A lot has happened in the past couple of months, yet in the long run, I'm glad it happened. It strengthened the friendship between myself and Hiei, and a cruel man was put in jail... yet I still wonder what would have happened if Hiei hadn't followed me that night. After all, it was him who convinced my mother into understanding.

My mother and I are living in complete peace and love, at least until I go off to university in just a couple of weeks. I'm attending a prestegious university in the northern most city in Japan, approximately five hours away by car. I will miss my mother when I leave, but I will visit as much as possible. And I will also miss Hiei. He is still constantly in my presence, as if protecting my mother and I if something bad should happen. I love Hiei... I truly wish he was my brother.

It has been a while since there has been any sort of attack from a demon. I'm not saying I miss it, but life has returned to it's normal routine... the boring life style that it is. Yet I cannot say I want more adventure... since the last adventure I had almost devoured the love my mother and I shared. But the demon in me is looking for a fight, and I know soon I will have to return to Makai and let him loose for a while. Lately, for the past year or so at least, the constant pull of Yoko against Shuichii has been immense, and I have learned that I must let him free at least twice every month. This will be hard once I've started school again, especially since I will be away from home.

I've convinced Hiei to take my place in the Rei Kai Tantei while I am away. He questioned how he would physically be able to do that, since he is indeed already a member. I simply told him to fight with double his strength, as to equal four members, even if there would only be three. Hiei had laughed then... that was not possible for him. But it fun to joke about it.

In this simple manner of a simple and normal life, two weeks passed.


"Shuichii!" I heard mother call from downstairs. "Are you almost done packing? Your friends are here!"

"Yes mother!" I replied, clicking my suitcase shut. It was packed full of clothes that could suit me until christmas time, which would be the next time I return.

I hauled the suitcase down the stairs and set it by the door. Yusuke and Kuwabara were sitting at the table eating some of my mother's home-made cookies.

"Y'know Kurama..." Yusuke started between mouthfulls of cookie. "Yer moter's a gret coog.."

I laughed slightly. "Yusuke... how about you finish chewing then try to talk to me.." I suggested, walking over to them.

Yusuke and Kuwabara both grabbed several more cookies off the the platter before I grabbed it away from them. "You're like Hiei with ice cream.." I stated, placing the plate on one of the kitchen counters.

Several minutes later, the two boys were finished with their snack, and asked for a glass of milk, which my mother gladly recieved for them.

"Where's Hiei?" Yusuke wondered. "Surely he'd be here to say goodbye to his best friend."

I shrugged. I knew Hiei would come. He would never miss this. "Oh.. he'll be here, eventually."

"Yeah eventually fox. Eventually for him is like a decade."

"Very funny Yusuke. Believe me, he'll be here."

"So... when're you leaving?" Kuwabara wondered.

I shrugged. "In a couple hours I guess, after you all leave." I pushed a lock of my long red hair out of my face. It was still damp from the shower I took just before Yusuke and Kuwabara arrived. Sometimes I hated having long hair, but I'd never cut it.

I chatted with Yusuke and Kuwabra for a while before Hiei finally arrived. He came in the Hiei-fashioned way... I knew he had come through my window in my room. My mother started when Hiei came down from my room, but quickly explained to her that it was just Hiei's style: to enter through my bedroom window. The other two boys were equally surprised. In fact, I had never seen Hiei use a door, except for the hospital, and even then he had preferred to sit on the window sill outside.

"Jeez Kurama, I wonder why he uses your bedroom window.." Yusuke teased, narrowing his eyes and grinning evilly me.

I gave a short laugh. "I'm sorry that it's not for some other reason Yusuke. Sorry to disappoint you," I replied, the words drawling off my lips.

Yusuke laughed that Yusuke-style laugh. "Yeah I know you also wish for Hiei to come through that window for a different purpose!" Both he and Kuwabara broke into a laughing fit, nearling falling out of their seats.

Hiei rolled his eyes as he came to stand near me. "Yes I do wonder that Kurama."

"Wonder what?" I questioned, glancing down at the smaller fire demon.

"If you wished I would come through your bedroom for a different reason then to talk." He grinned up at me miscieviously.

"Ha.. you wish Hiei."

"Hn," was Hiei's simple reply.

An hour later, I glanced at my watch. "Well I have to go. I have to report so they know I'll be present for the first day of introduction at five."

They all nodded in understanding. I knew they'd miss me, and I'd miss them even more, especially Hiei and my mother.

I shook hands with Yusuke and Kuwabara in goodbye, then turned and hugged my mother like I'd never let go. "Aishteru Okaa-san," I whispered into her neck as she rubbed my back.

"I love you too Shuichii. Just come home soon, understand?"

"Yes. Christmas will be here before you know it."

My mother nodded, and her shoulders shaked with a sudden sob. I pulled away and looked at her face. Silent tears were streaming down her face. "I wish we could have shared this last summer with all love, not mostly hate."

"That does not matter anymore..." I stated firmly. "The fact was that you safely accepted my secret in the end, and all ends well."

"Yes Shuichii, I suppose it does."

I nodded, wiping away her tears with my finger, before finally turning to Hiei.

I locked eyes with him for a long moment. Neither of us did anything until we stepped forward at the same time and embraced.Yusuke's and Kuwabara'seyes widened. Hiei'd never do that of his own free will!

A few long moments later I pulled away, but held him at arms length. "I'll miss you my friend... just keep those two out of trouble for me, ne?" I tilted my head in Yusuke's and Kuwabara's direction, and Hiei smiled.

He smiled one of those true smiles I'd only seen once before, and longed to see again. Yusuke and Kuwabra saw this and their jaws dropped. "I'd swear you two were koibitos," Kuwabara stated, staring at the two boys in front of him.

I looked at Hiei, and his eyes narrowed. I stepped next to him so our sides touched, and I put my arm around his shoulders, resting my head on his. "Who says we're not?"

The fire demon sensed my sarcasm and played along, much to my pleasure.

Apparently the other's did not, as my mother looked like she was about to faint.

I turned Hiei to face me, and tilted my head down to meet his gaze. Hiei stood on tip-toes and his face inched towards mine.

I could sense the heat of the three other's gazes upon us. They truly thought we were being truthful. We both stopped just an inch or so away from the other's face, then laughed so hard I though my stomach would split in two. My mother, Yusuke, and Kuwabara were startled at first, and paused to finally get the picture. Finally they joined in the laughter too. Took them long enough though... Hiei and myself both thought. Eventually the fun was over and I put my suitcase in my car. Then I came back inside to say goodbye one last time.

"Well goodbye everyone, see you all at christmas. We should have a party then."

Everyone agreed.

"If I come back and find you all dead 'cause of some mission Koenma gave you, I swear I'll kill you," I stated with a straight face, before smiling and tilting my head towards the group and winking at the demon. "Ja ne!"


Yusuke sighed. "Well, there he goes," he stated as the door shut behind the red-head. "The wisest and smartest of us all. Now I guess that could be Hiei's title."

"Very funny detective," the demon muttered, shoving his hands deep in his pockets.

"Though you did almost have me fooled there Hiei!" Yusuke exclaimed, walking up and slapping the smaller boy on the back. "I actually thought you and Kurama had slept together!" Yusuke and Kuwabara laughed, and Shiori giggled a little, too.

"Yeah that part was actually pretty funny..." Hiei mumbled, looking up in a thoughtful gaze.

"Betcha enjoyed it too!" Kuwabara said, choking on laughter.

Even Hiei couldn't help but smile, though he didn't let the others see it. Maybe the fox's effect on him was permanent. He'd have to take some time to get used to it, but maybe he'd end up a changed person... he shook his head and cursed himself. The fox couldn't have had that much of an effect on him, yet... Hiei flicked himself on the face. He needed to stop this.

In a split second, Hiei had left the room. He flitted up and out the fox's window, stopping in the tree to shut the window behind him. He quickly climbed to the top of the tree, just in time to see Kurama turning onto the main road.

"See you fox.." he mumbled, watching the car until it was out of sight. "Maybe I'll miss your cheerfullness..." he said truthfully, dipping his head before he vanished from sight, leaving crisp leaves and whirling cold wind in his wake.