The cheerful "ding-dong!" of a doorbell sounded throughout the small dwelling, informing the habitants of the guest's arrival. Moments later a woman answered the door, smiling happily at the blue-haired girl who waited.

"Is Shuuichi home?" the girl inquired.

"You must be Yukina," the woman gushed. "I'm so glad to meet you. Shuuichi's told me so much about you." Taking a second to consider it, the woman realized her son hadn't really said much about the girl at all, but it seemed like the appropriate thing to say. Besides, it'd make the girl feel like her son was really into her, and that could only help the woman's mission. After going so long wondering why her Shuuichi never took girls out on dates, she was determined to make sure he didn't let this one go easily. "He'll be out shortly; last minute preparations and all."

As if on cue, the redhead appeared behind his mother. "Hello, Yukina-chan," he smiled at his guest. With a kiss to his mother's cheek, and a promise not to be out late, the green-eyed boy and his friend left.

His mother watched as they went, smiling to herself. "It's about time," she said to nobody in particular. "About time he showed an interest in girls. I was starting to worry...."

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

The pair walked a bit down the street, approaching a vehicle parked a few blocks from the young man's home. Inside the car was a rather large teen, with curly red hair, and standing outside the vehicle, leaning against it casually, was a much shorter youth, who couldn't have been more than five feet tall, with spiky black hair and red eyes.

"I wanted to thank you, Yukina-chan," the green-eyed youth spoke softly before reaching their awaiting friends. "You didn't have to go out of your way for us."

The girl smiled happily, "it's no problem. I enjoy helping you in this...difficult situation."

Upon reaching the rest of their group, Yukina nodded and waved to the shorter boy, then got in the car, giving her boyfriend a hug in greeting.

The other youth approached the black-haired one, assessing him gently with soft eyes. "Hiei...."

"Kurama."

It wasn't long before they found themselves in a tight embrace. The months they'd gone unable to see each other, the missing, the longing, all were expressed wordlessly as they held each other.

"I'm sorry," Kurama choked as he pulled back. "I'm sorry it has to be like this. And I hate going behind my mother's back like this, but if it's the only way I can see you..."

Hiei stared at him a moment, face blank but eyes intense. "The situation...it's not your fault...but …there's nothing we can do to change it. We can only deal with it. Any way I can see you...is good enough for me."

There was a moment of silence, then the short yokai tilted his head towards the waiting vehicle, and they got in, off to a somewhat forbidden double date.

~owari~