Moving into the forest the boys decided they would cover more ground if they split up. Initially into two groups then again further in. Yusuke and Kuwabara nodded silently at their demon companions. They didn't want to make too much noise and alert Kasai to their presence. The human boys moved off to the left into the dense foliage. Hiei and Kurama continued towards the right a bit and deeper into the trees. It was not long before they could no longer hear Yusuke and Kuwabara's footsteps.

"Well this is certainly an unusual turn of events," Kurama whispered breaking the silence.

"Yes, it's really too bad they were not able to tack this onto my permanent record," Hiei muttered.

"Hiei, don't be so hard on them."

"They would all just love the chance to crucify me for something like this." Hiei's face showed no emotion, but Kurama could tell he was still angry at being accused of something he didn't do.

"Honestly Kurama how do you stand it?"

"Stand what?" Kurama was confused by the sudden outburst.

"The very moment something goes awry we are the first to be blamed."

"That's not true."

"Right, I'm the first to be blamed. When your name comes up everyone defends you."

"Hiei, we were concerned, but nobody really thought you would have hurt Botan."

"Of course I would Fox, that's the point."

Kurama raised an eyebrow at this. He could feel Hiei grow warmer as he continued walking beside him. Clearly something was truly bothering him.

"Do you really think I care what they think?" Hiei asked, when Kurama failed to say anything for a few moments.

"You seem to, at least somewhat," Kurama answered cautiously.

"No! It's a waste. Only acting in a way that pleases others is a ridiculous life."

"If you don't care that they suspected you then why are you upset?"

"I told you, I don't give a damn what they think."

Kurama frowned suddenly. He had not meant to let Hiei down so much. No wonder the youkai was so confused about love, Kurama had told him one thing then the first moment of doubt had let himself believe another.

"Hiei-kun, I'm sorry."

"Just let it go Fox."

"No, you deserve an apology."

"Save it, your words cannot change how you think Fox. In a way your the smartest one, you know what I am, you know what I could do."

"But, I also know what you wouldn't do, and you wouldn't harm Botan, or any of us."

"Believe what you will Fox."

Kurama sighed. Why did it always come back to this. The morning had been so wonderful, now it was all coming apart. It seemed like every time he felt himself finally getting closer to Hiei the little fire demon pulled away twice as hard. Kurama took a deep breath, he wasn't going to give up so easily. He stopped walking and starred intently at the youkai. Hiei heard Kurama stop and only walked a few more steps before stopping as well.

"What?" Hiei asked sounding annoyed. He turned slowly and faced the kitsune. Kurama had his hands balled into fists. Slowly he relaxed them and looked intently into Hiei's face.

"I'm sorry I doubted you Hiei, but you make it difficult for me to trust you sometimes."

"Then you shouldn't trust me."

"I love you, I want to trust you."

"I don't want you to."

"Why? Because your such a bad person? Because you've done bad things? Match our sins side by side Hiei I'm no cleaner than you," Kurama said stepping toward the fire demon until he was looking him directly in the eye.

"You will never understand," Hiei said flatly.

"Then make me understand, because I'm not going to stop trying, I'm not going to change how I feel about you."

There was a rustle in the brush from somewhere ahead. Hiei's head jerked in that direction and he cursed under his breath at being taken off guard.

"Now is not the time Fox," Hiei grunted as he dashed off after the noise. Kurama crossed his arms and watched him go. He could not match Hiei's speed, but he hoped he could at least match his determination. He continued through the spaces between the trees straining to hear any sign of where he stubborn friend had followed the noise to. As he moved further away a bird took flight.

Meanwhile Yusuke and Kuwabara had parted ways according to plan and were both moving deeper into the trees. Kuwabara scanned the area, or at least what he could see, he had not expected the woods to be so dark and dense in the middle of the afternoon. He hoped they found this shape shifty thing soon because he didn't want to be wandering alone out here after dark.

He heard a faint noise and quickly took up a position behind the nearest tree. As he peered out around the trunk a voice startled him.

"Hiding?" Hiei asked looking amused.

"ACK," Kuwabara jumped, "Hiei why'd you sneak up on me?"

"Well I almost couldn't find you, being so well camouflaged," Hiei snickered sarcastically.

"I wasn't hiding I was gonna jump out and surprise that Kasai guy when you came along and probably scared him away."

"Hn naturally."

"What are you doing here anyway, weren't you and Kurama way on the other side?"

"The detective wants us to head north." Hiei replied.

"Why's Urameshi want us going north?"

"Because that's where the bad guy is genius." Hiei crossed his arms scowling at Kuwabara.

"Look shrimp if we weren't in the middle of something important I'd," Kuwabara stopped mid sentence and looked at Hiei suspiciously.

"What's the password," Kuwabara asked.

"Hn?"

"The password, so I know it's you."

"Stupid Baka who else would I be."

"You could be that Kasai guy."

"Foolish human."

"Come on, what's the password?"

"Just go north, the others are already heading that way."

"Uh uh, forget that, you tell me the password or I'm staying right here."

"Fine then Fool, stay here, I did what I was instructed to," Hiei growled and darted off into the foliage again.

"Grr... Stupid Hiei, all he had to do was give me the password. Why's he always have to make trouble? I bet he just won't do it cause it was my idea," Kuwabara grumbled as he began moving north.

Yusuke was having troubles of his own. Namely every insect in the forest seemed to be targeting him.

"Gah, damn this must be payback for all the bugs I squashed as a kid," Yusuke muttered smacking the back of his neck again. So far he hadn't been able to sense anything outside of the stinging sensations that seemed to be plaguing his entire body. The mosquitoes were really letting him have it.

Slapping at his arm for the hundredth time Yusuke heard a slight rustle coming from his left. He waved the bugs away and focused on the clustered of trees nearest him. Kuwabara stumbled out from behind the thick branches nearly falling over on Yusuke.

"Kuwabara what are you doing over here? You're supposed to be that way," Yusuke said angrily.

"That you Urameshi?" Kuwabara asked blinking at the spirit detective.

"Yeah it's me," Yusuke said looking irritated.

"Yeah? Prove it!"

"What?"

"Come on Urameshi what's the password?"

Yusuke sighed, he had known this was coming, "Eikichi."

"What? Speak up?"

"Eikichi, come on Kuwabara you knew it was me."

"Sure now I do."

"Why are you way over here anyway?"

"I felt something funny coming from over there," Kuwabara pointed.

"Where? North?"

"Yeah, we should go look that way."

"You sure your not just imagining things?"

"No way Urameshi, I'm telling ya, bad guy is that way."

"Okay, maybe we should get Hiei and Kurama then," Yusuke reasoned.

"No way, they've got to be on the opposite side of the woods by now, we better hurry before this guy finds out we are onto him."

"Yeah I guess you're right."

"Sure am, come on lets go," Kuwabara grinned and took off running. Yusuke was a bit startled at how quickly he took off and took a second before he went chasing after him. Kuwabara darted effortlessly around the tree trunks getting further and further ahead of the surprised spirit detective.

"When did Kuwabara get so fast?" Yusuke wondered. He could no longer see his friend, ahead of him through all the leaves. Cursing Yusuke slowed down a bit and continued making his way through the trees.

"Kuwabara wait up," he called moving further north. He didn't notice a large bird take off from the tree above him and make it's way south. As such he really didn't notice the sharp glint in the birds eye, almost as if it was laughing.

Hiei stopped running and looked around. Whatever had caused the noise had escaped. This angered him. 'It's all that damn fox's fault, if he didn't feel the need to bring up his feelings every five minutes we would have been alert,' Hiei thought. He wasn't ready to admit to himself that he had brought that last conversation on. He heard a faint sound, no more than a heart beat and slowly drew his katana, spinning quickly he brought the blade to the neck of his adversary.

Yusuke jumped nearly a foot back looking shocked.

"Take it easy Hiei," he snapped. Hiei continued to hold his sword on the detective.

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't slice you in half," Hiei demanded, his tone cold.

"Eikichi," Yusuke replied without hesitation.

Hiei lowered his sword slightly his gazed still locked on Yusuke's face.

"Have you found Kasai yet?"

"Not yet, but Kuwabara says he feels demonic aura to the north."

"Then why didn't you go north Detective?"

"Come on Hiei, this guy has been holding up in these woods for who knows how long, I'm not about to follow Kuwabara into a trap."

"Hn, wouldn't be the first time."

"Tell me about it," Yusuke grinned. Hiei sheathed his sword again.

"You're further in then we were," Yusuke said, "start making your way north and you should come out a little further east then us, keep Kasai from making a break that way."

"As you wish."

"Go on ahead, I'll tell Kurama what's going on."

"Perhaps you should go on ahead Detective, I move much quicker than you do, I'll wait on Kurama," Hiei said smugly leaning on a nearby tree.

"We don't have time Hiei, I want you to scout the area before we get there," Yusuke replied quickly.

"Fine, but don't take too long or I may finish him off on my own," Hiei warned and darted off into the trees. Yusuke watched to make sure he was gone.

"He's a stubborn little one, no wonder you adore him so Fox," Yusuke said smiling. He heard footsteps nearing his location and his heartbeat quickened.

Kurama pushed another branch out of the way, glad that this one had not caught on his long hair. He wondered how far Hiei would chase that noise. 'He probably didn't even hear a noise, just wanted an excuse to postpone the conversation.,' Kurama thought glumly. He would make sure that the conversation really was just postponed. Eventually Hiei would have to talk to him about what was keeping the youkai from letting himself be happy for a change.

Just when Kurama was about to call out to his friend he spotted a familiar white star burst from behind the leaves. Pushing his way through the branches yet again Kurama stepped into the small area between the trees where Hiei was waiting for him.

"Did you find it?"

"Just a bird."

"Ah."

They stood in silence a moment before Kurama started to speak.

"Hiei," Kurama began then paused noticing the unfamiliar look in the fire demon's eyes, "are you okay?"

"No, I'm not."

"Sweetheart what's wrong?" Kurama asked, immediately forgetting he was annoyed with the youkai and coming quickly to Hiei's side.

"I've been thinking Kurama, about what you said," Hiei frowned, he looked uncomfortable.

"If you're going to call me a fool again Hiei, then you can just save it," Kurama growled.

"No it's not that, it's just, you were right Fox," Hiei said looking up into Kurama's shinning green eyes.

"What?" Kurama wasn't being arrogant, he honestly thought he must have misheard his short friend. After all when had Hiei ever admitted to being wrong, ever.

"I apologize for how I've been acting lately, it's just, it's not easy for me to deal with all this," Hiei said sadly.

Kurama couldn't believe his ears. He was so stunned that he couldn't speak, which only seemed to make Hiei more uncomfortable.

"Maybe this really isn't a good time to discuss this," Hiei said quietly.

"No, it's okay, I'm sorry I just didn't expect all that," Kurama said regaining himself.

"Does that mean that you'd give me another chance at this?" Hiei asked hopefully his crimson eyes locked on his fox.

"Of course I will Sweetheart, I told you I wouldn't give up on you," Kurama gushed throwing his arms around Hiei and pulling him close. Kurama closed his eyes and breathed in Hiei's scent, he hugged the fire demon tighter. It felt so good to have him pressed close. Hiei just stood there a moment locked in Kurama's embrace then he slowly moved his arm. Kurama assumed that he was trying to free himself and regretfully he loosened his hold on his little youkai.

Hiei gazed up at Kurama as their bodies separated a bit, then without warning he reached up and pulled Kurama's face towards his, their lips meeting. Kurama's eyes widened a bit and he started to pull back, but Hiei's kiss was so hungry, so needy that Kurama could not end it. Instead he gave in and kissed back. It was an amazing few minutes as Kurama eased Hiei against a tree and continued kissing him passionately. Hiei was equally as eager and kept his lips pressed firmly against Kurama's while his hands wrapped themselves around the kitsune's waist.

Kurama's hand moved instinctively to rest on Hiei's cheek. He had needed this for so long, longed for this, this closeness, this passion. He moved his hand up, caressing Hiei's soft face. He thought nothing of it as his hand brushed against Hiei's bandanna on its way to play in the demon's soft black hair. When they stopped kissing for a moment, both out of breath Kurama noticed the white bandanna was raised on one side from where his hand had brushed against it. He smiled as he admired Hiei's features once more. Hiei smiled back at him, he looked so content, even all disheveled as he was.

Kurama brushed his hand through Hiei's hair again causing the bandanna to move higher, Kurama's smile slowly melted away into a look of horror. Hiei saw Kurama's expression and frowned.

"What is it Kurama?"

Kurama backed slowly away from Hiei his mouth open, but no words coming out. There, underneath the bandanna, where Hiei's jagan should have been, was... nothing. No third eye, no mark at all to show there had ever been one.

Kurama pulled out his whip his eyes wide with terror. Hiei smiled darkly at him, his face no longer seemed familiar to the startled kitsune.

"Who the hell are you?" Kurama demanded.

A.N.>Didn't get as many reviews last chapter. I'd really appreciate more feedback on what parts of this you guys are sticking around for. I feel a conclusion coming in somewhere, hope you all like it.>