YOU BAKA!!! Kuwabara screamed at himself. Why didn't I run when I had the frickin chance?! Now I'm stuck hiding behind this stupid tree, and if Shorty and that girl find out… He shuddered. I'm dead.

And they're bound to find out if my knees don't quit knocking. Damn it! Why can't anything go right for me? Oh, I started to run after Urameshi, sure, but did I keep running? Noooo, I had to stop and hide behind a frickin tree to see what that girl was laughing about, didn't I?

And what was she laughing about? ME!

He sighed. I'm dead meat if they look over here, and I bet they will eventually. Who'll they spot cowering behind a tree? ME! 'Cause they'll have to go back to Urameshi's place sooner or later.

I hope it's later. I just might think of something in the meantime.

Kuwabara considered the possibility.

He sighed again. I'm dead meat.

Ugh, are they talking about me again? No, wait— ooh, Shorty's holding hands with that girl! Who knew Shorty was a romantic? Kuwabara sniggered to himself. Heheh… just wait till I tell Urameshi about this…. He suppressed a laugh.

Ooh! He's messing with her hair! I did that to a girl once… right before she slapped me. Hmm… maybe that's why she slapped me…. Nah!

Aw, I think that girl's sad, she— ooh! She hugged him! She hugged him! And Shorty didn't kill her! He must be more of a romantic than I thought…. Kuwabara sniggered again. Blackmail! Woohoo! I have blackmail material on Shorty! Hahaa… life is good! …Hey, maybe I should've been paying more attention to what they were saying… oh, well. Life is still good!

Ooh… she's still sad. Maybe she—

Kuwabara's current train of thought derailed.

Wow. I didn't know demons could French kiss. I kinda wish I could take notes, or something. He's a lot better than I th—

Kuwabara stopped.

They were looking at him.

They were looking right at him.

OH, SHIT!!! THEY SAW ME!!! They weren't supposed to see me! Not yet! I haven't thought of a way to get outta here yet! DON'T LOOK AT ME!!! I AM NOT HERE!!! I AM INVISIBLE!!!

Kuwabara was obviously not invisible. Hiei and Kieda were heading directly towards him.

Fast.

Ack! They're too damn fast! I can't run away! I CAN'T RUN AWAY!!! DAMMIT!!!

A fraction of a second later, Hiei and Kieda had met up with the frantic Kuwabara. They did not look happy. "Talk," Hiei said angrily.

"I— but— it wasn't— I didn't mean to— um…" Kuwabara stammered.

"What were you doing here?" Hiei demanded.

"Uh… I— eh… I got lost…?"

Kieda spoke up. "We heard what you said, baka."

Kuwabara looked puzzled. "Said…?" She stood on her toes and whispered something into his ear. "What? Take notes…! EEP! I said that out loud?!" His eyes widened. "Uh… I mean— I didn't say that! You must've been hearing things…!" he said unconvincingly.

Hiei and Kieda unsheathed their swords.

Kuwabara's eyes grew as wide as dinner plates. "Mommy…."

Much later, Kuwabara made it back to Yusuke's apartment. He was in the middle of telling his "story."

Yusuke laughed. "They pulled their swords on you?"

"Yeah," Kuwabara said. He looked around the corner – for nearly the twentieth time – to make sure Hiei and Kieda weren't listening. "I didn't get sliced into lunchmeat because I talked them out of using those swords. As it was, they just pounded me." He brightened. "But I got great blackmail stuff, didn't I?"

Yusuke grinned. "I'll say. Who would've thought that Hiei actually had feelings?" He chuckled. "Much less a past lover."

Kuwabara glanced around the corner again. Yusuke sweatdropped. "You… do know they're not here, don't you?"

"Yeah, but they might come back any time. They—"

"Kuwabara, I mean they're not in the house. You think Hiei would voluntarily hang out in my apartment?" Yusuke looked out the window. It had finally stopped raining. The sun was setting, and the sky was turning a particularly bloody shade of red. "I don't think Hiei would let her escape. I trust him that much… but the girl…" he shuddered, remembering her quick escape from his carefully crafted Spirit Handcuffs. "I don't trust her for a second."

"I trust her," Kuwabara said, and received a startled and skeptical look from Yusuke. "I didn't hear much, but I know she really didn't want to go back to wherever she came from."

"Well, duh," Yusuke said. "If you escaped from prison, would you wanna go back?"

Kuwabara shook his head. "No, I think it's more than that. I heard her say she killed half the people in the place before she got out. Somehow, I don't think she went looking for people to kill – I think they attacked her. And they meant to kill her."

"So, if we send her back…" Yusuke started.

"We'll be killing her," Kuwabara finished.

"Well, what do I do?" Yusuke said. "I don't know what Koenma would do to me if I let her go free, but I can't send her back, either!" He groaned. "Why do I have to be Earth's only Spirit Detective?"

"Speaking of Koenma," Kuwabara said, "I have a plan…."

Hiei and Kieda were in the forest, as far away from the humans as they could get. Kieda was nursing a wound to her shoulder.

Hiei looked at her worriedly. "Are you sure you're all right?"

She smiled. "I'm fine. It's just a little sore, that's all."

"I never should have picked a fight with that baka," Hiei said. "I should've cut him in half when I had the chance. That way, you wouldn't have been dragged into my fight."

How typical, she thought. He has no concern for himself. All he cares about… is me. "But what would Koenma do if you killed Kuwabara?"

He scoffed. "Thank me."

Such sarcasm. He hasn't changed a bit. "Hiei…"

He looked over at her. "What…?"

I know Hiei won't send me back. He cares too much for me. But— the others… those "friends" of his… I don't think that detective would hesitate to send me right back… to…

"Don't look at me like that," Hiei said quietly, startling her out of her reverie. "You look… so sad…."

Have I been staring? She closed her eyes. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't… shouldn't have—"

She stopped. Hiei was holding her shoulders, forcing her to look up at him. "You haven't done anything wrong. I just…" his eyes softened. "I hate to see you so sad."

She leaned against his chest; his heartbeat a warm, steady rhythm. "I'm sorry."

"No, don't be. Please… I just want you to be happy."

She cuddled into his arms. "I'm always happy when I'm with you."

Hiei smiled.