Fugen: (wince) I do not (sniffle) own YYH (teary) in any way (sobs).

Hiei: Thank the gods...

To SlightlyInsane: Thanks! Maybe I should not update for another week to make you wait longer...just kidding! I would never do that to my readers! Love your name!

To Silothiel: A thousand thanks, as they would say in the olden days...or somewhere in Asia...whatever. But thanks, really!

To SamiKismet: I'll do my best! But really, I swear that these chapters of mine look longer when I type them out. It's 's fault that they're short!!!

To KitsuneAkai13: OO Whoa. Purring. That's Hiei's thing! Or so they say in fanfics... ah well. Thanks for the comfort! And as for Kurama...(cackles)

To jus Kita: Got...your...e-mail..... (grins) You'll have to wait for mine now. Just sent it today. But more importantly, IS HIEI OKAY?!! DID HE REGAIN CONSCIOUSNESS YET?!!!

To fox gal: I promise I'll do my best to add in more humor! I refuse to update another failure!

To tbiris: Really? A few others say that there's not enough humor. Well, thanks anyway! I'm glad to know that it wasn't totally humor free!

To Nite Nite: Now, now, stop drooling, for your own sake. Why? 'Cause last time I drooled at those two, I felt strangely dehydrated, especially in the mouth...

To kuramagurl: Ohhhh. So my fic really WASN'T that much of a failure! Thank you! You've rescued it from the, er, grave! (whispers) Is there a such thing as a fanfic chapter grave?

To Bar-Ohki: Heh heh. It's all gonna be about Kurama torture!!! WHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!

To Kumori Sakusha formerly Saelbu: Can't wait to write more, trust me, and if I don't, it's all that writer's block's fault! I HATE YOU, YOU DAMN BLOCK!!!!

Chapter 3: What's A Mall? (yes, people, a mall)

If there was one thing Hiei did NOT like (besides Kuwabara hanging around his sister), it was being around a lot of [stupid ningen] people and not being able to get away from them. So, was it just coincidence that Kurama was dragging him [via hand] through stupid ningen streets that were crowded with stupid ningen people?

Oh, no, not really. It was all just the plotting of yours truly (grins).

His impatience and annoyance growing, Hiei growled, "Kurama, where the hell do you think you're taking me?" "Right here," Kurama answered promptly. He came to a stop so suddenly that Hiei almost crashed into him. Glaring at the redhead, Hiei looked up at the building in front of them. It was big, it looked expensive to create, and it had a lot of people milling around in it carrying bags. Kurama explained, "It's a mall."

"What's a mall?"

"A building where there are a lot of stores inside selling various things, but mostly clothes. Think of it as a rather...mild version of the Makai market."

"...And we are here because...?"

Kurama flushed slightly. "Well...I thought we'd have a lot of fun here."

"I. Do. Not. Do. Fun. Hey!"

Without warning Kurama had shot off inside, Hiei in tow. And no sooner had they gotten inside did a series of meows and staccato barks start ringing loudly in their ears.

"What the...?"

A pet store had a open window (or a low window) display in front. Divided by a plastic wall a half dozen kittens and puppies played around in the plastic window box. Of course, they yapped and mewed every now and then, and in the large corridor the volume went up and the sounds echoed.

"How cute," Kurama remarked, leaning forward slightly to take a closer look. Hiei snorted and rolled his eyes, muttering, "Stupid kitsune." Ignoring Hiei, Kurama reached in and picked up a small kitten in his hand. The cute lil' thing was all black except for a tiny white smudge in the middle of its forehead. With large eyes the kitten looked up at Kurama, mewed, and then started purring.

'How funny. It reminds me almost completely of Hiei,' Kurama thought. 'Too bad Hiei will never purr to me. I wonder if he can at all.'

(A/N: We are now taking a step into the unknown, the volatile, the extreme. We are taking a step into...!)

--Kurama's imagination—

(Scene 1: Living Room)

"Hiei..."

A chibi form of the fire demon looked up with large red eyes, its black kitty ears leaning toward the sound of Kurama's voice and its fluffy kitty's tail twitching slightly. Kurama reached down and picked up the Hiei-kitty in his hand. The creature was small enough to fit in his palm snugly.

The Hiei-kitty stared up at Kurama with a animal's enigmatic blank stare for a while, then reached up with a paw to rub at a itchy spot on his head. Since the Hiei-kitty was having some difficulty, Kurama complied, and began scratching that itchy spot for him. The Hiei-kitty half-closed its eyes in pleasure, its body relaxing completely. A soft motor-like sound started coming from its throat.

(Scene 2: Kitchen)

The Hiei-kitty mewled loudly for its dinner, which Kurama finally set down before it on the kitchen table. Hungrily the Hiei-kitty dug into its meal, and within seconds its bowl was empty, clean, and shiny. Kurama chuckled at the sight of the Hiei-kitty licking the area around his mouth to get the last traces of food. Helpfully Kurama wiped off the bits of food off the Hiei-kitty's face with a finger, extending it toward the Hiei-kitty. The adorable creature glanced at it, then happily licked off the food.

(Scene 3: Bedroom)

"Mmrf..."

Something was climbing all over Kurama, something small and light of weight, something that was keeping him awake in the middle of the night. Finally Kurama lifted and turned his head to see what it was.

Why, the Hiei-kitty, of course. The creature mewled in a pleading way, a mewl that was cut off when it slid down from Kurama's shoulder and landed with a soft plop on the futon. Unharmed, the Hiei-kitty blinked once, twice, and then turned toward Kurama. Lying down, the Hiei-kitty curled up into a black ball and snuggled comfortably against Kurama. For a few seconds there was silence, then the Hiei-kitty lifted its head to give Kurama tiny lick on the cheek before really dropping off to sleep.

--End of Kurama's Imagination—

(A/N: Everyone alive? Everyone still here? Anyone lost? Raise your hands if you are.)

Kurama blinked, and then saw that Hiei was stalking angrily away from him.

"Ah! Hiei!" Hastily Kurama put the kitten back amongst its fellows and ran after Hiei. As he did so, he failed to notice the kitten shake off the black fur to reveal a silver-white layer of fur.

Owari (or not...)

Fugen: I think I inserted enough kawaii-ness into this chapter, which I hope is longer than usual. Now all I need to do is work on the humor. Hmmm...I wonder if Kuwabara's recovered from my last fic yet...