Disclaimer: I do not own anything even remotely connected to Yu Yu Hakusho...except a few Shonen Jumps.

Chapter 3: Learning to Love

Hiei woke early and lay there gazing at Kurama. He actually didn't know if he loved him. What had Kurama said? Give yourself completely to someone else? How were you supposed to do that?Hiei sighed. He got out of bed and stretched before jumping over the bed to sit on the windowsill. Kurama stirred and yawned softly, but did not wake

Hiei gaped at him. Make no mistakes, his fox was beautiful. And now he was Hiei's, giving to him by the fox himself. But could he accept this gift? Again, Hiei sighed. Life was suddenly way too complicated.Hiei closed his eyes. What he had done the night before was a mistake, he knew that. But he was just so grateful that Kurama had rescued him from his nightmares. Nightmares that he couldn't even remember now. He opened his eyes with a yawn, to find himself staring into Kurama's deep green eyes.

"Good morning, Hiei."

"Hn."

Kurama smiled and got up to get dressed. When he turned back around, he was surprised to see Hiei still there. The phone rang, and he hurried to get it, muttering about people who call so early.

"Moshimoshi."

"Hey Kurama. This is Yusuke. How did it go?"

"well..good and bad. Why don't you get Kuwabara and come over?" Kurama noticed Hiei staring at him.

"Sure, just give us a second, okay?" Kurama heard what sounded like a body hitting the floor, followed by a groan.

"Um, alright. See you in a bit." He hung up the phone.

Kurama walked over to Hiei sitting at the windowsill. He sat in the space left by Hiei's legs and stared at him.

"Yes fox?"

"Heh. It's nothing Hiei."

"Last time you said that, it turned out to be a rather large something."

"True. It's just that..you're beautiful Hiei."

"Feh. Whatever."

"You really are."

"I already said I'd learn to love. There's no need to lie to me, fox."

Kurama, about to answer, was stopped by the sound of the doorbell ringing.

/But you really are../ he thought to Hiei, before closing their connection.

Hiei was smiling inside, though on the outside he was his usual self. That fox never fails to surprise me he thought. He had his eyes closed, his head leaning against the side of the window, knees bent, when the group walked in. Kurama caught his breath at Hiei looking that peaceful and serene. Kuwabara was almost speechless. Almost.

"Hey shrimp! Wake up!"

Without opening his eyes, Hiei lazily flicked his thumb, unsheathing about an inch of his sword. Kuwabara gulped.

"Point taken."

"Hey, Hiei," Yusuke grinned.

"Detective."

"So what are we going to do?" Yusuke asked the group in general.

"Let's go to the park." Kuwabara replied.

Kurama smiled and nodded, Hie rose from the windowseat, and Yusuke was already heading out the door. They walked the few blocks to the park in relative silence. When they got there, they sat on the grass in the sunshine.

"Okay, we're here, now what?" Yusuke muttered.

"We could play a game?" Kuwabara suggested.

"Like what?" Kurama asked.

"Hide and seek," Hiei replied sarcastically.

Everyone blinked at him.

"What?" He asked

"How do you know about Hide and Seek?" Everyone asked at once.

Hiei muttered something about children and trees.

"Fine. Whatever. Hide and Seek it is. And I get to seek." Yusuke decided.

Kuwabara and Kurama ran off. Hiei just rolled his eyes and jumped into the tree across from the one they had chosen as home. He masked his ki and waited for Yusuke to run off. As soon as he did, Hiei jumped to sit against the base of the home tree. Soon he sensed a familiar energy, and felt a hand slide through his hair.

"Kurama, sit down and keep your hands to yourself." Hiei said forcefully.

Nodding, Kurama sat. After a moment's hesitation, he placed his hands in his lap.

"Just because you claim to love me doesn't mean I'm yours to pet."

Kurama inhaled sharply.

"Then what doe sit mean? That I sit here while you tear my heart out at ever turn?"

Hiei glared murder, but before he could reply Yusuke returned, with a rumpled Kuwabara trailing behind him.

"Hey guys. Interrupting something?" He asked innocently, sitting down. Kuwabara followed suit.

"Not at all." Kurama said, casting Hiei a challenging look. Hiei silently shook his head.

"Well, I'm it." Kuwabara said to fill the silence.

"Actually, let's play Truth. Like Truth or Dare, but only questions." Yusuke said, wearing his most innocent look.

Alarm rose in Kurama, but he nodded. Hiei, who had never played, asked about the game.

"It's simple. Someone asks you a question, you answer, then it's your turn to ask."

Hiei remained seated.

"I'll go first. Umm..Kurama. What's with you and roses?" Kuwabara asked.

Kurama smiled. "A rose, that which is beautiful yet deadly. It fit, somehow."

Kuwabara nodded. "Your turn."

"Yusuke, what's going on between you and Keiko?"

Yusuke shot a look at Kuwabara before answering. "Nothing at all. We're good, better, best friends. Nothing more. ANd sine we're on the subject of romance…Hiei, have you ever been kissed?"

"Yes." Hiei said flatly.

"Well..have you ever kissed someone? Initiated it?"

"One question detective. It's my turn. Oaf, what are your intentions for Yukina?"

Kuwabara blushed and replied, "I love her, but she will never know the meaning of this love. She's too innocent. So..nothing." Hiei noticed Yusuke smile.

"Hn. Good."

"Yusuke, how much have you stolen this week?"

Yusuke appeared to think about it. " Um..three manga, four boxes of pocky, and..I think that's it.

"And three bottles of sake." Hiei finished for him.

"How do you know that? Been following me around?"

"Yes. I'm completely in love with you, and have been stalking you for the past two weeks." Hiei said sarcastically. Kurama felt the bands on his heart tighten. "I got it out of your head." He continued.

"Okay. My turn. Hiei, have you ever kissed someone?"

"Yes." Hiei said, thinking about the night before. "This game is boring."

"Well, we could just play Dare." Kuwabara suggested with a look at Yusuke.

"I think not." Hiei said, before disappearing.

Author's Note: Sorry this took so long everyone! Hopefully, updates will be more frequent.