A/N: I realize that this chapter was a little rushed, but I only have a limited amount of time on the computer a day (I'm grounded), I have to hurry if I'm not going to keep you waiting.

Chapter 4

Hidden Meaning

We all know what subliminal messages are. But Kurama is the master of the subliminal. He didn't have to say a word to me the morning after for me to see that he was disappointed, for him to say that he was expecting something. The question was, what was he expecting?

I wanted to ask him, but I was a coward.

Funny that I would say that I'm a coward when I have stared into the face of death countless times, when I have stood and fought when I could have run, but it's true. I was afraid of the feelings I had, and afraid of what I knew they could do to me. I realized that they would either be exposed or I would expose them eventually, but I was very intent on procrastination. That would be my main objective until the world came to a fiery end from a comet landing directly on the spot I was standing in. Unfortunately for me, the earth would start to burn much sooner than expected.

The stupid fox didn't stop badgering me the entire day.

We spent the day together, walking around, speaking little. When we did speak, it was always him saying, "Are you okay" and I responding, "Yes, baka, I'm fine."

About the thousandth time he said that, we were on a park bench deep inside the premises where nobody went on a Sunday, Saturday, or any other day of the week for that matter. We were secluded, alone.

I had nowhere to run.

"Are you okay?"
Every time.

"Are you okay?"

Every time I though about him.

"Hiei?
I would never be able to get rid of that feeling that stirred inside me, the urge to say something other than, "Yes, fine."

"Hiei, are you listening?"

"YES, FOR GOD'S SAKE, I AM LISTENING TO YOU!!! I ALWAYS LISTEN TO YOU!! I COULDN'T STOP LISTENING TO YOU IF I WANTED TO!!!! I LOVE YOU, FOR GOD'S SAKE KURAMA!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!"

Well, as you might have guessed, he was taken back by this (decidedly loud) statement. The shock in his eyes was enough for me to rewind what I had said and replay it in my head. When I realized the full consequence of my little speech, I decided to run. My specialty. Except for the fact that his arm was now around my shoulders, preventing my escape. The feel of his touch was quite a new emotion. I turned to look at him, and as I did, he kissed me.

Well, that was yet another surprise I wouldn't have minded a forewarning for.

I can't really remember what happened the next few minutes. I only remember the feeling of his lips on mine…and kissing him back. When we parted, he smiled, as though there was some grand revelation in this. I, however, was still thoroughly and totally dumbfounded.

He laughed, and kissed me again. He wrapped his arms around my waist and buried his face in my hair. I felt all of this, and responded as best I could. I had no idea what to do, but for him, I would try.

I don't know how long we stayed there talking, but I do know that even when the moon went down, I was still saying "I love you."