O.O Anybody out there, still? I know it's been a while, and I know I said I would get chapter eight out soon, but things happened and I found myself at a creative standstill. ::blinks eyelashes rapidly in an attempt to evoke sympathy:: I do apologize, and to prove it, you're getting twice the goodness! Read on, my pretties! ::cackles like the Wicked Witch of the West::

-Special thanks to GoGo-C-Chan! I finally updated! And all because you were kind enough to let me rest! Tanks a billion!-

Disc'r:: I don't own YYH.

- An Absent Mind -

"Give that to me!" Kurama growled. "It's mine." Hiei put it back in his pocket, his face turning red with his anger.

"How dare you lie to me, Kurama?" he asked. "How much have you taken already?" Kurama stared back at him, his face vicious, but Hiei was one to win staring contests and Kurama knew it. He looked down.

"I haven't taken any," he said. "You didn't give me the chance."

"Where's the other one?" Hiei asked. "I know you've got more around here somewhere."

"I won't tell you," Kurama said. "Give it back to me."

"Tell me where the others are."

"You've already taken three of them, Hiei...give it back to me, I mean it!"

"Three?" Hiei asked. "I took three Kurama, and there's more? I've only got my hands on two, but if I have to watch you every second Kurama, I swear I will to get them away from you."

"Where is it?" Kurama asked, looking around the room. He went back to the drawer and searched through it. "What did you do with it?"

"Kurama, stop it—"

"Hiei...don't do this to me...I need it..."

"Don't be foolish."

"I need it, Hiei..."

"Why?" Kurama sat back, sitting on the floor.

"I...I don't know."

"Tell me where the others are."

"I...I can't." Hiei went over to him and kneeled next to him.

"If you're going to do it, then fine. I don't care. But don't you sit there and lie to me about it. That I will not stand for." Hiei reached into his pocket and pulled it out. "All that over this?" he asked. Kurama reached for it. Hiei smacked his hand away. "You tell me straight, Kurama. Is this what you want?" Kurama looked over to him.

"I don't know..."

'Tell him it's what you want!' the voice returned, raspy and needy. 'Tell him it's what you desire. He'll help you...look at him. Tell him! He'd go back with you, Kurama! Tell him!'

"Yes..." Kurama blurted out. Hiei nearly fell over. How could Kurama say that, after all that he'd said about not wanting it to ruin his life? Something was wrong...there had to be. Hiei gripped the vial tighter.

"I'm getting rid of this evil, Kurama, do you hear me?" Kurama shook his head, but not in response to Hiei's question.

"It's mine. Return it to me."

"You want this?" Hiei asked, staring down at his fist. "I won't let you have it. I won't let you ruin your life over nothing. I'm going to destroy it, and I'll be watching you, Kurama. I'll be watching you and I'll catch you if you try to use this again."

"I haven't used it, Hiei!" Kurama said.

"Don't lie to me," Hiei snarled. "When I come back tomorrow, Kurama...I swear you'd better be over this."

"You...said you'd stay the night with me."

"You just spent the past few weeks lying your ass off to me, Kurama. What do you want me to do?" Kurama looked down, his bottom lip beginning to quiver.

"I haven't taken it, Hiei. I haven't."

"Don't you try that on me again. Everything you say is a lie. Did you lie to Yusuke, too? Telling him all that mess about you liking me, was that all a lie, too?" Kurama looked up at Hiei, his eyes deep and pleading. He grasped on to Hiei's collar and squeezed tightly.

"No!" he exclaimed. "Hiei...I love you, I do...don't...don't deny me that, Hiei, I love you." Hiei took one of Kurama's hands, wiggled it free, opened it and set the serum inside. He closed his fingers around it.

"If you're being true to yourself, Kurama, you won't take it." Kurama sniffled, though no tears fell from his eyes.

"I'm...I'm not lying to you...I don't know what came over me. I don't want to take it, Hiei. I truly don't."

"Don't tell me that now. I'm not the one that needs convincing. I'm going to Yusuke's. You do what you have to do."

"Don't leave me..."

"I'm not going to baby-sit you on this, Kurama," Hiei said, approaching the window. "You have a lot of thinking to do and I suggest you start right now. I'll be at Yusuke's for the night. I'll see you tomorrow." Hiei took off from the window. Kurama stared after him in disbelief.

Hiei flitted to tree after tree, heading for Yusuke's apartment. Night had fallen rapidly and the streets were mostly empty. It was quiet on Yusuke's block, only the occasional car passing by and breaking the silence. Hiei perched on Yusuke's bedroom window and looked in.

It was dark inside, and, after a little concentration, he could tell that Yusuke wasn't there. He closed his eyes and let his jagan work to locate Yusuke. It didn't take long. Hiei pounced from the window, to the ledge of the apartment complex, then to the nearest tree, heading for Kuwabara's house.