It wasn’t without annoyance that Hiei woke up, batting away at the birds chirping happily around him. The sun shone brightly through the cracks that the leaves of the tree left open, and Hiei reached up, blocking the glare with a sleeve.

“Hiei!” A voice sang loudly through an open window, “Time for school!”

An uncharacteristic smile graced Hiei’s face. It was like Kurama to forgive and forget, and obviously the fox had left their argument from the day before behind.

“Good morning!” The redhead laughed cheerfully at the sight of a slightly disheveled Hiei. “You have leaves in your hair.” he announced.

“And you have a penchant for stating the obvious.” Hiei snorted. “I slept in a tree.”

The teen leaning out the window laughed again, “You could’ve come in.” he offered with a smile, “I’m not as cruel as to make you sleep in the cold at night.”

Hiei shot him an odd look, “I don’t get cold.” he answered.

“Hmm?” The red-haired teen looked up as he hastily stuffed books into his book bag, “You don’t?” he paused briefly, “No, I guess you wouldn’t, with the fire demon thing.” he mused.

“What do you mean, the fire demon thing?” Hiei hopped onto the ledge, and grabbed the collar of Kurama’s shirt so that the teen was forced to face him, “You know what I’m talking about.”

Minamino Shuuichi frowned, and gently removed Hiei’s hand from the collar of his shirt, “Hiei, how hard did you hit your head when that car hit you?”

-

Shuuichi latched an arm around Hiei’s waist and forcibly dragged him along the street, “Hiei,” the teen furrowed his brow, “I’m quite worried about you. First we drag you out of the street and to a hospital where you insist that you’re okay, and then we get you back to my house and you insist on sleeping in a tree. And now you’re acting weird.”

The two stopped in the middle of the street, “Hiei,” Shuuichi repeated, “What’s going on?”

“I—I was back.” Hiei whispered, “With Kurama. He—there—”

A sour look seemed to cross Shuuichi’s face, if only for a second, “Oh. Kurama.”

Hiei looked up and frowned at the tone of the teen’s voice. “What’s that supposed to mean? Oh Kurama?”

Shuuichi shrugged, almost nonchalantly, “I don’t know.” he answered, “Maybe it’s just that you say you’re in love with me, but I’m supposed to be based off, oh, yes, that’s it—some 300 year old fox demon—and I mean, there’s nothing I can really do about it, but it is slightly disconcerting when you’re still in that state of mind and I’m standing right in front of you.”

Hiei almost laughed in relief and briefly, all his worries went away, “Are you jealous?”

“What?” The redhead was caught off guard, “Jealous? Hardly.” he scoffed, his face looking down at the ground. A second later, he glanced up, a small smile on his face, “Maybe I am.” he admitted. “I do like you, Hiei.”

Hiei snorted and grabbed Shuuichi’s wrist roughly, “We’re going to be late.” he muttered as he dragged the teen off in the direction of Meiou High.

Shuuichi beamed.

-

“And what the hell are you doing here?” Hiei spat as a certain son of a CEO waltzed into the courtyard after school.

Koenma looked offended, “I’m sorry if I’m not Kurama.” he said in a sing song voice.

“Don’t say that!” Hiei snapped, and dragged Koenma away from Shuuichi.

“Oh?” Koenma smirked, “A touchy subject between the two of you? Is someone who doesn’t exist getting in the way of Hiei-kun’s love life?” he reached out to pinch Hiei’s cheek.

Hiei batted away his hand and frowned, “Don’t say that either.”

Koenma looked slightly concerned for a brief moment, “Which one? The love life part or the Kurama not existing part?”

“T-the latter.” Hiei answered quietly.

-

“That’s a problem.” Genkai muttered as she sipped at her tea.

“I noticed.” Hiei snapped, “So, what was it? A dream? A hallucination? Care to explain why I seem to be going in between these two worlds?”

Genkai fixed him with a stare, “You seem to be oddly calm for someone whose hopping worlds.” she mused. “Any reason why?” she paused, “Is it because of him?”

“Yes.” Hiei admitted.

“I’d be careful if I were you.” Genkai advised, “On what you say, that is. For Minamino, Kurama seems to be a touchy subject. How is it with Kurama?”

“We’re arguing.” Hiei answered with an annoyed glare.

Genkai almost chuckled, “It’s almost like you’re having an affair, but with the same person.”

“Yes.” Hiei nodded sarcastically, “That’s absolutely hilarious.”

Genkai suddenly became serious, “It’s a game, Hiei. Depending on how you play it, it’s a make or break thing. You have to balance yourself between these worlds. Be careful. So, have any confidence?”

Hiei paused briefly, “Confidence?” he laughed almost dryly, “That’s the only thing I have left.”

And like that, it was set. A careful balance between the worlds, both seemingly depending on Hiei’s sanity. In his part, he hoped that it was only a dream, something passing. But as he watched through the window of Minamino’s room, an internal battle erupted inside him.

Genkai had said it was a game. So essentially, the prize at the end would either be Kurama or Shuuichi. But what if, when he won, he didn’t want to let the other go?

It was the rhythm of his heart that set the speed of the game. It’d be his mind that showed him how to play.

“Make sure you don’t let your feelings take over,” Genkai had advised, “Play with your mind, not your heart.”

But as Hiei quietly watched Minamino scribble something down on a piece of paper, he realized that it’d be a lot harder to follow her advice then he had previously thought.

It was a matter of what he’d be willing to give up. But as the time slowly ticked by on the large clock in Shuuichi’s room, Hiei soon found himself realizing that he didn’t want to give up either.