10 Years of Waiting

by Kurohi Tatsaki

Day 1 - Hiei's Return

Disclaimer: I don't own YYH, but I do own a certain character near the end of this chapter! If you wanna use 'im e-mail me first!

Warnings: sThough I think this particular chapter would be PG-13 because there is a little blood and a swearword or two. This story is Yaoi! Male/Male relationships/romance! Don't like it? Then leave. Like it? Then I do hope you enjoy.

"speaking" thinking noise /quoted things in speech/ emphasis

Kurama's roses always smell best in Ningenkai's spring. Why am I here in Ningenkai? What else do you think, hn? Mukuro decided to let me off early to at least witness Keiko and Yusuke's wedding, though I never got to see Yukina wed that idiot she likes... but it should be okay as long as she's happy. But if that baka hurts Yukina, I cannot describe what I'll do to him! Just suffice it to say he'd be in a lot of pain - "a lot" being an understatement.

Come to think of it, it's been... a little more than ten years since I last saw any of them... even Yukina.

Hiding most of my ki, I flit to my familiar tree branch just outside of the fox's window. I crouch down and rest as I land. The scent of roses tickles my nose gently. Ultimately, I am eagerly drawn to it.

This tree I use has been used often, but not in a long, long time. Though, I can still see the scuffmarks I left over from previous visits. For that, I am a bit proud that I made an impact on the fox somehow.

I turn my head toward the clear pane that separates Kurama's room from this sturdy branch out here.

Hn. It seems the kitsune's resting on his bed, eyes closed. His long, red hair is in his face, delicately caressing his brow and jaw. Dark, long lashes veil green eyes that have been cast in the shadow of sleep. He doesn't even notice me at all, even with the meager amount of ki I'm letting slip through. He's gotten careless lately. Who would have thought that the most alert, cunning fox demon has dropped his guard so much? As Youko, his reputation and life would be at stake. If I weren't his friend, I'd probably get the drop on him.

Kh. The window's closed. Not that it really matters. I can always slip in and wait for him to wake... or I can tap on the window and make him get up. Long ago, I wouldn't hesitate like this about something as simple as opening a window. Even if it were locked, I sometimes broke it open, sending Kurama into flurry of smooth lies to his ningen mother about how some kid threw a rock through the window, or something of that kind.

...I think I'll just slip in myself. Just like old times...

I reach the window and try to slid the pane up. It doesn't budge even with my grip. Che... it's locked from the inside. Actually, I could use more force, but I'd wind up busting the entire window off the wall. I guess I have to tap, though I am still reluctant to do so, even though my mind is completely made up.

tk, tk, tk, tk...

His eyes snap open, lovely green, just like the leaves and stems of the roses he loves so much. Those orbs dart to the window, widen, and he quickly stands up to let me in. I get a good view of his chest and abdomen because his white shirt has been unbuttoned... and why am I staring! Hiei! Get your eyes off there!

In response, I close my eyes a moment to recollect myself. Why do I think in such a way? I probably shouldn't, but such thoughts bring me a mild level of contentment, so I guess I'll continue.

I hear clicks and other noises of the like as he fiddles with the lock rather frantically and heaves the pane open. I slip in after he quickly moves aside. I stand beside him. He doesn't close the window.

He turns to me and cries, "Hiei...! You're back!" He suddenly embraces me about my upper back, burying his head against my shoulder.

My body is assaulted by sensations. First pleasure, then a higher level of contentment, and then something else I cannot identify. After I recover from my shock, I slowly return the embrace. "Hn."He's overjoyed to see me... Come to think if it, I am, too... ...but I don't let that show on my face. Carefully, I keep it blank. What would he do if I were to show him just how pleased I am to see him?

"And just in time for Yusuke-"

"And Keiko's wedding," I interrupt. "Hai, I know. Mukuro let me off since things are decent in Makai," I say, smirking my trademark "cocky smirk".

"For how long?" he asks. He withdraws from me and sits on the bed, probably expecting me to do the same. I pause at this unspoken invitation and stare at the bed blankly. It looks half as welcoming as the fox's arms, but...

Then, something seems to catch Kurama's eyes, and said eyes dart across my form. I can pretty much tell what he's looking at, but I shove my uncertain feelings into a dark corner of my mind.

"A month," I reply after what it seems like an eternity. I honestly wasn't expecting this kind of reaction from my best friend.

He still seems to be preoccupied with something else: my body. I don't blame him. After all, he's a Youko. He's THE Youko Kurama: expert thief and the most sensual and seductive demon/Reikai Tantei in all the three worlds. The fox pauses before wetting his full lips and asking, "...Hiei?"

"Nani?" I ask, for once, looking down at him with my almond-shaped red eyes.

He stands up, and quickly compares myself to him. He takes one long hand and touches it to the top of my white hair strands and brings it, as evenly as he can, toward himself.

According to his measurements, the top of my head comes to his chin.

"You've gotten taller..." he murmurs, slight surprise evident in his voice.

I show fang with a small smirk. "So, you've finally noticed," I chide in a fake tone. I am definitely not scornful to him right now. How can I be? It's been too long.

Hesitantly, he grips some my ebony hair behind my head, still bound in white wrappings. My hair has grown very long, and is now three-quarters as long as his fiery-red strands are now. The strands slide with fluid-like grace between his fingers, but, for whatever reason he thinks of, he catches them again and repeats the process. I close my eyes into the sensation and desperately hold back a shiver as the fox gently, sensuously, yanks the tendrils of hair he holds and lets fall from his grasp in a continued process. "...I was... wondering when you'd get back..." he whispers, almost to himself. Has he gone insane in my absence or something? He never did this... I don't understand! All I did was come back!

Opening my eyes, I gently pry his fingers from my hair, my grip still lingering on the intruding hand. My fingers hold onto his palm as my thumb secures his hand by the back of it. "Fox... you're scaring me," I murmur.

Kitsune, what are you up to? I don't understand! All I did was come back! What could possibly make you so happy?

"But isn't the wedding tomorrow or something?" I continue.

He - reluctantly? I'm pretty sure he was reluctant! His eyes dimmed slightly - pulls away from me and nods. "Hai, Hiei," he replies gently. "Two days... Oh, I know this might sound odd of me, but would you mind coming with me to get us both some last-minute tuxedos for this grand occasion? I kind of... haven't been up to it until recently."

I can tell. Your sadness from earlier is all over this room. You can notice it, can't you?

Anyway, shopping? Well... "Then could we get some sweet-snow later?" I ask eagerly, a smirk coming back to my mouth.

This makes him laugh. Inari, he sounds so beautiful when he laughs... Wha! Did I just think that!

Well, I counter myself, it's true.

"Hah hah... yes, Hiei. But only if you go shopping with me first," he says in a "parent-negotiating-with-child" tone.

"Only if I get my sweet-snow later!" I insist.

...I sound like a kid and I know it. Kh. The hell with it! It'll be like old times! I'll do anything for that!

Hell, I've only grown about two inches in such a long span of time. I'm still, er-hem... vertically challenged. After all, I'm only 5'2"...ish, and only come two inches higher from his chest. So, it's more like we're eye-to-collar-bone instead of eye-to-chest. Not much of an improvement, but nevertheless, the kitsune seems relieved to see me.

"Okay, Hiei. We'll get your sweet-snow after our shopping."

My face breaks out into a full-fledged grin. Well, he sure knows how to convince me!

"Well, Hiei, what do you think? Gray or black?"

"Hn. Why are you asking me, fox? You know I like black. Why don't you wear the gray? You're the one who usually wears grays and whites, anyway."

He smiles at my comment. "But you look so NICE in grays and whites!"

Kh. "Nice" reads "cute" in large, bold, and italicized red letters. I'm not supposed to look cute! "Hn. Gray for silver kitsune, black for fire demon!" I retort. "You know me better than that!" I growl in a somewhat teasing manner.

"Oh, okay," he answers with a soft smile. "Hiei. My mistake, you definitely look better in black," he says, holding the suit up near my body to see how it might fit or look. "...It looks about your size. Try it on. Once you're through, I'll go."

I don't know why I agreed to this... oh, that's right, the sweet-snow! SWEET-SNOW! "Hn," I concede. I take the stupid piece of clothing and leave to go change. The sooner we're done here the sooner I can eat my sweet-snow.

I watch as your back retreats into the changing room. I long to touch you again, even if it's just your hair, or even your shoulder. I don't care where too much, but just, that I want to touch you again.

Why did you leave so quickly, Hiei? I thought that... No, no Kurama. No good to think about that...

...At least I had the memories to dwell on until your sudden return. I had long since started locking my window, because each time, whether I didn't, or did, you never passed through it, anyway. Even when I left it wide open for you to access my room without having to go through any barriers whatsoever, you never came.

...You never came.

Even when it rained, I left it opened. I was very lucky not to fall ill. There were several instances, mostly in the fall and winter. But, I couldn't NOT leave it open! I thought you might drop by...

But you didn't.

Until now.

I look at the suit in my hand. Gray for silver fox, huh? Well, it really doesn't clash... except maybe a little with my hair, but I've worn gray enough, and Yusuke and Keiko will not mind.

Hiei has gotten taller, and his hair's almost as long as mine! However, he's kept the white starburst of hair just as short as it always was, including his bangs. It's just the ends where it's long and locked in a ponytail. His ruby eyes have gotten a little more expressive over the years. I can actually tell a little better when he's happy or relieved - not that I couldn't to begin with.

When I couldn't, it was always a fun challenge to tell what it was he was thinking or feeling. Back then, I didn't have to try.

Now, I have to remember how. It's been ten years since I've ever seen his face.

Oh, here he comes. He looks at me as expectantly as he dares. I gaze at his form and nod once. "You were right, Hiei. Black for the fire demon."

He... he's smiling at me now! He only did that, maybe once before he left for ten years, and again at home a bit ago...

I close my eyes against the memories, then open them again, indicating that he should change back into his attire (I made him wear the Ningenkai clothes I had him purchase ten years ago – they still fit, believe it or not. I guess, even though he grew, they were long enough to last). After a moment, he comes back out and I proceed to change, myself...

I quickly strip my shirt, shoes and pants. My own body catches my eye and I smile lightly. My body structure has matured, and I look a little more masculine, but I still look very feminine - especially around the chest and hips.

I throw on the tuxedo as quickly and as professionally as I can in a short time. I look myself in the mirror and twist around in the suit.

...Well, it fits nicely enough. Let's see what Hiei thinks.

I exit, looking straight at him. His red gaze flits quickly over the tuxedo I am wearing. "Well, Hiei?" I ask. "What do you think?"

"I was right. Gray for the silver kitsune," he says. He seems proud of himself about that observation. Then again, Hiei is always a proud creature.

No, not creature... a god.

I chuckle. "Yes, you were right. Okay, I'll pay for this. Just let me get out of this tux real quick. Then, we can go out for sweet-snow," I reassure.

He says nothing as I go back into the changing room, pulling the drapes closed behind me. I look into the mirror on the wall one more time. Damn, I look good. Hiei wasn't kidding. Wait... since when did he have fashion sense?

...Probably since now.

I chuckle softly.

It's good to have you back, Hiei.

Very good.

"Do you like your sweet-snow, Hiei?" I ask. I want to know whenever he's pleased or not.

He looks up from his ice cream perched atop the cone. He raises one eyebrow (I can tell because his bandana shifts upward on one side) in reply, as if to say, "What kind of question is that?" and goes back to demolishing his ice cream.

It's always slightly humorous as he eats the sweet mixture of flavor and sugar. Sometimes, he gets some ice cream where he doesn't want it, and then he fights to get every last drop, because, in his childhood, I imagine it was difficult to seize food to last even a few hours.

Sipping thoughtfully on my vanilla shake, my mind wanders to ten years ago yet again. Yeah, there was a party.

A Karaoke contest, to be precise. It was us boys against the girls. Yusuke hadn't minded being temporarily left-out as Hiei, Kuwabara and myself sang Eye To Eye. Heh heh... Hiei actually had seemed to be enjoying it. Especially the, "I can get you" "You can get me" part.

Oh, and I loved it when he sang Marazashi no Aria. That song left me thinking, and it gave me a bit of insight about him even though I already know a bit about him.

Gods, Hiei. Do you know how much information that song you sang so beautifully gave me?

...Does he know that I love him? And I know that if I ask him just that, he'll probably leave again. No, scratch that – he WILL leave if I ask that. I don't want that. I never wanted that. I never asked for the loneliness I felt day-in and day-out ever since he left. I won't be able to stand yet another separation. It is in our wild, Youko nature to be around the ones we love - especially our mates...

...But Hiei isn't my mate...

Then again, he DID return, just like he said he would.

"What are you staring at, Kurama?" a deep voice asks. I blink, realizing that although I wasn't seeing anything, my eyes had landed on Hiei's face, and had been idly tracing it. I blink and gaze a little more certainly and with more focus at his inquiring face.

"...Nothing, Hiei. I was... just lost in thought for a while there. Sorry."

He frowns a little. Perhaps at my apology? Either way, that frown can look cute and scary all at once.

"Just like you were when I paid visit earlier today," he says. It sounds like he's chiding me. "You couldn't even sense my ki, and I didn't even mask all of it," he says a little contemptuously.

"Gomen ne, Hiei," I apologize yet again. "Had I known you were coming, I would have been wide awake and left the window even wider open." I feel bad about not leaving the window open, but how was I supposed to know Hiei would arrive at my house today? I may be a Youko who can predict moves, but I'm no psychic.

"Hn," he replies. "At least, if you close the window, leave it unlocked. At least then I can get in without disturbing you."

I blink. Hiei was being considerate, or at least attempting to be? Wow, is that a first, or what? "Sorry, Hiei," I say. "Even when I normally just closed the window, you never came, so I kind of lost the habit... I mean, you know, with such a long absence..." I reasoned. I missed you... "...I kind of forgot the habit..."

"Hn. So how hard did that habit die?" he asks slightly jokingly. He seems completely not bothered by the fact that I closed and locked the window. Now he's making conversation? Damn, he's changed a lot.

"It took almost three years..." I say softly. Some of me relives those moments of loneliness, expecting the red-eyed demon to come through that window with the little frown on his face. He usually came when there was a storm and he would enter my room, soaking wet and to the bone. The fire demon would shed his boots, scarf, sword, and cloak. By then, I would already have some spare clothes in the bathroom waiting for him, and he would change in there. Although I wished to gaze upon his nude form, I knew he was no exhibitionist, and would not appreciate my gazing upon him at a time like that. In the meantime, I'd have his wet clothes in the dryer, which would be dry a bit before the storm passed.

For which, he'd usually be grateful, and say something snide like, "I could have dried them faster without your stupid ningen machinery. Oh well."

On normal days, he would drop by just for the hell of it, I always assumed. He would be silent for a time as I did my homework near the window from which he came. Perched upon the sill - and sometimes, without his boots on, perched on my bed - he would usually comment with something like, "Why do you DO all that? You have enough knowledge to outsmart the whole stupid school! After all, you ARE over five-hundred years old!"

"If I don't, my grades will drop and 'kaasan will think I need assistance," I reply smoothly, looking up at the demon from my chair. "which means I get less time up in here. Neither of us would want that, right?"

"Hn. Whatever."

But... one day, we had that same conversation about my homework. He was perched on the edge of my bed, hair waving gently in the breeze through the open window. He hadn't removed his boots, so they rested on the carpet. The fading sunlight couldn't cast very good shadows because of the overhead light I had turned on a short time earlier, making the Jaganshi's face all the more brighter, and his eyes shine with great intelligence.

"I'm going soon," he uttered suddenly. His tone, monotonous as it was, seemed... reluctant. As if he just HAD to say that, or else he'd hate himself later. So unlike him...

I had sat up and turned around full-body to face him. My stomach lurched uncomfortably at his serious tone, though his voice always carried that air of seriousness.

But this was different - he had a greater degree of it.

"Why, Hiei?" I asked.

He gave me a look of downright seriousness to match his tone of voice, red eyes lazily piercing my own green ones. I let them, for this, I had thought at the time, would probably be the last and final time I could look him in the eye. "Mukuro needs me back. We might go to war."

"Oh..." I sighed. I hoped it wasn't a war against Yomi, which was a side I was committed to. Yomi had been my useless partner back in my days as Youko Kurama. He was always in trouble, and I always had to save him, so I had played a trick on him. Since I didn't save him from my own trap, he went blind. Soon afterwards, he gifted himself with six ears.

"I'll come back," he said with a confident gleam in his eyes. Oh, how I'd love to drown in those depths... But if I had shown too much of my love, he'd act differently and our current friendship would be ruined. I should be happy with just that, but... I'm not... But if I played my cards right... maybe... just maybe...

"How long will you be gone?" I asked quietly.

He gave me an uncertain look, and his low voice mirrored his gaze perfectly. "I don't know." He stood up and strode to the window to give me one of his little half-smiles. This one was bittersweet and not at its full length. "But, I'll see you 'round, fox..." He flitted out the window. All I could sense after that was a fading trace of his spiritual energy signature, or ki signature.

Months passed, leaving me in a depressed stupor, and at the most inconvenient times, I could hear him calling out to me, such as in school. "Fox..."

Damn, that had gotten annoying. I could never focus on anything for long... "fox ..?"

And to think...

"FOX!"

I blink several times and gaze at the fire demon once more. He's got a small mess around his mouth from the ice cream, which he's licking away every few seconds with an indignant expression on his rounded, but still adult-like face before giving up and using a napkin.

When he finishes, he asks, "Fox, what were you doing a second ago?" He now has his head perched in his left hand in evident boredom, which was also mirrored in his voice.

"U..uh..." I stammered. I hesitate. "...just, reminiscing."

His red eyes gleam with curiosity. "About what?" he asks after a mild pause.

"...Before you left... and after." I don't wanna talk about all of it right now... Please don't ask me, Hiei...

There is a silence that none of us dare to pierce. I stare blankly at my half-full vanilla shake, which slowly melts into slush. It seems my appetite has left me, but I force some of it down anyway, knowing it'll help me in the short run, then stand up. "Are you up for a walk, Hiei?" I ask with a sweetness and softness I hold only for him, and him alone.

"Nothing better to do?" he asks with a slight chuckle, standing up as well. I drop some yen as a tip and payment onto the table as I had stood up. "Yeah. I just had to get those tuxedos today... I had nothing else planned."

"That's a first, fox. You're usually well thought-out."

I nod in agreement. Too true, but not as of late.

We leave the building and enter the park after a block or two of walking. It has been a while since I walked through here. Actually, this is the place I took Hiei a week or so before he left. He had been tempted to flit among the trees, but I had convinced him to walk side-by-side... with me.

Great, I keep on going back there...

...but I like thinking about him, and even more so, being with him.

I look at the fire demon beside me and smile a little. I should not be dwelling on the unchangeable. I should be happy that he returned at long last. Maybe I could play my cards in a few days. After all, I do have a month, but I'm not quite the person to put things off to the last minute, like Yusuke or Kuwabara.

I'm definitely not like them.

As I gaze upon his form, I notice his compact torso has gotten a little more on the lean side, but just enough to show the effects of growth, and show off his muscles all at the same time. He must be "S Class" demon, now. I can feel the power radiating off his body, from his very soul. The details of muscles were evident because of the slightly tight black tank top he wore. He also wore tight-fitting black jeans and, of course, his white bandanna that hid his light-shaded, violet Jagan Eye.

That eye has several powers. It can send telepathic messages, control weak-minded ningen, and levitate objects.

"This place has changed," he commented after we walked across the gravel.

"Ten years would do that," I reply gently. But I don't think I've changed that much. After all, the only thing that changed was that I now have a job as a teacher, and am now helping to support Mother, my stepbrother and stepfather. My stepfather has a job as well, but, nonetheless, I help. "Some things die before the end of a decade," I continue. "and others are preserved, in a sense. Like trees. They live a long time, and once they've grown up, they don't change much except during the seasons. However, take grass for example, it tends to die during winter, but then is reborn from the remains in the soil in spring."

"Hn."

We continue to walk. The park, right now, is a little empty. My gaze flicks every now and then at the never-changing expression of Hiei. Every now and then, his gaze would gaze upon the forestry before returning to the path. It was during one of these quick gazes that his eyes met mine, and I was slightly taken aback. A shiver fought its way down my spine and I resisted it.

"Why do you keep staring? It's not like I'm going to run off."

But... that's kind of what you did. I'm scared that you'll do it again. "Gomen..." I divert my eyes to our surroundings. Nothing seems too out of the ordinary. For, which I am glad, for this place has housed something of mine for a full decade, being nurtured by the life around it, the sun, and my own energies.

In the distance, I hear a sharp cry of pain.

I stop moving and keep my breathing quiet and try to pinpoint said cry of pain. It seems Hiei has heard it, too. He has a look of vague recognition, and then a small smirk, which disappears quickly as his mask comes up.

Then, there is a different cry of pain - a much deeper one ahead of us. We follow these cries and come upon a harshly-created clearing. The tree stumps are both jagged and cleanly cut, the latter as if from a blade or something moving quickly, and the former, most likely, from the demon.

Yes, the energy! The energy is demonic!

A light brown-haired youth is kneeling on the ground, blood pooling under his crouched form. I could tell that the injury was to the boy's gut. It didn't seem TOO fatal. The other form, a large, horned demon, also in similar condition, but slightly better off. There were bits of missing flesh and scratches all over its face.

The youth stands up with a quiet wince, unaware of our ki, which we have masked completely. He speaks.

"Why do you insist on fighting me?" he asks in his semi-deep, but semi-girlish voice. His voice sounds strange. It's like three people are talking at the same time. It's like he's three different people - a masculine girl's voice. It's... strange.

A long tail drags across the ground in fashion similar to how I hold my Rose Whip, but it flicks with the emotions he hides on his face and in his voice. His hair is spiked and wild on the left side, and on the other, rather floppy with a little less spunk, but it's righted so it won't come undone, I suppose. The right end of it that sags starts near the middle back of his head and almost can't touch his shoulder. He has side-locks about half the length of my own red tresses.

"You are a rare crossbreed of demon," rumbled the youkai. "My master has ordered for your capture."

"Ara honto ni?" he says with amusement. "Well, tell him to make do without, or else I'll kill you right here, right now," he growls, cracking his knuckles.

"Then how will you hide the mess, including your own?"

His gaze flicked to his gashed abdomen before it meets the shrunken gaze of the demon's. A small, lazy smirk touches his face. "I have my ways. You worry about your own hide, for it may become the latest fashion no-no." He chuckles a little, showing tiny fangs.

Who is this boy? He talks like Hiei, but his stance is like my own. It's a graceful stance, standing straight and proud despite physical injury. His speech is clipped, like Hiei's, but it drags like one of those all-bark-but-no-bite demons.

"That is Kurohi," uttered the fire demon. "an upper A-Class Youkai. I am the one to continue training him to become highest S-Class, like myself, but right now, we are both on temporary leave." He turns his head and looks at me. "However, he knows we are here; he can sense what it is we are cloaking, so you might as well stop," he tells me as he lets his youki show itself. To be honest, it's enthralling. My urges come up twice as powerful, but I ruthlessly shove them down. I can't risk acting like I care more than a best friend should.

"Oh," I murmur absently as I control my desires best I can... especially with keeping it all in my pants. Hiei doesn't know it, but due to the long wait-period, his voice alone could make me come right now.

"Just watch and see what I taught him," he says proudly. I have to force back a shiver with all my might. "The stance he is using is related to unleashing one of his attacks. Just watch."

The boy fiddled into the muss of his brown and silver hair. He grabbed something and flung it out for us to see, beside him. He stood up taller, and cried, "Rose Whip!" The boy snapped into action, a rose elongating in one hand. Petals flew about him, scenting the area in a wonderful scent - the velvety scent I loved, my trademark - and thorns grew along the lengthened, six-foot-long stem.

"Rose Whiplash!" Kurohi flung the whip multiple times against the demon opponent. The lumbering creature dodged the blows - Kurohi pursued, unleashing strategic blows to the head, abdomen, and legs - and unleashed one of his own. Punching the ground when he landed forced some of the earth below the boy to come rising out of its own earth body in a jagged mess of rock, soil and grass. The boy tumbled backwards at the last second - though, he sustained a tear on his jeans - and landed beneath the branches of a tree.

The demon's next attack sends a boomerang of energy, cutting another tree in half. The falling log of tree tips and falls. The boy quickly rolls to the side as the chunk of forestry comes crashing down upon his previous location. He flits with amazing speed to stop on the demon's back in mere milliseconds, and thrusts the length of the whip with enough force against the demon's head, and down, splitting the skull and body of the beast in two.

It instantly falls over dead, and the boy lands in a semi-crouched position on the ground. He pants slightly, not from exhaustion, but from the fright of nearly having a branch fall on his head, I'm assuming. He smirks, stands up, and kicks the corpse contemptuously - already starting to reek - before incinerating with a flick of his hand. Once he's satisfied with his elimination, he makes his way to us. He turns his whip back into a rose, tucking it back in his hair, and shoves his hands into his pockets. He looks down, slightly, at Hiei.

"Hiei-sama, what did you think? I get out of that place that Mukuro calls palace and now I fight demons out for my capture?" His gaze, now irritable, narrows. "I have no idea what they want with me." He runs a hand through a few silver strands of star-burst-shaped hair near his forehead, and it reminds me of Hiei's own white tresses. It flops against his bangs, which dangle slightly into his eyes. His side locks trail down to a little past his shoulders, touching his collarbone, and the sagged side of his hair just barely brushes against his shoulder.

"Put two and two together," the sexy fire demon clips.

Oh, Inari, I think I'm gonna come!

"You've been trained under me - of course they're going to want you to join their ranks, willingly or not. I am rumored, and in truth, a powerful demon myself," He smirks at this. "so an apprentice of mine would also be sought out."

"Ah, I see," he replies, but he seems doubtful. His body language changes to amicable as he changes the subject. "Hiei-sama, that is one of your friends?"

"Yes. Kurama," Hiei says, giving me a proud stare.

...My heart both stops and melts at that look...

"A pleasure to meet you, Kurohi," I say, smiling. "Though, all I know is your name, so don't look so nervous," I reply, noting how his face has scrunched up in confusion and anxiousness.

He quickly goes to a casual expression, but not quite revealing much about his current emotions anymore. Just like Hiei, and in some cases, me. "Hiei-sama has told me about you. Best friend an' all. You're also in ranking with the Reikai Tantei, and an S-Class Youko at that. Hiei-sama told me one time when he saw me with my Rose Whip out that he knew a silver youko with the same ability, only stronger. He taught me the proper stance and said that he had observed the youko long enough to learn the stance by heart."

"Rather flattering of you, Hiei," I reply, grinning softly at the fire demon. I let my eyes wander back to the boy. He has a cute expression of confusion on his face for a split second before I ask, "How long ago was this, Kurohi?"

"Five years ago before now. He met me when I was Middle C Class," He chuckled softly for a moment. "He... /hunted/ me down out of Mukuro's order of detainment, and, with her permission, trained me to be one of her guards or whatever she needed me to do. A jack of all trades...

"To be honest, I was glad Hiei found me. He told me that as long as I remained under Mukuro's protection, I'd be safe from demon hunters."

"Looks like Hiei told you a lot," I comment in amusement.

The boy nods at my statement. "Yes." He blinks, pauses, and says, "Matte! Hiei-sama, that silver youko... izzat Kurama?" he asks, looking at the fire demon and pointing one index finger at me.

"Took you long enough. With realizations that fast you'd be dead now if he were an enemy," he replies with a smirk.

"Hiei-sama...!" he almost screeched.

I bit back a wince at his high tone. Inari, it's so high it's also low! It's so weird and it's hurting my head! I don't think I'll have to worry about my hard-on anymore...

He stomps the ground repeatedly in a slight temper tantrum, and yells, "He. Kept. It. CLOAKED! How was I supposed to realize that so quickly! My spirit awareness ain't as high as yours!"

"Yes, and with that attitude you won't get any better," retorts Hiei.

Kurohi is vibrating with anger, shoot him a bitter glare, and turns around in a huff. Blinking once, I run a hand through my long red tresses and then look at the black-haired Jaganshi. To be honest, he appears a little irritable. Reaching behind him, I gently rest my hand on his right shoulder to calm him. I resist the urge to hold him against my body. His ruby gaze darts up and meets my eyes. After a moment, he looks away and I hear him inhale sharply, but quietly. I hear him mutter nearly inaudibly, "Kuso..."

My gaze darts to what had startled the demon.

Kurohi is eyeing us both curiously with his big blue eyes. He raised one slender, dark eyebrow and chuckles softly in his medium alto, high baritone - or was it low baritone? - voice. He shoves his hands into his pockets and moves to leave, a slight skip in his step.

"He acts like that when he thinks he's figured something out," whispers Hiei, frowning cutely. I bit back a small amount of giggles, but I'm sure that Hiei felt my Reiki go up a little.

"Kurohi?" I ask-call.

He turns his head just enough to see us with one eye, half-veiled by his long bangs, which dangled to down almost as long as the bottom of his eyes. "Hai, Kurama-san?"

The corners of my mouth twist into a little frown as I contemplate this situation. How should I put this...? "Don't say a thing about what you think you might have discovered." I don't remove my hand from Hiei's shoulder. I can't believe I have almost forgotten what he had felt like... his warmth... his scent... pine and rain...

...Erotic... Maybe I should excuse myself after a bit so I can take care of some oncoming business. I, myself, am amazed I've avoided coming this whole time.

Kurohi laughs a little and a small grin crosses his face. "I won't say a word; if I did, Hiei would have more than my head lopped off. He's probably dismember me slowly, then find a very slow way to kill me besides taking me apart." He speaks as if talking about the weather. I close my eyes for a second, just a quick blink, and then the spot where Kurohi had been was empty. I only feel a few traces of his ki from where he had been a split second ago.

Hiei laughs. It is a rich sound and by the sound of it, he sounds very, very pleased. "By the way, Kurama, he's just as fast as I am."

I gawk a little at this statement filled with my favorite demon's laughter. Kurohi's just as fast as Hiei? No way... "Hiei?" I ask warily.

"Hmm?" he replies, still chuckling.

"Is Kurohi going to be a new Reikai Tantei?" I ask.

He smile-smirks... Not quite a smile, but fading as a smirk. "Glad you still catch on so quickly."

I guess he's glad my slowness to realize things was only temporary.

Again, it's great to have you around me again, Hiei.

I missed you.

End Day 1

Whatcha think? Review if you like, but I may become pissed off if you flame me. Wouldn't it just be easier to review in a calm manner if you don't like this? Vent your anger elsewhere. As of the afternoon of 3/17/03, the second chapter is half-way done.

The dragon never got his slab of meat rushing toward the prey! Be as patient as you can, because sometimes I tend to get writer blocks often. However, I actually think I can finish this one. If any of you have any suggestions for later events or a plot - yes, as of this moment it's almost plot-less because I tend to find plots as they come, and I integrate them into this. Basically, Kurama loves Hiei, but he's afraid Hiei'll run off if he says anything, and he has one month to say anything before he leaves to go back to Mukuro's palace… though I have nearly no clue what it looks like cuz I've only seen up to the beginning of Kuwabara's first fight in the Dark Tournament... the edited version on DVD. (grrrrr...) Most of my knowledge comes from fanfiction, the various bio's and episode guides I run across, so gomen nasai if anything's incorrect.

baka moron; idiot; stupid person

che damn; shucks!

hai yes

Inari (A/N: I've heard that this is the ruler of the youkos... If this is so, I'm going to say/assume that Hiei heard Kurama mention this several times, and has now incorporated the name as a part of his own vocabulary... Normally, I'd have him use the word Kami god/God, but I don't think he believes in that kind...)

nani what

matte wait

kitsune fox

gomen ne/gomen sorry; I'm sorry

ara oh

honto ni really?

kuro black

hi fire (Kurohi black fire, but Hiei flying shadow, when used in Kanji form)

Reikai Tantei (A/N: you should know this by now...) Spirit World Detective

I think that covers all the translations... Ja ne!

Revisions (in order of sessions, from newest to oldest. The "&" means one session over multiple days): 10/8/03 & 10/9/03, 5/27/03

As of 5/27/03, 7:16PM, Day 15 (I may put "a" on it and continue from there) has 2 pages going. Anyway, I'm going to try and revise and/or lengthen all other chapters and correct any errors. So check back if you like to see what I have changed or fixed.

As of 10/9/03, I'm doing revisions again.

5/15/04, revisions again. Just minor changes... like past/present tense stuff, and thoughts are more pronounced. Also, I want to know if any of you people out there like the changes. (You can compare them from my various bios on other sites).