Shuichi bent himself on his knees, sprawling his arms along his bed. His face buried in his sheets as he swallowed fifty metaphorical nails. He'd fasted for two weeks. A mantra looping in his head. Prayers confused with hopelessness.

So this is what failure feels like– he thought.

But life wouldn't be over. Shiori didn't want him to feel as though the world was ending. It was the first time he'd ever been faced with a trial he couldn't beat. And it had nothing to do with the demon attached to his bones. It had everything to do with Shuich and his humanity. Shiori and her humanity.

"Kurama," Hiei leaned inside his window like a spider. Spiders are always hard to kill. This had been the sixth night of Hiei's pestering. Shuichi said nothing. He remained stiff on his knees and didn't look up. The pins and needles rolling in his stomach.

"So?" He quipped into the darkness of Shuichi's room. His voice somewhat echoing. Shuichi's home had been quiet for as long as Shiori had been gone. As much as he disliked Hiei the past few days, his persistence was wickedly comforting.

"So..." Shuichi muttered back. Only slightly shifting his posture.

"I need an answer now, Kurama."

"I'm not a thief." And that was laughable for years worth of reasons.

"It shouldn't be such a difficult decision. Humans do desperate shit for good reasons all the time," Hiei knew because he'd seen in it.

"I'm not desperate," Shuichi was bad at lying. That was another thing Hiei noticed. He was quite the magician in his uncanny ability at making other people feel good. His words the smoke. His eyes the mirror. His body a workshop of many intricacies unfathomable to the richest scientist. But like most geniuses, artists, poets– Kurama lacked the ability to heal his own morose.

And even when he rose to look at Hiei. Despite the fact that Hiei irritated him, he retained a gentle facade. Barely a smile but not quite a scowl. The street lights poured and washed behind Hiei's small frame. His shadow reaching Shuichi's feet.

Hiei was the only person who made strives to see him.

"You never pegged me as a beggar, Hiei," Shuichi sniffed.

"Hmph. You think I'm begging?"

"I've said no each and every time so why do you bother? Sounds like begging to me."

The question stunned Hiei and he was incapable of hiding his instant response. His face twisted into a deep frown and his eyes darkened. Because he knew why he exhausted his efforts. Shuichi, Kurama piqued his interests. Kurama was peculiar and he wanted more reason to figure him out on his own.

"Because I think you'd benefit. More so than me and Gouki perhaps," He beamed. His eyes glowing in the darkness.

"And if I do say yes...?" He wondered if Hiei would stop coming to see him. If that was really what he wanted. Because he had no one else if the plan didn't work.

"Then you'd being saying yes. And it will all be over."

"Hiei, do you really think so?" And his eyes were sad, focused, and glassy.

Hiei hesitated and bit back a snappy rebuttal meant to derail his empathy. Allowing a pause to drift in the space that kept them apart. Emotionally and physically.

"I can only assume so. Depends on just how confident you are."

"Then yea. Sure. Why not..."

"Wise choice."