Oo; Well! Since my mother's obviously insane ex-boyfriend showed up at our door at 6:30 this morning to visit for my mother's birthday, and he's resting downstairs from an 18-hour drive, I'm stuck up in my room trying to avoid the loony. What a Spring Break. Cleaning all week, now this. Oh well. My mother gets back from work in...oohhh, about eight or nine hours...so I guess I'll have plenty of time to clean my room, draw, and work on this story. Curse that man.


Koenma tapped his finger against the table, reviewing the court transcript, almond eyes darting back and forth across the paper. It all seemed solid enough. Aquarius had been sentenced to 325 years in Spirit World prison. The Junior Prince didn't think it was nearly long enough. Still, he had used his influence to its extent, and at least the water demon would be punished for what he did. Later Koenma would send a team to remove the ring from the cave in the Makai. He vaguely wondered how they'd get past Kurama's killer trees. Maybe he could even send the fox to stop the trees and get the ring, bringing it back to Spirit World to be placed under guard. Sighing, he leaned back.

It had been a month since they had found Kurama and captured Aquarius. Though many suspected that Kurama would die (there was even a rumour that King Enma had arranged for Kurama's papers to be drawn up) the fox had survived, and was slowly but surely gaining back his health. Koenma would have liked to go see Kurama, but things had been so busy in the Reikai that him leaving would have been impossible. Frowning around his pacifier, he went back to work.


Hiei gazed through the window from his vantage point in the tree outside Kurama's room at Genkai's temple. The fox was progressing well enough, but he couldn't help but worry. Kurama had been sleeping on and off for a while, but ever since he had regained complete consciousness, he had had a kind of silent shame about him. Hiei thought he knew what it was. Kurama was probably ashamed that he had almost met his death by the hands of that idiotic water bastard. The demon had been weak without his ring, at least compared to Kurama. And while Shuuichi Minamino was humble and modest, the youko inside the teenage body was undoubtedly ashamed.

'Kurama shouldn't blame himself,' Hiei thought, 'It was my fault...'

The fire demon continued watching through the window as Kurama slowly rose from the futon, the white covers seeming to melt off of him as he stood. He was still pale and painfully skinny, but at least he was okay now. At least...that's what Hiei hoped. Physically, all seemed to be going well, but Kurama's mind was being tormented by something other than shame. Hiei knew the fox well, but didn't have a clue what was going on with him now. He wanted to leave Kurama up to his own devices. This was Kurama's problem, not his. Still, something kept him there. Could it have been his promise? He had promised not to leave until Kurama was better. But...Kurama was better now, wasn't he? Why couldn't Hiei bring himself to just mumble an apology to the fox, then dart off and go about his own business, like he had so many times before?

Guilt. That was what Hiei took it to be. However, in his heart, he knew that guilt wasn't the only thing. There was something more...something not tangible...that would never be tangibe. Or perhaps he had kept it locked up out of fear. Whatever it was, Hiei did indeed fear it. The small demon had long feared his own emotions, and thus expertly blocked them. What was it about this fox that made Hiei feel that blocking his emotions was wrong?

He was curious. He needed to find out.


Kurama stood in the middle of the room, the end of his white blanket clutched loosely in his hand, half of it still on the futon, the other half spilling onto the floor. He was garbed in a simple white robe, a cloth belt tied around his waist, showing his frail, slim figure. He stared at the upper part of one of the walls, wondering exactly what he was doing. He thought he had gotten up for a reason, but now it escaped him.

He didn't remember much of the last month. He had mainly been unconscious, waking only a few times to find different people in different states of stress acting as nurses, giving him unclear explanations of something familiar yet untouchable before he fell back into darkness. It was only during the past few days that he had understood. Yusuke had visited during a waking moment of Kurama's, and had explained to him the whole story.

"I hope you aren't angry with Hiei," Yusuke had said, adding guiltily, "or me. I should have looked harder for you."

Kurama had just smiled weakly and told Yusuke that he did not blame anyone, while mentally crying out that he wanted nothing more than to hold Hiei in his arms, not to slash him into bits as everyone seemed to think. Kurama was not an illogical creature. Hiei's betrayal was an act of love for his sister. Kurama would have been ashamed of Hiei if the fire demon had not done whatever necessary to protect Yukina. He knew the bond of family.

Kurama looked up. Hiei had entered the room, dark and silent as ever. The redhead could see the look of guilt upon the fire demon's face, even when it was covered by an indifferent mask.

"Feeling better?" Hiei asked in a low voice. Kurama smiled slightly and nodded.

"Yes, Hiei. Thank you."

"Hn. You have no reason to thank me. I was the reason..." his voice suddenly adopted a soft tone, "...you were in that state in the first place." He looked away. Kurama took a tentative step toward Hiei, who bristled slightly. The fox's steps were nervous. What was going on?

"Hiei, I don't blame you for what you did. I understand completely. Please believe me. I am not angry at you at all." The blanket end was still clutched in Kurama's hand, the rest of it pulled off the futon as Kurama took another step forward, inches away from Hiei, then stopped, as if something was holding him back.

There was a silence that hung between the two of them, seperate from the chirping of the birds outside and the trickle of the nearby stream. Sunlight filtered into the room, illuminating Kurama but not Hiei, who had a knack for avoiding the light. Kurama bit his lip, then spoke softly.

"Hiei...there's something I need to tell you...and it's not easy for me. I...well...I-" Interrupting him, Hiei spoke out in a voice that demanded answers.

"Do you think there's something wrong with me?"

"What?" Kurama asked, shocked. He had come so close...

"How I act toward everyone. You seem to think there's a problem with that."

"Hiei, I don't know-"

"You don't think I can tell, fox?" Hiei asked, his voice growing louder and harsher. He was suddenly swept up in a torrent of growing rage. Why, he had no clue. Bewildered, Kurama stared down at him.

"I don't have any problem with-"

"But you let me know all the time! Making those remarks, telling me how I should be more considerate. Well, fox, I'll do whatever I damn well want to!" Seeing the confusion and shock on Kurama's face made him even angrier. Kurama was supposed to be calm! For the past month the fox had been weak. Hiei hated seeing Kurama weak. And he hated seeing Kurama confused and upset.

"Hiei, I don't-"

WHAM!

Kurama hit the wall hard, falling on the floor with a thud. Hiei stared at him, his right fist still clenched. Kurama lifted himself up with one hand, the other to his cheek, which was red with the impact of Hiei's punch. He looked blankly through mussed, crimson bangs with wide eyes. He then turned his head slowly, looking at Hiei, asking a silent question.

"I don't like seeing you like this, fox," was Hiei's choked explanation for the irrational blow.

"Hiei.." Kurama whispered, a single tear finding its way down his injured cheek. Hiei immediately felt horrible. Upon seeing the expression just then on Kurama's face, he realized why he hated seeing the kitsune weak and vulnerable.

"Kurama..." Hiei rushed over to him, looking into the shining emerald eyes. "Kurama...I'm sorry..."

Kurama grasped Hiei's white scarf weakly with one hand, staring up at him with a pathetic expression.

"Why, Hiei...why?"

Hiei put a hand to Kurama's cheek, covering the redness that contrasted so sharply with the rest of his pale skin. Hiei hardly had a clue what he was doing. His heart and touch were guiding him. Things that had never guided him before.

"Because, Kurama..."

The fox leaned forward slightly, brushing his face agains the side of Hiei's as he whispered in the fire demon's ear.

"Why?"

"Because...I dont like seeing you so vulnerable..." Hiei said in a breathless whisper, "Because I care about you...Kurama...I..."

"Yes...Hiei?"

"I...I should leave now," Hiei began to stand up. Kurama's heart ached. If not now, when? He grabbed Hiei by the shoulders and brought him down. Staring into surprised, carnelian eyes, he spoke the single three words he had been wanting to speak since what seemed like forever.

"I love you."


There ya go. Hope you liked it. Well, now it's one in the morning, so I think I'll get some rest. Oh, but first I wanna thank everyone who's reviewed! It really means a lot to me. Soon I'll try and read some more of your fanfics and give out some reviews mself. My schedule's kinda tight right now, and has been for a while, but this summer I'll have some free time. WHOOT! The next episode of Full Metal Alchemist is gonna have Shou Tucker in it again:claps: Yay! Sorry, totally random. Anyways, hope you enjoyed this chapter! I'll try and get the next one out as soon as possible.