It was now the third day Hiei had been living with Oyuki and it was just as chaotic as the first. Marked by his own words, Hiei did end up sleeping in the same bed as the ice maiden. It was quite alright for what it was. They both slept like mummies, lying on their backs. Not a single time did their appendages touch each other.

If Hiei wasn't aware that Oyuki was beside him, he would have forgotten.

Outside of Oyuki's room was her "bodyguard," B-Bo the abominable snowman. Hiei could smell the beast before Oyuki even brought it up. She had only done so when they settled to bed the first night.

How thoughtful Oyuki is, Hiei had thought sarcastic ally. Oyuki was a miser, constantly leaving out the finer details to get what she wants.

When it was time to wake up this fine Neptune morning, there was a message waiting for them. There was one each, both hand-delivered to the room by one of Oyuki's servants.

Once Oyuki returned from retrieving the message from the door, she sat back down on the bed and handed Hiei one of the letters.

Hiei was sitting cross-legged on his side of the bed and merely glanced down at the letter now in his hands. The parchment paper used was thick and creamy. His name was on it and he could tell his thumb was covering a rather large kanji on the corner of the letter. He dragged his thumb down to reveal it: crow.

It was a little jarring until he read that it was from Kurama. It seemed that the fox was adjusting well to being king of the crows.

The king and queen were inviting him to spend some time on their planet to catch up on the past year.

"Did you get invited as well?" Hiei had asked, looking up at Oyuki.

She dipped her head in response. "Yours was originally sent to your home in the demon realm. I hope you don't mind. I sent some servants over to make sure you didn't own anything to bring over."

Hiei scowled at her. "I told you I didn't."

Oyuki didn't say anything. Since they had only just woken up, she didn't have her kimono sleeve to hide behind. Rather, she was just wearing her nighttime garb. Out of habit, she still moved her hand to cover her mouth.

Hiei reached out to stop her, mid-motion. "You're hiding something," he stated. "I will find out about it. Even if you refuse to tell me."

Oyuki's eyes flickered down to their hands before back at Hiei. She laid her other hand on top of his. "In due time."

In due time? Just who exactly does this woman think she is?

Hiei didn't even know how to respond.

Well.

He did, but he'd rather not upset the one who let him have a comfortable bed to sleep in. He didn't have to live like an animal anymore and yet, he felt that Oyuki treated him like a pet.

Hiei then realized that Oyuki had been holding his hand for an extended period. Her hands were freezing to the touch, offering his own hand no kind of warmth.

Hiei's hands must have been piping hot to hers. He was surprised she didn't just melt. He was also surprised that such a thought crossed his mind. Why was he thinking about her hands so much?

Her pale, supple hands... Soft to touch.

No!

He abruptly snatched his hand back, much to Oyuki's mild bewilderment. She half expected him to pull away immediately, shocked that it took him this long.

"Would you like to go together then?" Oyuki offered.

"Do I have a choice?"

Without her, Hiei didn't really have a means of getting anywhere. He'd be stuck on Neptune.

He had to admit, that being able to visit Kurama would be nice. They had known each other for so long, it would be nice to have a reunion.

Hiei inwardly sighed and met Oyuki's expecting eyes. "Very well then."

"People are going to talk." Oyuki gently warned.

Hiei gave a half-shrug. "Let them talk. I for one, do not let simple words bother me."

Oyuki smiled slyly. "I have my doubts."

It wasn't often when Oyuki smiled but when she did it was like an icicle through Hiei's chest. However, that icicle quickly melted as the heat of annoyance took over.

Oyuki just laughed at him. She laughed and she laughed. Her giggles were like freshly laden snow. Light and airy.

If it wasn't for Hiei's flames of anger flaring up in his chest, he would have taken a moment to appreciate it.

He hated her.

And what's more, he hates that he may like her.

Since the day Kuwabara had met Ran, he hadn't seen her since. Like flower petals blowing in the wind, she was here one moment and gone the next. He wanted some way of contacting her, just to make sure that she was alright.

That was all, right? Just to make sure that she was all better?

She had been in quite a frantic state when he saw her. He didn't know how to find her but she certainly knew how to find him and never came back. That had to mean she was okay. Maybe she even got back with her ex, happily feeding him food.

Kuwabara sight to himself. He was home again, standing outside of his apartment. He spotted a letter on the ground on the welcome mat and hurried to scoop it up.

Maybe it's from—!

No.

The letter was clearly from Kurama, inviting Kuwabara for a reunion. That meant that Kuwabara had a chance to go to space again. Perhaps Ran would be there as well. At least he would get to hear from her again.

"Mister Kuwabara!"

Yeah, a bit like that.

"Mister Kuwabara!"

Kuwabara froze, slowly turning his head to look down the hall.

A flash of pink reared around the corner. There was standing Ran, chest rising and falling from exertion. Rather than wearing her flowing gowns, she was in her pink singlet.

It was the first thing Kuwabara noticed and he noticed hard. He recognized that this must be her planetarian get-up. It suited her.

C'mon! What's he so focused on that for?! There's Ran right there! She's... Here!

Kuwabara's jaw dropped. "Miss Ran?!"

Ran bared her sharp teeth. "Mister Kuwabara! Be my plus one!" she shouted from the other end of the hall. "I mustn't go alone!"

"Well, I..." Kuwabara didn't know how to answer that. She was inviting him to go with her?

"Please!" Ran begged. "Lum is going to be there with her 'Darling' Ataru and it's going to make me sick. I need to show off how happy I am!"

Kuwabara blinked. "But... You're not happy...?"

Ran growled. "Who cares!"

Ran's angry side put fear into Kuwabara's heart. She was so different from her kind and sweet self.

Kuwabara also had to admit that he understood where she was coming from. If he were to see all his friends again, all he had going for him was his job as the weatherman. His uncanny predictions of the weather made him somewhat infamous. But he still lived with his sister. Kurama was married and so was Yusuke. At least Kuwabara could count on Hiei to remain somewhat static. As far as he knew anyway.

"Say yes!" Ran shouted at him again.

While Kuwabara hesitated, Shizuru opened the front door and scowled. "Just go with her so you guys can stop all that yelling."

His cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he rubbed the back of his neck. "O-of course! I'll go with you, Miss Ran!"

"Really?!" Ran dropped her harshness and struck a cutesy pose with her hands clasped together against her cheek.

They were still standing on opposite ends of the hall, which was quite ridiculous. They were putting on a show for the whole apartment complex.

Kuwabara swallowed a lump in his throat. "Yes... Really."

"I'll pick you up then!" Ran giggled and turned on her foot, skipping away.

Drat. There she goes again.

Kuwabara did not understand that girl. She was so wishy-washy. It sent his head spinning. If only she could be really infatuated with him as she pretended to be.