Kuwabara was still a bit miffed about being left behind and burning up with jealousy that Yukina had cared for Hiei enough to pursue him into the heart of Nuryko’s territory, regardless of threat to life and limb. All night, he had been staring daggers into the fire demon’s unsuspecting back.

" Umm…Yukina?" They were sitting on the same bench under a tree, quite secluded from the main body of the party.

" Yes, Kuwabara-san?"

He fidgeted uncomfortably for a few moments before blurting the one thing that had been on his mind all night.

" Do you *love* Hiei?"

" Of course I do."

Kuwabara’s already fragile heart shattered like a pile of cheap pottery.

As he slowly bleed to death from his broken heart, Yukina, still totally unaware of the havoc she had wrecked, continued, " After all, he *is* my brother."

What she said passed over his head completely, except for that all important word ‘brother’. As his mind struggled with the implications of it, he knew only of his ecstatic joy…even if he would have to tolerate Hiei’s presence in his beloved’s life.

" Oh, Yukina!" He threw his arms around the ice demon’s shoulders and crushed her against his chest. " I’m *so* happy that he’s your brother!"

The cold prick of steel against his neck sobered him up pretty quickly.

" Unhand my sister, you big oaf," Hiei told him in a deadly voice. " Now."

" Heh…heh…it isn’t what you think." He let his arms drop to his sides and slid hurriedly away from Yukina.

" Really?" The fire demon settled the sharp tip of his katana against the bench. He definitely did *not* look amused. " And you were holding my sister for what reason?"

Kuwabara paled. " For no particular reason," he mumbled.

" So…you were trying to take advantage of Yukina?"

" No…no!"

Hiei turned to his twin - he was enjoying Kuwabara’s discomfort immensely. " Yukina, do you mind if I talk to Kuwabara *alone* for awhile? We need to discuss certain rules of conduct…"

As soon as Yukina was out of sight, Hiei turned to Kuwabara and gave the wan-looking human a truly evil smile.

" Hiei." He drew a bloom from his hair. " A rose for your thoughts."

" Hn."

" Did you have fun terrorising Kuwabara?" he asked, settling down beside him. " I saw the look on his face when you were done with him."

Hiei made a disgusted sound. " I can’t believe it. He *really* likes Yukina."

Kurama laughed and inched closer. " So…why aren’t you upset about losing the Kokuryuha?"

The question caught Hiei by surprise. It was true he had barely felt a tweak at the lost of his most powerful weapon, but he had not realised that anyone had noticed. Who was he fooling? This was Kurama. Even for a youko, he was damned perceptive.

" Does it matter? It’s gone, moaning about it wouldn’t bring it back."

" You *have* changed, Hiei," he murmured. " When we first met, the Kokuryuha meant everything to you."

He shrugged. " When we first met, I wanted to be the best, the strongest….I *still* want to be the best, the strongest but I don’t mind waiting. At least I have Yukina and…," he coughed, embarrassed at being caught admitting he had feelings, "…all of you."

" That’s nice." Kurama sidled right up to Hiei. " What would you say if I told you I don’t want us to be just friends?"

The hurt cut in quick and deep - his crimson eyes narrowed, defensively. Shoving the half-human aside, Hiei got to his feet. Oh, he was definitely angry…

" I’m not finished." Kurama swung his foot out in a wide arc, sweeping the fire demon off his feet and flat on his back. Rolling on top of him, he whispered sweetly, " Don’t you want to know why I don’t want to be *just* friends?"

" I don’t c…" Whatever he was going to say was lost as Kurama bent down and kissed him, as he had dreamt of kissing him ever since that day they had first met so many years ago. Hiei lay stiffly in his arms, not kissing him back, but then again, not pushing him away either.

" Kurama…?" He looked stunned, as if Kurama had clobbered him instead.

Because his mouth was still open, Kurama kissed him again - this time with all the finesse and style of a centuries-old youko. A definite improvement, Hiei was slightly more enthusiastic…

" Well, Hiei, what do you think?"

He blinked, still slightly poleaxed by the entire situation. Shock and lust had a way of doing that to some people. Regretfully, he would probably require some time to recover. Always the gentleman, Kurama sighed theatrically and got to his feet.

" Well, I guess I’ll be going back to the party. Someone must be missing me." Looking down at Hiei, he smiled pleasantly, like they had just been discussing the weather. " Be seeing you again, Hiei."

A week, he thought as he strolled away, Hiei would not last more than a week. He knew his prey all too well and had baited the trap perfectly. This was probably one of the greatest exits he had ever made in his life, human or youko.

A week - if he had been in his youko form, his tail would have been wagging.

Life was good.