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Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho.

- At The Movies -

Hiei waited patiently as Kurama retrieved the serum. He stood near the window where he had entered a few moments ago. Kurama had taken his time to get up to his room, but Hiei didn't get impatient with him. So long as he handed him the serum, everything would be alright.

Kurama went over to the wall shelves that held a few potted plants. He reached for the fourth in line and took it with him to his bed. He sat down and put the pot in his lap. He carefully, so as not to disturb the plant, dug his pointer finger in the soil. When he felt the tiny vial, he fished it out. He looked at it before looking over to Hiei. Hiei was wary of his expression.

"Having second thoughts?" he asked. Kurama gave him a short smile and handed it to him.

"Take it. Please." Hiei walked over to him and took the vial, holding it with just his pointer and thumb.

"This is seven doses?" he asked, looking skeptical. Kurama nodded.

"It's potent stuff."

"Hn." Hiei snuck it in his pocket.

"There," Kurama said, giving a nervous smile. Hiei watched him closely.

"Can I just throw it away, or will it start making plants grow and stuff."

"Boil it," Kurama said. "Just burn it. It loses its potency when it's in a gaseous form."

"'Kay."

"Thanks for talking to me, Hiei. I really appreciate it."

"Sure." Hiei leaned against the window frame. "So what now?"

"What do you mean?" Kurama asked, setting the pot back down on the shelf.

"What are you going to do? The usual?"

"Why? You want to do something?"

"I dunno," Hiei said with a shrug. "Maybe." Kurama smirked.

"Oh...you do want to turn it into a little date thing, huh?"

"Get real," Hiei said. "I'm just gonna get bored soon so I figured we might as well do something."

"Just us?" Hiei looked exhausted.

"Why do you gotta make everything seem all twisted?" he asked. "I need something to do before going back."

"Ok, ok," Kurama said, sighing. "I just asked because...you know...we do different things when we're alone than when we're with the guys."

"Oh. Well...I don't know. You in the mood for a walk or something?"

"A walk would be nice, but...I haven't gone to the movies in a long time. Wanna see one?"

"What's that?" Hiei asked.

"It's...you know TV?"

"Yeah."

"It's kinda like watching TV except it's one long show and inside a theater."

"Oh. Whatever." Kurama smiled.

"I'll call the guys, is that okay?"

"Yeah." Kurama stood up and went over to his phone. He sat at his desk as he called Yusuke. There was no answer at his house. He tried Kuwabara next. Shizuru answered.

"Yo," she said.

"Hey...Shizuru?"

"Oh, Kurama. What...you want to talk to Kazu?"

"Yes, please." He could hear her set down the receiver and then her calling for Kuwabara to get the phone.

"Kurama?" Kuwabara answered moments later.

"Hello, Kuwabara."

"What's up?"

"You busy today?" Kurama asked.

"No, not really."

"Would you like to go to the movies with Hiei and I?"

"Hiei?" Kuwabara asked quickly.

"Yes." There was a moment of silence.

"Does he know you're asking me?"

"Yes."

"Oh. Uh...I don't know. I'm sorta low on cash and Hiei still...kinda gives me the creeps."

"Oh...ok. Do you know where Yusuke is?"

"Hanging with Keiko." Kurama nodded.

"Alright. I'll guess we'll go alone then."

"We'd only be in the way," Kuwabara said. Kurama's eyebrows flinched.

"No, you wouldn't..." he said. "We'd love to have you two along."

"Sorry, Kurama. Maybe some other time." Kurama sighed.

"Alright, thanks, anyway."

"See you later."

"Right. Goodbye." Kuwabara hung up the phone. Kurama sighed again as he set down the receiver. "Well, Hiei...I guess it's just you and me." Hiei shrugged.

"So?"

"Don't you like hanging out with us?" Kurama asked.

"Not really. Kuwabara's weird and Yusuke's always talking."

"And me?"

"What about you?" Hiei asked. Kurama shook his head.

"Nevermind. You ready?"

"Yeah." Kurama grabbed his keys and some money and met Hiei out front. He left a note for his mother and walked with Hiei to the theater. Hiei was silent the entire way there. Kurama wouldn't have minded it much if it didn't seem like there was a lot on the demon's mind.

There wasn't a line, so getting inside took no time at all. Hiei didn't seem at all bothered when the clerk rang him up as a child. Kurama didn't think he was paying attention at all, actually. He was gradually getting more and more distant.

Kurama didn't ask questions while he led Hiei inside. Hiei looked up at the concession stand and seemed to lighten up for a moment. He walked over to the counter and curiously looked at the various snacks that were displayed. Kurama followed him over.

"Would you like something?" he asked.

"What are you gonna get?" Hiei asked, his eyes still on the food.

"I usually just get popcorn and something to drink, but you can have what you want."

"I want the cheese," he said, pointing to the large container of hot, steamy cheese.

"Oh...they don't sell that individually," Kurama said. "It comes poured on top of those chips. Nachos is what they call them."

"Then I want that."

"Do you want the peppers on them? It makes it spicy."

"Yeah." Kurama nodded and ordered a small popcorn, a small soda, the nachos and some chocolate candy. He led Hiei into the room where the movie they were going to see would play. The room was just as empty as the rest of the theater. Kurama chose seats in the middle of the room. Hiei plopped down next to him, reaching for his food. Kurama handed it to him.

"Be careful now...it's hot."

"I know." Kurama leaned and popped open the container. Hiei began to eat and Kurama began to wish he'd brought more napkins. "Kurama?" Hiei asked after a short while. Kurama, in the middle of taking a sip of his soda, pulled the straw from his mouth.

"Yes?"

"If you had've taken it...what would you have done if it worked?" Kurama faced the screen, thinking about that for a moment.

"I don't really know..." he said. "Just...live a better life, I suppose."

"You'd leave the ningenkai?"

"I couldn't," Kurama said. "In order for me to live as a younger youko, I need to make sure that Shuuichi's life goes well."

"That's the only reason why?" Hiei asked. "Not because you like it here or anything?"

"Well, of course I'd still be here. This is my home now. But still, I'd spend a lot more time in the makai, just going over things."

"Won't that make you want to stay away?" Kurama paused again. Hiei ate another nacho, not taking his eyes off Kurama. "Huh?"

"I suppose so..." Kurama said slowly. Hiei shook his head.

"What were you thinking, making something like that?" he asked. "You really need to get it together, Kurama. You could have made a big mistake."

"I know it was a bad judgment," Kurama said. "I know that. That's why I had to rectify the situation somehow." Hiei nodded and reached for Kurama's pop. Kurama let him take it. Hiei took the lid off and gulped some down. He handed it back to Kurama.

"You'll learn to ask one day," Kurama said.

"Oh...we're not sharing?" Hiei asked. "Thought we were sharing."

"I'm just teasing," Kurama said. "I don't mind it." Hiei nodded and leaned back. He fell silent as the previews began to play. Kurama started eating his popcorn. He set his cup in the cup holder and set back as well.

Partway through the movie, Hiei kept nervously looking around at the other people in the room. There were six others, all couples and all seated at the back. Hiei's vision was near perfect, even in darkness. He was a demon, after all; it was natural. He looked from one couple to another, and then the last, and then over again. He looked at Kurama.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"That mobster's son just helped the other mobster's daughter escape from the house. This is getting good, ne?"

"Not with the movie....with these people... What are they doing?" Kurama pulled his attention away from the movie and looked at Hiei, seeming to be confused. Really, he just had to take a moment to register what Hiei had just said; he wasn't fully paying attention to him when he spoke.

"What?" he asked, looking around. "Oh...because they're making out?" he asked. "They do that sometimes, just ignore them."

"Is that...why you brought me here?" Hiei asked. Kurama gave him a strange look. Hiei's emotions were clearly mixed.

"N—no," Kurama said. "I wanted to see this movie...and you've never been to the movies before and you were bored so I just decided to bring you along."

"Oh..."

"Don't worry. I wouldn't do that to you."

"Why not?" Hiei asked. Kurama's eyebrows lowered sharply.

"Why...not?"

"Yeah. You don't like me or something?" Kurama almost dropped his popcorn.

"I do..." he said quickly. Hiei kept his eyes on Kurama, his expression a little stern as he took a handful of popcorn. He stuffed it in his mouth and looked at the screen. Kurama couldn't help but stare at the demon a little more before he, too, returned his focus to the movie screen.

'You know, Kurama...' a thought suddenly appeared, catching Kurama's attention. 'That Hiei's a tricky character. You never really know what he's thinking. But you know one thing for sure. That demon is always, always trying to make his home in the makai again. Koenma's let you guys off, he could easily go back. Do you know why he doesn't? It just might be because of you.'

"Ku-ra-ma?" Hiei asked, waving a hand in front of Kurama's face. Kurama shook his head and looked at Hiei.

"Yeah...?" he asked distractedly.

"Could I have some more juice?"

"It's pop, Hiei, and take as much as you like."

"Pop..." Hiei murmured, as if trying to remember the word.

'Just look at him. He didn't really want to take it from you. But you wanted to give it to him. Did you really, Kurama? Or are you still confused? You know you want to go home. Hiei wouldn't mind going back with you...just take it back and use it... Hiei won't mind... Hiei will help you.' Kurama looked over to Hiei.

He was still reaching inside the bag of popcorn, picking at the pieces at the bottom and occasionally getting kernels. He munched on them as if he didn't notice he was eating them, his eyes glued to the screen. The pop, now in his lap, was nearly finished. He gripped it and drank a little more, coughing once, but again, not noticing it. Kurama tried to watch the movie again.

'Do it now, Kurama, while his mind is elsewhere. He'll never know you took it, he's too involved in the movie.' Kurama reached his arm slowly, almost inconspicuously underneath his arm of the chair and then under Hiei's.

To his surprise, Hiei's eyes slowly trailed over to him and caught his gaze, then moved back to the screen. Hiei took the cup from his lap and handed it to Kurama. Kurama took it from him and sat back.

"Thanks," he said, shaking the cup. "Just got a little thirsty."

"Hn."

'Well, that was a dumb idea,' Kurama thought. 'Hiei would know anyway, he's the one getting rid of it.' Kurama ran his hands through his hair a few times and watched the rest of the movie without anymore interruptions.

Later that evening, he saw Hiei off to the makai and headed home.

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J3