The next morning Kurama felt just empty, as if all his spirit energy had been drained from him. Apparently his lack of eating a full meal or sleeping through the night for the past few days was catching up with him.

His mother commented that he looked sick and offered to let him stay home. Kurama sighed and said that he had too much to do at school to take a day off. He promised to go to bed earlier that night and took an apple from the bowl on the table to satisfy her that he was eating.

Outside he took one bite then tossed the rest aside. It would have been nice to have a day off, but he knew he would only spend it brooding over Hiei and he didn't want to drown in his own sorrow for a full day. Better to distract himself with school and the inevitable meeting with Koenma later to discuss the previous assignment.

Glancing over his shoulder as he past the side of his house, the side where his bedroom was located he noticed that Hiei's clothes were gone. He wondered if someone had stolen them, though he supposed it couldn't be stealing if they are just laying around unwanted. He briefly acknowledged that it was possible Hiei had come and taken them, but it really didn't matter at this point. That thought no longer gave him any hope that things would be the same between them.

At school the other students fussed over him. Apparently he looked a bit worse then he had realized. His skin pale and his eyes lacking their sharpness and with the hint of darkness under them. At least two teachers asked if he needed to visit the nurse, but he politely refused each time.

In a sad way it made him angry to have so many people caring about him. He didn't want them to, he wanted Hiei to care. Kurama was sitting by a tree at lunch mulling this over. His Yoko logic trying to sooth the part of him that hurt so much.

The times he felt angry lately, with the exception of when he was around Hiei, were caused by people being nice towards him. Why was that making him angry? He knew he should feel glad that so many cared for him and his well being.

But that's just it, I don't want them to care. The thought surprised him, but he felt he was getting somewhere with it so he explored it deeper. Why didn't he want them to care?

Because I don't care about them! He let that one simmer for a second, then shook his head, it wasn't true. He cared about his mother and his teammates, and even to a lesser extent about the other students. That wasn't the real reason their concern made him angry, so what was?

Because I don't deserve it, I messed everything up and it's my own fault I feel so bad... Kurama closed his eyes. That was more true. It wasn't easy to admit, but he had been blaming himself. Why else would he have stopped eating and spend every night since tossing and turning. Who did that harm but him?

So the reason he didn't want them to comfort him was because he was punishing himself, he didn't want to feel better, so he resented them for their efforts. It all made sense to him, so much so that he opened his lunch and took a bite of his sandwich.

It seemed to him that the greater someone's effort at caring about him the more irritated he became, like his mother that morning. While his outward appearance showed no signs of anger he had felt angry at her for interfering. He pondered this while he took a drink.

In a way her concern had been harder to take because he knew how much she cares, ordinarily he felt bad lying to her, but today he had taken satisfaction in deceiving her, going so far as to take the apple when he had no intention of actually eating it. He could have easily said he would eat at school or on the way, but he wanted to trick her.

"So it is true then, we only hurt the ones we love," Kurama breathed starring up into the leaves of the tree. A bell rang, bringing him back to himself. He threw away his food wrappers, the food having been devoured by his impatient stomach. Standing he dusted himself off and went into the school.

Armed with his new insight into how his mind was working he began to formulate a plan.

>almost stopped the chapter here, it's a good stop place, but then it would be way too short, enjoy>

After school Kurama still looked a little too pale and tired, but the sharpness had returned to his emerald eyes. He was in control again, and it felt good.

He walked to the meeting spot, between his school and that of his teammates. Yusuke was already there, possibly because he had not bothered going to his last classes and Kuwabara joined them shortly after.

"Lets give Hiei another minute then we'll go on without him," Yusuke said crossing his arms.

"It's not right, that twerp should be on time, he doesn't even go to school," Kuwabara protested.

They all stood looking around to see if their short companion would be joining them.

"Hey Kurama you okay? You look kinda sick or something, like somebody kicked your cat," Yusuke asked peering at the red haired boy.

"Dammit Urameshi, why would you say something like that? Who would hurt a kitty?" Kuwabara demanded shoving Yusuke.

Yusuke just laughed, "take it easy Kuwabara it's just an expression."

"Yeah well it's not a good one," Kuwabara crossed his arms looking angry.

Kurama smiled, his real smile this time, "I'm fine Yusuke, it's been a long week, but I'll be fine."

Yusuke grinned, "That's what I wanna hear, alright I'm sick of waiting lets go."

He pulled out some funny looking spirit detective device Botan had given him and pushed a button. Botan appeared and opened the portal for them.

"I was waiting for awhile you guys, I was starting to wonder if you were ever gonna be ready," she puffed, "Where's Hiei? Grr if he thinks I'm going to personally track him down and drag him here every time you guys have a meeting..."

"Calm yourself women I'm here," a voice growled from the alley.

Kurama moved through the portal barely hearing Botan scold Hiei for being late again. He had shown up, no turning back now.

The meeting itself went about as to be expected. Yusuke and Kuwabara yelled and complained over being sent to dispatch the pink pests when there were real demons out there. Koenma remained calm and pointed out that he decided who got which mission and that sprites could become very dangerous if left unchecked. Kurama back him on this point, though he did so only to avoid more arguments and not because he actually believed it.

Hiei snickered a few times, especially when Kurama talked, but Kurama ignored him. Even turned to smile at him once just for good measure. Yoko had a plan.

The meeting was almost over and they were turning for the door, when Koenma asked Kurama and Hiei to stay back a minute.

"What do you need to say to them that we can't know?" Yusuke asked.

"Nothing really just something regarding their probation," Koenma replied, his eyes already skimming some paperwork.

Yusuke looked a bit skeptical but finally shrugged and said he'd meet up with them outside. He and Kuwabara left. Kurama frowned, he hadn't counted on this special meeting, he hoped it didn't interfere.

"Now then, as you both know you have been granted probation for your crimes against spirit world on the condition that you serve on Yusuke's team," Koenma proclaimed.

"Yes, that is the agreement," Kurama said.

"Hn," Hiei added.

"Good good, I'm pleased to see we all still understand the terms, now then Hiei I understand you have been straying a bit as of late, making it hard for Botan to find you?" Koenma asked, although it was hardly a real question and as such Hiei felt no need to respond.

"This is dangerously close to being a violation of your probation which I cannot allow. You must be accessible to us at all times, and Kurama since your sentence is linked to his I'm afraid this involves you as well," Koenma laid down the papers he had been looking over and eyed the demons carefully.

"Beginning right now, Hiei you must report in to Kurama so that he knows where you are at all times," Koenma stared at Hiei, "is that understood?"

"Afraid of what I might do left to my own devices?" Hiei asked offhandedly.

"Hmpf, I've seen what you do left to your own devices, I'm more concerned that you'll mess up Kurama's probation with your stupidity." Koenma said firmly, "Kurama do you have any questions?"

"What do I do if Hiei fails to report to me or gives me the incorrect information regarding his whereabouts?"

"You are to report him immediately and he will be captured and sealed in a jail cell for awhile," Koenma said, "if he cannot be trusted to fulfill his end of the agreement then his word isn't worth anything, you will still be able to serve your term with the team and he can serve his out in prison."

"Hn think you could hold me?" Hiei challenged a look of defiance in his eyes that Kurama knew all too well.

"We agree to the terms, come Hiei we're done here," Kurama said grabbing Hiei's shoulder before he could say anything else damaging.

Koenma called his ogre to help him find the next case file as the two exited the room. Hiei jerked away from Kurama and walked ahead of him.

"I should have never agreed to this ridiculous sentence," Hiei growled.

"Well you did, and now I'm stuck with you so you had better do as Koenma instructed," Kurama snapped back, "I'll not ruin my record because of your stubbornness."

"You should have thought of that before you agreed to have your probation tied to mine then," Hiei hissed.

"It was mutually convenient for us both, the sentence is shorter if we served it together," Kurama said, his pace quickening to match Hiei's.

"And you have nothing to do with this new condition?" Hiei asked. Kurama was now walking right beside him.

"This is your fault, if you had been around when you were supposed to none of this would have happened."

"You are the one who wanted to change things Fox, It is not my problem that you did not get the reaction you desired."

"Hiei we need to talk about this, your anger is going to get you into trouble and I'm not sure if I'll be able to save you from it."

"I do not want you to save me Fox, why can you not understand that?"

"I won't let you go to prison just because your angry with me, I won't let you punish yourself like this."

"Ha, is that what I'm doing now? Punishing myself? Over what?"

"I want my shirt back."

"What?" Hiei was honestly confused and stopped walking. Kurama smiled inwardly, he wasn't about to let the youkai take control away from him again.

"The shirt you took with you the other night, I need it back, bring it with you next time you report into me."

"Baka what makes you think I even still have it?" Hiei challenged.

"Bring it with you tonight when you report in, I'll be expecting you then," Kurama gave a short wave over his shoulder as he walked away from Hiei to where Yusuke and Kuwabara were waiting.

Hiei saw the other boys and disappeared in a flash of speed. He didn't want to deal with those fools now.

"What was all that about?" Yusuke asked as Kurama approached the group.

"New stipulation to our probation, Hiei has to let me know where he is at all times," Kurama replied.

"Sounds lame for you," Kuwabara said.

"Where is he going now?" Yusuke asked.

"A small errand, he'll check in again later if he wants to avoid prison time."

"Think he will?"

"I hope so Yusuke," Kurama frowned.

"I'm sure he will, Hiei's not stupid."

"You sure of that Urameshi?" Kuwabara interrupted.

Yusuke grinned and put Kuwabara in a head lock, Kurama smiled as he followed the two wrestling boys out of the alley. He wondered when Hiei would be coming by, he licked his lips nervously, this would not be easy, but his fox cunning told him that this time his plan would not fail.