Kurama leapt, his long legs uncoiling, propelling him high into the air, red hair streaming out behind him like tongues of flame. One hand reached out and caught around a branch as he flew, and he landed cat-like, crouched on top of it. Gracefully, he stretched to his full height, luxuriantly arching back against the trunk, one slender hand brushing idly through his hair. As he drew it out again, there appeared a rose, balanced perfectly between fingers and thumb, the thorns curving wickedly, but none piercing his flesh. He twirled the stem between the pads of his fingers, sending down a soft shower of fragile pink petals.

"Well, Hiei?"

And then the stationary figure on the ground below blurred into movement, as Hiei began the chase. In barely an eyeblink, he had reached the branch where Kurama had been, to catch nothing but a fistful of sweet-scented petals, as Kurama somersaulted towards the ground, landing with a whisper of sound before speeding off through the park. Hiei watched him for a moment, tapered fingers caressing the velvety petals captured in his palm. And then he was darting in the fox-spirit's wake, nothing but a dark blur to any who would watch.

As he bounded down into the small vale, Kurama could feel Hiei's presence drawing closer, and he began to make quick turns and abrupt changes of direction in an attempt to shake him off. Hiei's shorter stature gave him the advantage in the tangled forest growth, and Kurama weaved towards the open ground. He flipped over a fallen treetrunk, and put on a last burst of speed.

But it was to no avail. He felt the touch of fingertips against his shoulder, and then saw the swirl of black as his companion vaulted lightly over his head to land in front of him. Kurama dug his heels into the ground to halt his mad flight, coming to rest directly in front of Hiei, who stood silently, his bare arms folded across the black material of his tunic, his face expressionless.

"You win again!" Kurama broke into a delighted smile, his emerald eyes sparkling merrily.

Hiei's only response was the slight cock of an eyebrow. "I still do not understand the point of this game. You know I am faster than you. Why do you insist on playing if you cannot win?"