Wow! It feels like forever since I've last updated!! Sorry it's taken so long, I got banned from my computer, so it's been hard to upload the stories!! But I appreciate everyone who's been reading, or still reads!! This is a loong chapter filled with DRAMA. LOL. Hope you like it!!

Chapter XI

My mouth stretched widely into a dreary yawn as I strolled through the dirt path in the woods. Damn was I impressed; never before had I seen such an intense, heart pounding, earth shattering, mesmerizing, yet horrible gruesome fight between two men in my life. Grinning, I thought about these guys had easily influenced me in the short time I had resided with them; a few months ago, I would have been horrified, maybe even disgusted at the show that had come before me today, but not now, now I was pumped, excited, and yet slightly tired, despite my not fighting in this round, seeing those two guys go crazy over each other wore me out! But I hadn't even really talked to Yusuke since he'd gotten here, so I wanted to congratulate him on a job well done, and well, you know…so my motives weren't entirely innocent, and I was moving at a pace faster than I would have liked, but Keiko being here made me anxious and paranoid, so I didn't want to miss my chance. Looking over the tops of the bushes, I thought I saw a familiar bushy black haired Yusuke, and I was about to run over to him when I heard a voice that didn't belong to him.

"Don't worry, Yusuke, I'm not with him anymore, I love you now, I know I do!" I stopped dead in my tracks and hid behind a large oak. Though the voice didn't belong to Yusuke, it was not foreign to me; I was right in being paranoid for once, for that screechy high pitched shriek belonged to the one and only—

Keiko.

What is that witch doing?! I thought angrily, biting my lip and bringing my ear as close as I could to hear the conversation. But to my dismay, I couldn't hear all that well, as well as I didn't actually catch all of Keiko's previous sentence, all I'd really heard was "Don't worry, Yusuke…" and then it got quiet. So I jumped to a higher branch, hoping to get a better view as well as to be able to hear; now I knew it was rude and wrong to pry, but I just couldn't help it, I'd repent later anyways.

But it wasn't like it helped me any better than where I was; the only real improvement was that I could see Yusuke and Keiko, hearing was something that was left out. But they were talking, I could see that. Casually, to be certain, it wasn't an argument, like I'd secretly hoped for. But it seemed as though Keiko was doing most of the talking, Yusuke simply standing there with his arms folded against his chest and his eyes wide and intent. Did that mean he was interested? Was I merely imagining things?

Then it got bad.

Keiko kept moving closer and closer towards Yusuke, like a lioness approaching her pretty, and then—her arms—she draped them around his neck—her feet tiptoed in a manner so her eyes were gazing into his—she leaned in close, and her lips opened as she—

I turned away and ran; I hit the tree branches hard as I jumped from tree to tree. I landed wrong; my ankle twisted and I collapsed. I suddenly felt really wet.

I was crying.

I suddenly felt really disgusted at myself and annoyed, not to mention embarrassed for feeling so confident; Yusuke didn't like me, how could he? I felt ugly in comparison to Keiko, whose glossy mahogany hair swept her shoulders and her large chocolate eyes shone brightly as it complimented her light moist olive skin fit to be placed on a porcelain doll. Me on the other hand, who's nappy curly hair was loosely tied up in a messy pony tail with frayed ends and dull dark eyes which looked blacker than night at times, and my dried cracked skin from my months of training that was now a burnt dirt color. Not to mention, that now my eyes were probably swollen and red from the tears and my throat was caving in. I pulled my knees to my chest and held myself quietly in the comfort of the trees, rocking myself back and forth.

So, Yusuke…he doesn't matter, did he?

He doesn't.

That's right.

So that leaves…

Kurama.

"Kurama…" the words tasted like honey on the tip of my tongue. His words echoed in my mind over and over…his kindness seeping through my brain and intertwined with my emotions; my feeble, vulnerable emotions. I knew what I'd wanted, I should have done it from the beginning, I was stupid to take this long. Would he even take me now? I squeezed tighter, and prayed silently. My heart started skipping beats, and my chest started to squeeze back. I knew what I had to do.

I opened the hotel door slightly and peeked in; in the living room, sitting properly with his ankles crossed slightly and in his hands was a book that I had seen him reading before. His eyes were focused on the words, going to and fro, his hair giving off its own radiance greater than that of the lamp beside him. But even though he seemed as though he was focused on the book, I couldn't help but shake the feeling that his mind wasn't there, like it was thinking of other things, far from here…but then again, I was finding out that I was wrong on many more things than I had originally anticipated…I shook my head. No, come and do what you wanted to do, don't be a chicken now, not when it counts! I thought, placing my hand over my heart, hoping to calm it down. But you know, how sometimes your conscience likes to duke it out between themselves? I was going through that. Part of me still wondered about Yusuke, and a part of me was angry that I was still wondering about Yusuke.

But what if, what if he doesn't really like her?

HE FUCKING KISSED HER!

But we technically didn't see that.

Might as well have, he let her get all close, rubbing her body up against his.

But…

But what?! You retard, you're going to keep Kurama waiting after Yusuke has been playing you like a fiddle?

…

That's what I thought.

But I…

You certainly were mad at Yusuke earlier.

But that was because I was upset, now I'm I can think rationally.

Pfft! Rational my ass, so what are we doing here?

I…I can make mistakes!

And not telling Kurama that you like him will be an even bigger one! You do like him, and you liked him first, Yusuke was just a fickle crush. You can get over him.

…he was?

Yah, you were just touched by his kindness, cause you're dumb like that.

I was?

You were.

So I really do like Kurama?

You gonna tell him?

Yah…I think I am.

Convincing myself, was harder than I thought, but I rationed quickly, since I was standing right outside in the hallway, where people were starting to look at me funny and make obscene gestures. I opened the door again, and stepped forward.

Moment of truth.

"Um…Hi, Kurama," I said entering, my heart still failing to calm down, my hands shaking terribly. Kurama glanced up from his book and smiled, he still hand a bandage on his right cheek.

"Hello Kit, is there something you want?" he asked sweetly, like usual. I hesitated, and forced the lump in my throat down. This, this was going to be a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. I walked, no, stumbled in and sat down next him.

"No, just…I just wanted to talk, if that's alright," I said, amazed at myself for being able to get that out. Yusuke was nowhere to be found in my mind, my other self was right; it was just a fickle crush, wasn't it? He really didn't matter.

Kurama's eyes seemed to read my mind, for his face softened, and his posture relaxed as he placed his hand over mine, but then attempted to withdraw it before I pulled it back. He was surprised, but didn't pull back. That was comforting.

"Is…Is everything alright?" he inquired, his eyes penetrating me.

I couldn't contain myself, I wanted to break down, "I…I…I love you Kurama!" I replied, almost screaming, I clasped one hand over my mouth, and tried to be calmer. It seemed that my other hand was crushing Kurama's. "I…I mean, I, I really do, I'm sorry it took so long, and I'm sorry that I avoided you like I did, I know it was horrible of me, and you must think of me as an awful creep, but I…I was just so surprised, and I had to sort out my feelings, but I really love you Kurama! I really do, please, I just—I just—" Kurama placed his other hand over my trembling lips. His eyes, they were no longer the kind eyes that I had grown so used to seeing, but now, now they were different. Softer, more loving, a look I'd never seen from anyone before. I felt his body go limp and collapse on mine, on the couch; his weight on me.

His lips were close to my ears, and the hand that I had been clutching now was intertwined with my fingers. His breathing was light, but hot against me…was it him or me that was trembling so?

"Do…do you mean that?" he asked, whispering. Was…was that fear?

I took my other hand and brought it around his waist and squeezed.

"Yes, I do, I mean every word of it," I answered, suddenly out of breath.

Kurama pulled his head up and his hair felt like silk against my bare shoulders. Our bodies fit nicely together, his warming mine. I titled my head slightly, to get a better look at those gorgeous eyes of his. Descriptions could do no justice, for his eyes of jade looked so fierce and yet…so…I couldn't even begin to describe the emotions that swirled within them. But I too, returned the gaze, my body subconsciously move towards him, like the unguarded moth to an open flickering flame. My lips barely brushed against his when his own came crushing down upon me.

Instinct took over completely.

My body, heart, and mind had never been ever exposed to such an experience, dreams did not, could not even hope to compare. My body arched slightly and my head tilted to the side to deepen our kiss. His hands were caressing the side of my back, rubbing up and down in rhythm with our kiss. I was going crazy. My hands went to frame Kurama's face, and he then released me from his tender love to sweep his lips across my neck, small nips that made me body convulse with sweet satisfaction. Such compassion swelled within my heart, and I forgot that Yusuke even existed.

******************

Thrusting his hands deep into the pits of his pockets, Yusuke grumbled as he fumed silently to himself; whatever drug Keiko was on, he needed to make sure he steered clear of it, because lord did it make her delusional! What was with her lately? First she dumps him, then pretends he doesn't exist, and now randomly, after months of silence, expects him to run back into her open arms and spontaneously rekindle old love? No way in hell. Yusuke wasn't that kind of guy, not after she'd treated him the way she did, and this was without mentioning that he know loved Kit, possibly even more than he'd loved Keiko he thought as he scrubbed his lips against his sweater, hoping to get Keiko's taste from his mouth.

But Keiko had done one thing for him, it had confirmed his feelings; it was only mere seconds, maybe not even that long, after Keiko had attempted to kiss him that he'd shoved her away unmercifully. He didn't even know why he'd try to talk to her in the first place, he knew how Keiko was, but maybe part of him thought that she'd try to be friends again, like how it started. Despite the mutual feelings between each other, him and Keiko never acted like a formal couple, or could even state that they were one, so for her to act as if they had was completely insane. But now all he wanted to do was confront Kit, tell her his feelings, and hope she'd accept them more warmly than he had to Keiko.

Upon entering the hotel room, he noticed that the lights had all been switched off and he could hear Kuwabara's roaring snore even from the opening. Since Kit was nowhere to be seen, he'd figured that she too was asleep in her room, and figured that his confession could wait until tomorrow, since it was their day off. He flopped down onto his bed, and thanked God that they had gotten a five star hotel, because he wasn't sure how much longer his back could take sleeping on rocks and wood. But as soon as Yusuke closed his eyes, he sensed Hiei coming into the room; sitting up, he greeted him.

"What's up Hiei?" he asked, giving Hiei a halfway grin. Him and Hiei weren't the best of buddies, but they were pretty okay of friends. Fighting buddies if you will, and they had a bit of mutual understanding between each other, and Yusuke felt less threatened by him, since Hiei gave off no vibes towards Kit and she none to him. But for some reason, Hiei wasn't looking like his usual smart ass self, quick to insult anyone within a twenty foot radius; rather, he looked a bit uneasy. This worried Yusuke almost as much as the question that Hiei shot at him.

"Just looking for Kurama and Kit, seen them?" Hiei asked. Yusuke froze instantly. They…they weren't in their rooms? Then where…where would the both of them be? Kuwabara was here, Hiei was here, he'd just passed Botan on the way up…HE was here, that meant the two of them were alone.

Alone.

"Aren't they just in their rooms?" Yusuke hesitantly inquired, though it was a futile question to which he already knew the answer to.

"Well, don't you think that would be the first place I'd check?" he answered sharply. Then Hiei started to mutter something, something Yusuke caught.

"What did you just say?!" Yusuke roared, leaping off of the bed.

"You heard?"

"YES!"

"…you sure you can handle it?" Hiei asked again, the sharpness in his voice enough to sear through Yusuke. Yusuke flinched, but didn't back down. If he'd heard what he just thought he'd heard, then all of hell was going to break loose. He'd make sure of it.

"Well, as it seems you'll find out soon enough anyways, it's better you not hear it from them, since you'll probably go into a frenzy. About two weeks ago, while we were at the cabin, Kurama asked Kit to go out with him. She was hesitant to answer because she believed that had feelings for someone else as well as Kurama and she wanted to make sure of what she felt before answering anybody. But, as of this moment, I assume she feels as if the other guy doesn't like her the same way, or that she doesn't like him the same way, so she took up Kurama's proposal," Hiei explained, not a trace of sympathy to be found; only blunt, honest, cold hard truth. But his eyes were penetrating, and looking deep into Yusuke's, as if he was the culprit.

But Yusuke didn't respond, didn't even move, couldn't even think. Moments passed, and all Yusuke could scrounge up was, "Who was the other guy Kit liked?" but even he couldn't believe he was asking that question, he knew, that it wouldn't matter to Kit now, she wasn't that kind of girl, but he had to try. He had to.

"As if I'm permitted to tell you that," he replied icily. He knew; Yusuke knew he knew.

"You know, don't you, she tells you everything, God damn it she'd probably even tell you the color of her underwear if it had any bearing!" Yusuke said in a desperate scream, he didn't know what compelled him to say such things, but screaming made him feel better; it always made him feel better.

"If it makes you feel any better, yes, I know, but I swore I wouldn't tell, not like it matters," he answered, started to walk out of the room. Yusuke couldn't take it. He was going nuts; before Hiei walked out, he lunged at him and snatched the collar of Hiei's shirt and clutched it within his angry fists.

"Please just…just tell me!" Yusuke begged. Hiei didn't even bother looking at him.

"Is it really relevant? Isn't Keiko here for you now?" he answered, knowing he'd hit a sore spot within Yusuke's stomach. But Yusuke was flabbergasted; how could he have known what Keiko had said? Hiei wasn't around for it, and he was certain Keiko wouldn't have blabbed to anyone, because sympathy wouldn't have been granted to her. Yusuke was about to ask when he heard bits of a conversation coming into the hotel room.

Kit and Kurama; he was sure of it.

"Yah, that's the best meal I've had it a while, especially since I didn't have to cook it, but I think you're better at making tempura…but thanks for taking me out," he thought he heard Kit say as he heard a door close shut. Yusuke released the cloth in his hands, knowing that this situation would lead to different problems that he didn't feel like messing with. Yusuke thought at first it'd be better if he'd left and calmed down, but that wasn't happening since they were blocking the exit, and Hiei was right about one thing. Yusuke was going into a frenzy; never before had he wanted to rip off Kurama's head so much as he did now. Knowing that blood would spill over the beige rug and ruin the furniture made him smile slightly on the inside, his outward expression in a scowl.

Kit's head was resting on Kurama's shoulders, her eyes fluttering in and out of sleep, while he was propping her up as their fingers were intertwined.

Kurama had won.

Hands down.

Yusuke took a step back; his heel clicking against the side of the cabinet that he'd forgotten was there, tipping Kurama off of his existence.

"I'm sorry, did we wake you up?" he asked courteously, his voice driving Yusuke up the wall. It was brimming with triumph and success that Yusuke felt like puking. Yusuke shook his head and forced words out.

"No, but is Kit awake? I hoped I could talk to her tonight?" he asked, while receiving glare from both Hiei and Kurama, though Kurama's was not so apparent, but Yusuke could tell. He wanted Kurama to know his anger, he wanted him to know that he was frustrated, and at his wits end, he wanted him to know that he'd snatched the very girl he'd been fighting for, he wanted him to know that it was taking all that he could not to snatch her away from his arms. He wanted him to know that.

Kit picked her head up slightly, but her eyes were drunk with exhaustion and her body was limp with sleep.

"Sort of, you need something, Yusuke?" she asked, her voice even fading in and out. Yusuke didn't say anything, his eyes glued to the ground, he hoped he could at least hide his anger from her.

"It can wait, I'll just tell you tomorrow," he said, hoping the anger within his voice was not so obvious.

*******************

I had that dream again; the one after that night at the theater. It was exactly the same, yet, different at the same time. I couldn't tell you what was different about it; only that it was. But this time, I could remember a pair of luscious chocolate eyes that were swirled with caramel and dipped in cream. Never had I seen such gorgeous brown eyes; for brown eyes never really left impressions on me, because they were so common, everyone practically had them, normally it was the blue and the green eyes that left you in awe. But not these, these were brown, no, brown was too bland of a word.

But last night, last night seemed like a dream as well, fuzzy and clouded, I tried to recall what had actually occurred. Then it hit me.

I was Kurama's girlfriend.

The thought was exciting, jubilating even. My mind then felt the need to remember and flash images on what had happened after I'd told him.

I turned a red that rivaled Hiei's eyes.

That explained the dream.

I gripped the bed sheets, hoping to control my giggles and happiness that overflowed my entire being. Glancing over, I almost let out a gasp of disbelief upon seeing Hiei still sleeping soundly in his bed. Such a rare occurrence, I don't think I'd ever actually come across it before. It was…literally amazing.

But not wanting to wake my sleepy short friend, I quietly slid off my bed and tiptoed into the living room, hoping not to disturb him. I had originally thought that I would make breakfast to commemorate our victory, but since Kuwabara seemingly ditched, Yusuke wasn't anywhere to be found, and the annoying fact that we had NO kitchen. There wasn't even a microwave for Christ's sake! All that could be found was a small wine cooler and a button that read "click for room service" God damn rich people, I thought bitterly, as I spouted angrily at the boy on the other end of the receiver while I'll ordered my food. Donuts sounded about right, but I wasn't too sure what everyone else wanted to eat, or what the hotel was going to pay for us.

See, now if they actually let me cook, we wouldn't be in the situation! I thought as the bellboy handed me my food and I slammed the door in his face. Even if it wasn't his fault, I was still quite perturbed. I was about to go nudge Hiei when I found that he was no longer in his bed, or even in the hotel room for that matter.

"That bastard ran off without eating!" I said out loud, quite angry, and slightly amused at his feeble attempt to run off without eating. I'd hunt him down. I think.

Going into the living room, I noticed that Kurama was sitting down in the same couch with the same book, his feet crossed at the ankles and a faint smile could be traced. He glanced up upon hearing me and smiled and looked towards the food.

"Hey Kurama!" I said happily, placing the food on the coffee table. I wanted to cuddle up next to him, but I didn't want to appear too forward, that would be bad. Kurama seemed to notice this, because he immediately drew me in closer, but gently.

"So that's who I heard at the door," he said helping himself to the donut. I nodded and clutched his shirt like a small child.

"Yelpers! Where exactly is everyone?" I asked. Kurama paused for a second to think, and then answered.

"I believe Hiei left around five minutes ago, and Yusuke and Kuwabara headed off somewhere," he said. I raised an eyebrow; those guys didn't.

"Without breakfast?" I asked sternly. Kurama gulped, knowing he'd just given Hiei away to a whole hell of a lot of screaming, something he too would pay for later. Kurama's silence was answer enough, so I hopped up and told him I'd return when I found Hiei and made him eat his breakfast!

It didn't take long for me to run towards the woods, with the donuts tucked underneath my arms and my feet flying across the ground, time wasn't an issue. I had a vague idea where Hiei would be residing; he was actually pretty easy to read, despite what most people tried to say. Hiei had a thing for cliffs and bluffs, and since there was only two major cliffs on the island, I headed for the nearest one. He wasn't there. But I stopped to take in the beauty of it all. It was, it was rather pretty, despite the bloodlust and horror that took place on this island apparent by its name.

The morning sun glimmered on the open waters, as the transparent waves crashed against the rocks below. I scanned the rocks beneath me, trying to find my short, probably black clad friend. He wasn't there either. I guess I was on the wrong side of the island. But I knew he was by one of the cliffs, I just knew it. Hiei was someone who liked to be alone, especially when injured. Even though he'd tried to play it off like it was nothing, I could see that that attack from yesterday had done a lot more to him then he would like to let on. I really wanted to make sure he at least ate something, then hopefully try to bandage that wound of his, I really didn't want it to get infected or anything. But I wasn't going to be discouraged; I just had to use my spirit powers to sniff him out! I sat down, cross legged and focused my energy into the nature around me and concentrated on what Hiei's aura felt like. He was close, but I was right, he was by the other cliff.

"Hey Kit," I jumped; standing behind me was a messy haired Yusuke. I slowly turned around; I still felt awkward, even though he didn't know that I'd seen him and Keiko. Last night didn't count, since I was out of it, but this morning, after realizing exactly what had happened…

"O! Hi…Yusuke, hey, have you seen Hiei? The little bugger ran off without breakfast, and I know he's training so I really want to make sure that eats something to give him energy," I said, hoping I sounded casual and especially not nervous. I, I also hoped that this negated any form of question he was originally going to ask me. If he answered this, then I could head off and then everything will be okay. No strange questions, nothing that I would later regret. But, I don't think it was because I was afraid of what Yusuke was going to ask, but rather, I was afraid of what I would answer. I was afraid that I was lying to myself and that I still liked him, I feared that. But he confirmed my fears as he shook his head and walked towards me.

Shit.

"Hey Kit, mind if I talk to you?" he asked, sitting down on the lush grass right outside of the rock. He was close, but he still kept a distance, that was grateful for. He didn't look at me, and I too, avoided his gaze, but I nodded, and did not move.

"Sure, what about?" Yusuke was silent for a second, but then he gripped the grass and looked me in the eye.

"I…I heard you're with Kurama," it was more of a question than a statement, but regardless, I was still taken back. What did it matter to him?

"Yah." What a gay response.

"You…you like him?"

"I wouldn't date him if I didn't."

Silence; why was I so jumpy with him? All of this was stupid, if he just wanted to know that, he could have asked Kurama. Why bother me?

"Kit…do you…do you like anyone else?" I flinched at that remark; who the fuck told him that?! I grinded my teeth and clenched my fists.

"If I did, it's none of your business!" I barked, suddenly becoming angrier than I thought I would. Yusuke didn't look at me.

"I'm…I'm just asking; if that person, supposedly asked you out, in theory, right here and now, what would you say?

"I'd say no!" I screamed, Yusuke surprised at the quickness of my response. "I mean, my decision is made, why would I say yes to someone else when I already said yes to another? Besides, there was reasons behind my decision, and I don't think I would throw away that option if I thought that guy liked someone other than me!" I covered, still hurt from seeing him and Keiko.

Yusuke looked puzzled, "So that person did something that made you think they didn't like you?" he asked.

I was so frustrated; what was with these questions?

"Listen, I don't appreciate the questions you're asking me! I'm dating Kurama, end of story!" I screamed, not realizing that I was crying.

Yusuke was frustrated too, by the looks of it.

"What the fuck did I do that made you think that!" he screamed back, but then quickly clamped his hand over his mouth. Did he just…

He did, didn't he?

Suddenly I was crying, uncontrollably, shaking and convulsing. Yusuke quickly tried to approach me, but I pushed him away, violently.

"Don't touch me!"

He'd known. He'd known that I liked him, and yet, I was so stupid. I was, I was completely and utterly stupid. I think I just won the award for the first brunette who was blond inside the womb and born brown.

"Kit…"

"What is your problem?! Go away, just get away from me! I hate you Yusuke! I fucking hate you!" I couldn't control what I was saying anymore. I knew what I was saying wasn't true, but I felt so stupid that I couldn't help but take my anger out of somebody else. I was still crying. But Yusuke, he was too understanding; he could tell that I was being dumb, so again, he tried to reach forward and comfort me. And I again, pushed him away and started to run. Run like I'd never run before.

It was like when I saw him and Keiko together. It seemed I was always running, running away from Yusuke, running away from my fears, running away from everything.

Coward.

But while I was running a small rock got in my path, and I tripped, like the clumsy ass I was, flew, while landing flat on my fast. I could taste the dirt accumulating in my mouth mixing with the saltiness of my tears. I started hammering the ground, and curled up into the fetal position.

"Kit?" I looked up to see a topless Hiei with his arms folded across his chest, his right arm black from the burns, his brow furrowed with worried. He kneeled down and before he knew it I had collapsed in his arms, my tears overflowing.

"Hiei…"

************************

It didn't take long for Hiei to find Yusuke, who just like Kit had claimed, was sitting with his legs crossed and his eyes seemingly distant, off into the sea. He didn't know why, but looking at Yusuke, and his nonchalant nature, while Kit was crying her eyes until puffy red, pissed him off. So much that instead of calling him to get his attention, he picked up a rock, gripping it in his hand then chucking it at the back of Yusuke's head; sweet satisfaction arose from Hiei as Yusuke flinched and some blood spurted from in between the fibers of his hair.

"What the hell—o, Hiei," he's voice faded, his voice no longer hyper and cheery, but sallow and meek.

"I don't appreciate what you're doing. I was under the impression that when I told you that bit of information you weren't going to start spouting off to Kit like an idiot!" he spat. Yusuke didn't turn to look at him.

"I…I don't know what you're talking about, just leave me alone," he answered, but he still didn't look at him. Hiei stormed forward, grabbed Yusuke by the shoulder, spun him around and punched him square in the jaw. Yusuke flew a few feet, regained balance, but then his legs gave way and he collapsed onto the grass.

"And here I thought you were smarter than that!" Hiei spat. Utilizing his punch with harsh words, he hoped some sense would wander into Yusuke's seemingly empty head. Yusuke reached for his raw cheek, and felt the spattered blood on the side of his lips. He sprang to his feet and attempted to confront Hiei.

"Listen! I tried to apologize, or say something but she just kept screaming at me!"

"Because she's upset you moron! One would think that—"

"So I can't be upset because the girl I like, likes me back, but had a misunderstanding that I couldn't even explain, so that gives Kurama the right to take her away from me?!"

"He didn't take her away from you, she took herself away!"

"Because of a misunderstanding!"

"She can't read your mind you idiot!"

Silence.

Hiei began to calm down as Yusuke absorbed the last sentence spoken. Apparently, in all of Yusuke's brilliance, he hadn't actually explain what

had gone on between him a Keiko. Turning his head away, Yusuke stared blankly at the ground.

"So what do I do now?" he asked quietly.

Shrugging, Hiei simply responded with, "Just leave her be. Don't avoid her, but let her and Kurama be. You can't alter what's already done and you can't take back words spoken."

Walking off, Hiei shook his head at the irony of it all; him, the antisocial one of the bunch, who'd never had a relationship, nor desired one, was giving everyone advice and comfort. He couldn't quite determine if that was a good or a bad thing.

****************************

Staring at the clump of chocolate in my hand, I crammed the last bit of it into my mouth; it wasn't a wonder that chocolate was an anti-depressant, I was feeling better already! I quickly ran into the hotel lobby, only to become distressed at how puppy and red my eyes had become, I rivaled that of a puffer fish in the ocean. Swell, I thought sarcastically, as I headed out. I definitely didn't want to go back to the forest, and certainly hanging around Botan's room would lead to disaster, for Keiko was bound to show up again, and that would drive me back into frustration. So I decided to go back to my own hotel room, where my prince was more than likely residing. He would make me feel better.

And sure enough, Kurama was lounging in the same sofa that I'd seen him in this morning, same book at hand, still reading.

"That must be a very interesting book," I commented with a half assed attempt at a joke. My way of trying to seem normal.

"Indeed, it's a murder novel, though I must say it's rather disappointing that the murderer is slightly obvious," he replied, placing the book down on his lap. Then his expression of content transformed into a more curious expression.

"Have…have you been crying?" he inquired.

Fuck.

"Uh…" I didn't want to lie, that was the last thing I wanted to do. "Yah, but I'm okay now, I promise," I was better, so I wasn't lying in that sense. I just, I didn't quite want to have this discussion with Kurama quite yet (if at all, if that was even an option). He raised his eyebrows, but then rose to his feet and then swept me up gently into his arms before he sat back down.

"You…you can tell me anything, you know that right?" he whispered softly, tenderly toying with my hair. I nodded, but then buried my face in the warmth of his chest. I could feel his hand stroking my head, like a mother would a child.

"Do you wish to sleep?" he asked, starting to lay out with me clutching his shirt, still cuddled close.

"Yah…"