A/N: YOU WANTED ANGST? HERE IT IS. As fluffy as I can make it, which is sort of 'Porcupine Named Fluffy' levels, so, there's that. Enjoy darlings. Next chapter will be less serious?
Love y'all, thanks for reading.
Hiei whirled around, eyes dark with murderous intent as he sneered, body stiffening to strike. Iruni's eyes flashed wide, her hand withdrawing him the sleeve of his shirt, an instinctive step back putting space between them. All at once Hiei seemed to recognize who had grabbed him and lightened some, but he didn't seem overly excited to her. If anything, he barely contained his annoyance.
"You shouldn't grab people who can't see you." Hiei pointed out to her, tone a bit a dark.
Iruni swallowed, bobbing her head and held out a piece of paper. In a much smaller voice than she usually mustered she offered, "You dropped this."
He accepted the folded note, tipping his head to the side. A flash of a smirk for her, there and then gone, before he slipped it into his pocket. The group of men who'd been walking ahead of him were watching them, and Iruni swallowed under the pressure of their combined gaze. Without another word, she turned on heel and speed walked away.
Hiei's lips thinned as he pressed them into a line, her expression casting a darker shadow over his mood. He shouldn't have scolded her, it was an immediate regret. Here she was trying to be clever and he acted like she'd attacked him. He rejoined his men and nodded forward, the motion spurring them back onto their path.
Iruni frowned, wringing the strap of her bag between her hands as she tried to focus on what she was going to order. But her mind kept wandering back to Hiei's cold demeanor. Her teeth caught her lip and worried at the skin.
She knew better.
Why had she thought not announcing herself would be a good idea?
She knew what Hiei did for work. That he didn't want her associating with him near his colleagues for her safety. And yet when she'd seen him walking down the street she couldn't help herself.
The note felt juvenile all of the sudden. What was he going to do? Say yes to a coffee date when he'd already explicitly told her he didn't want any of his enemies to catch wind of her? Sighing, she stepped forward in the line and tried to put the thoughts away when she glimpsed the pair of black suits ahead of her, both men standing with open postures and hips forward.
"The Dragon is in a pissy mood today, huh?" One of them drawled, clearly annoyed. "He had a good streak."
"Yeah, I heard he finally got laid. Found him a decent piece that's been keeping his spirits up, if you know what I mean." The other smirked. "Some whore out in the suburbs."
The other man laughed. "I can't picture The Dragon stalking around the suburbs without getting the cops called on him. She must be good for him to risk it."
"I wonder what he pays?"
"I bet he offered her a discount of some kind. Psh. That man is ruthless."
Iruni felt her blood run cold. The Dragon? Were they talking about Hiei? The men's laughter did nothing to lighten the situation.
"We should ask him for the address. Anyone good enough to calm him down is worth the money."
"I dunno man, he doesn't like to share his meat, if you catch me."
"That's right. Selfish bastard." One of them snorted. "Someone asked if he had a girlfriend and he told them to go fuck themselves."
"Good. I don't like to share." Iruni's hands tightened on her bag, her brain suddenly shutting down cell by cell, ideas clicking into place that she wanted to reject. That she wanted to deny.
That she couldn't.
She gave up on pretending to care about coffee and fled the café. It barely registered to her that she was walking home until she'd shut the front door behind her, sliding the deadbolt, an action she hadn't committed since Hiei had started coming over two-and-a-half months before. Sliding down the wood of her door, she sat on the floor.
Hiei's whore.
Is…is that what he thought of her? "Although, if you were thinking about paying me back… I wasn't talking about money." The memory wasn't what she wanted. She didn't want to confirm this theory. She wanted to reject it. She clung to two weeks prior, to Hiei saying she was his… but was she? Was she really his "girl" if all they did was fuck and she couldn't even see him in public? That's the way you treat a mistress, isn't it?
Not a girlfriend.
Not someone you care about.
A sidepiece. A fuck buddy. A whore.
Iruni answered her phone on the second ring, not bothering to glance at the screen. "Hello?"
"You okay?"
Hiei's voice set her on edge. He never called. She would have loved it, any other day, if this had happened but right now she didn't want to even hear him speak.
"I'm not feeling well." She lied, that story as good as any. "You can disregard the note. I'm not up to going out or seeing anyone today. I'm just going to stay home and rest."
There was a pregnant pause. "I'll come over and-"
"No."
Another moment of silence. Iruni used it to find steel in her bones.
"No, I don't want you to come over. I want to be alone tonight." She told him firmly. "I'm not up to entertaining anyone."
"You don't have to entertain-"
"I said no."
"Okay." Hiei sounded the most uncertain she'd ever heard him. "Let me know how you're feeling tomorrow. If you're ill you might need a doctor."
"Fine." She agreed and without saying goodbye hung up on him. Swallowing back tears, she stared at the device and wondered why today of all days.
But she couldn't face him, not with these thoughts swirling in her head, casting shadows over every touch they'd shared, every moment she'd been holding close. Because she'd been falling for Hiei, it was undeniable in this moment with her heart being torn apart. She'd told herself she could keep it as a casual affair but now she realized she couldn't. She didn't want to. She'd wanted something more and it suddenly felt very obvious that was not going to happen.
"Maybe she's pissed." Yusuke suggested, his go to whenever any female did something unusual. He sipped his beer and peered at Hiei.
"She'd tell me." Hiei frowned into his glass before tossing the amber liquid back and raising his fingers for another round. "Trust me, Iruni would have just gone off."
"You have a theory." Kurama gestured to his foster brother knowingly.
"She grabbed me while I was walking down the street. When I turned around she looked scared." Hiei rolled his newly refreshed beer between his palms. "I told her not to touch me when I couldn't see her. I think it freaked her out."
"Psh. I doubt it. I mean, that firecracker wouldn't be worn down by something like that." Yusuke snorted, shaking his head. "That chick is tough."
"Who we talking about?" Kuwabara slid into the booth next to Hiei, cramping the space.
"Hiei's girlfriend." Yusuke gestured to dour man glaring at his beer. "She's blowing him off."
"Oh, what'd you do?" Kuwabara loosened his tie and stared at the man to his left.
"If I knew, you wouldn't be here, idiot." Hiei snapped at him. "Does Yukina know you're here drinking?"
"Of course! Sheesh. She was happy to shove me out the house. I think she wanted girl time with Keiko." The carrot top flushed, frowning at him. "You have a girlfriend?"
Hiei made a face at the declaration, not rising up to meet it. There was uncomfortable weight in his bones. Iruni had been so… dismissive. Cold.
Even when he'd just been a Yakuza thug to her she hadn't been that callous.
She'd never told him not to come over before, either. Was she that sick? "Maybe I should go check on her."
"No." All three men told him at once, shaking their heads. Even Kuwabara who had no idea what was going on chorused with the others.
"What the hell do any of you know?" Hiei growled.
"When a woman asks for space, she wants space." Yusuke held up his hand. "Trust me."
"And she told you she was unwell. She wants time to recover." Kurama pointed out. "Not an unreasonable request."
"She seemed perfectly fine when I saw her." Hiei argued. "What if she is pissed and wants me to go over and I don't?"
"Nah man, don't follow the rabbit down that hole. You'll spiral. It'll make you crazy." Yusuke shook his head. "Right, lughead?"
"What happened?" Kuwabara sipped his beer and nodded as they caught him up. "That's weird."
"Thank you." Hiei groaned. "Finally."
"I mean, you." Kuwabara pointed out. "Since when do you give two shits about anyone outside of your circle of trust? You've only known this lady for a few months. Why are you so worked up over her not wanting to see you?"
"That's a stupid question." Hiei deflected rolling his eyes.
"Is it though?" Kurama raised his eyebrows. "You've been fairly close to the chest with this one, Hiei. I didn't even know you were seeing someone and we live together."
"Well that's because-" Hiei started then snapped his mouth shut, cutting himself off. "Forget it."
"Because?" The others drawled together.
"I said forget it." Hiei warned all of them. "I will not hesitate to flip this table onto all of you and beat your asses."
No one looked convinced.
Hiei paced his room, phone in his hands as he debated what to do. Iruni hadn't contacted him, even though she'd said she would. He'd half-assed his way through work because of this.
He had half a mind to drive over. She'd be home, she always was. She hadn't even responded to his text.
His phone went off and he jerked it toward his face.
Still not well.
That's it?
He stared at the screen for a good three minutes before realizing she wasn't going to send anything else. Frustrated, he threw the device onto his bed and resumed his pacing. Was she that sick?
He stopped in his tracks.
With purpose he marched from his bedroom only to nearly collide with Kurama, who seemed to be waiting for him.
"No." Kurama told him before he could even protest. "And I took your keys. You'll get them back in the morning."
"But she said she's still sick. She lives alone, Kurama. What if she's collapsed and-"
"Very unlikely." Kurama pointed out.
"It happened to mom."
Kurama pressed his lips into a line, Hiei's anxiety clicking together.
"It could happen to Iruni too." Hiei implored his foster brother to get it.
"Hiei, you know that's not what's happening. You said yourself she seemed fine. If anything, Miss Mikamoto is trying to put space between you. And if that is the case, it would be prudent for you to-"
"Fuck prudent. Mom pretended she was fine for months, remember? She almost died. I'm not going to let Iruni-"
"Check on her tomorrow, Hiei." Kurama quieted him. "She'll be okay, I promise."
Iruni stopped down the street, eyes glued to her porch. Hiei lounged there, even though she'd told him not to come.
And he saw her. He spotted her near immediately and she couldn't just turn and walk away. She couldn't do this. Not right now. But she didn't have a choice.
So she forced her hands away from the strap of her bag and marched toward her house, keys out.
"I brought you soup." Hiei told her, withdrawn. "Since you're sick."
"Thank you." Iruni spared him a glance and unlocked her door. He held the bag to her and she accepted it. "I-"
"You're avoiding me." Hiei stated this as fact, all his concerns about her health put to rest when he'd seen her stop down the street. "Lying to me."
Her eyes closed and she wet her lips. "Hiei…"
"Why?" Hiei demanded, shoving his way into her house when she left the door open. He slammed it behind him and she flinched. "Why the cold shoulder, Iruni?"
She didn't answer immediately, the bag he'd given her crinkling as she wrapped her arms around it.
"Iruni." Hiei tilted his head and walked toward her.
She stepped away, eyes down. It was only then that Hiei really looked at her, the way her shoulders hunched, her downturned face. He retracted the step, tried to make himself seem smaller. He had never once before wished he was five-three again.
"I'm sorry about the other day." Hiei told her quietly, trying his best to soften. "I wasn't expecting you, and I reacted wildly."
"It's fine."
A lie if he'd ever heard one.
"Iruni, it's not fine. I didn't mean to scare you. I can understand you wanting to put space between us for that, but let me at least-"
"You think that's why?" She demanded suddenly, face jerking.
"What?" Hiei gaped at her.
"I heard your little Black Suit friends, Hiei. I heard what you said about me." She told him, nearly in tears. "Fuck you. I thought I was falling for you, you know? I looked forward to seeing you waiting for me. And you go around and tell your friends I'm a whore? You tell them you won't share me?"
Hiei straightened, his expression draining of all emotion, his blood running cold.
"I am no one's whore." She told him, tears spilling over her onto her cheeks.
"Ah, I see." Hiei spoke, tone empty.
"You aren't even denying it." She accused, shaking her head as the tears spilled. "You come here bringing me soup, pretending to care, but you're just another thug. I thought you were different. I thought you were a good ma. But you're not, you're a brute. Another stupid Black Suit. I should have never let you touch me!"
Hiei stared at her and found himself strangely calm.
"I'll go."
"Yes you fucking will." She told him. "And I never want to see you again."
He nodded and jerked her door open then paused. "Eat the soup. Stress can make you sick."
Then the door slammed so hard behind him it cracked the wood of the frame.
Hiei threw the door to his headquarters open, stomping in. Everyone continued to talk, ignoring him for until he opened his mouth. Maybe it was his tone, tense and angry, or maybe it was his missing shirts. It didn't matter as long as they all fell to silence.
"Which one of you fucking idiots said I was seeing a whore?" Hiei demanded, quieting the room. "I just want to talk."
He did not just want to talk.
The morons that spoke up found that out soon enough.
"I think that was us." A guy raised his hand, terrified and gestured between himself and the man sitting at his table.
"What the fuck dude?" The other man had already ducked hiding his face from view.
It was too late. Hiei locked onto them, marched over and flipped the table over making both men clutch each other in fear, practically wrapping around one another.
"Yeah dude, what the fuck?" Hiei repeated snarling. "Do you two fools have any idea what you've put me through?"
He slapped both of them in the head.
"Fucking idiots." Hiei yelled at them. "My girl is furious with me. Now I'm furious with you."
He punched one and started beating him, only pulling back when a pitiful, "I'm sorry" reached his ears.
"Sorry? You're sorry?" Hiei growled, grabbing the second guy by the shirt. "She was crying and you're sorry?"
"Really sorry?" The man flinched, throwing his hands up. "Please don't kill me."
Hiei paused, hand cocked back to punch this idiot across the face when an idea hit him. "You know what, I have an idea."
"Hiei?" Iruni opened the door and Hiei threw a man at her feet, one who immediately bowed and started to talk over himself telling how sorry he was. She blinked, lifted her gaze to Hiei whose shirt was splayed open, revealing the muscle shirt underneath.
"From the beginning, asshole." Hiei stepped on the guy's back and snarled. "Like you mean it."
"I'm so sorry I called you a whore. I swear The Dragon," Hiei's heel dug into the man's back, "Hiei, I mean Hiei, didn't know. We were just joking around. We had no idea he had a girl, I promise."
She stared down at the man groveling, then cocked a brow, crossing her arms over her chest. "You make it a habit of referring to women as whores?"
"No!" Another dig of Hiei's heel. "Yes."
"Apology accepted. I never want to see you again." Iruni glared at him and Hiei relented, allowing him to scramble away. They both watched him go.
"Idiot." Hiei hissed under his breath, shooting her a look. "You went too easy on him."
"I didn't want you to kill a man on my front porch." She shot back, eyes narrowed.
They stared at each other for a second and Hiei was happy to see she wasn't crying anymore. "You should know I've never thought of as less than the woman you are."
"Noted." She responded, then deflated. "I miss you."
"I miss you too." He told her with a frown. "Let me in, Iruni."
"I can't." She whispered, softening before him.
"Why?" He demanded. "Nothing has happened that we can't-"
"Hiei, I need time to figure out what I want from you. You need time to do the same."
"Bullshit, Iruni. I want you."
"Why?"
That made him swallow, the answer nowhere to be found. Or at least not one he was going to casually drop in the middle of this conversation.
"Think about it, Hiei. Please." She begged him and he curled his fingers toward his palms. "Be safe, alright? Goodnight."
And he let her shut him out, confused and not sure what else there was for him to do.
