The planning was actually going better than Kurama thought it would. There was the occasional explosion and ornament set on fire, but it was going nicely; Hiei was taking part in helping as well.

Kurama found Koenma and asked him if he'd seen anything recently. "Not really," was the only answer he received.

"Kurama, you need to relax." "Touya's right ya know. This is your time to be happy instead of mopping around. We should get Chu to put some drink in ya."

Kurama thought about Jin's suggestion for a while, "He can't even get Shizuru to have a drink with him. What makes you think he'll help me?"

"Easy, he's not trying to get into your pants." Shizuru decided to step into the conversation and steal Kurama for a while.

"So tell me, what's been eating you?" Kurama wasn't sure if he'd be able to talk to Kuwabara's sister.

"Don't worry, I'm not a loud-mouthed buffoon like my brother. And I know there's no one else here that you feel comfortable talking with about your present anxiety. And your greatest concern is your mate, so naturally you want to keep things hidden from him. I think you should talk with him."

"How…" "Intuition." Shizuru left and brought Hiei to where she left Kurama waiting.

"The female said you needed to speak with me." "Hiei her name is Shizuru, but yes, I do need to speak with you."

-x-x-x-x-x-

"So why is that a problem?" "Hiei, we are in danger and Koenma refuses to tell me the kind of danger we are facing."

"He must have his reasons. Fox, it's not like you to worry over something like this."

"I just don't want to lose you. If I can stop it somehow I want to know so that no one gets hurt." Hiei kissed Kurama to offer comfort; the comfort they were deprived of for too long. "Let's head back, you need to clear your head."

The two walked back hand in hand.

The walk was peaceful; for the first time the quiet was welcomed and Kurama started feeling relief. As they were approaching their friends they heard a scream.

"That sounded like…" "Yukina!" Hiei went ahead of Kurama to his sister's aid.

"Yukina what happened?" Hiei approached the site and was forced to see his friends' lifeless bodies. He turned around to make sure Kurama was behind him and within eyesight. He found Kurama in the grasp of another figure fighting to be released.

"Get your filthy hands off my fox!"

"He was mine first, I'm only taking back what's mine." Hiei darted toward the figure, sword in hand.

"Heh, do you honestly think you can protect him if you couldn't protect your friends? This happened because the two of you can never be happy together; the thought of both of you together is a sin."

Hiei was forced to watch the one person he cared more about than the world was taken away from him and he felt pathetic.

"Hiei, wake up."

Hiei bolted out of his nightmare and found the face of his fox. "Hiei you're crying."

"I think we should call this off. I don't want to lose you and I'm a fool to think I can make you happy."

Kurama held onto Hiei, "What are you talking about?"

"I dram I lost everyone…I dram I lost you! It happened because I was selfish and wanted to have you for myself."

"I belong with yo…" "You belong with someone else! Someone worthier!"

Kurama started to shed tears of frustration, "How could you say that to me? I love you Hiei and I can never be with anyone else because they don't complete me like you do! Stop making yourself out to be a worthless piece of trash, I don't care about your past, you're worth more to me than you know and I don't care what anyone else tells you to try to take you away from me."

"I'm sorry fox, but could you give me some time to think."

Kurama let Hiei go not knowing what else to say to make him stay.

-x-x-x-x-x-

Kurama was glad his friends were nowhere to be seen; he hoped the person he was looking for was alone.

"Shizuru, may I speak with you?" She noticed the tired state the other was in and went with him.

"It's okay to cry." She hugged Kurama and he let the tears flow, not knowing if they'd ever stop.

"I'm sorry it's just that I don't know what to do."

"You don't need to apologize for anything, crying was a good start. Whenever you're ready."

Kurama inhaled and exhaled to relax.

"After you brought Hiei, we both fell asleep and he had a nightmare. He told me everyone died because we wanted to be together and then he left because we can't be together; which by the way is complete nonsense because I know I don't want anyone else and I don't know why he's being such an idiot; I seriously don't know how man times I've told him that I don't care…"

"Kurama, you need to take another breath and not let it all out at once, that's hazardous."

Kurama was able to explain himself perfectly half an hour later. He was grateful Shizuru had so much patience. "He really loves you and he needs to figure out for himself how much you really love him. I don't know where he comes from, but I can tell he's not one to trust his feelings or others. He's been hurt and because he's 'tainted' he doesn't want to ruin the only beautiful thing in his life."

"…" "Intuition." "Thank you." "There's no need for that." She started to walk away, "You'd be patient too if you had Kazuma for a brother, but you have someone hard-headed yourself. It's cute, the way you lose your demeanor for him, you're doing good."

-x-x-x-x-x-

"Female I need to speak with you." "The name is Shizuru." She turned around expecting to find some thug but found the missing fire demon instead.

"So what seems to be the problem."

"I'm an idiot." "That's a start."

Shizuru listened to another set of problems and wondered how she was approachable.

"You need to get him back." "It's not that simple; I'm not worth his time."

"How can you say that with a straight face? He is madly in love with you and you are pushing him away. He had the opportunity to choose any one as his future partner and he chose you. Without you he's nothing, right now he is emotionally torn and without him so are you. Stop making excuses and just accept that you're not worthless because you have friends believe it or not. So go find Kurama and tell him you're a fool and that you're sorry."

"Thank you."

Shizuru smiled, "From you that's a lot. He's waiting in the garden."

Hiei left feeling lighter and Shizuru went in search of Chu. "I need a drink."