Hello again readers! I'm on a Yu Yu Rampage right now, mainly because I'm being bugged to do them but also because I have far too many ideas floating around that it's bugging me and keeping me from doing my homework. So, enough of that and onto the disclaimer. No muses this time, mainly because they're all still pissed at me for my angst-streak lately... not the point.

Anywho, I don't own anything even remotely related to Yu Yu Hakusho. So if you try to sue me, you're a fraken idiot. (Also, the word "fraken" comes from Battlestar Galactica, something else I do not own at all.) This story is also yaoi based and I'll let you decide who it is simply by reading it. Onward readers!

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Freedom at last. The thought had been made by a young man staring at the pale blue sky of mid-afternoon Ningenkai. He leaned against a poplar tree, staring through the flowers to the summer day, a slight smile crossing his childish face as the slight breeze ruffled his dark hair gently. We've finally been cleared and disbanded, he thought in relief, his crimson gaze watching the slight wisps of clouds pass overhead. And only after three years. I must be very lucky, or Koenma very stupid. Or both, he added as an after-thought, the smirk becoming slightly smug. At least Mukuro's done with me for a while, or else I'd have to fight another of her pointless skirmishes against Raizen and Yusuke... How annoying. He sighed and straightened up, brushing off the sleeves of his white Oxford shirt and his dark navy jeans. Enough stalling; I've got to do what I came here to do.

He turned around and glanced over the house behind him. It wasn't very big, as it was a little closer to the outskirts of town, but it seemed strangely relaxing and at home for any passing by. Rose vines rose up the trellace in complex twists and turns, and the brick house was shaded beautifully by the poplar he'd just been leaning against. Taking a deep breath and running a hand nervously through his hair as if to smooth it out (it simply defied him by sticking straight up once more), the young man walked up the four front steps and opened the front door, a first for visiting this particular house. Walking in silently, he closed the door behind him and looked around.

The whole inside of the house seemed almost cleared out; most of the great classics that previously littered the shelves of the mahogany bookcase in the main room had been taken down, making the case look empty and forgotten. As he looked around in confusion, a woman came up behind him and startled him by saying quietly, "Konnichi wa, Hiei" The man spun around quickly, a hint of relief crossing his face as he bowed to the woman, who was portrayed as in her late forties with dark hair and eyes typical of Japanese people. "Minamino-dono," he replied softly, standing straight again, "I didn't know you'd be home. Is Suiichi here?"

"I'm afraid you've just missed him," she replied quietly. Unfazed, Hiei replied, "Ah, I understand. Where is he?"

"At school." This puzzled him slightly, so he asked, "What is he doing there? I thought Ningenkai schools ended a few days ago, Shiori-san." The woman smiled in a mysterious (and slightly infuriating) fashion. "They do," she answered calmly. "He's gone away to college. He would have told you, had you been here. But he said you were busy and that you wouldn't mind anyway." The young man flinched slightly. Suiichi had gone away to college and hadn't told him? That wasn't like him at all... Was something the matter with him? Smiling at his worried expression, Shiori added, "I suppose he didn't tell you, then. That's all right, I'll relate it instead. Have some tea with me and I'll explain." She turned and walked into the kitchen, Hiei following her silently as she turned on the stove and placed the kettle over the open gas flame.

"Suiichi is a very smart boy," Shiori began, taking the tea down from one of the cabinets as Hiei sat in one of the chairs by the window. "Because of that, he was offered many scholarships to various schools in and out of Japan. One of these schools he happened to have wanted to go to for quite a long time, so he wasted no time in leaving so that he could secure a good position in the dorms and shops nearby."

"Which one did he decide to attend?" Hiei asked, watching as a bird flew onto the windowsill and stared at him for a moment before fluttering away again. Shiori smiled and took the whistling tea kettle from the stove, pouring water equally into two mugs. "He chose Oxford University," she replied quietly, smiling softly but proudly. Hiei, however, looked startled as she handed him his tea. "Oxford?" he asked. "In London? Why would he go so far?"

"He wants to be the best. You know that better than anyone," she replied delicately, sipping the hot liquid carefully. "Since he can't go back to his original occupation the way he is now, he's decided to make things better for this world." Hiei grew quiet and drank his tea, unaware of the scalding liquid's heat. Why did he have to go so far? And without telling him... was he trying to get away from this life? Away from him? Shiori glanced over at one of her and her son's best friend and saw the worried and thoughtful expression across his features. She had to smile; Hiei had to have been one of the most confidant people she knew, and even if he wasn't the most trusting person in the world he seemed to trust her son with any secret. It was almost amusing to see him sitting there, drinking the almost boiling tea as if it were room temperature and looking so insecure. But because she was not the type to enjoy other people's confusion and torment, she added, "Although, I do have something to ask of you, if there's no trouble."

Hiei looked up and put the half-empty mug on the table before replying, "No trouble at all. How may I be of service?" Shiori glanced out the window and appeared to be thoughtful, as if asking Hiei of this particular favor was rather difficult or embarrassing for her. After a moment, she sighed and looked back to him, smiling gently. "I'm worried about Suiichi being so far from home without knowing anyone," she said in a motherly tone. "I know he can defend himself, but there are times I still worry for him. I only want him to be safe and happy." She locked her gaze with Hiei's ruby one, firm but gentle as always. "Do you think, perhaps, that you could go as well, just to keep an eye on him?"

Hiei blinked, a little confused but more than ready to take up the option. He was about to reply with an over-enthusiastic "Of course!" when pride stopped him, as did sensibility. "I have not been to London in a very long time, Minamino-dono," he answered quietly, "and I doubt at so late would I be able to qualify for a position as a student, let alone be in all of his classes with him."

Shiori smiled again and reached over to a set of papers on the counter. "I thought you'd be a little hesitant," she replied quietly, "so I did a little research. It turns out that they're not offering any more student positions, but a few new teaching prospects have popped up." She handed the papers over to Hiei and he glanced over them, frowning as he considered the options. "One of them happens to be Mythology and the like," she continued. "I thought you might like to teach that, if nothing else."

Hiei looked back up at her, an "I-know-you-planned-this" look on his face. "How long were you waiting to ask me?" he asked dryly.

"Since Suiichi said he'd be going," Shiori replied. "I knew that Yusuke and Kazuma would either never want to go or could never aquire the means to stay out of trouble. Besides, they're only seventeen. They niether have the training, nor the experiance to teach, let alone at a world-renowned college like Oxford." Hiei thought about it for a moment; if Suiichi had truly left because he wanted to get away from this life, going to London would only make matters worse. But then again, if that was not the case, Hiei could very well keep an eye on him and make sure he didn't get into any trouble. After all, Europe is infamous for its "native habitants". He sighed in mild defeat and nodded. "All right," he replied. "I'll go. When should I leave?"

"There's a plane to London at 6:00 tonight," Shiori answered without hesitation, handing over a small envolope. "I already have your ticket, so you better hurry and pack before you miss it. The dead-line for the applications is tomorrow." A slightly panicked look crossed the little demon's face and he took the plane ticket from Shiori quickly, but not rudely. "You planned this all along, didn't you?" he asked, sarcasm touching his voice irritably. Shiori only smiled and answered that he should go if he didn't wish to be late. As he left, the ningen woman could see a small grin touch his face as he closed the door and left her sight in a matter of seconds.

Take care of my boy, Hiei, she thought, smiling as she finished her tea and placed the two mugs in the sink. I know niether of us will ever get over it if you can't.

Back with Hiei, his heart felt lighter than it had in days as he raced through the city, using as many back alleys and shortcuts he knew of to get home quickly. This could provide a perfect opportunity for him to speak with Suiichi... with Kurama about what he had to. After all, what's the likelihood of him being Suiichi's teacher in a school that big?

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Short, I know, but the next chapter will be up in a jiffy I swear! --chibi smile-- Read and review onegai!