Shezka Foxe: I know all you people have been good people and read all my other stories I've published before this one. Right? Oh, and falling behind in work really sucks. On the other hand, here is my June 6th story.

Hiei's sword lodged into the wood above the bat demon's head, and he wrenched it out. He swung again, only to find Kuronue had slipped away. Kuronue smiled, his purple eyes flashing laughing as Hiei attempted to kill him. Surprisingly, they'd both met up at Kurama's house. Hiei, not knowing who the bat demon was, had attacked him.

"You're swift for a little one, perhaps you'll be the same behind the house? Though, we'd have to watch out for Kurama's plants, they have a tendency to poke you where it hurts. Then again, I thrust pretty hard when I'm in a hurry." Kuronue teased, only receiving another sword slash in answer.

"How do you know Kurama? What is your business here?" Hiei snarled, pausing briefly to catch his breath. Kuronue smirked, and stood up on the tree branch. His bat wings flapped of their own accord, enjoying the cold night air. It'd been hot back in Makai, and he wasn't looking forward to fleeing back there on account of some young demon that thought he could call himself Kurama's equal.

"My business? MY BUSINESS? I should ask the same of you, runt. You're nothing but a pawn in Kurama's game. I'm surprised he's even kept you on this long. His style is usually to kill off those he does not require anymore. Yomi would be a good example, though, he wasn't happy either when he found out I still lived after all these years." Kuronue answered casually, leaning against the tree trunk. He looked up and around him to find that they stood in an apple tree. Kuronue picked an apple and bit into its crisp flesh. M'm, apples never tasted so sweet.

"Runt? Ha, that's a laugh. You dare insult me when you died so many years ago? I'll send you back to your grave, and make sure you never come back." Hiei hissed, eyes blazing. Kuronue had, by then, devoured his entire apple, stem an all. While licking his fingers, he raised an eyebrow at the fire apparition.

"Hey, listen kid, I only survived because I got lucky. Thankfully, a few demons happened to be passing through, and managed to revive me and heal me. It has taken sixteen years for me to fully recover, and I plan on ticking my old thieving buddy off until he throws me out of his house, probably drunk as hell." Kuronue explained, not having the imagination or any real reason other than to con a free meal and drinks off Kurama.

Hiei's eyes narrowed and he shifted on the tree branch, ready to strike once again. Just as he jumped and was about to cut off Kuronue's arm (whom hadn't moved from his spot) a rose whip came out and hit him squarely in the chest, sending him flying back. The hit hadn't been meant to damage or kill, but to defend. Below them, Kurama calmly stared back up at them, slightly confused.



"Hiei, may I ask why you're insisting upon injuring my old comrade? If you suspect he will hurt me, you have nothing to fear. Kuronue, at the most, can annoy me, but that's about it. He's actually quite harmless and helpless once you know him." Kurama explained, watching his two friends.

Both stared down in surprise down at their friend, and then turned their backs to each other.

"We were just talking." Kuronue and Hiei both muttered at the same time.

"About what, may I ask?"

"Mating with you this season."