A definition of tacticians

A/N: this is the sequel to The Keeping Of Secrets. Detailing the party, Yusuke being an ass. Unfortunately, nobody gets drunk. If you want to read that, check out my 13 drabbles collection. Kuwabara may be OOC. He is an eternal enigma to me, cute though he is. And this is probably the longest YYH oneshot I've ever posted (though not the longest oneshot). Love me. And if you don't get the title, go watch the Three Artifacts Arc again.

It was about three hours after Hiei and Kurama had arrived at Genkai's that the rest of the group came trooping up the interminable flight of stairs to the temple. Kuwabara was in the forefront, of course; Kurama noted that he was being a lot less boisterous about seeing "The Love of All His Lives, Yuuuukiiiiiiiiinnaaaaaaaa!" as he'd called her the last time. In fact, he looked vaguely nauseous.

Oh, well, proposing did that to a man sometimes.

Yusuke, Keiko and Shizuru were with him. The psychic was trying to bolster her brother's spirits – which meant an equal distribution of sensible advice (which no one suffering from nerves has ever benefited from) and cuffs on the head (which no one suffering from nerves has ever appreciated in the least). Yusuke was enjoying the situation immensely, while Keiko looked torn between sympathy and amusement.

At some point, Hiei and Yukina had left the path and moved off into the trees. Until he'd sensed their arrival, Kurama had been inside Genkai's arcade, playing a word puzzle with single-minded devotion. Even he was unsure whether it was an attempt to distract himself or to stop himself from going after the other two.

'Hey! Where is everyone?' Kuwabara said, far too loudly and artificially. He really did look ill.

'Here already,' Kurama smiled. 'You're late.'

'Yeah, the Prince of Love had to change sixteen times,' Yusuke muttered.

Kuwabara looked as if it was only the pristine purity of his brand-new blazer and jeans that prevented him from making Yusuke eat a knuckle sandwich.

Keiko, noting this, kindly obliged him

Kurama snickered gently as Yusuke nursed his reddening cheek.

'Where's Yukina?' Shizuru asked. 'I don't sense her in the temple.'

'She's…out in the woods somewhere,' Kurama replied evasively. Hiei was probably shielding them both, he hadn't felt a thing and his senses were nearly as sharp as Kuwabara's when it came to tracking by energy. 'She should be back.'

'So Hiei didn't make it here, huh,' Yusuke noted.

'Actually, he's…' Kurama trailed off. 'With Yukina at the moment. He wanted to tell her something.'

Yusuke's eyes narrowed as Shizuru's widened. Good. So they knew.

'With Yukina?' Kuwabara sputtered. 'What for?'

Oh. Right. He didn't know. Kurama felt vaguely chagrined. He was the one who was supposed to have it all together. 'It's…demon stuff,' he hedged weakly.

'I bet he's just trying to steal my girlfriend,' Kuwabara swore, slapping his fist into his palm. 'That'd be just like him.'

Kurama couldn't help it. He began to snicker. So did Shizuru, who was the only other one to fully appreciate the joke in that situation. He knew Hiei was getting closer, and he probably Did Not Appreciate that statement.

'I can assure you,' Kurama said, a wide grin threatening to break through, 'that Hiei is not, in fact, remotely romantically interested in Yukina.'

'Oh.' Kuwabara deflated. 'So what does he want to tell her then?'

'That would be none of your damn business,' Hiei said from a tree, right above them.

'Yahhhh!' both Yusuke and Kuwabara said, and they all jumped. Kurama continued snickering.

Hiei looked Unimpressed.

'So what were you doing with my Yukina?' Kuwabara demanded.

'Not making a damn fool of myself, which is more than you can say at any time,' Hiei retorted smoothly, ignoring the human's outraged protest. He looked at Kurama. 'Is there even a point to this conversation?'

'Why you,' Kuwabara began, obviously ready to do some damage and to hell with his blazer, when Yukina emerged from the trees, smiling and waving.

'Kazuma! Keiko!'

Hiei was instantly forgotten, as were the nerves.

'Yuuukiiiiiiinaaaaaa!'

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Hiei stayed in the tree as the rest of the group left, and pretended not to notice that Kurama had stayed behind. He wasn't in the noticing mood.

Kurama didn't care, of course. Insensitive bastard. It was one of the reasons Hiei hated him.

'You're not leaving,' he said finally, flatly.

'They won't miss me for a while,' Kurama said calmly. 'Kuwabara's busy being nervous, and the others are busy laughing at him. It's a pity to pass up the entertainment, but I did think this more important.'

'Hn.'

'Are you all right?'

And that, right there, was another. Stupid human tendency to ask obvious questions.

'So I take it things went well.'

'Hn.'

Kurama huffed and swung lithely up into the tree beside him. One branch bent obligingly to offer a better foothold. 'She looks very happy.'

'She always looks happy.'

'There's more to her than that,' Kurama observed. One arm snaked around Hiei's waist, and he stiffened. Kurama continued to look oblivious, swinging his legs like a child.

'Move away.'

'No.'

'I said move.'

'You have this really irrational phobia about being affectionate in public,' Kurama said severely, 'and there's all sorts of really interesting exhibitionism we can't indulge in unless you deal with it for good.'

Hiei's eyebrow twitched. 'Irrational phobia, fox?'

'Obviously.'

'This is your move?'

'If that's how you want to take it,' Kurama replied.

Hiei eyed him sideways. They'd not played that game in a while, but it made for a useful fallback when he couldn't think of tactics; and right now, after everything that had happened, feeling scraped raw and torn open, he had few strategies to summon, little energy to fight and less desire to do so. Instead of replying, he chose to turn on the branch until his back rested on Kurama's shoulder, and didn't protest when the arm that had fallen away in his movements sneaked back around his waist, or when Kurama laid his cheek on his hair.

'I'm trying not to say I told you so,' Kurama murmured, laughter in his voice.

'The phobia?'

'Yukina.'

Hiei stiffened, then relaxed. There was no point in arguing that. 'I still think she's a fool.'

'You seem to be surrounded by them, then. And you still can't see that they're there.'

'I can see it,' Hiei retorted. 'I just don't know why.'

He felt a tingle of energy from Kurama, and the large conifer creaked as its branches bent unnaturally, providing Kurama with a rough backrest. 'Sybarite.'

Kurama leaned back and moved Hiei until he was more or less cradled in his arms, his legs stretched out perpendicular to Kurama's, one arm wrapped around Kurama's waist for support. 'Why? Because you matter. Because you're worth the prickles and the thorns and the sulking. Because you suit me, and you fascinate me, and you challenge me. You're the strongest person I know, in many ways, and true strength is something I have always found worth pursuing. And you should know I never spend time on anything unworthy of it.'

Hiei closed his eyes. They were in a rather precarious position, and he hated falling, but it was oddly secure and calming, here, with the scent of pine and Kurama and strong arms around him. Calming, quiet, serene, and just what he needed after the past few hours.

He had always thought Yukina would cry when he told her, and she had. He'd thought she would cry for a long time after, but it was he who had done that – not cried, because he barely remembered how, but trembled with released grief and unfounded fear as she held him and soothed him. He had felt trapped, cornered, vulnerable, and if not for the few months Kurama had been subtly conditioning him to accept a gentle touch, he was sure he would have lashed out or run away. And then, once that had subsided, she had begun to talk, still holding him – nothing significant, nothing very emotional, for they were both too new to this feeling to test it with such things. Just simple stories, of growing up and beauty, little things that he'd missed, what she'd found while looking for him. Rambling, almost, in happiness, and slight fear at his uncharacteristic breakdown, and it had brought him back to reality slowly, until he could reply, respond. By the time the others had arrived, he had been more or less back to normal, and so had she, and she'd given him a lovely, shy smile and a kiss on the cheek and told him she was going back to their friends, and to join them when he was ready. He had, though he'd flitted ahead out of sheer habit, and he'd sought them out, knowing that Kurama's curiosity would lead him to stay.

Which, he had rightly anticipated, would in turn lead to something rather like this.

After all, Kurama wasn't quite as mysterious as he always pretended to be, and Hiei knew that beneath the manipulation and the flirtation, some part of Kurama's constant physical contact was a need for reassurance; something he was too proud to ask for outright. He supposed it had to come out somewhere, all that hidden vulnerability and the results were quite pleasant, and he couldn't really resist, had never been able to where Kurama was concerned, not really.

This felt nice.

Kurama was humming, softly and tunelessly, and the wind was making the trees sway gently. It was a rocking motion, relaxing. Hiei peeked an eye open, and saw that Kurama had his closed, a small smile on his lips. Hiei closed his as well.

This was very, very nice.

'Hey! Fox-boy! Spiky! You two out there?'

And Yusuke needed to die.

'Will he find us up here?' Hiei asked without opening his eyes.

'That seems a possibility,' Kurama replied solemnly.

'I could shield us.'

'Yusuke's got zero spirit sensitivity. He's just looking for us in the ordinary way.'

'Yo, spiky, come out or I'll take away your hair gel!'

'We could kill him,' he suggested.

'And go back to jail?'

'You could break us out.'

'And be on the wanted list again?' Kurama asked lazily.

'Hey, KuRAma! HI-ei!'

'I could get you a job.'

'And be a law-abiding citizen?'

'If you don't come out right now, I'm gonna finish all the food!' Yusuke yelled.

Hiei snorted. 'There's just no satisfying you, is there?'

'I'm famously unsatisfiable.'

'Is that even a word?'

'I'm creative. He'll find us eventually.'

'And now we're back where the conversation started.'

Kurama sighed. 'Up, then.'

Hiei slid smoothly out of his arms and onto the ground, landing noiselessly in front of Yusuke, who jumped.

'Don't do that!'

'Do what?' Hiei asked deadpan.

Yusuke growled incoherently. 'They want you two back at the house, so tell Kurama to get his butt over there as quick as he can or I'll kick it.'

'Oh, is that so?' Kurama asked mildly a few inches from his ear.

Yusuke jumped again.

'You do that on purpose,' he said accusingly.

'Do what?' Kurama asked with wide innocent eyes.

Yusuke huffed. 'I hate you both. Now let's go back.'

Kurama fell into step beside Yusuke, and Hiei took his usual position, placing Kurama between him and any others.

'Man, you two have got to stop being so antisocial,' Yusuke complained, and then shot Hiei a shrewd look. 'So you told Yukina, huh.'

'…'

'And by the huge smile she's wearing, I'd say it went well, right?'

'…'

'He's fine,' the redhead offered cheerfully. 'Happy, actually. He's just pathologically incapable of displaying it.'

'Shut up, fox.'

'So what did we miss?'

'Let's see.' Yusuke counted on his fingers. 'You missed Kuwabara dropping his fork, Kuwabara dropping his spoon, three wisecracks from Shizuru, one ultimatum from Genkai, two inane giggles from Keiko, one nervous laugh from Yukina, Kuwabara spilling the sauce on himself…yeah, that's about it.'

'And the bruise on your other cheek?'

'That…that was…I…she…urggg.'

'Ah.' Kurama nodded wisely. 'I see. That's a perfectly reasonable explanation.'

'Shut it, fox-boy.'

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Shizuru had been right. It wasn't exactly a rollicking social scene.

Kuwabara was trying to summon up the nerve to propose in a corner. He had been summoning for nearly half an hour, although Kurama was relieved to note that the alcohol (Shizuru's idea) was not involved in the ritual; Kuwabara and liquid courage were a frightening combination at the best of times.

Hiei was glowering in a corner, of course. The glowering would have been his customary half-hearted affair if it hadn't been for Yusuke trying to get him drunk. After the first few times of telling him to sod off, Hiei hit on the simpler strategy of simply downing every drink Yusuke got him. His accelerated metabolism and healing ensured that the amount he needed to get drunk would take a van to transport, but Yusuke didn't know that. Kurama, who did, was extremely amused – although, being Kurama, he felt it was a good opportunity for Yusuke to personally experience enlightenment, and remained silent.

Shizuru was leaning on the wall next to Kurama, and he could see her hands twitching for want of a smoke.

Genkai had vanished, claiming work.

Keiko and Yukina were having some sort of girl-talk on the cushions at the other end of the room, heads together and whispering excitedly. Kurama could have overheard them if he wanted, but it was unnecessary, and he did have some consideration when expediency was out of the picture.

Everyone was waiting, and in the end Kuwabara obliged, walking, uncharacteristically subdued, over to Yukina.

Yukina smiled up at him, and Keiko restrained a giggle. 'Yes, Kazuma?'

'…' Kuwabara's face contorted.

'Is something wrong? Are you all right?'

'Uh, no. That is, I'm all right, nothing's wrong.'

'Oh, just tell her already,' Yusuke yelled from across the room.

Kuwabara went on one knee.

Hiei stalked from the room.

Yukina looked after him, obviously puzzled.

Kurama shrugged apologetically at her.

'Yukina,' Kuwabara said simply, 'Will you marry me?'

Yukina's eyes widened impossibly. 'Kazuma…?'

Kurama left the room to follow Hiei, getting more irritated by the moment. A burst of cheering rose from the room in his wake, and he smiled briefly when Yusuke let out a loud whoop.

Hiei was on the porch, standing on the steps and staring out at the forest.

'Hiei, have you ever actually been a brother to her before?' Kurama asked bluntly as he joined him.

Hiei turned to look at him expressionlessly.

'She's going to be very hurt if you don't go back there right now, and you know it.'

'She was mine for an hour, fox,' he said simply. 'And now she's gone again.'

Kurama sighed. 'That's not true and you know it.'

'It seems that way.'

'She's only getting married, not dying.'

'Everything's different now.'

'Everything changes constantly, you know. You had to make one adjustment a few hours ago; now you'll just have to make another. And she,' he added as Hiei nodded quietly, 'was as much yours before today as she will be tomorrow. Neither of you are the kind who would abandon what they love.'

'I didn't want to do this. This is why.'

To his credit, Kurama didn't attempt to misunderstand. 'You're strong enough to take it, and you know I couldn't have forced you.'

'…if he makes any fun of me,' Hiei growled, 'I am going to kill him.'

'I'll keep my plants ready,' Kurama promised.

'What?' Hiei asked unguardedly.

'Well, you wouldn't want your sister bereaved before they even get married, would you?' Kurama grinned at Hiei's expression. 'Hiei. You do know they'll be married at some point, right?'

Hiei looked queasy all over again as they went back in.

Inside, the scene had changed dramatically. Instead of occupying different corners, the whole group was gathered around Yukina, talking excitedly. The ice maiden was examining her engagement ring and managing, by some miracle of poise, to seem perfectly demure even when she was firmly perched on Kuwabara's lap. Kuwabara, sitting in an armchair which had been dragged up to the temple for Genkai, looked slightly dazed, more bewildered and utterly, completely blissful. The sight was enough to make Kurama smile.

Yukina looked up and saw Hiei, and her eyes widened a little, questioning. 'Hiei…?'

Hiei snorted. 'If he hurts you, I will kill him.'

With a squeal of delight, Yukina launched herself off Kuwabara.

Kurama blinked. He knew Yukina didn't have the speed Hiei took for granted, but she'd crossed that room pretty damn fast to hug him. Hiei, visibly uncomfortable, managed to pat her on the back a few times.

'Awww, that's so sweet,' Shizuru drawled.

'Hey, what's going on?' Kuwabara demanded. 'Why's the shorty hugging my fiancee?'

'He's not hugging your fiancee,' Yukina said happily. 'He's hugging his sister.'

A deadly sort of silence descended on the room.

'Ugll?' Kuwabara finally ventured.

Yukina pulled away from Hiei, who looked deeply relieved. 'Didn't you know, Kazuma?' she asked, puzzled.

'Of course he didn't,' Genkai said. 'Look at him.'

A pale sort of green had been added to his existing orange-and-black colours. 'N…o,' he said slowly.

'Hn.'

'Well, that's not fair,' Keiko said judiciously. 'He didn't see the whole video, after all.'

'Keiko!' Yusuke hissed, but it was too late.

With millimetric movements, Hiei turned to look at him. 'Your little girlfriend didn't know earlier,' he snarled.

'I didn't tell her! It was Shizuru!' Yusuke babbled guiltily. Shizuru merely raised an eyebrow.

Hiei was not impressed. 'You're a lousy liar, Urameshi!'

Yusuke crashed through the screen doors, across the clearing and into a large pine which promptly imploded in a shower of splinters. Hiei took another step after him before Kurama grabbed him. 'Hiei…'

'Gonna kill you,' Hiei promised quietly as Yusuke picked himself up.

'Hiei!' Yukina said sharply, and the jaganshi went still, glaring at her, before he relaxed and shrugged free of Kurama's grip.

'All right,' he grumbled.

'He didn't mean to tell me, he just slipped,' Keiko offered, and quailed at a medium-strength Glare.

'Hn,' Hiei said, smugly flexing his fingers.

'No, Yusuke's definitely no tactician,' Kurama murmured.

Hiei raised an eyebrow.

'You weren't there for that one,' the redhead explained. 'Actually, you were there for it, but you'd just been electrocuted by Yusuke, so you probably weren't in the noticing sort of mood.'

'Hiei, shit! That hurt!' Yusuke complained.

'You deserved it, you jackass,' Genkai said crisply. 'And don't come back in here until you've dusted off. I'm an old lady, and I don't want to have to clean up after you.'

'Old lady my ass,' Yusuke muttered mutinously, but obeyed.

Hiei, having gained some composure, was sulking beside Kurama. Not that he called it that, of course. Yukina gave him a pretty good imitation of the youko eyes, and he relented. 'Fine. Whatever. I don't care. Do what you want.'

'That's his way of giving his blessings,' Kurama confided to Shizuru.

'He really should stop repressing himself like this.'

'I've told him that. It might cause him stomach trouble in old age.'

Hiei growled, but even he couldn't sustain the scowl when Yukina came up on his other side, expertly threaded one arm through his and the other through Kuwabara's and announced that they were all one big family now.

Kurama snickered.

'Fox.'

'Hmm?'

'Don't make me pull your hair again.'

A/N: remember a lot of people requested the Hiei/Kurama conversation post chapter 30? Well, that's the next one that's going to get posted.