For the third morning in a row, Kurama woke with a groan and stumbled to the bathroom. Hugging the porcelain god, he violently emptied the contents of his stomach into the bowl, and sat there for a long time with his head resting against its cool surface, before dragging himself to his feet and going to the sink to wash his face.

Regarding his reflection in the mirror, he frowned. This whole ordeal was taking its toll. His eyes looked somewhat dull, and were ringed by wide, dark circles, dappled by prickle-bruises from the force of his frequent regurgitations. His hair was looking a bit lank, and his cheeks seemed a bit too hollow, despite the fact he'd begun to feel unpleasantly bloated, of late.

Swiping a pale hand across his face, he frowned as he noticed how long his nails had gotten. He'd have to remember to trim them. Though he could have sworn he'd done that only three days ago.

He'd had to tell Botan of his recent misfortune. Koenma had been annoyed, when the Fox had refused to answer his work-related calls, and he'd sent the Angel of Death to check up on the newer Reikai-Tantei. Though she'd been taken aback, Botan had proven to be very helpful. She'd shown up the next day with bags full of women's clothing, for him to try. Some had been a bit too small for his modest and somewhat classical tastes, but one of her kimonos in a deep shade of pink had caught his eye, and he wandered absently back to the bedroom to retrieve it.

He was just wrapping the midnight blue obi about his slim waist, when Hiei unlocked the front door with the extra key and wandered in as if he owned the place. Kurama gave him a wan smile, and his lover looked him over critically, nodding his approval at the Fox's chosen attire. Then Hiei's gaze traveled to the Kitsune, himself.

"You look like shit."

"Why thank you. And you're looking fresh and lovely as a fucking spring day, as well," Kurama retorted dryly, and ambled to the kitchen for a weak cup of tea.

Hiei shrugged at Kurama's now-common snappishness and absently followed. As the Kitsune went through the motions of preparing his tea, Hiei scrounged about in the `fridge, emerging with leftover lo mein, from the night before. As he opened the container, Kurama's nose wrinkled and twitched, and he shoved the demon aside inexplicably, making a mad dash for the bathroom, again.

He didn't make it, and had to settle for the wastebasket beside the desk, hunching over it on hands and knees, until all that remained were painful dry heaves.

Sighing, Hiei frowned and went to kneel beside Kurama, catching up his hair and smoothing it down his back, out of his way. There was that concern, needling at him, again. His frown deepened, and he resigned himself to giving a damn.

The Kitsune had begun to tremble violently, from his repeated exertions, and it was a while before Hiei realized he had begun to cry.

"Kurama?" Hiei blinked in confusion.

"What's wrong with me?" his lover answered with a question of his own, in a choking wail.

Shaking his head, Hiei answered quietly. "I don't know. I wish I did."

Surprised, the Koorime realized it was the truth. Reaching out, he pulled the shivering Kitsune into his arms, holding him as he cried, stroking his hair until he calmed.

Kurama had become frighteningly pale, and he felt warm to the touch. Hiei scooped his long, silk-clad form into his arms and stood, carrying him into the bedroom and laying him gently out on the futon. With an absent gesture, he flickered out. There was the briefest splash of running water. Then he flickered back in, placing a damp cloth across the Kitsune's brow.

Kurama smiled thinly and closed his eyes, pressing a thin hand against the compress. Hiei covered him with a light blanket, and waited until he drifted off to sleep, before wandering to the living room and stretching out on the sofa to sleep, as well.

Hiei awoke sometime well after dark to find Kurama outlined by the yellow light of the open `fridge door. It took him a moment to realize two ice cream cartons lay empty at the Kitsune's feet, and he seemed to be rooting about for more.

"Kurama... you're going to get sick."

"Hungry," came the Fox's grunt in response to the warning.

Hiei shrugged and sighed. Hauling himself from the sofa, he wandered to the kitchen and peered around Kurama's arm. The Kitsune scowled.

"They're gone," he announced unhappily, upon finding no more Rocky Road. Hiei smirked, and wrapped his arms about the Kitsune's waist, which had recently acquired a little bit of padding.

"I believe I've found them, dear," his eyes glittered with rare mischief. But Kurama only craned his neck to stare at him.

"I'm hungry," he repeated irritably.

"All right," Hiei sighed again, and slipped his arms from around his lover's waist resignedly.

"I want ice cream. Now." Kurama's green eyes bored holes in Hiei's brow. The demon frowned, jaw setting.

"You can wait `til tomorrow."

"But, I'm hungry N-O-W." Kurama's glare intensified, and Hiei actually took an involuntary step back, as the Fox's green eyes flashed gold.

"Fine!" the demon snapped, and headed for the door.