A LITTLE DISCLAIMER: Most of the characters appearing in this fic are the property of Yoshihiro 
                     Togashi, Studio Pierrot, Fuji TV, and Shonen Jump Weekly. 

	He slapped Hiei's hand gently away from the tray. "Leave it alone," he chided, 
following it up with a kiss on Hiei's forehead. "It's for the party."
	"So? I'm invited, too."
	"It has to look nice for the other guests." Hiei rolled his eyes, tucked his hands 
into his pockets, made another round of the table as he examined everything on it. Kurama 
watched him closely, knowing Hiei could easily snatch something and have it eaten before he 
would have time to react.
	"Hiei," he pleaded softly, walking around the table toward him, "please don't touch 
anything. I want it to be perfect." Hiei looked up at him, hands still in his pockets.
	"Whatever," he shrugged. Kurama wrapped his arms around Hiei's slender shoulders, 
smiled as the three-eyed youkai leaned willingly against him.
	"They'll be here soon, and you can eat all you want," he promised, sliding one hand 
down and pulling Hiei's hips up against his. "What'd you get me?" he teased.
	"I'll give it to you later," Hiei informed him drily.
	"I bet you will," Kurama laughed, patting his lover's bottom affectionately. Hiei 
watched him a moment.
	"I'll give you your present later," he reformulated his response.
	"I'm looking forward to it," Kurama assured him, biting down on a smirk.  Hiei rolled 
his eyes, pushed away; Kurama let him go, chuckling to himself.


	Soon enough, the guests arrived -- his closest friends had come to help him celebrate 
his birthday. Yuusuke and Keiko, Kazuma and Yukina, Shizuru -- and Hiei, of course, was already 
there. Genkai had declined, declaring that parties were for young people; Kurama had reminded 
her that he was technically centuries older than she was. The old woman had laughed at that, 
but still declined, with thanks. Koenma and Botan had sent their respects, and Botan had made 
him a pretty little card, which now sat on the table. His parents had laughingly agreed to 
vacate the house for one night, to allow him to celebrate in his own manner; that was their 
gift to him.

	After they had eaten their fill -- Shiori had helped him prepare a feast for the 
occasion -- the group sat in a circle to talk and digest, to listen to music and to sip at 
warm sake.
	"Nan da," Hiei frowned at the tiny cup Kurama handed him.
	"Sake. It's good," Kurama assured him. Hiei dipped his tongue into the cup, tasting, 
testing. He sucked on his tongue a moment, thoughtful, then sipped. Kurama smiled, and turned 
back to the conversation, taking care to ensure that everyone's cups were full.

	Hiei was a warm presence beside him, quiet as always. It was more than enough of a 
gift for Kurama that Hiei had come to his party at all; his little youkai was not fond of 
social gatherings, and usually found a reason to bow out when Kurama had even one of his 
friends over, much less a group of them.

	When the sake ran low, Kurama headed to the kitchen to warm another bottle.  When he 
returned, Hiei had curled up where he'd been sitting, and was still sipping at his sake. 
Kurama smiled at him, nudged him over, sat down again and poured sake for everyone.

	"Let's play a game," he suggested, with a wicked smile at Hiei. Hiei raised an eyebrow, 
said nothing.
	"Truth or Dare," Shizuru smirked.
	"My thoughts exactly," Kurama laughed. "We can blame any indiscretions on the sake."
 	"Keep that in mind," Yuusuke said, winking at Keiko. She rolled her eyes at him.
	"I'll go first," Kurama declared, "since it's my birthday. Shizuru-san, truth or dare?"
	"Dare," she told him, blowing a smoke ring.
	"I dare you," he replied without hesitation, "to go the entire night without another 
cigarette." 
        She watched him a moment, the corners of her lips twitching.
	"What's the penance in this game?" she wondered. "If I choose not to take the dare?"
	"You have to kiss your brother," Kurama told her with his most innocent smile. "On the
mouth. Same goes for anyone else who refuses a dare." Yuusuke and Kazuma groaned in unison. 
Keiko laughed. Yukina smiled sweetly, and Kurama winked at her when he caught her eye. She 
blushed, and looked down at her hands. Shizuru wrinkled her nose a moment, then put out her
cigarette.
	"Penance enough that I live with him," she announced. "I accept the dare.  My turn. 
Yuusuke. Truth or dare?"
	"Truth," he chose, and Keiko put a hand to her forehead.

	Kurama turned his attention to Hiei, and smiled. Hiei blinked up at him.  His ruby 
eyes were shining, his cheeks flushed. "Not used to sake," Kurama murmured. "You like it, 
though?" Hiei shrugged. The others laughed, suddenly, and Kurama looked up; Yuusuke was 
happily telling them the tale of his and Keiko's first sexual experience, much to Keiko's 
vexation.
	" -- I had the bruises for what, six weeks?" Yuusuke turned to Keiko.
	"I'm sure I don't remember every bruise I gave you," she assured him.
	"My turn, my turn," Yuusuke beamed. "Keiko, truth or dare? Pick dare."
	"Truth," she said wryly, watching him. He looked disappointed, then thought a moment.
	"Who would you rather have sex with?" he asked. "Out of all the guys in this room." He
puffed his chest out and flashed a brilliant grin. Everyone laughed, including Kurama.
	Beside him, Hiei snorted and muttered something incoherent. Kurama pressed his leg 
inconspicuously against Hiei's, suddenly wishing he could do more -- that they could hold 
hands, the way Kazuma and Yukina were doing, however shyly. Anything.
	"Kurama-kun," Keiko replied. Yuusuke's jaw hit his shirt.
	"Kurama?? But why?"
	"It's because," Keiko told him primly, "Kurama-kun is a gentleman. He's well-groomed 
and well-mannered."
	"I'm well-groomed," Yuusuke protested, smoothing a hand over his slicked-back hair. 
Keiko wrinkled her nose.
	"I'm not done yet. You're violent and rude and expect girls to fall for you. Kurama-
kun doesn't even notice them, which is a big draw." Shizuru nodded agreement.
	"Can't say I haven't had my fantasies, Kurama-kun," she said with a wink. Kurama 
flushed, and smiled.
	"You flatter me, both of you," he said quietly.
	"You see?" Keiko teased. "That's the sort of thing that just drives girls wild."
	"Then why," Yuusuke teased in return, tilting Keiko's face up to him, "are you engaged 
to me, and not him?"
	"Because he refused my proposal," Keiko replied, without missing a beat.  Yuusuke fell
over in mock death. "Kuwabara-kun, truth or dare?"
	"Dare," he grinned, with a proud sideways look at Yukina, who smiled adoringly.
	"I dare you to give Yukina-chan a kiss, right here, right now, in front of all of us. 
A big kiss. The kind Yuusuke gives me when he's showing off, nice and sloppy."
	Kurama could not tell which of the pair had the brighter cheeks. Yukina and Kazuma both
looked down at their hands, stammering and blushing for several minutes.
	Hiei leaned on Kurama's shoulder. Kurama looked down, pleasantly surprised by the 
contact. Hiei smiled up at him -- just a little smile, but more than he normally gave in 
public. Kurama grinned, felt his stomach twist a little.
	"What're you doing?" he wondered.
	"Jus' listening," Hiei assured him softly, peering into his sake cup.  Kurama reached 
for the bottle and was startled to find it empty; he frowned, sure he'd just brought out a 
second bottle. He excused himself -- Kazuma and Yukina had just managed to get themselves 
facing one another -- and headed for the kitchen. Sure enough, an empty bottle sat on the 
counter; and he held a second one. Kurama sighed; sometimes he got lost in his thoughts, when 
Hiei was around. He had simply not noticed that he'd poured the last of that bottle. Swiftly 
warming a third bottle, he returned to the group, just in time to witness the precious kiss, 
sweet and fleeting. Kurama smiled and sat down once more beside Hiei, and poured another round 
of sake.
	Hiei climbed into his lap, rubbed his cheek against Kurama's shirt.  Everyone watched, 
various expressions on their faces. Kurama laughed gently, a little nervous. "He's not used to
sake," he apologised.
	"He sucked back that entire bottle fast enough," Shizuru pointed out.  Kurama frowned. 
"Right beside you," Shizuru laughed, leaning back on her hands. "He was reaching around you 
and pouring himself a cup at a time for a couple of minutes, until he finally just picked up 
the bottle and polished it off." The others confirmed this, nodding solemnly. Kurama smiled 
down at Hiei, who watched him with sleepy eyes.
	"You little lush," he teased. "Last time I let you come to one of my parties."
	"Hn," Hiei responded, stretching languorously in his lap. Kurama winced; it was far 
too tempting to run his hands over Hiei's lithe form, to pull him close and taste the sake on 
his lips --
	"My turn," Kazuma announced. "Hiei. Truth or dare?" Hiei smirked at him.
	"Truth," he replied.
	"What is it between you two? I mean, really." Kurama nearly fell over.

	The room fell silent. Everyone stared first at Kazuma, stunned that he had actually 
asked. Then all heads turned to Hiei, to see how he would answer.
	Hiei pushed away from Kurama and stood, unsteadily. He lifted a finger and pointed at 
Kazuma, then swept his hand around the entire room. "You," he said, meaning them all, "are a 
buncha vulgar people." He hesitated. "'Cept you, Yukina. You're not like the rest of 'em." She
smiled up at him, her cheeks pink and her eyes bright. Hiei returned his attention to the 
group.
	"Wha'ever's between me'n' K'rama's none o' your business. But I'll tell you anyhow, 
'cos I said I'd tella truth. We got somethin' none o' you c'n ever have. It's scary as hell 'n' 
sometimes I feel like runnin' away but I keep comin' back an' it's 'cos of K'rama. 'Cos he's 
th'only one who unnerstan's what I do. He's th'only one who lets me alone when I wanna be an' 
he shows up when I don' wanna be." He took a deep breath, planted his feet for balance. "An' 
he does this thing with 'is tongue, sometimes -- " Kurama stood, pulled Hiei down again.
	"That's enough," he assured the little youkai, feeling another blush paint his cheeks. 
"I think someone's had a little too much sake, ne?"
	" -- an' he swirls it aroun' like this," Hiei continued, demonstrating.
	"Bedtime," Kurama announced. "You go on without us, 'kudasai," he urged the other 
guests. "I'll be right back." He lifted Hiei easily and carried him toward the stairs.
	"See you in twenty minutes," Shizuru called sweetly. "Thirty," she added, "if you do 
that thing with your tongue." Kurama hurried up the stairs, accompanied by his friends' 
laughter. Once in his room, he tucked Hiei tightly in his bed, pulled the covers up to Hiei's 
chin. Then he sat beside his lover, stroked the tousled hair, smoothed the white thatch at the
front.
	"You darling," he teased, softly. "When you sober up and remember what you just said, 
you are going to be incredibly embarrassed."
	"Uhn," Hiei replied, already nearly asleep. Kurama leaned down to kiss him, savoured 
the taste of sake on Hiei's mouth, sucked gently on his lower lip.
	"I promise," Kurama murmured, licking Hiei's nose, "never to let you forget it." He 
had sudden visions of himself taking delightful advantage of Hiei's drunken state, and grinned; 
if he was still asleep when the guests took their leave --
	He headed downstairs, knowing any further delay would only precipitate more teasing 
than he knew was already coming.
	He bore it good-naturedly; but the game did not resume. Nothing anyone could coax out 
of anyone else could possibly top Hiei's declaration; no one wanted to try.
 	Kurama apologised to his friends, when the teasing had finally subsided.  "Fuu," 
Shizuru laughed, "nothing we haven't known for ages. At least, I've known." Kurama blinked.
	"I knew," Keiko offered. "But you sort of told me, Kurama-kun."
	"I guess I knew," Kazuma spoke up, flushing slightly.
	"You don't hide it very well," Yukina told him gently. "Hiei does, but you-- "
	"You might as well wear a neon sign," Shizuru grinned, "that reads 'I love Hiei'. Just 
make sure you don't burn your tongue on it." Kurama rolled his eyes.
	"Shizuru-san," he pleaded, with a smile, "enough about the tongue."
	"I'm just jealous," she assured him, winking.
	Yuusuke looked suddenly very green. "You mean -- you and Hiei -- ?"
	"Well, duh," Keiko laughed, punching his shoulder. "What do you think we're talking 
about?" Yuusuke fell over again.
	"I didn't think -- you were serious," he gulped. Kurama was afraid he would be ill; but
he sat up after a moment, pale but otherwise healthy.
	"Gomen ne, Yuusuke," he smiled. "Minna, let's talk about something else, now, 'kudasai. 
It is my birthday, and I have that prerogative."

	The subject was duly changed; his friends stayed only another couple of hours before 
excusing themselves. Kurama wished them all safely home, shut the door behind them, and sighed.

	"Kurama?" He turned, smiled; Hiei had slipped downstairs without making a sound, and 
stood rubbing his eyes, sleepy.
	"You're awake," Kurama murmured, and crossed the room. "D'you feel all right?"
	"Uhn," Hiei replied, looking up at him. "'S all warm in here -- " He indicated his 
belly. Kurama laughed softly.
	"Sake will do that to you. Did you like it that much? To drink it all down?" Hiei 
shrugged.
	"Made me feel a li'l like you do," he admitted with a lopsided smile, baring his fangs. 
Kurama laughed aloud, then, and gathered Hiei into his arms. Holding him close, Kurama swayed 
in time to the music he'd left playing. Hiei moved gracefully with him, his sinuous body warm 
and relaxed.  Kurama leaned down to kiss the top of his lover's head.
	"O-tanjoubi," Hiei yawned, "omedetou."
	"You gave me a wonderful present," Kurama murmured, closing his eyes.
	"Haven' given it to you."
	"What could be better than a declaration of your undying love in front of our friends?" 
He squeezed his eyes shut, slowed his swaying, savoured the sensation of their bodies pressed 
tightly against one another, inseparable.
	"Then I won' give it to you." Kurama chuckled.
	"Tease. What is it?"
	"I learned somethin' good, is all," Hiei shrugged, yawning again.
	"Oh? What sort of something?" Kurama asked, leaning down to nibble Hiei's ear.
	"Better'n your tongue-thing," Hiei informed him, tilting his head back, looking up at 
him, his red eyes dark and warm and full of promises. Kurama could not stop the broad smile 
that crossed his face.
	"Really," he said with a wink. "That's an interesting gift. Care to show me?"
	"Inna mornin'," Hiei yawned. "'M all fuzzy all over an' it'll be better if I know what 
I'm doin'." He began to sway again, pulling Kurama once more into a slow dance. "This is nice."
He fell silent, and Kurama pressed his lips once more to the stiff black hair.
	"Arigatou," he whispered, closing his eyes.



~~The End~~