As I have said in my profile: this probably isn't up to the standards of my readers/reviewers. If you really, really don't like it though, I have two or three other versions that I could toss up for concrit. Just give me an aye or nay if it's not matching the summary. Oh! And before I forget -- if I forgot to reply to anyone, just say so and I'll do it this time around. . . . I think.

God, this is getting long, but: also, this will have a plot (or an attempt at one) besides their romance. Chapter one is a prologue of sorts, so the style's different. I actually had that planned if this did become chaptered. Nothing else was planned, though. I actually wrote this today.


With that confession out of the way, though he still didn't know Hiei's standing on it -- unless one counted him fleeing through the window his standing, which Kurama didn't -- Kurama now felt that the only thing left to do was wait. He imaged it would be a long wait, given Hiei's tendencies to take his sweet time with things, like his own confession to Yukina, but he was up to the challenge. Besides, now he could focus on school-work, in which he was sadly behind, despite what he had told Hiei.

He made his way mechanically through three worksheets and an essay before fate intervened. One can image Kurama's surprise when he found Hiei back in his window, straddling the sill in a very awkward fashion.

"Would you like to come all the way in, Hiei?" he asked, hiding a smile none too subtly behind his hand. "Or all the way out?"

"Neither," he grumbled, clinging to the window.

"Well, then, what brings you back here only --" Kurama glanced at the wall clock. "Only five hours after leaving so suddenly?"

Hiei rocked on the sill, switching to a more comfortable position, still neither in nor out. "Did you mean it?"

"Yes, Hiei. I wouldn't toy with you," he replied in all seriousness. "Not with something like this," he added thoughtfully, and thereby killing all the examples that Hiei was in the process of bringing to light.

Hiei had acquired his contemplative look once his half-formed objection had been shot down unceremoniously, and Kurama feared that he was going to fall out of the window. "If you're still thinking about it, please come in and make yourself comfortable. The night's rather chilly, and I don't want to be patching you up when you fall into Mother's roses."

Hiei snorted. "As if a few thorns could hurt me," he sniffed, but moved all the way into the room, closing the window behind him.

"Of course not. Just remember that they are my thorns."

They easily fell into silence, and Kurama's intentions weren't questioned again. He could feel Hiei's eyes on him, though, as he squeaked back and forth in his chair, working on the math portion of his work.

"I thought you were done," Hiei observed.

"I lied."

Hiei migrated to the bed, rolling over onto his side and situating the pillow. After several moments, he turned onto his back. Knowing that he wasn't going to take the initiative, Kurama twisted to face him. "Why did you come back?"

"I had an unfortunate encounter with Boton."

"Oh? Does Koenma need us? If he wants me to file again, I shall be quite irate." Kurama wrinkled his nose to emphasis the point. Given Hiei's and his positions, namely fulfilling the obligations of their paroles, they had quite a few more assignments than Yuusuke and Kuwabara. These assignments weren't all hack-and-slash, of course, and consisted mainly of menial tasks, such as filing, and small-time busts in which a ferry-girl made the actual arrests. Kurama wished that he was fortunate to get the latter, but alas, that was Hiei's job for the most part.

Hiei sat up, looking smug suddenly. The demon seemed far too happy -- rather, happy, period, and that made the kitsune's brow furrow. "It's a mission," he began, then stopped. Seeing Kurama frown further at such a vague reply, he continued. "It's not a very large one," he said, "but it requires the both of us."

"Is that why you're happy? Because we'll be working together?" Kurama asked blatantly.

"Because I'm allowed to kill it."

"And what is 'it', pray tell?" Hiei shrugged. "I might just kill it -- whatever that may be -- to spite you," Kurama muttered.

"Koenma's withholding information, again," Hiei offered in his defense.

Kurama looked forlornly at his work, still incomplete and innocuous on his desk. "It can't take too long, can it?" he asked rhetorically.

"It's not a tournament, and it's not world-threatening," Hiei pointed out.

The kitsune creaked his chair one final time before standing. "When are we to do this?"

"Tomorrow -- it's Sunday." Kurama stopped mid-stretch to let out a relieved exclamation. He had forgotten, as Hiei probably guessed.

"Will you be staying the night?"

"No," Hiei said with a hint of derision, then stood from the rumpled bedding and took his departure, leaving the window open.

"Good night," Kurama said to the empty branch nearby before closing the window and blinds and preparing for bed.