Okay, I have to make this quick right now (I'm in class--we learn much in Calculus, yes?), but I promise to come back and give this story a proper introduction at the beginning of chapter two. Until then, (hopefully) enjoy.

What's Yours is Mine
Chapter I
May 4, 2007

"The food here sucks," Shuichi complained. "And I keep worrying that if I move my arm wrong, that"—he pointed to the IV—"will rip out."

Kurama smiled. "It appears to be long enough that you can move comfortably and be fine. However, if you drank enough water to begin with, we wouldn't have to be here now."

Shuichi scowled at the admonition. "Easy for you to say—you and Hiei have air conditioning!" The air conditioner in the Hatanaka house had broken a few weeks before, and as the summer swelter failed not to remind them, it had not been repaired yet.

"Whining won't hydrate you and quicker," Kazuya said. "And Shuichi's right, especially if you plan to continue baseball." After a moment, he added in a low tone, "I'll try to sneak you back a shake. Don't tell your mother." He waited at the door while his step-son gave Shuichi a few books for if boredom set in, and then the two left after promising that they would return later with Shiori. "And I don't mean to lecture you," Kazuya told the redhead.

"But you will?" Kurama said, raising an eyebrow.

"Shiori will probably ask. You look like you're ill. You've grown paler every time I've seen you lately."

Kurama shrugged. "I'm perhaps a little under the weather," he admitted. "I think it might be the heat."

"What are you feeling?"

He shrugged again. "Tired, mainly. Sometimes I feel dizzy, or nauseous, which could be a by-product of the dizziness." Kazuya frowned. "I'll of course make a doctor's appointment if it persists," he added hastily.

They were going to meet Shiori in a half-hour for dinner and then return to the hospital. Until then, they went to Kurama's apartment to take shelter from the heat. "Isn't it wasteful to have it running while you're out?" Kazuya chided as they stepped inside, referring to the air conditioner.

Kurama sat down his briefcase. He and his step-father had gone straight from work to the hospital after hearing that Shuichi had collapsed at baseball practice. "It wasn't on this morning," he replied, which mean that they either had an indiscreet intruder …

"Where have you been?"

Or that Hiei had come home. "The hospital," he answered. "My brother's dehydrated."

Hiei noticed the Fox's complexion. "Are you sick?"

Kurama considered Kazuya's presence. "Not really," he said carefully.

However, Hiei apparently didn't consider Kurama's step-father a liability. "What does 'not really' mean?" the Koorime pressed.

"It means, I haven't had a temperature, so … not really."

Kazuya observed the exchange in amusement. It'd been only a month and a half before that Shuichi had sat him and Shiori down, and nervously announced that not only was he dating another man (this had been quite a shock: they hadn't considered that a reason for the boy's disinterest in the female class mates that practically tripped over themselves around him), but that he was also engaged to have a commitment ceremony with this man; for whatever reason, Shuichi and the man—a rather petite yet foreboding-looking youth named Hiei, who possessed a most unusual surname, but no family that shared it—desired a hasty execution of the ceremony, and it took place a mere two weeks later. No one in the Hatanaka family had gotten a chance to know Shuichi's new "husband" well yet, as he didn't emit and extraordinarily warm person, but it'd already become quite clear that Hiei took his spousal role very seriously.

Hiei appraised Kurama, looking him up and down carefully. There was the slight weariness in his mate's face, and … something else, which he couldn't properly identify; however, aside from that—and a currently annoyed expression—the Fox appeared fine. "Hn," he finally conceded.

'You do have your thick moments,' Kurama thought exasperatedly. He didn't want Kazuya to think that anything might be seriously wrong, and then voice those concerns to his mother. But he afforded Hiei a small, forgiving smile, and said: "We're meeting Mother for dinner. Do you want to come?"

The Koorime frowned. He'd only returned from Alaric earlier that afternoon, and wanted some "alone time" with Kurama … but he also suspected that Kurama wasn't being entirely truthful when he claimed to not be sick, and wanted a chance to inconspicuously observe him, which dinner with his parents should allow. "Where at?"

However, his observation time was cut short. Almost immediately after their food arrived, Hiei noticed that Kurama's complexion had adopted a faintly green tint, and his meal was untouched. "You aren't eating," he said, quietly so that no one else would hear.

Kurama sighed. "I'm sorry." Try as he might, he couldn't hold an appetite. "I'm sorry," he repeated. "I'm tired."

"What?" Shiori had overheard. "Shuichi, if you feel tired, perhaps you should go home and rest. Have you been drinking enough water?"

"Yes," he murmured, downing his glass for emphasis. "Tell Shuichi that I'm sorry."

After wrapping up Kurama's dinner for him to eat later, he and Hiei left his parents and returned to the apartment. "How long have you felt this way?" Hiei asked.

"About a week," he answered. "Well, perhaps a little longer." He shrugged. "I know it's not dehydration or the flue, I'm relatively sure it's not stress-related—What?" Hiei was staring at him contemplatively.

The Koorime appeared hesitant. "Have you—?" He averted his gaze from Kurama. "Have you … considered asking Yusuke…?"

Kurama blanched. A few weeks before their commitment ceremony, and the night before Yusuke's and Keiko's wedding, he and Yusuke had slept together. Hiei had know, but to Kurama's surprise, forgiven it without a single bitter word. (Still, he suspected that Hiei's sudden desire afterward for a commitment ceremony had been the latter's way of trying to keep him from seeking other bedfellows—not that he would have.) This was the first direct reference to the event that Hiei had ever made. "Do you mean, if perhaps he … made me ill?" he asked weakly. Hiei nodded, looking very uncomfortable. "But—that can't be," he objected, remembering. "We used a condom …" Even as he said it, his eyes grew wide, and he clenched his teeth. This had to be insulting to Hiei, his talking about that.

Hiei stared at the floor, his face turning pink, and then red. From embarrassment or anger, the redhead wondered. "E-Even if you did," he mumbled, "I think that you should still …" He trailed off.

A horrible thought hit Kurama: If Yusuke had somehow given him something, then Keiko might have it, too—and so could Hiei.

Within the past minute, Hiei noted, the Kitsune had turned several distinct shades paler. "Kurama?" he asked uncertainly, but his companion walked past him.

"I need to speak with Yusuke," Kurama said, reaching for the phone. "Now."

"… Do I have diseases?" Yusuke repeated, bewildered.

"Yes," Kurama confirmed.

"Wh-What sort of question is that?!"

"Just tell me if you know," he said urgently. "I've been feeling sick, and—the thought came to mind." Silence on the other end of the line. "I know that we used a condom, but—What?" Yusuke's silence had been replaced by a strangled gasp. "What, Yusuke?"

"Uh … well—it was the first time I'd ever bought them, but, um, I think I got the wrong size. When I was doing it with you, it, um, it broke."

Hiei widened his eyes: the color had just drained out of Kurama's face.

The Fox's stomach twisted; he suddenly remembered the sensation of Yusuke's semen leaking between his legs … "Why didn't you tell me?!" he hissed into the phone, though for that matter, why hadn't he noticed, himself?

"Well, enough stuff was happening right then," Yusuke said uneasily. "I mean, things were a little hectic. I didn't think—Kurama, are you okay?"

"… Kurama?" Hiei asked worriedly. His mate had grown extremely tense.

"… If you gave me something," Kurama told Yusuke, his voiced wounded, "Keiko and Hiei could have it, too." Silence again on the other side. "I think that you and I should go to a clinic," he managed.

"What, you mean like the free clinic?"

His face felt hot. Shuichi Minamino, have to go to a free clinic … "Not quite. We'll have to go to a Makai clinic."

"Why the Makai?"

"They'll have to run blood tests, and you and I are both demons."

"Good point …" Yusuke cleared his throat. "Kurama, I'm really sorry about the condom—"

"Let's think optimistically for now, Yusuke," Kurama interrupted softly.

He was even tenser by the time he hung up, Hiei noticed. "You have to go to the doctor."

Kurama nodded, and gave him a sober look. "If it comes back positive …"

Hiei shrugged. "Whatever happened to thinking optimistically? Besides, I don't feel sick. This is just taking all possible precautions." Despite that, he was beginning to feel guilty for putting the idea in Kurama's head to begin with. His mouth twitched into what he hoped resembled a reassuring smile. "Whatever happens, I did promise, 'In sickness and in health' …"

Kurama had refused Hiei's offer to accompany him to the clinic, though he'd appeared so nervous that Hiei almost decided to join him regardless. If possible, the Fox seemed even more anxious after returning. Yusuke would receive both their test results in a few days, he said, and then bring his over.

Hiei had finally gotten Kurama to wind down and go to bed, had joined him, and had fallen asleep—only to wake up some time later, gasping, with a pain in his stomach. "Hn—Ah!" It was Kurama, kicking him. "What…?" His mate appeared to be scrambling over him, over the bed; Hiei stared at the spectacle, and winced as his friend hit the floor. The fall didn't seem to deter Kurama, who continued to scurry across the floor. "Are you o—?" The Fox had apparently found what he wanted, the trash can, and practically crushed it to him. Hiei pulled a face as Kurama began to puke into it. "—kay?" He glanced at the clock: a little after five. "Kurama, should you stay home?"

"Nuh—Oh!" the Kitsune groaned; he wasn't done. Hiei narrowed his eyes in disgust. "… No," Kurama repeated breathlessly. "I'll be fine. I'm going to work."

The Jaganshi watched him, brows furrowed with concern. Throwing up wasn't a good sign. Various ailments began running through Hiei's mind: ulcers, cancer, AIDS … He shook it off, and jumped out of bed. "Kurama," he called after the Fox. He glanced into the now-stinking trash can as he passed it. No blood, at least. "Should you rest?" he asked his mate, who was now in the bathroom, rinsing his mouth at the sink.

He received a shake of the head. "I doubt that location will affect what ails me," Kurama said. "I can feel bad here while accomplishing nothing, or I can feel bad at work while, hopefully, accomplishing something. And there I can keep busy …" A troubled look darkened his face. He quickly disguised it, but not quickly enough for Hiei. "I'll call you during the lunch hour, if that's more agreeable."

"I'm feeling much better," Kazuya heard Shuichi say. "Yes, it's all staying down. Yes. See you tonight."

His step-son's door was slightly ajar; he could see the redhead hanging up the phone. He knocked on the door. "Shuichi." The younger man promptly greeted and admitted him. "Are you well?" he could not help but ask. Shuichi gave him a perplexed look. "I heard—Never mind." He'd already made his concerns known, and now it really was none of his business. He cleared his throat. "It's too hot for the kitchen. We're planning to barbecue on Saturday. Can you and Hiei come?"

Kurama hesitated for a second, but nodded. His results should have arrived by Saturday; good news or bad, there would be no what ifs to interfere with spending time with his family. "That sounds great—and because I know you'll still mind it regardless, I felt sick—physically sick—this morning, but as you may have heard, it's passed."

Kazuya gave him a sheepish smile. "Well, I hope it's passed for good, but there's not shame in recuperating if you feel ill."

"I'm fine," Kurama said hurriedly, hoping that he would not have to soon eat his words.

Hiei greeted an nervous-looking Yusuke at the door. "Uh … is Kurama around?"

"He's asleep," the Koorime replied.

"So early?"

He shrugged. "He felt tired." He spied an envelope clutched in Yusuke's hand. "Are those his test results?"

"… Yeah," Yusuke managed. Had Kurama told…?

"May I have them?" Hiei asked brusquely. Yusuke mutely complied. "Are you diseased?"

"What?!"

"Don't act so outraged—I suggested that he ask you to begin with."

The brunette stared at him. 'So Kurama must have,' he concluded. And then something struck him, and he gave the shorter demon a contemptuous look. "Wait, why did you assume that I gave him something? How are you so sure that it wasn't you?"

"Because I don't confuse my sex life with a buffet," Hiei retorted.

"Yeah, well he must just have the flu or something," Yusuke countered, "because I'm clean." Hiei glowered at him, and placed the envelope on the table. "What, you're not going to open it?"

"It's Kurama's, not mine." Yusuke was wearing on his nerves. Unfortunately, the Detective didn't seem intent on leaving just yet, and was gawking at him. "What?"

Yusuke gave him an apprehensive look. "Kurama told you about…?"

He narrowed his eyes. "I know what happened," he said flatly. "Everything that happened." A smirk, discreet but triumphant, possessed his lips as Yusuke turned slightly pink, as "everything" included the fact that it had been his name, not Yusuke's, that Kurama had cried.

"Uh, yeah," the brunette mumbled. "Um, but—You didn't, um, do anything to him when you found out, did you? I mean, I sort of pressured him into it …"

His smirk grew more pronounced. "Heh—I've never done anything intimate to Kurama that he didn't enjoy."

The look on Hiei's face was beginning to give Yusuke the creeps. "Um, good, uh, I guess." He chewed his lip. "Uh, tell me, if he's all right…?"

"I'm sure Kurama will tell you," Hiei replied, his tone saying, I could care less about your guilt and your peace of mind.

His indifference irked Yusuke, but the brunette reminded himself that, since Hiei did know, he should probably consider himself lucky that he hadn't suffered a katana through his crotch yet. "…Good. And Hiei, I do hope that he's … all right."

Kurama rolled over, stretching, rubbing his eyes groggily.

"You're awake."

He opened one eye. Hiei stood in the doorway. "Yeah," he yawned, stretching. "How long did I sleep?"

"The entire night."

Both eyes opened. "What?" He'd only meant to take a nap.

"I was going to wake you," Hiei said defensively. "But I received a recommendation from your boss that I let you rest."

"Kazuya should really watch himself," Kurama grumbled, "lest he be accused of nepotism." He winced. The stomach pain was back.

Hiei noticed. "Perhaps he's right in this case."

"Are you defending a human?" Kurama demanded grumpily.

"Yusuke brought your test results by last night," Hiei told him, changing the subject. "They're on the table."

He glanced into the kitchen, immediately seeing the white envelope, practically glowing against the wood in the early morning light. "Have you opened…?" Hiei shook his head. Kurama quickly dressed, and after contemplating but deciding against breakfast, he came to the table and studied the envelope. "Yusuke plus envelope equals disaster,' he thought warily. This was exaggerated, but mildly true. He really didn't want to open it, but Hiei was eyeing him expectantly, and if the news in the envelope was less than good, he supposed it was best to know earlier versus later …

Hiei noted Kurama's shaking hand as the latter picked up the envelope. "Yusuke said he was clean," he offered. The redhead responded with a half-hearted smile.

The envelope was open. Kurama took out the enclosed paper, unfolded it—and turned sheet-white. "What is it?" Hiei asked nervously. His mate did not wear the look of someone who has just been cleared, so to speak. The Koorime didn't receive an answer. "What's wrong?" he persisted.

Kurama sat down, gave Hiei a helpless look, and whispered: "P-Positive."