I'm Not In Love 

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I'm not in love so don't forget it

It's just a silly phase I'm going through

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 "Ok.  So where do you wanna go, Yusuke?" the orange-haired Kuwabara asked a sleepy Urameshi.

"Um..Don't know.  Ask Kurama," replied Yusuke, stifling a yawn and stretching his muscles.

 Kuwabara turned toward the redhead and stopped.  The youko was staring at a tree just below the window of Genkai's window.  Kuwabara stared, blinking at an unblinking Kurama.  He cleared his throat.

 "Ahem.  Ahem,  Kurama, mind if I barge into your conscious world? Hellooooo!" the carrot-youth continued playfully.

 "G-gomen Kuwabara," said the redhead, scratching his head and plastering a gorgeous, apologetic smile on his face, turned toward Kuwabara.

 "What is it?" asked the redhead.

 "Where do we hang out?"

 "Why not just here?  More convenient for everyone," Yusuke interrupted.

 "Hey good thinking," approved Kuwabara.

 Kurama did not join the conversation.  His gazed went back to a particular tree at the grounds of the temple.  Hiei's hideaway.  Slowly the redhead came nearer and called softly.

 "Hiei?"

  No answer.

 "Hiei?"

  Silence.  Where could he be?

 "H-I-E-I!"

 "NANI?  STUPID FOX!  What do you want?" asked an irritated fire demon, who was rudely awakened from his slumber.

 "Actually--nothing."  Kurama grinned.

 "BAKA!"

 Kurama made move to leave the half koorime.  He had teased Hiei for the day.  Now he was content.  The kitsune turned back toward the scowling fire demon.

 "Hiei, please come to the picnic tomorrow."  It was more of a statement than a request.

 "Hn.  Whatever for? Nothing can induce me to join you bakas make fools of yourselves."

"Not even for....Yukina?"  The fox spirit teased.

 "K-U-R-A-M-A!" The fire demon gritted his teeth.

 Kurama sweatdropped.

 "Ok.  Ok.  I'm shutting up.  But be there, dozo."  The redhead said softly.  This time the teasing glints on his emerald eyes were gone, replaced by a more serious, warmer tone.

 Hiei watched the kitsune leave.  Kurama always did that.  Tease him, annoy him, etc etc.  For his part, well he could never resist the teasing.

 `Hn.  Baka," snorted the koorime, although this time, he was addressing himself.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

And just because I call you up

Don't get me wrong, don't think you got it made

I'm not in love

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kurama prepared himself to bed.  Tomorrow, he had no school.  He was on to a picnic...with Hiei.

<Probably> he thought and frowned.  Lately he'd been thinking more and more about the koorime.  Although, as to why--only Inari knew.  He sighed and was about to slide on his futon when he felt a familiar ki, followed by a soft tapping on the windowpane.

 <Hiei?  What's he doing here?> Kurama asked silently to himself.  He quickly opened the lock and invited the half koorime in.

 "Hiei.  This is a surprise.  Come to share the futon with me?" Kurama teased and winked at the fire demon, who squirmed and blushed.

 "Baka kitsune," was all he said and turned away from Kurama to control his blushes.

 Kurama felt that Hiei was really uncomfortable.  He sighed and decided to stop teasing the koorime.  Then he became seriously concerned.  Hiei may have wanted to say something of great importance and he had delayed him with his teasing.

 "Ano Hiei.  What is it?  Tell me onegai," he asked somberly.  His face deadly serious.

 Hiei sweatdropped.

 "Um..nothing....

 Kurama facefaulted.

 "...Just wanted to tell you.  I will be there...at the picnic, I mean," said Hiei, eyes on his feet.  For some he couldn't look at Kurama.  It was agony to look at the fox.  His neck stiffened at the mere thought.

 "S-so gotta go!" said Hiei quickly and flitted or rather bolted.

 "Hiei, matte!" called the redhead.  But Hiei was gone.

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I'd like to see you but then again

It doesn't mean you mean that much to me

So if I call you, don't make a fuss

Don't tell your friends about the two of us

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 "What's with you and Hiei anyway," asked a curious Yusuke.

 "Nani?" said a startled Kurama.

 "Look at the both of you."

 Yusuke pointed at the koorime who was looking forlorn, sitting as far away as possible from them.  Then Yusuke pointed at Kurama's chest

 "And you."

 "W-what about me?"  Kurama asked nervously.

 "It's unusual for you to stay away from him too.  You have to have at least a single quota of teasing for the day reserved for Hiei," observed Yusuke.

 Kurama bent his head and tried to control his blushing.

 "Um--well, the day's not yet over, you know.  Ha, ha, ha."  Kurama faked a laugh.

 "Oi, you guys, look over here!"

 Both boys turned to look in the direction of Kuwabara's voice and sweatdropped, then blinked and blinked and blinked.

 Kuwabara had snapped photos in succession!

 "All done, all done!!  Kuwabara jumped up and down.  Caught you right there, didn't I?  Hey, close your mouth, Yusuke.  Bwah ha ha!"

 "Graaah!  You silly oaf!  Why didn't you warn us?"  Yusuke shouted. 

 Everyone covered his ears.

 Yusuke slowly stood up and fell flat on his face; camera flashes were still blinking on his eyes.  The rest of the gang giggled.  The Yukina stood up and came near the fire demon, who had remained stone-faced at the whole proceeding.

 "Hiei-san, why don't you join us?" the ice maiden asked in her soft voice.  Her concern for the fire demon evident

 "Hn.  I wanna stay right here where it's quite" the fire demon answered just as softly, seeing it was Yukina asking.

 "B-but..."

 "Hey, Yukina, look over here" interrupted Kuwabara's voice.

 "B-A-K-A!"  Hiei gritted his teeth.

 Kuwabara had managed to take a picture of him and Yukina.  His concern for his sister must have shone on his face for everyone to see and especially Yukina.

 Everyone sweatdropped once again, while Yukina merely blinked up at the carrot-head.  Kurama hastily moved in front of Hiei to prevent the youkai's from attacking Kuwabara.

 "Ne Hiei, stay cool.  Kuwabara didn't mean to startle you.  I thought you looked really cute" The kitsune grinned.

 "......."

 Hiei was stunned.  He was speechless.  And just like before, he flitted away from Kurama.

 Kurama frowned.  Hiei was really acting weird.  He had expected to be cursed at, insulted and other things `Hiei-like' but he never expected Hiei to just bolt again.

 "A repeat performance.  Way to go, Hiei" the kitsune whispered softly.

  "What was that?" Kuwabara asked from behind Kurama.

 The redhead had a huge sweatdrop and gulped.

 "N-nothing, just babbling and stuff." Kurama trailed off at Kuwabara's astonished face.

 "You know biology, botany..." Kurama trudged on

 "Jeez,  Kurama.  You must be freaking out. You?  Babbling? Ha, ha, ha!" Kuwabara hollered while Kurama blushed fiercely.

 "Hahahahahhaaak! Ouch!  Yusuke!  Why did you do that for?"

 "Baka!  Your voice is so damaging to the eardrums!  Just look at everyone!"  Yusuke glared at the taller man.

 "G-gomen."

 It was Kuwabara's turn to sweatdrop when he saw everyone covering his ears the second time that day.  Kurama giggled.

 "Enough of this.  Let's eat." suggested Keiko.

 "Em, Kuwabara, can I ask a favor?" Kurama asked.

 "Yeah, sure.  What is it?" asked the carrot head.

 "Could you maybe give me a copy of Hiei's and Yukina's picture?"

"Sure thing.  I'm making 60 copies of it and I'll give one of them to you.  Even better if you take all of Hiei's side of the picture," suggested Kuwabara.

 Kurama frowned not understanding.

 `Sumimasen.  Did I just hear you say `Hiei's side' of the picture?" asked the perplexed youko.

 "Hai.  I'm cutting that picture in half.  What do I need the shrimp's picture for?  A nightmare?"

 Kurama facefaulted.

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I keep your picture up on the wall

It hides a stain that's lyin' there

So don't you ask me to give it back

I know you know it doesn't mean that much to me

I'm not in love, no, no....

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 Kurama sighed the thirtieth time.  He was looking at the picture of Hiei (Ok, a half-picture then) and somehow he never got tired looking at it.  He felt lighthearted and his body tingled all over.  He couldn't stop the smile from shining all over his face either.  He felt goofy.

 Then he remembered how he had gotten hold of the picture and ended up falling down his futon, giggling hard.

**** FLASHBACK...****

 He had gone to Genkai's temple after school (2 days after the picnic).  Kuwabara had called him up to tell him he already had the copies of the photos taken and he was giving most of the pictures to Kurama.

 The kitsune had nonchalantly picked up the photos one by one, but in reality, he really was searching for the photograph of a certain fire demon.

 Since Kuwabara had whispered to him, the moment he stepped on Genkai's door, that he had indeed made 60 copies of the photo taken from Yukina and ahem Hiei.  Imagine the fox's astonishment when he found none of the said pictures.

 "Kuwabara, where are the pictures?"

 Everyone present at the temple stared at Kurama.

 Botan blinked.  "Um, Kurama-san, they are all in your hand."

 Kurama stared down at the photographs and winced.  He chided himself for being overly excited about Hiei's first picture.  He hated himself for admitting his vulnerability.  Raising an eyebrow, Kurama stared wordlessly at a puzzled Kuwabara.

 "That's strange.  I knew I had them with me" pondered the young man, scratching his head.

 Kurama frowned.

 "You misplaced them?" Kurama opened emerald eyes wide.

 "Iie.  Why would I do that?  Misplace the fair Yukina's beautiful visage?  Neveeer!"

 Kurama rolled his eyes.  Really, it didn't mean a thing at all.  What was a photograph?  He gets to see Hiei all the time--well maybe not at all times, but...maybe Kuwabara did misplaced them.

 ********************

 Head bent and with plodded steps, Kurama began his journey back to his house when something white caught his peripheral vision.  Something white and shiny fluttered in mid-air, then settled at his very feet.  The kitsune rubbed his eyes in disbelief.  It couldn't be!  It was the photograph of Hiei and Yukina.  Bending down quickly to retrieve it, the youko failed to register a familiar dark ki and the tip of a sharp katana pointed at his throat.

 "Hn.  Reminiscing old ways, fox?"

 "Really, Hiei.  You're scaring me." said Kurama, slapping the katana away and going down his knees to pick up the picture on the ground.

 Hiei re-sheathed the katana as the kitsune dusted the photograph.

 "Hand it over"

 "Hmmm." Kurama tapped his chin, the photograph on his other hand.

 "Now why would I do that, Hiei?  Besides, if I remember correctly, this is one of the pictures that belong to Kuwabara."

 Hiei scowled, but said nothing.

 Seeing no point in the topic whatsoever, Kurama smiled and winked at the startled fire demon.

 "You don't mind do you, if I keep this with me?"

 "Why?  What's in there that means so much to you?" Hiei asked harshly, then immediately regretted his impulse.  <That's really none of my business> he scolded himself.

 Kurama's smiled faltered a little.  The kitsune's palms began to sweat.

 "I-I-I wanted to have a copy of this b-because.., " the fox stuttered.

 Hiei waited impatiently for Kurama's answer.

 "Yukina! I-I wanted a photo of Yukina," the fox laughed nervously.  He couldn't understand it.  He was awfully nervous.

 "Yukina?!" Hiei thundered as he menacingly faced the kneeling fox and grasped the delicate shoulders roughly.  Kurama was going to have aching, blue spots for tomorrow.  The fire demon glared Kurama in the eye.

 "Don't play with her, youko.  I'm warning you, stay away from my sister!"

 "I-I'm not.." Kurama attempted to explain.

 "You think you can play around like you're playing with me?" Hiei demanded harshly, all piled up emotions coming out.  He couldn't stop himself, stop from making an emotional wreck out of the now shivering redhead.

 "H-Hiei I never..."

 "Hn.  Shut up, stupid fox!" Hiei shouted as he shook Kurama roughly.

 Kurama was shocked.  He couldn't move.  Inari, he had never expected this to happen.  All he wanted was to get the accursed copy of that photograph.  Now, his best friend no less was accusing him of being a wily, flirt youko.  Kurama's face flushed as Hiei shook him.  Unheeded tears rolled down from emerald eyes.  Kurama bit his lip to control the sob fast escaping his throat. 

  Hiei stopped shaking the kitsune.  He was so stunned to see the fox crying.  He felt his heart being squeezed.  He closed his eyes as he felt wave after wave of intense heartache.  God, what has he done?  Have I hurt Kurama?  Swiftly the fire demon opened amber eyes again to frown worriedly at the redhead.  The kitsune was trying to control his tears, and shakily tried to stand on his feet.  He turned away from the fire demon, not wanting anymore humiliation.

 "K-Kurama?" Hiei called softly, hesitantly.  But Kurama took a shaky step away from the fire demon.

 "G-gomen, gomen!" Hiei cried hoarsely as he closed the distance that separated him from the kitsune and kissed him hard.

 Kurama slowly pushed Hiei away, but the youkai refused to budge.  Hiei tightly embraced Kurama and pushed the youko to a sitting position and nestled on the youko's chest.

 They remained silently in the same position.  Each one busy with his own thoughts.

 Kurama took a deep breath.  And Hiei snuggled even more tightly.

 "Hiei, why?  Why do you hurt me so much?  I never played with you. I'm not playing," the youko whispered with sad eyes and a watery smile.

 Hiei closed his eyes and sighed.

 "Kitsune, I'm very, very sorry.  I don't know what's happening to me." <But I do know you--you should only be mine> Hiei thought silently.

 "What's happening to us?  Why so we feel this way?" asked the completely puzzled youkai, who had never experienced love.

 Kurama broke from Hiei's embrace.

 "I don't know how you feel, Hiei, tell me."

 "I-I..."

 Kurama sighed.  "This is going to be hard," said the fox as he began to stand up.  But Hiei grasped his wrist, willing him to remain.

 "And you--how do you feel?" Hiei asked slowly and seriously.

 "I-I..."

 Kurama and Hiei glared at each other contemptuously then burst out laughing.  After about an hour of laughing and rolling on the ground, both wiped tears of mirth from their eyes and helped each other stand up.

 "That was fun, Hiei." The redhead enthused.  "Let's do this again sometime."

 "Hn," snorted the koorime, but he grinned at the kitsune and gave him sly look.

 "I'll make you confess some day, fox," declared the fire demon <And you will never get away from me again>

 "Make me, Hiei." Kurama answered challengingly.

 "I will, if it's the last thing I do," said the fire demon confidently.  He was beginning to understand.

 ****END OF FLASHBACK...****

 Kurama hugged Hiei's photograph, a sweet reminiscing smile on his face.  A determined tap on his windowpane alerted him to somebody else's presence.  Kurama could see the outline of Hiei's spiky hair and hastily opened the window to let his friend in.  Hiei swiftly jumped into the room to stand before the gorgeous redhead, a serious expression on his face. 

 Kurama looked at Hiei in alarm.  He grasped the little youkai's arm urgently.

 "Hiei, what is it?  Are you hurt?" the youko asked anxiously.

 "Kurama, I have something to confess."  Hiei began as a beatific smile slowly spread on his otherwise serious face.

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Oooh you wait a long time for me

Ooh you wait a long time

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~OWARI~