Disclaimer- I do not own any Yu Yu Hakusho characters used in this fic. Any other characters you can blame on me for creating...

C.A./N: (Hehe, instead of Author's Notes today, you get Co-Author's Notes! Muahahaha...XD) Yeppers, Storm Dewleaf here! I get to do the uploading today. Hehe, there's a nice little Kurama description in here that made me go "kawaii!" and "...hot!" at the same time. I have fun writing any Kurama part. I talk a lot when I'm happy, can ya tell? Heheh.

Mm...I was supposed to say something else...um...Oh yeah! (ding) You must review, or no more chapters! (evil laughter) And trust me, you'll wanna read the next few chapters... So review! Pwease? (chibi eyes)

Teehee, see how I bolded the word review every time to catch your attention? (ish proud of herself) Yeah, I'm not (that) crazy...(shifty eyes)

Chapter 5

When Kurama had convinced the others to at least wait until Zeichi was fully healed before any permanent decisions were made, he went upstairs to check on both fire demons. He looked around, noticing there was only one occupant in the room. "Where did Hiei go?"

Zeichi gave him a troubled look. "He...left."

"Left? Whatever for?" Zeichi shook his head, not trusting himself to speak and still very confused. Kurama sat on the edge of the bed. "Well then...I need to check on your wound again. I'm sure Hiei will be back soon, he always is."

Hiei stared at nothing, sitting in a tree in a secluded area near the temple. Zeichi probably hated him now...probably thought he was some sort of...The fire demon sighed.

"As protective as you seem of the kid, I'm surprised you even leave the house."

Hiei glanced down; Shizuru was leaning against the trunk of his tree with her cigarette. "Hn. What are you doing here?"

"Kazuma wanted to come visit Yukina, and I didn't want him up here alone in case you were here." She took another drag and glanced at him. "He's an idiot, but I don't want my little brother hurt." The woman closed her eyes. "That's why I was the first to agree to Kurama's proposal. I understand what you're going through. Why you're fighting so hard to keep Zeichi with you." She opened her eyes just barely, remembering something. "When it's the only family you have left, you'd die for them..."

"Hn.." But you don't understand at all. Not everything, he thought to himself.

Zeichi looked up as Kurama walked into the room, bringing with him a tray of food, he sat on the edge of the bed handing the tray over to Zeichi. Zeichi stared at it for a while then slowly he began to eat, wondering why the kitsune was still in the room. Looking up from his meal he decided whether or not it would be a good idea to question him, "Kurama-chan..." Zeichi began, slightly hesitant "Why are -"

The red-head cut him off. "It isn't like Hiei to stay out for so long...He should have been back here hours ago." The fox turned to face the small fire demon on the bed, "Do you know anything about why he hasn't returned?"

Zeichi shook his head, turning back to his food as a burning sensation reached his cheeks. He had lied, he knew exactly why Hiei wasn't here and why he wouldn't be coming back, it was because of - He shook his head again, trying to rid himself of those thoughts, but his efforts proved useless as they invaded his mind yet again. The fire demon's heart began to pound as he thought about how the older male's lips had felt against his; they were soft, something he hadn't expected from someone like Hiei, someone so ruthless - no ruthless wasn't a word that should be used when describing him. Hiei was stubborn, but he was kind, and from what Zeichi could perceive, afraid...But what he was afraid of, Zeichi could not figure out.

Later in the night, Kurama was sitting up reading in the living room when Hiei opened the window and came in quietly. The fox looked up, glancing at him. "Where did you get to? And for so long. That's not like you."

"Hn."

The fire demon sat on the couch, and Kurama frowned. Something was off. Hiei seemed...distracted. "What is wrong, Hiei?"

"Hn."

Kurama marked his place and set the book down, moving over to sit next to his friend. "Tell me why you left earlier. Zeichi won't tell me. He said he didn't know why, but I could see he was lying."

Zeichi lay on the floor of the bedroom he was in, his side aching as he made his way towards the door to try and get Kurama's attention. But upon reaching the door, he was able to hear two people talking, or at least one of them was talking while the other seemed to be avoiding everything he was asked with a simple grunt. 'Hiei' was the first though that came to the pained boy's mind, as he listened to the one sided conversation.

"Where did you get to? And for so long. That's not like you."

"Hn." 'It's really him!' The younger boy thought a smile appearing on his lips. 'Now if only I could reach the door...' He flinched as a sharp pain shot up his side 'Stupid oaf! He had to make things worse didn't he!'

"What is wrong Hiei?"

"Hn."

"Tell me why you left earlier." At those words Zeichi froze. He was staring at the door, his crimson eyes wide as he listened to the rest of the fox's words. "Zeichi won't tell me. He said he didn't know why, but I could see he was lying."

"No..." Zeichi let his hands fall to his sides no longer bothering to hold himself up. "If Hiei tells Kurama..." He shook his head not wanting to allow himself those thoughts, right now he had to concentrate on getting the redhead's attention.

Pushing himself back up he urged himself towards the door, pulling himself up just enough to be standing on his feet as he opened the door. "Kurama-chan..." Zeichi began, staggering out the door slightly "My side hurts..." Zeichi smiled at him slightly before his eyes closed and he fell forward.

Not a single thought had time to cross Hiei's mind before he moved across the room to catch his brother. Kurama, too, crossed the room quickly, immediately checking the wound. "Dammit fox, what the hell's wrong?" Hiei's voice was sharp with worry.

Kurama felt the boy's forehead and frowned. "That's a fever heat...Kuwabara must have done more damage than I originally thought..." he murmured, half to himself.

"Well is he going to be alright?" He dropped his voice to a growling whisper. "I swear, fox, if he dies you are going to join him, and quickly."

Kurama smiled patiently. "It's not life-threatening, Hiei. Just calm down."

The fire demon's eye twitched. Calm down? Zeichi is sick and he tells me to calm down?

Zeichi opened his eyes, darkness greeting him until it slowly faded away into the blurry image of a bedroom that he had become familiar with in the past few days. Turning his head to the side he noticed someone kneeling at the side of the bed, their head resting on their arms that were currently crossed on the edge of the bed. Squinting his eyes as he attempted to see more clearly, he smiled finally realizing that the sleeping figure was none other than his brother Hiei. You came back... He thought to himself reaching out a hand to caress his face, he pulled back suddenly when Hiei looked straight at him, worry evident in his features.

"Zeichi! Are you alright!" The older of the two brothers quickly reached a hand out to him, resting it against his forehead and sighing. "Good, it seems the fever has gone down slightly...That stupid buffoon! If I ever get my hands on him I'll - "

"Hiei...Why did you leave?" Hiei stared at the boy, shocked slightly by the question; he cursed as he felt a small burning sensation in his cheeks. "I want you around, Hiei, please don't leave again..."

Hiei sighed, running his fingers through Zeichi's hair "I won't..."

"Good..." The smaller boy smiled again before falling back into unconsciousness. Hiei allowed a small smile to grace his lips before he leaned in to kiss the sleeping boy's slightly parted lips.

"Hm...that certainly would explain things."

Hiei jerked back and looked up at the doorway in shock. "Kurama! What are you doing in here!"

"Checking on Zeichi, of course. How's his fever?"

"Gone..."

"That's good." Both were silent for a moment before Kurama spoke again. "Care to tell me now?"

"...What is there to tell, fox?"

"Why you were kissing your brother."

Hiei bristled. "What should it matter if he's my brother!"

"It doesn't," said Kurama calmly, causing Hiei to be slightly taken aback and even shocked.

A week or so later, Zeichi was feeling much better and had been extremely restless. The boy had been spending more and more time in the living room than in bed, curled up on the couch next to Hiei, fascinated by the television. He was starting to show interest in the different aspects of different humans, and would excitedly point out things to Hiei about the different shows; always completely unperturbed by the constant "hn"s received in reply.

"Come in," called Kurama when the doorbell rang. It was a rare day when there was nothing that needed to be done, the windows were open, and the fox was sprawled rather uncharacteristically in his chair with his eyes closed, enjoying the breeze.

When the door opened to reveal Kuwabara and Yusuke, Zeichi immediately hid behind his brother. Hiei growled low in his throat, the only thing stopping him from jumping the buffoon right then was the smaller fire demon latched firmly onto the back of his cloak. "What are you doing here?" he snarled. "Zeichi is not fully healed yet."

Yusuke held up his hands placatingly. "Take it easy, man. Me an' Keiko are going to the movies, Kuwabara talked Yukina into comin', and we came over to see if the kid felt better enough to come too, figured he might be getting tired of bein' cooped up in here."

"All you care about is getting your mission done," spat Hiei. "What makes you think I would believe that?"

"It was Keiko's idea," Yusuke lied quickly.

"You can at least see if the kid wants to go," put in Kuwabara.

Hiei growled, still staring at the two reikai tantei in the doorway, not bothering to listen to Kuwabara, but then a small tug on his cloak caught his attention. Turning his head to face his younger brother, all anger he had previously felt was washed away.

"What is it Zeichi?" Hiei asked, his soft tone of voice startling Yusuke and Kuwabara.

"I want to go to the movie..." Zeichi replied quietly, "I don't like being stuck inside the house all the time...Can we please go?"

Hiei stared at Zeichi for a while before answering. "Sure..." Hiei stated, unable to go against his brother in any way.

"I thought he would have argued with him..." Kuwabara mumbled to Yusuke, who was watching the fire demon intently. Something's wrong... Yusuke thought to himself, Kuwabara's right, Hiei would normally have argued with him... Yusuke then turned to Kurama just in time to see the kitsune chuckle at the scene before him. Ok something is definitely up with them...

Hiei scowled to himself. "But on second thought, we're only going if Kurama comes too." Just in case they try something, I want all the help I can get.

"...We?" asked Kuwabara dumbly. "Only the kid was invited, shrimp."

Hiei eyed him coldly. "If you really thought I would let my brother go anywhere with you alone, you're even dumber than you look."

While Kuwabara bristled, Kurama nodded his head in affirmation. "I'd be glad to go."

"Well alright then, let's get going!" said Yusuke impatiently.