Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall...
Part V

By Caithi'on

Standard Disclaimers

He was a fool, a complete and utter fool, running towards his own destruction. And it was bitter, so bitter...

Kurama poked the irritable fire-demon. "Ne? Ne?"

Hiei swatted his hands away and leapt up into a nearby tree. "Or you'll do what, Kurama-chan?" He smirked.

"I am not a girl!" Kurama shrieked. "Kisama! Get down here so I can ring your scrawny neck!"

"Ineffective tactics."

"But, Hiei! I explained why it would be better not to tell the team!"

"I disagree."

"Hiei! This is no laughing matter! You might be able to take it in stride, but it will ruin our ability to work as a team! Can you imagine a human's reaction to such a thing? An adolescent, male human's?"

'Take it in stride?' Is that what you call it, Kurama? Hiei snorted. "Maybe it'll open their eyes." Like it opened mine.

"Hiei!"

The agonized squawk startled a flock of nesting birds. Hiei dove out of his tree to avoid a multiple collision. Snarling, he poked a finger in Kurama's direction. "They deserve to know why you've left the team!"

Kurama was dumb-struck. "'Left the team'?"

Hiei still radiated anger. "Of course."

"But I'm not—"

"Don't be a fool! You can't fight like that — you're a menace to us!"

"All right, so give me a few days. It shouldn't take long, and—"

"Kuraaaama! There you are!"

Botan swooped down on the two combatants, a preoccupied look on her face. Both demons treated the ferry girl with a dark glare, remnants of their argument. It didn't phase her. Indeed, it couldn't, she was too busy trying to organize the exhausting day ahead. As she slowly turned her mind to the topic at hand their looks began to register.

Oh boy, Kurama's been pushing buttons again. By the looks of it, Hiei's finally taken enough. Damn! Much as I'd love to, I have no time to get to the bottom of things...

"Koenma sent me to find you. He said it was important... Here!"

The small communicator tumbled down, buffeted by the draft Botan created as she took off skyward once more. Kurama caught it neatly, blinking.

"Was it just me, or did she seem in a rush?"

"Hn. Stupid humans probably killing each other off in mass quantities."

Kurama scowled. "That's not funny!" He would have said more, but the sudden beeping of the communicator cut him off. "Eh? Oh!" He flipped it open. "Moshimoshi?"

A harassed looking godling appeared. "Kurama! Where have you been?! I don't have time to track you down on top of everything else! ...Anyway, I found an answer to your problem. It's really simple, just expose yourself to a female of carrying capacity for some time. Your body should then register that there is no need for two females, and return to its normal sex. At least, that's supposedly why female youko go to the most remote area possible and call the males to them... according to Jabinshiko's Treatise of Youko Breeding Patterns. Never heard of the thing before, but— Ahh! Dammit, George! That's all!" The screen went blank.

Kurama closed the communicator slowly. A soft laugh built somewhat wildly. "Ah. So simple." Only, can I keep my cover for the length of time necessary? And in such close proximity to a woman? Human women have a sixth sense, after all, even if they never learn to develop it.

"Who?"

Kurama started, having forgotten the silent figure by his side. "Who to follow around?" A nod. "I'm not sure. My best bet would be someone who doesn't know me well." Or doesn't know me at all... "Ah! Depaato!"

Hiei's heart stopped momentarily. In public? Is he insane?! "Sou desu ka?" he asked coldly.

"Sure!" The clear green eyes began to glow. "And I haven't had a chance to go shopping in years!" Oops... He squashed his unnatural enthusiasm. Hormones again... I can't wait to return to my normal state. I don't remember it being this different as a youko. Must be the human side... "Better hurry," Kurama mused aloud, "or my excuses for mother will become even more unlikely..."

Why am I here? Hiei scowled as he slid from shadow to shadow, no mean feat in the well-lit department store. What in the seven hells will I get out of this? He froze as the redhead turned, seeking. Damn, I think he sensed me...

But no, the fox in human guise continued his path from rack to rack, exclaiming softly if something caught his attention. In order to act out his plan, Kurama had gone full-out. He had first taken the train for several hours, going far enough north that no one would recognize him. Then he donned his "disguise": a long, flowing skirt and a simple shirt. No one questioned his right to spend hours staring at women's lingerie... even if, in doing so, he managed to always be beside a fellow shopper. He chatted gaily with the women he encountered, endearing himself to total strangers.

Should I be surprised? He's always had a gift for lowering people's defenses. A particularly useful trait in the Makai.

Through it all, Hiei followed him silently — watching for an attack.

He is a fool to expose himself with his fighting ability so low. I know he would never trust me to guard his back... how little he understands his power.

It had been a long struggle: denying his fascination, his attraction. Finally, something had destroyed his last defense, making him face the truth. Perhaps it was the wound, perhaps the form... perhaps the weakness...

Damn Kurama.

Hiei moved again, careful to keep an unobstructed view of both the store and Kurama. He didn't boast an overwhelming knowledge of the Ningenkai (what a foolish thing to be proud of), but he put what he had learned over the past ten years to good use. This told him that even someone as charming as Kurama couldn't loiter forever.

How long does he intend to stand in this place? Koenma must have been mistaken; if something hasn't happened in five hours, it's not likely to now.

He watched warily as a business-like woman approached the browsing kitsune. She stood behind him silently for some time, casting a solid shadow of disapproval. Kurama, however, masterfully pretended to be engrossed in his shopping. She cleared her throat, and Kurama turned quickly, forgetting to drop the silky something in his hands.

"Sumimasen," they said in unison.

Kurama bowed to the older woman, waiting for her to speak.

"Sumimasen," she began again, "but are you intending to purchase anything today?" She looked pointedly at his hands clutching the silky object.

"Ah..." Kurama actually blushed, and Hiei leaned forward for a clearer view of this rare event. "Gomen nasai... I-I was just looking," Kurama finished lamely, before being driven from the store by the woman's steely gaze.

"Che." Hiei followed, narrowing the space between them until he could reveal himself with no humans noticing. "What the hell are you doing?"

Kurama started in surprise. Although his face was blank, his mind was disturbed. That's twice today I felt him near me, but didn't consciously realize it. "Following Koenma's orders, of course," he said in answer to the earlier question. A glance at his stern companion and he couldn't resist. "And when am I ever going to have an opportunity as perfect as that to satisfy my curiosity on women's underwear?"

Hiei made a disgusted sound and disappeared from view. "Humans..." drifted behind him.

Kurama's eyes hardened. No, I'm not a human, Hiei. I may not be the same youko as before, but I'm no weaker. Is that what you're trying to prove? Your supremacy? Well, I won't be an easy prey for you!