Kurayami no Akai Bara

By: Minuiko

PG-13, Romance

Summary: Kurama/Hiei, AU, pre-Makai Tournament, after Chapter Black. When Koenma asks Kurama and Hiei to watch a human girl emitting Youki instead of normal spirit energy, the unexpected happens. Hiei is trapped under the girl's spell just as Kurama finally realizes his feelings for Hiei. Collaboration work.

PS: Kurama/anyone but Hiei and Hiei/same thing, totally SUCKS. I mean, Botan with them is okay, I guess, but honestly… they can just be themselves around each other. Them pairing up with anyone else makes them totally OOC. Therefore, although Hiei will be falling for the wrong person here (The evil, evil OC… of course, if I can manage fit it in with your storyline… Takeide…), the pairing is still, simply, Kurama/Hiei. Don't worry, you'll get it later, hopefully… and Takei? No fluff or "I just realized that I love him!" in the second chapter please. XD And try to follow my summary. The rest of the story is all yours. Well, half of it anyway.

A/N: I wanted to repeat that this is a COLLABORATION work, meaning that two people are working on it. I write the first chapter, and Takeide will write the second, etc. Also, we are not confiding in each other, so if she writes something unpredictable, too short, random, or not to my style, it's not my fault. It's hers. :P Same goes for me. This is just a little project that I wanted to try. Oh yeah, and I AM making a requirement for you Takeide: make your chapters at least four to five pages long, okay (I'm being nice)? And go to the quicknotes checking thingeh on the internet, to make sure that the italics actually turn out right and stuff.

I apologize for such a long author's note (no one but Takeide is urged to read it, actually), and on to the story!

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Chapter One

!#&

The dark-haired fire demon stood up, careful not to show how much the wound bothered him. The crimson-haired, emerald-eyed teenager standing next to him had only minor injuries, but didn't proceed to help him up; the demon was prideful enough as it is without someone trying to mother him. He merely asked, "Hiei— are you alright?"

"Hn."

Which probably meant "Are you stupid? Of course I'm alright. I don't need your help." Kurama allowed a small smile of amusement to show on his face. Hiei growled. "What?"

"At least allow me to treat that wound."

Hiei was cautious, not stupid. Nodding briefly, he allowed Kurama to disinfect and bandage his blood-soaked right arm with some manner of plant-made salve and cloth, and even though he could've done as well himself, it was less painful and somewhat neater when Kurama did it. He trusted him that much, as far as one could trust a kitsune. Kurama was reliable, that much was true.

Kurama finished and got up without touching Hiei's arm more than was necessary. "Come on, Hiei, let's go back to Koenma. The presence of such Youkai in the human world is… intriguing."

"I don't care about that, and since when did I ever follow orders from Spirit World? They don't order me around."

"Hiei." That rebuking tone was so goddamned annoying!

Growl. "Fine."

"But you don't order me around either. We're equals, that's all."

I'm not acknowledging your superiority. "And we're equal as allies, not friends," Hiei added, in an undertone. Kurama, with his acute hearing, heard that, but chose not to comment and managed to keep a straight face all the way to Reikai with Hiei glaring at his back.

!#&

Koenma sat imperiously on the chair, his eyes forward and serious-looking… well, as serious-looking as a kid could get. He looked extremely dignified, for him, that was, but the effect was ruined by the round blue pacifier he held in his mouth. While sucking on it (it calmed him down… after all, magical or not, a pacifier was still a pacifier) to prevent him from getting too nervous by Kurama and Hiei's presence (they were scary when they were both staring at him like that), he opened one of his numerous books on strange happenings in the Ningenkai and spoke very seriously.

"That's an interesting question, Kurama… it happens to coincide with an equally puzzling enigma… which is this: there's a human girl I'd like you to acquaint yourselves with, and seeing how you are, Hiei, I think you'd gladly take on the job…" he began, when Hiei suddenly had his sword out and at Koenma's neck. "I dare you to repeat that," he said threateningly, his crimson eyes narrowed.

"A human girl," Koenma repeated, "and I'd like to finish what I was saying before you decapitate me."

Hiei growled and sheathed his katana. Koenma continued, "And the reason why I said what I said was because this girl is radiating an enormous amount of energy, and not just spirit energy… she's emitting Youki. I want you to keep a close eye on her… and the easiest way to do that would be," he narrowed his brown eyes at Hiei, "to befriend her."

"No."

Kurama stopped himself from smiling as Hiei nearly shook with the indignity. "Me, befriend human filth? No. Find someone else to do your grunt work."

Kurama feigned injury as he said in a teasingly hurt voice, "ButHiei, I lived among humans for sixteen years."

And changing his voice, he said softly, "It's not going to kill you. Besides, it would take a formidable Youkai to disguise his or her aura for at least as long as I have in a supposedly human state. This 'human girl,' I suspect, must be a demon of the A-class at least. Or perhaps she's a human who's possessed by a demon. Either way, it would mean something interesting for you to do. Find out what she's like."

Hiei had a long inner struggle before finally talking again. "Why not have the Detective do it?"

And Koenma's cheerful answer was, "Oh, Yusuke will be in the front lines keeping Youkai away from the Kekkai Barrier. Kuwabara, too. It seems that the Spirit Defense Force weren't able to seal the entire thing off after Sensui's defeat; there was a tiny gap left and some crafty, small demons came through and started to open the Barrier with their combined power, little by little. They shouldn't get too far. What I'm mainly concerned about is this girl… something's not right about her."

Hiei scoffed. "Why not let us do the fighting? I'm sure Yusuke will have a better time… befriending this human girl than I will."

"He already volunteered for the frontlines, and besides, you two are accustomed to this sort of spy-work (especially Kurama when he was still a kitsune and seducing women for information), so… I'm counting on you, alright?"

Kurama mumbled, "You didn't need to add that part about my past," while Hiei said scathingly, "I never agreed to this in the fir—"

Snap. "Too bad. Here are your orders and locations: this girl goes to your school, Kurama, so the easiest way would be to send Hiei there too as a transfer student… he could live in a separate apartment of his own, although I know you two are accustomed to sharing a room… do as you wish."

"Oh, right. And here's a picture of the girl. Her name is Dokugai Kajin… aged sixteen, short black hair, purple eyes, five foot three (she's taller than you by five inches, Hiei!), owns a koi pond, and lives alone in an apartment next to the school. She goes to work to support her self at the Kitchen Counter, where I believe you two go for ice cream sometimes…"

How does he know all this? wondered Kurama as Hiei thought at the same time, Stupid stalkers are taking over this place… and I thought Karasu was bad.

Koenma's eyes closed in a foxish way as he said, smiling, "Get to work, you two."

"Alright. Let's go, Hiei."

"…Hn."

!#&

Time: after Kurama's classes. Place: Place where Kurama takes out bits of paper and round metal objects to buy him ice cream. Current location? Perched on a heavily leafed tree so that those baka ningen won't see him. This was in Hiei's thinking anyway. Kurama walked casually along the tree before spotting a shadow of black. Hiei jumped down from the highest branch, making sure that the humans didn't see him. Kurama smiled. "We should go to the Kitchen Counter… and no, not for ice cream… please don't look at me like that, I'm not trying to start a fight," Hiei was staring patronizingly at him, a discontented pout on his lips, "… alright, maybe one cone, or two… anyways, I wanted to meet this Dokugai girl. Don't worry, I'll do the talking."

"… good."

Hiei sullenly walked alongside Kurama, a fierce frown fixed upon his face. If Koenma was watching, which he probably was, Hiei would show him that he was going to do as he asked, but that he wasn't going to do it willingly. Besides, there was ice cream.

They entered the large, crowded bright yellow and gray decorations signifying the Kitchen Counter. After they were seated, they were having a little talk about what to get…

"Chocolate with bananas and strawberry with multi-colored sprinkes with a double scoop of a mix between pecan, rocky road and peanut butter and chocolate pieces and…"

"Hiei, do you expect someone to remember that? Try to pick something less complicated."

"Well, you always get vanilla. Try to pick something less boring."

Kurama sighed, then ranted off, "Chocolate with bananas and strawberry with multi-colored sprinkles with a double scoop of a mix between pecan, rocky road and peanut butter and chocolate pieces and don't forget to put it in an extra large cone or else I will kill you?"

Hiei scowled. "You did remember."

Kurama smiled sweetly. "Well, I happen to have a good memory and experience. Suppose you were with Yusuke or Kuwabara. I doubt they'd appreciate having to memorize your order. And you really should stop adding the "don't forget or I'll kill you" after every order you give to humans… it's not polite."

"Vain fox."

"I try."

Just then, a very pretty waitress passed their table… no, stopped in front of it. She straightened her dark hair and took out her notepad and pen, before asking them in a sweet, natural voice, "Excuse me, are you two ready to order?"

"Yes, just about…"

Kurama just stopped short. He almost didn't recognize her; it was amazing how much more breathtaking she was in person rather than in a picture. Maybe he wouldn't have recognized her if he hadn't sensed trace amounts of Youki in her… just as Koenma had said. But she really was gorgeous. Her large violet eyes sparked like purple-indigo fire, and her pale, creamy skin contrasted beautifully with her short-cropped raven hair, which had a pale, glossy gleam to it. "Excuse me, miss…"

The girl looked politely taken aback. "Yes?"

"What's your name? I… feel like I've seen you somewhere…"

Not the truth, but I can't say I'm supposed to be spying on her… Which was a shame, because she seemed like such an attractive, kind, and… well, innocent girl. Kurama, for some reason, wasn't interested, especially seeing as to how acutely he noticed her warmth and beauty, but judging by her actions, she couldn't do Reikai or Ningenkai much harm.

She paused for a moment, fiddling with her pen, before answering. "My name…"

"Dokugai. Dokugai Kajin."

!#&

Whew. Done. Finally. I also wanted to add that Kajin is her first name, and that they introduce themselves last name first, so… ok.

Review!