A/N: Sorry the chapters are running so short in this and my other fics. They just seem to come out that way.

Chapter Four

"Hiei?"

"You look as though you've seen a ghost, fox." Hiei was sitting on Kurama's windowsill as calmly as if he owned it.

"I thought for a moment I had. You could have easily died in the month since I've seen you."

"Well, clearly I didn't."

"Where have you been?" Kurama persisted.

Hiei shrugged. "Here. There."

Kurama frowned. Hiei was clearly not in a talking mood, yet here he was. How to proceed? Kurama decided not to drop the subject. "I was a bit worried. You don't usually stay away for so long without giving me some kind of warning."

"I thought you might be too busy for me."

So it was about Kenrin. "You should know better," Kurama said mildly.

"Well, then, I thought you might be grateful for my absence for a few weeks." Hiei turned to face Kurama head on for the first time in the conversation. "So how is the human lover?"

"I don't have time for this, Hiei," Kurama said bluntly, suddenly irritated. He'd been through too much emotional turmoil already tonight, trying to figure out how he might make things work with Kenrin, to come home and have to face the complications Hiei brought. "If you have something to say, say it."

"I only asked a question."

"He's fine. Kenrin is fine." Kurama ran a hand through his hair. "Hiei--why have you really stayed away for so long? Are you angry with me?"

Hiei shrugged, looking away again. "I think you're being an idiot," he muttered. "But it's not really any of my business."

Kurama stared at him. "In the past, you've always made my relationships your business."

"And maybe I've realized that isn't fair to you. I've got to let you pick on your own. Look, fox," Hiei said, jumping down from the windowsill, "I had to stay away for a few weeks because I had to, and it wouldn't be fair to explain why to you right now. But you know how I feel about you having relationships with humans. There's no need to go back over it. Let's do something."

"Do..."

"Spar. Talk. Walk. Anything. This is my way of saying I missed you, idiot."

Kurama was about to answer, but the phone rang.

Hiei knew he was taking a risk, pretending he didn't care that Kurama was with someone that wasn't him. But he had come to the conclusion over the past weeks that as much as a large part of him wanted to be in Kenrin's position, it wasn't fair to Kurama to bring it up until he was absolutely sure it was what he wanted. It was like Yusuke had said, he couldn't bar Kurama from having any other relationships and yet be unwilling to have one with him himself. But it was hard to pretend he wasn't jealous. All in all Hiei was very glad when the phone rang.

"Hatanaka/Minamino residence... Oh, hello." Kurama looked at Hiei, suddenly flustered. Hiei's eyes narrowed slightly. "Why are you calling so soo... oh. Yes. Yes, I miss you too..."

"Who are you talking to?" Hiei asked, though he had a fair idea who it was.

Poor Kurama was looking more and more flustered. "Kenrin," he whispered to Hiei before turning his attention back to the phone. "What?...Oh, it's just--my friend, he's over here... My friend Hiei..." Kurama listened for a minute, and when he spoke again he sounded cross. "Kenrin, don't be ridiculous. I'm not seeing other people the second your back is turned or anything like that. He just dropped by, and if you hadn't had school tomorrow I wouldn't have even been here and he would have left." Kurama listened for another minute. "It's okay...no, I'm not mad, it's understandable...See you tomorrow. Bye."

Hiei's eyes narrowed further. He hadn't liked the way Kurama's voice got all soft when he said goodbye to Kenrin. Kurama put the phone down and massaged his temples lightly, looking very put-upon. "Oy."

"Keeps you on a tight leash, doesn't he," Hiei couldn't help remarking.

"He was just a little alarmed at hearing a stranger's voice here so soon after he dropped me off," Kurama tried to explain.

"Why is he even calling you so soon? What could he possibly have to say?"

"It's sweet," Kurama defended. "It's a romantic gesture, to say he already missed me. I like it."

Hiei raised his eyebrows. "You didn't seem to like it. You seemed upset."

"Only because I knew you wouldn't understand," Kurama muttered. He sighed. "I like these kinds of gestures, Hiei. I know it's not something you would do or want done but I do. Please try to understand that."

Hiei blinked. Yusuke had been right--Kurama's patience with him was wearing thin. "Okay, fox. Okay."

Kurama crossed his arms, looking out the window. "I can't blame him for being suspicious," he said with a sigh. "I can't exactly explain to him why you're here at any hour of the day or night. Or can I," he added, softer.

Hiei fought down alarm at the thought that Kurama might actually be considering telling Kenrin everything. "Only if you have some dream pollen handy afterwards," he said.

Kurama gave him a wan smile. "Yes." He sighed deeply. "Only then."