Standard disclaimers apply. Thanks to Yoshihiro Togashi for coming up 
with these magnificent characters. None of these are mine, not the 
characters, not most of the storyline as it was adopted from the manga 
vol. 3 & 4. Don’t sue me… no money… not making money… just sharing a 
piece of my brains with everyone. ^_^; 

Storyline might be bad, and grammar might be wrong… hey whaddaya expect 
from a 16 year old fan? Haha… alright… enough with rambling and babbling… 

A fanfic by ~> Bulma Briefs

                          *******************
					
                            Kurama and Hiei


	Gouki and Hiei had been defeated. Kurama was badly injured. 
Yuusuke had returned the stolen Reikai treasures. Even though it was 
returned, the Mirror of Utter Darkness was cracked and the Ghost Slayer 
was stained with blood, Koenma still had to be punished.

	With Enma Diaoh back from vacation, Koenma was assigned back to 
the investigating section. And he had a new to case to justify today. 
The judgement of Kurama and Hiei. Gouki’s had been easily made and was 
thrown into the Makai dungeon.

The room was dark, the air was chilly. As soon as Kurama and Hiei 
entered the room, the door was shut. Loudly. Kurama winced his eyes as 
he made his way step by step. His wound hadn’t been healed yet though. 
"Your wound isn’t healed yet. I’ll help you to carry some of the sentence," 
offered Hiei. As a friend, he knew that he needed to help 
Kurama. But that would be as far as it goes. 

"Doumo Hiei, demo… daijobu. I could manage it myself," Hiei gave 
Kurama his casual "Hn," and continued walking, eyeing the wincing Kurama 
by the corner of his big almond eyes.

Their case was represented. "The defendants please rise," said a 
youkai, probably the Reikai lawyer. 

"Name, Kurama and Hiei. No criminal records before this. Arrested 
for stealing the Reikai treasures for personal importance. Kurama had 
given back one of the Reikai treasures voluntarily but Hiei had been 
fighting with one of the Reikai Tantei. Causing severe injuries to our 
Tantei. But then, he got defeated," the youkai sat down after 
representing his statement. 

Koenma narrowed his eyes at the two youkais in front of him. He 
remembered that Yuusuke said that Kurama had changed, so what could he 
do with the other one?

"Ehem," he cleared his throat. As he wanted to speak, Kurama 
looked up at him. "Sumimasen, Koenma-sama," he interrupted. Koenma 
stopped. "Nan da, Kurama?" he asked. "Can I have a request?" he asked. 
"Request? Saa… let me hear what is it first," replied Koenma.

Kurama smiled softly. "Whatever our punishment would be, could you 
please make it so that we serve our sentence together?" he asked.      
:… Well this is a peculiar request …: noted Koenma mentally. He took a 
brief moment to think about it.

"Well, I was going to let you have a lighter sentence than Hiei 
though," he paused. "Do you still want to deliver your sentences 
together?" he asked Kurama’s assurance. Kurama looked at Hiei who was 
beside him. Clutching Hiei’s hand, he nodded. "Hai." 

Koenma sighed. "If I follow the actual Reikai law, Kurama would 
serve a total of 10 years in Makai construction services and Hiei would 
be thrown to the Makai lion lair," he continued, but then he saw Kurama 
bit his lower lip. Koenma softened his heart a bit.

:… These two are very strong. If I just throw them away, it would 
be a waste… hey, but wait a minute. I could make them Reikai Tanteis! …: 
thought Koenma, smiling to himself. "But, I will make a change to it. 
Kurama would be put in service for the Reikai Tantei instead, together 
with Urameshi Yuusuke," Kurama narrowed his eyes at Koenma’s words. He 
can’t let Hiei being thrown in the dungeon when he was going to be set 
free with a job as the Reikai Tantei. And he really hoped that Koenma 
reconsidered his request, looking down at the cold hard floor. He looked 
at his hand when Hiei had let it go abruptly and clutched his fist, 
hard. Blood started to trickle down his palms. 

:… Inari… Hiei is just a young youkai. He didn’t even have a happy 
childhood! How could this happen? Help me Inari-sama …: Kurama prayed 
silently. 

"Ano… since Kurama requested to have their sentence be performed 
together, I’ll let Hiei join him too," declared Koenma. Kurama’s eyes 
lightened up. "Doumo arigatou gozaimasu, Koenma-sama!" Thanked Kurama. 
Koenma narrowed his eyes at the little black youkai. Still no signs of 
him saying thank you. :… Ah, what the heck. I know his bad childhood …: 
said Koenma to himself. 

"But, I will keep you guys in the cell until the day comes. Don’t 
worry, I’ll put you two in the same room," said Koenma, raising from his 
big chair.   

				************

Kurama looked around. This room was equally dark. Only the 
candles’ light could be seen. The oni had lighten up the candles
earlier when they came in. Kurama counted it. "One… two… five… ten… 
fifteen candles in here," he said casually, not meaning for Hiei to hear 
it though. Hiei snorted. Kurama turned his head and saw Hiei sitting on 
a pile of hays, polishing his katana with a cloth he tore from his 
shirt. 

Kurama looked at him and walked nearer to him, sitting in front of 
Hiei. The candles from behind him shone directly into those fiery ruby 
eyes as Hiei looked up, meeting a pair of solemn green eyes. 

:… Damn, here it goes again! …: Hiei always have these odd 
feelings when ever Kurama’s eyes met his, those deep tranquillising 
ones, piercing his like a sharp dagger.

Suddenly Kurama winced. Hiei shot him an alarmed look. "Nan de?" 
asked Hiei. Kurama shook his head. "Don’t lie fox, your stomach still 
hurts," with that, he pushed Kurama on the floor and tore open his 
shirt, revealing his injured stomach. It was partly healed, but blood 
still ooze out from the centre. Imagine having a sharp sword impaled 
through you wasn’t actually Hiei's favourite thoughts. 

Hiei bend down. Kurama opened his eyes. "What are you doing Hiei?" 
Hiei didn’t answer but to just lick off the blood that ooze out and 
deliver some youki so that the wound close up, preventing blood from 
coming out of the youko. 

"Damn, they don’t even give us water!" cursed Hiei. He could wash 
Kurama’s wound properly even with a glass of water. Kurama straightened 
up. He raised his hand and brushed Hiei's face light with it. "Doumo, 
Hiei," he told Hiei. Hiei turned away quickly. But Kurama swore that he 
saw the koorime blushing. Hiei stood up immediately and walked to the 
door. He looked through the small glass window. He didn’t knew what to 
do, he just wanted to… run away from those soft touches.  

:… You don’t want to run away… you want it badly …: said a voice, 
ringing in his head. He tried to shut it up, but it as true. Only that, 
he felt uncomfortable about it. It had never occurred to him that this 
feelings inside him ever existed. And he didn’t quite like it as it was 
unfamiliar. But it felt nice when Kurama did that to him.

Kurama wasn’t sure about what Hiei felt for him. He acted well 
enough that he realised about Kurama’s love for him. But did he actually 
love him too? Or did he think that they’re just good friends? But Kurama 
knew that he liked Hiei very much from the first time he saw Hiei and 
that ‘like’ feeling had changed greatly into a loving feel for the 
koorime since he reached his puberty. And that slender lithe body had 
been the subject of every wet dream he could think off. Odd, most of his 
other friends often told him about their dreams and they’re all about 
girls twice their age.  

A sudden snort brought Kurama back to reality. "What’s the matter 
Hiei?" asked Kurama, concerned. "Why does that Keiko girl made such a 
big influence at Yuusuke?" he suddenly asked, mainly to himself though. 
Kurama shrugged "Friendship?" he suggested. "No, there’s more than 
that," Hiei wondered aloud. "The power of love?" well this made Hiei 
look up at Kurama. "What do you mean by it?" asked Hiei.

Kurama sighed and was silent for a while. "Love, a simple word 
with a thousand complex meanings and powers. When the power of love is 
over you, the power that comes from within you would be times more 
powerful than it is in normal state," explained Kurama, Hiei seemed to 
be understanding it as he had his thoughtful thinking cap on. :… No 
wonder… Hiei don’t even know what is love …: Kurama thought, feeling 
sorry for the fire demon.   

"Does it make you powerful?" asked Hiei. Kurama hesitated. "Well, 
maybe and maybe not," he told Hiei wryly. "And why is that?" asked the 
curios youkai, trying his best to hide his curios tone.

"For one reason, you might loose you pride if you fall in love," explained 
Kurama. Hiei snorted. "Then I don’t want love," he decided. 
"Ano Hiei, demo… it depends on how you make it. If you make it bad, 
it’ll go the wrong way. But if you make the right decisions, it’ll turn 
out other wise. Love might be the best thing that happened in your 
life. And might even be the source of your power," Kurama, giving Hiei 
lessons. 

Hiei thought for a while and snorted. "Speak not of love to I, who 
was born to fight. I would not risk my powers," he said, crossing his 
arms on his chest shutting his eyes. 

Kurama sighed, he was right. Hiei didn’t feel anything else about 
him other than just friends. Or did he?

Love… was that the feeling he felt for Kurama? No, it wouldn’t be. 
If he had been, it means that he had been weak. :… I am not weak and not 
going to be …: thought Hiei bitterly. But these odd feelings… Hiei 
sighed. 

Even if I do love Kurama, would he love me? Would he have a 
forbidden child for his lover, when he could just pick anyone he liked 
with those beautiful eyes, body… :… But he had treated you extremely 
nice …: said a voice behind his head. Hiei laughed mentally. :… Kurama 
‘is’ nice to everyone …: snorted another part of his head. Hiei winced 
painfully at the second thought.   

Hiei decided to leave the matter slip. :… Stupid Hiei …: he 
retorted to himself. He took a glance at a sleeping youko, curling a 
feet away from him.

The night was cold. Kurama was shivering, partly because his youki 
level was low and couldn’t keep him warm. The other part was crying over 
the decision made by Hiei. :… Why, Hiei? …: was the question that kept 
replaying itself on and on in Kurama’s mind. 

Kurama’s youki was going up and down. Hiei was warm and comfy 
wrapped around his black cloak. But a forbidden koorime child would 
never feel cold, even without his cloak. 

He noticed that Kurama was shivering cold. A sigh slipped through 
Hiei's mouth. He crawled near the sleepy cold fox and draped his cloak 
over him, hoping that his youki would settle down. But as he waited for 
a while, his youki still hadn’t settle itself. :… Shit, only a way to 
fix this mess …: he cursed and got under his cloak together with Kurama.

A warm object laid next to Kurama and he unconsciously turned, 
wrapping his arms around it for warmth. A sudden rush went up Hiei’s 
spine as Kurama’s hand wrapped around his small and compact waist. Hiei 
was dumbfounded. What is happening? 

Kurama moaned. "Oh… Hiei, how I wish I could… mm… mm…," Kurama 
mumbled in his sleep. Unaware of Hiei. The sentence went silently away 
without Hiei understanding it. And the endings, it was blurry. Hiei 
couldn’t make out what it was. :… Why are you calling me like that? What 
were you wishing? …: was the question that floated in his head. It 
didn’t felt bad. It felt rather… nice, but uneasy to Hiei.

	He decided to let the matter drop and closed his eyes, trying 
to get a good sleep. Even with a pair of arms wrapped around his middle.

Two weeks passed…

Hiei was mostly silent the whole time. He had spent most of his 
time practising. Him on this end and Kurama on the other end. Both 
trying to raise their youki level. :… Chotto matte, when’s the last time 
he talked? …: Kurama thought, trying to remember as the threw a punch in 
the stuffy air. :… Saa, a week ago …: Since Kurama’s wound was healed, 
he normally sits by himself at a corner silently if he wasn’t 
practising. Always avoiding Kurama’s stares. Avoiding Kurama altogether.

Feeling depressed and lonely, Kurama often sigh. But knowing 
nothing’s wrong with Kurama, Hiei ignored it. 

"Someone’s coming," suddenly Hiei said, preparing himself into a 
crouch. Kurama concentrated hard and finally found a trace of youki 
coming near to them. Hiei had always been very alert, more than him. 

"Kurama, Hiei, Koenma-sama wants to see you," said the oni as he 
opened the door. They both followed the oni to Koenma’s room. "Doumo, 
George," said Koenma as Kurama and Hiei was already in front of him.

"Ano… Yuusuke is going after a youkai named Suzaku. If you help 
him, then you might be excused from your other sentences. Are you 
willing to?" asked Koenma. Kurama smiled and nodded. Koenma glanced at 
Hiei. "Hiei?" Hiei looked away. "Hn," was his usual casual reply. 

"Ja, they’ll be somewhere in Makai, in Devil’s road. You could 
easily find him there. Go now!" said Koenma. Kurama nodded and pulled a 
surprised koorime with him. "Don’t be too over excited, Kitsune," 
snorted Hiei. "Ano Hiei, were serving our sentence together. We should 
‘be’ excited," said Kurama, jokingly. Hiei snorted, didn’t quite know 
how kitsune minds work.

				************

"That’s their lair, the Maze Town, ne?" noted Yuusuke. Kuwabara 
shrugged. Yuusuke turned his gaze to Kuwabara. "Let me remind you that 
don’t think about winning this fight after being injured badly like 
before," advised Yuusuke, walking towards the Maze Town. "Cheh, the 
fate of humans in our city could be left to you alone? I don’t think 
so," snorted Kuwabara proudly. 

Suddenly there were laughing sounds. "Heh… heh… heh…," Yuusuke and 
Kuwabara looked around, alarmed. "Aa… an unusual smell," said a voice. 
"Ah! Ningens! Heh… heh… heh… ningen smells," said another. Kuwabara and 
Yuusuke nearly jumped out of their awareness as they were surrounded by 
thousands and thousands of the Rotten Meat Eater youkais. All wearing a 
big cloth over themselves. Maybe to cover their gross existence. "Ah! We 
could eat! Eat our asses out!" said another voice. "Heh, heh… Food!," 
said a youkai who pounced on Yuusuke.

"Shimatta!," exclaimed Yuusuke as he punched the youkai to hell. 
*Hey, this ‘is’ hell!* "Masaka! They’re too much for us, Yuusuke!," 
shouted Kuwabara. "If it goes on like this, we’re going to die!" noted 
Yuusuke. 

"Hey… if you continue fighting them, when would you be able to 
enter the Maze Town?" asked a softer voice. Yuusuke and Kuwabara looked 
at each other. "Who’s that?" asked Kuwabara. Yuusuke didn’t answer, but 
just looked as two covered youkais beat up the others professionally. 

Both came landing in front of Yuusuke and Kuwabara. "Only two? 
Must be hard," said a voice under the cover. This voice was different 
from the first one, deeper. Then, both uncover themselves. "Let us help 
you," said the first voice. 

Yuusuke gasped. "Why… you…," Yuusuke uttered. "Who?" asked 
Kuwabara, looking at a redhead boy and a shorter one with black spiky 
hair. "Aren’t you Kurama and Hiei? How can you…," Yuusuke was confused, 
weren’t they supposed to be punished for stealing the Reikai treasures? 

"We are serving our sentence… in a way though. If we help you, we 
might be excused from our sentences," said Kurama, a friendly smile 
spread over his lips. "Honto ka? Koenma also offers voluntary services 
as an alternative? Sugee," said Yuusuke, excitedly. Kurama nodded. 
"Kuwabara, let me introduce. This is Hiei and Kurama," said Yuusuke, 
introducing them. "Doozo yoroshiku," said Kuwabara confusingly. 
"Hajimemashite," greeted Kurama cheerfully. 

Suddenly there’s a snort. "I don’t know what’s in Kurama’s mind 
and I don’t give a damn about it. All I am interested about is the Makai 
stuff and the treasure that was stolen by the Four Makai Animals! I have 
no intentions on helping you," announced the little boy with spiky hair, 
who has surprisingly deep tones. Which was sexy though, according to 
Kurama.

Kurama closed his eyes and smiled at Hiei's statement. He knew 
that Hiei was just being sarcastically ego. 

"What’s the matter with this boy? A small size body, inappropriate 
for it’s big mouth!" Kuwabara snapped, irritated by Hiei's statement. 
"What? Try me," snorted Hiei. "Nani?! Shimatta! Wanna fight?" asked 
Kuwabara, practically boiling with anger. "Eh! Don’t be like that, 
Hiei," Kurama opened his mouth. Hiei looked away from Kuwabara. "Even if 
you still wanna fight, wait until the matter in hand is settled first!" 
Kurama continued. 

"Yuusuke, ‘he’ will find a way to take revenge on us," said Hiei, 
referring to Kuwabara. "Forget it!" snapped Kuwabara, stopping himself 
from biting Hiei's ears. "I will be careful, though," Hiei said and 
retrieved a few steps back to stand beside Kurama. But Hiei and Kuwabara 
were still exchanging baleful death spelling stares. "Yosha! The more 
the merrier!" exclaimed Yuusuke.

"Yabai! Ano wa Hiei to Kurama! They’re an A-class youkai, why are 
they with humans??" the Rotten Meat Eaters shrieked, giving way to four 
of them. 

And with that, four of them settled for their adventures as Reikai 
Tanteis together for first time. 

Owari ^_^;

* Special thanks to Siew Lee and Ryoko for their inspirations and 
  encouragement!*

Bulma Briefs
bulma_v_briefs@hotmail.com
UIN#13254597
https://members.tripod.com/~Bulma_Briefs/manga_mansion.html