AN:This Chapter is in Hiei's POV. Same warnings as last chapter apply.

Seeing Isn't Believing
by Yami Yue

Chapter One


I entered Kurama's bedroom through the window as usual. My fox was asleep at his desk, surrounded by papers and schoolbooks. I decided to wake him up. He'd probably sleep there all night and wake with a bad crick in his neck at the least if I didn't. He'd been working harder than usual lately, wanting to make sure he did well on his final tests at school and it was beginning to show. I walked silently to the desk. "Fox." I murmured in his ear. "Wake up." I got no response. I shook him lightly, that didn't work either. I smirked. "Alright, you asked for it." I muttered as I brought my lips to his earlobe and gently nibbled. I slowly trailed kisses down his jaw, to his neck. His eyes fluttered open as I kissed his lips. "Hiei?" He murmured sleepily. "You fell asleep at your desk." I said as I stepped back to give him room to stretch. "Again?" he asked. I nodded. The redhead frowned. "That's the third time this week." He said. His frown melted into a smile as he stood and stretched his long limbs. ". . . and you were sweet enough to wake me." He said softly as he walked toward me. I backed up a step seeing the telltale preciseness of his steps, like a hunting animal cornering its prey and the sudden predatorial glint in his green eyes, which I swear, flashed gold for a moment. I knew that look well. It meant that what he was thinking involved the two of us, his bed but no sleeping for a long while.

My gaze shifted quickly to the window then back to the fox who seemed to be stalking me now. My eyes widened slightly as he blocked my means of escape. He placed his hands on his hips. "You weren't thinking of leaving before I properly thanked you were you?" He asked. I backed up a step and to my horror my leg bumped against the bed. Suddenly I was on my back looking up at Kurama. He smiled maliciously and leaned down toward me. "One of these days I'm going to have to talk you out of wearing that scarf." He said as he gently tugged at it. He kissed my exposed neck, then trailed teasing little kisses up my jaw. I closed my eyes and let out a soft moan as he nibbled and sucked on my earlobe. One of my many weak spots he's discovered since I began sharing his bed. "I've missed you." he murmured huskily in my ear. "it's only been three weeks Fox." I responded, vaguely wondering how he could miss me this much in such a short amount of time. "Three weeks, five days, 14 hours and thirty seven minutes." He corrected as he trailed kisses along the side of my jaw. "Welcome home." He added then gently captured my lips with his.

The phone rang starling us both. A low growl escaped Kurama's throat as he pulled away. He sighed as he released me from his hold. "If you wish to hide you should do so now." he warned. "My mother is on her way up." I was out of the room and in the tree outside his window in the blink of an eye. Just as he predicted there was an eager knock at his door a moment later. Kurama quickly opened the door. "Shuichi, you've got the apartment." His mother cried happily. Kurama's face brightened. "There's so much we need to shop for." She added. ". . . and we'll have to take measurements . . ." Kurama smiled. "I can do that. I plan to show Hiei the apartment tomorrow and there's no sense in you making a special trip when it's on my way home." He said. Shiori smiled back at her son. She caught sight of the pile of books and papers on his desk and shook her head. "I've disturbed you long enough. I'll let you get back to your studying." She said then kissed him on the cheek. "Good night Shuichi. Don't stay up too late." "Good night Mother." He replied. "Sweet dreams."

I waited until Kurama locked the door behind his mother before reentering the room. "You're moving out." I stated. Kurama nodded. "Yes, I found a nice place a few blocks from here." He responded as he walked toward me. "Which means soon I'll be able to give you a warmer welcome." He added with a mischievous glint in his eyes. He leaned down, I met him halfway and his lips gently brushed against mine. "Will you go with me tomorrow and see the place?" he asked when we broke the kiss. I nodded in agreement. He smiled and I could feel his fatigue. I wasn't sure how, but I'm beginning to wonder if it had something to do with our deepening bond. I can't remember feeling things from him before we became more than friends. "Get some rest." I said. "I'll see you tomorrow." Kurama gently grabbed my arm. "Stay." He said softly. ". . . at least until I fall asleep." "It's been weeks since we last saw each other. Don't leave so soon." I nodded and he released me from his grasp. He smiled in thanks pecked me on the cheek. I sat down on the bed as he turned and began walking toward the bathroom. He pulled his shirt over his head as he went, I turned my head to the window, deciding to focus instead on the night sky. I heard him turn on the shower, then step in a few moments later. I looked out at the night sky, noticing how different it looked in the city. The lights blocked a lot of the stars from view, not at all like seeing it in the forest or the Makai where the stars shone brightly and seemed to be so many.

I heard Kurama's footsteps as he reentered the room and turned to face him. I noticed immediately he wasn't wearing a shirt. Allowing me full view of his well toned upper body. I wanted nothing more than to run my hands over that smooth flesh, and kiss and tease the way I knew drove him crazy, but that would have to wait. Kurama needed to rest tonight, everything else would have to come later. "Kurama you are temptation incarnate." I thought with amusement as he walked toward the bed. He raised an eyebrow in question. I shook my head telling him it was nothing. He pulled back the covers and climbed into bed, inviting me to join him with only a glance. I didn't hesitate. I slipped off my cloak, scarf and boots placing my katana in its sheath beside them before climbing into bed next to him. Kurama put his arms around me in a loose embrace and nuzzled my neck lovingly. "So, shall I drone on about how much I missed you like a lovesick schoolgirl or tell you about the apartment?" he asked softly. "The apartment." I answered. "I thought you'd say that." He responded, amusement evident in his voice. "It's a nice size place, with two bedrooms …" he began. "Two bedrooms?" I asked. "If I'm to make it appear that we're roommates there should be one bedroom for each of us." He said. "Why not let them think you're living alone?" I asked. "I intend for the apartment to be a home here in the human world just as the treehouse is our home in the Makai." He answered. "If everyone thinks you're my roommate they will have no cause to wonder why you're there." It made sense. I had no doubt he'd also come up with a reason for my sporadic comings and goings as well. He continued describing the apartment to me and I found I rather liked the notion of being able to stay with him in the human world without having to hide from his family. "I also ran into one of our potential neighbors." He said. "A strange girl." "What was so strange about her?" I asked. He relayed the events of the meeting with the girl Sata Takahara and I had to agree. "Do you think she has some sort of sixth sense like the oaf?" I asked. " I'm not sure." Kurama answered. He yawned sleepily and nuzzled me. "Sleep now." I murmured softly. "We'll talk more tomorrow." He closed his eyes and made a soft contented sound as he drifted off. I smiled. It was nice to be home.

The next day I waited for Kurama outside his school and watched with amusement as a group of girls followed him out of the building. I nearly pitied those silly humans, Kurama had no intention of courting any of them yet they persisted. They never had a chance against the fox's charm. Then again perhaps I didn't either. I watched with amusement as they cornered him. I knew he could sense me, I hadn't bothered to mask my spirit energy. He politely talked with each one, all the while his eyes were shifting from whomever he was speaking with to the surrounding trees, trying to locate me. I saw by the look in his eyes he didn't want to be bothered with the silly humans. I smirked as I leapt down from the tree I was sitting in. Perhaps helping him get away from those simpering females would earn me a reward. After surviving last night's temptation I deserved it.

Relief shone in his eyes as I approached. "I really must go now." he said to them. "I promised my friend I'd meet him here and I really shouldn't keep him waiting." The girls turned to face me and their eyes widened with surprise. "Oh, I get it you're babysitting." One of the girls said. "He's adorable Shuichi. Is he your little brother?" I resisted the urge to scowl at her. "I am not a child." I informed the idiot girl calmly. The girls all looked at me in surprise, not expecting such a deep voice to come from my small form. "We'd better get going." I said to him. Kurama nodded, said goodbye to the foolish humans then we headed toward his house.

"Thank you for rescuing me from the mob Hiei." Kurama said once we were out of earshot. I smirked at him. "I thought you liked the attention." I teased. Kurama shook his head. "In the past I would have loved it. . ." he said. I raised my eyebrow. " . . . and now?" I prodded. "You're the only one I want that kind of attention from." He said with a sensual smile. I couldn't help but smile back. We'd been together nearly two years now and he still only had eyes for me. Yoko Kurama the most desirable demon in the Makai only wanted me, the forbidden child. I still wondered from time to time if it was too good to be true, if he'd eventually get bored with me and move on to another lover. My eyes met his and once again my fears vanished. I saw in those emerald orbs the love he had for me and I knew I wasn't just some toy he would tire of, but that he was as madly in love with me as I was with him.

A girl with long black hair waved to Kurama as we approached the apartment building. "Hello Sata." Kurama greeted. The girl smiled warmly. "Hi Shuichi." She greeted happily. "Who's your friend?" she asked, shifting curious jade green eyes to me. "Sata this is my friend Hiei." Kurama answered. "Pleased to meet you Hiei." Sata said. "I'm Sata Takahara." I nodded in acknowledgement. "Did you get the apartment?" she asked. Kurama nodded. "That's great !" she exclaimed "Congratulations." "Then Hiei must be your roommate." Again Kurama nodded. "I live just down the hall from your apartment. If you guys need anything let me know." She said, then glanced down at her watch. "I'd better get going or I'll be late for work. I'll see you guys later." "We'll see you later Sata." Kurama said politely. Sata nodded and waved goodbye as we headed for the elevator.

I didn't trust the girl. I could sense she was hiding something. Then there was the feeling that she wasn't as human as she appeared to be. I frowned, she could be trouble. "What is it love?" Kurama asked as we got on the elevator. "I don't trust her." I said. "She does seem a bit odd doesn't she?" Kurama questioned. I nodded. "I think she's hiding something." Kurama raised an eyebrow but said nothing as the elevator came to a stop. "Do you think she'll cause trouble?" he asked softly. "If she does we can handle it." I assured him. Kurama just nodded and gave me a small smile.