Disclaimer and warning applies to all chapters.

We all hope, to signal kin
days ofgold
now rain on tin
gather round, gather friends
Neverfear
Never again
Sonic Youth (Rain On Tin)

Don't Make a Sound

Why is love is complicated? No, it's complicated because he makes it complicated! I. . . I want to tell him but how can I now?

Kurama simmered in the kitchen, feeling more like a housewife than a demon fox, and it was getting on his nerves in more ways than one. He tapped his foot and folded his arms, drawing his brows together in desperate concentration. Just what are they talking about?

And just why don't you go in and see? You are their. . . 'friend', correct? Use that to your advantage. Please tell me, Shuuichi, that you have not forgotten your cunning while you're in love?

Kurama glared, resisting the terrible urge to bare his teeth. "You just shut up and go back to where you belong! You are not making this easier with your annoying banter!"

How rude of you Shuuichi, you insolent--

"Kurama!"

The connection was thankfully broken up, but Kurama didn't respond immediately. He bit his lip, shook his head, and made a 'tsking' sound before dragging himself into Yuusuke's small bedroom. He prayed the fire demon wasn't there, that he had somehow disappeared into thin air while he could think.

"What is it, Yuusuke?" he asked politely, but his voice was strained.

He didn't want to open his eyes, or look up.

But he did. He wasn't a coward.

"Hey. . . look in the mirror. . . "

What?

Kurama's brows creased again, and he glanced toward Hiei, he wasn't looking at him, but at the wall behind him, eyes seemingly devoid of emotion and interest all together. Keiko was sitting on the small futon by Yuusuke, her cheeks red and puffy from dried tears.

"I'd. . . prefer not."

Yuusuke got up and cracked his knuckles, to which Kurama backed up and hit the door, mind quickly processing what was happening. He snarled. "If you make me do this, I shall not hesitate to initiate a fight!" He reached for his hair, but before his finger's got the chance, they were crushed in a small fist, and Hiei's glaring face greeted his eyes.

"Look in the mirror, Kurama."

Mouth hiked, finger's twitching, and a warm breath puffing gently on his lips. Kurama sighed, and felt himself tremble. What he was about to admit was not easy in the least.

"I. . . I'm scared," he whispered softly. "What if I'm not all there? I haven't been. . . "

"And you didn't tell us!" Yuusuke shouted angrily, worry clouding his eyes rather than rage. "Kurama, this is more important than anything! We have to find out what's wrong with you!"

"Just how did you find out what was happening in the first place?" the fox hissed, training his glare on the stoic Forbidden Child, who still held his arm without looking up at him. His heart clenched painfully in his chest at seeing the tiny hand shake.

"You. . . you had no shadow, Kurama," Hiei spoke gently, but firmly, still not meeting Kurama's gaze.

Kurama took back his arm, albeit slowly, and tried as best he could to smile at the frowning Jaganshi. "You, you must be mistaken, I--"

"Just stop lying! Who're you trying to protect? Why don't you fucking want us to help!" Yuusuke bit out, his cheeks red with a blush.

Nails digging into his palm, Kurama bared his teeth menacingly. "I protect no one, however this is my business and if I wish you not to interfere, you will respect my wishes!"

His breath came in short gasps, and he brought a hand to his chest. Silence filled the compact room, and Keiko stood, and left in quick strides.

She turned back to him and smiled before she completely exited, but it held no solace for him. Yuusuke took his arm, and Hiei blocked the door, while the spirit detective practically dragged the redhead to the far corner, where a small, chipped mirror hung on the wall crookedly.

"St-stop it!"

"It's for you own good Kurama! Dammit!"

"Detective," Hiei said firmly, and Yuusuke's eyes focused on him, mouth slightly open.

"What?"

"Five minutes, and then come back. Not a moment too soon or too late. Understand?"

"But--" Yuusuke began.

"No," Hiei narrowed his eyes, "Understand?"

Nodding, Yuusuke let go of the struggling foxes arm gently, and slammed the door on his way out, mumbling incoherently as he did so.

Silence.

"Why? You ignore me and then you try to do what you think is right and help me? I'm tired of playing these games, I will not stand for it any longer!" Kurama didn't scream, but if he did, that would be it.

Hiei stayed calm, and placed his small hand upon Kurama's smooth cheek, frowning. "As much as I detest admitting it, I care, fox. And what I saw. . . it frightened me. . . and I don't want to admit that, either. . . "

Kurama blinked, and could feel the beat of his heart right in his ear, and he closed his eyes and opened them in basically the same movement, and he still saw that worried face looking up at him, pleading him. And he knew he loved it more than he loved anything in the entire world.

"Hiei. . . I. . . what you said--"

"I know. I'm pathetic--"

"No!" Kurama actually did shout this time, and reach down and scooped his precious demon in his arms, where he should always be, and kissed him deeply.

"No, no you're not. Don't you ever say that because I love you! And if I'm not afraid to admit that, then you're. . . you shouldn't be ashamed for caring, Hiei! "

Hiei smiled slowly, and tightened his grip on Kurama's neck. "If I told you I loved you as well, it wouldn't be a lie. Now look in the mirror, Kurama."

"Al. . . alright. But Hiei, I'm frightened too."

"Take me with you."

Kurama nodded, and felt something prickle at his eyes. He brought a hand up, and carefully wiped it away, shaking his head.

"Okay. . . I can do this." Kurama hugged Hiei close to him, and walked to the shining glass, biting his lip.

They had a blurry reflection. Not just him, but Hiei as well.

"We're not all there!"

o-o-o

"Hey, it's been five minutes!" Yuusuke shouted and then opened the door to find the two demons in each others arms, shock written all over their faces. Hiei noticed him, apparently, because he nudged Kurama, who shook his head, as if shaking off a trance.

"What? You guys looked in the mirror right? Let me see!"

Yuusuke ran and stood behind them, peering into the bright glass, and gasped. His reflection, and now Hiei's, were perfectly clear, and yet Kurama's was still a blurry shape, to which he could only tell was Kurama, by the hair color. He blinked.

"Well, this is pretty damn strange!"

Kurama turned away and sat the smaller demon down on the futon, face completely void of emotion. "Somethings happening and I'm not sure what. And perhaps, it is not only happening to me. . . "

"What do you mean?" Yuusuke asked, rubbing his chin, and narrowing his eyes in concentration.

"I was disoriented when we looked the first time. My image wasn't all there," Hiei quipped, closing his eyes.

"Ah," Yuusuke whispered. "Well, there's really only one thing to do." He didn't wait for an answer. "We need to tell Koenma, because it could be a new enemy."

"I'm certain it's not, Yuusuke."

"Then. . . what the hell is it, Kurama?"

"That," the fox demon smiled," I do not know."

Now, Yuusuke was thoroughly confused. He scratched his head, and stopped himself from just blurting out what he thought, in respect for the solemn mood. Hiei grunted softly.

"Riddles hold no answers, Kurama, only more puzzles that can't be solved. Tell us what you think, or stay silent."

Kurama glared, but said nothing.

"Well, if it's not a demon, would the hell could it be? Arguing doesn't work, guys." Yuusuke interrupted, shrugging and squatting down with a quick yawn.

"Actually, it could include Hiei," Kurama noted.

"How so?" the Forbidden Child asked skeptically, raising his eyebrows.

The redhead blushed, and smiled apologetically before he spoke, turning to Yuusuke. "He's. . . been having mood swings due to his--"

"Kurama!" Hiei hissed, standing to his full height, hellfire in his eyes as he smoldered. "You promised to tell no one! Don't you dare go back on that!"

"I know Hiei, but this could explain why I'm disappearing!"

The fire demon snorted but sat down, breathing deeply. Kurama didn't want to involve Hiei's problem, especially after he trusted him so completely, and the fox felt extremely guilty for doing so.

"He's been having mood swings, as I said, off and on, because of certain days concerning his heritage. I'm not quite sure, but perhaps his ki is affecting mine, considering. . . "

Yuusuke waved with a smile. "It's not hard to figure out, Kurama. I just witnessed it."

Kurama blushed, and smiled shyly. "Yes well, I think his ki plays a part in this little game. Would you say that's a good hypothesis to be tested?"

"Yeah, not bad Kurama. But what do we do about it?"

"That," Kurama whispered," I am not quite sure. . . "

o-o-o

TBC...

Thanks for all your feedback, and opinions about what's happening! Yay for the people who thought Hiei was connected, but not everything is as it seems.

After this fic is finished, in about two more chapters, I want to start on a new Kurama/Hiei.

Here's the summary:

"Hiei is a prince, and has everything a demon could wish for. Money, jewels, fame. But his heart is cold, and he has never had the experience of love. No one seems to want to marry him because of his size, until a beautiful peasant crosses his path, and teaches him love can come in any form, no matter how you look."

It's just an idea, please tell me what you think about it!