AN: ok, sorry about the delay, but here's the the real chapter 1. i just switched the previous chapter to the prologue, so i'm sorry if i confused anybody.

anyways, a great many thanks to my amazing beta reader, who managed to edit this chapter while prepping for exams. you're the best ekp95m! love you lots!

anyways, enjoy!

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Kurama took public transport until he was out of the city. After that he ran, enjoying the feeling of the wind in his hair and being in the forest. Often, when he had been in Makai, he wished that he could do this everyday and just forget about the rest of the world.

But as always, every good thing must come to an end. He came to the edge of the forest about halfway up the steps carved in the mountain on which Genkai's temple stood.

Pausing for a moment to listen, Kurama could faintly hear a deep voice cursing, along with the acrid smell of smoke. He grinned. It seemed that Hiei was indeed… annoyed at having been restrained. Unfortunately, it really was the only way to get him to behave. Hiei himself knew this, but that didn't necessarily mean that he would cooperate. No, as soon as he'd been able to move about without the wound reopening, Hiei had been up and working himself as much as he could, trying to make up the time he'd spent in bed-rest. He didn't stop until someone made him, usually by either knocking him out, which was rather difficult, or else by restraining him, also fairly difficult but by no means impossible. The fire demon just wouldn't sit still long enough to fully recover.

Kurama started up the stairs slowly, so that he could send a tentative thought to his friend without tripping on the steps.

/Hiei?/ Instantly, he could feel Hiei's anger at being restrained, along with an intensive desire to strangle someone.

/What do you want, fox?/ Even his mind-voice was a growl.

Kurama refrained from chuckling, despite the fact that Hiei couldn't actually hear him. Somehow Hiei would know, and would then proceed to make Kurama's life hell. Or as much like hell as he could manage.

/Oh, I just thought I'd see how you were doing./ Knowing the fire demon the way he did, Hiei was about to yell so the fox cut him off. /How's Yukina? Is she enjoying spending time with you?/

There was only silence in reply. Kurama finally let out the chuckle that had been wanting to escape before speeding up. He wanted to see Hiei's face when he was released, only to find himself facing a playful fox.

Kurama was almost to the top when Hiei spoke to him again, with a strange message.

/It's not Yukina who's here./ His voice was quite sour.

Kurama blinked. Not Yukina? What was that supposed to mean? Rather than waste time asking questions, he simply raced up the last few steps and across the courtyard. Barely remembering to take off his shoes, he paced through the temple to Hiei's room, where Kurama had last seen him. The sight that greeted him, however, was not what he'd last seen.

Inside the room, Hiei was lying on his futon with Kurama's vines holding him down. The vines had been grown in such a way that they were highly resistant to flames. Actually, they seemed to thrive on fire and the heat that fires tended to produce. By his side, however, sat the reason for Hiei's rather cryptic remark.

Yusuke looked up from his place and grinned happily at Kurama, completely ignoring the dark glare coming from the fire demon. "Hey there, fox-boy!" His grin turned sly. "So you skipped school too, huh?"

Kurama raised an eyebrow, vaguely amused. "Not quite, Yusuke." He walked over to sit on the other side of Hiei, who was beginning to smolder. "My teachers let me leave early, so I thought I'd come check on Hiei." He grinned down at Hiei, but continued to Yusuke. "I was debating letting him go so that I could have a good sparring partner, but since you're here, maybe we should just let him rest some more."

Hiei growled, but was cut off from speaking by Yusuke. "Yeah. I mean, he still hasn't fully recovered from getting his ass kicked."

Hiei snarled and attempted to reach out and strangle Yusuke, only to have the vines tighten around him. "Damn it, Kurama! Get these things off me!"

Kurama and Yusuke burst into laughter. After all, how often did one get to see Hiei, the ever anti-social one, tied up and forced to spend time with others? It was too good an opportunity to pass up. Kurama looked down at his old friend with mirth clearly visible in his emerald eyes.

"Come now, Hiei. You know that you need to rest, and this is the only way I can be assured that you will when I'm gone." He glanced up at Yusuke, and raised an eyebrow. "Although now I think I see what that last comment was all about."

Yusuke stared. "What do you mean?" He had a fairly good idea, though. He sensed Hiei's attention wandering just a short time ago, which was shortly followed by Kurama's entrance. Given what he'd learned during the last incident, Hiei had most likely been talking to Kurama via telepathy. Hiei had probably been complaining to the fox about him.

Hiei's gaze snapped over to the Toushin, his crimson eyes narrowed angrily, but Kurama just grinned. "Oh, just something that Hiei said to me on my way here." At Yusuke's expectant look, he elaborated. "Hiei said that it wasn't Yukina that was here, and wouldn't say anything else." He chuckled. "So tell me, Yusuke. Just what have you been saying to annoy Hiei so badly?"

Yusuke blinked innocently and looked around briefly. "Who, me?" He pointed to himself. "I don't know what you're talking about." His overly bright voice was a dead giveaway for those who knew him though.

Kurama and Hiei exchanged a look, before the fox shook his head. "So tell me, Hiei. Are you ready to be released yet? Or will you jump right at me and try and maul me as soon as I untie you?"

Hiei snarled. "What do you think?" He was rather aggravated at the moment, and just wanted an outlet to release the tension coursing through him.

Kurama's grin returned. He could sense Hiei's aggravation towards him, but the fact that it was Yusuke who had been taking advantage of Hiei's immobility would make him the more tempting target. /I think that you should take this chance to have a bit of a rematch against Yusuke./ At the fire demon's widened eyes, Kurama shrugged lightly. /After all, when's the last time you were challenged by someone who knows you so well, other than Mukuro and myself? And you said yourself that you've been wanting a rematch with Yusuke./

Hiei's eyes narrowed thoughtfully, before he smirked. /You just don't want to fight me when I'm pissed./ He chuckled. /But that's a good idea. I think I may just do that. He's been here for a few hours, so I think a bit of vengeance is in order./

Yusuke watched in growing apprehension as both demons began chuckling. Clearing his throat, he stood up quickly. "Hey guys, I, um, just remembered that I'm supposed to meet up with Keiko and Kuwabara after school, so I'm, you know, going to go now." He began edging towards the door, hoping to make it to safety before something happened.

Kurama waited until Yusuke had reached the door before speaking. "Oh come now, Yusuke. School doesn't let out for a few more hours. Surely you can stay and play a little."

The emphasis on the word "play" made Yusuke shiver. "No, no. I really think I should be going now. You know how Grandma is, if I don't leave now she'll find some sort of chore for me to do."

Hiei's dark chuckle echoed through the room. "Alright, fox. Remove the vines now."

Yusuke's eye widened, and he raced through the door as Kurama used his energy to release Hiei's restraints. The demon was instantly on his feet and chasing after Yusuke, with Kurama following a little ways behind him.

Yusuke barely managed to reach the courtyard before Hiei caught up with him. Walls of dark fire encased the area, closing off any escape routes. Yusuke whipped around to see Hiei launch himself at the former detective to deliver a powerful right hook to the face.

Kurama watched from the balcony as the fight became more and more aggressive. It appeared that Hiei had recovered more than they'd realized, if his present movements were anything to go by. Yusuke seemed to have realized this as well, and wasn't holding back as much as he may have if Hiei's movements showed any sign of fatigue.

At the sound of footsteps, Kurama turned his head to see Genkai approaching him. Turning to face her fully, he welcomed her presence. "Greetings, Master Genkai. And how are you today?" His voice was calm, as if there was no battle presently being waged not even twenty feet away.

Genkai grunted. "I'd be better if there were no boneheads acting stupid in my yard." She stopped beside the fox and frowned at the fight. "I take it you decided that Hiei was recovered enough to participate in this?"

Kurama shrugged, before wincing as a rather vicious kick to the side sent Yusuke flying into a nearby tree. "Well, I figured that Hiei might wish to work off some stress. Yusuke just happened to have been there right when Hiei was getting overly restless, so I simply took advantage of that."

Genkai chuckled sardonically. "Meaning you decided that you'd rather let the Dimwit take the brunt of Hiei's frustration and watch from the sidelines, right?" She glanced out of the corner of her eyes to see Kurama's expression to be one of perfect innocence. "Hmph. Don't try that innocent look on me, fox. I know you too well."

Kurama sighed dramatically. "Oh well. I never could get anything by you, could I?"

Genkai laughed, before shaking her head. "Well, what do you say to putting an end to this? It doesn't look like Yusuke's putting up much of a fight, and Hiei doesn't appear to be letting up anytime soon."

Kurama shrugged. "Might as well. I can take Yusuke's place if Hiei still wants to fight."

With that in mind, the two of them headed down the steps with the intention of stopping the beating currently taking place. Hiei had Yusuke pinned beneath him and was punching him repeatedly. Yusuke was attempting to escape, but to no avail.

Kurama and Genkai were almost to them when something most unexpected occurred.

"Master Genkai?" A familiar voice came from the stairs, along with the sound of heavy footsteps.

Everyone froze, turning towards the stairs. Slowly, some old friends came into view, with two of them being supporting by the other two, with two other following them.

Chuu and Suzuka were carrying Jin and Touya, with Rinku and Shishiwakamaru close behind. Touya and Jin were both covered in sweat and were unconscious, although there were no physical wounds apparent.

Shortly, the party of six reached the top of the stairs. Suzuka looked across the courtyard, ignoring Hiei and Yusuke to look for Genkai. Upon spotting her standing next to Kurama, his eyes visibly showed relief

"Master Genkai, Kurama. There's something's wrong. Seriously wrong."

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AN: i'll end it there for a bit of a teaser. for any jin and touya fans out there, i'm sorry for the tormenting they'll undergo, but it is kinda necessary for the plotline. please forgive me!

anywho, chapter 2's about halfway done, so it'll be up soon. hope you liked it!

ja ne!