Kurama made his way up the stairs, his heart thudding in his chest loudly.

"I'll just say it, then it's out and we can deal with it," he murmured under his breath, "no reason to drag this out and make us both feel foolish."

It really was a noble idea, but Kurama knew from many personal experiences that the best laid plans rarely come to fruition. He was almost certain this would be one of those times.

Hiei was standing, arms crossed starring out the window waiting when Kurama finally arrived.

"Quite the ordeal tonight, eh?" Kurama asked, for lack of better conversation starters.

"Nothing especially important," Hiei replied still looking away. Kurama began to wonder if this was really the right time. He needed something to inspire him.

"Well give me your shirt and I'll toss it in the wash," he suggested, feeling his face warm, but refusing to give in this time.

"Fine," the smaller demon replied and pulled the black cloak off, finally turning to face the anxious kitsune. Kurama eyed his small frame excitedly. Still there was something blocking his view.

"There's some blood on the other one also, might as well take care of both right now," Kurama said holding out his hand for Hiei's blue shirt. Hiei blinked, but otherwise gave no indication of finding this strange, he didn't even check for himself to see if there was in fact blood on his undershirt. This alone inspired Kurama that maybe, just maybe his little friend had some idea where this was going, and was okay with it.

"I'm gonna toss these in real quick, don't go anywhere," Kurama said, suddenly feeling more brave.

"Where would I go?" Hiei asked, but Kurama had already left the room. He crossed his arms again, the fox was up to something, of that he was sure.

Kurama returned and quickly sat down on his bed.

"Where are my clothes?" Hiei asked nervously.

"I told you I was putting them in the wash, they will be done later," Kurama replied. Although Kurama was accustomed to doing his own laundry, to keep his mother from worrying, when he cleaned Hiei's stuff for him he generally only did so by hand so his mother never wondered why he was doing laundry at night. Somehow he thought it was more suspicious.

"I suppose I'll have to wait around for them then."

"Yes, they won't take long," Kurama replied, although he wasn't entirely sure that had been a question.

Hiei continued standing with his arms crossed over his bare chest. Kurama glanced over at him, taking in his soft muscular curves. His eyes moved upward till they met with Hiei's red amber gaze.

"Are you injured?" Hiei asked suddenly. Knocking Kurama entirely out of his trance as well as confusing him.

"What?"

"Are you injured or afflicted in some way?"

"No, I'm fine."

"Your behaving oddly, and you look as though you might be poisoned."

Kurama breathed deeply, Hiei had no idea how very near the truth he was. He looked down at his feet trying to put together what to say.

"I do not sense any additional demonic aurora," Hiei continued glancing around.

Kurama stood finally and faced him. His eyes making their way up Hiei's body again until at last they met his eyes once more.

"My affliction comes from no outside source I'm afraid, it is nothing to be battled away," Kurama said finally. Hiei gazed back at him, and Kurama realized he had his full attention now.

"The truth is Hiei, there is something I've been needing to say to you, but it's not easy and I'm a little concerned about how you'll take it," he paused waiting for any kind of retort, but Hiei merely stood watching him.

"Since I met you in this world I've felt a very strong connection to you, which has grown as we've worked together," Kurama frowned, "Wait, this isn't how I want to say this."

"Say what?" Hiei looked confused. Which unfortunately for him was very cute. It was now all or nothing.

"I'm in love with you," Kurama blurted out.

"Hn?" Hiei's eyes widened.

Unable to resist any longer Kurama rushed forward and threw his arms around his beloved. Hiei stiffened immediately, but Kurama didn't have time to notice he leaned down so their lips could meet and kissed Hiei deeply, the way he had imagined he would, the way he had been dreaming of for as long as he could remember knowing the tiny youkai, the way he needed to be kissed himself.

Kurama was so caught up in the moment, his moment that he was caught entirely off guard when Hiei shoved himself free and stood there looking furious. Kurama blinked not sure how the much smaller demon had escaped him.

"What are you... Why... Dammit!" Hiei stammered. Kurama had never seen him so confused and possible angry at the same time.

"I had to tell you Hiei, I couldn't live with myself if I didn't," Kurama pleaded taking a step closer to his friend.

Hiei's eyes darted around frantically searching for his sword, the next instant he had it pointed purposefully at the kitsune. Kurama noticed he was shaking, something he had never seen Hiei do before.

"Hiei-kun I'm... I'm sorry," Kurama blinked hoping the sword would lower, but it didn't.

"What are you trying to do to me? What do you want from me?" Hiei asked loudly. He wasn't shouting yet and for that Kurama was grateful, he didn't need the neighbors asking questions.

"I was just being honest with you, I don't expect anything from you that you aren't willing to give I swear," Kurama pleaded. His attention wasn't on the sword at all, but on his friend and the look of disgust on his small round face. Kurama could feel a seeping wetness in the corner of his eye. This was not how this was supposed to go.

"Is this some sort of game Fox? Thought it would be fun to screw with me?"

"It's not a game, It's how I feel."

"It's wrong."

Kurama sighed, "when you have lived as long as I have you learn to accept that caring for someone is not wrong."

"I'm not someone to care for Fox," Hiei said, quieter now, the tip of his sword lowering slightly.

"I love you," Kurama whispered.

"No!" Hiei raised the sword again, but it wasn't an attack stance, it was purely defensive. Kurama saw this and took a step back.

"I won't hurt you," Kurama said trying to calm the fire demon. He hadn't seen Hiei afraid much and it was painful to know that he was the one causing it.

"Ha! As if I'd let you, as if I'll ever let you near me again," Hiei spat.

"Don't say that, don't push me away now."

"Stupid baka, what did you expect?"

What had he expected? Kurama wasn't even sure himself now. Of course he had worried Hiei might reject him, tell him that he didn't love him, maybe even be a little irritated and quiet towards him for a while till the shock wore off. If there hadn't been some part of him that believed Hiei might accept his feelings he would never have risked it. If he hadn't believed in his heart that Hiei was just as lonely as he was here and wanted someone to be with he would have just let it go. He still believed that.

"I didn't expect to frighten you with it," Kurama answered slowly.

"How dare you? Do I look frightened Fox? I could kill you before you could even see me move."

"But you haven't."

"Is that a challenge?"

"It wouldn't be a fair fight, I could not intentionally harm someone I care for."

"Hn, Liar!"

"It's true, I never meant to hurt you, I thought we were close enough now that I could tell you the truth."

"There is no truth here, you are trying to deceive me."

"Is that what you are so afraid of?"

"I'm not afraid."

"Then put down your sword," Kurama said, he sat back down on the bed. He knew he would look less threatening this way.

"I'm leaving."

"Hiei wait, just talk to me."

"You'd like that I bet, want me to pour my soul out to you? Tell you all my fear and troubles? Forget it Fox that's not how I am."

"I don't want you to be anything other than yourself, but I'm not sure you accept who you really are."

"Think I'm like you? That I have feelings and care about others so they can stab me in the back? It's weak."

"You are not weak Hiei-kun, but neither am I and I do care deeply for you."

"Give me back my clothes," Hiei ordered.

"They are still wet, It will take a little longer for them to dry."

"Fine keep them, they are tainted now anyway." Hiei moved toward the window.

"Hiei wait, you can borrow something of mine, there's a chill tonight and I know fire demons don't like the cold."

"Do not act like you know me," Hiei said, pausing while Kurama dug a t-shirt out of his dresser.

"Don't speak as though I don't," Kurama retorted, now feeling a little insulted. He tossed the shirt at Hiei.

The fire demon pulled the shirt over his head quickly and jumped out the window. Kurama rushed over and looked down to the ground below where his friend had landed.

"Hiei I'm sorry," he called down, but got no response as the fire demon flitted away into the night. Kuramatossed himself over his bed sobbing quietly. Things had definitely not gone the way he had hoped.