I don't own Anastasia, Legend of Zelda, Treasure Planet, or Yu Yu Hakusho. Enjoy! :)

Chapter Nine

Jim was nervous for his first date with Dimitri. He dressed causal, a nice brown dress shirt and black slacks, but he wondered if he was under-dressed, seeing the building before him; it looked like one of those fancy hotels that only super rich can afford. Licking his lips, Jim went inside the revolving door and straight to the elevator, avoiding any eye contact.

After waiting for a few minutes, Jim stepped inside the elevator and pushed the top button. As the elevator went up, Jim flattens his hair, tucked in his shirt, and checked if his breath smelled ok. Hearing the ding, Jim quickly got off and walked to the right and down the hall. Matching the number on the door with his paper, Jim took a breath and knocked on the door. A few seconds went by before the door opened, revealing a smiling Dimitri. "Hey." Jim smiled back. "Hi." Dimitri moved back, gesturing Jim in. "Come in." Jim nodded as he walked through the door. What he saw surprised him. Since he heard that Dimitri and Kurama lived in a penthouse, Jim thought that the space would be filled with expensive and exotic furniture, wall hangings, and the likes. All he saw was normal furniture, a few hang paintings, and everything else a regular house would have.

"Not what you expect is it." Jim nodded. Dimitri chuckled. "Even though Kurama and I have money, doesn't mean we want to live like we do; we tried to make this place as ordinary as we can. With the exception of Kurama's plants, of course." Jim looked at him. "His plants?" Dimitri nodded. "I'll show you."

He took Jim's hand and led down a small hallway, passing a few doors, before coming upon a glass door. Dimitri opened and let Jim into a forest of plants. There were all kinds of flowers, grass, bushes, trees, and vines. Jim stared in wonder at green house. "Is he some kind of plant biologist?" "In a way, yes. He studies in all areas of biology; growing and tending to plants is more of a hobby for him." "That's cool. May I see more?" Dimitri smiled. "Of course."

Dimitri took Jim on a tour of the penthouse and Jim was in awe of it. Coming out of the huge kitchen and into the hallway that led to the balcony, Jim noticed a slightly opened door. Pushing it open, Jim was met with a medium-size room filled with color. Stepping lightly, Jim looked at the paintings that surrounded the room; some completed, some half done, and some with outlines and blotches of paint. He saw all kinds of designs; from simple flowers to complicated castles to chaotic images, Jim was amazed at the artwork. Behind him he heard Dimitri chuckled. "I see you found my workshop." "You created all these?" "I did. As you can see, I'm working on different creations." "So, you're an artist for a living?" "Off and on; I sometimes sell my work. The rest I either keep or give to family." Jim stared at one painting, the colors in swirls. "You can you teach me?" Dimitri cocked his head. "You want to learn how learn to paint?" Jim nodded. Dimitri smiled. "Alright Mr. Hawkins, I'll teach you."

Kurama was humming a tune, carrying a movie and ice cream, or as Hiei called it sweet snow, when he arrived at the apartment Sheik and Hiei shared. He lightly knocked and within a few seconds, Hiei opened the door. Kurama smiled. "Good evening, Hiei." "Hn."

Hiei stepped back, giving Kurama permission to enter. Kurama walked in and looked around. It was a simple apartment; a living room with a couch and TV, a small kitchen, and a hallway leading to two bedrooms and a bathroom. "It's a nice place you have." Hiei shrugged. "It serves its purpose. I see you brought sweet snow." His eyes fixed on the ice cream. Kurama laughed. "I did. I brought two flavors; chocolate and cookie dough." Hiei licked his lips. "Can't wait to eat them. What movie did you bring?" "Gladiator." "Gladiator? Is it good?" "More than good; it's great!" Hiei nodded. "Hn. Then pop the in movie." Hiei went into the kitchen as Kurama put the movie on the DVD player. Hiei came back with spoons and sat beside Kurama and opened the chocolate ice cream and pushed play.

"This is amazing?" Link asked excitedly. Sheik smiled. For their date, Link brought Sheik to a circus in the park. The place was filled with jugglers, clowns, rides, shows, games, and cotton candy. "Yes Link, it's amazing." "So what do you want to do first?" "Um…" Sheik looked around and saw a shooting game. "Let's do that." "Ok!" Link eagerly grabbed his hand and pulled him to the game. The booth person greeted them warmly. "Welcome to Shooting Stars! Hit the stars as they pop up and depending how many stars you hit you get that prize! But if you hit the shooting star then you win the grand prize!" He pointed to a big stuffed blue fairy. "It's five rupees for ten shots!" Both paid and grabbed a toy pistol. A few seconds went by then stars started popping up. Link and Sheik both fired. They hit a few when a shooting star appeared and Link shot at it, using his last shot, and missed. Disappointed, Link accepted a small bear. Seeing Link's disappointment, Sheik waited for the shooting star to appear and as it did, shot and hit it. "Score! You sir won the grand prize!" The booth person handed him the fairy. Sheik handed it to Link and smiled. "For you." Link beamed and kissed Sheik on the cheek as he took the fairy. "Thank you Sheik!" Link snuggled into it which made Sheik laugh. Link looked at him curiously. "What's so funny?" "You! Snuggling that blue ball with wings." "It's a fairy, not a blue ball with wings." Link playfully defended. "Whatever. It's your turn to choose what we do." Link pointed at another game and Sheik happily followed him.

The night was filled with laughter and delight. Sheik and Link played a ton of games, winning many prizes one of which Link won an emerald stone necklace and gave it to Sheik. Both were exiting a tent when a man stepped into their path. Tall as Link, he had black hair and black eyes, all of his clothes were black. He smiled at both of them but mainly at Sheik. "Hello Sheik. It's nice to see you again." Sheik looked down at the ground while Link stepped into of him protectively. "Who are you?" The stranger looked at Sheik. "I see you didn't tell him about me. That is very naughty of you Sheik." "Go away Krad." Link looked at Sheik as Sheik stepped from behind him. "You're not wanted here. Go away." "Awww, don't be like that Shadow." Link saw Sheik flinched at that name and he did not like it and stepped up to the guy. "You what Sheik said; he wants you to go away." Krad sneered. "Fine. But I'll see you around Sheik. Bye bye!" And walked away. Sheik let go the breath he was and he slumped down on a nearby bench. Link worriedly sat by him and held him. "You ok Sheik?" Sheik only nodded. "Who was that Krad guy anyways?" "His full name is Krad Knil… My ex-boyfriend." "That was your ex?" Sheik again nodded. "No wonder you left him; he's a jerk. "Actually… He left me." Link held him tighter. "I'm sorry. That should never happen to you." Sheik shrugged. "It's ok. It's normal for to be unwanted. After all, I am just a shadow." Sheik then felt himself being shaken. "No you're not! You're more than that." Sheik shook his head. "How would you know? We've only know each other for a week." "And in that week I've learned you're an amazing person. You're playful, fun, caring; you even write beautiful music. You are not a shadow Sheik, no matter what anyone says." "You really mean that?" "Yes I do!" And Link softly planted a kiss on Sheik's lips and Sheik wrapped his arms around Link's neck. After a few moments, Link slowly broke the kiss. "I'll you show in every way that you'll more than a shadow." Sheik smiled. "Thank you Link." Link smiled back. "You're welcome. Now let's get ice cream! As I recall, I owe you." "Yes you do." The couple walked hand in hand to get ice cream.

Jim was getting the hang of drawing; the painting part, not so much. But he didn't mind. With a few drawings of vases, and a couple of Dimitri, Jim wondered around the shop looking at more art done by Dimitri. A self-portrait of Dimitri caught his eye and stared at it; it looked exactly like Dimitri but his eyes were amber-brown instead of the pine-green eyes he's used to. "Hey Dimitri, why is your eyes different in this painting?" Dimitri came to him and saw the painting and he chuckled. "Oh, that. Actually that used to be my color of eyes?" "Really?" "Yep. Living with Kurama does have its dangers. He left a color-changing chemical in the kitchen and I being the fool that I am thought it was Kool-Aid or something and drink it. And the next day I woke with different color eyes." "Did you ever try to get your original eye color back?" "Yes, but it was in vain. It's permanent but it's ok. I don't mind it." Dimitri smiled and Jim smiled back. Then the clock strokes eleven o' clock. "My, it's gotten late. I guess it's time for you go…" Jim sighed sadly. "Yeah…" Then Dimitri lifted Jim's chin and kissed his lips; soft at first but then grow more passionate. Jim responded by wrapping his arms around Dimitri's neck and pulled him closer. It was an eternity before they pulled back smiling. "Guess this means we're a couple." Jim stated. Dimitri chuckled. "Yes Jimes, it does." And kissed him again for a longer time. All too soon they broke apart and they said goodnight as Jim left the pent house.

The movie ended and Kurama looked at the clock. "It's only nine; I'm sure our friends will still be out. What shall we do till then?" Hiei shrugged as he finished the chocolate ice cream. Opening the cookie dough he answered. "We could about ourselves." 'That's good idea Hiei. So I know you and Sheik are cousins but I sense there's more than that. Is that true?" "Hn. While I did say that his and my families are business partners, some tradition is still taught to this day. Not only is he my cousin but also my bodyguard." "A bodyguard? Why would a demon need a human bodyguard?" "There was a dark time for demons were humans were stronger and we were weaker. I'm sure you heard of it." "Yes. Actually I was there during that time." Hiei was shocked. "You were there?" Kurama nodded. "I'm much older than I look; in fact I'm a thousand years old." Hiei was, if possible, more shocked. He didn't look old much less a thousand years. "How?" "Well I'm a youko; being sly fox helped a lot." "I see. Well Fox, as you know since you've lived through it, that time happened. So my family hired a clan of humans to protect us and in return we shared our fire secrets to them. Since then our families mix and such and we kept the tradition of having a bodyguard even though we don't need one. It's more as a reminder than anything what our families been through." Kurama nodded. "So Sheik is your bodyguard?" "Yes, but we didn't met till freshman year. I wasn't assigned a bodyguard till I came here." "And why is that?" Hiei shrugged. "I'll tell you another time when you bring more sweet snow." Kurama looked down and saw that the cookie dough ice cream was gone. "… It seems I need to bring more next time." "That be nice Fox."

Hiei stood up and cleaned up his ice cream mess as Kurama put his jacket on. They had talked a bit more but it was getting late and both Hiei and Kurama knew it was almost time for the others to return. As Hiei said goodbye, Kurama leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Goodnight Dragon.", and left through the door. Hiei stood there blushing at Kurama's nickname for him.

Sheik was being walked by Link as they both finished they're ice cream. "I can't believe you call this sweet snow." Link laughed. Sheik smiled. "It's Hiei's name for ice cream; he is rubbing off me." "Apparently." Link grinned. Sheik shook his head and continued to lick his min ice cream. They walked in silence for a few minutes before Link broke the quietness. "Hey Sheik, are you going to be ok from earlier?" Knowing what he meant Sheik shrugged. "I don't know… I like to say I will be, but I think I'll be lying…" He felt Link pull him into a protective hug. "Don't worry Sheik. If you're having trouble, you can always call me and I'll be here in no time." Sheik nodded. "Thanks Link." "You're welcome Sheik."

They had reached Sheik and Hiei's apartment and for a moment they stood in silence, enjoying the peace and quiet. Then Sheik, very nervous, kissed Link on the lips. Link wrapped his arms around him and held him. It was sweet moment between the two before they slowly broke apart. Link was smiling as Sheik was blushing. "Hey Link… I… I like the idea of us together. It's just… I'm afraid." Link kissed his lips again, the leaned his forehead on Sheik's. "If you want to wait for us to be a couple; I can wait. We'll take this relationship at your pace." Sheik looked his sapphire eyes and seeing the truth of his words. "Yeah, I like that." And they sealed it with a kiss.