"I think it went well..." Keiko said hesitantly. They were walking towards Keiko's family's noodle shop. Kuruma stood on her right and Hiei on her left, the latter didn't seem very happy.

"Considering, it went quite well," Kuruma agreed with a smile. He'd never expected the human to back Koenma into a corner, and his fox-demon half savored every moment. Between the two of them poor Koenma hadn't stood a chance. The young girl, when impassioned about something, was a force to be reckoned with.

"Hmm," Hiei responded, glaring at the sidewalk. Kuruma glanced over in time to see his lips twitch however.

"We're here!" Keiko announced, smiling. "Come on in! We're not busy at this hour, I'll treat you both to dinner..." She motioned them inside with a grin and seated them.

"Hi, Papa," she kissed her father's cheek, making three dinners quickly. "These are my friends, Hiei and Kuruma, I ran into on the way home and invited them in for dinner..."

"You know we don't mind, Keiko," her father said with a smile as Keiko dished out three specials. Her father turned back to a conversation he was having with a regular as Kieko moved with a practiced ease to the table despite her laden arms. Kuruma stood, helping her as she reached them and Keiko grinned and thanked him.

"I can carry four specials if I really need to," Keiko grinned. "It's something you pick up when your family owns a noodle shop."

"It smells wonderful," Kuruma commented, picking up his chopsticks. Hiei did the same, eyeing the food a bit more warily. He watched the others begin to eat before he himself ate. Some habits died harder then others, and he wasn't exactly used to trusting people. He listened as Kuruma asked Keiko about school and other normal human things. He relaxed despite himself, enjoying just listening to the friendly voices. It had been a long time since he could do just that without worrying about an attack from behind. He tensed as a loud voice broke out from the front of the shop.

"It's Tomoe again..." Keiko muttered as the teenage boy she referred to spoke up again, louder then before. Tomoe was big and muscular with a thatch of blonde hair and an almost attractive face, if it weren't for the constant cruel half-smirk that played across it.

"This dump seems to have gone even MORE downhill," Tomoe said loudly, "no one's even taken our order yet..."

"I'll be back..." Keiko said with a glare that wasn't directed at her companions. Hiei's eyes followed her worriedly as she went to take the order of the rude boys, her father shot her a grateful look as he and her mother finished with their customers. The small shop was beginning to liven up a bit.

"I'm sorry," Keiko said politely, "what can I get you three?"

"Well, if it isn't Keiko," Tomoe said with a cruel smile as he began to rattle things off rapid fire.

"Don't," Kuruma warned, catching Hiei's wrist as he went for his sword. Hiei glared at him.

"Let me go, Fox..." He growled.

"No, Keiko can take care of herself she works here, remember? And if those boys do try anything I'll personally help you thrash them, deal?" Kuruma said in a low voice, keeping one eye on Keiko as Hiei nodded slowly. Kuruma released his hand and watched in amusement, as Keiko not only caught everything the boys could throw at her, but bit back too. This one, he decided, would be interesting to have around.

"There you are," Keiko said smiling and unloading her arms on Tomoe's table. She smiled, giving him his check and tuning back towards Kuruma and Hiei rolling her eyes. Kuruma laughed, covering his mouth with hand in a habitual gesture. Keiko slid into her seat and smiled.

"They're always like that," she explained with a sigh, picking up her chopsticks again. Hiei glanced at the still noisy ningens. He didn't like the looks being shot in their direction. "They complain, make noise, order food, complain some more, pay, then leave, I don't get it but they're customers..." Keiko said shaking her head.

"It doesn't make much sense," Kuruma agreed with a nod and a shrug. "They're probably just acting tough," he continued in an amused tone.

"Probably." Keiko agreed, chewing thoughtfully. "I don't get boys, no offense. Why do they always have to beat something up to prove they're best? Or yell and act tough?"

"It's a guy thing," Kuruma grinned. "Most boys their age are like that."

"How old are you, Kuruma? Koenma said you were a youko, a fox demon, right? But you look human...Sorry, I'm being nosey, you don't have to tell me..." Keiko said blushing. Hiei had perked on this particular subject and was looking intently at Kuruma.

"No, it's ok. It's a long story though..." he warned.

"I don't mind," Keiko said eagerly.

"Ok then, years ago I was a youko. And a thief. I had just pulled off a particularly hard job and was quite proud of myself. However, when I reached the cover of forest..." Kuruma stopped, feeling a slight knot of fear rise again in his chest. Keiko reached across the table to gently squeeze his hand in encouragement. Kuruma squeezed it back gratefully.

"When I reached the forest I sensed spirit energy. It was a youko hunter. Youko hair, bones, tails, ears, etc. are often used in spells and charms. I was confident I had nothing to worry about but...he was good. I wasn't ready to die though. I escaped to the human world in spirit form and bonded with the soul of the unborn Shuuichi...I planned to stay with my 'mother' and 'father' only till I was ten, then...My mother, I... When I was eight or so she caught me as I fell from a stool then shielded me from falling plates. Her arms were cut and bleeding badly but...the first thing she did was ask me if I was ok. I had to call an ambulance and she insisted she'd be ok, that they should check me first. My parents were never around when I was a fox but my mother...To her I was more important then her own life…." Kuruma shook his head slightly. "I don't believe I'd ever experienced exactly what unconditional love was till then. I decided that day not to leave." He smiled at Keiko who squeezed his hands with a half smile, brushing away a tear.

"She sounds wonderful...I'd like to meet her sometime." Keiko said with a smile.

"I'd like that, I'm sure she would, too. Though she'd mark you as a potential candidate for her future daughter-in-law," Kuruma said with a laugh.

"My parents are the same way," Keiko smiled," it's only fair, since you're here. You and Hiei have already BEEN marked." Kuruma laughed and Hiei just raised an eyebrow at the both of them.

"Hey, Keiko!" Keiko's teeth gritted as Tomoe yelled for her.

"Duty calls," she muttered with an apologetic look.

Hiei remained silent, eyeing the boys. Keiko's father had disappeared into the back moments before to check his wife who hadn't felt well, and went upstairs to get some rest. Hiei had caught the exchange during Kuruma's tale. He watched the boys worriedly as Keiko rang up the teenagers' order and he didn't have to turn to know Kuruma's gaze was trained in the same direction.

"Thank you, please come again," Keiko chirped automatically. The smile most customers received from her how ever wasn't there.

"We might," Tomoe grinned wickedly, taking his change.

"Well," Keiko said with a sigh, sliding back into her seat, "I'm glad that's over..."

"I don't blame you," Kuruma smiled, glancing at his watch regretfully. "I have to go...Homework to finish before school tomorrow. It was nice meeting you Keiko, I'm sure we'll see each other again."

"Probably, If you're going to work with Yusuke, someone has to make sure he does his studies..." Keiko said with a smile.

"Really?" Kuruma laughed. Yes, Yusuke had struck him as a delinquent. He glanced at the silent Hiei who was watching the two of them intently.

"I'll walk with you," Hiei said suddenly. Kuruma nodded and bid Keiko farewell again. He and Hiei walked a moment in silence.

"You like her," Kuruma smirked softly as Hiei started slightly at his words.

"I don't know what you mean," Hiei said, looking away.

"I like her..." Kuruma said with a grin.

"What are you getting at fox?"

"Just thinking aloud..." Kuruma smiled.

"She loves the one called Yusuke," Hiei said after a moment.

"She thinks she does..." Kuruma corrected. "You heard her tonight, she's been best friends with him since they started school...She's probably never thought of being with anyone else..."

"What's your point?" Hiei asked, raising an eyebrow.

"What if we made her think about it?" Kuruma asked, eyes gleaming.

"And why would 'we' want to do such a thing?"

"She's intelligent, interesting, and certainly no push over...I've made it no secret I have an interest in you..." Green eyes twinkled as the fire demon looked away. "I think Keiko would be an interesting third..."

"You're certainly confident in your skills..." Hiei's deep voice was amused. "You have yet to seduce me or Keiko, Fox, don't count your chickens yet..."

"Confidence and skill are the way to acquire mates..." The redhead grinned. "Seduction is easy, Hiei, I could have you and Keiko with little effort." He ignored the glare from his companion, voice becoming serious. "But recent events have shown I need more then bed partners, I need people I can trust and rely on...I have family now."

"Trusting me is a mistake," Hiei warned.

"Perhaps, but I don't think so...I suppose we'll find out, hmmm? Until then, I do suggest a concentrated effort to at least get to know, Keiko...Whichever way things fall I want that girl on my side..."

"Kuruma! Hiei!" Keiko grinned at the two demons as they walked into the noodle shop.

"Hi, Keiko!" Kuruma smiled back at the brunette, Hiei glanced at her briefly and nodded.

"How's your vacation been, Kuruma?" Keiko asked, coming around the counter.

"Not bad, Hiei and I were going to the movies, we thought we'd stop and ask if you wanted to come..." Kuruma smiled at the sideways glances Hiei kept shooting Keiko, the last one had been hopeful.

"I'd love to! Give me a minute to tell my parents..." Keiko turned to get her father's attention.

Keiko hid her face in Hiei's cloak again, Kuruma grinned.

"Is it over?" Keiko whimpered.

"Yes, you're safe," Kuruma grinned.

Hiei smirked, watching the young human open one eye to check.

"They had to kill the bunny!" Keiko said, eyes big.

"Yes, but the rabbit was a fighter, they had to use the torch thing twice, then the cannon..." Hiei commented, trying not to smile.

"But...it was a bunny!"

"It was eating people," Kuruma pointed out as he too tried not to laugh at the teen's outrage.

"Only because they messed with her babies! It's allowed then, I think the bunnies should win!" Keiko defended, arms crossed.

The three of them were in a mostly empty monster movie, mostly empty because of the title, Kuruma guessed. "Attack of the Radioactive Rabbit" wasn't exactly appealing he supposed. Keiko was tucked between the two males, clutching one or the other at appropriate moments. Hiei, who'd never been to a movie, seemed to be enjoying himself. Kuruma suspected he also liked the way Keiko grabbed onto them.

"The movie's almost over, I don't see how the rabbit COULD win at this point..." Kuruma said, popping a piece of popcorn in his mouth, though he too was rooting for the killer flop ear. Keiko looked thoughtful a moment.

"Well, she DID have babies, that means there has to be a father bunny around somewhere," she thought out loud. Kuruma blinked, she was right of course, why hadn't HE thought of that?

"She's right," Hiei agreed aloud with an approving nod.

"Maybe he'll show up and eat the men with guns!" Keiko said hopefully.

Kuruma snorted at the vengeful look Keiko was giving the men on screen. Smiling softly he decided that things were going well, Hiei seemed to be relaxing and Keiko was enjoying herself.

"That's the thing I've never liked about monster movies..." Keiko said absently, taking a handful of popcorn from the bag Kuruma was holding out to her. "Why do the monsters always have to loose? Sometimes I like the monster more then the hero..."

Kuruma just smiled, agreeing completely.