*Standard disclaimers*
Tanpopo (Dandelion)
Take (August 11, 2002)
******** Hiei watched the slender form crouching in the yard below, bright scarlet hair standing out even amongst the roses. Morning was the best time to work in the garden; light enough to see, and not yet hot enough to make it uncomfortable. The fire demon shifted on his tree branch then dropped lightly to the ground. He silently approached the gardener, noting the dirt staining the elegant fingers busily pulling out weeds.
"Hiei," Kurama greeted, not looking up from his task.
"Kurama." Hiei was content to watch his friend, just enjoying the silent companionship. He knew Kurama felt the same; several years of close partnership had negated the need for many words. Which suited Hiei just fine.
The two continued as they were, each savoring the quiet time spent in each other's presence. Faint sounds from the street drifted to their hearing; the neighborhood was beginning to stir.
Kurama finally sighed, sitting back on his haunches. Rolling his neck and shoulders, he stretched for a long moment. Peeking up through his bangs, he beckoned Hiei to come and sit by him. No sense getting a bigger neck ache, after all.
Hiei rolled his eyes in an expression of mock-suffering. He straightened from where he was leaning against the garden wall and went to seat himself on an unweeded patch of grass. "I don't see why you don't just use your youki to keep all these weeds away." He yanked up a dandelion for emphasis.
Kurama grinned, taking the hapless plant from Hiei. "That would be cheating." He twirled the weed, gazing at the white fluffball of seeds. "Besides, I rather like dandelions." He'd left those out of his weeding.
"Why? They have no place here. They're intruders, eyesores." Hiei frowned. There were times when he just didn't understand the youko.
"They're survivors," Kurama countered. "No matter what's thrown at them, they keep coming back. They fight for the right to live from the moment they sprout, and they succeed, for the most part." He plucked a bloom off a nearby dandelion and handed it to Hiei. "Stubborn little things. I find it admirable, don't you?"
Hiei snorted. A quick burst of youki and the flower in his hand disappeared with a puff.
"As for eyesores," Kurama continued, "Not everything has to be a rose to be beautiful." Kurama nodded at several dandelions growing between his rose bushes. "Those have their own brand of beauty."
Hiei reached out and ripped up another dandelion, shaking off the clump of earth its roots clung to tenaciously. "Looks like they're leeching resources from the plants that *should* be there." He tossed the plant into the bucket of weeds.
"Did you know," Kurama said casually, "that in some parts of the world people think that dandelions are beneficial to a person's health? It's thought that eating the greens of the plant helps thin the blood." He blew on the ball of seeds in his hand, sending bits of white fluff into the air.
Hiei watched the seeds float away on the breeze. "Congratulations. You just ensured another generation. Not to mention giving your neighbors a neck ache."
Kurama shrugged. "Someone has to look out for them. Even if it means upsetting others."
"Hmm." Hiei looked at the youko, who returned his gaze steadily. His lips quirked slightly at the corner. "Roses and dandelions."
Kurama smirked back. "The best combination in the three worlds."
~Owari~
Tanpopo (Dandelion)
Take (August 11, 2002)
******** Hiei watched the slender form crouching in the yard below, bright scarlet hair standing out even amongst the roses. Morning was the best time to work in the garden; light enough to see, and not yet hot enough to make it uncomfortable. The fire demon shifted on his tree branch then dropped lightly to the ground. He silently approached the gardener, noting the dirt staining the elegant fingers busily pulling out weeds.
"Hiei," Kurama greeted, not looking up from his task.
"Kurama." Hiei was content to watch his friend, just enjoying the silent companionship. He knew Kurama felt the same; several years of close partnership had negated the need for many words. Which suited Hiei just fine.
The two continued as they were, each savoring the quiet time spent in each other's presence. Faint sounds from the street drifted to their hearing; the neighborhood was beginning to stir.
Kurama finally sighed, sitting back on his haunches. Rolling his neck and shoulders, he stretched for a long moment. Peeking up through his bangs, he beckoned Hiei to come and sit by him. No sense getting a bigger neck ache, after all.
Hiei rolled his eyes in an expression of mock-suffering. He straightened from where he was leaning against the garden wall and went to seat himself on an unweeded patch of grass. "I don't see why you don't just use your youki to keep all these weeds away." He yanked up a dandelion for emphasis.
Kurama grinned, taking the hapless plant from Hiei. "That would be cheating." He twirled the weed, gazing at the white fluffball of seeds. "Besides, I rather like dandelions." He'd left those out of his weeding.
"Why? They have no place here. They're intruders, eyesores." Hiei frowned. There were times when he just didn't understand the youko.
"They're survivors," Kurama countered. "No matter what's thrown at them, they keep coming back. They fight for the right to live from the moment they sprout, and they succeed, for the most part." He plucked a bloom off a nearby dandelion and handed it to Hiei. "Stubborn little things. I find it admirable, don't you?"
Hiei snorted. A quick burst of youki and the flower in his hand disappeared with a puff.
"As for eyesores," Kurama continued, "Not everything has to be a rose to be beautiful." Kurama nodded at several dandelions growing between his rose bushes. "Those have their own brand of beauty."
Hiei reached out and ripped up another dandelion, shaking off the clump of earth its roots clung to tenaciously. "Looks like they're leeching resources from the plants that *should* be there." He tossed the plant into the bucket of weeds.
"Did you know," Kurama said casually, "that in some parts of the world people think that dandelions are beneficial to a person's health? It's thought that eating the greens of the plant helps thin the blood." He blew on the ball of seeds in his hand, sending bits of white fluff into the air.
Hiei watched the seeds float away on the breeze. "Congratulations. You just ensured another generation. Not to mention giving your neighbors a neck ache."
Kurama shrugged. "Someone has to look out for them. Even if it means upsetting others."
"Hmm." Hiei looked at the youko, who returned his gaze steadily. His lips quirked slightly at the corner. "Roses and dandelions."
Kurama smirked back. "The best combination in the three worlds."
~Owari~
