A/N: Once again, I've lapsed into the deadly writer's block—(for like a freakin' year or so!) Or was it just plain laziness? oO I'm so sorry for the long wait. Everyone should not get their hopes up, because I'm fluctuant—very unstable when it comes to updating. I think I might've fried my brain back then, when I rewrote three chapters in a row. I think I might disappear again for a while, I really don't know. Please don't be too disappointed.
Oh and yes, for my viewer's information, I've made some changes with Candy. In the old story, she was a ferry girl, like Botan. In here, she's merely a human being endowed with some psychic sense—but she is still Kurama's girlfriend. Anyway, enjoy.
LOVE IS FOR THE WEAK, BUT ONE IS WEAK WITHOUT IT
(Do You Love Me?)
By: Kiss-me-kitsune
Botan stared at her boss with wide, surprised eyes. She just could not believe Koenma was actually humane enough to finally let her have that one wish she's been longing for. So she decided to squeal and choke him once again, "Koenma, are you sure? I can live as a human for a month? No strings attached? Are you quite sure? You're not sick, are you?"
"Botan, enough! Stop molesting me, because if you get on my nerves, you can say goodbye to your vacation." He grumbled, "Or maybe I'll just lower the time down to a week, maybe."
She jumped around. "But even so, that one week would still be plenty enough! Oh, thank you so much, Koenma. You don't know how happy I am!"
Koenma straightened his hat and grumbled some more, "Oh yes, I think I do. Now leave before I change my mind."
"Yes sir!"
--
Kurama groaned, a mixture of pain and pleasure, as he stretched his limbs, tired and sore from sitting in that same position for almost about three hours straight, working nonstop to type one of his typical superb essays on his computer. He also couldn't repress a yawn. "What time is it?" Looking at his alarm clock to his left, he decided there was plenty time to finish his chemistry homework. "I need to finish everything up, before tonight's party."
"—That's where you're wrong, stupid Kitsune."
The redhead turned around to the sound of the voice, and let a subtle smirk pass his lips. "Ah, Hiei. So nice of you to let yourself in—I mean, it's very rarely that I get to see you inside my room, since you obviously prefer that big oak tree outside."
"Shut up, Kurama. If there were someone listening in to your ridiculous sarcasm, one would think we're having an affair." Hiei caught himself and hastily changed the subject. "'Oy, Kitsune, I need you to..."
Kurama waited patiently for the little fire demon to finish his sentence. A few seconds ticked by, and Kurama got the sense he wasn't going to finish his sentence, and so, being the gentleman that he is, he offered to help him get the words out. "It's ok, Hiei. Say it slowly."
"I need you to... To..."
"Try again."
Hiei rolled his eyes, but nevertheless tried again. "Kitsune, you need to... to..."
It was up to the point where it was getting ridiculous, so Kurama finally let an irritated sigh pass his lips. "What is it, Hiei?"
"Shut up, baka! Cannot you tell that this sort of conversation is truly difficult and painful for me?"
"Well, Hiei, it's not exactly a breeze for me right now, to sit here and try to listen to you stumble upon your words. Straight to the point, Hiei. What do you want?"
Unable to keep that troublesome blush creep upon his face, Hiei finally mumbled defeat. "I need you to help me."
"Say it again."
"I need you to help me."
"A bit louder, Hiei. My ears aren't as good as it used to be."
"You're a damn fox, how the hell can you not have good hearing?"
"That's beside the point. What was it you wanted me to do?"
Hiei balled his fists to the side. He was not one to be defeated twice. And so, mustering all his strength and dignity, he pronounced it clearly and strongly. "Damn Kitsune. You will help me, or my blade shall be the last thing your eyes shall land its sight upon. Do we have an agreement?"
"It depends on what matter you are talking about." Kurama stood up and paced around his room to get blood flowing back to his legs. Emerald eyes glinting with amusement, he watched Hiei as he sat down on his window porch, with that worried look on his face.
"Yukina."
"And what about your dear sister?"
Hiei's facial expression changed from worry, to resentment, to hatred, then to horror. "The oaf is going to ask Yukina to be his mate, at that cursed party!"
Kurama sat on his bed with a sigh, and as carefree look as possible. "I don't see anything wrong with that."
"For a supposed 'genius', you're a bit too slow to catch on, aren't you?"
That hit a nerve. The fox demon, with a hint of anger burning in his eyes, coldly replied, "I know what you're trying to say, Hiei, but I am against it. You want me to help you to stop Kuwabara from professing his love to Yukina. I am against that." With a triumphant smirk, he added with pretend sympathy in his voice, "I'm sorry, but I am unable to help you with your absurd wishes."
Hiei bolted up from his position, overwhelmed with rage. He stormed up to the Kitsune's bed and hoisted him up by grasping on his collar, and with a snarl equal to that of a rabid dog, he growled, "You do not understand, you damn Kitsune! It is unacceptable for Yukina to have an unsightly human for a mate! His incompetence will do nothing but weigh her down; his stupidity is too much, his... his... deficiency in physical attractiveness will do her and her offspring no good! Do you not understand that it will not do well to have him as her husband, as my kin? Do you understand, you baka kitsune?"
Kurama did not at all feel threatened, but he had an unexplainable soft side for the fire demon. Although he wished to partake no part of it, Hiei's plight seemed urgent, and he could not help but feel a responsibility to lend a hand. And so, the fire demon slowly let go of Kurama's collar as he saw that subtle change in attitude within his friend.
--That was another thing. Kurama was the only one Hiei considered a true friend—if that was even a good thing. He looked Hiei in the eyes, and asked, "Have you ever been in love, Hiei?"
Caught off guard with this question, he looked away. "Why are you asking me this, too?"
"...'Too'?"
"Never mind." Hiei sulked back to his place on the window porch, and resumed, "No. I haven't."
"It's actually a good thing, Hiei. Yukina would be really happy, I'm sure. At least she'll experience something her brother will never have."
"He's far too ugly."
Kurama chuckled. "Hiei, you're truly amusing."
--
Kurama arrived alone at the party. He had received a phone call from Candy earlier that she wouldn't need Kurama to escort her, as she would already be at Keiko's house, helping her set up dinner. Upon opening the door, he was received by warm recognition from Keiko, and was led to where Candy was.
"Kurama! You're finally here."
"Hello, Candy." The two shared a warm glance, before breaking away at the sound of Keiko's worried inquiry, more directed at Kurama than everyone else.
"Botan and Hiei are coming, aren't they?"
"Yes. At least, I know Hiei will come for sure." Just as he uttered those words, Hiei's entrance almost destroyed Keiko's doors, with the amount of brute force he used to slam it wide open.
"Where is the oaf?" he demanded.
"In the bathroom." Yusuke was just as calm as ever; as long as there was food involved, and no demons around, he could be as calm as he wanted to.
"Excuse me, but what and who is the 'oaf'?" came Yukina's innocent question, which nobody had the heart, or the nerve to answer.
--
Thirty minutes after to the start of the party, Botan still has not arrived. Yukina was the first to voice out the worry that, no doubt, gripped everyone else as well. "Botan has still not come. What could have happened to her?"
Despite what he wanted, Hiei couldn't help but worry as well. "That idiotic woman, what the hell kind of trouble could she have gotten herself into?" he thought.
"Stop your nonsense. It is unlike you to worry about other's well being, except for your own, and your sister's. You are getting soft, Hiei," another voice in his head echoed within him. As the fire demon was waging this inner war, the door opened for the last time that night, and Botan stood in the doorway with all her beautiful glory.
A yellow, lacey, knee-length dress complimented her braided blue hair so perfectly, that Hiei could not even stop himself from thinking about how gorgeous she looked.
"What are you thinking? Look away, immediately, and prepare mentally for a trying night." Hiei hastily stood up from the sofa to get his mind on something else. Only Kurama had the eyes keen enough to notice such an odd behavior from such an odd ball. He looked back at Botan and complimented her freely, on how stunning she looked tonight.
With a blush and an air of embarrassment, Botan explained the reason for her tardiness was because she could not find her dress. "I couldn't have well gone here without anything decent on."
"Well, since you're here, we should get the party started! Let's go have some dinner then—off to the kitchen, everyone!" Keiko smiled and led the way.
"Wait, wait for me!"
"Kuwabara-kun?"
Kazuma Kuwabara held a bouquet of roses in his hands, sporting such a true, and hopeful look in his eyes, that Kurama felt a pang of guilt strike his beautiful heart, as he thought of the many ways he planned on halting Kazuma's moves. He moved quickly.
"Ah, Yukina-chan, I have something I need to talk to you abou—"
"AhKuwabaraeatfirsttalklater, ne?"
"...Eh? Well... yeah, sure then."
As Kuwabara left, Hiei, who was lurking in his corner, smirked ever so slightly to Kurama, and mumbled, "Good. Keep it up, Kurama."
A/N:
I'm sorry, for those people who might've liked the 'koibito' play scene between Hiei and Kurama from the old story. I decided to omit that part, because I wanted that part to be more serious. Kurama is a nice guy after all, and it'd be sad if he only helped Hiei because he was forced to.
The chapter is also cut shorter. I intend on making the other half of the old chapter, an entirely new chapter (redundant much?) So please, keep reading on, and be patient with me! I will get this done, even if it takes me my whole life! --not really, i intend to finish it sooner.
