Random: WHEEEEEEEEEEEE!! I had CANDY!! CANDY FOR EVERYONE!!!!

Hiei: (in prayer) Koenma, please get me out of here. I will do anything. (a shoe is trown at him) OW!!

Random: I heard that! And I own nothing. This is my disclaimer.

Last Time:

"Yeah, Koenma. We are going to party all night long. I mean, if we gotta go on another mission, then we are going ot have some fun first," piped up Yusuke.

"Fine. Just be ready for the portal tomorrow at 9:00 sharp," Koenma snapped.

Chap. 3

That night, Yusuke's house was crazy. They ate, drank, and watched movies. They played a fast game of attack tag, which is exactly what it sounds like. The person who was 'it' would use their special attack to tag someone else. If that person did not or could not deflect the attack, then they were 'it'. Around 1 o'clock in the morning, Yusuke spoke up.

" Hey! Let's play Truth or Dare!"

Keiko smiled, " Yeah, I'm in."

Everyone except Hiei nodded in agreement. Hiei sat on the windowsill, glaring out into the darkness. He seemed oblivious to the party going on.

" Hiei, aren't you going to play?" said Kurama.

" Hn."

" Oh come on now. It will be fun"

" Hn."

" I'll get you some sweet snow," coaxed Kurama.

" Hn… sweet snow?"

" Yes, but only if you play."

" Fine." Hiei jumped down and joined the circle on the floor. As they went on, the dares got crazier and crazier. Keiko was in a bikini with clown make up on her face and her hair dyed green. (Courtesy of Yusuke) Yusuke himself was wearing Keiko's nightgown and had been forced to make out with a photo of Johnny Depp. Kuwabara was duct taped to the wall upside down.

" Okay," Kurama said, " now it is my turn. I choose… Mariko! Truth or dare?"

" Hmph. Dare, you fool."

" Okay then. I dare you to...sit on Hiei's lap for the rest of the night," he exclaimed, hoping his hunch about them was correct. He had never seen Hiei talk to anybody when he first met them, none the less help them. Actually, he had never seen Hiei help anyone of his own free will.

"What!? Are you crazy?" yelled Mariko and Hiei at the same time.

" Stupid fox! I will not allow it!" growled Hiei. Mariko nodded, glowering.

"Well," replied Kurama, " Mariko, if you don't do that, you have to kiss Kuwabara. And Hiei, if you don't let her, then you have to kiss Kuwabara… on the lips!"

" Oh god, I am going to have nightmares," mumbled Yusuke.

" Fine," both Hiei and Mariko grumbled.

Mariko stood and walked over to Hiei and sat in his lap. He flushed slightly, and then turned his head away so no one could see. Marko blushed furiously, causing Yusuke and Kuwabara to crack up.

" Wow," she thought, " he is kinda cute." Out loud she said, "Okay, my turn. I pick Yukina. Truth or dare?"

" Oh, I do not know," she whispered, " Dare, I suppose."

" Good. I dare you to kiss Kurama on the lips," she said mischievously.

Kurama promptly fell over, then straightened himself up and stared at his hands on his knees. A slight blush covered his face and neck. Yukina smiled to herself. She stood, slowly making her way to him. She knelt right in front of him. Leaning forward, she kissed Kurama softly, then pulled back and whispered something in his ear. The red flush on his face deepened as he gulped and shot a sideways glance at Hiei. Mariko smiled evilly and Hiei snickered softly.

" Wow, fox. I don't think I have ever seen you so embarrassed."

"Hey, his face almost matches his hair! What should we do now?" cracked Yusuke, " I know! Let's watch that movie I just rented!"

" Don't forget, Mariko," smiled Kurama, pleased at being able to get Hiei back for that comment, "You have to sit on Hiei's lap or right next to him real close for the rest of the night."

Mariko got off Hiei and they went to the couch. Hiei sat and Mariko curled up right next to him. Half an hour later, everyone except Hiei was asleep. Mariko was leaning on top of him, her head on his chest and her arms wrapped around him. He glanced down at her, resisting the urge to stroke her hair. Then he turned his gaze to Kurama and Yukina. Yukina had fallen asleep her head on his shoulder and holding his hand. Hiei smiled slightly; glad she had gotten over that baka Kuwabara.

Hiei's POV

I looked at Mariko. She was sleeping fitfully. Her arms were wrapped tightly around my waist as if she was going to be torn away. I slowly raised my hand and laid it on her head. She stirred, shifting and mumbling. She was fairly pretty. I slowly wrapped my other arm around her shoulders. Yusuke rolled over and mumbled something like

" Old hag". I eyed him making sure he was still asleep. Slowly I detached Mariko from me and laid her on the couch. She was only as tall as I am. I covered her quickly with my cloak. Leaning down, my lips nearly brushed hers. Kuwabara stirred. I left them swiftly without a backward glance.

Kurama's POV

Hiei was in love. I knew it. Thinking about Yukina, I smiled in my mind. As I opened one eye, I looked at Hiei. He was looking at Mariko with an expression of confusion, wonder, and, to my surprise, something that looked like affection. They were strange emotions on his face. He laid Mariko on the couch and exited quickly out the window when Kuwabara stirred. Yukina shifted in my lap and awoke.

She blinked her eyes and looked up at me. She seemed surprised and even a little doubtful and scared as she whispered, "Really?"

"Yukina, I have loved since I first laid eyes on you. But you seemed to love Kuwabara, so I did not intervene, though I wanted to simply be rid off him."

" Kurama," she whispered.

" Yes. I am here."

" Do… do you like me?" she asked, wrapping her arms around my waist, still not opening her eyes.

" Of course, I do. More than anything or anyone."She buried her face in my shirt. I wrapped my arms around her and rested my chin on her head. Her body was racked wit sobs. I pulled away.

" Oh no, I have done something wrong haven't I?!"

" No, no, " she cried, " You did something right. I never loved him. It just that… that I had never been loved before like that. I didn't understand."

I wrapped my arms around her again. She pulled upwards and placed her arms around my neck and began kissing me along my face and neck. I slowly melted away from my stiffness and let her carry on.

Normal POV

Yusuke groaned as he sat up. Mariko was on the couch, still asleep. Hiei was gone. Kurama was upstairs showering. Yukina was setting the table while Botan ad Keiko started to make breakfast. Kuwabara was stumbling around the kitchen trying to help but he was just making a mess. Yusuke turned to the couch to wake Mariko, but thought better of it. It was only 7:30 after all.

The others ate breakfast while Mariko still slept and Hiei was still missing. At 8:45, Hiei came through the door quietly. Making sure no one was watching, he turned and placed one long stem with seven flowers on it from the 'bleeding heart' bush. He stood and watched her for a few more seconds before turning to go gather his weapons. Five minutes later, Mariko awoke with a start. She glanced down at the stem of flowers and smiled confused at why they were on her 'bed'. Then she looked up at clock.

"Oh, no! Ten minutes! I'm not ready!" she screeched.

" Oh, Mariko you are up! There is a fresh change of clothed for you on the end of the couch and your breakfast is on the table," said Keiko as she rushed in and hurried Mariko into the kitchen to eat.

"So where's Hiei?" questioned Mariko between bites of food.

" He came in about five minutes before you woke up and went upstairs. He was gone before anyone else was up. I don't know where he went."

" Hm. Thanks. Are you girls coming with us?"

" Of course. I fight with twin spears and throwing knives. Botan and Yukina can create force fields and heal. Yusuke tries to stop me from coming, but I always come along. Mariko… do you like Hiei? Like as in more than a friend?"

Mariko stopped eating and glared at Keiko. She returned the glare steadily. Finally Mariko sighed and set down her silverware, staring at the table.

"Yeah. I like him a lot. More than a lot. He is a lot like me. He…he reminds me of when I was alone. Before I met any of you. No one was my friend because I had such a quick temper and drove everyone away."

" Yes. I saw the same resemblance. Hiei has had a hard life. He was cast out as the Forbidden Child, a fire demon among ice. He was raised by thieves and murderers, but soon became more cold, calculating, and ruthless than them, and he was alone again. He went on a search fro his twin sister, Yukina. But that was quite some time ago. Anger and rage are his main showing emotions. He knows how to love but I think that it has been so long that he has forgotten."

Mariko was nodding absently, thinking about her mother, and then caught herself.

" You can never tell anyone about this conversation! Ever! I will rip off your legs and force feed them to you if you tell. Got it?"

"Yeah, yeah," laughed Keiko, " now come on. The portal will open soon."

Everyone gathered to the living room, Hiei arriving last. The portal slowly opened, glowing an eerie green. Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Keiko jumped through immediately. Everyone except Mariko and Hiei followed. Hiei stepped forward, and then turned to make sure Mariko was coming. Gathering her courage, she stepped forward and fell into a swirling abyss.

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Hiei: Help me............

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