Hey! Sorry about the delay in updating!! I meant to update a lot but I've gotten kinda busy. I had to prepare for an SAT, which sucked, but oh well. So yeah, I'll try to get on some sort of schedule now...

Thanks to those who reviewed the story! I haven't the time to thank you right now, as I'm running behind on time, but I'll thank each of you personally next chapter! I swear it!!

Now, without further delay, Chapter 3-

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Trembling in your voice

Causing worry Trembling in your voice

Causing worry

I don't believe you've got a big word

Saying "What's the matter?"

Your low bone

Who knows what happened last night? Your words are limited

My feelings are complicated And the trembling in your voice

And old melodies

Echo through my bones

Extend a hand to pull me

Back to your base

But vain are my words of withered misfortune And snakes among the fern

Stinging the flesh of my feet And there's trembling in your voice

Trembling in your voice

Causing worry

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

It had been seven weeks since Hiei had come to live in Yusuke's tree. It was turning to winter and it was getting very cold. Yusuke made a habit of keeping his bedroom window unlocked so the youkai wouldn't freeze to death when it got colder. Although Yusuke hardly saw Hiei, he could tell the demon appreciated and made good use of the hospitality. Just the other morning Yusuke noticed he was missing a towel from the bathroom only to find it sitting on his bed later that night. Needless to say, Hiei was getting comfortable.

Meanwhile, Kurama was gradually changing his morning routine. He had to evade Hiei at all costs in the morning and at night. If his mother were to catch sight of the half-koorime both lovers would be in major trouble. Kurama woke extra early every morning, left twice as early as usual, left twice as late, and went to bed early with the window locked. It pained him to do this, but it had to be done...for both their sakes.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

It just so happened Hiei needed to talk with his lover. He'd been having trouble finding him lately and therefore couldn't follow him as he usually did. He made his way quickly to Kurama's window, perching the on closest branch to his window. He reached his hand out and pushed on the window. Nothing. He pushed again, but received the same reaction. He pushed one last time, about to use all his force, but it was not to be. Instead, he managed to break the branch and plummet to the, luckily, soft grass. Sharp pains in his back were all he felt, but it could be worse...

Now, this was so strange...why would Kurama lock the window? He NEVER locked the window. Something was definitely going on and it made Hiei's stomach churn just thinking about it. Perhaps...Kurama no longer wanted the demon in his life? What if he no longer loved him? That had to be it. Kurama was avoiding Hiei. Which could only mean he did something wrong...but what was it that he did?

He quickly made his way back to Yusuke's house. He felt a chill coming from the east and it was starting to get colder. Well, he knew ONE guy who kept his window open. He walked casually to the back of the house and hopped up into Yusuke's room, laying himself down in a chair as soon as he entered. Hiei, however, did not sleep. How could he? There were far too many things happening for him to possibly sleep. How was he to see Kurama now? Then it dawned on him. How childish the thought and yet, how oddly appropriate. It seemed, to Hiei at least, that Yusuke could perform another very useful task.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Yusuke stared at the small demon, who had set himself at the edge of the boy's futon. Hiei glared at him for being so dense. "I need you to talk to Kurama for me...I don't have time to do it myself, okay?" he repeated, although much slower this time around, seeing as Yusuke was obviously confused by normal speech. Yusuke cocked an eyebrow and shrugged, saying, "I guess so...I mean, hey, why not? What do you want me to say?" Hiei thought about this for a moment before adding his reply, "ask him how he is...that's all...I haven't seen him in a while and I want to make sure he's still in fighting condition. I heard there's a demon that's trying to break out of the Makai, so that youko has to be ready, but I bet he's gotten too soft..." Marvelous, Hiei thought to himself, it's the perfect cover-up.

Sure enough, Yusuke was loyal to his word and met up with Kurama after school. "So, Kurama," he started, not too sure of how to approach the subject, "Hiei was asking about you this morning..." Kurama looked at him very quickly and had the most confused look on his face. "You've...seen Hiei?" he asked, sounding almost nervous. Yusuke's tone of voice changed from calm to annoyed, "Hell yeah, I've seen him. He's taken up residency in my tree...not to mention he's taking over my room as we speak..." And it was true. Hiei had taken it upon himself to sleep in Yusuke's bed while he was at school.

Kurama nodded in understanding, but he didn't really understand. If he needed to talk so badly that he'd enlist Yusuke's help, why wouldn't he just go straight to Kurama himself? The youko was now very nervous...What could Hiei want? "Oh...well...what did he ask?" He managed, calming himself down immensely. Yusuke kicked a rock as they walked down the street to Kurama's house. "He just wanted to know how you were...he says there's some youkai trying to get into the Ningenkai, so he wants you in fighting condition or something," he said just before picking up the rock and chucking it over someone's fence.

Kurama smiled and almost blushed. "Then tell him I'm doing very well and that I could beat him any day," he chuckled to his friend. Yusuke smiled back and nodded to the house. "Hey, ya mind if I steal a flower from on of those bushes in front of your house? Just to prove to Hiei that I was here," he said, smiling to himself. How clever he was! Kurama shook his head and presented better proof: a glowing rosebud, picked straight from his hair. He handed the delicate flower to Yusuke and smiled. "Make sure he gets that in one piece, okay?"

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++=

Yusuke arrived back at his house to find Hiei waiting for him. "What took you so long, ningen!?"

"Geez, calm down, squirt! I was talking to Kurama!"

"You were? Hmm...how do I know you're telling the truth! I ought to end your life for lying to me..."

"Nuh-uh-uh! I saw him and here's the proof!" Yusuke announced, presenting Kurama's gift. Hiei stared at it, amazed. Yusuke actually went to see him...and managed to prove him wrong. Kurama didn't hate him after all, but it didn't change the fact that he was avoiding him...Well, at least that's ONE question solved...

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Botan arrived at Yusuke's house via oar, as usual. She looked like a wreck, her hair disheveled and her kimono wrinkled. She had obviously been through hell. Hiei and Yusuke looked at one another and then to Kuwabara, who just happened to come by looking for Yusuke. The blue-haired girl explained her situation first, and then told them the problem at hand. "Oh, don't look at me like that! Koenma is throwing a fit back at the Rekai! I just happened to get caught up in it!! Oh, that's right...THERE'S A LEVEL A YOUKAI ON THE LOOSE!" She finally shouted, sending the three Reikai Tantei to their feet and out the door. Hiei stopped momentarily to watch the others leave with Botan. He kissed the rosebud very gently with a smile and raced after the others.

Kurama was out the door just as fast when Botan told him. This was going to be a real race to see who could destroy whom faster, and it sounded like this Level A youkai was going to win. He spotted Hiei, who, in turn, spotted him. They both smiled somewhat sheepishly and moved closer to one another as they ran for the area the youkai was occupying. Yusuke noticed the change in formation, but didn't pay too much mind to it. People did stuff like that all the time, so this wasn't anything out of the ordinary, or so he thought.

++++++++++++++++++++++

Level A? Please...this was nothing but a joke. When they found the youkai, he was no more than a foot high and he looked like a slug. "Let me handle this!" Kuwabara said, nudging Yusuke proudly, "Take note, Urameshi! Maybe you'll learn something!" He marched himself over to the youkai, raised his foot and slammed it down on the slug's head. Snap. Kuwabara was down in a fraction of a second and his foot wasn't too far behind. Yusuke couldn't help but laugh, barely managing to get out, "I-I sure learned something, Kuwabara! I l-learned never to make you mad...otherwise you m- might just hurt yourself!!" The slug youkai stared blankly at them all and gradually lost interest in Yusuke's fit of laughter.

It moved over to a small hole and began crawling in. It was at this time Hiei figured he should just get this over with. He walked over to the youkai, grabbed it with one hand, took out his sword with the other and skewered it through its soft underbelly. Battle over. Hiei: 1, Slug: 0. Kurama smiled at his lover and winked at him, causing Hiei to blush and turn away from them all. And what a perfect scene to turn his back on; Kuwabara laying on the ground clutching his foot, Botan on the ground, trying to heal his foot, Yusuke on the ground laughing at his foot, and Kurama looking as peaceful and beautiful as always.

Kurama suddenly looked at the ground. How odd...there was a surge of you-ki coming from under them, but nothing he could really define. All he could manage to figure out was that it seemed Hiei's last prey might have had a big brother...and then he realized, Big Brother was pissed. The ground shook from under Hiei's feet and a hill emerged where the half-koorime stood. Kurama noted how the dirt was beginning to separate and looked desperately to Hiei, who didn't seem to understand what was happening.

Without thinking, Kurama jumped at Hiei, pushing him out of the way in time to get hit hard by a larger version of the previous youkai. This version, however, had teeth, and several of those teeth had bitten into Kurama's chest. Hiei only had to glance at Kurama to see the pain in his face. His heart sunk and he suddenly felt empty. He hadn't seen Kurama in more than a month and now he had to see him in pain? No...that wasn't fair...

He raised his sword again and charged the beast, thrusting the blade at its body. Yet, as with Kuwabara, this youkai hardened it's body and sent a loud crack to Hiei's left wrist. He groaned slightly and readied his blade for another attack. "GET DOWN!" Yusuke ordered, his Rei Gun pointed at the large, toothy slug. Hiei hit the dirt and rolled to the side. Yusuke didn't miss a beat. He shot the gun as soon as Hiei fell and the slug fell backward onto the spot where Hiei had been. In only another instant, Hiei's sword had sliced open it's stomach.

"That's disgusting..." Kuwabara groaned, watching the guts falling out of the youkai. Hiei wasn't listening, though. He was at Kurama's side, seeing if he was okay. Kurama was bleeding pretty badly, but he'd live. Botan was healing him anyway, so there was nothing to worry about. No matter, Hiei still felt horrible. It was for his life that Kurama risked his own. It was practically his fault!

Kurama looked up at Hiei, who had his head cradled in his arms, and managed to smile. "Hiei..." he whispered as he exhaled deeply. Hiei frowned at him and scolded him, "Fox, let me get hit...I don't care...Just don't risk yourself for me, it's not worth it..." Kurama almost laughed. What a crazy idea. How could anything be worth more? "Of course you're worth it, Hiei..."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Another week. Another boring week with Yusuke. They somehow managed to get a blizzard and Yusuke forbade him from leaving the house. Of course, Hiei could always leave anyway, but then again, where would he get food and a nice warm futon? After all, it wasn't like Yusuke was using it...(only because Hiei insisted on sleeping in it to piss off the boy, but Yusuke didn't really care, he just pretended to be angry to humor the demon)

Hiei sat at the window and watched the snow pile up in front of the glass. There was already a good three feet of snow and it didn't look like the storm was going to stop anytime soon. Oh well. Yusuke knew how to make hot chocolate and Hiei LOVED hot chocolate. He also loved marshmallow fluff. He didn't quite know what it was, but he liked it anyway. Infact, he could've gone for a cup at that moment.

"Yusuke!" He shouted. Yusuke was only across the room, but it was fun to yell. The boy turned and sighed. "More hot chocolate, you're majesty?" He said, sounding both monotone and overly sarcastic. Hiei nodded and continued watching the snow. In a moment, his wish was granted and a mug of hot chocolate with marshmallow fluff was in his possession.

Ah, the beautiful snow. Frozen crystals of water seemingly flying across the sky. So lovely, so fragile, so...red? The youkai blinked and stared at the window. "Y-Yusuke!!" He shouted, not sure of what to make of this. "Don't tell me you've already finished!!" The boy shouted back, stomping over to him and eyeing the cup. "You didn't even drink it yet...what's gotten into...you..." He, too, blinked and stared at the window. It was red...a bright, morbid shade of red. Yusuke grabbed Hiei by the shoulder and pulled him backward. Whatever that was, it wasn't good and he didn't want Hiei provoking it. Hiei moved with Yusuke, not really paying attention to the fact he was moving. His eyes never left the window.

The red thing moved, shifted, and shook. With it's shaking, went the house. It felt almost like an Earthquake. Hiei recognized the sensation from before and immediately made the connection. That little youkai from before...had a bigger family than he'd thought...

To Be Continued...

Wow...that wasn't a very good chapter, sorry!! It's like...11 pm and I'm working off about six hours of sleep...been up since 6 am...where I usually would be fine right now, I was taking SATs and those things take it out of you. Also, I have a really bad head cold right now. Yeesh...anyway, sorry for the delay of post. Also, please read my other fan fiction, "Dreamscape High". I'm going to add a new chapter to that as well. That fic is going to have a lot of fluff in it eventually, if you like that kind of thing. Heh, I'm working on the "Absolutely Adorable Scene of Showing Love" or AASSL, as I'm now calling it. Anyway, that fic will update fast, because I'm working on it during school instead of doing schoolwork (I know...I'm SUCH a good student =_=;;!) Okay...so...the room is starting to spin, so I think I'm going to bed now...I'll try to update soon!!