Hiei watched the red-head enter the hospital the next day. Again, Hiei took his perch on the outside window sill to watch his friend communicate with his mother.

A few moments later the boy entered the room and greeted his mother, who was propped up in the bed with the support of several pillows.

"Are you feeling well today, mother?"

"Oh, yes very Shuichii. I am feeling better each day." A slight cough escaped Shiori's throat.

"Please don't talk very much mother, it hurts you to do so. You need to get well soon."

"Of course Shuichii. I can't wait to get outside again."

"Yes, that will be a blessing," Kurama muttered, leaning on the bed and grabbing his mother's hand.

Hiei smiled at the love Kurama and his human mother shared. Sometimes he was jealous, but he wouldn't be jealous if the woman grew stronger and rejected her son.

"It's hard to believe yesterday the doctor was saying you only had two days to live. This is truly a miracle."

"Oh, yes Shuichii," Shiori replied simply.

Hiei frowned at the woman's distant look in her eyes. He wondered if Kurama saw it, though knowing the fox, it would be hard to believe he didn't.

About an hour later, Kurama left the hospital and again met Hiei at the doors. "Why don't you ever come in Hiei?" Kurama asked him as they headed towards his house.

The small demon shrugged. "I find no need to."

"My mother would be very happy to meet you. She loves meeting my friends." This time when Hiei looked up at Kurama's face it wasn't fake at all. He was genuinly happy and excited for his mother, despite what Hiei saw. Did Kurama deserve to know the truth? Of course he did. It was his mother. Hiei figured his mother had no intention of telling her son what she now thought of him. Why? Hiei wondered. Kurama loved her so much! It would hurt him to know that his mother hated who he was in his past life, and therefore hated him for who he is now. Shiori knows her son so well, and knows that he loves her, so why would she think any different of him? If Kurama had never told her the story, she never would have known, and everything would be fine. It didn't make sense.

"Kurama... have you noticed anything... different about your mother's actions lately?"

The fox turned to Hiei. His face was honestly confused. "No I haven't. Why do you ask?"

"It's just that, ever since you told her about you, she's seemed a little... distant. As if thinking of something. I'm not trying to be mean, but I..." Just say it Hiei! His mind demanded. He deserves to know what you see and think. "I don't think she is accepting who you really are."

The fox was quiet for a minute before speaking. "I think I know her the best between you and I, and I haven't seen anything different. I don't think it's your place to say."

Hiei's eyes widened. He hadn't expected that much of a putdown. "I'm sorry Kurama. I'm just saying what I saw." And with that he flitted off into the trees.

"No wait Hiei!" he heard Kurama call after him.

Yeah served him right. He should have known better then to say something like that to the fox, especially in his current state.