Kurama was tending to his garden. As much as he valued his studies, botany was truly his passion. There was nothing like the smell of fresh roses in bloom to clear his mind after keeping his nose in a book.

Kurama was lost in his thoughts when Hiei walked through the door with a triumphant grin, arm-and-arm with Yusuke. The two were laughing, and getting a bit too touchy for Kurama's comfort.

"Wow Hiei, that was a great sparring session!" Yusuke exclaimed giddily. He was completely oblivious to the daggers Kurama was metaphorically sending him with his glare.

"Hmph." Hiei replied with a slight smile. Hiei always acted disgruntled, but his true happiness would show through in little mannerisms that Kurama was all too familiar with.

"I'm gonna go get some rest, but later: you, me, rematch!" Yusuke said excitedly before swaggering away. Hiei stared at him wistfully as he moved out of view, Kurama's annoyances growing until he could no longer contain his emotions.

"What was that about?" Kurama grumbled.

Hiei turned to face his partner, taken aback by the hostility in his otherwise gentle voice.

"Yusuke asked me to help him train, so that's what we did" Hiei replied, returning Kurama's hostility.

"Hiei-senpai, I'm not comfortable just go off with other men without telling me," Kurama admitted bashfully, a blush engulfing his features. Kurama took pride in maintaining his signature poised demeanor, but something about the other boy just made him lose his composure.

Hiei looked up at the crimson-haired boy. He always looks so beautiful when he's sad

"Kurama-chan..." Hiei began "I... didn't know you felt that way..." Hiei's eyes turned downward with shame. How could he cause his beloved to feel such pain?

"Hiei-senpai..." Kurama whispered under his breath, breaking the thick silence between them, tears forming in the corners of his bright emerald eyes.

"Please don't cry, Kurama-chan" Hiei said, gazing into the emeralds with his own ruby gaze. Without another thought, Hiei lept into Kurama's embrace, unable to bear the tension between the two.

Kurama was caught off guard and nearly fell over from the force the other boy put into the embrace. Hiei was usually so cold and distant, he didn't expect this sort of reaction.

"Hiei-senpai..." Kurama cooed as he felt himself melt into the embrace. Everything felt so right. He never wanted this feeling to end.

Hiei pulled away from the embrace to once again gaze into those beautiful emerald eyes. He felt the distance between their faces close and they kissed. It was magical. Passions flared as each of their tongues battled for dominance. Before either of them knew what was happening, they were lying together on a bed of roses, their bodies intertwining.

"Kurama-chan" Hiei breathed softly, as he began to undress.

"Hiei-senpai" Kurama echoed, as his eyes scanned his lover's body. He then began to undress himself.

There would be a reason that this particular patch of flowers will forever be Kurama's favorite.