Thanks for the reviews…… :) Be fore warned….I spilled a little lemon juice….
Chapter 2
At around midnight Hiei keyed into his beach house. Walking through the dark house to the kitchen, he turned on the light before opening the refrigerator and grabbing a drink.
Standing at the counter, he took big gulps of the cool liquid. He was exhausted, dirty and in desperate need of a shower. Finishing the fluid, he went to turn off the light, but paused as he heard noise coming from the bedroom. The bedroom door opened and out came a red headed man wearing nothing but pajama bottoms.
Letting out a yawn, Kurama shuffled into the kitchen like the walking dead. "You're home late." He mumbled.
"Sorry to wake you, we got called out about an hour before end of shift." Hiei said, tossing the bottle in the trash as the red head came over and gave him a hug from behind.
"That's okay. I'll sleep like a baby once you come to bed." Kurama said, kissing him on top of the head.
"Let me shower first." Hiei said, turning to give him a quick kiss on the lips before walking off.
Kurama watched as the smaller man walked towards the bathroom, stripping as he went. It wasn't until the bathroom door close that he turned off the light and made his way back to bed, picking up errant pieces of clothing as he went.
A few minutes later, the black haired slid between the sheets and the red head snuggled up against him.
"Ooh, you're still wet." Kurama complained.
"Sorry, I have to be at work at ten." Hiei whispered.
"I'll be gone way before then, there's another trip coming up." He heard Kurama mutter into his back.
Hiei hated to hear that. After Kurama had accepted a promotion last year, he was now required to travel. In the beginning, it was every other month or so and usually no more than three days at a time, but lately, he was traveling more and more.
"The keys are on the coun…" He started to say, but stopped when Kurama muttered.
"Okay."
About a month after the pair started staying together at the beach house, they stopped playing leap frog with the cars. Whoever left first took whichever car 'not' pinned in the short, one lane, drive way.
"I should be getting off at a reasonable time tonight, six or so, so I'll just head to your place." Hiei said.
Light snoring was his only response, as the red head was out.
Hiei laid there for a few minutes until sleep finally claimed him as well.
a)a)a)a
Hiei keyed into Kurama's loft a little before seven that evening to see the red head sitting at his desk.
Kurama got up to greet him, asking. "So how was your day?"
Sitting his pack on the table, he said. "Oh…you know, just the usual…car accident, man having a heart attack at a restaurant…..putting up with Kuwabara." He shrugged. "But Mitarai was glad I'd brought the Z, he really likes that car and says he'll take it off your hands when you're ready to part with it."
"I'm sure he would, but I'm afraid he's going to have to wait quite awhile." Kurama smiled.
"That's what I told him." Hiei smirked.
The black haired looked over to the desk, which Kurama had bought after his promotion because he found himself bringing his work home and was tired of having to clear off the dinning room table. There was a new large stack of folders and binders on it.
Seeing where the red eyes were looking, Kurama said softly. "Sorry, but I have a few things that need to get done before this trip."
"Have you had dinner yet?" Hiei asked.
"I don't even know what time it is." Kurama muttered, suddenly feeling exhausted as he looked at the kitchen clock.
"I'll whip something up. You finish and then we'll curl up and watch that movie I bought." Hiei offered, going over and washing his hands before digging into the cabinets. Kurama had finally broke a few months ago and bought a table top flat screen TV. It set on a small rolling cart next to the bed along with a DVD player. The two found themselves enjoying watching action movies as a way to make time together and relax.
"Sounds good, I hope not to be too long." Kurama said, going back to the desk.
Half an hour later and dinner was prepared. "That's enough, come eat." Hiei said.
The tired red head stopped, stood up and stretched. "Coming…just let me wash my hands."
The pair sat down to eat and after a few minutes, Hiei broke the silence. "Yukina's having a cookout on Sunday."
"You're off?" Kurama asked, picking at his food.
"Yeah, this weekend at least. I told you Monday." Hiei said. A little perturbed at the red head for not seeming to remember.
"Did you?" Greens eyes looked up to see red ones looking at him.
"So much for your memory." Hiei said, rolling his eyes. He had meant it as a joke, but Kurama didn't seem to take it that way.
"Excuse me, but I have a lot to do before this trip. I've got other stuff to think about besides remembering your….." He seemed to faultier in what he was going to say when he saw the red eyes going wide.
"No, you're right. My shifts are all over the place. You at least work 9 to 5 and have weekends off." Hiei knew that was no longer true. Kurama hadn't worked a 40 hour week since he was promoted, he was lucky if it was under 60.
"I have new responsibilities which require a lot more attention." Kurama stated firmly.
"I know you do, but I have to be available whenever people like you have a car accident, heart attack, or try to commit suicide because of all the stress you're under." Hiei said, just as firm.
Kurama sighed then smirked. "Touché." Knowing Hiei had a point. They had found themselves needing to vent sometimes as both enjoyed their jobs, just not the stress that came with it at times.
"So." Hiei smiled. The small battle of words over, for each was already forgiven, though no 'sorry(s)' were said, nor were they expected.
"Well, how bad can she mess up a cookout?" The red head wondered aloud. Having learned over the past year or so just how bad Hiei's twin sister Yukina's cooking can be.
"When she insists on doing the grilling and not letting Kuwabara help." Hiei smirked.
"Do you know what time?" Kurama asked, squirming some in his seat and rolling his shoulders.
"No, but it will probably be towards the evening." Hiei replied, looking up. "You okay?" He asked, noticing the movement.
"Just stiff from sitting at a desk all day…..and evening too, I suppose." Kurama said, the last part muttered, but then he continued. "I'm sorry I couldn't tell you sooner, but….the meeting's been scheduled for first thing Monday morning. We're supposed to fly out at eight Sunday night so I'll need to pack and get to the airport ….." He looked across the table to see red eyes look at him then down at the plate, the fork pausing. "Sorry." He muttered. "After this week, things should get back to normal for awhile. Maybe next weekend we can go away for a night." He suggested, trying to think of something they could do.
"I have to work the next two weekends. One will be a 12, 12, 8 shift." Hiei said, he'd already told the red head this as well.
Kurama pinched the bridge of his nose, knowing that meant 12 on 12 off, 12 on 12 off then 8 on and one day off, which would fall during the week. "Why do I feel sometimes like those two ships passing in the night?" He muttered.
"It'll get better soon." Hiei said. "We could stop by Yukina's earlier, maybe catch an early dinner and then I'll drive you to the airport."
"Maybe, but this is a big transaction, Mr. Takanaka's going to handle it personally so he's sending a limo because he's taking me with him on his personal plane. It's so we can work out any last minute details of the deal." Kurama said, lowering his eyes, still picking at his food.
"At least we'll have Saturday." Hiei said looking up to see green eyes downcast. With as much time as Kurama has been spending with his boss, he sometimes wondered if the read head's promotion hadn't been to 'personal assistant' and wondered if the man forgot to mention it, or was afraid to.
"I might have to go in for a few hours on Saturday. It'll all depend on what we get done tomorrow." Kurama said softly, still not looking up from his plate.
"How long?" Hiei said softly.
"The whole week, I'm afraid…..scheduled to fly back late Friday." Kurama sighed.
They ate the rest of their meal in silence.
When they finished, Hiei cleared the table and loaded the dishwasher while Kurama went back to work. The black haired ambled over to the bedroom area where he flopped onto to the bed and began reading, not wanting to disturb the red head as he got lost in his work.
After a couple of hours, he heard. "You should go ahead and watch the movie." He looked up from his book to see the red head looking over at him with a sorry, hurt, look in his tired, baggy, green eyes.
"I want to see it with you. I'm fine with the book." Hiei answered, holding up the book to show what he was reading. It was one he'd bought awhile back, but had not had the time to start. It was a story about a samurai named Musashi.
Hiei must have fallen asleep, for the next think he knew was waking to the bed bouncing. Looking over at his bed mate, he saw the red head squirming on his back before he seemed to huff then finally flopped to lie on his stomach, yet still couldn't seem to get comfortable. The black haired sighed, 'Kurama's back was bothering him again'. Ever since the red head had that car accident almost two years ago, bruising his tail bone, he experienced discomfort from time to time. Though Hiei didn't know exactly what Kurama did at work, he knew the more the red head was stressed out about it at the time, the more his back seemed to bother him.
Hiei glanced at the clock on the nightstand, 'Five O'clock, wonder what time he came to bed.' The last time he remembered seeing the clock, it was eleven something and the red head was still at his desk.
Hiei crawled over and straddled the tall lean frame, leaving his weight on his heels. The much smaller frame settled with his hips on the red head's thighs and watched as Kurama stilled when his hair was moved off his back, but didn't wake. Rubbing his hands together, warming them, he then began to knead the small of the man's back. Almost immediately, he was rewarded with a deep popping sound.
Kurama let out a cross between a huffed moan and a pained hissed as green eyes fluttered opened to the still darken apartment, the only light at this hour coming up from the lights along the piers. Feeling the small hands work his back, the red head felt the tension leaving and began to grunt in bliss. "As usual….my hero…to the rescue." He muttered.
"Hn…..had to do some thing. With you flopping like a fish…I wouldn't be able to get back to sleep." Hiei said softly, continuing his ministrations.
"Sorry." Kurama muttered, his eyes closing again.
Hiei smirked and leaned over next to his ear. "Though there is a way to exhaust myself back to sleep." He whispered.
"Oh." Green eyes opened wide and Kurama smirked. "And that would be?"
"Me doing all the work." Hiei whispered and started kissing the pale smooth flesh of Kurama's back. He then scooted up so his crotch was right on the red head's rear where he began grinding his hips in a slow, circular, motion.
Kurama started moaning and responded by lifting his hips up so he could grind back as his bed partner proceeded to ravish him. The red head went to turn over, only to have his arms pinned beside his head, causing him to gasp and squirm more. It hadn't taken Hiei long in their relationship to realize Kurama liked it a little rough and it wasn't long before Hiei was taking Kurama and not long after that, that the two were asleep again.
a)a)a)a
Red eyes opened to the sun up and an empty bed. It still amazed Hiei how after all this time they had been together, that Kurama could get up and out without waking him.
Wanting to stay in bed a little longer, his bladder finally won out and he got up yawning. Heading to the bathroom, he stumbled over to the sink and began to wash his hands when he noticed the note taped to the mirror.
'Sorry, but I didn't get everything done last night. Went in early to get more done and be home at a reasonable hour….hopefully'. It was signed with a simple K.
Hiei stared at the note, then pulled it down and stuck it in the second drawer where it met the company of many others.
'Might as well get my day going.' He thought and went ahead and took a shower.
He came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist and grabbing his pack, began pulling out clothes. He pulled on a pair of black cotton pants before slipping a blue tank top over his still wet haired head.
Digging back in the pack, he pulled out about a weeks worth of mail that he had picked up at the post office on his way over last night.
'No time like the present.' The black haired told him self. He had the day off and no real plans. Sitting at the desk, he sorted through the usual junk mail, shredding the credit card offers and such until he came across a familiar envelope.
At first he wasn't going to open it, but decided to see what it was he was being rejected for this time. Ever since he had decided to go into the emergency service profession, he has applied for various positions over the last several years. Each time he had got rejected for either lack of training and/or lack of experience.
Opening the envelope with no real enthusiasm, for he already knew the letter word for word. He however found himself reading this one and red eyes blinked at what he read. The letter was typed, but had his name penned in.
It was a letter from the Emergency Services of Northern Yama telling him that his name has been brought up and he was being considered for a position. Not just any position, but Captain and in charged of his own squad. Getting to the bottom of the paper, the name Mr. Enma King was stamped and under that was typed, Director of E.S.N.Y.
This was different to say the least, but he still wasn't going to raise his hopes, for he had been in this spot once before. This letter said there were 15 candidates. What were the odds that he would beat out the others with his training and somewhat experience?
He had always wanted a job like this though. It was a dream job, a chance of a lifetime. According to the letter, he would be working in the mountains. A new squad was being formed due to the increase in vacationers and the stress on the neighboring services. Plus a proposed resort was being built. During the winter season he would be doing avalanche rescues along with high risk skiing recovery. In the off seasons, he would deal with training new recruits, missing and/or injured hikers and climbers. There were also chances of forest fires during the drought season.
He sat there for a few more minutes thinking about the possibility of getting such a job, but then shook his head and stuffed the letter back in the envelope before tossing it back in his pack. "What were the odds?' He thought again as he decided to go down to the garage, just below the loft, and work on his new project. He had sold his antique Sprite last year and had found an old WWII jeep, which was currently sitting in pieces. 'I have to remember to ask Kurama if he can do his magic and find some parts.' He told himself, deciding to ignore the letter.
End Chapter 2