Chapter 3

"I'm not sure they're up," Botan said fretfully, leading Yusuke and Kuwabara down one of Spirit World's innumerable hallways.

"Whaddaya mean up?" Kuwabara wanted to know.

"Well, they're probably sleeping. The Kiss is exhausting."

"Just how common is this kiss thing?" Yusuke asked.

"Not very common at all. Frankly I'm surprised Hiei even knew how to do it. Demons don't take well to the idea of sharing someone's soul."

Yusuke thought about that for a minute. "Hey, well maybe that proves that they agreed to it beforehand."

"But it just doesn't make sense! Kurama's too intelligent to agree to this without leaving any kind of proof. At the very least he would have told you two so you could vindicate him and Hiei if this happened."

"Hey, Kurama's word should be good enough for anybody," Yusuke said staunchly. Botan only sighed and led them on in silence.

She stopped in front of a non-descript door and knocked lightly. No one answered. "I think we'd better go," she said nervously.

But Yusuke stepped forward and tried the handle, and when it opened for him he stepped in, calling out softly. "Guys?" Kuwabara followed him in, and after a moment's hesitation so did Botan.

The room was dark, and it took their eyes a moment to adjust. When they could see they found two figures curled up on a sofa, the smaller reclining against the larger, both breathing slowly and peacefully.

"I told you they would be asleep," Botan hissed.

"My apologies." Everyone jumped slightly and looked at the couch. Kurama had opened his eyes and was regarding them levelly. He spoke quietly. "I haven't been asleep, but Hiei has. I don't wish to disturb him."

"Can you come out and talk to us?" Yusuke whispered.

"I can't talk much. It disturbs his breathing."

There was a surprised pause. "Okay, so we'll do most of the talking," Yusuke said, recovering first.

"Agreed." Kurama carefully slipped out from under Hiei's torso, lowering his friend gently to the couch and waiting to see if he stirred before following the others out.

"How do you feel?" Yusuke asked first.

"I feel fine. A little sore, and a headache. But well." Kurama spoke in short sentences broken up by long inhales, clearly attempting to maintain a sleep-like breathing pattern.

"Boy, this breathing thing is really weird," Kuwabara said. "If like one of you was running a marathon would the other one start breathing really fast?"

"Yes."

"Wow. What if one of you was having sex or something?"

"Kuwabara!" Botan smacked him lightly.

"I imagine so," Kurama said with a light smile.

"What if--"

"Stop it," Botan said crossly. "Kurama, are you really okay?"

"I'm fine. We are both fine."

"What will you tell Koenma?"

"The truth. It was agreed upon."

The door opened. Everyone looked over and then down slightly to find a cranky looking Hiei scowling at them. Without a word Hiei reached out, grabbed Kurama's tunic, hauled the fox inside, gave everybody a last glare, and closed the door. The lock clicked.

"Feels almost like we've been told to get out or something, doesn't it?" Yusuke remarked.

"Or something," Botan agreed. "Come on, you two. I'm not in the mood to see if sharing Kurama's soul has increased the power of Hiei's dragon."