Author's Note: Sorry for the delay; most of this chapter was written weeks ago, but I wanted to update my other fic, "Blood Price," (which you can find on AO3) in honor of Halloween. Hope you enjoy the chapter!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.


Ch. 3: July 2021

Hiei: Sure.

Hiei: I need someone to keep me from committing murder.

Hiei: But it'll have to be late. Will 10 be okay?

Kurama read Hiei's replies with a satisfied smirk. So far, so good. Now he just had to get through the night without Yusuke killing him. The probability of it happening was high, but Yusuke was also soft-hearted enough to hear him out, unlike Hiei, who would absolutely eviscerate him if he had any idea what Kurama was planning. Which was exactly why Hiei wouldn't find out until it was too late to stop it.

"Uh-oh, I know that look."

He looked away from his phone and turned his attention to the woman leaning against the doorway to his home office. Even wearing only a bathrobe and with her hair wet and unbrushed from the shower, Shizuru still managed to take his breath away. He didn't know what he did to meet someone like her, but he'd been thanking the stars every night since Yusuke introduced them that he had. He couldn't imagine his life without her, now.

"What look?" Kurama replied innocently, only smiling at her raised brow.

"The one that makes Yusuke call you a fox," she said, a knowing smirk playing at her own lips. "The one that means you're up to something. It's the same look you had the night you proposed to me, all the way until you kneeled down."

He attempted to look hurt at her implication, but he failed because he couldn't hold back a chuckle.

"You know me too well."

"I should hope so, since we're getting married in a few weeks."

Kurama's smile shifted to match the warmth in her eyes as she walked further into the room. He held out his hand, and when she took it he pulled her onto his lap, enjoying the feel of her soft curves and the warmth of her body against him. She wrapped her arms around his neck.

"So tell me," she continued, "what's going on?"

He tilted his head back slightly to meet her eyes. Gods he loved this woman. Her beauty was one thing, but he adored her intelligence and intuitiveness, which were matched only by her kindness.

"I've found the reason Yusuke hasn't had a serious relationship in so long."

It was obvious that wasn't the answer she'd been expecting. "Oh?"

"It would appear he's been suffering from unrequited love since high school."

The look she gave him was as dry as the cookies her brother had tried to bake for his girlfriend on White Day.

"Really, I heard it from his own mouth." His lips twitched as he added, "Apparently, he fell in love with his homeroom teacher."

Her reaction was immediate: delighted laughter that rang through the air as she leaned harder against him. His heart skipped at how beautiful she looked. When he'd told Hiei about his impending marriage, his friend had asked him how he knew this relationship was meant to last that long, how he knew it would be different. The fact that Shizuru could still make him feel this way after knowing each other for three years was proof enough for him.

"Oh man, I never would have pegged Yusuke as the one getting stuck in a shoujo manga. I thought that would be Kazuma's job."

"I said something similar when he told me; I barely made it out alive."

She laughed again as he gently smoothed his palm over her exposed thigh, the touch comforting instead of sexual. Shizuru's laughing died down after a few moments and she sighed contentedly, idly running her fingers through his hair.

"So," she asked after they spent a few quiet minutes enjoying the moment together, "what does that have to do with your 'devious fox' look?"

"Why, I'm going to give Yusuke the chance to reconnect with his teacher, of course." He met her skeptical look with confidence.

"So you're going to hunt down someone you don't even know, and try to set them up with their former student? What if they're dating someone, or married?"

"I know for a fact they're not," he said with satisfaction.

Her eyes narrowed. "How?"

"Because it just so happens that I do know this teacher. Very well, actually."

Kurama watched her as she thought over his words, and enjoyed the expressions that travelled across her features. He knew the exact moment she figured it out.

"No," she gasped.

He smirked. "Yes."

"You can't be serious."

"Yusuke told me the name himself, including the family name."

"Hiei?"

Kurama couldn't hold back his amusement at the depth and strength of her incredulity, and laughed. After all, it wasn't often he could surprise her. Shizuru had the strongest intuition he'd ever experienced.

"I must admit," he said when he was capable of speech again, "I was surprised as well."

Shizuru let out a low whistle and settled back a little more firmly against the arm supporting her back.

"Yusuke and Hiei, huh? In some strange way, it makes sense. I mean, we know Yusuke has always had a thing for people who can boss him around. But his teacher?"

"Sadly, he didn't give me the full story of how his feelings started, but he did admit to being unable to let them go. He said he ended up comparing everyone he dated to Hiei, and they always fell short."

Which Kurama could understand. Although he and Hiei had spent even less time as lovers than he and Yusuke had, he knew the appeal of his friend. As prickly and irritable as Hiei could be, he was also loyal, devoted, and passionate, and honest even if lying were in his best interest. If anyone could get behind the porcupine exterior, they'd find a soul worth the fight. And Yusuke had had the ability to read people as long as Kurama had known him, so he was pretty sure Yusuke was already aware of Hiei's virtues.

"How does Hiei feel about all this?" Shizuru asked after a moment, giving him a skeptical look.

"Yusuke said he never told him. He decided Hiei didn't feel the same, which was correct, and didn't wish to make him feel uncomfortable."

"Heh, I never would have pegged high school Yusuke to be capable of tact and discretion." Her arms tightened around Kurama's neck, and he looked up into eyes that were both warm and worried. "Are you sure about this plan of yours? There's a lot that could go wrong. You could make one, or both, of them hate you."

Kurama's own eyes softened as he pulled her down for a gentle kiss. He was so happy to have someone like her in his life; someone who cared enough about him to voice her worries.

"I promise I'm not going to do much. I'm just going to re-introduce them, and give Yusuke the chance to get to know Hiei as he is now. I might arrange a few get-togethers, but otherwise the rest is going to be up to them."

"Yusuke will realize what you're up to," she said gently. "He could react more negatively than you're expecting."

"I know," he sighed softly. "But I wouldn't be attempting this if I didn't think it could work."

Shizuru was silent for a long moment. Her hands toyed with his hair, but it was her teeth gently biting her lower lip that let him know something else was bothering her. He waited patiently for her to voice it.

"You are over him, right?" she asked at last. "I know you loved Yusuke, once, and if this is your way of getting over him –"

Kurama held her closer as his heart ached. "I wouldn't have asked you to marry me if my heart wasn't completely yours," he replied, dropping every mask so she could see the truth of his words. "I did love him, at one time. But now he's just a very dear friend. You're the one I want to spend the rest of my life with."

Their eyes met and held, and he was rewarded for his honesty with one of the small, soft smiles he treasured.

"Okay," she said. "Then you do what you have to do. But you're the one who will have to explain to your mother why you're in the hospital if Yusuke gets pissed."

He laughed as Shizuru stood up and stretched, feeling as light as air. "Duly noted."

X X X

Only Hiei's years of training at controlling his movements during kendo allowed him to simply place the phone back into its place, rather than slam it down the way he desperately wanted to. His day had gotten progressively worse after the rough start with Rando and Shorin. He had a sneaking suspicion that the two had stirred up the rest of the class in revenge because Hiei had been breaking up fights all day. He'd also received numerous reports on his students being sent to the vice principal for discipline problems.

So instead of the handful of calls he'd expected to make, he'd had to call the parents of all thirty of his students, and explain to them that their child had been in trouble, and yes, he was sure the student was fully involved and not just a victim, and yes, he was more than willing to let the parent listen to the testimony of the teacher and students who had witnessed it but weren't involved.

The result was Hiei being one of the last people left in the building at almost nine at nine. Even Akashi and Iwamoto had left hours ago. They'd sent him some particularly smug looks before they walked out the door. His blood would be boiling at the mere memory of it if he wasn't so exhausted. He glanced at his desk, wishing he could feel proud that he'd managed to finish all his grading while dealing with the phone but all he could feel was tired. He'd still have to spend some time planning and prepping this weekend, but maybe he'd be able to relax for at least one day.

Gods he really didn't want to be here anymore.

Hiei considered cancelling his plans with Kurama and simply going home to soak in a bath; his friend would understand. But it was true that they hadn't seen each other recently, and he had no idea when they'd be able to do this again.

I'd better not even stop off at home, he thought tiredly as he packed up his belongings. I won't leave if I do.

He left the teacher's room once he was sure he had everything, and made sure to turn off the lights. As he passed the principal's office, he saw the light was still on. He was a little surprised; the man should have left work hours ago. He paused to peer through the open doorway.

"Excuse me, kocho-sensei," Hiei said, bowing. "I'm leaving now."

Koenma, the principal since Hiei had joined the school, looked up. Although at least ten years his elder, the man looked much younger. He was attractive in a pretty, preppy kind of way, with light brown eyes and brown hair that was always immaculate. His delicate features belied the strong will and good sense Hiei had learned the man possessed. Koenma had been the one to hire him when so many other schools had refused after reading through Hiei's file.

"You'll be able to understand the students better than any teacher here," he'd told Hiei when he'd offered the job. "We need someone like you."

A decade later, and Hiei still wasn't sure if that was true.

"Ah, Jaganshi-sensei," Koenma greeted. "You've worked hard today. I'm sorry you had to go through so much trouble."

"It's fine," Hiei lied through his teeth even though he knew the man would see through the social nicety. "It's my job, after all."

"And I'm grateful for your efforts." Koenma smiled a genuine smile.

"Thank you, sir."

"Well, I won't keep you here any longer. Have a good weekend, Jaganshi-sensei."

"Then I'll be leaving first. I'll see you on Monday."

Hiei bowed once more and left as fast as he could. He paused by the bus stop close to the school to check the schedule, but decided to walk to the train station because waiting for the bus would take too long. It was fully dark now, and the air outside was still sticky and hot. He desperately wanted to remove the black UV sleeves he wore, but he couldn't risk that until the chance of a student seeing him was much lower. He was covered in sweat by the time he reached the train station, and he really wanted a shower. When he finally sits down on the train, it's 9:30 and it will take almost half an hour for him to reach Sakuragicho Station. He took out his phone and sent Kurama a message, which was instantly replied to.

Hiei: I'm on the train now.

Kurama: I arrived a little earlier

Kurama: I'll be in the bookstore at the South Exit.

Plans confirmed, Hiei leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. Exhausted really didn't even begin to cover how he felt. It was one of those days where he really questioned his decision to teach, and those days had been becoming more and more common. In the top drawer of his desk at home, he had a resignation letter already filled out and sealed, ready to be handed over to Koenma when he decided he couldn't do it anymore. He'd written it after a particularly bad day several years ago, and although the day had passed, he'd never gotten rid of the letter. It was a reminder to himself that he could walk away if he ever felt the need. Recently, he'd been thinking about the letter more and more.

Have I ever been happy I chose this?

He tried to remember, but the only memories that came forward were hours of extra work, ungrateful students, spiteful colleagues, and irate parents. He didn't even have any good memories of his vacation periods because he was never able to take more than a couple of days off, and the only reason he could do that was because he wasn't in charge of any club activities, and that was because Koenma and Takanaka both knew the extra load that came with teaching his particular class. Even with their support, he still had to deal with the snide and jealous comments from Akashi and Iwamoto. Every single day since he first stepped foot in the school had been a battle, and it was slowly taking its toll on him.

Is all this effort really worth it?

Lately, he didn't think so.

"The next stop is: Sakuragicho."

He opened his eyes reluctantly at the announcement and took the UV covers off his arms, revealing the black dragon tattoo curled around his right bicep and forearm. It earned a few looks, but Hiei easily ignored them as he shoved the sleeves into his bag and then shouldered it. It felt so good to take them off; no matter how breathable they were, they were still hell in a Japanese summer. But one of the conditions of his hiring was that he had to cover up the tattoo, so he had to wear them. It seemed ridiculous, when every student had to know what was under them, but it was the rule and he had enough trouble to deal with on a daily basis as it was.

Hiei followed the flow of people off the train, made his way to the South Exit, and scanned his way through the gate. The bookstore Kurama had been talking about was opposite the gates on the left side. It was small, but perfect for anyone who wanted to do more than stand around checking their phones while they waited.

When Hiei stepped into the store, Kurama's red hair was a beacon that made him pathetically easy to spot. Or Hiei could have simply followed the eyes that kept wandering to stare or gone to the section that had the most people. He doubted that that many people were interested in botany. Some of the stress that had built up throughout the day melted away at the sight of his friend, just like it always did. Kurama had a calm, patient personality that soothed anyone who knew him while also hiding the devious mind inside.

"Kurama," he greeted when he was close enough he didn't have to shout.

Impossibly green eyes moved from the book they had been reading and settled on Hiei, lighting up instantly.

"Good evening Hiei," Kurama replied, and the warmth in his voice added a more personal feel than his polite speech implied. "It's good to see you again."

"Thanks for the invitation."

Hiei smirked good-naturedly as Kurama closed the book, but kept his hold on it.

"I need to pay for this, and then we can eat. You're probably as hungry as I am."

"I know how much you eat," Hiei replied dryly. "There's no way I can be as hungry as you."

"On the contrary, you can eat more ice cream than I can."

"Which is air compared to tonkatsu, gyudon, and all the other food you eat. That one shop refuses to let you do their food challenge anymore because you always win."

Kurama chuckled and went to stand in line at the register, while Hiei moved to the side to wait. He had to admit, though, he was hungry. He'd been unable to finish lunch because of his students, only managing to eat a single onigiri and drink some tea. He hadn't even had any snacks to eat during the late hours he worked, so he was really looking forward to dinner. Kurama always knew the best restaurants, and if he praised this one, then it must be good.

"So," he said as Kurama joined him and they walked out of the station, "what are we eating?"

"Ramen," his friend replied, and smiled at the skeptical look Hiei gave him. "I promise it's worth it. The owner is a good friend of mine. He's been running the shop for four years, and it's very popular here."

Hiei raised a brow. "I'd say you were exaggerating for the sake of your friend's reputation, but I know how picky you are about food. If you want to eat it, it must be good."

The Cosmo World Ferris wheel rose across the street, lighting up the night. Even this late, there was still a crowd of people wandering the paths in front of the station. Many of them, however, were leaving as the shops in the area closed for the night. They were undoubtedly heading home, or to any bars, cafes, karaoke rooms, or other eating establishments that were still open.

Kurama led him in the opposite direction of the amusement park and across the busy streets to the more residential side. This area was a sharp contrast to the newer, clean, and gleaming buildings of the Minato Mirai area. The buildings closest to the road were nice enough, but the farther back one went, the smaller and more rundown the buildings began to look. Hiei followed Kurama through the alleys until they came to a small, two-level, red brick building that appeared out of place with its surroundings. It was obviously old, but kept in good condition.

Hiei wasn't surprised that a place this small could be good; Kurama had taken him to places before that looked much, much worse, and had tasted amazing. What did surprise him was the number of people waiting outside. His brose rose as he counted at least twenty people.

"You weren't lying about its popularity."

"Actually, this is rather tame. You should see the line earlier in the evening. I've seen it go as far as two blocks."

"It's really that good?" Hiei allowed his doubt to color the question. He'd yet to find any place where he'd be willing to wait that long for a meal.

Kurama's smile carried a hint of a smirk. "Yes, but it's not just the food. People comes to see the owner as much as they come to eat."

"Really?"

"You'll see."

They took their place at the end of the line. They caught up while they waited, and Kurama also pulled up the restaurant's website on his phone so they could order quickly when they got inside. A few more people joined the line behind them, but the busy period appeared to be tapering off now. As he looked at and listened to the people around them, Hiei was struck by how happy and content everyone looked when they left. Even salarymen who had looked dead on their feet in line appeared livelier when they walked out the door.

"What makes this place so special?" Hiei asked. They moved forward in line, and now only three people were in front of them. "You've taken me to popular places before, but this one seems…different."

He almost physically jolted in shock at the smile that formed when Kurama looked at the entrance of the shop. It was a look the man usually reserved for close family and friends. Whoever the owner was, they meant a lot to Kurama; even more than Hiei had assumed.

"It is different," Kurama agreed softly. "But it's not really something I can explain. You'll just have to see for yourself."

Hiei studied him with narrowed eyes. There was something in that expression that was familiar, but he couldn't place it. So he pushed the thought aside for now and snorted. "I don't know whether to congratulate your fiancé or feel sorry for her. You're going to make sure her life is never boring, with all your mysteries."

"Believe me," Kurama chuckled, "she'll make sure my life isn't boring in return."

Ten more minutes, and then they finally made it inside. The first thing Hiei noticed was that only counter seats were available, a reminder of the ramen stalls of old. The second was that the interior appeared to be older than the four years Kurama had said the restaurant had been running. And then he noticed that the shop was quieter than the full seating would lead one to believe. The buzz of talking blended together, with no one trying to be louder than the rest, and it immediately created a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere that was enhanced by the almost divine scent permeating the air. Hiei had been to many ramen shops, but none of them had smelled this good, or felt this -cozy, was the only word that worked.

"Oh good," Kurama all but purred in satisfaction. "My usual spot is free." He pointed to the corner farthest from the door, where two empty stools sat. As they moved through the room, more seated customers stood and went to the register to pay.

"I'll be right there!" a cheerful voice called out as Hiei sat down beside Kurama.

He noted the voice was as warm as the atmosphere of the shop, and he couldn't help but feel some tension inside him dissipate at the sound. Once he was seated, he looked at the man now at the register, though moving heads and the warm but dim lighting made it difficult to make out exact features. He was shocked at how young the man appeared to be. Many popular ramen shops were headed by older men with decades of experience behind their craft, and this man couldn't be a day over thirty.

But it was easy to see why he would draw a crowd; even from this distance, Hiei could tell the man was very attractive. He eyed the bared muscular arms with appreciation, following them up with a face that was filled with good humor and more than a hint of boyish charm. He found himself wanting a closer look at the man, to really see him. Yet he was also struck by a sense of familiarity, as though he knew the man.

Brows knitting at the feeling, he turned in time to see Kurama looking at him with the expression that had earned him the nickname "Kitsune" in high school. It disappeared before Hiei could question it.

"What do you think?" Kurama murmured, obviously amused by something.

"I can see why customers come to see the owner," he replied, keeping his voice just as low as Kurama's. The cunning gleam race through his friend's eyes again, and Hiei's suspicions rose. "What game are you playing, Kurama?"

"Me?" the redhead replied with feigned innocence, even as his eyes danced with humor. "Playing? Would I do that?"

"All the damn time."

Kurama smirked. "Well I promise, there's no game. I genuinely wanted to treat you to some good food and introduce you to a friend."

Hiei opened his mouth to respond, but he was interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps and an overjoyed cry of "Kurama!" In moments the man Hiei had been studying stood in front of them on the other side of the counter.

"What the hell, man?" he continued with a laugh, and yes, his voice was as easy on the ears as Hiei had been thinking. "What did I do to deserve two visits this week? Don't tell me your mother chased you away again!"

"You're simply irresistible, Yusuke," Kurama teased.

Yusuke. Yusuke. The name was so familiar, especially in combination with the way the owner was talking.

"But honestly," the redhead continued, looking at Hiei, "I just wanted you to meet a friend of mine."

That nagging familiarity continued as Hiei twisted to sit properly, and looked up to meet the warmest brown eyes he'd ever seen. His breath caught for a moment; the man was even more attractive up close, with deliciously tanned skin and toned muscles all over every part Hiei could see. But seconds after their eyes met, the man's eyes widened, and his jaw literally dropped.

"Jaganshi-sensei?" he breathed out.

It finally clicked.

Hiei's own eyes widened a fraction as the voice (familiar, but just a little deeper with age) reached down through his mind and pulled an old memory to the forefront.

"You're not like other teachers, are you?"

"Yusuke Urameshi," Hiei said at last, barely managing to keep his tone neutral as he smirked. "It's been a long time."

He was going to kill Kurama.

X X X

I'm going to kill Kurama.

Yusuke could hear his blood pounding in his ears, matching the strength and rapid pace of his heart, as he stared at the man he thought he'd never see again. He was extremely thankful his burning cheeks could be blamed on the heat and the steam of cooking as he drank in the sight the man before him. Hiei really hadn't changed much in appearance. Still short and muscled, pale, and carrying that aura of strength that had drawn him in the first place.

It wasn't fair that he was still that attractive.

Yusuke glanced at Kurama, and noted the wicked, almost evil gleam in his eyes as the redhead observed the two of them, and promised himself he would get his revenge soon.

"Oh, you two know each other?" Kurama asked innocently, tilting his head just enough to portray curiosity.

"I hate you," Yusuke said, with feeling. But he managed to throw a good-natured grin to Hiei, who had one brow raised as he looked between the two of them. "Man, I can't believe you'd remember me," he said, something warm unfurling inside.

"Teachers never forget their first class," Hiei replied, sounding as though he was quoting someone. But then he gave Yusuke an unreadable look and added, "Besides, you were a little unforgettable."

"In a good way I hope," Yusuke quipped.

He refused to pay attention to the way his cheeks were heating up again. He wasn't in high school anymore, damn it! He heard the bell over the door chime, and recalled that he had a job to do as he saw a couple walk in.

"If this madness dies before you leave, we'll have to talk. In the meantime, what can I get you?" Kurama opened his mouth and Yusuke said, a little vindictively, "Sneaky bastards are getting their usual. I'm asking the innocent party."

He nervously watched Hiei scan the menu on the wall. "I assume it's all tonkotsu style?"

"Yeah. It's what my old mentor taught me to make. Besides, we get a lot of foreigners here and they prefer it, so…" he shrugged. His pulse jumped as he looked into Hiei's eyes, and the man gave that damned smirk that haunted Yusuke's dreams.

"Then I'll let you surprise me."

Yusuke saw the challenge, and his smile turned wolfish in turn. "You got it."

He got to work behind the counter, mind racing as he considered which option would suit the other man. He thought back to all the times in high school he'd seen Hiei eating lunch. In the end, he went with a simple chyashu ramen, but added extra meat and a large helping of spice. It had taken him years to find a mixture of hot spices that wouldn't destroy the flavor of the broth, but eventually he'd managed. And he remembered seeing Hiei eating a lot of simple, but spicy food in the past, so he thought the man could handle it. Then he quickly made Kurama's (much larger) bowl, and served them.

"Enjoy!" he said. Then he winked at Hiei and added, "Hope I pass the test."

He watched, pulse racing, as Hiei looked over the bowl first. The man smirked when he saw the small pile of spice, but otherwise gave no reaction. Finally he lifted the spoon and tasted the broth. His eyebrows shot straight up, but he didn't appear displeased. Yusuke really wanted to wait longer, and see firsthand what Hiei thought of it. But the new customers were looking his way, and someone was standing at the register. He had a job to do. Not to mention he wasn't sure what he was going to do to Kurama if he kept smirking like that. So Yusuke bustled away, allowing the job to take over and his contemplations about Hiei to sit on the back burner.

Still, he couldn't help but sneak glances every so often, taking in the man. It was obvious he'd gotten older; he seemed to carry a weight on his shoulders that hadn't been there before, the same weight Yusuke himself was beginning to feel, and that he'd seen in many of his older customers. There were also small lines, hidden but there, he hadn't had the last time they'd met. But the flaws didn't take away from his looks; they only added to his attractiveness, in Yusuke's opinion.

At one point, Kurama caught him looking and gave a self-satisfied smile that made Yusuke want to hit him.

Damn him, he thought. What's he planning? I know he didn't do this just to see me squirm, even though he's enjoying it enough.

A few times, as he served and interacted with his customers, he felt eyes on him. But every time he turned around, both Hiei and Kurama were either talking to teach other, or engrossed in their food. It made him feel a little twitchy, so he ignored it as much as he could. Finally, everyone had been served and no one new had been seated.

Yusuke took the opportunity to go back behind the counter and stand in front of Hiei's seat. The bowl of ramen was pretty much empty.

"So," he said, putting his hands on the counter and leaning his weight onto them, "what'd you think?"

His body heated up as red eyes focused on him, and he was almost vibrating with nervousness. As crazy as it seemed when they had just met again after so long, Hiei's opinion mattered to him. A lot. He'd worked so hard all these years in part because he wanted to be someone Hiei could be proud of if they ever did meet again. So he was a little invested in the answer.

Hiei looked up at him, and Yusuke instantly remembered how intimidating it could be when you were the sole focus of that heavy gaze. And how thrilling. The man crossed his arms (and Yusuke tried very hard not to stare at the muscled biceps) and smirked.

"I can think of better ramen I've had," Hiei said. But before Yusuke could let his disappointment show completely, he added, "But not many."

Yusuke's heart soared as the smirk softened at the edges, and he was very glad Hiei couldn't see how hard he was gripping the counter. There was a warmth that flared in Hiei's eyes that Yusuke had only seen less than a handful of times. He'd learned to cherish that warmth even before he fell in love with the man.

"You grew up well, Urameshi."

Yusuke didn't even try to fight the grin that took over his face, even when he saw how badly Kurama was trying to hide his amusement. And he didn't fight the way he relaxed at the words.

"Thanks, Jaganshi-sensei," he said. "Coming from you, that means a lot." He smiled, and he thought the warmth he put into it matched what he saw in the other man's eyes.

However, both of them looked at Kurama as he made a small choking sound, but he'd turned away so they couldn't see his face. They did see his shaking shoulders, though. When Yusuke looked at Hiei again, the man looked as lost and exasperated as he felt. They shared a shrug.

"I'm not your teacher anymore," Hiei said as he ignored Kurama. "Call me Hiei."

Something inside Yusuke tightened in a delightful way and his cheeks burned. He tried not to show it as he grinned again.

"Only if you call me Yusuke."

Hiei nodded. "Then it's a deal…Yusuke."

His name had never sounded so sweet, and he was absolutely doomed.

"I'm glad you two are getting along," Kurama spoke up, seemingly in control of himself once more.

Yusuke felt his eye twitch at the man's angelic smile. "You're an asshole," he said conversationally.

"You wound me Yusuke. Am I truly that bad?"

"Yes," Hiei and Yusuke voiced at the same time. They shared a commiserating look while Kurama shook his head in amusement.

"I'm doomed to be misunderstood."

"Misunderstood my ass," Yusuke muttered, taking their empty bowls. "If I'm misunderstanding you, then I'm a fairy princess."

"Shizuru did say she had a dress she wanted you to try on for the wedding," Kurama said, chuckling as Yusuke made a rude gesture.

"I hate to interrupt the lover's spat," Hiei said, and Yusuke wasn't able to hide his jump or flush at the words, "but I should be going. It was a long day."

"I should as well," Kurama replied. "Shizuru will kill me if I come home too late."

As disappointed as he was that he couldn't have more time with Hiei, Yusuke focused primarily on Kurama. He fixed the man with a pointed stare, gave a smile that he knew had more than a bit of an edge to it.

"Come by the shop tomorrow, Kurama, around 2, before we open," he said. He voiced it as a suggestion, but the firmness in his tone made it sound like an order. "There's something I need to talk to you about." He was a little satisfied to see Kurama flinch.

"Of course, Yusuke."

He eyed the redhead, and eventually decided to trust him. Kurama knew Yusuke could just enlist Shizuru's help if he didn't show up. So he turned his attention to the more favorable of the two, and gave a more genuine smile.

"It was good seeing you again, Hiei. You should stop by more often now that you know about this place."

"Hn. We'll see."

But there was a lightness to Hiei's expression that hadn't been there when he first sat down, and it gave Yusuke hope.

"How much do I owe you?" Hiei continued, taking out his wallet.

"Nothing," Yusuke replied firmly. He hesitated, and added, softly, "I wouldn't even have this place today if it wasn't for you. So you get four free meals, one for every year I've been in business so far."

For just a second, a look Yusuke could only describe as vulnerable crossed Hiei's face, and it was such an attractive expression it set his body on fire. He devoured it with his eyes, thrilled he was the one to make his stern teacher drop all his walls and look like that.

Hiei breathed out softly, and the walls came back up, but with a small crack that left some softness behind. "Then I'll definitely be back to claim the other three," he said.

Yusuke looked at Kurama so he wouldn't say (or do) something he'd regret, and was just in time to see his shocked expression before it was hidden behind a mask of politeness. He raised a brow, but figured he'd get answers from the man tomorrow.

"Assholes pay for their meals," he said, and gave that sharp smile again when Kurama looked like he would say something.

Instead, Kurama said, "Of course," and pulled out the exact change and left it on the counter. "I'll see you tomorrow, Yusuke."

"You'd better," Yusuke muttered, reaching over to pick up the money. A strong, calloused hand was placed on his arm, and Yusuke looked up to see Hiei looking at him while Kurama waited at the door. Hiei retracted his hand when he saw Yusuke looking.

"You really have grown up well, Yusuke," he said quietly. "I'm proud of you."

Yusuke's pulse didn't slow down until long after Hiei had left the shop.

I'm doomed.

X X X

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Cultural/Story Notes:

-Note on Teaching Japan: yes, they work ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS HOURS, and at least a solid 3 hours of them are unpaid overtime. They can work as late as 10PM at the school, depending on the grade they teach. Pretty much every teacher is in charge of a club activity, so they have to help out there as well as do their usual work. So Hiei staying until 9 isn't strange at all. And yes, public school teachers STILL go to the building during summer vacation. They have to request time off, and they can't take all their days at once.

-Kocho-sensei: basically "Principal." Again, I chose the keep the actual Japanese term because saying "Principal Koenma" sounds strange, and just doesn't really convey the sheer amount of respect "kocho-sensei" does.

-UV Sleeves: usually worn by farmers, or anyone who wants to keep their arms from getting tanned/sunburned. But I've seen foreign English teachers also use them to cover up tattoos, and they've always complained about how hot they are still.

-Cosmo World: a small-ish amusement park in Sakuragicho/Minato Mirai. The giant Ferris wheel is beautiful when it's lit up at night.

-Tonkotsu Ramen: pretty much the most popular style of ramen that's made with a pork broth. It's thick, and can be really creamy. There's a lot of different kinds of ramen (miso, shoyu, shio) but this is the one I'm more familiar with.

-Chashu: this is the super soft, melt-in-your-mouth pork slices you'll find in a lot of ramen. It's absolutely delicious!