Romance was not something that easily came to Hiei, even though he and Mukuro had been more than simply superior and subordinate for a couple of years now. At first, their relationship began to grow slowly into something more after the Demon World Tournament when Hiei decided to stay with Mukuro. After he went out of his way to free her from her past, it became obvious to the both of them that they cared deeply for one another more than previously thought, and they both silently welcomed this new bond.
Their relationship did not change drastically. Neither were the type to want to go frolicking in a field of flowers, laughing like love struck teenagers all the way. Instead, their relationship progressed in the sense that Hiei now took long naps beside her rather than across from her in his self-claimed chair. They ate meals together and occasionally shared a simple kiss. There was not hand holding, long meaningful conversations, or intimacy like there would be in most other relationships. Hiei knew this. He'd watched his friends enough to know that. The way Yusuke would playfully grope Keiko's backside in public to tease and embarrass her, the way Kuwabara would stammer out a disgustingly cute love poem he'd written out for Yukina. Even the way Kurama always insisted on paying for dinner no matter the price when he took girls out. Such gestures are something he could never imagine occurring between him and Mukuro.
It's not like he was complaining. He had everything he wanted with Mukuro right now. Though it did seem like there was something his friends and their lovers had that he and Mukuro didn't. He wasn't certain what that was exactly, but he could see the longing for that in Mukuro's eyes during her few visits to the human world.
"Thanks again for babysitting, Kurama. It means a lot, man." Yusuke smiled.
"We would normally ask Yukina but Kuwabara took her to the botanical garden that just opened." Keiko chimed in. "Ryota likes you too, though." She smiled at Kurama. "He won't be much trouble. He sleeps most of the evenings." Kurama glanced at the sleeping child and nodded his understanding
Yusuke and Keiko married right after the Demon World Tournament and tonight was their third-year anniversary. Keiko birthed a healthy baby boy five months ago, and tonight Kurama was in charge of watching over the child while Yusuke and Keiko enjoy their night out, but they didn't mind for Hiei to stick around, either. However, Keiko did make sure to make him promise he wouldn't curse around the baby. As if the infant would pick up on such habits when it could barely keep it's own head up. After Yusuke and Keiko left the home, and Kurama was certain they wouldn't be returning for forgotten items, he turned his attention to Hiei.
"So what brings you here, Hiei? Lovers quarrel, or are you genuinely interested in watching me change diapers tonight?" Kurama joked. He could always pick up when Hiei was seeking advice.
Hiei groaned. It embarrassed him to think Kurama knew him so well. It felt almost invasive, but he wasn't going to deny it this time. "Not exactly a lovers quarrel." He stated plainly, leaving room for Kurama to push on.
"Oh?" This was different. "What is it then?" he inquired. Hiei could barely find the words for this matter. Why hadn't he thought of what he would say beforehand? He opted to stay silent and not meet Kurama's eyes. Finally, Kurama pushed on.
"Did you two break it off?"
"No."
"Did she do something that you're not sure how to react to?"
"No."
"Did you..." Kurama paused. "Have se-"
"NO!" Hiei boomed, cheeks tinting red. He could never imagine being so intimate with Mukuro, at least not at this stage of their relationship. Kurama laughed and held his hands up pushing lightly at the air as to say relax.
"Sorry Hiei. She's been your girlfriend for more than a year now, I figured it might have been a possibility." Hiei crossed his arms. His eyebrow twitched.
"Mukuro is not my girlfriend." He explained. "She is a strong woman. Such a title is beneath her."
"Well, seems you care a lot for her to correct me like that." Kurama smiled and Hiei's face darkened more once he realized what he had just confessed to the fox demon. He was happy Mukuro did not hear him say that. He would never be able to face her again after such a statement.
"Hiei." Kurama almost whispered. "It truly is good to see you with someone who can truly understand you. I am happy you two were able to find each other." He smiled. Hiei didn't know what to say to that. No one had ever complimented their relationship like that. He had heard people tell Keiko and Yusuke they 'looked good together' countless times. He'd never imagined someone to say something similar about his and Mukuro's bond. It felt nice.
"Yeah." was all Hiei could reply with. Kurama understood.
"So what did you want to talk about? Or was a right about the diaper thing?
Hiei grimaced at the thought. "I wanted to ask you if..." he struggled for the right words again. "If you knew how to, uh." Shit. Why was this so hard? "I want Mukuro to know I care for her, but..."
"You don't know how to show her." Kurama finished for him. Hiei nodded and took a subtle sigh of relief. He swore getting those words out was the most complicated thing he had ever done in his long life and mentally thanked Kurama for figuring it out so soon.
Kurama pondered this for awhile. Hiei was beginning to think the fox demon did not know how to help him with this one. It wouldn't have surprised him, he was part of the relationship and couldn't even figure it out on his own. Finally, Kurama spoke up.
"Have you took her on a date before?" Hiei gagged a little on the inside as carnival rides, sugary snacks, and expensive films quickly flashed across his mind. He made a face to express his offended feelings toward the idea. Dates seemed too human to properly be enjoyed by demons like Mukuro and himself. Kurama knew exactly what was going through the fire demons mind.
"You know, you don't have to do what your sister and Kuwabara tend to do," he explained. Hiei rolled his eyes at the thought of his own twin sister hanging onto that buffoon's arm. "you can simply take a walk along the beach. Talk some. Mukuro certainly doesn't leave her fortress enough anyway. It might be nice." Kurama gave Hiei a reassuring smile. Before Hiei could give his thoughts on the proposal, Ryota began to stir awake and fitted for a bottle. By the time Kurama had him out of the playpen he was sleeping in Hiei had already made his way to the window, giving Kurama a final look over his shoulder before heading out into the late evening.