Part 1
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Hiei-chan jumped into Kurama's arms as he opened his apartment door. "Kurama-chan!" he cried happily, wrapping his little arms around the redhead's neck.

Kurama stared down at the little fire demon, a poleaxed look on his face.

Leaning back a little, Hiei-chan stared up at the stunned youko. "I missed you, Kurama-chan," he said, rubbing his face against Kurama's cheek.

"Hiei?!? What are you -" Kurama began, when Yuusuke's voice cut him off.

"It's a very long story, Kurama," the dark haired boy said wearily as he came into view. Sighing, he gestured towards a chair. "You'd better sit down for this."

Dazed, Kurama collapsed on the chair, Hiei still clinging determinedly to his neck. A purring sound could be heard as Hiei-chan settled himself deeper into Kurama's arms.

"It all started when Mukuro decided to have a little experiment..."

* * * * *

Mukuro stared doubtfully at the vial of greenish fluid she held in her hand. It didn't look like much. She glanced at the witch doctor who'd brought it to her. "Are you sure you've got the blend right?" she asked. "This will give me eternal youth and beauty?"

The gnarled old youkai nodded his head emphatically. "I'm positive, Mukuro-sama. I've been working on it for quite some time now. I'm sure it will prove adequate to your needs."

"Mmm, yes." she said, noncommitantly. "You may go."

"Uh, demo, Mukuro-sama..."

She turned to look at him, her cyborg eye glowing an eerie red. "Yes? Was there something else you wanted?"

The old youkai gulped and frantically shook his head. "No, no, no. It was nothing of importance, Mukuro-sama. I'll be going now."

Mukuro nodded absent-mindedly and turned away, apparently deep in thought. The youkai gave a sigh of relief and hightailed it out of there. Asking for the reward wasn't worth risking his neck for.

* * * * *

Mukuro contemplated the potion she held in her hand. If it worked, she would become whole again. What's more, she would remain young forever. However, if it didn't... what if the potion had some side effects she didn't know about? Best to test this on someone else first. But who?

A small green youkai ran into the chamber, panting with exertion. She fixed him with an annoyed glance. He gulped and blurted out, "Mu-Mukuro-sama! Hiei-sama is back!"

A small smile appeared on her face. What a perfect opportunity! "Bring him here at once."

The youkai shuddered and bowed jerkily. "H-hai!"

* * * * *

"What do you want Mukuro?" Hiei asked in annoyance as he walked into the room.

Mukuro glanced at him speculatively. She'd always planned on leaving her kingdom to this young fire demon. Now that she had a chance to prolong her own life however...it wouldn't hurt to have a consort at her side, especially someone so...yummy.

"Well?", Hiei asked impatiently, jarring her from her thoughts. "I have better things to do than just stand here, you know."

Mukuro put a firm grip on her temper and replied smoothly. "I have something for you Hiei."

"Hn." He looked at her suspiciously. "What is it?"

"Something very special," she said, a certain gleam of anticipation in her eye. "I'm sure you'll love it."

* * * * *

Kurama looked down at the drowsing koorime in his lap. "I take it the potion backfired somehow."

Yuusuke raked a hand through his hair. "You don't know the half of it."

* * * * *

Yuusuke looked up in surprise as a small wriggling bundle was dropped into his lap. A very bedraggled and harrased-looking Mukuro was glaring down at it.

"Here, you take him. Just keep him well away from me."

A small spiky head popped out from the pile.

"HIEI?!?"

Hiei-chan turned to look at him. "Yuu-chan!" he cried, giving him a happy grin.

Mukuro sniffed in disdain and turned away, walking quickly out of the castle.

"Oi! Mukuro wait! What the hell is going on?"

Hiei-chan eyes lit on the Makai leader's retreating form. A very Hiei-like scowl settled on his face. "Omae wa korosu!" he growled in his childish voice, black flames beginning to surround him.

"Itaiitaiitai!!!" Yuusuke yelped, jumping up and trying to put out the flames on his clothes. Incidentally, he dropped Hiei-chan to the floor. Hiei-chan immediately began to wail. Mukuro, on the other hand, ran out of the castle as fast as she could, dignity be damned.

Yuusuke looked at Mukuro's rapidly retreating figure, then at the wailing koorime on his floor. A huge sweatdrop appeared on his head. What was he going to do now?

* * * * *

"I see," Kurama said, absently stroking Hiei-chan's hair.

Yuusuke looked at him, desperation in his eyes. "I couldn't handle it anymore. That...BRAT nearly destroyed my castle. I have to get away from him."

"Sooo...you want me to take care of him?"

Yuusuke nodded. "Could you? You are his best friend after all. And I can see that he really likes you too. Onegai, just take him off my hands!"

Kurama's lips quirked slightly at Yuusuke's words. "Of course I'll take care of him," he said, deciding to put his friend out of his misery.

Yuusuke's face broke into a wide grin. "Arigatou Kurama!" Hiei-chan began to stir, mumbling sleepily. Yuusuke got a bit wild-eyed at that. "Uh,...I think I'd better get going now. I leave it to you." Before the words were fully out of his mouth, Yuusuke was running out of sight.

Kurama blinked. If Hiei-chan could scare YUUSUKE like that...what had he gotten himself into?