Once again I apologize for disappearing, it was not my intention to leave Fanfiction for so long but when you work ten hours a day at a daycare five days a week, it's really hard to find time to write.

Back to Charm Comes in Many Forms!

"They're gonna die!"

Yusuke released a snort of amusement as the bundle currently sitting in his lap wailed at the TV screen "They're not going to die," the former detective replied gently.

"Yes they are!" Hiei insisted "Rita Repulsa is gonna kill them, and the show will be over!"

It had been a good three hours since they had last sat down, and to say that everyone was amused by Hiei's new obsession would be an understatement. The child was in awe of the show, singing along to the theme song at the top of his lungs and mimicking the martial arts scenes with the gusto of a child. Kurama and Kuwabara had not stopped taking pictures and videos since they began.

"How do you know that is what will happen?" the fox chuckled his phone recording every second.

"You tell me how they get out of this problem?!" Hiei cried casting exasperated ruby eyes at the red-head.

"They're going to get their dinozords and beat up the bad guy," Kuwabara smirked "that's how it always ends,"

Hiei gave a longsuffering sigh burying his face in his hands before crawling over to the human teen and grabbing his shirt so to shake him "How do you know though? They could have been doing that to get us into a false sense of security!"

Kuwabara blinked down at the serious child sitting in his lap before wrapping Hiei in his arms and bursting into uproarious guffaws "You crack me up,"

"Kuwa-BARA!" Hiei squealed from where he was being squished "This isn't something to laugh about!"

"Look," Yusuke exclaimed pointing at the screen "they just got in their Zords, their going to win."

Hiei peeked through Kuwabara's arms only to give a theatrical gasp and start to wiggle furiously "I'm gonna miss the best part!"

The little Jaganshi leapt out onto the floor waving his arms furiously as the battle ensued "Get 'em! Knock Rita Repulsa back to the moon!"

Finally the credits rolled and the former detective stood up to turn off the TV "How about we go outside and play for a bit, huh?"

"Are you sure?" Botan asked her face wreathed in concern over the exorcist currently hunting them.

"They'll be fine," Genkai waved "I changed the seals on my property this morning to not allow anything with malicious intent inside, human or demon. Plus, Hiei will have all three boys with him; that is plenty of protection for the time being."

Botan gave a tentative nod before casting an encouraging grin to Hiei "Well you heard the woman, why don't you give your brain a rest and play out in the sunshine?"

The Jaganshi cast one longing look at the TV before shrugging and bolting out the door grabbing Yusuke and Kuwabara's hands on the way "Come on!"

The boys chuckled as they were dragged, Yusuke calling over his shoulder at Kurama "Grab the toys, we can teach him how to play baseball!"

The fox nodded with a smile and collected the requested items before following them out onto the porch. Hiei was zipping around the yard, a black blur as he jabbered incessantly about Power Rangers and who his favorite was.

"I liked the red one," Hiei yelled flashing over to sit on Yusuke's shoulders before disappearing only to reappear holding onto Kuwabara's leg "he's really cool. Who do you like? Is it the Green one? I bet Kuwabara likes the blue one. Kurama wears a lot of pink, does that mean he likes the pink ranger? But she's a girl, Kurama's not a girl. I like the red one, but I also like the black one, he's funny."

"Whoa," Kuwabara watched the hyperactive child with wide brown eyes "I guess that answers the question I've always had about what would happen if we gave Hiei caffeine."

"Yeah," Yusuke murmured, equally startled "as that one book says, when you give a mouse a cookie,"

Kuwabara turned to cast an amused look at his closest friend and rival "When did you read a book that says that, or read a book at all?"

Yusuke deflated his only reply being the sharp slap upside the carrot top's head making Kurama laugh aloud. Hiei finally slowed down long enough to tug on the fox's shirt "Let's play!"

"What do you want to play?" Kurama smiled gently as he knelt in front of the boy.

Hiei opened his mouth before his face went blank and then fell altogether "I don't know," he murmured "I've seen kids play in town but I was never allowed to play too. I don't know any games."

Three pairs of eyes softened at the fidgeting figure and Kuwabara knelt down to gather the child into his arms, suddenly feeling hot tears prick his eyes "I'm sorry, bud."

Hiei tensed in the embrace, not pushing it away but still unsure about why the teen was apologizing "Um…Kuwabara, are you ok?"

Was he? The carrot top didn't quite know. His mind was currently playing a reel of countless memories where he had insulted Hiei's childhood, demeaning him because the Jaganshi had missed out on things that Kuwabara had always taken for granted. Guilt rushed through his system leaving his stomach churning and the teen could only sigh as he realized that he had a lot to make up for. Tucking the child's black hair under his chin, Kuwabara gave an extra squeeze rubbing small shoulder blades with his thumb and smiling when the child finally relaxed in his arms.

"I'm fine," he finally rasped "I was just saying sorry for being an idiot sometimes."

Hiei blinked slowly, confusion clouding bright red eyes before leaning back to look at the young man holding him "You're not stupid," he replied simply "you just have bad luck sometimes with your brain."

Kuwabara opened his mouth to retort but paused as the child's words sunk in and suddenly burst into long and loud laughter "That has to be the funniest thing you've ever said, shrimp!"

Hiei grinned, blushing as pleasure at making the older boy laugh made him lightheaded. Yusuke joined in and even Kurama was laughing leaving the Jaganshi feeling warm and loved. Tumbling forward, Hiei wrapped his arms around Kuwabara's neck, enjoying this odd feeling he'd never been allowed to experience before.

In the bandit camp Hiei had been the group's little slave. The one who charmed higher up demon nobility, distracting them long enough for the bandits to pick pocket him. He was also used as bait, throwing him in front of carriages and moving vehicles so he could feign injury and be taken into wealthy homes. Eventually he would report back to the bandits, informing them of the riches that lay inside the homes all so they could plunder them. In truth Hiei had hated it. He desperately wanted a family to take him in, a father who would suddenly appear out of the crowd declaring Hiei as his son and sweep him away to a life of happiness. But the child was quickly growing cynical, recent years had taught him how fruitless it was to hope for better things when you weren't born to the privilege. In fact, before he woke up at the shrine, he had fallen asleep listening to the bandits discussing how they would use him to pillage another rich home.

The thought made a bolt of ice stab his heart and the child suddenly tensed. Was he here to be an informant again? Were the bandits waiting to take him back all so he could abandon this place leaving behind the kindness they had shown? Hiei felt a wave of sorrow overtake him, making his small frame tremble and tears pricked at his eyes as his sinuses boiled. Thick tears began to roll down his cheeks, plopping onto the ground as priceless gems and the teen holding him gave a startled jump.

"Hiei, are you ok?!"

Yusuke had to hand it to the big lug, despite looking at the tear gems in shock and wonder Kuwabara was doing a fantastic job ignoring the obvious and focusing on the bawling kid. Hiei however was inconsolable, his shoulders shaking with ragged hiccups as twin fists scrubbed at red eyes. Heart wrenching sobs choked and coughed their way past quivering lips and the three boys once again found themselves sitting on the floor, all their attention onto the miniature Jaganshi. Kurama rubbed his back, while Yusuke ran a tender hand through spiky black hair. Kuwabara however had immediately grabbed the child and was rocking him in his arms.

"Hey little buddy, if it was something I said, I'm sorry!"

Hiei shook his head clenching fistfuls of the young man's shirt in his hands as he released a heavy sniffle "It's not that," he mewled.

"Then what is it?" Kurama asked in a soothing tone.

"I-I," Hiei gasped back a shuddering breath before wailing "I don't wanna leave!"

Three jaws fell in tandem as the boys exchanged looks of startled shock "You don't have to," Yusuke tried his hand never stilling its caresses.

"B-But the bandits are gonna take me away," the Jaganshi wept big ruby eyes welling with hopeless tears "they always take me away, and then they steal all the stuff in the house. But I don't wanna go, I want to stay here forever!"

Kuwabara paused ducking his head in sorrow before once again looking up his eyes glowing with conviction "Now you look at me, Hiei," the teen growled gently waiting until the child met his gaze "no one, and I mean no one, is ever going to take you away from us. You're our baby brother now, and we're going to protect you and love you no matter what. You understand me?"

"B-But, what if-"

"No buts," Kuwabara shook his head vehemently before once again looking Hiei straight in the eye "we keep our promises around here, and if there's one promise I know I can make it's simply that you're our family and we don't let family get taken away."

The quivering lip returned and the little chin wrinkled as another sobbed hiccup rocked its way past a clenched throat. The little fire demon nodded, scrubbing his tears away and threw himself onto Kuwabara in a tight embrace "Promise?"

"Promise," Kuwabara smiled.

"Count me in too little guy," Yusuke grinned stealing Hiei from the carrot top and hugging the Jaganshi.

Kurama laughed at Kuwabara's indignant squawk when his bundle had been absconded and suddenly felt left out. Quick as only a master thief can be, the fox stole Hiei out of Yusuke's arms eliciting another irate grumble, and proceeded to snuggle the child "You're certainly not getting away from us any time soon."

Hiei gave a sweet smile, leaning against the broad chest of the red head, feeling safer and more loved than anything he had ever remembered. However, as it is with most four year olds, the moment had passed and now after being thoroughly reassured of his staying there Hiei felt there was only one way to seal the promise made amongst his new brothers. Sitting up the boy reached up to boop Yusuke on the nose and run away cackling in glee.

"Tag, you're it!"

Yusuke sat in shock before a wicked grin lit his features "Why you little-I thought you said you didn't know any games?!"

"I just remembered one!" Hiei giggled as he wiggled his butt at the former detective "now you gotta try and catch me!"

"Yeah Urameshi, catch him," Kuwabara laughed from where he sat on the grass.

Yusuke cast his malicious grin towards the teen his eyes glittering with the perils of what would happen to those who challenged him "Oh don't think you're excluded from this Kuwabara."

"Uh," Kurama murmured trading twin looks of amused terror with the carrot top "Oh,"

With childish shrieks the two jumped to their feet and ran as Yusuke pounded after them "Get back here you losers!"

…

High on a tree top a lone figure watched the merriment below. The seals stopped him from getting any closer, but he was already developing a spell to nullify the effects. Soon he would have his prize. Held tightly in a leather bound fist, papers flapped in the wind bearing the names of the young men playing on the grass. The figure could only grin, let them play their games, he could wait. After all, the most important thing about the hunt was patience.

Turning away so to go back to his current hideout, the man disappeared in a flash leaving not the slightest trace of his existence behind.

How was that? I hope that makes up for my absence. Please REVIEW!