Fugen: Originally this was gonna be a fic with only Hiei and Kurama as the characters (with the usual shopkeepers and such-like, of course), but I couldn't resist adding in two certain immortal people after re-reading two of my fics in order to decide whether or not I should redo them. If you kindly read them, you know who they are! Dunno how I'm gonna integrate them into the fic, though...

Hiei: Amazing. She sounds less insane than she used to...

Kurama: Indeed.

Hiei: Why are we complaining?

Kurama: Who said we were complaining?

Chapter 1: Preparation

Kurama was frowning, and had been ever since the week before, when they had defeated Sensui. Why? Because he was wrestling with a very difficult problem. His date with a still aghast and indignant Hiei was coming up this Saturday (my favorite day of the week), and he had absolutely no idea what to wear.

Chinese tunics were out of the question. It would attract too much attention, and Hiei hated having too much attention, even when it wasn't really directed toward him. Something casual then. A nice T-shirt, maybe, for a top. What about pants? Would jeans be casual enough? Or was that too plain? Silk pants would be soiled too easily, so they too were out of the question. Chewing the end of his pencil, Kurama furrowed his brow in thought, and then remembered with a jolt that he was supposed to be doing his homework.

-Park-

Hiei, on the other hand, was not so worried. His 'normal' clothes were few in number, so he was all ready for it. Leaning against the trunk of the tree he was sitting in, Hiei grumpily re-ran the moment he realized Kurama had unfairly tricked him. Oh, it wasn't the date itself he minded, Hiei just hated being tricked, that was all.

"You should be getting ready, you know."

Hiei nearly fell out of his tree. A teenage youth was floating in midair, fixed into a chin-on-fists position with an 'innocent', slightly questioning look on his face. Immediately stiffening, Hiei glared warily and indignantly at the intruder.

Quite an alluring creature, he had to admit, both in terms of sexuality and mere simple looks. Long, snow-white hair like solid strands of fine mist, skin the exact same type of paleness as his own, and one pale green eye, the other hidden by silken bangs. Or was it flame-blue? It was difficult to tell. The stranger's slender, lithe body was enrobed in a sleeveless Chinese tunic that was slit on the right side from the knee down in order to reveal a bare calf, ankle, and foot, along with a anklet or two. Other than that, from what Hiei could tell, he was wearing nothing else.

"Who the hell are you?" Hiei snarled. Instead of answering Hiei's question, the stranger mused aloud, "You look like a cat, stiffening up so. Relax, spitfire, I'm not here to harm you. I just want to know why you aren't getting ready for your date with Kurama." "What? How?" Hiei sputtered. Laughing, the youth leaned back, floating a tiny distance away.

"Because of what I am, that's how. Also, the relationship you and Kurama share interests me very much. Unlike Taki, I wish to help you nurture that relationship."

"W-What relationship?"

Suddenly the youth was right in Hiei's face, a incredibly soft finger delicately resting beneath Hiei's chin. The strange creature chuckled, "Come, come, Hiei. Cease to play the role of a blind fool. You know as well as I do that you're as enamored of that fox as he is of you. Is that not clear to you?" Angrily Hiei swatted the slim hand away. Eyes blazing, he snapped, "I don't know who or what you are, but it's none of your business! And stay away from Kurama!"

"Now, Hiei, did I not tell you that I mean to harm, no harm at all, of any kind? Also, did I not say as well that I have intentions to help you, instead of the opposite? Very well. Don't believe me, if that is what you wish. However, I will not give up my intentions. I meant it when I said that your relationship with Kurama interests me very much."

With that, the youth vanished in a pillar of white and pale blue flame, leaving behind a stunned, confused Hiei.

-Unknown Sanctuary-

It was a cave with a circular hole in the roof, letting in the brilliant sunshine. The light reflected off a crystal-clear pool with silver lavender and pale blue stones that lined its bottom, as well as the little waterfall that pleasantly flowed into it. The latter two were surrounded by soft green grass dotted by tiny delicate flowers. Flowered vines as well as flowering fruit trees lined the walls of the cave. Off against the far side of the cave was a circle of roses, gardenias, and irises with a simple bench of white gold in the center. Small songbirds flew in and out of the cave, resting in the fruit trees' branches.

It was into this cave that the white-haired youth reappeared.

Where have you been, Ryokai?

Ryokai laughed, a sweet, pleasant sound. Lifting up one shoulder in a flirtatious, teasing move, Ryokai asked sweetly, "Do you mistrust me that much, my dear youko?"

A slender fox bearing nine plumy tails and silver-white fur emerged from the shadows of one of the fruit trees. Looking at Ryokai with gold-rimmed silver eyes, the kitsune answered, It's not that. It's just that lately you've been...musing about something, and you haven't told even me."Forgive me, koi, but you know how I like to just do things," Ryokai replied.

Oh, stop it. I'm supposed to be mischief-loving god, remember? Not you.

"Oh? You do not approve?"

I do, I do. Taki doesn't.

"Taki doesn't approve of anything I do. She should be the lesser goddess of ice, not water. I don't think I've ever seen her smile."

What have you been doing?

"Persistent. Don't worry, my dear kitsune. I've just been off to see Hiei, that's all. He and Kurama are going to go out on a date, you know."

And you have every intention of interfering, yes?

"Yes, but in a good way. Want to come along?"

Of course. But what'll you tell Taki? You know that she'll complain about it and claim jurisdiction.

" Over a date?"

Why the sudden interest in Hiei?

"Oh, you'll see. You'll see."

Owari (temporarily)

Fugen: I'm sorry if this sounds like I'm centering more on those two than Hiei and Kurama, but don't worry, I won't do the same thing during their date. And Ryokai, along with his you-know-who lover will be the ones creating the humor in the upcoming chapters, so no need to worry that this fic is gonna be serious!

Hiei: Did you HAVE to add in those two? They caused enough trouble in your precious fics!

Kurama: Not really, Hiei. They just tried to make us happy, that was all, and succeeded.

Fugen: Again, gomen, but I just COULDN'T resist putting in those two, Ryokai in particular. I love that made-up character of mine! Maybe I'll add in the other three, too, in order to get in some more humor and cutesy moments for Hiei and Kurama. Anyone like the idea? And can anyone who hasn't read my previous fics before guess who the nine-tailed kitsune is?