Once home Kurama decided to make up for some lost time the past week and helped his mother around the house. She was, of course, delighted to see her son behaving normally. They ate dinner together, which they hadn't done in awhile, then watched some television together.

Kurama's ear twitched slightly when he heard an almost inaudible thud from his bedroom. He glanced at the clock, it was still early. Smiling he grabbed another handful of popcorn from the bowl resting between him and his mother.

Roughly an hour later, after the final interesting program had ended his mother said she was going to bed, and reminded her son he had promised to go to bed early as well. Kurama smiled and reassured her that he was on his way to his room. Turning off the TV and putting the bowl in the sink he made his way to the bathroom. He could fully sense Hiei's aura now and it was making him anxious. He brushed his teeth and smoothed back his long red hair, it had a wild beauty around it that he refused to tame completely, it reminded him too much of his Yoko life and he didn't want to lose that.

Closing the door behind him as he exited his eyes locked on the door to his own room. It was firmly shut, and this only made him more anxious of what he would find once it was opened. He took a few deep breaths to collect himself. He needed to be very careful now or his plan would be ruined. He was now sure that his first attempt had not been the great mistake he had first assumed it was, rather is was merely the beginning of something long overdue.

As he turned the knob he heard a scuffle on the other side, bringing the door open he could just make out Hiei's image in the darkness. Kurama stepped inside and pulled the door shut behind him, taking another quick breath he turned on the light.

Hiei blinked furiously from the other side of the room. Kurama noticed the blankets on the bed were slightly tossed. Hiei must have been sitting there waiting for him.

"About time you came up here, I was about to leave," Hiei growled.

"I was busy," Kurama replied, his tone cool and calm.

"Here's your shirt," Hiei muttered tossing it at Kurama. The kitsune caught it easily and examined it closely. It looked really wrinkled.

"What happened to it?"

"Hn?"

Kurama caught Hiei's eye twitch slightly. If it had been anyone else he would have dismissed it as nothing.

"Never mind."

"Am I free to go now?"

"Not yet, you haven't told me where I'll be able to find you."

"Fox I don't want to play this game with you right now," Hiei sighed.

Kurama crossed his arms in front of his chest.

"I'm not the one who's been playing games Hiei, I've been honest with you from the start, I trusted you and cared about you," Kurama inhaled deeply, "and I still do."

"I NEVER asked for any of THAT!" Hiei said sharply his voice rising.

Kurama darted across the room and clapped a hand over the youkai's mouth quickly.

"SHHhhhhhh," He hissed. They stood that way for a few seconds to make sure Kurama's mother hadn't heard them. Kurama dropped his hand slowly and Hiei pulled away.

"Sorry, but you need to be quieter," Kurama scolded gently.

"I'm leaving," Hiei said turning towards the window.

"No your not!" Kurama grabbed Hiei forcefully by his good arm and snapped him back towards the bed. Hiei's eyes widened in shock as he stood defensively against his teammate.

"What do you think your doing Fox?" He breathed.

"I'm not going to live like this Hiei, I can't, not with the way things are between us," Kurama murmured.

"What do you plan to do then Kurama? Going to kill me? Put an end to your suffering?" Hiei's hand rested on his katana.

"Don't be ridiculous, I just need to ask you something, and I need you to answer me honestly," Kurama replied, "think you can do that for me?"

"What makes you think I'd do anything for you?"

"Why don't you want me to love you?"

"Like I need a reason," Hiei smirked.

"Answer me Hiei," Kurama said firmly.

"You know why."

"It has nothing to do with feelings being a weakness. If you hated me for having a weakness you'd hate me for being partially human, but you don't you've always accepted me. Yusuke and Kuwabara accept me as Kurama, but they don't really know the full extent of what I was like as Yoko Kurama and they never will, but you do and you still accepted me like this."

Hiei stiffened at this, Kurama could feel a flood of emotion rising up, but he forced it back down, at least for now, he needed to keep his senses sharp.

"You trusted me Hiei-kun, I know you did, I've held your life in my hands and entrusted mine to yours in the past more than I want to admit, and all the while my feelings for you grew. I don't believe that in all that time you've felt nothing for me?"

"That is all I can feel," Hiei growled.

"Why?"

"Do you need me to spell it out for you Fox? You know what I am. You know what I've done. Do you think someone like me has any place in them for affection?"

Kurama was a little surprised by the suddenness of the outburst. Hiei glared at him his breathing becoming more labored.

"Why do you keep making me do this? Why can't you just leave me alone?" Hiei said, his voice was harsh, but there was a sad pleading in his eyes that made Kurama's heart feel sick.

"Your not a bad person Hiei," Kurama said softly.

"Ha, I'm not a person at all am I Fox? I'm merely a thing, to be controlled and manipulated and cast aside."

"That's not true."

"You're a shitty liar Kurama," Hiei said he closed his eyes and slumped down on the bed.

"You never answered my question," Kurama pressed taking a step towards Hiei. The youkai didn't respond, he remained motionless on the bed leaning forward eyes shut tightly.

"It's okay sweetheart you don't have to," Kurama whispered placing his hand on Hiei's shoulder.

Hiei's eyes opened and he gazed right back into Kurama's emeralds.

"It's not something you could understand," Hiei said. The words were harsh, but the edge was gone from his voice, the fight had left him.

"You're wrong Hiei-kun, I understand and I forgive you, even if you can't forgive yourself."

Kurama wanted with every fiber of his being to put his arms around Hiei and hold him and take away all the pain he saw in his friends eyes. He had not realized how difficult this would really be on Hiei, and part of him was regretting putting him through this.

"I do not deserve forgiveness Fox, you have no idea what I've done, what I really am. If you did maybe you'd have some sense and stay away from me," Hiei looked down again eyes closed tight.

Kurama knelt down in front of Hiei gazing up at his face. He looked so sad, so desperate, it made Kurama's heart ache, especially since he knew that the suffering he saw was only a trace of what lay beneath. Hiei wasn't about to let his emotions show so easily.

"I still love you."

"Stop saying that."

"It's true Hiei-kun, I love you and I always will. When I look at you I don't see the things you've done or who you try to be, I see who you are inside. The you that you don't even see."

"What are you talking about?"

"You have no idea how valuable you are Hiei, you've spent your whole life thinking you were worthless and when I told you how I felt you couldn't handle it."

"Kurama stop," Hiei winced his eyes clenching with each word. Kurama rested his hand on Hiei's knee.

"Shh, it's okay Hiei, I understand. You pushed me away because you didn't think you deserved to be loved, but you were wrong because I do love you."

Hiei's eyes snapped open, "why are you doing this?"

"I couldn't keep letting you hurt yourself, isolating yourself from those who care for you. I can see how much pain your in and it kills me."

Hiei sat silently taking in the kitsune's words. He looked up into Kurama's eyes again and saw the love there. He had never known love before, not when it was directed at him, seeing it for the first time was confusing. Even more confusing was his reaction to it, he leaned in trying to look deeper into those big green eyes.

"I don't want to hurt anymore," he admitted. He immediately looked away, shocked at himself for saying that out loud. What was wrong with him?

"I know Sweetheart, it's okay."

"I can not be what you want Kurama, we both know it. I don't want to play games anymore either, but I can't pretend to be something I'm not, even to make you happy."

"You already are what I want Hiei, and someday you'll see yourself the way I see you and you'll understand that."

"What if I never do?"

"I'll help you."

"What if you're wrong and there really is nothing in me to love? What will you do then?"

"Why are you so afraid to let me love you?"

"Because... someday you won't."

Now it was Kurama's turn to stiffen. He stood up and sat beside Hiei on the bed looking forward.

"Is that really what you think?"

"That's what happens."

"Not always."

"Not if you don't let it, that's what I've been trying to tell you."

Kurama put his arm around Hiei pulling him close along his side. He rested his head against Hiei's soft hair.

"I'm not giving up on you."

"I've got to go."

Kurama shifted and released the youkai. Hiei stood and started to make his way to the window.

"Hiei," Kurama broke the silence. Hiei stopped and turned slowly, he looked tired his red eyes faded and weak.

Kurama scooped up the shirt Hiei had brought back earlier and tossed it to his friend. Hiei caught it and sent a confused gaze at the kitsune.

"Keep it for now, until you come back again."

Hiei looked at Kurama a moment longer then turned and jumped out the window, the shirt still clenched in his hands as he darted off into the darkness.

>I'll be honest I really thought this was the end, but I guess they weren't finished yet, stay tuned.>