Kurai was laid out on his side on the couch reading a magazine. It was Saturday and Kurai's night to cook, so dinner a casserole was baking in the oven, and Kyo was at the gym working out. Afterwards he and Kyo would go out to either a dance club or a karaoke. A knock on the door made Kurai look up.

'Must be Kyo,' Kurai thought and went back to reading.

There came another knock on the door and this time Kurai went to answer it. If it had been Kyo, he would've used his key. Opening the door, the half dragon saw Iori.

"Konban wa," Kurai greeted and stepped aside. "Please come in. How have you been? Can I get you something to drink?"

"Thank you. Fine and yes, water please," Iori replied.

"So what brings you to our humble little above?" Kurai asked from the kitchen.

"Kyo's not home is he?" Iori asked.

"No, he's still at the gym working out. You know, staying in shape and all," Kurai said, bringing the redhead a glass of water. "It's bottled. I don't drink from the tap."

"Thank you," Iori said. "To answer you other question, I've come to see you actually. I need some advice."

"Please have a seat," Kurai said, sitting down on the couch. "So what's up?"

"I'll be blunt. I think I may be falling for Kyo. I can't stop thinking about him. I mean I always have before, but in an opponent sense. Now I think about what it would be like to have him as mine, living with me, loving me…like the way he does with you," Iori said.

"Well, speaking as an outsider, I always saw something between the two of you. Out of everyone else you encounter, you two seem to pick each other out of everyone else as if you were drawn to each other, and I'm not talking about your ancient blood feud," Kurai said. "Which leads me to ask; would you be willing to stop battling Kyo for the sake of your blood feud?"

"I already have done so. Some time ago I decided that I didn't want to be the puppet my fa…the man who sired me wanted me to become just to continue the blood feud. I want to live me life my way, but I still do enjoy competing at the Tournaments and I'll be honest, Kyo was my favorite opponent."

"You do know that based on your history, it'll be a little difficult, but honestly, I believe that it'll work out. I mean I know that you're honest, especially when it comes to your feelings and you're honorable; two traits that I find very important when finding/choosing a mate/lover either for myself or for my loved ones," Kurai said. "Now you're going to have to prove to Kyo that you're sincere about how you feel. Be persistent. You know as well as I do that Kyo can be a little stubborn. However I honestly feel that you're so much better for him then that backstabbing bitch Yuki."

"I agree with you on that," Iori remarked.

"Now we need to come up with a plan to help break the remaining ice between the two of you," Kurai said, thoughtfully. Kurai lend back against the couch. Inside his mind he was smiling and doing a victory dance. 'Finally! I wondered when Iori was going to come talk to me about Kyo. Now that both Iori and Kyo know how they feel for each other (even though Kyo hasn't made his true feelings known. Yet), Iori knows that he wants Kyo (and probably always has). I can now start on the other part of my plan. Ha! I knew that if I sent Iori and Kyo to meet each other in their dreams they in their deepest subconscious would follow what their inner hearts really wanted and act upon them, and whoo! Did they ever! Focus, Kurai, focus!'

"I believe I have an idea," Iori announced, waking Kurai from his thoughts.

"Oh? Pray do tell," Kurai said, leaning in.

"Come by the Chokoreeto Neko around seven. I'll do the rest," Iori said.

"Okay," Kurai said with a false salute.

_____________________________

Around seven and as promised, Kurai and Kyo entered the Chokoreeto Neko and sat down at a table near the stage. Kurai wore his favorite surcoat made from burgundy dyed silk that had ties on each side so it could be adjusted for a comfortable fit, worn over a skin tight, black body suit, and had tied his hair up in a ponytail. Kyo wore the outfit Kurai had picked for him the day he spent nursing his hangover.

Kyo recognized the place because Iori and his band perform quite a lot at the place.

Kyo nudged his friend's elbow. "Kurai, why did you suggest this place? Iori tends to perform here a lot and you know how I feel about being around him," Kyo said. 'Especially after that dream last night…'

'Because he and you are meant for each other and I'm getting tired of you claiming otherwise. If only you could open your eyes and see Iori for who he really is,' Kurai thought.

"Because we're the perfect examples of sexy eye candy; Iori's handsome, you're gorgeous in a masculine way, and I'm a prim example of a bishounen!" Kurai replied. "Plus, I find Iori very captivating; his presence dominates a room and with a build like his, y'know he's anything but lacking in the where-it-counts department. I bet he has great stamina, and I bet he's a foot long. What do you think? Think he's a good twelve inches?"

Within seconds of speaking his mind, Kurai now knew (and finding it very hilarious) that it was possible for someone to look both horrified and intrigued at the same time.

"I-! I-! I refuse to answer and or comment on that!" Kyo exclaimed.

Kurai smiled, though to Kyo it looked almost like a leer.

"S-Stop that!"

"Stop what?"

"That?"

"Eh?"

"Stop leering!"

"Who's leering?"

"You of course!"

"I wasn't leering!"

"Yes, you were!"

"Was not."

"Was too!"

"Was not."

"Was too!"

"Why on earth would I leer at you for? I have Chris to leer at."

"How should I know?"

"You need to get your head out of the gutter, my friend."

"I… I'm not some ecchi!"

"Then why were you accusing me of leering at you? I was simply smiling at a thought. If you assumed that I was leering at you then you were thinking hentai thoughts."

"I was not!"

"So who was it?"

"What?"

"Whom were you thinking hentai thoughts about?"

"I-! None of your business!"

"Aha! I knew you were!"

"I-! Oh, shut up!"

"So who's on your mind?"

"Shut up."

"Tell me."

"……"

"Please?"

"That band's about to perform."

"Oh, you're no fun."

"If so then why do you hang out with me?"

"'Cause you live in my apartment."

"You're a pain in the ass."

"I know! Would you have me any other way?"

"No comment."

"Quiet, they're about to start," Kurai said, turning his attention to the stage.

On stage, Iori stepped up to the microphone, dressed in a sexy, skintight black tee shirt and black leather pants. He easily spotted Kurai and Kyo seated near the stage and nodded with approval. He motioned for the other band members to start on a particular song he'd pick out. Clearing his throat, Iori made eye contact with Kyo and held his gaze as he began to sing.

"I am lost in the see-thru,

I think you lost yourself too,

Throughout all of this confusion,

I hope I somehow get to you,

I practiced all the things I'd say,

To tell you how I fell,

And when I finally get my chance,

It all seems so surreal,

'Cause from the first time I say you,

I only thought about you,

I didn't know you,

I wanted to hold onto, The things you'd never say to me,"

During the performance, Kyo became more and more aware that Iori was possibly singing directed at him, and became even more so as Iori walked off stage and made his way slowly towards him.

"'Cause you said, You can't change the way you feel,

(I could never do that, I could never do that,)

But you can't tell me this ain't real, 'cause this is real,

And you would see right through that,

In the end it's all I've got,

So I'm gonna hold onto that,

So I'm gonna hold on and on and on and on"

Behind his drink, Kurai smiled. What better way for Iori to express his feelings then through song, and Kurai commended Iori for his choice as it wasn't one of those annoying and dime a dozen false love songs written by some boy or girl band. He almost purred as he watched Iori knelt down in front of Kyo and took of the boy's hands in his.

"Now you've got me watching your eyes,

Got me waiting just to see,

If it goes the way it never will,

Your eyes are watching me,

And now you've got me thinking 'bout, The first time that I met you,

Standing in a crowded room,

But I could only see you,

And I hope my words will get through,

'Cause now I can't forget you,

I want to tell you,

If only I could reach you,

And makes you feel this way,

But you said, You can't change the way you feel,

(I could never do that, I could never do that,)

But you can't tell me this ain't real, 'cause this is real,

And you would see right through that,

In the end it's all I've got

So I'm gonna hold onto that,

So I'm gonna hold on and on and on and on,

And on…"*

Blushing furiously, Kyo swiped his hand out of Iori's and all but ran out of the nomiya, unaware that Iori was following him until the tall redhead managed to grab onto his elbow to turn him around. Kyo made a swing at Iori, planning on embedding his fist into the man's face, but Iori blocked it with his palm and held it.

"You bastard! What the hell did you think you were doing in there!" Kyo snarled.

"I think it's pretty clear," Iori replied, calmly.

"Yeah, embarrassing me to no end!" Kyo snapped back.

"It looked like to me that Iori was serenading you, Kyo," Kurai said, appearing before the two.

Kyo looked back and forth as his absorb the little bit of info Kurai told him, and a thought struck him.

"You… You were in on this the whole time!" Kyo exclaimed, turning to Kurai. "That's why you brought me to this particular nomiya! You knew exactly what Iori planned on doing!"

"I had an idea, so yes," Kurai replied.

"How could you! What kind of a friend are you anyway?"

"The kind of friend who has some knowledge, from an outsider's point of view, to see something that you refused to see."

"Oh? And what would that be?" Kyo demanded.

"That Iori obviously is in love with you and has been for some time now, and that you feel the same way about him only you're so stubborn and dead set against him, that you continue to see thus!" Kurai answered.

"Who the fuck says I'm in love with Iori! That's fucking ridiculous!"

"No it isn't because it's there! And I've been trying to help you realize that!"

"I don't believe you! You knew how I felt and yet you insisted on playing matchmaker to hook me up with Iori? The very man who's been trying to kill me for as long as I can remember and who now claims that he loves me? For all anyone knows he's just jerking you around-!"

"That is total bullshit and you know it! We had this conversation before, remember or need I remind you that if either you wanted the other dead, you would've killed each other off long ago. But neither of you have because both of you are feed up with continuing some stupid ancient blood feud that should have died off long ago. Yes, I know that at first Iori did want to kill you, but he's changed. People are allowed to change their ways if they want. If you two had meet under different circumstances and this blood feud didn't exist, I know for a Kami-damned fact that the two of you would be lovers," Kurai said.

"Kurai's right," Iori said, once the half dragon said what he wanted to say. "I refuse to carry on this blood feud just to please the man who sired me and told me to fight the descendants of the Kusanagi bloodline any longer. And I understand that right now you feel very much betrayed by your friend, but take in to consideration of what he said. Do you honestly think that Kurai would set you up with someone that isn't right for you?" He leaned in. "Remember, he isn't all human, and has the ability to see things that normal human beings can't see, such as a bond between two people. Besides, even if he hadn't meddle in our affairs my feelings for you would have made themselves known and I would've gone after you eventually."

"Oh yeah?" Kyo challenged, crossing his arms. "How do I know that you're not just jerking me around so I'll let me guard down around you?"

"Kyo, do you really believe that I'm that kind of person, never mind a fighter, that I would stoop so low? If I had wanted to kill you off so easily, I would have done so the very first time we met. I am a honorable man and a honest man, and I will not belittle myself using trickery to defeat an opponent. However I don't want you as my opponent anymore. I want you as my lover," Iori said. "I'm not a man known for my emotions, but I do know when I'm in love."

For a long moment's silence, nothing was said from either party. Kurai could feel the tension building up so thick that it could be cut with a knife.

"This is… This is very hard to swallow," Kyo said, breaking the spell of silence.

"Why? Because you feel overwhelmed?" Iori asked.

"Yes. Just when I think I know someone they go and show me a different face, throwing what I thought to be true out the window and confusing me as hell," Kyo said.

"Should the world be full of people who wear but one mask?" Kurai asked, theatrically.

Kyo groaned at his friend's quirks, but the had dragon had a point, as much as he didn't want to agree with right now.

"I saw nah for it'd be boring as hell!" Kurai finished.

"Kyo," Iori said, drawing the other fighter's attention back to him, "Would you at least be willing to give a relationship with me a try? I understand that you may be afraid to start a relationship with someone else, let alone me, because of how your last one ended so badly, but unlike Yuki, I will be honest with what I want from you and how I feel."

"I…I don't know…" Kyo replied.

"Would this help?" Iori asked and slowly drew Kyo into a kiss, giving him the opportunity to break free if the brunette wanted too. When Kyo didn't pull away, Iori gently nibbled on his bottom lip, enticing Kyo to grant him entrance. Kyo felt his eyelids close as he hesitantly parted his lips, allowing Iori to deepen the kiss. He shivered as Iori ran the tip of his tongue across the sensitive roof of his mouth, giving a soft moan when Kyo felt Iori touch the back of his throat with the tip of his tongue before settling back to stroke and caress his own. Iori brought a hand up from Kyo's waist and gently cupped his neck, gently rubbing his thumb up and down the curve of Kyo's throat.

At this moment, Kurai was debating if he should go grab some popcorn and a soft drink or not from the show he was watching, and smiled when Kyo brought his hands up to rest of Iori's shoulders, then moving one entwine his fingers through the redhead's hair. The kiss ended, much to Kurai's disappointment, but he noted a little sigh coming from Kyo as their mouths parted.

Kyo looked up at Iori's face for a long time with a thoughtful but undecided look on his face as the redhead waited patiently.

"I believe you when you said that you're honest so I'm trusting you not to hurt me like Yuki did," Kyo said.

"Otherwise there would be no place for Iori to hid from you seeking revenge," Kurai added, smiling away.

Iori smirked and nodded.

Kyo turned to the half dragon. "I ought to smack you for interfering in my personal life like you have, Kurai."

"Then I wouldn't be the Kurai you know me as," the half dragon replied, smiling away, unfazed by Kyo's comment.

"Isn't that the truth," Kyo said, rolling his eyes.

Kurai clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. "Tut, tut; Kurai-niichan knows best."

Kyo pulled Kurai into a playful headlock as Iori lead them both back inside before his band formed a search party to find him so they could perform another number. Back at their table, Iori gave Kyo a quick kiss before heading back on stage, focusing only on Kyo for the rest of the performance that night.

End

_____________________________

(*) "Change" by Good Charlotte from their first album.

_____________________________

Shuuichi Minamino: Don't worry for I do plan on writing an epilogue.

Kurai: Yeah, after she gets some sleep and has restored her energy on pocky, Pepsi One, coffee and anything else she can shove in her mouth.

Shuuichi Minamino: *waves magical wand she "barrowed" from Sailor Moon* Quiet or I'll turn you into a chibi and throw you into the pit of tentacles.

Kurai: *starry eyes* Please?

Kyo: Hentai.