Yusuke must have been very embarrassed about the questions he had, because instead of asking, he just wrote them all down on a piece of paper. His excuse was that he didn't think Kurama would be able to remember them all, but of course that was ridiculous.

"Thank you," Kurama said, as Yusuke sat back down on the couch. "Hiei, do you have anything to add?"

"Whatever I wanted to know, it's probably on that novel Yusuke just handed you," Hiei replied. At the moment, he couldn't think of anything, anyway.

"Very well." Kurama folded up the piece of paper and stuck it in his pocket.

Yusuke and Kuwabara went home shortly after that, but Hiei was planning on staying overnight, so he and Kurama spent the rest of the afternoon watching a teen romance movie (ironically, of course), and making comments about how stupid it was. They would be lying, though, if they were to say they didn't get a little choked up at the ending.

"That was so sweet," said Kurama, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand and hugging Hiei. "I-I just knew things would work out all right."

"That's because it's a movie, and get off me," said Hiei, but there was no hiding the yellow tearstones he'd left on the floor.

"More popcorn, girls?" said Shiori, stepping into the living room.

"No thanks, Mom," said Kurama. "The movie's over."

"Let me know if you two are hungry for dinner," she said.

"You should be asking her about that doctor's appointment, if you're going to go," Hiei told him.

"Good idea…" Kurama got to his feet and headed for the kitchen. "Hey, Mom? Can I ask you something?"

Hiei waited in the living room while Kurama went to go talk to his mom. It was always nice staying over at Kurama's house, and since Hiei didn't have to go to school, he could do it as much as he wanted. On Friday and Saturday nights, they could all four have sleepovers, either at Kuwabara's house or Kurama's.

There was a winter rain that night, and rain was a relaxing sound when it was bedtime.

"So did you make an appointment?" asked Hiei.

"Yes, they managed to squeeze me in tomorrow after cheerleading practice."

"Are you nervous?"

"Why should I be nervous?"

"Because you don't know what they're going to do."

"My mom says it isn't that bad," Kurama replied, "and she said now that I'm sixteen I should be going there anyway. See, I told you it was a good idea to just get a checkup now and then."

"I still don't need to hear all the details," said Hiei. "I said this yesterday at the mall, remember? Back when we were our regular selves, can you name even one time we discussed our masculine regions?"

"Did you just say masculine regions?" said Kurama, laughing.

"Well, you know what I mean. Name one time we discussed them."

"Okay, I can't," Kurama admitted. "But now, a lot of sensations are new and strange, so it helps to talk about them. Didn't you feel better after talking to Shizuru on Sunday?"

True, talking to someone who had "been there" was actually very helpful, but it didn't seem quite the same, somehow.

"Yeah, but I meant to each other," Hiei said finally. "So that doesn't count."

"Hmm," said Kurama doubtfully. "Well, anyway, we had better get to bed. I have a big day tomorrow."

…

When Kurama got to school that morning, the first thing he noticed was Aratani sitting outside the building on a bench, looking miserable. Chizuko was there, too, with one arm around her friend. Kurama approached them warily.

"H-Hi, Shuichi," said Aratani, her bottom lip trembling.

"I think I can guess what this is all about," said Kurama, sitting next to Aratani on the bench. "You broke up with Yu Kaito, didn't you?"

"Yes," Aratani told him tearfully. "And he hasn't even shown up for class today!"

Kurama and Chizuko exchanged concerned looks. If someone like Kaito couldn't come to school, you knew things were bad.

"But you still haven't told me," said Chizuko. "What happened? I mean, what did you say?"

"I-I just…I went to his house, and h-he looked so happy to see me…" It seemed that Aratani could barely get her words out. "I-I told him we needed to t-talk, and he just…"

"You don't have to tell us anything you don't want to," Kurama reassured her.

"Shut up, Shuichi, I want to hear!" said Chizuko.

"It was awful," said Aratani, and she burst into tears. "I-I told h-h-him he was a n-nice guy and I r-really liked him…but we should just b-be friends."

"Oh, no," Kurama muttered. "I can't imagine he took that well."

"I told him it might hurt him now, but in time, he'd realize it was for the best," Aratani choked. "And he got down on his knees and begged for me to never leave him, and he said he loved me and that he would change whatever it was about him that I didn't like, if only I stayed."

"It's unbelievable how low guys will stoop to impress us girls," said Chizuko in disgust. "I mean, don't they have any dignity?"

"Kaito didn't," said Aratani sadly. "I told him that he shouldn't have to change himself and that he should be dating someone who loves him for who he is, and since I'm not that person, it's a sign we shouldn't be a couple."

"It sounds like you gave him some very sage advice," Kurama told her. "Maybe he can use it in his next relationship."

"If he has one," Chizuko pointed out. "Let's face it, Yu Kaito is not exactly the cutest guy in our school."

"Guys should be more than cute, Chizuko," Aratani said firmly. "Kaito was really smart and nice, but I only liked him in a friendly way. I need something more, something different, but I can't put my finger on it. I don't know who I want." Then she started to cry again. "I guess I'll just have to grow old with my fox."

"Y-Your what?!" said Kurama in shock.

"I don't really like cats, so I couldn't be an old crazy cat lady," she explained tremulously. "But I told you, foxes are my favorite animal, and I think cuddling up with one before a fire would make me less lonely in my old age."

"Why do you like foxes so much?" Kurama couldn't help asking.

"They're super smart, really nice, and totally, completely adorable," she gushed. "I love their bushy tails and pointy ears, too. In fact, I'm feeling happier already just thinking about them."

"You know what we need to do, girlfriend?" said Chizuko, slapping Aratani's knee. "We need a girls' night out on the town. You can come too, Shuichi, if you want."

"What did you have in mind, Chizuko?" Knowing her, it could be anything.

"Well, my college-age neighbor across the street is home for the winter holidays, and I heard her say she's throwing a huge party," Chizuko said mischievously. "If we crash the party and pretend we're college students, too, we can make out with a bunch of hot college guys."

"But what if they figure out we're in high school?" said Kurama.

"Oh, you could pass for a college girl, Shuichi," said Chizuko matter-of-factly. "Most girls our age would kill for boobs like yours."

"Including me," said Aratani, which made things completely uncomfortable. "I mean, I wouldn't literally kill anyone, but I would really like big breasts."

"Just make sure you wax tonight, hon," said Chizuko, elbowing Aratani, who blushed red at her friend's words.

"Chizuko!" she shrieked. "I'm not going to be doing anything inappropriate!"

"Inappropriate?" Chizuko snorted. "Get real. What are you, my grandma?"

"Well, you're a virgin, too, aren't you?" said Aratani.

"I'll have you know I reached third base," Chizuko bragged.

"To a guy, or he did it to you?"

"Both."

"I think I've got the gist of it, you two," Kurama cut in. "Maybe we should talk about something else."

"Yeah, like whether we'll be going to the party," said Chizuko, raising her perfectly-shaped eyebrows. "It's Saturday night."

"Now that I'm not with Kaito anymore, I'm free Saturday night," Aratani told her. "I don't usually do things like this, but I need a break."

"Fine, then, count me in," said Kurama, shrugging. "But do you think I could bring my friends who don't go to this school? I'm sure they'd be angry if I went to a college party and didn't invite them."

"I'll bet you want to bring that Hiei boy," Aratani teased.

"O-ho!" Chizuko was grinning. "So you're in a relationship, Shuichi!"

"Why does everyone think that?" said Kurama, but Chizuko only smirked.