Kiyaku: Broken Promise

Summary: Hiei's a bad boy punk and Kurama's the smartest kid in school. Both have been friends for years and promised to tell each other their secrets, but one kept a secret from the other that would hurt them and change them.

Warning: Yaoi ahoy! Don't like it? Don't read it!

Disclaimer: I own one person and the rest . . . well you know the drill ^_~

Kiyaku: Breaking a promise. I couldn't find the translation for 'broken promise' and that's the closest I got to. Hope you like!

Chapter 4: Out of Hand

The next day Hiei met Kurama at the oak tree and started to school.

"I thought we were going to ditch today," said Kurama.

"We will, but not yet. You'll know when it's time."

"Kurama nodded and looked ahead. For some reason Kurama was excited to spend time with Hiei. Why? Sure he liked to be with Hiei, he's Kurama's friend, but why would he be excited to skip school with Hiei? He was just a friend, right?

Hiei looked at his friend and was shocked. Kurama had yellow rings under his eyes and his pupils were dilated, his hair hung lank around his shoulders and down his back. Normally Kurama was very healthy, hardly missing a day of school, but to see Kurama like this was a shock.

"Are you feeling okay, Red," asked Hiei.

"I'm fine, why do you ask?"

"You don't look so well. Have you been getting enough sleep?"

"You know that must be it," said Kurama but for some reason Hiei didn't believe him.

"Kurama, are keeping a secret from me? We promised we would tell each other everything."

"I said I'm fine, Hiei!"

People nearby stopped and stared at them. Kurama blushed at his embarrassment.

"Sorry," he said and grabbed Hiei's arm. "Hiei, quit worrying about me. I'm fine, trust me."

'I thought I did,' thought Hiei as they walked into the school. They walked into class and the teacher started the lesson. Hiei only half listened while leaning in his chair. Kurama, as usual, gave the teacher his full attention.

"Sorichuudo," said the teacher and Hiei glared at him, "I trust you are paying attention."

Hiei shrugged. The teacher scuffed and went back to the lesson. At between classes, Hiei lead Kurama to a maple tree near the wall where they met Yusuke and Kuwabara.

"Ready," asked Yusuke and Hiei nodded. Yusuke climbed up the tree and extended his hand to Kuwabara. Hiei kept a look out while Kurama watched the two boys.

"Kuwabara, lay off the cheeseburger," growled Yusuke as he dragged the bigger boy on the branch.

"Lay off, Urameshi!"

"Will you two be quiet!" said Hiei. "We'll get caught. Kurama, keep a look out."

Kurama nodded as Hiei grabbed Yusuke's hand, Kuwabara jumped to the ground on the other side of the wall. Kurama looked around and spotted a teacher headed in their direction, and not one of the nicer one.

"Teacher," he whispered loudly and Yusuke jumped to join Kuwabara on the ground and Hiei hid in the dense leaves of the tree. Kurama dug in his back pack and pulled out his Psychology book, opening it to some random page and pretended to read.

"And what are you doing, Minamino," asked the teacher.

"Studying, sir," said Kurama hoping he had a straight face.

"Just don't be late for class."

"Yes, sir."

The teacher left. Kurama made sure he was a safe distance before turning back to Hiei as the teenager climbed onto the wall and extended a hand to his friend. Kurama grabbed it and Hiei found his friend to be considerably light.

"Going on a diet, Kurama?" asked Hiei as the redhead joined him.

"Not that I know of."

"You're lost weight somehow then."

Kurama shrugged and they both joined the other two, who had taken off their coats. Hiei took his off to show his black shirt and jewelry. Kurama looked at Hiei questionly.

"So people don't ask questions," answered the raven haired teen. The two other delinquents looked at their friend and shook their heads when Kurama took off his jacket to reveal his white undershirt. Kurama looked at them dumbfounded.

"What," he asked.

"You hang around with us but you stick out like a sour thumb," said Hiei. "Come on."

He grabbed Kurama's hand and took them to the cheapest clothing store in town.

"Pick something," he said letting go of Kurama's hand and the redhead walked around. Spotting a green shirt he picked it up and was about to look at the price when Hiei took it from his hands and put it back.

"Something not you," he said and crossed his arms.

Kurama glared at his friend and looked around again. What wouldn't he wear? Or what would Hiei wear? Black red or dark blue were his colors so Kurama should buy something along the lines of those. Grabbing a dark blue T-shirt and jeans he went into the changing room and came out in the new clothes.

"What do you think," he asked.

"Needs something," said Yusuke.

"Chains," said Hiei and gave Kurama a silver chain necklace with a fox pendant and a silver bracelet. Kurama put them on and showed off to his friends.

"It'll work," said Hiei and they paid for the clothes. They walked around the streets awhile until they stopped at a café. Ordering their drinks they listened to a gang from another school's conversation.

"Hey, did you hear," asked one.

"What," said another.

"Sorichuudo's mother is in the clinic. She's going to kick the bucket."

Kurama, Yusuke and Kuwabara looked at Hiei as he hung his head, his cup clinking against the saucer from his shaking hands. Kurama reached over and grabbed Hiei's hands in his, trying to stop his friend's trembling.

"About time," said another. "The bitch couldn't even take care of her children right."

"What he deserves is to be put in the juvi, then maybe we can have some kicks here," said the first.

Kurama and the others shot angry glares at the group to which they ignored.

"His sister's pretty," said the second. "Sure would like to have her as my girlfriend."

That did it. Hiei yanked his hands from Kurama, which caused his cup and saucer to shatter on the floor, and stood up. Kurama, Yusuke, and Kuwabara joined him. The gang looked up to see four angry boys. They paled.

"Bail!"

They ran out the café and down the street with Hiei and the others on their tail.

"The bastard's mine!" yelled Hiei and tackled the leader, hitting him repeatedly. Kurama, Yusuke, and Kuwabara took one opponent too. Kurama got clipped in the eye with a flying punch before he kicked his opponent in the gut. They guy doubled over as Kurama felt a bruise swell on his temple and he punched the guy down. He faced his friends to see Kuwabara and Yusuke drag a roaring Hiei away from the battered leader.

"I'll kill him," he screeched. "I'll kill him!"

"Hiei, he's out!" yelled Kurama. "He won't be doing that again."

"What he said . . ."

"Has been paid for. Let's get out of here."

Kuwabara and Yusuke nodded. They dragged Hiei to Kurama's house, his mother thankfully at work. Hiei by then had calmed down a bit and followed his friends into the house.

"Got to go," said Yusuke. "School lets out soon and I promised Keiko I'll walk her home."

"I'll get Yukina," said Kuwabara, "and don't worry, man. I won't let anyone touch her."

"Thanks, Kuwabara," said Hiei as the guys walked out. Kurama placed a pack of ice on one of Hiei's bruises.

"See Hiei, you've got friends you can count on."

"I know. Are you all right, Kurama? That's a bad bruise." He reached up and gently touched it, making Kurama winced and drew a back. "Sorry."

"It's all right and you're no spring chicken yourself." He wiped Hiei's bottom lip from the cut Hiei got from a punch. It was still bleeding. Kurama went to get the first aid kit.

"I guess it got out of hand," said Hiei and winced when Kurama dabbed alcohol on his lip.

"Not really. That's what it's like being a gangster, isn't it? It was sort of fun."

"You liked what happened?"

"No, the fight was horrible but being with my friends was the best."

"Kurama, I'm lucky to have a friend like you. What did I do to deserve you?"

"You did nothing, Hiei, nothing at all. And I'm lucky to have you as a friend."

Both boys smiled and Kurama went back to healing his friend.

TBC