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I sat by the window, drinking tea and enjoying my evening meal. The room had been growing dark around me, but I did not bother to turn on any lights. My mother had said she needed to work late tonight at the office, so I felt it was okay to go ahead and eat without her. I missed her company, but I knew she was probably happy right now—the man she's been dating was probably working late with her, too.

The sun set orange, yellow and red over the late autumn canopy of my backyard while I savored the taste of my meal. It was a pretty view, but I really did not feel like being alone tonight. I could hear every board creek, every branch rustle, and the soft click of the furnace as it began its new cycle. I was tempted to turn on the stereo to drown it all out. My youko-self would have been annoyed with my foolishness. It's not that my senses were strong—after all, I'm physically only human—I was listening for my mother's return.

I knew she wasn't anywhere near by. The room I continued to eat in was dark and still as I stretched my other senses outward. I expected to feel the pull of the plants, since, of course, not all were growing dormant in preparation for winter. But instead, I noticed something else. I sensed a consciousness.

Someone was out there in the woods, watching me.

I thought about it for a while, and then came to the realization that it could only be Hiei. Kurama no baka…

So, I picked my chopsticks back up off my plate and began to eat again, making a point to savor each bite. I wasn't sure what Hiei was doing out there in the forest watching me like that, but… If it really was a matter of great importance, he would confront me soon. He's not a coward, after all--he's just introverted. Still, my curiosity was peaked. As I sat there eating I stretched my senses out, hoping to learn more.

Fifteen minutes went by and what was left of my evening meal had grown cold. I wondered… 'Was he spying on me?' I stood up, pushed the chair in, and carried my dishes to the sink. Maybe… Maybe he was just waiting for me to finish my meal. Or… Maybe my human mind was just playing tricks on me. I dumped the uneaten portion of my dinner into the garbage then rinsed my plate.

Still, the fire demon did not come. Impatiently, I sighed, now frustrated. I began to think maybe I should give Yuusuke a telephone call and see if there was any new reikai tantei business at hand. Why else was Hiei watching me?

Looking at the kitchen window, seeing only my own reflection, I spoke, fists lightly clenched. "Hiei—if you have something to say, you better tell me now—'Kaasan is due back any minute." There was no way I would allow him to come knocking at my bedroom window. A guy needs his beauty sleep, after all.

I turned away from the sink and left the kitchen.

Fifteen minutes later Kuwabara-kun called with a math question. I really wasn't that busy and he really wasn't all the eager to go back to his studies, so we chatted a while. He seemed to be in a somewhat amicable mood, but… the more we talked, the uneasier he became.

"Kurama?"

"Yes?"

"What's goin' on?"

I chuckled a bit, though even I noticed that I didn't sound happy. Something was bothering me. I closed my eyes once and let loose a brief sigh. "Honestly?"

"Yes. I can sense that you're disturbed. What is it?"

I sat up in my chair and closed my math book. I didn't think I'd be going back to my studies tonight. "It's Hiei. I'm pretty sure I sensed his youryoku out there in the woods. He's been there all evening, but… He hasn't moved. I'm considering going out there to check on him. Something is weird."

"You're sure it's him?"

"No, I'm not. I'm not nearly as powerful as I was when I was a youko. Perhaps this could just be my imagination?"

"Kurama, I have a bad feeling tonight. If you weren't part youkai, I'd probably tell you to stay indoors tonight. Something is wrong. I feel it."

"I think I'm going to check on Hiei."

"Alright. And I'll call you back in another fifteen minutes then. Okay?"

"Sure. Good luck with your studies."

"Thanks. I'll be needing it."

I hung up the phone and went to the hall closet to find a coat to wear. I chose my favorite pink pullover, the one I bought last year at a rummage sale. My mother wishes that I'd buy more manly things, but… as with everything else, I went ahead and bought it anyway. It suits me--just like Hiei has that flare for belts.

I couldn't figure out why Hiei would be out there in the woods, doing nothing, all this time. I surmised that perhaps he could have been using his jagan, but that made no sense. He'd only be there too… Too look at me? I've never been that interesting, me and my foolish ningen ways. Hiei wouldn't be doing that.

So, what was he doing?' I wondered.

I turned on the back spotlight, and then walked outside, stretching my senses into the night as I went. His youryoku wasn't that far, and not so surprisingly, from his position, he'd have had a good view of myself enjoying my evening meal by the window. I wasn't so sure if I liked that, but I decided I would still aide him anyway. There was something strange about the whole situation, even his youryoku felt different as I approached.

Hiei was standing motionless underneath an old tree I used to climb as a child. I know he's slept in that tree at least once, though he did not appear to be in any shape to do that tonight. He looked… very ill at ease, and quit unusually pale and haggard. As I approached I saw that he held his body stiff as a fluctuating energy pulsed in a small blue aura around his chest. His eyes were very wide, and his pupils were small, as if he wasn't seeing me, but only whatever it was that transpired in his mind.

"Hiei…" I called, not expecting a reply. He didn't hear me, I was sure, but I had to try, just in case. I wasn't sure what exactly was going on, all I knew was that I needed to help him come back to himself. "Hiei…"

I shook his shoulders, and then looked to see if there was any reaction to my touch in his face. His third eye was open and… I tried to look away.

I could not.

I felt my mind and body liquefy and I passed out.

"Shuuichi!"

I awoke to the sound of Kurama's ningen mother calling up the stairs. Her voice was light and sweet, touched with a mild hint of concern. I rolled over in bed, pulling the sheets around me—then immediately sat upright. What was I doing in Kurama's bed?!

I couldn't see straight… due to a mass of tangled red hair covering my face. I brushed it all away with my hands, noticing at once that this hair was not Kurama's. No… Surprisingly, it was attached to my own head, as if it had grown there wildly in the night.

"Shuuichi!"

"Hai!" I loudly called out to her, unexpectedly in her son's somewhat feminine voice. My body felt wrong. As I sat there, bewildered in Kurama's bed, I noticed my perspective was higher than usual and… When I inspected my arms and legs I noticed… I was dressed in a pink top and purple pants.

Fear rose in my gut, and I whipped my head around, looking for the mirror. What I saw was appalling… Kurama's wide green eyes stared back at me in shock… his rosy-pink coloring draining from his cheeks. I tugged at my red locks, shoving them back behind my shoulders, watching him do the same. He was I.

"You have a telephone call. It's your friend, Kuwabara-kun."

I didn't want to call back to her. I did not want to hear Kurama's voice. My mind couldn't process this… but somehow I managed to remove myself from Kurama's bed and walk out of his room. I'd never been in this part of his house before, nor had I ever used a telephone, yet… I had to talk to Kuwabara, even if he was a ningen no baka.

Shiori held out a cordless telephone, and I reached for it, not having to go all the way downstairs. I was grateful, not wanting to have this discussion with her standing by me.

"Kurama--You doin' ok?"

I sighed. "Kisama--I am NOT Kurama! Ch'," I yelled into the phone-- still horrified by the sound of Kurama's voice coming from my mouth.

"Hi-Hiei?" Kuwabara stuttered in disbelief.

"Baka."

JM Revereie 2001 - 2004/p

Yu Yu Hakusho is copyright to Yoshihiro Togashi/Shueisha, Jump comics, Fuji Television and Studio Pierrot and licensed by FUNImation Productions, Inc.