• 1-Selfish Desire
• 2-Chapter 2
• 3-Chapter 3
• 4-Chapter 4
• 5-Chapter 5
• 6-Chapter 6
• 7-Chapter 7
• 8-Chapter 8
• 9-Chapter 9
• 10-Chapter 10
• 11-Note
• 12-Last Chapter
• 13-Epilogue
• 14-Yukina and Kuwabara, a Romantic Night

Disclaimer: I don't own them.

Summary:Yukina takes up a great and important self-appointed
mission: Reunite the Reikai Tantei at all costs! Can one determined ice
princess do it all alone or is there someone out there willing to help...?

Warnings: If you're one of those stupid people who like to ignore
warnings and complain AFTER reading the chapter, I have nooooo apologies for
you!

Chapters will be a little shorter, so that updates can be faster. Not by
an incredible lot though so don't worry about super short chaps. Lemon coming up soon.

"Fair is fair." Kurama sighed and crossed the room to his window,
shutting it against the fall of rain as its shower increased in intensity.
"You're soaked, Hiei. At least allow me to get a towel for you. You might
as well stay long enouo tao talk, I have no doubt that our carrot-topped
friend is floating around keeping an eye on us."

From the way Hiei was glaring at him, Kurama was certain that somewhere,
Kuwabara was getting a good laugh at their expense.

The fox wasn't reluctant to leave his bedroom, grateful for the chance to
escape those smoldering ruby orbs glaring at him as if he were an insect about to be stepped on. The trip to the bathroom and back was a relatively short
one. Knowing Hiei, if he were to take any longer, the fire demon might just
have lost his patience and fled through the window into the darkness of
the rainy night once more.

The first thing Kurama noticed when he returned to his room was that it
was several degrees warmer and slightly steamy. "Hiei..." He sighed,
seeing he had apparently been a few seconds too late for his trip to the
bathroom to be useful, as Hiei was now completely dry.

"You took too long," the jaganshi grunted. He loathed the feeling of wet
clothing clinging to him, had had merely exerted some of his own ghostly ki
until all traces of water steamed off of him. "Listen up, I'll only say
this once, then I'm leaving."

"Feel free to speak your mind, Hiei."

"I don't...want to kill you anymore." But then, the demon raised his
hand, pointing his index finger at Kurama threateningly. "But that doesn't
mean you're forgiven or trusted again either."

Kurama remained silent while digesting this information. It was truly
news to him, as he had very much believed that the fire youkai showed up to take revenge for his past misdeeds. "Is this a truce?"

"If you can call it that. You won't die by my hand."

"Are you only saying this because of Yukina and Kuwabara-kun, Hiei?"
Kurama asked impulsively. He instantly reged hed his words, because the
demon's head jerked up to glare at him with furious intensity.

"Do you want me to change my mind and take it back?" he inquired, voice
strained.

Kurama sweated. "No, not at all. I would just like to know what
prevented you from killing Yusuke and myself, is all. We are not human, and
Reikai would have been unable to step in had your attempt at taking Yusuke's
life succeeded." The fire demon turned away from him, a soft smirk lifting
the corner of his mouth as he faced the window, lifting it open for his
exit. Just when Kurama expected Hiei would simply flit away without
responding, the fire apparition answered.

"Because...I was also at fault." Before Kurama could ask for him to
elaborate, the demon vanished in a blur of black, and the window was left
open as the gentle pat of rain freely dripped onto the wooden floor boards.

Damned fire apparition never knew how to close the window behind him.

**ukeuke's Dream***

Every seat was vacant, giving the arena a ghostly quality that brought a
chill to Yusuke's spine. He turned, sweeping chocolate brown eyes over his
surroundings until they came to op oop on the tall and muscular white-clad
figure at the edge of the circular floor. "No..." So Koenma did allow it!

Kuwabara turned around, hands shoved deeply into the pockets of his white
pants, white jacket open revealing a muscular and toned torso and tightly
wrapped abdomen. "Yeah, it's me, Urameshi. Thought you would have expected
to see me. Jeez, you went and made a total mess of everything."

"Me!? Me make a total mess of everything? You're the one who went and
died, you idiot!"

Kuwabara scowled and made a fist, nearly forgetting his mission.
"Damnit, Urameshi, I didn't come here to fight you this time. Why didn't
you make up with Keiko when you had the chance?"

His friends question caught him off guard. The dark-haired young man
blinked stupidly at Kuwabara, then scratched his head. "Well, it was kinda
hard to do that you know, when she's standing there telling me to go away.
If you didn't notice I forgave her!"

"I know you did, Urameshi. But you gotta try harder."

"Why?" he asked harshly, eyes glittering. "What gives her the
right to pass judgment on me when she slept with Kurama too? I tried to
make up with her, to be her friend again, and all she could do was try to
shut me out."

"You're better than that. Don't give up, man. If I can get that
arrogant bastard Hiei to talk to Kurama, then I know you can face Keiko.
Where's the Urameshi that I used to know? The one who never gave up."

"Right here!"

"Then start handling things like a man, or I'll come back to kick your
ass." Kuwabara grinned at him, then faded out of sight.

Yusuke sat bolt upright in bed after the presence of his best friend's
spirit departed the bedroom. He sighed, running his fingers through his
greaseless hair, pushing his bangs out of his eyes. He didn't look forward
to another meeting with Keiko, but it was long overdue and he had a
responsibility to fulfill.

***Keiko's Dream***

The halls of Sarayashiki Middle School were completely silent. It was
the first time in many years that Keiko had any kind of dream about her
Junior High. In fact, the only time she had anything resembling a dream
about her old middle school. Before this it was only nightmares concerning the day she was nearly killed by the hands of Iwamoto-sensei during the Makai insect outbreak. Her dreams had been fleeting, and quickly departed once she
realized just how incredibly strong and brave Yusuke was, and that he would
always protect her.

He would always be there for her. At least, he should have been. She
soon came to realize that Yusuke couldn't and wouldn't always be around.
After he had left her for so long, leaving to the Demon World she
remained behind...alone. Many times she had wondered the exact specifics of
what he meant to accomplish in the other world, but he'd never told her in
full detail.

When he returned, he was distant to her. He didn't seem to want
to be back in human realm. Keiko spent many long nights troubled over
whether or not he even desired her any longer.

It was during a date four months after his return that Keiko realized his
spending time with her was by obligation only and because of the silly
promise he'd made as a teen. She had attempted to hold
his hand during the movie, (several times in fact) but Yusuke had discreetly
removed his fingers from her grip. When the monster made its appearance on screen, Keiko (like many other girls) had shrieked and buried her face against her boyfriend's chest.
That was the time when arms were subtly slipped around slender waists, and
fingers snuck out to tentatively grope supple feminine flesh. Yusuke didn't
so much as budge. He simply sat there and stared directly ahead. While
other boyfriends were using that moment of weakness to their advantage and
stealing kisses, Yusuke hardly seemed to acknowledge her existence.

Afterwards, the two of them shared a dinner at the best restaurant Yusuke
could afford with his meager earnings from his ramen stand. He seemed bored
throughout dinner, and spoke only to answer her questions.

It was like he was Yus Yusuke anymore! When around her, he completely
lost himself and became an unrecognizable stranger. When in the presencef Kuf Kuwabara and Kurama things were a different story. He immediately
livened up, puffed out his chest, and became the rude, obnoxious and
competitive brat she had grown up with. The jokester in him returned full
force.

That was when it happened. Kurama had noticed her. It hadn't
been like the times of the past when he simply acknowledged her presence, he
had noticed her for what she was; a woman desiring a man's attention.

"Keiko-cha

Keiko turned towards the source of the voice, brown eyes widening as she
saw Kuwabara in full school uniform, leaning against the wall.
"Ku-Kuwabara-kun?"

"Yeah, its me. Kinda cool that I have my abilities as a ghost as well,
ne?"

Keiko's mouth opened and closed, making the human girl resemble a fish
out of water. "I don't understand. Why are you here? Is something the
matter?" It was the only thing she could understand if the ghost had
remained in the living world rather than moving on to its next destination.

"You could say that. I saw what happened with Urameshi, Keiko. You were
awfully hard on the guy."

Her expression hardened, and her brown eyes shifted away to avoid his own
intense gaze. "No harder than usual, Kuwabara-kun. Yusuke deserved
everything that I said."

The awkward silence was too much to bear, and Kuwabara gritted his teeth
in frustration. "You need to know something. About three months ago,
Yusuke told me that he was going to consider letting Koenma reactivate his
old Reikai Tantei job. You know what he said to me? That being a demon
Lord and being a Reikei tantei means his people will see him as a traitor.
It's almost certain death for him when he goes back to Makai. He doesn't
care anymore."

It was like a hand had tightened around her beating heart and clenched it
in the strongest grip. A chill swam through her, and she swallowed with
difficulty. "Yusuke could die again?"

"And he won't be coming back this time if it happens. You were one of
the only people who could ever talk a little sense into him, Keiko. And if
you don't, Yusuke will die. That is, if the whole of Makai gets after him for betraying their land."

***

Three figures floated above in the sky, silent and secret observers to
the days events. Currently, they hovered over the small ramen stand where
Yusuke served his noon time customers as they arrived for lunch.

"I don't know why I allowed you to drag me into this, Botan," Koenma
complained grumpily, the lord sucking furiously away at his pacifier.

"You let me drag you into it because you care, Koenma," the grim
reaper cheerfully retorted. "Now who's going to watch who?"

"I'll watch Kurama," Koenma stated a little too hastily, receiving a
raised eyebrow from Botan.

"Then I'll take Urameshi and Keiko," Kuwabara offered as he swooped down
to stand near the ramen stand, leaving the two higher beings floating in the
sky above.

"What was that about, Koenma?" Botan demanded, swinging her oar around to
face the heir of Reikai. "You don't still think--"

"I don't think anything, Botan; I know. I understood when you
told me about your feelings for Keiko, but I can't risk you being alone with
Kurama. It's been proven that I can't underestimate the magnetism that draws
people to him."

Botan was pouting, obviously wounded that he, for one moment, believed she
could ever stray, and that anything other than appreciative glances would
occur. "Alright then."

"Do well, Botan. We've put too much time into this already for it to be
ruined," the former toddler in his teenage body warned her as he blinked out of
sight, presumably to find Kurama and begin his part of the plan. The
blue-haired ferry guide soared away on her oar, giving only one more glance
to the redheaded spirit below, lingering near Yusuke's ramen stand.

***

Yusuke was not amused. A peculiar turn of events had occurred, bringing
a great many people rushing to his stand for food. Of course, the young man
had no idea why people he had never seen, and others he knew were faithful
customers to other restaurants and local vendors, were now crowding
hungrily near his stand.

It annoyed him that it happened right when he planned to take off for his
lunch break to visit Kurama. Usually, business slowed down around this
time, and he would do nothing but lean against the counter in a bored manner as people passed to and fro towards their individual destinations, happily ignoring the young punk at the ramen stand.

Litdid did he know, spiritual interference was steering customers towards
him. Kuwabara mingled amongst the crowd, ecstatic to discover his increased
spiritual awareness had followed him into death, and that his power as a
ghost was multiplied. He couldn't quite possess a conscious person, but he
found he was more than able to whisper sweet nothings of encouragement to
them until they thought his comments were their own ideas.
Naturally, he'd spread the good word about a certain ramen shop to as many
people as he could. It worked like a charm, and now Urameshi was swamped
with customers desiring food.

Unfortunately, he discovered his plan had one fatal flaw: He had sent so
many people to Yusuke's stand that by the time the young man finished
serving, he was out of food and had no choice but to shut down for the day
with full pockets. He'd never had so much profit from a day of selling
food.

"Shit!" the spirit of his old friend cursed, kicking the corner of the
stand and falling clumsily through it in his ghostly state. "Now what?" He
could try what he had done just moments ago, by sending 'subliminal'
messages to Urameshi, hoping it would work.

[You want to find Keiko. You want to find Keiko. Damnit, go speak to
your ex-girlfriend, Urameshi!]

Yusuke finished closing up and strode with purpose towards the direction
of the residential district. Just when the bumbling redhead thought his
plan had worked, Yusuke turned off the street that would have taken
him to the home of Keiko's parents, and instead walked towards the Minamino
residence.

"Bastard! Did you ignore everything I told you last night, Urameshi!?"
he yelled after his dark-haired friend. Helpless to intervene, he watched
as Yusuke stepped onto the porch, paused to run his hands over his
gel-smoothed hair, and rapped loudly at the door. The door was opened to
reveal Shiori's smiling face. Kuwabara observed as the two exchanged words,
and she directed him to the backyard where Kurama was slouched beneath his
favorite tree, reading a favorite novel from his teen years.

"Kuwabara, you dunce! How did I know you would screw up your part of the
plan?" a red-faced Koenma demanded as both godling and ghost floated behind
Yusuke and watched him confront Kurama.

"How was I supposed to know Urameshi would sell out so quickly!?"

Meanwhile, right in front of them, Yusuke was standing awkwardly near the
seated Kurama with both hands shoved into his pockets. "I wasn't sure if you
were avoiding me at the wake."

"I was."

"Was what happened between us that bad, Kurama? We weren't that bad together."

"I did many foolish things then, Yusuke. I felt unwanted, however, my
loneliness was no excuse for what happened. I should have never become
involved with either you or Keiko, and it's cost me the one I loved."

"I could have replaced him," Yusuke replied, staring up at the branches
of the tree to avoid meeting the fox's emerald gaze. "You know, I still
remember, as if it was yesterday. When Hiei stabbed me, I thought for sure
I was a goner."

"You would have been had he not exercised control and spared you.
Yusuke, did you have a reason for coming here or did you only wish to dwell
upon the past and the things we cannot change?"

"I have a reason." The said reason was revealed as Yusuke dropped to his
knees in the soft grass, gently took the book from the kitsune's delicate
hands, and leaned forward to capture Kurama's lips in a tender kiss. Time
seemed to slow down, and everything around the pair became forgotten as soft
lips parted to allow a teasing touch of tongue against smooth teeth.

The shocked redhead gave no reaction at first, neither returning the kiss
or pushing away the dark-haired flirt. His first thought in response was
that he should be pushing Yusuke away. That he should be
slapping the hanyou for even assuming he had the right to kiss him so many
years after they brought their tryst to an end. His mind accepted that
truth, but his body did not and soon his own mouth had parted, giving full
access to Yusuke who stroked Kurama's tongue with his own. The once tender
kiss turned passionate, full blown and action-packed with dueling tongues
fighting for dominance. When it ended, many minutes later, both breathless
young men remained close, Yusuke resting his face against the wildflower
scented crook of Kurama's neck.

"Kurama?" he spoke quietly when his breath finally returned.

"Yes?"

"Did you feel anything?"

"No."

"I didn't either. It's over, isn't it?"

"Very much so, Yusuke. Would you mind getting your face off of my neck
before the neighbors get a show?"

Quickly, Yusuke drew back, face slightly flushed although Kurama was
unable to discern if it was from embarrassment or the intense kiss both had
shared. "Sorry about that. I had to know..."

"If you were over me," he finished with a faint smile curving his lips.
"You're going to Keiko, aren't you?"

"Yeah."

"Then good luck."

"I'll need it," Yusuke muttered, climbing to his feet. The two parted
ways and a very relieved Kuwabara and Koenma let out their breaths, glancing
over to the tree where certain fire demon sat in surprise and confusion.

"I never expected him to sit through that," Botan sighed, fanning herself. Why didn't Koenma ever kiss her that way?

"Don't be so surprised," Koenma chided. "Hiei is learning restraint.
Ten years ago he would have flown down there and hacked them both into
pieces before Yusuke's lips even touched Kurama's."

"I think I'm going to be sick," Kuwabara muttered. He hadn't exactly
wanted to see two of his best friends making out, but at least their plan
had been placed on the correct track again. "I'm going to go follow
Urameshi." Both spirit world guide and demigod nodded, then resumed their
observation of the demon who had now leapt from the tree, and the kitsune
who remained sitting beneath it.

***

Botan came spiraling out of the skies above, diving with spectacular
speed towards the small mountain shrine below. "Hiiiiiei!" she called,
knowing the demon to be somewhere on the temple premises or nearby. In
response to her cry, an ebony blur zipped out of the Dark Forest and into
her view.

What could that annoying ferry girl possibly want? he groaned
mentally. The fire apparition made little attempt to hide his irritation,
his facial expression rather openly displaying his dislike of her. "What?"

"It's an emergency! Horrible, absolutely horrible," she breathed out
breathlessly. She only prayed he didn't see through her act, or violate her
mind's privacy with the jagan and rip the truth directly from her. "The new
lists just came in."

"And I should care why?"

"Kurama's on it! You can't allow him to return to America at the end of
the week. He'll die," she confided, watching as the annoyed
expression rapidly transformed into a pain-filled, scowling grimace, with
generous fang included.

"You lie."

"I'm not lying!" Please don't read my mind, please don't read my
mind. How the hell do you lie to a telepath?! "I'm risking Enma-sama's
wrath by telling you this! Do you know how messed up the paperwork will be
if Kurama's death is prevented?"

Evidently he hadn't been reading her mind, because Hiei took the bait
hook, line, and sinker. Almond-shaped crimson orbs narrowed into thin ruby
slits. "I won't allow him to die. Not in some foolish ningen contraption."

"Now listen, Hiei. It's important that you keep him here for two
more weeks. Or another attempt to follow through on the death will occur.
I know that sounds hard but if Kurama dies in that plane crash, there will
be no chance of Youko returning because his body will be completely
destroyed. I'll have to take him."

He was now gazing at her in suspicion. Some part of her story had
bothered him, she could almost feel the jagan boring into her and she then
screamed out, "You know him much better than Yusuke, you just seemed like
the most sensible choice since you were still in Ningenkai!" The probe
stopped, and she let out several nervous breaths. Apparently, her outburst
had answered whatever remaining question Hiei had.

"I won't fail," he muttered before leaping away. Despite his
betrayal, I cannot allow the kitsune to die, he thought, disgusted with
himself for being unable to let go.

The shrine door cracked open as Yukina peered out into the yard. Botan flashed her a thumb's up, then sailed away on her oar as quickly as possible.

Within moments, Hiei had arrived to his destination of the Minamino residence, surprised to see Yusuke was already there and speaking to the fox. Rather than reveal his presence, Hiei tucked himself silently into the branches of a tree in a neighbors yard, using the thick springtime branches to hide his presence, while at the same time masking his ki.

He could have leapt out of the tree and cut the ex-Detective into two
dozen bloody pieces, and the traitorous kitsune as well when he saw Yusuke
drop to his knees and draw Kurama into a tight lover's embrace. Already the
two had ripped Hiei's heart from his chest, now they were putting on the
finishing touches. So many thoughts were rapidly blurring through his mind
right now. Kill, burn, slaughter them both. Whore of a fox. How
DARE Yusuke kiss him?! Then the kiss ended, and just like that, the
two parted and Yusuke stood. Kurama was still on the ground, and they were
speaking as if it had never happened.

"Then good luck."

"I'll need it," Yusuke responded, turning and striding out of the yard
without so much as looking back.

What the hell was that about? the furious, yet confused jaganshi
wondered. Apparently, Yusuke had come just to kiss the fox and leave.
Hiei's curiosity overpowered his common sense and he found himself leaping
out of the tree the moment Yusuke was out of view, and landing on the grass
in front of his wayward fox. Startled, Kurama swung his green eyed gaze
away from the direction Yusuke departed, bringing his emerald orbs to rest
upon Hiei.

"You just missed Yusuke, Hiei."

"I noticed."

Kurama carefully guarded his emotions, although the slight widening of
his eyes betrayed his neutral and stony expression. "You saw everything?"

"From beginning to end." Hiei was filled with barely contained rage.
How could he have ever doubted his instincts for a moment. He was positive
he saw guilt in the kitsune's eyes. Kurama knew he was busted, even
expected Hiei to explode.

Well, he was not about to explode (nor would he fly off the handle and
massacre everyone who had wronged him, starting with the nosy little ferry
guide that had sent him here in the first place). "It wasn't what it looked
like." The redhead sighed, and ran his fingers through his unruly hair
until his vision was no longer obscured by the red locks. "He kissed me, because he wanted to know if anything remained between us. Neither he nor I felt a single spark."

"Hn."

"You don't believe me."

"Not at all."

"Then you know what you must do." Without hesitation, Kurama stood,
dusting himself off and striding elegantly towards the front yard, stopping
only to gaze behind him at the confused Jaganshi. "Well? Follow me, Hiei.
If I must go to such lengths to prove myself, it won't be where any human
may witness it."

It was truly funny the way fate could work sometimes. Unfortunately,
Yusuke Urameshi was just about to discover just how hilarious fate could be.

The trip to the Yukimura residence was a relatively short one. Her
parents were at the restaurant, and Yusuke was pleasantly surprised to find
Keiko's car parked in the driveway.

"Please be here, please be here," he muttered under his breath, racing to
the door in his eagerness to see the once one true love of his life. No
sooner had he raised his hand to knock, it opened to frame the slender form
of a young brunette, brown eyes staring inquisitively at his, as if
searching for the reason behind his arrival. "Oi, Keiko, were you expecting
someone?"

"Just my father with another tire. I got a flat after you left
yesterday...and it turns out my spare isn't any good."

What the hell? She's being sociable? That threw Yusuke for a
loop. He'd expected her to tell him how much she thought he should go to
hell again, not hold a brief conversation.

"Would you like to come inside for a little while for some tea, Yusuke?"
The raven-haired man was now thoroughly convinced something was wrong. That
or Kuwabara had said some very scary things to her for her to suddenly
treat him like a human being again.

"Sure." He could only hope he wouldn't regret accepting her invitation.
Maybe she wanted him to come inside so her father could hack him into bits
when he arrived home.

The Yukimura house had changed little since the last time Yusuke had been
inside. As a young boy, the home of his childhood friend had been a place
of fond memories, especially when Atsuko was too drunk or irresponsible to
remember she had a son. A hungry son with no one to look after him but
Keiko's kind parents.

"So, how's everything going?" he asked dumbly. Nice one. Why don't
you ask her how much better her life's been than yours while you're at it,
genius? he told himself.

"I wanted to talk to you a little about that, Yusuke...I heard you were
considering retaking your position as a Spirit World Detective."

Yusuke stared at her. If he could get his hands around Kuwabara's neck
right now, he'd wring the life out of him AGAIN. "Kuwabara told you, didn't
he?"

"Yes. I don't think its wise, Yusuke. If you died again they won't
bring you back, no matter how much Koenma would like to."

"Don't you think I know that, Keiko?! I've only been saving the three
worlds for ten years now, and I know how powerless Koenma is when it comes
to making decisions. if I die again, it's for keeps, and I'm ready to
accept that like a man."

Suddenly, Keiko's large eyes watered with tears. "You shouldn't have to!
Why do you always have to be so stupid, Yusuke?" It was like being at the
dark tournament all over again, witnessing battle after brutal battle and
fight, where Yusuke was pitted against the strongest of beasts and monsters
desiring to rip out and eat his still beating heart. It had been such an
excruciating and painful experience. One she would never forget for as long
as she lived. Now, he was ready to subject himself to that danger again.
"Why?"

"Because I have nothing else to live for," he answered truthfully. He
shrugged. "Why should you care, aren't you the same person who stood by as
I bled to death on the floor eight years ago?"

Visible shame passed over the girl's features, and Yusuke regretted his
words instantly. Keiko refused to allow him to take them back however, and
merely shook her head. "It's fine. You had the right to say that, Yusuke.
I did only stand there. I should have run to you to make sure you
were okay, but all I could do was watch while Yukina and Kuwabara saved you.
I thought Hiei had killed you. By the time I realized the fight was over,
and that you were okay, I was so ashamed of myself that I ran away..."

"Keiko..."

"What I wasnwasn't right. I...I should have stayed by you. We could
have talked out our problems."

"We still can." Hesitantly, Yusuke pulled one of her small hands into
his, calloused fingers gently caressing the top of her hand. "As far as
I'm concerned, we both made a lot of mistakes; we're even now."

The brunette openly panicked, brown eyes growing wide as she emphatically
shook her head. Was he asking to start over? This couldn't be happening.

"Keiko? Keiko, what's wrong?" he demanded, pulling her close and
slipping an arm around her.

"It's too late. I'm married now, Yusuke."

Apparently, Kurama had caught Hiei off guard because the fire apparition
had yet to move from the spot beneath the tree. "What are you talking
about, Kurama?"

"Your third eye," the kitsune responded impatiently. "I certainly don't
want the neighbors to see it." Without explaining any further the fox
proceeded forward and into the house through the rear door. Removing his
shoes, he led the way to his bedroom, after making the demon do
the same with his dirt-crusted boots.

"I fail to see the point of this, Kurama. You know as well as I do that
your mind is too experienced and too old for the Jagan to remove any
particular memory with ease."

"Not if I open it completely for you."

"That's twelve hundred years of memories!"

"I'm aware of that. I'm aware of the risks as well before you begin to
warn me. This is what I wish to do and you won't be able to talk me out of
it."

Hiei glowered up at the kitsune, then turned around to leave. "I simply
won't do it."

"I feared you would say that. Leaf sword!"

Hiei whirled around, expecting an attack. What the jaganshi didn't
expect was to find Kurama with the razor sharp edge against his wrist,
pressed firmly against the vein. "Kurama, what the hell are you doing?"

"I can and will end it long before you can bring Yukina here to care for
me. Now make your choice, Hiei. My death or the truth?"

"Kurama..." Hiei stared at the fox that had once been his most trusted
lover, unable to discern if the redhead was truly serious, or bluffing to
get his way. Youko Kurama had one of Makai's best poker faces, and this was
too serious a matter for Hiei to risk.

"My death...or the Jagan?" he repeated firmly, nicking the flesh enough
for a thin line of blood to appear.

"The Jagan!"

Thank Kami that it wasn't necessary to follow through on that,
Kurama thought as he removed the blade, forcing a smug expression of
satisfaction on his features to hide the true fear that had nearly brought
him to a cold sweat. He had half expected Hiei to test how serious he was,
and he had been completely prepared to cut his left wrist to prove it.
"Start from the beginning, Hiei. I'll hide nothing, I want you to see it
all."

"Don't smile just yet. What you are about to experience is far from
pleasant. Kneel." Stone-faced and pale, Hiei removed his bandanna, the
violet iris of his third eye revealed as the lids separated. The kneeling
kitsune stared forward into the Jagan, feeling the caress of Hiei's
powerful mind. Emerald orbs went blank, and stared straight ahead into the
evil eye.

Flashes of memories long past rolled in rapid succession. Nothing was
hidden, everything from the moment of birth was bared for Hiei to see.