A/N: Hey guys! Thank you for the couple of reviews I got! More are always, always wanted! I know I have been updating less frequently, but I have finally graduated high school and have the whole summer ahead of me! Woo! That means more time to write! I have almost completely depleted my reserve of chapters, which is another reason for the longer wait between chapters. Anyways, I'm not sure how much I like this chapter, but I do hope to get some chuckles for the final scene. Please let me know what you all think! I love reviews! =D

"We are going to have some guests with us today."

Mai's announcement was met with four confused looks. She smiled wider, loving that she was consistently able to throw the boys for a loop. She placed a hand on her hip, popping it out to the side slightly.

"What do ya mean?" Kuwabara finally asked.

"Well, after the competition, I told you that we had to party at the club, right?" She didn't wait for an answer before continuing, "Well, you can't all dance it up with me, can you?"

Eyebrows rose higher as their confusion increased. The hanyou giggled, before practically skipping over to the door and opening it. "C'mon in, ladies!"

"Keiko?"

"Yukina?"

Yusuke and Kuwabara exchanged glances at their simultaneous outbursts before rushing forth to meet their girlfriends. Kurama stood, emerald eyes wide and lips slightly parted. His eyes were locked on the pretty brunette who had walked in behind Yukina.

"How did you…?" the fox demon trailed off, still staring at the woman standing awkwardly next to Mai. She had the same long, straight brown hair as the last time he saw her, the same slate blue eyes…

"I have my ways," Mai smiled and winked.

Reika laughed her soft, breathy laugh and Kurama flushed slightly. "Actually, we ran into each other at the grocery store. Literally, neither of us was paying attention and the next thing we knew – Bam! – and we were on the floor!"

"My butt still hurts," joked the blonde. She rubbed her bottom for show, biting back a laugh.

"Then we got to talking and she told me you needed a partner for the next part of your competition, Shuichi!" Reika continued, smiling.

"You don't have to-"

"But I want to!" the brunette replied quickly. "You're good enough to help out your friends when they had a member drop out of the group, so why shouldn't I help you out, too?"

Kurama caught Mai's eyes and she smiled at him from behind Reika. Something in her eyes clearly said, "See? Took care of everything."

He returned the smile with a small, grateful one of his own before replying, "Well, thank you, I appreciate it very much."

"So," Mai said, clapping her hands together. "We're just going to dance to get a feel of dancing with someone who isn't me. And if you all are too shy to dance with your ladies, or if you ladies are too shy to just get up and dance, I will probably be prancing around like a fool, so just look over at me and you will probably be much emboldened."

She made a series of leaps over to the boom box, twirling around and then bending into an elegant dip to press the play button with a flourish. The girls laughed along with her before turning to their respective partners. Mai watched the three pairs begin to dance, albeit awkwardly at first, before the boys began to give some direction. She smiled proudly at the accomplishments she had made in them, placing her hands on her hips.

"So I assume you shall still be my partner, onna?"

The hanyou turned to the fire demon leaning against the wall next to the boom box. He was smirking at her and had his arms crossed over his chest. She took a spot with her right shoulder against the wall next to him so she was still facing the dark haired male.

Smiling, she said, "Yes, you are stuck with me."

"Good."

He reached out and pulled her to him, idly running his fingers through her honey locks.

"We should dance, too," she mentioned.

"Hn."

The fire apparition made no move to push away from the wall. He simply stood there toying with her hair. Mai swayed gently on the spot, remaining within the bounds of his hold. Her arms came up to wrap loosely around his midsection. Tilting her head up, her eyes swept over his face. She admired his strong, angular jaw, the somewhat sharp hook of his nose. His brows were turned downward slightly, a thin line of tension between them. His crimson eyes were unfocused, glazed over slightly as if he was lost in thought.

"What's wrong?" she asked quietly.

His eyes roved down to meet hers and he answered, "Nothing, onna."

"You're lying."

"I want this to be over," he stated.

Mai nodded slightly. "You and me both. Don't worry about it while we're dancing. It'll show."

"Hn."

"Plus you should be enjoying yourself."

"While I dance?" He raised an eyebrow at her.

"Yes!" she answered indignantly. "Because you are dancing with me!"

Hiei chuckled lightly and smirked. He closed his eyes briefly then placed a kiss on the top of her head. "You have a point, onna."

"So Reika is pretty cool," Mai mentioned casually, plopping down on the couch next to Kurama.

He opened his eyes and removed his hand from its position of pinching the bridge of his nose. Giving her a small smile, he said, "I must say I agree."

"She reminds me of someone I used to be friends with."

"Oh?"

Mai hummed her affirmation before sinking back into the couch. "I haven't spoken to her in years, though. But anyways, I like her. You picked well."

"You do know that we are just dating?" Kurama chuckled lightly. "It's not as if I've proposed."

"I have a feeling about her though. You two. It's a good feeling."

The fox demon was quiet for a moment before turning towards Mai. "Thank you for covering up this mission. I hadn't really told her what was occupying so much of my time and I am glad that I am now covered and will still able to work some time with her into the mission."

"It's no big deal, Kurama," the blonde waved him off. "She didn't find it hard to believe that you were embarrassed to tell her you were in a dance contest. And you do know you could go out with her on nights we aren't practicing, right?"

"But the mission-"

"The whole guarding me thing?"

The red head nodded.

Mai laughed and replied, "I think Hiei has that covered."

Kurama smiled and tilted his head slightly to the side, "Yes, I believe you are right on that. But if anything were to happen, he should have backup."

"Yusuke and Kuwabara are here, too, though. Plus, I'm not totally incompetent! You guys can just coordinate the nights you go out so Hiei still has a decent backup system, if that's your concern. Keiko, Yukina and Reika all deserve to see you guys more than they do."

"It will all be over soon, at least," the fox smiled once more.

"I certainly hope so…"

Kurama opened his mouth, presumably to ask what she meant, but never got to what he was going to say due to the interruption of Hiei's voice.

"Fox, you have had quite enough time with my woman, don't you think?"

"Hiei!" Mai snapped, eyebrow twitching slightly in annoyance.

The fire apparition ignored her, walking forward briskly. In one fluid move, he lifted her up and tossed her over his shoulder, ignoring her gasp and protesting.

"You'll see her tomorrow and you may continue your inconsequential chatter then."

"Put me down, Hiei!"

Again, the fire apparition ignored her, instead striding across the room towards to door. Kurama stood and glared at the fire demon.

"Hiei, what is your favorite ningen food?"

"It's really me, fox. No need for a security question."

"Answer it."

"Hn," Hiei rolled his eyes. "Sweet snow."

Kurama nodded and sat down, saying, "Can you blame me? It seemed a little rash of you to throw her over your shoulder."

"I appreciate the steps taken to make sure my onna was in safe hands," the shorter demon conceded.

"Stop talking about me like I'm not here!" Mai ordered, temper rising. "And put me the hell down!"

"I will once we have reached our destination."

Mai huffed and muttered darkly about how he better not be getting any ideas. He smirked at her weak attempt at giving him attitude and flitted from the room. Securely holding Mai over his shoulder, he ran to his favorite tree in the park and jumped up near the top to the usual branch.

He shifted Mai from over his shoulder, setting her in his lap. She met his gaze with a burning glare.

"What?"

"Remember what we talked about, about warnings?" she snarled. "And what the hell was that about, carrying me around like a friggin' sack of potatoes?"

"I was in a hurry," he answered simply.

"Oh gosh, sorry I would have slowed you down!"

The fire apparition frowned, staring at the blonde in silence for a while. Her forehead was slightly lined with tension, her thin brows knit together. Moss orbs were hardened with anger. Her full lower lip stuck out slightly, not quite in a pout. He reached out a hand to cup her cheek, but she grabbed his wrist, stopping him.

"I didn't intend to upset you."

"Next time I want something, how 'bout I just haul you over my shoulder, ignore what you are saying and what you are doing, and then freak you out by zooming off to who knows where, then we'll see how you react."

Hiei sighed. "I did not think you'd react so negatively."

"Well, sorry I'm acting like a bitch, Hiei."

Biting back a comeback, he asked, "Will it help if I tell you why I brought you to our tree?"

"I doubt-" Mai froze, the words sinking in. The venom completely gone from her voice, she asked, "Our tree?"

Hiei hadn't realized that he had said that, nor that he even felt the shared ownership. But, he realized, he did. He didn't think he'd come back without the hanyou, or at least without her in his life.

"Yes, our tree. Now do you want to know why we are here?"

She nodded, shifting in his lap so her legs hung over the sides of the branch and she was facing him.

"I wanted to speak with you about something."

"What is it?"

"You are hanyou, Mai."

"I didn't think that was an issue." Her voice was laced with worry and question.

"It's not," he confirmed. Leaning back into the trunk, he continued, "But I forget that your situation is fairly unique. You know and have lived the ways of demon and of humans."

"I don't see where you are going with this."

"I have been treating this courtship more like a demon courtship than human dating. With a hanyou, it should be a balance somewhere between the two."

"It is like human dating," Mai disagreed, looking confused. "I didn't think demons took to making out on couches."

"There are some physical aspects to courting," he shrugged. "And the amount of time we spend together, and how I act around you is much more demonic."

"You're a demon, Hiei, so why wouldn't you court like one?"

"Because I am courting a hanyou."

"So what are you saying?"

He gave her a small chuckle at her impatience and took her hand in his. Lacing their fingers together, he lifted the back of her hand to his lips.

"Do you want to go out sometime?"

"Like… like a date?"

"Hn."

"You don't have-"

"Are you rejecting me?" The fire apparition smirked at her, mischief in his eyes.

The blonde frowned and said, "No I'm not rejecting you, I-"

"Good, then how about Saturday evening?"

Mai gaped at him, blinking her eyes a few times. "Hiei, you don't have to do ningen things; I am perfectly happy with hanging out as we do now."

"Onna, a few dates are not going to kill me," he insisted. "The fox wants us to go with him and his woman as well. If you would like, I can ask him about Saturday."

She sighed, giving in. "Go for it."

"Don't sound so excited."

"Are you going to have fun?"

"Sure, onna."

"I'm not going if you are only doing it to please me."

Hiei's crimson eyes narrowed and he leaned forward slightly. He raised his free hand and pressed it against her cheek. His thumb brushed back and forth over her soft skin. She remained unmoving, her eyes focused in his. Her mouth was set in a firm line, the muscles in her jaw tense. She wasn't going to give in, and he had a feeling she didn't believe he asked her of his own volition.

"Onna, I asked you because the ningenkai has been a large part of your life. I would never, never, take that from you." He paused and added, "And anyways, it is not likely that I will be displeased if I am with you."

She continued to glare at him for a moment, but decided his words were sincere. Smiling, she agreed, "Then yes, Saturday would be great."

"Hn. This is the part where I think a ningen would do this."

He smirked and pulled her into a kiss. It was warm and chaste, slow and soft. He felt her hand, soft and light cupping his face. Her fingers brushed gently down his cheek, the digits feather light against his skin.

The blonde pulled away slightly, keeping her lips mere millimeters from his. She slowly opened her eyes, and he found that they had a glint of mischief in them.

"Let's get down from this branch," she suggested softly.

"Don't like it up here, onna?" he asked, knowing that was not it at all.

"No," she shook her head slightly and added, "But I think it'd be a tad safer on the ground."

"Here's you warning then," Hiei smirked and pulled the hanyou into him before flitting to the ground beneath the tree. He set her down on the grass, leaning over her, a hand braced beside each shoulder. She smiled and wound her arms around his neck, pulling his lips back down to hers.

Their tongues engaged in their normal battle, twisting and dancing together without a real rhythm. It was simply movement, exploration, comfort. Mai's hands traveled over Hiei's shoulders then his arms. She felt the muscle contracting beneath his skin and shivered. Her hands moved back up and over his shoulder blades, her fingertips tracing the lines and smoothing over the flat planes. They roamed a bit more before splaying over his chest, loving the feeling of the pure, hard, strength he held.

The fire apparition pulled away briefly, taking in a breath of air. As his lips reconnected with hers, his hands began some wandering of their own. He traced her collar bone, feathering over the hollow at the base of her throat. They moved to her sides, followed the dips and rises of her curves. Her hips were braced for a moment between his fingers, almost as if to ascertain that they were still there and still as deliciously wide as ever. His fingers danced over her stomach then his right hand rested on her rib cage. Mai pulled away when she felt his hand twitch then resettle against her.

"What's wrong?"

"I may be losing some of my control."

"Remember the whole, dating like a ningen thing?"

"Hn,"Hiei raised a questioning eyebrow.

Mai smirked and said, "Ningen couples have bases, and they usually take some time to check 'em all out."

Hiei racked his brain for a meaning to the references to bases; he was sure the detective and the oaf had mentioned them before…

"Ah," he replied finally. "So you knew my intent?"

"Yes, and next time… just go for it," she winked and kissed him lightly.

"Next time?" Hiei asked, crimson eyes widening slightly in surprise. "Not this time?"

"This little conversation has ruined your chances this time. It'll be weird since I just verbally gave you permission to cop a feel."

The fire apparition frowned, clearly disappointed.

Well, he thought, At least there's next time.