Dictionary:

Jigen Tou: the secondary sword, Kuwabara learns at the end of the series. English name found in the chapter.

Tadaima: 'I'm home'

Okaeri: 'Welcome back'

Itadakimasu: 'I take this (food) with gratitude'

I'm Going to Get You by rebecca85

Chapter 2: Dinner

Kurama made his way home. His thoughts circled on the events that had just happened. How come everybody was so against him? Yusuke had given him a pat on the back about it, Keiko plotted straight against him with Hiei, Yukina had gladly explained to his brother that he was in love and Mukuro had practically thrown Hiei at him. He only needed his mother to accept this whole thing and pay for the wedding and it would be just perfect.

He needed to ask this about Shizuru or someone else sensible. But just when he would need her, Shizuru was in Europe, working at her company's new subsidiary company and was very busy there. She had also said that it would be a great opportunity for her to develop her psychic-skills at the same time, since Europe was full of them. Or so they said. Kurama couldn't talk to Yusuke about it seriously (not after the pat). He would've liked to talk to someone 'reasonable', like Yukina or Keiko. But, he already knew their thoughts of the matter. Unfortunately.

That didn't leave much people. Kurama snorted at the thought of telling his blind 'King', Yomi. He would be laughing his horns off and probably would give Hiei all the resources he needed, just to get back at Kurama. Nope, he would definitely pass that 'help'.

Well, he could always talk about this with Kuwabara and probably could get some back-up, but the man was at the Dark Tournament at the moment.

Kurama wouldn't have believed that Kazuma would go there willingly again. But the tall man had said that he had had a good thought about it and since he knew what the younger Toguro brother got for a wish, he was about to wish something very alike. But he didn't want to be reborn as a youkai, so they had together thought about the wish carefully and come up a good one: Kuwabara wished he would live just as long as Yukina. That was enough for him and gave Yukina a chance to be with her beloved.

Surprisingly, Hiei had nothing to say. Kurama guessed that he was relieved that his sister would always have someone if Hiei couldn't be there for her.

So Kuwabara had left to the tournament with Chu, Rinku, Jin and Touya. They were more than willing to come; they were totally bored after the peace in Makai. And they had real confidence about winning, since Kuwabara had learned how to properly use his Jigen Tou (dimension blade) and Kurama had given him some special training. He really hoped they'd win the tournament. Everybody would be so happy. Even Hiei. Humph. Though, it really didn't matter. Hiei seemed to be just fine with only making Kurama's daily life unbearable.

Kurama frowned in his thoughts. Why had Hiei even picked him? Why hadn't he fallen for someone else? Well, he was always at the fire demon's side, help— assisting him, taking care of his injuries and battling with him, more often at the same side than not.

He had made tons of jokes at the half-koorime's expense and always gotten away with it without getting himself burned. If Kurama wouldn't know better he'd say that the fire demon was only playing some lame joke to pay him back all those times. But, unfortunately, Kurama did know him. This was no joke. But now that he thought about it, Hiei had always been softer on him. Being more worried of him than the others, always close to him and more comfortable around him than around others. But then again, how could've Kurama been prepared for what happened just yesterday?

And that didn't even consider just the confession. But the trap too. Hiei had stolen his first kiss without even so much trying and there wasn't at least a way for the fox to be mad about it. Well it wasn't the first kiss, technically, but it was the first for the body of Minamino Shuichi. The first after he had learned about these frail feelings such as love.

And it felt so strange. It must've been because the experience was so new to him in this body, but it felt so passionate and fantastic that he almost wanted more. But there always was that 'be careful what your wish for' -thing, 'coz he got more, oh did he. Kurama brushed his lips with the tips of his slender fingers and blushed slightly. Then he sighed heavily. In his past life he had had his share of lovers, of course. He had been a youko, and a damn beautiful one. Of course people almost lined up to his stairs to get a glimpse of the elusive him. The Master Thief of Makai.

Yeah, right. If he really were such an excellent thief, he wouldn't have been caught by Hiei's scheming this easily. And here he was, trapped, gagged and tied. He just couldn't get out of this one, no matter what he might try.

The most surprising part was Hiei's rudeness. He really didn't get scared easily. As if Hiei knew Kurama would eventually respond with love. He was like a hunter after his prey and for Kurama; this was something way too familiar for him. He had got caught once. For the last time in his life.

So he didn't want to be caught again. Not even by Hiei. No matter how absurd that sounded. He would just use his superb, over thousand year experience, to get Hiei to quit. Since there was no way out, he just had to work from the inside.

But it would really help to get some back-up, just in case, Kurama thought just as he arrived at his house. He fished out the keys from his pocket and made his way in.

"Tadaima!" he yelled, second time today. And this time there was an answer.

"Okaeri, Shuu-kun!" Shiori answered and came out of the kitchen wiping her hands on some rug. Kurama took his shoes off and headed for the kitchen to drop the groceries. Shiori hugged her son despite the redhead's load of food. She extended a hand to take a bag.

"Oh, let me help you dear."

"No need, mother. I got them this far, I can get them in place too." He shooed his mother's helpful hands off and smiled to her. Shiori just shook her head at the stubbornness and followed her son. She returned to the stove where she was undoubtedly making the dinner. Kurama started to put the groceries away, trying to still think.

"How was your day at school, dear?" Shiori asked for a conversation.

"Fine, mum. The test week starts in two weeks then we have the one week holiday." He answered, not really paying attention. Shiori noticed this and tried again.

"Have you planned anything for the week?"

"Nothing special..." he murmured. The woman frowned and tried once more.

"Hope you have something to do while we're away. So you won't be bored."

"I won't, mother..."

"Shuichi-dear. Are you sure you manage alone for a whole week?" she asked tilting her head a little and putting her hand on her hips, looking concerned. Kurama finally lifted his head from the fridge, closed it and walked to her mother.

"Positive, mum. You don't have to worry a thing. I'm a big boy now." He hugger her for reassurance. Shiori sighed and hugged her son back.

"Yes, of course you are." She pulled away slightly to look up to her son's eyes. "But I'm your mother and that will never change. Nor that I will always worry you," Shiori said. Kurama smiled warmly to her and seemed to melt, in some strange way.

"Thank you," he said softly as he stepped away.

"For what?" Shiori arched a brow.

"For being my mother," he answered. Shiori was very touched of this and her eyes shimmered. She could feel the tears swell in her eyes, so as Kurama went to put the rest of the groceries away, she turned to her cooking's and wiped her eyes with the corner of her apron. A while passed by before Shiori remembered something.

"Ah, Hiei-san came," Shiori said unexpectedly.

"Hm, really? What did he want?"

"Minamino Shuichi!" His mother exclaimed. Kurama winced at his whole name, which Shiori only used when he had done something wrong. The last time was almost decades ago. He continued putting the orange's on their bowl.

"I'm sorry, mother. I just thought it was a little early and since I can't think of any other reason, I was wondering. I didn't mean to put it so bluntly. Sorry."

"It's okay" Shiori calmed and smiled. "He just happened to be in the neighbourhood and thought of coming early. I sent him to your room with some cookies."

What! He's here! Kurama stopped in mid-way of finally putting the bread away, almost chocked at the surprise and turned to his mother, again composed.

"Well, I guess I have to go see him then," he smiled to his mother and turned to head upstairs.

"Shuu-kun," his mother said suddenly. The redhead turned to her with a questioning look. "Why don't you take some refreshments to him while you're at it? The cookies are probably too sweet," she asked handing him a bowl of sliced carrots and cucumbers. Kurama hesitated a while, but decided to please his mother and take them up. I wasn't his fault if Hiei didn't eat them.

Kurama made his way upstairs, thinking at the same, what he could do to Hiei, to keep him off. Literally. He frowned at himself looking discomforted: He really didn't want to use it, but it seemed it was his last resort.

He had to be cold to him. This decision was made with great reluctance, since it had taken so long to befriend with Hiei. But then again, their friendship seemed to be gone anyway. And it suddenly hit him. He stopped at the second floor, hand still on the handrail.

He had lost a friend. As much as he didn't want it to hurt, it did. And the worst part was that Hiei was just there. And there wasn't anything between then anymore. Kurama felt again like crying. With Kuronue it was just as hard, but then he had to let him go. Kuronue had actually died. For real. But with Hiei, only their friendship had died. He was still there.

And the thought that Hiei would destroy their friendship just like that, only to satisfy his mere lust, made Kurama angry. Maybe it wasn't so hard to be cold to Hiei. After all, he wasn't anything to the fox anymore. Kurama tried to savour the anger inside him, which made him feel odd. He really didn't get that easily angry at people nowadays. It almost made him feel sick. Swallowing hard he went to his room.

Hiei was sitting on his usual place at the windowsill. The noise of door shutting got his head to turn at him. As soon as the fire demon saw Kurama, a mischievous smile crept to his lips. The redhead noticed this, but didn't comment and turned to his table.

"Mother sent you some snacks as you wait," he said as he put the bowl at his desk. Suddenly he felt strong arms close around him and he drew a quick breath in shock but then stiffened. Hiei chuckled slightly at his back.

"So are we playing cold now?" He mused. Kurama stiffened more. How did he guess so quickly?

"Do you really think that I'm blind?" Hiei asked him mockingly. "I could feel your turmoil almost two miles ago." Kurama quickly put a guard around him and his feelings. But Hiei already noticed! The only significant sign was his fist tightening a trifle. The green-eyed beauty lifted his head to look from the mirror at Hiei, with a hard face.

"Could you now release me?" said Kurama calmly and started to move Hiei's hands. But they only tightened around him and he couldn't prevent the unconscious jolt at his stomach. He fought against the thought that said it was actually quite comfortable there, and struggled more.

"Hiei. Let me go," he said though his teeth.

"No."

"Hiei. I'm warning you. Let me go."

"No."

"Hiei!—" before Kurama had the chance to come up with a better threat, he was (again) on his bed pinned (again) by Hiei. So the fire demon was up to cheap tricks, huh? Using his speed, that little –. The thought was cut off, though. Kurama realized in shock that Hiei had his wrists only with one hand and the other... was getting a silk ribbon from the koorime's pocket. The fox-spirited man's eyes widened and he quickly freed his hands trying to ... well ... do something! But when it was matter of speed, Hiei collected the escaped hands and tied them to the bed-pole, before Kurama could push the fire demon off and get free.

"What are you doing!" he almost yelled and yanked his home-made hand-cuffs few times without actually expecting to get loose, but hey, it was worth the try. Besides, he new that silk wasn't a material you could easily break with bare hands and he was a little afraid that the bed-pole would give up sooner that the band. That would be a great story to explain to his mother.

"Shh..." Hiei placed his index finger at the fox's partly parted lips and lifted his gaze to meet a pair of wide green pools. "You don't want your 'mother' to hear and come?" And Kurama didn't. She would probably have a heart-attack due to the sight of her only son making out, and with another man, at not less! Shit, that was a good pull! Kurama shouted at himself for being so incautious. Then he remembered where he was. He looked down at Hiei who was intensely watching him with a knowing smirk.

"What are you smiling at?" Kurama frowned and almost growled. Hiei looked even more mischievous if possible.

"I out-witted you here, didn't I fox?" He nearly purred in response. The man spoken frowned deeper. This was going no-where.

"Release me." He (now) growled. The spiky haired boy seemed even more delighted that before. This doesn't look good. Usually when Hiei was having fun, the others... well, were not. This proofed to be exactly right.

"No."

"Why not?"

"I haven't worked on my appetite yet." Hiei answered like it was the most common thing. Then he gave that little smile of his that usually made enemies run like the sable-tooth tigers, being suffered a three month no-meat died first, were after them. You can imagine what Kurama was feeling. Especially after the next statement: "Or rather, I have an appetite to satisfy to."

With that he took Kurama's head firmly to his hands, one hand in the neck and other at his slender jaw and leaned to kiss him. Kurama wondered how it all happened because the next minute Hiei's tongue was almost in his throat and the kiss was deeper, more rough and more passionate than the two- no, three previous. He really didn't want to give Hiei this much courage - it seemed he got more every time they kissed - so since his head was jammed, he decided to bit the shorter demon. Hiei got away quick enough, but Kurama didn't expected him to smile widely (Hiei-widely) back.

"I thought you'd come up with something like that..." He said slowly smirking all the way. Kurama would have looked away in dismiss if his head wasn't in those strong hands still. He got the chance when the fire demon took them away, but was then alarmed of the next move Hiei might think of that he forgot.

"Well let see what do we have here..." Hiei's gaze moved to Kurama's torso along with his hands and the red-head beauty's absolutely terrified eyes.

"Don't you dare." Kurama said with a low voice when he realized what was going to happen next.

"I just want to know how much restrain you got." Said Hiei almost innocently, that is if he would just knew how. There was not a drop of innocence in that angelic face of his. Then Hiei bluntly ripped Kurama's shirt off, while the rosy lips of the fox silently protested at the waist. Now he had to buy a new one. And he so liked that colour.

But it seemed he wasn't only one to like something he looked. Hiei was transfixed to stare the beauty's perfect body. Not too thin, not too muscular and perfectly tanned to give a healthy colour. The fire demon slowly drew his hands down the firm dunes.

"Hiei... Stop!" Kurama whispered but couldn't repress the slight shiver that went through his spine. He didn't want to see what would happen next, so he closed his eyes and prepared to be quiet. He could turn Hiei down in his mind, but he could tell that his body wasn't able to do the same. Not with absolutely nothing between him and Hiei's – lips!

With a start Kurama opened his eyes and gasped for breath as he felt hot kisses at his torso. He wasn't quite so prepared for the effect those kisses had on him. As the spiky haired head rounded the kisses and licks around his nipples, he just couldn't stop a soft moan escape from his mouth. He could feel Hiei smile in his skin and continue.

Kurama was soon getting panicked. If Hiei wouldn't stop and soon, he might just find out that Kurama's body was cooperating with this a bit too well. The fox-spirited man could feel the arousal tightening his (thank god already) tight jeans and his breath getting more shallow at the minute. And when he was just finishing his prayer to Inari-sama, Hiei was on his mouth giving yet another kiss, which he could do, oh, so well. Kurama though of getting the attention with it from the lower part of his body and didn't resist at all. Just then Hiei pulled away slightly, smirking like a salesman after selling a broken vacuum-cleaner with a full test-drive report. If he'd just rubbed his hands together, the picture would be perfect.

"I think dinner is about ready," he whispered with the sexiest voice. (A/N: I mean, how more sexy can you be, when you have the face of a sculpture and voice of a sex-maniac and you are looking lustily at your prey with a little disappointment twinkling at your eyes, when you couldn't do it all the way, and mostly with triumph when you know you have made a huge progress? Yes, I'd say that's quite sexy.)

"Shuu-kun!" Came a voice downstairs.

"Y-Yes, mother!" Kurama yelled after he got over the initial shock.

"Would you and Hiei-san wash your hands? Dinner is almost ready!"

"Of course, mother! We'll be right there!"

"You too Shuichi-kun!" Shiori yelled at Kurama's step-brother. Kurama ignored any more of the yelled conversation between his mother and little brother, composed himself quickly and turned his attention back to Hiei and gave him a steady questioning look.

"I sensed her coming," Hiei explained simply with a shrug. Kurama gave him a looooong look, before answering with a sigh.

"I'm referring to my… restrains. And the fact that you are still sitting on top of me," he said. They looked at each others a while, intense red orbs in soft green ones.

"Well?" Kurama broke the silence.

"What?"

"Would you release me? I can't get off of these on my own you know," said Kurama with a slight duh-voice and added in his mind; 'Without breaking the bed, that is.'

"That was my intention," Hiei answered looking with critical eyes at the fox, tilting his head to his left a little and crossing his arms. A while went pass by.

"Would you release me now, before my mother comes to watch if we have fallen asleep?" Kurama tried to say it politely, but he just couldn't keep the sarcasm from his voice.

"No," Hiei simply answered. "I think I like you this way."

"You what!" Kurama nearly roared but kept his volume in check. Hiei seemed to enjoy the situation whole-heartedly and finally Kurama got enough of his smug act.

"Fine! Don't release me! I'll just call my mother to do so!" he half yelled, half hissed to the over-confident fire demon. Hiei's face crackled almost inconspicuously, but only almost. Kurama did notice.

"You wouldn't," said the man on-top firmly.

"Just watch me! I'll call her and just hope she doesn't have a heart-attack when she sees me in bed, with another man, in my room! Tied up! And that other man being none other than our guest! But then again I will never need to see you again, because after this she wouldn't let you near me, let alone in my room, or in the house, or in this dimension!"

Kurama was now very angry at Hiei. He wasn't even sure why was he so heated from some kissing, but the smug smirk on Hiei's face and the confidence that he wouldn't make a sound and just would go along and let him do what he wanted was just too much for Kurama. He could take physical assault almost over his living limit, but this was an outright offence at The Great Thief Youko Kurama! To be held captive and silent and willing by only a mere fear –!

There weren't enough words… He was just mad. And dead-serious. Fortunately Hiei seemed to notice that pretty quickly. And almost hurriedly started to undo the knots.

Soon Kurama was free and Hiei leaped off the bead and stood next to it with a blank expression on his face. The fox massaged his wrists and sat up. He looked at his torn shirt and gave a glare to the fire demon, before getting up and walking to his closet. There he took a white collar-shirt and pulled it on.

"I suggest you go wash your hands now," said Kurama silently, but didn't look at Hiei. When he finished with the buttons and turned, water was herd flowing in the bathroom and the fire demon was nowhere to be seen. Good. Finally he listens to me. Was about time he realized I'm serious. With that thought Kurama went to the bathroom also to wash. Hiei was standing in front of the sink and watching the water flow. When the redhead entered he turned to him, with almost a puzzled look, frowning.

"Why do humans wash their hands before eating?" he asked from Kurama. He would have laughed at the accusation on Hiei's voice if he wouldn't be that angry. Actually, he realized, he wasn't that angry any more. But decided to let Hiei have it. Pretending to be angry. That would even help him in his plan on being cold.

"Hiei, it's more hygienic that way. And it's not just water." He walked to the sink, wet his hands and applied some soap. "You use soap also. It gets rid of the dirt in your hands." He rubbed his hands and then washed the foam out. Hiei followed doing exactly the same and then dried his hands in a towel as the taller man had done. Then Kurama leaved Hiei to look and sniff suspiciously at his hands. Soon he followed and they walked downstairs to dinner.

Kurama and Hiei walked to the kitchen, where Shiori was fussing around the dinner. The rice was cooked, the meat was ready, vegetables steamed and the dressing was in good hands of the human woman. She was slowly stirring it and waiting patiently it to be ready when the two walked in. She smiled warmly at her son, who returned the smile and came to hug her.

"Shuu dear, you really didn't need to change just for this," she noted tenderly when she noticed the white shirt instead of the green one. Shiori could've sworn that her son's cheeks got a faint trace of blush but he only continued to smile at her.

"You do notice everything, don't you mother," Kurama answered little uncomfortably, but looked at his mother in the eye. Before any answer though, he continued.

"Can I help you in any way?" he said. Well this is odd. Shiori thought. He usually tends to the guest first before any helping... My son never forgets his guests. Unless he's doing so in purpose... But that's impossible. Not my son. So, she was slightly concerned. And that blush...

"Shuu-kun, are you all right?" she asked frowning a little and extended a hand to his forehead. Kurama only smiled and let the tender hand to touch him.

"No, I'm fine, mother. Why wouldn't I be?" he answered. Shiori could almost detect a trifle of sarcasm at her son's voice, but that couldn't be it, now could it?

"Well you are a little warm, dear," she said hesitantly. "And you seem a little flushed. I think you are coming down on something. Are you sure you feel okay?"

Kurama tried hard not to blush any more and carefully avoided to look at Hiei, who he just knew was smirking at his mother's comments. 'Yes. Well, mother. Hiei just sexually harassed me upstairs, so that's why I'm a little red.' That would work like a charm…

"I feel fine, mother. I have never been sick in my whole life; I'm not going to start now. But maybe I'm a little hungry?" he added teasingly. Shiori laughed at this, forgetting her worry. I guess I'm just imagining things, she thought.

"Well, you could set up the table, if you insist, dear. And perhaps call Shuichi down too. He's playing those video-games again and doesn't seem to notice anything else."

"Or course, mother," Kurama smiled and turned to Hiei.

"You can sit down, while I put up the table," he said smiling, but Shiori frowned again. This really wasn't her son, not at all. She really didn't know how to but it, but he seemed almost rude. And Shuichi is never rude, she thought. Well, maybe he's coming down on something, but doesn't want to worry me and that's why he's acting weird. This made her smile to herself. He's always such a darling. Well, I hope Hiei-san understands.

In his back, Kurama could feel the strange looks his mother kept on casting, but really couldn't help it. Being civil with Hiei and cold at the same time, and of course not letting his mother notice the tone, was actually really hard. He could treat the fire demon like a stranger, but then his mother would wonder. He had introduced him as a friend, after all. On the other hand, if he treated Hiei normally, the fire demon could get… ideas. He shivered at the thought. But then again… After tonight, Kurama didn't have to see Hiei ever again, except for business, maybe. Perhaps he could treat the short-tempered boy nicely tonight. But just for tonight. He relaxed at the thought and went on setting the table. Hiei, surprisingly, had obeyed and had sat down.

When he was done with the table he walked upstairs excusing himself first. He headed for his brothers room and knocked it gently.

"Yes!" was a hasty answer from inside.

"Shuichi-kun, the food is ready. Come down to eat."

"In a moment!" Again hastily. Kurama frowned and opened the door. After all, he had knocked. The redhead saw his step-brother staring intensely at a TV screen and holding a joy-stick at his hands with a deep concentration frowned at his face. Kurama smiled. It was nice to have a little brother, even if it was just another danger for him. He could get the more easily blackmailed, but it really didn't matter as long as he could protect both of his mother and brother. Which reminded him of his short-breathed run this afternoon from school. He had to get some training done.

"Shuichi-kun," he said again.

"Shuichi-niichan," was a calm response, but with no eye-contact. The screen was more important.

"Those things have little buttons called 'save' and 'pause', if you didn't know."

"Well, I'm surprised that you do," came a slightly sarcastic answer.

"I do much more that school," Kurama answered quietly and not lying one bit.

"Like what?" the brother asked, but again no eye-contact.

"Nothing, nothing" Kurama dismissed with a little wave of his hand and a head-shake. "Why don't you stop now and come to dinner? Our guest is probably starving by now."

"I can't! I'll lose my 'mood'," Shuichi whined.

"'Mood'?" Kurama asked, slightly amused.

"Yes! I'm on a row now. And I'm just about to pass the second stage. If I stop now, I'll never pass it!" he said. Kurama sighed.

"Fine. I'll do it for you, after dinner."

"Really! You'd do that! You know how!" This time, the first eye-contact. This was interesting.

"After dinner, Shuichi," Kurama said firmly. Shuichi quickly saved and happily put the joy-stick down, and scrambled up.

"So, you said something about a guest? Someone I know?" the little brother inquired from his bigbrother.

"No. He's a friend of mine," Well, an ex-friend. "…or more like a colleague. His name is Hiei."

"Hiei? That's a weird name," with that they were downstairs and Kurama sweatdropped. Hiei was clenching a fist under the table; he had heard the comment. Fortunately, no-one else noticed.

They all settled for the dinner and took some rice, meat, steamed vegetables and the sour-cream sauce. Then like from one mouth they all said: "Itadakimasu!"

Though, Hiei only mouthed it, like really saying nothing.

They all ate in silence, time to time Shiori or Shuichi telling something about their day, but eventually getting more and more quiet, when Kurama didn't answer properly, muttering only something like: 'Oh, really' or 'I see'. Kurama was just too tired to put up a good act and only thought of the evening to end. Hiei obviously didn't talk at all. Well, except when he was done after two more servings. Kurama was only on his first way of rice - he really didn't have that much of an appetite - and almost chocked, when Hiei spoke.

"Excuse me Mrs. Minamino," he started. "But could I ask you something?" he said with the most polite voice. Shiori looked up a little surprised, but soon she smiled to the quiet boy.

"Please, call me Shiori, dear. Now what do you want to ask?"

"Well I know this sounds too much, but I was hoping I could ask to stay at your house for a month," Hiei said clearly. Kurama dropped his chop-sticks. Shiori decided to ignore her son's clumsiness.

"Well, this certainly is unexpected. Why so suddenly and why for a whole month? Don't you have school?" Shiori inquired from the boy.

"Well, I don't have school. I'm already... um... graduated. I'm on a leave from my work, which is quite far away as is my home, and I was hoping to spend the holiday with Ku— your son here. And most of my friends live here too, including my sister. It really isn't necessary, though. I can always stay in a hotel," he ended dismissively. Kurama bit his lip. You can say that Makai is quite far, all right, he thought bitterly. This is something mother can't pass up. Damn! When did he come up with this! And the fox was right.

"Oh, no! Or course you can stay here," Shiori breathed. "This was just so sudden. We haven't prepared the guest-room or anything yet."

"Well, I would have spent the time in my sister's house, but there just wasn't any room. So I thought of coming here. You son is a very good friend and I knew I could trust on him," Hiei glanced at Kurama mischievously and smiled a little. Kurama was fuming. Was Hiei really going to spent the whole month in here, in his house! Like Yukina didn't have any room, don't make me laugh. She lives in a temple! With only Genkai! And since when had Hiei knew anything about hotels? Or 'graduating'?

Then the answer hit him; Keiko. This was obviously a planned thing. No wonder it seemed like a rehearsed speech.

Shiori melted at this comment. Her son was such a great person. She turned to him.

"Why haven't you told that Hiei-san was having trouble finding a place to stay?" she asked like she was hurt at the matter that her son wasn't confiding with her.

"I really didn't know that myself, mother. I just heard about it," he answered calmly acting slightly sheepish, but his fist clenched harder at his knee. He placed his chop-sticks back down beside his half eaten rice; he wasn't hungry anymore.

"But are you sure you wont be bored?" Shiori asked Hiei in concern. "I have my work, my husband is coming only after a week and Shuichi is in school. Are you sure you don't want to go somewhere else?"

"Absolutely. My other friends have no room also, so this is my last option. And your son is the only one going still school, so I'm spending the leaving time with them and my sister. But this really isn't necessary. I'll just go into a hotel, so I won't be a bother."

"No, you mustn't! You must let me have this honour of having one of Shuichi's friends here, when he finally brings one to home. Please, do stay in here. I'm just afraid that the guest-room's cleaning will take at least two days, so you'll have to stay in Shuichi's room for the time being. I'm sure he wouldn't mind, right dear?" Shiori looked tenderly to her son, who was having some trouble with his drink. Kurama coughed hard and couldn't stop, when he heard what his mother had just said. He and Hiei in the same room for two days! He just shook his head to his mother and coughed few times more. Hiei was, of course, enjoying all the way. That bastard… The redhead thought.

"Is it okay with you, Hiei-san?" Shiori inquired from Hiei.

"Of course," the boy answered to her before turning to look at Kurama in the eye. "It's no problem. At all," he said with a half-smirk, which Shiori misprinted as a smile. Kurama moaned in his thoughts.

How the hell was he going to get out of this one!