Thank you everyone for the awesome reviews this story is getting. I'm so glad you're enjoying it.

I'm amazed at how many people like Yoji. I wasn't sure how he would be received but since he's not a bad guy I tried to write him fun and likable.

I want to get this up then get some sleep so I'll shut up and let you read.

P.S. Don't kill me for this.

Standard disclaimer: I do not own YuYu Hakusho.

IN THE ARMS OF LOVE

Chapter 7

Over the next few days Kurama kept an eye out for Hiei but as was his habit he went missing. He also spent time investigating Yoji. So far Kurama found him to be everything he appeared to be. Camille however he had been avoiding.

Ever since his enlightening conversation with his mother he was more confused than ever. Nothing like discussing your passion for demon men with your human mother to turn a man's world upside down. Since then the only solution he had come to was to hide from his girlfriend so he could think about his feelings for his best friend.

Forcing himself to focus on Yoji he watched as the brunette hurried into the park. Kurama smirked at the human's attempt to make sure he wasn't followed. When he reached the fountain in the flower garden he appeared to be looking for someone. Fearing Hiei would show up, Kurama masked his ki and hid himself better.

A few minutes later a man approached. He was tall with a muscular built much like Kuwabara's only with classically handsome features. Yoji gave him a brilliant smile before leaning up to kiss the newcomer on the cheek.

Something in Kurama snapped. Yoji's friend suddenly found himself looking up at an angry redhead from the ground. Yoji's eyes widened in fear as golden eyes bore down on him, long fingers grabbing him by the shirt front. For the second time Kurama's deadly calm voice met his ears. "I warned you what would happen if you hurt Hiei."

When the man on the ground tried to rise to protect his friend Kurama growled and merely kicked him back down. Yoji's voice trembled as he tried to defuse the situation. "Hold on Kurama, you don't understand. Hiei and I aren't… I mean, we're not really together. He knows about Max and me, and he's fine with it, I swear. Kurama you've got to believe me, it's not me Hiei wants, honest. He wants…"

Distracted by Yoji's words Kurama missed the other man getting up. Suddenly Kurama was jerked off his feet by a fist to his cheek. Recovering quickly he managed to remain on his feet. As the two men moved to face off Yoji jumped between them holding his hands out to keep them apart. "No! Don't do this! It's all a misunderstanding!"

Both men continued to glare but held their ground allowing Yoji to explain. "Max, I told you about helping Shizuru's friend so she'd set me up with you. This is Kurama, I told you about him too."

When Max relaxed his posture slightly Yoji turned to Kurama. "Kurama, you and Hiei really need to learn how to communicate. I swear it was never me Hiei wanted. I was just doing a favor for Shizuru. If you want to know more you'll have to talk to Hiei."

As fast as things escalated they deescalated. Yoji eyed Kurama suspiciously before he lowered his hands and turned to Max. Yoji gave him a shy little smile and slipped into his arms before they turned to walk away. "Oh Maxie, you came to my rescue. You're so sexy when you fight."

Kurama almost jumped when Yoji turned back to wave at him. "See you later Kurama. Good luck with Hiei."

Stunned, Kurama began walking. He was half way there before he even realized he was heading to the temple. Hiei was MIA so unfortunately their friends were going to have to answer his questions and bear the brunt of his anger if he didn't get the answers he was looking for.

Kurama was still a ways away from the temple when he suddenly felt Hiei's energy. 'Good, he's returned. Now the little demon can answer for himself what the hell is going on.'

When he arrived, amazingly, Kurama was able to slip up to the door without being detected. When he heard his friends talking about him he didn't enter but stopped to listen.

It was Yusuke he heard first. "What took you so long Hiei? The longer you let Kurama spend with Camille the stronger her hold will be on him."

Hiei replied. "I had some things to take care of. They took longer than expected. How are things going here?"

Kuwabara sounded amused when he spoke. "Yoji told Shizuru that he's pretty sure Kurama's been following him so it sounds like things are going perfectly."

Yusuke laughed. "Yeah man, Kurama's showing definite signs of jealousy. He's been asking a lot of questions about Yoji. He even suggested scaring Yoji off so he couldn't hurt you. It won't be long now until your fox dumps Poison Ivy for his little Fire-Fly."

Keiko sounded annoyed. "You guys better be careful. If Kurama finds out how you've been manipulating him, he won't care how good your intentions are, he's going to be really angry."

"Angry doesn't even begin to describe how I feel right now." For the first time the deadly cold voice of Yoko Kurama was directed at his friends. Hiei, Yusuke and Kuwabara all stood in surprise when Kurama stepped into the room. When Keiko saw the pure rage in his eyes she gasped and moved behind Yusuke.

When all three of his so-called friends looked as if they would speak at once, Kurama held up a hand. "Just shut up all of you. It's quite apparent you've been trying to sabotage my relationship with Camille. I never expected that from you. For some reason I thought my friends would trust my judgment and want me to be happy."

All of them stared at Kurama in shock as he continued. "You really had me questioning myself but now that I know I was being manipulated by the people I trusted most I know what to do. I'm going to ask Camille to marry me. I know she'll never betray my trust. Too bad I can't say the same for the man that used to be my best friend."

At the end Kurama was staring directly at Hiei. The golden eyes that were filled with anger only a moment ago were now hurt pools of green. Without waiting for a response he walked out.

Kurama had barely reached the yard when he was tackled by Hiei. They wrestled for several minutes before Hiei finally got the upper hand and pinned Kurama to the ground. He had the redhead's hands in his, trapped beside his head. "Damn it Kurama! You have to let me explain! It isn't what you think. If Camille were really what you wanted Fox, if she could even make you happy, then I'd step aside. All any of us wanted was to give you options. To let you know you didn't need to settle for that damn female."

Kurama struggled to get up but Hiei held him down. "Stop it Kurama! I don't want to hurt you!"

Breathing hard, Kurama turned away. "You already have."

When Kurama felt Hiei's temperature rise he looked back curiously. There was rage in Hiei's eyes as he looked at Kurama. Kurama held his breath when he leaned closer. His heart skipped a beat when Hiei licked his cheek where Max punched him. He shivered as Hiei's words whispered across his ear. "I'll kill whoever dared touch my fox."

There was a sudden eruption of noise as Yusuke and Kuwabara came flying off the porch. "Hiei, look out!"

Reacting on instinct Hiei rolled with Kurama just in time to avoid an energy blast from the trees. Both of them immediately jumped up and drew their weapons as a large demon with blue hair charged into the yard. Behind him were two smaller less powerful demons.

As a team they fought the intruders, for the moment forgetting the previous tension between them. The lesser demons fell quickly since they acted as shields for the larger one, protecting him from both Hiei and Yusuke's attacks.

When one of the demons they thought had been killed began to rise Kurama took his attention from the larger demon. As his whip slashed the previously fallen demon he heard Hiei scream. "KURAMA!"

He turned just as Hiei flung himself directly in front of an energy blast intended for Kurama. The blast was powerful enough to slam Hiei into Kurama knocking them both back into a tree. In an attempt to protect Hiei from further harm Kurama wrapped his arms around the fire demon shielding him from hitting the tree directly.

Kurama was momentarily stunned. When he regained his senses Yusuke and Kuwabara were running towards them. Behind them he could see that they had finished off the blue haired demon. Confident they were safe he turned his attention to Hiei.

"Hiei! Come on Hiei, wake up!" Terrified, he glanced up at his teammates, he couldn't sense Hiei at all. When Keiko and Yukina rushed out of the temple he held Hiei closer.

One look at Kurama and Yukina screamed. "HIEI!"