Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho

Warnings: Story is AU and YYH characters may portray OC characteristics at times.

Chapter 1

Having arrived at the palace in answer to a summons from the King, Hiei was now waiting for the King to finish the morning's hearings so he had decided to go for a walk. As he approached the main courtyard he heard a rumbling sound and felt the ground tremble. Then he heard the voices of men yelling in surprise. As he rounded the corner he was greeted with the sight of two of the palace guards in their practice gear, wrapped in vines from the shoulders to the waist, and hanging from large overgrown vines that had broken through the middle of the courtyard. Glancing to the side, he saw Kurama standing there looking up at the guards with a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. Hiei started towards the scene, but slowed and hid in the shadows as a large guard walked up to Kurama.

'You know you aren't supposed to use your Guardian powers on the guards Highness.' He sighed.

Kurama directed his best beaten puppy look at his old instructor. 'But Commander Chuu, how else am I supposed to practice in order to protect the realm?'

The Commander snorted, 'Don't try that line with me Highness! You're lucky that it is me giving you a talking to and not your father.'

A small smile tugged at the corners of Hiei's mouth as he watched Kurama's smile falter as the Commander's words sunk in.

'Well,… yes. That is a good point.' He waved his hand nonchalantly and the vines lowered the guards to the ground, unwrapped them, and then slithered back underground.

Kurama made a slight hand-over-heart bow toward the Commander.

'I shall have this mess cleared up within the hour and this will not happen in the courtyard ever again.'

The Commander narrowed his eyes at Kurama. 'Yes, well not in the courtyard or anywhere else young prince. We can't have you stringing up your father's guards around the Kingdom.'

Kurama bowed again as the Commander took his leave. At this moment Hiei decided to appear from his hiding place.

'And if that is how you practice, this realm is in big trouble'.

Kurama smiled upon recognition of the voice and turned towards his friend.

'Hiei what a nice surprise. What brings you here?'

As they clasped arms in greeting, Hiei frowned slightly with an almost invisible twitch of his brows.

'I thought you could tell me. Your father sent for me but did not state the reason.' Then with a small smirk he continued.

'I assumed it had something to do with you - as usual.'

'Funny. Shall we count how many times I have been called over at the request of your mother to –'

'Ok, ok. Let's drop this. I guess I'll find out when he calls for me.' He turned his head and scanned the entrance to the courtyard and then scanned the other entries. Not spotting anyone hurrying towards him to summon him to the King he turned back to Kurama.

'Well, I'm bored. Are you finished with your "practice"?' He gestured to the rubble where the vines had been.

Kurama tried the beaten puppy dog look again.

'It was only a bit of fun Hiei. You know there is no-one around here with whom I could seriously spar.'

Hiei rolled his eyes. 'Don't even try that.'

Kurama's face broke into a brilliant smile and Hiei could not help but relax his frown.

'Are we going to spar or what fox?'

Kurama rolled his eyes at Hiei's use of the old childhood nickname.

'I suppose it would be too much to ask that you stop referring to me according to the symbol on my family's coat of arms, now that we are 17. You do not hear me referring to you as "dragon".'

Hiei just looked at him blankly and folded his arms waiting for an answer to his question.

Kurama sighed and walked to where the tools were kept and picked up two shovels.

'Well, we cannot spar until that hole is filled in.' He said tossing a shovel to Hiei.

Hiei deftly caught the tool and opened his mouth to argue that it was not his mess to clean up, but then just rolled his eyes again and removed his outer jacket and rolled up his sleeves.

The work was done in silence and in no time at all the hole was filled in and the courtyard was looking presentable again.

As they sat on the entryway steps resting, Kurama waved over a nearby servant holding a tray with water.

Hiei broke the silence.

'So why didn't you just use your Guardian powers to fix the ground.' He smirked at Kurama.

Kurama poured out two cups of water and handed the first to Hiei and then took a long drink from his own.

'You just cannot help but point out the irony of my title any chance you get. An Earth Guardian who has dominion over plants; not actual earth.' He shook his head at his friend's amused look.

They fell into silence again and after they refilled and drain their cups again, Hiei noticed that Kurama was just staring off into the distance so he took the empty cup from Kurama's hand and put it on the servant's tray and grumbled, 'I will not spar with you if your mind is elsewhere fox.'

Kurama blinked and then noticed the servant still waiting and dismissed him with a nod of thanks. He then reached back and untied his hair that had been in a ponytail at his neck.

'What do you mean?' he asked shaking his long red hair free.

With a sigh Hiei stood up and dusted his pants.

'That mind of yours is anywhere but here, so it is obvious that you will not be a challenge for me today.'

Kurama smiled at his friend's ability to read him so easily and he also rose and dusted himself off.

'My apologies Hiei. I am ready when you are.'

'You don't want to tell me your problems, fine. I could care less. But you're still too distracted so you're just going to waste my time.'

He turned to grab his coat, and although Kurama was used to Hiei's abrupt manner he still hesitated for a second before responding.

'Wait Hiei.' He said quickly, stretching his hand toward Hiei.

Hiei slowed his movements but continued donning his coat.

Knowing that Hiei was waiting for him to continue he lowered his arm and sighed.

'Again I am sorry Hiei. I do have other things on my mind but I do not want to bother you with my small worries.'

As Hiei finished buttoning his coat he raised an eyebrow slightly in response.

'Well you have failed miserably. Consider me bothered. And don't – ' He directed an annoyed glare at Kurama who had opened his mouth to speak. '- apologise again.'

Closing his mouth he smiled and bowed his head slightly in acquiescence to Hiei's request.

Kurama sat back down on the stairs and sighed again.

'Father has told me I need to take my duties as heir more seriously.'

Having been on the receiving end of one of these lectures from his mother, Hiei's only response was to roll his eyes.

'Yes, I know we've both been lectured about taking our duties seriously, but this time was different Hiei.' Sensing his friend's distress he stayed quiet and waited for Kurama to continue.

As if the energy had drained from his body Kurama hung his head and then spoke in a voice barely above a whisper.

'Father… wants me to meet my betrothed tomorrow night.'