Chapter 17

Yukina helped her mother set the table for five people: herself, Hina, Hiei, Genkai, and Kazuma. Ever since Hina had left the hospital, Genkai visited to make sure everything was okay and to provide assistance. Kazuma had started visiting every other day whenever work allowed him. His presence annoyed her brother but Hiei would suffer in silence because Kazuma made his sister happy.

Hina's son walked through and saw them setting the table. "Make it only four tonight, I'm going out."

Hina looked up with a surprised face. "You're going out? With who?"

Yukina giggled. "Does this have anything to do with the person you've been talking to on the phone with all week?"

Hiei flicked his twin's nose, causing her to laugh even more. "Has a certain little girl been eavesdropping?"

"Maybe," she said innocently. Her smile became radiant as she remembered hearing her brother's softly spoken words undoubtedly directed towards a possible love interest. Yukina hated how people excluded her brother when he was, in her opinion, the strongest, and even sweetest, person she knew. It made her heart swell at the thought that someone else had finally seen these traits in her brother.

"You don't have a secret girlfriend, do you Hiei?" Hina questioned, picking up the fifth plate.

Hiei shrugged nonchalantly.

Hina cupped her son's cheek with tender fingers. "Be on your best behavior and if she's worth seeing again, bring her here next time." She pecked his cheek and wiped away the lipstick stain she left behind. Hiei was still uncomfortable with all the physical contact but he stood his ground under his mother's affection. While he was living with his father, Hiei had forgotten how loving his mother could be. Even when they were still married, Hina was affectionate but she did not show it nearly as often.

Hina examined his bandaged right arm. "How long did you say it would take for the burns to heal?"

"Two months at least," Hiei lied. He had told his mother and sister that his right arm had been burned during the eventful night in order to avoid suspicion about the tattoo. The second the boy returned home with his new mark, he went into the bathroom and used all the bandages. He said Yusuke had been fooling around with matches and caught Hiei's shirt sleeve on fire. Atsuko took him to the hospital where the doctor informed him that he suffered from second degree burns that would heal over time. Hiei planned to use the two months to either work up enough courage to inform Hina of his tattoo or save up enough money to get it removed. Unfortunately, the former seemed the most likely.

"Hit Yusuke the next time you see him," Hina ordered. "For me. That boy should know better than to drink and play with matches. Now my baby can't use his right arm." Hiei blushed at the pet name. He was very convincing in making it look like moving his right arm was painful.

"I need to get ready," Hiei informed so he could escape his mother's attention.

"Okay," she conceded. "Wear something nice," she called as he made his way to his bedroom.

Kazuma and Genkai arrived a few minutes after Hiei left. "Where's shor- I mean, Hiei- at?" Kazuma asked, stopping himself just before he mentioned his insult/nickname for the spiky haired teen.

"He's on a date," Yukina beamed.

"Wow, I guess Urameshi really got to him."

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing. The food sure smells good." And the night went on like all the other nights, just one person short.

Genkai and Hina went into the living room to talk while Yukina and Kazuma washed dishes. Hina usually could not stand the thought of a guest doing any sort of chore in her house, but Kazuma assured and even asserted that it was no big deal and he was more than happy to help.

"We make the perfect team," the orange haired boy commented brightly as he rinsed a plate. "It's like we were meant for each other, don't you agree?"

"Sure, you're very good at rinsing and drying," Yukina said, unaware of the hint Kazuma was giving. "Hiei helps sometimes but he tries to rush it or he breaks a plate."

"He's never been patient, has he?"

"No, not really." There was a pause. "I'm happy he found someone, I just wish I could be as lucky."

Kazuma cast his eyes down at her words. Yukina noticed his sullen expression. "Are you alright, Kazuma?"

The boy forced a smile on his face. "Of course, why wouldn't I be?"

"You don't have a girlfriend, do you?" she asked as she pulled the plug out of the drain.

Kazuma dried the last cup and placed it in the cabinet. He took a deep breath, steeled himself, turned to the small girl and held both of her hands. "Yukina, will you go out with me?"

Yukina stared at the large boy with wide crimson eyes. They were not aware of it, but Genkai and Hina had stopped their conversation to listen in the next room. The girl bit her lip. "I'm sorry Kazuma, but no. I don't think of you like that; you're really sweet and gentle but you're a very good friend and I don't want to risk what we already have."

He let his hands drop to his sides. "You're right, we should just stay friends." His voice was hollow.

"Kazuma?" He had turned and was heading for the front door. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be, it's how you feel and I can't force you to think otherwise." He opened the door.

"Will you be joining us tomorrow night?" Yukina followed him to the door, she was starting to regret her answer.

"Probably not. I'll be working pretty late tomorrow."

"What about Friday?"

"I think I'm gonna be busy for the rest of the week."

"Okay, goodnight." Yukina was starting to feel horrible for causing Kazuma's sudden gloom.

"Goodnight." And he was gone.

Chapter 18

Yusuke was taking a smoke break behind the diner he was working at with one of the waitresses.

"Just one more month of this and then it's back to school," he complained.

"Shut up," said the older woman. "At least you have somewhere else to go. I have to stay here. Little tip: don't have kids at fourteen."

"Are kidding? My mom was fourteen when she had me, I ain't making that mistake."

"So where's your dad?"

Yusuke exhaled a long puff of smoke before answering. "Hell if I know. Probably skirt chasing. He could be dead in a ditch for all I care."

They stood in silence for a bit longer before dropping their cigarettes and returning inside. Yusuke was cleaning out a booth when his coworker came up beside and nudged his shoulder.

"Hey, check out the couple at table three," she whispered. "Weirdest pair."

Yusuke looked in the direction she was pointing at with her thumb. What he saw almost made him fall over: a short boy in black with spiky hair sitting across the table from a pretty girl with blue hair. Yusuke had to cover his mouth to keep silent.

"Oh crap," he snickered from between his fingers. "I know those two. I will give you my paycheck if you will do something for me." He whispered into her ear.

"Honey, I would have done that for free. Too late now," she quickly stated as the busboy opened his mouth. She walked over to the occupied booth. "Good evening, my name is Rita and I'll be your waitress. Would you like some crayons while you wait, little man?"

The look Hiei gave her was priceless to Yusuke, the boy could not help but collapsed into the booth he was cleaning and start cracking up into his arms. He knew he was caught when he felt a pair of eyes bear onto him but he did not care as he started snorting and had to clutch his sides.

Yusuke's shift ended before Hiei's date did, so Yusuke waited outside while the couple finished eating. The sight was still hard to handle, Hiei would say something and Botan would smile or even laugh a little. It was almost too hard to deal with and Yusuke felt some vomit rise up in his throat when his friend grabbed the girl's hand which was laying on the table. Finally, the pair left the diner and Hiei caught Yusuke's glance. The shorter boy walked up to his partner in crime and punched him square in the jaw while Botan covered her mouth, her eyes wide.

"That was for that stupid joke, and this..." Hiei raised his fist again to hit the opposite side of Yusuke's face, "is from my mom." And landed another hit.

Yusuke spat out some blood. "I'll admit the I deserved that first throw, but what does your mom have to do with this?"

"Never mind," and he turned away with Botan catching up to him.

Yusuke put his hands on his hips and chuckled as he thought over the unbelievable pair.