Hello again lovelies. I know you're there because my hits and visitors counters keep moving, please to drop me a line sometime?

Usual disclaimer: I own naught but the plot, Hill, Pyro, and all the OC's I happen to throw at you. Yes, that means I own the lizard men. The YYH peeps belong to them what hold the rights. The title belongs to Apocalyptica.

And thanks once more to The Dark Wyvern for helping me write this one. Oh! And I have no reason to not type anymore. I'm healed up, got a new job, and I'm moving! Yes, The Dark Wyvern and I are cohabitating. YAY! Lol.

Kurama blinked at the sudden change of scenery.

"Goddammit, Fox. Now I have ANOTHER ability to test her for!" Hiei grumbled.

"Oh man, I do not want to be you two when Hill gets here." Yusuke laughed as he walked up the stairs. "Cause, from the looks of you, Pyro's pissed as all hell now."

Hiei jabbed an accusing finger at the door belonging to the humans in question. "That psychotic witch tried to castrate me!"

Yusuke's mouth dropped open.

"To be fair, you did have a dagger to her throat, Hiei." Kurama pointed out.

Yusuke whistled.

"She was seconds away from using a known power on me, then the fox went and walked in." Hiei grumbled.

It was Kurama's turn to look shocked. "You were testing her?"

Hiei rolled his eyes. "Yes, Fox, I was. Now I've got yet another skill to test her on."

Yusuke groaned. "Seriously, Kurama, weren't you paying any attention at the last meeting? Shortie's testing her, so that I know what I'm dealing with when I help her unbind her Spirit energy while she's got that thing on her arm."

"I apologize, I tuned you out after you had started bickering like children." Kurama pinched the bridge of his nose.

"We were debating how the testing should run." Yusuke sat on the step. "How many more weeks is this gonna push back the schedule?"

Hiei thought carefully. "About a week more." He flitted inside.

"Hill knows about the testing thing. He's still probably going to try to kill both of ya."

Kurama moved to follow the shorter demon inside. "Not after he's talked to his fiancee. She drew blood on Hiei. I'm the one he will murder."

"Oh man, I miss all the best fights!" Yusuke wailed.

Pyro slid the last portion of Chicken Kiev onto a plate just as the door opened. Hillock crossed the dining space to tug at the end of the scarf wrapped around her neck.

"I already know about the fight love, take it off." he said.

She carefully unwound the material, wincing slightly when something got stuck. "It looks worse than it is."

Hillock ran his thumb across just under the line cut into her throat. "Did you really try to castrate him?"

Pyro gave her fiancee a look. "Hill, you know if I tried, it would have happened. I stabbed him." She shrugged and turned to retrieve flatware from the dish rack.

He stopped her with a hand on her arm. "You just stabbed him?"

"In the groin, femoral artery. No where near deep enough to kill."

"Good girl." Hillock helped her bring the plates to the table. "I hear you got a new power today."

She slid into a seat opposite him. "Kurama and Hiei pissed me off, so I made them get out."

"You impressed Hiei. Kurama is convinced that he's going to be killed."

"He came at me with an alcohol wipe!" she sighed. "I think we need to get rid of the steel carving knife, its got demon blood stains."

"I think we should keep it."

"You would say that."

"Your first battle blood is a special thing, love. We should get a stand, or a case, and show it off like a trophy."

"Whatever, love."

"Hiei, have you healed?" Kurama asked the motionless shadow in the window.

"Yes." came the terse reply.

"Are you still mad at me?"

"Yes."

"But, you were able to get her to use a power."

"No, Fox, YOU got her to use a power. You nearly killed her." Hiei growled and turned slightly to face the red head.

Kurama glared. "So did you."

"No, I did not. Had you not interfered, I would not have cut her, she would have used a power to stop me. Had you actually read the file you were given, you would have known that denatured alcohol is more deadly than that shallow cut I gave her." Hiei stood, crossed his arms, and glared at his roommate.

Kurama held his glare for a second, then bowed his head. "I have neglected my duties."

Hiei moved to smack the kitsune in the head. "You're damn right you have. At least I made sure I knew what the hell was going on. Where the fuck is your brain at?"

"Obviously not where it belongs. I should..." Kurama turned toward the door.

"Not tonight you shouldn't. I spoke to Hillock. I am the witch's first battle blood." Hiei said with a proud smirk.

Kurama chuckled in understanding. "You should not fancy 'the witch' so much. Those two are lifebound."

"They are not mated." Hiei silently dared the fox to say anything at all.

"They may not be in our terms, but they might as well be. I dare say Hillock would take serious offense to you trying to court her."

"Which would make him mad enough to throw his Void grenades at me again." Hiei gave him a smug grin.

Kurama sighed. "You know, I think I liked you better before you became devious."

"I learned it from you."

"I know, and I regret ever having taught you."

short chapter, but we've been busy here. Moving, cleaning, playing MTG with friends... busy busy busy. I finally got him to start the training scenes! Yay. So, yeah, soon: Hill and Yusuke in the woods, throwing powers about and generally setting up for a later scene... that's enough spoilers there.

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