Chapter 17: The Honeymoon for Two, and Holiday For More
The next weekend, after Briar and Kurama's wedding, the two Newlyweds were readying themselves for their honeymoon. Apparently, they were heading to the same beach as the one where everyone had taken a trip to a while back. This time, they were renting a much smaller condo. Sakura and Jin had showed up to 'help' Briar and Kurama get their things into the vehicle and see them off.

Everyone (K, B, Kura, Sa', J, and H) were outside saying their goodbyes to Kurama and Briar, even though they were due back in about 4 days.

"I hope you two have a wonderful time, bro'!" Kura kissed him on the cheek, then took Hiei's hand into hers. She smiled. "And be safe!"

"We will, we will!" Kurama assured everyone. "Yeah. Be safe." Sakura tried to be 'nice', yet she seemed a little grumpy today.

Hiei thought that the next four days would be a good chance to spend time with Kura. He smiled to himself, then gently pulled her closer to him.

Kurama grinned, seeing this, and made eye contact with Hiei. Keep her safe while Briar and I are gone. He thought, knowing Hiei hear it.

"Oy! You two need ta ge' goin'!" Jin started to rush them off.

"Bye, guys! We'll call ya later, and we'll see ya in a few days!" briar cheerfully said good bye then the two of them got into the car and drove away.

The four left behind exchanged looks. Kura, Sakura, and Jin smirked. "Woohoo! No Briar! No Kurama! This is gonna be great!" Sakura exclaimed. Jin and herself exchanged high-fives, then they went silent as they looked upon Kura and Hiei. Sakura put on a cute face, "Aaawww!"

Kura and Hiei had been embracing each other, which was sooo kwaii to any one else. They tried to ignore Sakura and Jin's taunting laughter and actions. Finally, they- Kura and Hiei- headed inside. "Bakas!" They yelled, then giggled about it once indoors.

Out, on the law, the 2 numbskulls were chuckling. All-of-a-sudden, they were seized by their shoulders. They turned around to set their eyes upon the quick, quiet, and dark Kurone. "What did we do this time!" Sakura whined.

He smirked. "Briar left some chores for you BOTH to do. AT HOME."

"oh, crap." Jin gulped, as Kuronue drug them back to the house. This should be fun.

Little did the wonder couple know, they were getting ready to clean the WHOLE, entire house, Kuronue was looking forward to basking in his laziness as they dusted, washed, and put things away in the House.

"Hm..." Kura looked out the front window. "I guess they wont be back any time soon."

"Oh, well." Hiei came up behind her and took her in his arms. "More alone time for us."

His words caused her to giggle. "Oh.. you're being awfully sweet today. Would it be because my brother, nor his new bride, aren't here for the next... 4 days?"

"Maybe. Or, maybe I realized I should be more affable towards you..." He kissed her on the neck once.

"Just realized?- Ha! C'mon! You're just sucking up! What do you want, Hiei-chan!" She joked.

"You." He whispered in her ear, delicately.

Carefully and slowly, she turned around- still in his arms. "You've got me." She giggled. "C'mon..." She unwrapped herself from his arms, took his hands, and led him into her bedroom.

+ At Sakura's house +

Already, Sakura and Jin were working up a sweat. Kuronue sat in the huge, comfy recliner in the living room, his headphones on and his eyes closed. Ah, Relaxation. He thought. Thank you, Lord Koenma and all, for making Younger Siblings... He grinned, keeping his eyes shut, but he didn't close his "demon-meter" (as Sakura once called it). Ah, yes, Sakura's random names for things. Entertaining, they were also annoying at times.

"WHY? Why are you and me stuck cleaning while everyone else is having fun?" Sakura whined, throwing her sponge into the soapy water, which was being contained in a bucket beside of her feet. Even grumpier now than she was earlier, she looked to her fateful and loving fiancé, who seemed to be quite content as he floated around the room dusting. "JIN! BAKA!" She pouted.

"Huh?" He propelled himself to face her.

"Why are you enjoying this?"

"Oh..." He, guilty as charged, looked to the yellow feather duster resting in his hand, then floated over to Sakura. "... Because, it's better than not doin' anythin'!" He grinned, kissing her on the forehead.

Welcoming the kiss and thinking Jin was crazy, she rolled her eyes.

"Your bro' seems ta be enjoyin' this!"

"He's not enjoying this! He's just enjoying his R&R!" Sakura narrowed her eyes at her brother, who was still listening to his CD player in the recliner.

"Ah, give 'im a break. You an' Briar are always gone.. He's always alone. At least he's enjoyin' his time here-- while we're here!" Jin tried to rouse her normal happy-go-lucky mood. It didn't seem to be working that much.

"Hmph. I don't think he's always alone." For her comment, Jin elbowed her in the side. He grinned, then messed up her short black hair. "What? I was just saying! I know that Kura and Hiei aren't as innocent as they seem, therefore... Kuronue isn't as innocent as he seems!"

"Let's just get this done. So we can go back, get the two little 'love chibis' and all go hang out." Jin started dusting again. Sakura began scrubbing the wall with the sponge again. "Damn crayon... Why did Yusuke and I have to go and color on the walls last week?" ((HAHA!LMAO!ROTFL!- Wait, I like coloring... . ))

A few hours went by, Sakura and Jin noticed that Kuronue had fallen into a warm and cozy sleep. The two knuckle heads smirked, but then Kuronue stirred. He quickly rose to his feet, pulling the ear phones from his ears, "You two are complete numbskulls. Did you really believe that I was going to lay there and let you two do whatever? Ha." He exited and headed to his room.

"Grumpy ass." Sakura narrowed her eyes. Jin got a quick idea. "Let's go and get the two lazy-kins!" He took Sakura's hand, then they left the Demon World- heading for Human World.

+ Back at the Apartment +

"You know..." Kura said, buttoning up her light pink shirt. ".. I can't wait to get married." She left the top two buttons open, then put the tear gem back around her neck.

Hiei lay in the bed, upon his side, watching her, with a smile. "Yeah. I can't either."

Once Kura was done combing her hair with her fingers, she smiled to him. Slowly, she walked over and placed a kiss on his lips. He rested his hand on the back of her neck and tried to gently pull her closer. She playfully pulled away. "C'mon.. We've gotta 'stop being lazy' and go do something!"

"And what would that something be?" He questioned, not having any clue as to what she'd been planning.

She shrugged. "I don't know. I have a feeling that Sa' and Jin shall be returning soon!" She sang, taking a seat in the corner chair.

Hiei couldn't help himself but roll his eyes at his 'silly gal pal' (another Sakura-ism). Kura crossed her legs and rested her hands in her lap. She also rolled her eyes at him, and sang, "You better get dressed before they get here!" She was such a tease.

"How about I just resume dormancy, eliminating all possible odds of them walking into your room." He had a smug smirk resting on hi face.

"Smart ass!" She continued to sing, sitting cozily in the chair. She was tapping her foot on the invisible air, keeping eye contact with him.

"You caught me." He sank back down to where he was laying on hi face, half under the blankets.

"I'll just leave, so you can get dresses! Hurry!" She stood, and left the room. She made sure to shut the door.

"Hiya!" Sakura burst into the apartment's living room, causing (Kura) a laugh.

"Hiya!" She greeted, hopping up to sit on the bar top. "Hiya, Jin!" She saw the red-headed wind mater enter and immediately go over to the couch.

"Where's Hiei?" Sakura walked over and took a bottle out of the 'fridge'.

"Oh," Kura giggled. "He's in my room."

Sa' stopped, making eye-contact with Jin. "Oh.- What's he doing in there, huh?"

"Noneya!" She smirked, swinging her legs back-and-forth.

"ooooooh!" Jin taunted, then Sakura hopped up on the counter beside of Kura, nudging her in the side.

"What?" Kura questioned, in attempt to play dumb.

"Baka! You're horrible at the 'dumb' thing!" Sakura took a drink from the bottle.

"Only when I'm talking to you!"

"So.. what is he doing in your room?- Meditating?"

"No," Hiei's almost sinister yet quite homey voice ran through their ears. "I wasn't meditating. And, I don't know why you tedious vessels always assume that I am meditating."

The three looked at him. Jin and Sakura were quite shocked to find that Hiei had no shirt on. "Well... " Jin started. "At least he has pants on."

Kura giggled, not really being phased by Hiei's shirtless entrance. Her eyes strayed to her slightly horrified friends- causing her to laugh a little more. "Hiya, stranger!" She greeted Hiei, once more taking on the roll of the dumb one.

Sakura, finally shaking herself back to normal, began in on a joke. She covered her eyes and yelled, "My eyes! My eyes!"

Hiei shot her a warning look, receiving a grin back from her once she had uncovered her eyes. "Sakura..." Kura shook her head. "Odd ball."

"Thankies!"

"Why are we all rallying in here?" Hiei growled. He didn't see the reason as ot why Sakura always had to bring the annoy-air with her everywhere she went. he rested against the wall closest to the bar.

"Who knows!" The Scott-Wind Master commented from the couch.

"Because! It's the Hot Spot! Not ever fun, but it's the Hot Spot!" Sakura looked around the apartment. How long has Kurama been living here again? She asked herself. The apartment looked.. blah. You'd think that, since Kura's been living with her big bro', the place would look a little more.. stylish, so you'd say.

"Uh.. Sa'? You're spacing out!"

"Just let baka-no-brain over there space out if she wants to." The fire demon commented.

Quickly, Jin rose ot his feet. "Wha' was tha' commen' abou'?"

Hiei's crimson eyes met Jin's blue ones. "Exactly what you think it means."

Kura sighed, "Not again!" She, then, hoped down from her place ont he countertop. "Fellas... C'mon! Chill out!- Jin... just ignore Hiei. - Hiei... c'mon! Be nice!" She put on a puppy dog face. Jin backed off. Sakura snapped out of her state. "Huh?"

"Oh, dear God!" Hiei exclaimed after everyone fell silent for a moment.

"Sakura... You're too much." Kura shook her head. Jin rolled his eyes.

"Sorry! . ! I just totally spaced out! What were we talking about?"

"Nothing. Just don't mind it." Kura giggled.

"Ooooookaaaaaay! Anywho, what are we- all of us- gonna do?"

"Here's an idea: Why don't you two go anywhere but here?"

"Hiei!" Kura shot him a look.

"What?- I'm sick of this. Every time your brother and Briar are gone, these two HAVE to be here.- We never have any alone time." He spoke, clearly getting his point across.

"Hiei!" Kura tried to stop him.

"Well," Sakura was quite emotional at this point: half infuriated, and have upset by his words. "If that's how you feel, you ungrateful bastard... then we'll just go.- C'mon, Jin!" She quickly grabbed Jin's hand and dragged him out of the door.

"Hiei!" Kura was also infuriated with him. She began a stream of Chinese curses, then stopped herself to look at him. "Why? Why?"

He looked at her, he being unable to move. He'd never seen Kura like this before, and he felt horrible now. When he opened his mouth to speak, she wouldn't allow him to.

"Can you say 'anger management'!" She must've been quite mad, for she had her hands on her hips. "What is wrong with you?- And to think! I love you!"

"Don't say that." He sprang from his position against the wall, and quickly locked his arms around Kura's shoulders. "Don't say things like that..."

"So, I'm the only one who can make you go soft?- You disrespect my friend- MY BEST FRIEND- and you want me to forgive you that easily? The phone began to ring, and it looked as though Hiei wasn't going to let her go. "Hiei.. I need to get the phone."

"Are you still going to be mad?"

"Probably.- Let me go."

"Not if you're still going to be mad."
"Fine! I wont be mad!" She was annoyed. "Just let me go."

"Fine." He grunted, releasing her.

+ At the Beach House +

"Hello?" Briar greeted the person who'd picked up the phone. "Kura! How's the home front?"

"Um... It's... got some complications, but we're okay." She answered.

"Oh. Well.. Are you sure you're all okay?- Where's Sakura? I don't hear her amused laughter in the background."

"She's out with Jin."

"Where's Hiei?"

"Uh... Put it this way: He's being punished.- I've got to go. call back later, okay? Bai." CLICK.

Briar hung up the phone also. Kurama questioned the confused look upon his lovely wife's face. "What's wrong?"

"Apparently- this is just an inference- but- apparently Hiei's in trouble with Kura." She reported.

"What has he done now?"

"Who knows. He seemed to have pissed you sis' off really good this time." Briar went and snuggled up to Kurama's side on the couch.

"He's just trying to get comfortable around her. You know, adjust. They'll be set as soon as we get home." Kurama assured her, as he got comfortable on the couch.

"I hope so.- But, I do wonder what our Hiei-kins did this time."
Kurama chuckled. "Like you said, who knows."

"Yes," Briar began as she closed her eyes. "Hiei seems to like pissing kura off sometimes."

"It's because he knows she'll forgive him and they'll make up at the end of the day."

Briar nudged him in his side, but she was giggling and agreeing with him, still.

"What? It's a simple concept: Kura drives Hiei wild, and Hiei drives Kura crazy. That's their relationship in a nutshell."

"Is that how our relationship is?"

"Kind of." He joked.

"Yeah, yeah." She grinned.

"... You know something?" Kurama began, making sure that his arm position around her shoulders was comfortable to Briar. he softly stroked her hair, soothingly. "I bet Hiei picks fights with Kura for the-"

Briar budged him again in the side, already knowing what he was going to say. "Don't! I don't want to hear anything about that!- Has she told you anything?" her nosey side set in.

He laughed. "Are you crazy?- She never tells me anything... But those two are so easy to read." He looked to Briar, who sat up slowly. Her mouth had fallen open. "what?" He chuckled again, as she spoke. "I can't believe you just said that, Kurama-chan." She, after a momentary lapse in time, grinned and snuggled back up to him. "But, I love you... So, I'll forgive you..."

"Forgive me? For what?" He played dumb. ((Must run in the family, then. ))
Briar looked up at him, cutely. "Just shut up and give me a kiss."

"That's more like it." Kurama bent down a little and began a long stream of kisses, shared with the love of his life. They were young, alone, married, and so in love... .

+ At the Apartment +

Kura was pacing angrily around the living room. her green eyes seemed to have grown darker, her facial expression making it clear that she was pissed off. During the "storm", Hiei sat on the counter. All he could do was await her words, and hope that she'd forgive him. Finally, she stopped pacing and approached him slowly. "Why do you have to do that?- Hiei! They're your friends, too! You shouldn't treat them like that! I- I just... don't understand why you're so perfectly sweet to me, but you're crappy and mean to everyone else!"

"I just..." He slowly started, but stopped. Suddenly, he discovered he didn't have any words for her. Usually, he'd already be on his way to making everything okay with Kura again. At the moment, he was no where close to that point.

"I seriously don't get you sometimes!" She blinked, a tear rolled down her cheek. "I know I love you, but.. you pretty much hurt my friends. Thanks."

He looked up to see her tears. He immediately jumped down and ran to her. He took her into his arms, holding her against his chest. "I'm sorry. I really am. I'll-- I'll change. Trust me." He tried to convince her. He really meant it, too.

"You need to!" She pulled away. "Listen, I'm going to hang out with Sakura and Jin.- I think it'd be best if you stayed here."

"What?" Hiei thought she was crazy, then he noticed that she wasn't kidding. "Okay.- Whatever."

"If my brother calls.. don't tell him anything." Kura put her shoes on and started heading out the door, leaving Hiei alone.

+ The Park +

Sakura and Jin didn't seem too phased by Hiei's attitude at this point. They realized that it was just how he was, and he might not every change. They might as well get used to it. The two were happily taking a walk around the perimeter of the beautiful park. Their hands were clasped together and their fingers intertwined with each others. It was a peaceful day, it seemed. Nice, and sunny, with not a cloud in the never-changing sky. The were a slight breeze, but it felt wonderful.

"Ah," Sakura sighed. "I don't think even Hiei's callous attitude can even get me down, today! It's so beautiful out here!"

Jin smiled, nodding once. True, he was a 'Wind Master', but he could never admit how good the breeze felt upon his face. He couldn't even ignore the fact that the outside world was exquisite on a day such as today. "Yeah. It's almost as beau'iful as you!" He spat, smoothly, then kissed her on the cheek.

"Aaaww! Such a romantic demon, you are!" She grinned back.

Somehow, Kura knew exactly where to find Sakura and Jin. Usually, Sakura could be found in the Park of the city, or in the Demon World somewhere. Kura had taken into consideration that her friend might've headed to the Demon World, then she realized otherwise. By no means would Sakura go to Demon World on a day like today! She grinned, thinking to herself as she walked under the Park's entrance. Quite unpredictably, a strong energy hit her- and it wasn't the wind. She froze in her tracks and looked up into one of the trees. "You can come out now.. I know you're there... Whoever you are.." This energy is too powerful to be any one I know... "Come out. Now."

"Now, now..." A dark voice said, as this "powerful" demon showed herself to Kura. She was about her height, and she had dark hair. She also possessed a cold stare.

"Who...?" Kura kept her eyes on this new apparition who she'd never seen before. "Who.. are.. you?"

Nadare folded her arms at her chest and looked at Kura. "I am Nadare... And, you must be Kura..."

"Y-yeah...- I've never met you before.. I've never heard of you before.-- What do you want?" Kura asked, feeling slightly scared.

"Hmph. I am one of your.. 'friend's' relatives... And, I highly doubt anyone's told you anything about me.." She stepped closer, coming out of the shadow of the tree.

"And... what's that supposed to mean?" Kura questioned, not understanding what this Nadare vessel was getting at.

"You're weak. You're just pulling your friends down..." Her voice was cold, and hard-hitting to Kura's unaware body. "And, why don't you just give up on Hiei... He's never going to love you, truly."

"Uh!" Her mouth fell open. "What do you know?"

"Aaww. Is the poor baby's feelings hurt?" She taunted, then she seemed to get quite a laugh out of this.

"You bitch.- Just who are you? I don't care about your name..." Kura's fist clenched by her side.

Nadare took another look at the young demon and smirked. "I'm..." She began, knowing her statement will be hitting Kura hard. ".. Hiei's older sister..."

"That's--!" Kura's eyes grew wider. "That's impossible! Hiei's only... got.. one sister.. And, Yukina's his twin.. You can't be!" Kura couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You liar! You just want Hiei all for yourself!"

"Ha!" Nadare laughed, slightly ominous. "I just want you to leave him alone.."

"Why? I've never done anything to you.. And I've certainly never done anything to Hiei, except love him!" Kura started to walk away, in the direction she felt Jin and Sakura were.

"Don't walk away from me!" Nadare commanded, but Kura didn't listen. She continued to walk away. Nadare, angered by this, jumped back into the tree she was in before she was called out. That brat wont marry him... If I have anything to do with it. Yet, I doubt Briar will let me have my way.. Well, that will just have to change now, wont it?

Finally, Kura caught up to her 2 friends. "Hey, guys!" She came up beside of them.

"Holy cow! You look like you just saw a ghost!" Sakura pointed out.

"Oh, uh... It's night."

"Oh.-- So, where's Hiei?"

Kura looked at Sakura. "I thought you guys were severely pissed off at him, so I made him stay at home." She sighed.

"We're not mad anymore. We figured that it was just how he was." Jin commented.

"I feel so bad, now.- I scolded him like he was a bad dog or something."
"Don't worry! I'm sure he's okay. I believe he'll understand where you're coming from." Sakura assured her, then changed the subject. "What had you looking so spooked?"

"Uh.. Well, at the entrance, this demon showed up. Her name was Nadare.- She said that she... was.. Hiei's older sister. she said he didn't love me, and that I'm pretty much crazy for thinking that he'd love me." Kura seemed worried and troubled by the things on her mind.

"It can't be. Hiei's only sister is Yukina. The only sister I know of." Sakura said, trying to sort this out in her own head.

"I'm sure this 'demon' ain't nothin' fer ya ta worry abou', Kura." Jin threw in his 2 cents.

"Heh. Yeah, but the thing is... She looked like him.. And, she acted just like he used to! Just like the old Hiei."

"Odd.- Listen! We'll call my sister and Kurama later and ask them about this Nadare character."

"okay."

"Cheer up!- C'mon! We'll go, get ice cream, then we can talk.."

"About what?"

"... Uh.. I no know!"

"C'mon, you two." Jin led them to the small Ice Cream Parlor right outside of the park. When they walked under the Park's Entrance/Exit, Kura was apparently the only one who felt Nadare's energy. Odd.

"Three..." Jin was ordering as Sakura and Kura took seats at a table.

"Oh! Yeah! That's right! You and Jin are getting married! When is the wedding, anyway?"

"Hmmm.. I guess we haven't thought that far ahead yet!"
"Sakura! We have school in about a month and a half!" Kura reminded her.

"Ooops! I forgot about that!" She grinned. "Wait!" Her grin fell off her face. "That means... this'll be your last year at school!"

"Uh huh!" Kura nodded.

"Aww. That means I'll be at that school with Yusuke and Kuwabara for another year after this one, with out you! AAAH!"

Kura giggled. "Yeah. But.. I believe you'll survive. I mean, I'm not gonna do anything else after... so, you can still come and visit me! Or, I'll come down and visit you."

Sakura shrugged, as she reached for the ice cream which Jin had just sat down on the table. He filled the empty seat beside of Sakura.

Kura looked at him. "You didn't have to get me anything..."

"It's okay! Jin's just bein' nice! No matter whether or not he didn't have to get it for you!" Sakura grinned, then put a spoon on ice cream in her mouth. "Yummmmm!"

Kura giggled, then sighed. She didn't feel like eating anything right now.

"Aww! Cheer up! Hiei's probably just... getting over himself. He was a jerk to me, anyway.."

"yeah! But! If you two aren't mad.. then I should've have scolded him like that!" She wore a pouty-face, but she was really being serious (minus the pouty face).

Jin rolled his eyes. "It's not like you broke up with him or anything." He threw in.

"True."

"So..." Sakura took another bite of her ice cream.

"So what?"

"Why don't you go and get Hiei right quick? Then we'll all have a day out together!- Oooh! The Carnival's in town! Teehee."

"Sakura? You're always in town." Jin smirked.

Sakura narrowed her eyes. "That was a good one.. but, a mean one."

Kura giggled. "Why don't you guys- after we finish up here- go ahead and do whatever.. I think I'll just go and... stay at home..."

"And, do what?" Sakura asked, as Jin and herself were looking to each other.

"I don't know!" She giggled, seriously having no clue of what she was going to do once at home.

"Do you ever know?" Jin asked.

"Oh, shoosh. I never said I was that smart!" Kura pointed out.

"Yet, you claim to be smarter than Kurama!" Sakura pointed out, a grin still playing on her face. When she received a glare from Kura, she wiped off her grin, but giggled.

"Okay, okay. So, what? It doesn't mean that I use that 'smart' part of my brain outside of school."

"Okay. Point well defined." Jin and Sakura agreed with each other.

The three friends sat there for another hour and a half, just chatting and stumbling over just about all the good times they've ever had with each other. There weren't that many good times, but there were still tons. Finally, they noticed that it was later than they thought it would be. They all agreed that they should get back to the apartment, even if it might end up in disaster. Hiei might be in rage-overload. On the other hand, Hiei might be quieted and calmed by now. They wouldn't know until they returned.

At the Beach

Briar was sitting out on the balcony, overlooking the never-peaceful, but always beautiful ocean as Kurama journeyed to call his sister. He dialed the number to his apartment, and waited. To his surprise Hiei answered the phone. "Well!" Kurama answered the greeting. "If is isn't everyone's favorite flamed fiend!- How goes the house sitting?"
"It sucks. Did you call to make fun of the fact that I'm stuck here?" He growled.

"Heh. No, I didn't. I called to see what was wrong. Briar told me that Kura was upset with y-"

"I don't want to talk about that."

"You, Hiei, are one inflexible being. You head is so thick, sometimes.- Just tell me what happ--" He was cut off by the noise of what sounded like Kura and two others entering into the room Hiei was in. "-Would that be my lovely and dear sister now?"

"Hn. - Do you wish to grill her for the answers now?"

"Yes, Hiei. If you don't mind." Kurama rolled his eyes.

Kura took the phone from Hiei and greeted Kurama. "Hey, bro'!"

"Hello.- How is your day going? Well, I presume."
"It's going… better…"

"Do you want to tell me what happened?- Between you and Hiei, I mean."

She kept quiet for a moment, then spoke quietly, "Could we just tall about this later?- I sort of need to go and apologize."

"Yeah. Okay. Sure. Call… NO. Better yet, just e-mail me… I'll check in the morning. Bye. Oh, and try to be nice to Hiei."

"I will- You two go and have some fun." They both hung up. Kurama went to join Briar out on the balcony. He smiled at her as he say down, putting his arm around her.

At the Apartment +
"Jin and me will be on the roof." Sakura said, dragging Jin out of the room and onto the roof top.

The air between Hiei and Kura was thick, and the tension was high. They looked at each other in the eyes. Kura stepped toward him. "I'm sorry. I made a mistake… I shouldn't have yelled at you.- I'm really sorry." She put her arms around his neck, and he accepted her. Well, that was easy. She thought to herself.

"Don't worry about it." He whispered.

She pulled away. "Let's go and sit with Jin and Sakura! The roof is one of your favorite places, after all!"

He smiled, taking her hand. He allowed her to lead him.

It was a miracle for Hiei to not be hostile, or even the least bit mad. But… it was a good thing Hiei-chan wasn't pissed off! It made Kura happy and that's all the Hiei cared about.

Jin and Sakura were relieved to see Hiei 'un-hostile'. "Well, well! If it isn't Hiei-kins!"

"Shut up." He growled as he and Kura sat down.

Kura looked up at the sky. "It looks like a raimei arashi…"

Alll 3 of them looked to her. Hiei put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer.

"…" Sa and Jin exchanged looks, and Sa' said, "C'mon! We'll help you get over your 'fear', Kura! It'll be fun and easy!"

"Fun for you… And, easy for you guys, too!"

"Oy. It'll be easy." Jin gave her two thumbs up for reassurance.

She rolled her eyes, but nodded- agreeing to accept their help.

"All right!" Sakura 'fell' over on Jin. "Ack!" She struggled to get back to her sitting position.

"Sa'! You're such a dork!" Jin pushed her back to balance.

Kura giggled. "You guys are, like, perfect for each other." She rested her head on Hiei's shoulder.

"You and Hiei are PERFECT for each other, too!"

"So are Briar and Kurama." Jin added.

"Speaking of the two… What ever were they doing?" Sa asked Kura.

"Oh.. I don't know. Kurama didn't say anything."

"They were probably sitting around, sweet-talking each other." Hiei said, sounding quite sure.

"Yeah, yeah. It's not any different than what WE do all day." Kura poked him in the side.

Hiei slid his arm to her side and squeezed, tickling her.

"Stop it!" She said, through giggles.

Sakura and Jin though about tackling Kura, then they thought different. "She'd kill us!" Jin laughed it off, while Sakrua rephrased his comment. "She'd SMITE us!"

"You guys…" Kura, while smiling, regained her balance. "I wouldn't smite you, nor kill you! I'd just… hurt you really badly!- Just kidding!"

Hiei rolled his eyes-- at all three of them. "I don't know why you people speak sometimes."
"What's that s'possed to mean, Hiei-kins?" Sakura narrowed her eyes, taking the small digital camera out of her pocket without anyone seeing her.

"Nothing!" Kura said, covering Hiei's mouth before he could say anything.

Beneath her hand, Hiei was smirking. He reached up and removed her hand from his mouth. "I was talking about you, too!"

Kura's mouth dropped open. Then, she quickly tackled Hiei, bringing him to where he was on his back. She sat on top of him.

Quickly, Sakura turned on the camera and took a picture--- or 10.

"Sakrua! I'm--- gonna---- get---- you!" Hiei got out.

"Hm… That didn't seem like much of a threat! He was laughing and smiling the whole way through his sentence!" Sakura and Jin smirked. "oh, Hiei!" Sakura sung. "I don't think you'll be going anywhere until Kura decides to get up… if she ever wants to." She teased. This was a great opportunity for Sakura to tease Hiei, and he not be able to pummel her.

Kura giggled at Sakura. "You know.. She's right!"

"I guess I'll just have to wait until you go to sleep to do anything, then. Wont I?" Hiei rested his hands on her thighs.

"Oh, heavens." Sakura rolled her eyes. "Hiei and Kura.. sittin' in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G! FIRST COMES LOVE! THEN, COMES MARRIAGE! THEN COMES HIEI-KINS IN A BABY CARRIAGE!" Sakura couldn't help herself.

The two wonder couples were sitting upon the roof, still. Finally, Sakura brought up the fact that it was dinner time, as they all laid underneath the starry blanket of the night's sky. "I'm hungry!" She whined, a grin still on her face as she climbed to her feet; Jin also raising.

Kura smiled and looked up at the two. "I'll tell you guys what... You guys go ahead and go to dinner, and Hiei and I'll will promise to go with you guys some other time.- I think Hiei wants some of his 'alone time' he's been so deprived from lately." She winked.

Hiei rolled his eyes, knowing that it wasn't his fault for Kura's 'explanation' as to why she would suggest that her best friend and (Sakura's) her boyfriend go out to dinner... with out Kura, and himself.

"Okay. We'll hold ya to that promise!-- We'll see you guys later!" Sakura winked to her best friend, then took Jin's hand, leaving the roof.

Kura saw Hiei roll his eyes, and felt as though she should ask, "What?"

"Nothing."

"Hiei! Teeeeeeeeeeeell meeeeee!" She tried.

He rolled his eyes one more as his lover tried to get anything she could out of him. He wouldn't let her break his stone mind. He stood up, then leaned down to take her in his arms: to carry her downstairs.

"Meanie." She whispered, playfully, as she held onto his neck.

They (meaning Hiei jumping, and Kura in his arms) jumped to one of the branches of the Sakura tree beside of Kura's bedroom. Thank the Spirit World that the window was opened. Smoothly, the couple climbed inside. "No, what?" Kura asked, not climbing out of his arms. "I mean, Sakura and Jin are gone... Kurama and Briar are probably having fun at the beach."

"Yeah. They're probably having... 'fun'." Hiei smirked, (literally) throwing her on the bed, and watching her bounce up-and-down a few times.

"Weee!" She giggled, as she settled into peace atop the bed. ".. You're not hungry, are you?"

"Not really."
"Positive?"

"Yes. I'm positive, Kura." HE sat down on the edge of the bed, removing his boots.

"You know, we need to go and hang out... like, over dinner... maybe, with Jin and Sakura... We can't break that promise that we made!"

"Look..." He turned to her. "... I promise that we'll go out with them... Maybe, on the night before your brother returns."

Kura looked quite disappointed, but she understood that it wasn't the easiest thing for Hiei to do: go out in public places amongst the Human World. "Alright.- We're NOT gonna break it!"

"I wont.- I haven't broken a promise, have I?"

"No. You haven't." She crawled over to him and climbed into his lap. "And, I'm grateful. Trust me."

"I do.- Now," He put his arm around her back and his other arm around the top of her thighs, making sure she didn't fall off the bed. ".. What shall we do?"

"I've got some ideas.. One in particular away for a second to get in a sentence, "This is one advantage of people getting out of the house." Then, she kissed him again.

Yes, and no distractions come with it. He thought, returning her kisses with his own.

Suddenly the phone began to ring. The two looked at each other and sighed. "Hold that thought." Kura climbed to her feet and picked up the phone from the base on her desk top. "Hai?"

"Hello, Kura!" Briar's voice echoed in her ears, "Am I interrupting anything?"

"Uh. Yeah. Actually.. you are."

"And..?" Her smirk was apparent through her tone of voice.

"And?"

"And..?" Her smirk was apparent through her tone of voice.

"What would that be?"

"None of your business! That's what it'd be!" Kura turned a little defensive.

"Uh huh…" Briar seemed as though she just knew what her sister-in-law and her favorite 'wittle fire demon' were up to. "Kura.. I know what you're doing…" (she tried to hold in her giggles)

Kura was speechless (not to mention a little too easily dawdled). Quickly she hung up the phone. "…Okay… Apparently, Briar as ESP now..- She saw she 'knows what we're doing'."

"What?"

"I don't know! I'm just a little freaked out…" The phone rang again. Kura immediately picked it up. "Hai?

She could hear Briar cackling. "Kura? Are you okay?- Sumimasen! I just felt like playing an little prank on you!"

Kura growled. "What do you really want?"

"Just to check up on you guys!"

"Look," She began. "… we're not kids. We can take care of ourselves better than you think."

"We know. We know,- Where's my darling sister now?"

"Out. With Jin.- Listen. I'm in the middle of something, so I've got to go."

"All right. Well, have fun! I expect Kurama will call you in the morning! Bai!"

"Thank The Spirit World!" She threw the phone back onto her desk.

"Do they EVER cease calling?" Hiei asked.

"No.- I believe they think we can't take care of ourselves while they're away." She sat back down on the bed.

"Then, why don't they arrange for a 'baby sitter' if they're so damn worried?"

Kura shrugged. "Who knows."

"Now…" He looked to her. "Where were we?"

She grinned at him.

yay! It's almost like a drop-off chappy! Muwahahaha! So infamous and scandalous! XD I'm okay. Actually, as I finish this chapter… I've been stricken with a harsh cold. Ick. I hate being sick. If I have a fever tomorrow… I get to go to the doctor. Woohoo. Not. Anyway… Yeah. We're totally nearing the end of this fanfic. Okay, I know it seems that it (the whole ff) is about Hiei and Kura, it's really not supposed to be. I tried- as the main writer- to incorporate the other characters as much as possible! See ya next chapter!

333 Whitney (AKA- Kura)