Jus Kita: (does happy dance) Thanks for reviewing! And you can call me 'chan' instead of 'san' if you wish.

What2callmyself: (hands you more sweet snow) yes, you were the only one to review that time. Can you believe that? But the suspense won't last much longer… then again I might end it on a cliffy again (grins evilly).

Rinkurocks: I could try and have Rinku in more often if you like (grins). I like Rinku he's cute. But I wouldn't know when to have him come back again…

Niana Kuonji: I'm writing! I'm writing!

Kute Anime Kitty: Don't be mad (gives you sweet snow) be happy and enjoy the next chapter!

Chapter Nine: Struggle at the Warehouse

"Why do I feel like something terrible will happen to Hiei if I don't hurry up?!" Kurama asked himself while he ran frantically in the direction his gut told him to.

What is Hiei to you?

What kind of a question is that? And why is there another voice in my head?

Kurama continued running, but there was no reply to his question. On the other hand, the question that was asked of Kurama got him thinking. What is Hiei to him… a friend maybe? Something more?

They had been through a lot together and Kurama owed Hiei a lot from helping him when Karasu caught him off guard. But other than that, Hiei distanced himself from Kurama. Maybe Hiei hated him…?

Kurama hoped not…

An old abandoned warehouse loomed into view, making Kurama slow down. What caught his attention immediately was a crane hanging over the roof's edge. There was a cord tied like a noose dangling from the crane and Hiei's neck was in it. This sight nearly gave Kurama a heart attack until he noticed Hiei was alive and well but was only being kept from being hung by a wooden board beneath his feet supporting him and Karasu standing on the board to keep it up.

"Karasu let Hiei go!" Kurama ordered, walking closer to the warehouse.

"On one condition..." Karasu sneered.

"Name it." The redhead narrowed his emerald eyes at his worst enemy.

"You will belong to me and only me." Karasu laughed wickedly. "Fair enough right? Hiei's life for your freedom."

"I refuse to be your bribe, Karasu!" Hiei spat angrily, not caring that he could either be hung or dropped from three floors to the gravel covered ground below.

"Careful Hiei, make me too angry and I'll just stop applying my weight on this board and watch you strangle to death." A twisted smile crept onto Karasu's face.

"Don't do anything stupid, Hiei!" Kurama warned.

"Who do you think I am?! Kuwabara?!" Hiei demanded.

"Enough! What is your answer, Shuichi?" Karasu asked impatiently.

Kurama hesitated and for once he didn't know what to do!

But he would regret it forever if Hiei were killed…

"Fine…" Kurama muttered.

"NO!" exclaimed Hiei and in a desperate last move, he pulled out his lighter and started burning the cord that held him to the crane but Karasu kicked the board holding him up, knocking Hiei off balance, and the lighter fell out of his hands, disappearing on the ground below.

"Well that was a little stupid…" Kurama noted, hoping Karasu didn't decide to hang Hiei now.

"Hah! You're just jealous because he chose me over you!" Karasu taunted Hiei.

"Um… actually he only chose you to save my life." Hiei muttered so only Karasu could hear.

Growling, the raven-haired Karasu narrowed his eyes at Hiei and cackled. "You know what? I think I'll kill you anyway you-"

A sudden explosion from within the warehouse knocked both Karasu and Hiei off balance. The board slipped out from beneath Hiei's feet and the cord tightened around his throat. Below him, Kurama shouted desperately to Hiei. The lack of oxygen made the spiky-haired freshman light-headed but the cord snapped under his weight from where it had been partially burnt through earlier. Kurama ran towards Hiei to catch him and they both fell under Hiei's weight.

"What the hell happened with that explosion?!" Hiei demanded, blushing slightly, as he jumped out of Kurama's arms.

"My guess is that your lighter caught something on fire and triggered the explosion." Kurama explained, not noticing the red-cheeked Hiei.

Flames had erupted all around and within the old abandoned warehouse. Fire on the roof cornered Karasu and it didn't seem like the roof would hold his weight much longer.

"Jump Karasu! We'll catch you!" Kurama shouted up to the roof to be heard over the roar of the flames.

"Why the hell do you want to try and save him?" Hiei inquired in surprise.

"No matter how many sins he has committed, a life is a life!" The redhead replied.

"I refuse your offer, Shuichi. It's not like it would make a difference…" Karasu trailed off and before Kurama could reply another loud explosion erupted from the warehouse and the roof caved in, burning Karasu alive.

Kurama was a little stunned and couldn't move until Hiei nudged him.

"We better leave before the authorities come and decide to interrogate us." The black haired freshman pointed out.

"Right…" The redhead nodded and followed Hiei away from the warehouse.

Silently, the two of them walked to Hiei's house. Kurama now refused to leave Hiei alone until he got home safely and Hiei was rather uncomfortable with that idea. When Hiei walked up to the door to his house through the tall ferns in his front yard he turned to look back at Kurama, whom was waiting patiently for him to enter his house.

"Kurama… there's something I have to tell you…" Hiei started but lost his nerve.

Surprised, Kurama peered at Hiei curiously. "Yes?"

Sighing deeply, Hiei summoned up his nerve once more. "I love you…" And then briskly turned on his heel and entered his house, leaving behind a flabbergasted Kurama.

TO BE CONTINUED

Aw… how sweet! Hiei confessed his love but now what will Kurama do about it? Hm… I must ponder this…

Sorry if the scenes at the warehouse were confusing but I couldn't find a very effective way of wording it all…