What If? -a YYH/RK crossover Part 23 ---------------------------------------- Kurama stared after the two departing females, a massive sweatdrop forming on the back of his head. (1) Think Lolita complex, only with the sexes switched around. ^_^ Basically, older women with a thing for young, kawaii boys. *grin* He sighed, absently stroking Hiei-chan's back. Could things get any *worse*? The oblivious perpetrator of all his present problems snuggled closer, purring loudly. Kurama gave the warm, fuzzy child on his lap a fond, but exasperated, look. Several hentai, and totally inappropriate suggestions came to mind. Kurama blushed and immediately crammed those thoughts down a deep hole. "Hiei," Kurama shook the little demon's shoulder. "Can you get off me please?" He quicky killed that train of thought, mentally bopping himself on the head. "Mmmph...don't wanna." Hie-chan buried his face in Kurama's silky locks. "Anou..." Kurama struggled to control his hormones, which seemed to be waking with a vengeance. "We can't stay here all night..." A sibilant voice whispered suggestively. he snarled, mentally snap-kicking the annoying voice into orbit. "Don't wanna move," Hiei-chan said sulkily, arms tightening around the taller youko. Kurama gently disengaged himself from the little youkai's grasp. "Come on, Hiei, we can't keep our hosts waiting." Hiei-chan pouted, before reluctantly clambering off the redhead's lap. Kurama quickly stood up as well, silently brushing off the wrinkles on his kimono. He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror, and winced, pride smarting from the low blow. Gah, he looked just like a woman! Mou, Hiei was *so* going to get it. Himura-san wasn't going to be spared either. He had a reputation to maintain after all. Kurama was only glad Yuusuke and Kuwabara hadn't been with them when he'd used Koenma's little gadget. Inari, if any of his friends ever saw him like this, he'd never live it down. * * * * * Aoshi calmly sipped his tea, casting surreptitious glances at the redheaded rurouni kneeling by his side. His dark eyes swept over the other man's slender form, lingering on the soft richness of his hair and the graceful curve of his back. The light from the open doors struck the other man's fiery mane as he poured himself a cup of the soothing brew, making it burn like living fire. With supreme self-control, the former leader of the Oniwa Banshu stopped himself from reaching out and stroking the crimson strands. He turned his attention back to his rapidly cooling tea, and sighed wistfully. What a damnable waste. * * * * * The author would like to mention at this point that Aoshi is still quite steadfastly maintaining the position that he is straight, and not gay. He just happens to go for redheads with long silky hair and slender figures. Really. I'm not kidding. ... ... ... *sweatdrops* If you've all finished laughing, we'll go back to our regular program now. * * * * * Kurama took a deep breath. It was now or never. Preferably never, but hey, c'est la vie, ne? Plastering a smile on his face, he slid open the door. * * * * * Aoshi struggled to keep his face impassive, calling upon years of carefully nurtured discipline to keep himself from strangling the two annoying women currently giving him the third degree. Feh, how *did* the Battousai manage to stand these onnas? It boggled the mind, it truly did. Raising his cup back to his lips, he went back to staring at the apologetic face of his former enemy, resolving to ignore the inane babbling Kaoru and Megumi were doing. Hn, the view was a heck of a lot better over there anyway. The silent warrior had just settled himself down for a good hour or so of Kenshin-watching when the door slid open, and a slim, graceful figure stepped into the room. Aoshi turned his head, took one look at the beautiful redhead, and promptly dropped his cup. <...Utskushii...> On the heels of that thought came , and Obviously, *somebody* hadn't noticed the clothes quite yet. *snicker* The author rubs her hands in anticipation. *evil, EVIL grin* * * * * * "Kurama-san!" Sanosuke called out happily, eagerly springing to his feet. *Finally*. He'd nearly gone out of his head waiting for his goddess to appear. "Would you like to sit down and have some tea?" He gestured towards his recently vacated seat, his expression fairly crying "Yes! Sit here! Then, I'll sit down here beside you and hand you your tea, and then our fingers will *accidentally* brush, then I'll catch your eyes and *then*--" * * * * * A short pause while the author makes slight gagging noises. Saa, let's cut that short, now shall we? We *are* a bit pressed for time. (Not to mention, the author is beginning to make herself sick.) * * * * * Hiei-chan, child though he may be at the moment, was certainly far from blind. He had three perfectly good eyes after all. He quickly stepped in between the two youths, intercepting the ningen's gaze and returning it with one that said "Mine. Touch. Die." * * * * * The author would like to take a short moment to ponder on the similarities between Hiei-chan's response and the Shin Sen Gumi's motto of "Aku. Soku. Zan." (2) (2)"Sin. Swift. Slay." Coincidence? ... ... ... I think not. * * * * * Sano gulped, taking a small step back. He had completely forgotten about the little brat from hell. Kurama sighed, turning Hiei-chan around and giving him a stern look. With a quietly whispered, "Hiei, behave yourself!", she gracefully took the proferred seat, giving Sanosuke a small smile as she did so. Sano weakly smiled back. Then he prudently sat down several meters away, just in case. Hiei-chan's face filled with smug satisfaction as he triumphantly plopped himself down, right where that baka ningen had been planning to be. Hn, no one was allowed to sit by his Kurama-chan but *him*. * * * * * Kenshin's violet eyes sparkled with barely suppressed mirth. This was getting better by the minute! He suddenly wished that he had one of those Western camera things. Aoshi's expression was simply priceless. A small, mostly ignored part of the rurouni's soul twinged at the possibility that the handsome Oniwa Banshu had fallen under the other redhead's spell. The larger part of his conscious mind nonchalantly squashed that emotion, and settled back to enjoy the show. * * * * * Aoshi cleared his throat, bowing slightly in the direction of the fascinating redhead sitting across from him. "I don't think we've been introduced...?" he hinted, dark eyes watching the youth with thinly veiled admiration and *just* a bit of sulky disappointment. He *obviously* still hadn't noticed exactly *what* the object of his attentions was wearing. Aah...such innocence. *snicker* The ponytailed owner of the dojo let out a startled exclamation. "I almost forgot, you haven't met her yet, have you?" Aoshi's heart lifted as he heard the magic words. He tore his gaze away from the redhead's face and looked down. It couldn't be... "This is Kurama-san, Kenshin's little sister," Kaoru blithely continued, totally oblivious to Aoshi's rising hopes. "And the little boy beside her is their cousin, Hiei-chan." It *was*. Aoshi couldn't believe his luck. Then his eyes widened as his mind processed the last bit of what Kaoru had said. Kenshin's sister?? He hadn't realized the Battousai had any relatives at all, at least none living. He gave the lovely young woman a suave smile, introduced himself properly, then reached out, took one slender hand and raised it to his lips. Kurama's face immediately turned pink, and he barely managed to restrain himself from yanking his hand back. Hiei-chan immediately saw red, and didn't bother restraining himself at all. "Omae o korosu!!!"