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Chapter Four: Kurama

I looked down at Hiei until he stood up and we silently went back to the pool house and changed. This time, I didn't look at Hiei as he changed. I knew I shouldn't have teased him so mercilessly but I couldn't resist. He's a very cute demon and I was enjoying it until he started intensifying the situation. Which made me wonder if he realized it was a joke.

I shouldn't tease him anymore, I thought to myself. He probably can't handle it after all that has happened to him. After all, he loves Mukuro.

My mother was in the kitchen preparing breakfast. I knew Hiei was ready to eat again. I wondered if he had been eating. Which brought up the question, how long has he been here?

"Hiei-kun," Mother said. I looked over at Hiei, expecting him to turn red with fury at being called –kun. "What would you like for breakfast?"

Hiei smiled. "Whatever you are cooking smells delicious. That should be fine." I was shocked. What brought on this change in his manners? Perhaps he simply grew up. I smiled at him. He scowled at me. Perhaps not.

"Shuuichi, set the table for me please?" said Mother.

"Yes, Mother," I replied, already gathering the plates, silverware and glassware. Hiei followed me into the breakfast nook and watched me set places from a seat on the table.

"She's very polite," Hiei said.

"My mother?" I asked.

"No, the other woman."

"Hiei, if you're angry with me, I'd like to talk about it."

"I don't want to talk about anything when you say it like that."

"What? How did I say it that it was wrong?"

"Mukuro used to say 'do you want to talk about it' whenever I got upset or she perceived that I was. I hate hearing it. I HATE it."

"Hiei… was Mukuro there when you were… sterilized?"

"She was in the jury room. They had to tazer her and she still fought the guards until they knocked her out with a club. She kept screaming 'I love you!' over and over again while I was in the next room having my Jagan removed from my head. Do you have any idea how much that hurts?"

"Which part?"

Hiei looked startled as if he'd said something he wasn't planning on saying. "Having an eye removed from your head."

And having it done while your mate is screaming 'I love you' over and over. I finished for him.

"That's not what I said."

"What?"

"Mukuro wasn't my mate and I don't know why you would say that. I could care less if she loved me. It doesn't matter anymore."

"I didn't say that out loud, did I?" I haven't even kissed him and already he can read my mind. Wait, I'm not thinking that Hiei could be… my soul mate? Of course not! I must have said it telepathically. No. Hiei isn't telepathic anymore. He had his Jagan removed.

"Would you stop staring at me holding that knife!?" Hiei screeched.

I dropped the knife. "I'm sorry. I was lost in thought."

"Shuuichi, is everything okay in there?" Mother called from the kitchen.

"Yes, fine Mother," I replied. "I shouldn't have said that. I shouldn't have assumed that you were mates."

"You would know if I were anyone's mate, Kurama."

I found myself turning pink at that. He was right. If he had ever had sex, I would know. "Yes, well, I'm sorry."

Mother came in and set the food on the table. Hiei, I noticed, was off the table before my mother had even entered. Kokoda and Father straggled in after her and we all sat down to dine.

Hiei sat across from me next to Kokoda. He kept glancing up at me from his plate and quickly looking away. /Do you have something you want to say?/ I asked Hiei telepathically, certain he wouldn't be able to hear me. To my surprise, he heard and responded.

/I was hoping we could talk. Yes, I want to talk about it./

/How is it that you can still use telepathy?/

/I don't know. It didn't work when I tried to contact Yusuke yesterday. All I heard was my own voice. Listen, about earlier…/

/If you apologize again, I'll make a scene./

/Calm down, Kurama. What I wanted to say was I promise I wasn't playing a game with you. I honestly felt like… How can I put this? When you held me earlier on the street, it was different. I needed comfort then, but by the pool. That was something else./

/Can we discuss this after school?/

Hiei dropped his spoon on his plate. /You have school today?/

/I have school everyday except Saturday and Sunday./

/What do you expect me to do all day while you're gone?/

/You can read in the library if you wish./ Hiei didn't respond to that. /Hiei?/

/I don't actually know how to read./

/You don't?/ I glanced up at him but looked away quickly.

/I never went to school. The thieves I lived with were illiterate as well./

/Don't call yourself illiterate. It isn't your fault./

/The word doesn't matter. I don't know how to read. At least not in Japanese./

/You can read in another language?/

/English./

/How did that happen?/

Hiei's ears turned pink. /It's a long story./

/I have books in English in the library. They're on the far left shelf by the fireplace./

/Good. I have something to do./

I thanked Mother for breakfast and headed off for school. I had Hiei on my mind all day.