A/N: I hope you guys like the update, sorry it's taken so long! I've been craving softness so that's what I'm doing my best to deliver.

Shinpi wrinkled her nose at the swirling sky, adamantly opposed to it's deep pewter hue. She was entirely done with the color gray at this point. The wind whipped through the property with such a ferocity that the trees bowed to it, clashing into one another with sounds of wooden thunder. It was truly a storm to be reckoned with, and it had been sitting over her and the others for two solid days, this being the beginning of the third. The frigid tempest seemed fixed in place, moving at an infuriatingly slow pace. The city was practically buried and they were faring worse at the temple. If she'd attempted to wander down the steps, she'd have found snow as high as her ribs. It wasn't worth it to try.

The desire to probe at the storm itched at her but she rejected it.

She didn't want to worry everyone again.

Hiei was right, she had to take more precautions. Throwing her power around would only attract attention. If someone was really watching, if this was really an attempt to isolate and locate her then she couldn't give in to her frustration it would only put her and everyone else at risk.

Her guilt ate her stomach raw, knowing she had trapped them all so far out of the way. Kurama's job would surely suffer, all because he had followed her to teach her a lesson she should have had drilled into her head a long time ago. Hiei wouldn't care about being stranded. Hayato was probably enjoying the extra time with her despite his strong aversion to being confined.

But Kurama had a real life out there in the city, one that she had stolen him away from. If she didn't think it would make him look worse she'd find his boss and grovel on his behalf, accepting responsibility. Maybe he'd at least allow her to pay his bills for the month since there was no doubt his finances were going to be impacted by this lost time. He'd say no, of course. He loved to tell her no.

"This is bullshit." She complained to herself, ducking back into the entryway after a lash of snow-laced wind cut at her cheeks. Just after her words the lights in the building flickered.

The power had been threatening to die out since the early morning, the lights fighting to stay on despite the devastating natural disaster sitting on top of them. This time though the struggle seemed to best them and they lost their righteous war.

The temple went dark.

A voice called out angrily from down the hall and Shinpi sighed, bringing her hand to her face. Her eyes hurt from strain already and the sudden dark hadn't helped. A headache threatened to bloom and she knew the cause but could do nothing about it. Despite her best efforts there just wasn't rest to be found. Maybe tonight. Two pairs of socks barely kept the cold from eating at her soles. Her feet carried her forward because she knew there was work to be done but she could have just as easily stood in place and done nothing. Motions, that's what her body was ready to fall into. Just the motions expected of her.

Just enough to keep the concern at bay. The eyes from studying her too closely.

She just had to muster up the energy to give just enough.

"I thought this might happen. I scrounged up all the candles I could find." Kurama's voice announced from inside the living room before he stepped into the hall with her, a flashlight held ready but off. Her eyes swept over him, appreciating way his thick sweater hugged his shoulders. It looked soft. He'd pulled his hair back into a ponytail, the longer strands he normally kept down to frame his face pushed behind his ear on one side. It allowed to trace the line of his jaw in the darkness, once again marveling that she hadn't realized what a lovely contour it presented. He turned to look at her with a soft smile and she moved her attention to his eyes. "It was smart to have Hiei pull in wood to dry out the other day. At least we'll be able to light a fire. Where is Hiei?"

"I asked him to attempt to find something for us to cook. He's the only one of us in any way suited to battle the weather." Shinpi glanced to the doors, frowning. To distract herself she turned back to Kurama and let him see her annoyance with this whole situation. "Would you escort me around the temple? We should check the windows again, make sure all the doors we aren't using are closed. We don't want to lose what little heat we have."

"While we're at it, let's gather whatever we need to camp out in the living room." He suggested with a nod. "It's the best insulated room we have at the moment, and with the fireplace it'll be the most comfortable for us all to gather in."

"Together?" Hayato asked with a frown, studying Kurama as he came from down the hall. "Won't it get a bit cramped?"

"You've slept in closer quarters with worse company." Shinpi reminded the raven. "Would you do me the favor of gathering some blankets and pillows, Hai? If we're all going to be trapped in the living room together we should at least be as comfortable as possible. Kurama and I will make sure the temple is as closed down as we can make it."

"Wouldn't it be better for him to gather supplies? He's more accustomed to these creature comforts." Hayato argued gently. "I could go with you and secure the building."

"Or you two could go together and I could prepare the living room." She shrugged. "It doesn't matter as long as everything gets done. I just thought that Kurama and I happen to the know the temple better than you do currently, so it would be faster for us to work together."

Kurama frowned at her tone as it grew stressed toward the end of her sentence. He turned to her and even in the shadows he could pick out the bags under her eyes. The way her hair was pulled back into a sloppy bun, strands falling out with no sense of control. She rarely looked this mussed without wasn't something he wanted to address in front of Hayato. If they all ganged up on her then she'd shut down, he knew from experience.

"Please gather the essentials, Hayato. You know what Shinpi needs better than most. Hiei and I can make do with whatever gives her the most comfort, but with Hiei gone you're the only one who can do this with any degree of certainty." Kurama pressed, not even trying to be slick about his manipulation. He just wanted Hayato busy so he could talk to Shinpi alone.

"Fine." Hayato nodded but not without some attitude. "Try not to take too long, the outer wings of the temple are frigid."

"Thank you." Shinpi nodded, her eyes closed as she rubbed her face. "I appreciate your help, Hai."

He cast her a look that she didn't see but Kurama did. They met eyes and Kurama shook his head to dissuade the comment he was sure was coming. It wasn't the right moment.

Shinpi and Kurama combed through the temple's halls, door by door and room by room closing any shutters that had blown open. Checking the windows, most of which had frosted over, ice forming on the seals. Once they were far enough away from the main hall and therefore from Hayato, and in a room with enough light for Kurama to truly see the lines around her eyes which were shaded underneath by faint purple bags he decided to strike. His soft gaze didn't jar her from her work. She barely seemed to notice that he had stopped moving.

"Hichi." He brushed his fingertips over her temple, speaking her name softly. "You haven't been sleeping."

She stilled, closing her eyes at the touch. A soft sigh fell from her lips and when her lids opened again they looked heavier. "I'm not trying to worry you."

"And yet I'm still worried." He responded easily with no accusation, letting his hand fall back to his side. She looked to the window and it seemed to cost her some energy to do so.

"I can't sleep with all this snow." She explained dully. "I've been trying. I get about an hour or two before I wake up. Something about the way the air feels is wrong. Between gusts of wind it's too quiet. My brain can't deal with it, I think. I can't get comfortable."

"Not even with Hiei?" He asked, surprised.

It was no secret to him that Hiei's presence rendered Shinpi's defenses unnecessary. His friend seemed to be able to lull her into restfulness through sheer proximity. It was a trait Kurama envied.

"I think I slept maybe four hours with him?" She tried to recount. "It's hard to say. He hasn't been sleeping well either. Maybe we're playing off one another? I hope I'm not disturbing him too much."

"I doubt that you are." Kurama offered. "I don't want you to get annoyed with us fretting, but I can't contain my concern."

"I know." Her shoulders fell as though weight pulled them down and again she turned to the window, expression full of exhausted disdain. "I'm sorry I pulled you out here, Kurama. You're only stuck here because of me and my pride. You should be at home, comfortable and safe. Not here. I can't help by think about all the energy I've been costing you lately."

"You're tired." He told her, grazing his fingertips down her nape to earn her attention.

Her faced turned toward him and there was something in her eyes he didn't enjoy seeing at all.

"Aren't you?" She asked him softly, clearly searching him for a reaction.

"Of you? Impossible." He assured her, though he couldn't muster a smile. Though bullheaded and normally self-assured, there was a delicate nature in the woman before him that he was more than aware of. Her question was a call for stability, while she was balanced precariously with the threat of falling into her self-loathing and guilt. "I'm where I want to be, Amon-Shinpi."

"I don't understand why." Her hand came up to rub at her face again. It fell to her side listlessly. "You're right, I'm just tired."

He stepped toward her until he was close enough to demand her attention without a syllable. One eyebrow just barely curved upward while he stared into her eyes, probing against the penetrating cobalt that so often captivated anyone who dared get caught in her gaze. Eyes that could see minor details and visualize a bigger picture. Eyes that tore through layers of masks in others to rip into their core and pluck at the things that made them tick. Eyes that could illicit a shiver down a spine, frisson that could be excitement or fear and often one bled into the other. His silence didn't intimidate her, or rattle her. It didn't make her chest puff or her shoulders pull back. He could read through her exhaustion, could see the underlying frustration, the litany of questions she wasn't voicing, the pressure of a theory swelling in her but carefully swallowed.

Shinpi allowed Kurama his moment of assessment before she performed her own. She traced the curve of his eyebrows, the hint of a squint as he studied her. Veridian eyes penetrating her walls, delving into her secrets. She wondered what he saw in her, not just in this moment but in the million before it and in the million to come. Those eyes could strike fear into the most over-confident of fools, cut down the arrogance of an army. A slight, barely noticeable scar decorated his cheekbone from a long forgotten cut. She wondered how many other marks he carried. She'd seen him injured in The Dark Tournament so many years before. Wounds like those didn't heal quietly. For the first time it occurred to her that she'd never seen Kurama without a shirt. He never exposed himself that way.

Was that because he didn't want anyone to see or was it his nature to hide his soft spots?

When her attention strayed from his studious gaze his brow furrowed slightly, head tilting just a hair to the side in curiosity. She caught it in her periphery.

What was he hiding under that sweater? She counted the threads that wove together to make up the knitted pattern, focused on the stray fibers with intensity. How strange to even care. It shouldn't matter. Rightly, it didn't. Kurama was entitled to his privacy, to his body. If it wasn't for her to see, then it wasn't. Truly it was only because she had realized she'd never seen his abdomen that she wanted to.

Her hand rose without her bidding it to, threating to brush over his sweater where she knew that scar must be resting as she remembered the pain he'd endured to many years before. Before she could complete the act she adjusted her course and took one of his hands, studying the skin of his fingers, his wrist, then his palm. She'd seen these scars before. Years of using a thorned weapon is bound to leave it's evidence.

When she finally forced herself to refocus on his face she felt a sharp pang cut through her. Her eyes skimmed his throat and the completely unnecessary desire to press her teeth to the thin skin nearly launched her forward. Her feet shifted with intention. The memory of his hand on her neck, his thorns biting into her skin, it raised a sudden craving for retaliation. To show him she wasn't safe either. To force him back and make him feel trapped by her. Her teeth on on his unmarred skin, her nails on that stomach he protected so ferociously.

She, more than anything and for no reason she could discern, wanted to make Kurama know that she was a cruel, malicious beast too.

The thought forced her to step back from him, scalded by the heat of the sentiment. She dropped his hand as though it burned her, jerking herself away so quickly that he stepped back as well. Swallowing she closed her eyes and inhaled through her mouth not her nose. She was scared to catch his scent.

"I'm just tired." She repeated though he hadn't asked, hiding her face from him. "I'm…I just need to breathe for a moment."

Kurama remained in place, moving to reach toward her before ultimately deciding against it. What the absolute hell had that been about? He didn't mind Shinpi looking him over, tracing his scars with her eyes. He forgot that he had them most of the time. He knew her attention tended to stray when she didn't want someone to see her. But that reaction. For just a moment, when she'd moved to meet his eyes once again, she'd changed. Her pupils had dilated, her lip had pulled up to reveal her teeth just a fraction.

Just enough.

What would she have done if she hadn't caught herself? What was her goal? Had she meant to attack him? It certainly had seemed that way. In fact, he knew it was. She'd been staring at his exposed throat.

A shock of heat sent goosebumps over his skin, tongue wetting his lips.

"Are you-" He started.

"I'm fine." She told him, finally rising to meet his attention. No smile to soothe him. "I'm sorry about that Kurama."

"About what?" He asked calmly.

"Don't stand there and appease me. I know you saw that." She growled at him then pulled herself back again, raising a hand as if to stop him from coming near her. "I think the lack of sleep, the feeling like I'm being watched, being confined indoors for so long without a choice, and being so thoroughly beaten by you has mixed to truly chafe me. My brain is looking for a scapegoat for my frustrations. That's not you."

It could be, he thought.

"I don't know what's going on with me. I think I'm just a little bitter that you won." She sighed, then pouted, studying her hands as though they had changed and she was unfamiliar with them. When her eyes met his again, they were less forceful. "Hurry up and get to where you want to be already so I can have a fair fight against you."

Kurama blinked then chuckled, his posture relaxing as he regarded her. "Who said anything about a rematch, Hichi?"

"You'll give me one by choice or by force. Either way I'm getting my victory." She tossed him a toothy grin meant to disarm him. "It behooves you to just give in to me this time. The sooner the better."

"Oh, does it?" Kurama returned the affectionate expression with soft eyes lit with humor. "I'm not sure I agree. Though it would definitely be such a sweet taste to hold not one but two wins over you. I'm afraid our friendship may suffer for it."

"Arrogance isn't cute."

"Says the woman who wears it like perfume." He tossed back with a snort.

"Fine, it's not cute on you." She amended and earned another chuckle from him. "Everything is cute on me. I mean, look at me. I'm fucking adorable."

He laughed outright and then rolled his eyes. With a grin he nodded, eyes twinkling. "That you are. It's why we let you get away with so much."

"Thank the gods for that because I know my personality isn't winning me any friends." She laughed too. Her head felt lighter, her body felt more like home. It showed in how easily her arms moved as she spoke. "I think this trip is rattling all of our bones, and as much as I love spending time with you all I have to admit I can't wait to go home. Or at least to be able to walk outside without immediately freezing into my shoes."

"Let's keep going." He urged. "Then we can enjoy the heat of the fire and pretend this is a planned vacation."

"You know what I would kill for right now? A hot tub." She groaned as she followed him out of the room, lacing her arm around her so she could lean heavily against him. "I went to a ski resort once and they had a hot tub out in the open. I hated the skiing part, and the snow, but man that hot tub was worth the whole trip."

"I can't imagine you skiing." Kurama admitted, glancing down at her. "It never occurred to me before, but it just doesn't seem like something you would do."

"I was good at it." She shrugged. "Eventually."

"That sounds like a lie."

"Good. Not great. I was passible. If you put me on a pair of skis on a mountain side I could reasonably make it to the bottom. As long as it wasn't too harsh a slope or too tricky a trail." She fought back a grin while he shook his head. "I didn't even want to go, I was invited. It was a school trip or something while I spent time in America. I should have stayed behind."

"Let me guess. There was a cute girl." He teased her knowingly.

"She had such a pretty smile." Shinpi sighed, her exclamation wistful. "Her boyfriend was cute too."

"Was it worth it? Aside from the hot tub, I mean." He didn't want to, and also couldn't, hide his humor.

"Oh yeah. It was definitely worth it." She bit her lip for a moment, lost in a memory. Then she shook herself. "Anyway, how much effort do you think it would take to convince Genkai to get a hot tub up here?"

"I will leave that fight to you."

"Coward."

Hiei stepped into the entryway, snow pouring in after him before he was able to turn and shove the door closed. The sound echoed in the darkened halls. With some grumbling he stripped off his soaked through scarf and cloak, kicking off his boots. Then he stooped down and grabbed the bag of food he'd acquired, aiming for the warm orange flow radiating from the living room door into the hall. His feet stopped on the threshold, warmth gripping him as he studied the scene inside, his shoulder resting against the frame of the entrance.

The room glowed in a mixture of soft dancing yellow candle light and burning orange from the fire place, shadows moving with the flicker of flames. Pillows and blankets were strewn over the floor atop a futon that had been pulled from one of the rooms he was sure. Basked in the light was Shinpi, lounging against Hayato's chest as he slept sitting up against the arm of the arm of the couch, a book in her hands that she read from without pause. Kurama's legs were mingled with hers, his back against the other arm so that faced her, his back to Hiei. Shinpi's eye rose from the page and met his, but she finished her passage before putting the book in her lap. Kurama shifted to look over his shoulder, offering a welcoming smile.

"You were gone for a while." She studied him. "Your face is wind burnt."

"I couldn't find anything near here. I had to go back to the city. It took longer than expected. I'm unhappy to report that this unwelcome storm is ruining everyone's lives, not just ours." He entered the room to extend the bag to Kurama.

"This is a shopping bag." Green eyes stared at the haul. "There are stores open?"

"No."

Kurama chuckled knowingly and tossed Hiei a look that was received with shrug. "I hope you didn't make too much of a mess."

"I didn't. I took what I needed and left. Humans can hardly call those pathetic locks protection." Hiei waved a hand through the air twice then turned toward the hall again. "They won't miss a few provisions. And even if they do, that's their problem. We needed them."

"Where are you going darling?" Shinpi reached out and hooked her fingers between his before he could get too far. "You only just got home. Join us."

"My clothes are wet. I'm going to change." Hiei pulled his hand away from her gently. "I'm not overly eager to face the weather again so soon."

"Bring your wet clothes in here, we'll dry them by the fire." She shifted away from Hayato and untangled her legs from Kurama's, leaving the book on the cushion she had occupied. Her mouth quickly pressed to Hiei's, the softness of her lips his first clue to how chapped his own were. He offered her a nod and tugged his damp shirt over his head, passing it to her to handle while he went to scrounge up another outfit.

Their room was so cold the air felt suspended. The strange sensation of being in some inbetween time swam over him as he rustled through the drawers for another pair of pants and a shirt. He knew Shinpi kept a spare for him here. In one of the drawers he found a pair of her more ambiguous pairs of sweats, the material a far cry more comfortable than his usual apparel. He stepped into them not bothering with the draw string. The joggers cinched at his ankles and sat lower on his hips but there was nothing to be done about it. They were pleasant to wear and that's all he cared about right then. His search for a shirt ended when he spied something folded on the bed to await washing. With a smirk he grabbed the top and tugged it on.

When he reentered the living room, it was with the knowledge he didn't have to leave again for a while and therefor he could be as languid as he desired.

"Is that my sweater?" Kurama voiced the question with some level of intrigue, puzzlement creasing his graceful brow.

"Is that a problem?" Hiei demanded in return, a bit gruffly.

"I suppose it's not." Kurama allowed, though he still looked confused. "Why are you wearing it?"

"It seemed comfortable enough so I took it. You didn't seem to mind lending it out so I figured it wouldn't matter to you." Hiei stood his hands in the pockets of his borrowed pants, his tone underscored by a dare that went unanswered. "You'll get it back eventually, more than likely."

"This wouldn't be the first time you've ruined one of my shirts if it never makes it way back into my possession." Kurama responded easily, another smile tugging at his lips. "That color suits you."

"I do wish I could get you into more color darling, it all looks so lovely on you." Shinpi announced, her smile as warm at the fire blazing in front of her as she draped Hiei's cloak over the back of a chair she'd stolen from the kitchen. His scarf hung on another, his boots resting just before the hearth. His shirt was pinned to the mantel and she walked over to take his cold, soaked pants as well. "Thank you for braving the cold, Hiei."

"Black suits my needs just fine. Anything extravagant is wasted on me, it all gets ruined either by blood or wear." He shook his head. Offering a shrug he addressed her thankfulness. "Who else would have done it? Any of the rest of you would have frozen to death and if I hadn't gone you'd all be starving and unbearable."

"Both true sentiments but it does not diminish my appreciation." She stepped back from tacking his pants next to his shirt. "And I also happen to think you look rather handsome in Kurama's sweater. I'll buy you one or two when I take Hai shopping."

"Don't." Hiei shook his head. "I'll never wear them."

"Then I'll buy myself sweaters in your size and perhaps I won't have to steal so many of Kurama's. I'm sure he's tired of renting out his wardrobe to me anyway."

Hiei glanced toward Kurama, doing his best to not be obvious about watching his reaction. Before those green eyes could turn to him he adjusted the direction of his gaze, resettling on Shinpi. "Have you slept?"

"No." Kurama supplied the answer before she could even attempt to distort the truth. "She hasn't. She's utterly exhausted."

"Thank you, Kurama." Shinpi's smile came forced.

Hiei continued to stare at her, unimpressed. "You said you'd try."

"You were gone for so long and this storm isn't getting better. I was worried about you." She argued. "I can't sleep when I'm worried."

"Nothing is going to happen to me." He assured her. "Part of what took so long is that I decided to widen my perimeter check before I left. Other than the usual outliers I didn't find any evidence of anyone on the grounds or even nearby."

She fidgeted, chewing her cheek before offering a subdued, "That's good then."

"Were we expecting someone to be out there?" Kurama's question made Hiei quirk a brow, turning his attention from the fox back to his partner. Then both men centered their gazes on her and she shook her head.

"No, we weren't. Because it was already clearly established that no one would be." Shinpi leveled Hiei with a look. "We talked about this."

"And you asked me to entertain your theory. I am." Hiei crossed his arms over his chest. He glanced to Kurama once again, noting the pressed line of the other's lips, the set neutrality of his expression manufactured to hide his annoyance. Opening his mouth to defend himself he turned back to Shinpi who looked ready to give up and retreat elsewhere. "You didn't tell him."

"I didn't want to worry anyone anymore than I already had. Jumping at shadows, as I have been." Shinpi wrinkled her nose, eyes darting to the side.

"You said you would talk to him, Shinpi."

"Talk to him about what?" Kurama dared to interject. "Am I the him in this conversation?"

"Yes, you are." Shinpi sighed. "I explained to Hiei about a theory that came to me recently. I don't have anything concrete to offer in the way of evidence right now."

"Tell me." Kurama urged her, curious. So she did, recanting her conversation with Hiei. He listened raptly, moving to sit on the edge of the cushion. "I do remember you mentioning your shoulder bothering you after the fight. I thought I'd injured you."

"You did." Hiei muttered, earning a sharp look from both Shinpi and Kurama. "That's not the point. The point is that if Shinpi thinks she's being watched-"

"Then someone is probably watching." Kurama agreed readily. "What's our plan?"

"Act natural." Shinpi suggested with a shrug. "Until we have evidence, or a direction to aim, there's not much else to do. I've already agreed to take more precautions. If you're alright with it, I'll probably be checking in more often."

"Naturally."

"As much as it kills me to say, we should speak to Koenma as well." Hiei grumbled, sneering at the mere idea. "Have him schedule more visits with you, preferably at random intervals so there's no pattern. He might not be useful most of the time but his presence does carry a weight."

"I'll mention it the next time I have to report in." Shinpi pursed her lips, arms crossed over her chest. "I can't wait for all of this to be done with. I am exhausted with check-ins, and being babysat."

"It beats being dead." Kurama told her blandly. "You'll survive."

"If it were possible for me to stay on this side of the line this wouldn't be necessary." Hiei frowned. "If I were here constantly these potential threats wouldn't matter. But I'm not, and you live alone, so you'll have to suffer through the precautions. Don't forget to talk to Hayato as well. He needs to come back more often."

"Hayato's work is important to Hichi's research, coming back too often could have negative effects." Kurama told Hiei. "I agree he should also check in, but between Koenma, myself and the team I'm sure we'll be able to come up with a suitable plan without hampering her intelligence gathering."

Hiei remained unconvinced, but chose not to argue. He made sure Kurama could see his dull expression, his quirked brow while Shinpi was distracted looking her little bird over. Kurama responded with narrowed lids and a quick, sharp, shake of his head. Shinpi turned back to them and they both straightened up just in time to appear like nothing happened.

"I'm glad you and Hayato finally started to get to know each other. It seems like you're looking out for him. It's nice, having all my boys on the same side." Shinpi offered a soft smile to Hiei and Kurama.

Hiei blinked before his eyes widened with curiosity, a grin unfurling as he turned to regard the redhead. With played up warmth in his voice he said, "That is nice. You two were talking? I must have missed that, which is disappointing."

"We had a nice conversation, yes." Kurama stared at Hiei without blinking, green eyes glinting with warning that any verbal misstep might end in blood. "It was enlightening. It allowed us to come closer together on the most important of topics, which of course is our darling Hichi. He told me quite a bit about himself."

"Sounds friendly." Hiei nodded, grin growing wide enough to display teeth. "Sounds, lovely."

Shinpi's hand shot out on reflex, cuffing Hiei on the arm. "Will you stop, please."

"What?" He asked, unable to hide his humor. "I'm happy for them."

Shinpi rolled her eyes and then marched over to the bag of plundered grocery items, ready to explore her bounty. Hiei watched her rifle through the items until she nodded with a smile. "Thank you again, Hiei. Looks like we'll be having some stew for dinner. With enough to last a few days if needed."

"And two bottles of sake, both of which I left on the steps so they'd chill." He watched her eyes light up so he held up a cautioning finger, pointing it toward her nose. "We can open one tonight, and it will be shared between the four of us. This is a special occasion, don't get used to me bringing bottles of alcohol home."

"I'm just excited you want to share a drink with me." She tiptoed over slyly, to which he showed heavy suspicion. Her nose brushed against his before she kissed the space between his eyebrows. "I think you should help me chop vegetables. Your skilled hands should make quick work of it."

Hiei considered her demand for a moment, then nodded. "Fine."

Her responding smile was so soft and bright he felt dirty just seeing it. Undeserving. That expression for him? For saying he'd chop a few potatoes and onions and carrots? How simple was her happiness?

His lips pressed to hers without thinking, her expression just demanding a kiss. Drawing back, he blinked, surprised by his own action. Shinpi's smile remained, her eyes partially closed. Behind her Hiei caught Kurama's expression, his eyebrows raised. Once he realized Hiei was looking he quickly averted his attention to the fire.

"If you two need any help I'll be here reading." He got to his feet and moved around the room in search of a book.

"I think we can handle it." Shinpi assured him happily, reaching down to take Hiei's hand so she could steer him toward the kitchen to prepare the food for eventual cooking over the fire.

Blankets, a futon, and copious pillows merged on the floor to create a cozy nest which was happily occupied by Hayato who had his arms wound around Shinpi. A sleepy smile graced her face and his, both bathed in the flickering warm light of the fire still going strong, thanks to Hiei's active interference. He continued to stoke the ashes, adding wood. The cold retreated midway back in the room, growing worse the closer one got to the walls. Kurama sat on the couch with a blanket over his legs, occasionally shooting glances to the makeshift bed and it's occupants.

He pulled the blanket up a little and went back to reading his book.

Hiei caught it all in the window, watching the reflections play across the cold glass. His presence kept the frost from forming.

Kurama shifted again, huffing.

"You should just lay down with them." Hiei voiced quietly. "You'd be more comfortable."

"I'm fine." Kurama lied with annoyance.

"You're cold."

"I said I'm fine."

Hiei rolled his eyes and removed himself from the windowsill to sneak over to where Kurama was trying to make himself comfortable by rearranging the couch cushions. He reached over and shoved one of the pillows behind his friend, then pushed him back unceremoniously, prying the blanket off his legs. When Kurama went to protest Hiei shushed him, nodding toward their sleeping friends.

"You're cold and you're uncomfortable. Stop being an idiot." Hiei scolded, lifting Kurama's legs so he could sit with his back against the cushions caddy-corner to the redhead before allowing the other's legs to fall across his lap. Once he was comfortably situated he draped the blanket over both of them. "If you start shivering and your teeth chattering wakes up Shinpi we'll both have hell to pay."

"She's changed you." Kurama's words earned stillness of the man beside him. "It's not a bad thing, Hiei."

"She hasn't changed me." Hiei lowered his voice. "But she has shown me the merit in changing myself."

"It's sometimes the same thing." Kurama carefully adjusted himself, so he could watch his friend while enjoying the added warmth of another body near his. He'd rather be on the futon, but he was not interested in fighting for real estate against Hayato.

Hiei smirked at him knowingly, earning a grumpy frown. Garnet eyes moved away to study the woman held so tightly in the raven's arms. Kurama's question from a few nights before came back to him. Why didn't he feel threatened by Hayato's shared intimacy with Shinpi?

"When he first showed up I hoped Shinpi would kill him." Hiei stared at Hayato's closed eyes, his dark hair fanning over his arms and the pillows, his feathers tattooed into his skin but still shimmering in the firelight. "I hated him. I hated that Shinpi stopped me from killing him myself. I hated that she ran to him, sobbing, that he cried with her. I hated the stench of failure that coated him."

Kurama listened, turning to look as well.

"I didn't understand what she saw in him. Why she bothered accepting him back. It was beyond my reach to understand." Hiei went on. "Seeing them together made me feel physically ill. Oh, that raven. I did not care for him at all. It wasn't just that I loathed him for losing her, for coming back to make amends. It was that I had only just had finally gotten her to trust me, to come to me. I didn't want his interference, I didn't want to be pushed to the side."

"It's hard for me to imagine Shinpi ever casting you to the side for anyone." Kurama admitted quietly. "Even before Hayato showed up, you two were extremely close. You had been for some time."

"It didn't feel that way. It was always two steps forward, three back with her. We were never on even ground. And then it wasn't. It happened without me realizing it, but we were on the same side as the same time all of the sudden and I didn't want that threatened." Hiei swept his gaze to Kurama, leaning back suddenly with narrowed lids. "I hated you too a few times. All of you, actually. She had you all wrapped right around her little finger and none of you cared."

"That's hardly the truth." Kurama rolled his eyes.

"Yes it is. I expected it from Kuwabara and Yusuke, those two idiots would adopt a mop wearing a wig if they liked it's grit. You were supposed to the voice of reason, you were supposed to be on my side." Hiei looked toward the fire. "And you weren't. You were on hers."

"I wasn't."

"Yes, you were. You all were." Hiei sighed. "And I hated that too, because I kept having to be the bad guy because it seemed like I was the only one willing to be. She moved in so quickly, took up so much space. There were times when it seemed like you were all against me and with her. Like, she was taking my space."

"Hiei, does this have a point?" Kurama wondered quietly. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, the point is that Hayato isn't a threat to you." Hiei explained with a loose hand gesture. "Those two, whatever it is that joins them, it's just made of something different. It's incomparable. But that doesn't mean that she has any less space for you or me. That's why I don't care about it. It's no threat. Took me a while to see that, but once I did it made tolerating that overgrown pheasant a lot easier."

"You like him." Kurama stated softly.

"When he's quiet." Hiei agreed. "You don't have to like him, but you do have to get used to him Kurama. He's not going anywhere unless she goes first."