The four friends sat on the ground in a friendly circle for a nice relaxing evening of cards before the next case.
"Bullshit!" Hiei's deep baritone voice filled the room as he shouted accusingly at Yusuke.
" Um, we're playing B.S." Kuwabara stuttered rubbing his ears. " Or bologna if you prefer."
" Be quiet fool, I can say it however I wish. We're not in kindergarten."
" I'm surprised Hiei, you know so much about this world's school systems." Kurama smoothly cut in watching Hiei's face turn a very slight shade of pink.
" Everyone knows that. I mean you told me about your childhood and I do pay attention to things when I run around. I must have passed several schools for infants-
" Uh Hiei, that's all fascinating but you gotta pick up the cards now." Yusuke interrupted.
" What!"
" I wasn't lying so take the pile."
" That's not possible, your eyebrows crinkled when you put down the cards."
" Well, that might be so but I was being honest. Look for yourself." Yusuke pointed one hand at Hiei and fired a fake shot before blowing across the tip of his finger grinning triumphantly.
Kurama glanced at Hiei. Did Yusuke's eyebrows really wrinkle when he lied? And why would Hiei notice this? He angrily flicked his red hair over his shoulder and stared at his own hand, waiting for his feelings to come back under control. Hiei bent up the cards as he scooped them up all the while glaring at Yusuke.
" Alright now it's my turn. What number are we on?" Kuwabara asked quickly.
" You are not allowed to ask. That defeats the purpose of the game." Kurama answered, a slight smile beginning to form on his lips. It was obvious that Kuwabara would lose at any card game.
" Well you might as well not put down anything since we all know your lying." Yusuke teased. " Kurama, why don't you go?"
" Hey you can't just skip my turn like that!" Kuwabara complained launching up onto his knees and grabbing the front of Yusuke's shirt.
" Dude, chill it's just a game." Yusuke said yanking Kuwabara's fist from his shirt.
" Yeah, you're right it's just that this is the first time that Hiei's playing with us."
" What do I have to do with it? Just go Kurama."
Kurama's face fell as he looked between Hiei and Yusuke. What right did they have to order me about? If it is a game then people should not be getting so angry and they certainly should not be telling me what to do. He had half a mind to get up and leave but then he couldn't. He realized that he was happy that they were all playing together so he commenced his move.
He put a card down stating firmly " One Queen." Hiei pressed a fist to his mouth and nose preventing a snort from escaping but Kuwabara, who knew that Kurama hated being mistaken for a girl, laughed uproariously. Yusuke gave him a stern look.
" You're one to laugh. You didn't even know we were on queens." While the two argued Kurama watched Hiei from the corner of his eye. Why wasn't he saying anything? He thought it was obvious that he didn't have a queen, and yet no one was objecting. Hiei went next and put down two kings. Afterwards Kurama let out a low chuckle.
" What's so funny?" Hiei asked defensively.
" Oh, nothing it's just that I didn't have any queens."
" Well, that just goes to show how good you are at hiding things. No one suspects you Kurama." Everyone laughed but Kurama frowned. You should have known. We were close for so long and you cannot even see past a poker face?
" I'm getting rather bored, I think I will call it a night." Kurama said softly laying down his cards and standing up.
" But the game's not over!" Yusuke protested brown eyes wide like a child. " And I was winning!"
" Actually I believe I was the one in the lead. I have one less card than you." Kurama pointed out and then turned away.
" You can't quit now!"
" I'm tired I guess you all can finish without me."
" In that case I'll forfeit as well."
" What? Hiei not you too!" Yusuke groaned. " Come on guys please?"
" Kurama was the one who asked me to play so there." This was the only answer they received as Hiei disappeared up the stairs even before Kurama had reached the first step.
The hall was dark but Kurama could just make out the glint of Hiei's red eyes. They glowed like two tiny torches in the night. He was leaning against the wall waiting patiently with his arms crossed over his chest.
" You should go back, it took a lot of effort just to get you to play at all." Kurama chided him.
" Yes, well it's all very pointless."
" Hmm. I suppose. But it seemed like you were having fun."
" Yelling at Yusuke is always fun." Kurama was shocked; it felt as if the words had slapped him. He unconsciously reached for his stomach grimacing.
" Kurama, What's wrong." Hiei was by his side in an instant.
" Oh." Kurama looked down at him and gave him a warm smile. " It's nothing I just remembered the first time you fought Yusuke, and how I had to intervene." Hiei's eyes narrowed.
" You mean when I stabbed you?"
" Yes." Suddenly Hiei was overcome with the urge to rip off Kurama's shirt to see if he had left a wound, some kind of mark in the soft flesh of his stomach. Kurama must have seen something in Hiei's expression because he clasped his shoulder and said calmly.
" Don't worry it doesn't hurt at all. I promise. I'm going to go to sleep now. Night."
" Good night Kurama." Hiei whispered to his retreating back.
The next morning there was loud crashing noises in the kitchen. A blue haired girl had somehow managed to drop every appliance onto the floor. Kurama was naturally a morning person so he was up long before everyone else. He glided into the kitchen with a finger pressed to his lips.
" Botan, be careful try not to wake everyone up." Once he noticed the smell he ran to the stove.
" What are you making?" He whispered intensely.
"WHAT?" Botan could not hear over the noise of her cassette player.
" I said what are you . . ." just then Hiei walked down the stairs while he was in the process of zipping up his black pants. Did he have any idea how sexy that was? Kurama could not look away.
" What is this infernal noise?" Hiei muttered pressing one hand to his temple. He caught sight of Botan. "Oh I should have known."
Kurama and Botan started speaking at once.
" She was cooking something." "I was listening to something." They looked at each other and started laughing.
Hiei smirked how could they behave so immaturely? Then Kurama asked to listen to her music and he became curious. The two of them shared the same headphones and their faces were pressed close together almost cheek-to-cheek. Botan gave Hiei a wide smile.
" You want to listen?" She asked holding one earplug out to him.
" Fine."
Although Botan had been enjoying the close proximity she had been sharing with Kurama she had to admit that it was hilarious to watch them hear the song. Kurama closed his eyes as if to understand the words more clearly, while Hiei looked increasingly sour.
I want to love you but I better not touch
I want to hold you but my senses tell me to stop
I want to kiss you but I want it too much
I want to taste you but your lips are venomous poison
You're poison running through my veins (1)
" You actually like this stuff Botan?" He asked as his eyebrows rose. She giggled when Kurama put Hiei's earplug in and started head banging. Hiei looked appalled.
" But it is catchy." The fox demon laughed spinning around him in an effortless swirl.
" What have you done with Kurama?" Hiei actually thought his head would start spinning if he watched much longer. He did not have to wait long because the foxy demon stopped when they saw Yusuke come in.
" Hey Kurama don't stop on my account." He said good-naturedly.
" Good morning." Kurama smoothly spoke trying to cover it up, he felt awkward for dancing in front of too many people. As Botan was reaching for her cassette player they dropped it in the transition. Hiei bent down to retrieve it when Kuwabara came running into the kitchen.
" I smell bacon! Gah ahhhh." He yelled as he tripped over Yusuke's foot and landed on Hiei.
"GET OFF YOU OAF!"
" I'm trying!" Kuwabara only ended up flailing more on top of him.
"DRAGON OF THE –"
"Hiei stop!" Kurama shouted stopping the chant mid way.
" Wow, you really shouldn't piss Hiei off in the mornings Huh?" Yusuke said breaking the tension and helping Kuwabara to his feet.
" You should NEVER make me angry." The shortest member of the group growled running his hands down the front of his shirt as if to wipe away dirt. " And keep that creature away from me." Kuwabara bowed his head in shame.
At last they gathered around the small table to feast upon the burnt crisps that had once been bacon. For the first time there was relative peace and quiet and Kurama thought that he could get used to it. He made himself a cup of tea and melted into the chair thinking about all the dreams he had had last night. His bedroom was just like the one he had at home; it must be because of the magic that Koenma put into making the house. They all had their own separate rooms in which one can feel the most comfortable. Although Kuwabara was quite angry when his room was decorated with my little ponies and much worse things. Yusuke must have been behind it somehow . . . He sighed and languidly stirred his green tea watching the tiny bits swish around in his mug.
It took a long time for Hiei to calm down he was still silently fuming looking anywhere but at Kuwabara. Yusuke laughed at the black cinder food and gallantly crunched down ten pieces. Botan could not contain her glee.
" That's right, you should all follow his example. You must be strong for your next mission." She stood pointing at each of them in turn.
" Yeah, sure if we're all still alive." Kuwabara mumbled.
" What was that?"
" Nothing."
Yusuke pushed back from the table his chair making a loud screech. " I forgot to call Keiko!" He ran to his room where he left the large cell phone. On the back of it was a picture that they had taken together in one of those booths. He didn't really like it since she had added lots of pink hearts but she looked cute so it was bearable. Kuwabara's eyes shone and he smiled like an idiot.
" If he's calling Keiko then that means . . ."
"Ohh you think she will travel here don't you?" Botan said batting her eyelashes. " I'm sorry but Yukina is not coming, I can not allow girls to distract the team."
"But you're here." Kurama admonished.
" Well I-I" She stammered blushing furiously.
" She's an exception because she is not in the least bit attractive." Yusuke supplied from the doorway.
" Hey!" She snapped running towards him to hit him over the head.
" Ow! Thank goodness you didn't use your broom."
" It's an Oar! And you shouldn't tempt fate Mister!"
Kurama finished his tea in silence. Just when things were becoming tranquil, of course it was too much to ask for. Hiei looked at Yusuke and Botan and actually spoke.
" That is exactly why I don't have a girlfriend." Kuwabara draped an arm over his shoulders and barked a laugh.
" That's just cuz you haven't met the right girl yet." He said with a sly a grin. Hiei was now angry on two counts. One Kuwabara was in his personal space. Two he was talking about his sister.
"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH ME!" He screamed and black flames engulfed his body. Kuwabara fell backwards in his chair with a high-pitched yelp. Even before Kurama could act Botan threw something at Hiei. At once his power subsided and he was floating in the air inside a giant pink bubble.
" What the hell is this?"
" A demon trap." She replied curtly.
" Excuse me?"
" It is a device that uses negative energy and transforms it into a sphere to lock up the one casting-"
" Shut up and get me out of your cruel device!"
"Ah. Hiei you did listen to the song." Kurama said poking the bubble with a curious finger.
"KU RA MAAAA!" Hiei shouted beating at the bubble as if he could hit him.
" Hiei the only way to get out is to think of happy thoughts." Botan said with a coy smile.
" Then he's going to be in there for a while." Yusuke said. " I could probably get him out buuuut it's just too funny." He leaned on the windowsill and peered at the sky.
" Alright here's my thought, when I get out of here I'm going to KILL YOU!!" The spiky haired demon roared.
Yusuke pinched the front of his shirt and flapped it out twice letting air rush in. "It's getting hot in here do ya'll want to go swimming?"
" I'm in!" Kuwabara shouted running upstairs to grab his bathing clothes. Kurama glanced at Hiei and shook his head. " Well it will be easier for him to think if we're all not here. Alright, I'll go."
" What!" Hiei only looked all the more furious when Kurama exited the room.
" I'm sorry Hiei I didn't know what else to do." Botan explained backing out and bowing. " Bye!"
" You're welcome to come join us when you get out k?" Yusuke told him as he too went to fetch his swim trunks.
"THAT IS IT!!!!!" Hiei shouted as he thought about mutilating Yusuke, Botan, and Kurama. Kurama? He faltered and unclenched his fists. Kurama would be swimming . . . The bubble popped and he dropped to the ground on his knees. He had found his happy thought.
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1) The song is called Poison by Groove Coverage. I found this song while browsing amvs and stumbled on one dedicated to Botan and Kurama- strange since I do not ship them-but I thought the song was good for Kurama. So I used it to symbolize Hiei and Kurama instead.
On another note: No they are not playing Go Fish here! heh.