" I know what you’re trying to do," Keiko grumbled to Yusuke, who pretended to be clueless.
" What would I be trying to do?" He gave her a smirk and peered over at the gathering of his friends in the den. He had the place to himself that weekend and planned to live it up.
" You think if you invite them over and keep them here I’ll let you get out of that homework assignment."
" Quite crafty, isn’t it?"
" I take it you never feel guilty about not keeping up with your work?" Kurama asked, flashing a bright smile and shining green eyes.
" Why should I?"
" Personally, when I have an assignment," Kurama continued, " if it’s not finished right away, it haunts me."
" My assignments never haunt me. Just the ones I gotta do for Koenma." Yusuke remarked. " Besides, it’s not due until Monday. I have all weekend to work on it. Nothing wrong with enjoying myself a little first."
" What is it that you’re doing anyway?" Kuwabara asked, lifting his glance from the handheld game he was playing.
" A stupid book report."
" What’s that?" Hiei spoke up, speaking for the first time all day. A brief silence marked the shock that he had taken sudden interest.
" A book report is when you read a book," Yusuke held up a book to give visual aid, " and write a report, or a paper on what the story is about along with other information. It depends on the teacher and of course I got stuck with the one who likes it thourough."
Hiei’s glance was slightly confused and yet slightly annoyed as well. Yusuke felt the tension and felt a sweat drop form, " Got it?"
" Why?"
" Why what?"
" Why do you have to do something like that?"
" It’s for a grade," Botan spoke up, almost regretting jumping in when Hiei turned his gaze to her. " He gets a grade for it if he does well. The grade determines if he passes the class or not."
" And if he doesn’t?"
" He takes it again.....unless he drops out."
Hiei was silent a long time and glanced at Yusuke. The sarcasm was very thick, " Oh, the tragedy."
Botan shook her head and returned her attention to Yusuke, " What book do you have to do a report on?"
Yusuke blushed, " I kinda started late so there wasn’t a very good choice left."
" There was no choice left," Keiko corrected. " He got stuck with Alice in Wonderland. And I aim to see him finish it."
Yusuke felt the heat rise when he heard the snickers from his company. Snickers from all but Hiei, who cocked his head to one side, contimplating very hard on the subject. " Let me see."
" Hiei?" From Kurama.
" Don’t question me, just give it."
Without argument, Yusuke tossed the paperback to Hiei, who examined it carefully. He even opened the book near the center. He studied the page carefully, even "hmmm"ed when he saw the little illustrations.
Kuwabara leaned in over Hiei’s shoulder, which in itself was an accomplishment, as he had to get up and crawl around the other side of him. " Boooooook," he pointed out, putting a finger on the top of the book in Hiei’s hands. The crimson eyes only peered momentarily at him before returning to the book.
" Wooooooooooords," Kuwabara continued. Hiei retorted with an annoyed exhale, but continued to dismiss him.
" Putting words together makes a sssssent.....ence." He continued with a chuckle. " When you follow a sentence, it’s called reeeeeeaaaaading."
Hiei was getting very annoyed and was very obvious with his narrow-eyed expression, turning to see Kuwabara out of the corner of his eye. The fuse had been lit.
" Awwwww, what’s wrong?" Kuwabara asked.
" Need something for that headache?"
That was it! Hiei made one swift movement with his left arm, slamming Kuwabara into the wall. " Kisama!"
" Play nice with the book, Hiei," Kurama snickered.
" Please," Yusuke shrugged. " It was the last copy they had. And it’s already been beat up over the years."
" You can relate, can’t you?" Kurama smiled, casting one of those "I’m just playing" glances at Hiei.
Hiei let out his trademark, "hn" and tossed the book back to Yusuke, " I think it’s stupid. And you’re not even getting anything out of it. Figures such a stupid pasttime would be a ningen one."
" I never said I wanted to do it!" Yusuke burst out. Hiei only replied by waving a hand in the air, " Then, don’t. What good will it do you?"
" Hiei!" Kurama scolded, " We’re having a hard enough time trying to get him to work without you giving him negative ideas."
" I kinda like Hiei’s id...." Yusuke never finished. Keiko had slapped a hand over his mouth, " You’re going to do it! And it will be this weekend. And I’m not leaving until it’s done!"
" Alright, alright," Yusuke huffed. " I’ll do it later, alright? I just want to relax a while."
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