Sherkoni - Thanks for the reviews! Most of you would like Hiei's hair to be cut - so that is what probably will happen, though I will leave it long for a few more chapters for those of you who wanted it long.

oO0Oo

Jared (Subway Saiyan) does my hebrew translations, which in this story is the demon language. Thank you! (There, ya happy? I've changed it for you 3 times already...)

="Speech spoken in demon language"=

 Chapter 3

Surprise, Surprise

"Hiei? What are you doing in our tree?"

Hiei groaned, shifting his body to his side so he could gaze at the Spirit Detective. "I WAS sleeping."

Yusuke raised an eyebrow. "Sleeping?" Hiei glared at him irritably. Yusuke held up his hands in mock defeat. "Sorry, us normal people usually use beds, that's all..."

"Shut up detective."

Yusuke chuckled. "Whatever you say. But you really need to get up - we're leaving."

Curiosity aroused, Hiei hoisted himself upright. "Leaving?"

"To Genkai's shrine. You know....for that dinner thing?"

"I thought you "normal people" ate dinner in the evening, not morning," Hiei retorted with a smirk.

Yusuke lids lowered in irritation. "If you must know, us normal people often eat planned dinners in the afternoon."

"Fine," Hiei answered calmly. "But you still wouldn't have to leave in the morning."

"We go a few hours early to visit."

"And yet again, you STILL wouldn't have to leave right now."

"We're driving," Yusuke finally admitted.

Hiei blinked. "What?"

"We're driv-"

"Why?" Hiei cut him off, cocking an eyebrow curiously. "Surely Koenma could-"

"Keiko's coming," Yusuke explained, already knowing Hiei's question. "And the trip to Spirit World and going through the portal to Genkai's would be too much on her... So we're driving."

Hiei stared at him for a moment. Surely Keiko wasn't that weak...

Suddenly, Kurama walked around the corner, a happy smile on his face. "Are you two coming? We're leaving..."

Deciding not to ponder any more over the matter, Hiei jumped from his perch on the tree. "I'll meet you there," he said curtly.

Kurama frowned. "You aren't intending to walk are you?"

"Yes, I am intending to walk," Hiei replied, "It'll be much faster than driving..."

Kurama shook his head. "I'm sorry Hiei, but there's no way you could - cities have been popping up all over the place between here and Genkai's shrine."

Hiei rolled his eyes. "Like any ningen could see me-"

"There's too much risk Hiei," Yusuke agreed with Kurama.

Hiei gaped at them indignantly. "There is no risk!"

"Do you know how busted I would be if Koenma found out?" Yusuke added lightly.

"You two are so full of-"

"Hurry you three - we're going to be late!" Keiko called from the front lawn.

Yusuke and Kurama looked at Hiei. Hiei glared at them angrily before finally rolling his eyes and huffing by them. "Fine. Bakas..."

Yusuke grinned triumphantly at Kurama before following Hiei to their old white suburban. Unfortunately, they still didn't leave as fast as they wanted. It took a good minute to convince Hiei that the "pathetic pile of metal" could indeed move, another few to actually get him in the car, and then five more trying to convince him to wear a seat belt. Which he still didn't, but everyone just gave up trying.

One hour later, Keiko slept in the front seat while Yusuke drove, Hiei and Kurama in the next seat and Shizuru and Kuwabara in the back seat. Kurama had dozed off in a light slumber while Hiei continued staring out the window, occupying himself with counting the weeds on the side of the road. So far he was at 765,309.

"Hey I have an idea!" Kuwabara suddenly exclaimed. "Let's play I Spy!"

"Please no," Shizuru moaned.

"What's I Spy?" Hiei asked, unable to conceal his curiosity. "Fox," he nudged the red-head's elbow. Kurama inhaled sharply and lazily opened his eyes.

"Wher'r we?" he mumbled.

Kuwabara answered for the drowsy fox demon. "I Spy is a guessing game. Here, I'll show you, I'll do an easy one.....I spy with my little eye, something....blue."

Hiei gave him a weird look. "Should I congratulate you on finally being able to see in color?" he implored boredly.

Kuwabara sniffed. "No! You're supposed to guess what I'm talking abo-"

"The sky," Yusuke interrupted from the front seat.

"Yeah! Urameshi got it!"

Kurama slumped down in his seat. "I detest this game," he remarked bitterly, obviously a little ticked at being awoken from his nap. Hiei snickered.

"Alright, it's my turn then," Yusuke said, looking to the side of him. "I spy with my little eye, something.....in motion."

"The car?" Shizuru guessed absently.

"Nope."

"Your brain!" Shizuru tried again, with a short laugh.

"No," Kurama said.

"Hey!" Yusuke said. "It's my turn, how would you know?!"

Kurama smirked. "Everyone knows your brain is never in motion." The whole car laughed as Yusuke shot Kurama an angry look through the rearview mirror.

"Okay, okay, I got it," Kuwabara suddenly announced, "the air!"

Yusuke snorted. "The air? Try again amigo."

"That bee back about 27 meters."

Yusuke grinned. "Yep!"

Kuwabara gaped at Hiei and Yusuke in disbelief. "Nu-uh! There is no way you saw that!" he argued with a pout in his voice.

"Well I saw it," Yusuke said smoothly, "and Hiei saw it."

"I saw it," Kurama added.

"Then how come you didn't say anything?" Shizuru asked curiously.

Kurama frowned to himself. "I have no desire to participate in this game," he answered shortly.

Shizuru chuckled. "Alrighty."

"Hiei's turn!" Kuwabara quipped, looking at the fire demon. Hiei opened his mouth to inform them that he agreed with Kurama and wasn't about to "I spy" anything. But despite his normal instincts, he closed his mouth and decided to try it. Just to show Kuwabara up.

Everyone waited for a few moments as Hiei searched quietly out the window. Finally, he frowned and let out a breath. "I spy," he started, hating the corny ningen paraphrase used. "With my third eye-"

"Oh no..."

"Something teal."

"Teal?!" Yusuke declared in astonishment. "What's teal?!"

"Hey we're approaching a city," Shizuru pointed. "He probably saw something up there..."

Everyone strained their eyes out the window, searching for anything teal, even Kurama was found looking out the window occasionally.

"That convertible!"

"No."

"That guy's shirt!"

"No."

"The ice cream on the Baskin Robbins sign?"

"I'll admit you're getting more creative..."

"The center pollen on the Geranium flower."

"Nice try fox."

"How about that little boy's backpack?"

"How about if I don't answer, it symbolizes a no."

"This "third eye" bit is really starting to bite..."

-

Another hour later, they were still trying to guess and Hiei was finding it oddly amusing to hear some of the things they were coming up with. Unfortunately, Genkai's shrine came into view a few minutes later a little ways up the road.

Keiko stirred from her car drive nap. "Mm.." she stretched happily. "Are we there already?"

"That butterfly had teal on it's wings!"

"Excuse me?" she raised an eyebrow.

Yusuke looked at her apologetically. "Sorry. I was trying to guess what Hiei spied."

Keiko smiled brightly. "You're playing I spy?"

"We're looking for something teal," Yusuke replied dejectedly.

"For over an hour," Kuwabara added.

"I hate this game," Kurama said.

"Hm..." Keiko's eyebrows furrowed together in thought. "Teal, teal, teal....whose turn is this?"

"Hiei's," Shizuru supplied. "Mr. "I spy with my third eye"."

Keiko giggled. "I guess that could be almost anything then..."

"No kidding," Yusuke snapped irritably, putting his chin on the steering wheel.

"Well, I'd have to say..." Keiko started, looking up in thought. "The first thing that comes to mind when I think teal is.....Yukina's hair."

"Finally," Hiei exclaimed with sigh.

Yusuke whipped his head around to stare at him. "That was it?!"

Hiei smirked at him.

Yusuke let out an exasperated groan and Shizuru laughed in amusement behind him. Kuwabara hit himself on the head. "I can't believe I didn't get that one!"

Yusuke pulled the car to a stop. "We're here." Yukina came running out of the door, taking the stairs two at a time, quickly reaching the old suburban. Keiko smiled brightly and stepped out of the car, giving Yukina a tight hug.

Everyone else followed, greeting Yukina warmly. Kuwabara the most. "Yukina my sweet!" he sang happily, taking her hands in his own. "How are you doing, my love? Did you miss me?"

Yukina smiled innocently. "Of course I missed you Kazuma."

"Yeah!" Kuwabara yelled triumphantly. "I knew ya did!"

Yukina removed herself from Kuwabara's grasp and ran to give Hiei a tight hug. "Oh Hiei, every time I see you, I can't believe you're back! It's so wonderful!" Hiei only smiled slightly in return, nervously returning the embrace. Kuwabara huffed childishly and rolled his eyes.

oOInside the ShrineOo

Botan wiped her flour-dusted hands on her pants, giving the now finished pie a satisfied smile.

"It looks good Botan," Genkai approved from the side of her.

Botan grinned. "Doesn't it?"

Yukina entered the room after setting the table, an anxious smile on her face. "Oh I'm so excited," she quipped, her hands fiddling with hem of her mint green kimono.

Botan laughed and placed a hand on her fingers, forcing them to stay still. "Stop fidgeting Yukina, it won't make them come any faster," she giggled. Yukina giggled as well, blushing slightly.

Suddenly, the loud engine of Yusuke's old suburban could be heard outside. "They're here!" Yukina shreiked, before tearing out of the room to greet their guests.

Botan laughed with Genkai as they covered the food until they decided to eat. "I'm glad Keiko could come...her being so pregnant," Botan remarked idly, hoisting herself onto the counter.

"I just wish the damn thing would come already," Genkai said gruffly.

"Genkai!" Botan chuckled, "Give it time, she's due any day now!"

Before Genkai could reply, voices were outside the door and then the door opened, bringing with it laughter and the voices of their friends.

"I mean really - does everyone honestly believe he actually saw Yukina's hair?!"

"I do," answered Shizuru's voice. "He said he used his third eye, the Jaguar or whatever..."

Botan froze, giving Genkai a questioning look.

"The JAGAN," Kurama informed her with a chuckle.

"G-Genkai?" Botan stuttered, hoping for reassurance.

"If I said I saw something a disgusting carrot color, I doubt you would have ever guessed YOUR hair," came a defined gruff voice. A very familiar defined gruff voice.

Botan let out a squeak. "What is he doing here?!" she hissed, eyes going wide.

Genkai raised an eyebrow. "Why wouldn't he be here?"

"Because I'm here!" she squealed, before jetting out of the room. Not a moment too soon either, as everyone entered the kitchen mere seconds later.

"Heya hag!" Yusuke greeted warmly with a grin. "Where's Botan?"

"Hiei-kun, are you alright?" Yukina whispered, as Hiei let out a strangled noise, his face becoming visibly paler. He nodded slightly and waved her off with a flick of his hand, grabbing Kurama's sleeve.

"Well she's here..." Genkai muttered. "Somewhere..."

Hiei promptly pulled Kurama from the room. Once out of sight, he glared at Kurama hatefully. "What is she doing here?!"

Kurama raised an eyebrow calmly. "Don't look at me like that. Why wouldn't she be here?"

"Because I'm here!" he hissed nervously.

Kurama shrugged. "Maybe you shouldn't flatter yourself Hiei," he started mildly before Hiei rolled his eyes and stalked away. "Don't go anywhere!" Kurama called. Hiei waved his hand shortly to assure him he wouldn't, before rounding a corner out of sight.

Once out of sight, Hiei leaned against the wall, trying to control his fast-paced breathing. Calm down. What kind of coward are you if can't even face something that A- you don't care about and B- stopped worrying about a long time ago.

That's not true, another voice in his head argued.

Yes it is, Hiei assured himself closing his eyes in concentration. Maybe I did but that was a long time ago and I've long since moved on.

Oh so that's why you're having this discussion with yourself then, isn't it?

I've moved on, I don't love her anymore...

Keep telling yourself that.

And no matter what happens, I won't let it happen again...

Good luck with that one.

I don't think of her any differently then when I first met her, possibly a good friend...

Oh look, here's you chance to prove yourself.

And of course I'm not STILL in love with her...

Are you listening?

No matter what happens...

Too late. Baka.

A startled gasp yanked Hiei from his thoughts and he snapped his eyes opened. He froze, coming face to face with a pair of rose-tinted eyes.

Move legs, move.. Botan thought to herself, staring at Hiei's deep scarlet eyes. Well obviously her legs weren't working, so she tried to calm her nerves enough to say something. Anything. What's he doing here?!, were the only thoughts she could seem to establish, let alone form coherent words.

Hiei watched as her perfectly sculpted face twisted, barely visible, into tight concentration, as if willing herself to do something. He had to stop himself from smirking in amusement - she looked very......oh no.

Botan had just opened her mouth to say something, but paused as Hiei clenched his eyes shut in obvious anger. "Oh shit," he muttered before brushing past Botan, quickly making his way out of the hallway, and far out of sight from the ferry girl.

Botan blinked in bewilderment. That was...odd. She raised an eyebrow to herself, vaguely wondering if their brief meeting had been a dream....

She suddenly caught her breath, unaware she had even been holding it. She placed a hand on her steadily slowing heart. Oh yes, it had been very real.

oOo

Everyone was situated at the table, just beginning to eat the huge meal Botan, Genkai and Yukina had prepared. Hiei was at one corner on one end of the table, and Botan was at the other. Who woulda guessed?

After they started eating, Yukina glanced to her left side at a seemingly restless fire demon. "Hiei-kun? Are you alright?"

Hiei snapped his head up and peered at her in surprise. "Of course, I'm fine," he murmured, before turning back to his untouched food. Well...sort of untouched - it was all mixed together from his anxious stirring.

"If you say so..." she said unconvinced. But she decided not to push him and turned to Keiko. "Are you excited Keiko-chan? Any day now!"

Keiko smiled happily. "I know, I can hardly wait!"

"Wait? For what?" Hiei inquired idly, as he raised his glass to his lips, sipping at the cold beverage.

Keiko gave him an unsure look, before chuckling uncertainly. "Mine and Yusuke's baby-"

Hiei choked and spluttered his drink out, most of it landing in Kurama's food. After coughing a couple of times, Hiei looked up again, surprise etched across his face. "What?!"

Keiko blushed, but Yusuke started laughing. "You didn't notice?" Hiei didn't bother to mask his curiosity as he moved his eyes down to Keiko's large belly, giving it a weird look.

After staring for a few moments, he moved his gaze back up to Yusuke, eyebrow arched in disbelief. "Oddly...no."

"You're losing your touch my friend," Yusuke teased.

Hiei gave him an irritated look. "Well excuse me for not going out of my way to examine your woman's torso."

Keiko blushed even more, but Yusuke snickered.

Shizuru chuckled to herself. "You guys make a really cute couple, I'm glad the two of you finally decided to get hitched."

"Hitched?" Yukina asked curiously.

"Married," Kurama informed her.

"You're married too?!" Hiei exclaimed. A small sound of laughter was heard on the other end of the table and everyone looked at the source. Botan covered her mouth and lowered her head, but couldn't help let a few more giggles slip. Hiei narrowed his eyes, opening his mouth again, but Keiko cut him off.

"Yes," she chuckled in amusement, "We're married. Most people who have a child TOGETHER are married."

"In the demon world, it's sometimes different," Kurama defended Hiei with a smile.

"Watch out Botan," Kuwabara said slyly. "Hiei's a demon, his morals might not be satisfactory-"

"Kuwabara!" Shizuru hissed, eyes going wide as she flung potato at him. The soft white substance landed smack in the middle of his forehead. Yukina gasped, placing a dainty hand to her mouth.

Kuwabara closed his eyes slowly, taking a deep breath. "Shizuru," he began slowly. "Is there potato on head?"

Shizuru folded her arms across her chest defensively. "Yes. Well deserved potato - AH!" she gasped as pudding landed in her hair. "Kazuma Kuwabara!" She picked up a handful of food and flung it at him, but he held up his spoon, flinging it around like a bat. The food and his spoon connected and the food was sent flying, Most of it landed on the table, but a fleck flew to Keiko's shirt. She gasped. "My shirt!"

Yusuke growled and picked up his spaghetti, flinging it at Kuwabara. Kuwabara moved his head just in time and all of the spaghetti crashed into Yukina, covering her entire face and hair. She blinked, holding out her hair gingerly. "Oh no..."

Yusuke opened his mouth to apologize, but was cut short as the entire bowl of gravy was poured over his head. Hiei smirked above him, holding the empty bowl.

"Okay! The gloves are coming off!" Yusuke yelled, rising abruptly to his feet. Smirking devilishly at Hiei, he picked up the punch bowl from the table. Hiei's eyes widened and he zipped out of reach to the other side of the table. Yusuke raised the punch bowl over his head just as Koenma walked through the door.

Unable to stop himself, he threw the punch from the bowl - using a little spirit energy to help it along... Hiei did the first thing that came to mind - grab Koenma in front of him as a sheild. "Hey gu- Ah! Glarg!" Koenma sputtered as the red liquid simultaneously drenched him.

Hiei snickered from behind his back. "Koenma," he greeted shortly, before stepping out from his safe fort.

Koenma narrowed his eyes. "I see you're feeling well Hiei," he remarked sarcastically, punch dripping from his clothes.

Hiei sat down as if nothing had happened. "Quite," he replied solemnly, though unmasked amusement danced in his eyes.

"Well," Koenma coughed. "I came here to tell you that a small group of demons has just broken through the portal...nothing serious, but they need to be taken care of before they enter any cities."

"Oh Koenma-sama, I'm sorry!" Yukina apologized, rising to get him a towel. "We'll get you cleaned up."

"And then you can help yourself to the food," Keiko added, helping Koenma take off his soaked tunic.

Koenma smiled gleefully. "Well - good luck boys!" he piped cheerily, his previous anger leaving him as he basked in the girls' attention. "And you might want to hurry if you don't want Hiei to kill them all first..."

Yusuke paused, looking around the room. Sure enough, Hiei had already left. "Damn. I didn't even sense him leave..."

"I told you, he has become increasingly more powerful since we last saw him fight," Kurama said, rising to his feet, not an inch of food on him.

"Well let's hurry, we don't him to do all the work then do we?" Botan quipped, starting for the door.

"Uh...you're going?" Kuwabara asked uncertainly, brushing more potato off of him.

Botan stared at him. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well it's just..." he started, staring at the ground.

"With Hiei and all..." Yusuke tried to help.

"We didn't know if you'd want to," Kurama finished.

Botan put her hands on her hips defiantly, giving the trio a hard glare. "Why wouldn't I want to because of him?" she snapped dangerously.

"No reason," Yusuke quickly said, forcing a nervous smile on his face.

Raising her chin in the air, she turned on her heel and stomped crossly out of the room leaving everyone to stare uncomfortably at each other. "Well then, we don't really want to leave the two of them together now do we?" Kurama said lightly, heading for the door. He suddenly paused, a bizarre thought passing through his mind. "Or do we?"

Yusuke gave him a sly grin. "They've been needing time alone."

"What's the worst that could happen?" Kuwabara agreed excitedly. "It's not like they'll start killing each other!"

"Well I hate to say..." Genkai interrupted pointedly. "But I wouldn't put it past them..."

Yusuke's face fell. "Right. Shoulda seen that one coming."

Kurama sighed. "Let's go."

Sherkoni - Meh, Botan and Hiei still haven't talked yet. (gets hit by bus) Not much else to say but you can still tell me your opinion on what to do about Hiei's hair. (n-n) Please review.

Hiei - (reads some of the reviews) Please not about my hair... x.x

Sherkoni - (takes review he was reading) "I can just picture an extreamly sexy Hiei with long hair! Yum!" and "I'm sure Hiei looks even more handsome now that he has long hair. Don't we all Hiei fans agree?" n-n;; Couldn't agree more!

Hiei - oO;;