The next morning Kurama opened his eyes slowly savoring the sight of the small youkai snuggled in the bed beside him. Forgetting everything about the horrors of the previous day Kurama was content to just lay there watching Hiei sleep.
It was truly the most at peace he had ever known Hiei to be. His small features relaxed, his lips parted slightly as he breathed. Kurama was lost in observing the features of his beloved, always glad for the opportunity to study him more closely. A sudden knock at his bedroom door caused him to snap into a sitting position.
"Shuichi, are you awake?" Shiori's voice asked from the other side of the door.
Hiei's eyes went wide when Kurama jumped and now he too was sitting up glaring at the door. Kurama gave him a quick shove pushing the lighter boy off the bed. Hiei hit the floor with a soft thud just as the door opened.
"Shuichi dear did I wake you?"
"No Mother I was about to get up."
"Ah good, I just wanted to tell you I'm going to be having breakfast with a friend then doing someshopping so I might be gone most of the day. Do you need anything while I'm out?"
"No thank you Mother."
She started to close the door then stopped.
"Shuichi?"
"Yes Mother?"
"Try to get home earlier tonight, it is a school night."
"I will Mother, sorry if I worried you."
Shiori smiled at her son and his tussled red hair. Always so wild in the mornings. She closed the door and her footsteps disappeared down the stairs. Hiei slowly stood up from the other side of the bed. Luckily he'd been sleeping on the side nearest the window so while he was on the floor the bed had kept him hidden.
The boys sat in silence a moment longer until they heard the front door shut and lock, then Kurama laughed. Hiei looked at him like he was crazy.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing really," Kurama chuckled, "just that I've often imagined hiding you up here and wondered what would happen if she ever checked on me in the middle of the night."
"You could have locked the door Fox," Hiei said crossing his arms.
"If I had known you were here when I came in last night I would have."
Hiei's face flushed red, then returned to normal so quickly Kurama almost wondered if it had just been a trick of the light.
"We should go to Koenma now," Hiei said quickly changing the subject. Kurama smiled inwardly at this. He loved seeing the shy side of his friend.
"The others won't be there for a bit, we could have some breakfast first."
"I guess that's okay."
Kurama got up, still clad only in boxers and t-shirt and lead his youkai downstairs to the kitchen. Hiei sat at the counter looking around while Kurama cooked some pancakes. He paused once in the process to reach over and fluff up Hiei's hair playfully. Hiei brushed Kurama's hand away with his own, but didn't jerk away from the persistent kitsune.
When the pancakes were ready Kurama proudly set the plate in front of Hiei. The fire demon eyed the plate suspiciously.
"What is it?"
"Yummy," Kurama smiled and handed Hiei some syrup. Hiei still looked skeptical so Kurama dumped syrup over his plate and took a bite. Resigned Hiei finally put a drop of syrup on his own plate and took a small bite. His eyes widened slightly and he studied the pancakes again. Reaching for the syrup he started pouring it over the plate until Kurama reached over and gently took the syrup bottle away from him smiling.
After breakfast Kurama cleaned the dishes while Hiei watched.
"We have time for a quick shower," Kurama said offhandedly.
"Together?" Hiei gulped.
"Only if you insist," Kurama purred.
"I never said."
"I'm just teasing you sweetheart," Kurama cut him off.
"Pesky Fox," Hiei growled realizing he had fallen into that trap.
"You wanna go first?"
"Where will you be if I do?"
"I'll wait for you out here, I have some chores to tend to."
"Alright."
Kurama lead Hiei upstairs and got a fresh towel for him. After showing him how to work the water and adjust the temperature he took his leave.
"I'll be waiting," he said with a smile as he closed the door behind him. Kurama glanced at a clock, and frowned. He wasn't looking forward to what they would have to do today. Confronting Botan and Koenma would be stressful enough under better circumstances, but with all the confusion from the previous day he knew it would especially trying.
He glanced up from his tidying as Hiei entered the room, his hair was still wet from the shower and hung lower than usual especially around his eyes. It was almost too adorable for Kurama to bear. He gazed lovingly at his friend.
"What?" Hiei asked clearly confused.
"You really are very cute Hiei-kun."
"Hn?" Hiei's eyes widened.
"I'd better go get ready, we have to leave soon," Kurama said quickly, it was his turn to change the subject. He grabbed a towel and took off to the bathroom leaving a very flustered looking fire demon standing in his bedroom.
Once Kurama was dressed and ready they set out to the meeting place.
"They are going to ask where you were," Kurama said looking ahead as he walked.
"Let them."
"Hiei you have to tell them something."
"I couldn't find you so I waited, that's all that happened."
"Yeah, but what if they ask why you've been acting so strange."
"I think they have more important things to concern themselves with."
"I do hope so."
They continued the rest of the way in silence, eventually arriving at the alley where Kuwabara and Yusuke had just arrived.
"Hiei, where the hell have you been?" Yusuke demanded.
"I'm sorry detective did you miss me?" Hiei asked with a smirk. Kurama frowned slightly, he wished Hiei wouldn't try to pick a fight now.
"You've got some explaining to do shrimp," Kuwabara said loudly from Yusuke's side.
"I think we should make our way to Koenma now, no doubt he will be waiting for us to check in," Kurama said trying to defuse the situation.
Yusuke grumbled something under his breath, but pulled out his communicator and pushed a button, to their surprise Botan appeared to open the portal. She still looked pale, but otherwise okay.
"I'm glad you're all here," she said her voice lacking its usual chipper tone.
"Botan they got you working already? Are you okay?" Yusuke asked quickly moving to her side.
"I'll be fine, Koenma wants to see you all in his office right away."
"Sure, don't worry Botan we're gonna find the guy who attacked you okay?" Yusuke asked stepping into the portal. Botan said nothing, but cast Kurama a nervous glance as he entered.
'Odd,' thought Kurama, 'she barely looked at Hiei, I thought he was the primary suspect.'
Once inside Koenma's office the boys were seated and Botan moved to stand beside the young ruler.
"I'm glad you could all make it today," Koenma started out, casting a glare at Hiei, "We have important matters to discuss right away. It seems Botan remembered something of her attacker."
Botan cast her glance downwards and Hiei crossed his arms in front of him. Kurama heart beat faster in panic, surely Hiei couldn't have done it.
"Before I blacked out I turned and saw," Botan looked around nervously, "It was Kurama."
Everyone's jaws dropped as they turned to stare at Kurama. Hiei looked shocked as if even he had expected to be named the accused.
"Botan you can't be serious, Kurama?" Yusuke balked.
"No way fox boy would do that," Kuwabara cried out.
Koenma held up his hand for silence. Botan looked into Kurama's eyes, it was then he realized why she had looked at him oddly earlier. She was afraid of him.
"I'm sure it was him," Botan finished before looking downward again.
"Kurama?" Hiei asked raising his eyebrow.
"I didn't to anything to her, I couldn't have," Kurama replied frantically, "her wound was caused by a katana, not a whip."
"I fell and you turned and walked away," Botan said her voice cracking as her eyes filled with tears.
"This is a mistake, I was here with Koenma when you were attacked." All eyes moved to the toddler for confirmation.
"He is correct, he was here with me the whole time you were gone Botan," Koenma said. Kurama sighed relieved.
"Sir I know what I saw," Botan protested.
"I believe I may have an answer for that in just a moment," Koenma said calmly resting his hands on the desk in front of him. Yusuke and Kuwabara kept looking from Botan to Kurama, not sure what was happening. Hiei moved just slightly closer to Kurama's side attracting only the kitsune's attention. Kurama cast him a nervous glance, but Hiei was looking aggravatingly at Koenma and didn't return his look.
"WELL?" Yusuke asked breaking the silence.
"Patience is a virtue Yusuke," Koenma said calmly. Yusuke looked annoyed and was about to say more when the door cracked open.
"Lord Koenma Sir?"
"Yes Cade, come in, your timing is perfect."
"We have the file on the escaped demon that you asked for."
"It's about time, go tell the boys in records that next time I ask for a report I want it immediately."
"Yes sir," Cade chirped and ducked back out of the room.
Koenma opened the file and sighed, "I was afraid of this."
"What is it?" Yusuke asked.
"After hearing Botan's report I put a rush order on this demon's profile. There are so many demons running around that it takes a while for the files to be found and once they are they are rarely complete," Koenma explained.
"So what does it say? Is there another Kurama running around?" Kuwabara asked glancing at the red-haired fox.
"Not at all, it seems that we have a shape-shifter on our hands," Koenma said laying the file down on his desk.
"Sir are you sure?" Botan asked looking flustered.
"I didn't want to suggest the possibility until I knew for sure, but the report confirms it."
"So Kurama is innocent?" Yusuke asked.
"Of course he is," Koenma said. Botan blushed.
"The culprit you are looking for is called Kasai, a cleaver demon with the ability to take the form of anyone he sees," Koenma said, acting as though he had known all along and not just read it a moment before, "He must have used Kurama's form when he attacked you Botan."
"Sir how would he have known what Kurama looked like?" Botan asked.
"I was in the forest earlier that day when I was trying to look for Hiei," Kurama explained. He must have seen me then and took on my form.
"Great then he could look like any of us by now, we all went back to the woods after Botan was attacked to look for him," Yusuke growled.
"That's not true, Hiei wasn't there," Kuwabara butted in, "He wouldn't know what the shrimp looks like yet."
"Your logic is flawed as usual Baka," Hiei snapped, "I spend a great deal of time around the section of forest nearest the town, if he's been hiding around there a few days the chances of him seeing me are very high."
Kurama's attention was drawn to a sudden possibility.
"Koenma, when Kasai takes on a person's form does he also gain their powers?"
"No, he cannot become more powerful simply by changing his form," Koenma replied. Kurama looked saddened by this news. He had hoped there would be an explanation for why he had felt Hiei's aura at the caves.
"Your forgetting Sir," Botan said, "when Kasai takes a form he takes the person's whole form that means that although he won't gain power his spirit energy transforms also, to match his image."
Kurama smiled satisfied and Hiei cast him an 'I told you so' look.
"Why'd you ask that Kurama?" Yusuke asked, "I thought you said you didn't sense any demonic aura at the caves yesterday?"
"No recent aura Yusuke, but I did feel my own aura there, it seemed odd, but I guessed it was from when I had been nearby earlier that day," Kurama said quickly. Lying to cover his previous lie. Still it was a relief to know that Hiei had been telling him the truth after all.
"So what's our next move then?" Yusuke asked, accepting Kurama's weak answer.
"You should inspect those woods more carefully, see if you can find any clue as to what Kasai might be after," Koenma ordered, "He must be apprehended at any cost, as a shape-shifter he can cause considerably more damage then we originally imagined."
They all moved to leave and Botan escorted them to the portal. Yusuke and Kuwabara went through first eager to find a fight. Botan stopped Kurama and frowned.
"I'm sorry I doubted you Kurama," she said.
"Do not worry about it, everyone makes mistakes," Kurama assured her.
"Hiei I'm sorry to you too," Botan said. Hiei ignored her and walked through the portal.
"He says its okay," Kurama said smiling after his silent friend. He stepped through the portal to where the others were waiting.
"If Kasai can look like any of us maybe we need some sort of code so we can tell who is real and who is a demon," Kuwabara said thoughtfully.
"Surely he isn't powerful enough to match your stupidity accurately," Hiei said.
"What? You better watch it Hiei!"
Kurama smiled, it was good to see Hiei acting normally. Well normal for Hiei anyway.
"Actually Kuwabara is right," Yusuke said cutting off the impending argument, "If Kasai looks like one of us, the others need a way to tell who to attack. We don't need any slip-ups."
"Hn, if he tries to take my form I'll kill him myself," Hiei said eyes narrowing.
"Seriously guys we need a password or something," Yusuke said as they neared the forest.
"How about Eikichi?" Kuwabara said excitedly.
"Your cat?" Yusuke asked.
"Sure I'm sure Kasai doesn't know abouther so it would make a great password."
"Well if nobody else has any ideas," Yusuke asked hopefully.
"Great, Eikichi it is," Kuwabara said proudly marching ahead. Hiei rolled his eyes at Kurama who grinned.
The boys grew more serious as they entered the forest. Even in the early afternoon it was darker here because of all the looming trees. Kurama felt the hairs on the back of his neck stick up slightly. He could feel something familiar here, but could not place it.
Hiei noticed Kurama's hesitation and looked at him questioningly. Kurama just smiled at the youkai and moved onward, chiding himself for being foolish. He had no idea what awaited him just beyond the trees.