Hiei I
Hiei had a rising urge to cover his ears to tune out the obnoxious demon behind him. The fool was now one of his patrol team, as of the last rotation, and Hiei was beginning to miss Kuwabara.
Hiei contented himself with taking a few long strides to put himself a bit ahead and at least lower the volume a little. How were they supposed to catch anyone with all that noise?
Hiei sighed inwardly. This was the last grouping before Enki's three years were up and the tournament was held again. With any luck, Hiei surmised, he would not have to deal with this foolishness anymore.
He was finding it harder and harder to concentrate on patrol duty. As mind-numbingly dull as it could be, he had basically been burdened with it his entire life in one way or another. It was something he usually did automatically, watching out for potential danger.
"A bit touchier today than usual," a voice on his right surprised him.
"Hn," Hiei responded.
The reptilian demon shrugged, "Suit yourself. At least one of us is paying attention to our surroundings." She yawned, indicating the current source of his irritation and then folding her hands behind her head.
"Hn," Hiei repeated and looked the other way.
If he was the only one looking out for them, they were in trouble.
oOoOoOo
"So tell me again how such a low class demon drew so much blood from you?" Mukuro's piercing voice hovered somewhere between amusement and distain, "and don't say 'hn'."
"It was that idiot with the ogre feet that wouldn't shut up," Hiei sneered, "Everyone was too busy listening to him prattle on to notice anything out of the ordinary."
"Oh, the mighty Hiei, brought down by some idle conversation," Mukuro dismissed him flatly.
Hiei pouted for a moment, "I suppose I was a little distracted," he shot back.
Mukuro tied off a bandage on his arm, extra tightly for emphasis, "And I wonder what it could be that's on your mind," her sarcasm did not escape him.
When he did not speak she continued, "That was your last round for the week. You have four days off. Deal with it."
"Nothing is going to change. This is the way I want it."
"Maybe it was," Mukuro allowed, "but it clearly has changed. It's changed enough to interfere with the concentration that can mean the difference between life and death in this world."
"She's better off this way. I will just have to live with it."
"How long do you think your relationship will remain a secret? Then her ignorance will only put her in more danger."
Again, Hiei did not answer.
"You're useless in this state. Go fix it," she stood and turned to leave.
"I'm going off to train. Alone," Hiei insisted.
"Of course you are," Mukuro responded politely as she closed the door.
oOoOoOo
Hiei stood still on the branch of a large evergreen. The wind was barely strong enough to move his cloak. He was watching Yukina spar with Touya, though it was more Touya standing still and Yukina trying to hit him with her ice-dagger. It was strange to see her wearing pants.
Damn that Mukuro. Any hope of getting his doubts about lying to Yukina had left his mind as soon as she had spoken.
The wind picked up and Hiei turned his attention back to the scene in front of him. She really was progressing quickly. He could not help but wonder if he had been there for her when they were younger, protected her, taught her to defend herself, perhaps she would not have been captured by Tarukane.
"Planning on going over anytime soon?" a voice rang through his head.
"Kurama," he growled irritably, looking down to the base of the tree where his friend stood.
"You're the one who asked me to accompany you," Kurama visibly shrugged.
Hiei jumped down from the tree scowling, "Fine."
The two began walking in the direction of the temple, "It just looks less suspicious if I bring you along for a visit."
"Of course," Kurama agreed with only a hint of condescension.
oOoOoOo
Yukina was happy to see them, even more so than usual. Hiei was content to believe she was excited because she had landed a good blow on Touya's ice sword and caused it to crack, as she had showed them immediately. However her changes in behavior, though subtle, were assuredly more extensive.
There was this pushiness, for one thing.
"I'm afraid we really don't have time for tea," Hiei asserted. He was panicking and intended to turn-tail and get off Genkai's land as quickly as possible. He could tell Mukuro he had tried.
"Don't be silly, Hiei, certainly you have time for a cup after coming all the way out here," Yukina insisted. Usually she shrank back from his statements and politely agreed, and now here she was scolding him like a child.
Hiei had no idea how to respond.
"Fine," he surrendered helplessly.
"Good," Kurama added, "I would very much like some tea."
"Ass," Hiei thought, "Do you enjoy torturing me?" Kurama only smiled.
"Of course, you as well," Yukina was asking Touya. Touya nodded and Yukina led them into the house. The three males waited in the main room while Yukina ran off to the kitchen. Hiei stood near the window, refusing to speak. Kurama made himself comfortable on a cushion and began a conversation with Touya, who sat facing Kurama with his arms crossed.
Hiei grunted to himself.
"Well if it isn't the Yukina fan squad," Genkai announced herself from the doorway, "If you had just brought Kuwabara you would have a complete set."
Hiei growled, Kurama laughed, and Touya seemed to suddenly find the grains in the floorboards quite enthralling.
Genkai chuckled at her observation, "I never knew adopting one little girl would ensure I'd have to deal with so many dimwits."
"Come now, Genkai, are you saying you don't enjoy our company?" Kurama prodded.
Genkai cracked a smile, "Perhaps a little. Once in a while." She sat on the floor with the others while Hiei watched with exaggerated distain.
Yukina retuned presently, apparently having found it necessary to change into something extremely girly. She had anticipated Genkai's appearance and served everyone with ease. Hiei was last.
"Hiei, why don't you join us over here," she suggested, approaching him only halfway. Hiei narrowed his eyes and looked to Kurama for help, but Kurama had resumed his conversation with Touya. Hiei had no reason for standing at the window except for being far away from everyone else, but he was not about to say that to Yukina.
"Alright," he agreed, obediently sitting next to Kurama. Yukina sat on his other side, smiling. If he had not known better, Hiei would have said she looked triumphant.
"So Hiei," she was not about to let the momentum get away from her, "What have you been up to since we last saw you? It's been so long."
Was she trying to guilt him? Kurama and Genkai leaned in a touch, curious as to his response. Even Touya looked interested.
"The same as always. Patrols and training."
Yukina's face fell the slightest bit, "Oh. Well, how is Miss Mukuro?"
"Fine."
"Oh. You changed patrol groups again, right? What are your new teammates like?"
"Annoying."
Genkai was giving him the evil eye for his monosyllabic answers. He would have thought she would be on his side, or at least the side of leaving him alone. Kurama was sporting a disapproving frown, his eyes also telling Hiei to share a little bit of his life with his sister.
"Well, there is a demon who likes to talk a bit too much for his own good. We have to listen to him for hours on end, and no amount of threatening can get him to shut up."
Yukina perked up at this tidbit of information, "Oh, like Kazuma!"
Hiei was not really convinced she was trying to insult Kuwabara, but he chose to give a low grunt of approval, "Something like that." Genkai rolled her eyes.
Yukina bit her lip, "I mean, it's not bad, right. It doesn't put you in danger?"
Hiei hesitated, "No, it does not." Yukina smiled again and did not follow up with another question. She looked content. Hiei breathed a sigh of relief as Kurama finally took pity on him and changed the subject.
oOoOoOo
"You made some real progress there, Hiei" Kurama commented as they left the compound with Touya in tow.
"Thank you for your undying confidence in me," Hiei sneered, "though not for your help, so called."
Kurama sported the sympathetic smile he usually reserved for those of much less intelligence than Hiei, "Hiei, she only wants to talk with you. It isn't very much to ask- simply share of few anecdotes about your life here and there."
"I don't really want her to know about my life. That's the point."
Kurama sighed, "She isn't the naïve girl her outward appearance suggests."
"What are you saying Kurama?"
"He's saying your unpleasant stories of demon world aren't going to drive her away from you. You might find she has some of her own to share. It would only bring you closer."
"My words exactly. Thank you, Touya," Kurama smiled genuinely as Hiei turned to stare at the offending ice demon. Why was he even here? Touya returned his gaze, not attempting to challenge him but simply observing.
"Don't you have someplace to be?" Hiei snapped. Touya blinked.
"My apologies for the intrusion," he nodded to each of them, "Hiei. Kurama." With that Touya was gone.
"Hiei, do you really think that prudent?" Kurama admonished once they were alone.
"What?"
"Alienating Yukina's friends."
Hiei stopped cold, "I care little for anyone's opinion. And he is not her friend."
Kurama actually chuckled, but did not stop walking, "Yukina is allowed to have friends, Hiei. You remember the six of them stayed at Genkai's, more or less, to train for the last tournament."
"Hn," Hiei grunted.
"It's nice to have people who you can visit with on a regular, predictable basis," Kurama added lightly.
Hiei ignored the statement, "She didn't ask about me," he grumbled.
"Weren't you just complaining about her asking about you?"
"You know what I mean. She didn't ask about her brother."
"Isn't that what you want?" Kurama asked in that infernally innocent tone of his, "Perhaps she is abandoning her quest as you advised her."
Hiei slouched over and put his hands in his pockets.
Kurama's voice softened, "At your own pace, Hiei. At your own pace."
"Shut up, fox."
oOoOoOo
The following day, Hiei returned to see Yukina again, alone. He was dismayed to find her playing a human game with Kuwabara. The game suited Yukina quite well. She was quick and graceful, and the game did not seem to require much brute strength. Kuwabara tripped over his own feet.
"Stupid oaf," Hiei grumbled under his breath. What was this game called? Tennis? No, that one had the net on the ground and a yellow ball. This one did not have a ball; it was some kind of floating cone. He vaguely remembered Yusuke and Kuwabara snickering at the implement's name. Wait, it was called a birdie, was it not? What was funny about that?
Hiei chided himself for being distracted by such thoughts. He put a hand on the tree trunk next to him. Yukina was laughing at Kuwabara's antics. She seemed happy. He would not disturb her.
And if he was careful, Mukuro would not have to be disturbed either.
Poor Hiei.
Next time: Danger! Excitement! Heroics! Just kidding, it's girl talk.