Poker Face

Having cooled off some distance away from the shrine Hiei realized that perhaps storming off had not been the best option. He had let that damn dog get to him and worse he had shown it in front of Kagome. Unsettled and in need of a distraction, Hiei corrected his course to head in the direction of a certain red headed fox's apartment.

Taking up his usual seat on the living rooms windowsill Hiei pretended not to notice when his sudden appearance drew the attention of all occupants of the room. He closed his eyes settling back into a relaxed position hoping that by ignoring them they would just continue with what they had been doing. The sound of Yusuke's shifting position letting him know that had been wishful thinking. Being the one seated closest to the window Yusuke would have had to turn to look directly at him.

His former teammates were all gathered around a small table in the fox's apartment likely participating in what he had heard Yusuke refer to as a guy's night. Judging by the empty beer cans and half eaten bowls of chips they had been at it awhile even though the sun was just now getting ready to set. He often found the inconsistencies in human behavior odd and just another reason to think poorly of the species. If it was called a guy's night shouldn't that imply that these activates should take place at night? Not that he would bother asking again after Yusuke's previous response to his inquiry had been to state the only real requirement was the absence of his woman.

Unsurprisingly in was Yusuke who broke the silence obviously finding his arrival more interesting then whatever card game they had been playing. "Well look who dropped in." The teasing tone evident in his statement, Hiei only cracked an eye to look suspiciously in his direction.

Next to verbally acknowledge him was the fox who was seated across the table from Yusuke and facing more or less in the direction of both the window and the apartment door. Likely a position chosen to allow greater observation on any access points to his surroundings, though the relaxed posture that Kurama had perfected would fool any who didn't know him well. "It's good to see you Hiei." He smiled warmly as he made his usual attempts to engage him in whatever the group was currently doing. "Care to join us?" His hands gesturing towards the cards on the table as he spoke.

Before he even had the chance to respond, not that he was planning to, the loud excited bellowing of Kuwabara cut in from his seat on the sofa. "Hey Shorty!" How one human could make so much noise and take up so much space without ever leaving his seat was beyond reasoning. "Where ya been? We haven't seen you in over two weeks."

"Where I choose to spend my time is no business of yours." Unsurprising to all present Hiei didn't bother with any pleasantries or to actually answer Kuwabara's question. Now that all greetings were given including his own he assumed the others would go back to their game without a fuss. Which was wishful thinking on his part, as he should have known his vague answer would only encourage Yusuke to pry further.

One look at the smirk on Yusuke's face could of told anyone who knew him he wasn't done questioning his friends absence and would continue to push the matter. A dangerous choice given Hiei's current mood. "So Hiei, finally get bored enough to crawl out from whatever rock you were hiding under?"

Well that did it. Now standing a short distance from his surprised comrades he found himself once again ready for a fight. The former detective's words getting under his skin far more then they should have. "As if I would hide from anyone? Least of all weaklings like you." The glare he was currently giving Yusuke speaking volumes on just how volatile he currently was. The events from earlier in the day bleeding into the present as Hiei once again felt challenged. His hand once again resting on his sword hilt he pushed further. Maybe a fight was what he needed. "If you need me to prove that to you I'd be more than happy too. Just say the word."

The confused look he received from Yusuke showing him just how much his former teammates suspected something to be off in his behavior. Dammit! Wasn't he already irritated enough? First the dog and now his supposed friends. How could so many fail to take his threats seriously? Leave it to Yusuke to provoke him with in minutes of his arrival then fail to respond as he expected. Not getting the reaction he had intended he let his hand drop.

Seeing the danger in the situation Kurama made his attempt to diffuse the situation, his placating tone doing nothing to improve Hiei's mood. "Now now Hiei. Let us try to keep things civil." The concerned look he received from the fox only grating further on his nerves. "If something is truly bothering you, your friends are here to listen."

At that Hiei couldn't help but snort breaking eye contact with the former detective to glance over at the red head. Leave it to Kurama to say something so incredibly human to him. Though he had to admit it had the desired effect and was likely the true motive behind such a statement.

The tension obviously lessened Yusuke considered Hiei before snapping out his own response. "What crawled up your butt?" Yusuke reached for the chips as his way of brushing off Hiei's threat, however his eye never left the demon still standing in front of him.

Before Hiei could decide his next course of action Kuwabara decided to jump in and voice his thoughts on the situation. "Maybe shorty would be around more if the two of you weren't to busy competing for unwanted wingman of the year." All eyes now on Kuwabara he continued a smug look on his face. "I mean what kinda friends are you?" Pointing to both Yusuke and Kurama as he jumped up in his usual animated way. "Fighting along side someone you get to know them. Our bonds run deep and though I may not like that shitty attitude of his I respect him enough not to use him for my own personal amusement. If it's obvious to me then it sure as hell is obvious to him. The two of you have just been trying to out do the other. That's not what Friends do! Do you even care if Hiei wants to meet a girl?" Having completed his long-winded monologue he sat down giving both Yusuke and Kurama an expectant look.

Hiei's attention was now fully on Kuwabara, blinking slowly as he tried to fully process his words. Seriously? Did he really think that was what this was about? It was at most a motivation for his long absence but certainly not the reason behind his foul mood. Not that he fully understood what about his encounter with the dog bothered him so much.

Always the most mature it was Kurama who replied first. "Yes Kuwabara you are correct. Friends should take into account the feelings of the other, especially on such matters." Rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly he continued with his next comment directed at Hiei. "Perhaps we have been a little over zealous in our efforts. My apologies Hiei I can assure you they were meant with only pure intentions."

Hiei almost rolled his eyes at the dramatics now taking place around him. "Save your apologies fox." Let Kurama say what he wants it was obvious to all the game had turned into a completion from the start with the fox enjoying every minute of it. Not that he cared and he certainly was not going to allow them to believe they had somehow hurt his feelings. "I am not one so delicate as to have been troubled by such actions."

Always avoiding anything remotely connected to his emotions Yusuke chose to deflect rather than apologize. "Yea whatever. I don't see why the two of you are making this a big deal we were just having some fun." Hiei once again turned to look at the man in front of him. This time it was Yusuke who initiated the previously abandoned glaring match. "And that's no excuse for three eye's over here to come in dripping with attitude." A wild smirk made its way onto Yusuke's face as he challenged back. "Anytime you want to fight Hiei. You know where to find me."

As the glare he directed at Yusuke intensified, it occurred to him how out of character it was for him to back down from a challenge. Least of all when it came to something he wanted, and perhaps that was it. The dog had been challenging his presence at the shrine as if he had no business being there. Venting more of his frustration onto his former teammate Hiei bit back a response. "Are you expecting me to back down?"

Turning serious for a moment Yusuke gave him a hard look as if seeing past all the surface bravado and straight to Hiei's internal struggle. "You're not the kind of of guy who backs down when you mean it." Yusuke to his credit was more insightful they any of them gave him credit for. "It's always a question of if you are serious or not."

Was he serious? Was spending time with Kagome something he wanted? Regardless of how much they annoyed him, he could always count on his comrades to knock his ego down a peg or bolster his confidence depending on what the situation called for. Not that he would ever admit to needing such, and in truth he didn't in most circumstances. Hiei was nothing but confident on the battlefield and in an argument, however in terms of social bonding that's where things got a bit more complicated. His self-assured attitude holding strong in terms of rejecting social connection with others but when it came to allowing them to form he was anything but comfortable. In truth his relationship to Kagome was something entirely new and it was at the core of his bad mood. Not the dog and his challenge but the uncertainty of what he was trying to gain by keeping the girl in his life. All other friendships, if you could call then that, having formed out of mutual gain or as a side effect of fighting along side each other. He had his familial ties to account for Yukina and even now he kept her at a distance. All the other non-fighters in his circles being tied somehow to those he had fought with.

Turning his attention away from his thoughts and back on the man in front of him Hiei refused to back down. At least not until he was sure. "And are you serious Detective?"

Undeterred by his harsh tone Yusuke continued their staring contest with more amusement in his gaze then malice. "And here I thought we were friends. Don't you know me well enough to tell when I'm serious?"

At that he let his posture relax and it was Hiei's turn to smirk enjoying the friendly challenge of someone he considered worthy. "My mistake."

Yusuke for his part returning his smirk with a wide grin showing he considered the matter settled. "Glad to hear that Hiei. I was starting to think I'd have to kick the crap out of you to get you back to normal."

Turning his back on the former detective, Hiei choose to put an end to their staring contest and made his way back toward the window. "Hn. You could try." The only response he would give. After all he really wasn't serious. Excitement now over, this left the others to return to their previously forgotten game as Hiei pondered what to do about the newest individual to insert herself into his life.

No way he was going to let some dog scare him off. After all there were many ways to win a competition, and Hiei was not one to back down from a challenge. Not now that he was sure having Kagome in his life was something he wanted.

AN: Thanks to all who reviewed. You really kept me motivated to get this out. I know I said I was trying for sometime last week, but only a day late isn't too bad. I kinda got distracted with an idea for yet another sequel. So after I get the next and final chapter to Hide & Seek up keep your eyes out for Exception.