Authors Note: Hello everyone. This is something new that I'm trying out. It's a drabble series for the pairing of Kurama/Hiei set in the Yu Yu Hakusho universe. Every entry will range from 100-1000 words. No more, no less. Which is a challenge for me, but I kind of like it. Anyways, this series has no sequence. There is no order. Each prompt can be read separately. Some will take place as a 'behind the scene' kind of prompt, which means a continuation of a scene from the anime. Some will take place during specific arcs. Some will not. Some will just be random moments within the timeline. All the info is below, so I'm pretty much just rambling. :3 I hope you enjoy it. Please let me know what you think.

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho or it's characters (dammit). It's plot and characters and even dialogue all belongs to its respective owner(s). I make no money or profit from this. I has no monies. Sue me, and you might receive compensation in the form of a bunch of pens. Because that's pretty much all I have to my name.

The Crow and The Butterfly

Prompt Name: Gymnopedie
Timeline: N/A
Point of View: Hiei
Word Count: 981
Notes: Takes place during the series, not during any specific arc. Just a night that Hiei drops by.

There were plenty of times when I worried if the Ningenkai had tainted Kurama beyond repair. Moments were few and far between, but they were still there. Of course, there was the sentiments for his human mother. That front always made me uncomfortable. I watched him interacting with Shiori, and I was at a loss how he was really feeling each time. It was obvious he cared for her. Maybe I just wasn't used to the facade he put on around her. When Shiori was around, he wasn't Kurama. He was Suichi Minamino. And I didn't know Suichi. And then the humming started. A soft tune that he hummed quietly whenever his mind wandered when we were alone. The first time he did it, he didn't even know it. When I asked him about it, he said he didn't know he was even humming in the first place. Two days later, the same tune was once more being hummed. That time, I didn't say anything. Ever since, He'd been humming it. Probably unaware the entire time. I didn't know if I wanted to ask him about it or not.

It was dark when I reached his house, though he left his window open for me as he always did. I slipped inside, only to find the room was empty. That was odd. The lights weren't even on, but Kurama was definitely inside the house. His mother, however, was not. It didn't concern me one way or the other, but I wondered if I should just leave. If Kurama wasn't in his room, perhaps he was busy. I turned to go, but was stopped when I heard a very soft melody filling the house. I frowned, listening, and it only took me a second to pinpoint it as that same tune Kurama had been humming. Curiosity getting the best of me, I turned back in and followed the music down the stairs and to the other side of the house. The soft ballad was coming from the library room, and the door had been left cracked open.

I opened it and my eyes immediately landed on Kurama's silhouette, sitting on the chair of the grand piano that was on a raised platform next to the large window. I could see his fingers moving swiftly over the keys, the sound almost coming effortlessly. I moved closer into the room and took a good look at him, noticing his eyes were glazed over and had a faraway look. I frowned, wondering if he even noticed I was in the room with him. He didn't show any signs of stopping, so I let him be and took a sit on the window sill overlooking the backyard and just listened to it. It was soothing, in its own kind of way, though it was a bit somber for Kurama's taste. The song came to an end and I turned to watch Kurama as he sat still, his eyes still staring down at the keys, though that look from his eyes was gone. He was present and with me now.

"It's called Gymnopedie. It's composed by Satie." He said to me, turning to face me with a small smile. "I had almost forgotten how to play. The beginning was a little rocky." He finished quietly. I was silent for a while, unsure whether or not I was comfortable where this conversation was going. Or where the song was going. I finally just sighed and rested back against the window sill, feeling tired. Most of the day had been spent training with the dragon, and I was dead on my feet. Perhaps that was why I let this continue.

"What does it mean?" I asked him, shoving my hands into my pockets. I really didn't think it would make a difference if told me. I didn't understand this part of him. I didn't even know if I wanted to.

"The song that was playing when Yoko's spirit inhabited this body. I remember it." He said quietly. His eyes were staring out the window and then suddenly became clouded with anguish and regret. I frowned.

"Kurama." I said sharply, pulling him out of his stupor. He blinked a few times and looked at me.

"My mother's birthday is in a few days. She wants to celebrate it with her son. The son I took from her." He said, his voice void of emotion. I didn't like this and I could feel the hair on the back of my neck standing on edge. I stood up and walked over to where he was still sitting on the piano seat, noticing that he turned so he was no facing from the window and facing me. He looked up at me, his expression blank.

"Stop whining about information only you are privy to. As far as Shiori is concerned, she's not missing her son. She has no reason to. Self pity does not become you." I told him honestly. I went to walk past him, intent on sleeping somewhere else for the night, when his hand enclosed around my wrist. He pulled me back onto the raised platform and rested his head on my chest.

"Stay with me tonight." He told me. I debated it. "Don't make me use my tricks." He said teasingly. The corner of my mouth twitched upwards.

"I thought I told you not to manipulate me. If you want me to stay by your said, then just say it." I said curtly.

"Stay by my side." He said without hesitation. I grunted a ran a hand through his hair.

"Come. I've been training with the dragon all day. You're lucky I haven't passed out yet." I told him. He chuckled and stood up, grabbing a hold of my hand and leading me from the room, the piano left to bathe in the moonlight by itself for the night.