Please Note ::

I don't own YYH. If I did, there'd be a little less hair gel, a little more manly love ;)

Yaoi

First attempt at HieiBara

"House-sitting?"

"Yes, I need someone to look after the plants." Kurama frowned lightly. "They should be alright, but a little water wouldn't hurt them. They're not use to a week with no attention." He gently rubbed a rose petal.

"A week?"

"Kuwabara." Kurama turned to his friend, a small smile dancing on his lips. "You can do better."

Yusuke laughed loudly. "You sound like a moron, Kuwa! Quit repeating everything he says!"

Kuwabara shot Yusuke a dark look. He failed to see the funny part of this situation. He would have to spend a week of his summer here? What if he wanted to go on vacation? Didn't you have to be over 40 to house-sit?

"What about Hiei?" Yusuke asked.

"I can go to-"

"He can stay here."

Hiei narrowed his eyes at the fox. "I can go back to-"

"Kuwabara can help you with any appliances you can't use." Kurama smiled. "I have to go to work while I'm there. If you go back to the demon world, don't you think I'm going to worry? I always do, Hiei." Kurama shot his watch a quick glance. "I'm going to trust you to stay here. And Kuwabara to help you. And Yusuke to… not die."

Yusuke ran a hand through his hair. "I feel important."

"How will I know if Hiei needs help?"

"You can stay at my place," Kurama offered after a moment. "Hiei is familiar with most objects there." He leaned closer to Kuwabara, whispering out of Hiei's hearing range. "He doesn't do too well with change. And he's hopeless in the kitchen." He straightened up. "If I don't leave soon, I'll miss my plane."

"You could take the portal in the morning." Hiei stood as well.

"I've told you, Hiei, my boss and a load of future employees will be waiting at that airport. If I don't step off the plane in front of them, there'll be a lot of complications."

"Tell them you got there first."

"When they arranged the tickets? I don't think so." Kurama grabbed his suitcase. "Be nice to Kuwabara," He whispered as Hiei followed him to the front door. "And try not to break anything."

"I don't need a babysitter," Hiei crossed his arms, looking annoyed.

"Then think of it as a slumber party," Kurama teased, waving towards Kuwabara and Yusuke. "I'll be back in a week."

"See ya, Fox-boy," Yusuke called at the closing door.

Kuwabara was still staring down at the carpet. "I have to house sit?" Kuwabara frowned. "How am I suppose to study if I have to play maid?"

Yusuke laughed. "Kuwa, don't be an idiot. You can study. All you have to do is water the plants once or twice. And make sure Hiei doesn't chop anything to bits." The detective gave them a wide grin. "Hope you two enjoy each other's company, I've got to go meet Keiko."

Hiei narrowed his eyes at Kuwabara as the door shut behind Yusuke.

"Hey, Shrimp, I'm as happy about this as you are." Kuwabara grumbled, standing and wondering to the kitchen.

Hiei crossed his arms. "I don't have to stay." He declared stubbornly.

"Kurama won't be happy if you leave. Tea?" Kuwabara called from the kitchen.

"I'll be back before he will. Yes."

"He'll still know. And you'll make him upset." There was the sound of something breaking.

"Don't blame me for that." Hiei leaned against the kitchen doorframe. "That was Kurama's favorite cup."

"Do you know where he got it? I can replace it." Kuwabara sounded slightly panicked.

Hiei shrugged. "Some market, I guess." He wrinkled his nose. "What are you making?"

Kuwabara glanced at the tea bags in his hand and the kettle on the stove. "Tea," He stated obviously.

"Kurama uses those to stain papers."

Kuwabara blinked twice. "Uh…?"

Hiei shook his head in obvious disappointment. "He lets the herbs steep and… Make it that way, stupid ningin." Hiei dropped into the chair, resting his head in his arms on the table.

"It's going to be a long week, huh?" Kuwabara set the steaming glass in front of Hiei.

"Hnh…" Hiei accepted the glass, watching Kuwabara sit across from him with his own.

"Most people say thanks," Kuwabara pointed out.

"Isn't my presence thanks enough?" Hiei glared, daring Kuwabara to disagree.

"I suppose so." Kuwabara set his glass down. "If I'm staying here, I need to run home and grab a few of my things. Do you…" Kuwabara paused. Did Hiei even have a home in the human world? "Do you have things here?" He finished.

"Yes," Hiei took a small sip of tea. It wasn't as good as Kurama made it. "Don't worry about me."

Kuwabara stood, placing his glass in the sink. "That's exactly what I intend to do." He muttered, heading for the door. "Staying here, coming along…?"

"We're not friends now, Kuwabara. I don't intend to hold your hand for this entire week."

"But you intend to hold my hand at some point?" Kuwabara asked under his breath, shutting the door behind him. It was going to be a long week.

"How's it going?"

"Detective." Hiei nodded sharply.

"Yusuke!" Kuwabara greeted him with a headlock. "Boy am I glad to see you! Shrimp doesn't like to talk."

Yusuke wrestled his way free and ran his hands over his hair, making sure it was still gelled into place. "Yea, well, you already knew that," He shoved his hands into his pockets. "You two break anything yet?"

"Eh, a cup." Kuwabara frowned.

"That's all you had in you, Hiei? Throwing it at him?"

"Not likely," The fire demon replied from his perch on the windowsill.

"Actually," Kuwabara interrupted sheepishly. "I broke it."

Yusuke arched a brow. "You know, Kurama doesn't ask for much… You really don't need to break his stuff to show you're upset by this arrangement. It's only one week."

Kuwabara looked shocked. "I didn't do it on purpose, moron!"

Yusuke laughed. "Of course not."

"Tell him, Hiei," Kuwabara turned to his house-mate for help.

Hiei shot him a bored look before returning to the view outside the window.

"Hey, Hiei," Yusuke sobered up. "It's not so bad. I mean, Kuwabara's no Kurama. And I know you miss him-"

"I do not miss the fox!" Hiei snapped, standing abruptly. "I simply detest the contact with plain ningin and no demon interruptions."

"I'm here!" Yusuke cheered.

"Yes, Detective." Hiei sighed. But is that a good thing? He let the conversation fall.

"Have you had dinner yet?" Yusuke asked, turning back to Kuwabara. He knew the fire demon was touchy.

"Not yet, I'm not sure if we should eat Kurama's food."

"Come on, let's go out!"

"Come, Hiei?" Kuwabara swung his jacket on.

"No," Hiei answered abruptly, shooting the two a bored look. At Kuwabara's questioning glance, Hiei groaned. "I'll be here when you get back,"

Kuwabara nodded and followed his friend out of the house.

"So, how's it going with Shrimp?" Yusuke asked as they fell into step.

"I'm not sure. Sometimes, I think he hates me. Then, sometimes, he's almost…nice. But, mostly, he's silent."

"Maybe he's plotting your murder," Yusuke suggested with a loud laugh as he held the door open to the restaurant.

"Maybe…" Kuwabara didn't doubt that suggestion too much. "It just makes everything more difficult."

"It's only one week, Kuwabara. You're over thinking it, man." Yusuke shook his head.

"I donno, Yusuke, it'd be nice if things went well this week," Kuwabara cleared his throat, holding a menu to cover his face.

"Oh? Trying to impress Kurama?" Yusuke arched a brow, clearly confused.

"No, idiot," Kuwabara hissed, glancing around to make sure no one was within hearing range. "I think...I like Hiei."

Yusuke laughed loudly. "That's great, Man!" He slapped Kuwabara on the back. "You are on the same team, after all. You two can't fight forever."

Kuwabara relaxed. Technically, he had told his secret, even if Yusuke was too stupid to understand. And, even if it was all in the wrong context, Yusuke hadn't seemed too shocked. Maybe…Maybe there was hope yet.