"I have a headache..." moaned Yaten, he was almost splayed on the table with Usagi and the rest. The midterm had just pasted and the finals were coming up. The Inners and the Starlights had decided to pool their resources together in daily study sessions. They all met at Hikawa Temple after school and studied.

"Take an aspirin Yaten..." said Taiki his nose still in his book. "We still have one hour to go... It's not that long..."

"It is to me... I'm bored out of my wits..." Yaten replied.

"I wouldn't be talking of your wits," Seiya interrupted. "Especially with your grades... "

"Bite me!" grumbled Yaten. "Anyway what's the use of all this?"

"Well you have to get good grades if you want to enter the good schools..." started Makoto.

"Yeah... just a little more effort and once you're there you've made it!" added Minako.

"Why?... I don't even know why I'm studying all this?..." bluntly said Yaten.

"Well, for me, I have to study extra hard to become a doctor..." said Ami.

"I want to go to the Culinary class of Tokyo University and become a Grand Chef" added Makoto, "I have to get good grades to enter..."

"After all Yaten..." said Taiki. "We won't be Idol Singers for the rest of our lives..."

"Well I could always be a composer..." thought Yaten.

"Not if your Kanji skills don't pick up, you won't..." pointed out Taiki.

"Yeah... from what I've heard you managed to break the Minako and Usagi barrier..." sneered Rei.

"HEY!" said the two girls pointed. Yaten sighted, he couldn't wait for the hour to be up, Kurama was coming and he needed a good snuggle break. The girls and two boys noticed Yaten dawning smile.

"And I thought Odango Atama here, was the worst in that category..." said Rei, all girls nodded except for Usagi who resented that remark.

"It's no wonder your grades are so low Yaten... if you let your mind wander like that!" Taiki added. Yaten blushed.

"My mind wasn't wandering..." said hotly Yaten, the girls giggled.

"Oh I don't know... I've seen that look before..." kidded Makoto.

"Uh-uh... in a mirror..." finished Minako.

"You should talk!" Makoto replied. There was a loud banging on the table, Ami's fist had spoken.

"Minna! We are loosing study time... there will be time for that kind of conversation in an hour... Now let's get back to our books, we still have time to do two more chapters before the hour is up..."

Everyone except Taiki groaned and put his or her nose back in the book. Well woopdeedoo! thought Yaten, he sighted and tried to go back to his book. He knew that now that they were stranded on Earth they had to do things the Earthlings did. Like going to school, to have a career, sighted the silver hair boy. But I don't even know what I want to do...

Slowly the minutes passed by, Yaten tried to interest himself in the books. They were in algebra, he used to love algebra, but now it just seemed like another boring thing. He felt bored by everything right now... except...

He heard voices outside of the Temple, joking voices, voices that spoke on a rather elaborate subject. The voices were familiar because Usagi also had lifted her head from her book.

"Wow!... I hope they let you write your thesis on that Mamoru-san... That really sounds like a interesting project." said a voice that spoke volumes to Yaten.

"Well, we'll see what Harvard will say about that, Kurama-san. By the way, what subject will be applying for?" responded a voice that made Usagi smile.

"Botany..." he chuckled. "Although I don't think Harvard will take me..."

'Harvard?' Yaten's heart sank, Kurama wanted to study in Harvard, just like Mamoru-san. Yaten had no idea.

"I wouldn't doubt your chances with the high scores you got..." replied Mamoru.

"Too bad good grades don't rub off..." whispered coyly Seiya. Mamoru slid the door open as the girls giggled.

"Komban wa, are you guys finished?" asked Mamoru, Usagi beamed, she was about to close her book, when Ami said.

"No, you're early, we still have 14 minutes to go..."

"Yes... " added Taiki " Fourteen minutes... starting... now." He put his nose back in his book.

Those two deserve each other, thought Yaten before trying to get his nose back in his book. But just before he did he saw Kurama wink at him, he winked back and tore into the book.

Kurama and Mamoru seated down on the tatami and waited, they both reached for a manga and read waiting for the study session to finish. Finally Ami said:

"Okay, we're finished for today..." that was met with a great enthusiasm from everyone. Kurama rose as most of the ones at the table stretched their sleeping legs.

"You know, Yaten... maybe you should pinpoint and work on the subject you have the most difficulty in..." said Taiki.

"It's going to be hard to find which one..." said Rei.

"What?" inquired Kurama. "Do you have a problem with a subject Yaten?"

"Try putting that sentence in plural..." kidded Seiya, Yaten glared at him.

"Huh? You shouldn't have problems with a 3.5 score..." said Kurama, Yaten cringed, the girls started to do a oho sound.

"Yaten! If you're going to lie at least say you did 3.9..." said Seiya. Yaten wanted to dive under the table and bring Seiya with him. Instead he met Kurama, slightly mad gaze.

"What exactly is your REAL score? he said. Yaten mumbled his score. Kurama raised an eyebrow.

"2.3!!!" he said, Yaten facevaulted he didn't think Kurama had picked it up. "You'll never pass if you have a score like that!!!"

"I... I-I'll pick up my score... It's just all those practices and late night gigs that got me down..." Yaten replied.

"Excuse me..." said Taiki. "We have the same schedule as you and we managed to keep our scores. If you're doing so badly Yaten, it's because you don't study enough..."

"I study..." replied Yaten.

"If you did; your score would be so low..." started Taiki.

"WELL, MAYBE I'M DUMB... THERE, YOU HAPPY?" yelled Yaten, he picked his stuff and headed out, passing Kurama, he noticed he hasn't moved an inch. "Come on, Kurama... let's go see that movie..."

"no..."

Yaten spun around. "What?"

"No movies tonight, we're going to the library... I'm sorry but it's for your own good." Kurama slowly turned around, Yaten saw in his eyes he wasn't kidding.

"But... what about the movie?" whined Yaten.

"No movies for you tonight I'm afraid..." Kurama replied, seeing Yaten fret he added. "Yaten... either you come to the library with me or you go home... alone."

The girls looked at the exchange, they felt bad for Yaten even Ami felt bad. Taiki whispered to her:

"I think, Kurama has the right approach with Yaten..." Ami gave him a quizzical look.

"Ha...Kurama. I get enough of that at home..." started Yaten.

"One. You lied to me when you told me your score. I know, you're ashamed of it and that's probably why you lied. Two. You could have asked for my help but you didn't..." Yaten looked down ashamed, biting his lower lip. "Now... I'll make you a deal... If you can pick up your score by let's say .5 points we'll go to the movies next week. But if you can't raise those scores we won't go out together until you do... Deal?"

Yaten sighted. "Okay..." he replied. Kurama smiled and passed his arm around him.

"Come on... it won't be so bad." Kurama said he added whispering. "We'll still be together..."

Kurama was able to get a small study room in the library so they could talk loud and not worry about making too much noise.

"Okay now..." said Kurama sitting down next to him. "What's subject you have most difficulty in..."

"I don't know, pick one..." replied Yaten.

"Yaten, what's wrong?" asked Kurama. "You're really moody lately..."

"Nothing... maybe I'm just dumb..." he replied, slumping on the desk.

"Yaten... you're not dumb. Maybe you're not motivated enough... but you can get over that..." said Kurama.

"Well you didn't tell me you were interested in going to Harvard..." said Yaten.

"Maybe I should have... a few weeks ago, in class, we had a presentation of the Harvard University and when the spokesperson talked of the Botany labs... Well, I was interested. I could ask for a grant to study there..."

"What about me?" asked Yaten.

"Yat-chan... Even if I go, it won't be before at least 2 more years... and who knows maybe we could go together. If you work hard enough I'm sure..." started Kurama.

"Me? At Harvard?" interrupted Yaten. "Taiki... maybe Seiya even but me? Get real... I'm no Harvard material..."

"You never know... What subject would you like to study for University..." asked Kurama.

"That's just it... I don't know!" replied Yaten.

"Maybe... maybe that's where the problem lies... You have no idea about your future... So how can you plan for it?"

Yaten thought about it, he was wondering why he should go to school. Maybe that was it, he didn't know...

"If you knew, you could concentrate your energies on attaining your goal... don't you think?" Kurama said. Yaten was forced to agree his thinking was logical. Yaten put his head on his shoulder.

"You know... not even Taiki could figure it out... Arigato Ku-chan." He turned his eyes and looked in Kurama's own. They looked at each other a long time like that. "That's probably why I love you so much... "

Kurama smiled, he put his arm around Yaten's shoulder. "I'm just looking out for you... I only wish to help you be happy..." He looked into Yaten's eyes and edged closer to him, they started to kiss. Yaten let the kiss wash away all his problems, it didn't matter now, Kurama was there, holding him, making him feel more special than any screaming fan could.

They jumped when they heard a knock at the door, they both blushed at looked at the door. Fortunately the door had no window so no one could have witnessed their tender moment. Kurama rose to see who it was as Yaten dived back into the books. As he opened the door he was surprised, he didn't expect the delegation he saw.

Taiki, Ami, Seiya, Mamoru, Usagi, Rei, Makoto and Minako were there. They all carried a small bag of food with them.

"Ah...um... We thought maybe you guys were hungry... Since Yaten hadn't eaten dinner, we thought we could bring you a little something..." Seiya said.

"Yaten... you didn't have dinner?" asked Kurama.

"Well... I forgot. And I'm not very hungry... I would have grabbed something to eat later." replied Yaten.

Kurama sighted. "Yaten... no wonder you have no energy to study... You can't run on empty all the time..." Kurama gestured to everyone to get; in since he didn't want to disturb the peace of the library. "Well you might as well come in and eat..."

Goodbye romantic mood... thought Yaten. Everyone sat down except Seiya who sat on the floor and Kurama who sat on the corner of the table. Everyone had brought a little something for Yaten, so that when everybody had given him a portion of their lunch, they started to eat.

"Actually..." said Kurama. "I think it's a good idea you guys showed up..."

"You mean..." said Seiya between bites, he was eating a hamburger (what else?) "... you haven't figured out Yaten's problem either?"

"Oh I think we both know what the problem is..." replied Kurama. "He's not motivated enough..."

"I think we all could figure THAT out..." said Taiki.

"Maybe but have you found a way to motivate him?..." wondered Kurama, Taiki and Seiya blushed.

"Of course they haven't because all I hear at home: is nag, nag, nag..." sneered Yaten.

"Okay... what the problem is... Yaten has no idea what he wants to do when he graduates." said Kurama. "So why don't we start by talking about our ambitions and maybe that will help Yaten, figure out what he might like to do later..."

There was a silence, Seiya let go of his burger, he had no idea Yaten was unsure of his future. I guess I had a phase like that, he thought, but Yaten has always been the most focused of us, I guess I never realized. Taiki was having the same trail of ideas as Seiya, here Taiki had found love and a reason to stay. Seeing on how everyone was silent Kurama decide to start talking.

"Well, I, for one, always had a passion for plants..." they all erupted in giggle. "Yes, I know with my powers I can make plants grow and do all I want with them. But I can't make them more resistant to disease or grow them to be more productive... and that's what I want to do... Become a botanist to help feed the people of the world and make medication for the doctors of this world..."

Mamoru spoke next. "I've always been interested in Chemistry, but I have a passion for genetics. I want to study to become a geneticist and help cure cancer or aids..."

"I want to become a doctor, you know to save lives, to bring people back to health... I always admired my mother because she could do those things. I wish to be able to do that one day. I want to be a chirurgian..." said Ami.

"And I envy your future patients..." said Taiki everyone chuckled as he passed his arms around her shoulder.

"And what about you Taiki-san?" asked Kurama, he checked to see if Yaten was understanding all that.

"Well... Astro-physics, that's what I like, all that research and technology... I think it would be great..."

"Well me!" said cheerfully Minako. "I want to become a Star... an actress... a model... so I take all the dance class, the acting class so I can fulfil my dreams... You could become an actor too Yaten..."

"I don't know... those soap opera left me a sour taste in the mouth..." replied Yaten, his mind was at work. What did he like?

"I want to be Priestess at the Hikawa Shrine... I know my grandfather is the head of the shrine. I still have to work hard and study so that I can be the best I can possibly be." smiled Rei.

"I want to be a cook..." said Makoto. "But my ultimate dream is to open my own shop of pastries, even my own restaurant. That's why I take cooking lessons, but I also take accounting so I can deal with a business on my own one day..."

"What about you Usagi-chan?" asked Yaten when he realized she was keeping quiet.

"Me?... I just want to marry Mamo-chan..." she said, the girls groaned, Mamoru sweated.

"Usako..." he started, "You are not being truthful..."

"What? She thinks she can have a career..." said Rei, the others giggled. Mamoru glared at them a bit.

"See..." said Usagi downcast. "That's why I don't want to talk about it... Everybody will laugh at me..."

"I'm not laughing Usagi-chan..." said Yaten, Kurama smiled, this was helping Yaten more than any seminars.

"Okay... but promise you won't laugh..." she looked at everyone present especially Rei. She sighted and took a deep breath "I want to do a major in Political studies..."

Everyone was shocked except for Mamoru and looked at Usagi with a strange expression mixed with surprised and amusement. Yaten broke the uneasy silence.

"You know... it sounds weird at first... but when you think about it... It actually makes a lot of sense..."

Everyone besides Mamoru, Kurama and Usagi who was happy Yaten understood, facevaulted. They looked at Yaten although he had just said the stupidest thing ever.

"Well..." he explained "Usagi will be Neo-Queen Serenity one day, won't she? She better know the inner workings of politics if she want to be the ruler of the next Millenium."

Usagi was so happy Yaten understood her career path, she got up and reaching over the table, she gave Yaten a huge hug. Yaten fought back a little saying she was choking him and the others started to chuckle. When Usagi let go of him, Yaten noticed that Kurama was closing and gathering his books.

"I thinks it's enough for the night, Yaten..." said Kurama. "You have a lot to think about..." Yaten smiled. Minako was overjoyed:

"In that case! You guys want to come over to Mako-chan see the video I rented... everyone here is coming right?"

Everyone nodded and got up to exit, suddenly Seiya asked.

"Say Minako-chan... You didn't tell us what movie you rented..."

"I rented a classic... everyone will like that... Mr. BEAN!" beamed Minako. Everyone developed huge sweatdrops on the sides of their head.

Everyone laughed anyway, Taiki couldn't stop at certain points and they had to paused the video so they could hear the last thing that was said.

"Gomen... I must be too tired..." he said.

"Yeah, we do have a practice tomorrow morning and we have to get up at 4:00 am..." added Seiya.

"Four... four... four..." hiccuped Usagi, she looked at her watch it was almost nine.

"It'll be quite a revolution if Usagi-chan ever wakes up that early... don't you think?" Makoto said turning her head to see everyone's' expression when she saw something that caught her attention. She beamed and giggled "Kawaii!!!" Everyone turned around to see what she was looking at.

Kurama and Yaten were sitting on the floor propped against the wall and some pillows. Yaten's arm were around the red hair boy's waist and his head rested on his shoulder. Kurama had his arms around Yaten's shoulder and rested his head against the soft silver hair boy. Both were sound asleep.

"They must trust each other so much if they can fall asleep like that..." said Usagi.

"What are you babbling about Usagi..." said Rei.

"Well, Mamo-chan falls asleep on the sofa sometimes when I'm there. That means he trust me..." replied Usagi.

"It never occurred to you that he might be bored by your inane babbling..." Rei sneered. Everyone in the room developed huge sweatdrops they all knew where this was heading. They all cringed as Usagi and Rei started into a tongue sticking contest. All the ruckus woke Kurama, they made enough noise to wake the dead. Kurama was surprised Yaten could sleep through all that, he put his hand to his cheek to wake him up. That's when he realized Yaten had a fever, his face was all warm.

"Yaten?..." he said softly. Yaten opened his green eyes, he felt like his eyelids weight a ton.

"Kurama?..." he whispered. "I don't feel too good..."

Kurama could see that, he looked up to where Ami was sitting and gestured her to come. Ami intrigued by the flushing color of Yaten's face, walked to them. Both Seiya and Taiki became concerned and they also rose from the sofa. Rei and Usagi stopped arguing as they wondered what was going on.

Ami reached for Yaten's forehead, he had a fever all right. She let her hand dropped to his neck and that's when she felt something, a small bump.

"Yaten-kun... Did you realize you had bumps on the side of your neck?" she asked.

"Yeah... a couple of days ago... but I thought because I had stretched a muscle..." he replied.

Taiki bent down next to Ami. "Do you suspect something Ami-chan?"

"I'm not sure... but that would explain why Yaten-kun has been doing so badly lately these past few weeks..." She took a cold wet towel that Makoto had brought her, with Kurama's help they put it on Yaten's forehead. "I'll try to reach my Mom..."

Ami went to the phone while Seiya looked at Yaten. "Yo, squirt!" he knew Yaten hated that nickname and it he complained then he was okay. Yaten didn't reply, Seiya was concerned.

"How do you feel?"

"I feel sluggish, hot and cold at the same time... no sweat I'll go to sleep early and I'll be okay tomorrow..." He tried to get up.

"Yaten-kun, stay put..." said Mamoru. "I'm no doctor but from what Ami-chan has found I think Yaten-kun has Mononucleosis..."

"The kissing disease?" asked Minako.

"Kissing disease?..." Both Seiya and Taiki looked at Minako, then they turned around to look at Kurama.

"Well... I had this disease but it was like... 2 years ago..." he replied to the brothers unasked question.

"Well this diseased is usually transmitted via saliva that's why it's called the kissing disease..." said Mamoru.

"Hey wait a minute... Isn't Shinji-san the basket ball captain sick with mononucleosis right now?" wondered out loud Minako. Everyone turned a questioning gaze to Yaten.

"I didn't kiss him!" started Yaten, then he paused as though he remembered something. "oh... Stars! It couldn't have..."

"What?" said Rei wide eyed.

"Well three weeks ago we had a Sports day, and I went to the Basketball competition, with Mako-chan... At the end the coach gave us something to drink but when it came to my turn, there weren't any glasses left..." started Yaten.

"I remember, you asked me if you could borrow my glass, when Shinji-kun gave you his half-filled glass..." added Makoto.

"I didn't think twice about it and filled my glass and drank..." Yaten finished.

"Well... won't be the first time this happens..." said Mamoru. "Maybe you just have a touch of flu also..."

Ami came back and took her jacket. "My mom is still at the hospital, she'll take a look at you right now Yaten-kun..."

Mizuno Akane rose from her desk, she sighted, at this time of year, teenagers did catch that disease it was almost cyclical. " Kou-san?... Yaten Kou-san..." Yaten rose from his chair in the waiting room and went into her office.

"Now... Kou-san... may I call you Yaten-san?" Yaten nodded. "Yaten-san, I am afraid this is what my daughter suspected... You have mononucleosis... now if you have a relationship with someone you might want to ask this person to come in and be examined..." she said.

"My... girlfriend told me she had it two years ago..." replied Yaten, hoping he wouldn't slip that his girlfriend was in reality a boyfriend... But the way, she smiled Yaten wondered if she didn't know already because she had said person and someone... and not specified a gender.

"In that case your... 'girlfriend' might just want to check if he might come down with it again, it happens..." Yaten blushed she said he... oh Stars she knows. He looked down.

"Yaten-san..." she said. "What is said here will not come out of this room... I know because your brother Taiki talked to Ami-chan at our home and they both thought I wasn't there... Now you can trust me and you must know that you don't have to hesitate to come to me if you have anything that you need to discuss..." she smiled to him. "You do make a cute couple..."

Yaten blushed, he didn't know if he should run away, yell at her or say thanks. She got up and told to Seiya and Taiki to come in.

"Now..." she continued when the two boys seated themselves." Taiki-san, I will give you a paper that you will give to the director. Yaten-san won't be going to school for the next 2 months."

"TWO MONTHS! But I'll never pass if I miss two months..." said Yaten shocked.

"That's a minimum... maybe I'll permit it if the spleen takes back it's shape..." she continued. "I think Taiki-san can help you in your studies Yaten-san. Now, for the next two week I want you to have complete rest... That's 2 weeks bedrest and after that for the rest of the two months you take it easy. That means no practice, no jumping or running around you may study but you are not permitted to exert yourself... it's very important... at least until I say you can... All you boys understand?..."

Taiki and Seiya nodded, but Seiya added. "But we have a musical in one and a half month... We can't find a replacement that fast..."

"I'm sorry but for Yaten-san sake... he may not do exercises during his sickness..." She lighted the X-ray. "You see this spleen is normal." She lighted the one next to it. "This is Yaten's organ you see how big it has gone..." The boys nodded, "Well, it's very fragile at it point and can burst... if it does... it can have rather dire consequence... maybe even death." She let that sink in, both Seiya and Taiki understood, in Yaten's condition it was totally out of the question for him to do the musical...

"Don't worry Yaten... you take it easy... We'll take care of it..." Taiki said.

"Yeah, and the album? It'll be two months later... so what it's not the end of the world... The fans will understand..." said Seiya.

What am I going to do in two months? Yaten though... And how am I going to pass the school year now?

Kurama interrupted the alarm clock when it rang. He rose from his bed. He had set his clock earlier because he wanted to stop by the Three Lights' studio to inquire about Yaten's health. He was concerned. He hoped it wasn't mono, for Yaten's sake. He remembered his own brush with mono. He almost wasn't able to raise his notes to his usual rate that year. Poor Yaten, I hope he won't have to redo his school year, he thought. I will help you, Yat-chan.

He quickly ate breakfast and, taking his school bag, he exited his apartment and the building. The streets were almost deserted. Good, he could use the peace and quiet. He didn't sleep well last night. He kept thinking about his silver haired lover. He lifted his head, just in time to see Hiei jump in front of him. Kurama tried to smile to Hiei but he found he couldn't. He still felt embarrassed over what happened. Hiei told him many times not to worry about him, but Kurama still did. He confided to Yaten that he still had feelings for Hiei. He also reassured Yaten that he loved him and that he wouldn't leave him for Hiei because they split up. Sometimes, he wished Hiei hadn't broken up with him, but Hiei told him he didn't love Yaten the way Kurama did. Kurama respected his wishes but still, it made him feel guilty. He truly wished Hiei could find a soul mate like he did. Kurama thought that if Hiei did find someone, at least he could feel comforted with that.

"Hum!" said the koorime. "You're up early today! Going to see your little silver haired lover? You're certainly not going to Meiou College this early!"

"Hello Hiei..." sighed Kurama. "Yes, I'm going to the Three Lights' studio but as to if I'm going to see Yaten there or not..."

Hiei raised and eyebrow. "Why? Did you two have a lover's fight?" he asked flatly.

Kurama chuckled. "If only it was that..." he started. His face darkened. "Yaten is sick, Hiei..."

Hiei shrugged "Yeah? So? In a few days he'll be okay, so why the long face?"

"It's not like he got the flu, Hiei... I think Yaten caught mononucleosis..."

"Mono...WHAT!?" asked Hiei unable to repeat the word.

"It's a kind of disease, Hiei, if that's what Yaten has. Well, he's going to be sick for at least two months..."

"Two months!" whistled Hiei. Kurama nodded and started to walk toward the studio again. Hiei followed him. He was curious to know if really Yaten had a disease that could make someone sick for two months. On the way to the Studio, Kurama explained to Hiei the sickness and told him how fragile Yaten's spleen was. Hiei nodded. He told Kurama he felt sorry for Yaten, that if Yaten couldn't fight for two months or do anything he would probably go batty or something.

"You're still not sure if he's got that disease or not, so relax... You're probably overreacting..." Said Hiei.

"Well, we'll know soon enough..." replied the redhead. "We're here... want to come?" Hiei shrugged but followed Kurama anyway. The security guard let Kurama and Hiei pass, after Kurama said he was with him. They entered the studio. Kurama's heart sank when he didn't see Yaten anywhere. He saw Seiya and Taiki taking a pause and looking a little depressed.

"Ohayo!" said Kurama. Both Seiya and Taiki greeted them. "Is Yaten okay?"

"No..." said Seiya. "He's got mononucleosis and didn't get much sleep last night. You should have seen him this morning. He looked like hell..."

Kurama sighed. His hearth sank even deeper. Poor Yaten, he thought. "Did you find a replacement for the musical?" Hiei asked.

"No..." replied Taiki. "We didn't find anyone and we've got to find him in the next few days. We can take comfort in the fact that Yaten's costume wasn't done yet, so the height of the guy replacing him isn't all too important..."

"What's the name of the musical and what role did Yaten play?" asked Hiei.

"We're playing 'Labyrinth'. I play Hoggle. Taiki plays Sir Didymus and Yaten played Jareth the Goblin King..." said Seiya.

Hiei started to chuckle and then he laughed. They looked at him wondering what the problem was. "Oh! That's rich!" Hiei finally was able to say. "Yaten as the Goblin King... hahahahahahaha! I'd sooner see me or Kurama play that... hahahaha! Yaten! <snort>"

The two brothers looked at each other, of course! Why didn't they think of that? They both turned to Kurama.

"Hiei! You're a genius!" said Seiya.

"Huh? I was joking!" replied Hiei.

"Kurama, you'd be perfect!" added Taiki. "I'm sure Yaten will be glad if you take his role."

Kurama face vaulted, "You can't be serious!"

"Come on, you've practiced with us before. We know you sing well, and you'd do a real good Goblin King!" said Seiya.

"I... I don't know..." replied Kurama.

Hiei looked at the entire scene, mildly amused. "Why don't you go for it, Kurama?"

"But what about Yaten? I won't be able to see him as much as I wanted because of this..." said Kurama.

"I know, but if you join us now, you can start faster and the practice won't be as long... Please Kurama, we need your help..." pleaded Taiki. "We wouldn't be asking you if we didn't think you could pull it off... Akane-san will say yes, I'm sure. She likes what you do..."

"Can I have the day to think about it?" asked Kurama.

Both Seiya and Taiki nodded. "If you don't have anything to do tonight why don't you come to our place? We could discuss it there..." Kurama nodded. Seiya and Taiki were ready to go to school. They offered Kurama and Hiei a lift. Kurama accepted but Hiei declined.

"You are not going in the direction I want to go..." the koorime simply said and he jumped away easily reaching the tip of the trees. A few jumps and he was already far, Seiya shrugged and entered the van. Kurama took a place in the back seat wondering where Hiei was going.

Yaten opened his eyes, 10 o'clock. At least he had slept about two full hours. He grunted. The last time he felt so weak was when that demon had drained him. He tried to lift his head but for him it weighed a ton. He didn't sleep much last night. He would fall asleep only to wake up about ten to fifteen minutes later, hot and covered with sweat. He would then throw his covers and try to go back to sleep. He would sleep a little while and wake up because he was freezing. He was harassed all night with this, trying several tricks like only having one thin cover on him or changing pajamas, but to no avail. He kept waking up either sweating as though he had been put in an oven or cold as though someone placed him in a freezer.

"You do look like hell..." a familiar voice said. Yaten spun his head around.

"Hiei?... How did you get in?"

Hiei raised his thumb towards the opened window. "I took my usual entrance..."

"Why are you here?" asked Yaten, slowly turning himself to look at him.

"Kurama told me you were sick. He was worried about you... I understand why now... You look like shit!" the koorime said flatly.

"I pretty much feel like shit, too..." whispered Yaten, closing his eyes. He was surprised to feel Hiei's hand on his brow.

"You have a very high fever... that's peculiar." Hiei analyzed coldly. "You were shivering half an hour ago..."

"How long have you been here?" asked Yaten trying to rise. He didn't succeed. His head weighed a ton and he got dizzy just trying to raise ten inches off his pillow. "Shimatta!" he said "I hate this... what a stupid disease!"

"Hm..." snorted the koorime, "And it's only your first day. I should have taken a bet with Kurama; I would have won..."

Yaten sighed, "I'm going to go crazy if I'm like that for two months..." he grumbled.

"Funny..." said Hiei as he rose from his chair. "That's exactly what I told Kurama... You wanted to get something?"

Yaten nodded. "Some water, my lips are parched..." Hiei nodded and went out. When he returned, he came back with a bottle of cold water. Yaten thanked him and before he started to drink, he passed the cold bottle all over his fevered face. "Aaaahhh.... that feels better..." He then opened the bottle and took several gulps, closed the bottle and slumped back into bed. Hiei just looked at him.

"Hiei... I'm going to be a very dull person. Why do you stick around here for?..." asked Yaten.

"I have nothing else better to do." replied Hiei. He took the bottle from Yaten and was about to take sip when Yaten yelped and took the bottle away from him. "Hey! What's the big idea ?" said Hiei slightly annoyed.

"You want to catch my disease or what?" asked angrily Yaten. "It's transmitted by the saliva... you want to be as sick as me?"

"I'm not human... I probably won't catch it..." replied the koorime.

"You really want to take that chance?" asked Yaten. Hiei was forced to agree that Yaten had a point there. Hiei stayed with Yaten until he fell back asleep. The black haired boy got bored decided to go away. He went out the same way he got in, by jumping out the window. He ambled along, jumping from tree to tree for a good hour and he decided to rest in the nook of a tree.

The school bell rang. Seiya and Taiki headed for their van; there was no study session today. Rei had to sell charms at the temple for her grandfather. Usagi was held up after school because she had arrived late, yet again. Minako had a volleyball competition. Ami was heading for her cram school and Makoto had a reunion at the Horticulture Club. They were about to drive away when they saw Kurama, arriving at Jyuuban running, waving for the brothers to wait for him. Seiya told Taiki to wait and Kurama entered the van. He thanked them, after he got back his breath.

"I thought about it and..." started Kurama.

"And?..." asked Seiya.

"I'm very flattered and tempted by the proposition... But!" paused Kurama.

The two brothers looked at him waiting to hear what the conditions were. "I want to talk with Yaten first... It's his role. I just want to make sure he's okay with that..." said quietly Kurama. Seiya and Taiki nodded, as they rode off toward the apartment.

Hiei had become bored again and he headed back towards the Three Lights' apartment. When he felt the presence of five demons, he smiled. He would check them out. He wondered what five demons were doing in the human world and he figured probably nothing good. Suddenly they split up. Hiei cursed under his breath and decided to follow one of them. The demon was heading for the Jyuuban district. Carefully, Hiei followed him. After a few minutes, he realized that the other four had regrouped and followed him. Just then, the demon he was following turned around. Ambush, thought Hiei. Well, never mind, I could use the exercise.

Makoto was coming back from Jyuuban College, mightily mad. "The nerve of that girl!" she said to herself. "She just wants to boss everyone around... That makes me so mad I could..." She then heard a battle cry and she saw five figures battling a sixth one.

"Those aren't very fair odds!" she thought to herself. She looked around and headed for a secluded corner where she could change without being noticed.

Hiei was having the time of his life. The battle was interesting. Only two of them were good swordsmen. If they would have attacked him individually they wouldn't have stood a chance. Those two were nearly as fast as him, nearly, but not enough to trouble Hiei, who just laughed at their futile attempts. Suddenly, Hiei felt a power surge and he understood too late that he cockily had underestimated his foes. He barely had time to uncover his Jagan to see what kind of attack they were throwing at him.

He took a sharp breath. They were all ice demons and three of them were pooling their spiritual energy to blast him. Hiei tried to jump out of the way. He partly succeeded because the attack they sent him would have encased him in a solid block of ice instead of partly freezing him. Since he was a fire demon himself, Hiei was able to survive the attack. A normal human would have died of the shock. But had he been encased, Hiei wondered if he could have resisted. His heart was hammering in his chest and it hurt to breathe. To make things worse, he was falling toward the ground at top speed and was unable to break his fall. The two swordsmen were still battling him and he was now barely able to fight them off. He hit the ground. The ice broke but so did something in his ankle. Using their momentum, the two swordsmen rammed Hiei's head into the pavement.

Hiei's head rang from the onslaught. Shivering from the cold based attack, he lifted his head just in time to see Sailor Jupiter clobbering one of the swordsmen, then shoving her elbow into the second one, cutting his wind, while the first one fell to the ground unconscious. Trying to get the blood out of his eyes, Hiei watched her, impressed by her skill and strength. She then joined her two hands, lifted them up and bore them down with all her strength on the winded creature's skull. Hiei could swear he heard bones crack, but he knew it didn't come from his rescuer.

Jupiter then turned her attention to the other three who were rushing her. Hiei saw a symbol glow in her hand that closely resembled the number four. On her brow the jewel of her tiara glowed brightly and it elongated like an antenna. The sky became dark and lightning struck the jewel ionizing the air around her. Hiei could feel the hair on his arm stand on end because of the energy in the air. Hiei saw her start to twirl and she yelled.

"JUPITER OAK EVOLUTION!"

She spun faster and faster, graceful like one of those ice skaters he once saw on TV. Hiei blinked. He wondered if it wasn't the blood in his eyes, but he could swore he saw oak leaves floating around her. The demons attacking her were literally in for a shock as the balls of lightning hit them. Hiei blinked as they all fell to the ground, stunned. He tried to get up but his vision darkened and he too fell unconscious.

"I'm home!" said Usagi as she entered the door. She took off her shoes. That's when she noticed the extra pair of shoes. She shrugged, maybe her mom had invited a neighbor. Ikkuko came to Usagi as she put on her slippers.

"Usagi-chan!" she scolded mildly. "Where have you been? Your cousin, Redi-chan is waiting for you in your room. She's with Luna. She has been waiting for a good hour for you..."

"Redi-chan?" asked Usagi. She was stumped. She didn't have any cousin of that name.

"Don't tell me you forgot she was coming here, Usagi-chan?" added her mother, annoyed. "You're lucky you don't forget your dates with Mamoru-san..." And with that her mom took off and went back to her kitchen and finished preparing dinner.

Usagi was puzzled. She repeated her 'cousin's' name, "Redi..." then it hit her. Oh no! Not her! She ran to her room. Why did this little brat change her name again? she thought. She burst into her room.

"Chibi-Usa!!!! You better have a goo-*" Usagi stopped in mid sentence, her eyes wide.

"Konnichi wa, Usagi-chan..." said a voice.

"I don't believe it!..." was all Usagi managed to say before she passed out.

"So there you have it, Yaten... Would you mind if I took your role?" asked Kurama.

"Of course not, silly!" Yaten replied, feeling a little better now that he had eaten and that Kurama was there. "In fact, Hiei should have told me that when he came today..."

"What?" said Seiya as he cleared the table. "Hiei was here?"

Yaten nodded. "This morning, he came to see if I was really as sick as you told him, Ku-chan..."

Kurama chuckled. "That's Hiei, for you all right... And thank you, Yaten. I feel better about taking that role..."

"I can always give you tips on how to play Jareth... after all, I know that character and his line pretty well. " winked Yaten, teasingly.

"Indeed you do..." Kurama concluded. He got closer to Yaten and was about to kiss him, when his lover stopped him. Kurama looked at Yaten puzzled, so did Seiya and Taiki.

"We can't kiss, Kurama..." started Yaten. "I might give you my disease..."

"But Yaten, I had it before so..." He advanced again, Yaten stopped him yet again.

"Dr. Muzino told me you could get it again, if you get exposed to it again..." explained Yaten. "... She wants to see you, too, Ku-chan and make sure you don't have the disease yourself..."

Taiki sweat dropped. "He can't do THAT!!! She'll know you and him..."

Yaten glared at Taiki. "She ALREADY knew. It seems you and Ami-chan talked about us. Next time, check if there is someone else in the apartment besides you two..."

Taiki blushed deep red. "Ano... When was that?"

Yaten smirked slightly. "I don't know, she didn't tell me more... Why?"

Taiki took the dishes from Seiya and hurriedly went to wash them. "Nothing!" he said quickly. The three others boys exchanged glances. Yaten was blushing deep red, too. He turned on the TV wishing it would turn the conversation to another subject.

"Okay... I'll go see her, Yaten..." said Kurama.

Yaten nodded, "She gave me this phone number. It's her pager. She told me you just had to call her and that she would call you back quickly to make an appointment..." Kurama nodded and took the number. He told Yaten he would call her when he'd go back home.

"Great! Now that everything is settled," Seiya said, "why don't we discuss the play? Tomorrow the practice for the song will start and after school at 7 we have a practice with that girl that's supposed to play Sarah..."

"I see Minako wasn't chosen for the role... She's going to be mad..." cringed Yaten. He could feel the answering machine getting overflowed by her messages.

"We are not the ones choosing the actress... " said Seiya. "Anyway, that girl won an acting scholarship to come study in Tokyo. She's from Sapporo..."

"What's her name?" asked Kurama.

"Well Akane told me... She has a strange name... mmm... oh yeah! Hikoku... Heiwa Hikoku."

"And what's strange about it?" asked Yaten.

Seiya shrugged. "I don't know it just felt strange for me... Anyway don't worry about Minako. She'll have a role, just like all our friends... We needed ladies for the ballroom scene..."

"Yeah! I can tell she'll be LESS than thrilled about that!" said Yaten as he took out his transcript of the play. "Now... maybe we should try and help Ku-chan learn all about Jareth..."

Hiei slowly woke up. What surprised him was that he was in a soft comfortable bed. He first thought he was in Kurama's room, but no, the room was too frilly, too girlie looking. He reached to his face and felt the bandages on his forehead covering his Jagan. He moved a little bit on the bed. His ankle hurt. He saw his dark coat and his white shawl neatly folded on a desk. Then Hiei smelled something, something that smell real good. The aroma made his mouth water and his stomach grumble.

"I'm hungry..." he said flatly. He got up, careful not to put his entire weight on his injured ankle. He walked toward the smell. He opened the bedroom room and saw a small but comfortable apartment. Plants thrived in beautiful pots, plush colorful cushions were on an equally looking comfortable couch. The smell was now intoxicating and the koorime's mouth watered against his will. I never smelled anything like that before, he thought. Then in a corner he saw a girl talking on a phone.

"Calm down, Usagi-chan... I can't make heads or tails of your story!" said the brunette. Hiei looked at her, who was she? Her face was familiar but he couldn't place it. She turned around and when she saw Hiei up she hurriedly said in the phone. "Listen Usagi-chan... I'll call you later, okay?" and she hung up.

For a while, they just stared at each other. Hiei frowned. He felt weird. He didn't like that at all. Was she waiting for him to thank her? Makoto took a few steps toward Hiei. He took a few steps back and cringed when he forgot and walked on his ankle.

"Oh! Are you okay?" she asked as she got closer. Hiei frowned.

"Yeah, just my ankle... I'll be okay..." he mumbled. She stopped and looked at her feet. Just then she remembered she had something cooking on the stove. She yelped and rushed to her kitchen. Hiei was taken aback by the suddenness of her departure and curious he followed her.

"Whew!" she sighed. Just in time she retrieved the pot before it boiled over. She noticed Hiei had followed her, hopping on one leg. I guess black must his favorite color, she thought as she looked at him. He wore black pants, black shoes and a black sleeveless T-shirt. Their silence was broken by Hiei's stomach who loudly growled.

"Are you hungry? I have made enough for 2 people... would you like to eat?" asked Makoto.

Hiei felt his stomach grumble again. There was food near and he really was hungry. "Okay..." he said as he sat down with her. Makoto smiled and served him some soup. Hiei took his spoon and took a sip. His eyes grew wide. He took another spoonful then blinked looking down at the soup.

"Is something wrong?" asked Makoto. She took a sip herself, fearful the soup wasn't good, but it was as good as it usually was.

"It's... GOOD!" said Hiei impressed. Kurama had usually cooked for him and after tasting that soup, he could say that Kurama wasn't that good a cook after that. He started to eat the soup up as Makoto giggled at his ravenous hunger. He was finished in no time flat.

"Would you like some more soup?" she asked. Hiei quickly nodded. She took the plate and was pouring some soup when he asked.

"You're that Sailor who helped me this afternoon... aren't you?" He didn't need to uncover his Jagan to feel the power that was hidden in her. "You have the same aura around you..."

She gave him back his plate, surprised. "I didn't know we gave off auras..."

"You don't... usually, but I also remember seeing you, two weeks ago. You seemed to know Kuwabara and Yuusuke..."

She nodded, "We used to go to school together... that was before I got transferred." She ate some of her soup, then paused. "My name is Kino Makoto... and yes, I am the Sailor Senshi who helped you. I am Sailor Jupiter, but I don't remember your name..." she admitted.

Hiei finished his soup before replying. "My name is Hiei..."

"Hajimemashite, Hiei-san." said Makoto. "Would you like to try the main course?"

Hiei nodded. "Just Hiei... It's what everyone calls me..."

Makoto smiled. In that case, you can call me Mako-chan..." she blushed when she put rice in a dish. Why the heck did I say that? she thought. She spooned some curry on the rice.

"Hope you like curry!" Makoto said as she prepared her own plate.

"If it's as good as your soup... it must taste great!" Hiei bit his tongue, why the heck did I say that? Her cooking was good but... He shrugged. It must be the hit I got to the head. It must have scrambled my brains a little. Makoto sat back down blushing as she handed him his curry. He dove right in, and by his pace, she could tell he liked her curry. When he finished, Hiei was full and happy. That sure hit the spot, he thought. He waited and digested as she ate her own plate.

"Do you want some dessert?" she asked when she finished. Hiei hesitated. He was full and if ate even more he doubted he could jump for a while. On the other hand, a voice in the back of his head told him to get dessert. He wouldn't be able to jump very high with his ankle now anyway.

"Sure... What kind of dessert?" Hiei asked.

"Surprise!" she winked and blushed when she realized what she just had done. Hiei blinked the way she winked. It reminded him of Kurama. He also realized she had green eyes too. The girl got up and got some slices off a chocolate cake. Hiei looked at his piece, his mouth watering as he tried to imagine it's taste. He took a piece with his fork and dug in, his eyes opened wide. The cake was so good it was literately melting in his mouth. It tasted of chocolate and orange.

"mmm... Good!" he simply said, but she saw by his expression that he really liked her cake. She looked at him eating it. It really made her feel good when someone appreciated her cooking like he did. She heard a knock at her door. She rose as Hiei finished his piece of chocolate orange cake. She was in the corridor when she felt a rush of wind behind her. She turned back in the kitchen. Hiei was gone. She then heard the knock again and the window of her room open. She ran to her bedroom. Too late, Hiei was gone.

"What a strange boy..." she said softly, puzzled. She stared at where he had disappeared. Lost in her thoughts, she wished he wouldn't have gone so soon. She got called back to reality by the ringing of her doorbell. She blushed and rushed to answer it.

"Do you realize the trouble you put me through?" said Usagi, in front of the bathroom door. "I mean, you just can't do things like that!"

"Relax, Usagi-chan..." said the voice coming from the other side. "All has been taken care of and I have already enrolled myself at Jyuuban College..."

"Yah! That's what I was afraid of..." mumbled Usagi.

"Now, girls!" yelled Ikkuko, "Hurry up or you'll both be late. Redi-chan, you really don't want to pick up Usagi-chan's bad habits..."

"WHAT? That is, like, so unfair to me..." said Usagi and added under her breath. "I swear that little brat is going to be the death of me, yet!" She started to squirm before the door. "Hurry up... I have to goooooo!" On the other side of the door there was a small giggle.

Taiki was driving Seiya and Kurama back to class. They had just finished their first song practice. Everything went fine. Akane was pleased that Kurama had taken the role. Seiya was trying to reach Yaten on his cell phone.

"I get the recording. I guess Yaten is still asleep..." said Seiya.

"I'm afraid Yaten is going to be like that for a few weeks..." replied Kurama, going over his school papers and projects he had to hand in that day.

"That's what Ami-chan told me..." added Taiki. He frowned. "Say... Isn't that Mako-chan walking to school?" Seiya nodded. Taiki smiled and pulled over next to her. Kurama opened the door.

"Say, Mako-chan... Going our way?" smirked Seiya.

"Oh! Ohayo, guys... How's Yaten?" asked the brown haired girl as she got into the van. Kurama gasped. Behind her he was sure he saw a dark form jump from a nearby tree. Hiei? he thought.

"As well as can be expected, considering..." said Seiya. "Oh! I hope you girls didn't forget that we need you tonight... We are starting to really put this show on the road and we need everybody present tonight..."

"By the way, Kurama, do you know how we can get a hold of Hiei? We were wondering how to contact HIII..." Taiki applied the brakes. Hiei's upside down head had just popped up in front of him.

"HIEI!!!???" yelled Taiki. "You scared the crap out of me!"

"Humpt!" replied the koorime as he disappeared from view.

"Is he on the roof?" asked Seiya. Just then Hiei's upside down head reappeared at Taiki's open window, scaring Taiki once again. Makoto couldn't help but chuckle. Hiei looked at her with a very faint smile, but returned his attention to Taiki.

"You wanted to see me?" Hiei asked matter of factly.

"Ha, yes." replied Taiki, after he regained his composure. "Hiei, we're asking everyone we know if they want to join us in the play..."

Hiei looked at Taiki suspiciously. Kurama had a sly smile.

"That's right, Hiei. All the girls they know have been asked. Even Mako-chan will be in that play." said Kurama.

"Hum..." mumbled Hiei. "I don't know..."

"Well, think about it Hiei..." said Seiya. "Oh! And if you see Yuusuke and Kuwabara, could you ask them to come with you tonight around six? I know it's early but we'll have dinner for everyone who will attend."

"And I even baked a cake..." chimed Makoto, smiling. Hiei's mouth started to water. Maybe he would attend, just out of curiosity.

"I'll tell them..." said Hiei. He disappeared from view and jumped from the car to a tree.

"Wait!" said Taiki. "Will you be there?" But it was too late Hiei was already far away. Taiki sighed, "I wished he'd told us if he would have come or not..."

"Oh... I have a hunch he will come..." smiled Kurama. "Indeed I do..."

After dropping off Kurama, they headed for Jyuuban College after they parked the van. Taiki. Makoto and Seiya got out and started to walk toward the school. That's when Seiya first saw her.

Seiya stopped dead in his tracks and blinked. He let go of his school bag and rubbed his eyes. Both Taiki and Makoto stopped and looked at him strangely. Taiki looked in the direction that Seiya was looking and gasped. Makoto turned herself to look at what was so extraordinary.

"I'm seeing double..." said Seiya, unbelieving. Walking towards them, next to Mamoru and Ami, were two Usagi's. Well, they weren't exactly alike. The girl on the right had pink hair and red eyes. She wore her hair in the same manner as Usagi but her Odango were more pointed. It was as though she was a reflection in a mirror. Seiya felt his heart skip a beat and his mouth go dry. She was just as beautiful as Usagi.

"If you're seeing double Seiya,... so am I!" said Taiki completely baffled. Makoto beamed and ran to the girl.

"Chibi-Usa???!!! Is that you?" she hugged the pink haired girl.

"Hai!" giggled the girl. Just like Usagi, thought Seiya as he looked at her reaction. "I'm back! Mama gave me permission and I'm no longer Chibi... I liked to be called Redi... Redi-chan if you'd like."

"Makoto-sama!" piped in a voice that came from Redi's handbag. "Ohayo gozaimasu!" Makoto giggled as she saw a gray cat poke her head out.

"Di-Diana! My! You have grown too!" The gray cat giggled.

"That's what Artemis-papa said when he saw me..."

Seiya hadn't moved. He was transfixed by the twin vision of loveliness. His jaw hung open and Taiki eyed him suspiciously. He put his hand under his brother's mouth and closed it. Seiya's teeth made a click sound as the mouth closed.

"Huh... Seiya... Yoo hoo! Come back to Earth, Seiya..." said Taiki, waving his hand in front of Seiya's eyes. Seiya blinked. "HA! There you are..." added Taiki. "I'm sorry you had a skirt in your eye." Seiya glared at him.

"Oh! Are those the Three Lights?" gleefully said Redi. She looked at Usagi. "Well? Aren't you going to introduce me?" Usagi glared at Redi.

"And what am I supposed to say?" Usagi mumbled. "Oh! Ohayo! Here's Small Redi Serenity Usagi Tsukino, my future daughter from the 30th Century..."

"Why not? You always told me to say the truth..." replied her future daughter. "Aaa? I see Seiya and Taiki... Where's Yaten?"

"Yaten is sick with mononucleosis," said Ami. She beamed and ran to Taiki. She quickly kissed him telling him she missed him the evening before.

Redi marched right up to Seiya. "Ohayo!" she chimed. "You must be Seiya, my name is Redi Tsukino. I am Usagi-chan's daughter from the future..." Usagi and Mamoru sweatdropped. They couldn't believed she just said that.

"Nanni?" said Taiki. He looked at Ami as she nodded, and told him it was true. Seiya smiled as if he had only heard her name.

"Hajimemashite, Redi-san. Seiya Kou desu, dozo yorishiku." said Seiya completely smitten by her. Redi noticed and so did Mamoru who was beginning to show some reticence at this budding flirt.

"Dozo... Seiya-kun. You don't mind if I call you Seiya-kun, ne? And please call me Redi-chan. That's what all my good friends call me." She told Seiya.

"R-Redi-chan... I am very pleased to meet you..." replied Seiya his blue eyes locked with her red ones.

"Likewise..." she replied with a smile.

Noon was almost there. Hiei was in a tree in the Jyuuban College school yard. He waited for the two brothers to come out for lunch. Yes, he waited for them and nobody else, he told himself. I will tell them I will be there tonight as well as Yuusuke, Kuwabara and a couple of guys they knew. Then, he would be off. Yes, that's it. No more. He would vamoose. He'd be gone, no reason to stay. None whatsoever, he would tell them, then be off. That was the plan.

The lunch clocked chimed and students came out of the school. He saw a group coming toward his tree. It was them. Good, I won't have to look for them.

"Here! Why don't we go there?" said Makoto, pointing the tree where Hiei was hidden. Did she see me, wondered Hiei. She sat down and opened her bento box. Hiei had a good view of her lunch and it looked downright delicious. He caught himself as he was about to step down of the tree. Baka! He snapped at himself, what do you think you're doing? He sat back down as the others sat next to Makoto.

Hiei looked at the scene below. Seiya was acting like a fool. Just like Kuwabara when he would be speaking to Hiei's sister, Yukina. Yes, he looked like a fool, smiling, laughing, embarrassing himself, just like that fool Kuwabara. Humpt! he thought, no one will get him acting that foolishly. Hiei was about to go when he heard something in the conversation.

"Hum..." said Taiki. "What is this Mako-chan? It sure looks delicious..."

"Oh, that! It's nothing" she blushed. "Would you like some?"

"Oh! I know what that is!" said Ami. "And you should really have a taste Taiki. It's really good."

"Well, how can I refuse? When even Ami-chan tells me to taste it, Mako-chan." Taiki said happily. "If you can spare some then, sure. I would like to have a taste." Taiki reached with his chopsticks and Hiei glared at him as he saw the delicious tasting morsel enter his mouth. He wondered what it tasted like. He resisted the urge to scoop down and take his own portion.

"I wonder, if Hiei got a hold of Kuwabara and Yuusuke..." wondered out loud Taiki when he swallowed his morsel.

"They'll be there, and so will I," came the reply from the tree. Everyone looked up, startled.

"HIEI!??" They all gasped. Hiei poked his head from the foliage. He looked at them. His gaze stopped at Makoto who smiled to him.

"W-well, now you know..." Hiei said. He didn't know why. But part of him told him to go away, to leave. He trusted his instincts and took off. Makoto saw him quickly jump from tree to tree.

"What a strange boy..." she whispered to herself.

Hiei fumed. He was on his way to the musical practice. Why was he going there? It was stupid. To make matters worse, Yuusuke brought Keiko and Kuwabara had asked his sister to come along.

"Hey! She studies to be a hairstylist and open her own shop... she could help!" said Kuwabara.

Hiei couldn't believe him. He couldn't believe Kurama either. He was walking alongside them his nose in one of his books. He was revising the last of his lessons. Since they had started to walk together towards the practice, Kurama had almost twice knocked himself silly walking into a lamppost.

"Hey, Kurama, lay off the studies will ya? You should do like me and learn to relax a little..." said Yuusuke.

"Hum... that's nice..." said Kurama, his eyes unwavering from his book.

"You haven't heard a single word I said, didn't you?" grumbled Yuusuke.

"Hum... that's nice..." repeated Kurama, while Kuwabara laughed his head off and Yuusuke glared at him. They were arriving to the gymnasium where they would practice. Yuusuke took the book away for Kurama.

"Hey!" shouted Kurama, annoyed.

"We're here... I just thought you wanted to know..." said Yuusuke sarcastically.

"You didn't need to do that... You could have just told me..." said Kurama as he took his book back. Yuusuke fell to the ground, a huge sweatdrop on the side of his head. Kuwabara's thundering laughter was heard as he tried to blink away the tears in his eyes.

"What's HIS problem?" Kurama asked Hiei.

"He's breathing... That's the problem..." grumbled Hiei, that stopped Kuwabara's laughter short as he started to growl at the small koorime who was unimpressed. Kurama sighed and made a small prayer. "Please don't make them embarrass me in front of the others..." he whispered.

Kurama turned around and blinked. "Yukina?" At the front of the gymnasium was the pale green haired girl smiling at them. But Hiei and Kuwabara stopped their arguments.

"Yukina!!!" said Kuwabara smiling to her. "You decided to come..." He forgot all about Hiei and rushed to her side.

"What?" said Hiei coldly. That fool Kuwabara had asked for his sister to be a part of this... He fumed, but as always said nothing.

Seiya was beaming when he saw Kurama's gang come in. He excused himself to Redi and went to greet the new arrivals. Redi looked at him, he was so much more handsome in person than he was in the picture she had of him back in the 30th Century. She was still musing when she heard a cough. She saw Mamoru looking down at her with a slightly annoyed look.

"Yes, Mamo-chan?" she asked teasingly.

"Redi-chan..." Mamoru's baritone voice uttered. "It's nice that you came back to visit us but must you throw yourself at a guy...? Seiya of all people..."

"I do not throw myself as you say..." pouted Redi. "But! He is rather interesting..."

Mamoru face vaulted. Last time he saw her, she was a sweet little 10 year old looking girl. Now she looked as old as Usagi and she has the same teasing eyes as her mother. Mamoru could only shudder when he thought what consequence this might have. Redi smiled innocently. Just like her mom, thought Mamoru, that's what's scaring me. He knew he couldn't resist Usagi when she had some playful designs in the back of her head. He was really scared that Seiya wouldn't be able to resist himself. Yes, he thought, I better have a talk with HIM, the sooner, the better.

"Don't worry, Mamo-chan." She winked. "Mama told me all about the facts of life." Mamoru's knees gave way as she walked again towards Seiya and his friends.

"You worry too much, Usako, you said..." mumbled Usagi next to him. "You always think of the worse with her, you said."

"Did you hear what your daughter just said to me?" hiccuped Mamoru.

"MY daughter?" glared Usagi. Mamoru bit his lips. He could tell Usagi wasn't to keen on Redi flirting with Seiya herself. When she saw Mamoru's apologizing puppy face of his, she remembered why she couldn't stay mad at him long. She sighed. "Gomen ne, Mamo-chan. I'm just worried about her and Seiya..."

"If Seiya so much as touches one strand of hair, I'll..." started Mamoru growling.

"Do just what my father once dreamt of doing to you?" kidded Usagi. Mamoru blushed. He was beginning to act just like Usagi's father. Usagi turned and looked towards Seiya as Redi hung to his arm. Poor Seiya, she thought. He really doesn't know what he's getting into.

Meanwhile, Seiya was talking to Kurama and his friends.

"Glad you guys made it!" he beamed. He gratefully accepted the help of Kuwabara's sister and told Keiko and Yukina he would be happy to have them on the show for the ballroom scene and if they could play a couple of extras. The two girls giggled and thanked him. When Kurama asked where Taiki was, Seiya winked and told him he was getting a surprise. Kurama was about to ask him what it was when Redi interrupted them.

"Konnichi wa! Kurama-san..." she said as she took Seiya's arm.

"Konnichi wa..." replied Kurama. "Uh... Do I know you?" Seiya introduced Redi to Kurama but she smiled and added.

"Of course, you do!" She giggled. "Especially since there are five little k..."

"Small Lady!" Setsuna interrupted. She rushed to hug Redi and took her away from a puzzled Seiya and Kurama.

"I'm happy to see you too, Puu!" Redi hugged back.

"Me, too" she smiled, but her face darkened slightly. "Small Lady, you know you can't tell people of their future... now promise you won't say a word."

"Awww..." pouted Redi. "Okay, I understand, but they are so happy..."

"If you say something about their future you might end up destroying it. I know it's hard but it would be for the best if you kept it to yourself. Especially..." Setsuna's eyes darted to another person. Redi nodded, a little sad. "They must learn for themselves, Small Lady, do you understand?"

Redi nodded. She promised she would be very careful about what she said. Setsuna nodded and let her go to Hotaru who had just arrived. She sighed looking at the two girls hug. That was her curse. She knew what would happen. She also knew how it would finish. Small Lady would just have to learn by herself. She couldn't interfere.

Kurama was wondering what Seiya had meant by that when he saw Taiki and Yaten walking towards him. Kurama smiled at Yaten, who looked so tired still. He went to them. There was a gasp then a small cry as Hotaru ran up to Yaten as she wanted to give him a HUGE hug. Kurama had barely time to scoop up the little girl in his arms preventing her from tackling Yaten.

"HOTARU!" scolded Haruka, "We told you that Yaten was really sick..."

"No harm done..." assured Kurama.

"But I wanted to give him a BIG hug to make him feel better!" pouted Hotaru.

"Yeah, maybe, but you didn't have to tackle him to the ground. In his state, it could have been dangerous..." Haruka fumed. Hotaru apologized.

"It's okay." said Yaten softly. "You can give me a hug." Yaten opened his arms and Hotaru beamed she very carefully hugged him.

"Aww... and me without my camera." teased Haruka.

Yaten smiled. "You know if I had hugs like that everyday, I'm sure I'd feel better real fast." Yaten facevaulted as Hotaru squeezed him tighter. "Hotaru-chan... I can't breathe..."

Kurama and Haruka chuckled as the little girl said she was sorry again. Yaten winked to her and petted her hair. She blushed and ran off returning to Redi. Haruka shook her head.

"It's a wonder, how you can be so nice to her..." said Haruka.

Yaten sighed, looking at Hotaru. "Simple, she reminds me of my little sister Shanna..." he whispered. Haruka felt embarrassed. She knew too well now that Yaten's sister had died a most horrible death. Yaten smiled at her. "Don't worry, I don't feel sad but happy. It makes me feel like she didn't really die..." Haruka nodded and told him that maybe he and his brothers could come visit the mansion more often. Yaten told her he would tell Seiya and Taiki of her invitation.

Kurama then helped Yaten to a chair. "I wasn't kidding, you know... I'd really like a hug to make me feel better..." Kurama smiled. He was about to hug Yaten when they both remembered they weren't alone.

"Can I give you a rain check on that particular item?" asked Kurama. "And maybe I could add an extra later on this evening..." Yaten blushed slightly, knowing all too well that extra meant a kiss. Yaten nodded, smiling.

Kurama stretched. He was getting tired. The practice was almost at an end, since the girl that did Sarah wasn't there he couldn't practice the dance alone. So while everyone was busy, he checked on Yaten. He shook his head. Yaten was sleeping his head hunched forward. Kurama, eyeing some gymnasium mats, thought Yaten would be much better in a reclining position than all crumpled up like he was. He arranged a makeshift bed for Yaten. Using his jacket, he formed a pillow.

He was taking Yaten in his arms when Keiko and Yukina arrived. They made no sound. They didn't want to wake Yaten. Keiko watched, intrigued at Kurama's tenderness and the complete trust she could read on Yaten's face as he rested his head against the redhead's chest. If I didn't know better... she started to think as she watched Kurama very gently and with outmost care place the silver haired boy on the mat. Both girls watched transfixed as the two of them exchanged a few whispered words.

Keiko eyes grew wide when she saw Kurama brush away a stray hair from Yaten's brow. The gesture seemed like he cared for the Idol Singer, a lover's touch. She let out a small cry when she saw Kurama bend to Yaten's brow and give him a sweet kiss.

"OMIGOD!" She put her hand before her mouth realizing she had spoken out loud. Kurama froze and turned to look at her and Yukina. Yaten sensing that something was wrong, called out.

"What's wrong, Ku-chan?"

"KU...KU-CHAN????!!!!" Keiko repeated, she couldn't believe it. "You mean, you and Yaten Kou... are... are..." She couldn't even finish the sentence.

"Oh my!" said Yukina, blushing. Just then Kuwabara's sister: Shizuru came in, she just heard everything. Kurama was mortified, as if it wasn't enough that Keiko and Yukina looked at him with such eyes.

But Shizuru just took her cigarette out of her mouth and simply said. "Yeah, so?... If they're happy, what's YOUR problem?" She put her arms around the two girls and turned them around, leading them away. "Don't worry you two, they'll get over it..."

"You... You already knew?" asked Kurama. She didn't reply and just winked.

"WHAT!!???" said a voice. "You idiots failed?"

"We beg your forgiveness, oh great one. The one you seeked was helped. We could not foresee it..." said one of the demons that attacked Hiei.

"As well you didn't foresee... THIS!" The figure in darkness uttered a few words and the one kneeling before it was now encased in a solid block of ice. There was the sound of a sword being taken out of a scabbard then the demon was neatly cut in two from top to bottom. The other demons gasped in awe. Their employer's sword had already returned to it's scabbard as though it had never left.

"I won't tolerate another goof off... Have I made myself clear?" The creature glared at the demons who nodded and scurried away. Three other figures appeared on the darkness.

"Those are just hum drums..." the figure continued for the benefit of the new arrivals. "The one I seek to exert my revenge upon has gained new powerful allies." The figure uttered a few cabalistic words and a disk appeared before them, showing them the demons that were just sent away. "Study them... and then, bring me Hiei. His head still attached to his body so I can make him pay for my brother's death..."

Yaten woke up groggily and felt more tired than he had ever experienced in his life. He went to the bathroom, eyes still closed. When he passed before the mirror of the bathroom, he stopped. He thought he saw something peculiar. He took a look. He blinked, rubbed his eyes and stared.

"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Yaten's scream of surprise shook the walls of the apartment.

Taiki and Seiya were changing clothes in the guy's locker room when their cell phone rang. Since Taiki was the closest to it - Seiya still busy trying to put on his T-shirt - he took the call.

"Moshi-moshi?" Taiki took his ear from the phone as someone was yelling into it in a very excited voice.

"TAIKITAIKITAIKI... OHSTARSCOMEQUICKIGOTABIGBIGBIGBIGPROBLEM!!!!!"

"Whoa! Yaten! Slow down. I don't understand a word you're saying..." said Taiki. Seiya looked up.

"What's wrong?" asked Seiya. With a gesture, Taiki replied he didn't know.

"Oh Stars! Taiki you've got to come here!!! And bring Ami-chan with you!!!" said Yaten, trying to calm down. Stars! thought Taiki, his voice is so high when he's upset.

"I'll try but... what the heck is wrong?" asked Taiki.

"I CAN'T tell you on a damn cell phone anybody could be listening!!!!" said Yaten hysterically. Taiki looked at the phone, wondering why Yaten was acting so irrational all of a sudden.

"Okay... Calm down, I'm coming and bringing Ami-chan with me..." said Taiki, trying to calm down Yaten.

Yaten was pacing the apartment, unbelieving this was happening, not now. The key turned into the door and Taiki and Ami went in. Yaten waited for them, with a big blanket on.

"It's about time you guys got here." Yaten said angrily.

"Whoa! Yaten! Hold your horses and calm down... or else we're out of here..." replied Taiki, really annoyed at Yaten's bossy attitude. Ami closed the door behind her and Seiya.

"Yeah! What the heck was so important we had to leave class early?" asked Seiya.

"WHAT ABOUT THIS?" Yaten yelled letting the blanket drop. Yaten was wearing pajama pants but also a close fitting T-shirt. And they could see that Yaten was now female.

"What? You've gone female and you make us miss class because of THAT??" It was Taiki's turn to sound annoyed and angry.

"Not that!" replied Yaten. "The fact that I can't change back..."

"Yeah... so?" said Seiya also getting annoyed at Yaten's reactions.

"SO? SO?" screamed Yaten. "I have an appointment with Dr. Mizuno, this afternoon with Kurama. I can't go as a girl. She wanted to take more blood samples!!!!" Yaten's face was flushed by her anger.

"Oh no... " said Ami when she realized what Yaten was so upset about.

"Yeah, well, so what? You can disguise yourself as a guy easily and go to the darn appointment... What's the big problem?" asked Seiya, Taiki and Ami had turned pale as if they understood something that Seiya obviously didn't.

"Seiya, YOU BAKA!!!" screamed Yaten. "HOW THE HELL AM I GOING TO DISGUISE MY BLOOD SAMPLE????"

"Huh?" Seiya was puzzled, Yaten threw her arms in the air groaning as she bolted back into her room, slamming the door. "WHAT? What did I say?"

"We do have a real situation here..." said Ami seriously, Taiki nodded gravely. "What are we going to do about it?" Seiya looked at them still not getting it. Ami and Taiki looked at each other, sighing. They seemed to have a silent conversation between them and finally Taiki spoke up.

"Seiya... Yaten is upset and with good reason." he started. "It's not the fact she can't change back so much as the blood sample that terrifies her."

"You see, Seiya-kun," added Ami. "Your blood make up changes dramatically when you change into a woman. My mother did take some blood from Yaten already and she's going to be asking a lot of questions when she sees that Yaten now has estrogen instead of testosterone in her blood."

"Oh Stars..." said Seiya as he slumped into the sofa.

Kurama was surprised to see Seiya, Taiki and Ami in the apartment when he came by to pick up Yaten for their appointment with Dr. Mizuno.

"You guys don't have any classes?" asked Kurama as Taiki opened the door for him.

"Not really... Kurama, we have a situation here..." replied Taiki. He then proceeded to tell him what the problem was. Kurama had turned pale.

"Do you have any idea how that happened?" asked Kurama. Just then Sailor Mercury came out of Yaten's room.

"I've checked Yaten. It seems you do need a small percentage of your strength at all times to keep the disguise on, don't you?" She asked Taiki and Seiya. They both nodded. She sighed, "then I think I know why Yaten can't change back. Mononucleosis leaves most people tired and without much strength. I can only guess that Yaten doesn't have any of the strength needed to keep up the disguise... Which may also indicate that she can't tap into her powers for the time being, leaving her completely powerless. If there is an attack, Yaten won't stand much more chance than a normal human being."

"Nice..." grumbled Yaten as she got out of her room, dressed in her Three Lights blue suit. Mercury and she had been able to disguise her feminine silhouette but her face still looked a little different. She was also wearing a scarf.

"Kurama-san, would you know of any plants that could cause someone to have the symptom of a sore throat?" asked Mercury.

"Hai... I do, why?" replied Kurama as he searched into his pockets for his seeds. He produced a small packet of seeds, took a couple of them out placed them in a flower pot and accelerated their growth. "Here." he said "You must chew these leaves for about 10 minutes and you should have all the symptoms..."

Mercury took the leaves and gave them to Yaten. She took them, cringing at the bitter and acrid taste. She chewed but the experience didn't seem to please her at all. The boys looked at them wondering why Yaten was doing that when Mercury explained.

"You see, Yaten no longer has an, as apparent, Adam's apple; since she's going to see my mother, she's got to cover her throat. If she says she has a sore throat my mother will want to check it out, that's why I thought of the subterfuge..."

"I just wish this plant didn't taste so awful..." she croaked. She face vaulted. Even her voice sounded like she had a bad sore throat, dropping her voice to several octaves.

"Gomen ne... Yat-chan... It couldn't be helped..." said Kurama. She nodded and they were ready to go. "I'll treat you to ice cream afterwards at Crown. You'll see the symptoms just disappear when you eat that..."

Makoto fumed in front of the movie theater. She had already bought two tickets to see the newest Jackie Chan movie. Ami couldn't come. Yaten had an emergency. It seems because she didn't came back to school. Rei had some tea ceremony practice. Minako and Usagi were supposed to come along with her to see it. Minako got side tracked by Jadeite who invited her to eat an ice cream. Usagi had arrived late at class so she had to stay after school. Redi wanted to go shopping to find a dress Seiya might liked...

Makoto sighed. She didn't want to go alone. She hated to go to the movies all by herself. It reminded her too much that she was alone in the world. Well not really alone, she had her friends but... it wasn't the same as having a boyfriend. It wasn't fair, she thought. All my friends have boyfriends. Heck even Yaten, Taiki found someone. And by the look of things, even Seiya had a love interest... Chibi-Usa... err... Redi, of all people. Everyone except me, she sighed heavily. She was about to cry when she felt someone sit next to her.

Hiei had been observing her. He was just passing along from tree to tree, unseen by anyone, when he saw her looking miserable. Before he knew it he was sitting next to her, half wondering what was wrong with her and half wondering why he should care.

"Hi..." he simply said. She wiped the tear that had started to flow down and she turned to him, greeting him with the best smile she could muster. Why does she act like that, he wondered. I can still see in her eyes that she's sad, but she still tries to make me believe the opposite. Humans are so weird. There was something familiar in her eyes. It wasn't the fact that she had the same color as Kurama, there was something there he'd seen in other eyes. He couldn't place what it was.

"Hi, Hiei..." she beamed, trying to hide her sadness.

"Are you okay?..." he asked. She nodded.

"It's just that I was supposed to see a movie with my fr..." she started. She beamed, thinking of something. "Hiei, I have an extra ticket. Could you please come with me?" She asked, her eyes started to shimmer with hope. How strange, he thought. His eyes just lit up. Unfortunately, the prospect of seeing a movie didn't go well with him. Yuusuke told him movies girls wanted to see were usually romance things where there was lots of kissing. Something Hiei didn't really feel like seeing.

"I don't like movies..." he started to say. He saw her eyes darken and became sad and hopeless again. Something deep inside him regretted he just said that. She looked miserable again. He knew it was his fault. Well, he thought, it's not because I wanted to up her spirits if I sat next to her; but I didn't want to make matters worse. "... but I can go with you if you want me to..." wait a minute... Did I said that?

He was about to say that he changed his mind but Makoto had grabbed him by the nape of his sleeve and was dragging him inside the theater. He was about to tell her to let go but when he saw how happy she was (and also the fact that they were already inside the theater) he decided to shut up.

Yaten and Kurama were sitting down at Crown. They had taken a booth and were eating ice cream. Kurama was eating a double fudge sundae and Yaten, who hadn't eaten a bite because she was so nervous, was eating a Crown Special Banana split. Kurama was eyeing her suspiciously.

"Yat-chan... you sure you're going to eat it all?"

"Of course..." she answered between mouthfuls. "I'm hungry... Aren't you the one always complaining I don't eat enough..? Hey, you're right. My throat feels much better..."

Kurama smiled. "See... Your day wasn't so bad. Even Dr. Mizuno decided not to take more blood samples from you. And once your fevers break you'll no longer be contagious." He got closer to her and whispered. "And I'll be able to kiss you and you won't be afraid to give me your sickness..."

Yaten blushed. "I know... and stop trying to tempt me..." she quickly added.

Kurama smiled. "We'll just have to wait a little bit longer..." He pulled back quickly when he saw Motoki coming over to their table to see if everything was to their liking.

Motoki then went to another table and asked the man sitting in another booth. When he asked him what he wanted, he replied only.

"Coffee." The voice was calm and calculating. He was looking straight in front of him. Motoki thought this was a weird one and hoped he wouldn't make any trouble. He brought him coffee. The guy nodded but that was it; he was back at staring straight ahead. Motoki shrugged, he was nearly bumped out of the way by a girl with reddish brown hair.

Kurama had just finished telling Yaten a very funny joke, when Keiko, arrived at their table. She had her arms folded over her chest and she was looking at them angrily.

"May I have a word with you, Shuhitchi-san?" she said. Kurama knew all too well that when she used his normal human name, Keiko meant business. Not wanting to cause a scene at Crown nor to upset Yaten more than she already was, Kurama got up and followed Keiko outside. Yaten shrugged and continued to eat her banana split. Kurama and Keiko were discussing outside, when the lone figure who hadn't even touched his coffee rose and passed Yaten.

Meanwhile, outside of Crown, Kurama was busy with Keiko who was asking him questions.

"How long has this started?" asked Keiko.

Kurama was a little mad at the question. He considered Keiko a good friend but this question was a little too personal for his taste. "Listen, Keiko-chan, I don't know what the problem is..."

"You don't know what the problem is?.... Kurama did you fall in love with him when he came to Sarayashiki a month ago?" asked Keiko.

"What does it have to do with anything?" Kurama was starting to be angry with these accusations.

"I think it had plenty to do... You never came with us at school before Yaten showed up, you never came at lunchtime either. You even insisted to bring him to the doctor when he got injured." She paused then looked him straight in the eyes. "Looks like you had it planned all along didn't you?"

Kurama was shocked, "If I understand you well, you're accusing me of having done all in my power to seduce Yaten? Is that what you're saying?"

"In one word... yes..." said Keiko. Kurama couldn't believe his ears. How could she? She didn't know what Yaten and him went through that week.

"Keiko-chan... We fell in love. That's it! I didn't seduce him. It just happened... and I didn't use any love potion either if you want to hint that!" Kurama was genuinely upset and mad.

"How could you?" she said. "How could you? You know he's a popular idol. Have you thought of all those girls who are dreaming they could fall..."

"WHAT? No, all I'm thinking of, my dear Keiko, is of his happiness. Have you bothered to think that maybe he loves me back? And that he may be happy with me? More happy than with a girl? Now excuse me. If that will be all, I have to bring Yaten back home..." Kurama turned around and entered back into Crown. He had to get away from Keiko or else he would say something he might come to regret.

"What about his safety?" she asked. "You know you aren't a normal person and that you have powerful enemies! You're putting him in danger or don't you care?" Kurama didn't reply. He didn't have to justify himself to Keiko. He got back inside and finished eating his sundae. Yaten could feel he wasn't in a good mood so she didn't ask what Keiko wanted. If Kurama wanted to tell him, he would. Kurama paid Motoki and he escorted Yaten back home. The strange man who ordered coffee shadowed them from afar.

Hiei and Makoto walked out of the theater. Hiei had to say he was impressed with the movie. He would have to have a word with Yuusuke. Not all movies had romance dribble in it. Okay the story wasn't all that great and Makoto told him, so but that Chan guy sure could move for a human. Hiei hated to admit it but that human had some pretty good moves.

"Oh and when he jumped over that bucket and that broom and he used them against his opponents..." He jumped himself to prove what he meant. She applauded him.

"Hey! Maybe you should go into movies yourself, maybe as a stuntman. You'd be great!!!" said Makoto.

"You think so..? Mmm, why not. If a human can do it... I certainly can!" he boasted. Listen to yourself, Hiei, he thought. Why are you acting so stupidly? Makoto was about to say something when she looked at the time.

"OH! Is it so late?" She said as she started to run. Surprised, Hiei followed her wondering why she was so in a hurry all of a sudden. "I have a martial arts training class tonight with Haruka..." She didn't break her stride as she ran and explained to him. He followed her easily. "You can come, too, if you wish..." Hiei nodded and followed her. A part of himself scolded him for acting like a puppy with her. Another part of him was happy she still wanted him around.

Kurama and Yaten were almost at the apartment when Kurama stiffened. He felt something wasn't right. He could feel eyes on him and he could feel Makai magic.

"Oh, Hi Taiki! Hi Ami!" Yaten took a few steps in front of Kurama, when she saw her brother and Ami get out of the building. "OUCH!" she yelled out, bringing her hand to her throat. A small dart was in her hand and it was coated with blood, her blood. Yaten turned toward Kurama who had just heard her cry out, asking her if she was all right.

She just had time to hand over the dart. Everything was moving in slow- motion as her legs gave way. She felt Kurama's strong hands catch her before blacking out.

"YATEN!" gasped Kurama. When they saw her collapse in his arms, Taiki and Ami rushed to see what was happening. Kurama took her in his arms and he rushed her inside with Ami as Taiki quickly circled everywhere looking for who had done this.

"Very good, Mako-chan!" said Haruka. "I see you've worked well on your blocks and your parry..." Hiei watched the tall blond woman teach the brunette some new moves. Hiei was impressed. He had seen Sailor Jupiter fight and he knew her strength was something to reckon with. What the other woman was teaching, it seems, was finesse and strategy in hand to hand combat. Well trained, both these women would be warriors to be reckoned with.

They took a break. Haruka turned to Hiei. "You were there, weren't you, when those demons attacked us?" Hiei looked at her. How could she have known? "My name is Haruka Tenoh, but I am also known as Sailor Uranus..." she extended her hand. He took it. "That was quite a combat, unfortunatly I was rather taken down quickly so I didn't really see you in action... Care to have a friendly spar?" Hiei nodded. She pulled and tucked at him roughly.

Hiei smiled, a little exercise wouldn't hurt. "I'll go easy on you..." he said.

"You wish..." She replied. They started sparring. Hiei actually had to make an effort. She was quite fast. She seemed to have the wind as a partner. she glided easily in the air, jumping and kicking. Hiei felt she held back, too. Her kicks and jabs were merely love taps. But he could feel the power behind each swerve. They battled for a good fifteen minutes. They both started to get winded. Haruka had a wicked idea.

"Makoto attack!!" she instructed the brunette.

"I can't do that!" blurted Makoto. "Not two against one."

"I'm pulling off and I want you to continue..." said the blonde, swinging at Hiei just enough to keep him off balance and jumped out of his way. Makoto took her place as she headed for the showers.

"Have fun, kids!" she said as she entered the girl's locker heading for the shower. She took off her clothes and headed for a good long shower. As the water cascaded on her she did see and hear the all alarm signal coming from her senshi communicator.

Meanwhile, Makoto and Hiei battled. He had a slight smile.

"I'm tired of these little exercises. How about we use real battle strategy? Make this interesting?" he asked. She nodded.

They fought like that for five minutes, trying everything they knew to knock the other off balance. Hiei then realized she had a weakness and struck. Makoto was overwhelmed by his attack and she fell on her back. He was quickly over her and grabbed her legs in a block with his own. She reacted exactly as he thought she would by trying to give him a projection. As her hands rose he caught them and using his weight and momentum, pinning her arms to the floor. Struggle as hard as she could, the koorime held her in a viselike grip.

"Give up? he asked with a small smile on his lips.

She rose, her face toward his and with fury in her eyes she said: "Never!" They both panted looking at each other's eyes in a warrior's gaze. Neither one wanted to look away and admit defeat.

Little did they know this contest would end with no loser. Hiei looked into her eyes. She was something fierce to behold, but suddenly, something in her gaze softened. Little did he know that Makoto was experiencing the same feeling as he. Their brows began to be less battle oriented. They both found they were lost, lost looking at each other.

Hiei didn't remember letting go of one of her hands but he must have, because his left hand was softly caressing the side of her face. He felt her hand on his chest, just where his heart was still beating fast and strong. Makoto felt faint, her heart hammering in her chest. His eyes, she couldn't look at anything else. She felt something coming out of his eyes. <I don't want to be alone, anymore> that's what she felt. She knew it echoed her own sentiments of loneliness. She felt it in the bottom of her heart. She felt like she was like a moth and he the flames. She felt warm and safe against him. Her mouth wanted even more heat. He inched closer to her, drowning in her gaze, moving with her as though he had no longer any control over his actions and he didn't care. Their eyes had closed and their mouths were almost locked in a kiss when they heard Haruka cry out.

"Mako-chan, come quickly!" They both jumped and Makoto got off the ground blushing. Oh my god, she thought, what was I about to do? She entered the locker room as Hiei, also was wondering what came over him. Haruka was there talking into her communicator. She closed it and turned to Makoto.

"It's Yaten, someone just poisoned her..."

Mercury was getting more than worried, she and Kurama were working desperately to save Yaten's life. Mercury bit her lips. The poison was working fast. Kurama had given Yaten something to slow the poison but her already weakened metabolism was deteriorating. Mercury watched helplessly as Yaten's vitals dropped while she was analyzing the composition of the poison. She had not dared to tell Kurama how bad Yaten's situation was. He was already beside himself with worry. Yaten needed some time for the antidote to work and time was running out.

When she heard a familiar voice arriving in the living room, Mercury bolted and rushed to the new arrivals.

"MAMORU-SAN!" she yelled. "COME QUICKLY!!!" Mamoru didn't wait to be asked twice. He ran to Yaten's bedroom, he gasped when he saw her sweat covered brow and how her skin had started to turn blue. She was dying, he knew it right away, he also knew why Mercury had called out to him. Without hesitation, he took Yaten hand and let his strength flow to her.

She gasped in a breath. Her color was coming back. Kurama's heart skipped a beat. She could still be saved. He finished the concoction of his most reliable antidote. Mercury took a seringue and she injected Yaten with it. Kurama dabbed her brow with a cold towel. She started to thrash her head. He expected that reaction. He sighed in relief when she did.

"...ku-chan..." She whispered weakly, her hand feebly reaching out.

"I'm here, koibito..." Kurama whispered, taking her hand in his own. "I won't let go. Onegai, hang on my darling... I'm here for you..." He kissed her softly on her cheek.

"DAMN! What's taking them so long?!" Seiya finally yelled. Maker sighed. She was wondering when Seiya would burst out. Seiya had calmed down when Redi arrived with Usagi and Mamoru. But Maker knew that when someone's life was on the line, he couldn't keep his feelings bottled up. He stood up and started to pace the room, worry etched on his brow.

Redi watched him pace the room. He had completely forgotten about her. She pouted, hoping her reaction would register something from him. It didn't and Seiya turned around and started towards Yaten's room. Hiei stood in his way.

"Your friends and Kurama are doing their best... Don't go in there. You'd be in their way," the koorime told him growling. Seiya took a step back. Hiei was pissed about something, and he had learned real quick not to get in Hiei's way when he was that way. When Seiya backed up, Hiei returned to what he was doing, namely staring at a wall.

He had stared so much at that space on the wall that he was aware of every little imperfections. But he kept starring at it anyway, anything to keep his eyes off HER. He was still trying to figure out what had happened in that dojo. He only knew he wanted to kiss her all of a sudden, just like that. He was afraid to look back at her. When he looked into her eyes, he lost all contact with reality. He didn't like it one bit.

On the opposite side of the room, Makoto was having the same thoughts. What had possessed her to want to kiss Hiei. He was nice with her but still, he wasn't at all like the man she thought would sweep her off her feet. No, it must have been a passing thing, an accident. She couldn't bear to look at him. She kept looking out the window. She scolded herself, Yaten was between life and death and all she could think of was the kiss she almost shared with Hiei.

Haruka, who was just next to Makoto, pondered on her's and Hiei's reaction. When they came into the dojo, Haruka was surprised to see Makoto with him. She shrugged. After all, ever since Yaten and Kurama had started to be together, his friends would pop up from time to time. Since they helped them against that demon, the Senshi had been thankful for the help Kurama and his friends could offer. It was nice to have allies for a change. Haruka nudged Makoto to get her attention.

"What's wrong?" she asked the brunette. Makoto turned to look at her, then she turned her attention back to the window.

"Nothing." Makoto quickly replied.

"You know, when someone says that, there is usually a problem... Is it because of Hiei?" Haruka ventured.

"I told you, it was nothing!" Makoto snapped and she bolted away from where she stood. She sat down next to Redi. Haruka pondered, I must have hit a nerve... She looked to Hiei who seemed to act in the same strange way as Makoto. She smiled. Well, she thought, what do you know? She snickered to herself.

"I don't get it!" said Seiya suddenly. "Why would someone try to poison Yaten? It doesn't make any sense!"

"I don't think Yaten was the intended target..." started Maker. Everyone looked at her.

"What do you mean?" asked Usagi. Maker took off her visor and turned it toward her friends. Suddenly out of thin air appeared a holographic representation of the scene.

"You see..." she started "this is the way the entire scene was played." The figures moved and a dotted line representing the poisoned dart appeared. "As you can see, Yaten moved toward us at the last possible instant, taking the dart that was intended for Kurama."

"You mean the target was Kurama?" asked Minako.

"Yes and with Mercury, I analyzed the poison." continued Maker. "It contained a strong narcotic. If Kurama was hit he would have dropped unconscious and die for respiratory arrest in five minutes. Since Yaten was hit, Kurama was able to give her something to slow down the poison. That gave him time to work on an antidote. If Kurama was hit, there would have been nothing we could have done to prevent his death."

"Who ever did that was a coward, afraid of what Kurama is capable of doing." said Hiei, looking toward Maker, trying to avoid Makoto.

"But... why would someone want to do that?" asked Haruka.

"I was attacked yesterday..." started Hiei, every one looked at him. He could tell they wanted to know more. "Five ice demons attacked me, three of them managed to trap me in ice."

"Wow! This mustn't have been that tough if you're still here okay..." interrupted Minako.

"I... I had help, Sailor Jupiter..." he looked toward her, then glanced back to Minako. "She... she defeated them..."

Makoto was surprised he admitted that. Hiei was about to speak again when Mercury and Mamoru came out of Yaten's room.

"The danger is passed..." Mercury said, hugging Maker. Their forms shimmered and they turned back to Ami and Taiki. Redi smiled. She expected Seiya to break into a smile and sit next to her. He didn't. Instead, he rushed into Yaten's room to see if his sister was okay.

"Yaten!" he called out. He saw Kurama lift his finger to his mouth to shush him. He was sitting on the side of her bed, still holding on to her hand. She was asleep and with his free hand, he was dabbing her brow with a cool cloth.

"Let her sleep this out; she's exhausted." said Kurama. "If you don't mind, I'll stay a little while longer with her."

Seiya nodded and bit his lips. "Kurama... She wasn't the target. You were..." Seiya saw him tense up.

"Shimatta!" Kurama said between his teeth. "Seiya... I never wanted her to be hurt."

"I know... but we better and try to figure out who is after you and Hiei." replied Seiya. Kurama blinked.

"Hiei was attacked, too?" Kurama frowned, thinking. He rubbed Yaten's hand with his thumb. He looked up to Seiya. "May I use the phone?" Seiya nodded and brought it to him. Kurama called Yuusuke's home but he wasn't there. He then tried Kuwabara's place. He was out, Shizuru told him. He went out to shoot some pool with Yuusuke at their usual spot. Kurama thanked her and hung up.

"Seiya, I'm afraid some people are targeting the Reikai Tantei. Yuusuke and Kuwabara may be next. I'll..."

"Stay here with Yaten..." interrupted Seiya. "I'll take care of it with the help of a couple of friends. Where do they usually go to shot some pool?..."

"The fool! He missed!" said the figure in the shadow. "Now Urameshi and his cohorts will be on to us... All because that idiot couldn't shoot the right target!"

"We better strike now, partner, strike our targets before they have time to regroup." Said another figure. A third one nodded.

"No... No, we wait... Let's continue to observe them and see what information we can gather from them. Let them fall into a false sense of security, then we will strike. But I think the error of our ways was to strike individually. We shall strike them down together," replied the first figure.

"You said it well, Muraku..." said a man that just appeared out of nowhere.

"Kotoh, you stupid kamaitatchi. We dare appear before us..." Muraku said still cloaked in the shadows. "Because of you, the revenge for the death of our sibling must wait... We are NOT pleased." Kotoh gasped as he saw the three demons' eyes glowing at him.

"Muraku, Tiakko, Koorilyu... Peace! I will not fail you again..." said Kotoh trembling.

"You don't know how true that sentence is..." Muraku said. Lifting his hand to the heavens "ANKOKU-RAIZINKEN!" Kotoh only had time to open his eyes inhorror as lightning truck him with such a force he was instantly atomized.

"Indeed, you shall not fail us again..." Muraku sneered, he and the other two left the room.

"Redi-chan, I don't think it's a good idea for you to follow us..." started Mamoru. Redi looked straight at him.

"And why is that?" She asked, cocking her head.

"I don't think a pool hall is a place for a young lady." said her future father firmly.

"Oh yeah? Then why are Haruka and Makoto going with you?" Redi asked with slanted eyes. Mamoru face vaulted.

"She got you, there, Mamoru-san. Wouldn't you say so Mako-chan?" kidded Haruka. Makoto didn't answer. She still believed Haruka had insisted that she came with her, Mamoru, Seiya, Redi and Hiei. They were entering the pool parlor where Kurama told them Yuusuke and Kuwabara were. Hiei knew the place so he had taken them there. The place was not too bad but they seemed to have some rowdy patrons.

"Hey there, good lookin'" one leather clad man told Redi. "My name is Kai... What's yours?"

"Buzz off, creep!" replied Redi. The guy wouldn't take no for an answer. He put his arm around her shoulder.

"Aw, come on girl... I can show you a good time."

"Not interested..." Redi replied. The guy took her hand as she struggled against him. Mamoru was about to take care of that guy when Seiya turned around and landed an uppercut to the man's jaw. He fell down with a loud thud.

"The lady said she wasn't interested, Jerk!" Seiya told the unconscious guy on the floor. His friends came to give Seiya a lesson but Mamoru, Haruka and Hiei intercepted them. When they saw that Seiya had friends, they took off.

"Nice uppercut Seiya... " said a voice behind.

"Yuusuke!" said Seiya. They quickly sat at a booth. Yuusuke called for a pitcher of beer and they briefed Yuusuke and Kuwabara about what happened.

"So it seems," said Mamoru taking a small sip of his glass "...that some people are looking to do you in."

"So, what else is new?" replied Kuwabara. "Don't worry, we'll take care of it... no sweat!"

"I wish it were that simple." said Hiei. "But if the attempt on Kurama would have worked, he'd be dead now..."

"True..." said Yuusuke. "Is Yaten going to be all right?"

"She scared us for a while there, but with Kurama, Ami and Mamoru's help, she pulled through okay." replied Seiya.

"I suggest that you guys stay together, just in case somebody else tries something." said Haruka, taking a sip of beer.

"Well, I can always crash at Kuwabara's place and he can come with me to my mom's place. No problem." replied Yuusuke.

"We were thinking of asking Kurama to stay at our place until things cool off. I have an extra futon in my room." added Seiya.

"What about Hiei?" asked Redi. "Where will he go?"

"I can take care of myself. I never sleep in the same place twice..." Hiei replied. "I never take the same tree to sleep in..."

Makoto blinked; tree? Hiei slept in trees? "You... You don't have a place to stay?" she asked shyly. He shook his head.

"Well we can't let you be by yourself..." started Haruka. "Makoto... don't you have a folding bed?"

"Ooh... yeah but..." started Makoto.

"Then I'm sure Hiei can be a perfect gentleman and sleep on the folding bed, ne?" interrupted Haruka.

"Hiei... a gentleman?... HAH!" Kuwabara started to laugh, as if Haruka had just told a joke. Hiei, growling, got up.

"I can take care of myself... I don't need anyone!" he spat. He was about to leave when Redi stopped him.

"Don't listen to him, Hiei..." she said. "It would be best if you stayed somewhere with someone for a while... just in case. We can give you all communicators so you can stay in contact with us. But if another poisoned attack is successful and you're all alone... Well I'd rather not think about the consequences."

"Hiei, she's right you know..." said Yuusuke. "I'm sure if Kurama was here, he'd agree with her..."

Makoto sighed. She didn't want Hiei to be alone but at the same time she felt awkward to have him over. Especially after what happened... It's not that she didn't trust Hiei... Couldn't someone else shelter him?

"Very well... but where shall I go?" said Hiei.

"Well, Mamo-chan has a really small apartment and he's got a friend from Kyoto visiting. Our place is full I'm afraid. There is no place available at the temple..." started Redi. "And Minako's place is off limits because of her parents, so is Ami's place..."

"We don't have room at our place, either ..." add Haruka. She turned her head to Makoto. She cringed. Now she couldn't say no. She had the definite impression that Redi and Haruka were setting her up. Mamoru was a little against the idea of Hiei being alone with her, but he knew Makoto was a girl capable of defending herself.

So Makoto agreed to shelter Hiei for a couple of days. As they all got up to leave, Mamoru took Makoto aside while Haruka gave them communicators identical to Mamoru and the Three Lights. Those that looked like wristwatches. Hiei felt a little weird wearing that, but he wore it anyway. Haruka explained how it worked and how they could communicate with anyone on the team.

"Mako-chan..." started Mamoru. "I know that you feel maybe awkward about accepting a guy to live with you for a few days. If I didn't already have a friend crashing at my place, I would have taken Hiei in. Since I'm the closest to your apartment, Mako-chan, I want you to call me on the communicator if anything is wrong... I do mean anything..."

"Yes... thank you, Mamoru-san. I don't think there will be any problems but I'll remember what you told me. Don't worry..."

Mamoru nodded and bid her good night; when he turned around he realized Seiya and Redi were gone. He started to fume. Where could they have gone?

"It was very nice of you to escort me back to my place, Seiya-kun." said Redi, smiling.

"Well, you did ask me... How could I say no to a damsel in distress?" His reply made her chuckle. Having arrived, she turned around to face him. He looks so much like Mamo-chan, she thought. With the moonlight cascading on her, Seiya couldn't believe how much she looked like Usagi. They both stared at each other for a while. Seiya became acutely aware that he was just staring. Embarrassed, he scratched his head.

"Aaahhh... I better get going..." he said. He was about to turn away when Redi took a step forward.

"Don't I get a good night kiss, Seiya-kun?" she asked, her eyes sparkling.

Seiya was taken aback by her bold request. Sure, he was interested in kissing her. But something held him back. He couldn't figure out what it was. She looked at him expectantly, batting her eyelashes. He found he couldn't deny her request. He bent forward and kissed her.

"REDI-CHAN!!!!! GET IN HERE THIS INSTANT!!!!" yelled Usagi at the door. Seiya blushed and Redi giggled giving him another quick kiss before going into the house. Seiya was still in the same position when, just before she entered, she blew him another kiss. Usagi grabbed her and yanked her into the house. Once inside the house, Usagi started to sermon Redi about kissing Seiya like she did. Ikkuko and Kenji looked at their daughter with a weird look.

"Usagi-chan! Leave your cousin alone... It's none of your business..." said Ikkuko.

"I'll say, Usagi-chan... You're not her mother!" added Kenji.

They face vaulted as Usagi threw her arms in the air and grumbled about them never understanding and she headed back to her room. Redi also went into her room with a wistful smile on her face.

Seiya had come back to the apartment. He kept thinking about the kiss he just had with Redi. Part of him was happy to have someone who seemed to love him. Finally, after all this time watching Taiki and Yaten with the one they loved, he was finally in love himself. He was smiling all the way home, but something kept nagging him. He didn't know what it was, but somewhere, in the recesses of his mind, there was this small feeling of guilt. He shook it off, I've been alone so long, I'm starting to feel guilty about loving someone. He dismissed the idea when he came inside.

Kurama was still monitoring Yaten's health, when Taiki and Seiya told him he could stay for the night. They had prepared him a futon in Yaten's room just at the end of her bed.

Makoto and Hiei came back to her apartment. They both had kept silent for the entire length of the trip. Makoto wanted to say something, anything but the words kept themselves in her throat. Finally they were at her door when Hiei said.

"I'm sorry... for what happened..."

She entered the apartment as he closed the door, she replied. "It wasn't your fault... it happened..." she said softly.

She went to prepare the bed. They both kept silent while she took out some blankets. When she was finished, they both sat down and they felt embarrassed by the heavy silence. Suddenly both their stomachs growled at the same time. They both looked at each other blushing a little, then they started to chuckle, then laugh.

"So much has happened today..." she said after she finished laughing, "that I forgot I didn't have a bite since lunch..."

"I haven't had a bite, since breakfast..." admitted Hiei. Makoto looked at him with a slight frown.

"We have to correct that... Anything you would like to eat?" she asked.

"Well... " pondered the koorime. "Do you still have some of that food you gave Taiki... that looked good."

Makoto smiled and nodded, she took off for the kitchen and Hiei followed her. His stomach growling all the way.

Later that night, Makoto woke up. She put her nightgown on and went to check if Hiei was all right. The moonlight was streaming inside her apartment and it lighted it enough for her to see. She looked at the small koorime sleeping with a small smile on his face. With his eyes closed like that he looked so cute, not so fierce and aloof anymore. He had taken his headband off and she reached to brush a few hairs away. She gasped when she saw his third eye open and look at her. The whole eye was red and it turned to look at her. She took her hand back, expecting him to wake up any second now. But he continued to sleep. He whispered her name in his dream.

Makoto didn't know what to do. She kept staring at the Jagan and it kept staring back at her. Suddenly Hiei's body sat up and turned to face her. She looked at him incredulous, his normal eyes were still closed as if he was still asleep. Makoto's heart started to hammer in her chest. She was about to activate her communicator when Hiei whispered her name again, as though he was sleepwalking. He's dreaming? she gasped. He was was moving toward her. He reached for the back of her head with his hand and leaded her towards him.

Makoto's blood was coursing hot and cold in her veins. All she could hear was the beating of her heart in her ears. She wanted to yell out for him to wake up but she also realized she wanted that kiss. She closed her eyes and she felt his lips touch hers. Makoto's heart hammered even more. She felt dizzy by that kiss. He stopped kissing her long enough to whisper her name again. Hiei's lips were back on her mouth and she found that she responded to that kiss. She made some small mmm sounds as other kisses followed. She was still dazzled by that kiss when he stopped kissing her and reclined back on the bed. The Jagan looked at her one more time and it closed back.

Makoto, shaking with emotions she still was trying to figure out, got quickly off the bed. She turned to look back at him. His smile had broadened. Was... was he dreaming of me? she thought blushing. She climbed back into her own bed, her heart still hammering in her chest. She could still feel the pressure of Hiei's lips on hers. What had happened, she thought. She blushed furiously when she realized she wanted him to kiss her again.

End Part 5

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