4. She Begins to Have an Idea

"Hiei," called Kurama, "could I have a word with you?"

Hiei had been on his way out after finishing his talk with Yukina.

"What is it?" he asked suspiciously.

"Would you agree that tonight's date was a complete disaster?"

"Yes. I see the oaf has told you all about it."

"Yes, he has. Hiei . . . I can't help wondering that it was partly because of you that it was a disaster."

Hiei was instantly on his guard. "What are you talking about, Kurama?"

Kurama sighed. "Let's see . . . you threatened Kuwabara with death if he so much as touched a hair of Yukina's head; you observed all the conventions of chivalry before he could, so that you could make him look like a fool, or worse, a boor – and let me say that I'm very impressed that you know them; and you took every chance you got to rub in the fact that he was a loser and the evening was going horribly."

"Hn." A pause. "So what if I did?" Another pause. "And does this mean you think he's a loser too?"

"No. You have to lay off Kuwabara."

"Why?"

"Hiei, Yukina likes Kuwabara. He makes her happy. Right now you're just, well, confusing her and making them both unhappy. Why don't you let them go out without you?"

"That's preposterous!"

"So is the way you're acting."

"This is none of your business."

"Hiei," Kurama said gently, "I promise you that in the end this will have been for the best."

When Hiei didn't respond, Kurama pulled a seed from his hair. It instantly developed into a blushing pink rosebud.

"This rose is like Yukina now. Beautiful, but not yet come to full maturity. Still protected by sepals." He fingered the spiky green "petals" surrounding the pink bud. "A little love . . ." he kissed the tip of the closed pink bud, "may be just what she needs to blossom."

The curled petals unfurled to become a fragrant and full-bodied rose.

"Think about it," said Kurama, handing the rose to Hiei.

The next day, Kuwabara showed up at the temple. He found Yukina out in back, scattering breadcrumbs for the birds, which flew out of the nearby forest to her. The forest brought back memories . . . he and Yusuke had fought their way through it in the competition which Genkai was using to select her successor.

"Good afternoon, Kazuma!"

"Good afternoon, Yukina."

"What are those papers under your arm?"

"I'll show you soon, but first," he took a deep breath, "I want to apologize for last night . . ."

"Apologize? Why?"

Kuwabara's heart lightened somewhat. "Did you have a good time last night?"

"Of course I did!"

Kuwabara released a huge sigh. "That's great!"

She smiled expectantly. "Are you going to ask me to go out with you again?"

"Er . . ." To tell the truth, Kuwabara wasn't looking forward to a repeat of last night's events. As long as Hiei would tag along, he didn't want to go out on any more dates with Yukina. Plus, he was still broke after their last date. "Actually, I was thinking that maybe we could just hang out here."

"Oh, okay." She brightened with an idea. "Oh, would you like to play chess with me?"

"All right," he said. "I'm not very good, though."

"That's okay," she answered. "You already know I just learned how to play." She tossed the rest of her breadcrumbs to the fluttering birds.

As they walked inside to get the board, Kuwabara asked, "Where's Kurama?"

"I think he's doing some work for his company."

"Ah."

Yukina retrieved the board and the box of pieces from a closet. "Do you want to play in the courtyard?"

"Sure," he said. "That's my favorite part of this temple."

"It's mine too," she said, smiling.

They sat at a stone table with crudely carved stools. The afternoon sunlight filtered through the delicate leaves of the Japanese maples and illuminated Yukina's face, which was fraught with concentration. Kuwabara thought that she had never looked more beautiful.

Possibly he paid more attention to her face than to the game, which would explain why one of her more daring rooks achieved a quick checkmate.

"That was a good game," she said, without any of the characteristic smugness of the victor. "What do you want to do now?"

Would you – would you like to take a walk with me?" He motioned in the direction of the forest.

"Sure," she said. "Wait a minute though – I should leave a message for Kurama. I think Hiei has been telling him to watch over me more closely."

"He's doing a pretty good job himself," Kuwabara muttered. "Nothing," he said to Yukina's curious glance. "Do you need to go inside to get paper or something?"

"Oh no," she said. "I'll just leave a note for him here."

She licked the tip of her index finger and began tracing the outlines of words on the wall of the courtyard in large, graceful letters. Almost instantly, the trails she drew froze to form shining icy words.

Kuwabara was amazed. He knew she had the ability to lower the temperatures around her, but he had no idea she could use her powers this way.

"That's beautiful," he said.

"Thank you," she smiled. The glassy message said:

Kurama –

Walking in woods with Kazuma.

-Yukina

"But what if it melts before he sees it?"

"Don't worry." She took his hand. "I think he could find us even if I didn't leave a note. And even though I know Hiei's appointed him as my keeper, having a babysitter gets tiring sometimes. You know, it would actually be pretty funny if my brother showed up and Kurama didn't know where I was."

The first part was probably true; Kurama was very clever. The second part made Kuwabara laugh and renewed his hope. In any case, Kuwabara had no desire to argue when Yukina's small hand was tightly clasping his own. He allowed her to lead him towards the forest.

"Yukina," he said, as they walked in the dappled shade of beech trees, "do the Koorime have poetry?"

"Yes," she said happily. "We have poems celebrating the seasons, and praising famous ice maidens from our legends . . ."

"Humans have poetry, too," he said. "And a lot of it is about love."

"Is that what your papers are for?"

"Yeah." He picked out one paper, saying, "Let me read one to you."

"Okay." They stopped. Yukina sat at the foot of an aged beech. Kuwabara struck what he thought was a poetic pose in front of her.

"It's called Sonnet 43, and it's by someone named Elizabeth Barrett Browning . . ."

Yukina listened raptly as his impassioned voice filled the silence with the tender, musical words. Admittedly, Kuwabara didn't have much experience with this kind of thing, but his desire to please made up for it.

When he finished at last, Yukina said slowly, her cheeks flushed, "I think I begin to have an idea. Love is beautiful, and difficult to put into words . . ."

"Yes!" He was grinning from ear to ear. "Here, let me read you something else – it's not exactly poetry, but it says what love is."

Another paper in hand, Kuwabara began to read. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrong doings. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

"I had no idea you were religious, Kuwabara," said an amused voice from behind a tree.

"Kurama!"

"I saw your note," he remarked pleasantly. "I must compliment you on your handiwork, Yukina. And you seem to be much more well-read than you used to be, Kuwabara."

"Heh," Kuwabara shrugged modestly. "At least I know college is good for something, then."

"Why have you dropped in on us today? Have you asked Yukina out again?"

"Uh . . . no."

"Oh dear," said Kurama, cocking his head. "Why not?"

When it was apparent that no answer was forthcoming, he plunged on. "Is it because of Hiei?"

"Hiei?" Yukina looked at both of them.

"You don't need to worry about him. I've talked with him. I don't think he'll be bothering you any more."

"Really?" Kuwabara seemed weak with relief. "Thank you so much, Kurama! How do you get him to listen to you every single time?"

"Like I said," Kurama replied lightly, "it's easy enough if you know him."

"Will you go out with me again, then?" Kuwabara was gazing hopefully at Yukina.

"Sure."

"Yes!" In the middle of his euphoria, Kuwabara cleared up enough to realize something. "Well, I don't know where we're going this time, but I'll come back and tell you when I've planned it out."

"That's fine," Yukina said, seeming just as pleased that Kuwabara had asked her out again.

"Hmm." Kurama turned to Yukina. "Could you go inside while I talk to Kuwabara for a moment?"

"All right," she said curiously. She left, and Kuwabara fancied there was a new spring to her step.

"What is it?" he asked, facing Kurama again.

"I think I have an idea for your next date."

"Really?"

"Take her to the theatre."

"But I did –,"

"To see a play."

"A play?"

"Not just any play," Kurama said, smiling. "I got the idea when I heard you reciting poetry. Take her to Romeo and Juliet."

A/N: Sonnet 43 is reproduced in its entirety here:

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of everyday's

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;

I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith,

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints – I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life – and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

Pretty heavy stuff, but I suppose Kuwabara can't be as dumb as most people think he has, especially not if he's in college. As for the "love" quote, that's I Corinthians 13: 4-7 from the Bible, which is why Kurama asks if Kuwabara's religious.

Again, thanks for all reviews! You know I love 'em so.