hiei," Kurama said. "I only use people; deceive them, hurt them. I ended up killing Kuronue, so how do you know that won't happen again?"

"Kurama, don't believe for one moment that you were responsible for that demon's death!" Hiei said. "Don't you EVER let me degrade you like that!" Hiei said in a firm, yet pleading voice.

Kurama starred down at him in mild surprise.

"If anything, Kurama, you deserve praise! You are a top student, you're gentle, caring, and are the best person I have ever known! Kuronue's death was inevitable! I'm so sorry that I told you otherwise! Don't ever believe me! Don't ever run away!" Hiei choked and tears formed in his eyes. He hugged Kurama suddenly, tightly around the waist. "Don't ever run away," he sobbed, his voice muffled in the fold of Kurama's shirt.

Kurama starred. His shoes demanded attention at that moment, but he could not give it as Hiei's head was blocking his view.

"Please come home," Hiei mumbled into Kurama's shirt, as his head was buried in Kurama's chest.

Kurama gently hugged Hiei back, and said nothing. He pulled away from Hiei a moment later, and led him by his hand out of the forest.

***

"ABOUT TIME!" Yusuke said teasingly when Hiei and Kurama walked in their front door -very reluctantly on Hiei's part. "I've been here for over five hours!"

"Yusuke?" Kurama asked, "What are you doing here? And at this late at night?"

"I came by to visit, and you weren't here, so I waited," Yusuke said. He winked. "What took you so long to come back, Kurama?"

"I fell asleep in the woods," he said and gave him a quizzical look. "May I ask how long you have been here?"

"Long enough to know that the two of you had a fight. Something happened, imprudent things were said and the little fox ran away to Grandma's forest. Did you eat Little Red Riding Hood while you were there, Kurama?"

Kurama raised one eyebrow at Yusuke and he mouthed the words `what the hell'. Hiei gave Yusuke a shut-up-or-I'll-kill-you-because-I-don't-understand look.

"Are you accusing me of something?" Kurama asked. "Are you saying that I would eat young children?"

"No, not at all! Unless you ate those poor, three, innocent, little, pigs too!" Yusuke said and started laughing.

"What the hell are you two talking about?!" Hiei asked.

"Ningen children stories, Hiei." Kurama said and brushed off the question with his hand.

"Those timid, chicken hearted, Ningens tell their children stories about their kin and domestic animals being devoured by spirit foxes?" Hiei asked doubtfully.

"In a nutshell, yes," Kurama said and stifled a chuckle. "Yusuke?"

"Yeah?"

"I thank you for watching the house for us -though I don't see why it was necessary."

"No problem, Kurama!" Yusuke said and beamed. "I couldn't just let a devastated Jaganshi burn his kitchen down."

"Devastated Jaganshi?" Kurama asked and turned to see Hiei turn bright red. His fists were clenched and he was glaring at Yusuke spitefully.

"He was crying when you didn't come home," Yusuke said and shifted his body on the couch to a more comfortable position. "Don't bother to deny it Hiei. He would have found out sooner or later."

"Damn you, Yusuke!" Hiei shouted. He jumped into the air and dove towards the couch. Yusuke shrieked and bolted for the door.

"Anyway nice to see you Kurama! Gotta go!" Yusuke said hurriedly and quickly closed the door.

Kurama chuckled at him when he heard hurried footsteps scurry down the hall.

"So what did he mean by `burn the house down'?" Kurama asked Hiei.

"When you left," Hiei said, "I decided to try and make it up to you. I tried to bake a cake."

He stepped towards the kitchen and came back with a small, chocolate cake, roughly cut into the shape of a fox. It had three tails and red sprinkles for eyes.

"Yusuke said he would make sure it didn't burn when I left to find you," Hiei said and set his piece of work on the coffee table. "It's not much……."

"Hiei…" Kurama starred at Hiei for what seemed like an hour. Red eyes blinked back at him curiously.

"What?"

"Thank you."

"Humph. What for?"

"For worrying about me," Kurama said and smiled warmly at him. "Shall we try you torte?"

"Fine."

The two sat at the coffee table -Hiei in Kurama's lap- and ate in a comfortable silence.

After a while, Kurama said good night and left for the bedroom.

"I be there in a little while," Hiei said.

***

Kuronue walked in silence through the Makai.

`Kurama…' he thought. `How could you do this to me? Why did you have to replace me?!'

He entered Kurama's and his old hideout, a den where all of their treasures were stored. There was a grand bed, with pillows from the wealthy, and a hidden room where he put his own favored possessions. All of the artifacts, sheets, and pillows were gone; plundered from small thieves due to Kuronue's and Kurama's absence.

He stepped through the seemingly solid ivy wall to his own chamber. The tapestries, escritoire, and other various treasures were still intact. On the desk there was the paper that he had written to Kurama. The music box and his pendant were gone.

"Since everything else is still here I assume Kurama took heed to my final wish," Kuronue said with a smile. "But how can I get him away from that despicable, koorime, half-breed?"

An idea came to him, and Kuronue decided to act on it.

***

Hiei was brewing himself some hot cocoa when his muscles tightened, and his body froze. Fear rose from the depths of his heart. He dropped his cup and whirled around to face the bedroom door.

A strong, bat demon you-ki was emitting power in the berth. He grabbed his sword from the living room and stood next to the door. He could hear music, but nothing else. Drawing his katana, he opened the bedroom door.

Music filled the room; a lovely, minor aria. Kurama was lying in the air, unconscious, and a blue ki was surrounding him. Demons with the likeness of snakes wrapped themselves around the fox, suspending him in the air. A few of the snakes looked like they were passing in and out Kurama's body.

"KURAMA!!" Hiei shouted. "WAKE UP!!"

Kurama instantly jerked and opened his eyes. The moment he did so, the you-ki dissipated, leaving the fox to fall. Kurama yipped in pain [3] as he landed on the floor with a loud thud.

Hiei dashed to his side as Kurama let out a moan. He was shivering incorrigibly and was as pale as a bloodless corpse. Grabbing the heaviest blanket in the house, Hiei wrapped it around the fox and hugged him close to his body. He rocked back and forth waiting for the quivering breaths to even out.

Kurama eventually inhaled deeply then coughed. His shivers were not as violent, but were nevertheless discomforting. He sagged deeper into Hiei's arms as his strength gave out.

Hiei noticed that the music box had fallen off of the escritoire onto the floor. The lid had closed, and the music had ceased. `It must've been knocked down by one of those demons. I think those were Shinidamachu……..' Hiei thought..

"H-Hiei?" Kurama asked in a shaky voice.

"Yeah?"

"What just happened?"

"A demon tried to kidnap you. I'll give you one guess who," Hiei said in a huff.

"Karasu?" Kurama asked weakly.

"No, it was Kuronue! I sensed his ki from the kitchen. Erroneous as it may sound, he may be trying to kill you," Hiei said. Kurama starred at him in shock, so he continued. "Those demon were Shinidamachu, soul gatherers for the underworld and for disgruntled spirits [4]."

"Oh," Kurama said and sank deeper into Hiei's arms. Kurama was too tired to take understanding to the seriousness of the situation. Hiei wondered if Kurama had even heard his answer

"Go to bed," Hiei said when Kurama's eyes drooped. "I'll keep watch for any other attempts to intrusion."

Kurama fell asleep before Hiei was through speaking. While grumbling at the inconvenience of having a one-hundred-thirty-pound [5] youko fall asleep in your lap, Hiei lifted Kurama onto the bed.

"You should consider dieting, Fox," Hie grumbled.

Hiei sat next to the bed and didn't move for the rest of the night.

***

Hiei poked Kurama in the side. "Wake up, kitsune."

"Nn." Kurama rolled onto his stomach and groaned. "No."

"What is it that you say? Oh yeah, `rise and shine'!" Hiei said and poked him again.

"You rise. You shine," Kurama hissed and buried his face deeper into the pillows.

"Not a morning person?" Hiei asked.

"I like mornings, but this is the middle of the night," Kurama said, deliberately ignoring the sunlight, which filled the room.

"Would it change anything if I said that you were an hour late for school?

Hiei didn't even have enough time to blink before Kurama was sitting upright in the bed, glaring at him. The glare was so intense and unnerving that it caused Hiei to sweat-drop.

"And just WHY didn't you tell me?" Kurama asked in a calm and dark voice. Frankly, it scared Hiei half to death.

"Because I was lying," Hiei said. "You don't have school today. You're on spring break."

Kurama's glare darkened -if that was at all possible- and he stretched.

"I am ti------red!" Kurama complained as he flopped back down into the bed.

"That's none of my concern," Hiei said nonchalantly.

"You're just a brat," Kurama said and slammed a pillow onto the side of Hiei's face.

"I know," Hiei said.

The two boys smiled at each other before Kurama reluctantly got up and excused himself to go take a shower.

***

Kuronue walked around Makai aimlessly. Nothing seemed compelling to him. He could only continue to ponder about Kurama. His soul gatherers had done him no good. What else was an option? He then slipped into a state of denial. The situation was absurd.

"No way did Kurama supplant me!"

`He must've been brainwashed by that foolhardy, Jaganshi!' Kuronue thought. `I will kill this `Hiei' and get my beloved Fox back.' Kuronue nodded his head and headed for the Ningenkai.

"I won't let you get away, Hiei."

***

[1] *Lol* The original name for `Arima Hideaki was Arima Soujiro. Then while surfing for Kare Kano images, it dawned on me that Arima Soujiro was one of the main characters for Kare Kano. Oops! I had to change so it didn't confuse anyone. So for lack of other ideas, I changed the name from Soujiro to Hideaki, Soujiro Arima's best friend (not counting Yukino of course).

[2] I hope in your imagination the forest is as pretty as it is in my mind. If I could even manage to draw it on paper (it's way to pretty for my talents) then I would show you all. I swear! It's like heaven! I could die happy there.

[3] YIPPING!! Lyn and I wanted to make sure that he yipped, like the fox his is. The reason; I dropped the phone on my foot and she said that I was yipping in pain. I drop the phone a lot. -_-0

[4] I am not clear on the exact mythology of Shinidamachu. I only know that Kikyo uses them in the Inuyasha series. I would have to say mine was a well educated guess though. I mean, Kikyo is a disgruntled spirit bent on revenge for previous perfidies done to her.

[5] Anyone know Kurama's weight? I guessed here, since he really doesn't seem that heavy.

Okay, okay, I know. This chapter is not as interresting as I hoped it would be. The next time Kuronue comes to call, it will be intense! There will be a big fight and other stuff that I'm not gonna tell you about (NYAH NYAH!!). We will make problems for Hiei as soon as I can think of somehing to do to him. One humor scene to come will involve the Cell Block Tango and a very intimidated Hiei. =~_^=

DO NOT EXPECT CHAPTER 4 TO COME SOON!!! I have twenty-one ideas for stories, plus an assignment for Creative Writing Club. Sorry, but being an overachiever, school comes first.

I WANT YOUR OPINIONS!!!! Do you think this fic is any good? Does it need anything? Does it have too much or too little humor? I AM going to write more angst (there will eventually be chapters with NO humor AT ALL). I really need to know so you all will enjoy my fic.