Hey everyone thanks for the great reviews. I'm going to try to wrap this up by Christmas so I don't leave you all hanging without an update but no promises. It seems every time I think I'll have this done in two chapters I write myself in another direction. I hope you all enjoy it.

Standard disclaimer: I do not own YuYu Hakusho.

LONELY HEARTS

Chapter 8

In Kurama's bedroom Hiei sat on the window sill looking out into the darkening sky as the sun set. With a heavy heart he waited for Kurama to return from school. The fox had been avoiding him for the last three days and Hiei suspected that Kurama may have changed his mind about wanting a relationship with him.

Each day the fox returned later than the day before. Each day the fox saw that Hiei ate and had a movie or game to entertain him before burying himself in his books. Each night the redhead came to bed long after the fire demon was asleep.

Tonight Hiei hoped things would be different. Tomorrow was Saturday and Hiei knew there was no school on Saturday. In all the years they had been friends Kurama had never put school work ahead of him when there was no school the next day. If he did so tonight then Hiei would know his suspicions were true, that Kuramareally didn'thave feelings for him beyond friendship.

His heart skipped a beat when he saw Kurama smile up at him as he approached the apartment building. Seeing that Kurama's arms were full Hiei jumped down and went to open the door. As he came in Kurama gave Hiei a quick kiss before heading to the kitchen counter. "Thank you Hiei, I think my books get heavier every day. I brought dinner, I hope you like beef teriyaki. I have to finish working on that report I have due next week. Oh, I got you a new game too. It's called Mortal Combat."

Hiei just stood there watching as Kurama unpacked the food and the game. He was no longer listening to what was said. After a few moments Kurama gathered his books and headed toward the bedroom. Almost as an afterthought the redhead turned back and gave him another brief kiss. "I'm sorry about this Fire-Fly. I'll try to make it to bed before you go to sleep tonight."

Hiei didn't know how long he stood there after watching Kurama close the bedroom door. Hearing something clink on the tile Hiei looked down. Reaching down he picked the object up. After looking at it for several seconds he set in on the counter.

Going to the door he put on his cloak and boots then picked up his katana. Kurama hadn't even noticed his things were by the door and not in their usual spot in his room. With a sigh he looked longingly at the closed bedroom door and whispered, "Goodbye Kurama" before opening the front door and flitting off into the night.

It was almost an hour later before Kurama realized he couldn't sense Hiei's ki in the apartment. A quick glance showed him that Hiei's things weren't in the corner where they usually were. Opening his door he looked around the living room and kitchen. "Hiei?"

Kurama's heart was pounding as he noticed everything was just as he left it. The food and game sat on the counter untouched. Only one thing was different, a small object lay next to the other items on the counter. Sadly Kurama picked up Hiei's blood red tear gem. Tears filled his own eyes when he realized Hiei must have cried itbecause ofhim. "Oh Anari, what have I done?"

With the tear gem clutched tightly in his hand Kurama ran out of the apartment. Following Hiei's ki trail he found himself at the edge of the forest. The trail stopped at a portal to Makai. Knowing Hiei had over an hours head start on him he reluctantly gave up his search. Looking down at the tear gem in his palm he whispered into the night. "Please forgive me Hiei, I never meant to hurt you."

As Yusuke knocked on Kurama's door for the second time he realized it had been several weeks since he had seen his friend. Though they didn't go on many Reiki assignments anymore all the former tente usually kept in close contact. Now that he thought about it he hadn't seen Hiei around either, not since a few weeks after the incident with those sorceresses.

When Kurama still didn't answer Yusuke tried the door knob and found it open. Letting himself inside Yusuke was appalled at what he saw. The usually immaculate apartment was a mess. There were papers, books and clothes scattered around the living room. The kitchen sink was piled with dirty glasses and on the counters there were various boxes and bags of fast food that looked like they had been bought and opened but not eaten.

Stepping over the mess he went to knock on the bedroom door. "Kurama! I know you're in there, I can sense you."

Yusuke only waited a moment then opened the door. This room wasn't in any better shape than the others. Looking around he finally found Kurama sitting in the window sill. Like everything else he too was a mess. Kurama wore an old t-shirt with a dragon on it and a pair of shorts. His red hair looked like it had been put in a hasty ponytail days ago then neglected. He looked so lonely sitting there staring out the window. Yusuke reached out and touched his shoulder. "Kurama, why didn't you answer the door?"

Turning slowly, Kurama seemed to notice his visitor for the first time. "Oh, hey Yusuke. Sorry, I guess I didn't hear you."

Yusuke's brow drew together in confusion at the lack of emotion in his friend's voice. "Kurama, what the hell's going on? Are you okay?"

Kurama looked back out the window as he answered flatly. "I was just sitting here thinking Yusuke. What brings you by today?"

Taking Kurama by the shoulder he forced the redhead to look at him. "Kurama, what's wrong? You look like hell and your apartment's a mess."

Kurama shrugged Yusuke's hand off but didn't turn away. "I'm a horrible person Yusuke. I used and hurt someone I care about very much. I'm homesick, lonely and for the first time in my life I'm wondering how much longer my mother will live so that I can leave this god forsaken place and go home. Now did you have some reason for being here? If not I'd like to be alone."

For a moment Yusuke just stared at his friend. "Damn Kurama. I never thought I'd ever hear you say something like that about your mother. The only other person that you've ever cared about that I know of is Hiei. Is that who you hurt?"

Kurama's voice hardened and his eyes flecked with gold. "It's none of your business. Now what did you want Yusuke?"

Yusuke knew from experience not to push it when Kurama's Youko side began to appear. "Koenma sent me. A Reiki artifact has been taken and he wants us to get it back."

Kurama was looking out the window again. "I'm not interested."

Yusuke knew he had to do something to help get Kurama out of his funk. "Come on Fox Boy, it will be fun all of us together again. Botan's even gone to get Hiei. Besides, you said you were homesick and we get to go to Makai for this one."

Kurama's fox ears perked when he heard Hiei had been sent for. His heart began to pound. Maybe this was the icebreaker he needed to get to talk to Hiei. It was more likely Hiei would just tell him to go to hell but since he was already there he didn't really have anything to lose. "I'll come to the briefing. I won't promise anything beyond that."

Yusuke slapped him on the shoulder. "Alright then, see you in Koenma's office in two hours. You might want to grab a shower though, you know Hiei doesn't like your hair in a ponytail."

Laughing, Yusuke darted out the door before Kurama could get a hand on him. Rising Kurama went into the bathroom. One look in the mirror and he knew what Yusuke meant, he really did look like hell. Stripping he stepped into the shower. He thought forward to when he would see Hiei and wondered if he was feeling apprehension or anticipation. Turning on the water he decided not to think about it at all.

Two hours later Kurama walked into Koenma's office. Everyone was in their usual place. Yusuke and Kuwabara lounged on a sofa as Hiei stood leaning against the wall with one leg bent, his foot on the wall. Deciding now was as good a time as any to face his demons, so to speak, Kurama tried to look confident as he went to stand beside Hiei. Briefly he nodded to the others and Koenma started the meeting.

Paying little attention to Koenma, Kurama glanced at Hiei. The fire demon just stood with his arms crossed not acknowledging his presence. Hesitantly, Kurama reached out and brushed the back of his fingers down Hiei's arm. Kurama's heart sank when he heard Hiei's low growl and the fire demon moved a step away, still without looking at him.

When Yusuke and Kuwabara went to the desk to see something on the monitor Kurama took a deep breath to calm his nerves. Telepathically he spoke to Hiei for the first time since driving him away. 'Hiei, please let me…'

Piercing red eyes silenced him as harsh words were spoken in his mind. 'There's nothing you have to say that I want to hear.'

Kurama tried to swallow the tears that threatened to fall, grateful he didn't have to speak, knowing his emotions would be heard clearly in his voice. 'I'm sorry, I won't bother you again. Please tell the others I'll have to pass on this one. Goodbye Hiei.'

Quietly Kurama tried to make it outof the roomwithout the others noticing. Yusuke however had been covertly watching everything. Seeing Kurama's attempt to escape he went and took the redhead by the arm. "Kurama, come look at this. Koenma thinks you might know this guy."

Not allowing him to argue Yusuke dragged Kurama over to see the computer screen. Before him was a demon with thick black hair and black eyes. Sensing that Kurama needed a moment to pull himself together Yusuke took a moment to tell Kurama about the demon. "They got this picture of the demon that took one of Koenma's toys from the vault. The description matches that of a guy that reportedly used to be in your gang. What do you think Kurama, do you know him?"

Looking at the screen Kurama hoped his voice wouldn't break when he spoke. "He's known as the Black Panther but his real name is Syrus. You can't see them but there are cat ears hidden in all that hair. He was in my gang for about a year but he was too cocky for his own good. He thought he could do better on his own so he left. I heard he went from gang to gang for a while then tried to start one of his own. I wouldn't think he was good enough to steal anything from the Reiki vault."

Koenma flipped of the screen. "That's only a little more information than our intelligence gave us. I was hoping you might know where we could find him."

Kurama had regained some of his calm. "I didn't know him that well."

In his head Kurama could hear Hiei's snide comment. 'Guess that means he wasn't a good enough lay for Yoko Kurama to bother with.'

The only outward sign of what was going on was the gold that flecked through Kurama's green eyes. 'What's the matter Hiei, jealous that I fucked him and not you?'

Yusuke didn't know what was going on but the look that crossed Hiei's eyes said he better do something or the fire demon was out of here. "Hiei, I'm glad you're here. It looks like this guy's last known base of operation was in Mukuro's territory. With your help we should be able to find him a lot faster."

Barely a "Hn" could be heard from Hiei but Kurama seemed to have recovered. "Well if I have to do this I'm at least going to enjoy myself."

All eyes widened as Kurama's energy soared. No one's eyes were wider than Hiei's as Yoko Kurama himself appeared before them.

Though all eyes were on him, Kurama only had eyes for Hiei. "Yusuke, Kuwabara, why don't you boys run along home to your females. I think Hiei and I will take this one on our own."

Before anyone could protest Kurama walked to Hiei's side. "Come on partner, let's get this party started."

There wasn't much even Hiei could do when the long clawed fingers of a nearly seven foot Youko wrapped around his wrist and he was dragged out of the room, the door closing behind them.

Yusuke, Kuwabara and Koenma looked back and forth at each other. Kuwabara's mouth opened and closed several times before he spoke. "Urameshi, what the hell was all that about?"

Yusuke shrugged. "Those two will either work out their problems or kill each other. I guess we'll find out in a few days. Either way it means we get to go home to our 'females' so I'm not going to argue."