A/N: Sorry for the long update time, I've been having horrible writer's block. Partially due to that, and partially due to other nibbling plot bunnies, you can expect this story to wrap up in another chapter or two.

Chapter 5

Hiei enjoyed the hearing the next day immensely. It consisted mostly of himself glaring while the fox spoke in a firm tone and Koenma sweated. The prince kept glancing back and forth between the two nervously. He directed most of his questions at Kurama, seeming to think the fox was less likely to attempt death or disfigurement.

Which was a good thing, as it was Kurama who had spent last night concocting a story about where and how they had agreed to the Kiss and why they had kept it a secret; Hiei wasn't clear on all the details, since he had only heard a hasty version of this fiction that morning. He just sat there nodding and glaring, and when Koenma directed a question to him he parried it with insolence: "Are you deaf? Kurama just answered that. I have no disagreement with what he said."

In the end, possibly aware of how outnumbered he was - Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Botan had all showed up to glare and generally look threatening - Koenma declared Hiei's Kiss legal. "Even though it's highly unusual, I don't suppose I should expect anything else from you two. And there are extenuating circumstances. Just note that this ruling may be reversed if further evidence ever comes to light." Hiei snarled at that, but Kurama chose to be gracious and thanked Koenma. Stupid fox.

Making a calculated show of indifference, as soon as the hearing was declared over Hiei got up and sauntered out. He had been intending to show Koenma how little he cared, but hadn't thought of Kurama; the next thing he knew he was breathing heavier, as though he had been running. He turned around.

Kurama came to a halt, having run after him. "Hiei, where are you going?"

Hiei shrugged. "Anywhere that's not here."

"Come and stay with me for a few days," Kurama entreated. "At least until we get adjusted to these new sensations." He looked apologetic. "I don't mean to constrain you, but I wouldn't be comfortable apart from you right now."

Well, hell. So much for the avoiding-Kurama-and-potential-awkwardness plan of attack. After the Kiss, and especially after falling asleep in his arms not once but twice last night, Hiei wasn't exactly sure where he stood with his partner. He had been planning on using his normal response to complicated emotions - flight.

"What about your school?" Hiei said warily. "And family? And all those other ningen things I'm sure you want to get back to."

"I can take a few days off from school. And Mother doesn't come up to the dorms very often. Hiei, please."

Hiei grunted his assent. Smiling, Kurama enfolded Hiei's smaller hand in his own and gently tugged him towards a different exit. Hiei followed, too surprised to comment or to jerk his hand back. Kurama had never done that before. What does this mean?

He had a feeling he would find out sooner than he had wanted to.

But his feeling proved incorrect. In fact, it felt like he learned everything in the next few days except where he and Kurama stood.

Kurama proposed a series of tests, in keeping with his logical nature, to discover the full effects of the Kiss. Neither of them had ever known any demons joined by the Kiss, so they weren't certain how far it extended. They sparred with each other to find out the affect on their fighting, and then they sparred with Yusuke one at a time while the other rested to discover how it felt. They practiced speaking in short sentences to give the other a chance to breathe; Hiei was surprised at how quickly he was becoming used to having his breath out of his control. They experimented with telepathy but aside from Hiei's regular abilities failed miserably; they did somewhat better, however, at guessing what the other was doing physically, as they felt an echo of it in their own bodies. Kurama held his finger in a candle flame to discover to what extent their injuries were shared, then healed them both.

They slept in the same bed every night, but it was partially out of necessity. There was no place else to sleep in Kurama's tiny dorm room. They kept close to each other in their sleep, but that too was from a lack of space - except it didn't feel like the entire reason. Hiei was reluctant to speak of what had changed.

After all, Kurama hadn't had a choice in that Kiss.