Disclaimer: I do not own YYH! However, I do own Tsuko, who's real name is Shio, but when I created this story, I had him using a fake name. Why did Hiei not give a fake name too, I have no idea. I figured it would be a little too confusing, and I like the name Hiei too much. I suddenly got the inspiration to write today, and I hope that you enjoy this much delayed chapter! Just so you know, I am going to California for 3 weeks, so there might not be many updates during July 11 to the 31st. And now I'm back. Thanks to my reviewers! I'm hoping to making this version of ATTW better than the first one.

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The last body hit the ground with a thud and a spray of blood. Kurama wiped the tiny fleck of red off his cheek and sighed. He was getting sloppy. At least his clothing was untouched.

"Send wine to my table, or sake! Cultureless peons!" He huffed as he stepped over one of the bodies. Despite the annoyance, the look on the demons' faces when they realized just who they were challenging had been priceless. If only Kurama could get Hiei to see him with even a semblance of the amount or reverence other demons held for him. Cool. Confident. Suave. Talented. Powerful. Drop dead sexy. How could someone resist him? Of course, Kuronue had told him once that there always had to be someone.

"Perhaps I've been going about this the wrong way?" Kurama stopped the think about this. He had been using his usual technique. Charm them off their feet and then swoop in for the kill. It had never failed before…well, he could say that it failed once, but he refused to count that.

"This may turn out to be…quite troublesome." Hiei had already proven that he was prepared to fight to the very end. Seriously, who throws away a priceless gem unless they're determined? Or just really stupid. Either one was plausible.

"Perhaps I should try something different? What do you think?" Kurama addressed the large vine plant that was currently sucking up the remains of the demons. The large red flower turned to face him before the jaws crunched down on the severed limb inside the blossom.

"Be more aggressive and less charming? That may be the ticket! Thank you!" The plant did a strange sort of nod and went back to its feeding. Kurama rubbed his hands together eagerly. It was all coming together. Hiei would be his in no time!

"Now, where did he go?..."

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"Ya know…you got really pretty hair! And I'm not just saying that!" Tsuko swayed unsteadily on Kuronue's lap and the 'pretty'-haired demon wrapped an arm around his waist to steady him.

"Thank you." Tsuko leaned into Kuronue's chest and let his head rest against his shoulder. Big, dark, unfocused eyes looked up at Kuronue almost shyly. He thought it was insanely cute.

"But anyway! You wanted to know about Hiei? Hm?" Tsuko's voice trailed off into a low mumble and his eyes slid shut. Kuronue frowned. Was Tsuko asleep? From the amount of alcohol the demon had ingested, Kuronue was not surprised. The only question was, what did he do now? He couldn't question him. Sex was out of the question. Kuronue had tried once to have sex with someone who was unconscious. It was boring as hell. Not to mention the fact that Kurama was pissed beyond all reason when he woke up.

"How troublesome," He muttered.

"Oh my! Is our little Tsuko passed out again?" Yaomi giggled as she poked Tsuko in the forehead. The silver haired demon growled in his sleep and shifted away from her. She giggled again and Kuronue could feel a headache coming on.

"Do you know what I should do with him? I assume this has happened before?" She straightened and looked around the room.

"Well, Hiei-san usually takes care of him when this happens, but he disappeared a few hours ago…Oh! There he is!" She pointed at the bar, and Kuronue caught a glimpse of spiky black hair and an angry scowl. Hiei was moving towards them, and his glare grew more pronounced as he drew closer.

"I see you lost him," Kuronue commented when Hiei stopped in front of him. Hiei stared at him in confusion for a moment before he understood.

"The bastard doesn't take no for an answer." Kuronue nodded and Tsuko hiccupped suddenly. Hiei's gaze snapped to the demon curled up on his lap and he glared harder.

"Give him to me." He snapped. Kuronue curled an arm around Tsuko protectively.

"Why?" Hiei rolled his eyes and muttered something.

"He's my friend. He's coming with me." Kuronue eyed Hiei skeptically. Did he believe Hiei? No.

"I don't trust you enough to let you have him." He stated calmly. Hiei's left eye twitched a little.

"You're not taking him." Hiei ground out.

"Why not?"

"Because you're not, that's why!" The two stared at each other and the air around them crackled with demonic energy. Patrons near them instantly began moving away.

"Give him to me." Hiei growled.

"Make me." Kuronue didn't flinch at the overwhelming intent to kill that practically oozed out of Hiei's aura. He would be surprised if the gods themselves didn't perk up at the hostility.

Fortunately, before the Hiei induced blood bath could ensue, a certain someone chose that moment to wake up.

"Hiei!!!" Kuronue flinched at the loud voice right next to his ear. Tsuko sure could shout.

"Tsuko." Hiei ground out. His glare at lessened slightly, but it was still damn scary. And poor Tsuko had it fixed firmly on him. The silver haired demon cringed.

"Sheesh. What's up wit'chu?" His speech was still slurred, but he'd only been out for a few minutes. It was not as if the alcohol had gone anywhere.

"We're leaving. Now." Tsuko pouted, but accepted Hiei's outstretched hand and allowed himself to be pulled off Kuronue's lap and out of his arms. Kuronue felt his stomach tighten as Hiei led the intoxicated demon away from him. He was leaving…What if he never saw him again?

"Wait!" He pushed out of his chair and hurried to catch them before they left. He caught them at the door and he grabbed Tsuko's arm to stop him. He ignored Hiei's scowl and focused instead on Tsuko.

"Will I see you again?" He asked desperately.

"No." Hiei snapped.

"I didn't ask you!" Tsuko was silent. He looked at Hiei, and then he looked up at Kuronue. For the first time that night, he looked truly uncertain.

"Will I?" Kuronue asked again. He had to know. He did not know why, but he had to.

"I…Yes." Tsuko ignored Hiei's glare and reached up to touch the side of Kuronue's face. His small fingers wrapped around a lock of dark hair and he pulled Kuronue's head down so that he could kiss him firmly on the mouth. The kiss lasted barely a second, because the second Hiei realized what was happening, he yanked Tsuko away from Kuronue and pulled him out the door. The heavy wooden door slammed shut a few inches away from his nose and he glared at the offensive object.

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"What were you thinking?!" Hiei let Tsuko slide off his back as he came to a stop in front of the cave that they were using as their base of operations. It was much less comfortable than their actual hideout, but it had to do for the time being.

"You're an ass." Tsuko snapped as he tried to stand. The amount of alcohol he had consumed had not been enough to impair his judgment, no matter how inebriated he had acted, and Hiei's attitude was doing a great job of pissing him off.

"It's a good thing I showed up when I did!" Hiei's voice trailed off as the irate fire demon stormed into the cave. Tsuko rolled his eyes at his friend's behavior and followed him. Well, he tried to. Actually, he tripped over a rock and landed face first on the ground. So maybe the alcohol affected him a little more than he cared to admit. So what?

"C'mon, Hiei!" He yelled when he finally stumbled to his feet. His nose smarted a little, but the rest of him was okay! He carefully avoided the rock and made his way into the cave. The wards were designed to keep out unfriendly visitors, but they brushed over Tsuko without a hitch. He had to admit, they came in handy when Hiei was pissed at him. He could stand there and laugh while the enraged demon tried to get past the wards. Hiei had trouble with those wards when he was in a good mood, but angry…yeah.

"You act like I told the guy every secret down to the color of your panties!" Tsuko ducked in time to avoid the heavy rock that Hiei threw at him, but he almost tripped again.

"I don't wear undergarments," Hiei grouched as he settled next to the fire pit. Tsuko grinned and plopped down next to him.

"I can't argue with that," Tsuko playfully snaked an arm around Hiei's waist and pulled him closer. "I happen to know quite well what you've got under those clothes."

"Hn." Hiei blushed and wriggled out of Tsuko's grip. He sighed and watched as Hiei crouched down to start the fire.

"And what's with this name?" He asked curiously.

"What about it?"

"Why'd you pick Tsuko? What does it mean, anyway?"

"It means 'protected child'." A silver eyebrow rose when Hiei admitted this.

"Protected child? Hiei, I never would have thought you cared so much!" Hiei made a face and the fire sprang to life.

"It's a fairly common name in Lirunk province, and you know why I chose it."

"Yeah." Tsuko stretched out on the cold stone floor and smiled. "I've got the best damn protector in all of the Makai, don't I?"

"Hn."

"Still…I liked my old name! Why can't I use it?"

"Because it attracts too much attention." Tsuko scowled and fingered a small pebble.

"My full name, you mean."

"No. Even the shortened version attracts attention. Do you want to let them know right where you are? Word travels fast."

"Alright! I get it!" Tsuko tossed the pebble at Hiei's head, but the demon caught it with ease. Tsuko sighed and rolled onto his back.

"I still don't see what the problem with 'Shio' is, anyway."

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Next morning

"I've decided on a more direct method, mixed in with my own special blend of hotness and charm." Kuronue sighed and Kurama prattled on about his new plan. This was not his day. First, Kurama became infatuated with that waiter, which was fine on its own. Then, he decided that said waiter would make an awesome addition to their private, exclusive, you go to be good to get in, and attractive, guild of thieves. So far they had about…two people. Sadly, those two included himself and Kurama. But hey, those were some tough guidelines to go by. Hiei was attractive, in a weird 'I-hate-you-die' kind of way. Whether he was actually a competent thief or not…well, Kurama claimed that he had a reliable source. Of course, he also said he had a reliable source for a good meat bun recipe, and that certainly was not true.

"I thought that perhaps I could-!" Why was Kurama so interested in the brat, anyway? He wasn't that attractive. Speaking of attractive…Kuronue almost smiled as he thought about his own thief. The thief of his heart, to be more exact. Or his libido, at least. Actually, to be more clear, Tsuko had managed to snag his damn libido's attention. Which meant that, until his urge was satisfied, he would not be able to 'get it up' for anyone else. That would really suck if he never saw Tsuko again.

"By the way, I screwed your sister yesterday."

"I don't have a sister." Kuronue snapped. Kurama grinned smugly.

"I had to see if you were listening!"

"I was. It's a great plan. Go for it." Kuronue slammed his head down on the table and ignored his friend's indignant huff. After a few minutes of being ignored, something Kurama hated, he heard the scrape of the chair and the silver kitsune stalked away from the table.

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"Damn Kuronue and his inner thoughts," Kurama huffed as he stalked through the forest. The sky was a lovely color of blue today. Well, he couldn't really see it through the trees, so it might be a dark grey. But he was a tad optimistic, so he was going to pretend that it was blue. But back to the subject. Damn Kuronue and his inner thoughts!

"How dare he pay more attention to his thoughts than mine!" A tree politely moved out of his way and he thanked it as he walked by.

"It probably has something to do with that silly waiter he met last night." Kurama sighed. That had to be it. Another episode of 'stolen libido'. Honestly, how ridiculous.

"I've got my plan, I've got the materials, which would be myself, the only thing I'm missing is the demon in question." Kurama tapped his chin thoughtfully. True, he had forced Hiei to swallow a seed that emitted a very faint ki, and for him it would be easy to follow. The only problem was that he couldn't even sense the blasted thing. Granted, he could only sense it if it was close enough, say a few hundred miles. So either Hiei had somehow destroyed it, or he was somewhere that prevented Kurama from sensing its ki.

"Damnit." Kurama ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "What I need is someone who would know where Hiei is. Someone who knows him…"

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"How did you come to be working here?" Kuronue asked as Tsuko poured him another drink. The silver haired waiter shrugged.

"You have to make a living somehow."

"Really? There are so many other things you could do."

"Such as?"

"You are very beautiful. Have you considered entertaining?" Kuronue would definitely pay money for Tsuko to perform for him. Preferably alone in his bedchamber. Instead of the light blush he had expected, Tsuko's dark eyes hardened and he drew away sharply.

"I'm not a prostitute." Tsuko turned sharply on his heel and would have left had there not been a hand gripping his shoulder.

"That's not what I meant!" Kuronue desperately tried to clear his mind of the haze that had settled over it from the moment he walked in. Tsuko had that effect on him, it seemed.

"Then what did you mean?" Tsuko asked coldly.

"I meant something more along the lines of dancing, or theater!" He might have been thinking something a little more exotic for himself, but for the public eye, he had been serious about the theater. Tsuko held his gaze for a moment before his eyes closed and he laughed.

"I've never heard that before!" Chuckling softly, Tsuko allowed Kuronue to gently pull him back to the table.

"I'm sorry." Kuronue found himself apologizing for the first time in years to someone he barely knew.

"It's okay." Tsuko almost allowed himself to be pushed into the chair next to Kuronue, but instead he straightened.

"Sorry, I've got to work." He grinned cheerfully at Kuronue and almost bounced away from the table. The raven haired demon gripped the edge of the table in frustration. The one thing he was not known for was patience, and Tsuko was pushing it.

"Kuronue!" Kuronue looked up at the yell and was greeted by the sight of Kurama jumping over a nearby table and landing next to him with a large grin on his face. A dark eyebrow rose as Kuronue eyed his excited friend. This was...odd. The usually composed youko was bouncing on the balls of his feet like and excited child and his eyes were alight with a mischevious gleam.

"Yes?" The demons at the table that Kurama had leapt over were shouting obsenities at Kurama's back. A few seconds later they were silent as vines wrapped around their necks and cut off their air supply. The room emptied rather quickly.

"I've got a plan!" Kurama crowed.

"Okay..."

"And it involves the thief of your libido!"

"He did not steal my libido!"

"Someone stole your libido?" They both turned at the familiar voice and Kurone cursed Kurama's rotten timing.

"That's not-," Kuronue started, but Kurama cut him off.

"Yes! Someone has stolen our dear Kuronue's awe-inspiring libido!" Tsuko's gaze went straight to Kuronue's lap and his face turned slightly green.

"That sucks... Did they leave anything?" Kuronue was shocked that Tsuko was going along with Kurama's ridiculous claim.

"Not a bit!" Kurama declared dramatically. "That retched thief took it from him!"

"Yegh...Who the hell goes around stealing a guy's bits?" Silence fell over the table. Even Kurama was shocked into stillness.

"Stealing bits?" Kurama finally asked. Tsuko shifted the tray in his arms and his eyes flicked towards Kuronue's groin again.

"Well, you said...you know...that it was gone?" The two stared at him for a few more seconds before Kuronue placed his hand over said bits.

"It is still there." He growled, and his anger subsided slightly when Tsuko blushed. Damn, he was too pretty.

"I didn't mean literally." Kurama said quietly, and the awkward silence fell until the fox remembered why he came in.

"Oh! Tsuko! I need your assisstance!" The silver haired waiter leaned away from Kurama nervously.

"With what?" He asked suspiciously. Kurama held up a plate of meat buns with a smile and Kuronue blinked in confusion. What the hell?

"I need you to tell me what you think of these! You too, Kuronue!" Kuronue repressed a whimper. Not the meat buns.

"Um...okay..." Tsuko hesitantly took the offered meat bun and glanced over at Kuronue. 'Eat it quickly!' He mouthed at him before he shoved the meat bun in his mouth. Hardly graceful, but anything to avoid the taste. Tsuko paled, but did as he was told. His face turned slightly green, but he swallowed and smiled shakily.

"Its...very good..." Kurama beamed at him and set the plate down on the table.

"I'll be back! I've got some plans to review!" With that, Kurama strode out of the bar much more calmly than he'd entered. The second he was gone. Tsuko made a face,

"That was the worst meat bun I've ever had!" He snatched the bottle of liquor of the table and took a few swallows.

"I know what you mean." Tsuko was kind enough to hand the bottle to Kuronue to help him rid his mouth of the fowl taste. Even as he did that, Kuronue had to wonder at his friend's odd behavior. Who bounces into a bar and orders people to taste horrible meat buns? What kind of plot was he concocting now? If he wanted to make random people suffer, those damn meat buns were the way to do it. But why the hell did he have to make Kuronue suffer, too?

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"I love it when a plan comes together!" Kurama giggled as he dropped a squealing mouse into one of his flowers. A crunch, and the squealing stopped.

"Might I ask what the hell this damn plan has to do with forcing me to eat those disgusting meat buns!?" Kurama looked up from his plant.

"Oh. You."

"Yes! Me! What the hell was that?!" Kurama smiled in a secretive manner that he knew irritated his partner to no end. As expected, Kuronue began fidgeting in extreme frustration until Kurama sighed. He would eventually have to tell poor Kuronue what he was doing.

Kurama opened his mouth, but closed it when something caught his attention. He ignored his fuming friend and focused on the familiar energy.

"YES!" He shouted, thoroughly startling poor Kuronue. "HE'S ON THE MOVE!"

"Wha-?" Kurama took off without another word. Kuronue, after a few seconds of stunned silence, gave up and took off after his insane friend.

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"Something weird happened today." Tsuko said as he changed out of his uniform.

"Hn?" Hiei ignored his naked friend as he concentrated on sharpening his katana. Alright, that was a lie. He looked a little. Was it his fault that Tsuko was just stripping down in front of him?

"That weird kitsune forced me to eat a meat bun." Tsuko said with a straight face as he pulled a shirt over his head.

"..."

"I know! Freakish! He just showed up out of nowhere and started going on about the meat buns and how I should try one! So I did! And it was the most disgusting thing ever!"

"He could have been trying to poison you." Hiei snapped.

"Nah. He made Kuronue eat one, too. But I'm surprised the taste alone didn't kill me! I've never had anything so vile!"

"You're just spoiled." Hiei inspected the blade closely. No, not sharp enough.

"How the hell could I be spoiled? I have to eat your cooking." Well, the blade was certainly sharp even to decapitate someone...

"Hn."

"See? You admit that you're a sucky cook!" Hiei sheathed his sword and glared at his now fully clothed friend.

"Then I guess you're going to skip the sucky dinner that I cooked?" Tsuko faltered.

"What'd you make?" He asked cautiously.

"Fish. Rice. Chocolate covered tomatoes."

"Chocolate covered tomatoes?!" Tsuko fell to his knees and wrapped his arms around Hiei. "I take back everything I ever said about you! Ever! You are the shining star that graces my poor, pathetic, chocolate-covered-tomatoless world!"

"Get off!" Hiei pushed the exuberant demon off and Tusko fell onto his back.

"To dinner!" Tsuko crowed. "To chocolate covered tomatoes!"

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"This is just great." Kuronue muttered as he crouched under a bush. It had started raining sometime during their persuit of whoever the hell Kurama was after. It was still raining. Kuronue was wet, cold, uncomfortable, and pissed off. Kurama was in a tree a few feet away, his pale eyes fixed upon the cave entrance. Thanks to his plants, he was perfectly warm and dry. His lack of concern for Kuronue probably stemmed from being called a crazy bastard during the chase.

"I'll wait until morning." Kuronue sigh. Kurama was talking to himself again. No doubt about this stupid plan of his. Why the hell couldn't he pull this off without him? Kuronue shivered. Damn, what he needed was a nice hot bath, with bubbles, and a naked Tsuko. Yeeeeaaaah...

"Fuck!" Kuronue was jerked out of his steamy fantasy by a tree branch that rudely connected with his skull.

"Pay attention!" Kurama snapped.

"What the fuck am I supposed to be paying attention to?! Why the hell did you drag me along on your damn persuit of that short little shit?!"

"Because," Kurama said indignantly, "I need you to distract his waiter friend so I can slip in unnoticed."

"Tsuko?" Kuronue's eyes were instantly fixed on the cave entrance. His mind was already full of all the ways he could 'distract' Tsuko. He might be getting that bath after all.

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TBC...

Well? Like it? Hate it? And no, Hiei and Tsuko/Shio are not going to be in a romantic relationship. They're sort-of...friends/partners with benefits. There's actually a whole story behind that. I might get into it, I might not. For some reason, spellcheck doesn't work on this silly computer. Damn you, Windows Vista!!! Anyway, I'll be updating Homicidal Urges soon. I'm waiting for 170 reviews. Of course, I still have to finish the chapter first. What can I say? Reviews make the world go round, so review! Flames will be used for things that I'm not allowed to talk about.