A/N: Lo and behold! I have actually updated in a non-retarded time frame. I'm so proud of myself! And I'm so happy that I actually got some interested readers! Thank you so much for your reviews everyone!

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho or any of its characters. I'm just grateful they exist, so I have the opportunity to put them into my story.

Warnings: Lime, slight incest, angst

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Kurama was slumped on the floor of the bathroom, staring blankly at the wall. He had been there approximately 30 minutes, but time no longer mattered to him in the slightest. He heard his little brother's footsteps return to the upstairs. Suicci had gone down awhile ago to eat. His ear twitched involuntarily at the soft noise.

Yes, he had completed his transformation. He had sat upon the floor as Youko Kurama for the past half hour, not really bothering to do much about it. What did he care? He was behind the closed door to the most private room of the house. And even if he wasn't, he didn't think it would've really registered in his mind.

He closed his eyes in obvious turmoil. Despite the physical change, he hadn't yet crossed over to actually being Youko Kurama. No; he was still good ol' Kurama that everybody depended on; not the notorious Makai bandit. True, his identities weren't as separate as they used to be, but they still existed somewhat apart from eachother.

A quiet knock came at the bathroom door. Finally snapping out of his reverie, Kurama tried to make his voice the same melodic tone that it always was. Truth be told, it was difficult, since when his body changed, so did the timbre of his voice. And since his mind was elsewhere, his acting skills diminished greatly. "Yes?"

Suicci leaned against the outside of the door, hardly able to hear his step brother's soft voice. "You ok? You've been in there awhile." He frowned. "And you don't sound so good. Are you sick?"

Kurama had to stop a dark chuckle at the question. Yes, he was sick; but not in the physical way. "I'm fine, Suicci," he answered in a clipped tone, trying to control his voice. "Do you need something?" He could sense the sudden hesitation and shock from the other side of the door. He hadn't meant to sound cold. It just came out that way.

His first instinct was to apologize, but hoping that maybe his attitude would get his little brother to leave quicker, he held back. It wasn't that he didn't love the kid; he just wanted to be alone at the moment.

Suicci finally spoke again. "Uh... no, I'm fine. I was just making sure you were."

"I appreciate the concern. However, it is unnecessary." He sighed minutely. "Why don't you go to bed. It's getting late."

"Uh... you're kinda hogging the bathroom."

There was an awkward silence for a minute or so in which Suicci became nervous all over again. What was going on with his brother? Sure, he always acted weirder than most people his age, but this was just ridiculous. Not getting any response, he leaned tightly against the door. "Shuicchi?"

Suddenly, the door swung open, causing the younger boy to lose his balance and fall, ungracefully, to the bathroom floor. As he was falling, a cool breeze brushed past him, but by the time he had regained his senses and sat up, his brother was nowhere to be found, and the older Shuicchi's bedroom door was closed.

Suicci stared at it for a second, completely bewildered. Was Shuicchi really that fast? How come he never knew about this? Why wasn't Shuicchi on the damn track team? Shaking his head and deciding that sometimes his step brother's behavior was completely over his head, he stood and closed the bathroom door, starting the shower to get ready for bed.

Kurama slouched against the floor clenching his fists. "Dammit," he whispered angrily. "How could I have let this happen? How could I have let this happen?"

He banged his head against the door a few times. This was not good. His Youko side could not be attracted to Shiori. He could not go after her. She was his human mother! And she was married! He couldn't allow his other side to hurt her in any way. He'd never forgive himself.

His claws dug into his palms so hard, he could feel the blood trickling down his fingers and onto the carpet. He squeezed his eyes shut and repeated his mantra. "How could I have let this happen?"

His eyes snapped open again as he felt a familiar presence appear just outside his window. Hiei was back.

Kurama's eyes flashed dangerously as he was filled with a new rage. 'No, it's not how could I have let this happen. It's how could Hiei have let this happen!' He bared his teeth and glared at the window even though it was closed. 'He's supposed to be watching me! It was his duty to make sure nothing like this happened! Besides, he was the one upsetting me more and more with his stupid comments and innuendos! How was I supposed to act after he riled me up so much?'

Apparantly, even Hiei wasn't so apathetic as to ignore the sudden immense anger coming fromt he fox's bedroom. He also wasn't stupid enough not to sense that Kurama's energy rise was an indication that he had transformed. Within a split second, he was standing in Kurama's bedroom, looking at the transformed kitsune... who was glaring at him as though he were thinking delicious thoughts about murdering his friend and skinning his dead body to make a pretty throw rug.

Hiei reached behind him to close the window and quirked a brow, ready to ask the what the hell his problem was now, but didn't get the chance as Kurama suddenly lunged for him.

The fire demon barely dodged the outstretched claws and Kurama's upper half crashed through the window, sending glass shards all over the room and bloodying himself up pretty bad. However, he barely seemed to notice the blood soaking his clothing and cascading down his skin and rounded on Hiei again.

Thinking quickly, Hiei drew his sword and swung at Kurama, effectively staving off his advances long enough for the fire demon to escape back out the window. Kurama growled and followed without hesitation, trying to catch up.

The chase didn't last long since Kurama was merely attacking out of blind rage rather than purpose and strategy. If the kitsune had been thinking clearly at all, he woul've used his plants by that point, but being as he wasn't thinking clearly, it was quite easy for the smaller demon to trick him.

Skidding to a sudden halt, he vaulted over his friend so he was standing behind him. With his reflexes dulled by anger, by the time Kurama figured it out, he was on his knees, and the blade of the sword was against his neck. He growled at Hiei but knew better than to try moving.

Hiei smirked, finding the situation amusing now that he was the one in control. "Are you growling at me, Kurama?" he asked in mock-surprise. "Haven't heard you do that in awhile. What's got you so pissy?" Kurama started to turn his head, but the blade was pushed more firmly against his throat. Hiei wasn't quite ready to let him go. "What happened? You finally snap and decide to have your way with me? You couldn't just asked nicely, you know."

Kurama bared his fangs and glared at Hiei out of his peripheral vision. "It's all your fault."

Hiei blinked, confused. "It's my fault that your hormones are out of control?"

"Yes! You were the one who kept provoking me! You were supposed to be keeping tabs on me! And now, he's chosen her, and it's all your fault!"

"He?"

"Youko! He's chosen her, and that can't happen!"

"Her?"

"Shiori, dammit!"

"Shiori?"

"My mother!"

Hiei sneered. "I know who Shiori is, dumbass!"

"Then stop repeating everything I say with that blank tone!"

Hiei scowled. "I'm trying to process what's going on here."

Kurama clamped his eyes shut and clutched the grass beneath him. "What's going on here is that Youko's chosen Shiori! And he's going to hurt her! I'm going to hurt her!" Tears started welling up in his eyes, and Hiei's sword slackened as the silver hair began to turn a red hue again. "I can't hurt her, Hiei! I can't! I'll never forgive myself..."

The transformation was complete and Kurama had broken down into sobs. Hiei put his sword away and stared awkwardly down at his crying friend. Had it been anyone else, he would've scoffed at them and told them to stop being so weak and that they were embarassing themselves. But in all the years he'd known him, he'd never actually seen Kurama cry. He was always so much stronger and composed than that. If he was resorting to crying, something must be seriously wrong.

Not knowing of anything better to do, Hiei crouched down, guided the crying boy onto his back, and took off toward the Minaminno property.

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Kurama sleepily blinked his eyes and tried to focus in the dark room. His mind was hazy and discombobulated, and he wasn't exactly sure what was going on. A few seconds of scanning his surroundings finally brought his confused mind back to the real world. He was in his room... and it was very dark. The only reason he was able to see at all was because of his demonically heightened eyesight. 'What time is it?' A quick glance to the bedside table revealed it to be almost 1:30 in the morning. '1:30! Mother should be back by now! Oh no! The window!'

But when he looked to the window that was supposed to be in pieces all over the floor, he was shocked to discover that there was a perfectly solid and normal looking window where there ought to be. The shards were no longer there and the blood stains he was sure he had gotten on the carpet were non-existant.

Everything in the room was exactly as it should be. Even he was in perfectly clean clothes in nicely straightened sheets. Had it not been for the fact that he had a single small bandage wrapped around his knuckles, he would've been sure he had dreamed the entire incident with Hiei.

Speaking of Hiei, Kurama could distinctly sense his presence from inside the room. But the small demon didin't seem to be anywhere.

Unless...

Standing somewhat shakily from the bed, Kurama ambled over to the closet and slid it open. Sure enough...

Kurama had to smile for a second at the thought that Hiei looked so damn cute when he was asleep and would probably murder him in a moment if he ever knew he thought that. The second thought to cross his mind was 'What the hell is he doing in the closet?'

"What do you want?" a sleepy but gruff voice suddenly demanded.

Kurama snapped from his thoughts and looked back to Hiei who had lifted his head and was blinking tired eyes at him.

Kurama smiled slightly and leaned against the frame. "I was just wondering what on earth you are doing in my closet."

"Sleeping," Hiei snapped as though this was the most obvious thing in the world.

Kurama chuckled. "But why in the closet?"

Hiei finally stood and stretched, walking into the main part of the room. "So your mother wouldn't see me. And I'm inside because I didn't think it would be a good idea to leave you alone," he added, already anticipating the kitsune's next question. "Not after your little breakdown."

Kurama sighed and walked back to the bed sitting cross-legged. So it definitely hadn't been a dream.

Hiei, who had opted to lean against the desk began speaking again. "You fell asleep, or unconcious really, on the way back. Your hand and shoulder were bleeding pretty badly so I wrapped them up and changed your clothes." (Kurama lifted the short arm of his t-shirt to discover that his shoulder had indeed been bandaged as well.) "I fixed the window as best I could. There are still small holes and you can see the cracks where the glue is, but you can't notice it in the dark. I also cleaned the carpet and straightened the room. Nobody in your family suspects anything."

Kurama, who had stood to personally inspect the fixed window, turned back to stare at Hiei with mild shock on his face.

Hiei noticed and shifted uncomfortably. "What?"

"I don't think I've ever heard you say so much at one time, and I can hardly believe you went so above and beyond the call of duty for me."

Hiei turned away, embarassed now. "If you cause or get into any trouble it'll be considered my fault. I did this just as much for my own skin as yours. So don't go thinking you're something special or anything."

Kurama had to smirk at the overly defiant tone in the fire demon's voice that was the sure indication of a lie. He climbed back into bed, propping himself against the pillows. "Well, either way, thank you, Hiei." He glanced at the window. "I'll be able to replace the window in the morning."

"Hm."

Kurama flexed his bandaged hand a few times and let the silence build. Finally, he cracked a small grin and shifted his gaze to Hiei's back. "So exactly how badly did I freak you out when I began to cry?"

Hiei 'hmphed'. "You didn't freak me out. You just surprised me a little."

"Heh."

A few more seconds of silence passed before Hiei broke it this time, his voice unusually soft quiet and soft. "So, are you ok?"

Had Hiei not been so genuinely serious, Kurama might have teased him for seeming so concerned. But, as it stood, it was obvious that Hiei really did care about the state of his friend. "I'm fine. I just got sort of worked up." He paused, searching for something else to say. "I didn't have any dreams while I was unconcious. That's gotta be a good sign, right?"

"Or it could just mean that you were so mentally exhausted that your brain couldn't handle dreams at the time, but they'll be back tomorrow..." He quickly noticed Kurama's depressed look and added, "Sorry."

Kurama had to smile then. "My, my, Hiei. First bandages, then cleaning, and now apologies. What's gotten into you tonight?"

Hiei jammed his hands in his pockets and scowled. "Fuck you."

The kitsune finally laughed aloud. "That's more like the Hiei I know! For a second I was worried you were going soft on me. I was afraid you might start doing things like smiling and helping people! Perish the thought!" He burst into more laughter at his own joke. It wasn't really that funny, but once you break out of a very serious and stressful period, everything is hilarious. Hiei might've pointed out that Kurama was acting like an idiot (which he was), but in the current situation, he was just relieved that the other demon was feeling better. Crying and panicked Kurama was something he never wanted to experience again. Not that he'd ever admit it out loud...

As Kurama's chuckles began to subside, Hiei sauntered back to the closet. "I'm going back to sleep. And you should too... idiot." And the door slammed shut.

Kurama fell back on the pillows picking up his laughter even harder than before to the point where he could barely breathe. He knew it was probably just because he was now at the point of madness and hysteria, but at the moment, it just felt so good to laugh. He was probably lucky his entire family slept like logs.

After a few minutes of releasing his emotional tension (in which Hiei tried to ignore him although it became more and more tempting to go strangle him with each giggle), Kurama settled back and closed his eyes.

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A/N: Yay! Ok, that was a slightly boring chapter and Hiei was way too nice; I realize that. Things will pick up more in the next chapterand Hiei will be back to the smart-ass bastard that we all know and love.

Please review!

DixieGoddess