Chapter 3

"He didn't have to be so harsh," Yusuke whined. "Little bastard." The black haired male was rubbing at his sides where large bruises were forming and there were a couple of scratches on his face.

Kuwabara groaned as he ducked under a tree branch, his hands bandaged from blistered burns. There were scratches along his back and a horrid looking black eye was being born. "As if you can talk Urameshi. I don't think I'll even be able to use my Spirit Sword with my hands this badly burned." One blue eye glanced to the side where Yusuke walked beside him. "Why the hell does he hafta be so damn cute? If he wasn't a cat I would be able to attack him with no problems."

With a roll of his eyes Yusuke snorted. The sun was already in the center of the sky but instead of being anywhere near civilization the group was lost far out in the woods trying to find some sort of clue about their new enemies whereabouts. "It doesn't matter what he looks like dude, Hiei will always wipe the floor with you."

"Not so! I'll beat his ass eventually just as I'll do with yours! As soon as my hands heal anyways."

The last part was stated dejectedly, and Yusuke being Yusuke, couldn't help but laugh at his friends expense.

"Dude you are so pathetic! How the hell can you even pretend to beat the guy's ass when only a couple of hours ago Hiei, as a cat was able to punch you in the face!?" The Mazaku broke out into a fit of giggles at the angered expression on Kuwabara's face, his shoulders shaking as tears flooded his eyes from the memory. "Face it Kuwabara, you're screwed if you think you'll ever manage to beat him."

"Oh? And what about you exactly huh?" Kuwabara retorted in a fit of fury. "You were wiped out just as easily as I was!"

"Man, I've kicked Hiei's ass before and I can do it again, anytime, anywhere. It's just that he got me off guard was all and hello! Who has the worst wounds here? Me or you?"

"Are you sayin' you're better than me?!"

"Obviously!"

"I'll show you Urameshi! This time you're the one whose going to be eating dirt!"

"Psst, please. You couldn't lay a finger on me even if my eyes were closed."

"You wanna see about that?! Let's go right here!"

"Fine, we'll settle the score once and for all!" A wry grin etched itself onto Yusuke's smug mug which only inscenced the human more. "Even though all the scores point in my favor."

"That's because you cheat!"

"I do not cheat, it's called street fighting dude. Even you should know that."

"Alright that's it!"

"Now, now boys. Unless you want to be punished I highly suggest you refrain from shouting anymore."

And that finished that end of the conversation. Sweatdrops formed on the children in the back as Kurama grinned at them over one shoulder, green eyes smouldering with his true intentions.

Now there were two things keeping them from continuing. One, they were in a forest filled with plants. Plants Kurama could manipulate and control to his every whim and they both knew just what kind of person Youko Kurama really was. And neither wanted to see just what kind of things the redhead could do to them in this kind of situation. Two, out of all three of them Kurama was the only one who had come out of Hiei's raging attack unscathed. They don't know how he did it, whether or not he just dodged the attacks, beat Hiei into submission, or had some sort of control over the fire demon as strong as he did over the plants he had in his hair.

They had a feeling there punishment would be either A: having plants being shoved up their asses so far flowers bloomed out of their facial cavities or B: Kurama would sick Hiei on them.

Neither would be pretty.

So they remained quiet, there only means of fighting with each other through their eyes and expressions.

The Kitsune sighed, everly grateful for the fact that the two decided to quiet down. Honestly they were both considered adults now so shouldn't they no longer act as if they were still in diapers?

A red brow rose as a thought of possible punishable humiliation graced his mind. Perhaps he should put them in diapers next time they reacted, and stuff pacifiers into their mouths to shut them up. Maybe than they would stop acting like babies seeing as how they would be dressed like a pair of infants.

That's good, he grinned, that is definately an idea Hiei should be informed of.

Speaking of Hiei Kurama envied him a little. After what happened Koenma felt that perhaps it might be best if the first outing was just the three of them and when the two started to protest he shut them off with a meaningful glare. Good thing too because with the way Hiei had been licking his bloodied claws Kurama thought there was the possiblity the youkai would just eat the insufferable fools just to silent them.

So while Hiei cooled down in the dojo Kurama, Yusuke and Kuwabara scouted the forest for anything suspicious.

But as they treked on Kurama found his thoughts drifting to what had happened earlier.

As large red eyes finally opened with soberness instead of drunkeness Kurama smiled down at the tired cat. "How are you feeling Hiei? I take it you liked the catnip."

The male didn't even bother to respond with words, he only growled and bristled his fur. Why the fuck should he be happy at the moment huh? His head was fuckin' killing him! The last time he felt this kind of pain was when the Spirit Dectecive had cornered him and forced a couple glasses of ningen alcohol on him.

Ears pressed back Hiei allowed his tails to twitch and writhe in annoyance before he sat up with all the lazyness of a cat. Which he was. Kurama simply chuckled at the responce he got which made Hiei's lips curl up but there was no way he could actually be angry with the plant manipulator. Not with those gorgeous green eyes and brilliant smile and oh so loving personality...

Whiskers twitched. Tails twitched. Ears flicked up back and forth as he realized what he just thought. Goddamnit.

"Oi! Hiei you're awake man!"

Red eyes snapped wide open as Kurama flew to the wall some how as Yusuke showed up out of nowhere with his hand stretched outwards to touch him. Snarling didn't seem to be doing anything to advert the boy's intent though and now that Kuwabara magically appeared as well, Hiei's already rotten mood turned for the worse.

"You were so freakin adorable Hiei! You were purring and acting as if you were high..."

"You were acting just like Eikichi when I give her catnip."

Oh god they were actually starting to get pretty close...

Kurama quickly pulled himself up and onto the sofa, prepared for the worst case scenario. But than again Hiei only attacked those who were close to him if they were acting like dumbasses. Which Kurama wasn't and besides he was Kurama so he was safe no matter what.

Which Yusuke decided needed to happen. "You have to let us do that again man, but this time we have have to get it recorded so we can send a copy to Mukuro."

With a roar of rage from the giant cat and an equal yowl of pain and fear from the idiots Hiei exacted his revenge.

It turned out that just because Hiei was turned into a cat it didn't mean he couldn't manipulate fire anymore. Or create it for the matter because when he got close enough Hiei snorted out flames onto the human's hands.

The fire flying via the nostrils.

A factor in which Kurama wondered if it hurt the fire demon.

The man was cut off from his thoughts however when a loud voice broke the air.

"Well, well. What an interestin' group we have here!"

It looks like there search had paid off.